Book Review- Where She Went

By Gayle Forman

Published by Dutton Juvenile

Released on April 5th, 2011

Source- ARC from publisher for review

4.5 stars- A Fantastic Sequel

It's been three years since the devastating accident ... three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance (quoted from Goodreads).

Can I just say that if Gayle Forman wrote a text book or even a dictionary I would read it! She has a way with not only her words, but her character development that just sucks me and leaves me feeling completely satisfied at the end of her books. Well, in this case I was left feeling a bit more than satisfied. I've been struggling with how to put into words my thoughts and feelings about this awesome sequel with out giving away any spoilers, and I'll admit it's a little hard. I promise I won't spoil anything.

Where She Went is a gripping, emotional, hopeful, fulfilling read. It's by no means one of those light and a fluffy books. I mean, how can it be when you know the promise that Adam makes at the end of If I Stay. I was completely taken and surprised with how absorbed I became with Adam's point of view. It's raw, edgy, and I couldn't help but get sucked into how he felt. There's a few scenes that I was so caught up in I totally cried, and I'm not a crier. I'll just said, the ferry scene totally got me. This scene is so crucial to both Adam and Mia as for the first time you see them completely vulnerable in every sense of the way.

I absolutely love how Gayle alternates between present day with Adam and Mia and Adam's flash backs. It not only allowed me to get to see what Adam has been doing, and his struggles, but it allowed for Mia's family to still stay in the picture, even if it's briefly. The best way for me to describe Where She Went is to quote the back of the ARC, "Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance".

I don't know what I was excepting at the end of Mia and Adam's story, but I will say the ending is both beautifully written and perfect for their story. I highly recommend picking this book up. I think it's a story both YA fans and adults will enjoy. There is some language, there are some mentions of groupies and a tastefully written scene. Over all what may sometimes bother me in some books was very fitting and realistic for Adam's story.