Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman

Synopsis: "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 Juilliard'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."

Title: Where She Went
Genre: YA Contemporary, romance
Series: If I Stay #2
Ages: 14+
Pages: 260
My Rating: 4 stars
One Word: Fascinating
Fave Quote: "'How? How, Adam? How could I know that?'
I'm not sure if the question's rhetorical or if she thinks I have a clue to her metaphysical mystery. And I'm in no state to answer either way because I'm crying. I don't realize it till I taste the salt against my lips. I can't remember the last time I've cried but, once I accept the mortification of sniveling like a baby, the floodgates open and I'm sobbing now, in front of Mia. In front of the whole damn world" (210).

Review
Where She Went is a beautifully crafted novel of love. It's fascinating the way Gayle Forman writes the novel so that it falls all in a 24 hour timespan, with memories added here and there just like the first book.

I truly liked this book, and I thought it was better than the first. It really described Mia and Adam's love to an extent where the first book hadn't. However, if I were Adam I would've actually been mad at Mia for putting him through the pain of rejection for three years. And then when Adam shows up at her concert, she just conveniently comes up to him and talks to him. What if Adam never went to that concert? Would she have gone after him? That was the only thing that really bugged me during the book, the thought that Mia may have never told Adam how she felt if Adam never went to her concert.

This book was everything and nothing at the same time. I mean, a 24 hour timespan, how much can you put into a book? Gayle Forman fulfills it's beauty by adding feelings of rejection, memories of the past, and rekindled love. I gave this book 4 stars because of Adam's feelings and how real they felt when I read them and how it made me sympathize for him. Mia, on the other hand wasn't as great as I liked her in the first book.
★★★★

If I Stay (If I Stay #1) by Gayle Forman

Synopsis: "Just listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.

I open my eyes wide now.
I sit up as much as I can.
And I listen.

Stay, he says.

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.

If I Stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make"

Title: If I Stay
Genre: contemporary YA, romance
Series: If I Stay #1
Pages: 234
Ages: 13+
My Rating: 4 stars
One Word: heartbreaking, beautifully written
Fave Quote:
"But the you who you are tonight is the same you I was in love with yesterday, the same you I'll be in love with tomorrow. I love that you're fragile and tough, quiet and kick-ass. Hell, you're one of the punkest girls I know, no matter who you listen to or what you wear" (100-101).

Review

If I Stay is one of the most beautifully written books I've read. After watching the trailer for the upcoming movie, I had my own expectations of what the book was going to seem like, but the story surpassed my thoughts. It's beautiful how Mia looks back at her life and tries to make the choice between life and death, feeling that the choice is too hard. She's broke between the death of her family if she stays to the life she'll leave behind if she leaves.

Amazing and mesmerizing, If I Stay has left me with a weak and broken heart. The way the story is written is just amazing. With the timeframes and the memories back to back, I was rooting for Mia to stay, but she was thinking otherwise. I'm so happy and satisfied with the ending, that I'm scared the to read the sequel!
★★★★

Boomerang (#1) by Noelle August

Synopsis: "Welcome to Boomerang.com, the dating site for the millennial gen, with no-fuss, no-commitment matchups and where the action on the job is steamier than any random hookup

Mia Galliano is an aspiring filmmaker. Ethan Vance has just played his last game as a collegiate soccer star. They're sharp, hungry for success, and they share a secret.

Last night, Ethan and Mia met at a bar, and, well . . . one thing led to another, which led to them waking up the next morning—together. Things turned awkward in a hurry when they found themselves sharing a post-hookup taxi . . . to the same place: Boomerang headquarters.

What began as a powerful connection between them is treated to a cold shower, courtesy of two major complications. First, Boomerang has a strict policy against coworkers dating. And second, they're now competing for the same job opening in the fall.

As their internships come to an end, will they manage to keep their eyes on the future and their hands off each other, or will the pull of attraction put them right back where they started?"

Title: Boomerang
Genre: New Adult, Rom-Com
Series: Boomerang #1
Pages: 336
Ages: uuuhhh this is awkward since I'm not a "new adult" (I encourage everyone to read everything disregarding the age range....my age range is just a preference)
My Rating: 3.5 stars
One Word: FunAndFlirty
Fave Quote:

“What are you thinking for a theme?’
‘Theme?’ Ethan sits with his eyes closed, face turned up to the sunlight. His smile holds such contentment that I feel almost guilty bringing up actual work.
‘Yes, for the booth. For the show. What do we want the design to be?’
He sits up and squints at me, shading his eyes. How about something sports themed? You know, ‘Have fun. Score big.’
‘Ew’
‘Come on,’ he insists. ‘We’re not eHarmony. I’s not about lifelong commitments. Nothing wrong with some fun.’
‘I know, but-“
‘And we’re called Boomerang. That’s already sporty. How about, ‘play hard, throw it back?’
‘Okay, that’s even worse.’ I try to contain my hair so I can give him a solid glare, but it’s no use. ‘And what exactly is the ‘it’ in that little slogan?’
He grins. ‘You know.”
‘No, sir, I do not. Because it sounds like you’re talking about lady parts. Like, ‘use them up and throw them away, boys.’
‘That’s crazy,’ he protests. ‘It’s lady and gentleman parts. You’re free to throw it back, too.’
I laugh.’ So, that’s the image we’re unveiling for our investors? Sex organs whipping through the air?’" (144-145)

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Wasn't expecting to read this book, but once I downloaded the first 19 chapters for free, I needed to finish it!

Let me be honest, this is one of my first new adult books, and I was curious to find out how "Noelle August" would write the romance for this age group. I was definitely satisfied right from the beginning. It reminded me of one of the romantic comedies that I watch way too much ;).

This book was funny and flirty and totally a summer read. I liked the book, but unlike other books that I would give 5 stars to, it didn't pull me in or keep me turning pages. However, it was fun to read and had me laughing out loud at some parts. The character's personalities were funny, quirky, caring, and all-round amazing. Mia and Ethan were so cute and you knew that they would somehow find there way to each other in any situation. I loved reading about their jealousy once they had to watch others on dates, and their jokes and their feelings.

Great predictable, but super funny and original book to read over the summer!

★★★1/2