Where She Went: BlogHer Book Club

It’s time for another BlogHer Book Club book! This time, it’s Gayle Forman’s Where She Went, the sequel to her very popular If I Stay.  A couple of weeks ago, I spent the weekend sick on the couch, and read both books back to back, so I’m having a really hard time thinking of them as two separate books, but more like two pieces of a complete story.

The first book was really Mia’s story, and Where She Went tells Adam’s story, as we follow him through one night in New York City while learning, through flashbacks, of how his life has changed dramatically since we first met him. Adam and his band are a hit, about to embark on a European tour, and he has everything a musician could want. Or maybe that’s just what it looks like from the outside.

I really appreciated Forman’s use of music and songs throughout both books, and especially Where She Went. Music is vital to both Adam and Mia, and while their styles couldn’t be more different (punk band vs. classical cello) it gives them both a drive and motivation and sense of being that is compelling. I especially enjoyed Adam’s song lyrics and playlists listed in the back of the book.

I could recommend Where She Went on its own merit, but I really think most folks would appreciate reading If I Stay first to set up the story and characters. They’re both quick but heart-wrenching reads with vivid characters. Seriously, I wanted Mia’s mom to be my best friend. She was awesome.

If you want to read more about Where She Went, check out the BlogHer Book Club site for more discussions about this book and others.

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

Filed in: Books