Book Reviews

Where She Went (2011)

Where She Went – Gayle Forman (2011)

Rating: 4/5

Genre: YA, Fiction, Category

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS A FEW SWEAR WORDS

"I needed to hate someone and you're the one I love the most, so it fell on you."

My reaction to this whole book: OHMYGOSH ADAM WHY??

"She kissed me goodbye. She told me she loved me more than life itself. Then she stepped through security. She never came back."

Woahh. That was heavy.

Where She Went is told 3 years after If I Stay and in the perspective of one, Adam Wilde.

I found both books in this duology particularly hard to rate, this one was especially hard. The beginning is a bit slow and Adam is a bit of a slop to be honest but as we get to around the middle things do start to heat up. Adam's story is really bitter and angry. 3 years ago Mia stepped through security at the airport and he hasn't heard from her since. What happens when he sees she's in town and doing a show? Will he finally get the answers he deserves?

"You were so busy trying to be my saviour that you left me all alone."

I didn't find this book as sad I thought I would. I mean, don't get me wrong it was sad it just didn't make me cry or anything.

"Hate me. Devastate me. Annihilate me. Re-create me. Won't you, won't you, won't you re-create me." 

One of the main things I loved about Where She Went is learning about what happened to Adam after Mia woke up. Oh boy, has he changed! Adam is now an overworked, tired, sloppy, still in love with Mia but dating this chick he doesn't like sort of guy. Adam has completely turned around from the guy we knew in If I Stay and become a different person since Mia left. At first, he broke down for a few months, quit the band, moved in with his parents, didn't leave his room for days on end, stuff like that. But now? Now, he's back with the band and touring constantly, he's got a girlfriend he hardly sees and fights with continuously and basically, he's the human equivalent of a fuck up.

"First you inspect me

Then you dissect me

Then you reject me

I wait for the day

That you'll resurrect me"

But, he does eventually see Mia again and find out what's been going on in her life for the last 3 years. More importantly he finds out why she left. Mia is currently touring and right now she's doing shows in New York which is where Adam lives. Mia explains why she left and at first Adam doesn't get it, but eventually he does. And if I'm honest I don't blame Mia for what she did. Adam said he'd do whatever she wanted. He said that if she needed him to go away he would but instead of making him leave, she left. She left for New York and she didn't look back.

The ending did sort of annoy me because everything was all wrapped up in a nice little bow and there were no more problems. But, the books not even 300 pages so, I forgive you Gayle Forman.

I would definitely recommend this series if you're a lover of cheesy, romantic books. Even if you're not, they're two very quick, enjoyable reads.