before i fall by Lauren Oliver

What if today was your last day? What would you do? Who would you spend it with? And how far would you go to save your life? Samantha Kingston has it all: the friends, the popularity, and the hot boyfriend. But one day changes everything....Friday February 12, should be a normal day in her perfect life - but it isn't. Instead, it's her last. And she gets a second chance. Seven second chances, to be able to relive that last day over and over again. Because her last day centers around the two words: what if? What if she only had one day to live- and seven chances to fix it? What if her life wasn't as perfect as she imagined? What if she was blindly staring past what had been right for her all along? Maybe you can afford to wait. To have a tomorrow, or a thousand tomorrows. Time you can waste. But for Samantha, there's only that Friday. And the truth is, you never really know. As Samantha relives her last day, she has chances to fix what she did wrong, realize all that she had missed before, and discover the true value of what she is in danger of leaving behind.

This book has inspired me in so many ways. Lauren Oliver does not disappoint with her debut novel. I can't even begin to describe the myriad of emotions this book and its characters has put me through. I have felt affection for their silly but lovable personalities, frustration with their ignorance at what really was important, compassion during the sad times of grief, and anger during fate's cruel interference. Samantha is smart, but first, she had to open her eyes to what she thought was wrong for her- and is actually completely right. Kent tugged at my heartstrings, trying to be the hero, the knight in shining armor that Sam never had. Lindsay, Elody, and Ally are shallow and selfish, but underneath the facade are girls who would sacrifice anything for each other. And Juliet, although resigned to her supposed fate, has no idea of the way her life is going to change forever in the blink of an eye, and the sacrifices some are willing to make to ensure she does not make a tragic mistake. This book has really opened my eyes to the recurring ignorance in people's lives. We don't appreciate the simple things life gives us, and we only see what we want to see. We don't realize that all our actions cause a chain reaction, larger than we could've ever expected. So, before your next harsh word, avoided stare, pointed accusation, or cruel action, ask yourself: What if today was my last day? It teaches a lesson that all of us can learn, and Lauren Oliver has truly written a book that opens eyes, touches hearts, and will stay with you throughout the ages.

Rating: 5 stars