Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver is one of those books that has been in my TBR pile for ages buried under all the other books that I need to read. Then I heard it was being made into a movie and... I still didn't read it. I went and saw the movie instead (something I probably shouldn't admit to because it's one of the worst crimes a book lover can commit). However after seeing the movie I knew I needed to read the book to see how they compared.

Samantha Kingston doesn't start off as a likable character, she is the quintessential high school mean girl with all the character flaws you can expect from such a title. It's only thanks to Oliver's writing style that I managed to get through that first day where Sam is in a word obnoxious. Then she "falls" and everything slowly starts changing.

The transformation Sam undergoes really is gradual. She doesn't jump out of bed the next morning and is suddenly a new person. During each of the seven days we experience with Sam she processes what is happening, eventually finding her way back to the person she was before the need to fit in and be popular eclipsed her own identity. And it is through this rediscovery of self she finds her why and what it is in her life she has the power to improve and change before she she falls.

Before I Fall isn't the fastest book and essentially is the same day on repeat with minor changes but that does not mean it is boring. The leisurely pacing is actually what makes this book so good. It's believable. Apart from the premise everything about Before I Fall is firmly grounded in reality. After a third of the book I was firmly sucked in. Experiencing everything that Sam was including more than a few tears because it impossible to stay detached from something that is so plausible (Apart from the duration. I would probably need seven books not seven days but I am stubborn).

Overall Before I Fall is a great book that anyone who loves YA should definitely read. The final few paragraphs were a little bit on the cheesy side, yet considering the direction the book traveled  I don't think it could have been concluded without those moments. Anything less wouldn't have provided a satisfactory ending even if I did have a minor eye roll or two at the time.

* I love movie soundtracks and Before I Fall has a fantastic one! It's definitely worth a listen.

Buy Before I Fall at:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound