I like the set up of If I stay. The tragic accident comes early, and then we're with Mia as she watches herself in the hospital the whole time and as she remembers a time before. I like the inner turmoil she goes through - watching her extended family visit her, her best friend Kim, her boyfriend Adam, while she tries to decide if she should stay. It really makes you believe those who are not conscious really are aware of what is happening around them. This story does that well without making it unbelievable. 
 My big issue was I found myself skimming this a bit. NEVER a great sign for a story or the skill of its writer if I think I can skip paragraphs and still know exactly what is going on. That is definitely possible in this book. It's all a bit too mushy and overblown for me. I appreciate true emotion in a story but I don't need it spoon fed to me. I feel like YA writers have a tough time hovering over this line. For me Gayle definitely crossed it (even more so in Where She Went). For me, Adam and Kim were the most interesting pieces of Mia's story and their relationship with Mia and subsequently with each other felt real.Their reactions to the accident were meaningful. I also loved the way Mia's grandparents reacted to her status - well characterized. 
 It was enough to get me to the next book Where She Went. I did not like that one much - head to my review to read why!