I can only sum up this book in one single word: Wow. 
 What happens if you whole family die, and you are the only one left breathing? 
 What if there's nothing left in life to hold on? 
 What if you get to choose whether to return to your nightmarish life or let go and die? 
 This book had touched me in ways that left me shivering and crying at the same time. The heroine, Mia, sole survivor of a car accident, was in coma. However, her consciousness was still there, and she could hear all thing said around her. The story flowed from there, alternating between Mia's past memories and her struggle - whether to live, or die. 
 'If I Stay' had sucked me into a vortex of emotions. I could feel myself thinking Mia's thoughts and feeling her emotions. Mia was a strong heroine and readers would find themselves torn by her anguish, while yelling for her to stay alive. The supporting characters added a wondrous touch to the story, giving insight to Mia's personality and her life before the accident. Mia's best friend, boyfriend, grandparents, and all the others, proved that all was not lost, at least not in Mia's case. They were the ones who kept her going, and kept her alive with their love and acceptance. 
 What is the meaning of loving someone? Does it mean that you hold on to them and encourage them to live on even when they lost everything? Or does it mean letting them go and accepting their decision should they choose to die? In some ways, this book kind of reminds me of the song 'Perhaps Love', which depicts love as 'holding on' and 'letting go'. 
 'If I Stay' was definitely not a typical, light teen-read full of cliches, not with Gayle Forman subtly twisting some pretty philosophical questions into the book as well. It kept me thinking about it after months I've finished reading it: What would you do if your closest family died? Some may say that where there's life, there's hope... but is that really true? When all your loved ones died, is it just easier to let go of the pain and give up? In this unique case, Mia was the one who had control over her own fate. (which proved to be an intense debate itself as well) Since Mia's body was in a coma (meaning that she could not take any physical actions to end her own life) and the choice entirely depended on her metaphysical will whether to live or not, would it be considered suicide if she chose not to stay and move on to the next stage of her existence? 
 This book would definitely invoke some tears (or should I say, buckets of them?) and bittersweet laughs. It would keep questions popping up in your head when you're reading it, and even after you've read it. A definite must-read not just for teenagers, but for all those out there who's finding something to light up your day.