This book was really good. As in, I would pick this book up again and re-read it later on.
Fair warning though, it is a Young Adult book...but don't turn your nose up at it because of that because I think it's a book that we could all relate to.
Back of book summary: (the description sounds a little juvenile, but trust me...it's not as teeny bopper as it sounds) What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?
Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.
Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.
A quick way to describe this book is Mean Girls meets Groundhog Day. The gist of the book is that a popular girl gets in a tragic car accident and gets to relive her last day 6 times. As her actions change each day, the result of the day is different. Because of this, she comes to the realization that each of her actions (no matter how insignificant) have an impact on somebody or something. And she realizes what a bitch she was.
This is a pretty hefty book, but it reads really quick because it's such a page turner. The characters are really easy to identify with in some way. I think we've all known that person who was a little bit of a bully and didn't understand how their actions affected others...this is also probably an appropriate book for life today because bullying is such a hot topic. But as the story goes on, you learn more and more about this group of mean girls...it doesn't justify their actions, but it helps you better understand their insecurities and why they lash out the way that they do. At the beginning of the book I wanted to punch these girls in the face...and at the end, I wouldn't want to be friends with them - but I didn't dislike them as much either.
I also really enjoyed how the author wrote this book. I never had any bullying/mean girl experiences (outside standard gossiping at least) in high school, but if I did - then I imagine that this isn't too far off the mark of what it was like. And the author does a great job of keeping the storyline fresh and moving forward, even though we're reading about the same day over and over. Also, the writing is pretty solid...very beautiful language with sage advice.
"Maybe you can afford to wait. Maybe for you there's a tomorrow. Maybe for you there's one thousand tomorrows, or three thousand, or ten, so much time you can bathe in it, roll around in it, let it slide like coins through your fingers. So much time you can waste it.
But for some of us there's only today. And the truth is, you never really know."
The main message of this book is one that I think we can all take to heart. Life is short and make the most of what we have without over thinking it. Consider how you leave people and if that is the note that you want to leave them on. And above all else, no matter how much you think it doesn't matter - be mindful of how you treat other people...because you never know what the end result will be.
(That sounded so preachy. But hopefully you get my point. It's a good book. Especially if you have some vacation time coming up and need to get lost in something.)
Rank: A!!!
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