This story is the sequel to If I Stay, where the main character Mia was the lone survivor from a car crash with her family. This story takes up three years later from her boyfriend's perspective. Adam's career has exploded as his rock band's albums have gone double platinum and he lives in LA with his actress girlfriend. The book mostly takes place within a 24 hour period where Adam happens across Mia's concert debut in New York, just before he is to depart for his own world tour. In spite of Adam's fame, he has become more and more disconnected from the world - having anxiety problems, sleep issues, has become paranoid, superstitious, and anti-social. He has fallen out with the band, the center of fan and media attention, and lost. Mia had left for Julliard and while slowly phased out contact with him completely without explanation - and there meeting is the first since she left for school.
What I liked: They had such a sweet relationship. It was fun to follow their imagined careers and success. Their moments together were filled in with many flashbacks to their early relationship, her recovery, and some of their time apart - and how their relationship and this accident has destroyed Adam, and redefined Mia. The ending was completely satisfying (I was getting annoyed by their misunderstandings and things left unsaid). I had almost accepted the fact that Adam had to let her go (but I was going to hate this ending), and then everything opened up.
What I didn't like: The switch to Adam's point of view was great because the reader could probably understand Mia's actions after having read the first book - except Adam's personality changed so much, filled with angst and very little depth - he wasn't even likable any longer. Their stalling to speak and get to the point was well done, but frustrating. She knew the words to his songs! How was that not a clue? All Adam's assumptions about Mia were so bitter they were frustrating. His final realization that he had to let her go was frustrating too - he had been blaming Mia the whole time, and I kind of blamed her too.
What I would have liked to read: I think I may have preferred Mia's perspective at times and kept Adam mysterious and chivalrous.
Quotes: "The band. When You're with the band, I already have to share you with everyone. I don't want to add my family to that pot, too." Then she lost the battle and started to cry. All my annoyance melted. "You dumb-ass," I crooned, kissing her on the forehead. "You don't share me. You own me."
Rating: 4 of 5
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