Lauren Oliver. BEFORE I FALL

On the surface, Samantha Kingston seems to have the perfect life. She's popular, has a wonderful group of friends and a boyfriend, who most girls in school would die for. But when she dies and begins reliving her last day over and over, she begins to question her choices. She begins to see people differently. Perhaps the boy she wrote off as a loser, really isn't. Perhaps there is more to the girl who everyone called psycho. Maybe her perfect boyfriend isn't really so perfect. With each passing "last" day, Sam learns more and more about what it means to be alive.

I've been hearing about this book for a while. Now I understand what all the praise was about. I'm stunned that this is Lauren Oliver's debut novel. It's unbelievably beautiful, heartbreaking and complex. I love it! I didn't want it to end. Sam and her friends are written realistically. The setting and events felt very real. (Maybe because it felt like a giant flashback to my own high school days...). She captured the teen environment perfectly. The actions and reactions by Sam, her friends, Kent and Juliet felt natural. I couldn't put it down. The ending was brilliant!
If you haven't read it yet - go get it now! You won't regret it!

Lauren Oliver's next novel is due out next month. It's on my list! Check her out here.
Check out the trailer