Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Narrated by: Sarah Drew
Release Date: March 2, 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins / HarperAudio
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-0061726804
Running Time: 12 hours and 25 minutes
Source: Bought Hardcover/ Library Audiobook
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For popular high school senior Samantha Kingston, February 12—”Cupid Day”—should be one big party, a day of valentines and roses and the privileges that come with being at the top of the social pyramid. And it is…until she dies in a terrible accident that night.
However, she still wakes up the next morning. In fact, Sam lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she ever imagined.
*****
The first book by Lauren Oliver that I read was Delirium. It was then that I knew that Oliver would be one of my favorite authors ever. After Delirium, I quickly sought out her previous work and discovered that Before I Fall was her debut novel. I began reading and was immediately struck by the main character, Sam and her group of friends…all of them mean girls. Initially, I had to put the book down because I just wasn’t in the right head space to read the book. But a few years later and I finally picked it back up again – I read my copy while listening to the audiobook that I checked out of the library. I’m so glad I began again!
Lauren Oliver’s writing is absolutely phenomenal. That was established before I opened up the book and confirmed when I turned to page one. I love the voice of Sam and how distinct she is and how authentic her character growth is over the course of the seven days that she relives the last day of her life. I’ve heard this story described as a mashup of Mean Girls and Groundhog Day and I think that’s a great description. Once I accepted just how cruel Sam and her friends are and surrendered myself to go on this ride and see Sam grow, I was fully engrossed in this and read it in two sittings.
Every single day, the same day anew brings so many revelations and thought provoking moments for not just Sam but her friends and those far from her social circle. I loved it.
Also, when you read this book, you’re thrown right back into high school, the environment is so rich and raw and emotionally this does quite the number on you. It did for me. I loved following Sam during such a significant moment of her youth and following her through each moment of her last day, whether she’s searching for answers, living her last day to the fullest shamelessly, or trying to make better choices and be the selfless, lovable girl that not many have ever made her out to be.
I love this story and I loved seeing these complicated characters and relationships between friends and boyfriends and foes and strangers we’re engrained to like and dislike or not think about at all. There are both so many people to root for and so many people to roll our eyes at, many times the same people. It’s real. There’s so much life to be in awe of. What a fascinating look at choices and love and life and the end or maybe the beginning of it all. The ending by the way was so great. Wow.
The audiobook is narrated by Sarah Drew (Grey’s Anatomy, Everwood) whom absolutely I adore. If I’m correct, Drew narrates all of Oliver’s YA books which is pretty awesome. Drew is the perfect narrator for this, I loved the way she made each character sound so distinct and these voices and attitudes really brought me back to high school. Whether you read the book or listen to the audiobook, you will be moved by Lauren’s words. You might even find that it’s one of the best books you read all year.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver is available now.