Book Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

I am going to do a full review closer to the March 2010 publication date, but I just have to say now I am stunned by how amazing this novel is. Definitely one for my all time favorites list.

In case you don't know the premise, it's a doozy: Popular high school senior Sam dies but then keeps coming back to relive the day of her death until she realizes she may hold more power than she ever imagined. Small changes in her routine shuffle the cards and produce different outcomes while bigger changes give her fresh insight on her family, her friends, her classmates, and which boy she should have been kissing all along.

At the beginning, Sam was so unlikeable, I was terrified I wouldn't like the book, but I need not have worried. Sam probably experiences the most growth of any character I've ever encountered, and I love how chaos theory was so seamlessly integrated, giving the story an impressive depth and enough unpredictability to make it edge-of-your-seat, stay-up-all-night perfect.

This is one of those novels that you hold close to your chest after you're done and are just thankful that you had the chance to read it. Not only is it amazingly creative, but it also makes you want to be a better person.

I'm in love.