Before I Fall
User reviews
28 reviews
Overall rating
4.7
Plot
4.7(28)
Characters
4.6(16)
Writing Style
4.8(16)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
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Before I Fall - an engrossing, beautiful novel
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Okapi
Reprinted here with permission of reviewer @ thesmartyowl.blogspot.com
When Samantha Kingston unexpectedly gets killed in a car crash, she awakes alive in her own bed the next morning. Given the chance to relive her last day seven times, she realizes how being a good person leads to a more fulfilling, happy life. Despite the sometimes annoying sexual innuendo, Before I Fall strikingly captures modern teen life. Inspiring readers to become better people, this novel is too meaty and powerful to slip out of one's brain, unlike the many other forgettable novels that reside in the realm of YA fiction.
It took a couple hundred pages to slip into the groove of this book. At the start, I hated the protagonist of Samantha Kingston, a popular mean girl with even meaner friends. She was bratty, obnoxious, shallow, and annoying, and I wondered how I would be able to tolerate the rest of the book while she was the main character. Since she annoyed me, and the beginning of the novel's plot was wishy-washy, I put the book down and decided to read other material. However, I could not have been more wrong about this book; two weeks later, bracing myself for a dreary trudge through a tedious and annoying tale, I buried my nose amidst the pages once more, only to witness the character of Samantha Kingston evolve into a real, lovable person. Before I Fall contains beautifully structured character development. Throughout the novel, Samantha journeys away from her vapid, cruel self and heads towards being a good person with moral values.
Driven by Sam's actions and reactions, the plot cascades over the pages, intertwines itself from beginning to end, and composes a hearty novel that I will remember forever. I enjoyed the concept of Sam living the same day seven times, though it seemed too repetitive in the beginning. However, once the novel picked up momentum, it glued itself to my fingers and hollered at me if I attempted to discard it on the table. Though Sam changed dramatically during the novel, the people around her remained the same. It was as though each time she relived her last day, she wrote on the sandy shore of a beach, leaving imprints only on herself and not on the people around her, because the tide of the ocean would roar in and obliterate any trace of Sam's changes, so the next time she relived, the shore of the beach would be smooth and unmarked. This was frustrating, because I feel as though on her last day, when her changes truly mattered, Sam should have confronted her friends and their cruel actions.
The ending flavored the book bittersweet, wrapped it up in an unpredicted manner, and left me with a sense of feeling as though I had to change my own life like how Sam changed hers. An emotional journey for all readers, Before I Fall captures heartbreak, anger, sadness, and friendship. This compelling novel emblazoned the true meaning of being good onto my mind, and is a must-read for all those who have the time for a long and thoughtful novel.
Cover: 3/5 -- This cover is eye catching, haunting, but nothing special. I really like the placement and font of the title.
It took a couple hundred pages to slip into the groove of this book. At the start, I hated the protagonist of Samantha Kingston, a popular mean girl with even meaner friends. She was bratty, obnoxious, shallow, and annoying, and I wondered how I would be able to tolerate the rest of the book while she was the main character. Since she annoyed me, and the beginning of the novel's plot was wishy-washy, I put the book down and decided to read other material. However, I could not have been more wrong about this book; two weeks later, bracing myself for a dreary trudge through a tedious and annoying tale, I buried my nose amidst the pages once more, only to witness the character of Samantha Kingston evolve into a real, lovable person. Before I Fall contains beautifully structured character development. Throughout the novel, Samantha journeys away from her vapid, cruel self and heads towards being a good person with moral values.
Driven by Sam's actions and reactions, the plot cascades over the pages, intertwines itself from beginning to end, and composes a hearty novel that I will remember forever. I enjoyed the concept of Sam living the same day seven times, though it seemed too repetitive in the beginning. However, once the novel picked up momentum, it glued itself to my fingers and hollered at me if I attempted to discard it on the table. Though Sam changed dramatically during the novel, the people around her remained the same. It was as though each time she relived her last day, she wrote on the sandy shore of a beach, leaving imprints only on herself and not on the people around her, because the tide of the ocean would roar in and obliterate any trace of Sam's changes, so the next time she relived, the shore of the beach would be smooth and unmarked. This was frustrating, because I feel as though on her last day, when her changes truly mattered, Sam should have confronted her friends and their cruel actions.
The ending flavored the book bittersweet, wrapped it up in an unpredicted manner, and left me with a sense of feeling as though I had to change my own life like how Sam changed hers. An emotional journey for all readers, Before I Fall captures heartbreak, anger, sadness, and friendship. This compelling novel emblazoned the true meaning of being good onto my mind, and is a must-read for all those who have the time for a long and thoughtful novel.
Cover: 3/5 -- This cover is eye catching, haunting, but nothing special. I really like the placement and font of the title.
Not Feeling It
A lot of people I really respect raved about this book but...ehh. Maybe it was all the hype, but Before I Fall just didn't stick with me.
Samantha was obviously very irritating at first. I didn't like her. As the story went on, I started to like her more, but first impressions, guys. Sometimes we just can't get past them, you know?
The story itself was pretty interesting. I know there are books like this out there, but I'd never read one before. So to me, it was different. I liked seeing how each new scenario affected Samantha and her life and it did make me think for a little bit about every action we do and how it changes things.
And it was really well written. I can never deny that Lauren Oliver really is a fantastic writer. I've read all but one of her currently released books and she's honestly an incredible author who certainly deserves to be widely published and loved.
But honestly, Before I Fall isn't my kind of book. It may have had some impact when I read it months ago, but now I can barely remember reading it and only have a vague idea of everything that happens in the story. It was just...a book that I read earlier this year. And that's all, honestly.
Many people loved this book. They hardcore fangirl and push this book. I'm just not one of those readers. I enjoyed it while I read it, but it was just one of those "meh" books for me.
Samantha was obviously very irritating at first. I didn't like her. As the story went on, I started to like her more, but first impressions, guys. Sometimes we just can't get past them, you know?
The story itself was pretty interesting. I know there are books like this out there, but I'd never read one before. So to me, it was different. I liked seeing how each new scenario affected Samantha and her life and it did make me think for a little bit about every action we do and how it changes things.
And it was really well written. I can never deny that Lauren Oliver really is a fantastic writer. I've read all but one of her currently released books and she's honestly an incredible author who certainly deserves to be widely published and loved.
But honestly, Before I Fall isn't my kind of book. It may have had some impact when I read it months ago, but now I can barely remember reading it and only have a vague idea of everything that happens in the story. It was just...a book that I read earlier this year. And that's all, honestly.
Many people loved this book. They hardcore fangirl and push this book. I'm just not one of those readers. I enjoyed it while I read it, but it was just one of those "meh" books for me.
An Amazing Read That Sticks With You
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Jill
I've put off writing this review for awhile just because I didn't know if I could do the book justice. I've decided to just let the review come from my heart and leave it at that. This book is amazing and painful, hopeful and sad all rolled into one. When I started the story I hated Sam and her friends. And I'm not exaggerating when I say hate. They are the typical mean girls. This was hard for me because, being a 7th grade teacher, I see things like this starting. And being the mother of an 11 year old girl - my heart hurt thinking she might encounter girls like these. When I got done with chapter one I saw no way that Sam could be anything but what I saw of her in that first chapter. But then, like the summary said, she gets a second chance. Throughout this second chance I wanted to shake her. She just couldn't get it! Everything was so self-centered! But as the story goes on, Sam learns. Much of what she had going on inside her was able to come out into more of the person she should be. By the end, I didn't hate her anymore - not even a little.
Before I Fall is a difficult book. As an adult I had a hard time reading it. I was starting the last chapter at school, and I had to stop because I was crying by the second paragraph into it. This book hit my at my core. I'm not a high schooler living in the midst of that like the characters were. But I see these characters in real life walk the halls of my school. Lauren Oliver made them extremely real. Maybe just a little too real at times. I honestly believe that this is a book many girls should read because it might help them take a good hard look at themselves and how they are treating those around them. My fear is - that even after reading it, they wouldn't see themselves in it. I worry the whole point of the story might be lost. I know it wasn't lost on me, and I walked away from the story changed.
Final thought: A hard look at how we treat each other and why.
Best stick-with-you image: the whole book
Best for ages: 16+
Word of warning to parents: this is a very mature book in content, language and situations.
I've put off writing this review for awhile just because I didn't know if I could do the book justice. I've decided to just let the review come from my heart and leave it at that. This book is amazing and painful, hopeful and sad all rolled into one. When I started the story I hated Sam and her friends. And I'm not exaggerating when I say hate. They are the typical mean girls. This was hard for me because, being a 7th grade teacher, I see things like this starting. And being the mother of an 11 year old girl - my heart hurt thinking she might encounter girls like these. When I got done with chapter one I saw no way that Sam could be anything but what I saw of her in that first chapter. But then, like the summary said, she gets a second chance. Throughout this second chance I wanted to shake her. She just couldn't get it! Everything was so self-centered! But as the story goes on, Sam learns. Much of what she had going on inside her was able to come out into more of the person she should be. By the end, I didn't hate her anymore - not even a little.
Before I Fall is a difficult book. As an adult I had a hard time reading it. I was starting the last chapter at school, and I had to stop because I was crying by the second paragraph into it. This book hit my at my core. I'm not a high schooler living in the midst of that like the characters were. But I see these characters in real life walk the halls of my school. Lauren Oliver made them extremely real. Maybe just a little too real at times. I honestly believe that this is a book many girls should read because it might help them take a good hard look at themselves and how they are treating those around them. My fear is - that even after reading it, they wouldn't see themselves in it. I worry the whole point of the story might be lost. I know it wasn't lost on me, and I walked away from the story changed.
Final thought: A hard look at how we treat each other and why.
Best stick-with-you image: the whole book
Best for ages: 16+
Word of warning to parents: this is a very mature book in content, language and situations.
Before I Fall
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
This is a book about second chances, and third and fourth etc. When Sam dies she gets the opportunity to relive the day she dies over and over again. You would think that she decides right away to right all her wrongs and become the girl she really wants to be. You couldn't be more wrong. It takes Sam a bit to pull it together and learn from her mistakes. I loved watching her grow throughout the story. Each morning when she wakes up and relives her day she learns something new about herself and the about the person she would like to be.
This was a unique story and not something that I have read before. You would think reading about a character reliving the same day over and over again would get old but it doesn't. Oliver does a very good job of showing you how Sam grows and also showing you different scenes that happened within that day. Sam and her friends are popular mean girls who you can't help but dislike. As the story goes on you end up pulling for Sam and wanting to see her succeed.
This book really makes you examine your life, the relationships you have with others and how you treat them. It is a book that I will read again many times to come. If you have not picked this one up I suggest you get to it ASAP!
This was a unique story and not something that I have read before. You would think reading about a character reliving the same day over and over again would get old but it doesn't. Oliver does a very good job of showing you how Sam grows and also showing you different scenes that happened within that day. Sam and her friends are popular mean girls who you can't help but dislike. As the story goes on you end up pulling for Sam and wanting to see her succeed.
This book really makes you examine your life, the relationships you have with others and how you treat them. It is a book that I will read again many times to come. If you have not picked this one up I suggest you get to it ASAP!
What if you had only day to live...
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
hey say ‘live every day as if it’s your last’ – but you never actually think it’s going to be. At least I didn’t. The thing is, you don’t get to know when it happens. You don’t remember to tell your family that you love them or – in my case – remember to say goodbye to them at all. But what if, like me, you could live your last day over and over again? Could you make it perfect? If your whole life flashed before your eyes, would you have no regrets? Or are there some things you’d want to change...?
February the 12th, Cupid Day. Sam's favourite day ever. Her friends and herself get the last parking spot in the Senior alley, gets a ton of roses from her friends and boyfriend, Rob. She goes to an awesome party and gets super drunk. But on the way home, the car she is in is hit by something and the car goes flying into the woods. Sam is dead. But the next morning she wakes up in her bed and finds herself alive, but the day is exactly the same, February the 12th. She has to live the day of her death over and over for seven days.
This book has the same idea of Groundhog day, and even Sam thinks that in the book. Each day has different things happen, minor differences. On some days Sam is just the same, others she is plain mean, but near the end, things change for her. This book is like Groundhog Day as she becomes a better person, but more about just accepting what has happened and how to change the things you have done into something a whole lot better.
At first Sam is a mean, popular, senior girl. Her life in her eyes is pretty much as good as it gets. She has three great best friends, a great boyfriend and she is really pretty. But after the first day, her views start to change. I didn't like Sam very much at the start but as the book wore on, she saw what was really happening. I liked the ending, it was sad but amazing.
The way it was written with the days as parts of the book, and that were things that happened under little subtitles. I thought that was a pretty cool idea. I also liked how some parts were written in the view of Sam's 'angel', and others as the Sam that is living it.
This book is truly stunning, but it is not for younger readers as their quite strong themes. But other than that, I totally recommend it to all readers.
February the 12th, Cupid Day. Sam's favourite day ever. Her friends and herself get the last parking spot in the Senior alley, gets a ton of roses from her friends and boyfriend, Rob. She goes to an awesome party and gets super drunk. But on the way home, the car she is in is hit by something and the car goes flying into the woods. Sam is dead. But the next morning she wakes up in her bed and finds herself alive, but the day is exactly the same, February the 12th. She has to live the day of her death over and over for seven days.
This book has the same idea of Groundhog day, and even Sam thinks that in the book. Each day has different things happen, minor differences. On some days Sam is just the same, others she is plain mean, but near the end, things change for her. This book is like Groundhog Day as she becomes a better person, but more about just accepting what has happened and how to change the things you have done into something a whole lot better.
At first Sam is a mean, popular, senior girl. Her life in her eyes is pretty much as good as it gets. She has three great best friends, a great boyfriend and she is really pretty. But after the first day, her views start to change. I didn't like Sam very much at the start but as the book wore on, she saw what was really happening. I liked the ending, it was sad but amazing.
The way it was written with the days as parts of the book, and that were things that happened under little subtitles. I thought that was a pretty cool idea. I also liked how some parts were written in the view of Sam's 'angel', and others as the Sam that is living it.
This book is truly stunning, but it is not for younger readers as their quite strong themes. But other than that, I totally recommend it to all readers.
Before i Fall
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by CookieMonster
I am happy that I got the chance to read this book.
Would I have picked it up on my own were it not a B&N First Look?
Maybe some time, but probably not. But like the book showed so well, a million different little things changed that, and I am genuinely happy that it did come into my hands.
I hated several main characters at first like Lindsay, Ally, Elody, and Sam. I knew and even still know people like them. But the evolution of Sam and her revelations on everythings connectedness let my perceptions evolve along with her.
From the beginning, I was taken with how the author captured things that really happen (to all of us) just perfectly. She get the characters so right, down to the "unofficial" H.S. dress code of New Balance sneakers and Northface jackets.
I know that Sam's (the main character) experience is sorta like the movies Groundhog Day or Sliding Doors, but really thats only a fraction of it. The amazing insight and realistic events/people/conversations in the book are extraordinary, and even eery. Readers will instantly connect with the familiarity of the social hierarchy and mean girls group. I really loved Before I Fall.
Congratulations to Lauren Oliver on writing something so amazing!
I am happy that I got the chance to read this book.
Would I have picked it up on my own were it not a B&N First Look?
Maybe some time, but probably not. But like the book showed so well, a million different little things changed that, and I am genuinely happy that it did come into my hands.
I hated several main characters at first like Lindsay, Ally, Elody, and Sam. I knew and even still know people like them. But the evolution of Sam and her revelations on everythings connectedness let my perceptions evolve along with her.
From the beginning, I was taken with how the author captured things that really happen (to all of us) just perfectly. She get the characters so right, down to the "unofficial" H.S. dress code of New Balance sneakers and Northface jackets.
I know that Sam's (the main character) experience is sorta like the movies Groundhog Day or Sliding Doors, but really thats only a fraction of it. The amazing insight and realistic events/people/conversations in the book are extraordinary, and even eery. Readers will instantly connect with the familiarity of the social hierarchy and mean girls group. I really loved Before I Fall.
Congratulations to Lauren Oliver on writing something so amazing!
Must read
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Love this book! One of my favorites.
one of the best I've read
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by Lauren G
Before I Fall is one of the best YA books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. With skillful writing, an interesting story, and some very dynamic characters, this book is sure to please all readers. I LOVE when an author can make me hate a character and then grow to love them all in the same novel. That is exactly what Oliver has done. The story is very emotional and extremely satisfying. I've recommended this book to everyone I know and I will keep doing so. Just amazing.
Haunting, riveting and inspiring
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Lauren Oliver is quickly climbing my list of "authors I trust." She may not have many books under her belt yet, but I love what I've read so far. She has an amazing talent for writing characters in such a way that I feel like I know them and understand them - even if I don't agree with them. She tackles subject matter I wouldn't normally be interested in, and makes me care.
I'll get it out of the way early: Before I Fall is Mean Girls meets Groundhog Day. Sam's story is equal parts Cady Heron (post-Plastification) and Phil Connors (although she probably resembles Lindsay Lohan a bit more than Bill Murray).
But you know what? I love Mean Girls and Groundhog Day. And I loved Before I Fall. So who cares? A good story is a good story.
So, that said, what's the fun in reading a book about a Mean Girl that lives the same horrible day over and over, and dies after most of them?
As I said before: Lauren Oliver has an amazing talent.
I'm guessing that unless you really are Regina George, you will hate Sam at the start of the novel. She's shallow, she's rude, she's selfish, and she's mean. She justifies all her actions to herself, but she's not in any way likable. I spent most of the first few chapters wanting to shake some sense into her vapid, empty head.
However, the more I read, the more invested I was in Sam and her journey. She grew. She transformed. Sometimes I wished she would snap out of her Plastics mentality faster, but Ms. Oliver wrote her arc very naturally and organically. And even when I didn't agree with her decisions, I understood them.
Yes, there were parts where it dragged slightly (the fact that those parts are few and far between is still a monumental achievement in a book that recounts the same day seven times). And while I found myself ultimately liking Sam and cheering her on, there were a few other characters that made me gag every time they entered the scene (Sam's BFF, Lindsay, and hunky boyfriend, Rob, are two prime examples). I understand their necessity to the story, but man, were they ever annoying.
The biggest problem I had with the book was that even after Sam realizes the error of her ways, she never calls out her friends (especially Lindsay) on their incessant bullying of...well, just about everyone. On the one hand, I can see how Sam is still intimidated by Lindsay and afraid of upsetting her. On the other...I kind of just wanted her to grow a spine.
However, those annoyances were completely overshadowed by my investment in Sam's story; my complete adoration of the character of Kent, the sensitive, socially awkward boy who's had a crush on Sam ever since elementary school; and my fascination with the character of Juliet, a reclusive girl who Sam, Lindsay & Co. have been tormenting for years.
Before I Fall ended before I was ready, but it ended where it needed to end. The story was resolved the way it should be (and no, I'm not going to tell you if she lives or dies. You'll have to find that out for yourself).
I found myself thinking about Sam and her story long after I put the book down. Her story is haunting, sweet, heartbreaking, and inspiring. I loved it.
I'll get it out of the way early: Before I Fall is Mean Girls meets Groundhog Day. Sam's story is equal parts Cady Heron (post-Plastification) and Phil Connors (although she probably resembles Lindsay Lohan a bit more than Bill Murray).
But you know what? I love Mean Girls and Groundhog Day. And I loved Before I Fall. So who cares? A good story is a good story.
So, that said, what's the fun in reading a book about a Mean Girl that lives the same horrible day over and over, and dies after most of them?
As I said before: Lauren Oliver has an amazing talent.
I'm guessing that unless you really are Regina George, you will hate Sam at the start of the novel. She's shallow, she's rude, she's selfish, and she's mean. She justifies all her actions to herself, but she's not in any way likable. I spent most of the first few chapters wanting to shake some sense into her vapid, empty head.
However, the more I read, the more invested I was in Sam and her journey. She grew. She transformed. Sometimes I wished she would snap out of her Plastics mentality faster, but Ms. Oliver wrote her arc very naturally and organically. And even when I didn't agree with her decisions, I understood them.
Yes, there were parts where it dragged slightly (the fact that those parts are few and far between is still a monumental achievement in a book that recounts the same day seven times). And while I found myself ultimately liking Sam and cheering her on, there were a few other characters that made me gag every time they entered the scene (Sam's BFF, Lindsay, and hunky boyfriend, Rob, are two prime examples). I understand their necessity to the story, but man, were they ever annoying.
The biggest problem I had with the book was that even after Sam realizes the error of her ways, she never calls out her friends (especially Lindsay) on their incessant bullying of...well, just about everyone. On the one hand, I can see how Sam is still intimidated by Lindsay and afraid of upsetting her. On the other...I kind of just wanted her to grow a spine.
However, those annoyances were completely overshadowed by my investment in Sam's story; my complete adoration of the character of Kent, the sensitive, socially awkward boy who's had a crush on Sam ever since elementary school; and my fascination with the character of Juliet, a reclusive girl who Sam, Lindsay & Co. have been tormenting for years.
Before I Fall ended before I was ready, but it ended where it needed to end. The story was resolved the way it should be (and no, I'm not going to tell you if she lives or dies. You'll have to find that out for yourself).
I found myself thinking about Sam and her story long after I put the book down. Her story is haunting, sweet, heartbreaking, and inspiring. I loved it.
Loved it!
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
I loved this book. It took me a while to get into it, but its one of those books that you just have to know what happens. I'm not sure I liked the ending, but I see why it had to happen that way. Definitely a great read. It will take you a while though.
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