Before I Fall

What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.

The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing. --from bn.com

This book made me think. Like Oliver's other book, Delirium, it poses social problems, and I couldn't read it in a day. I took me a while, but it was worth it. Definitely worth it. 

Sam is popular. It's her biggest attribute in the book, the thing that we're constantly reminded of through her actions. You might be thinking "But there are thousands of books about popular kids. I was a popular kid! Why should I read about one of their redemptions?" I've never been popular. Never will be, but this poses the gritty side of popularity, where they really are just shallow people. 

Then she dies. At the point she realizes this, Sam can do anything. Will do anything. Before long, she starts putting the pieces together to something bigger than just her death. No, I'm not going to tell you that it was all a conspiracy theory. But it did make me guilty. What have I done today that could be considered nice? Not much, I can tell you that. And on the flip side of things, I've probably been rude dozens more than that number. What would happen if I died today?

All in all, I give this book 49 out of 51 tacos, not because it's simply "The best book in the world with the hottest guy and blah blah blah", but because it was thought provoking. It was meaningful. I don't know if this sounds appealing to you, but it had more of a meaning to it than most of the YA books I've read in a while. If you've read Delirium, pick up Before I Fall too, I promise it gives you the humor, wit, and sincerity that Lauren Oliver has proven to give us.