Book Review: Stay by Deb Caletti

Stay by Deb Caletti


Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse (April 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 144240373X
ISBN-13: 978-1442403734
Source: Received finish copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Cover: This is one of those covers that are so simply stunning, it's hard to look away. I think it has a lot to do with the soft pink of her shirt and the brilliant soft blue of the water. I love this cover for it's simplicity.
First Sentence: "First off, I've never told this story to anyone."


The Mini-Review: This is a chilling story of obsession and guilt, and how life can still happen after. A truly beautiful contemporary!


Book Summary:

Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is—and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough...

Book Review:


Told in alternating chapter from the present and the past, Stay is about obsession, terror, guilt, and the hope healing can bring. With Caletti incredible beautiful writing and a cast of incredibly life like characters, Stay was one of those novels that is sure to stay with its reader.


The day after I closed this novel, I missed Clara. Ms. Caletti created this wonderfully real girl with a whole swell of emotions and a point of view all her own. Her life was in shambles thanks to this disastrousrelationship with Christian and her and her writer father (who was too amazing for words) decide to leave town and head to Deception Pass without people knowing. From there, Clara begins to work through her feelings about the events that happened. Switching between the present and the past, Stay works to show how events connect to each other and leave lasting remarks. I really loved Clara and wanted to see her succeed. Even though she was hurting, she stayed positive about her future and it was that positivity that made her an irresistible main character. I will say however, that the ending-- her cowardice and silence-- did frustrate me. I wanted to see her fight back and in the end, she couldn't really manage it.


All of the supporting characters were also so integral to the storyline. Clara's dad was real and grown up and completely there for his daughter. I loved their witty banter and rejoiced in the closeness of their relationship. She leaned on him and he learns to lean on her. Christian was equal parts creepy and pathetic, the perfect combination to make for an explosive element. I could understand Clara's fear and sorrow though her no-holds-bar confessions in the past chapters. I fell in love with the characters in the small town beyond Deception Pass. Finn, Jack and their boat were familiar friends. Finn played as the perfect counterpart to Christian and was a breath of fresh air. Sylvie was that lovably tough boss we all want. By the ending, I felt like I knew every quaint, beachy, moody and perfect corner of the small town.


Ms. Caletti's writing was gorgeous. There were so many unique and beautiful observations and through her writing I felt that I could really understand Clara's grief and her love for Christian even though she knew it wasn't right. The way Ms. Caletti was able to push through the norm and dive for something beautiful underneath the current was incredible. It truly made for a great read. However, because of this gorgeous writing, it did take sometime to get through this book. It felt very literary to me and I had to take little bites of it like a rich piece of chocolate cake.


Stay is gripping-- one part beauty, one part obsession. With Clara leading, and a rich and dense setting and cast to support her, it's absolutely a novel to check out. I highly recommend this one!

Rating:


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