Before I Fall

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Before I Fall (MP3 - Unabridged) Pub. Date: 3/2/2010 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

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Overview

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.

Lauren Oliver

Editorial Reviews

ALA Booklist

“Oliver, in a pitch-perfect teen voice, explores the power we have to affect the people around us in this intensely believable first novel...This is a compelling book with a powerful message and should not be missed.”

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)

“Samantha’s attempts to save her life and right the wrongs she has caused are precisely what will draw readers into this complex story and keep them turning pages until Sam succeeds in living her last day the right way.”

More Reviews (5) Fewer Reviews

Children's Literature

It is a truism that every high school has a clique of popular mean girls. Samantha Kingston is in that clique. With her fellow seniors and long-time friends Lindsay, Elody and Ally, Samantha rules the school. One day is just like the next, with Samantha doing what she wants, taking what she wants, and disregarding the people left in her wake. Then, on February 12, everything changes. Leaving a party with her friends, Samantha dies in a car crash—or does she? She awakens in her bed. But something isn't right. It's not February 13; it is the 12th again. Over and over, seven times, she relives her last day. Through the process, she comes to realize all that she has lost, all that she can gain, and what is worth saving. The plot is unusual and thought-provoking, and teenagers who are fascinated by questions of life and death will enjoy the book for that. The book's most remarkable feature, though, is Lauren Oliver's account of Samantha's growth over the course of that very strange week. In the beginning, we can't like her. She is thoroughly repugnant. We have trouble caring about her, apart from her tragic end. By the end, we are rooting, passionately, for her to live. It's rare for an author to manage such a thorough character transformation believably, but Oliver does. Librarians may wish to exercise some caution in choosing this book for younger readers, as it includes themes of alcohol use and teenage sexuality. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green

VOYA

Samantha is dead, killed in a car accident after a Valentine's Day party. As her life ends, events from her childhood play out in front of her. She is dismayed to watch her own casual cruelty to others flash in front of her. Her life was definitely not supposed to end this way; however, the next morning Sam is back in her bed with the alarm ringing. Was the accident all a nightmare? Sam struggles to understand exactly what has happened. She has been given the chance to live that last day of her life over and over again. Gradually she comes to understand that it is the small things, the seemingly unimportant decisions she makes, that have the gravest consequences. It would be easy to label this story a young adult version of Groundhog Day. Oliver's creation of multidimensional characters, especially Samantha, and her skilled examination of how even inconsequential things affect the lives of those around Sam transform this book from predictable and perhaps even formulaic into an evocative look at life and death. Samantha's attempts to save her life and right the wrongs she has caused are precisely what will draw readers into this complex story and keep them turning pages until Sam succeeds in living her last day the right way. Reviewer: Teri S. Lesesne

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—In the blink of an eye, popular high school student Samantha Kingston loses her life. What should have been a fantastic day turns out to be the beginning of a horrific afterlife experience. In the wake of a fiery car crash, Sam wakes up on Friday, February 12th again, and again, and again—reliving her last day seven times. At the beginning, she is her usual obnoxious, thoughtless, and reckless self, but the teen is gradually transformed over the week. Sarah Drew narrates Lauren Oliver's powerful debut novel (HarperCollins, 2010), bringing Sam's voice to life with brilliant execution. She matches every nuance of Sam's character, easily transitioning from mean girl through stages of anger, moroseness, hopelessness, and regret, until she reaches a state of acceptance. The secondary characters are interestingly voiced. The story will instantly capture listeners, and the outstanding narration makes it potentially one of the best audiobooks of the year. A must-have for public libraries and high school collections, though schools should be aware that there are scenes with both sexual situations and teen drinking.—Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, New Britain, CT

Publishers Weekly

Beautiful, popular Samantha and her three best friends are the ruthless queen bees of their high school. But Samantha is living a nightmare: throughout the book, she relives the day of her death seven times, with some dramatic alterations and revelations depending on her choices—ditching school to spend time with her younger sister or, on a day when life’s rules have all but lost their meaning, seducing a teacher. She faces the often tragic consequences of even the smallest acts, awakens to the casual cruelties all around her, and tries to get things right and maybe even redeem herself. If this sounds too much like a Groundhog Day–style plot, make no mistake: evocative of Jenny Downham’s Before I Die, Oliver’s debut novel is raw, emotional, and, at times, beautiful (“It amazes me how easy it is for things to change,” Samantha thinks. “how easy it is to start off down the same road you always take and wind up somewhere new”). Samantha’s best friends are funny, likable, and maddening, but readers will love Samantha best as she hurtles toward an end as brave as it is heartbreaking. Ages 14–up. (Mar.)

Kirkus Reviews

When your novel's heroine opens the story as a popular, mean highschooler, the story will be one of two things: a paean to Dolce & Gabbana or a tale of redemption. Sam's story is of the latter kind: a Groundhog Day-style repeated day she must relive until she gets it right. With each repeat, she changes something in her relationships-to her family, to the cruelty of her queen-bee friends, to her lecherous boyfriend, to the hot math teacher and to the countless nerds, dorks and freaks she's always abused or ignored. If she can just get it right, Sam thinks, she'll be freed from her loop and can move on with her life. Within this predictable framework Oliver builds a quietly lyrical story of selfhood and friendship, avoiding the obvious paths out of the time loop. Bill Murray's Groundhog Day character used his repeated day to learn French; Sam, more valuably, learns that life's composed of "little gaps and jumps and stutters that can never be reproduced." Unexpectedly rich. (Fantasy. 12-15)

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780061726804
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date: 3/2/2010
Pages: 470
Sales rank: 17,930
Age range: 14 - 17 Years
Lexile: 860L (what's this?)
Product dimensions: 5.80 (w) x 8.40 (h) x 1.60 (d)

Meet the Author

Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver is the author of the New York Times bestseller Before I Fall, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. Her thrilling second novel, Delirium, debuted on the New York Times bestseller list and is the first book in a trilogy. Oliver is also the author of a luminous novel for younger readers, Liesl & Po. A graduate of the University of Chicago and the MFA program at New York University, Lauren is now a full-time writer and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5

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EmmyKAY

Posted April 15, 2010

I Also Recommend:

I am a teen who is very picky about what I read but I LOVED this book!

I easily get fustrated by books that I read because I tend to be pretty picky. I like books that really play with my emotions, ones that might make me cry and ones that I can relate to. So many silly teen novels are out of the question just because I like a more serious read. I judge books by seeing if i can put the book down easily or do I stay up to the wee hours to finish it. So I took out this book because it looked good and was surprised by how much I loved it!! I can relate to it, being a teenager girl myself, it's thrilling, left me wanting more. I could not put the book down!! That's an extremely good sign! The story gets better as the book progesses and the book really makes you think. I loved that about it. It also makes you wonder what you would do if you were in Sam's sitation. All I can say is: you really have to read this book!

59 out of 63 people found this review helpful.
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Wrighty

Posted March 10, 2010

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Sure to be a huge success!

I read the author's introduction for the First Look Club at Barnes & Noble where she mentioned that she intended for her audience to dislike the characters in the early chapters. She did her job well because I didn't care for Sam and her friends in the beginning. In fact there were members of the club who considered not continuing the book because of the girls' very bad behavior. But I could not put it down. Lauren Oliver did exactly what she had intended in that first chapter. She introduced us to Sam and her friends Elody, Ally and their "leader" Lindsay, senior girls at Thomas Jefferson High School. They are popular, pretty and selfish snobs who get away with anything and everything.

Sam tells her story from the moment she wakes up on Friday, February 12th. She shares all of the details of her day in school, the afternoon at Ally's house and the evening at a party. Since it's Cupid's Day, an early Valentine celebration, emotions are running high and Sam mentions a variety of interactions that occur that day. She and her friends are quite entertained when other students have hurt feelings and are more concerned with what they will be wearing to the party. Not all goes as planned and their irresponsible behavior leads to a tragedy. As Sam herself reveals in the first sentence of the prologue she is killed in that accident. And she wakes up the next morning to repeat February 12 all over again.

Sam is aware that it's the same day but it doesn't appear that anyone else is. Through her shock and confusion she muddles through the day and attempts to prevent her death. Some things can be changed but as the days go by she starts to realize that she may be focusing on the wrong things and the wrong people. Sam begins to see how her actions have affected and often hurt others. She tries to make changes throughout the day but it doesn't go as planned.

Lauren Oliver takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. I was fascinated with her insight and attention to detail. With each chapter Sam's changes had a ripple affect on others and the results would show up all throughout the book. A mention of something that appeared insignificant would often come to have great meaning later on. I would leaf back through the pages to find out how something had happened on a previous day so I could compare. It was like solving a puzzle, searching for clues. The characters were interesting and well developed. I was curious to know more about them and what led them to this day. In the first chapter it was easy to categorize everyone as the typical cliches - popular, jock, nerd, wallflower, but the first impressions were very deceiving. As the pages went by more layers were revealed.

It's likely you will think about the way you treat people after you finish the story. What mistakes would you correct if given the chance? This is a book that I will definitely be reading again. Congratulations to Lauren Oliver for what is sure to be a very successful debut novel.

Thank you to Barnes & Noble First Look Club for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

39 out of 44 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted May 26, 2010

It was emotional.

I saw a review for this book written by Jay Asher. And since I love Thriteen Reasons Why, I needed to read this book. I really liked this book. Sure some parts in it were kind of slow, but I couldn't put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen next. The characters in this book seemed so real. I don't ever lie when I'm writing a review, because I don't want you to buy this book and you not like it. People have different tastes in book. But I'm not a spoiler either. But I will say this, The only thing I didn't really like was the ending. It didn't end like I thought it would or how I wanted it to. And maybe that was the whole point. The ending was also a little comfusing. But I still love it. You should read it.

24 out of 28 people found this review helpful.
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Sheltiemama

Posted March 20, 2010

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Great for teens and preteens

First, let me say that I'm a 42-year-old woman who has just discovered how great some YA literature is now, and I loved this book.

Samantha Kingston is one of the four most popular girls in her high school. They're your typical mean girls, and I really didn't like her at first. After what is a typical day for the quartet and a party at the house of Sam's childhood best friend, the tormenting of classmate and bully target Juliet, and too much alcohol, the girls have a wreck and Sam is killed.

Oh, except that she wakes up again the next day. She finds herself in a "Groundhog Day"-type situation and relives her last day for a whole week. During that time, she tries to figure out how to save her life and do what's right as far as the other people in her life are concerned. Some of her attempts go awry, but as the week goes on, she starts to see herself in a new light and figures out what's important.

It's wonderful to watch Sam's evolution, and by the end of the book, which is terrific, I just loved her. I wish every teen and preteen girl could read this book and think about what they'd do and how they'd act if they knew this day would be their last.

20 out of 23 people found this review helpful.
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theReader278

Posted June 29, 2011

I Also Recommend:

Excellent Read

I loved reading this wonderful book! It is a story that keeps you entertained for hours.

12 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
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Scott16475

Posted February 22, 2010

Easy Read

As a 39 year old father of four, this book doesn't really fall into my genre; however, I really enjoyed Before I Fall.

Within the first few pages, you're going to hate all of the characters, including the main character, Sam; I know I did! As the book continued, my feelings of disdain began to lessen with Sam as my disdain turned into sadness. Like so many of us when we were in high school, we put on show and pretended to be someone that we weren't; I believe this is actually what Sam is doing. I won't give too much away, but I feel the real Sam emerged at just the right moment(s).

As a reader, you'll get to know many of Sam's friends as well as a few of her 'enemies' and truth be told, I found myself getting emotionally invested in one of the supporting characters named Juliet. It took me back to my high school days when I 'played' the role of Juliet (the male version, obviously - ha). I think the large majority of readers will find a character in the book that they can relate too, and that says a lot about this new and upcoming author.

I found this book to be an easy and quick read; do yourself a favor and spend a few hours reading this book!

12 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
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Tess4

Posted January 18, 2011

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Not this time!

I was very disappointed in this book. It was my first ebook purchase and I based it off of other reviews. I personally think it was a waste of my money, but what can I say for my first purchase. The book was slow, could not keep my attention and went off topic a lot. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

7 out of 48 people found this review helpful.
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Euphoria13

Posted May 25, 2010

Before I Fall (The Difference That A Change Can Make)

I was very lucky to snag an ARC of this book from the first reads program from Barnes and Noble! This book was on my to read list since October. I was very surprised by this book, its really a page turner! May sound cliche' but it seriously was! I could not put it down and when i did, my mind kept going back to this good story.

Have you ever wondered what happens, at the moment you are about to die, or exactly right before the event occurs? Or what happens after? What exactly is after when you die? For everyone, i'm sure the answer is different, we all have a different perception on what happens after.

For Samantha Kingston, it is reliving the exact same day Seven times. February 12, Cupid Day- The day when every person at Samantha's High School shows or proves just where they stand in the popular rank with the number of roses they recieve. Not to mention that, that night is Samantha's "Big Night" with her boyfriend Rob. But word spreads of a party being hosted by a boy named Kent who Samantha can not tolerate what so ever. Seems like plans are shifted a bit and Samantha and her best friends are going to the party.

But Samantha does not enjoy herself. Her best friends have gone off and abandoned her and her boyfriend is too drunk to comprehend or remember his plans with Sam. Just when the party could not be less enjoyable, Juliet Sykes- the unpopular girl of the school who is tormented and bullied by Samantha's friends confronts her and her group.

A scene breaks out as Juliet tells them in their face exactly what she feels they are. After being humiliated, Samantha and her friends leave the party and head off to their homes. But Samantha never reaches her house that night. A sudden flash of white, a horrible crashing noise, a word muttered by one of the girls and everything gets out of control.

After what seems like a long time of pain, darkness and falling, Samantha hears her alarm clock and opens her eyes. What seems like a horrible dream turns out to be Samantha's last day, as she learns that the moment she wakes up, she is relieving her very last day.

I was very impresed with Lauren Oliver's writing, being that this is her debut novel, its as if she's been writing for a long time. This story shows that with even the minor of changes a person makes, it can make such a big difference to someone's life. You'll hate Samantha and her friends when you read this book but you'll love her towards the end.

You will not get bored reading this! Even if Samantha's day is repeated seven times, it is never exactly the same. Many small changes occur and the results are BIG. The detials, dialogue, and emotions expressed in this book are believable and create a connection to the reader.

5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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EmMa_RoSiE

Posted May 14, 2010

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A Very Good Book!!

I was not always a good kid....in some ways I was a lot like the main character. After reading this book I realized you never know when your last day might be and yes while you still need to experience as much as you can I also believe that you need to spend as much time with your family as possible and treat them the right way. This book was a really good wake up call for me. I recommend this book to anyone above the age of 14, who needs help finding themselves and also needs a good life lesson. This book will stick with me for a while.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Beebsie

Posted May 11, 2010

Wow.

This book is amazing. It definitely gets you thinking. I'd recommend it to anyone. Sooooooo good!!

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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asamum

Posted May 19, 2010

An emotional rollercoaster of a read

At the beginning of this book I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. Written in 1st person narrative, Sam starts of as unlikeable; popular by association basing her actions and preferences on being accepted by the 'in' crowd. Peer pressure is an incredibly powerful thing and shown in all its *glory* in this story, the I felt as if Sam had no personality of her own, for all intents and purposes she was a sheep. And then she died.

Initially, I thought it was like an emotional Groundhog day (which is even mentioned within the narrative). However, as I relived each last day with Sam I really felt for her. Sam's fear of dying was palpable within the narrative. Very, very powerful writing. I felt as if I was there with her every step of the way. Imagine reliving the day you die over and over again, knowing that it is inevitable; that here is nothing you can do to stop it from happening. Knowing the exact time, place and circumstance of your own death. How frightened would you be as the minutes ticked away.

As Sam relives the same day over and over, we are exposed to the 5 stages of grief, (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and finally Acceptance). Sam is grieving for herself not only for the life that she has yet to live but for the mistakes she has made so far.

Getting the opportunity to repeat the same day gives Sam a chance to rectify some of the mistakes she has made. The opportunity to see people in a different light, to say the things she always wanted to say but never felt it was the right time and to be the person she really wanted to be rather than conforming. Sam gains a whole new perspective and discovers true love in the process.

All the characters were well developed and almost 3 dimensional, there personalities and interactions were so real to me I felt I was there right along with Sam. I could relate to all of them in one way or another. The narrative incorporates a lot of sensitive issues such as substance abuse, sex and eating disorders; issues although not dealt with in depth reflect the inner turmoil people suffer while projecting a very different outward image. The saying 'never judge a book by it's cover' strongly applies to the characters within this book.

I finished reading this book very late in the night; I went to sleep thinking about it and woke up the next morning still thinking about it. Is is one of those haunting stories that stays with you. For me it was an emotional roller-coaster. I felt as if I had been swallowed whole, chewed up into one big gloppy mess and then spat back out. I have to admit to absolutely sobbing my heart out while reading this one (not the usual silent tears but the gasping, sniffing type of sobbing). It really is an amazing book, you will need a lot of tissues.

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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blkeyesuzi

Posted March 10, 2010

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Teens and Adults will like this book

"Before I Fall" is a book appropriate for teens and adults. It's an enjoyable read and does something few books can these days...it makes one think. Even after the book was finished, I continued to think about the characters and I also thought about what I would do if I were in the same situation as the main character. This is a great story with characters you can love and hate for all the right reasons. It's a good thing to be entertained and learn something about yourself at the same time. I'd definitely recommend this book.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted January 22, 2012

Not so much

I loved Delerium, it was such a good book, so i decided to try this book. I did not really like this book at all. There were a few good moments but in order to get to them you have to wade through a ton of slutty content. I expected a little of obj content but this was way overboard for my tastes and not enjoyable to read - dissapointing.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted January 2, 2012

Awesome!

So good! Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Also has a good lesson and story line. Love!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted January 15, 2011

Disappointment

I was very disappointed with the book. I thought the author went of topic one too many times. It got boring. I thought it would get better as I kept reading, but no... a waste of time and money.

3 out of 17 people found this review helpful.
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shellbee21

Posted June 9, 2010

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Sad

I fell in love with these characters.I hated them at first but fell in love. This book was basically Groundhog day, but with high school issues and deeper feelings. I laughed and cried throughout this book. It was so riveting. The only thing I hated was the ending as usually, when someone learns the lesson, they get a second chance. Not so much with this book but maybe not so because Lauren wanted us to actually know that there are no second chances even when you try to fix your mistakes. Since I have read it, I have somewhat put the book on the hate part of my bookshelf as I have hated the ending(other books are Breaking Dawn(the oh, so acclaimed Stephenie Meyer), Separate Peace(John Knowles). Oh, well it was good.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Wendy33

Posted March 1, 2010

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Unforgettable story.

Before I Fall is one of those books that long after you finish reading it, it'll still be stuck in your mind. It's one of those books that will you cry and laugh and more importantly, think about the choices that you've made in your life so far.

Samantha Kingston is one of the most popular girls in her school, she's got her friends, a great boyfriend, and at first what seems to be a perfect care-free life. That is, until after a crazy night, she wakes to repeat the same day - February 12th. Turns out, that's the day she dies. Now Sam has a chance - well, seven chances - to relive that day, and make difference decisions. But is it too late to change the outcome?

Very rarely, I read books that literally affect me, and Before I Fall is one of those books. It's hard to describe how while I was reading about what Sam was going through, how it seems she was going through the five stages of dying, I was thinking of the decisions I've made in my life so far and were I to die right now, would I regret not telling someone I love them? Would I think that I could have made better decisions? This story is a roller-coaster of emotions and I felt pleasantly exhausted when I finished the book. Before I Fall is an incredible story about loss and love and living with the choices you've made. It's not a book just for young adults, it's for moms and college student and fathers and every single person who at one point has felt their mortality ticking by and has wondered: What happens next?

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted February 11, 2012

Not even 1 star

I am an avid reader. It normally takes me about three days max per book. This book? 4 weeks. Why? Because it was SO boring and quite pointless. I got fustrated abot 150pgs in and just skipped ahead. The ending was so terrible i threw it across the room and didn't pick it up for days.
Waste of time. Waste of money. Waste of paper. Waste of space. I feel bad for all the trees who died to make the paper inwhich this book was printed on. They died in vain.

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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allyj128

Posted December 23, 2009

more from this reviewer

A truly beautiful and moving story

I very rarely re-read books; that honor is generally saved for classics and childhood favorites. Before I Fall, however, is an exception to my rule, and each reading has provided new and different insight into the plot and the characters. Oliver has written an amazing debut novel, one that is sure to hold a place of honor on my bookshelf for years to come.

I devoured Before I Fall in one sitting, reveling in the way that each chapter reveals more and more about the protagonist, her friends, and her life. Initially unlikable, Samantha Kingston grows on the reader through her journey of both self-discovery and of the discovery of the events of the day of her death.

A must-read!

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted May 3, 2012

Great story!

Great story concept! It was a very creative and unique idea. Although, it became very repetitive and confusing at first it all makes sense at the end. Great Book!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Overview

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Lauren Oliver

Editorial Reviews

ALA Booklist

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)

Children's Literature

VOYA

School Library Journal

Publishers Weekly

Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

Meet the Author

Lauren Oliver

Customer Reviews

Rating Distribution

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I am a teen who is very picky about what I read but I LOVED this book!

Sure to be a huge success!

It was emotional.

Great for teens and preteens

Excellent Read

Easy Read

Not this time!

Before I Fall (The Difference That A Change Can Make)

A Very Good Book!!

Wow.

An emotional rollercoaster of a read

Teens and Adults will like this book

Not so much

Awesome!

Disappointment

Sad

Unforgettable story.

Not even 1 star

A truly beautiful and moving story

Great story!