chrissireads's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed Gayle Forman’s If I Stay and do need to read more of her books. When I heard about I Have Lost My Way I wanted to read it. It certainly sounded like my sort of thing.
I Have Lost My Way centres around three teenagers who come quickly into one another’s lives when they need a friend the most. There’s Freya, who is tipped to become mega famous down to her beautiful voice, Harun, a Muslim who is about to leave his home to find a wife and finally Nathaniel who is visiting New York for the first time. What’s interesting about these characters are that they’ve all lost something. They’re searching for their place in the world and each one of them has a battle to face. It is their developing friendship that enables them to confront the past and move forward for the future. The story takes place over 24 hours but I believe it packs a powerful punch!
I really enjoyed the characters in this story. It is a short, fast-paced read, so if you want to know all the characters deeply, then it’s not the book for you. However, I felt like I knew enough about them to root for them and want them to find their place in the world. I loved how it flipped between the past and the present for the characters. It makes the reader realise what has gone on in the character’s life.
If you’re looking for a decent, slightly deeper YA read then I would highly recommend Gayle Forman. She is a wonderful writer. It’s a powerful read that covers some very important topics.
I Have Lost My Way centres around three teenagers who come quickly into one another’s lives when they need a friend the most. There’s Freya, who is tipped to become mega famous down to her beautiful voice, Harun, a Muslim who is about to leave his home to find a wife and finally Nathaniel who is visiting New York for the first time. What’s interesting about these characters are that they’ve all lost something. They’re searching for their place in the world and each one of them has a battle to face. It is their developing friendship that enables them to confront the past and move forward for the future. The story takes place over 24 hours but I believe it packs a powerful punch!
I really enjoyed the characters in this story. It is a short, fast-paced read, so if you want to know all the characters deeply, then it’s not the book for you. However, I felt like I knew enough about them to root for them and want them to find their place in the world. I loved how it flipped between the past and the present for the characters. It makes the reader realise what has gone on in the character’s life.
If you’re looking for a decent, slightly deeper YA read then I would highly recommend Gayle Forman. She is a wonderful writer. It’s a powerful read that covers some very important topics.
canvasofthesky's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
aakas's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lessariel's review against another edition
5.0
This had all the feels. I love the characters, so different yet with the same issues, meeting through kismet and forming a friendship. With one of the best endings ever, leaving you with so much hope and thoughts about the future
They find each other.
Just how you hope it will be, but amazing that it’s the ending and we don’t know what happy ever after will look like. I’d love a sequel set a year from the end showing us their lives.
They find each other.
Just how you hope it will be, but amazing that it’s the ending and we don’t know what happy ever after will look like. I’d love a sequel set a year from the end showing us their lives.
especiallybooks's review against another edition
4.0
I have to say that Forman does it again and the ending was wonderful.
breadedbookpages's review against another edition
5.0
Content warning: suicidal ideation, accidental overdose, outing of two gay characters, usage of the f slur, usage of ableist word: lunatic.
lyndsayreads's review against another edition
4.0
I've had such an up and down relationship with Gayle Forman's books so I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this. I'd heard good things but I was still skeptical given my past history *cough couch* I Was Here. However, this book surprised me in the best way.
This book follows 3 people who are "lost" in their lives. One day, an incredibly chance encounter pushes them together and through this, they begin to discovery who they are again. It's told in alternating POVs between all 3 of the main characters. And while the main story takes place over the course of just 24, or more realistically 12 hours, there are also flashbacks that enlighten the reader on what brought each of the characters where they are when we first meet them. All 3 of the characters are diverse characters. Freya is a half-Ethiopian, half-Jewish singer. Harun is a gay Muslim dealing with coming out to his family. And Nathaniel recently lost one of his eyes and it's left him with a disability.
At first, I was worried because the book is less than 300 pages but there were 3 different perspectives. I was sure that one or more of them would suffer for the sake of developing the third and therefore, two of the characters would feel less fleshed out and less developed. However, all 3 characters felt like they had plenty of time to lay down their story, be fleshed out, and develop into a good character arc.
I liked the way the story was told. I liked that there was one main storyline. And even though I don't typically like books that take place in such a short amount of time, I did really like what Gayle Forman did in that short amount of time. But the real winner here was definitely the flashbacks that allowed us to get to know these characters more and start to empathize with them. It's definitely shrouded in a bit of mystery. Because each character has something going on and it's only slowly revealed throughout the book.
My one main criticism is the major insta-love. Of course, it's a book that takes place in less than 24 hours, but it's also YA contemporary. And it just had to have a love story. And since it takes place in such a short amount of time, of course it's intsa-love. Sometimes, I don't mind insta-love. But this was not one of those times. This was pretty bad insta-love. I think the book could have been even better if it had just focused on friendship and left the romance to the imagination.
Overall, I'm glad I decided to give this book a go. While Gayle Forman hasn't quite redeemed herself for how I felt about I Was Here, she's definitely on her way. If you're a fan of Gayle Forman, I'd say this book is a must-read. It's cute and funny and poignant all at the same time. Definitely glad I picked this up.
Read for the 7 in 7 Readathon 2018.
This book follows 3 people who are "lost" in their lives. One day, an incredibly chance encounter pushes them together and through this, they begin to discovery who they are again. It's told in alternating POVs between all 3 of the main characters. And while the main story takes place over the course of just 24, or more realistically 12 hours, there are also flashbacks that enlighten the reader on what brought each of the characters where they are when we first meet them. All 3 of the characters are diverse characters. Freya is a half-Ethiopian, half-Jewish singer. Harun is a gay Muslim dealing with coming out to his family. And Nathaniel recently lost one of his eyes and it's left him with a disability.
At first, I was worried because the book is less than 300 pages but there were 3 different perspectives. I was sure that one or more of them would suffer for the sake of developing the third and therefore, two of the characters would feel less fleshed out and less developed. However, all 3 characters felt like they had plenty of time to lay down their story, be fleshed out, and develop into a good character arc.
I liked the way the story was told. I liked that there was one main storyline. And even though I don't typically like books that take place in such a short amount of time, I did really like what Gayle Forman did in that short amount of time. But the real winner here was definitely the flashbacks that allowed us to get to know these characters more and start to empathize with them. It's definitely shrouded in a bit of mystery. Because each character has something going on and it's only slowly revealed throughout the book.
My one main criticism is the major insta-love. Of course, it's a book that takes place in less than 24 hours, but it's also YA contemporary. And it just had to have a love story. And since it takes place in such a short amount of time, of course it's intsa-love. Sometimes, I don't mind insta-love. But this was not one of those times. This was pretty bad insta-love. I think the book could have been even better if it had just focused on friendship and left the romance to the imagination.
Overall, I'm glad I decided to give this book a go. While Gayle Forman hasn't quite redeemed herself for how I felt about I Was Here, she's definitely on her way. If you're a fan of Gayle Forman, I'd say this book is a must-read. It's cute and funny and poignant all at the same time. Definitely glad I picked this up.
Read for the 7 in 7 Readathon 2018.
tillytom's review against another edition
5.0
I... I don't know what to rate this yet... I need a second...
Okay, it's been a couple of days. I'm gonna give this a 4.5, officially. I absolutely loved this book, I just didn't love it as much as my other 5 stars. It's not a new favorite... I think... I'm not sure! I'm still so indecisive.
This was such a beautiful story. At first, I immediately disliked the main character Freya, adored, Harun, and felt nothing towards Nathaniel. Freya's character, in fact, was causing me to dislike the book. However, by the 50-page mark, I was head-over-heels for all three characters, and upon finishing the book I can say with certainty that I adore each character. Their backstories all carried such emotional impacts that really helped make the characters more three-dimensional; they added a certain drive to each character that made the story more likable, more emotional, and more compelling. I really felt for each character (Especially Nathaniel. His tragic story was a serious tearjerker and has left me impacted on a deep level.)
The writing style was actually amazing. We switch back and forth between current day: where each character has collided with the others and they're all each other's salvation, and to the past: where we learn what each character had been through and why they are all so desperately clinging to this random connection made between strangers. It's an emotionally driven story that grabbed my interest from page 15 and held it until page 256. I was emotionally captivated and had trouble putting the books down. I truly adore this book and will carry this impactful story with me for many months.
I highly recommend.
Okay, it's been a couple of days. I'm gonna give this a 4.5, officially. I absolutely loved this book, I just didn't love it as much as my other 5 stars. It's not a new favorite... I think... I'm not sure! I'm still so indecisive.
This was such a beautiful story. At first, I immediately disliked the main character Freya, adored, Harun, and felt nothing towards Nathaniel. Freya's character, in fact, was causing me to dislike the book. However, by the 50-page mark, I was head-over-heels for all three characters, and upon finishing the book I can say with certainty that I adore each character. Their backstories all carried such emotional impacts that really helped make the characters more three-dimensional; they added a certain drive to each character that made the story more likable, more emotional, and more compelling. I really felt for each character (Especially Nathaniel. His tragic story was a serious tearjerker and has left me impacted on a deep level.)
The writing style was actually amazing. We switch back and forth between current day: where each character has collided with the others and they're all each other's salvation, and to the past: where we learn what each character had been through and why they are all so desperately clinging to this random connection made between strangers. It's an emotionally driven story that grabbed my interest from page 15 and held it until page 256. I was emotionally captivated and had trouble putting the books down. I truly adore this book and will carry this impactful story with me for many months.
I highly recommend.