Before I Fall

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Author(s)

Lauren Oliver

Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers

Genre(s)

General Fiction

Age Range

14+

Release Date

March 02, 2010

ISBN

006172680X

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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.

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.

Editor reviews

4 reviews

Overall rating

4.0

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4.0(2)

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4.0(1)

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4.0(1)

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Mean Girl meets Groundhog Day...

February 28, 2012

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4.0

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Well written, thought provoking story. It was like reading a Mean Girl version of Groundhog Day only with more redeeming qualities. My favorite character was Kent and I wish there was a little more time for him in the book. I was not expecting the ending though!

Jen Top 10 Reviewer 415 reviews

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How Many Times Can You Die?

July 14, 2010

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4.0

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How many times can you die? Apparently several but after the first time, it really doesnt count. (Or does it?) So Sam (Samantha) Kingston finds out in Before I Fall, Lauren Olivers debut novel. Sam and her friends Elody, Ally and Lindsay were driving home from a Friday night, Cupids Day (Valentines Day) party, admittedly drunk, when they see a flash of white on the dark road ahead. Lindsay swerves, loses control, and drives into a ditch, killing Sam who was riding shotgun.

The next morning Sam wakes up. Remembering the events of the night before, shes not sure if it was a dream, but as the events of the previous day replay themselves beginning with her younger sister, Izzy, waking her up for school, Lindsay picking up having her coffee and bagel ready, the conversation about Sams imminent loss of her virginity to Rob after the party, Sam realizes she is reliving Friday. The problem is what does it mean and what should she do?

Sam relives Friday six times, each time realizing something new about herself, her friends, her family. Sam and her friends were in in crowd, but it wasnt always so for Sam. As you know, members of the in-crowd can be bitchy, sarcastic, and downright mean. When she and her friends start singing Psycho Killer as Juliet Sykes (obviously not in the in-crowd) walks into the lunchroom or when Rob puts his arms around her and slobbers on her, trying to kiss her, Sam begins to re-evaluate everything around her. Do her feelings change about her friends or about Kent McFuller, who is always unkempt, who always draws a cartoon for a Valentines Day card to accompany the roses that are distributed during class, who always had a crush on her?

There are certain flaws in Before I Fall, two of them concerning actions of teachers; actions that, while possible, are improbable. Some other events didnt ring true, but in general, Oliver has written a book that should make you think about the things around you, friends, family, how your actions impact the actions of others. I enjoyed seeing Sam change her views in many instances, while solidifying her views in others. Before I Fall is worth reading for so many reasons. Its well written, interesting, and unique. I think youll fall for it.

Ed Goldberg Top 50 Reviewer 133 reviews

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User reviews

28 reviews

5 stars

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4 stars

36%

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Overall rating

4.7

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4.7(28)

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4.6(16)

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4.8(16)

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Must read

September 18, 2018

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5.0

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Love this book! One of my favorites.

J Mercer Top 500 Reviewer 8 reviews

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Extremely Amazing!!!!!!

September 09, 2013

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5.0

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It's very rare that I read a book multiple times but Before I Fall was just amazing. Not only did I love the book but I loved Lauren Oliver's writing style. this book will make you think and I would recommend it to anyone

dee Top 1000 Reviewer 2 reviews

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Before I Fall

May 31, 2013

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5.0

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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!

Sara A. Top 500 Reviewer 34 reviews

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Before I Fall Book Review

April 30, 2013

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4.0

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i love this book and plan on getting my own copy.

Good Points

it was very descriptive and had a lot of depth. she used excellent wording and i liked that every once in a while there was a qoute or the main character would realize something so critical. alot of it was very relatable and seemed so real. its a hard book to put down. i liked the plot and the way she placed the characters. everything fell together perfectly. i also liked that the main character mentions the title. if i had not been borrowing this book, i would have sticky noted, highlighted, dog ear marked, and circled just about every other page.

Kaileigh Campbell 1 reviews

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Great!

April 08, 2013

Overall rating

4.3

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Sam is one of the worst YA characters I have ever experienced. Not that the author wrote her poorly, just the opposite. She is so real and I can definitely picture her clearly. She’s just a bad person. She’s mean, shallow, dishonest, and a bully. Her friends aren’t any better either. Does this mean she deserved to die? Well, no, of course not, but she is truly awful. However, it does take dying for Sam to realize something has to change.

Before I Fall could have gotten extremely repetitive since it takes place on the same day multiple times, but each time it’s a little different. At first it seems like Sam has gotten a second chance at life, to change the events of that fateful Friday and stay alive. Of course there’s a twist, but Sam is so self-absorbed that she thinks this all about her. Sure she had a hand in what happened, but her second chance is not about her own life. It’s not even about her equally awful friends’ lives. It takes her a few days and numerous questionable decisions to finally realize this.

The author has tackled a very tough subject with Before I Fall and in a very interesting way. She shows just how damaging bullying can be, even if you don’t think what you’re doing is that bad. We all really need to take a step back and consider how our actions affect others. I don’t think this book is preachy at all, but a very realistic portrayal of the effects of bullying. Does Sam magically become an amazing person by the end? No, and I think that’s okay. She realized her mistakes and tries to make amends, even if her methods are shallow. But that fits her character, and the ending would be completely unbelievable otherwise.

Angie F. Top 100 Reviewer 87 reviews

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LOVED IT!

February 07, 2013

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5.0

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I love this book! It's so different and strange. I could read it over and over again, and that's saying something. I guess if you put yourself in the Samantha's shoes, you will really feel everything. I love Kent, too!!! He is my favorite character. He's just so perfect.

Lucero

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Good read.

November 29, 2012

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4.7

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I've read a lot of books of that I didn't expect to be good but this tops them all.

My opinion on this book is that it is really good and also shocking. It has a couple flaws but overall I would certainly recommend this.

Mostly this novel is a bout a girl named Sam who goes through the same day over and over again like the movie Groundhog Day. The difference between the two is simple this book if much better and more interesting than the movie that I never finished watching, because personally it was dumb and a bit boring.

I love this book, but really it depends on the person and what types of books they enjoy because everyone has their own opinions and interests. Read it and you might love it.

Rachelle Top 500 Reviewer 28 reviews

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Great.

November 07, 2012

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4.3

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Obviously, this has been done before. Groundhog Day meets Mean Girls in book form.

It's the gorgeous writing and the thought provoking premise that really pushed Before I Fall into the land of awesome. (or at least into my land of awesome.)

I hated Sam in the beginning. Actually, that entire group of girls. And I think that was the point. For us to hate Sam, and then be almost in tears when she finally came to the realization that she could have done things better. And, of course, I got teary eyed more than once reading this.

Every character is optimal to the plot. I loved seeing them change from one day to the next. Day 7 really broke my heart. Sam's entire character did a turn around from the girl she used to be.

KENT. Oh my goodness. He is so adorable. I wish Sam would have seen that sooner.

I definitely wasn't expecting the ending though.

Great read.

Emily Savant, Staff Reviewer Top 50 Reviewer 300 reviews

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Before I Fall (A Room with Books review)

September 26, 2012

Overall rating

4.3

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Before I Fall was both everything and nothing I expected. I imagined that Sam would end up going through the emotions and the types of days she did, but I still never could have imagined all the secrets contained in one small day and how the actions of one person could change and reveal things.

You know the author’s done something fantastic when she can make me go from completely despising a character to loving her. And I’m not talking I-really-hated-her-but-she-grew-and-was-tolerable-by-the-end; I mean I wanted to punch Sam in the face for the first part of the book and by the end I had the serious warm-fuzzies for. I was slightly disappointed in the fact that she could just look past all the terrible things Lindsey had done, but maybe that just means a she’s more mature than I :P

I liked the fact that it took Sam quite a while to start changing. I mean, she spent one entire day doing everything she could possibly do that wasn’t like her usual self from kissing her teacher to stealing her mom’s credit card. I have to say, if I was stuck in the same day and nothing I ever did made a difference then I’d probably have a similar day. I’d be pissed at the world too if I knew I was dead and kept reliving the same day. But, the fact is she does change. Sometimes it was hard to read and ended up making me cringe away from the page, but in the end Oliver had created a beautiful character.

The Nutshell: Before I Fall is a beautiful story about hurt and loss and shows us that everything we do matters and has consequence. If you’re looking for a good story with complex characters and a plot that unfolds better than origami then this is the book for you.

Hit

Jasmine Top 50 Reviewer 326 reviews

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Not Feeling It

July 26, 2012

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.

Julie Top 100 Reviewer