Review: Stay by Deb Caletti

Title: Stay
Author: Deb Caletti
Genre: Young Adult
Publication: April 2011
Source: For review, from publisher

Summary: Clara and Christian meet at a high school basketball game and fall instantly, and intensely, in love. They talk about marriage, children, and "forever." Soon, however, Clara realizes that Christian has crossed the line into obsession, turning their once dream relationship into a dangerous, violent, and unhealthy one. She wants to leave, but Christian makes it clear that he will do anything to make her stay. She and her father have left home for a quiet beachside community to escape Christian, and allow Clara the freedom to live again without fear. Soon, though, it becomes clear that she still isn't safe from Christian, who will do everything in his power to find her and bring her back.

My Thoughts: What struck me most about this book was the writing: it's beautiful, eloquent, vivid, melt-in-your-mouth kind of writing. Does that make sense? It's so smooth and subtle.

The story line itself was, of course, fantastic as well. I've read a few stories about stalker/obsessive types of relationships (such as Stalker Girl, by Rosemary Graham, another great book), but there doesn't seem to be too many books on the market about this topic... and it's fascinating! The story is told in alternating chapters between the present, of Clara and her father in a small beachside town where they have run to escape Christian, and the past, in which Clara and Christian's story unfolds from a blossoming and intense love to a dangerous, violent obsession. I found myself looking forward to and anticipating the chapters on their relationship. I loved watching it unfold and crumble. Maybe 'loved' isn't the right word... I would say I was very captivated by it though. While the chapters taking place in the present were important for the story in order to see the relationship's after effects, I wasn't as enchanted or interested in them. But it definitely speaks volumes that I was anxiously awaiting those other chapters. This book truly did captivate me. There were times that I really could not put it down.

One thing I didn't necessarily love was... the writing. Yes, I know I said it was beautiful, and it really was, but at times, it felt like the details were dragging on when I really just wanted to hear more of the story itself. I feel like some of the story was overdetailed in describing things that were irrelevent to the story, such as trees or scenery. I was just dying to know what would happen next and those long, drawn out details were holding me back from knowing right away.

So, all in all, an intense and fascinating story with just a few minor setbacks that keep me from giving it a 5. I enjoyed the story tremendously and look forward to reading more of Caletti's work.

My Rating: 4/5