Stay Review

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Title: Stay
Author: Deb Caletti
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: April 5, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 320
Source: Galley Grab

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....
Clara knows all too well what it means for someone to be dangerously co-dependent. It started as love, and a love far greater than she had ever known, at that, but it quickly grew into something deeper and more serious. Christian loved Clara, but he loved her to the point of possessiveness, and Clara's world became constricting and pained, despite the supposed "love" that was bestowed upon her. While he put her on a pedestal far above others, the dark lining simply meant she had farther to fall when her world crumbled beneath her. Clara needs to learn that loving herself is far greater than being the true object of one's eye.

Stay is my first stab at work by author Deb Caletti. I've heard wonderful things about her work, and I was eager to try it based on the premise. There's something haunting and more powerful about stories involving love gone wrong, but they can easily become cliche and overbearing. I can happily say that Stay defies the odds and exudes far more emotion than I could have hoped. It made me cringe, it made my cry and above all else, it made me think about self-worth. If a book can make me reflect upon my own life and my own choices, then the author has made the story ring true.

Clara was a twisty character in Stay...but this is not to be confused with twisted. She felt a sense of power in the love Christian felt for her, and it was understandable. To have that sort of love must truly build one up. She had a unique and unusual voice that completely separated her from the author's voice, which was utterly refreshing. Clara spoke in a way that was upfront, open and honest, but reading the meaning in her words was much like peeling and onion. The hidden layers beneath the words themselves took her story and character to the next level. I was also completely refreshed by her father, a secondary character with a true and defined personality. He clearly respected his daughter, but he gave her the freedom to make her own mind. Christian's character was the counterpart - eerie, dark and more haunting because of Clara's upfront approach to her situation.

I'm on a roll with contemps, it seems, and I'm so happy to have read Stay. Raw and powerful, Stay is fast-paced read but exudes both depth and feeling. I give it a firm 5 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

28 comments:

  1. Fantastic review! I LOVED Stay! It's the best YA contemporary fiction I've read. Christian continued to haunt me even after I had finished this book. Also, I really liked how the author portrayed the relationship between Clara and her father.

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  2. My reviews being posted later on:) This was my first Caletti book and I agree that this book was awesome! Great review Melissa!
    -Danna

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  3. Lovely review, I'm definitely gonna try to read this one. At first I thought the premise wasn't really for me, but after reading so many wonderful reviews I know I can't miss it :) I like the way you compared Clara's voice to an onion, I think this book would be facinating =)

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  4. This book is awesome and I am so glad you loved it. I am also glad you mentioned her Dad. He role was great in the story. Brilliant review :)

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  5. Amazing review! I'm wanting to read this one so bad by now! So many great reviews popping up! And I'm SO glad you are starting to enjoy more contemps!! They are my favorites, and it always gives me warm fuzzies to read about one you enjoy! :)

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  6. I love Caletti's writing and Stay does wound awesome. Your rating speaks volumes too. Great review

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  7. Wow !! That sounds awesome .. I so have to buy this book !! Thanks for the review Melissa ^^

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  8. Great review! I read Stay too! My rating is lower than yours only because the story itself is interesting, but not as striking as I thought it would be and it was a little slow for me. :(

    P.S. OMG! You went through with the designer I suggested! :O How did you like her services?

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  9. Loved, loved, loved this book too! And look at you and your contemps lately - so proud :)

    PS - I am lurving your new blog design!!

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  10. You loved it!!! YAY. I'm so so glad. You have to try The Nature of Jade next! Love Caletti, and love the layout change...alot! Awesome!

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  11. Well, now I want this one! I passed it up because of SO many books I already have, but your review sold me! I want to read it NOW!

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  12. Great review! I really should get to this book soon!

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  13. Another good one. You read such good contemporary YA books

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  14. I've seen a lot of good reviews for this - really glad you enjoyed it! Sounds like quite an emotional read, thanks for the review :).

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  15. So glad you enjoyed this one. I love seeing positive reviews for it, because I really seriously adored it. Her Dad was so awesome! And the footnotes? Loved them.

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  16. Another 5 out of 5 contemp? I really have to get started on these, Melissa! I was actually looking at Stay the other day, though I've never heard of the author before. It sounds interesting and I love twisted characters! Definitely going on my to-read list now!

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  17. Deb is an amazing writer! l truly loved Stay and will be getting more of her books.
    Glad you also enjoyed it.

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  18. Oh I have been considering this one and I think if I have time I may do this one for review. Thanks for helping me make my decision. :)

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  19. This sounds lovely. Books that make you reflect can be hard to read sometimes, because they're not always cheerful or fun. But they ultimately mean so much more than lighter books.

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  20. I loved this one as well. Great review.

    Heather

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  21. Wonderful review - I am looking forward to this one so much! Happy to see you enjoying contemp so much lately, Melissa!

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  22. Great review Melissa!! Im hearing great book from everyone! So guess what? Im going to go buy it right now. WOOT...

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  23. I loved Stay, too! It's become one of my all-time favourites, like you I loved Clara's unique voice.

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  24. I hadn't considered reading this but since you gave it a 5 I may consider it now...

    (...and it the game continues)
    AWESOME

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  25. Lovely review. I love both YA and Contemp. Fiction, so I will certainly check this one out.

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  26. I am currently reading this book. I am glad to see that high rating from you.
    I love the relation between Clara and his father

    I just have 3 days left before it disappear from my PC >.<

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  27. 5 out of 5? I’m sold. This sounds like a book I’d really enjoy.

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