3.5-4 Stars

This book is not something we would normally read, after seeing the cover and reading the snippet we were both intrigued as to what this book would hold.

Gayle Forman has done an amazing job in giving an insight into the aftermath of those affected by someone who has committed suicide. As well as glimpse into the life of someone who is struggling with a mental illness. As much as we may think we know someone, we never truly know who a person is and what they are struggling with in life. There is so much true emotion and depth in Gayle's words.

Cody is taken aback when she discovers her best friend Meg, the other piece of her has committed suicide. When Meg's parents ask Cody to go to her school and pack her belongs up and bring them home; she discovers a side to Meg she had no idea about. This other life Meg was living was very different to the one she had told Cody about. Cody is suspicious about Meg's suicide so when she reaches her room, the suicide note and other things that have happened don't add up, leading Cody to dig deeper into Meg's death. What Cody finds leads her on even more of mission to uncover the why, what, who?

The journey that Cody is taken on is one that is both eye opening and needed. She needs this journey to bring closure to not only herself but the other people affected by Meg's death. We both found this book a struggle to read, not because it was bad or not well written, but because it was so real and eye opening. We hope to read more books by Gayle in the future.

* Review by Kristy and Kayla.
Book provided by Simon and Schuster Australia for an honest review

**This review is an excerpt of a longer one posted on Readers in Wonderland**

Well, I have finally read a book about the much-hyped Gayle Forman. I really don’t know what to think. I read I WAS HERE over a week or so interrupted by placement and tiredness. Even though I enjoyed it there were many times I’d procrastinate reading more. The story just did not captivate me as much as some other novels have, despite the good characters and writing.

Cody was a pretty good main character. I liked her voice and her sarcasm. She had an entertaining narration that wasn’t boring or hard to read. Cody is also very different from me. Life hasn’t been as good to her, she didn’t go to college straight out of high school. Instead she works and supports herself and manages to do okay. She’s confident and a different type of smart.

My biggest problem was a lack of emotional connection. I think the main thing was I was expecting more. More pain, more heartbreak, more feels. But because I never got attached to the characters, I never really cared what was happening. Sure it was sad, but I’ve read sadder. And things at the end seemed to be pretty anticlimactic or change suddenly. For example, some of Tricia’s actions at the end seemed to come out of nowhere, and the truth Cody learnt about Meg was something I had suspected from the start and I’m surprised Cody, being the smart girl she was, didn’t at least suspect.

After hearing so much love for Gayle Forman, I was a little disappointed with I WAS HERE. Don’t get me wrong, the writing was good and I like the characters and romance, but I really just wanted more. There was no emotional connection, which is the main reason I WAS HERE fell flat for me. Fear not, die hard Forman fans, as I am willing to try Gayle Forman’s writing again if I can get my hands on some of her other books.

Forman has delivered an engaging and heartbreaking novel about the suicide of Cody’s best friend Meg. Cody believed she knew everything about Meg but when she tries to understand why is took her life she uncovers more than she thought. This is arguably one of Forman’s strongest books, with beautiful prose and flawed but relatable characters. If you loved her previous books, you’re sure to enjoy this one.