Before I Fall discussion

I've walked by this book probably a zillion times in Barnes & Noble because I wrote it off as another pointless stupid chick lit book. For some reason one day, I decided to read a few pages then if I liked it, I'd buy it. I read 15 pages and I loved it and hated it at the same time. It was kind of like an obsession.
I absolutely hated Sam. Sam was the girl that I couldn't stand in high school, the self absorbed, the world revolves around me and my perfect life type. As much as I hated her, I couldn't stop reading. I wanted her to change, I wanted her to be different but she was so insecure and so caught up on appearances it crippled her and it angered me. It angered me because reading from her narrative, I knew she could do better but was too afraid to stand up for herself.
Like everyone else, I expected her to get 7 tries and *tadaaaa* she'd wake up and get her life back as a redeemed citizen. Lauren Oliver had other plans. The more I hated Sam, the more pity I had for her and the people around her. It made he realize that everyone is struggling with some kind of demon, and that bullying is a HUGE deal and something so little could change things so great.
I wanted Juliette to live. I wanted her to just take Sam's advice and go home, but she didn't. I love how Lauren made everything so realistic because for some people, unfortunately, suicide seems like the only way out. I was so surprised to find myself crying at the end. Sam FINALLY got some common sense and you think everything is going to be okay, but you can't put a band aid on a gaping wound. I was so conflicted with this book! I was angry, I was hopeful, I was intrigued. I don't think I've ever thought of any other novel this way. You go into a story knowing who you hate, who you like, etc. With this book, I can't even tell you. Although I definitely hated Rob. He was a douche.
Lauren Oliver's novel is written so beautifully and so realistically that it's hard to believe it's her first novel. I never thought that buying this novel would completely change the way I view things and view people. It showed be how to accept things as they are, change what I can, and try to find the best in people.

I agree with most of what you said. I disliked Sam in the beginning but I was almost shouting at the book near the end because I wanted everything to work out for her. Also, even though we couldn't physically see Kent, he was a totally adorable character and a much better one than Rob. I felt really sorry for Juliet, the way she got treated and how everyone ignored her. I really didn't like the Lindsay character either.

I agree. I don't really even remember why I got this book. I think I saw it on bookswap and just decided to try it. It changed the way I view the world as well. It is one of the greatest books I have ever read and definitely one of my favorites. Oliver did an amazing job as you put it by making you like the people that are so easily hated in real life by showing the "behind the scenes" so to speak of their lives and then not giving you the "happy ending" that I think readers expected.
Such a great book!

I thought it was great! Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen the story went in another direction! I've never read a book where all the highschool characters are portrayed as being so human! Not just good or bad but complex and with so many layers and things we never knew about them. Nothing in the book is simply black or white and that's what I love about it. It really makes you think.

I thought this book was an ordinary chick-lit that would just go on sale after a few years of release 'cause it was useless and disappointing but the truth was laid before my very eyes. This book is lovely and worth buying! I had it as a gift for my birthday and when I finished reading the book I sent her a message right away telling her how thankful I am for receiving it for if I were to buy, I'd probably skip this book thinking it's not worth my money but it is! Amazing story. My only rant: I hate how I ended up completely loving this book! Live life as if it were your last and every Samantha Kingston had her reasons for being one. Never underestimate a Juliet Sykes and also Kent. Poor Kent. :( Theirs was real love but it was too late for Sam. :((

Ana~
I love what u said!!!! But I always wanted to read this.... Ugh! Sam was soooo annoying at first, but i loved that she changed. This is totally worth buying and I recommend to almost everyone(= Juliet Sykes is probably the spokeswoman for about 1-2 million teenage girls. Kent.... Poor poor Kent... He'd been nothing but nice to Sam and she jsut spit at his feet. I wish Sam lived so they could go on....)=

I completely agree! I was so frustrated with Sam and how she always acted like a total snob toward the beginning. It irritated me to no end. But when I found out what happened to Juliet over and over again, somehow I figured Sam would try to change Juliet's fate. And I was right. But it ended badly for Sam.
I hated Rob like I never hated anyone before. He was such a crappy person! Sam definitely deserved better, and by the time she realized this it was (unfortunately) too late. I love her and Kent, each scene with them together, be it good or bad, made my heart beat faster and all I could think about was "Are they going to kiss?" And even though Sam frustrated me, I suppose this is how teens with her little status act/think (I wouldn't know, I'm not popular like her), which made the character seem even more realistic in my mind.
So yeah, I completely agree with your little rant. The book was frustrating, and I was skeptical about it at first, but I will never regret buying the book.

Storm wrote: "I completely agree! I was so frustrated with Sam and how she always acted like a total snob toward the beginning. It irritated me to no end. But when I found out what happened to Juliet over and ov..."

Rob is the most irritating, rude, selfish person i've ever even read about. Unfortuneately (however you spell that) i know someone like that. The sad thing is is that he is really popular. Why is it that if people are mean, they are immediatly an interest to be popular? What good does it do if you are constantly rude to people and don't care about anything but yourself? No good at all. I jsut can't wait until he's older and he gets a taste of his own medicine when no one wants to be around him. I cannot tell you how many times i've just wanted to turn around and knock his creepy little smile off his face. You know what i mean?? Sorry I'm going off like this, I'm sure you could care less(= haha, but we all have someone in our lives like this. Even some of US are like this....

Sydney wrote: "Storm wrote: "I completely agree! I was so frustrated with Sam and how she always acted like a total snob toward the beginning. It irritated me to no end. But when I found out what happened to Juli..."

I am so fortunate to not know someone like this, though there's no doubt that there's probably someone like this at my school. To whoever is friends with a person like Rob, I kind of feel sorry for them. I hated Rob so much, I almost threw the book across the room, he irritated me so much. It sucks that you know someone like Rob, and it sucks even more that he's popular. It won't help him later in life, and his future boss (if he's hired at all) won't really care if he was popular during high school. Honestly, I don't know if I'm talking about the guy you know or about Rob anymore, but my opinion stands the same. I know exactly what you mean though, people like Rob annoy me to death. And I REALLY hope I'm not like that, cause then this whole post would be a bit hypocritical >_>

Sam was a snob but I liked her more and more towards the end. The book showed how people act in their last days, if they know they are gonna die. It made me realize how you never know when you'll die, it just happens.

When I finished this book, I almost wanted to forget it. I so desperately wanted to Sam to get it right and save herself and live happily ever after with Kent. I was actually angry about the ending. I suppose what I am trying to say is that I had a really strong reaction to the story and the characters. Mrs. Oliver is a superb writer.

I gave this book 3 stars because of the fact that I loved it and HATED it at the same time. It took me a while to get into it at first, because I simply hated Sam. She was a follower. She threw her friendship with Kent away for Lindsay and she was mean to people just because Lindsay was. While Lindsay was mean to people for no reason at all, except for her own insecurities or boredom. All of her friends were just so shallow, it's like why am I reading a book with 4 main characters I DON'T LIKE!? But then as the book progressed, I suppose after the day that Sam dressed up like a hooker, I actually began to like Sam. I felt like she was finally TRYING to get things right. And then just as everything was going right, it turns out she was dead all along.

(SPOILER)
I think the hard time I had with the ending of this book was the fact that Sam was ACTUALLY dead, all along. It's like, was her re-doing the same day over simply her being in some sort of limbo? Does that mean everything she did that last day doesn't count for anything? If that's the case then Sam ACTUALLY dies as the person she was on the first day of the book... and that Sam I did not like. That's not how I wanted Sam to be remembered. I wanted to be able to see what happened to the rest of the world when it finally hit Saturday, February 13th. But it never did. I loved the middle & the thought put into the book by Lauren Oliver. But I hated the beginning, and I absolutely hated the end. Call me a sucker for happy endings, but I just didn't feel complete when finishing this book. I felt like the author took my heart somewhere in the middle, and never gave it back at the end. What happens to Kent? Of all the people he was the purest and the most lovable, and that's what I still feel like I need to know.

I love this book, but I disliked it because of the really long chapters.

First off, let me say that I really enjoyed this book. I know it isn't all happy ending and what-not, but it made me think for quite a while after finishing it, and I like it when a book does that.

I think I'm the first male to respond in this particular thread, and so let me offer this criticism: every single male in the book (with the one exception of Kent) is painted in a very negative light. And every single female is given enough information that the reader can, at minimum, understand the character.

Therefore, I do take exception to the comments about this being totally "realistic". I don't believe the "jerk-ratio" is as high for males as it is portrayed.

Kim wrote: "I've walked by this book probably a zillion times in Barnes & Noble because I wrote it off as another pointless stupid chick lit book. For some reason one day, I decided to read a few pages then if..."

Hi! Great review! You verbalized everything I was thinking but unable to express so fluently!

Storm wrote: "Sydney wrote: "Storm wrote: "I completely agree! I was so frustrated with Sam and how she always acted like a total snob toward the beginning. It irritated me to no end. But when I found out what h..."

I'm sure you're not like this!! And yeah, it does really suck to know someone like this... But you're right about the boss not really caring if he wsa popular or not. His popularity now won't really help him in the long run. But for now it sure is! Haha. But none of my friends are close to him, so I don't have to talk to him (more like put up with him) every day. So thank God for that!!

Tim wrote: "First off, let me say that I really enjoyed this book. I know it isn't all happy ending and what-not, but it made me think for quite a while after finishing it, and I like it when a book does that..."

yeah... there are a lot of really sweet guys. Most of my closest friends are. But, there are those ten or twenty guys that you just wonder how they even have friends. So, sorry if I ever said anything about males that was totally negative and unrealistic. I don't think I have, but just in case!

Sydney wrote: "Storm wrote: "Sydney wrote: "Storm wrote: "I completely agree! I was so frustrated with Sam and how she always acted like a total snob toward the beginning. It irritated me to no end. But when I fo..."

Thank God indeed!! If it's helping him right now, great, but like I said before, it won't help him in the long run. I probably wouldn't be able to last five minutes in the same room as someone like Rob....

I prefered Groundhog Day. :P

pretty awesome book! its one of my favs. It made me mad that sam could live with herself being such a snob to people. but near the end i admired her. she made a good decision in the end. it was a really touching book.

Is it just me or do you guys want a sequal in kents POV of each day?

Kim wrote: "I've walked by this book probably a zillion times in Barnes & Noble because I wrote it off as another pointless stupid chick lit book. For some reason one day, I decided to read a few pages then if..."
I completely agree with you. It changed my entire outlook on life.

Kim wrote: "I've walked by this book probably a zillion times.

i agree.i didnt know if i was going to like it.so i went on amazon and read some pages.finally made up my mind and checked it out at the library.it was awesome.

Hailey wrote: "Is it just me or do you guys want a sequal in kents POV of each day?"

That would not make sense though. Since technically Sam is the only one who realizes she is reliving the same day over and over. She is the one to learn a lesson not Kent.

Can someone enlighten me how Sam knew that the seventh day is her last? Or is it?

I mean why does it even matter to Sam if she ‘saved’ Juliet on the seventh day? I mean Juliet does not get to live anyways. Remember, she killed herself after the party. So it’s her destiny to die. No point in saving at all. They BOTH DIE eventually.

These are just some of my thoughts regarding the book. Though I really LOOOVED it- the characterization, the entirety of it- I’m still boggled with the ‘saving-Juliet-ending’.

I, too, love and hated this book. But what intrigued me the most was wondering whether Sam really lived that day seven times like in the movie Groundhog Day, or whether she died and was caught in purgatory working out her many issues. I think it's the second option. That seems more plausible to me.

As others have said, after the first couple of days I wanted to toss the book aside, but I stuck with it and I was glad I did. I really enjoyed Sam's growth as a character, and even the depth Lauren Oliver gave to Lindsay through revealling her motivations.

The ending took me completely by surprise, although it makes sense in a purgatory type setting - Sam learned what she needed to and was able to ascend to the afterlife.

I liked what Oliver says about how last things are more important when you know they are the last things, but knowing makes them more difficult to let go of. Very powerful.

I think that most everyone who read this book expected the typical "and they all lived happily every after. The end." Not so much with this one. I would give this book 2 stars. I didn't really like it. It got very repetitive because she relived her last day 7 times. So you knew exactly what was going to happen with minor changes. I thought that the match up of Kent and Sam was just to unrealistic. I can see dumping Rob because - let's just face it... he pressured her constantly and always put himself first. But what I couldn't see was Kent and Sam. Kent may have been okay as a childhood friend but given the descriptions of Kent, he didn't seem like the type of guy that she would have anything in common with.

Not only that, but a lot about the book was really unrealistic and I hated the last line of the book when it says "and you'll have to find out the rest for yourself..." Thats an ending that a second grader could write.... just saying.

Didn't really like this book but it was OK.

I hope that Delerium is better because it is on my "To Read" shelf...

This book is terrible. First off I love the concept of going back in time and fixing her mistakes, but it was a real dissapointment because Sam was an IDIOT!!! Ok why would you leave your friends for some bitchy popular girl in the first place. And she knew her boyfriend was a drunk loser so why stay with him when he is like that. And there was waaayyyy too much sex and language for my taste. I dont mind that in any other context but this took it to a new level. It was disgusting how the teacher flirted with her and then basically raped her in class. The end wasnt even that redemptive. All in all a terrible read that i wouldnt tell anyone to ever consider.

Gretchen wrote: "Hailey wrote: "Is it just me or do you guys want a sequal in kents POV of each day?"

That would not make sense though. Since technically Sam is the only one who realizes she is reliving the same d..."

It would make sense if he woke up as the same day too. No need to get rude.

S.L.J. wrote: "I prefered Groundhog Day. :P"

I actually preferred Replay, by Ken Grimwood, couldn't get into "before I fall".

This whole "I live the perfect live and still hate the world and all the people in it because I despise myself" attitude that the kids in this book show is just too far away for me to be still able to connect with it.


I have to agree with Tim, the book casts boys (and men) in a bad light - but then again, I guess it is the natural selection that girls as this would draw, and we do get to see the world solely through Sam's eyes.


Sabrina wrote: "I thought that the match up of Kent and Sam was just to unrealistic."

At the better moments in the book they stroke me as characters like the late John Hughes could have written, especially Kent in his fancy dress up and with his undying hope (and love) for Sam - this unrewarded loyality to her.
They would have made a "Breakfast Club" couple who we, and they, know can't last and yet we have to smile and love it that the underdog got under the skin of the popular girl. :)

Let me add:
The truest part of the novel is certainly the circular reasoning.

"We get away with everything because we are popular, and we are popular because we get away with everything."

It's sad, but that is in a nutshell how the world works.

Saffy119 wrote: "I agree I HATED ROB !!!! I really cannot see how Kent Mcfuller loved someone with her character but I started to sympathise with her character towards the end! I like how the book with her giving h..."

I thought Juliet and Sam died together ?

Kim wrote: "I thought Juliet and Sam died together?"

No, far as I skimmed the end Sam pushes her out of the way before she gets hit.

Gerd wrote: "Kim wrote: "I thought Juliet and Sam died together?"

No, far as I skimmed the end Sam pushes her out of the way before she gets hit."

I'll probably have to skim the ending later on then.

No only Sam dies... believe me, I read the book from cover to cover

I loved this book. It's definitly one of my favorties. I cried for at least twenty minutes after I finished it. Mostly I cried for Kent who finally got Sam only to lose her forever. Kent was my favorite character, but after a while I learned to love Sam and Lindsay. I liked the fact that everyone thought that Lindsay was so strong when really she was struggling just like everyone else. And throughout the book I was rooting for Juliet and for her to live.
It was definitly a life changing story.

I thought this book was amazing! It kept me intersted the whole way through. I thought the ending was a little sad, but overall it was still a great book to read.

Kim wrote: "I've walked by this book probably a zillion times in Barnes & Noble because I wrote it off as another pointless stupid chick lit book. For some reason one day, I decided to read a few pages then if..."

Great description of how this book makes you feel! Wow! I want to show this post to my teens and say, look take a chance on this book and it actually may make you think about what you say before YOU slam another person down. Thanks for sharing!

Donna wrote: "Kim wrote: "I've walked by this book probably a zillion times in Barnes & Noble because I wrote it off as another pointless stupid chick lit book. For some reason one day, I decided to read a few p..."


Great! No Problem!

*snaps snaps. I totally agree. I really hated Sam; I just wanted to go inside that book and slap her repeatedly. My friend and I would go to Barnes & Nobles to sit there and just read. As I was reading this book, I was literally yelling at Sam out loud because Sam was a total Bitch. But something pushed me to read more. Now I am very proud of Sam. I am usually a judgmental person, but after reading this book, it helped me become a better person too. I need to understand that people are usually not what they seem to be and people usually change. Lauren Oliver is my new favorite author because she brings reality. At first, I was getting bored with the dying, falling, and waking up again. But now I understand what Sam had to do. I am very proud that she sacrificed her life to make sure Juliette did not kill herself. I guess Sam is not a Bitch after all.

i agree whole heartedly that book was a great read and i wish Sam got a second chance to live her life the way she should have. The book also made me cry at the end and i wish it never ended. Lauren Oliver is an amzing writer and that book will make me take on a new perspective of bullying and lies.

This a really powerful book! Even though Sam was a snob, she was real, and i liked that. I disliked Lindsay but i eventually understood why she acted i that particular way. She had to control others and give other people problems, so she can hide her own problems.

But i really liked this book because it was thought provoking. It makes you appreciate Life and you realise how it can go in a couple of seconds. You also think about your actions, and it consequences; good or bad.

I didn't like how she died in the end. I thought that the whole point of her re-living that day over and over was to prove that she was worthy of life or something...but no, they killed her anyway.

Lauren wrote: "I didn't like how she died in the end. I thought that the whole point of her re-living that day over and over was to prove that she was worthy of life or something...but no, they killed her anyway."

Yeah i didn't like how she died too.. But, i think the point of the novel is to show we can die at anytime, so we should live life to the full ")

I loved this book all the way through to just before the end. I kept thinking, at some point Sam will realize the permanent scars she and her friends have given other people. But on the last day she is fiercely loving her friends, these horrible, mean (and yes also broken but cruel) girls who have permanently marred so many. How could Sam live her last day, intending to prevent Juliette from dying, without fixing the fact that Lindsey has no realization of the horror she has inflicted. Sam mentions that based upon Lindsey's reaction on the day Juliette jumps in front of the vans that she knows Lindsey will get to the point of understanding her true self and will be ok. Are we supposed to care if Lindsey gets to be ok when she has tortured so many who will never be ok? So Sam dies and Juliette lives - Juliette who already felt broken now spends the rest of her life feeling she has sacrificed someone else so she could live. Now that's sure to make Lindsey let up on her (sarcasm) and the rest of the community. And lets not let Kent live a full life. Let's have Sam get him totally into her just before she is to die. Let him get more heartbroken. I'm sorry but I thought that, though this was an amazing book, it felt like it was written by some mean girl now grown trying to stand up for all the mean girls in the world. Let them fix what they broke first (which they can't) and maybe I will care. It just seemed so off in the end. I really do love Lauren Oliver's books. She is amazing in the intricate stories she creates, and I really was enthralled with this book throughout. I understand Sam had to die in the end, I just don't get all the focus on her terrific friends and their love for each other and her seeming annoyance at times at Juliette, this girl who they literally destroyed. It just seemed off to me.

Kathleen wrote: "I loved this book all the way through to just before the end. I kept thinking, at some point Sam will realize the permanent scars she and her friends have given other people. But on the last day ..."

IKR? Why the heck would she make Kent suffer like that?

S.L.J. wrote: "I prefered Groundhog Day. :P"

Lol, this made me laugh so hard. Hahaha

S.L.J. wrote: "I prefered Groundhog Day. :P"


It's kind of true. It was an interesting read, but at first I couldn't get into it, and the ending just killed it. I probably wouldn't have hated it as much if they hadn't had Kent in the story. I am SUCH a romantic, and a sucker for happy endings.

I wasn't crazy for the book, but I liked how Sam showed different sides of herself, rebellious, kind, and all things in between. Even though she really annoyed me, it made her seem a little more human and like a girl who was acting according to circumstances and got carried away, but not someone completely evil.

I really wish she had lived just so we could see if anything actually changed.

When people come into my room and look at the many books and then decide to pick up Before i fall and look at my confused and ask."Isn't this a girly book" I shake my head and tell them its a life book and its one of favorites and it has changed parts of me and inspired others. I tell not to judge a book by its cover because i almost did with this book and i almost past it by. When i am doubting huminaity, when the hatred of how selfish people seem around me gets to much for me i pick up this book and give it a read. Time and time again, i have walked past something i knew was wrong, something i regretted right after, i walked past it only because it was an an in-convince and also thinking "They would do nothing for me " This book has changed that part of me. I can't help everyone i see or i would have to walk around blind, but i no longer ignore those indeed of a hand.