Stay by Deb Caletti

Title:  Stay

Author:  Deb Caletti

Pages: 320

Genre: YA/ Teen

Source: Simon & Schuster

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.... [via GoodReads]

Ms. Caletti has written a very strong and powerful story  in Stay.  Although I've never been in a situation like Clara's, I can very easily see where this work of fiction may ring true to women.

In Stay we meet Clara who is leaving behind her home, friends and especially Christian for the summer.  Her father believes that by not telling anyone where they are headed she'll be safe and provide the space needed for Christian to get over their break-up.  Through alternating chapters we learn of Clara's present and her future.  We see how she's dealing with her break-up and how she's moving forward, but we also see how she met Christian, how they fell in love and how it got to the point where she had to run away from him.

I think the cover of this book is perfect for it.  Because in ways that is the way the story is told.  Although the story mostly has a light feel to it, there is a dark overcast throughout most of it.  You always have this niggling creepy feeling of impending doom so you can never truly enjoy the moment.  Ms. Caletti did this so expertly.  She was able to invoke so many feelings into her story and pass them on to me as the reader (i.e. the confusion, frustration, and eventually fear).  I also really enjoyed the setting... on the coast, the lighthouse, the sudden changes in weather.  It provided the perfect atmosphere and exactly what was needed for such an emotional roller-coaster type read.

In the end, I think Ms. Caletti believably captures the intricacies of relationships - not just the abusive one between Clara and Christian, but that between father and daughter, the camaraderie of best friends or two brothers and even that of a budding romance. Her writing, character and plot development are phenomenal and very relateable.

If you are a fan of Ms. Caletti and/or contemporary young adult fiction I recommend you get yourself a copy of Stay.  You will not be disappointed. 

My Rating: