I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman is a story that focuses on three characters who meet because of an accident, and I enjoyed each of them. However, the plot is hard to believe, and I had a hard time getting into it. Compared to Forman’s other books, I Have Lost My Way just doesn’t compare.
Title: I Have Lost My WayAuthor: Gayle Forman
Also by this author: I Was Here
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: March 27, 2018
Rating:
A powerful story of empathy and friendship from the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of If I Stay.
Around the time that Freya loses her voice while recording her debut album, Harun is making plans to run away from everyone he has ever loved, and Nathaniel is arriving in New York City with a backpack, a desperate plan, and nothing left to lose. When a fateful accident draws these three strangers together, their secrets start to unravel as they begin to understand that the way out of their own loss might just lie in helping the others out of theirs.
An emotionally cathartic story of losing love, finding love, and discovering the person you are meant to be, I Have Lost My Way is bestselling author Gayle Forman at her finest.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman
This book tells the story of three individuals who all connect because of an accident. Each character has lost something, and they each start to cope as the story progresses. I enjoyed how each of the characters has lost a different thing, yet they are still able to come together because of their grief. While I did enjoy the story, I found the pacing to be a bit slow for my liking. Each time the perspective changes, the chapters just seem to drag on, and I would have liked a little more action. This is a very impactful story, but I was expecting a little more from Gayle Forman.
❀ Diverse Characters
The characters in I Have Lost My Way are so diverse. Harun is Muslim and is afraid to come out to his family. Freya is half Ethiopian, and her father left her. Nathaniel has depression, but I don’t want to say too much about his storyline since it is the most mysterious. Of all the characters, I enjoyed Freya’s the most. She is an internet famous singer who posts videos with her sister, but once she is given the opportunity to record an album, she loses her ability to sing. I really enjoyed the three different perspectives and the flashbacks throughout the book, and this effectively develops each character.
❀ Plot is too convenient
One of my main issues with this book was the plot. Most of the events seem way too convenient to be believable, and it takes away from the emotional impact. This could be the case because the story is so short, but honestly, I found it hard to be immersed in the book when the plot is so unlikely. On top of this, I was not a fan of the ending. It is pretty ambiguous, and I personally prefer when everything is all wrapped up. The storyline is interesting, I just feel like it could have been executed in a more believable manner.
❀ An Emotional Story
I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman is an emotional story about loss and newfound friends. Each of the characters are diverse and likeable. However, the plot of the book is too convenient for me, and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I was anticipating.
About Gayle Forman
Award-winning author and journalist Gayle Forman has written several bestselling novels for young adults, including the Just One Series, I Was Here, Where She Went and the #1 New York Times bestseller If I Stay, which has been translated into more than 40 languages and in 2014 was adapted into a major motion picture.
Gayle published Leave Me, her first novel starring adults in 2016 and her latest novel, I Have Lost My Way, comes out in March of 2018.
Gayle lives with her husband and daughters in Brooklyn.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, novice New Yorker, & professional bibliophile.
Hm…I just got this one from the library. It seems like you liked it, but had some issues with it. Do you think it’s worth reading?
I think that it is worth a try. It is diverse and has a good message. I just felt the execution was poor.If you do read it, I would love to know your thoughts. 🙂
I will let you know!
Sorry this wasn’t as good as you hoped it to be. I just got this one myself from NetGalley and I am hoping I do like it. We shall see. I don’t like when I can’t get into the characters or the plot is too unbelievable that annoys me. I want it to feel like it can happen unless it’s a fairy tale they all bets are off. Great review.
Mary
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I hope that you find it more enjoyable than I did. I know that there are others who really enjoyed it, so you never know! 🙂
Damn for the too convenient plot as I love Gayle’s books.
I really love her books as well. This one just didn’t work for me. 😉
My previous read had a plot that was kind of hard to believe but I guess it’s just something to get over and try to enjoy the book in spite of it. Also, I like how diverse the characters are in this book. That’s always a good thing.
Stephanie – Bookfever recently posted…Blog Tour — Review: Escort by Skye Warren
The diversity in this one is fantastic! I think it is more of a personal preference or even the mood of the reader for plot lines like this. 😉
This one really hasn’t been on my radar. Waiting for more reviews. I am sorry it didn’t wow you.
Jennrenee recently posted…Review: Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez
Great review! I’m sorry you didn’t enjoyed this book as much as you hoped. Gayle Foreman’s books are not for me.
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I have this on my Kindle right now to read, but haven’t started it yet. I don’t like ebooks!
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My heart is aching a little, because I loved this one so much. Usually I am screaming about endings, but this one was hopeful, so I was ok with the ambiguity . I wanted a little more for one of the characters, but overall, I was ok with it.
Sam@WLABB recently posted…Can’t Wait Wednesday: Things Jolie Needs to Do Before She Bites It – Kerry Winfrey
nice review; not my kind of book
A deep read with a bit of sadness
Thanks for your honest review. The book sounds interesting. Great cover.