I Was Here; Gayle Forman

I Was Here; Gayle Forman

Random House/Penguin Listening Library - 2015

Cody and Meg were the best of friends throughout high school, but once they graduated their life took different paths.  Both girls came from poor communities, but while Meg gets a scholarship and heads off the college in Washington State, Cody stays home and gets a job cleaning houses. Her parents could not afford to send her to college, and her grades were not good enough to warrant a scholarship.  So when Meg's parents get a call that their daughter is was dead after drinking industrial strength cleaning fluid in a motel room, Meg's parents and Cody are shocked beyond belief and want to know why?

Cody, on behalf of Meg's parents, travels to Meg's college town to collect her belongings, and while there tries to find out why her friend felt life was no longer worth living.  Bit by bit she uncovers secrets that begin to piece together a story about her troubled former friend.

Cody's character comes across as very real, a girl truly upset about the loss of her friend and angry at herself for not noticing certain signals. The author touches of some controversial groups out there for people seeking help with depression.

(SPOILERS Start Here)

There is a whole mystery element to this story as Cody searches for answers to why her friend did what she did.  But, then the author throws readers a curveball and writes in what seems like an inappropriate love/loss of virginity twist which ruined the serious storyline --suicide. It just didn't fit IMO.  The audio book was read by Jorjena Marie who did a decent job with this YA themed story.

Have you read this one? What were your thoughts?

2.5/5 stars

(sent by publisher)