Sharing Sam by Katherine Applegate

Book Review #17
Sharing Sam by Katherine Applegate
Rating: Four stars (review to the rating system on the right)

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

How can you take the guy your best friend loves . . . when your best friend’s going to die?

Alison Chapman has always believed she’d fall in love hard. And she does—with Sam Cody, a new guy with a gorgeous face and brooding eyes, a guy who’s impossible to resist. When Sam asks her to the Valentine’s Day dance, Alison is elated . . . until she finds out that her best friend, Isabella Cates-Lopez, has fallen for Sam,too . . . until she finds out that Isabella is dying. Now Alison wants Isabella’s last days to be her happiest ever—even if she and Sam have to hide their love. Even if, by sharing Sam, Alison risks losing him forever.

I just finished reading Sharing Sam a few minutes ago, I can literally say I devoured it in one sitting. I feel a bunch of different things all at one, emotional/touched, and even sad that the book ended so quickly. I almost wished a read it slower, so it would last longer. Sharing Sam is a unique story that covers just about everything from love, loss, humor, and the sacrifices made for true friendship. Risk-taking high school student Alison Chapman hears rumors about the "gorgeous" new kid Sam Cody. Alison gets to make her own judgments about Sam while practically saving his life. From then on, Alison knew she had deep feelings for Sam, those butterfly sickening stomach feelings. On the other hand, her best friend, Isabella Cates-Lopez, finds out out that she is diagnosed with cancer, dying, but also falling in love with Sam. Alison doesn't know what to do, she doesn't have the heart to tell her about her feelings/relationship with Sam. She becomes torn between telling the truth or lying to protect someone you care about. Allison comes up with a plan, to share Sam. 

I really couldn't decide whether Allison was doing the right thing or not. I loved her character, she was honestly a good person, who wants to help others. This might just be me, but I really liked how the main characters acted their age, in other books I feel like the characters act way older than they actually are. Along with liking Allison and Izzy, I loved Sam. He was mysterious at first, but once you find out the truth to the "rumors", you can't help but fall in love with Sam. He's sweet and just different than other boys. The book was written a couple of years ago, so it was a bit outdated, but it wasn't a problem. The story had a bit of a twist at the end, which was a surprise. 

Overall, I glad I picked this book up last second. I did have some tears, not all sad ones, near the end, so make sure to be prepared with a box of tissues nearby. My only wish was that the book was longer, but other than that if your looking for a deeper romantic, emotional read, that will leave you thinking at the end, pick this one up!