Stay by Deb Caletti

Book review #67
Stay by Deb Caletti
Rating: Five stars


Summary:
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....

Is it normal to think about a book days after you've read it? It's been a week or two and I can't seem to get Stay out of my head. I have a read a few other Deb Calleti books, but none of them captured me like this one.

Alternating chapters between the present, where Clara and her father have escaped to a small town by the beach, to the past where Clara and Christian's relationship develops from a blossoming love to a violent obsession. The alternating chapters were one of my favorite aspects about the book. The fact that you got to see both Clara in the relationship and how she reflected about it after, added so much to the story. It was almost shocking to see how much of herself was lost from her relationship with Christian.

Although the book is about a very delicate subject, it was surprisingly easy to read. The writing is beautiful and rich. At times the plot seemed so alive, making my heart race, scared to discover what was going to happen next. On a lighter note, including footnotes about her own comments, which brought humor to the story.

One might think the story is mainly about Clara and Christian's relationship, but embedded is the relationship with her father, her dead mother, and even her parent's relationship. What captured my attention most was the relationship between Cara and her father. The strong bond they have and the way they care about each other was refreshing.

The beach setting was breathtaking. It made me want to get in the car and drive to the nearest beach that had a lighthouse. The characters she met in the present chapters were well developed and likable. Specifically one character, who melted my heart and gave hope.

Stay is an intense, beautiful story that will be sure to stay with you. It's one of those books I love so much that I could write and write about and never stop. My review doesn't do it justice, you have to read it for yourself to see just how amazing it really is. I borrowed if from the library and it was hard to give it back; I think I'll be buying myself a copy.