A review by andrea2428
Stay by Deb Caletti

4.0

Stay reminded me alot of the movie Fear. For one thing, the protaganists both had psycho boyfriends they were in love with. In Fear, Reese Witherspoon's character falls for a scary, bad-boy drug-dealer played by hunk, Mark Wahlberg. The fact that he's a drug-dealer should scream to you that dating him would be asking for trouble, but of course Witherspoon continues dating him even though her father advises her not to- kinda how Clara's father didn't like her going out with Christian in Stay.

What I loved about Stay was how the author approached the story. Instead of writing only in present tense, Caletti alters writing in past and present in order to show Clara's flashbacks of her regretful relationship with Christian and how that experience affects her now. As Clara tells the story on how she met and went out with Christian, she sounds mature and wise, acknowledging her mistakes and stupidities. If Stay was written while Clara was going out with Christian i would have found Clara dumb and would have wanted to smack some sense into her like I had with Reese Witherspoon in Fear.

Instead of having Clara's psycho boyfriend be a gangster or a serial killer like most of the cliches, Caletti made Christian sensitive and affectionate to show how these qualities can grow into obsession and jealousy. Christian's sweet personality also explains Clara's reluctance to break up with him until, you know, he's not so sweet anymore.

Other than entertaining, this book also had its share of funny and shocking moments and also leaves us with a meaningful message. I know one thing for sure: I am definitely going to be reading more of Deb Caletti.