Review: I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman

I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman 
Release Date: March 27, 2018 
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Contemporary 
Source: ARC won from Bookish First 
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A brand-new, heart-wrenching novel from the bestselling author of If I Stay and I Was Here, Gayle Forman Around the time that Freya loses her voice while recording her debut album, Harun is making plans to run away from home to find the boy that he loves, and Nathaniel is arriving in New York City after a family tragedy leaves him isolated on the outskirts of Washington state. After the three of them collide in Central Park, they slowly reveal the parts of their past that they haven't been able to confront,and together, they find their way back to who they're supposed to be. Told over the course of a single day from three different perspectives, this is a story about the power of friendship and being true to who you are. 

Review: 

I can't even begin to describe the excitement I felt when I found out that Gayle Forman was releasing a new book in 2018. Gayle won me over all the way back in 2009 with the heart-wrenching and beautifully written If I Stay. Since then she's become one of my go-to authors, aand each of her books I've read has managed to become a winner. I went into I Have Lost My Way with hope and anticipation, and as luck would have it, I wasn't disappointed one bit. 

I Have Lost My Way contains three POVs: Freya, Nathaniel, and Harun. On the surface they couldn't appear any more different. Freya is quickly reaching celebrity status with her song writting and singing; Nathaniel is stepping into New York City for the first time ever, looking for peace and purpose after a sudden death of a loved one; and Harun is torn between fulfilling his family's expectations while also being true to himself. However, while they're all dealing with their own set of problems and struggles, they all share one thing: they've lost their way. 

I found all three characters to be incredibly relatable as well as lovable. I liked the way in which they were brought together, and while sometimes it did seem slightly far fetched, I didn't let myself dwell too much over it, because together Freya, Nathaniel, and Harun were the ultimate trio. They gave and they took. They helped each other see new things and willingly and unwillingly helped them overcome their fears and setbacks. I can't say I have a favorite out of the three. I found each to be interesting, and I loved how different they were. Gayle Forman addresses so many challenges teens as well as adults face everyday through their characters. It's hard not to find at least some common ground. 

There's not much action and suspense here. Sure, Nathaniel, Freya, and Harun are dealing with their own issues, some of which are resolved and some that aren't, and sometimes that brought about curiosity but not in on-the-edge-of-my-seat kind of way. Instead I Have Lost My Way is an incredibly character driven book. Gayle dives into relationships and personalities, the events that can make or break a person, and the driving force that makes someone whole again. The narrative switches between now and the past (a.k.a. the times that lead them to this point), and Gayle does such a wonderful job of bringing it together. Like with her past books, Gayle utilizes a simple yet captivating writing style. I love how she made the most simple events here so incredibly life-changing, and how she addressed a common feeling (loosing one's way). She has such a way with words, especially when it comes to bringing about emotions and life observations. Honestly, this book gave me all the feels - happiness, sadness, anger, hope, etc. 

Overal, I Have Lost My Way is another 5-star book from Gayle. It's a quick book, less than 300 pages, yet it covers a lot of ground. It's sad yet hopeful. It has the ability to break your heart that put it back together again. Better yet, it gives the kind of ending I love - an ambiguous yet hopeful one, allowing you to make your own decisions on what happens next. 

5 stars!!