If I Stayed

by Becca Fisher

Hannah Miller has always been the curious type. Desperate to explore the world. So when rumspringa comes, she wants to go to the big city. But is she willing to risk losing everything that's important to her when her parents insist that she stay in Lancaster?

"If I Stayed" is an Amish Romance about the decisions we make, and how the consequences of those decisions can change our lives forever.

Also check out "Amish Romance 15 Book Boxed Set," "The Ultimate Amish Romance Boxed Set Collection," "The Complete Chasing Heaven Series Boxed Set," and "Let Love In"

Genres: Amish, Fiction

94 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2013

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah and her sister Sadie are both thinking of leaving Lancaster. Sadie has been accepted to a college in NYC and wants Hannah to go with her. At first Hannah is excited to go but then she thinks long and hard and knows she isn't going anywhere. Sadie leaves and their lives are never the same.

I really enjoyed this story. Both sisters made different decisions and were second guessing their choices and struggling with them. Living your life is not the same for everyone and no one can tell you which path to take. You have to make your own choices that will make you happy.

I love reading about the Amish. There lives seem so simple and stress free but really, they aren't so different from you or me. They stress they worry but still try to lead good lives.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lacked depth of character. The narrator did not bring any Amish talk to the scenes. Of course might be the author as well. Happy reading/listening!

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice short story about life and how it can change depending on what road you choose. It is the story of Hanna an Amish who wants to go to get away from her small life and what would have happened if she did go, or if she stayed.
Sweet, but not overly

[Holly Lenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I Stayed is a sweet Amish romance that tells the story of two sisters who make different decisions and the consequences of their actions. The book is a bit of a window into a different world and a different mindset then what most of us are use to. Imagine no phones and finishing school after 8th grade! There is a certain innocence that is lost in modern society.

The narrator does a nice job reading the book. Her voice is clear, and she does different character voices.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Deedra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audible:This super sweet love story set in an Amish family is good fiction.I am not the right audience for this kind of book,but have been wondering about them since I see theses types of books in local Mennonite stores. Two sisters had plans to go to NYC when one gets accepted to college. Diane Lehman was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I Stayed, my tenth read from Christian author Becca Fisher. A captivating 3-hour 46*minute tale of 2 Amish sisters. This said I have to say that the author packed a lot into the pages of this Amish novelette. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Diane Lehman’s excellent narration adds to the book's enjoyment. I'll be reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple question but the decision is hard. She is Amish and curious, and wants to explore, though parents are against it. They haven’t been wrong so far she feels, but what will she do. Given ARC for my voluntary review review and my honest opinion

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I Stay was another good read by Becca Fisher. Hannah has always been desperate to explore the world. She decides that she wants to go to the big city but her parents tell her that she must stay in Lancaster. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by Becca Fisher.

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was fairly cute and the characters had a good base. There was some development and growth in the main characters - but not enough and
far too late into the book. I was distracted by multiple grammatical and spelling errors. I will just say that spellcheck is
merely that - checking spelling. If you spelled the wrong word correctly, your sentence doesn't make sense. Reason for an editor number one.

Reason for an editor number two - plot problems. The first half was deadly dull and violated the first rule of writing: show don't tell! There were endless paragraphs telling me about the character thoughts
and motivations - info dump and boring. A good editor helps a writer mold the info into action.

Reason for an editor number three - gray lifeless canvas. In other words, this book suffered from a lack of captivating details. They were at a barn raising with hungry men. I know much from history
books. Did you smell the wood mixed with the food? Were the drinks icy or hot? Sweaty glasses or steaming plates? Engage all my senses - or at least give me an indication of the season. Well placed details make books come alive and paint the picture for me - as I read I want to see it in high def. I don't want some vague watercolor that is half-
finished.

All in all, there is some solid structure. With some more work and a good editor, this could make for an engaging read.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I Stayed is really two different stories with the main character Hannah Miller. Hannah is of age for rumspringa. Hannah doesn't want to do wild things but she does want to explore the world and learn more. Her parents don't agree with her though, they want her to stay in Lancaster.

So part of the story is her decision to stay and what happens to her at home. The other is do follow her dream and go to collage and learn. Because of that decision all these other things happen to her. The story switches back and forth between the two choices show what happens to her.

It would be nice if we all could see what happens because of the choices we make. It would be easier to live with but maybe not. I listened to part of the story on my kindle and sometimes I would get lost between the story lines. Had no problem with the part as I was reading though. It was interesting to see the difference with her life went. Hannah really did not change that much either way. She stayed close to her Savior and tried to follow his way.

It is a clean read. Entertaining story. It shows also how different choices bring different results. Some are good and some can lead to bad results.

I was given this ebook and asked to give honest review of when finished by author through Librarything.
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. April 04, 2013 94 pages ASIN: B00C7GFF82

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah Miller wants to leave Lancaster for her rumspringa but her parents do not agree. In Becca Fisher’s IF I STAYED, she shows what happens to Hannah if she spends her rumspringa in Lancaster and if she goes to the city for her rumspringa.

I liked how IF I STAYED was done. I liked the parallel rumspringas for Hannah. In both she deals with emotions she is unfamiliar with but she handles them. I liked in her rumspringa in Lancaster how she meets Englishers who help her deal with her negative emotions. I felt it helped her to guide her in obeying her parents. I loved her rumspringa in the city. Those sections showed how Hannah adhered to her upbringing. She was not wishy-washy in her decisions. When things did not go right, she was able to step back and reevaluate those decisions and avert disaster. Her parents could be proud of her choices.

Again the proofreading and editing could have been better. They were the only downside with IF I STAYED. This was the best book by Becca Fisher I read. I like the look into the Amish way of life and beliefs. I like how her heroes and heroines embrace the Amish way after looking at it from close up and far away. IF I STAYED is worth reading.

[Bobbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Deciding how many stars to give this book was really hard. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't like it quite enough for 3 stars to be honest.

It is written as two tales - two paths the main character could have taken. i wish she had just taken one path and left it at that. It was confusing and broken up switching back and forth continually.

To be honest I don't know which path she supposedly even took.

And her life, her manner of speaking - were like no other Amish woman I've ever read about.

Each part - if I stayed, or if I went - could have been good stand alone stories. Change the womans name and it would have been two decent books - with a bit more research and fleshing out.

I don't recommend this book. It just was too much of a mess to bother with.

[Sherry Grussing · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hannah must make a decision to stay at home or head out into the English world for Rumspringa. Her story is told from each point of view.

I received this book from Library Thing's Early Reviewer giveaway.

[Carol Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The two perspectives on what would happen according to the decision she made was good. It lets the reader decide which path she took in her life decisions. I will certainly read more of this authors works.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is nice. I love the characters. The plot is good. I would recommend it.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was excellent, but done not as great as it could have been. Very quick read.