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Stay with Me: A Poignant YA Story About Sisters, Loss, and Learning to Let Go
When her half sister commits suicide, sixteen-year-old Leila Abranel has only one question: why? That question sets Leila on a journey toward discovery, uncertainty, and love. Rich with an intricate and mesmerizing family history, Stay with Me is a story of an unforgettable girl coming of age in the midst of grief, mystery, and, ultimately, awakening.
308 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2006
49 people are currently reading
1072 people want to read
About the author
Garret Weyr, also Freymann-Weyr
9 books99 followersGarret Freymann-Weyr (rhymes with 'I'm on fire") is a novelist and teacher whose seven books have been banned, translated into a multitude of languages, and included in college curricula. She is a Printz honor award recipient and her short stories have been published in the Greensboro Review, the now sadly missed Christopher Street, and the anthology Starry Eyed. Her next book will be published under the name Garret Weyr (Divorce. Painful. Don't ask.)
She is a native of New York City and now lives with a large cat and a sweet dog. She reads too much, drinks too much tea, and loves listening to readers talk about their passions. She is studying Spanish. Has anyone else read "Buenas Noches, Luna?"
She is a native of New York City and now lives with a large cat and a sweet dog. She reads too much, drinks too much tea, and loves listening to readers talk about their passions. She is studying Spanish. Has anyone else read "Buenas Noches, Luna?"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
December 23, 2007
I didn't like this book at all. I think the blurb was misleading; it made the book seem really interesting, but within the first few pages, I was bored to death. I finished the book, thinking maybe it would get better, but it didn't. Since the book talked a lot about family history and stuff like that, it didn't keep me very interested in it. There isn't much to say about this lackluster book. It wasn't that good in my opinion, I just didn't like it.
April 1, 2008
Stay With Me, by Garret Freymann-Weyr was a very enjoyable book. It wasn't just a sappy teen story but had depth and mystery as well. The story focuses on a girl named Leila Abranel who experienced a tragedy: the death of her step sister. Although she didn't really know her step sister that well, the death still hit pretty hard and the whole family was affected because of also the death of the sisters mother earlier that year. The book follows Leila's life after these tragedies and shows how she copes with the loss, one example being a slightly sexual relationship with a man two times her age. Altogether, after reading this book, i was satisfied with the development of the story line and felt like this was definitely a good read (no pun intended). I also really enjoyed the authors writing style because the writing made it seem like the author was talking right to you and also, the way the book was written made it a somewhat of an easy read. I also really liked the character of Leila Abranel because i felt like she was a very complex character whose story/ purpose came full circle by the end of the book. Overall, i would highly recommend this book to anyone because of its interesting content and great writing style
September 20, 2009
Leila Abranel is the youngest in her family. Her father is in his seventies and her mother is a little younger than him, while her two half-sisters, Clare and Rebecca, are in their thirties.
Leila is a dyslexic teenager who is forced by her parents to act older and more mature. The only person her age she hangs out with, is her boyfriend Ben, who is becoming less of a boyfriend and more of a mistake.
When Rebecca kills herself, Leila, who has a hard time figuring out the meaning of words in books because of her dyslexia, is having an even harder time trying to figure out why her sister killed herself without saying goodbye to her.
As Leila tries to unravel the mystery, her family starts to fall apart. Her parents become even more distant, and Clare, the sister she thought didn't love her, becomes her best friend. But even in death, Rebecca still haunts Leila's life. Soon, Leila becomes obsessed with finding out her sister's secrets and that's how she meets Eamon.
The two flirt from time to time, but when things in Leila's life start getting more confusing, the two find themselves gravitating towards each other. And once they kiss, they know that they can not stay away from each other.
Eamon is 31 and Leila is 16.
A lot of people cringe when they see couples who share a significant age difference, but as I was reading this, I wanted Eamon and Leila to stay together. I just felt like these two characters belonged together and after a while, I forgot that Eamon was 15 years older than Leila. I liked their conversations. The way they looked at life.
I finished this book in two nights, because I simply could not put it down. The words that the author used fit together perfectly, and some of the things that Leila said hit me. It's a powerful read and I highly recommend it.
Leila is a dyslexic teenager who is forced by her parents to act older and more mature. The only person her age she hangs out with, is her boyfriend Ben, who is becoming less of a boyfriend and more of a mistake.
When Rebecca kills herself, Leila, who has a hard time figuring out the meaning of words in books because of her dyslexia, is having an even harder time trying to figure out why her sister killed herself without saying goodbye to her.
As Leila tries to unravel the mystery, her family starts to fall apart. Her parents become even more distant, and Clare, the sister she thought didn't love her, becomes her best friend. But even in death, Rebecca still haunts Leila's life. Soon, Leila becomes obsessed with finding out her sister's secrets and that's how she meets Eamon.
The two flirt from time to time, but when things in Leila's life start getting more confusing, the two find themselves gravitating towards each other. And once they kiss, they know that they can not stay away from each other.
Eamon is 31 and Leila is 16.
A lot of people cringe when they see couples who share a significant age difference, but as I was reading this, I wanted Eamon and Leila to stay together. I just felt like these two characters belonged together and after a while, I forgot that Eamon was 15 years older than Leila. I liked their conversations. The way they looked at life.
I finished this book in two nights, because I simply could not put it down. The words that the author used fit together perfectly, and some of the things that Leila said hit me. It's a powerful read and I highly recommend it.
January 5, 2012
The book was so different from the normal teen romance novel that deals with hot football players and bitchy prom queens and abused geeks that I continued to pick it up again after setting it aside. It definitely isn't the right book for chick-lit set.
It thoughtfully moseys along weaving together a story that includes unusual family relationships and wisdom that is passed down from one generation to another. The basic message of 'trust yourself to know what you should do when the time comes' isn't necessarily good advice to give a naive teenager who can't even tell her left from her right, actually and figuratively. On the other hand the story explores relationships, love and sex in such a thoughtful way that many innocent teens will take away more knowledge about how to make their own decisions when the time comes.
The book brings up the concept that love shouldn't be limited by age differences. The question is, does it seem more unacceptable if you are 17 and the other person is 31 rather than one person being in their thirties and the other person in their forties? Having sex with an experienced man is likely to be more pleasurable than having a relationship with an adolescent boy. I appreciated the author's honesty about Leila's feeling that sex was better by herself than when she was having it with her teen friend. That is closer to the truth than many authors are willing to admit. Teens are often fooled by overly romanticized views of a girl's first roll in the hay.
Freymann-Weyr also explores the idea that you can ruin a friendship when you have sex with someone but it doesn't emphasis what an embittering experience it can be. We never understand what is going on in her teen friend Ben's head and Leila doesn't really seem to care enough to find out. He is made out to be a villain when he spreads rumors about Leila. It doesn't really let you know how emotionally painful the end of a friendship or sexual relationship might be. This is where the fragility of Leila's innocence may make adult readers want to warn her but fool teen readers into thinking too little of the emotional consequences of getting involved with someone.
What I enjoyed most about the book was the description of Leila's continual struggle with dyslexia. Having a reading disability myself enabled me to appreciate what was going on in Leila's head. I haven't read too many other books that explain how a person can get confused even though they are smart in other ways.
The book was reminiscent of an English novel. If the author hadn't made a point of saying it was in New York I wouldn't have known especially with her use of words like exam and ruin. The character names were not very American and I hate it when an author chooses to tell you that the main character's name is pronounce in a weird way. The writing style and subject would make this a good book-group novel for adults as well as teens.
It thoughtfully moseys along weaving together a story that includes unusual family relationships and wisdom that is passed down from one generation to another. The basic message of 'trust yourself to know what you should do when the time comes' isn't necessarily good advice to give a naive teenager who can't even tell her left from her right, actually and figuratively. On the other hand the story explores relationships, love and sex in such a thoughtful way that many innocent teens will take away more knowledge about how to make their own decisions when the time comes.
The book brings up the concept that love shouldn't be limited by age differences. The question is, does it seem more unacceptable if you are 17 and the other person is 31 rather than one person being in their thirties and the other person in their forties? Having sex with an experienced man is likely to be more pleasurable than having a relationship with an adolescent boy. I appreciated the author's honesty about Leila's feeling that sex was better by herself than when she was having it with her teen friend. That is closer to the truth than many authors are willing to admit. Teens are often fooled by overly romanticized views of a girl's first roll in the hay.
Freymann-Weyr also explores the idea that you can ruin a friendship when you have sex with someone but it doesn't emphasis what an embittering experience it can be. We never understand what is going on in her teen friend Ben's head and Leila doesn't really seem to care enough to find out. He is made out to be a villain when he spreads rumors about Leila. It doesn't really let you know how emotionally painful the end of a friendship or sexual relationship might be. This is where the fragility of Leila's innocence may make adult readers want to warn her but fool teen readers into thinking too little of the emotional consequences of getting involved with someone.
What I enjoyed most about the book was the description of Leila's continual struggle with dyslexia. Having a reading disability myself enabled me to appreciate what was going on in Leila's head. I haven't read too many other books that explain how a person can get confused even though they are smart in other ways.
The book was reminiscent of an English novel. If the author hadn't made a point of saying it was in New York I wouldn't have known especially with her use of words like exam and ruin. The character names were not very American and I hate it when an author chooses to tell you that the main character's name is pronounce in a weird way. The writing style and subject would make this a good book-group novel for adults as well as teens.
October 28, 2010
Stay With Me is a highly satisfying read. Primarily it is about how Leila reacts to her older sister, Rebecca's suicide. Leila wants to know more about why her sister took her own life as well as wanting to know more about what she was like when she was still alive. She goes on quite a few adventures to research anything she believes will tell her more about Rebecca. During this time there a few different people who take Leila under their wing. One is her other older sister who she slowly grows closer to. There is one unexpected person who Leila connects to, but the two of them have a very complicated relationship. In fact, there are many times as a reader you want to yell at the characters and tell them they are making a mistake.
This brings up an important topic from the book. Leila talks many times about how a person sees what they want to be true, rather than the truth itself. This reoccurs in the book a few times as Leila over study pieces of Rebecca’s life. This results in her finding blame or cause for Rebecca’s suicide in places where there is none to be found. Now, in my own life I notice situations where I think in this way. I feel that itself means the book has really affected me.
Don't think this book is a discouraging read even if there is a focus on suicide because the story line is very complex, with many different sub stories after this principal one. I found the multiple plots kept the book appealing as well as fast paced. This also allows the book to reach a diversity of readers as there are parts that make it feel like a romance, drama, tragedy and mystery. Freymann- Weyr also seems to have done some great research before writing the novel. Leila is dyslexic, and the book captures many of the struggles and frustrations she has in school very well. Unlike other books it also displays the effects this has on her job, interests, and family life. I am dyslexic and I was able to easily connect to Leila, but all teenagers can relate to wanting to do better and being embarrassed by their mistakes.
Stay With Me is the ideal book to discuss as you read, you are bound to connect to many of the characters and develop strong feelings about their lives. The story will stay with you well after the read. It is well worth picking up.
This brings up an important topic from the book. Leila talks many times about how a person sees what they want to be true, rather than the truth itself. This reoccurs in the book a few times as Leila over study pieces of Rebecca’s life. This results in her finding blame or cause for Rebecca’s suicide in places where there is none to be found. Now, in my own life I notice situations where I think in this way. I feel that itself means the book has really affected me.
Don't think this book is a discouraging read even if there is a focus on suicide because the story line is very complex, with many different sub stories after this principal one. I found the multiple plots kept the book appealing as well as fast paced. This also allows the book to reach a diversity of readers as there are parts that make it feel like a romance, drama, tragedy and mystery. Freymann- Weyr also seems to have done some great research before writing the novel. Leila is dyslexic, and the book captures many of the struggles and frustrations she has in school very well. Unlike other books it also displays the effects this has on her job, interests, and family life. I am dyslexic and I was able to easily connect to Leila, but all teenagers can relate to wanting to do better and being embarrassed by their mistakes.
Stay With Me is the ideal book to discuss as you read, you are bound to connect to many of the characters and develop strong feelings about their lives. The story will stay with you well after the read. It is well worth picking up.
June 14, 2013
This was a book that touched me deeply having been affected by a friend's attempted suicide. In someways the topic was more taboo than if she had gone through with it simply because it felt like everyone wanted to attach blame -- yet absolving her of any guilt -- and then forget that it had ever happened.
I don't condone all of the plot or character's choices or even the outlook of some of the characters but the shattering loss and coping mechanisms of each character were familiar and painful.
I read it to understand another person's viewpoint of such a topic, and Liela's character with her slightly removed innocence proved to be a very heartfelt account.
I know that someone who contemplates suicide rarely would read a book about such a topic but I think that such a person should take the responsibility to see what affect their selfish actions could cause. In this way I would recommend this book to anyone who feels helpless and depressed as well as to anyone who has been affected by such a loss so they too might know they are not alone.
We are not pages that can be cut out from a book but more of a thread in a tapestry. If ripped out we leave gaping holes, snags, and tears; leaving those around us weaker and wanting. Each person who knew them -- in passing or in deepest confidence -- would, if warned scream out those three simple words: Stay With Me.
I don't condone all of the plot or character's choices or even the outlook of some of the characters but the shattering loss and coping mechanisms of each character were familiar and painful.
I read it to understand another person's viewpoint of such a topic, and Liela's character with her slightly removed innocence proved to be a very heartfelt account.
I know that someone who contemplates suicide rarely would read a book about such a topic but I think that such a person should take the responsibility to see what affect their selfish actions could cause. In this way I would recommend this book to anyone who feels helpless and depressed as well as to anyone who has been affected by such a loss so they too might know they are not alone.
We are not pages that can be cut out from a book but more of a thread in a tapestry. If ripped out we leave gaping holes, snags, and tears; leaving those around us weaker and wanting. Each person who knew them -- in passing or in deepest confidence -- would, if warned scream out those three simple words: Stay With Me.
February 6, 2012
Once I started reading, I couldn't put this book down. It is a beautiful and compelling portrayal of a teenager trying to navigate her way through the "new now" after one of her much-older sisters commits suicide. Protagonist Leila is interesting and likable, and there's a good cast of well-fleshed-out supporting characters. It's a wonderful story of love and loss and family and learning to trust yourself.
There is sex, but it's not graphic, and the focus is on the emotional aspects rather than the physical. There is also a romantic relationship between a 17-year-old and a 31-year-old, but it was so well done that I didn't actually disapprove (this is definitely something that I would almost certainly disapprove of in real life!). But perhaps it's not the best book to recommend to younger teens. Then again, Leila's process for making decisions, whether sexual or otherwise, is so wonderfully healthy that perhaps this is the perfect book for younger teens! She has some wonderful adults in her life, she goes to them for advice when she isn't sure what to do or how to do something, and they help her figure out her own mind.
(Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher at an American Library Association conference. I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you, Houghton Mifflin!)
There is sex, but it's not graphic, and the focus is on the emotional aspects rather than the physical. There is also a romantic relationship between a 17-year-old and a 31-year-old, but it was so well done that I didn't actually disapprove (this is definitely something that I would almost certainly disapprove of in real life!). But perhaps it's not the best book to recommend to younger teens. Then again, Leila's process for making decisions, whether sexual or otherwise, is so wonderfully healthy that perhaps this is the perfect book for younger teens! She has some wonderful adults in her life, she goes to them for advice when she isn't sure what to do or how to do something, and they help her figure out her own mind.
(Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher at an American Library Association conference. I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you, Houghton Mifflin!)
June 7, 2009
Whoa, this was way better than I thought it would be. I read After the Moment and while I thought it was well-written, with intriguing characters, and involved a serious subject (like an Afterschool Special but actually good), I thought it kind of dragged and didn't keep my interest. I had to make myself finish it. I would say that the pacing of this novel is similar. I can call After the Moment snoresworthy but I'll be nice about Stay With Me and say it's deliberate or careful. Freymann-Weyr deserves super brownie points for taking a potentially really nasty subplot of our 17 year old heroine falling for and having sex with a man who's 31. Honest, it didn't make me queasy at all because F-W is such a kick-ass writer who very carefully describes their meeting, subsequent twitterpation (to use a word from Bambi), angst over their age difference, and resignation that sometimes a good thing is too wonderful to pass up. Yay F-W! I'm going to the library tomorrow to get all her other stuff.
November 24, 2009
I liked the writing itself, the way Leila's dyslexia translated into a metaphor for the difficulty in understanding relationships and people around one - especially in adolescence.
I wasn't particularly a fan of Leila or her sister Clare. I was curious to know more about Rebecca, but it felt like the author gave up on that mystery towards the end of the book - as Leila fell more in love with her 31-year old boyfriend. (I also wasn't so much of a fan of the 17 year old/ 31 year old relationship. It feels like too much of a gap in life experience, as well as maturity.)
It was an interesting read, but not one I'd go back to.
I wasn't particularly a fan of Leila or her sister Clare. I was curious to know more about Rebecca, but it felt like the author gave up on that mystery towards the end of the book - as Leila fell more in love with her 31-year old boyfriend. (I also wasn't so much of a fan of the 17 year old/ 31 year old relationship. It feels like too much of a gap in life experience, as well as maturity.)
It was an interesting read, but not one I'd go back to.
July 12, 2007
i dont normally write reviews on here, but this novel really touched me.
this is a story of a 16 year old who has 2 half-sisters from her fathers prior marriage. the sister that she is close with commits suicide, and the girl spends a lot of time questioning why, and trying to find a deeper meaning behind her sisters death.
there are also very genuine family moments, and a great love story.
it just really hit close to home, and i loved it.
this is a story of a 16 year old who has 2 half-sisters from her fathers prior marriage. the sister that she is close with commits suicide, and the girl spends a lot of time questioning why, and trying to find a deeper meaning behind her sisters death.
there are also very genuine family moments, and a great love story.
it just really hit close to home, and i loved it.
August 17, 2015
Tedious, annoying, and not a single conclusion was made by the end of this book. None of the characters were likable, not even Leila's 31 year old boyfriend who decided to blissfully ignore the law and have sex with his underage girlfriend. What the hell did I just read? Was this novel full of metaphors and symbolism or was it just a bungled mess? I'd ask you to be the judge but I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
May 29, 2017
My review won't give this book the justice it deserves. IT WAS PHENOMENAL, CAPTIVATING, MAGNIFICENT, [insert most amazing adjective you can think of]! Out of every book I've read in the last 5 years (I'm a HUGE reader), I've only bought 2. The first was If I Stay. The second was Stay With Me. I STRONGLY recommend reading it.
January 12, 2009
All I can say is amazing. It's so different from what you think it'll be and yet so perfect. The ending, while seemingly incomplete, was great for the book.
June 25, 2024
When I started reading this book the first few chapters kinda bummed me out, but I figured it might be worth giving a chance and figured I may learn an important message about overcoming life obstacles and gain some insight on the grieving process. I kept reading and eventually started to like the main characters, enjoyed how they interacted with each other, and began to be invested in what I thought the book would be about. I was led to believe this book would be about uncovering the mystery and reasons for why Rebecca killed herself. Unfortunately a little past half way through the book it suddenly changed direction with the development of Leila being romantically and eventually sexually involved with a 31 year old man. She meets him at 16 years old and dates him at 17(apparently the age of consent in the book). After this I feel like the story I was invested in slips away into this love story that made me kinda uncomfortable. Especially since this is a book is for you young adults, I personally don’t think romanticizing a relationship between a 16/17 year old girl and 31 year old man is a good idea to promote to young adults since this could possibly be read by kids of that age. I kept reading in the hopes of uncovering the mystery of why Rebecca did it and also who the man was that Leila saw her with and what he knows. In the end, both of those things that kept me reading end up never being brought to an ending. Well at least an ending I was satisfied with. The ending and explanation about rebecca’s suicide that was given felt suddenly rushed. I can see what the author was going for in giving a message to that it’s important what the characters did with their grief and what they filled the hole Rebecca left with. But overall, I wasn’t really happy with leila’s hole of grief being filled with a relationship with a 31 year old. despite all of these negative opinions I have on the book, it is well written and i’m not entirely upset that I read the book because of course any book contributes to my knowledge and understanding of experiences. Unfortunately I was left disappointed and kinda weirded out and questioning the types of relationships the author thinks is okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2018
The prose in this novel is beautiful. Elegant, crisp writing and lovely story telling. The story is about how a family copes with a suicide as told through the view of a teenage girl. Through a self-inflicted death (her sister gave up on life), the baby of the family helps the adults heal a bit in the "new now". It's a coming of age novel where Leila explores her sexuality and copes with learning, trying her hardest in spite of her dyslexia. She learns to love reading for great stories, not because it'll make her father or tutor happy.
The only issue I had with the book is the age difference between the protagonist (who I consider a baby) and the man she falls for. I know he's a "good guy" but it made me uncomfortable.
At one point in the book, Leila asks her sister if the suicide destroyed her great love. For me, I believe the suicide impacted the teenager's decision to become romantically involved with a 31 year old man. Some say age is just a number and perhaps since her father is much older and so are her sisters, Leila feels older but still, a fourteen year age gap is a big deal to me. Overall, I found this book delightful to read. I enjoyed it! Here are some of my favorite lines:
"Maybe great love is simply the love that fits...It wasn't ruined because it ended. It ended when they no longer fit each other." - Leila
"But being the great love doesn't mean being the love who lasts." - Leila
"Don't settle for anything less. Never give any part of yourself to someone who is unkind." - Julian Abranel (Da's real name)
"If Da thinks I deserve kindness from someone I love, then it stands to reason that anyone who loves me deserves the same." - Leila
"My body gets up every day and falls asleep when it's had it. It's my best self and mine to keep or share." - Leila
"Love's hard. Be careful." - Clare
The only issue I had with the book is the age difference between the protagonist (who I consider a baby) and the man she falls for. I know he's a "good guy" but it made me uncomfortable.
At one point in the book, Leila asks her sister if the suicide destroyed her great love. For me, I believe the suicide impacted the teenager's decision to become romantically involved with a 31 year old man. Some say age is just a number and perhaps since her father is much older and so are her sisters, Leila feels older but still, a fourteen year age gap is a big deal to me. Overall, I found this book delightful to read. I enjoyed it! Here are some of my favorite lines:
"Maybe great love is simply the love that fits...It wasn't ruined because it ended. It ended when they no longer fit each other." - Leila
"But being the great love doesn't mean being the love who lasts." - Leila
"Don't settle for anything less. Never give any part of yourself to someone who is unkind." - Julian Abranel (Da's real name)
"If Da thinks I deserve kindness from someone I love, then it stands to reason that anyone who loves me deserves the same." - Leila
"My body gets up every day and falls asleep when it's had it. It's my best self and mine to keep or share." - Leila
"Love's hard. Be careful." - Clare
August 8, 2020
Based on the preview, I thought the book would be better. I’ve had loved ones very close to me die from Suicide so I honestly thought I’d enjoy this book more. But it was very very disappointing. The writing was all over the place, it held nothing in the aspects of finding out more about her sister. It felt like the story had absolutely no meaning behind it. The main character’s personally was immature. I hated that she kept referencing to her dyslexia and sex the way she did. And don’t even get me started about her dating a 31-year-old. That’s disgusting in my book. What would a man of 31 see in a child of 16? It was extremely off putting. Plus, her family didn’t even give a shit that she was seeing a 31-year-old. Horrible book. The worse one I’ve read in a long time and I absolutely hate giving bad reviews.
It was a waste of time and energy. Horrible. Simply horrible. 😔
It was a waste of time and energy. Horrible. Simply horrible. 😔
November 17, 2023
When her half sister commits suicide, sixteen-year-old Leila Abramel has only one question: why? That question sets Leila on a journey toward discovery, uncertainty, and love. Rich with an intricate and mesmerizing family history, Stay With Me is a story of an unforgettable girl coming of age in the midst of grief, mystery, and, ultimately, awakening.
I think this is a great story for a young teen to read. It also read well for me because, even though I'm 74, I can remember being 16. I wish I'd read this book when I was 13 or 14. I could have learned a lot from it. It's not a deep story but it is a good one about a 16 year old girl who turns 17 during the telling. I enjoyed it even though it's about her half sister's suicide. The author didn't dwell on the suicide although it's always in the background.
I think this is a great story for a young teen to read. It also read well for me because, even though I'm 74, I can remember being 16. I wish I'd read this book when I was 13 or 14. I could have learned a lot from it. It's not a deep story but it is a good one about a 16 year old girl who turns 17 during the telling. I enjoyed it even though it's about her half sister's suicide. The author didn't dwell on the suicide although it's always in the background.
February 23, 2025
A 16 year old is dating a 31 year old man while dealing with the grief of her sister’s suicide….
I just want to see the authors computer at this point
In the book she asks said 31 year old what his friends think of him dating a teenager and you know he says??? Oh they think it’s cool…. I BET THEY F-ING DO!
Then the ending is rushed. This book was supposed to be about her figuring out why her sister ultimately ended her life but the book sidetracks into this girl’s encounter with this 31 year old man. At the very end the author seems to FINALLY remembers the original plot of the book he ends it with her having an “epiphany” deciding her sister just gave up on life and killed herself.
JFK. If you burned every copy of this book and erased it from the memories of every person who read it I would still say you haven’t done enough to get rid of it.
I just want to see the authors computer at this point
In the book she asks said 31 year old what his friends think of him dating a teenager and you know he says??? Oh they think it’s cool…. I BET THEY F-ING DO!
Then the ending is rushed. This book was supposed to be about her figuring out why her sister ultimately ended her life but the book sidetracks into this girl’s encounter with this 31 year old man. At the very end the author seems to FINALLY remembers the original plot of the book he ends it with her having an “epiphany” deciding her sister just gave up on life and killed herself.
JFK. If you burned every copy of this book and erased it from the memories of every person who read it I would still say you haven’t done enough to get rid of it.
February 28, 2023
"stay with me" by Garret Weyr is about a sixteen-year-old, Leila Abranel, who has a question on why her half sister commits. Her question sets Leila on a journey toward discovery, uncertainty, and love. With a very complicated and memorizing family history. The story is of an unforgettable girl coming of age in the midst of grief, mystery and, in the end wake up call.
I mostly like how the small moments will stay with the reads. It's lifelike characters in Leila's extended family are all realistically damaged but kind hearted with each other, as they learn that while they are "it's enough that we're each still here."
I recommend this book to people who have interests in elegant and that are having a great deal of worldly experience and knowledge of fashion and culture.
I mostly like how the small moments will stay with the reads. It's lifelike characters in Leila's extended family are all realistically damaged but kind hearted with each other, as they learn that while they are "it's enough that we're each still here."
I recommend this book to people who have interests in elegant and that are having a great deal of worldly experience and knowledge of fashion and culture.
September 7, 2017
This is the Stay with Me by Garret Freymann-Wyer. It seems odd it's ok to title your book with a title already taken... I didn't know until I finished it that this was written for young adult readers, but I won't hold that against the book. Since I personally dealt with a suicide, I was interested to see how the author ended up handling it. I found what was written about suicide in the book to be familiar, accurate and sensitive. Different people react differently. Some want to search for explanations, thinking they will get closure, others don't. I was glad that the main character's search for a reason didn't take over the whole book.
December 20, 2017
Freymann-Wyer, Garret Stay With Me, 238 p. Houghton –
16 year old Leila is trying to cope with the suicide death of her much older half sister and her guilty feelings for not knowing her other family better. While trying to track down a mystery man she saw with her sister at a coffee house, Leila takes a waitressing job and ends up involved with 31 year old man. As I sit writing this review, I feel like the whole premise of the book is pretty weak. I actually enjoyed watching Leila and her extended family deal with their grief, but I could never get over my revulsion to the May-December romance which was so acceptable to Leila’s entire family – including the sex.
NO
16 year old Leila is trying to cope with the suicide death of her much older half sister and her guilty feelings for not knowing her other family better. While trying to track down a mystery man she saw with her sister at a coffee house, Leila takes a waitressing job and ends up involved with 31 year old man. As I sit writing this review, I feel like the whole premise of the book is pretty weak. I actually enjoyed watching Leila and her extended family deal with their grief, but I could never get over my revulsion to the May-December romance which was so acceptable to Leila’s entire family – including the sex.
NO
April 11, 2018
This was a pretty decent read, but I am still hung up on
While it wasn't too present, the bits of Leila's relationship with her kinda boyfriend? Ben showed some signs I thought were problematic 1. He says too her something along the lines of 'if you date someone, I must be the first to know" and I was like That's not your business and 2. When Leila goes on a trip somewhere (I think Egypt) he calls her everyday there, which seemed a little excessive
When Leila find out reflects back on a memory of her late stepsister, she tells her other stepsister Clare about something about it and Clare doesn't have much of a reaction to it
While it has its faults, its a pretty decent read
While it wasn't too present, the bits of Leila's relationship with her kinda boyfriend? Ben showed some signs I thought were problematic 1. He says too her something along the lines of 'if you date someone, I must be the first to know" and I was like That's not your business and 2. When Leila goes on a trip somewhere (I think Egypt) he calls her everyday there, which seemed a little excessive
When Leila find out reflects back on a memory of her late stepsister, she tells her other stepsister Clare about something about it and Clare doesn't have much of a reaction to it
While it has its faults, its a pretty decent read
June 11, 2022
One word. Trash. The last 50 pages were unbearable to get through. The plot has zero structure and Leila is immature. There is so much useless information about her family tree that had nothing to do with the story. She’s dating a guy that’s 15 years older as a 17 year old and her family encourages the relationship because shes “mature and goal oriented” like what??!!! No explanation is provided to help the reader close on why Rebecca killed her self. Garbage
June 19, 2019
Insightful and steady in its exploration of love and relationship in the aftermath of family tragedy .
For me, it was a look at a different social and cultural mindset , how it is molded, and how it encourages behaviors in young people. It showed a different life experience than my own. I think it can have a wider audience than YA.
For me, it was a look at a different social and cultural mindset , how it is molded, and how it encourages behaviors in young people. It showed a different life experience than my own. I think it can have a wider audience than YA.
April 19, 2023
This book is disgusting. Romanticizing underage sex with a man 16 years older after losing a loved one is sick! I hate that I thought the ending would be different, that this teenage girl would be smarter and not misinterpret her sadness. I wanted to vomit at the ending and I was so angry I wasted my time. Terrible story, meaningless. Do not bother!
July 3, 2017
3 stars not because this book was bad but because it was so out of place. There were some things that add up and other just a waste of time. I did enjoy part of the story but there some problems. Like why the main character couldn't stop obsessing over (spoilers )?
October 16, 2024
Garret Freyman is my personal Judy Blume. Her sparse style with deep dives into the psyche of young, smart women informs almost everything about who I am and how I write. This one is always special to me.
October 3, 2017
I wish that I had this book when I was younger. There are lots of good advice which would have been useful to my younger self.
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