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Love Stories For Young Adults #2
Sharing Sam
How can you take the guy your best friend loves . . . when your best friend’s going to die?
Alison Chapman has always believed she’d fall in love hard. And she does—with Sam Cody, a new guy with a gorgeous face and brooding eyes, a guy who’s impossible to resist. When Sam asks her to the Valentine’s Day dance, Alison is elated . . . until she finds out that her best friend, Isabella Cates-Lopez, has fallen for Sam, too . . . until she finds out that Isabella is dying. Now Alison wants Isabella’s last days to be her happiest ever—even if she and Sam have to hide their love. Even if, by sharing Sam, Alison risks losing him forever.
Alison Chapman has always believed she’d fall in love hard. And she does—with Sam Cody, a new guy with a gorgeous face and brooding eyes, a guy who’s impossible to resist. When Sam asks her to the Valentine’s Day dance, Alison is elated . . . until she finds out that her best friend, Isabella Cates-Lopez, has fallen for Sam, too . . . until she finds out that Isabella is dying. Now Alison wants Isabella’s last days to be her happiest ever—even if she and Sam have to hide their love. Even if, by sharing Sam, Alison risks losing him forever.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
36 people are currently reading
1409 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Applegate
280 books6,256 followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Katherine Applegate has written many books for young readers, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal.
Katherine’s picture books include THE BUFFALO STORM, illustrated by Jan Ormerod (Clarion Books); THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF IVAN, THE SHOPPING MALL GORILLA, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Clarion Books); SOMETIMES YOU FLY, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Clarion Books); and ODDER: AN OTTER’S STORY, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel & Friends).
She’s written or co-written three early chapter series for young readers: ROSCOE RILEY RULES, a seven-book series illustrated by Brian Biggs (HarperCollins); DOGGO AND PUPPER, a three-book series illustrated by Charlie Alder (Feiwel & Friends). With Gennifer Choldenko, she co-authored DOGTOWN and MOUSE AND HIS DOG, illustrated by Wallace West (Feiwel & Friends).
Books for middle-grade readers include HOME OF THE BRAVE (Feiwel & Friends); THE ONE AND ONLY series, illustrated by Patricia Castelao, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, THE ONE AND ONLY BOB, THE ONE AND ONLY RUBY, and THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY (HarperCollins); the ENDLING trilogy (HarperCollins); CRENSHAW (Feiwel & Friends); WISHTREE (Feiwel & Friends); WILLODEEN (Feiwel & Friends); ODDER (Feiwel & Friends); and the forthcoming POCKET BEAR (Feiwel & Friends).
With her husband, Michael Grant, Katherine co-wrote ANIMORPHS, a long-running series that has sold over 35 million books worldwide. They also wrote two other series, REMNANTS and EVERWORLD, and a young adult novel, EVE AND ADAM (Feiwel & Friends.)
Katherine’s work has been translated into dozens of languages, and her books have won accolades including the Christopher Medal, the Golden Kite Award, the Bank Street Josette Frank Award, the California Book Award Gold Medal, the Crystal Kite Award, the Green Earth Book Honor Award, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award, and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. Many of her works have appeared on state master lists, Best of the Year lists, and Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists.
Katherine lives in Nevada with her husband and assorted pets. She is represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary and Mary Pender at WME.
Katherine’s picture books include THE BUFFALO STORM, illustrated by Jan Ormerod (Clarion Books); THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF IVAN, THE SHOPPING MALL GORILLA, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Clarion Books); SOMETIMES YOU FLY, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Clarion Books); and ODDER: AN OTTER’S STORY, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel & Friends).
She’s written or co-written three early chapter series for young readers: ROSCOE RILEY RULES, a seven-book series illustrated by Brian Biggs (HarperCollins); DOGGO AND PUPPER, a three-book series illustrated by Charlie Alder (Feiwel & Friends). With Gennifer Choldenko, she co-authored DOGTOWN and MOUSE AND HIS DOG, illustrated by Wallace West (Feiwel & Friends).
Books for middle-grade readers include HOME OF THE BRAVE (Feiwel & Friends); THE ONE AND ONLY series, illustrated by Patricia Castelao, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, THE ONE AND ONLY BOB, THE ONE AND ONLY RUBY, and THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY (HarperCollins); the ENDLING trilogy (HarperCollins); CRENSHAW (Feiwel & Friends); WISHTREE (Feiwel & Friends); WILLODEEN (Feiwel & Friends); ODDER (Feiwel & Friends); and the forthcoming POCKET BEAR (Feiwel & Friends).
With her husband, Michael Grant, Katherine co-wrote ANIMORPHS, a long-running series that has sold over 35 million books worldwide. They also wrote two other series, REMNANTS and EVERWORLD, and a young adult novel, EVE AND ADAM (Feiwel & Friends.)
Katherine’s work has been translated into dozens of languages, and her books have won accolades including the Christopher Medal, the Golden Kite Award, the Bank Street Josette Frank Award, the California Book Award Gold Medal, the Crystal Kite Award, the Green Earth Book Honor Award, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award, and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. Many of her works have appeared on state master lists, Best of the Year lists, and Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists.
Katherine lives in Nevada with her husband and assorted pets. She is represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary and Mary Pender at WME.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
July 10, 2017
This honestly should be a 2-star review, but I spent so many years loving this book that nostalgia won't let me go below 3. 💔 I first picked this book up back in 2005, I think, and I loved it. I reread it six or seven times over the next decade, but this was the first time I've reread it since getting back into YA books last year, and it didn't hold up at all for me.
PLOT ➳➳
Alison believes that everyone finds their "Mr./Mrs. Right" eventually, but until their times come, she and her best friend Isabella are focusing on their studies, their bright futures, and their families. Of course, a wrench gets thrown in that plan when Alison's "Mr. Right" turns out to be the motorcycle-riding new kid at school that Izzy is crushing on... and the plan is completely thrown out the window when Izzy tells Alison she's been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
In a last-ditch attempt to make her best friend's last days as joyful as she can, Alison begs Sam to leave her behind and to spend time with Isabella, just until everything is over. Romantic feelings are unpredictable things, though, and aren't meant to be toyed with.
WHAT I LIKED ➳➳
Katherine's writing style has always made for quick, easy reads (look at the MG series she wrote, Animorphs, and all of its spin-offs), and this is no exception to the rule. It's a tiny book, really, and most people could easily read it in one sitting, so you aren't investing a lot of time into the story.
Sam is a really enjoyable "bad boy" love interest, and while every bad boy in the YA contemporary world seems to have their own secrets that turn them into a lovable teddy bear, Sam's secrets are surprisingly heartwarming and bring along their very own sad spin to the story.
WHAT I DISLIKED ➳➳
The shortness of the book makes it an easy, quick read, but it also means that there is no room for development at all. I feel like, if the book had a solid 150-200 pages added to it, it could be fleshed out so brilliantly that this review would be an easy 4 or 4.5, but as it stands, the plot feels incredibly rushed and the insta-love is STROOOOOONG with this one.
Besides the insta-love, Alison is just a really bland character that never really gets developed very much. Izzy is supposed to be one of the main features of the book, but she feels like a vehicle for the "cancer prop" of the story. Sam probably gets more back story than anyone, which seems odd, since he doesn't actually appear "on screen" all that much.
FINAL VERDICT ➳➳
All in all, I'm sad to say that I probably will be donating my copy of this book now that I've finished reviewing it, because I can't see myself ever picking it up for a reread. I'm a little devastated by how much my opinion of it had to change when I took off my nostalgia-filtered sunglasses, but it's just really not what I remembered it being. I'd probably still recommend this to a very young preteen or teen - maybe someone in the 11-14 range who might be newer to the genre - but if you're looking for a solidly fleshed out YA contemporary about love and loss, I'd pass this one.
PLOT ➳➳
Alison believes that everyone finds their "Mr./Mrs. Right" eventually, but until their times come, she and her best friend Isabella are focusing on their studies, their bright futures, and their families. Of course, a wrench gets thrown in that plan when Alison's "Mr. Right" turns out to be the motorcycle-riding new kid at school that Izzy is crushing on... and the plan is completely thrown out the window when Izzy tells Alison she's been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
In a last-ditch attempt to make her best friend's last days as joyful as she can, Alison begs Sam to leave her behind and to spend time with Isabella, just until everything is over. Romantic feelings are unpredictable things, though, and aren't meant to be toyed with.
WHAT I LIKED ➳➳
Katherine's writing style has always made for quick, easy reads (look at the MG series she wrote, Animorphs, and all of its spin-offs), and this is no exception to the rule. It's a tiny book, really, and most people could easily read it in one sitting, so you aren't investing a lot of time into the story.
Sam is a really enjoyable "bad boy" love interest, and while every bad boy in the YA contemporary world seems to have their own secrets that turn them into a lovable teddy bear, Sam's secrets are surprisingly heartwarming and bring along their very own sad spin to the story.
WHAT I DISLIKED ➳➳
The shortness of the book makes it an easy, quick read, but it also means that there is no room for development at all. I feel like, if the book had a solid 150-200 pages added to it, it could be fleshed out so brilliantly that this review would be an easy 4 or 4.5, but as it stands, the plot feels incredibly rushed and the insta-love is STROOOOOONG with this one.
Besides the insta-love, Alison is just a really bland character that never really gets developed very much. Izzy is supposed to be one of the main features of the book, but she feels like a vehicle for the "cancer prop" of the story. Sam probably gets more back story than anyone, which seems odd, since he doesn't actually appear "on screen" all that much.
FINAL VERDICT ➳➳
All in all, I'm sad to say that I probably will be donating my copy of this book now that I've finished reviewing it, because I can't see myself ever picking it up for a reread. I'm a little devastated by how much my opinion of it had to change when I took off my nostalgia-filtered sunglasses, but it's just really not what I remembered it being. I'd probably still recommend this to a very young preteen or teen - maybe someone in the 11-14 range who might be newer to the genre - but if you're looking for a solidly fleshed out YA contemporary about love and loss, I'd pass this one.
October 6, 2019
Great book, good STARTING point for beginner programmers.
February 2, 2017
This book kills me. And not in the good "oh my good i love it!" way. Like i cannot stand this book. I just thinks so much is wrong with this story. The main character, Alison, falls for a boy named Sam. She keeps it a secret from her best friend, Isabella, but when they find out Isabella is going to die, Alison decides she wants to do one last good thing for her. She knows Isabella thinks Sam is attractive, so she gets Sam to agree to pretend date Isabella until she dies, then they can be together again. Already, I think that's a horrible thing to do. Her friend would think she was with a boy who liked her, when he's really in love with her bestfriend.
Then, to add to how messed up it is, Sam starts to fall in love with Isabella, who is still dying. Now Alison is on the sidelines watching the boy she loves make eye contact with her while he makes out with her bestfriend that he also loves.
The whole wrap up of the story is what really gets me. Isabella dies, and Sam and Alison get back together IMMEDIATELY AFTER. Seriously, at Isabella's funeral Sam and Alison are holding hands and barely mourning the loss of their best friend/ girlfriend. And to add to it, Isabella leaves a note for Alison saying she knew all along but thank you. Seriously? Why would you want to be with a boy you know doesn't love you? I understand she's dying, but I just can't. I can't with anything about this book.
Then, to add to how messed up it is, Sam starts to fall in love with Isabella, who is still dying. Now Alison is on the sidelines watching the boy she loves make eye contact with her while he makes out with her bestfriend that he also loves.
The whole wrap up of the story is what really gets me. Isabella dies, and Sam and Alison get back together IMMEDIATELY AFTER. Seriously, at Isabella's funeral Sam and Alison are holding hands and barely mourning the loss of their best friend/ girlfriend. And to add to it, Isabella leaves a note for Alison saying she knew all along but thank you. Seriously? Why would you want to be with a boy you know doesn't love you? I understand she's dying, but I just can't. I can't with anything about this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2021
... okay so this was my second time reading this but i didn’t rmr a lot about it. it seemed kinda childish now that i read it again just bc the language was simple and it was a pretty short. the plot was basic but the love triangle (kinda??) made it interesting. i liked the ending but overall it was a simple and more of a middle school book 🤷♂️
September 15, 2016
More like a 3.5 star. A little bit better than the average "teen cancer" trope-filled mess, but still a teen cancer love story. Full review to come.
January 27, 2022
This was wonderful. I loved this story as a young teen when I first read it, and it has always been in my mind throughout the years. Reading it again was a pleasure.
The writing is warm, humorous, sensitive, real. The plot does go there - these two best friends do share Sam - and while it borders on uncomfortable, it never stops being honest. The ending is appropriate, emotional, heartfelt.
A really lovely and worthwhile reread.
The writing is warm, humorous, sensitive, real. The plot does go there - these two best friends do share Sam - and while it borders on uncomfortable, it never stops being honest. The ending is appropriate, emotional, heartfelt.
A really lovely and worthwhile reread.
December 29, 2011
Really a 3.5: Predictable but Cute
Title: Sharing Sam
Author: Katherine Applegate
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publishing Date: 1995 (but reads like a current YA)
Source: Library
Cover: Very fitting for the story. It seems typical for the contemporary YA genre, but this time it makes sense.
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance: The bittersweet edition. Sharing your new love interest with your friend because you’ve just found out she’s dying can lend itself to being heavy-ish material.
Plot: This book is really short--so short at its 155 pages that I almost didn’t pick it up. I tend to shy away from shorter books, doubting the book’s ability to engage me enough to care in so few pages. Sharing Sam was surprising in that aspect. The reader gets more depth of character than he or she might expect going into it. It may be predictable overall, but that doesn’t detract from its storytelling.
Romantic Element: Yes, there was romance. It was quick but also believable. A few times I caught myself being pissy that Applegate chose to glaze over scenes, giving us a summary rather than a bird’s eye view, but I wasn’t too upset. Like I said describing the genre, the love in this book is bittersweet.
Overall: I think you know going into the book if it’ll be for you or not, but for the little time it takes you to read it, the story is there. As a whole, I’d say this book is more like A Walk to Remember kind of Lifetime movie YA romance, and I also think that assessment will pretty much tell you whether or not you’d like the book itself.
Title: Sharing Sam
Author: Katherine Applegate
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publishing Date: 1995 (but reads like a current YA)
Source: Library
Cover: Very fitting for the story. It seems typical for the contemporary YA genre, but this time it makes sense.
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance: The bittersweet edition. Sharing your new love interest with your friend because you’ve just found out she’s dying can lend itself to being heavy-ish material.
Plot: This book is really short--so short at its 155 pages that I almost didn’t pick it up. I tend to shy away from shorter books, doubting the book’s ability to engage me enough to care in so few pages. Sharing Sam was surprising in that aspect. The reader gets more depth of character than he or she might expect going into it. It may be predictable overall, but that doesn’t detract from its storytelling.
Romantic Element: Yes, there was romance. It was quick but also believable. A few times I caught myself being pissy that Applegate chose to glaze over scenes, giving us a summary rather than a bird’s eye view, but I wasn’t too upset. Like I said describing the genre, the love in this book is bittersweet.
Overall: I think you know going into the book if it’ll be for you or not, but for the little time it takes you to read it, the story is there. As a whole, I’d say this book is more like A Walk to Remember kind of Lifetime movie YA romance, and I also think that assessment will pretty much tell you whether or not you’d like the book itself.
May 18, 2013
I don't like these types of books. They're whiny and BLEH.
But THIS, this was amazing. This book hit me like Breaking Beautiful. Not my type. Not my topic. But when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.
One reason I don't like these books is because of the fake-ness. They talk about a life topic, like cancer or death, but really, the MC spends the whole story hating on everyone and everything and life and you just want to tell them to shut up and get a life. Really. Not this book!
It was genuine. You know how often those kind of books come around? Not often. When Al had to "share" Sam, we didn't hear any of that complaining like, "OMG, I can't believe this is happening to me, my life sucks" or "I'm such a good friend so i guess he can be hers... But i can still bitch about it..." or anything, Al truly cared about her dying friend. It just struck something in me.
I loved Applegate's writing style and her ideas that just made sense. She knows how to write - and that's hard to come across.
But THIS, this was amazing. This book hit me like Breaking Beautiful. Not my type. Not my topic. But when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.
One reason I don't like these books is because of the fake-ness. They talk about a life topic, like cancer or death, but really, the MC spends the whole story hating on everyone and everything and life and you just want to tell them to shut up and get a life. Really. Not this book!
It was genuine. You know how often those kind of books come around? Not often. When Al had to "share" Sam, we didn't hear any of that complaining like, "OMG, I can't believe this is happening to me, my life sucks" or "I'm such a good friend so i guess he can be hers... But i can still bitch about it..." or anything, Al truly cared about her dying friend. It just struck something in me.
I loved Applegate's writing style and her ideas that just made sense. She knows how to write - and that's hard to come across.
December 15, 2019
Baru kali ini baca young adult nya Katherine Applegate bertema sick lit. Biasanya sih baca novel middle grade nya. Topiknya ngga jauh dari keluarga, persahabatan, kasih sayang.
Review lengkap ada di blog https://justaveragereader.blogspot.co...
Review lengkap ada di blog https://justaveragereader.blogspot.co...
April 17, 2024
Good as I remember it being when I read it before!
August 20, 2022
A good cute romance story, but was kind of predictable.
February 4, 2010
I just finished reading Sharing Sam a few minutes ago, I can literally say I devoured it in one sitting. I feel a bunch of different things all at one, emotional/touched, and even sad that the book ended so quickly. I almost wished a read it slower, so it would last longer. Sharing Sam is a unique story that covers just about everything from love, loss, humor, and the sacrifices made for true friendship. Risk-taking high school student Alison Chapman hears rumors about the "hot" new kid Sam Cody. Alison gets to make her own judgments about Sam while practically saving his life. From then on, Alison knew she had deep feelings for Sam, that butterfly sickening stomach feelings. On the other hand, her best friend, Isabella Cates-Lopez, finds out out that she is diagnosed with cancer, dying, but also falling in love with Sam. Alison doesn't know what to do, she doesn't have the heart to tell her about her feelings/relationship with Sam. She becomes torn between telling the truth or lying to protect someone you care about. Allison comes up with a plan, to share Sam.
I really couldn't decide whether Allison was doing the right thing or not. I loved her character, she was honestly a good person, who wants to help others. This might just be me, but I really liked how the main characters acted their age, in other books I feel like the characters act way older than they actually are. Along with liking Allison and Izzy, I loved Sam. He was mysterious at first, but once you find out the truth to the "rumors", you can't help but fall in love with Sam. He's sweet and just different than other boys. The book was written a couple of years ago, so it was a bit outdated, but it wasn't a problem. The story had a bit of a twist at the end, which was a surprise.
Overall, I glad I picked this book up last second. I did have some tears, not all sad ones, near the end, so make sure to be prepared with a box of tissues nearby. My only wish was that the book was longer, but other than that if your looking for a deeper romantic, emotional, read that will leave you thinking at the end, pick this one up!
Taken from my book review blog at http://sarasbookjourney.blogspot.com/.
I really couldn't decide whether Allison was doing the right thing or not. I loved her character, she was honestly a good person, who wants to help others. This might just be me, but I really liked how the main characters acted their age, in other books I feel like the characters act way older than they actually are. Along with liking Allison and Izzy, I loved Sam. He was mysterious at first, but once you find out the truth to the "rumors", you can't help but fall in love with Sam. He's sweet and just different than other boys. The book was written a couple of years ago, so it was a bit outdated, but it wasn't a problem. The story had a bit of a twist at the end, which was a surprise.
Overall, I glad I picked this book up last second. I did have some tears, not all sad ones, near the end, so make sure to be prepared with a box of tissues nearby. My only wish was that the book was longer, but other than that if your looking for a deeper romantic, emotional, read that will leave you thinking at the end, pick this one up!
Taken from my book review blog at http://sarasbookjourney.blogspot.com/.
July 27, 2014
I wanted to read this one because I am drawn to anything with cancer, and it was an interesting concept with the best friends and one boy. The cancer and death looming over Isabella.
My biggest issue was that Alison should have spoken up in the first place. The cheating gets to me even though this is a unique situation. I know that Alison had the best of intentions, and that she didn't want to say she had feelings for him because of the timing--the day that Izzy told her that she has cancer and its pretty severe.
It was an emotional book, and I connected with Alison. She is a little awkward in her own shoes, but she is okay with it. She is smart and works hard and has a dream for her future. She is mostly just the girl next door. She is loyal to Alison and they are so good as best friends. Alison has the humor to cheer up Isabella when she's feeling pretty dark.
I also liked Alison with her younger sister. They had a bit of a rough relationship at the beginning of the book, but I like how Sam's grandpa Morgan was something that brought them together and gave them something in common again, and avenues to talk to each other.
I like Sam pretty well. He is the bad boy image but he is a softie underneath. He is juggling so much and I know that he and Alison had chemistry. It was hard though when Alison asked him to go with Isabella.
Bottom Line: Good with a couple issues. Liked the main character and friendship.
My biggest issue was that Alison should have spoken up in the first place. The cheating gets to me even though this is a unique situation. I know that Alison had the best of intentions, and that she didn't want to say she had feelings for him because of the timing--the day that Izzy told her that she has cancer and its pretty severe.
It was an emotional book, and I connected with Alison. She is a little awkward in her own shoes, but she is okay with it. She is smart and works hard and has a dream for her future. She is mostly just the girl next door. She is loyal to Alison and they are so good as best friends. Alison has the humor to cheer up Isabella when she's feeling pretty dark.
I also liked Alison with her younger sister. They had a bit of a rough relationship at the beginning of the book, but I like how Sam's grandpa Morgan was something that brought them together and gave them something in common again, and avenues to talk to each other.
I like Sam pretty well. He is the bad boy image but he is a softie underneath. He is juggling so much and I know that he and Alison had chemistry. It was hard though when Alison asked him to go with Isabella.
Bottom Line: Good with a couple issues. Liked the main character and friendship.
October 22, 2015
5/5.0 stars
I collected this selection of Love Stories for young adult when I was in high school. If I'm being honest, this brings back nostalgic and fond memories of being young, so for those reasons, I will review this book with pleasure.
Sharing Sam is about two best friends who fell in love with the same boy. But, unlike the usual plot where they drift apart and antagonize each other, Alison and Isabella shared Sam's love. Now, why does that sounds R-rated all of a sudden? I think I'm bad at this.
To clarify, this book is really wholesome and it encapsulates the bittersweetness of first love and how one, of such a young age, could readily see past her own welfare in order to protect the happiness of another. What I also love about this book is how raw it can get - it doesn't hesitate to state a fact as it is, not needing to make everything sound pretty for the sake of the appeal.
As a whole, I liked the poignant story as well as all the characters - even Alison, in all her boring glory, is not easy to dislike. It's predictable in a way that you're guaranteed a happy ending, but not without loss and tears.
"Thanks for sharing. I love you."
I collected this selection of Love Stories for young adult when I was in high school. If I'm being honest, this brings back nostalgic and fond memories of being young, so for those reasons, I will review this book with pleasure.
Sharing Sam is about two best friends who fell in love with the same boy. But, unlike the usual plot where they drift apart and antagonize each other, Alison and Isabella shared Sam's love. Now, why does that sounds R-rated all of a sudden? I think I'm bad at this.
To clarify, this book is really wholesome and it encapsulates the bittersweetness of first love and how one, of such a young age, could readily see past her own welfare in order to protect the happiness of another. What I also love about this book is how raw it can get - it doesn't hesitate to state a fact as it is, not needing to make everything sound pretty for the sake of the appeal.
As a whole, I liked the poignant story as well as all the characters - even Alison, in all her boring glory, is not easy to dislike. It's predictable in a way that you're guaranteed a happy ending, but not without loss and tears.
December 17, 2015
I remember reading this book as a young girl. I remember loving it then. I don't know if I will love it now. I get that the heroine sacrificed her happiness for her best friend who was dying. However, I don't know if the hero was worth all that. Also, if Izzzy knew about Sam and Alison, I think it would have redeemed her more in my eyes if she didn't go along with the pretense. I mean, it should have meant something to her that her best friend was willing to be unhappy just so she'll be happy for whatever time she has left, right? But no, I feel like she took advantage of her illness to get a guy for herself.
When Sam started to fall for Izzy, I though maybe that should have been left like that. Anyway, Alison was still young, and she'll find some other guy she didn't have to share with someone else. At least, that's how I look at things now.
This is a good book for young girls, especially teenage ones because it shows you that in high school, friendships should always come first before boys. I don't care if Alison had to lie to her best friend about her feelings for Sam. I don't care that Izzy knew all along about Sam and Alison. What I really liked was the fact that Alison was a good girl whose character should have had a better journey throughout the book.
When Sam started to fall for Izzy, I though maybe that should have been left like that. Anyway, Alison was still young, and she'll find some other guy she didn't have to share with someone else. At least, that's how I look at things now.
This is a good book for young girls, especially teenage ones because it shows you that in high school, friendships should always come first before boys. I don't care if Alison had to lie to her best friend about her feelings for Sam. I don't care that Izzy knew all along about Sam and Alison. What I really liked was the fact that Alison was a good girl whose character should have had a better journey throughout the book.
September 20, 2010
Sharing Sam is a pleasantly short and fascinatingly deep young adult novel about love and loss. Alison rides horses, is joined at the hip to friend Isabella, and struggles to relate at all to her younger sister. Sam rides motorbikes and bleeds on Alison’s T-shirt. Their friendship seems unlikely, but there’s something about Sam, quiet, keeping himself to himself, rather like Ali and Izzy on the fringes of teen society. But Izzy, who is also falling for Sam, just happens to be sick.
Izzy’s parents keep secrets and rope Ali in to keep them too. Then Ali decides to keep secrets of her own, and ropes in Sam to help her. The trouble is, Sam has reasons of his own to believe that truth matters more. And no one really knows what Izzy believes.
Love and sacrifice, family and friendship, secrecy and availability, thread pleasingly through this tale. I like the characters; I like how they relate to each other; and ultimately I love the way the story ends—lessons taught, lessons learned; true love and true friendship have persevered.
Yes, it’s a tearjerker. Yes, it would make a great movie. And yes, I recommend it; an enjoyable read.
Izzy’s parents keep secrets and rope Ali in to keep them too. Then Ali decides to keep secrets of her own, and ropes in Sam to help her. The trouble is, Sam has reasons of his own to believe that truth matters more. And no one really knows what Izzy believes.
Love and sacrifice, family and friendship, secrecy and availability, thread pleasingly through this tale. I like the characters; I like how they relate to each other; and ultimately I love the way the story ends—lessons taught, lessons learned; true love and true friendship have persevered.
Yes, it’s a tearjerker. Yes, it would make a great movie. And yes, I recommend it; an enjoyable read.
May 24, 2013
I haven't read this book in years but the story of Alison, Izzy and Sam has stuck with me. I read this when I was in high school, when I was as young as the characters in this story are (wow, that was a long time ago) and I remember it being so very different from the standard Sweet Dreams fare I was used to. The drama was a little heavier, the issues more mature. It is a love-triangle and I probably won't be heaping this as much praise if I re-read this now (might result in massive eye-rolls) but I still remember how much I swooned over Sam who has a packet of Kleenex in his leather jacket, the logger-head turtles and how cool Izzy was as a best friend.
I'm rating this as the fifteen year old lying somewhere in my cynical depths, listening to Tori Amos and Nirvana, figuring out Calculus, while also crying over this book.
I'm rating this as the fifteen year old lying somewhere in my cynical depths, listening to Tori Amos and Nirvana, figuring out Calculus, while also crying over this book.
September 1, 2010
Well i can honestly say it's a sad romance. But non the less a beauty in its on. Love in youth, is very much Amazing :D You won't regret reading it. It made me cry so hard and it made me feel that it was okay to cry. It made me realize that tomorrow isn't garunteed for anyone. It made me appreciate my loved ones. It's a great story!
August 2, 2009
This story just pulled at my heart. I can say that I did tear up a couple of times and just wow.....
I will come back and read this book again without a doubt.
I will come back and read this book again without a doubt.
May 15, 2014
i read it ages ago!!
i only remember that i kind of like it!!! :D:D:D
i only remember that i kind of like it!!! :D:D:D
January 26, 2013
A bittersweet story about the true nature of friendship and love
March 23, 2020
I was in a thrift store in Maryland when I first encountered this book. Two teen girls were also browsing the shelves and started discussing it. The main theme, a girl "lending" her crush to her terminally ill best friend was intriguing to me. Of course I'm a veteran of Love Story, Death Be Not Proud, Brian's Song and Thursday's Child having grown up when the movie of the week almost always involved someone dying tragically young of something.
But what sold me on this (other than the 20 cent price) was when one of the girls mentioned that the author was married to Michael Grant, author of those post-apocalyptic Gone books.
That made me curious enough to snag the book (after the girls moved on) and now several years later I finally got around to reading it. Oddly, it's set on the west coast of Florida (where I now live)
This is no great work of epic romance but if your inner child is a 13 year old fat girl who enjoys maudlin romances, this book might be just the ticket. The setting is believable enough and the story is deftly told with all of the major characters being pretty likeable. At 160 pages, it's no more than a few hours reading, if that.
But what sold me on this (other than the 20 cent price) was when one of the girls mentioned that the author was married to Michael Grant, author of those post-apocalyptic Gone books.
That made me curious enough to snag the book (after the girls moved on) and now several years later I finally got around to reading it. Oddly, it's set on the west coast of Florida (where I now live)
This is no great work of epic romance but if your inner child is a 13 year old fat girl who enjoys maudlin romances, this book might be just the ticket. The setting is believable enough and the story is deftly told with all of the major characters being pretty likeable. At 160 pages, it's no more than a few hours reading, if that.
June 10, 2020
Allison is in love with her new boyfriend, Sam. Allison’s friend, Isabella, thinks she’s falling for Sam, and she doesn’t know Allison’s already dating him. When Allison finds out that Isabella has brain cancer and is dying, she convinces Sam that he should date Izzy so that she can be happy during her last few months of life. Can Allison live with her choice? If you were in the same situation, could YOU live with it?
Review: I liked the conundrum of this story: what would I do in the same situation? How would I feel while my boyfriend was dating someone else? Very readable.
Review: I liked the conundrum of this story: what would I do in the same situation? How would I feel while my boyfriend was dating someone else? Very readable.
May 28, 2024
Ive read Sharing Sam 3 separate times. Once when i was a teenager, and twice as an adult. This will always be my number 1. A book i keep very close to my heart. The best thing we can have in this life is good love, and this book is all about good love, what you do for it, what you’ll give up for it. And being able to do both of those things at the same time, all for love! I’ve shared my copy with 5 or so of my friends and they all fell in love with it! I also read it to my adult god daughter while she was in the ICU. I Highly recommend!! ♥️
February 18, 2018
I may be young and my decisions are not apparently important, but I dont regret giving this book a 5-out-of-5. some reviews said this book was a cliche romance twist between best friends with a illness and a complicated romance. That it was a basic idea. I'd like to argue that because honestly this book was well written. It held meaning and that was important. The author expressed emotions very well and character complexity. I love this book. It was emotional, in a good way.
April 18, 2018
It's hard to review a book like this. It's pretty short, easy to read in a few hours. It's entertaining and sweet. But it's really cliche and there is absolutely nothing realistic about any of it. The writing isn't very strong and nothing about the book stands out besides the sheer absurdity of the plot. But for a rainy afternoon, it's a simple and quick read, and wonderfully entertaining.
October 3, 2022
Sharing Sam was a sweet, very young adolescent story. Most definitely too sweet and way too young for me however I have been a big fan of Katherine Applegate since her two books, The One and Only Bob and the One and Only Ivan. Those books were categorized as young adult as well but the stories of both were something that anyone of any age could connect with. Sharing Sam …. Not so much.
June 28, 2017
As a teen, I loved this book.
December 18, 2021
Sweet novel
Nice young persons read. Touchy-feely and tender. Definitely something short, sweet and a little bit different than other similar reads.
Nice young persons read. Touchy-feely and tender. Definitely something short, sweet and a little bit different than other similar reads.
February 25, 2022
No, just No. MC is so effed up.
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