I Have Lost My Way

I fell in love with Gayle Forman's writing in 2009 when I first read If I Stay. The writing is heartbreakingly beautiful and it's easy to forget that the events of the story are taking place in a such a short period of time. I Have Lost My Way addresses a topic that every single person in the world experiences in some way: loss. Loss can be a powerful binding factor for people who need to know that they're not alone. These three characters have experienced different kinds of loss but the connection they share because of their experiences is insanely powerful. This book broke my heart, put it back together, then broke it again. I was invested in Freya, Harun, and Nathaniel from the first word and couldn't stop reading this book until I finished in one sitting. The end of this book was perfect but I selfishly hope that like If I Stay and Just One Day, there will be a follow up so we can check in with these characters again. *This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

4.5 stars I have Lost My Way is a powerful and beautifully written novel. It’s a story of three teenagers who over the course of only one day, mature emotionally, and profoundly affect one another’s lives. Freya, Haran, and Nathaniel were feeling depressed and lost. Although they were all strangers when they met accidentally in NYC, they became fast friends. Each one of the teens, unfortunately, carried deep psychological scars. Together, however, they found a way to help one another survive, heal and change. I connected with each character in this book, but Nathaniel broke my heart. From a very young age, Nathaniel became the caretaker for his mentally ill father. When he met Freya and Haran in NYC, Nathaniel was at his breaking point. Freya, a famous teen singer, felt love only through her fans. She agonized over what would happen to her when her fans discovered her horrendous secret. Haran is a gay Muslim and ashamed of his sexuality. He’s in love with a male friend, and afraid to tell his Pakistani parents. I have Lost My Way is a poignant story, yet heartwarming, and sweetened with a dash of romance. It’s a story about love, loss, friendship, and finding the strength to be who you really are. Thank you, Penguin Publishing Group-Viking Books and Edelweiss, for my advanced review copy. I loved it!

This beautiful story intertwines three disparate lives with the common thread of loss - loss of love, loss of purpose, loss of recognition, loss of family. While the main action all takes place within a day, there are sections for each of the three main characters that describe how they got to their unexpected meeting in a park. The styling reminded me of Nicola Yoon's "The Sun is Also a Star." It deals with a wide range of themes, including sexuality, fame, race, Islamaphobia, familial expectations, fractured families, and the facades we all wear to hide our innermost worries and fears. I thought each character was equally well-rounded, they all brought their unique troubles to the table in a way that their distress is on the same level; no one person's problems are treated as more serious than the others'. Beautiful story about determining if, and when, it's right to move on.