The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

Release Date: June 28, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 320
Series: n/a
Review Source: GalleyGrab for review

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.
Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

My Thoughts:
‘The Day Before’ is a novel written in verse, and it was only the 2nd time I have read a novel in this format. In my previous experience with verse I really loved the rhythm of the story and the way it flowed through the poetry. This time around I actually found the format a bit distracting. Lisa Schroeder’s writing is quite lovely at times, but often I thought it read just like normal prose formatted to look like a poem. I don’t mean to be overly critical, because I did like the writing, I just didn’t think it needed to be written that way. I found both the story and the characters to be interesting, so I wished that I could have read more words to more fully describe them and their situations.

Overall, though, I did enjoy the story being told. It was a bit mysterious at first, and it quickly became equal parts heartbreaking and sweet. One thing I did appreciate was that I could feel Amber’s emotions leaping off the page. I empathized with her and cared for her. I also enjoyed how neither Amber nor Cade’s stories are exactly what they seem at first. It’s not a huge mystery to be unravelled, but is isn’t an obvious story either. I don’t think either story is one which you would guess right away, which is awesome. The concept of ‘The Day Before’ -- having one perfect day before everything changes -- was a cool one. The events of the book also reinforce its message, showing readers that no matter what you plan for, you never know exactly what will happen. Though I don’t seem to be as touched by Lisa Schroeder’s writing as others are I still enjoyed this book, and with its beach setting and sweet romance it would make a perfect summer read.

Rating:
[3/5]

Find The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.ca