Summary: The main character, Samantha Kingston (Sam), is the classic mean popular girl-- superficial, selfish, unsympathetic and a biatch. In the group of popular girls (Ally, Sam, Lindsay and Elody), Sam was the once unpopular girl who is running from that unfortunate past by being a follower of the ringleader, Lindsay Edgecombe. The girls live carelessly and wildly and in the prologue it is clear that the future of Samantha is terminated by a driving accident. However, Sam wakes up the next morning and finds out that she's reliving the day of her death until she rights a wrong.
On Day Two, Sam wakes wondering what has just happened to her. Through the entire day, Sam can't decide if she dreamt the night before or if she's having extreme déjà vu. As the day progresses, she realizes that she is actually reliving Cupid's Day, and that she has control over the way the day unfolds.
On the third day, Sam attempts to prevent her death, by convincing her friends not to attend Kent's (the nerd friend from her unpopular days-- again cliche) party and stay in for a movie night instead. She is positive this plan is going to work and that tomorrow, she will be faced with a new day: February 13. The celebration is short lived when, news spread that Juliet (a bullied girl) has killed herself.
Once Sam realizes that her death and Juliet's
death are intertwined, Sam gets to work trying to save them both. On both the
fifth and sixth days, Sam tries, unsuccessfully, to save Juliet by sending her
roses, speaking to her at the party, and chasing her through the woods to stop
her from walking out on the highway.
On the final day, Sam wakes with a sense of
peace, knowing that the ultimate sacrifice must be made: she must die before
Juliet in order to save her.
While all this is happening, Sam realizes how
badly she’s treated everyone from strangers to her family. Oh, and of course
the cliché storyline where Rob, her "dream boyfriend", turns out to be a horny jerk and Kent is the
caring boyfriend that’s always had a crush on her.
Review: I'll start out by saying that I'd classify this book as a teenager book-- the kind that bores me with the simple sentences and 4th grade vocabulary that simultaneously entertains me with the captivating storyline, which admittedly the childhood romance makes my heart get all sappy with predictable love.
The beginning with the start of Samantha's current life was indeed a challenge for me to continue reading and resist the urge of putting the book down and give up on the horrible "protagonist", Sam. I do applaud Ms. Oliver for being able to change Sam from a horrible self-absorbed teenager to a character I sympathize with enough to shed a tear. As Sam relives February 12, I, as a reader, am able to see her growth and change. At first her attempts at being a better person are so half-hearted, or ill-concieved you wonder if she's actually trying. And, I was the first to admit my loathe of Sam. I wanted to see her change right away, and she didn't. Though I didn't, do try and remember she's a spoiled teenager that hasn't been made to work for anything in her life. Then the realization comes and blah blah.
Ending (Does Include Spoilers): After spending only five minutes Googling the book, I realize the ending is a rather large topic of discussion for the more vocal readers. I, being wish-washy, can see both arguments and concede to both. I, like many, wish that when Sam self-sacrificed and threw Juliet out of harm from the oncoming traffic, she was able to continue on with her life. I mean after all, she went through a 470 page revelation and deserves to live on with these new morals and fan-girl worthy boyfriend. Yet, at the same time, we can all admit that if we got the perfect ending, we would be complaining about how foreseeable the ending is and not appreciate the departing message that we're left with-- be kind to others and to know that your actions, no matter how insignificant they may seem, can have lasting consequences on both yourself and others.
The book, though not moving enough to get me to actually change, did make me question my part in other people's lives. Very few can go with spotless reputations and suppressing the snarky remarks that come to one's head when that certain loathsome person talks. I sincerely am going to try and make effort to stop the damage I ignorantly cause, but can anyone in reality actually change their personalities just like that? Till then...
