I wanted to fall in love with I HAVE LOST MY WAY. I can't really pinpoint why I didn't. I definitely like the second half over the first half when the story started to move forward. I would have liked more backstory/character development/growth. The ending felt rather abrupt.

I'm a big fan of Gayle Forman, so I my expectations may have been super high. She'll continue to be on my and auto-buy short list.

Thank you NetGalley for eARC.

By the time a child graduates from high school and reaches the magic age of eighteen we give them the right to vote, access to the armed forces, and the title of adult. Perhaps the term of Young Adult would be more accurate. Whatever the name, these youngsters are still children tied to the apron strings of their parents, just playing acting at the game of grown up until such time as they are able to actually grow into the role.

In I've Lost My Way, Gale Forman takes the lives of three such individuals who are facing the cusp of adulthood and all the issues which go along with the job description. Each encounters a dilemma which will affect the direction of their entire future. Not only do they need to deal with their personal issues, but wrapped up in the process is their relationship with their parents and the changes which will occur as they pull away from the family nest to pursue their own future path.

This however is just one day where their lives accidentally intersect in New York's Central Park and they develop the sort of friendship with a youthful exuberance that can make a difference. Only the young can enjoy the camaraderie of strangers, as they come to each other's rescue not knowing the whys and wherefores on a life changing day. Freya, a singer on the cusp of greatness, faces a glitch in her future plans, while Harun is looking for a way to escape an inner secret which he knows will lead to turmoil with his parents. Then there's Nathaniel, armed with a backpack and a map, far from home and overwhelmed by the hustle of The City. Through their own voices we find out their backstories and what has brought them to this current moment in their lives. This diverse, unlikely trio discover the joy of an unencumbered friendship which doesn't judge, but uplifts each of them at the lowest moments of their eighteen to nineteen year existence.

A smoothe read, easily completed in one sitting (you won't be able to stop yourself from finishing this one), with a set of strong characters and a somewhat open ended conclusion which makes anything possible. As an aside, I'm giving a shout out to fans of Tolkien who value the sanctity of his Lord of the Rings - Ms Forman, Nathaniel's actions could easily be considered sacrilege. Please, honor the ring!

Five stars and a thank you to both Netgalley and Edelweiss for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, as I do most of Gayle Forman's titles. I liked that the characters were young, but not high school age and going through real struggles. I thought I would hate Freya at first, but ended up really enjoying her; the sassiness reminded me of myself. This is just a good read that shows how we are all connected in some way.

http://piratemediamusings.blogAt first, Freya thought she had strained her voice, but now that it has been three weeks and she still can’t sing, she begins to worry. Harun can’t face the future before him and is determined to run far away from the love of his life. Nathaniel feels he has nothing left to lose and has used his last dollars to come to New York City. Through a chance encounter these three teens are thrown together and as they begin to learn the secrets each is carrying, they also begin to help each other heal. What truths will these strangers learn about themselves and those around them?

I Have Lost My Way is a stand-alone novel full of heart and emotion. The story is told through the eyes of these three varied characters, yet readers will not have trouble following along. Forman has crafted a beautiful story that readers will easily relate to and since the page count is not very large, most readers will finish it quickly (possible in a couple of days). I Have Lost My Way should be added to every reader’s TBR list if they like young adult realistic fiction.

Three teens at a crossroads, Freyer an aspiring singer, Harun a closeted Muslim gay teen, and Nathaniel a boy who lost his eye in an accident, meet by accident and spend the day together typing up loose ends. Three lost souls who bond together over the course of a day. While the premise is implausible, Forman expertly captures how lost each teen is and how much they need to reach out and touch someone who could understand. While most of the book focuses on the day these teens spent with each other, after most of the chapters is a section called "The Shape of Loss" which details how each individual became "lost." What makes the book work is the bond these three form throughout the course of the day and the voice of each of each individual. While some plausibility is sacrificed for emotional truth (particularly the circumstances surrounding Nathaniel's accident), Forman delving into each teen's emotional state more than make for it. With the exception of the "The Shape of Loss" sections, Forman switches between each character's voice multiple times in each chapter (don't work each narrative switch is separated by spaces) and every so often she interjects an omniscient voice which comments on what's going. While I found no problem with the switching voices or the occasional interjection of the omniscient narrator it may be jarring for some readers. Recommended for older teens who like Realistic Fiction with lots of introspection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing for a digital ARC of this book.

I am a Gayle Forman fan and have autographed copies of "If I Stay" and "Where She Went", so I had high expectations of this book. Passages like this one: "They only just met. They have nearly nothing in common, but the invisible chord is now a tight triangle, connecting each of their hearts, each of their destinies", for example, are the Gayle Forman I was anticipating.

Other parts of the whole seem forced like boxes were being checked and the plot is so rushed. It is ambitious to fully cover the twelve hours the three young people spend with each other while fully exploring their back stories and showing resolution. It just didn't work for me in these 250+ pages.

One of Gayle Forman's best! She intricately weaves the stories of the three characters together to form a cohesive day.

While plot not totally believable the characters have issues/feeling many teens face and the book was an easy & entertaining read. Concluding with a message of hope, not a tidy ending made me love it even more. I can think of many teens to whom I'd recommend this title.

I didn’t like this quite as much as If I Stay, which I thought was better in terms of focus. BUT I still really enjoyed this book! It’s told from 3 different perspectives, 3 incredibly diverse people with heartbreak in their lives. The way it’s told is excellent, with a lot of flashbacks and changing perspective. Usually I’m not crazy about this style of writing but I thought it was very well done here. Honestly the only part I didn’t like was the romance, I thought it was just kind of meh, but everything else was really good!!

I had heard that I Have Lost My Way is told backward, and I was skeptical. (Seems like a "thing" lately.) I shouldn't have worried. Forman skillfully uses flashbacks to tell the backstory, and it flows seamlessly.

Freya is one of our main characters. She's a budding pop star, who has lost her voice. She's feeling a lot of pressure from her manager and her mother. She's estranged from her sister, so when she sees a Facebook post that her sister is engaged, she kind of loses it.

Actually, she falls off a bridge in a park and lands on Nathaniel, who has just arrived in New York. Harun is the bystander who sees it all and comes to help. Freya and Harun decide that Nathaniel needs to see a doctor since he passed out and is very confused.

This begins a story of a special relationship, as these three bond very quickly and don't seem to want to leave each other. Even though they all have other plans. The reader discovers these plans slowly, through glimpses of the past leading up to this chance meeting. I didn't even realize until the end that this story takes place all in one day. But what a huge day for these characters.

These three exemplify the title of the book -- they have all lost their way. Can they help each other to find their way back? Well, you'll have to read it.

Foreman hasn't disappointed her teen fans. They will love I Have Lost My Way.

Forman's books routinely end up on my Recommended Shelf at work and this is no exception. It's just brilliant. Beautiful and moving and special and lovely. As always.

Although the premise of this book is not particularly credible, the story is thought-provoking and satisfying. Three older teens in New York City, who have never met before the twelve hours described in this novel, come together and find meaningful friendship and stronger sense of themselves. The narrative starts with Freya, a famous pop singer who has lost her voice. While wandering in Central Park trying to escape her obligations and fears, she falls off a bridge, onto a stranger named Nathaniel, and meets Harun whom she convinces to help her get medical treatment for Nathaniel. It turns out that Harun is grieving the loss of his boyfriend and resisting coming out to his family, and Nathaniel has come to New York to commit suicide following the death of his father. During the course of the day they connect and identify with each other and find mutual support for facing their demons. While we may not know New York or people like these characters, we can relate to each one's need for independence and standing up to the forces in their lives.

I have always loved the emotion and realness portrayed in Gayle Forman's books and "I Have Lost My Way" is no exception. This book tells the story of three unlikely young adults who meet in an unfortunate circumstance in a New York park. All three of the stories of these characters were heartbreaking and I was super invested in who they were and who they were becoming together. There was a little bit of insta-love as the entire story takes place in one day, but it didn't bother me as much as it sometimes does. Overall, this was a super touching story and it was both a fast and enjoyable read.

I devoured this book. The three main characters are young, clever, and compelling. The story of each intertwines around the loss that they have each experienced. Loss of family, loss of love, loss of the kind of childhood that could have been creep up on each of them much as a "frog in a pot doesn't know it is being boiled".

I highly recommend this book. I was provided with a free copy for an honest review.

Told from three perspectives, this story explores how strangers can become family. Freya is on a journey to stardom when she loses her voice. Nathaniel is reeling from a family tragedy. Harun is coming to terms with the loss of his first love and his sexuality. When Freya is contemplating her life she falls from a bridge onto Nathan and Harun watches the entire thing happen. After experiencing this surprise encounter, the teens join together, travel through New York City and face their baggage.

This feels like a typical Foreman book, however, it has a quieter plot. The story doesn't seem to be driven by drama, but by character growth.

Gayle Forman has done it again! I’ve really enjoyed all of her previous books and this one is no different in terms of greatness.

I Have Lost My Way tells the story of three young adults over a 24 hour period in NYC and how their lives intersect on that day.

Seeing a bit of the backstories of Freya, Huran and Nathaniel and the things they’ve had to endure and encounter in their young lives was very interesting and served to explain some of their points of views and experiences.

I will definitely be purchasing this book for my library when it’s released.

Posted to Goodreads: For a more in-depth review watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8Qk3p3SsvQ&feature=youtu.be

Freya, Nathaniel, and Harun have all lost their way. Freya is an up-and-coming singer who has lost her voice, Nathaniel has lost his home, and Harun may lose his family. The three connect through an accident and their journeys combine as they try to find a new path in life.

Forman has an uncanny ability to write books that are so engrossing that I end up reading them in just one day and "I Have Lost My Way" is one of those books. Freya, Nathaniel, and Harun's stories are beautifully told and will grab the reader from page one making this a must read for Forman's fans.

I received an eARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am so glad that I came across this book on Netgalley. Gayle Forman is one of my favorite writers because she creates such great characters that intrigue me. Feyre, Harun, and Nathaniel are three teens who are struggling with loss in their lives. It takes some stars aligning, but the trio is thrust into situations that force them to realize fate has thrown them together to show that while they suffer, they are not alone in their healing. Forman once again gives perspective which she does a great job in her other books. This is a great read for teens today who may need to understand that they are not alone in this sometimes painful world.

Gayle Forman has returned to YA and I'm so happy (though I really enjoyed her adult debut, Leave Me, as well). I Have Lost My Way is a multi-perspective novel taking course over the course of one day, telling the story of how three lost individuals find each other and connect, as well as the back story that has led them to the place of isolation they feel now. Forman has a writing style that makes her books impossible to put down. It's not quite lyrical writing, but I find her style more literary seeming than most I encounter in YA. The characters in this book are at really quiet moments of crises- their struggles are internal and it takes the whole of the book to really reveal what they are wrestling with. It's a quick read with short chapters, but it has great emotional resonance and will definitely appeal to fans of the author and others.

Freya the singer, Huran the wayward son, and Nathaniel the son searching for his father all spend the day together in New York. Prior to meeting they did not know each other. But after meeting they have an unbreakable bond. Each slowly shares with the reader the story of their past and "how they have lost their way". This is an interesting novel.