---
product_id: 11585494
title: "I Was Here"
price: "VT5402"
currency: VUV
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/11585494-i-was-here
store_origin: VU
region: Vanuatu
---

# I Was Here

**Price:** VT5402
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** I Was Here
- **How much does it cost?** VT5402 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/11585494-i-was-here)

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## Description

desertcart.com: I Was Here: 9780451471475: Forman, Gayle: Books

Review: Something for Everyone & A Good Read - I liked that this novel touched on some serious subjects that need to be heard, yet it was still a good and quick read. Forman's voice is strong, simple, and forward, and I liked the way she developed each character. The story really highlights what Cody goes through, as well as other characters, instead of focusing its attention wholly on Meg; this was a big factor in my positive review because if you take your own life, you don't get to tell your story. Cody's character even comments on this fact. With stories about this subject matter (or even TV shows), I feel that there is always so much focus on the character who took his/her own life, when there should really be focus, just as much if not more, on the characters whose lives are negatively affected by someone else's decision -- the guilt, the bitterness, the discomfort, the disappointment, the regret -- all the feelings that are conjured up with one person's irreversible action. While a lot of this story is bittersweet and heart-wrenching, it is accurate and feels very real, unlike other YA fiction that focuses a decision or tragedy like this around guilt tripping others and adding dramatic effects to get more viewers and readers. There is something for everyone in "I Was Here". It's full of mystery, tragedy, drama, romance, and even a little comedic relief here and there. I cannot express how much I enjoyed reading this -- I think it only took me about three or four days to breeze through it because I loved it so much. Forman is a fantastic author, and the way she developed this story to highlight and pay homage to a real-life occurrence of the same situation was truly touching, inspiring, and even heartbreaking. Although it's labeled as YA fiction, I think it's for all readers. I enjoyed reading this YA fiction as an adult; I picked this one up to soften my distaste for novels in this category after seeing "13 Reasons Why" come on the scene and feeling like there had to be a more realistic portrayal of the questions we all have surrounding suicide and mental illness. THIS BOOK is the one people should be reading if they want a closer look. Maybe not solely this book, but this one is a good start, and it helps start the conversation that needs to be had in our society about what we can do for those with mental illness, and sometimes, maybe even what we cannot do, or what we feel we could have done, or what we will always wonder, day after day... THAT is the impact that this type of tragedy has, as this novel depicts. Beautiful story - I definitely recommend it.
Review: Another gem from Gayle Forman - Gayle Forman, high priestess of FEELS! Honestly, I don’t know how she does it! She has such a skill for peeling back the layers and getting to the heart of the matter, and for opening up her characters to the reader in a way not many authors can achieve. I’m always left with such a deep sense of understanding after reading a Gayle Forman novel, even when the subject matter is completely foreign to me. I mean, I’ve never been on life support, or traipsed around Paris (or the world) trying to figure out what love truly is, and I haven’t dealt with the suicide of someone I hold close only to be left trying to pick up the pieces…but I can say that because of Gayle Forman’s books letting me in to the soul of her characters, I am infinitely changed. I Was Here is Gayle Forman’s fifth novel and a fresh departure from her last two sets of duologies, If I Stay and Where She Went, as well as Just One Day and Just One Year. I adored all of these books for their storytelling and honest emotions. There’s nothing I love more than reading a book that makes me feel as though I have been granted a special, inclusive look into the characters life. I Was Here does all of this and more! This book is a non-stop roller coaster of feels and my heart just ached for Cody the entire time as I watched her struggle through her emotions of trying to piece together the devastating clues. We meet Cody when she is just coming off the suicide of her best friend. She’s lost, alone and struggling to make sense of what happened. Thanks to a cryptic note and a desire to understand what brought her friend to such a dark place, Cody embarks on an emotional journey as a way to piece together the clues and figure out what happened. With each new clue, she learns that there was SO much more to her friend than she ever knew. Experiencing Cody’s discoveries through her eyes is so emotional and overwhelming as a reader. I appreciated how well Forman unravelled the mystery surrounding Meg’s death and how she portrayed Cody’s grief and confusion. It all came off as authentic and I was just as invested in finding out the truth as the characters of this book were. Forman knows how to give us relationships that are fulfilling and add so much to her stories. Cody’s somewhat strained and confusing relationship with Ben only adds to the layers of this story and by the end you’re cheering for them both to get their happy ending. Ben is the perfect foil to Cody’s character and brings to light a whole other side to her personality. They both have their reasons for trying to put the pieces of their lives back together, and watching them try to accomplish this as a pair is something so moving and beautiful. I Was Here is an emotional and moving story of one young woman’s journey through grief, understanding and ultimately, her journey of self-discovery. If you’re a fan of Forman’s previous novels then there is no doubt in my mind that you’ll love this one as well. It hits all the same notes but in a very different, and very satisfying way.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,699,413 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #403 in Teen & Young Adult Romantic Mysteries & Thrillers #682 in Teen & Young Adult Mysteries & Detective Stories #1,303 in Teen & Young Adult Friendship Fiction |
| Customer Reviews | 4.2 out of 5 stars 2,545 Reviews |

## Images

![I Was Here - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71EyXe2MXjL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Something for Everyone & A Good Read
*by A***R on September 25, 2018*

I liked that this novel touched on some serious subjects that need to be heard, yet it was still a good and quick read. Forman's voice is strong, simple, and forward, and I liked the way she developed each character. The story really highlights what Cody goes through, as well as other characters, instead of focusing its attention wholly on Meg; this was a big factor in my positive review because if you take your own life, you don't get to tell your story. Cody's character even comments on this fact. With stories about this subject matter (or even TV shows), I feel that there is always so much focus on the character who took his/her own life, when there should really be focus, just as much if not more, on the characters whose lives are negatively affected by someone else's decision -- the guilt, the bitterness, the discomfort, the disappointment, the regret -- all the feelings that are conjured up with one person's irreversible action. While a lot of this story is bittersweet and heart-wrenching, it is accurate and feels very real, unlike other YA fiction that focuses a decision or tragedy like this around guilt tripping others and adding dramatic effects to get more viewers and readers. There is something for everyone in "I Was Here". It's full of mystery, tragedy, drama, romance, and even a little comedic relief here and there. I cannot express how much I enjoyed reading this -- I think it only took me about three or four days to breeze through it because I loved it so much. Forman is a fantastic author, and the way she developed this story to highlight and pay homage to a real-life occurrence of the same situation was truly touching, inspiring, and even heartbreaking. Although it's labeled as YA fiction, I think it's for all readers. I enjoyed reading this YA fiction as an adult; I picked this one up to soften my distaste for novels in this category after seeing "13 Reasons Why" come on the scene and feeling like there had to be a more realistic portrayal of the questions we all have surrounding suicide and mental illness. THIS BOOK is the one people should be reading if they want a closer look. Maybe not solely this book, but this one is a good start, and it helps start the conversation that needs to be had in our society about what we can do for those with mental illness, and sometimes, maybe even what we cannot do, or what we feel we could have done, or what we will always wonder, day after day... THAT is the impact that this type of tragedy has, as this novel depicts. Beautiful story - I definitely recommend it.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another gem from Gayle Forman
*by W***S on January 27, 2015*

Gayle Forman, high priestess of FEELS! Honestly, I don’t know how she does it! She has such a skill for peeling back the layers and getting to the heart of the matter, and for opening up her characters to the reader in a way not many authors can achieve. I’m always left with such a deep sense of understanding after reading a Gayle Forman novel, even when the subject matter is completely foreign to me. I mean, I’ve never been on life support, or traipsed around Paris (or the world) trying to figure out what love truly is, and I haven’t dealt with the suicide of someone I hold close only to be left trying to pick up the pieces…but I can say that because of Gayle Forman’s books letting me in to the soul of her characters, I am infinitely changed. I Was Here is Gayle Forman’s fifth novel and a fresh departure from her last two sets of duologies, If I Stay and Where She Went, as well as Just One Day and Just One Year. I adored all of these books for their storytelling and honest emotions. There’s nothing I love more than reading a book that makes me feel as though I have been granted a special, inclusive look into the characters life. I Was Here does all of this and more! This book is a non-stop roller coaster of feels and my heart just ached for Cody the entire time as I watched her struggle through her emotions of trying to piece together the devastating clues. We meet Cody when she is just coming off the suicide of her best friend. She’s lost, alone and struggling to make sense of what happened. Thanks to a cryptic note and a desire to understand what brought her friend to such a dark place, Cody embarks on an emotional journey as a way to piece together the clues and figure out what happened. With each new clue, she learns that there was SO much more to her friend than she ever knew. Experiencing Cody’s discoveries through her eyes is so emotional and overwhelming as a reader. I appreciated how well Forman unravelled the mystery surrounding Meg’s death and how she portrayed Cody’s grief and confusion. It all came off as authentic and I was just as invested in finding out the truth as the characters of this book were. Forman knows how to give us relationships that are fulfilling and add so much to her stories. Cody’s somewhat strained and confusing relationship with Ben only adds to the layers of this story and by the end you’re cheering for them both to get their happy ending. Ben is the perfect foil to Cody’s character and brings to light a whole other side to her personality. They both have their reasons for trying to put the pieces of their lives back together, and watching them try to accomplish this as a pair is something so moving and beautiful. I Was Here is an emotional and moving story of one young woman’s journey through grief, understanding and ultimately, her journey of self-discovery. If you’re a fan of Forman’s previous novels then there is no doubt in my mind that you’ll love this one as well. It hits all the same notes but in a very different, and very satisfying way.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tough read, beautifully written story
*by L***S on February 21, 2015*

Gayle Forman knows exactly how to wring my heart until it is almost empty and dry, before helping it to beat once more and let me have a good cry so that I can carry on reading. I Was Here is a raw, tough story dealing with a very difficult subject in a strong and strangely beautiful way. Cody had a lot of trouble dealing with her best friend’s suicide, which is something I found very realistic. Having to deal with all the questions about why, how, the guilt and if she could have done anything differently that might have helped Meg not take that final, fatal step is definitely not easy. I Was Here shows the readers parts of Cody’s journey to accept Meg’s death, to get back to her own life and stop living in limbo. I think I Was Here is an important story to tell, because even if it is fiction, there are so many teens who suffer without really showing it, and the people closest to them may not realize how hard things were for them until it is too late to help. Most of the story here is about the aftermath, though, and I felt so bad for Cody, both because she had lost her best friend very suddenly, and because it was hard for her to continue to see Meg’s parents – even while at the same time it was good for her to see them. And it also points out how important it is to accept treatment when diagnosed with depression or being bi-polar. Cody’s journey is both literal and metaphorical, in that she first goes to Seattle to pack up Meg’s room, and there she finds out quite a few things about her friend she hadn’t known about before. The guilt Cody feels felt very real to me as well, because she had cut off some contact with Meg when they couldn’t go to the same college as they had planned. Cody was jealous and afraid of being left behind, which is understandable, and in many cases a very natural reaction, too. As little by little Cody managed to unravel some of the hidden aspects of the last few months of Meg’s life, I was both engrossed in I Was Here, and so sad I almost wanted to put the book down. Thankfully, there is hope as well in this story. Cody found several new friends, more self confidence and a precise goal to work towards. Written in past tense first person point of view from Cody’s perspective, I felt like I was right beside her, feeling all her turmoil and sadness, as well as the anger and the hope. If you are ready for a tough read, run pick up I Was Here, it really was worth all the tears.

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*Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu*
*Store origin: VU*
*Last updated: 2026-03-28*