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    The Day Before
    The Day Before
    The Day Before
    Ebook300 pages1 hour

    The Day Before

    By Lisa Schroeder

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    From the author of I Heart You, You Haunt Me, an irresistibly romantic novel in verse.
     

    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.
         Told in verse and brimming with raw emotion and pure romance, this is a gracefully woven tale of life-changing secrets and unexpected friendship.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
    Release dateJun 28, 2011
    ISBN9781442417458
    The Day Before
    Author

    Lisa Schroeder

    Lisa Schroeder is the author of the teen verse novels The Day Before; I Heart You, You Haunt Me and its companion novel, Chasing Brooklyn; Far from You; and the teen prose novel Falling for You. She is also the author of the middle grade prose novels It’s Raining Cupcakes, Sprinkles and Secrets, and Frosting and Friendship. She lives in Beaverton, Oregon. Find out more about Lisa and her books at LisaSchroederBooks.com or on Twitter at @Lisa_Schroeder.

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    Reviews for The Day Before

    4/5

    46 ratings28 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I’ve read it every year since I was 15. This is a quick read, but enchanting.
    • 4/5
      "The Day Before" focuses on Amber and Cade, who want to enjoy on last day before facing their upcoming challenges which will drastically impact both their lives. Although Amber's secret was fairly easy to work out, thanks to the letters from Jeanie and Allen, Cade's was a mystery right until the end.Written in verse, Lisa Schroeder always manages to convey so much emotion in her books using carefully chosen phrases and simple prose. She has a beautiful writing style that perfectly captured the fear, love and hope Amber and Cade were feeling. Her message emphasised the importance of enjoying the simple pleasures life gives such as jelly beans, glitter, laughter and music. A touching read.
    • 5/5
      ive read this book 37 times in the past 3 years and i love it each time :)
    • 5/5
      BEST BOOK EVER!!!! I've read it at least five time:)
    • 1/5
      Did not enjoy this one. I couldn't relate to either character; they felt really shallow.
    • 1/5
      Teen fiction; poetry novella (romance). Personally I don't care for these novels written in verse (poetry is very hard to do well, and a whole novel of mediocre poetry quickly gets tiresome), though they can be more easily devoured by reluctant readers--I'd probably still give them something from Ellen Hopkins instead though, as this title has much less action/drama. But I did skim ahead to find out what was the deal with these two kids, whose lives will apparently be forever changed on the morrow--you'd think the world was ending, the way these two were acting. (*spoiler alert*: it turns out Amber was switched at birth with another girl who died and now her birth parents have gotten joint custody of her--she's to spend the next 6 months with them, but in the end her world is not turned so upside down as she thought it would be. Cade, on the other hand, is to have some kind of surgery the next day, and he's scared about it but he also comes through fine. So this is basically a lot of angst over what turns out to be relatively small potatoes.)
    • 5/5
      Every now and then a book comes along that is so vivid, so beautifully written that you wish you could rewind the clock and savor it again for the first time. This is such a book.

      My Twitter friends were raving about The Day Before, so I grabbed it at Borders while I was trolling their shelves last weekend. I didn't even open it; I just hauled it to the counter and paid for it. It wasn't until I cracked it open last night that I even saw the book is written in verse.

      It's a collection of short poems that tell a story, and I wasn't sure I'd like it at first. There was so much white space on the page. It felt too light and airy, seeing the words floating on the paper, rather than being lined up in nice, neat rows. It didn't take me long to realize that nothing about the book was comfortable or familiar. It was shockingly different, new, and absolutely breathtakingly, hauntingly beautiful.

      What once was strange and unfamiliar soon became a visual representation of freedom, which is ironic since the two characters in the book are anything but free. The power and simplicity of the poems reminded me why I love telling stories, and why I love to read. It made me feel, it made me ache, it made me cry, it made me smile. But above all, it made me want to write. Schroeder's work of art is a touching example of how words are like brush strokes in a painting: some are bold, some are light, but each one is important in portraying the full picture.

      I can only hope to someday wield a brush as majestically as she has done with The Day Before. Thank you, Lisa!
    • 2/5
      I have never read a YA book written in verse before so this was a first for me. I tend to be biased towards prose and drama in my English lit studies as well but I thought it would be interesting to give this one a go to see if the choice of medium would be suitable to tell a story and how affecting it would be.

      To be completely honest, I didn’t really connect to this book. The choice of verse to tell Amber’s story wasn’t completely successful in my opinion, although there are a few moments where the poetry is very effective and well done. Many times it felt like fancily rearranged sentences rather than carefully composed poetry. I can understand the choice of medium for capturing emotions rather than events but there were times where it just felt awkward, such as Amber discussing her favourite musician, Pink, and the movie guessing game she forms with Cade. The frequent shifts from verse to letter form to reveal more of Amber’s situation felt clumsy and shoved in at the last moment.

      Amber’s situation is one that’s easy to sympathise with and her emotions are understandable, but no literary medium can make me interested in an instant love story with next to no development or even interaction. At one point Amber compares her and Cade’s situation to that of the wonderful movie “Before Sunrise” and it did feel as if “The Day Before” was aiming to be a poetic teenage version of that wonderful film. However, that film’s strength lay in the witty and very moving interactions between Ethan Hawke and Julie Deply to the point where even this romantic cynic was caught up in their fleeting love, something which just isn’t present in “The Day Before.” Amber is immediately taken with him and they barely speak to each other; when they do talk it’s over mundane things that have no real bearings on them as people. As such, their instant perfect connection never felt authentic and I was never emotionally invested in them as a couple.

      I think one’s development of this novel will lie in how much one enjoys verse novels, but for me, this novel just didn’t click. “The Day Before” occasionally succeeds in capturing the complex emotions of its conflicted protagonist, but on the whole it felt underdeveloped and rushed, trying to live up to “Before Sunrise” (which I highly recommend). But while “Before Sunrise” made me believe two strangers could make a genuine connection over the course of one day, “The Day Before” did not. I’m definitely interested in reading more verse YA though; I want to see the medium truly rise to its potential.
      2/5.

      “The Day Before” will be released in USA on June 28th. I received my ARC from Simon & Schuster’s Galley Grab program.
    • 4/5
      Overall Feelings:Heartbreak full of hope.My Thoughts:A somewhat unbelievable tale but heartwarming nonetheless. Told in verse, Amber shares the story of her day alone. Her life is about to change in a huge way and she needs to be alone for one last day. Her story was moving, as was the story of the mysterious boy she meets at the beach, but overall, a little too far fetched.That's not to say I didn't really enjoy this book, because I did. Verse books are usually quick reads and a story that only encompasses 1 day in the life of 2 people, in my opinion, should not take all that long to read. For this reason, the verse prose was perfect. Amber is facing a situation that really, very few (if any) people have faced before. She feels alone and betrayed and even though her family is expecting her to be in her bed that morning, she can't help but escape away. As a reader, we get small glimpses into her life - leading up to the 'big reveal' and the real reason she feels the need to run away.On this solely remarkable day, Amber meets Cade who in fact is having a terrible day of his own. The two become friends in an instant, spend the day together and eventually share their stories.In the end, the fact that Amber and Cade's stories were a little too much to believe was overshadowed by the raw emotion behind what was happening to them. Their struggles and the connection they manage to make in one day really made The Day Before a powerful read for me. I'm really draw to book in verse and Lisa's are always fantastic. I would love to add all of hers to my collection.
    • 4/5
      Amber just needs a day to herself. She goes to her favorite place. It's clear something major is going to happen in her life the next day, but what exactly it is is not clear. Then she meets Cade. The two of them spend a wonderful day together. As they do, they both start to reveal the big life events that are going to take place for each of them the next day. Quick, sweet read.
    • 4/5
      Review originally published on my blog AWordsWorth.blogspot.comTelling stories in verse can have a variety of effects, and in the case of The Day Before, the poems help build suspense and create mystery. As I was reading, I had absolutely no idea where I was going to end up. The poems suggested a great struggle, a big change coming that will change Amber's life - and her family's lives - forever. There's a rawness to the wording, and a realness. Then letters start slipping in, and the story starts to slip into place. Things start making sense, and I can understand Amber's impulse to spend 'the day before' doing her thing.And yet, the mystery remains. Cade, the beautiful, unusual boy Amber meets in the aquarium, has a story of his own. As we get to know Cade through Amber's eyes, we see the confusion, feel the tension, the mystery. There's a dark, pressing need to spend 'the day before' on his own terms for Cade as well.With the give-and-take flow of the ocean they both love, Cade and Amber spend a single, beautiful, magical day together. As they fight their own personal demons, they find strength in being there for each other. Strength in unity, in believing in someone else's success. It's a simple story, taking place over a single day and night. But there's a strong sense of reality, of connection and the pressing need to find out 'why.' I found The Day Before to be a beautiful, moving read. It's definitely one you need to read for yourself, so you can experience the journey without getting distracted by the details.
    • 5/5
      From my blogImagine Kristin Hannah or Jodi Picoult writing in Verse. The Day Before reminded me of the emotion and heartbreaking story lines you read by them but Lisa Schroeder does it with lyrical ease that captures your heart.The Day Before is about Amber and Cade meeting and spending the day having fun. This was there promise to each other, no discussing the problems in their life that they were obviously running away from. I enjoyed the simplistic way they met and how they just allowed the day to happen. Both dealing with some hard responsibilities but enjoying the day before the inevitable.A favourite part of the story that added another unique style to her Verse novels were the letters intertwined in the story. These captured the intensity of Amber's dilemma and we are kept in suspense on Cade's dilemma which worked out well.This story was just lovely.
    • 3/5
      I really enjoyed this book. It was full of emotions, the poetry flowed beautifully and the relationship between Cade and Amber was so awesome! It is also a REALLY quick read because its in verse. Worth the time I spent and I don't regret it.
    • 4/5
      This book is written in verse and I loved it. Lisa Schroeder is the expert at writing in verse. Her books never fail to pluck at my heart strings and fall in love with her characters. Amber is off for her day to herself when she meets Cade who’s like a gust of wind in her life. It’s funny how sometimes the few hours you spend getting to know someone, can forever change your life. The only little nit-picky thing I have to say is that I thought the girl on the cover was dead. Sorry but it kinda' looks that way. Just my opinion though, to be sure. It's a lovely cover despite that. This is another of the books on the Contemps Challenge. The ending has a surprise. I loved this book. It was a sweet story about treasuring the here and now. I’m giving it 5 lasting kisses!!
    • 5/5
      I was initially introduced to Lisa Schroeder with her book I Heart You, You Haunt Me. I read I Heart You, You Haunt me and knew I would have to read Lisa Schroeder’s other novels. So when I had a Galley Grab newsletter from Simon Schuster with The Day Before, it was a must read for me!The Day Before was a great change of pace for me. It had been about five days since I finished my last book and I had a DNF in between. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to read, so I checked out my list of books to read for June and I saw The Day Before…I thought “Perfect!” Lisa Schroeder delivered! I finished The Day Before quickly, which was good for me since I felt down about reading.I felt tons of emotion while reading The Day Before. One chapter I was happy and smiling and the next I was crying. This is a big deal because some chapters are only a page long in verse. I loved the chapter titles, very creative and catchy! Lisa Schroeder wove the talk of fate and chance, heads or tails into The Day Before. Many lines got my brain moving and contemplating things right along with Amber…fantastic!Cade and Amber were both relatable characters to me. I felt really connected to them both in different ways since I’ve dealt with similar problems in my life. Them together was cute and sweet and brought a smile to my face. I wouldn’t mind reading more about these two again!If you need a lovely quick read to get you out of a reading slump, The Day Before may be for you! It was for me!
    • 4/5
      So there are two parts to this review... what I really wish I could say about this book, and the things that influence my opinion of it and I have to mention even though I wish they didn't matter (complete with run-on sentences). So simply, this book was beautiful. Lisa Schroeder's prose is simple, yet complex in the feelings the words evoke. The way the story was written seemed very... I can't find the word... elemental? What I mean is that it seemed so pure and rich with life without being filled with pages of fluff or filler paragraphs. It is raw and heartfelt. I wish I could stop my review here, because it really was beautiful... but I have a little more to say.This was the first book I read that was written in verse. So naturally, I had some difficulties. I went to one of Ms. Schroeder's signings in NYC and during her reading I was captivated by the words. I remember her saying after, "See, verse isn't so scary!" She convinced me of it, so I bought the book super excited to get started. Here's the problem though... Unlike the author, I am not accustomed to reading and thinking in verse. So while she read it fluidly and beautifully, in my mind it came out a bit choppy. But I must stress, this is because it was new to me, not because the writing was choppy. Towards the end I started to get better at reading verse, and I enjoyed the book much more. So why did I have to include that paragraph even though I wish I could leave it out? Because I don't want readers like me, who haven't read verse before, to give up on the book half way through, or worse, never give it a shot. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Schroeder's works, now that I understand her writing style. This one book has opened up a whole new area of reading to me. Honestly, if I never went to that signing, I don't think I would have ever picked this book up. That is why I had to include that paragraph: because this book is too beautiful to not read.
    • 5/5
      My SummaryIn one more day Amber's life will completely shift. She has no control over the looming changes, and all she can do is take charge of her last day. She leaves her family and her problems behind for one day at the beach. There she meets Cade, a boy looking for an escape for the day, as well. They agree, no asking why the other is there, and simply enjoy the day. But, Amber starts to wonder, what is Cade keeping from her? And what has him so unsettled? My ThoughtsAmber's situation is fascinating. I could see where her story would lead to from early on, but the information was revealed in pieces that lead to her one day at the beach. I loved the beach setting. I actually read this book while at the beach, and that gave it a nice effect. She needed one day to forget and let go before everything fell apart, and then she meets someone who needs a fun day as much as she does. I was on my toes waiting to find out what Cade was dealing with. I was hooked until I finished. I NEEDED to unravel their mysteries.The book is written in verse. Every time I read one of Lisa's books I wonder how attached to her characters it's possible to get when you only get little brushes of their lives and personalities, and in so few words. Every time I am delighted to find myself captured by her characters. These two particular characters grow so much in a day. They are a great influence on each other and they learn from simply seeing what the other is enduring. Amber really felt for Cade. She was worried about him. It was very sweet.Oh, and she's a drummer. Pretty neat, right?After reading Lisa's other books I went searching for more books written in verse and I never found any that could compete with hers. The emotions are so intense. I cried nearly the entire time I read I Heart You, You Haunt Me. And, Chasing Brooklyn? Wow. Really, read her books! If you think they're too sad for you to get through... Ignore that initial thought. They are worth it!
    • 5/5
      I’ve always loved Schroeder’s writing. If you’ve read her book’s you know how beautiful it is. It’s written in verse but it has so much emotional impact on the characters part. The characters are so full of emotion, in the beginning I was trying to figure out exactly what was going on with Amber. We get little glimpse of it from the letters her birth parents send. Amber is put in a tough spot dealing with her real parents (the ones who raised her) and her birth parents fighting for custody. Amber feels like she has no control over the situation. She meets Cade who is kind of in the same boat. There’s always a chance and a choice. Amber and Cade are such genuine characters, faced with really mature choices. They handle them really well. As I was reading I totally forget it was written in verse. It didn’t make the characters have any less depth than any other book. Amber and Cade have only known each other for a day, but they’re full of compassion and understanding. In a way they kind of help each other out, but in the end they already know what to do, even though the decision might be frightening and unfamiliar.I can think of countless times where I’ve felt like I have no control over something, faced with a tough decision. That’s what makes this book so relate-able, and the fact that Lisa make’s these characters so real, is unbelievable, I’m so attached to them. The Day Before is delightful, the characters that will capture your heart, leaving you wondering how their doing, especially with the decisions that were made.Hopefully they doing well... Another great book from Schroeder!
    • 5/5
      Some books are meant to be thought-provokingSome are meant to steer up emotionsSome are just meant to be entertainingAnd some, like this one,are meant to make you smile, and appreciate.If you've read Lisa's books,you know what I'm talking about.She always creates real characters,Facing difficult momentsBeautiful stories, written in verse.So this book is about the important things in life,the things that really count,the moments that take your breath away,the things you love,that make it all worth it.And it's SO fitting becausethe pleasure I got from reading thiswas like the sweetest candy everthe richest hot cocoa everthe most beautiful sunset ever.
    • 4/5
      Facing a life-changing event, Amber decides to take a day for herself. This book covers this one day Amber uses to spend some alone time at the beach. She doesn't spend it too alone however, as she soon meets Cade. They are instantly drawn to each other, and they are both spending a day trying to forget what the next day will bring.This was a very enjoyable book. I found the characters to be introspective without being unrealistically self-aware. They felt very much like teenagers faced with these events. I believed their connection. It felt organic and real. I felt for them and the choices they were facing. Many times when you see this immediate connection between two characters, things feel very rushed. I think the author did a good job of making it realistic though.This book is written in verse, which I think brought an interesting angle to the usual young adult story. This makes the book an extremely quick read, but I don't feel it suffer from the use of verse. In fact, I think that's one of the books strengths. There's a certain beauty to the starkness of the words. So much story and emotion is told in so few words. This book is proof that it's not the number of words you use but the power behind those words that matter.Galley provided by publisher for review.
    • 4/5
      I read this novel a few weeks ago and I came away from the reading experience with two things, 1.) it was my first time to read a novel in verse and 2.) I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. The words and imagery just seemed to flow so smoothly and effortlessly, it was quite beautiful. Even though the insta-love Amber had for Cade had me scratching my head, becuase she'd only known him for pretty much all of one day, there was a tenderness that it seemed to possess that gave it a very realistic feel. There was a vulerability in The Day Before that resonated with me, it was a very easy read, as I said before the words just seemed to float easily and gracefully from one page to the next, the prose was well developed, and it was easy to feel with the characters instead of just for them. The novel possessed a means of escapism, for both Amber and Cade, which I can understand and relate to in a sense. The fear of one life being lost and another one being uprooted against her wishes, left me longing for them to find some semblance of peace and happiness, even if for just one day. It made me want the happy ending. All in all, I really did enjoy this book and I find that I can easily give it four stars without any qualms.Note: I received this book through a Simon&Schuster Galley Grab.
    • 3/5
      I immediately wanted to read The Day Before once I saw the cover a few months ago. It's pretty gorgeous, right? The summary sounded like something I would enjoy, too, so win-win. But then I read that the book was written in verse... Not exactly my cup of tea. That is to say, I hadn't read anything in that writing style in recent memory. After that, I was hesitant to get to it, but I decided to dive in anyway, hoping for the best!No doubt, Lisa Schroeder's writing is gorgeous and I think the use of verse helped with the urgency of the story she was telling. The fast pace kept me turning the pages, wanting to uncover the details of the situations Amber and Cade were dealing with. On the other hand, though, this style also held me back from making a genuine connection with the characters. There are glimpses of their personalities, and the two form a very touching bond, but diving into their backgrounds left me feeling a little apathetic. For Amber there were a few letters every now and then that shed a little more light on her plight, allowing for empathy from me, but Cade was difficult to relate to. I'm used to reading so many details about the characters I'm reading about that the ones here were a little too sparse for my liking. Other readers may not find issue with the subtly of this book, but I definitely needed more to feel any of its emotional impact.When all is said and done, I'm glad I gave this book a try! Despite any problems I may have run into, I do plan on picking up future reads that are written in verse. Reading The Day Before was an interesting experience and, who knows, maybe I'll grow to appreciate this style separately from what I'm used to.
    • 2/5
      Hrm.Perhaps with this book what I will do is start of with what I liked about the book. I hate having to give negative reviews, and I am not entirely negative about this book. Simply put there was aspects I loved about it, and aspects I really didn’t like and didn’t connect with. But I am going to be as fair and constructive as possible.There is absolute no dispute that Lisa Schroeder is a wonderful writer. I will admit I don’t like prose and I don’t have a lot of time for poetry. But she won me over with her writing style, it was so descriptive, it flowed and the imagry was beautiful in it. She can definitely write. And I really enjoyed reading a book with this type of style for something different. It was definitely easy to digest, I read this in one sitting.What didn’t sit well with me, is the naivity of the character in this book. She meets a boy whilst she is at the beach and really, in the space of 8-12 hours of meeting him, this girl is pretty well in love with this boy saying things like she “cares deeply” about him. As a reader, this lost me. This is where the book and I didn’t connect. I understand love, I understand lust, and I understand what it is to care, and I realise this will be different from person to person, but to be acting like a love sick girl over someone she’s known half a day – I really couldn’t get past that hurdle (which is why I’ve spent a whole paragraph on it). Understanding the main character is a teenager, but she just seemed extremely juvinile at times.So that’s how I felt… there’s no way of talking around that really is there? Unfortunately it wasn’t for me. That being said, as with all my reviews I would always openly encourage people to make their own decisions by reading the book themselves. You may not agree with me, and that is quite alright too!
    • 3/5
      Amber needs a day all to herself. Her life was turned upside down the day she learned she was switched at birth. The court has ordered that her current parents share custody with her birth parents, and tomorrow she is to fly to Texas and spend six months with them. She will leave the only parents she’s ever known, her sister and her friends to live with perfect strangers. She arranges for a limo to drive her to the beach and sneaks out early in the morning to go off by herself and spend the day alone in her favorite place on earth.While walking through the aquarium she meets Cade, a cute boy who is also hiding from something. They end up spending the day together, and agree that they won’t ask questions about what they are hiding from. They’re just going to enjoy the day at the beach, hiding from their troubles. As they day progresses they both end up finding in each other something they’ve been looking for. And as the time ticks away, they realize that eventually they are going to have to say goodbye. As Amber faces leaving the only life she’s ever known, and Cade marches forward toward an uncertain future, they do their best to make the most of the time they have together.The premise of Lisa Schroeder’s The Day Before was very intriguing. The book is written in verse and is told from Amber’s point of view, spattered with letters between Amber and her birth parents. The story moves quickly, and the author does a wonderful job of fleshing out her characters and situations in limited words. My biggest problem with this novel was how quickly and easily Amber and Cade fell in love. It was almost immediate, and I couldn’t buy into it which is why I only gave it three stars.(Review copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster via GalleyGrab)
    • 5/5
      Holy crap, how have I never read anything from Lisa Schroeder before! I need to own everything she has written like NOW! The Day Before is beautifully written, with a wonderful message and great characters! I read it under two hours and was late for my grad class because I had to finish it!The book begins with Amber, leaving her home and spending the day by herself at the beach. The reader has no idea why she is doing this. While there, she meets a boy named Cade, also alone and the two of them find comfort in each other. The next day, both of their lives will change forever, so today is going to be about doing things they have never done and enjoying the moment while it lasts. We slowly learn what Cade and Amber are dealing with, both things being impossible to even imagine. I really loved Cade and Amber’s characters. They were extremely well written and Schroeder had me hooked as soon as I met them.This novel was written in verse, and I thought the only author that could pull this off, and pull it off well was Ellen Hopkins. Boy was I wrong! Schroeder’s writing is beautiful and she is able to convey so many feelings and emotions in so little words.This book needs to be read as soon as humanly possible. Everything about The Day Before was wonderful. I can not gush about the awesomeness of this book anymore, it just needs to be added to your To-Be-Read Pile!The Day Before comes out June 28th, 2011.
    • 4/5
      This book is so heart wrenching. At first when I began to read it, I was confused. You were immediately dumped into the characters shoes, feeling hostile. As I kept reading, Ms. Schroeder began to unravel secrets little by little, making me finish this book in a mer amount of hours. I simply adore it!The plot is simply fantastic! At times, I do get disappointed when the reader is dumped in the middle of what the character is going through and you have to read more and more to figure out what is going on. In this book, it just works that way. I like spending time on the beach with Amber and feeling invincible. She wanted nothing to do with whats was going to happen tomorrow, just what was happening now. I liked the way she didn't let those things get in her head.Meeting the new character Cade was a great touch. Both of them had a great understanding of each other and did not push one another. What they needed is an escape from what they were facing and were a great comfort to each other. I think overall, they form a type of relationship, no, a secret place in which they can go to in one another. The trouble that they were both facing, was nothing what I was expected. As the reader, I felt for them and their anger. Two young teens facing such a hard decisions, now I can understand their need to get away. Heck, I wanted to get away myself!The Day Before, is a great, fast, read that keeps you on your toes. Ms. Schroeder did an excellent job capturing the voice of two teenagers struggling with real life issues. Nothing is fake. The plot, the writing, and the way Ms. Schroeder connected it all had me holding me breath.
    • 4/5
      “The Day Before” is a novel in verse. The writing flows smoothly, allowing the story to be told perfectly. “The Day Before” is about Amber and Cade, two teenagers trying to have one ‘fun’ day before their lives change in the morning. Both Amber and Cade will be facing life changing events the next day, things that worry them to no end. They find comfort and understanding in one another, feelings that help to launch a relationship. What I loved about this story was the embrace life concept. When things get bad, or tough, people forget to live and that’s what this entire story is about. Living. Taking the bad with the good and learning to keep pushing when things get tough.It’s an easy read worthy of your time.
    • 5/5
      Amber is overwhelmed with life’s demands and needs a day alone at the beach to process her thoughts. It is the day before a dreaded life-changing event is occurring. Her day at the beach goes in an unexpected direction when she meets Cade, someone who also seems to be running away from something. They decide to keep their secrets to themselves and to just spend the perfect day together before facing tomorrow’s realities. The more they get acquainted though, the more Amber’s concern grows about what Cade is hiding. Will their perfect beach day stay carefree or does fate have other plans?The Day Before is written in verse, like the author’s other books for young adults. I admit, at first I was uneasy about reading a book written in verse, and thought the style would get in the way of the story. However, the style works very well for this story, and beautifully captures the character’s emotions and sets the tone. I was impressed with the author’s way with words, especially considering she has to tell the story with fewer words than in a traditional narrative. The story unfolds gradually, and each page is like a present to open as new information comes to light about the characters.The story takes place over one day, and past events are explained through Amber’s letters of correspondence that are sprinkled throughout the book. The main interaction is between Amber and Cade as they get to know each other through word games, exploring the beach town, and talking about favorite songs and movies. They are trying to make the day light and fun as they are both trying to escape from their troubles.This story has depth and brings out a range of emotions. Amber and Cade’s journey is sweet and heartfelt, although they are both going through emotional times. The story kept me turning pages swiftly and I finished it in no time. In fact, I liked it so much I started reading it again at a more relaxed pace so I could savor the details.Recommended for fans of Lisa Schroeder’s books, or fans of Contemporary YA. The Day Before is a fast and refreshing read that’s full of heart and emotion. I look forward to reading the author’s other books.

    Book preview

    The Day Before - Lisa Schroeder

    The Day Before

    ALSO BY LISA SCHROEDER

    I Heart You, You Haunt Me

    Far from You

    Chasing Brooklyn

    This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people,

    or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are

    the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events

    or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

    SIMON PULSE

    An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

    1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

    www.SimonandSchuster.com

    First Simon Pulse hardcover edition June 2011

    Copyright © 2011 by Lisa Schroeder

    All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

    SIMON PULSE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

    The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more

    information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau

    at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

    Designed by Mike Rosamilia

    The text of this book was set in Adobe Garamond.

    Manufactured in the United States of America

    2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

    Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

    Schroeder, Lisa.

    The day before / Lisa Schroeder.—1st Simon Pulse hardcover ed.

    p. cm.

    Summary: Sixteen-year-old Amber, hoping to spend one perfect day alone

    at the beach before her world is turned upside down, meets and feels a

    strong connection to Cade, who is looking for his own escape, for a very

    different reason.

    ISBN 978-1-4424-1743-4

    [1. Novels in verse. 2. Interpersonal relations—Fiction. 3.

    Beaches—Fiction. 4. Family life—Oregon—Fiction. 5. Oregon—Fiction.]

    I. Title.

    PZ7.5.S37Day 2011

    [Fic]—dc22

    2010034567

    ISBN 978-1-4424-1745-8 (eBook)

    This one is for all of you

    who feel the fear and do it anyway,

    in writing and in life.

    You inspire me!

    The Day Before

    Contents

    Acknowledgments

    A Different Kind of Day

    Ready, Set, go

    Practice Makes Perfect, I Hope

    Good Morning

    Three Years Ago

    Only Good Things

    There is Only One Sky

    My Mom

    Not Today

    Sorry, Mom

    How it Has to Be

    Fill My Soul

    Missing you, Madison

    Morning Waves

    Like a Painful Song

    Two Years, Nine Months Ago

    Treasure Hunt

    Mixed Feelings

    My Heroes

    Beautiful Boy

    Like

    Something Special

    Ah, to Be a Snail

    Secrets

    A Keen Observation

    Two Years, Six Months Ago

    Shocking

    Never Before

    Trapped

    Radio for Help

    What a Feeling

    Hold on

    Ninety-Nine Degrees

    Spread the Luck

    Well … We Both Watch Movies

    Off-Limits

    Observant

    Special

    My Turn

    Two Years, Three Months Ago

    His Turn

    No Place Better

    Gonna Build us Some Fun

    From Nothing Comes Greatness

    Waiting to Be Rescued

    Surprise

    Secret Revealed

    The Story

    One Year, Six Months Ago

    No Choice

    Where’d that Come From?

    Lucky Me

    More than Just Pictures

    Spooked

    Tell Me your Story

    Sinking

    Whatever it Takes

    Yes, it’s Really Me

    Our Next Destination

    One Year Ago

    Not all that Sweet

    Through Death you Appreciate Life

    Don’t Think the Worst

    Relax

    I Heart Ghosts

    Haunted Indeed

    Hold on

    Sorrow in the Air

    Nine Months Ago

    In the Moment

    That’s Better

    Eight Arms and a Hundred Questions

    20/20

    RSVP

    Look Around

    Release me

    Holding the Line

    Please Try

    Worth a Shot

    Soaking Wet

    Nine Months Ago

    Unexpected

    Three’s a Crowd

    Sugar and Spies

    I’m Lucky

    Six Months Ago

    Extraordinary

    Some Friendly Insight

    Me and Him

    Dark Thoughts

    Our Day

    Six Months Ago

    Caught

    A Good Son

    Together Again

    Unnecessary

    That’s More Like It

    Piling it on

    Hints of Truth

    Six Months Ago

    More Surprises

    Where I Belong

    Music is Such an Aphrodisiac

    Take me there

    One Month Ago

    Me and you

    The Feeling’s Mutual

    So Much Goodness

    A Dream Come True

    Kissing

    Wrap me up

    Burning Bright

    Don’t you Know?

    Smoke and Mirrors

    Let Chance Decide

    I Surrender

    Two Weeks Ago

    Two Weeks Ago

    Taking Control

    Going, Going—Where?

    The Reveal

    His Story

    Dangerous

    Taking Chances

    Go Away

    The Truth Hurts

    What if

    One Week Ago

    A Familiar Place

    A Discovery

    Alike More than Different

    Imagine

    An Agreement of Sorts

    Sweet Dreams

    Messy

    Crunch Time

    Three Days Ago

    Stronger than I Thought

    Hearts in the Sand

    Here We Go

    The Road Back

    I Want the Happy Ending

    Getting Closer

    And Closer

    One Day Ago

    Thank you, God

    That’s What it is

    Is that a Promise?

    Parting is Just Plain Sorrow

    He’s a Good Example

    Two Weeks Later

    Acknowledgments

    Annette Pollert, thank you so much for your enthusiasm and all of your work to make this book the best it could be. On every page you pushed me—kindly and gently—but you pushed, and for that I’m incredibly grateful.

    Sara Crowe, I cannot express how much I appreciate your rock solid support and belief in me. A million times, thank you.

    Cindy Hanson of the Oregon Coast Aquarium, thank you for your help with my research. Any errors in regards to your fantastic facility are mine, and mine alone.

    Bryan Bliss, thanks for asking around and helping me check very important facts. It’s true—you’re awesome.

    Finally, I want to thank all of my fans who lift me up with kind words and deeds. People like Maddie, Alex, Kathleen, Sara, Jack, Alyson, Candace, Avonlea, Teresa, Hailee, Skyanne, Anna, Maryanne, Elizabeth, Jessica, Katie, James, Emma, Jasmine, Kristen, Lauren, Delaney, Savannah, and many other wonderful people. Your support means the world to me, really and truly.

    a different kind of day

    Some mornings,

    it’s hard to get

    out of bed.

    Sleep lures you

    like a stranger

    with a piece of candy.

    Follow me.

    It will be okay.

    I promise.

    You know better,

    but still you follow,

    because you really do

    love candy.

    When you finally

    open your eyes,

    late for everything

    and your whole day

    screwed,

    you curse that bastard,

    Mr. Sandman.

    It’s happened to me

    a hundred times.

    But not today.

    Today was different.

    Anticipation is the best

    alarm there is, and it shook

    me awake before

    my phone even had

    the chance.

    As I move around my room

    with my iPod on and earbuds in,

    my girl P!nk sings strong,

    and I feel like I have

    superpowers.

    The

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