OnlineBookClub.org

What did you think about the ending? I kind of hoped that Sam would get her life back, and was disappointed she didn't.

I agree. I was pretty disappointed in the ending. I get the mentality of those who say "it had to end that way," but I don't really agree. I wish there was a way that we could still have redemption for Sam (i.e. she still saves Juliet), but then she could go back to her life having learned those lessons (and now applying them to her life every day). She's developed and changed so much over the course of the book, it's a shame for all of that to be lost.

I was a little disappointed that Sam died at the end of the book, but honestly I didn't really care that much because I wasn't really invested in her. I somewhat disagree with her supposed character growth. I think most of the nicer things she did was just because she was trying to find a way to save herself and get the day "right" so that the cycle would hopefully stop.

Personally I liked the ending and I never expected her to get her life back. I think if she did then that would kind of make the whole book pointless.

Even though it made sense for her to die at the end, I was still hoping maybe it wouldn't happen. I wanted to believe so bad! I did enjoy the emotion and pace of that last chapter though.

I think the ending is okay. I was kind of hoping that she would get her life back or just be severely injured. That way the consequences of her previous actions are still there, but her chance to redeem herself would be fruitful. Also, all of the other characters would be much less confused. I'm sure they were completely bewildered after she saved Juliette out of no where. Kent was probably the most confused because she was suddenly friends with him and again and then Bam! she's gone.

minniemouse91 wrote:I agree. I was pretty disappointed in the ending. I get the mentality of those who say "it had to end that way," but I don't really agree. I wish there was a way that we could still have redemption for Sam (i.e. she still saves Juliet), but then she could go back to her life having learned those lessons (and now applying them to her life every day). She's developed and changed so much over the course of the book, it's a shame for all of that to be lost.

That is exactly how I feel. I am all for happy endings, myself. It was very disappointing that she died, after all the changes that she had made.

I got the impression that, if Sam wanted to, she could have lived a million days or more, however many she wanted. She chose her last day and chose to die, so in that way it is a happy ending. I think a big part of the book is the idea of accepting mortality and learning to appreciate the way each day could be the last and each goodbye could be the last. Fun fact: I have "momento mori" tattooed on my arm. It's Latin for remember you are mortal.

I agree with Ashley Claire - I also wasn't disappointed that Sam died at the end because I wasn't that invested in her. However, I was disappointed that Kent wouldn't get to be with Sam after they finally reconnected and kissed.

One thing I liked about the ending was how Juliet's subplot dovetailed with Sam's storyline at the end. I certainly didn't see that coming. The other thing I liked near the ending was the revelation of why Lindsay had been so nasty and bullying toward Juliet for years. It gave a richness to Lindsay's character and explained why she acts the way she does.

While I was fine with the fact that Sam died at the end, I keep wondering about what would've happened if she'd lived and her life continued, with all the consequences that came with what she did on her last day. When I think about how she would have to face her friends, her family, and her own life, I feel just a little bit... cheated. Sam escaped everything because she died. On the other hand, Sam saving Juliette was the proof and practically the pinnacle of her growth and development for her teenage years.

Honestly, I liked the ending but at the same time disappointed, and that's what I liked about this book.

You know, I wish Sam's friends are able to take something away from her death that would start to make them question their own behavior. I think Sam could have done a little more on her final day, knowing that it really was going to be her final day, to get them thinking about why they treat people the way they do. I hope the message they take away from everything is not that she died, but she died in an act of kindness.

ashley_claire wrote:You know, I wish Sam's friends are able to take something away from her death that would start to make them question their own behavior. I think Sam could have done a little more on her final day, knowing that it really was going to be her final day, to get them thinking about why they treat people the way they do. I hope the message they take away from everything is not that she died, but she died in an act of kindness.

We can only hope! I remember that being the first thing I thought of when I finished, 'but what about her friends?!'

Even with all that she learned I feel that her intentions were always better than her execution of them. She understandably gets frustrated when people don't listen to her and remark back to her, like Juliet. I don't think her friends would listen without arguing and that would make things heated between them. But like they say actions speak louder than words, so hopefully her last act knocked some sense into them!

Scott wrote:I got the impression that, if Sam wanted to, she could have lived a million days or more, however many she wanted. She chose her last day and chose to die, so in that way it is a happy ending. I think a big part of the book is the idea of accepting mortality and learning to appreciate the way each day could be the last and each goodbye could be the last. Fun fact: I have "momento mori" tattooed on my arm. It's Latin for remember you are mortal.

I felt the same way about the ending but I wasn't really thrilled with it either because it felt like it was lacking.

I told my husband a few months ago that I wanted to get "momento mori" tattooed somewhere. I still haven't decided yet though.

erasmus wrote:While I was fine with the fact that Sam died at the end, I keep wondering about what would've happened if she'd lived and her life continued, with all the consequences that came with what she did on her last day. When I think about how she would have to face her friends, her family, and her own life, I feel just a little bit... cheated. Sam escaped everything because she died. On the other hand, Sam saving Juliette was the proof and practically the pinnacle of her growth and development for her teenage years.

Honestly, I liked the ending but at the same time disappointed, and that's what I liked about this book.

I felt this same way, but I think that had less to do with having Sam die than with there being no epilogue. I would have loved to see what happened the very next day, week, year after Sam had died. I didn't hate that she did in fact die at the end though. I think if she had survived it would have felt less like real life, that her actions when she was alive had no consequences since she was able to "fix herself" and come back to life. It doesn't work that way and I wouldn't expect it to be that way in this book.

No bully story ends well. Even if the person doesn't commit suicide they still have the baggage of the negative self-worth they deal with for the rest of their life.