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booklovewithmelanie's review
4.0
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Harlequin Teen in exchange for my honest review.
This book definitely pulls at your heart strings, especially the second half. The first 25% honestly didn't rope me in however from there on was great. Once Brooke and Heath actually start talking about what happened and bond I was totally invested. My heart pulled and broke for Laura especially.
This book definitely pulls at your heart strings, especially the second half. The first 25% honestly didn't rope me in however from there on was great. Once Brooke and Heath actually start talking about what happened and bond I was totally invested. My heart pulled and broke for Laura especially.
gracedwithbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.
Wow. This book was amazing. I was immediately intrigued by the premise but the book exceeded all my expectations. Brooke was a compelling character whose struggle between loving and blaming her brother for his actions was moving. As was her relationship with Heath, the younger brother of her brother's victim.
I thought the reactions and feelings of the characters were realistic which made this book so good, yet so utterly heartbreaking at times.
I can't wait for more people to read it.
Wow. This book was amazing. I was immediately intrigued by the premise but the book exceeded all my expectations. Brooke was a compelling character whose struggle between loving and blaming her brother for his actions was moving. As was her relationship with Heath, the younger brother of her brother's victim.
I thought the reactions and feelings of the characters were realistic which made this book so good, yet so utterly heartbreaking at times.
I can't wait for more people to read it.
caledonia's review
3.0
The ending felt rushed and the twist that wasn't really a twist but was built up like one frustrated me because I was okay with a boy being a murderer but making him be like ahaha maybe not and then being like jk, gave me whiplash, I only liked that it helped build the younger sisters arc.
bookwormbetty's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so good, it was intense and angsty, just the way I like them. There were so many emotions running the gamut through me when I was reading this. I felt really bad for both Brooke and Heath. Both put in a horrible place put there by circumstances they could not control. All in all this was a fantastic read.
andrearbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Even If I Fall by Abigal Johnson focuses on the after of a tragedy. Brooke's brother Jason is in jail for murdering his best friend Cal. This obviously rocks his family unit and the community. Brooke is left to figure out her new normal as her family is broken and struggling, her friends have disassociated with her, and the things that bring her joy no longer do. In the midst of this, Brooke connects with Heath - Cal's brother. Yup, talk about complex situation. Through the story, Brooke and Health's relationship grows, but they must keep it a secret from their families and the whole community. The story centers on how the family emotionally navigates visiting Jason - or not visiting. There is also the emotion that Heath and Cal's family feel as they continue to grieve and process. This book is also about Brooke's want to understand the truth of what happened that fateful night. That truth is ultimately revealed, and the secrets that are uncovered add a whole different dimension. This is another one I read thanks to NetGalley. Thanks to them I was able to go on this emotional journey. The story is a complicated one which is what makes it worth reading.
katiekat's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It’s a really good book and not boring at all
kookie9200's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in return for my honest opinion.
Brooke's family is dealing with the fallout of her brother's murder conviction. Everything in their world has changed. The book focuses on Brooke's new life, and how she navigates it. On top of losing friends, jobs, and respectability, Brooke's world is turned upside down by a chance meeting with Heath Gaines, the brother of her brother's victim.
Full of complex situations, interesting characters, and a unique story line, this book is engaging and a great read.
Brooke's family is dealing with the fallout of her brother's murder conviction. Everything in their world has changed. The book focuses on Brooke's new life, and how she navigates it. On top of losing friends, jobs, and respectability, Brooke's world is turned upside down by a chance meeting with Heath Gaines, the brother of her brother's victim.
Full of complex situations, interesting characters, and a unique story line, this book is engaging and a great read.
randomly_kait's review
3.0
I don't know, I have conflicting emotions about this book. On one hand I liked how this story was about healing, and growing, and loving someone even if you also kind of hate them because they've done something terrible.
But also, this book hurt my soul. I felt so terrible for Laura and Brooke and her whole family because they're being treated terribly because of something Jason did. It was so unfair that they were treated the way they were, because they didn't do anything wrong. I get that those things happen in real life, but dude. I hurt so bad for them.
I'm not sold on the relationship between Heath and Brooke, to be honest. Yes, they can talk about everything and understand (kind of) what the other one is going through. But Heath was still kind of a jerk to Brooke. She has to be careful what she says and does because it will set him off and he'll get angry at her. I just... I don't know if I support their relationship yet.
I think that they all should have gone to counseling, they could have driven somewhere far enough away from their judge-y little small town to talk to someone, because I think that would have helped with a lot of the issues that were happening.
I have torn feeling about this book you guys, and I don't know what to do about it.
But also, this book hurt my soul. I felt so terrible for Laura and Brooke and her whole family because they're being treated terribly because of something Jason did. It was so unfair that they were treated the way they were, because they didn't do anything wrong. I get that those things happen in real life, but dude. I hurt so bad for them.
I'm not sold on the relationship between Heath and Brooke, to be honest. Yes, they can talk about everything and understand (kind of) what the other one is going through. But Heath was still kind of a jerk to Brooke. She has to be careful what she says and does because it will set him off and he'll get angry at her. I just... I don't know if I support their relationship yet.
I think that they all should have gone to counseling, they could have driven somewhere far enough away from their judge-y little small town to talk to someone, because I think that would have helped with a lot of the issues that were happening.
I have torn feeling about this book you guys, and I don't know what to do about it.