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kristindowner's review against another edition
5.0
ORIGINAL POST: http://www.nerdprobs.com/books/book-review-even-if-i-fall-by-abigail-johnson/
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Even If I Fall by Abigail Johnson is a heart-wrenching story of grief and the strange ways in which our minds choose are best to recover.
The story follows Brooke as she faces a life of solitude with only one best friend that stands by her, and only because she doesn’t know the truth. Her family is grieving in a way another local family is, but for much different reasons. one is grieving the loss of a son and brother who was brutally murdered. The other is grieving the loss of a son and brother who is locked up for committing the brutal murder. The town has basically turned their backs on Brooke’s family and a year later she has learned to cope with a life where your presence makes everyone awkward.
I loved this story because it showed both sides of a tragedy. Most of the time in a story about a murder, we hear a lot about the accused murderer and a lot about the family the murder effected directly. You don’t really think too much about the family who has to deal with the fact that someone they know and loved committed this heinous crime. For some, they can’t quite understand how the family didn’t know the person was capable of that. For others, they feel like they did know and did nothing to stop it. Johnson wrote this dilemma beautifully. It showed the suffering that other family goes through trying to balance their love for an individual and their confusion over how they could become such a person.
On the other side of this story Johnson wrote the absolute devastation that murder caused the family who is now forever without their loved one. Heath was this upstanding gentleman that his mother taught him to be, but fighting his inner anger at the same time. There is a conversation Heath has with Brooke in this book where he explains that sometimes he finds it hard to even look at her without his anger boiling, but he does understand it’s misdirected. I feel like that is such a realistic struggle for people in this situation. Johnson nailed it on the head.
I loved the relationships we got to see in this story, whether it be between enemies, friends, and family. They were raw, uncomfortable, beautiful, and intricate. Johnson has a way of writing characters just enough to make you feel what they feel, but leave you enough to form your own image as well. It was perfectly balanced. I found it interesting how a new relationship that should be painful because of the circumstances ends up being exactly what a few of the characters need to start the real road to recovery.
While this may not be a book for everyone due to the nature of the story, but I think it’s one everyone could learn something from. It was an “easy read” in the sense that it flowed well and Johnson writing style is detailed and smooth. The characters keep you interested. There was even a little mystery tied into this novel. I think anyone could enjoy this book for different reasons. I’m a fan and will be checking out more from Abigail Johnson.
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Even If I Fall by Abigail Johnson is a heart-wrenching story of grief and the strange ways in which our minds choose are best to recover.
The story follows Brooke as she faces a life of solitude with only one best friend that stands by her, and only because she doesn’t know the truth. Her family is grieving in a way another local family is, but for much different reasons. one is grieving the loss of a son and brother who was brutally murdered. The other is grieving the loss of a son and brother who is locked up for committing the brutal murder. The town has basically turned their backs on Brooke’s family and a year later she has learned to cope with a life where your presence makes everyone awkward.
I loved this story because it showed both sides of a tragedy. Most of the time in a story about a murder, we hear a lot about the accused murderer and a lot about the family the murder effected directly. You don’t really think too much about the family who has to deal with the fact that someone they know and loved committed this heinous crime. For some, they can’t quite understand how the family didn’t know the person was capable of that. For others, they feel like they did know and did nothing to stop it. Johnson wrote this dilemma beautifully. It showed the suffering that other family goes through trying to balance their love for an individual and their confusion over how they could become such a person.
On the other side of this story Johnson wrote the absolute devastation that murder caused the family who is now forever without their loved one. Heath was this upstanding gentleman that his mother taught him to be, but fighting his inner anger at the same time. There is a conversation Heath has with Brooke in this book where he explains that sometimes he finds it hard to even look at her without his anger boiling, but he does understand it’s misdirected. I feel like that is such a realistic struggle for people in this situation. Johnson nailed it on the head.
I loved the relationships we got to see in this story, whether it be between enemies, friends, and family. They were raw, uncomfortable, beautiful, and intricate. Johnson has a way of writing characters just enough to make you feel what they feel, but leave you enough to form your own image as well. It was perfectly balanced. I found it interesting how a new relationship that should be painful because of the circumstances ends up being exactly what a few of the characters need to start the real road to recovery.
While this may not be a book for everyone due to the nature of the story, but I think it’s one everyone could learn something from. It was an “easy read” in the sense that it flowed well and Johnson writing style is detailed and smooth. The characters keep you interested. There was even a little mystery tied into this novel. I think anyone could enjoy this book for different reasons. I’m a fan and will be checking out more from Abigail Johnson.
thebookborrower's review against another edition
4.0
A simple novel about the struggle of having a brother who’s in prison for murdering his best friend. No really, there’s not really as much mystery as I thought there was gonna be from reading the description of the book, but I did find it a fast and pleasant read. Although some of the characters were a bit unrealistic, I enjoyed this novel.
cozykrysti's review against another edition
5.0
Abigail Johnson writes families like no one else in the YA game! There is such tremendous depth to her characters, and her stories are always so perfectly charged with emotion. Her books are truly a beautiful reading experience.
EVEN IF I FALL will break your heart completely while it mends it at the same time. The story is moving, the characters are unforgettable, and it’s one 2019 you definitely won’t want to miss!
EVEN IF I FALL will break your heart completely while it mends it at the same time. The story is moving, the characters are unforgettable, and it’s one 2019 you definitely won’t want to miss!
epilieaspiechick's review against another edition
5.0
My full review can be found on the Epilie Aspie Chick blog!
Thank you to Inkyard Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book does so much with the material, it's impressive. Not only does it discuss the impact of violence in a community and grieving, but it also adds in standing for those you love, chasing the truth, and finding solace in places where you don't always expect.
Brooke and Heath make a great pair because they manage to overcome their differences that should be insurmountable to understand one another. In fact, they even begin to learn from each other and build a relationship. I don't know if I would be capable emotionally building the bond they eventually create, but it's a beautiful thing seeing them thrive. Not only do they find someone who understands them, they each grow.
Thank you to Inkyard Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book does so much with the material, it's impressive. Not only does it discuss the impact of violence in a community and grieving, but it also adds in standing for those you love, chasing the truth, and finding solace in places where you don't always expect.
Brooke and Heath make a great pair because they manage to overcome their differences that should be insurmountable to understand one another. In fact, they even begin to learn from each other and build a relationship. I don't know if I would be capable emotionally building the bond they eventually create, but it's a beautiful thing seeing them thrive. Not only do they find someone who understands them, they each grow.
ggrace778's review against another edition
5.0
It was a great book. Although it is a teen book due to violent descriptions of a murder, I’d recommed it for anyone.
Spoiler: What!? I couldn’t believe the twist! Laura saw the whole thing and didn’t say a word! How could you live with soemhting like that? For a year?
Spoiler: What!? I couldn’t believe the twist! Laura saw the whole thing and didn’t say a word! How could you live with soemhting like that? For a year?
nm_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
theredheadreader1's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars!! a beautiful story with a somewhat unrealistic yet cute relationship
elephant's review against another edition
4.0
Ever since her brother confessed to murdering his best friend, Calvin, a year ago, Brooke's life has been a struggle. Her family members barely speak to one another. She and her mother visit her brother in prison every weekend, but her father and her younger sister refuse to visit. Brooke and her sister are now home schooled and their family is shunned by the town. Then, she becomes secret friends with Heath, Calvin's younger brother because his family has also been destroyed. The story is touching and I think that fans of YA romance will enjoy it.
always_reading_a_novel's review against another edition
5.0
I feel utterly destroyed right now. This book was beautiful and it captured all of my emotions and put them through the wringer! It was a hard read sometimes because it is mainly about grief, and the different ways grief manifests itself. I highly recommend this book, because it is so beautifully written; it is well worth the read! I loved the characters and their growth throughout the story. I felt like I was right there with them, and like I was feeling everything they were feeling. I really appreciated that there was only light swearing, and that the romance was sweet. I’ve been on a contemporary YA kick lately, but it’s been hard to find books that don’t have strong swearing in them, so I was really happy to find this one. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author!
kelli_belli's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! First, I was so shocked that not only did Brooke's older brother really kill his best friend, but he did in cold blood! I was expecting it to be the usual, accidental, death, DWI accident or something along those lines. I loved watching Brooke and Heath's friendship grow into more.. I felt for both characters through this entire book. If you want an emotional read, this it the book for you!