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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Emotional, suspenseful and haunting! Abi receives the call no parent ever wants to get. Her seventeen year old daughter has fallen from a bridge and is brain dead but when she gets to the hospital she learns they can’t turn off life support because she is pregnant. Thus begins a mom’s fight to learn what really happened to Olivia the night she fell from the bridge and the secrets and lies both were telling that wove a web of too tangled too escape from.
The story is told from both Abi and Olivia’s views so you get both sides of the story and can feel how hard it is for a mother to let go of a teenager on the cusp of womanhood and for the teenager yearning to stretch her wings and yet wanting to remain loyal to her mom. In the end, the secrets they both keep to protect each other have tragic consequences.
Really enjoyed the way this book was written.
The story is told from both Abi and Olivia’s views so you get both sides of the story and can feel how hard it is for a mother to let go of a teenager on the cusp of womanhood and for the teenager yearning to stretch her wings and yet wanting to remain loyal to her mom. In the end, the secrets they both keep to protect each other have tragic consequences.
Really enjoyed the way this book was written.
4.5⭐️ this book really held my attention and was so fast paced! Easy quick read
This book. I don't even know where to begin. Let's start with the gratuitous use of the word fell or fall. Every time a character thought about or talked about the night on the bridge, it was "when Olivia fell" or "before Olivia fell" or "where were you when Olivia fell?" It was such an awkward phrase, that every time it was used, I cringed. Instead, maybe the night of Olivia's accident, or when Olivia was injured. Or even the night of whatever date it happened to be. It would've sounded so much better than constantly referring to it as her fall.
Pretty much every character annoyed me in some way, the worst of all being Abi. What a self-centered, awful person. I know we the reader are supposed to be sympathetic to her, but I just found her to be really annoying. It was so unrealistic. Her involvement in the police investigation made no sense. Her not knowing her daughter's boyfriend's last name. What? "I knew there was something familiar about the last name Harris, but what was it?" COME ON. The whole Anthony sub-plot was also pretty weak and pointless. I'm still unsure who exactly he was. Some kind of counseler with the Seattle PD? I have no idea why she was so mad at Jen, Derek and Madison's mother. She seethed with anger at her at one point. That seemed to come out of nowhere.
Olivia's best friend, Madison, what a sociopath! I thought for sure it was her that killed Olivia because of the things they kept saying she did. Lying to get her brother sent away, hurting herself and blaming her brother when Olivia would show more interest in him, such crazyness. But that went nowhere.
Actually, Sarah was not an annoying character. Also, I liked Derek. Olivia was alright, minus the fact that she was cheating on her boyfriend the whole book. But I suppose that was the reason he killed her so that had to be in there. Olivia's chapters were hard to read at times. Randomly inserting the word "like" into a sentence was unnecessary. Yes, I get that she is a teenager, but she didn't talk like that. Why would her internal monologue sound like that?
Overall, it was a good idea for a book, but I felt it just wasn't pulled off in a believable way. There was so much suspense of disbelief that it took me out of the book.
Spoiler
Pretty much every character annoyed me in some way, the worst of all being Abi. What a self-centered, awful person. I know we the reader are supposed to be sympathetic to her, but I just found her to be really annoying. It was so unrealistic. Her involvement in the police investigation made no sense. Her not knowing her daughter's boyfriend's last name. What? "I knew there was something familiar about the last name Harris, but what was it?" COME ON. The whole Anthony sub-plot was also pretty weak and pointless. I'm still unsure who exactly he was. Some kind of counseler with the Seattle PD? I have no idea why she was so mad at Jen, Derek and Madison's mother. She seethed with anger at her at one point. That seemed to come out of nowhere.
Olivia's best friend, Madison, what a sociopath! I thought for sure it was her that killed Olivia because of the things they kept saying she did. Lying to get her brother sent away, hurting herself and blaming her brother when Olivia would show more interest in him, such crazyness. But that went nowhere.
Actually, Sarah was not an annoying character. Also, I liked Derek. Olivia was alright, minus the fact that she was cheating on her boyfriend the whole book. But I suppose that was the reason he killed her so that had to be in there. Olivia's chapters were hard to read at times. Randomly inserting the word "like" into a sentence was unnecessary. Yes, I get that she is a teenager, but she didn't talk like that. Why would her internal monologue sound like that?
Overall, it was a good idea for a book, but I felt it just wasn't pulled off in a believable way. There was so much suspense of disbelief that it took me out of the book.
Good enough- absorbing- but a bit derivative, even the alternating PsOV. One thing I did appreciate was the exploration of truth vs lies.
Alrighty..... review time.... I'm reviewing Reconstructing Olivia.... cough.... I mean.... The Night Amelia Fell... cough.... I mean The Night Olivia Fell. Yeah, that's the one.
Let's talk about things I DID like, because I did like it better than Reconstructing Amelia. First, Olivia was a more compelling character. She wasn't oh-so sickly sweet, Liv has a bit of a rebellious streak. Second, the characters were more dynamic, meaning they grew as people and learned lessons and grew up. Olivia rebeled, learned her daddy was scum, then finally forgave her mother for lying. Third, I liked that Olivia was not actually dead when the book starts, unlike in Reconstructing Amelia. Makes for a little more heartbreak for mommy, stress about unborn baby, worry that somebody might try to "finish the job." Spices things up. One last thing that I did kinda appreciate was that this book kinda sorta plugged a major plot hole that Reconstructing Amelia had, which was that a police officer would NEVER EVER take a civilian on an official investigation. Like, EVER. Like in Reconstructing Amelia, the epilogue chapter nearly made me cry. Now comes my favorite part. Roasting.
Similarities between Reconstructing Amelia and The Night Olivia Fell:
-bitchy best friend
-overly likable hard working single momma who works her ass off for her overly sheltered daughter.
-absentee dad who identity is unknown at the beginning of the book
-cyberbullying
-both main characters die (daughters, that is)
-both main characters names sound similar (Amelia, Olivia)
-both FUCKING FALL. I MEAN COME ON!
-chapters are interchangeably between momma and daughter. One chapter reveals something, the next explains. Really quite boring. No suspense.
This book had the following tropes, or common personalities that I've noticed appear in many the many books I've read.
1. Douchey politicians. And he's a Republican. Don't think you slid that tidbit past me, so I'm guessing the authors' political opinions are left leaning? And of couuuurse a Democrat could neverrrr be as domineering over women as the nasty wasty Republican. I don't even know why he even decided to run, there was no way that any of Seattle's surrounding cities would vote Republican. Come on, be real.
2. Hardworking single mommy, who adores kid.
3. Possessive boyfriend
4. Bitchy best friend
5. Sheltered main character
6. Mom that keeps secrets to protect child
I liked this book better than Reconstructing Amelia, but I also hated Reconstructing Amelia soooo the bar ain't high.
Let's talk about things I DID like, because I did like it better than Reconstructing Amelia. First, Olivia was a more compelling character. She wasn't oh-so sickly sweet, Liv has a bit of a rebellious streak. Second, the characters were more dynamic, meaning they grew as people and learned lessons and grew up. Olivia rebeled, learned her daddy was scum, then finally forgave her mother for lying. Third, I liked that Olivia was not actually dead when the book starts, unlike in Reconstructing Amelia. Makes for a little more heartbreak for mommy, stress about unborn baby, worry that somebody might try to "finish the job." Spices things up. One last thing that I did kinda appreciate was that this book kinda sorta plugged a major plot hole that Reconstructing Amelia had, which was that a police officer would NEVER EVER take a civilian on an official investigation. Like, EVER. Like in Reconstructing Amelia, the epilogue chapter nearly made me cry. Now comes my favorite part. Roasting.
Similarities between Reconstructing Amelia and The Night Olivia Fell:
-bitchy best friend
-overly likable hard working single momma who works her ass off for her overly sheltered daughter.
-absentee dad who identity is unknown at the beginning of the book
-cyberbullying
-both main characters die (daughters, that is)
-both main characters names sound similar (Amelia, Olivia)
-both FUCKING FALL. I MEAN COME ON!
-chapters are interchangeably between momma and daughter. One chapter reveals something, the next explains. Really quite boring. No suspense.
This book had the following tropes, or common personalities that I've noticed appear in many the many books I've read.
1. Douchey politicians. And he's a Republican. Don't think you slid that tidbit past me, so I'm guessing the authors' political opinions are left leaning? And of couuuurse a Democrat could neverrrr be as domineering over women as the nasty wasty Republican. I don't even know why he even decided to run, there was no way that any of Seattle's surrounding cities would vote Republican. Come on, be real.
2. Hardworking single mommy, who adores kid.
3. Possessive boyfriend
4. Bitchy best friend
5. Sheltered main character
6. Mom that keeps secrets to protect child
I liked this book better than Reconstructing Amelia, but I also hated Reconstructing Amelia soooo the bar ain't high.
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Really great journey, had my brain still over thinking who or what could've happened! But very sad too. I mean the first chapter they tell you she's dead, so, you know what's going to still end up happening there throughout the flashbacks.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Abi gets the news that every parent fears to receive, an accident has left her daughter brain dead. She also finds out that her daughter is pregnant. In the hospital they cannot terminate the pregnancy so her daughter Olivia will remain on life support until she can give birth.
This gives Abi enough time to try and find out what happened to her daughter. With many suspects including the girl who look uncannily like her, the threatening pictures found on her phone, the father of the baby, and her boyfriend or is it ex-boyfriend. Lots of mystery and intrigue in this story that keeps it moving at a fast pace.
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This gives Abi enough time to try and find out what happened to her daughter. With many suspects including the girl who look uncannily like her, the threatening pictures found on her phone, the father of the baby, and her boyfriend or is it ex-boyfriend. Lots of mystery and intrigue in this story that keeps it moving at a fast pace.
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This should be a 3.5 but I’m rounding up on the stars. I enjoyed that there was more to this story than I expected. The mystery was not super intense or surprising but the red herrings made it fun to read. Overall it’s a story about overcoming adversity, the importance of trust in relationships, and building strong, bright futures. There was enough in the plot to keep me busy turning pages and wanting to find out what’s next. The book is told in first person from dual perspective of mother and daughter which enriches the story and the subtext. Would recommend if you enjoy mystery/suspense/YA genres.
This is another book that I’m mortified to realise I haven’t reviewed yet, especially when I loved the novel so much. This is an incredible novel that is a great thriller but more than that it’s a brilliant exploration of the relationship between mothers and daughters. Abi is a single mum to Olivia, and one morning she’s woken to a phone call telling her that her daughter has been in an accident and is badly hurt. It turns out that Olivia had secrets from her mum and Abi is devastated that her daughter hadn’t felt she could confide in her. We also get Olivia’s story and gradually build up to the night she fell, and what actually happened to her. This is another book that I just didn’t want to put down, it is a real page turner and I wanted to know how things were going to turn out. More than that I felt so emotionally invested in Abi and Olivia’s stories. It really reminded me of being a teenager and even though I was incredibly close to my mum there is always going to be a point when a teen begins to pull away and wants to keep some things private. This is a book that is really staying with me, and I can’t wait to read more by the author.
This review was originally posted on my blog https://rathertoofondofbooks.com
This review was originally posted on my blog https://rathertoofondofbooks.com