Fall for Anything

Review Time! Fall for Anything is the latest novel written by Courtney Summers author of Cracked Up to be and Some Girls Are. It’s got a beautiful cover doesn’t it? Thanks to Pan Macmillan for the review copy :P

(Goodreads) When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

The Short Story? – A haunting novel about dealing with grief and moving on. The novel follows Eddie as she searches for answer to a mystery that doesn’t want to be solved. Beautiful, dark and captivating. A novel that speaks of sadness, grief and life beyond. Lovers of If I Stay and The Sky is Everywhere will love this.

The Long Story? - This book is freakishly like The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. It’s hardcore, the best of dark contemporary for all lovers of contemporary. As I write this review, I remember I wrote a similar one for The Sky is Everywhere, all the things considered, the strength and weakness for both novels are very similar.

I had some problems with the plot. I found it a little bit …lacking. Summers beautifully built up all this suspense and mystery around the suicide of Eddie’s father. This engrossing idea of Eddie trying to figure out why he did it is basically what the whole novel is based around. I honestly enjoyed the novel til I turned the last page when I thought ‘that’s it?’ I was a little disappointed after all this great built up when the ending was so…lacking. I thought about the novel a lot after I finished it and it came to mind that the mystery around the suicide isn’t the point of the novel. It was the journey of the search for the truth. That’s when I finally understood that the plot was more of an emotional journey than anything else. Like I said, lovers of all things contemporary, this one’s perfect for you. The emotional journey, the depressing death and the whole shebang, yup right up your alley: P

If I found the plot lacking, the characterization truly made up for it. Really the characters were very well developed. Eddie, our protagonist was portrayed as girl lost in grief after her father’s death. She meets Culler a former student and they both go on a journey to discover the truth behind the death of Eddie’s father. On the way they develop a romance where they seek comfort and love from each other. Honestly, Fall for Anything is freakishly like The Sky is Everywhere. Eddie would be Lennie, Culler would be Toby and Milo (Eddie’s best friend and other love interest) would be Joe. This leads me to my next point.

The romance as minor as it plays in the outcome of things is actually one of my favourite things. I like the idea of Culler and Eddie’s grief pushing them together to seek comfort in each other. I thought there was real chemistry between the two. I’m hoping that Summer might write a sequel like Where She Went that follows their romance a few years into the future (wishful thinking maybe).

Beautiful, moving narrative voice. A great cast of characters and a novel that we can all relate to on some level, whether it is dealing with death or grief, discovering the importance of family and friends or releasing answer aren’t always important. Beautiful, gripping and moving. The Sky is Everywhere with a darker edge and written for an older audience. One for the contemporary lovers.

Rating - 7/10 (The 1-5 scale doesn’t cover this one. As a paranormal junkie, it wasn’t my cup of tea but I somewhat really enjoyed it. It’s one of those books that you had to work to enjoy, you struggle with it but then you turn the last page, think about it loads and then you smile and think what a great book)

Badass Bookie xx