The Girl Who Fell
by Shannon M. Parker
March 1, 2016
320 pages
Goodreads Summary:
His obsession.
Her fall.
In this dark kissing book, high school senior Zephyr Doyle is swept off her feet—and into an intense relationship—by the new boy in school.
Zephyr is focused. Focused on leading her team to the field hockey state championship and leaving her small town for her dream school, Boston College.
But love has a way of changing things.
Enter the new boy in school: the hockey team’s starting goaltender, Alec. He’s cute, charming, and most important, Alec doesn’t judge Zephyr. He understands her fears and insecurities—he even shares them. Soon, their relationship becomes something bigger than Zephyr, something she can’t control, something she doesn’t want to control.
Zephyr swears it must be love. Because love is powerful, and overwhelming, and…terrifying?
But love shouldn’t make you abandon your dreams, or push your friends away. And love shouldn’t make you feel guilty—or worse, ashamed.
So when Zephyr finally begins to see Alec for who he really is, she knows it’s time to take back control of her life.
If she waits any longer, it may be too late.
Her fall.
In this dark kissing book, high school senior Zephyr Doyle is swept off her feet—and into an intense relationship—by the new boy in school.
Zephyr is focused. Focused on leading her team to the field hockey state championship and leaving her small town for her dream school, Boston College.
But love has a way of changing things.
Enter the new boy in school: the hockey team’s starting goaltender, Alec. He’s cute, charming, and most important, Alec doesn’t judge Zephyr. He understands her fears and insecurities—he even shares them. Soon, their relationship becomes something bigger than Zephyr, something she can’t control, something she doesn’t want to control.
Zephyr swears it must be love. Because love is powerful, and overwhelming, and…terrifying?
But love shouldn’t make you abandon your dreams, or push your friends away. And love shouldn’t make you feel guilty—or worse, ashamed.
So when Zephyr finally begins to see Alec for who he really is, she knows it’s time to take back control of her life.
If she waits any longer, it may be too late.
Review
I'm really glad I had the chance to read The Girl Who Fell because it's an unforgettably real story. This is a love story but it's not your average cute and fluffy one. It's dark and gripping and had me holding my breaths for the characters almost at every turn.
I love how perfectly the synopsis sums up The Girl Who Fell. Just from the title I could tell this was not a sunshine and rainbow story. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to subject myself to that. Ultimately I decided to give it a go. The plot was fairly predictable but it was by no means a bad thing. Even knowing what was probably coming next, I always held my breath for it.
Zephyr (Zee) is your usual well-rounded good girl working hard to get into her dream school. Everything's on track until Alec enters her life. They fall for each other at an alarmingly fast rate. Zee was aware of how unusual and intense things were becoming with Alec yet she couldn't slow down. Alec understood and comforted her during the time she most needed support (trying to figure out her feelings for her dad, for her long-time friend and worrying over her dog's health).
Alec was charming and attentive. The perfect boyfriend that only had eyes for his girlfriend and that was exactly what made him scary to me. Zephyr was in too deep but I would not have tolerated his mood swings. His flip in character creeped me out and gave me goosebumps. Ironic that his manipulations were meant to be sweet gestures.
The intensity of Zephyr and Alec's relationship was overwhelming. I cringed with some of the overly sweet things they were whispering to each other. It was too much and was not at all a healthy relationship. I'm glad Zee managed to get her head together and piece together the truth. She was tough and did what she had to.
Despite not being sure of how I felt about the book at first, I ended up seeing its importance. The Girl Who Fell is not a story where the characters hold hands and dance around a campfire. It's a story about control and how significant it is to have control over your own life.
Alec was charming and attentive. The perfect boyfriend that only had eyes for his girlfriend and that was exactly what made him scary to me. Zephyr was in too deep but I would not have tolerated his mood swings. His flip in character creeped me out and gave me goosebumps. Ironic that his manipulations were meant to be sweet gestures.
The intensity of Zephyr and Alec's relationship was overwhelming. I cringed with some of the overly sweet things they were whispering to each other. It was too much and was not at all a healthy relationship. I'm glad Zee managed to get her head together and piece together the truth. She was tough and did what she had to.
Despite not being sure of how I felt about the book at first, I ended up seeing its importance. The Girl Who Fell is not a story where the characters hold hands and dance around a campfire. It's a story about control and how significant it is to have control over your own life.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinion are my own and not affected in any way.
Author Info:Shannon Parker lives on the Atlantic coast with a house full of boys. She’s traveled to over three dozen countries and has a few dozen more to go. She works in education and can usually be found rescuing dogs, chickens, old houses and wooden boats. Shannon has a weakness for chocolate chip cookies and ridiculous laughter—ideally, at the same time. The Girl Who Fell is her first novel. Find her at www.shannonmparker.com
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Catch the tour here:
Tuesday, Jan 12: Blessie @ Mischievous Reads
Wednesday, Jan 13: Emily @ Emily Reads Everything
Thursday, Jan 14: Brittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles
Friday, Jan 15: Tika @ Fangirl Confessions
Saturday, Jan 16: Kristen @ My Friends Are Fiction
Sunday, Jan 17: Melanie @ One Less Lonely Blog
Monday, Jan 18: Cyra @ Rattle The Pages
Tuesday, Jan 19: Jocelyn @ Novels and Necklaces
Wednesday, Jan 20: Cat @ Let the Pages Reign
Thursday, Jan 21: Aentee @ Read at Midnight
Friday, Jan 22: Brittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles
Saturday, Jan 23: Joey @ Another After Thought
Sunday, Jan 24: Stefani @ Caught Read Handed
Monday, Jan 25: Hanna @ Two Sister's Blogging
Tuesday, Jan 26: Michella @ YA Books Girl
Wednesday, Jan 27: Michelle @ Dreaming of Alba
Thursday, Jan 28: Jamie @ Books and Ladders
Friday, Jan 29: Eileen @ BookCatPin <- You're here!
Saturday, Jan 30: Brian @ Brian's Book Thoughts
Sunday, Jan 31: Sarah @ The YA Book Traveler
Catch the tour here:
Tuesday, Jan 12: Blessie @ Mischievous Reads
Wednesday, Jan 13: Emily @ Emily Reads Everything
Thursday, Jan 14: Brittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles
Friday, Jan 15: Tika @ Fangirl Confessions
Saturday, Jan 16: Kristen @ My Friends Are Fiction
Sunday, Jan 17: Melanie @ One Less Lonely Blog
Monday, Jan 18: Cyra @ Rattle The Pages
Tuesday, Jan 19: Jocelyn @ Novels and Necklaces
Wednesday, Jan 20: Cat @ Let the Pages Reign
Thursday, Jan 21: Aentee @ Read at Midnight
Friday, Jan 22: Brittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles
Saturday, Jan 23: Joey @ Another After Thought
Sunday, Jan 24: Stefani @ Caught Read Handed
Monday, Jan 25: Hanna @ Two Sister's Blogging
Tuesday, Jan 26: Michella @ YA Books Girl
Wednesday, Jan 27: Michelle @ Dreaming of Alba
Thursday, Jan 28: Jamie @ Books and Ladders
Friday, Jan 29: Eileen @ BookCatPin <- You're here!
Saturday, Jan 30: Brian @ Brian's Book Thoughts
Sunday, Jan 31: Sarah @ The YA Book Traveler
Oh yes. "Those" kind of relationships. The ones that start off sweet, then to nightmare.
ReplyDeleteIt's cray cray! But a very good read :)
DeleteThis reminds me a little of BUT I LOVE HIM. I liked that book, so I think I'll like this one, too.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it!
Ohh I haven't heard of that one. I'll have to look it up. I hope you enjoy this one Lis!
Delete