THE INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER A Spring 2020 Okra Pick Parade’s 20 Most Anticipated Books of Early 2020 Goodreads’ It Book of Summer Top Reviewers Pick SheKnows’ 10 of the Most Anticipated Books Coming in 2020 Mary Kay Andrews’ Reading Challenge Women’s Fiction Pick Travel + Leisure’s 20 Books to Gift This Mother’s Day Working Mother’s 20 Most Anticipated Books of 2020 for Working Moms Brit + Co Books to Gift This Mother’s Day
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From “the next major voice in Southern fiction” (Elin Hilderbrand) and the bestselling author of the Peachtree Bluff series comes an odd-couple tale of friendship that asks just how much our past choices define our happiness.
It’s summertime on the North Carolina coast and the livin’ is easy.
Unless, that is, you’ve just lost your mother to cancer, your sister to her extremist husband, and your husband to his executive assistant. Meet Gray Howard. Right when Gray could use a serious infusion of good karma in her life, she inadvertently gets a stranger, Diana Harrington, fired from her job at the local pharmacy.
Diana Harrington’s summer isn’t off to the greatest start either: Hours before losing her job, she broke up with her boyfriend and moved out of their shared house with only a worn-out Impala for a bed. Lucky for her, Gray has an empty guest house and a very guilty conscience.
With Gray’s kindness, Diana’s tide begins to turn. But when her first love returns, every secret from her past seems to resurface all at once. And, as Gray begins to blaze a new trail, she discovers, with Diana’s help, that what she envisioned as her perfect life may not be what she wants at all.
In her warmest, wisest novel yet, Kristy Woodson Harvey delivers a discerning portrait of modern womanhood through two vastly different lenses. Feels Like Falling is a beach bag essential for Harvey fans–and for a new generation of readers.
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Two women in turmoil, two lives at a crossroads. Only Kristy Woodson Harvey can make sense of the sometimes devastating, often-times delicious dilemmas faced by the protagonists of her newest perfect beach read Feels Like Falling. Readers will fall in love with entrepreneur Gray, whose husband’s betrayal leaves her feeling adrift and looking for something beyond career success, while plucky down-and-out Diana will win the hearts of those of us who always root for the underdog. Buckle up, buttercups, because Feels Like Falling feels like your next summer sizzler!
This was a charming book, the first time I’ve read Kristy Woodson Harvey. But it won’t be the last! Full of friendship, family, and love, the dialogue swept me in and made me forget that I was reading. And isn’t that the best kind of book?
I have wanted to read her Southern Side of Paradise series for some time now so when I had the chance to read Feels Like Falling I jumped right on it and was not disappointed.
Feels Like Falling is full of Southern funnies, beachy feels, and romance. It is the perfect read for your beach vacation or those like me wishing I was at the beach. It has the right amount of steaminess but is in no way tawdry. You will find yourself cheering for love to win. Diana is my favorite character and I think she is the star.
Grab your umbrella drink, put your phone on do not disturb, and settle in for a good read.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Gallery Books, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
FEELS LIKE FALLING is the perfect beach read for the stay-home era: a story about an unlikely friendship, second chances, and two exceptionally strong women overcoming challenges that could have taken them down. Instead, Gray and Diana, who appear to have nothing in common, not only help each other, but create a broader community from their loyal, quirky friends. I loved the lack of judgment–from those who shared Gray’s life of privilege and from those who understood Diana’s life of hard knocks. The setting is rich with the sights and sounds of a coastal Carolina summer, and there’s humor, a sexy tennis pro, and all the feels. Pour a glass of sweetened iced tea and settle in. You won’t be disappointed!
Kristy Woodson Harvey has the voice of a best friend; a storyteller of the finest sort. Feels Like Falling takes us on a page-turning journey with two very different women who must somehow find their way together. Harvey asks the important question — how do we let go of the preconceived notions of our life ? And she answers that question with lyrical prose, an uncommon wisdom and a sharp wit. This is more than a novel about friendship, it is also a story for friendship: you will find yourself sharing it with everyone you love. Dive in; the storytelling is delicious!
The perfect pick-me-up read during isolation. Lovely characters, perfect setting, makes you feel like you’re on the beach. The storylines were compelling and well done, and I loved both main characters and was invested in their journeys. Highly recommended.
A great read for your Mother’s Day gifts or just a quiet quarantine day or your book club! I’ve included Kristy Woodson Harvey books multiple times on the blog (and had her on the Women With Books podcast ) and as soon as I saw she had a new release, I requested an early copy. This one is set in a new beach town in North Carolina and has alternating stories of two very different women who soon become best friends. It’s a story of friendship, but it’s also a story of how women can mother each other, their friends, their siblings – which is why I’m recommending this for Mother’s Day! Get this for all your friends who are also willing to set you up on dates/ hold your hair back/ let you come live in their guest house on the beach. (And also I would like to be that person’s friend, thanks).
Kristy Woodson Harvey is one of those few authors that you just know – even before you read the first page -that you are going to meet wonderful believable characters in a beautiful location. You want to read her books fast because they are so good but you also want to read them slowly because you don’t want to leave these new friends. I am one of her major fans and have read every book that she’s written and I can tell you that all of her books are fantastic but this is my new favorite.
I really don’t have anything in common with the two main characters — I’m not uber-rich like Gray and I’ve never had to live in my car like Diana – but they are both so well written that I feel like I know them and could have a great time with them if we met.
This is a story of love and heartbreak, family and friends and the search for happiness and fulfillment in life. It shows that family isn’t just the people that you are related to but also includes the friends that you learn to love throughout your life. It reminds us that even when life gets tough, there will be a second chance waiting – maybe not what you planned but definitely what you need.
Thanks to Kristy for another wonderful book that made me laugh and cry with two characters that I feel like I know and then I won’t soon forget. See is one of the best authors of Southern fiction writing today. My prediction is that Feels Like Falling will be one of the MUST READ books for the summer of 2020.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Green Gables Book Reviews thoughts about Feels Like Falling
If you’re looking for a laid-back, easy to get back to if you’re interrupted read, a beach read with a bit of romance, here it is. Very likable characters, lots of emotion, maybe a little bit of predictability, but it also has some unpredictable “wins” you hope each of the women in the book will get! I’ve read Feels Like Falling twice, and I’ll look for more from Kristy Woodson Harvey!
About Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Main Character “Gray”-a planner, driven, focused, started her own business in college-now a multi-million dollar company, gorgeous house of her dreams, a great son.
BUT, Gray is working through a divorce, because her husband has chosen his young, blonde executive assistant over her. The assistant Gray had hired for him after she promoted him to the CFO of her company. Gray is doing her best to hold her head high and keep her pride when all she wants to do is fall apart.
Main Character “Diana”-Named after royalty, as were her three siblings. Diana has not had an easy life. Their mother left them alone when they were very young, and for as long as they could, they tried to make it on their own. She has never had an adult relationship last. Diana hates her job developing photos and isn’t very good at it. When she gets fired, it’s because of Gray, and it’s the same day Diana broke up with her boyfriend, who stole her money and gambled with it. With no money (and now no job), she ends up sleeping in her car.
Diana isn’t sure why she goes to Diana’s house. She recognized the address from years ago, before Gray lived there, as somewhere Diana used to clean, back when she cleaned houses. She has nothing to do, so she sits on Gray’s front step. When Gray arrives, Diana tells her about being fired, and eventually, Diana starts working for Gray.
It doesn’t take long for either woman to realize they rely on each other. And, they become friends. Then, like family as they navigate the divorce, new relationships, old relationships, and facing their feelings head-on about their lives. And, there are several surprises along the way!
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this copy of Feels Like Falling to read and review!
The perfect beach read!
Loved it! I enjoyed how the women in this book bonded, helped each other heal, and became a forever family. A very touching story. This is my 2nd book by Kristy Woodson Harvey (after Under the Southern Sky), and I look forward to reading more.
Story 4.25 Stars. Dual Narration 4.5 Stars. It’s books like this one that has me really loving Woman’s lit. Yes, it has a couple of good romances thanks to two main female characters, but a good sized part of the book was about the friendship between Gray, a thirty four year old woman that is currently getting a divorce and a down on her luck forty year old woman named Diana. Gray owns a multi million dollar company, while Diana is jobless and homeless. Gray helps her and the two become great friends and roommates of sorts. It’s also a story about second chances at life as well as love. Forgiveness is another theme.
I really enjoyed the two main characters and everything life throws at them along the way. There’s also some good side characters to round out the read-both love interests in particular. Along with Gray’s eight year old son.
Amanda Ronconi voiced Diana and it was pretty perfect. I’ve always enjoyed her work and it’s one of the main reasons I got the audio. Kelsey Navarro voiced Gray and also did a great job. I’d never listened to her before, but I definitely would like to listen to her again sometime.
Equally important, I think I will be seeking out other books by this author. Recommended to adult women’s fiction readers as well as romance.
Truly enjoyed this book from start to end. Thanks for a great read.
This story is told through the alternating views of the two main characters – Diana and Gray. Their paths cross one summer, their lives weave together, and life for each of them is changed forever through the power of friendship. Each of them learn that family is something you are born into and expands to include those you choose. The characters feel like friends you get to know, pulling you in to the story with them. So, if you are heading to the beach or just need a few good book, this is a perfect choice.
Another enjoyable southern women’s fiction novel from Kristy Woodson Harvey. Two women, both experiencing painful life transitions, meet by chance and form an unlikely friendship that challenges each of their negative outlooks and induces life changing growth. A great cast of supporting characters add to the fun.
Great story of friendship and women helping women. A moving and satisfying read.
This is the first book by Kristy Woodson Harvey I have read. I am a fan. She tells this story from two perspectives. First is Gray, who is very well-off. She runs her own company and is going through a divorce with an adorable eight-year-old son in the mix. Second is Diana. She considers herself to be something akin to trailer-trash whose mom left her kids when Diana was very young and never came back. Gray and Diana’s lives weave and intertwine as they navigate through an newly unfamiliar life, and I enjoyed every minute of their exploration. And making it even better? This story was full of humor and wit making me want to read late into the night to find out what happens next. (And to maybe laugh a little.) If you want a distraction in your own life, and smiles are absolutely essential?This book is for you. I loved it.
Feels like Falling is a wonderful story of how taking a chance pays off. Sometimes showing a little kindness may be rewarded with new, strong relationships. That is the crux of this heartwarming and yet heart wrenching book by Kristin Woodson Harvey.
Ms. Woodson presents a moving story of what happens when your world is turned upside down and you start look at yourself and your life through a different filter. Two women with very difference experiences from very different backgrounds develop a relationship that is rewarding for both of them.
This story is well written and flows easily, unlike the lives of the characters which are very rocky and bumpy. The characters are very relatable as are their situations. I laughed and I cried. This is the kind of book that pulls you in and has you rooting for the characters.
I highly recommend this book to all readers for its writing and emotion. Thank you #Netgalley and #GalleryBooks for approving my request. All the opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
The quintessential beach read everyone should have! This book has it all: fun by the water, drama, romance, secrets, and more.
Gray and Diana couldn’t be more different in their lifestyles, but circumstances bring them together at just the right time. They fill voids in each other’s lives, balance, and an unlikely friendship. Both have suffered losses in family and love, and they each have something to offer the other.
As the summer moves forward, Gray has a new romance with a younger man as Diana rekindles love with an old flame. Starting over in different ways helps the women develop a closeness combined with honesty and heartfelt amity.
My favorite book of summer!
I really, really enjoyed this book. It is about (mainly) the relationship between women. It points out that we, as women, need relationships with other women. There’s just something you can’t get from a relationship with a man, no matter how good of a friend he is.
The dual point of view really worked for this book. Gray and Diana come from completely different types of lives, but they come together as friends and become very important to each other. There’s a romantic relationship for each of them along the way–one new and one the revival of an old one. Both were delightful to witness.