Every girl has that one guy…that one guy who steals her heart and never gives it back.
We were all friends…until we weren’t.
We depended on each other…until we couldn’t.
We were in love…until we were ripped apart.
We moved on…even when we didn’t want to let go.
This is our love story.
This standalone novel contains material that some may find disturbing. Intended for mature readers only.
… disturbing. Intended for mature readers only.
*TRIGGER WARNING!
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This one made me cry! Sad, haunting, and beautiful!
I have to admit that I took a chance with Here’s to Falling by Christine Zolendz. This book is definitely a bit outside of my comfort zone as far as genres go, but I am so glad now that I got the chance to listen to it, and I took it!
Here’s to Falling is one of the most heartbreaking books I have read/listened to in a long time. The synopsis mentions triggers and that it is only for mature readers, and I completely agree with that. There is sex, violence, and rape to name a few things, and I would definitely make sure you are prepared for the triggers before you go into it. It was so raw and emotional, but it also had plenty of steam. I’ve never read a book in the New Adult genre so I don’t have anything to compare this to, but if you are into gritty romance novels then I would say you would want to read it.
The book bounces between past and present, and there are two viewpoints which are Charlie and her friend Jase. There is also a smattering of police reports which built a little suspense for me. Here’s to Falling is definitely a character driven novel which I don’t always love, but it really worked for me here. I listened to the entire book on audio and I really enjoyed the experience. The narrator, Kimberly Helen, made an amazing Charlie and also did a great job narrating Jase. I thought the sound of her voice was perfect for this book and she especially made a great, young Charlie.
Here’s to Falling is not going to be for everyone, and clearly not for the faint of heart, but it is an unforgettable experience. I plan to buy the physical copy as well now so I can make sure I didn’t miss anything, that’s how hard this book hit me. It got a tiny bit confusing on audio due to the jumping around, which is another reason I want to make sure I didn’t miss something important. Words cannot even express everything I feel about this book, so I definitely recommend checking it out for yourself!
Thank you to the narrator for providing me with an audiobook via Audible. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Great Story & Audible Listen Mesmerizing & Heart-Rending!
Here’s to Falling
By: Christine Zolendz
Narrated by: Kimberly Helen
Wow, this book not only blew my mind but it tore my heart out of my chest, thankfully by the end it put it back in place. This is my first book by Christine Zolendz and it will not be my last. She is a gifted authors, knows exactly how to pour her heart out in words to create a beautifully written story. The synopsis for the book is short and simple, so wasn’t sure what to expect, I found the story is far from simple. I think it is better to go in knowing as little as possible, just keep an open mind and let the author take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride, a journey into the life of some amazing characters. I adored Charlotte “Charlie” and Joey right from the start, their tight friendship and how they were there for each other even at a young age. Jase, the new kid on the block did not make the best impression when he first arrived but he made up for it as the story went along. The story goes back in time when they were younger and then back to current time, mostly from Charlie’s POV, but Jase gets his in too. And Joey, he earned a special place in my heart, I loved how he called out both Jase and Charlie as they continued to deny themselves and each other. This is not your typical romance novel, it is so much more, the story is well plotted and there is plenty of drama, both relationship and family, some angst, some gut-wrenching and heartbreaking moments , lots of emotional and heartfelt ones too. It is a second chance to live, love and laugh. Christine Zolendz, thank you for amazing me with your beautifully written & beautifully told story and all the heart you put into it.
I listened to the Audible edition, Kimberly Helen is a terrific narrator and voice artist. She did a great job portraying the characters, bringing them to life, giving each their own voice and personality. She set the perfect tone for the story, captured the intense drama, as well as the characters emotions which was projected into her performance. She is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this great listen
I’ll do a general review of the book first, then I’ll put a spoiler alert up for an in-depth review and trigger warning. I don’t belive in the whole “I don’t want to spoil it, you just need to read it.” Not everyone likes being surprised, and I myself hate when I come across these reviews while trying to decide if I’m going to invest time and money in a book.
This book had everything in it. The writing was wonderful and intriguing, the characters had depth, and it had so much emotion, romance, wit, and suspense. I don’t like angst books, but this one was perfect. This book is about three friends; Charlotte (Charlie), Joey, and Jase. It has dual perspective throughout, but most is from Charlie’s point of view. It starts with slowly getting to know Charlie at age 24,and works in portions of her life at age 7, then 9, and most the teen years, switching from past to present. I think the author did an amazing job with the transitioning, as it never seemed forced or abrupt. I must say though, the 7-year-old portion is very short but very annoying, as it is written from that mentality. Don’t let it get to you, it will pass quickly. Another thing I didn’t like much was when we get to see Charlie as an adult happy finally, it is over immediately and jumps to the epilogue, which is very short and unsatisfying. I would have liked to have had another chapter before the epilogue, or a point in the time line between the last chapter and the epilogue.
Charlie and Joey are best friends and soon become friends with Jase when he moves next door. The past shows us how much the 3 of them grow together and how inseparable they are. As we flash to the present, Charlie is alone with a crappy “boyfriend” Bren. Slowly, we learn where Joey and Jase are and why Charlie has isolated herself.
*******SPOILERS********
From here on out will be spoilers.
When the three are 16, they go into a bar, and Joey is later knocked unconscious and beaten by a school bully, and dies. Soon after, Jase’s dad sends him to a sort of reform school. Charlie gets a text several days later from his phone that he’s home, so she runs over to see him, but it’s his dad there.
*trigger warning* this scene takes a while to set up and it is obvious what is coming. It is a somewhat graphic forceful rape scene, but with no violence besides force. It is difficult to read.
Seven years later, circumstance brings them back together. The end. Quite abrupt.
The epilogue is even more abrupt as it is 2 pages of Charlie as an old woman, with her great grandchildren around her. We learn Jase died 5 years prior, and she knows she will soon meet him and Joey again. I cried. I hated it. I wanted an epilogue maybe a couple months to a couple years later, showing how far they had come. But jumping to her being in her 80s with her husband gone was very jarring. I ran out of space. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I liked the characters and the story line.