Title: The Edge of Falling
Author: Rebecca Serle (Twitter)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publish Date: March 18, 2014
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher

Growing up in privileged, Manhattan social circles, Caggie’s life should be perfect, and it almost was until the day that her younger sister drowned when Caggie was supposed to be watching her. Stricken by grief, Caggie pulls away from her friends and family, only to have everyone misinterpret a crucial moment when she supposedly saves a fellow classmate from suicide. Now she’s famous for something she didn’t do and everyone lauds her as a hero. But inside she still blames herself for the death of her sister and continues to pull away from everything in her life, best friend and perfect boyfriend included.

Then Caggie meets Astor, the new boy at school, about whom rumours are swirling and known facts are few. In Astor she finds someone who just might understand her pain, because he has an inner pain of his own. But the more Caggie pulls away from her former life to be with Astor, the more she realises that his pain might be darker, and deeper, than anything she’s ever felt. His pain might be enough to end his life…and Caggie’s as well.

The Edge of Falling is, first and foremost, a novel about the human condition and grief - something that might not work for everyone. The synopsis of the novel offers us something fairly generic; a girl who has experienced a great loss and is trying to get back on her feet, little by little. And, I'll admit, I expected a fairly generic novel, as well, with the obligatory love triangle that helps our protagonist feel alive again. What I didn't expect, however, was to read a novel that was so beautifully crafted in a way that many might not recognize. There's a great, terrible beauty to this book that invites you into the hollowness of despair as our author, Rebecca Serle, works to mend both our characters and ourselves.

Caggie was a tedious character to get to know, which can be a bit off-putting when first starting a novel. She's built powerful walls around herself to keep herself safe and others at a safe distance from the pain she feels she's bestowed upon others. As such, we feel as though we're standing on the outside for much of the front half of the novel, simply gazing in on this watered-down version of her life. I feel that Ms. Serle should be credited for her portrayal of grief in Caggie. I've seen many reviews state that they felt it was boring, and I'll admit that much of the first half of the novel is descriptive, hollow and a bit standoffish. However, there's also an incredible power in the way we're introduced to the life of our protagonist. Through her dulled eyes, and her world that's seemingly filled with emptiness and echoes, we understand the magnitude of her grief and her pain. It's an interesting and unique stance for the author to have taken, and I highly commend it.

While I found The Edge of Falling  to be a bit predictable, it's important to note that the story is not actually about the secrets behind her sister's death, or the untimely heroism of saving a former classmate. The story is much more introspective than that and, as such, hiding these plot points isn't necessarily the most important part of the novel. I will say, however, that it would have been nice to hold some elements a bit closer to the chest, if only to build the momentum of the novel a bit more towards the end. 

In terms of characters, we're offered a bit of a hodge-podge of Manhattan's elite. From Caggie, to her broken-down mother, to her friends and love interests, we're given an eclectic mix of people with whom we can relate. I did feel as though some of the secondary characters, such as Laila, felt a bit like tropes. I hoped for a bit more power and depth from their characters, but I could see that this was Caggie's story in the end, and it was her journey that was going to propel us through the novel. Ms. Serle's writing doesn't let us down, and her cleverly-articulated plot and prose is powerful for those who can read between the lines to understand the enormity of grief, guilt and moving on.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Edge of Falling. I think that it's a bit more high-brow than other novels on the market today, so it won't work for everyone, but the author gives us a lot to think about with a great deal of skill. I give this a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to fans of upper YA and intelligent YA fiction, especially those who enjoy character-driven contemporary novels.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Everything Breaks
Author: Vicki Grove
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publish Date: October 3, 2013
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 256
Source: Publisher

Tucker was supposed to be the designated driver. But there was something about the beauty of that last true summer night, that made him want to feel out-of-control just once. He drank so much and so quickly that he was instantly sick. That left Trey to drive. "I'll catch up to you later," were the last words Tucker would ever say to his friends as he heaved by the side of the road. It was the last time Tucker would ever see them alive.

Tucker’s grief and guilt are just about unbearable and he wonders how he can continue living himself. When he meets the Ferryman who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers that divide the world of the living from the world of the dead, Tucker gets a chance to decide: live or die. The temptation to join his three best friends on the other side may be too much for Tucker to overcome. A gripping, haunting and emotional read.

Tucker plays by the rules. He doesn't really even toe the line, but that one night, he decided to just let it all go - all the stress, all the pain - all of it. In an instant though, his actions (or inability to act) lead to events that nobody could have seen coming, but nevertheless leave him with an unimaginable sense of guilt. As he begins to spiral into a downward hole of depression and anxiety though, he finds that there is an out. He can with his friends...but he'd have to give up everything he has left. Is it worth it?

I was immediately drawn to Everything Breaks because of what is presented as an extremely emotional storyline. Despite added paranormal elements, we're offered a raw, vivid and unimaginable pain in which characters are given the ability to sink or swim. That's my cup of tea; reality. Author, Vicki Grove, has written a dark, grief-ridden tale that will sweep you up in a maelstrom of drama. With overriding themes of love, grief, loss and overcoming tragedy, Everything Breaks offers readers a profound and meaningful story.

I confess that I'm finding it a bit hard to formulate my thoughts on this novel because it seems to me that we're provided some excellent elements of storytelling, while others are left lacking. In regards to the novel's strengths, I must say that the character development is probably the best attribute of all. Tucker is such a tangible character, which makes his grief and pain all the more accessible through the story. From the start, the author paints a clear picture of not only his appearance, but his temperament, his past and the driving force behind all his actions. Furthermore, the secondary characters are also extremely well done. Trey, though he appears only fleetingly, is a powerhouse that drives the fury and whirlwind of action into which we're placed at the very start. Bud, Tucker's step-grandfather, was definitely the highlight for me though. We sense that he's losing it a little bit, but he's got this personality and light about him that keeps us invested in Tucker's journey with Bud. Unfortunately, however, it seemed to me that there was a disconnect in terms of the pacing, descriptiveness and overall plot otherwise. I found that, although Everything Breaks offers readers a ton of detail, none of it really explained what I needed to know or enlightened me as to what was driving the events of the story. I felt that that really affected what could have otherwise been a pretty steadily-paced novel. The plot, too, was almost a little bit too complex because of the lack of detail in the right places. Too often, I found myself thrown off as to how and why we ended up with Tucker and Bud in certain scenarios. I do think that the overall message and theme of the novel, which is clearly and tastefully revealed at the end, saved the novel a bit, but I closed the book feeling as though the resolution which we were offered just didn't feel right.

Overall, I'm still left a bit in the lurch as to why Everything Breaks didn't quite work for me. The author writes well, and the idea behind the story is solid, but I was definitely left wanting. I give it a 3 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA stories, especially those who enjoy paranormal stories and those involving themes of grief and loss.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: Fall for Anything
Author: Courtney Summers (Twitter)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publish Date: December 21, 2010
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 230
Source: Personal Copy

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?

Eddie is devastated. The one person whom she loved above all else in life took his own life, and she's now without a father and desperate for answers. She needs some sort of meaning to the nonsensical madness of his suicide, and she'll do just about anything to find out why. As her mother spirals deeper into depression, a nosy neighbor moves in to "help" and Eddie's life gets more and more confusing, she wants answers. Culler might be able to help her piece the clues together, but does she really want to know the reason why?

In typical Courtney Summers fashion, Fall for Anything is, in a nutshell, a hard, thought-provoking and powerful novel. Never shying away from the darkness of the story itself, the book spirals into the cold, bleak darkness that we watch our main character surrounded by since her father's death. We're offered hundreds of emotions to choose from, and we're bathed in grief and loss from the start, invited on a powerful and gut-wrenching journey to understand the meaning why the man who, for all intents and purposes had it all, would kill himself in a single, desperate act. This novel will hit you fast and hard, and ask you to experience the journey to peace with Eddie.

I don't know why I put off reading Fall for Anything for so long. I've read a couple other titles by the author, and I've never been disappointed. Summers' books never shy away from the shadows and darkness of human grief and anger. Rather, they welcome it in full force, and this book was no exception. Eddie was an extremely believable main character. She's a teenage girl that's been absolutely obliterated by the loss of her father, and she's forced to endure Beth telling her how to grieve and her mother's inability to cope at all. The beauty of her character, too, is that she's not censored. She's broken, hostile, lashing out and grieving in her own way. It's tragically beautiful to see this extremely personal process laid out so very plainly on the pages. Culler plays a perfect role in the novel, too. Though his appearance in the novel made me cringe a bit at times, and I hesitated to trust his intentions, I could understand the connection between Eddie and Culler. She wanted answers and a diversion. He offered what seemed like the former and definitely the latter. In all honesty, the one thing I really wanted more of was Milo. There was a refreshing vibe from him that sparked a light in Eddie and Culler did not. Honestly though, I could lay out the plot points of Fall for Anything and tell you nothing though. The strength and power of the novel lies in the message, which subtly fuels the plot throughout. It's raw, challenging and gritty, and it never ever tries to mask the fact that grief is subjective, suicide is horrific not only for the life lost but for those left behind and it creates a void that can never be filled. Full disclaimer - shortly before I was born, my cousin took her own life, and though I never met her, I know that void was never filled in my Aunt and Uncle - or anyone for that matter. And that, my friends, is why I was able to reconcile myself with the somewhat open ending of the novel. At the end of the day, we'll never really know why unless that person explicitly informs everyone of their motives before committing the act. But, in the end, coping with a suicide isn't about finding the answers in the end. It's simply about coming to terms with the loss and learning to live with it. In that way, Fall for Anything completely and utterly succeeds.

Overall, I'm not at all surprised to say that I absolutely loved Fall for Anything (well, as much as you can love a book like this). It's not an easy read, but it's definitely an important one. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it all fans of YA, especially those who like darker contemporary fiction.

Title: When You Were Here
Author: Daisy Whitney (Twitter)
Publisher: Little, Brown
Publish Date: June 4, 2013
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 257
Source: Publisher

Danny's mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before his graduation-the one day that she was hanging on to see. Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn't know how to figure out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore.

When he gets a letter from his mom's property manager in Tokyo, where she had been going for treatment, it shows a side of his mother he never knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to connect with his mother's memory and make sense of her final months, which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There, among the cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harajuku girl, he begins to see how it may not have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died.

Danny is adrift. He just lost his mother, his life is spinning into a world that is darker, harder to emotionally process and, frankly, he's completely overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done. When a letter arrives from his mother's treatment facility in Tokyo, it's his chance to step away from it all, process what has happened and maybe, just maybe find out how to cope with his mother's death and how to take the first steps in moving on. But first, he needs to set forth on a journey of self-discovery.

When I look for contemporary fiction to read, I look for something that will actually tug at my heartstrings and make me feel something. There is something to be said for a book that can coax you to the brink of tears, and then ever-so-carefully walk you back off that ledge and help heal you through its pages. I've read some of Daisy Whitney's work before, and I have to say that When You Were Here is a standout among not only her titles, but many books on the shelves today. Intricately weaving the arduous process of grieving with an incredible journey of self-discovery, When You Were Here not only tugs at your heartstrings, but will help you heal and find a sense of peace.

So often in YA books, we're presented with a male narrator whose voice is far less than authentic, disingenuous and, frankly, a mere shade of what we might consider a teenage boy to truly sound and act like. When You Were Here, however, gives us an eighteen-year-old boy in Danny, and we can sense the authenticity of his voice from the start. Rather than simply telling us how he feels in the wake of extraordinary loss, we watch as he expresses his pain through his actions and interactions with others, breathing life into what could have been a very shallow and lifeless story. Throughout the story, we're presented secondary characters such as Kana, who helped care for his mother's apartment during her treatment. I was so worried we'd be offered a cloying and false relationship for instant gratification and momentary comfort, but instead we're offered a powerful character who offers Danny friendship when he needs it most. One of the most powerful elements for me, however, was the introduction of Holland, Danny's ex, and how her storyline was ultimately ingrained within his own. We learn that appearances and pretenses can be deceiving, and there is much more to her story and, because of this, Danny's story, as well. Through it all, When You Were Here breaks us down to our barest emotions, then helps us slowly and gently piece ourselves and our emotions back together with great humility, which is an incredibly powerful thing to do.

I know that I'm writing a dissertation here, but When You Were Here was such a beautifully-crafted book that I could sing its praises all day. With a true and genuine voice and endless heart, this book is pure magic. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction. I do want to advice readers of tasteful sexual situations, so this might be for an upper YA audience.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: The After Girls
Author: Leah Konen (Twitter)
Publisher: Merit Press
Publish Date: April 18, 2013
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher

Ella, Astrid, and Sydney were planning the perfect summer after high school graduation. But when Astrid commits suicide in a lonely cabin, the other girls' worlds are shattered. How could their best friend have done this--to herself and to them? They knew everything about Astrid. Shouldn't they have seen this coming? Couldn't they have saved her?

As Ella hunts for the truth, and Sydney tries to dull the pain, a chilling message from Astrid leaves them wondering whether their beloved friend is communicating from the after life. The girls embark on a journey to uncover Astrid's dark secrets. The answers to those questions--questions they never dreamed of asking--will change their lives forever.

Three girls with an unbreakable bond are broken by that which eventually irreparably changes all of our relationships - death. Ella and Sydney are left behind when their best friend, Astrid, commits suicide seemingly out-of-the-blue. What was supposed to have been a picture perfect summer turns into a nightmare of grief, loss and guilt as the girls struggle to reconcile with Astrid's passing. But just when they think that life couldn't get more tumultuous, they receive a message from Astrid, which can't be possible...or can it?

I have a rocky history with contemporary fiction. Those of you who have read my blog for a while know this.  It's not from a lack of love for the genre, but rather from what I tend to see as a lack of sincerity from the genre. So, needless to say, I was excited to see a young adult contemporary novel that actually lacked the familiar hype of the industry, giving me a chance to see a novel break the norm. Author, Leah Konen, has crafted a heartbreaking, powerful and hard-hitting debut that doesn't mask the pain of loss, but rather utilizes it to fuel the story. Raw, rich and evocative, The After Girls teaches us about life, loss, grief and the beauty of moving on in the best way way possible.

Guys, I have so many thoughts about The After Girls. Ella and Sydney were two stark contrasts of one another in their grieving processes. One is desperate for the truth, while other simply wants to forget it ever happened and to rid herself of the pain. The book is laced with tragedy and despair, but as we see Ella receive the messages from Astrid, we begin to piece these broken characters and their lives back together. I have to be honest; when I first saw the premise, I thought it was a dead-ringer for Pretty Little Liars. Messages from the grave? I mean, come on. However, after reading The After Girls, I don't think I could have been further from the truth. These messages from Astrid were anything but malicious. They were almost a coping mechanism for Ella, and for that reason, I think this story soars. She's the only one who saw the messages. In my humble opinion, rather than viewing this as a paranormal twist, thinking of it as Ella's way of grieving made me invest further in her character. Though I found Sydney more difficult to relate to because of her anger and deep-rooted guilt, she nevertheless felt real. The After Girls is not a light story, and I struggled with the dark nature of the plot at times, alternating between anger and sadness. However, there is a semblance of peace at the end that makes it worthwhile.

All in all, I was actually really impressed with The After Girls, and I think the author has a real future in this industry. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: The Beginning of After
Author: Jennifer Castle
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: September 6, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 432
Source: Publisher/Netgalley

Sixteen-year-old Laurel's world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive.

Through it all, there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel's life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss, a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.

Laurel's teenage life was forever changed when she learned that life and living can be changed in a single, fleeting instant. In that moment she goes from the ordinary girl-next-door to the girl who lost her family to a horrific accident caused by the town bad-boy's father. Laurel is forced to navigate her grief while balancing the life she once had, but it begins to slip through the cracks and as her friends drift away, she isn't sure who she can trust anymore. But there's David - David who is the bad boy...David who's father caused the death of her family...and David who understands her loss. Why does something so right have to feel so wrong?

I'll be honest. I'm going to throw it out there that I'm a bit tired of the whole death in teenage contemps thing, but I am pleased to see just how delicately The Beginning of After navigated the depths of such a painful and powerful issue. It would have been easy to become lost in the cliche of the story, but author Jennifer Castle created a touching cast of characters with Laurel and David in the forefront, giving the reader a firsthand glimpse at the depth of sorrow, the beauty of hope and the potential for love to spring from even the darkest, most painful depths of life. With a powerful voice and a rich, hopeful message, The Beginning of After is a story that truly steps out of the mold and into a new realm.

I think the true beauty of The Beginning of After was the believability of the characters and Laurel in particular. Watching how Laurel navigated the stages of grief in her own way was both harrowing and intriguing. In a sense, she pushed her grief aside and fixated herself on the intricacies besides the loss of her parents and brother, but in others, you saw her walls crumble just a little to see this hole of despair eating away at her. David was the perfect balance for Laurel. While she was a shy, somewhat ordinary teen, David was this rebellious character filled with angst and tension. Yet, their dual loss spun them in a web of grief together. The Beginning of After balanced a precarious relationship by building it slowly through their feelings, rather than some cliche and overdone physical attraction that usually kills the story. Rather than passion, we get comfort, and rather than a surface-level love, we get a soul-like spiritual connection between two vastly different but entirely charismatic characters. So, while the plot of The Beginning of After might have been the cliche I was anticipating, the characters made the story.

All in all, The Beginning of After was a powerful read that I truly believe anyone can and will appreciated. With a fresh voice and perspective, it's sure to carve itself into a nice niche in the YA market. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of YA, as well as adult fiction, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction.

I received this eARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.