Reviews

And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott

deathicey's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

 
A captivating novel that delves into the intricacies of motherhood, mental health, trauma, and the experiences of being a minority. Alicia Elliott skillfully weaves a narrative around the power of storytelling, exploring how the tales we tell can simultaneously empower and ensnare us. The inclusion of the Haudenosaunee creation story alongside Alice's perspective on writing adds depth, creating a parallel that enriches the overall narrative.


This work is significant, particularly in its portrayal of the clash between traditional customs and modern values influenced by the Western world. The insights into Mohawk culture and the struggles of the indigenous community to find their place in a society historically opposed to them are both enlightening and moving.


Addressing critical social issues such as racism, misogyny, and the challenges faced by women in a society imposing Western expectations, the narrative is impactful. The exploration of mental illness resonates deeply, offering a poignant understanding of Alice's emotions as she grapples with her mother's struggles and her own evolving awareness. The portrayal of Alice's husband provides a nuanced perspective on well-intentioned yet damaging microaggressions, risking the erosion of Alice's identity and jeopardizing her daughter's connection to her Native heritage.


The book's strength lies in its raw depiction of the profound impact of mental health struggles, revealing the vulnerability that surfaces in such moments. While the majority of the narrative flows smoothly, the final quarter introduces a more challenging, surreal tone. This section, perhaps due to its rushed feel, could benefit from being presented as an epilogue separate from the main story, potentially enhancing the overall reading experience. 

natalietan's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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sneezypenguin's review against another edition

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5.0

You should read this book. You should also read her earlier book, A Mind Spread out on the Ground.

You should most especially read these books if you have any interest or understanding of Indigenous people on Turtle Island. And if you don't, it might be even more important for you to read these books. They're beautiful and heart-wrenching and so full of insight.

lindsaymarie13's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

bookish_heart's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

jordan1978's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

misanthropic_bibliophile's review against another edition

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Soft dnf

I’ve been reading a lot of heavy books lately and my mental health is not healthy enough to keep reading this one so maybe I’ll try again later

lisa_spencer's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Perfection. Gets a little weird towards the end, but intensely thoughtful reflection on colonial violence, sexism, motherhood, cultural appropriation and more. 

peytonn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

brit_is_reading's review against another edition

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tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

To be totally honest, I nearly DNF'd this more than once in the time it took me to read. But once I hit about 64%, I decided to see it all the way through.

 While I was interested in the themes that Alicia Elliott was exploring in the first half of the book, I found the back half to fully descend into madness (which, I understand, is part of the plot), but was largely difficult to follow and understand.

I don't think I'm unable to explore dense material, but it just came across like there were so many interesting ideas here, and just one or two couldn't be decided upon - so it had to be all of them.

The end in particular, while I found it to be sweet as an idea, felt wholly out of place in comparison to the rest of the novel.

If I had to do it all over again, I’d probably skip this one. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
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