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morgangiesbrecht's review
5.0
4.5 ⭐️
Reading this book felt a little like going on a blind date.
An author friend had recommended another book by Johnson (which my library had the audacity not to have, haha), so I tried this one instead. Because of who the recommendation came from, I felt safe enough going in on a whim. And boy oh boy, was I in for a ride!
Two teens.
Two families.
Torn apart by tragedy neither will ever forget.
Brooke was a likeable YA protagonist. Since I’ve aged out of the genre, sometimes teen characters can feel a bit annoying & too dramatic. But Brooke wasn’t that way. She reminded me a bit of Avery Grambs from “The Inheritance Games” actually. And let’s face it, she & Heath were very cute together going from enemies to reluctant friends to lovers.
It’s a bit like Romeo & Juliet in the nature of forbidden love. Only, in this story, Juliet’s brother killed Romeo’s brother (they were best friends) and now Romeo’s family & the entire small town hates Juliet’s family.
But more than a murder with unanswered questions and a forbidden love that might never work out, this story is one of grief & loss. Of how we grieve & handle those emotions in different ways. It’s a palatable story of waking up after the hard winter of grief and trying to live again.
This summer YA coming-of-age with a wholesome romance and a murder that might not be a solved as everyone thought is the perfect story for fans of “The Summer We Forgot” (Caroline George) & “We Were Kings” (Court Stevens)!
Ever so glad I took a risk on this one & look forward to reading more from Johnson!
Content: mild language
Reading this book felt a little like going on a blind date.
An author friend had recommended another book by Johnson (which my library had the audacity not to have, haha), so I tried this one instead. Because of who the recommendation came from, I felt safe enough going in on a whim. And boy oh boy, was I in for a ride!
Two teens.
Two families.
Torn apart by tragedy neither will ever forget.
Brooke was a likeable YA protagonist. Since I’ve aged out of the genre, sometimes teen characters can feel a bit annoying & too dramatic. But Brooke wasn’t that way. She reminded me a bit of Avery Grambs from “The Inheritance Games” actually. And let’s face it, she & Heath were very cute together going from enemies to reluctant friends to lovers.
It’s a bit like Romeo & Juliet in the nature of forbidden love. Only, in this story, Juliet’s brother killed Romeo’s brother (they were best friends) and now Romeo’s family & the entire small town hates Juliet’s family.
But more than a murder with unanswered questions and a forbidden love that might never work out, this story is one of grief & loss. Of how we grieve & handle those emotions in different ways. It’s a palatable story of waking up after the hard winter of grief and trying to live again.
This summer YA coming-of-age with a wholesome romance and a murder that might not be a solved as everyone thought is the perfect story for fans of “The Summer We Forgot” (Caroline George) & “We Were Kings” (Court Stevens)!
Ever so glad I took a risk on this one & look forward to reading more from Johnson!
Content: mild language
zbrarian's review against another edition
5.0
The question that stuck in my head while reading this book was " how do you move on from this tragedy?" Brooke's brother's crime had a domino effect that has obliterated the family. When she meets Heath, the brother of the young man her brother murdered, the connection between them is not blame, but the struggle to move on to a "new normal". They didn't cause the murder to happen; they aren't at fault. Heath said it best "we didn't cause the crime...we are just as much victims". They learn to heal together, even though they are on "opposite sides of the fence". The story made me take a better look and helped me to understand how there are some people able to forgive others who have destroyed their families. I never understood how some people were able to forgive the killers/murderers. This book took a look at both sides and showed how it is possible to move on.
booklovewithmelanie's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Harlequin Teen in exchange for my honest review.
This book definitely pulls at your heart strings, especially the second half. The first 25% honestly didn't rope me in however from there on was great. Once Brooke and Heath actually start talking about what happened and bond I was totally invested. My heart pulled and broke for Laura especially.
This book definitely pulls at your heart strings, especially the second half. The first 25% honestly didn't rope me in however from there on was great. Once Brooke and Heath actually start talking about what happened and bond I was totally invested. My heart pulled and broke for Laura especially.
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting concept but the execution was clumsy and often convoluted.
gracedwithbooks's review
4.0
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.
Wow. This book was amazing. I was immediately intrigued by the premise but the book exceeded all my expectations. Brooke was a compelling character whose struggle between loving and blaming her brother for his actions was moving. As was her relationship with Heath, the younger brother of her brother's victim.
I thought the reactions and feelings of the characters were realistic which made this book so good, yet so utterly heartbreaking at times.
I can't wait for more people to read it.
Wow. This book was amazing. I was immediately intrigued by the premise but the book exceeded all my expectations. Brooke was a compelling character whose struggle between loving and blaming her brother for his actions was moving. As was her relationship with Heath, the younger brother of her brother's victim.
I thought the reactions and feelings of the characters were realistic which made this book so good, yet so utterly heartbreaking at times.
I can't wait for more people to read it.
caledonia's review against another edition
3.0
The ending felt rushed and the twist that wasn't really a twist but was built up like one frustrated me because I was okay with a boy being a murderer but making him be like ahaha maybe not and then being like jk, gave me whiplash, I only liked that it helped build the younger sisters arc.
bookwormbetty's review
4.0
This book was so good, it was intense and angsty, just the way I like them. There were so many emotions running the gamut through me when I was reading this. I felt really bad for both Brooke and Heath. Both put in a horrible place put there by circumstances they could not control. All in all this was a fantastic read.
andrearbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Even If I Fall by Abigal Johnson focuses on the after of a tragedy. Brooke's brother Jason is in jail for murdering his best friend Cal. This obviously rocks his family unit and the community. Brooke is left to figure out her new normal as her family is broken and struggling, her friends have disassociated with her, and the things that bring her joy no longer do. In the midst of this, Brooke connects with Heath - Cal's brother. Yup, talk about complex situation. Through the story, Brooke and Health's relationship grows, but they must keep it a secret from their families and the whole community. The story centers on how the family emotionally navigates visiting Jason - or not visiting. There is also the emotion that Heath and Cal's family feel as they continue to grieve and process. This book is also about Brooke's want to understand the truth of what happened that fateful night. That truth is ultimately revealed, and the secrets that are uncovered add a whole different dimension. This is another one I read thanks to NetGalley. Thanks to them I was able to go on this emotional journey. The story is a complicated one which is what makes it worth reading.