Review: Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer

Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer
Release date: May 10, 2022
Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository

You can’t always go home again.

Ellis and Easton have been inseparable since childhood. But when a rash decision throws Ellis’s life—and her relationship with Easton— into chaos she’s forced to move halfway across the country, far from everything she’s ever known.

Now Ellis hasn’t spoken to Easton in a year, and maybe it’s better that way; maybe eventually the Easton shaped hole in her heart will heal. But when Easton’s mother invites her home for a celebration, Ellis finds herself tangled up in the web of heartache, betrayal, and anger she left behind... and with the boy she never stopped loving.

YA contemporary with a lot of angst. The set up reminded me of You and Me on Vacation/People We Meet on Vacation where there has been conflict between the MCs and the book switches between past and present until we finally learn what happened. Ever since she was young, Ellis has been going over to the Albrey's house. It is a house full of love and takes her mind away the neglect that awaits her at home. Easton Albrey is Ellis' best friend and the two are inseparable. Until something happens that means Ellis has to move across the country to live with her aunty. One year later, Ellis goes back to celebrate Easton's mum's birthday. Reunited with feelings that she thought she had squashed deep down, Ellis has to work through what led her to this moment and whether her broken relationship with Easton can be salvaged. The characters are complicated and their relationships even more so. The small moments between Ellis and Easton and their endless missed communication spurred me on to finishing this book in two sittings. The yearning and the pining was so on point. You could feel it in everything that was not said. I was hoping this would make me cry my eyes out, but alas it did not. However, at times it was deeply sad and I truly felt for everything the characters were going through. One of the highlights of this book being Easton's brother Tucker, who plays as the mediator between Ellis and Easton. As well as a cheerleader for them to sort out their issues. He lightened the mood in every scene and just overall gave good vibes to this story. I would have liked a bit more material at the end when everything was coming together. It happened so quickly I wanted the characters to take it in! But other than that, I really enjoyed this book and I think I'd re-read it again just to feel everything again. Rating 4 Falling Books Thank you to Harper360 for gifting an ARC!

Blog Tour: Mark My Words by Muhammed Khan

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Mark My Words by Muhammed Khan. This is a young adult story that puts important themes under its microscope. If you are looking for a short and thought-provoking read, I would look no further.

Synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old Dua Iqbal has always had trouble minding her own business. With a silver-tongue and an inquisitive nature, a career in journalism seems fated. When her school merges with another to form an Academy, Dua seizes her chance and sets up a rival newspaper, exposing the controversial stories that teachers and the kids who rule the school would rather keep buried.

Dua's investigations are digging up things she shouldn't get involved with about family, friends and her community and as exams rattle towards her, she needs to make some hard decisions about when to leave things alone. But when she discovers that some kids at school are being blamed for selling drugs when the real perpetrator is right in front of their noses, she can't keep quiet any longer.

Mark My Words explores social inequality through the mixing of private school and state school teenagers. I was hooked early into the story by Dua, our main character, who fights to have her thoughts and opinions heard through her writing. This eventually leads her to start a school newspaper that aims to bring a voice to those who have not been given the opportunity to do so. Throughout the story, I enjoyed Dua's passion, relentless spirit, and courage to stand up for what she believes in. At points, I forgot that she was only fifteen years old! I would have loved my younger self to read this book and feel empowered by Dua's character and actions.

The writing style was rooted in pop culture references and slang. While at the beginning this took some getting used to, it did well setting the scene of a secondary school and the atmosphere of being back in the classroom.

This story feels very relevant to today's climate and tackles a wide range of themes including drug abuse, classism, racism, as well as family and friendship dynamics. They were used to flesh out the plot points as well as prompt character development. By the end, the story had shaped into something that felt very real and reflected the struggles a young person may indeed face in the world today. I would definitely read more by this author!

Links to find out more about this book can be found below.

Goodreads
Amazon UK
The Book Depository
Waterstones

Thank you Pan Macmillan for the invitation to be a part of the blog tour!

Blog Tour: The House of Sorrowing Stars by Beth Cartwright

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour celebrating the release of The House of Sorrowing Stars by Beth Cartwright. I had the absolute pleasure of reading this book before its release and once I picked it up, it was so very difficult to put down. If you are someone that likes stories written in a poetic style and feels like a fairytale, then read on for my review.

Synopsis:

How do you heal a broken house?

First you unlock its secrets.

Alone on an island, surrounded by flowers that shine as dusk begins to fall, sits an old, faded house. Rooms cannot be rented here and visits are only for those haunted by the memory of loss.

When Liddy receives an invitation, she thinks there must be some mistake - she's never experienced loss. But with her curiosity stirred, and no other way to escape a life in which she feels trapped, she decides to accept.

Once there, she meets Vivienne, a beautiful, austere woman whose glare leaves Liddy unsettled; Ben, the reserved gardener; and Raphael, the enigmatic Keymaker. If Liddy is to discover her true purpose in the house, she must find the root of their sorrow - but the house won't give up its secrets so easily . . .

The House of Sorrowing Stars is a haunting yet mesmerising read that will stick with me for a long time. Through the poetic writing style coupled with magical realism elements, this book completely transports you into a world that feels historical with an edge of fantasy. The main setting is the House of Sorrowing Stars which is a place that helps those who have experienced loss in some way. Cartwright effortlessly brings this house to life to the point we believe it is a character in its own right. This story feels like a fairytale, which works beautifully for the story that it tells. We follow Liddy as she learns about the house, the real reason why she was invited there, and how she can help with the deep-rooted sorrow that lingers in its walls as well as its occupants. Reading this book felt like the most wonderful escape.

At its core, it explores themes of grief and loss, the different ways that can manifest in each of us, and how on a human level everyone deserves the chance to heal. It takes you on a journey of emotions as you learn more about those residing in the house in particular the owner of the house Vivien and her brother Raphael. While at times I felt deep heartache and despair for these characters, the story weaves in themes of forgiveness and love and leaves your heart feeling full. I cannot wait to reread this story to pick up on further details that I may have missed in my first read.

You can check out other stops on the blog tour to find out what others thought of this book!

Many thanks to Del Rey for gifting a proof copy for review.

Where to find The House of Sorrowing Stars by Beth Cartwright:

Goodreads

Amazon UK

The Book Depository

Waterstones

Review: Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

Release Date: January 18, 2022

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon |

After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself.

The only person who hasn’t closed the door on her completely is Ledger Ward, a local bar owner and one of the few remaining links to Kenna’s daughter. But if anyone were to discover how Ledger is slowly becoming an important part of Kenna’s life, both would risk losing the trust of everyone important to them.

The two form a connection despite the pressure surrounding them, but as their romance grows, so does the risk. Kenna must find a way to absolve the mistakes of her past in order to build a future out of hope and healing. 

This book was so beautiful it was breaking me chapter by chapter. Exploring empathy, forgiveness, and impossible situations where every decision hurts someone. It's serving a whole slice of you don't know the full story to pass judgment on others. Dual POV and letters. A dangerous combination for tears. I was falling in love with Kenna through Ledger and vice-versa. Two people in impossible situations, where being together could mean losing everything they hold dear. The letters that Kenna writes Scotty are so honest and poignant AND GODDAMN IT! MY HEART WAS HURTING. I can't even put into words how much I loved this book. Just such a gem from chapter 1. From Ledger's first chapter I knew I was in danger. By the end, this man has solidified himself in my heart. What a beautiful human. His actions, his morals, his fierce protectiveness over the little girl he sees as his flesh and blood, and his empathy through the whole story makes this man a top-tier fictional husband. CoHo, thank you for breaking my heart and putting it back together in the best way. Rating  5 Falling Books

Review: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

  A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (#1) by Holly Jackson

Release Date: May 2, 2019

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository | Waterstones

The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.

But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?

Yesyesyes! This was so good. I went in with no expectations, I just wanted a murder mystery for spooky season. But omg, this book had me in its grip. Pip is completing her EPQ (extended project qualification) and she chooses to do it on a five-year-old closed murder case about a girl at her school who was killed by her boyfriend, Sal, and later killed himself... allegedly. That's right, Pip doesn't believe this is the story and makes it the subject of her EPQ to find out what exactly led up to these events, and work out if the blame had been put on the wrong person all these years. Pip works with Sal's brother Ravi to unfold the events five years ago. The writing was phenomenal and so easy to follow, even when the investigation gets more complicated with lots of potential suspects and leads. I'm not normally a mystery/thriller kind of reader but this book made it SO easy to be. Every chapter had me hooked and it was so hard to put down. I stayed up late finishing this one, which I have not done with a book in a while. The banter between Pip and Ravi was a great dynamic throughout the book and by the end these two characters felt so close to my heart. Speaking of my heart, oh boy was it pounding through the end chapters when all was finally unravelling. This book wasn't spooky like "ghost spooky", but it gave me the creeps and a vibe of "someone's always watching". A from Pretty Little Liars kind of style. I was running to the toilet in the night and back because it gave me the creeps. I just adored this book so much. I will be ranting about it for a while because it was very fun, very engaging, and a great surprise. You won't see the reveals coming!  Rating 5 Falling Books Thank you to Electric Monkey for gifting this series!

Blog Tour: When Shadows Fall by Sita Brahmachari, Illustrated by Natalie Sirett

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for When Shadows Fall by Sita Brahmachari. A beautiful and timely story that explores themes of grief, mental health, and community. This book has been 20 years in the making and is complemented by gorgeous illustrations from Natalie Sirett. A gripping and poignant read from beginning to end, and you can't help but follow the characters into the dark shadows of torment and loss. 

Kai, Orla and Zak grew up together, their days spent on the patch of wilderness in between their homes, a small green space in a sprawling grey city. Music, laughter and friendship bind them together and they have big plans for their future - until Kai’s family suffers a huge loss.

Trying to cope with his own grief, as well as watching it tear his family apart, Kai is drawn into a more dangerous crowd, until his dreams for the future are a distant memory. Excluded from school and retreating from his loved ones, it seems as though his path is set, his story foretold. Orla, Zak and classmate Om are determined to help him find his way back. But are they too late? 

Review: Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain

Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain

Release Date: September 7, 2021

Goodreads | Amazon  UK | Amazon | The Book Depository | Waterstones

Dark and Shallow Lies has impeccable spooky season vibes (but not too spooky). It's eery and dark and I quickly fell into the setting of the story. A great mystery/thriller with characters that have subtle psychic powers. It added a paranormal twist that I really enjoyed. The story is so beautifully written with descriptions that truly brought the bayou setting alive. The imagery was powerful and the pathetic fallacy throughout added to the dark atmosphere of this story. With the dark gloomy weather recently, Dark and Shallow Lies felt like the perfect autumnal read. Every time I put it down I felt drawn back to it.

There wasn't a lot of action in this book, but I was eating up the character development and slow burn of the story. I could not predict where it was going or how the story would end. It also felt like a book that you could analyse line by line. Perhaps a great book for a book club read. I didn't love the ending, but I also think I may need to re-read it to get the full impact, but I enjoyed the book overall so it gets a 4 star from me.

I am not normally drawn to books that don't have romance as a large element, but the small role that romance did play in this book felt perfect. I loved that a larger emphasis was placed on studying the characters in the small town and building the atmosphere. Whereas the romance was sprinkled lightly to add to the plot.

Dark and Shallow Lies was a unique story that was told in a way that felt different and refreshing from your average YA book. It is irresistibly immersive and you will find it just as hard as the characters to leave the small bayou town of La Cachette. If you love a mystery/thriller but want a fresh take on it then definitely check this out. 

Rating

4 Falling Books

Thank you to Electric Monkey for the review copy! 

Review: Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

Defy the Night (Defy the Night #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

Release date: September 14, 2021

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository | Waterstones

A fantasy series about a kingdom divided by corruption, the prince desperately holding it together, and the girl who will risk everything to bring it crashing down.

The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.

King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents' shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion--it's the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.

Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most--but it's still not enough.

As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King's Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it's even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first. 

When I put this book down for anything I immediately got withdrawals. The writing style and story is so gripping that you don't want to put it down.

The concept of this book was very interesting. There is an illness that is plaguing the people of Kandala, and the only thing that can keep the sickness at bay is moonflower petals. These petals are only grown in 2 sectors of the kingdom, in which the leaders of the sectors have full control over the price. The king buys as much as possible to distribute to all the sectors, but it is barely enough. I loved the idea that there is this finite resource that is being fought over and couldn't wait to learn more about what could be done about this issue. There's a lot of politics involved, which I found myself loving from the start! The worldbuilding was a perfect balance between being easy to understand but still very rich. However, I felt the plot twist and ending reveal was predictable.

The romance was very cute. I loved Tessa and Corrick but there was not much build-up, which is normally one of the best parts. Their relationship throughout the book was fun to follow and I could never get enough of them. Even though they were a bit cheesy at times.

I wanted more details on the moonflower petals. This was one of the most interesting aspects and it didn't get enough time in the limelight. Aside from the politics surrounding the moonflower supply issue, I wanted to hear more about the efficacy of the different dosages, and the differences between sectors. But I suspect this will play a bigger part in the second book, even though it could have been explored further within the 400 pages of this one. 

Overall, I did enjoy this a lot. The story made this very hard to put down! I would definitely recommend it to anyone that loves YA fantasy with lots of political intrigue. Especially anyone that liked The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni. This story has so much potential despite the predictable twists and underutilised plot lines, but the main ingredients to be the next hit fantasy series. I am super excited for the sequel because I think it's going to be explosive. There are so many storylines and open ends that I cannot wait to be explored.

Rating

4 Falling Books
Thank you Bloomsbury for sending a proof copy!

TikTok Tour: Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

Hey there!

This week Margaret Rogerson's new YA fantasy was released into the wild! Many of you may be familiar with this author from her very popular YA standalone Sorcery of Thorns and Enchantment of Ravens. Vespertine is the first book in a YA fantasy series about nuns in training that fight malevolent spirits. Think Supernatural with badass nuns. When our main character's convent is attacked, she awakens an ancient spirit in order to wield its power. However, this spirit also wants to possess her. 

@samfallingbooks

supernatural but make it badass nuns ##VespertineTikTokTour ##simonandschusteruk ##booktok ##foryou ##fantasy

♬ Repeat Until Death - Novo Amor

Tik tok tour for this book! If you want to check out some of the other content that has been posted for the book you can check out the hashtag #VespertineTikTokTour on Tiktok. 

I'm half-way through the book at the moment but I am immensely enjoying it. The main character is giving me Celaena vibes from Throne of Glass and I feel like I'm being surprised around every corner. i cannot wait to see how the rest of the book pans out. Massive thank you to Simon and Schuster for the review copy.

You can find links to check out this book below.

Goodreads

Amazon UK

The Book Depository

Waterstones

Exploring the Inspiration Behind The Ash House with Angharad Walker - Blog Tour

Happy book birthday to The Ash House by Angharad Walker! Today is it's official UK release.

Welcome to the first stop on the blog tour for The Ash House, a chill-you-to-the-bone children's story that will leave you feeling breathless as well as unsettled. You can find out more about the book below. 

When Eleven-year-old Sol arrives at the Ash House, desperate for a cure for his complex pain syndrome, he finds a community of strange children long abandoned by their mysterious Headmaster.

The children at the Ash House want the new boy to love their home as much as they do. They give him a name like theirs. They show him the dorms and tell him about the wonderful oasis that the Headmaster has created for them. But the new boy already has a name. Doesn't he? At least he did before he walked through those gates...

This was supposed to be a healing refuge for children like him. Something between a school and a summer camp. With kids like him. With pain like his. But no one is allowed to get sick at the Ash House. NO ONE.

And then The Doctor arrives...

Strange things are about to happen at the mysterious Ash House. And the longer Sol spends on the mysterious grounds, the more he begins to forget who he is, the more the other children begin to distrust him, and the worse his pain becomes. But can he hold onto reality long enough to find an escape? And better yet, can he convince the others.

I was lucky enough to read a proof of this book before the release. The story plays on magical realism and brings The Ash House to life in a way that will keep you thinking perhaps you're reading something paranormal. Everything about this book felt so vivid and you are quickly drawn into this world where everything seems to make sense to everyone but the main character and us, the reader. Over the course of the book, we learn more and more about the Ash House and the secrets that lie deep within it. The tension by the end of the book was palpable and I had no idea what to expect. I experienced so many emotions while reading and even having finished it my mind can't seem to fully comprehend the wild ride that is this story. It is absolutely unforgettable and terrifying in the best way. If you are someone that enjoys having their boundaries of reality pushed to the edge, this is the book for you.

I am twenty-two years old, and there were parts of this book where I was so spooked out, I was sure the scenes would play out in my nightmares. However, I have a low tolerance for spooky things, and I know many readers will love how chilling this book is.

(Me while reading)

Anyway, enough from me! The lovely Angharad Walker has put together the inspirations behind The Ash House that gives you such a great insight into the makeup of this story.

Hi Falling Books readers! It’s the first stop of The Ash House blog tour and I’d like to say a

special thanks to Sam for having me on Falling Books to celebrate its publication.

The Ash House is about a boy who is looking for a cure to a mysterious illness he has. He

arrives there hopeful, only to find a house made of ash ad smoke. A group of children like

there, living by the strict rules of Nicenesses set by their Headmaster. Only they haven’t seen

him in three long years…

Sam’s asked me to write about the ideas and inspirations behind the book, so here’s a little

peak into the (chaotic) mind of this writer…

The initial idea

Everyone always wants to know where the first spark of a story comes from. I hate to

disappoint, but I don’t have a particularly satisfactory origin story for this book. I honestly

can’t remember if the Ash House came to me in a daydream or a nightmare. I was still a

student at university. I was studying in California for the year. I loved it there, but I missed

the seasons of the UK, particularly autumn–the grey skies, fine rain, turning leaves. Perhaps

the Ash House came out of that craving. All I know if one day it was there in my head: a

house made of ash and smoke, deep in the countryside, surrounded by gnarled, ancient

woodland. I knew I wanted to write about it.

Thinking up characters

It’s funny because characters can feel like people all their own, even though you created

them. I knew I wanted to write a story about friendship. To guide the reader through the

world of the Ash House I needed a lead character who was an outsider, and another who was

the ultimate insider. That’s Sol and Dom, the two boys at the heart of the story. They both

need what the other has. Sol needs something to believe in. He needs to shed his cynical

shell. Whereas Dom needs to face up to the harsh realities of the Ash House—it’s not the

perfect world he thinks it is.

Perfecting a plot

I worked really hard on the plot. It’s not something that comes naturally to me. I actually

quite like books that meander and give the characters lots of time to have random

conversations. But I appreciate I’m in the minority of that! So to figure out the right plot for

my world and characters, I tried to think about what type of story it is at its heart. That’s

when I realised: it’s a prison break story. Prison break stories all have certain features that

make them gripping to read or watch—a reason they must escape, a ticking clock to give a

sense of urgency, some failed escape attempts with the stakes rising with each failure. When I

slotted my ideas to this structure, that’s when the book really came alive. 

You can find links to purchase The Ash House by Angharad Walker below. Including the signed edition offered by Waterstones!

Waterstones (signed exclusive)

Waterstones (regular edition)

Amazon UK

The Book Depository

Forbidden Planet