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Falling From Grace (Grace #1)

by S.L. Naeole (Goodreads Author)

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 · rating details · 2,320 ratings · 194 reviews

When you wake up in the morning and your eyes take in the first hints of light that shine through your window, the dust motes catching and reflecting the sun’s rays like little diamonds, the shimmering hues of yellow and orangey gold breaking through into your room, the first thing you think about usually isn’t how you’re going to make it through the worst day of your life...more

Kindle Edition, 474 pages

Published January 10th 2010 by Crystal Quill Publishing (first published November 9th 2009)

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YA Angels

20th out of 235 books — 1,110 voters

Fables of the Reconstruction by Hunter S. Jones

Indie Books - Paranormal Fiction

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Nov 18, 2010 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have to say that after I read Twilight I didn't think it was possible to fall in love with any other story or YA Book...until I read this book and the two other from this series (Bird Song & Black Halo).
One night I was looking for a good read and or entertaining book, so, I saw this one as a recommendation for eReader...so I figured I had nothing to lose, and I downloaded it to my Kindle for iPad; and in the first couple of paragraphs the author had me and I was drawn into this book immed...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Carolina rated it 1 of 5 stars

Grace was so boring! The plot was so boring, the story was so boring!
And come on, things like this wouldn't happen even if angels and all that stuff did exist! When you read a book like this (paranormal, urban-fantasy, whatever) you have to think: if angels/vampires, etc were real could this happen? In this case: NO!
Grace is considered a freak by all the school, she doesn't care about her image and (I can't believe this, but here it goes) a hot guy falls in love for her! Yeah, I know, UNBELIEVA...more

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Dec 05, 2011 Emma rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: insta-love, ugh, not-for-me

So I cant tell you how excited i was to read this one. It had stellar reviews. At the time I ordered it, the average goodreads rating was something along the lines of 4.5 or more. Hell, with reviews like that this book couldnt possibly be a bad read. Right?

Unfortunately i was wrong. very very wrong. I hate writing less than stellar reviews but I think people should be warned before buying: this is not a 4 star book. I just wish someone had of warned me beforehand. But no, i bought it.

So.. reaso...more

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Jan 31, 2011 Giselle rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: did-not-finish, paranormal

I started this book and saw all the great reviews so I figured it would be, well, great, but I found myself very bored. I was about 50% in when I started getting bored and waiting for something, anything, to happen. at about 70% with still nothing, I started speed reading just to get it done with. when I had about 90 pages left I just put it away. The story had great potential, and (I asked a friend what happened at the very end) if the last 90 pages had happened much much sooner it may have kep...more I started this book and saw all the great reviews so I figured it would be, well, great, but I found myself very bored. I was about 50% in when I started getting bored and waiting for something, anything, to happen. at about 70% with still nothing, I started speed reading just to get it done with. when I had about 90 pages left I just put it away. The story had great potential, and (I asked a friend what happened at the very end) if the last 90 pages had happened much much sooner it may have kept my interest.

I felt like Grace and Robert's relationship was odd. I never quite understood why he was so drawn to her. Ok she was different, so? He bumps into her and falls in love? That was it, no build-up, no anticipation. The relationship also lacked chemistry and I often felt confused about why Robert would act a certain way (he'd get pissed about something unknown to the reader and just leave). The story also lacked mystery. We found out right away what he was, what powers he had, what their stories were, I wasn't drawn to keep reading to find out anything. But then you have a bunch of unnecessary descriptions that had nothing to do with the story and just made me feel like I just read a few pages of nothing.

The characters were not really described well or had any depth. I wasn't able to put myself in Grace's shoes or feel what she was feeling. So that was a disappointment. I found it a bit unrealistic that the school freak would be the best friend of the most popular guy in school. I was waiting to find out why Stacy was all of a sudden Grace's best friend - no explanation. Then we have Lark that's described as being very beautiful, but when I pictured her she always had these creepy white blind eyes - ick!

Another thing that I just have to point out and that made me knock a star out, is the amount of errors (typos, missing words etc) that I found in the book. There was one every 3-4 pages. It annoyed me.

I know some people liked this book so you can always give it a chance and form your own opinion. (less)

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Sep 30, 2012 Robin added it

I was really excited to read this book. I'd been waiting for it anxiously. I'd heard so many good reviews. It has 4.4 stars here. Well, I kept reading it, certain that eventually I would be captivated, pulled in to the novel and wouldn't be able to put it down. I never felt that. Instead, I read stream of conscious after stream of concsious. Yes, Grace is different, yes, her life is hard, but really, the real reason Robert was so drawn to her? I still don't understand it. Also, there wasn't enou...more

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Jan 13, 2011 Faye rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: readers drwan to angel characters

Shelves: read-in-2011, angels-or-fallen-angels-characters, young-adult, favorites, first-in-series

So, at the first part of the book, I begun to get bored because I thought that my judgment that this book would rock, seemed to be wrong (what with all the sad story of the pathetic girl who had her heart broken by her best friend turned jock who happened to be dating the pretty and popular but bitchy girl in their school).

Up until then, I was seriously contemplating if I would continue reading this book since it’s somewhat long and I really just jiggle reading in the very little time left I had...more So, at the first part of the book, I begun to get bored because I thought that my judgment that this book would rock, seemed to be wrong (what with all the sad story of the pathetic girl who had her heart broken by her best friend turned jock who happened to be dating the pretty and popular but bitchy girl in their school).

Up until then, I was seriously contemplating if I would continue reading this book since it’s somewhat long and I really just jiggle reading in the very little time left I had aside from school works and stuff, but thankfully I did.

I have read quite a few books about angels and fallen angels like the Blue Bloods series and the Mortal Instrument series to name I few so I think that I’m (quite) qualified to give praise to this book. When Robert came to the picture, everything became better, and it reminded me of Meyer’s Twilight when Bella seems to be the lonely teenager who found company with Edward, and that’s when I decided to give this book another try. Like I said, it somehow had its resemblance to the world-known vampire series of Meyer’s that give vampires a different view from readers and movie-buffs alike because for me, this book also set my standards on a higher level on books starring angels.

I liked the book not because Robert was hot with his mercury-colored eyes or not because he seems so understanding (not at all. Hahaha), but because it shows a strong heroine, Grace who seems to belittle and criticize herself at the first chapters of the book, she was the motherless girl who will have a new stepmother because her dad wants to marry his girlfriend who is pregnant with her brother, everyone in their school calls her freak because of her surviving the accident that killed her mom, adding the fact that her only friend, Graham (the one she confessed her love to), happened to be not-a-very-good-friend because he babbled things about her in her back to the bitchy girl he was dating. In those tough times, Robert entered the picture and he did seem like the angel he was because he brought Grace to see herself on a different, much-more-confident perspective. I also liked, no love, the book because it has constant twists that were difficult to guess, like when Robert had his wings, when Sam tried to lull Grace and when Grace found out who Robert really is (what kind of angel he is).

To every readers who are drawn to angels (good and bad alike), I highly recommend this book as I’m sure that it will meet your expectations.
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Jan 26, 2012 Katinki rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: just-no, angel-books, made-me-throw-my-kindle

1.5 Stars.

This review might as well be for the entire series. There are like 4 books. I read most of the 1st one, and for reasons I'll go into below, I committed a cardinal sin in reading: I flipped through books 2 and 3, skimmed every now and then, and skipped to read the last half of the last book (#4). I did this to see if it was worth my time actually reading the books in between (2 and 3). Answer? No.

What I liked?
- There was a lot of good angst in the first part of the book. Grace's situ...more 1.5 Stars.

This review might as well be for the entire series. There are like 4 books. I read most of the 1st one, and for reasons I'll go into below, I committed a cardinal sin in reading: I flipped through books 2 and 3, skimmed every now and then, and skipped to read the last half of the last book (#4). I did this to see if it was worth my time actually reading the books in between (2 and 3). Answer? No.

What I liked?
- There was a lot of good angst in the first part of the book. Grace's situation was kind of heartbreaking and I really just... felt for her. As sick as it sounds, I sort of enjoyed reading it. Call it catharsis maybe. I enjoyed feeling the depth of emotion, compassion, sympathy, etc that I felt for Grace.
- Robert was okay. I went back and forth with him. Sometimes he was truly lovely.

What I didn't like?
- In the same breath, I kind of "got over" Grace's heartache by about mid-way in the first book. I wanted to shake her a little. It became a lot like a broken record. And I wanted to understand what exactly made her so damned "freakish"... cause I didn't see any freak in her TBH.
- The whole relationship with Robert just didn't work for me. He was TOO nice, TOO caring, TOO... everything. I didn't buy his sudden appearance and draw to Grace. He kept saying she was different... lalala, but meh. I never really accepted their connection... just no believable chemistry. Sure, I read it in black and white, but the whole time I was scratching my head going BUT WHY?!?!?!?
- I also got *really* tired of Robert constantly being the one to save Grace - mentally, physically, etc.
- The "villains" in Grace's HS were meh and their behavior came across as just another forced angst device.
- Grace was a weak protag in general. I know that by the end of the last book she wasn't weak per se, at least not in terms of what she was - she was, in fact, the heroine. But emotionally, mentally, etc, she just came across as another weak damsel in distress that needed Mr. Mary Sue Perfect to be her salvation and in the end magically "found herself" and saved the planet. Yeah, been there, done that. Give me a better female lead, please.
- The plot over-reached. I think the author was trying to do too much and incorporate too many plot elements into this story. The result was a an incohesive world with LOTS of holes. Parts were okay, but overall, just didn't come together in the way I'd have liked.
- The cliche epilogue. Because everyone needs a baby make the world right. *eye roll*
- The sex scenes. Ugh. Really, I think it's just better to fade to black in YA in general. I'm not saying that if you can't / aren't allowed by the genre to write "smut" don't do it... but fade to black is, IMO, far better than sappy, overly emotional "talking around" the action scenes.
- Too many Twilight parallels. And executed poorly. I LIKE Twilight, so it's not that. The similarities were glaring and just didn't work at all.

All in all, weakest "angel" book/series I've picked up. Suggest skipping this one. (less)

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Feb 17, 2011 Kiki rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Grace and Robert is such a beautiful couple! Robert--what a breathtaking angel he is. S. L. Naeole's lyrical prose will leave you wanting more, and thank goodness for that, as Bird Song and Black Halo are already out. I do not think I could contain the excitement as I get ready to plunge into book two of the Grace series.

S. L. Naeole's unique and captivating twist on angels and everything in-between is refreshing and innovative. Trust me, I have read many angel series before this one, and all I...more

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Jul 12, 2010 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Definitely an enjoyable read - a sweet story...

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May 24, 2012 Cat *living for the One who breaths life into me* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: classics, to-read-again-and-again, paranormal-romance, angels, super-good, young-adult

this book is good, what can i say?
the charecters are well devolped and interesting. Grace is definalty NOT a Mary Sue because of the problems she faces. Erica HATES her and her life is one big mess because the one person she thought that she could count on left her for someone on the 'in crowed'. it is totoally realtible in my opioin. though some people may say that Grace is a bit whiney she cant NOT be whiney if she is human for what she goes though, the fact that she whines a little makes her...more this book is good, what can i say?
the charecters are well devolped and interesting. Grace is definalty NOT a Mary Sue because of the problems she faces. Erica HATES her and her life is one big mess because the one person she thought that she could count on left her for someone on the 'in crowed'. it is totoally realtible in my opioin. though some people may say that Grace is a bit whiney she cant NOT be whiney if she is human for what she goes though, the fact that she whines a little makes her easier to realte to. and she is down to earth.

Robert was a very . . . odd charecter but i loved him. he was always there for Grace when she needed him.

i am a tough critic when it comes to books so this says a lot when i say that i loved ths book so much. it is definalty one of my favorite books.

the plot . . . well all i will say is that those who liked a very 'defined' plot will HATE this book. the plot isn't as obvious as it is in some books, it is more like there are a bunch of mini plots througout the book, and i wouldn't say ANYONE would love it because of that. the book has a very different set up for paranormal romance because of that and also due to that fact it will face some 'challenging' ciritcs.

but i love that fact that it wasnt ONE plot. it was many. the book turns in differnet directions throughout the book and it is the type of book that is like 'you never really know what is going to happen next'.

the romance isnt dry like in a book such as Evermore or Firelight but it has a lot of depth. the book isnt writen from like an 8th grade level which is good for readers who are sick of poor writing like Vampire Diaries (the plot in those books was good it is just the books themselves were writen from a 4th grade reading level.

there are no inaproprete sences in this book like there are in many books today which i loved.
the book has charecter and at times is quiet humorus. i loved how they both could read eachothers minds and talk in there heads.

the idea for the book, though angels have been done before because of the way it is writen and the way the charecters are writen makes this book GREAT! i wasnt bored a minute
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Nov 16, 2010 Vicky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, ya, fodder, series

Ok I know that I've read that GR's ppl are saying that this has no similarities to the much beloved Twilight series but ...Really!! Ok it's like the author took many aspects of that series and put a different spin on it and for some moments took other annoyin aspects of Twilight like Bella's inabiliy to defend herself and her ability to annoy u were her inability to not be able to escape the hot bf's charms. Also she made the friend a friend and quickly settled that triangle (at least for this b...more

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Dec 02, 2010 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Grace Shelley is an outcast. Having lost her mother to a car crash as a child, one she managed to escape without a single scratch, made her an oddity to her peers and neighbors. Through this she’s always had her best friend Graham Hasselbeck at her side. Graham who is handsome and popular and who would defend her against their cruelty.

But Grace committed the ultimate friendship “no no” and revealed her hidden love for Graham. Right before the beginning of senior year. Now she’s left to face her...more Grace Shelley is an outcast. Having lost her mother to a car crash as a child, one she managed to escape without a single scratch, made her an oddity to her peers and neighbors. Through this she’s always had her best friend Graham Hasselbeck at her side. Graham who is handsome and popular and who would defend her against their cruelty.

But Grace committed the ultimate friendship “no no” and revealed her hidden love for Graham. Right before the beginning of senior year. Now she’s left to face her final year of high school completely and utterly friendless. That is until she meets Robert.

Robert is immediately drawn to Grace. He notices something in her that no one else has before. Something that allows her to let down her defenses not only with him but with her family and with a new friend. Something no one else has ever been able to do. No human anyway.

Robert is an angel. While his friendship is all that is saving Grace, his beauty not only begets jealousy but also danger. Befriending an angel may be more than Grace ever bargained for. And falling in love with one could cost her her life.

Falling from Grace was simply wonderful. A suggested read by Amazon due to the genre of books typically purchased, it was such a surprise to find a self-published book that hit all the notes, and then some, of the fully vetted and marketed novels being published.

Grace is such a sympathetic character – a young girl grieving the loss of her mother, the loss of a best friend, her father’s new relationship and being a misfit in school and in life. And the author has created a friendship, and more, between her two main characters that is tender and heartwarming and devastating and heartbreaking. This angel-themed story has definitely creative and distinct ideas and a storyline that is intelligent and magical.

While Falling from Grace and the next books in the series, Bird Song and Black Halo, are not short in length, they are all very quick reads with each book getting just a little bit darker and more tragic as the story of Grace and Robert continues, culminating in Black Halo with an absolutely heart-rending scene.(less)

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Nov 12, 2010 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was an amazing read. It made me think about all the stuff people take for granted and the way we treat others without really thinking about it. I look up to grace and only wish i had it in me to be as brave as her.

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Nov 13, 2012 Heralis rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: annoying, disappointment, a-totaly-waste-of-my-time

why? do I have done something to S.L. Naeole? I seriusly don't think so, but still I bother reading this stupid book! realy people there are good book out there somewhere. go to find them and don't lose your time whit falling from grace it's simply not worth it...

falling from grace..... well was pretty annoying, I meant grace is boring and she complains a lot! she is in this way throughout the book: "My life is a mess and everything is wrong buah so I can only mourn" simply pathetic, that is, no...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Before anything I would like to say that I like the storyline. I liked the idea of the angels and them not being perfect, because that is actually my opinion. I liked the idea of Robert not being what he thought he was... I mean, his call was the opisite of what his mother told him, but still, he stood up and, in a way, accepted.

What I didn't like, and the reason I gave this book 3 stars is because:
- 1º: this book is to big and I got bored in the biginning. There only was a development in the m...more

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May 31, 2012 Melanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked the start of this book much more than the middle and ending. The author's writing style was decent from the start (as opposed to so many other YA authors whose style is so overt and obvious that I can't keep reading the book - like the Tiger Curse series) and the storyline was unique, if you can get over that it seems faintly Twilight-esque. The things that ended up bothering me were that again, in so many YA books, the heroine had no self-confidence and kept bemoaning the fact that she...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Betty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oh, wow! I really got into this book something crazy. I didn't know the book was so long, but when it was over, I had to know the rest of the story and immediately started on books 2 & 3. I love the writing, imagery, and the feel of Grace's world. Every time I had to stop reading (to go to work, cook, spend time with husband), I couldn't wait to get back into the story. I hated having to do anything else while I absorbed everything about this series. I love Robert. I got used to the mind rea...more

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Dec 20, 2010 Rbjmarie1224 rated it 1 of 5 stars

Umm what can I say about this...utter disappointment. I couldn't even get through the first couple of chapters because what I was reading was neither believable nor executed in a way that readers could relate. I feel like some elementary school kid was writing this and pretending to be a teenager which would be understandable with how two-dimensional and pathetic some of the characters were. I could certainly buy it if some child were playing make-believe with the woes of a teenaged soul but an...more

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Nov 25, 2010 Simone rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 10, 2010 Jasmine Cardenas rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone, people who want more ethnic diversity in their books, people who'll actually read the book

Shelves: chicks-who-don-t-need-saving

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I read a review on Amazon about this book and I had to shake my head because it sounded like the reviewer didn't even read the book. I wanted to make a few corrections because some of the things said were wrong.

1. The person said that teenagers don't talk the way they do in the book. I'm 16. I talk like that and my friends talk like that ALOT.

2. The person said they rolled their eyes alot at what happens in the book. The things that Grace does in the books are what lots of kids do. We are young...more I read a review on Amazon about this book and I had to shake my head because it sounded like the reviewer didn't even read the book. I wanted to make a few corrections because some of the things said were wrong.

1. The person said that teenagers don't talk the way they do in the book. I'm 16. I talk like that and my friends talk like that ALOT.

2. The person said they rolled their eyes alot at what happens in the book. The things that Grace does in the books are what lots of kids do. We are young and we aren't adults so of course the things we do aren't going to make sense. Why get upset because a teenager is acting like a teenager in a book?

3. The person said that the favorite saying of Grace "oh dear bananas" is stupid. My BFFS and I say "lovescoobie" all the time. Are we stupid? Or are we being teenagers? Just like I said in my 1st correction, teenagers talk like that ALOT. She acts like an expert on how we talk but she proves that she's wrong when she criticizes Grace's saying.

4. The person said that the characters laughed at things that weren't funny. They weren't funny to her maybe but they were to me and my friends and more importantly they were to the characters. Once again we go back to correction 1.

5. The person said she didn't understand why they talked about the things they did or felt the way they did. The story is about a teenage girl who is feeling all kinds of new emotions for the first time with an angel who is doing the same. They are confused by their emotions and they are addicted to it at the same time. Anyone who has ever fallen in love for the first time knows what that feels like. Anyone who has ever fallen in love at sixteen or seventeen knows that it's even crazier.

6. The person said they didn't understand how surviving a car crash when their mother died, or dressing differently can cause other people to treat you poorly. Obviously this person hasn't been to a public high school. Grace wears 2nd hand clothes to a school where everyone is wearing the latest trends. She's half-white half-korean girl in a town that's pretty much all white except for one other family. Her mother died in a freak accident and she was found on the road completely unharmed. If you think that a kid's going to have all of that going on and be treated like she's normal, you're an idiot.

Falling From Grace isn't a regular YA book and I think the reviewer was too busy trying to find flaws with it to actually read it.

Grace isn't normal. She says she's different from the very beginning and everyone else does too and that's important because we get to see that different isn't bad. RObert tells her she is different in a good way. Her friends do too. She embraces her difference when she makes a very important decision at the end of this book. To the reviewer who thinks she's normal, you prove you didn't read the ending.

I put this book on my chicks-who-don't-need-saving shelf because in the end, she saves herself and she proves that she's the kind of character more YA books meant for girls like me need to have.(less)

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Aug 08, 2010 Grace Yoshinaga rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who likes young adult novels and those who don't.

I hate young adult novels. I hate them with a passion.

But a friend whose reading tastes I trust, and whose likes and dislikes run parallel to mine, suggested that I read this book. She lent it to me on my nook without telling me that this was a book in the young adult genre. The intro is a snippet from a poem by EAP, one of the greatest poets and short story writers in America's history, and I became intrigued.

I was done with the book before I realized what I had read, and the realization that I...more

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Apr 21, 2011 Kara rated it 4 of 5 stars

MELODRAMATIC! SAPPY! MELODRAMATIC AGAIN!!! OMG, SUPER SAPPY!!!

Seriously people, I can’t decide what this book has more of: gut-wrenching, end-of-the-world, oh my god melodramatic scenes or syrupy-sweet, stifle-an-eye roll/giggle sappy scenes. It is intensely both of these things. Sometimes even simultaneously! Not that melodrama and sap are necessarily bad things… just be warned.

I think it is pretty obvious from these reviews that there is not much middle ground on this book. You are either goi...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Stormy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-paranormal

***spoilers***

I felt bad for Grace to have to experience all that abuse from her peers. Grace the Freak. Hmmm...how original. Her best friend, leaves her for her biggest enemy. After, of course, she tells him she loves him for the first time. Does it hurt you more to hold in your feelings for someone and never know if they feel the same or what could be...Or does it hurt more to tell them how you feel and have them not only reject you but throw you out of your life to? I would say the latter. I...more ***spoilers***

I felt bad for Grace to have to experience all that abuse from her peers. Grace the Freak. Hmmm...how original. Her best friend, leaves her for her biggest enemy. After, of course, she tells him she loves him for the first time. Does it hurt you more to hold in your feelings for someone and never know if they feel the same or what could be...Or does it hurt more to tell them how you feel and have them not only reject you but throw you out of your life to? I would say the latter. I admire Grace for her strength. yes, she pouted, moped, and threw her own lonely pity party holed up in her bed but she did it with the same amount of angst any teen would and got up for the first day of school which i don't think i would have been able to accomplish knowing the whole school knew of the encounter where she was thrown away like trash by her best friend for a bitchy barbie.

God, i just hate Erica. And i still don't understand Roberts "dates" with her. Like there wasn't any other resourceful brain around to pick than Grace's enemy...I mean he would have probably gotten more information from a dude, you know, someone who wasn't constantly thinking about how hot he is and how much they want him. And why couldn't he just pick her brain from afar since he HAD to pick HERS? Why did it HAVE to be a date?

I liked the fact that Stacy could put Graham out without laying a finger on him. He deserved it for all he put Grace through and I'm still questioning him because i don't see how he could just sit there when Grace had chilly dumped on her and not even blink her way or smack his snotty girlfriend. But i guess in the end he's okay...

I think it was completely unexpected that Stacy's family were the ones to find Grace the night of the accident and I'm just wondering if Stacy knows this. It's cool that Stacy's long ago illness brought Lark's emotions to light. I never thought i would see that from her.

The liquid to crystal angel tears? that's what they are right? liquid to crystal? pretty unique.

All together...i enjoyed it. Still confused about a few things. i don't know if its because i didn't read thoroughly enough, if i just didn't comprehend, or if it wasn't there.

about to move on to the next book.

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Dec 28, 2011 Jaime Arkin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, series, paranormal, angels, ebook-format

I enjoyed this book... I liked the premise of it. The characters are likable and the story itself was interesting.

For some reason the second half of the book seemed to drag a bit for me, and I would probably give it 3.5 - 3.75 stars. For that reason, but I didn't want to take anything away from the story itself which I liked.

I'm looking forward to the next on the series to see what the author does with the characters here.

Grace isn't your typical main character, the beginning of this book broke...more

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Dec 19, 2010 theDCdarling rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really wanted to like this book! I finished it in about two days and then waited a third to put my thoughts on paper in order to really think about how I felt about the book as a whole (I have to give Naeole a lot of credited for creating a book that makes me really have to think about it!). I loved the story and a lot of the themes that started to emerge through it (the author clearly has some interesting points of views about a lot of things, some of them I agree with and others I just simpl...more I really wanted to like this book! I finished it in about two days and then waited a third to put my thoughts on paper in order to really think about how I felt about the book as a whole (I have to give Naeole a lot of credited for creating a book that makes me really have to think about it!). I loved the story and a lot of the themes that started to emerge through it (the author clearly has some interesting points of views about a lot of things, some of them I agree with and others I just simply do not) ... there was something beautiful in the relationship between Grace and Robert; there was something strong in Grace's friendships with Lark and Stacy; there was something endearing and hopeful in Grace's mended friendship with Graham. But despite all of this, there just ended up being a huge gaping hole at the end of the book that simply couldn't be filled with all of the great qualities that came before it.

When it really comes down to it, there are two things that ultimately gave me a negative impression of the book which led me to rate the book one less star for each. The least offensive was Grace's decision at the end of the book ... her "refusal" of Robert. It just didn't fit! In her reasoning to him she states that she would essential be an unreamrkable being in his rather remarkable world. I would beleive that if it weren't for the fact that there were two very monumental instances that left her nothing but remarkable.

It's clear from the beginning of the book that Grace is different. She makes it clear in the many times that she calls herself "Grace the Freak" and Robert makes it clear in all of the times he tries to convince her that she is special because she is very, very different (it's all in the point of view, I guess), but in the end she only proves to be more like everyone in her refusal to accept anything but "normal" for her life; in her fickle nature toward Robert; and in her refusal of Robert's offer. She's selfish and foolish and in that moment she has shattered the image created of her throughout the rest of the book. Up untl this moment, it was easy to see the strength and the beauty in her that Robert saw and it was easy to appreciate and accept her eccentricities. Even more important, it was easy to understand how she could be Roberts salvation and he hers. Perhaps more light will be shed on this decision in later books in the series, if so, then I think the decision to include in the first book is a bit premature. But we'll see.

Secondly, there was the idea of editing ... the author, in my opinion, needed to take some more time and do a lot of it! Not only did she need to edit for the multitude of grammatical mistakes that were littered all throughout the 470 page mammoth of a book, but she also needed to edit for content. Too many authors ruin perfectly good stories by overworking them and adding too much "flourish". It's a lack of confidence! Naeole's writing is beautiful enough that she doesn't need to suffocate the greatness of words with nonsense. Honestly, it really wasn't important to spend 5 pages describing all of the homework assignments that Grace had when she was away from school for two weeks.

Despite my feelings about this book, I'll keep reading on. Hopefully what was lacking in this book will either be explained or redeemed later in the series.(less)

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Dec 14, 2010 Aik Chien 인첸 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Falling From Grace is the first book in the Grace Series by S.L. Naeole. This book mainly circles around a Korean-American girl called Grace Shelly, who is better known as Grace The Freak among her schoolmates. She is described to be plain-looking, not having enough confidence in herself, and taciturn in nature. She has a best friend, her only friend, in fact - that is her neighbour Graham. She seems like a pathetic creatures who lives in her own misery, not willing to mix with others for fear o...more Falling From Grace is the first book in the Grace Series by S.L. Naeole. This book mainly circles around a Korean-American girl called Grace Shelly, who is better known as Grace The Freak among her schoolmates. She is described to be plain-looking, not having enough confidence in herself, and taciturn in nature. She has a best friend, her only friend, in fact - that is her neighbour Graham. She seems like a pathetic creatures who lives in her own misery, not willing to mix with others for fear of being despised and shunned.

When she confesses her love - or what she thought is love - to her best friend Graham, he heartlessly rejects her, causing her to once again fall into her own pit of despair. And that's when she meets (accidentally bumps into) a gorgeous, handsome stranger called Robert N'Uriel Bellegarde at school. That proves to be the turning point in her miserable, messed-up life.

This book is quite entertaining in the sense that it has much to offer - whether it's the storyline or themes. But I felt that some parts of the story are too long and can actually be omitted without effecting the whole thing. The author seems to write in detail about Grace's every move, and I think this is a little unnecessary. However, the story itself is well-written and has quite a few ups and downs that makes readers feel like they are on a roller coaster ride - which is a score for this book.

The lines in this story are smooth and flowing, and this proves that the author has a prowess in writing. She doesn't use arduous prose and ornate language in the book, though I did observe some decorative descriptions which are essential in giving readers an accurate and precise image of the scenes. There are no obvious typos - but I still observed a scintilla in the form of quotation marks.

Grace's character is easy-to-relate to, but I was let down by how she thinks lowly of herself, seemingly agreeing to her schoolmates' reference to her as a freak and her refusal to acknowledge the presence of those who truly want to befriend her. By this I meant her friend, Stacy, who is also of mixed parentage.

Robert is the special person who appears when Grace is in her worst moment and continues to play an important role in her life. Robert is an angel who has lived for a very long time. Although I cannot explain nor fathom why would he come to high school when he has probably gone to high school centuries ago and the current learning standards would seem like baby-talk, I know that it's indispensable to keep the story moving. Robert is charming and physically attractive, but he only pays attention to Grace, who is different from the other girls.

The moments when Robert and Grace are together are cute and romantic, even though they seem awkward and embarrassed at times. The climax of this book is quite unexpected, and the strength of Grace's love for Robert really amazes me. OK, I'll admit it, this book is long, but it's really worth reading! Thanks, Sharon, for writing such a great book! I'm sure fans of Twilight and Hush, Hush will find this book enjoyable and interesting.(less)

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Feb 26, 2011 Sun (the one that glows in the dark, of course) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: wow, angels

Much as I would like to say I love the book, I can't. Not that I hate or despise it, Falling From Grace simply bore too much similarities to Twilight. I wouldn't want to sound like a hater here, but Grace was almost like Bella in her way of thinking, so obsessed with the beauty of their man and they inhale too much of their guy's breath. And after the umpteenth time Grace explained her make out with Robert, I get the feeling when I read Bella explaining Edward's perfection, "Yeah, yeah, I get it...more

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Oct 21, 2010 Bexs ~Fallen Arrow lover~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'll start by saying that this is one of the best books I've ever read.
It's beautifully written, everything is described really well and I often found myself in Grace's shoes. I love how at the beginning of the book Grace's life is described, it really sucked me in, knowing so much about her in just a few pages, making me want to read more.
The characters are really well built, and I love how Grace became stronger, more trusting in her own beauty and intelligence. One of the characters I liked th...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Kandice Dover rated it 3 of 5 stars

In all honesty I can't decide if I want to give this book three stars or four. I'll admit I had a little bit of a hard time staying focused at certain parts of this book, but I did like it. It was a good book, it really was, but I just can't decide if this book is worthy of four stars. And unfortunately this book wasn't one I couldn't put down. I was really hoping it was. And jesus fucking christ was this book long.

And I really can't decide if I like Grace or not. Half the time she was okay and...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Carrie Kaut rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, angels

Let's start with the bad
1. OMG those grammar errors got on my nerves! And I suck at grammar! And I noticed them! That's saying something

2. Grace...kind of a whiner whoa is meeee boo hoo we've all dealt with bullying and people basically threatening to kick our asses you need to knock off the victim act and start standing up for yourself

3. Robert your a dream guy I admit that but stop being such a girl and getting your undies in a bunch its a new world in this one guys and girls can be friends wi...more

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About S.L. Naeole

S.L. Naeole has always loved the smell of books, the feel of books, and the destination that a book is guaranteed to take you. She knew from an early age that she was meant to write, to create those very same books she loved so much and vowed that one day, she would.

Now, after getting married and starting a family, she has finally made her dream come true. As the author of Falling From Grace, she'...more

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“Sometimes the things we dream about are merely the heart's way of protecting us from what we really want, and what we're really afraid to lose.” — 47 people liked it

“Robert, I’m sorry that you feel so strange, but I’m not sorry that you’re feeling it because of me,” I whispered, my heart feeling a familiar twinge as I continued, “but even if you hadn’t felt it, it would not change the way I feel about you.” — 25 people liked it

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