Danielle read and liked Michelle's review of Falling Under:

"Great book. Stark, beautiful prose and a gritty portrayal of a woman who is a bit of a disaster. The author does a great job of making characters likable who might otherwise not be. And she is expert at weaving the protagonist's back story. I think t...more Great book. Stark, beautiful prose and a gritty portrayal of a woman who is a bit of a disaster. The author does a great job of making characters likable who might otherwise not be. And she is expert at weaving the protagonist's back story. I think that's what made the book; understanding where the character came from versus just where she's going. Highly recommended. (less) "

Danielle read and liked Rachel's review of Falling Under:

"Very well developed characters here. You really get to know Mara, her divorced and flawed parents, her lesbian best friend Bernadette, and the four main lovers in her life. First there is Caleb, the 34 year old artist who is her mentor when she is 16...more Very well developed characters here. You really get to know Mara, her divorced and flawed parents, her lesbian best friend Bernadette, and the four main lovers in her life. First there is Caleb, the 34 year old artist who is her mentor when she is 16, who teaches her that a balance of passion and discipline is essential for a good artist. Then there is optimistic artist Lucas, her college boyfriend, whose unfortunate death colors the despair Mara is in through much of the story. Erik, the lover she turns to to forget her pain, shares her dark grief. And then there is Hugo, a bright sunny man whom Mara thinks of taking a chance at happiness and falling in love with.

What does it say about me that I was rooting for Erik, whose soul was in just as much pain as Mara's, rather than Hugo, who seemed to have the ideal life. One will never know, as the ending is purposely vague.(less) "

Danielle read and liked Liz's review of Falling Under:

"This book will resonate especially with children from divorced families, but anyone who has experienced any sort of family dysfunction and social paralysis as a result of it can also relate. Mara, the main character, feels very real, and I found mys...more This book will resonate especially with children from divorced families, but anyone who has experienced any sort of family dysfunction and social paralysis as a result of it can also relate. Mara, the main character, feels very real, and I found myself wanting to get back to the book to see what would happen to her in her present life, as well as peeling back the layers from her past. It is a modern story, and mixes enough humor with the deeper issues to keep it from getting too heavy. I found the writing style to be very appealing and easy to read - I read it in only a couple of days, which would make it a good candidate for a vacation or business trip. The author is not afraid to get gritty, but it didn't feel gratuitous. I admire her for taking on some hard subjects and making an enjoyable read out of them.(less) "