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Jess Tennant #1
How to Fall
Sixteen-year-old Jess Tennant has never met any of her relatives, until her mother suddenly takes her to spend the summer in the tiny English town where she grew up. Her mom’s decision is surprising, but even more surprising is the town’s reaction to Jess. Everywhere she goes, people look at her like they’ve seen a ghost. In a way, they have—she looks just like her cousin Freya, who died shortly before Jess came to town.
Jess immediately feels a strange connection to Freya, whom she never got to meet alive. But the more she learns about Freya’s life, the more suspicious the circumstances of her death start to look. One thing is for this will be anything but the safe, boring summer in the country Jess was expecting.
Beloved author Jane Casey breaks new ground with How to Fall, a cleverly plotted and remarkably written young adult mystery.
Jess immediately feels a strange connection to Freya, whom she never got to meet alive. But the more she learns about Freya’s life, the more suspicious the circumstances of her death start to look. One thing is for this will be anything but the safe, boring summer in the country Jess was expecting.
Beloved author Jane Casey breaks new ground with How to Fall, a cleverly plotted and remarkably written young adult mystery.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2013
214 people are currently reading
2954 people want to read
About the author
Jane Casey
34 books2,602 followersShe studied English at Jesus College, Oxford, followed by an mPhil in Anglo-Irish Literature at Trinity College, Dublin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
March 29, 2014
Mum laughed. “You wish it was more complicated than it is because you love secrets.”The best word I can use to sum up this amateur detective novel is "unsuccessful."
“That’s not true.”
“Of course it is. You look for them everywhere.”
In order for a detective novel to feel realistic, there has to be an incentive, a remarkable motive that drives the would-be-detective (amateur or not) to seek the answer and to right a wrong. There was no purpose in this book's "mystery" than a girls' overactive imagination and overwhelming jump to conclusion for no reason at all. The mystery is put there in order to write a book, and because of that fact, the entire "investigation" felt overwhelmingly contrived.
Not only that, the characters are overwhelming tropes. There is not unbearable girl-hate in this book, but every single female character in this book (with the exception of the main character) is portrayed artificial, stupid, vain clones who are all stupidly boy-crazy, but it's ok if Jess likes a boy.
The main character is unconvincing, she is not the worst main character I've ever read, but something in the way the book is written makes me feel like her personality was made up as the book goes along. I didn't hate her, but she didn't feel like a consistent person. Not only that, she constantly blushes, flushes, burns. This book tries to sell her to me as a bad-ass, analytical investigator, and I just can't see Jess as the book meant her to be seen.
The investigation of the book is questionable. The main character (Jess) can only be described as "Too Stupid To Live." Jess' intelligence is highly questionable, her investigative methods are as subtle as Lady Gaga at a Mormon convention, and about as smart as putting your finger into an electric socket.
I’m going to persuade [the suspect] to meet me at the top of the cliffs. The shock of seeing me will scare [them] into telling me what [they] did. [They] confess, I go back to the police with proper evidence, justice is done.”
“That’s the plan?”
“Yep. Shakespeare had it first, but I think my version is better than his.”
The Summary:
I didn’t realize how stupid I’d been until it was far too late.That sums up the book in a nutshell, but I should probably be a little more detailed than that.
Jess is spending the summer with her mum and cousins in Port Sentinel. This wouldn't be a bad thing, except her mother happens to mention the fact that she looks exactly like her cousin Freya, who is her age, who is her twin in appearance.
Freya, who was blonde, like me. Who had the same shape of face as me, the same pointed chin. The same slanting blue eyes. The same mouth. The same. Top to toe. The dead girl and I could have been twins.The dead girl. Freya is dead. She died last summer, of an accident. Out of nowhere right after her mother mentioned Freya, Jess starts questioning her death for no reason at all.
“It was an accident, wasn’t it?”
“As far as I know.”
“Not suicide or something.”
Jess is absolutely fixated with Freya's death. She becomes convinced that Freya was murdered.
It really bothered me that no one could tell me what had happened. If I hadn’t looked like her, maybe I wouldn’t have cared so much. But the reactions I’d had from just about everyone— that mixture of guilt and fear— made me think that there was more to the story than the tragic-accident line Mum had takenAnd naturally, the book is written to present to us the fact that Jess is right, but it does not convince me because there is no evidence other than the gut instinct about a girl Jess has never even met.
"I also have the feeling I’ve come in halfway through the story and I’m never going to catch up. And I want to know more about Freya.”Jess starts seeing guilt everywhere. In people's nervousness.
I might have wondered what his problem was if he hadn’t been giving me the look I was starting to expect: shock mixed with suspicion. And what looked like—but surely couldn’t have been— fear...She sees clues in the most minute of reactions. In people's eyes. In the way they react to her. How do you expect them to react, she's Freya's physical double!
Like it or not, Jess is going to spend the entire summer pursuing Freya's killer. Because she knows Freya was killed. If she's not careful (ha!) she might end up in a coffin herself.
“Hasn’t it occurred to you that if she was murdered, the person who did it might want you to stop dragging it all up again?” He looked back at me, his face grave. “Hasn’t it occurred to you they might be willing to kill again?”Investigative Bullshittery: If you're a teenager, and you're new in town, and you're trying to dig up a potential killer, it's probably a wise idea not to be completely fucking obvious about it. You shouldn't do things like going around, asking everyone you know about Freya and her death, which you will loudly proclaim to everyone to be a murder, not an accident.
“If you hear everything, do you know who killed her?”I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY JESS KEEPS THINKING THAT FREYA IS MURDERED.
His jaw tightened. “It was an accident. She fell.”
“How do you know?”
“You’ve got a bee in your bonnet about this and I can under stand why. It would be much more exciting if she’d been killed. But there was an inquest. The coroner was quite clear. It was an accident. Death by misadventure. And I told you to stay out of it, didn’t I?”From the very beginning, from the moment she is in Port Sentinel, Jess feels like Freya is killed. I cannot understand her reasoning, and therefore I do not find the case convincing at all.
Stayin' Alive: I might have been more forgiving about Jess' unconvincing investigation if she hasn't been Too Stupid To Live throughout the entire fucking case. One moment of stupidity is fine. We're all human. I've done dumb shit myself, I understand, I can forgive that.
Repeated acts of stupidity is not ok. Jess constantly gets herself into dangerous situation, and she well knows that she's a fucking idiot. That's the thing, Jess REALIZES HER OWN STUPIDITY. In a life or death situation, she cannot help but shoot off her mouth to antagonize the person who is literally holding her inches from dropping into a cold, dark death.
My smart mouth was going to get me killed, I thought. Really, genuinely dead. I should be begging her to let go, pleading with her, groveling so she could see I was completely in her power, but something in me wouldn’t give in. Pride, probably. Which was stupid.
Her instincts warn her of danger. She ignores them.
I took a tiny breath, which was all I could manage. The old familiar jolt of fear kicked my heart into a canter. Oh, here we are. Danger again. I felt trapped and I was more worried about his intentions than I had been before he’d lied to me.She takes stupid risks, she deliberately places herself in danger. She uses herself as bait, and she's so fucking shocked when shit comes back to bite her in the ass.
Then there was the little matter that going for a walk with him was the equivalent of painting a target between my shoulder blades and handing [her] a bow and arrow. So of course I nodded and let him put his arm around me.
And instincts? Life-preserving instints? Fight-or-flight gut reactions? There to be ignored.
As I started to turn away I half saw a figure in the back room, standing against the wall, watching me, and my heart took off at a gallop. There was that feeling again— pure fear, ballooning out of nowhere. I refused to acknowledge it.This happens so many times. I admire her courage, but you need to stay alive in order to conduct an investigation. You need to use common sense and your intelligence. Jess does none of the above; she wins despite everything, and I cannot believe that.
The Girl Hate: Every single girl except for Freya's little sister are portrayed as mindless, boy-crazy bitches. The gaggle of girls in Port Sentinel? Capricious. Disloyal. "Bimbos." "Herd animals." Clones.
The rest were girls, clones of the one I’d encountered on Fore Street that morning, wearing tight clothes in ice-cream colors to show off their expensive-looking tans and impeccable figures.Every single teenaged female is stupid, an idiot who needs a Jess in their life and school them on what counts as a "slutty" dress. Girls are to be belittled, because such a tiny thing as swimming can be interpreted by Jess as being too much for them.
I didn’t imagine she did much swimming. Too risky for her hair, for one thing.Jess frequently criticizes revealing clothes, tans, beauty. But it's perfectly fine if Jess is naturally beautiful, with flawless, effortless hair.
Her jaw dropped as I rattled back down the stairs. “How did you have time to do your hair?”Jess is holier-than-thou. She reads books. She likes to remind us that she's cool, because she's, like, not into book tropes and all, and so not into romance.
“I didn’t really do anything to it.”
“You have magic hair.” She nodded wisely. “Many long for it. Few are gifted with it.”
“Oh, come off it.” I looked in the hall mirror. “It’s just hanging there.”
I had lasted through four chapters of the witless romantic novel I’d found on a shelf before I gave up. Just because the hero was a ruggedly handsome cowboy I didn’t see why it gave him the right to be so rude all the time.Jess makes superly grand speeches to the stupid, slutty, boy-obsessed (and of course, every single conversation between two girls in the book is about boys) bitch that romance isn't everything and she shouldn't be so dumb.
“You don’t know him. He’s not like that.”She totally schools the girls for obsessing about a boy! Only it's just fine if Jess obsessed about a boy herserlf.
“Really? Maybe you’re too close to see what he’s doing.” I took a step nearer her. “Let me tell you what I think. You spend your time with your friends talking about him and why he hasn’t called you today, or what his last text meant, or why he tweeted that thing about Rihanna’s latest video. If he mentions he likes you in pink, you go shopping and buy every shade from bubblegum through to fuchsia."
He hadn’t come to see me. I stared at it for a long time, feeling miserable and pathetic in equal measure. What did it matter? So what if he’d decided he had better things to do than visit me? I had rationalized it to my own satisfaction: the near- miss kiss on the beach. He hadn’t meant anything serious by it and now he was scared I’d think he wanted to revisit the moment. Which I didn’t, obviously. I hadn’t even thought about it since. Not more than sixty times a minute, anyway.Oh, the hypocrisy.
Skip this book. For a much more successful amateur detective novel, please read Prep School Confidential.
Quotes were taken from an uncorrected proof subject to change in the final edition.
November 7, 2013
Freya is found drowned – but was it suicide or murder? Her cousin, Jess Tennant, is determined to uncover the truth. But asking questions may prove deadly – anyone could be a suspect and everyone is hiding something…
So, Jane Casey, Author of the wonderful Maeve Kerrigan (or in my fangirl state the Derwent series) of books dips her toes into the wonderful world of YA for the first time with what is set to become another fantabulous series this time starring Jess Tennant..teenage girl, reader (of course) and tenacious when it comes to finding out the things she wants to know..
Jess has arrived in Port Sentinel for the Summer – and finds that people are looking at her strangely. No she hasnt forgotton to dress or anything, it turns out that she is the spitting image of her cousin Freya, now deceased and when Jess discovers that there may be secrets lurking within this seemingly friendly town, she is determined to find out the truth. Did Freya fall? Or was she pushed…
Now I read a fair bit of Young Adult Fiction because a lot of it is brilliant, often better than so called Adult fiction – but a lot of what I have read does tend to be Dystopian or have some kind of vampire/werewolf/zombie apocalypse at its core and thats all to the good. But my first love was Crime Fiction and I have not found a lot of YA in that area (well with the obvious wonderful exception of that staple of my youth – the Nancy Drew books!) – all I can say is, if its going to be this good perhaps more authors of “grown up” crime fiction should consider giving it a go.
What Jane Casey does so perfectly here is use all the staples required in order for teenagers to love it (girl meets boy, theres something to keep them apart, ooh there’s another boy) and to be able to relate to it (the cool set, the one bitchy girl who rules the roost, the outcasts) but does it without resorting to cliche. Then she adds in a very compelling mystery that has the same quality and energy to it that her adult books has but with a younger feel and a snappy writing style that will definitely appeal to teenage readers.
Plus you have got a great mix of characters. Ones you can root for (For me Jess, and often it has to be said the rather flighty Darcy) , ones you can hate with a passion (Natasha…oh and Dan *glares*) and ones that are peripherally in your vision that you kind of want to know more about. And as this is a series I’m sure we will – because in another clever move you have a complete story which around the edges has some characters you know have more to tell. I’m kind of hoping the next book might tell me a little more about Sylvia…and the Owl thing. Yep, sorry you are going to have to read it now to see what I’m banging on about.
So all in all I loved it. Very much. More Please.
Happy Reading Folks!
So, Jane Casey, Author of the wonderful Maeve Kerrigan (or in my fangirl state the Derwent series) of books dips her toes into the wonderful world of YA for the first time with what is set to become another fantabulous series this time starring Jess Tennant..teenage girl, reader (of course) and tenacious when it comes to finding out the things she wants to know..
Jess has arrived in Port Sentinel for the Summer – and finds that people are looking at her strangely. No she hasnt forgotton to dress or anything, it turns out that she is the spitting image of her cousin Freya, now deceased and when Jess discovers that there may be secrets lurking within this seemingly friendly town, she is determined to find out the truth. Did Freya fall? Or was she pushed…
Now I read a fair bit of Young Adult Fiction because a lot of it is brilliant, often better than so called Adult fiction – but a lot of what I have read does tend to be Dystopian or have some kind of vampire/werewolf/zombie apocalypse at its core and thats all to the good. But my first love was Crime Fiction and I have not found a lot of YA in that area (well with the obvious wonderful exception of that staple of my youth – the Nancy Drew books!) – all I can say is, if its going to be this good perhaps more authors of “grown up” crime fiction should consider giving it a go.
What Jane Casey does so perfectly here is use all the staples required in order for teenagers to love it (girl meets boy, theres something to keep them apart, ooh there’s another boy) and to be able to relate to it (the cool set, the one bitchy girl who rules the roost, the outcasts) but does it without resorting to cliche. Then she adds in a very compelling mystery that has the same quality and energy to it that her adult books has but with a younger feel and a snappy writing style that will definitely appeal to teenage readers.
Plus you have got a great mix of characters. Ones you can root for (For me Jess, and often it has to be said the rather flighty Darcy) , ones you can hate with a passion (Natasha…oh and Dan *glares*) and ones that are peripherally in your vision that you kind of want to know more about. And as this is a series I’m sure we will – because in another clever move you have a complete story which around the edges has some characters you know have more to tell. I’m kind of hoping the next book might tell me a little more about Sylvia…and the Owl thing. Yep, sorry you are going to have to read it now to see what I’m banging on about.
So all in all I loved it. Very much. More Please.
Happy Reading Folks!
August 12, 2014
A quick, enjoyable read. I was glad to discover that there is another book planned because not everything was wrapped up. I felt the main characters voice was strong, funny and unique. I wish we could have seen Freya and gotten to know her before her death. Maybe by like a pen pal relationship or something.
December 28, 2019
3,5 / 5
June 6, 2013
**SPOILERS**
I really liked the romance in this book between Will and Jess. It wasn't that they suddenly fell head-over-heels in love and knew it would all work out and be fine. Even after he nearly kissed her she was confused and didn't know what to think about their relationship, and it felt way more real like that.
I'd quite like to yell at Dan Henderson. And Molly Tennant, for that matter. I know they have every right to want to try again if they're in love, but a) they're actually sitting around WAITING FOR A WOMAN TO DIE so that they can rekindle this lost flame and b) they're making life miserable for their kids through it. I have particular issue with a), because, come on, that is not a decent thing to do! They've flipping moved to Port Sentinel before the woman is even dead! Jess' mum revealed that she knew Dan's wife when they were younger, and yet now I'm willing to bet that some part of her, however deep down, is wishing that Mrs Henderson would hurry up and die so she can take over the role. As for b), well, Jess summed it up perfectly. 'I would kill him, I thought. I would kill Dan with my bare hands. Not because he'd made it impossible for me and Will to be together, but because he'd put that expression on his own son's face.' (Side note: I'm not with Jess on the first bit of this. I'd quite like to kill him for keeping them apart, too.)
I think two of my favourite parts of this book were the two occasions she was climbing with Will, particularly over his garden wall. Down the cliff was the more romantic occasion, particularly when he carried her down the last part of the cliff, had just been sitting with his arm around her, had given her his jacket, and then at the bottom revealed how anxious he had actually been. But the garden wall part was super cute. Jess' irritation just made her all the funnier (Will: What are you doing? Jess: Learning to play the guitar. What does it look like?) which made the scene feel lighter, but then it ended on that beautiful moment between them on the other side. When they finally, FINALLY kissed. I'd been waiting for that the entire book pretty much.
And my favourite line was one of Will's. 'She wouldn't have died if I hadn't taught her how to fall.' No explanation needed, really, of why I like that so much.
(Although a close second is from Jess to Ryan, 'You know, it's a real shame you're scared of heights, because otherwise you could borrow a stepladder and get over yourself.')
As for the murder mystery in this book, I thought it was good. I didn't guess it was Coco until she turned up on the cliff instead of Natasha. I kind of wished it was Natasha, because a) I'd found myself quite liking Coco and I was annoyed that she was evil, and b) I thought Natasha was a really interesting character and I would have liked another cliff top confrontation to find out more about her, though the little conversation when Jess was in bed with her feet bandaged up gave us that. I actually felt bad for Natasha in the end. She was just a teenage girl who was obsessed and had taken it much further than she meant to.
I took away a star because I still have a little trouble swallowing that Coco would be SO OBSESSED with her running career that she would be willing to murder one/two girl/s. I just don't know if a running career is enough to make an otherwise normal teenage girl into a murderer. Ok, maybe that was half a star - that and her slightly unrealistic confession in the ambulance made me take away half a star. The other half was for Jess' hairbrained (haha) plan to get Natasha to confess. Yes, it backfired. Yes, Coco figured it out quickly (or, she says she did). Yes, the phone was broken on the ledge and so the plan didn't achieve much until the Hendersons and co. turned up. But the plan itself just annoyed me. Until then I had had a lot of respect for Jess but she lost some at that point.
All in all though, a very good book that I would definitely recommend to friends.
I really liked the romance in this book between Will and Jess. It wasn't that they suddenly fell head-over-heels in love and knew it would all work out and be fine. Even after he nearly kissed her she was confused and didn't know what to think about their relationship, and it felt way more real like that.
I'd quite like to yell at Dan Henderson. And Molly Tennant, for that matter. I know they have every right to want to try again if they're in love, but a) they're actually sitting around WAITING FOR A WOMAN TO DIE so that they can rekindle this lost flame and b) they're making life miserable for their kids through it. I have particular issue with a), because, come on, that is not a decent thing to do! They've flipping moved to Port Sentinel before the woman is even dead! Jess' mum revealed that she knew Dan's wife when they were younger, and yet now I'm willing to bet that some part of her, however deep down, is wishing that Mrs Henderson would hurry up and die so she can take over the role. As for b), well, Jess summed it up perfectly. 'I would kill him, I thought. I would kill Dan with my bare hands. Not because he'd made it impossible for me and Will to be together, but because he'd put that expression on his own son's face.' (Side note: I'm not with Jess on the first bit of this. I'd quite like to kill him for keeping them apart, too.)
I think two of my favourite parts of this book were the two occasions she was climbing with Will, particularly over his garden wall. Down the cliff was the more romantic occasion, particularly when he carried her down the last part of the cliff, had just been sitting with his arm around her, had given her his jacket, and then at the bottom revealed how anxious he had actually been. But the garden wall part was super cute. Jess' irritation just made her all the funnier (Will: What are you doing? Jess: Learning to play the guitar. What does it look like?) which made the scene feel lighter, but then it ended on that beautiful moment between them on the other side. When they finally, FINALLY kissed. I'd been waiting for that the entire book pretty much.
And my favourite line was one of Will's. 'She wouldn't have died if I hadn't taught her how to fall.' No explanation needed, really, of why I like that so much.
(Although a close second is from Jess to Ryan, 'You know, it's a real shame you're scared of heights, because otherwise you could borrow a stepladder and get over yourself.')
As for the murder mystery in this book, I thought it was good. I didn't guess it was Coco until she turned up on the cliff instead of Natasha. I kind of wished it was Natasha, because a) I'd found myself quite liking Coco and I was annoyed that she was evil, and b) I thought Natasha was a really interesting character and I would have liked another cliff top confrontation to find out more about her, though the little conversation when Jess was in bed with her feet bandaged up gave us that. I actually felt bad for Natasha in the end. She was just a teenage girl who was obsessed and had taken it much further than she meant to.
I took away a star because I still have a little trouble swallowing that Coco would be SO OBSESSED with her running career that she would be willing to murder one/two girl/s. I just don't know if a running career is enough to make an otherwise normal teenage girl into a murderer. Ok, maybe that was half a star - that and her slightly unrealistic confession in the ambulance made me take away half a star. The other half was for Jess' hairbrained (haha) plan to get Natasha to confess. Yes, it backfired. Yes, Coco figured it out quickly (or, she says she did). Yes, the phone was broken on the ledge and so the plan didn't achieve much until the Hendersons and co. turned up. But the plan itself just annoyed me. Until then I had had a lot of respect for Jess but she lost some at that point.
All in all though, a very good book that I would definitely recommend to friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2018
Kitap Freya’nın ölümü ve Freya’nın kuzeni Jess ile annesinin Freya’nın yaşadığı kasabaya gitmesiyle başlıyor. Jess ile Freya ikiz olabilecek kadar birbirlerine çok benziyor. (Bu durum bana çok saçma gelse de) Jess, kasabaya adımını attığı anda herkes dönüp dönüp ona bakıyor. Çünkü ölen birini karşılarında görmüş gibi hissediyorlar. Jess bu durumdan rahatsız haliyle. Jess ile Freya’nın ailesi her ne kadar akraba olsalar da birbirleri ile görüşmemişler. Uzun zamandan sonra kasabaya dönünce Jess tanımaya fırsatı olmadığı akrabalarını tanımaya karar veriyor. İşe Freya ile başlıyor. Onun hakkında araştırma yaptıkça ölümünün cinayet mi, kaza mı yoksa intihar mı olduğu konusunda şüpheye düşüyor.
Kitap akıcı olarak başladı fakat ilerleyen bölümlerde sıkılmaya başladım. Bir şeyler oluyor ama ilerleme yok. Sanki olduğu yerde sayıyor gibi hissettim. Biraz yavaş tempoda ilerliyor.
Karakterler 16 yaşında ve tam ergenlik çağının zirvesindeler. Özellikle yaptıkları şeyleri gördükçe gençlerin çok acımasız olduklarını gördüm. Ve cidden bazı sahnelerde nefret ettim. Tür olarak bana hitap eden bir tür değil.
Biraz böyle Tess Gerritsen tarzı bir şeyler bekliyordum. Dedektiflerin, ajanların olaya karışmasını bekliyordum. Ama beklediğim gibi çıkmadı. Kurguda daha çok diyaloglar ve araştırmalar ağırlıklı olarak göz önünde. Bu da bir yerden sonra beni sıkmaya başladı. Sevmek için denedim ama ne yazık ki en hüsrana uğrattı.
Kitap akıcı olarak başladı fakat ilerleyen bölümlerde sıkılmaya başladım. Bir şeyler oluyor ama ilerleme yok. Sanki olduğu yerde sayıyor gibi hissettim. Biraz yavaş tempoda ilerliyor.
Karakterler 16 yaşında ve tam ergenlik çağının zirvesindeler. Özellikle yaptıkları şeyleri gördükçe gençlerin çok acımasız olduklarını gördüm. Ve cidden bazı sahnelerde nefret ettim. Tür olarak bana hitap eden bir tür değil.
Biraz böyle Tess Gerritsen tarzı bir şeyler bekliyordum. Dedektiflerin, ajanların olaya karışmasını bekliyordum. Ama beklediğim gibi çıkmadı. Kurguda daha çok diyaloglar ve araştırmalar ağırlıklı olarak göz önünde. Bu da bir yerden sonra beni sıkmaya başladı. Sevmek için denedim ama ne yazık ki en hüsrana uğrattı.
April 3, 2018
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was fun, exciting, fast paced and just generally good. I liked it a lot, even though Jess seems like she is waaaay older than 16! But I think I need to read the next two books.
January 10, 2019
Eine sehr spannende Geschichte und Jess die Protagonistin im Buch war super stark und hat sich nicht von ihrem Weg anbringen lassen. Wirklich toll und ich freue mich auf den nächsten Teil!
January 27, 2013
'How to Fall' is a young adult crime thriller, described as 'Mean Girls with murder'. The story shows what happens when female rivalry goes too far. I'm a big fan of intricately plotted and exciting crime thrillers but there seem to be so few around which are written specifically for a YA audience. Jane Casey, normally an author of adult books, has transitioned smoothly to a younger readership and has delivered a truly gripping story.
Jess arrives with her mother in the small town of Port Sentinel after the apparent suicide of her cousin Freya. After one too many things fail to add up, Jess determines to leave no stone unturned in her quest to unravel the truth about what really happened.
The book has a fantastic opening scene which left me with my heart in my mouth and had me instantly gripped. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next and although I was only going to read a few chapters, I ended up reading practically the whole book in one sitting.
Jess Tennant is one of those characters who I instantly warmed to and admired. I would love to have had a best friend like her. She's incredibly level headed and smart, determined and intelligent and she's not afraid to stand up for herself. All qualities which I really admire. Jess could definitely be seen as a modern day Nancy Drew. She may be a teenage sleuth but she is quick thinking and leaves no stone unturned in her quest to determine what happened to Freya.
I enjoyed the small town setting which narrowed down the number of suspects but equally led to a sense of claustrophobia. It felt like there were secrets hidden behind every door in the small community and even the most upstanding of citizens seemed to have a secret which they didn't want revealed.
I really liked the story and the characters. It was brilliantly written, tense and exciting with a mystery lying at the heart of the plot. I literally did not have a clue what was going to be revealed. One minute I thought I knew exactly who the guilty party were and the next an unexpected revelation made me change my mind completely.
I can't wait to get my hands on more by Jane Casey. Her debut young adult offering definitely makes her one to watch!
Jess arrives with her mother in the small town of Port Sentinel after the apparent suicide of her cousin Freya. After one too many things fail to add up, Jess determines to leave no stone unturned in her quest to unravel the truth about what really happened.
The book has a fantastic opening scene which left me with my heart in my mouth and had me instantly gripped. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next and although I was only going to read a few chapters, I ended up reading practically the whole book in one sitting.
Jess Tennant is one of those characters who I instantly warmed to and admired. I would love to have had a best friend like her. She's incredibly level headed and smart, determined and intelligent and she's not afraid to stand up for herself. All qualities which I really admire. Jess could definitely be seen as a modern day Nancy Drew. She may be a teenage sleuth but she is quick thinking and leaves no stone unturned in her quest to determine what happened to Freya.
I enjoyed the small town setting which narrowed down the number of suspects but equally led to a sense of claustrophobia. It felt like there were secrets hidden behind every door in the small community and even the most upstanding of citizens seemed to have a secret which they didn't want revealed.
I really liked the story and the characters. It was brilliantly written, tense and exciting with a mystery lying at the heart of the plot. I literally did not have a clue what was going to be revealed. One minute I thought I knew exactly who the guilty party were and the next an unexpected revelation made me change my mind completely.
I can't wait to get my hands on more by Jane Casey. Her debut young adult offering definitely makes her one to watch!
August 27, 2014
Jess moves, with her mother, back to her mother's childhood town. It's a real two-horse town, and Jess doesn't just stick out because she's new, but because she looks just like her cousin who died last summer. No one knows if Freya fell, jumped, or was pushed. But Jess becomes determined to find out.
HOW TO FALL is filled with suspicious characters. Freya's former best friends, former romantic rivals, and former suitors are all potential murderers. (If, that is, someone murdered her.) But even as Jess suspects everyone, she can't help being drawn to Will, the cute boy next door (who no one in town likes).
The mystery of Freya's death develops fairly predictably. (Although the actual resolution surprised me.) At the same time, Jane Casey seeds intrigue for future books. Jess's mother burned some bridges when she left, including leaving behind a former beau. A former, very creepy beau.
If you like mysteries set in secretly sinister small towns, give HOW TO FALL a try. It has some neat character work, making Freya feel developed even though she is dead the whole time. She's very distinct from Jess. Jess is a more realistic, tougher sort. She fights fire with fire.
HOW TO FALL isn't the most complicated mystery, but it's full of interesting characters and a few intriguing twists. The preview of the next book in the Jess Tennant mysteries has me eager to learn what happens next in Port Sentinel.
HOW TO FALL is filled with suspicious characters. Freya's former best friends, former romantic rivals, and former suitors are all potential murderers. (If, that is, someone murdered her.) But even as Jess suspects everyone, she can't help being drawn to Will, the cute boy next door (who no one in town likes).
The mystery of Freya's death develops fairly predictably. (Although the actual resolution surprised me.) At the same time, Jane Casey seeds intrigue for future books. Jess's mother burned some bridges when she left, including leaving behind a former beau. A former, very creepy beau.
If you like mysteries set in secretly sinister small towns, give HOW TO FALL a try. It has some neat character work, making Freya feel developed even though she is dead the whole time. She's very distinct from Jess. Jess is a more realistic, tougher sort. She fights fire with fire.
HOW TO FALL isn't the most complicated mystery, but it's full of interesting characters and a few intriguing twists. The preview of the next book in the Jess Tennant mysteries has me eager to learn what happens next in Port Sentinel.
March 29, 2016
3,5 Sterne.
Zwischendrin mal ein paar Längen und Übertreibungen, trotzdem eine gewisse Grundspannung. Mal ein Jugendbuch wo die Liebesgeschichte nicht allzu sehr im Fokus steht. Bin sehr gespannt auf Teil 2!
Zwischendrin mal ein paar Längen und Übertreibungen, trotzdem eine gewisse Grundspannung. Mal ein Jugendbuch wo die Liebesgeschichte nicht allzu sehr im Fokus steht. Bin sehr gespannt auf Teil 2!
July 14, 2017
** 4 STARS! **
"You didn't know her before, though. She used to be so happy. Now it's as if the light's gone out."
***
From beginning to end I was intrigued by this book. I couldn't put it down to save my life.
It wasn't spectacular or something but by all means it was good! I also wouldn't really call it a thriller, more like a mystery drama or sth.
Jess and her mother go back to her mother's hometown for the summer, after like 18 years. Going there to rekindle bonds with her family. Jess's cousin Freya, died the year before by falling off a cliff. But was it an accident, murder or suicide?! It was ruled as a tragic accident but Jess isn't convinced and is set to find out what exactly happened.
Sometimes the main character Jess, who happens to be the spitting image of her dead cousin Freya btw, made me groan out loud by her decisions, choices and utterings but hey no one's perfect right.
Eventhough she never knew Freya (her dead cousin) or even spoke a hint of a letter to her, Jess was still determined to go through all kinds of trouble to find out what happened to her. And when I say -all kinds of trouble-, I mean all kinds of trouble !
Which to me is a bit intense since she literally didn't know the kid for shit.
Might be me being a rotten chicken shit but I sure as fuck wouldn't bother going all those lengths or trouble for a stranger. Eventhough she'd technically be my cousin.
However, back to the point, you have your typical mean girl and her minions, the misunderstood loner who is a total catch yet no one likes him, the big headed popular guy etc etc... your typical cliché characters. BUT IT'S GOOD THOUGH, I genuinely enjoyed this book and I am SO happy that there's two more books because damn I'm going to read the shit out of them!!!
I don't know yet when but I sure as hell will.
This is a quick, easy and enjoyable read, it's written smoothly and really does suck you into the pages. Would recommend!
(Can I just quickly say that Will's father, in this book, is the biggest ass hat known to mankind? I detesttttt the dude.)
"You didn't know her before, though. She used to be so happy. Now it's as if the light's gone out."
***
From beginning to end I was intrigued by this book. I couldn't put it down to save my life.
It wasn't spectacular or something but by all means it was good! I also wouldn't really call it a thriller, more like a mystery drama or sth.
Jess and her mother go back to her mother's hometown for the summer, after like 18 years. Going there to rekindle bonds with her family. Jess's cousin Freya, died the year before by falling off a cliff. But was it an accident, murder or suicide?! It was ruled as a tragic accident but Jess isn't convinced and is set to find out what exactly happened.
Sometimes the main character Jess, who happens to be the spitting image of her dead cousin Freya btw, made me groan out loud by her decisions, choices and utterings but hey no one's perfect right.
Eventhough she never knew Freya (her dead cousin) or even spoke a hint of a letter to her, Jess was still determined to go through all kinds of trouble to find out what happened to her. And when I say -all kinds of trouble-, I mean all kinds of trouble !
Which to me is a bit intense since she literally didn't know the kid for shit.
Might be me being a rotten chicken shit but I sure as fuck wouldn't bother going all those lengths or trouble for a stranger. Eventhough she'd technically be my cousin.
However, back to the point, you have your typical mean girl and her minions, the misunderstood loner who is a total catch yet no one likes him, the big headed popular guy etc etc... your typical cliché characters. BUT IT'S GOOD THOUGH, I genuinely enjoyed this book and I am SO happy that there's two more books because damn I'm going to read the shit out of them!!!
I don't know yet when but I sure as hell will.
This is a quick, easy and enjoyable read, it's written smoothly and really does suck you into the pages. Would recommend!
(Can I just quickly say that Will's father, in this book, is the biggest ass hat known to mankind? I detesttttt the dude.)
September 6, 2020
Ohhhh boy was this ever bad!
I can't believe how bad this was. I'm genuinely shocked that I was able to get through the entire book. There was literally nothing about How to Fall that was enjoyable in any way, shape, or form.
Of all the very many issues that I have with this book, my biggest one is our lovely main character, Jess. She is quite possibly the worst character I've ever read in a YA novel. Every time she opens her mouth it's to say something judgmental. She slut shames every chance she gets, thinks everyone else is dumb, and for some reason believes that she's superior to all because she can quote some of the poetry that everyone is required to read in school anyways. She was insufferable! Not to mention so fucking insensitive. What right does she have to go up to people who recently lost someone they love and go "so did she kill herself or what?" What the actual fuck. Does she not see that digging around and asking all these questions is hurting people? I think it would have been different if the main character had been someone who was close to the girl who died. That would have made sense as to why she wanted answers and wouldn't stop digging until she found them. But this random ass bitch strolling into down and thinking she's entitled to everyone's life story because she's related to the girl who died? Who she never even met?? What a load of shit. The only reason Jess wouldn't let it go is because she wanted to be right, not because she actually cared about finding answers, or getting justice, or whatever other bullshit excuse she gave to other people
Anyways, don't waste your time with this book unless you really like reading garbage characters and laughably bad "plot twists," if you can ever call them that
I can't believe how bad this was. I'm genuinely shocked that I was able to get through the entire book. There was literally nothing about How to Fall that was enjoyable in any way, shape, or form.
Of all the very many issues that I have with this book, my biggest one is our lovely main character, Jess. She is quite possibly the worst character I've ever read in a YA novel. Every time she opens her mouth it's to say something judgmental. She slut shames every chance she gets, thinks everyone else is dumb, and for some reason believes that she's superior to all because she can quote some of the poetry that everyone is required to read in school anyways. She was insufferable! Not to mention so fucking insensitive. What right does she have to go up to people who recently lost someone they love and go "so did she kill herself or what?" What the actual fuck. Does she not see that digging around and asking all these questions is hurting people? I think it would have been different if the main character had been someone who was close to the girl who died. That would have made sense as to why she wanted answers and wouldn't stop digging until she found them. But this random ass bitch strolling into down and thinking she's entitled to everyone's life story because she's related to the girl who died? Who she never even met?? What a load of shit. The only reason Jess wouldn't let it go is because she wanted to be right, not because she actually cared about finding answers, or getting justice, or whatever other bullshit excuse she gave to other people
Anyways, don't waste your time with this book unless you really like reading garbage characters and laughably bad "plot twists," if you can ever call them that
January 10, 2016
{Thank you St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for providing this in return for an honest review}
I really, really, really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately I just could not get past all the problems I had with it. The idea for this book is really interesting and I even really liked the sub-plot as well, however, it was poorly executed. This book did not evoke any emotions at all, I was not rooting for the main character, and I did not even want to finish this book. The only thing that kept me reading (other than this being a review copy) was that I hoped that it would switch gears and the ending would blow me away. Unfortunately, the ending was predictable and still had me skimming the pages so I could finish it.
The writing in this book was not bad, but the pacing was somewhat slow at times and Casey added a lot of details that had nothing to do with the plot and did not strengthen character development. Having to read all the extra content really made the book extremely slow in some areas and I did find my attention wandering many times. I thought that the last 60% of the book was better paced and I did become more interested in the plot. The plot in this book was such a great and unique idea. I like that Jess and Freya almost looked like twins, but I wish there would have been some depth to that instead of it just being a fact. I thought possibly there was going to be a deeper connection between the two characters other than their looks. I also had a very hard time grasping the fact that Jess came into a town she had never been in and was positive that Freya had not committed suicide, but had been murdered. It was like she instantly knew without any hesitation that Freya was killed even though there had been a police investigation. I hated that the first half of the book was full of Jess’s speculations that Freya had been killed, but there was no evidence until the second half of the book. I was pleasantly surprised by the sub-plot, which is a mystery about Jess’s mother and Dan (Will’s father). I was much more interested in that plot development by the end of this book than I was with the one about Freya.
The ending to this book was very lack luster. It progressed really quickly and the way to solve who the murderer was seemed like it came from an episode of Scooby Doo. It lacked any logic and was not innovative in the least bit. Although there was absolutely no foreshadowing about the ending, I was not in the least bit shocked when I found out the big reveal. I just felt like it was so ridiculous and then wrapped up too easily. I also do not like that this book is the first in a series. I do not think that it needs to be a series and should have been completed in one book. I think that dragging it out for another book or two would be excessive.
I think my main issue with this book was the character development. I do like when authors make their main character have characteristics that are real and may not be liked, but it is also hard to root for a character when she is completely rude and lacks any other redeeming qualities. The moment Jess arrived in town, she started interrogating people about Freya and not in a nice way either. She had a snarky attitude (and not in a good way) and always came off rude. She was also hypocritical because she constantly judged other characters in the story for chasing after guys and being vain, but she also was super insecure about her relationship with Will and was devastated when she had to cut her hair. I hated that all the female characters in this book (except for Petra) were portrayed as shallow and vain. I did really like Petra (Freya’s sister), as well as Freya. I felt like Casey was able to show readers what Freya’s personality was like and have them understand her character even though she was not present. I think it would be interesting to have a prequel that shows more of Freya’s character and played out how she died. I did not really like Will’s character at all, I felt like he was underdeveloped and I did not know anything about him. I did like Dan and how Casey made readers question if his intentions are good or bad.
The romance in this book was really lacking. Usually I love books that include romance, even if it is just a side part of the plot, but I would almost think this book would have been better if it had been left out completely. I did not think it drove the plot forward and I felt like it was just a distraction for more important elements. I never felt any chemistry between Jess and Will, which made me really bored with their romance. I was more interested in Jess’s mother and Dan’s romance because it was more interesting and intriguing.
Overall, I think that the mystery/suspense aspects of this book fell way short. There are other YA books that have a more intricate and intriguing mystery than the one that was portrayed in this book. However, I do think that this book could appeal to some new YA readers who don’t have any experience reading more complicated mystery plots. I am really unsure if I want to continue on with the series because the one part that interests me would be the relationship of Dan and Jess’s mother. I will more than likely cut my losses and spend my time reading a different book where I am more invested in the characters.
I really, really, really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately I just could not get past all the problems I had with it. The idea for this book is really interesting and I even really liked the sub-plot as well, however, it was poorly executed. This book did not evoke any emotions at all, I was not rooting for the main character, and I did not even want to finish this book. The only thing that kept me reading (other than this being a review copy) was that I hoped that it would switch gears and the ending would blow me away. Unfortunately, the ending was predictable and still had me skimming the pages so I could finish it.
The writing in this book was not bad, but the pacing was somewhat slow at times and Casey added a lot of details that had nothing to do with the plot and did not strengthen character development. Having to read all the extra content really made the book extremely slow in some areas and I did find my attention wandering many times. I thought that the last 60% of the book was better paced and I did become more interested in the plot. The plot in this book was such a great and unique idea. I like that Jess and Freya almost looked like twins, but I wish there would have been some depth to that instead of it just being a fact. I thought possibly there was going to be a deeper connection between the two characters other than their looks. I also had a very hard time grasping the fact that Jess came into a town she had never been in and was positive that Freya had not committed suicide, but had been murdered. It was like she instantly knew without any hesitation that Freya was killed even though there had been a police investigation. I hated that the first half of the book was full of Jess’s speculations that Freya had been killed, but there was no evidence until the second half of the book. I was pleasantly surprised by the sub-plot, which is a mystery about Jess’s mother and Dan (Will’s father). I was much more interested in that plot development by the end of this book than I was with the one about Freya.
The ending to this book was very lack luster. It progressed really quickly and the way to solve who the murderer was seemed like it came from an episode of Scooby Doo. It lacked any logic and was not innovative in the least bit. Although there was absolutely no foreshadowing about the ending, I was not in the least bit shocked when I found out the big reveal. I just felt like it was so ridiculous and then wrapped up too easily. I also do not like that this book is the first in a series. I do not think that it needs to be a series and should have been completed in one book. I think that dragging it out for another book or two would be excessive.
I think my main issue with this book was the character development. I do like when authors make their main character have characteristics that are real and may not be liked, but it is also hard to root for a character when she is completely rude and lacks any other redeeming qualities. The moment Jess arrived in town, she started interrogating people about Freya and not in a nice way either. She had a snarky attitude (and not in a good way) and always came off rude. She was also hypocritical because she constantly judged other characters in the story for chasing after guys and being vain, but she also was super insecure about her relationship with Will and was devastated when she had to cut her hair. I hated that all the female characters in this book (except for Petra) were portrayed as shallow and vain. I did really like Petra (Freya’s sister), as well as Freya. I felt like Casey was able to show readers what Freya’s personality was like and have them understand her character even though she was not present. I think it would be interesting to have a prequel that shows more of Freya’s character and played out how she died. I did not really like Will’s character at all, I felt like he was underdeveloped and I did not know anything about him. I did like Dan and how Casey made readers question if his intentions are good or bad.
The romance in this book was really lacking. Usually I love books that include romance, even if it is just a side part of the plot, but I would almost think this book would have been better if it had been left out completely. I did not think it drove the plot forward and I felt like it was just a distraction for more important elements. I never felt any chemistry between Jess and Will, which made me really bored with their romance. I was more interested in Jess’s mother and Dan’s romance because it was more interesting and intriguing.
Overall, I think that the mystery/suspense aspects of this book fell way short. There are other YA books that have a more intricate and intriguing mystery than the one that was portrayed in this book. However, I do think that this book could appeal to some new YA readers who don’t have any experience reading more complicated mystery plots. I am really unsure if I want to continue on with the series because the one part that interests me would be the relationship of Dan and Jess’s mother. I will more than likely cut my losses and spend my time reading a different book where I am more invested in the characters.
March 26, 2023
Girişi bir tık alakasız geldi. Kızın gidip bana benzeyen kuzenim ölmüş bunu araştırmam gerek dediği yerde bir bağlantı kuramadım. Yani başka bir şekilde olsa daha çok severdim.
Ve bu tarz kitaplarda ben gençlerden çok olayın profesyonel araştırılıp gizem katılmasını daha çok seviyorum.
Ve bu tarz kitaplarda ben gençlerden çok olayın profesyonel araştırılıp gizem katılmasını daha çok seviyorum.
May 8, 2013
'You didn't know her before, though. She used to be so happy. Now it's as if the light's gone out'
April 4, 2013
I recieved this book for free from Goodreads. Not usually a genre I read, but this story was amazing, full of twists and turns, really kept you on edge. Truly recommend.
January 12, 2018
I got this book as I've enjoyed others by this author but it wasn't until I picked it up to read it that I found out it was aimed at the YA market - well, so what? It didn't matter at all, in fact I enjoyed this much more than a lot of the "adult" crime novels I read last year.
In brief, Jess & her mother rent a cottage for the summer in her mother's home town where Jess's cousin Freya had committed suicide by falling from a cliff....or did she? Jess believes that it was murder & undertakes to spend her summer finding out exactly what had happened.
This was one of those books that I knew I'd love from the off. In the first few pages Jess is talking about catching her boyfriend kissing someone else, to which her response to him is "Rather her than me, Conrad. You kiss like a goat eating a jam sandwich through a letterbox" I knew then I was going to like this girl! Her wisecracks made me smirk on more than one occasion. Even when scared & being bullied, her smart mouth runs away with her which seemed to me to be in keeping with her age & added to her character's credibility. Indeed, all the characters seemed realistic & plausible, from the bullying Natasha & Darcy who just wants to be popular, to Ryan who thinks he's God's gift.
Jess's solving of Freya's murder moves along at a good pace, fast enough to prevent loss of interest yet not so fast that it implied Jess was some sort of Super Sleuth. There were no
great leaps of faith, huge assumptions or coincidences, all Jess's actions & conclusions followed a logical progression which kept things real. Even with a reasonably limited number of suspects in play, I was still surprised at the outcome. The tension on the cliff side built beautifully & I would have been far more worried for Jess's welfare had this not been listed as "the First Jess Tennant Mystery"!
While of course I wanted the mystery of Freya's death solving, I was also caught up in the tension between Will & his father, never mind the undercurrents & history between Dan & Jess's mother Molly (though I have my own thoughts as to where that's headed)
All-in-all, I thought it an excellent read & I'll certainly be following up on Jess's adventures - I do want to know if I'm right about Dan & Molly!
In brief, Jess & her mother rent a cottage for the summer in her mother's home town where Jess's cousin Freya had committed suicide by falling from a cliff....or did she? Jess believes that it was murder & undertakes to spend her summer finding out exactly what had happened.
This was one of those books that I knew I'd love from the off. In the first few pages Jess is talking about catching her boyfriend kissing someone else, to which her response to him is "Rather her than me, Conrad. You kiss like a goat eating a jam sandwich through a letterbox" I knew then I was going to like this girl! Her wisecracks made me smirk on more than one occasion. Even when scared & being bullied, her smart mouth runs away with her which seemed to me to be in keeping with her age & added to her character's credibility. Indeed, all the characters seemed realistic & plausible, from the bullying Natasha & Darcy who just wants to be popular, to Ryan who thinks he's God's gift.
Jess's solving of Freya's murder moves along at a good pace, fast enough to prevent loss of interest yet not so fast that it implied Jess was some sort of Super Sleuth. There were no
great leaps of faith, huge assumptions or coincidences, all Jess's actions & conclusions followed a logical progression which kept things real. Even with a reasonably limited number of suspects in play, I was still surprised at the outcome. The tension on the cliff side built beautifully & I would have been far more worried for Jess's welfare had this not been listed as "the First Jess Tennant Mystery"!
While of course I wanted the mystery of Freya's death solving, I was also caught up in the tension between Will & his father, never mind the undercurrents & history between Dan & Jess's mother Molly (though I have my own thoughts as to where that's headed)
All-in-all, I thought it an excellent read & I'll certainly be following up on Jess's adventures - I do want to know if I'm right about Dan & Molly!
December 7, 2018
Ben bir kez daha anladım ki, Jane Casey hakikaten bana hitap eden bir yazar. Bu kitabı okuyan pek çok kişi olumsuz yorum yapmış. Ama belki de çok düşük bir beklentiyle başladığım için, ben kitabı oldukça "okunabilir" buldum. Hatta ciddi ciddi olaylara kaptırdım kendimi. Hikayenin neden bana itici gelmediği konusunda bir fikrim daha var: Bir kere ana karakterler 16-17 yaşında ama ben aynı saçma hareketleri yapan 30'luklar tanıyorum. Jess'in (esas kız) her şeye burnunu sokması ve cesareti çok abartılıydı belki ama ben 16 yaşımda ne kadar meraklı, inatçı ve ukalaydım? Fazlasıyla diyebilirim! O yüzden çok da ütopik gelmedi yani bana. Öte yandan itiraf edeyim, Maeve'le Derwent'i deliler gibi özledim. Ama bu durum, bu kitabı sevmemi engellemedi. Yayınevinin hataları -emin olun- yazarınkileri solda sıfır bırakıyor; Alp Ege'den beklenmeyecek özensizlikte bir çeviri, her seferinde "umutla" olmamasını beklediğim "kör göze batacak" yazım hataları... Her şeyi bir yana bırakacak olursak, tüm Jane Casey kitaplarında olduğu gibi ben yine büyük keyif aldım. Tavsiye ederim. =)
July 7, 2024
This book was a disappointment. I've read the first several books in Casey's Maeve Kerrigan series (e.g., The Burning) and have enjoyed them, so I was over the moon to discover she had also written a YA trilogy. I love teenage detective stories. It seemed like a marriage made in heaven, and it even started out well. The premise is interesting and the main character, Jess, has a lot going for her. She's inquisitive and feisty and clever.
Unfortunately she's also stuck in a dud of a story that's rife with YA cliches (love triangles, mean girls, untrustworthy police chief, and so many more). And while I'm willing to suspend disbelief for a good story, the final act goes too far for anyone to believe. It requires the killer to be so stupid that one must lose all respect for them as a villain.
Overall, a promising premise, a fairly compelling main character, but such a disappointment in all other areas that I'm unlikely to give the other books in the series a try. Some authors simply were not meant to write YA.
Unfortunately she's also stuck in a dud of a story that's rife with YA cliches (love triangles, mean girls, untrustworthy police chief, and so many more). And while I'm willing to suspend disbelief for a good story, the final act goes too far for anyone to believe. It requires the killer to be so stupid that one must lose all respect for them as a villain.
Overall, a promising premise, a fairly compelling main character, but such a disappointment in all other areas that I'm unlikely to give the other books in the series a try. Some authors simply were not meant to write YA.
June 8, 2018
Diğer Jane Casey kitaplarına göre çok vasattı. Keşke bu tarz bir kitaba hiç girmeseydi. Sevmedim.
January 30, 2024
Yazarın dilini merak ettiğim için okumaya karar vermiştim ve kitabın dili o kadar basitti ki ben bile okurken sıkıldım. Normalde bu tarz kolay okunan gizemli kitaplar okumayı çok severim ama bunu okurken içim bayıldı. Karakterler çok sığ ve aşırı modern. Olay çok sıradan ve tahmin edilebilir işlenmiş bu da ortadaki gizem unsurunu kaldırıyor. Zamanın varsa okunur mu okunur ama sırada bekleyen başka kitapların varsa gerek yok.
September 29, 2014
Im really just terrible at thrillers. The build up freaks me out I start to get anxious. Im really weird that way. But for some reason I love to freak myself out. I dont read thrillers often probably because I would be a nervous wreck and unable to function in society. Lucky for me I read this really quickly.
How to fall starts off with the tragic death of Freya. Well its a fade to black death but that doesnt make it any less tragic. After the fade to black we meet Jess Tennant, Freya's long lost cousin. Their mothers are twins however when Jess's mom met and married her dad (jess's) she cut herself off of the family. She moved away and so the cousins had never met. Now Jess's parents are divorced and her mother has reconciled with her sister so back to Port Sentinel for the summer. Along the way Jess's mom is kind enough to let her know a little abit about her family she tells her of the loss of Freya and shows her a picture.. They couldve been twins! Which of course will freak out the towns people.
Strangely enough jess kinda takes over Freya's life. Which kinda works for her because she's convinced Freya was murdered and well victimology will come in handy right? At first glance everyone in the town freaks, thinking Freya has come back from the dead only with longer hair and not so great clothing. Apparently fashion is HUGE in Port Sentinel. She quickly becomes friends with Freya's friends they even share enemies! Theres a lot of people in town not okay with Jess trying to get to the bottom of Freya's death I was surprised she didnt receive a death threat or like a dead animal at her doorstep.. I think that might say a lot about me sooooo REDIRECT!
One of the towns people Jess has befriended is Will. Will lived behind Freya's family and was apart of the family for sometime. Until things got really weird with Freya. Will proves to be very vital to the story. As for the girls of Port Sentinel Im pretty sure they existed in Mean Girls and thank sweet baby jesus I never knew girls like this.. Jealousy over guys is soo beyond stupid. New flash people. NO MAN IS WORTH BEING AN EVIL SHIT.
There were some pretty interesting characters in this story and I have to say I really loved Jess's boss anyone out to save owls is a okay in my book and an instant hit! Will's dad Dan is a hot freaking mess and I wanted to punch him in the throat. Freya's family they kind of played a back seat for me which I found odd since Jess basically took over her life.. I thought for sure they would play a bigger part.
The murder in this story came out of left field for me. I really had it pegged as someone else. But thats the beauty of a well told story. Lost in my own thoughts of the characters I was blindsided and it was AWESOME! Now this book wasnt non stop action quite the contrary. It was slow even paced, but not slow enough for me to loose interest. But slow enough for me not to be a SPAZZ.
How to fall starts off with the tragic death of Freya. Well its a fade to black death but that doesnt make it any less tragic. After the fade to black we meet Jess Tennant, Freya's long lost cousin. Their mothers are twins however when Jess's mom met and married her dad (jess's) she cut herself off of the family. She moved away and so the cousins had never met. Now Jess's parents are divorced and her mother has reconciled with her sister so back to Port Sentinel for the summer. Along the way Jess's mom is kind enough to let her know a little abit about her family she tells her of the loss of Freya and shows her a picture.. They couldve been twins! Which of course will freak out the towns people.
Strangely enough jess kinda takes over Freya's life. Which kinda works for her because she's convinced Freya was murdered and well victimology will come in handy right? At first glance everyone in the town freaks, thinking Freya has come back from the dead only with longer hair and not so great clothing. Apparently fashion is HUGE in Port Sentinel. She quickly becomes friends with Freya's friends they even share enemies! Theres a lot of people in town not okay with Jess trying to get to the bottom of Freya's death I was surprised she didnt receive a death threat or like a dead animal at her doorstep.. I think that might say a lot about me sooooo REDIRECT!
One of the towns people Jess has befriended is Will. Will lived behind Freya's family and was apart of the family for sometime. Until things got really weird with Freya. Will proves to be very vital to the story. As for the girls of Port Sentinel Im pretty sure they existed in Mean Girls and thank sweet baby jesus I never knew girls like this.. Jealousy over guys is soo beyond stupid. New flash people. NO MAN IS WORTH BEING AN EVIL SHIT.
There were some pretty interesting characters in this story and I have to say I really loved Jess's boss anyone out to save owls is a okay in my book and an instant hit! Will's dad Dan is a hot freaking mess and I wanted to punch him in the throat. Freya's family they kind of played a back seat for me which I found odd since Jess basically took over her life.. I thought for sure they would play a bigger part.
The murder in this story came out of left field for me. I really had it pegged as someone else. But thats the beauty of a well told story. Lost in my own thoughts of the characters I was blindsided and it was AWESOME! Now this book wasnt non stop action quite the contrary. It was slow even paced, but not slow enough for me to loose interest. But slow enough for me not to be a SPAZZ.
September 8, 2014
I'd guess it would be a little eerie for a teenaged girl who is basically the doppelganger of her dead cousin to visit the town where said cousin lived...for both the girl and the town's locals. This is just the situation Jess Tennant finds herself in, however, when she and her recently divorced mother decide to spend the summer away from London. They are going to stay in Port Sentinel, where Jess' mom, aunt, and cousins are from--including her cousin Freya, who passed away in the last year.
While everyone has come to the general consensus that Freya's death was either a suicide or an accident, Jess has the gut feeling that nearly everyone in Port Sentinel is hiding something--and she's right. But those who know the truth surrounding Freya's death aren't taking too kindly to this lookalike girl probing. Though Jess is determined to find out the truth, even if it comes at great cost to her.
Jess is fifteen years old, and an only child. But for some reason, she's never learned the story behind why her mother wouldn't go back to her hometown, even though she left her twin sister behind. I found this to be way beyond odd; if I knew my mother had siblings but I couldn't see them or my cousins, I most certainly would demand to know why. The book does finally give up the reason, although it didn't find it something big enough to have justified the mom staying away for so long.
As a main character, Jess is an interesting mix between feisty, naive, and annoying. She does have trouble keeping her thoughts to herself, even when they are somewhat inappropriate. This lack of judgment is at times irritating, because you can see Jess is making things awkward, but at other times I respect her for it because saying what she feels means she is standing up for herself. She's certainly not fake.
The mystery element wasn't really there for me, although the author did seem set on making it happen. There are several people Jess suspects during her investigation, and the author throws in a lot of red herrings for good measure. There are people who act creepy but are not involved, and those who seem sweet but were in fact behind everything. The plot is bogged down by all of this in the middle, and there are a lot of unnecessary scenes. All seems to be revealed in the last couple of chapters of the book.
This book wasn't heavy on romance, and that was alright with me. I don't think that just because there is a girl in a novel, she has to be given a male counterpart immediately. Jess is just fine with being friends with the guys in Port Sentinel, though who knows how long that will last.
Although I'm not sure why, this book is actually the first in a series. I'm not sure I'll be continuing it, because overall How to Fall was just an okay read for me.
While everyone has come to the general consensus that Freya's death was either a suicide or an accident, Jess has the gut feeling that nearly everyone in Port Sentinel is hiding something--and she's right. But those who know the truth surrounding Freya's death aren't taking too kindly to this lookalike girl probing. Though Jess is determined to find out the truth, even if it comes at great cost to her.
Jess is fifteen years old, and an only child. But for some reason, she's never learned the story behind why her mother wouldn't go back to her hometown, even though she left her twin sister behind. I found this to be way beyond odd; if I knew my mother had siblings but I couldn't see them or my cousins, I most certainly would demand to know why. The book does finally give up the reason, although it didn't find it something big enough to have justified the mom staying away for so long.
As a main character, Jess is an interesting mix between feisty, naive, and annoying. She does have trouble keeping her thoughts to herself, even when they are somewhat inappropriate. This lack of judgment is at times irritating, because you can see Jess is making things awkward, but at other times I respect her for it because saying what she feels means she is standing up for herself. She's certainly not fake.
The mystery element wasn't really there for me, although the author did seem set on making it happen. There are several people Jess suspects during her investigation, and the author throws in a lot of red herrings for good measure. There are people who act creepy but are not involved, and those who seem sweet but were in fact behind everything. The plot is bogged down by all of this in the middle, and there are a lot of unnecessary scenes. All seems to be revealed in the last couple of chapters of the book.
This book wasn't heavy on romance, and that was alright with me. I don't think that just because there is a girl in a novel, she has to be given a male counterpart immediately. Jess is just fine with being friends with the guys in Port Sentinel, though who knows how long that will last.
Although I'm not sure why, this book is actually the first in a series. I'm not sure I'll be continuing it, because overall How to Fall was just an okay read for me.
March 30, 2014
I would like to thank the publisher through NetGalley for my review copy of How to Fall.
How to Fall is the first in a young adult mystery series by author Jane Casey, and in my opinion, it is her most compelling and enjoyable novel yet. The novel follows our spunky heroine Jess, a teenager living in London who takes a summer trip to visit her relatives in rural Devon. Jess and her mother have been estranged from this part of the family for many years, but after the recent death of Jess's cousin, Freya, the two women travel out to visit their relations and reestablish a connection. However, when Jess arrives in the rich coastal town of Port Sentinel, she realizes that the surface glitz of the community hides dark secrets, and begins to suspect that Freya's death may not have been an accident.
As Jess gets to know her cousins, and the other teenagers in Freya's peer group, she tries to understand her cousin, and what led to her death.
So, what do I love about How to Fall? First of all, the writing itself is great. The first chapter, a prologue chronicling Freya's last moments, is one of those near perfect intro's, a few short pages of lyrical, atmospheric writing, which delighted me. Secondly, the main character of Jess is the type of heroine I feel I can be proud of and root for. She is smart, independent, and not afraid to speak her mind or trust her instincts. But she is also kind. Third, the world that the author creates seems fully formed even in this first novel, with a diverse cast of characters, from the quirky old lady who runs a charity shop, to the creepy policeman, to the gangs of vicious, popular girls.
If I was to describe How to Fall as a movie or TV show, I would say that it is a combination of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars, and Clueless.
Prior to reading How to Fall, I had read Jane Casey's adult mystery novel, The Burning, and enjoyed it. I plan to continue reading that series, but I very much enjoyed Casey's first foray into the YA genre, and think that, in its own way, How to Fall may be the beginning of an even more addictive series than The Burning. I also think that How to Fall would lend itself very well to a television adaptation.
I hope this novel gets wide publicity, because I think it will appeal to a large audience, including both teens and adults. With her likeable heroines, intriguing mysteries, and compelling combination of suspense, humor, and atmosphere, Jane Casey is an author to watch.
How to Fall is the first in a young adult mystery series by author Jane Casey, and in my opinion, it is her most compelling and enjoyable novel yet. The novel follows our spunky heroine Jess, a teenager living in London who takes a summer trip to visit her relatives in rural Devon. Jess and her mother have been estranged from this part of the family for many years, but after the recent death of Jess's cousin, Freya, the two women travel out to visit their relations and reestablish a connection. However, when Jess arrives in the rich coastal town of Port Sentinel, she realizes that the surface glitz of the community hides dark secrets, and begins to suspect that Freya's death may not have been an accident.
As Jess gets to know her cousins, and the other teenagers in Freya's peer group, she tries to understand her cousin, and what led to her death.
So, what do I love about How to Fall? First of all, the writing itself is great. The first chapter, a prologue chronicling Freya's last moments, is one of those near perfect intro's, a few short pages of lyrical, atmospheric writing, which delighted me. Secondly, the main character of Jess is the type of heroine I feel I can be proud of and root for. She is smart, independent, and not afraid to speak her mind or trust her instincts. But she is also kind. Third, the world that the author creates seems fully formed even in this first novel, with a diverse cast of characters, from the quirky old lady who runs a charity shop, to the creepy policeman, to the gangs of vicious, popular girls.
If I was to describe How to Fall as a movie or TV show, I would say that it is a combination of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars, and Clueless.
Prior to reading How to Fall, I had read Jane Casey's adult mystery novel, The Burning, and enjoyed it. I plan to continue reading that series, but I very much enjoyed Casey's first foray into the YA genre, and think that, in its own way, How to Fall may be the beginning of an even more addictive series than The Burning. I also think that How to Fall would lend itself very well to a television adaptation.
I hope this novel gets wide publicity, because I think it will appeal to a large audience, including both teens and adults. With her likeable heroines, intriguing mysteries, and compelling combination of suspense, humor, and atmosphere, Jane Casey is an author to watch.
August 28, 2017
Book Review 5:
8-YLW
The book How To Fall by Jane Casey is a mystery novel. I can't say that is the most successful novel I've ever read because it's not. There is a mystery but there isn't. The main character Jess constantly is putting herself in dangerous situations even when she recognizes her stupidity she ignores it. She was about to be pushed off a cliff but she is never the one who gives in first. No matter what the situation she has to say something snappy back. If in a life or death situation.
"My smart mouth was going to get me killed, I thought. Really, genuinely dead. I should be begging her to let go, pleading with her, groveling so she could see I was completely in her power, but something in me wouldn’t give in. Pride, probably. Which was stupid."
I guess I can relate to Jess because if I get hung up on something and I start asking questions, I don't stop until I get the answer I want or a I just keep bugging you. It's the same if I get into an argument, there are two options. Either you agree with me or we can keep arguing until you do or you just get tired and step down. It's how my brain works. The difference between me and Mess is that if I'm in a life or death I would me at the mercy of the other person, I wouldn't do anything that would offend them so that I wouldn't die. I don't know about her but I would want to live. Another thing about the book is that there is no incentive. I didn't feel like it was one of those books where you couldn't put it down until you finished reading it. There were certain things that I hated, liked how time and rime again Jess puts herself into danger deliberately. She knows that she there she won't come out of it alive but she still goes ahead with whatever she has planned. She recognizes her fear and knows what she's doing is absolutely ridiculous but she still does it. She's an idiot. This happens so many times. I admire her courage, but you need to stay alive in order to conduct an investigation. You need to use common sense and your intelligence. Jess does none of the above; she wins despite everything, and I cannot believe that. Even through all her stupidity she still gets what she wants. I just feel that this book is absolutely messed up. There are just too many things that make no sense. I'm actually surprised that there is a second and third book. Maybe I'll actually like the book after I read more of it. Let's see what Jess gets her self into after .
8-YLW
The book How To Fall by Jane Casey is a mystery novel. I can't say that is the most successful novel I've ever read because it's not. There is a mystery but there isn't. The main character Jess constantly is putting herself in dangerous situations even when she recognizes her stupidity she ignores it. She was about to be pushed off a cliff but she is never the one who gives in first. No matter what the situation she has to say something snappy back. If in a life or death situation.
"My smart mouth was going to get me killed, I thought. Really, genuinely dead. I should be begging her to let go, pleading with her, groveling so she could see I was completely in her power, but something in me wouldn’t give in. Pride, probably. Which was stupid."
I guess I can relate to Jess because if I get hung up on something and I start asking questions, I don't stop until I get the answer I want or a I just keep bugging you. It's the same if I get into an argument, there are two options. Either you agree with me or we can keep arguing until you do or you just get tired and step down. It's how my brain works. The difference between me and Mess is that if I'm in a life or death I would me at the mercy of the other person, I wouldn't do anything that would offend them so that I wouldn't die. I don't know about her but I would want to live. Another thing about the book is that there is no incentive. I didn't feel like it was one of those books where you couldn't put it down until you finished reading it. There were certain things that I hated, liked how time and rime again Jess puts herself into danger deliberately. She knows that she there she won't come out of it alive but she still goes ahead with whatever she has planned. She recognizes her fear and knows what she's doing is absolutely ridiculous but she still does it. She's an idiot. This happens so many times. I admire her courage, but you need to stay alive in order to conduct an investigation. You need to use common sense and your intelligence. Jess does none of the above; she wins despite everything, and I cannot believe that. Even through all her stupidity she still gets what she wants. I just feel that this book is absolutely messed up. There are just too many things that make no sense. I'm actually surprised that there is a second and third book. Maybe I'll actually like the book after I read more of it. Let's see what Jess gets her self into after .
August 26, 2014
To see my full review:
http://abookvacation.com/2014/08/26/a...
This novel is actually about two separate things: How Freya died, and the truth about Dan Henderson. However, only one aspect is actually answered in the novel, which left me a bit frustrated since the mystery surrounding the police officer is definitely a key point in novel, even though it does not really relate to what happened to Freya.
Jess Tennant has an uncanny resemblance to her deceased cousin, Freya, a person she never met due to her mother’s estrangement from her twin sister. Because of her looks, and Freya’s apparent accident, she’s the talk of the town, it seems, which spurs Jess on to find out the truth about Freya’s death. I agree with Jess, I’d be determined to find out the truth, too, and I love Jess’ spunk. She has some crazy ideas and awesome comebacks throughout the novel, and I really enjoyed that about her. I loved the end too—the way Jess finally learns the truth–while a bit far-fetched (or, not something I would ever consider) it works well with the storyline and I was glad that this aspect of the novel had a conclusion.
But I am left unsatisfied. What do I need to know? More about Dan and Jess’ mother’s relationship. Is Dan a real creeper, like he seems? Why is he so rude and aggressive towards everyone? What is he hiding? Was he coming on to Jess, or was she just overreacting? What is the relationship between Dan and his son really about? What’s going on there? Why do people seem to fear Dan? While we’re given a small paragraphish glimpse into the story behind Dan and Jess’ mother, it’s not enough to answer any of my questions, and I really felt like the novel set itself up to tell this story, but then didn’t. Which left me confused. I have one thought about Jess and Will’s relationship and why Dan might not want it, but I can’t go into specifics because, A. I’m probably wrong and, B. it’d be a bit spoilery to state it.
Dan aside, I did love the language of this novel. It is so very British in its colloquialisms, and I enjoyed them very much, having spent some time abroad when I was in college. There are some terms that some may need to look up, but overall they translate easily enough for readers outside Britain, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
http://abookvacation.com/2014/08/26/a...
This novel is actually about two separate things: How Freya died, and the truth about Dan Henderson. However, only one aspect is actually answered in the novel, which left me a bit frustrated since the mystery surrounding the police officer is definitely a key point in novel, even though it does not really relate to what happened to Freya.
Jess Tennant has an uncanny resemblance to her deceased cousin, Freya, a person she never met due to her mother’s estrangement from her twin sister. Because of her looks, and Freya’s apparent accident, she’s the talk of the town, it seems, which spurs Jess on to find out the truth about Freya’s death. I agree with Jess, I’d be determined to find out the truth, too, and I love Jess’ spunk. She has some crazy ideas and awesome comebacks throughout the novel, and I really enjoyed that about her. I loved the end too—the way Jess finally learns the truth–while a bit far-fetched (or, not something I would ever consider) it works well with the storyline and I was glad that this aspect of the novel had a conclusion.
But I am left unsatisfied. What do I need to know? More about Dan and Jess’ mother’s relationship. Is Dan a real creeper, like he seems? Why is he so rude and aggressive towards everyone? What is he hiding? Was he coming on to Jess, or was she just overreacting? What is the relationship between Dan and his son really about? What’s going on there? Why do people seem to fear Dan? While we’re given a small paragraphish glimpse into the story behind Dan and Jess’ mother, it’s not enough to answer any of my questions, and I really felt like the novel set itself up to tell this story, but then didn’t. Which left me confused. I have one thought about Jess and Will’s relationship and why Dan might not want it, but I can’t go into specifics because, A. I’m probably wrong and, B. it’d be a bit spoilery to state it.
Dan aside, I did love the language of this novel. It is so very British in its colloquialisms, and I enjoyed them very much, having spent some time abroad when I was in college. There are some terms that some may need to look up, but overall they translate easily enough for readers outside Britain, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 3, 2015
Another thriller that was okay to read on the bike at the gym, but probably wouldn't otherwise have inspired me to make the effort to suspend my incredulity. I kind of like the British flavor of the writing, and some bits are genuinely witty. (One I like: ". . . the painkillers aren't doing it. Killing the pain, I mean. At best, they're annoying it. Calling it names. Talking behind its back. Low-level stuff.")
But protagonist Jess makes so many groanworthy bad decisions that I can't go higher than three stars. These include:
1. Not telling anyone when a mean girl, backed by her posse, drags Jess by the hair to the edge of a cliff where another girl recently fell to her death and threatens her. There's even a witness: Will, the son of the police chief. Who mentions that Jess could press charges, but says it as if the idea is a joke. Which makes him awful in my opinion, which leads into Jess' decision to waste time . . .
2. Mooning over Will. Then, of course, there's the time she goes . . .
3. Running off to confront a killer alone when there is NO REASON she has to be alone. Her younger cousin and Will both know about this plan and let her go. Sure, Will swoops in later, after Jess almost dies, but it would have been a lot better if he'd just put his foot down and said, "If you try to go through with this alone, I'll follow you. If you lose me, I'll tell the cops where you're going." And it would have been better still if Jess hadn't tried to do something so stupid to start with.
Also, as other reviewers have pointed out, Jess really has no reason to be convinced - as she is from the very beginning - that Freya was murdered. Seriously, she never met the girl, and all signs point to either an accident or suicide.
The clincher for me is this: at the book's very beginning, Jess puts down a romance novel unfinished because she doesn't like that the heroine is falling for a guy who's rude, even if he is handsome. Upon reading this, I was cautiously optimistic. I remember thinking, "Please let this foreshadow that NOT happening, not foreshadow it happening and gosh how funny Jess learns that you can fall for rude handsome guys." GUESS WHICH OF THOSE HAPPENS.
(Also, it would be seriously refreshing to read a thriller where a person saves another person's life and they DON'T end up sucking face. Just saying.)
But protagonist Jess makes so many groanworthy bad decisions that I can't go higher than three stars. These include:
1. Not telling anyone when a mean girl, backed by her posse, drags Jess by the hair to the edge of a cliff where another girl recently fell to her death and threatens her. There's even a witness: Will, the son of the police chief. Who mentions that Jess could press charges, but says it as if the idea is a joke. Which makes him awful in my opinion, which leads into Jess' decision to waste time . . .
2. Mooning over Will. Then, of course, there's the time she goes . . .
3. Running off to confront a killer alone when there is NO REASON she has to be alone. Her younger cousin and Will both know about this plan and let her go. Sure, Will swoops in later, after Jess almost dies, but it would have been a lot better if he'd just put his foot down and said, "If you try to go through with this alone, I'll follow you. If you lose me, I'll tell the cops where you're going." And it would have been better still if Jess hadn't tried to do something so stupid to start with.
Also, as other reviewers have pointed out, Jess really has no reason to be convinced - as she is from the very beginning - that Freya was murdered. Seriously, she never met the girl, and all signs point to either an accident or suicide.
The clincher for me is this: at the book's very beginning, Jess puts down a romance novel unfinished because she doesn't like that the heroine is falling for a guy who's rude, even if he is handsome. Upon reading this, I was cautiously optimistic. I remember thinking, "Please let this foreshadow that NOT happening, not foreshadow it happening and gosh how funny Jess learns that you can fall for rude handsome guys." GUESS WHICH OF THOSE HAPPENS.
(Also, it would be seriously refreshing to read a thriller where a person saves another person's life and they DON'T end up sucking face. Just saying.)
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