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The Girl Who Fell

S.M. Parker (Goodreads Author)

3.64 · Rating details · 1,463 ratings · 335 reviews

High school senior Zephyr Doyle is swept off her feet—and into an intense and volatile relationship—by the new boy in school.

His obsession.
Her fall.

Zephyr is focused. Focused on leading her team to the field hockey state championship and leaving her small town for her dream school, Boston College.

But love has a way of changing things.

Enter the new boy in school: the ...more

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Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Published March 1st 2016 by Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse

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YA Novels of 2016

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· 1,463 ratings · 335 reviews

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Apr 14, 2015 Emily May rated it did not like it

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, 2016

The saddest thing about this book is that I believe the author really did have the best intentions. Too bad none of it really worked.

I've had this book on my radar for a long time. The blurb promised a story about a girl who falls into a bad relationship of obsession, control and - eventually - fear. It seemed like the perfect YA novel to counter all the awful romances I've read where asshole boyfriends are portrayed as something sexy, and psychological abuse is portrayed as the norm. AND the ...more

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Sep 27, 2015 Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ rated it it was ok

Shelves: yes-i-m-disappointed, young-adult, in-a-minority-here, arcs-2016, 2016-reads

Trust me, if there is a book I wish I would have loved, it's this one. From the moment I read the synopsis, I knew that I had to read it : a different take on all the instalove bullshit YA romance is feeding us way too often? Count me in! That's why I can't even express how disappointed and sad I am after closing The Girl Who Fell. The concept is so interesting and important, but the fact that Alec and Zephyr shows not an ounce of chemistry fails the whole purpose : how am I supposed to believe ...more

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Sep 28, 2015 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: e-arc, young-adult, read-in-2016, contemporary

I’m not the biggest romance fan, but this dark spin on a young adult love story had me interested. It’s the story of Zephyr and Alec’s relationship from the moment they meet in French class to their inevitable dark end. The prologue, of sorts, is actually an excerpt from the end of the novel with Zephyr afraid in her own house, so from the beginning we are given that intensity you find in thrillers.

The novel then goes back three months earlier to show this unhealthy relationship from the ...more

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Aug 19, 2016 Trina (Between Chapters) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, young-adult, 2016, 2016-favorites, standalones, trigger-abusive-romance

This was very hard to read. But it's so important.

If you don't know, this book is about an abusive romance. You know that going in and so it's very hard to watch the relationship progress and watch the girl fall for this jerk. But the story did a great job at showing how easy it is to fall into this trap of manipulation. Sometimes there are no warning signs.

I've been through a similar relationship and so this book had a lot of meaning for me. My experience did not match the story in this book ...more

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Nov 06, 2014 Laurie Flynn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-contemporary, sweet-sixteens

Let me preface this by saying when I first heard about THE GIRL WHO FELL, it was the bookish equivalent to love at first sight. The concept gripped me. I knew it was the kind of book I not only wanted to read but had to read. So when an ARC arrived in the mail last week in all its gorgeous glory (seriously, have you seen that cover?), I was more than a bit excited that my time to read it was finally here.

I knew it would be an emotional book. I knew it dealt with difficult subject matter. What I Let me preface this by saying when I first heard about THE GIRL WHO FELL, it was the bookish equivalent to love at first sight. The concept gripped me. I knew it was the kind of book I not only wanted to read but had to read. So when an ARC arrived in the mail last week in all its gorgeous glory (seriously, have you seen that cover?), I was more than a bit excited that my time to read it was finally here.

I knew it would be an emotional book. I knew it dealt with difficult subject matter. What I didn’t know was that I’d hold my breath while turning pages, get sucker-punched in the feels over and over, and feel so attached to the characters that they were real people to me. That, everyone, is the talent of Shannon Parker.

THE GIRL WHO FELL is the story of Zephyr Doyle, a senior hell-bent on attending Boston College, which has been her dream since forever. She’s a fierce field hockey player and driven to succeed in all aspects of life. But on the inside, she’s hurting—reeling from the fact that her dad picked up and left her and her mom, and trying to deal with her feelings of being not good enough in his absence. When she is instantly attracted to new student Alec, she’s swept up in how he makes her feel—like she’s the only girl in the world, a girl worthy of his love. But when Alec starts to become more and more possessive and pull Zephyr away from her old life, she is torn between the boy who says he loves her more than anything and the things she wanted more than anything before him.

As a heroine, Zephyr is someone you’ll cheer for, laugh with, and want to hug more than once. You’ll want to point out the warning signs, the glimpses into Alec’s true nature. You’ll want to scream at her that it’s not her fault, none of it, and tell her over and over again that she’s worthy of everything good in life. But that’s what makes this book so vivid, so true. Real life isn’t like that. In real life, those warnings signs aren’t always easy to see, especially if you want to see someone for the person you think they are, the person you desperately want them to be.

The language in this book is like poetry. Shannon Parker takes risks with her writing and they pay off, big time. Her choices of words are evocative and lush, never expected, never familiar, never something you’ve read before. This story is beautiful and romantic and shocking and dangerous and sad and real and hopeful, and Shannon’s writing goes to all those places.

This is also an important book. So, so, important. Anyone who has ever been manipulated by someone they love, by someone they thought loved them, needs this book. Teens need this book. Adults need this book. Because if you’ve ever been someone like Zephyr—if you still are—you need to know that it’s not you. That you deserve better. That you deserve the world.

I could probably talk forever about THE GIRL WHO FELL. That’s how much my heart is bursting with it, how heavily my brain is still processing its pages. Once in awhile you read a book that burrows into you and fills you with a whole kaleidoscope of emotions, and that book for me is THE GIRL WHO FELL.
...more

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Aug 18, 2015 Marci Curtis rated it it was amazing

OH MAN. This story totally wrecked me. Seriously, there aren't enough adjectives. I absolutely mainlined it, staying up way past my bedtime to read just... another... page. It grabbed me by the throat in the first paragraph and never let me go. The writing is absolutely STUNNING. Honest, raw, thought-provoking, The Girl Who Fell tackles a heartbreaking issue with grace and strength.

FIVE BEAUTIFUL STARS.

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Aug 25, 2015 Brittany (Brittany's Book Rambles) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, abuse, family-life, realistic-fiction, thriller, best-of-2016, contemporary, 2016-releases, standalone

4.5/5 Stars

The most crucial thing that I need to talk about when it comes to The Girl Who Fell is the astonishing writing. Shannon M. Parker's writing style instantly grabs the reader and throws them onto the emotional roller-coaster that is this book, which I read in one sitting and only put down momentarily to literally catch my breath. Right off the bat, the prologue warns the reader to beware of Alec, but amazingly, as you watch his relationship with Zephyr develop and grow, your emotions ...more

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Feb 02, 2015 Julie Eshbaugh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: the-sweet-16s

I'm not sure I breathed while I read the final third of this book. THE GIRL WHO FELL is a startling, compelling, important read. It's the kind of book that you have to put down at times, just so you can walk around and catch your breath and remind yourself that everything's okay because the things happening to Zephyr in the story are not actually happening to you. But the thing is, this book is very *REAL,* and the things that happen to Zephyr happen to real girls every day. That's the thing ...more

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Feb 05, 2016 Jen (Pop! Goes The Reader) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, favorites, realistic-fiction, read-in-2016

Did you find this review helpful? Find more of my reviews at Pop! Goes The Reader!

My love for him is a deep blue love. So blue it is black. Like an ocean under the ocean. The beginning and the end.

High school senior Zephyr Doyle had things all figured out. Namely, to help lead her field hockey team to victory and spend as much time as she can with her best friends, Lizzie and Gregg “The Slice” Slicer, before fulfilling her lifelong dream of attending Boston College and pursuing a career in ...more

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Nov 18, 2014 Ruth Lehrer rated it it was amazing

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of THE GIRL WHO FELL. This book was so well written it was kind of excruciating. The pain of watching a woman destroy herself for a guy; The subtle and not so subtle manipulation of an abuser. The mental process of the woman who is first enchanted and then ensnared. The reader is stuck on the sidelines yelling, Don't do it, don't go there! but she can't hear you. Just when you think she's got a handle on everything, it gets worse. If you're up for a bit of really ...more

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Dec 07, 2015 Jeff Zentner rated it it was amazing

Recently, there was a kerfuffle in the YA community over comments made disparaging YA as morally uncomplicated.

THE GIRL WHO FELL is the most perfect rejoinder imaginable to this and any future criticism of YA literature as morally uncomplex.

Morally complex, tightly paced, taut, gripping, romantic, shocking, perilous, and hopeful--this book has it all and more. As the cherry on top, the prose is luminous and elegant. The characters are fantastic--vibrant and leaping from the page. Zephyr Doyle ...more

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Oct 23, 2015 Jamie (Books and Ladders) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, favorites, 2016-debuts, contemporary, need-now, 2016-release, march-2016, simon-pulse

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See my full review plus an interview with her author on Books and Ladders

Ask author Shannon Parker what she thinks of THE GIRL WHO FELL and she will tell you it's a dark kissing book. And boy, she's not wrong. But it also has such lightness to it that you just need to experience in order to understand what I mean.

Zephyr is on the fast track to success: good grades, amazing athlete, and the best friends anyone could Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See my full review plus an interview with her author on Books and Ladders

Ask author Shannon Parker what she thinks of THE GIRL WHO FELL and she will tell you it's a dark kissing book. And boy, she's not wrong. But it also has such lightness to it that you just need to experience in order to understand what I mean.

Zephyr is on the fast track to success: good grades, amazing athlete, and the best friends anyone could ask for. But then she meets Alec and gets caught up in a whirlwind romance that takes her by surprise. Throughout the book she has to learn for herself what "true love" really means.

I went into this one knowing that it was going to be a rough go. From the synopsis I knew it was going to be a toxic, abusive romance. And THE GIRL WHO FELL didn't pull punches. And really, it shouldn't because this sort of thing happens all the time. Don't get me wrong, usually when you first get into a relationship, your new boy/girlfriend becomes the centre of your world, but if they are telling you that you can't hang out with other people that is where the issue arises.

I think what I loved (and was scared of) the most was that even though I knew what was happening and that Zephyr was spiraling downward into making bad decisions, I could understand why she was making those decisions. I could understand her wanting to forgive Alec for his behaviour and why she kept going back. The majority of this is Parker's writing. Because I knew how bad Alec was, I knew he was responsible for all these things and yet I STILL understood why Zephyr was head over heels and blind to it all.

My only complaint is that I would have liked more of the panic. The panic when you have plans with this abuser and are with another friend or family member and you think you're going to be late, so you start to panic because you HAVE to be there or else you KNOW they will be mad at you. I wanted a little bit of that. I wanted Zephyr to feel the anxiety of Alec's wrath and rage. But, everything else was depicted so perfectly that this doesn't even really matter in the grand scheme of things.

I don't have much more I can say without spoiling it for you guys, but I highly recommend this one to everyone. It is a tough one to get through, especially if you have experienced it from one end or another, but it is so important to know that if you HAVE experienced it or know someone who has, that it DOES happen to other people. It isn't just you, you are not alone and someone will be willing to help you. I know it's hard to ask for help sometimes, but if you are feeling as though you need help, you've already made one giant leap and will be to safety soon.

Pick this one up on March 1st and, as weird as this sounds, you will thoroughly enjoy the experience.
--
November 17, 2015 Thoughts:
ohmy. That was everything I needed in my life without knowing how much I needed it. You want to read a good contemporary? I am handing you this one on a silver platter. This book is just incredible and handles this issue in such a delicate but raw way. I really need everyone to read this.

But fuck, THE GIRL WHO FELL is so incredible. It is so beautifully written especially considering how dark and twisted it ends up getting. I felt so emotionally connected to Zephyr and I just, I got it. I got it all. And you will too when you read this one. I'm blown away. I'm surprised I'm coherent enough to form words about how much I loved this book. I am so thankful that Shannon shared this book with the world.

You can see my favourite quote from THE GIRL WHO FELL on Instagram! ...more

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Nov 29, 2014 Kathy MacMillan rated it it was amazing

I received an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story begins with a snippet of the end - the dark place where Zephyr's relationship with handsome, brooding hockey star Alec will lead. And then we go back and see how it all started. That disturbing prologue is a necessary and brilliant touch, as it primes readers to see the oh-so-small warning signs that the relationship is not the paradise it seems. And that, of course, is the point: an abusive relationship ...more

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Jul 21, 2015 Lala BooksandLala rated it did not like it

DNF'd at 60%
I can sense an animal cruelty storyline, which I just don't fuck with...and the rest of the book has not been compelling enough to continue on past it anyway.

I think this is an incredibly important topic, and one that literature should not shy away from addressing, however I just don't think this book is covering it particularly well.

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Jul 01, 2015 Amber Smith rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, sweet-sixteens, favorites

THE GIRL WHO FELL tells a story I will not soon forget. A breathtaking, heartbreaking, and (unfortunately) extremely realistic portrayal of how easy it can be—even for a strong, smart, level-headed heroine like Zephyr Doyle—to fall under the spell of a person who is not what they seem. Parker has written so beautifully and eloquently about the blinding pain of wanting to be loved so badly, of needing to fill void so deep that it becomes possible and, in fact, effortless, to be manipulated and ...more

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Feb 03, 2015 Shea Olsen rated it it was amazing

WOW!!! This book will grab you by the throat and drag you into its pages! Two words: bold and poetic! Shannon Parker has crafted a story that feels so raw and real and gripping that it's hard to believe this was imagined solely inside her head. Her writing is atmospheric and immediate. She's found a way to combine the subtlety of poetry with the nail-biting pacing of a psychological thriller.
I loved Zephyr and ached for her and wanted to reach into the pages and tell her it would all work out ...more

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Sep 04, 2015 Colette rated it it was amazing

The Girl Who Fell left me in a major book hangover, desperately craving more. Each heartbreaking chapter ended with me breathless and eagerly flipping the page for more. Though a heart-wrenching story, every word comes across so perfectly and the difficult subject manner is handled with grace, doing justice to the major issue at hand. Overall 5/5 stars; I cannot say enough good things about it!

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Mar 17, 2016 Didi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, unable-to-put-down, favorites, love-gone-wrong, abused-woman, betrayal, stress-inducing-love, angst-in-my-pants, messes-with-your-head, young-adult

5++++++ STARS

THIS BOOK.
SO. GOOD.

This is YA at its best. And that cover? Love it. I never felt like I was reading something young. It had a weighty heaviness, a taught and gripping tension and an urgency flowing off the pages. Once I started it, let me tell you, I only put it down because I had to. It was THAT good.
Zephyr Doyle was looking forward to graduating high school and attending Boston College the following fall. Her life was mapped out and distractions were not allowed. She didn't have ...more

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Feb 04, 2015 Michelle Andreani rated it it was amazing

There are not enough good words to say about Shannon Parker's book. But to start with, "important" is for sure one of them. "Masterful" is another.

I am so in awe of one character in particular, how he was crafted into someone I fell for along with the main character, Zephyr. Any time there were warning signs, I was manipulated and beguiled, just as Zephyr was. The reality of that was striking for me. For anyone who's wondered, "How could she stay with him?" You will get it if you read this book. ...more

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Dec 02, 2015 Jennifer Bardsley rated it it was amazing

The relationship starts with a flower. And a picnic. And sweet love notes. Zephyr falls so quickly that she doesn’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late. Alec has become her everything. He needs to be her everything. Alec seems like the perfect boyfriend…until the volatile relationship he insists on threatens to explode. The Girl Who Fell by Sixteen To Read author Shannon M. Parker is a stunning YA contemporary romance that every high school girl in America should read.

I’m going to mix ...more

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Mar 20, 2015 Jennifer rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, sweet-sixteens, sixteen-to-read

I was lucky enough to read an ARC of THE GIRL WHO FELL and I loved every aspect of this book. Do you ever wonder how a relationship goes wrong? What signs are missed by those involved, but glaringly obvious to the rest of the world? The Girl Who Fell explores this topic with superior accuracy and honesty.

The first two pages pulled me in and left me breathless. Shortly after, I found myself becoming very involved in Zephyr Doyle’s life. She was so complex and unforgettable – a girl with real ...more

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Nov 02, 2014 Janet rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, exciting-debuts-2016, 2016-debut-books

OK, so this book amazed me. THE GIRL WHO FELL by debut author Parker is simply one of the most beautifully written, achingly real, sexy...yes,sexy...(as in some of the scenes are toe-curling, H.O.T), edge of your seat thrillers that I’ve read in a long, long time. Reading it, I experienced the kind of anxiety as when I first watched old obsession movies like 'Sleeping with the Enemy' or 'Fatal Attraction.' The escalation was perfection, though I wanted to shake Zephyr till her teeth rattled. AND ...more

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Jun 28, 2015 Milka rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016-releases, 2016-debuts, 2016, favorites

This book has been one of my expected titles for 2016 ever since I heard about it, and now that I have read it, I want to pat myself on the back, because I PICKED GOOD. This book was definitely worth all of the excitement because it was amazing and something I feel like I've been looking for for a such a long time!

Before I get into anything else, I need to tell you that THIS BOOK HAS ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS. I am a massive ice hockey fan and think there are far too few YA contemporaries with hockey This book has been one of my expected titles for 2016 ever since I heard about it, and now that I have read it, I want to pat myself on the back, because I PICKED GOOD. This book was definitely worth all of the excitement because it was amazing and something I feel like I've been looking for for a such a long time!

Before I get into anything else, I need to tell you that THIS BOOK HAS ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS. I am a massive ice hockey fan and think there are far too few YA contemporaries with hockey player love interests when compared to for example football players or baseball players. As a hockey lover, reading about hot hockey players was a lot of fun. But don't get me wrong, you don't have to be a hockey fan to enjoy this. It just adds a nice bonus to it.

Zephyr is all about focus. She wants to lead her field hockey team to a state championship. She wants to get into Boston College. She knows that to get through those things, she just needs to get through her senior year of high school, and then her life can truly begin in the dream college. A relationship with the new guy in school is definitely something Zephyr did not plan on getting herself into. But when she meets Alec, the goalie for the school's hockey team, she cannot resist him. Not only is Alec extremely handsome and charming, he also seems to understand Zephyr in a way no one else has ever understood her. It almost seems like Alec ALWAYS has the right words.

What first seems like an innocent crush very quickly evolves into something Zephyr has never experienced before. Zephyr feels like she is completely in love with Alec and justifies ignoring everyone and everything with that. She has never been in love before, but she is sure this is what is should feel like. But while she feels a connection towards Alec, she wonders whether feelings of love always come with feelings of fear, embarrassment and shame. Does being in love mean that she needs to give up everything she has been focused on just to keep being in love?

The interactions between Zephyr and Alec are so intense and in some ways brought into my mind the movie Sleeping with the Enemy starring Julia Roberts. The way Alec's facade starts to crumble down as the novel processes is extremely well paced by Shannon M. Parker, and the way the relationship deepens made it impossible for me to put this book down. Though, fortunately, what Zephyr goes through is something I haven't experienced, it is so easy to understand her actions. We all have had crushes and when Alec shows up, I totally get why Zephyr makes the decisions she does. It would be so easy to be the kind of reader who thinks "BUT WHY DOES SHE DO THAT? WHY DOES SHE NOT SEE WHAT HE IS LIKE?", but really, this book sucks you in and makes you walk in the shoes of Zephyr which helps in understanding her actions.

The novel starts with an excerpt from the end of the novel which instantly builds up on the intensity and makes it very easy for you to dive into the story. Shannon M. Parker has brilliantly chosen what to reveal about the end at the beginning - she does not reveal too much, but rather just the right amount to catch the attention of the reader. Throughout, the writing is beautiful, engaging and at points, terrifying.

Before I finish this review, I must say something about the gorgeousness that is Gregg, Zephyr's friend and the star of the hockey team. As I kept reading about it, I kept falling more and more in love with him. He is cocky and funny, but also extremely caring and has that softer side that he only shows for a selection of people. Though I am happy with the way this book ended, I definitely wouldn't object to read more about Gregg.

The Girl Who Fell is incredibly well-paced, beautifully written and slightly terrifying tale of falling in and out of love for the first time.
...more

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Jan 10, 2016 Kerry rated it it was amazing

I received an advanced copy of this book just after it got a raving starred review from one of the literary journals so I already had high expectations going in and wow were they met. This book grabbed me from minute one and did not let go.

The Girl Who Fell is not just a fantastic, compelling, well-written read that teenagers are sure to be captivated by (this adult sure was!) but it's also such an important story that needs to be told about a subject matter rarely addressed in YA. It's a ...more

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Jan 12, 2015 Catherine rated it it was amazing

This was a very hard book to read -- in all the best ways. As a reader, you can see the red flags as they arise, but the plotting and pacing is handled so masterfully that it's completely believable the way Zephyr is drawn in to Alec's world and the many behaviours she overlooks and excuses.
In creating Zephyr's character, Shannon M. Parker gives us a complicated, intelligent and ambitious young woman who never expected to find herself in an abusive relationship. Parker challenges our ideas about ...more

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Jul 21, 2015 The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori) rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, arc, kindle, 2016-releases, young-adult

When you come across a book that is this compelling and influential, you want to hand it to everyone you know. The Girl Who Fell is a shockingly realistic story that will have its readers putting themselves right into the shoes of the highly relatable main character. It is a beautifully written novel that many will enjoy and learn from.

The Girl Who Fell is one of the most relatable and convincing books of the year. It is really admirable that Shannon M. Parker can weave a story about abuse that ...more

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Oct 17, 2015 Allison rated it it was amazing

This is pretty much the handbook tons of girls in tons of teen books (and adult romances, if we're being honest) should read before a stunningly good-looking piece of shit shows up to ruin their lives. I yelled a lot while reading this book, mostly at Zephyr. Zephyr's great. She's driven, she has everything going for her, and it's difficult to watch her screw it all up for a guy who is obviously manipulating her and putting her through all kinds of emotional abuse. He isolates her from her two ...more

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Sep 30, 2015 Tikaa rated it did not like it

She Fell & I Didn't Bother To Help Her Up
when trying to deliver an important message goes terribly, horribly, wrong.
.

If I told you that for the first time ever I was nervous to share my thoughts on a title, would you believe me? I mean come on, this is ME we're talking about right? Tika the review slayer, the black sheep, the infamous DNF Queen who enjoys writing negative reviews. No way should I have such feelings towards posting this right? But I do . . . well, I did. I first picked up The She Fell & I Didn't Bother To Help Her Up
when trying to deliver an important message goes terribly, horribly, wrong.
.

If I told you that for the first time ever I was nervous to share my thoughts on a title, would you believe me? I mean come on, this is ME we're talking about right? Tika the review slayer, the black sheep, the infamous DNF Queen who enjoys writing negative reviews. No way should I have such feelings towards posting this right? But I do . . . well, I did. I first picked up The Girl Who Fell last year in December. I was on a promotional tour for it, and because I ended up disliking the story, I was asked to postpone my rating and review until after the tour was over. When I finally decided to review it, I just couldn't. I felt not only disconnected from the story, (as if I wasn't already) and because the subject matter is important, I felt my thoughts might rub someone the wrong way.

But who am I kidding? This is my blog, my thoughts, and if I hate a book, then I just hate it.

Feel free to walk away, shit is about to get real.

Strike One: The Opener.
Not Another Teen Movie.

When the opening scene is a page ripped straight from teen horror movies such as, Friday The 13th, Scream, and I Know What You Did Last Summer, it's extremely hard to take the story seriously. Was this a tactic used to set the tone of the book? Were we supposed to be trembling under our covers, flashlight in hand, awaiting the crazed boyfriend's arrival? My guess is yes, this was the nail-biting build-up before the story started. Was I shaking in my mixed matched Spiderman socks? No, but I was surely peeing in my pajamas from laughing. I mean come on, the MC is alone in her house, the lights go out, and wait for it . . she runs to use the phone but the line is DEAD! THE HORROR! Yeah, beyond ridiculous. The last time I enjoyed such a cheap version of a lifetime drama I was like . . . I don't know . . . TWELVE? Let's just leave these cheesy scenes to the Neve Campbell's and the Jennifer Love Hewitt's of the world . . please. I'm begging at this point.

Strike Two: The Characters.
Ten Things I Hate About You.

I don't want to sound like an asshole, or be accused of victim-blaming with my following words, but I found Zephyr to be incredibly stupid, Alec to be a complete joke, and the few supporting characters to be irrelevant. First of all, Zephyr and Alec were unconvincing as hell. We're literally 2.5 seconds into the story when we're hit with the makings of insta-love. How does one become smitten with a person they haven't even made eye contact with? HOW? But oh, it gets worse. After chatting like twice around 16%, they become a couple.

Would you go out with me?
He can't even know how his words paralyze, They tie and bind with a commitment I can't give after living with the aftermath of my father bailing. Or the mess with Gregg and his kiss. I can't do complicated. " Alec, I . . . " Alec's face waits on my words, patient and forgiving even though he appears to sense what I'm going to say. A small boy scrambles into the swing near us, reprimanding his mother's offer to help. " I do it! " He shouts at her. Alec smiles at the boy's independence, his fierceness, and that is when the word slips out of me. " Yes "

What in the actual fuck?

So pacing just gets thrown out of the window? Did a strong development between these two characters get tossed out too? What about chemistry, an emotional connection? These are things that relationships consist of. Zephyr started making dumb, selfish decisions before Alec even had the chance to fully turn on his creeper switch. She was surprisingly quick to turn on her friends and family, (which wasn't quite realistic IMO) so it wasn't that he was this smooth talking, cunning, charming, manipulative mastermind, (not completely anyway) she just liked him . . and a little too soon. I understand the author wanted to get to the " toxic " part pretty quickly, but when your main characters aren't believable, especially in this type of scenario, well . . . nothing else really matters.

Strike Three: The Everything.
Cruel Intentions.

Since this book covers the tough topics of obsession, manipulation, and domestic abuse, it's automatically labeled as " an important, powerful read, " but honestly, it wasn't . . . at least not for me. Were the topics important? Of course! I've been wanting to read a YA novel that covered these aspects for quite some time, but is this a reason to give The Girl Who Fell a pass for its poor execution? No. After speaking with numerous of readers who loved the book, about 90% of them actually agreed with just about everything that I mentioned in our conversation. The lack of a connection between not only the characters but the reader, the characters themselves being undeveloped, the story lacking emotion, the pacing being far too quick, the unrealistic/ridiculous nature of the some of the scenes, the unnecessary triangle, the incredibly strange sex scenes, Zephyr and her odd behavior, I mean the list goes on. But even though we were all on the same page, they also replied with, " I agree with most of what you said, but it's important, the story was needed. " I can't say that these readers were overlooking these issues, but can we honestly say that another less " important " title with the same flaws would be slapped with as many 5 star ratings as well? I'm not too sure it would.

So what do you guys think? Do we as readers give books high ratings because of their important messages or controversial topics in spite of its execution? Are we more willing to give " passes " for subject matter?
...more

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Apr 09, 2015 Stephanie Elliot rated it it was amazing

OK, so WOW! The thing about this book, well, one of the many things is the character development! So, I don't want to give too much away, but in THE GIRL WHO FELL, part of the description says this:

Zephyr swears it must be love. Because love is powerful, and overwhelming, and…terrifying?

But love shouldn’t make you abandon your dreams, or push your friends away. And love shouldn’t make you feel guilty—or worse, ashamed.

So when Zephyr finally begins to see Alec for who he really is, she knows it’s ...more

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Sep 27, 2015 Melissa Gorzelanczyk rated it it was amazing

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

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

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Crazy for Young A...: The Girl Who Fell by Shannon M. Parker → Start Date: April 27th, 2016	30	37	May 13, 2016 09:42AM

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About S.M. Parker

S.M. Parker

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Shannon Parker lives on the Atlantic coast in a house full of boys. She’s traveled to over three dozen countries and has a few dozen more to go. She works in education and can usually be found rescuing dogs, chickens, old houses and wooden boats. Shannon has a weakness for chocolate chip cookies and ridiculous laughter—ideally, at the same time. Find her at www.shannonmparker.com

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