The Fall of Grace

by Amy Fellner Dominy

The Fall of Grace is an adventure-thriller with a hint of romance, in which not everything as perfect as it seems.

Grace’s junior year is turning into her best year yet. She’s set to make honor roll, her print from photography class might win a national contest, and her crush just asked her to prom.

Then the bottom falls out. News breaks that the investment fund her mom runs is a scam and her mother is a thief. Now, instead of friends, the FBI is at her door. Grace is damaged goods.

Millions of dollars are unaccounted for, and everyone wants to know where all the money went. Can she find it and clear her mother’s name?

The key to repairing her shattered life seems to lie in a place deep in the wilderness, and Grace sets out, her identity hidden, determined to find it.

But she isn’t alone.

Sam Rivers, a mysterious loner from school, is on her trail and wants to know exactly what secrets she uncovers. As the pair travels into the wilds, Grace realizes she must risk everything on the dark, twisted path to the truth.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Survival

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 10, 2018

About the author

Hi! I write contemporary books for kids and teens and anyone who loves adventure, nature, laughter and a bit of magic. Coming in 2026: MONSTER DOWN DEEP, a middle grade adventure and A HOUSE WITH NO DOOR, a picture book about the harvest holiday of Sukkot. For news, giveaways and sneak peeks, sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.amydominy.com/newsletter. Thanks for following me here!

Reviews

[Susan's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to grudgingly put this book aside after starting it yesterday evening. After scrambling to get a huge chunk of work done today, I hurried back to my arm chair and lost myself in the midst of a Colorado national park, looking for clues to the location of millions of swindled dollars.

Grace wanted so much to believe her mother wasn't the heartless thief everyone said she was. Grace used to idolize her mother - and yet she couldn't stand the thought that her mother might have deliberately used her to dupe so many people out of their savings.

This story had a bit of everything to tantalize you: action, suspense, getting lost on a wilderness trail, a terrifying lightning storm, a scary bear and a potential mountain lion or two.

Sam was trailing Grace, thinking she would lead him to a stash of hidden money. He follows her on the bus ride from Arizona to Colorado, and even though he blames her for the loss of his mother's life savings, time and again, Sam comes to Grace's rescue on their perilous journey. What started out as mistrust and enmity on both their parts turned into friendship - and something more. In the end, their joint efforts at survival on the trail taught them something about what was really valuable in life: they were no longer alone in their respective misery. Sam and Grace knew what it was to feel guilt and loss, but they now had a reason to try to rise above the hurts of the past.

I wish there had been a bit more closure regarding the ponsi scam, but this was such a fabulous story and I can see that it would be hard to make such a resolution fit seamlessly with the ending that the author ultimately presents us with. The focus was on Grace and Sam's interior growth, and not on whether the lost millions would ever be recovered. This was a truly enjoyable YA read, touching on very serious subject matters - suicidal ideation being one of them.

At the end of their harrowing adventure, both Sam and Grace learned to understand that dwelling on the past, and letting guilt and remorse for things that cannot be undone ruin their lives was pointless. Sam said it so well at one point:

"Here's the truth: We can't fix things or change them. Not the way we want. All we do is live it over and over until we're not living at all."
"So what do we do? How do we go back?" (asks Grace.) .. "How is it possible.. that I can see forever from here, but I can't see how to move on?" ....
"Maybe we have to stop going back." (Sam responds) ... "Maybe the thing is not which direction we go from here. Maybe it's just that we don't go alone."

So true! As the song says, we all get by with a little help from our friends. Highly recommended!

[Liza Wiemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fall of Grace is coming out in a few weeks! It's an absolute must read for YA readers. But don't just take my word for it, check out other reviews. They're fantastic. Definitely add this to your TBR list!

I couldn't put this down! Seriously. COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN! So, make sure to have your snacks ready and be prepared to read it in one sitting. The Fall of Grace will be on my list of Best YA novels for 2018.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advance Praise for The FALL of GRACE:

"The Fall of Grace is heart-rending and real; readers will laugh and weep as they follow Grace's journey...” Aprilynne Pike #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Wings and Glitter"

"Clever plot construction, inevitable romance, and Grace’s realistic emotional roller coaster will appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen." --Booklist

"...a satisfyingly unexpected and realistic ending that will likely surprise readers." --Kirkus

"Dominy (Die for You) writes with raw emotion, exploring the impact of revealed family secrets through the lens of a daughter’s fierce love." --Publishers Weekly

"A blend of suspense and adventure with a romance thrown in for good measure." School Library Journal

[Vernon Luckert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am providing a review of a ARC from goodreads. I both enjoyed this fine book, and found I had a sort of personal connection to the theme. This quote from the book really hit home, "We can't fix things or change them. Not the way we want. All we do is live it over and over until we're not living at all." Continuing to rerun a betrayal or hurtful event over and over in your mind can rob your today and your future of growth and pleasure. While not easy to do, one needs to find a way to forgive and/or "let go" of the past and move on with today. You might have been a victim, but do not let continual reliving of a past hurt of betrayal victimize the rest of your life.

[Terry Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to read an early version of this story. What a ride! It has everything - great adventure, delicious romance, vivid setting, and the awesome, real, complicated, funny characters that Amy Dominy is known for. Highly recommend!

[Kelly Hager · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read my blog at all, you've probably heard me speak of Amy Fellner Dominy, whose young adult and middlegrade books are some of my most favorites. Every time a book of hers is about to come out, I get incredibly excited because, while the plots vary, I know that they will be excellent. I know I will love the characters and the story and that they will be amazing.

This is her best yet. And it's her best yet by A LOT. (Which is saying something because again, they are all wonderful.)

It's hard not to feel horrible for Grace. It's just been her and her mom for her entire life and now her mom is essentially a complete stranger. Who can she trust now that her entire belief system has basically imploded? And to make matters worse, she's also lost all of her friends, because their families invested and have now lost all their money. Right or wrong, they blame Grace. It's an incredibly lonely position to be in.

We don't get a lot of answers (neither does Grace) but, as the cliche goes, the point is the journey and not the destination. This is an incredibly powerful journey and it's one you should strongly consider taking.

Highly recommended.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

One day Grace is living a charmed life with wealthy friends, every material thing she’s ever wanted and nothing to worry about. The next her mom is indicted for a Ponzi scheme (a la Bernie Madoff) involving most of Grace’s friends’ families. She becomes persona non grata accused by her friends of knowing. Additionally, when confronted by the FBI, her mom had a stroke and is now in a coma. Grace hops a bus to Colorado in search of proof, tailed by Sam, whose mother was also scammed.

THE FALL OF GRACE is an unbelievable story. I never bought into the theory that all Grace’s friends and even her teachers would blame her for her mother’s crimes. Even the FBI seemed to question her innocence. In order for me to buy into the story, I had to believe that if a teenager’s mother was a financial scammer, adults and her peers would turn on her.

I’m not a fan of insta-romance, but at least Amy Dominy wasn’t heavy handed with Grace and Sam. Dominy’s writing and pacing kept me reading, hoping for a positive outcome for Grace. Because of the unrealistic nature of the plot THE FALL OF GRACE wasn’t my favorite of Dominy’s, but it’s still an interesting read.

[Luke Reynolds · Rating 1 out of 5]

ARC Review (4/12/18, received from Sarah Prineas)

Oof. The first few pages of this were excellent and promised depth, but by the end, The Fall of Grace felt shallow and ludicrous. The love interest was creepy, Grace’s denial was annoying despite proof she knew her mom was in a Ponzi scheme, and despite a great past-and-present switch and an interesting plot about how a mother could get away with a Ponzi scheme and how it affects her daughter, there were elements that were taken right out of a soap opera. A mom in a coma on the edge of life and death? Looking for a jar that’s symbolic of something? Two troubled teens falling in love? I’ve unfortunately seen it all, and some great phrases can’t save that.

It’s available now for everyone, so if you like melodrama and contemporaries with dark topics, maybe check this one out? I wouldn’t recommend it.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Grace and the end of her junior year. As the school year winds down everything is going really well until Grace and her friend Cecily see Grace's mom on TV news. Her mom has just been accused of embezzling funds and has collapsed. Grace rushes to her mom's workplace and discovers the what horrible crimes that everyone is saying her mom has done. Grace can't believe that her mom would have done what they are saying and try to find a way to prove that her mom was innocent. The worst part, however, is that everyone thought that Grace knew what was going on and was involved with it also.

This is one of the best young adult books I have read this year. While on the trek to clear her mom, Grace meets up with Sam Rivers, a loner at school. At first Sam follows Grace to try and get his mom's money back but then he and Grace end up learning more about each other.
A delightful coming of age book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Video review: https://youtu.be/g3BN6Z_VbX8

[Gabriella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fall of Grace was an interesting read. I knew where I was hoping it would go the whole time and while it didn't go that direction I still found it enjoyable. You can find my full review at Gabriella M Reads.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty standard story about a young girl, living a privileged life, who discovers that her mother's success might just be... illegally obtained. Of course, Grace is convinced there's been a mistake (the FBI and courts, less so) and since Mom's in a coma, only Grace can prove the truth. And then there's Sam, the boy who is insisting on following Grace as she tries to find out what the truth is - and we all know how this will go. Nothing surprising, nothing new, but Grace and Sam will appeal to readers.

ARC provided by publisher.

[Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

We hear about fraudulent activities all the time in the media but we never really hear about the aftermath or what goes on behind the scenes. How it affects friends and family members. Dominy tackles that issue in her latest novel, The Fall of Grace. Grace lived the posh-life, she had everything...looks, popularity, wealth and recognition being the face of her mom’s company. But she never questioned her lavish lifestyle or how her mother provided for the two of them. Then one day Grace’s life starts to crumble as her mom is accused of a ponzi scheme involving money invested from their own community. Only Grace knows her mom and that what she was being accused of was ludicrous and she’s determined to absolve her mom by finding out the truth.

I’m starting to dig the past and present writing style. The Fall of Grace is narrated in first-person point of view, jumping back and forth, as you can guess, the past and present culminating in the present; days after news about her mother breaks. Readers get to see everything leading up to her mother’s indictment; how she lived before and after.

The plot itself is intriguing but it wasn’t without flaws. I found it perplexing how easily everyone assumed Grace was involved and aided her mom in acquiring 45 million dollars from the investors. What happened to being innocent until proven guilty? I mean, she’s still a kid after all. The verbal and physical attacks Grace endure was disheartening and sad but I could see it from both sides. Grace and Sam were decent leads but at the same time there wasn’t anything that made them standout or memorable. It didn’t help that I wasn’t able to feel any connection to them either…they had their moments.

In my opinion the first half of the book was stronger and better than the second half. I was a bit disappointed in how it ended and wished we had a clear answer such as where did all the money go? I also felt the ending was rushed and too easily resolved, at least in how everything was dealt involving Grace’s mom, Janelle. But overall I thought The Fall of Grace was a solid read with pros and cons and a novel I would still recommend it with reservation.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Junior Grace Pierce has everything she ever dreamed of wanting. She has great friends, a new boyfriend, and she is developing a eye for what makes a good photograph. But when her mother is accused of fraud and being involved in an investment scam in Phoenix, Arizona that is likely to cost investors millions of dollars, Grace suddenly finds that she's being blamed for the crime as well. After all, hers was the face used on the promotional materials for the investment plan, and she recommended it to the families of friends at her new school. Suddenly, Grace finds herself an anathema with no one having her back. At first, Grace is sure that her mother is innocent, and she sits faithfully by her bedside as her the woman lies in a coma after a struck. Since she can't speak, Grace is unable to get any answers. Even while the FBI closes in and the family loses everything, Grace looks for the answers. What she eventually discovers sends her on a hasty road trip to Colorado. But she's followed by Sam Rivers, the son of one of the investors, and he is determined to dog her every step of the way in case she's leading him to the missing money. Readers will realize the unlikelihood of Mrs. Pierce having secreted all those funds in the wilderness, but they will also hope that Grace finds something that brings her comfort since she's reached the end of her rope and thinks there is no way to go on. Both teens are clearly among the walking wounded, but somehow, they are able to find a way to be kind to one another. I liked this story a lot because it leaves many things unanswered and prompts readers to wonder if it is possible to ever completely know someone, even the woman who gave birth to you. The swiftness with which all her friends turn on Grace is frightening but also entirely realistic.

[Caroline Vontzalides · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fall of Grace, by Amy Fellner Dominy was a very intriguing book and did not fail to keep me on the edge of my seat. The novel is focused around the protagonist Grace Pierce who at first is living a perfect life at Desert Sky High. She is the face of her single Mother’s family fund and always brings in more buyers. Grace’s life gets turned upside down when her Mom is questioned of stealing millions of dollars from the family fund and then goes into a coma that leaves Grace alone with many problems. Over the course of the book she travels to a Colorado mountain that her Mom was fond of and Grace is seeking answers that her Mom physically can not help with. The novel takes a turn when Grace is followed by one of her peers from school to Colorado and has to go up the mountain surviving off of each other just to see if what they’re looking for is possibly there. In the end Grace is faced with many challenges like dealing with friends who have invested in the family fund, struggling to accept reality, coping with her emotions, and making a tough decision about her mother’s heath.
This novel was very adventurous, climatic, and had a hint of romance making it a four out of five stars. I really liked this book because it showed what Grace’s life was like before all of the chaos from her Mother’s fraud fund and the present day of how she is dealing with everything on her own. What really made this book great was the journey that Grace and her peer went through to get to the top of the mountain and the mystery of the fund. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes adventure and mystery because this novel has a lot of action and kept me on the edge of my seat at the end. It also had great character development and always had me questioning of what was next. However, this novel can feel very slow at the beginning and has some romance at the end so I wouldn’t recommend this if that doesn’t interest you. Overall, the novel was very engaging and interesting so I would highly suggest to read.

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace has never wanted for anything. Except maybe the truth about who her father might be, but her high powered fund manager mother, has repeatedly told her she doesn't need a dad because they have a perfect life-trips, cars, multiple homes and a fancy school where she's able to shine, have lots of friends and maybe win a national photography contest.
Then the bottom falls out of her life. Her mother is being investigated for the millions missing from the fund that Grace was so willing to push to her private school classmates and teachers. Even worse, Mom had a stroke when confronted and is now comatose. Meanwhile, everyone is changing how they interact with Grace. They start by being just a bit chilly, then begin pushing her about the missing funds, as if she must know where they went, or are hidden. Then almost all of her belongings are taken by the investigators, leaving her with her camera, the clothing on her back, a small stash of cash and a determination to find out what her mom really did with the money.
She sets off on a bus trip from Phoenix to the small Colorado town where she believes her mother hid clues to the money's location. Shortly after boarding the bus, she's confronted by a pedophile who tries to assault her. A mysterious hoodie wearing guy chases the creep away twice. Grace is shocked when she realizes her savior is Sam Rivers, her main competitor in photography class. He's sharp and determined to follow her until she finds her mother's hiding place on a mountain trail. What begins as animosity becomes grudging cooperation, then a bit more as they track down a mysterious rocky cairn. The search includes a bear, a storm, disappointment and more. To find out what that more might be, read the book. You won't be disappointed.

[Melissa Badamo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This book was geniusly written (I think I just made up a word there, but that's how good this book was)! I felt just as heartbroken as Grace throughout the story, especially when she discovers gut-wrenching truths that come as plot twits to both the reader and the protagonist. Grace sets out to leave town after her mother is accused of fraud, but realizes she is being followed by her mysterious photography classmate, Sam. The story follows their physical journey to the Colorado Mountains, looking for two different things at the same place, as well as their emotional journey, finding themselves and realizing that there's more to each other than once believed. The two leads are so parallel to each other without them even knowing it, and the character development is my favorite thing about this book.

Another reason why I loved this book is because of this extended metaphor that captures the character development so well:

"But words are also like bricks. If you lay the right ones down, you can build a wall between yourself and the rest of the world." (pg 57)

"So his words become new bricks and I stack them between us, rebuilding my fortress." (276)

"A smile transforms his face, the strength of it too powerful for any simple wall of bricks." (285)

"He covers my hand with his- and the connection is infinitely sweet. No more walls. This is what I want to build on- the feeling inside of me right now." (289)

[Amanda Goossen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling, heartbreaking and impossible to put down, "The Fall of Grace" is Amy Dominy's best work yet!

I devoured this book in less than 12 hours, avoiding all other responsibilities as I was thrust into the devastation felt by Grace, the daughter of a high-powered business woman, who has just slipped into a coma after being caught by the FBI for embezzling millions of dollars from nearly every family in their tight-knit community. Grace, who is only a high school student, is left to pick up the pieces of her life, which now seems full of mystery. Who was her mother? Was anything about their life real? Or was everything just a portion of her mother's massive ponzi scheme.

A story of love and loss. Mothers and daughters. And an insight into what happens to the family left in the shambles of deceit, "The Fall of Grace" is a must read for anyone looking for a page-turner full of emotion and suspense.

Dominy has a keen ability to craft YA novels that not only entertain a teenage audience, but captivate adult readers as well. The characters have depth, they feel like someone you could know, and their stories unravel in an intense, yet layered way that makes each page better than the next. I look forward to each of this author's books and this book is proof that they just get better with each new release.

[Madeline · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5/5 stars

The plot seemed interesting, and I felt like the book had so much potential, but it just fell flat. It was so boring. The storyline of her going to Colorado to look for a picture made zero sense. And the ending was a major disappointment. There were so many questions left unanswered. It was such a cop-out with the mom in a coma the whole time, and then she dies before she can tell her story and explain why she did what she did. So we got none of her tale, and we still are left wondering where the money is. As for the characters, none of them were spectacular. Grace annoyed me because 90% of the time she was in denial her mom was a thief. Sam was creepy and stalkerish to me. I felt like it was pretty obvious that he was going to be the love interest, because it's, like, written in the Y.A. Author's Guidebook that the male lead must be the love interest. But it just felt weird, unnecessary, and forced. The book did not require a plot line with a love interest. And Cecily...the last time she's mentioned in the book, she slapped Grace and slammed the door in her face. That's what we're left with. Anyways, I probably won't be rereading this one.

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Some storms you hide from, and some storms you meet with a furry of your own."

This book made me think, feel emotions I wasn't excepting to feel, and fall in love with two complex, tragically layered characters who's stories I wanted more of. I enjoyed the realism of the story, and the underlining message that everyone is fighting their own battles, especially the ones you can't see. That sums up much of what both Grace and Sam are fighting against, and coping with, all while dealing with the hash judgements of others. This isn't a light hearted YA contemporary story, and I appreciated Amy for not sugar coating the tragedies of life, people's choices, the consequences they have on others, and the inner strength and hope two characters find within themselves, and together.

https://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2018/...

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

If my family had lost their life savings in a Ponzi scheme, I would simply not take all my anger and blame out on the perpetrator's teenage daughter, especially if that daughter was upset and appeared to sincerely believe her mother was innocent.

So. That timeline was not always the most fun to read about, even though I was totally gripped by the investigation and whether her mom would wake up/what would happen when she did. But I really liked Grace as a character and I especially enjoyed the August timeline on the trail, with its equal parts beauty and danger, except for the fact that Sam is an absolute pill and I fervently wanted him to be eaten by a bear to the end. I actually gagged at the ending that she found nothing out there but "love." It also made the ending far too abrupt; I really needed closure on a lot more things than that.

[Lucretia Brattin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished Amy Fellner Dominy's book The Fall of Grace. It had the correct amount of suspense to keep me reading. I'm always looking for things to add to our school library. This will be a definate add. I have several high school students who will love it. We are in a small school... this is set in a larger school. The main character is very rich. We are not. However, there is a trust issue that is explored in this book that readers of all means can relate too. We have all had expectations that fell short and we have all felt betrayed at some point or another. Those two themes alone will carry the reader forward through the next chapter anxiously awaiting the next scene.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dominy has crafted a deeply-moving story of hurt and sorrow, and one girl's attempt to recover from betrayal. With her mother lying in a coma and facing accusations of fraud, Grace sets off on a journey to clear her name. This reader constantly wondered why Sam was following Grace. What's in in for him? Will they find the answers they seek? Through flashbacks and dialogue, we learn what Grace is really looking for, and we root for a romantic relationship between her and Sam. I found this novel to be a unique approach to a mother-daughter story, and I liked it because it's different. It's sad, hopeful, and not neatly wrapped up. A perfect read for a rainy day.

[Aliam Sunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in a reading slump for years and I’ve been wanting to get back to reading. I love reading. I felt so sad about not being able to even finish one book. And this book, The Fall of Grace, gave that back to me.

It was the first time again I’ve read a book word per word and enjoyed it. I couldn’t put the book down. I was annoyed at the slightest distraction of when I had to put the book down to do something.

This was a 5 stars for me. It was heartbreaking. It was nerve wrecking but it was also heartwarming.

Pick it up. Read it. Give it a chance. I wasn’t sure I’ll like it when I bought it, but now I’m glad I did.

[Erin Cashman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fall of Grace is a thought-provoking YA novel with plenty of mystery, adventure, romance, and heart. The tight pacing and intricately woven plot kept my interest from the very first page, in fact, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! And I loved Grace, who is a victim of her mother's crime, and is such a sympathetic and nuanced character. With lively writing, vivid descriptions, and realistic dialogue - this emotionally complex and sometimes heartbreaking book is a must read! I highly recommended it!

[Nickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I generally don't like books that flip-flop in time, but this one was well done. It starts in August with Grace trying to get on a bus and not be seen. Then it bounces into the past and we discover that her mother has been indicted for stealing people's money and she has a stroke that leaves her in a coma. Over the course of the next few days, Graces loses all her friends. Meanwhile she is trying to get to a place her mother loved, but she is being followed by Sam, a boy who hates her. What they discover on the trail is that they have more in common than they first knew.

[Jean Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just goes to show, you can be living the kind of life that most only dream of and then all of sudden lose everything. This was Grace's experience. It was a really interesting story, filled with so many situations that were just so raw. She lived with her mom, a very successful money manager. Then her mom suffered a terrible stroke that left her in a coma. At the same time, Grace learns her mom has been under investigation by the FBI for fraud. I really felt for this girl and I pulled for her the entire way. Great story!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fall of Grace was hard to put down! I know I like a book when I am reading and the story sticks with me so that regardless of what I am doing, I want to get back to the book to read more! The Fall of Grace was that book for me! The author did a great job of developing the characters and making them feel real. The story is very clever and there were surprises. I really recommend The Fall of Grace for all ages

[Tammy Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book left too many unanswered questions for me. The storyline focused on the mom supposedly stealing millions of dollars but ended without telling us if she did or not, what happened to the money, was she really going to leave her daughter on her own, etc. It was very unsatisfying. Also, I found it hard to believe that most every single person in town, both adult and kid, blamed/suspected a high school kid for what her mother allegedly did.

[Caitie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t really care about Grace, there I said it. I feel like this book was too short to really delve into background of why Grace's mother did what she did. I felt as though I was left with too many unanswered questions. Where was Grace's father? There was no one in her life that supported her. Except her aunt and uncle who lived somewhere.