Sunday, March 16, 2014

Review: The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle

Title: The Edge of Falling
Author: Rebecca Serle
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Simon Pulse (March 18, 2014)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Book Description:
Growing up in privileged, Manhattan social circles, Caggie’s life should be perfect, and it almost was until the day that her younger sister drowned when Caggie was supposed to be watching her. Stricken by grief, Caggie pulls away from her friends and family, only to have everyone misinterpret a crucial moment when she supposedly saves a fellow classmate from suicide. Now she’s famous for something she didn’t do and everyone lauds her as a hero. But inside she still blames herself for the death of her sister and continues to pull away from everything in her life, best friend and perfect boyfriend included. Then Caggie meets Astor, the new boy at school, about whom rumours are swirling and known facts are few. In Astor she finds someone who just might understand her pain, because he has an inner pain of his own. But the more Caggie pulls away from her former life to be with Astor, the more she realises that his pain might be darker, and deeper, than anything she’s ever felt. His pain might be enough to end his life…and Caggie’s as well.








For some reason I am typically drawn into books that are all about  coming into your own. I have no idea why really other than I just love all the 'first". First love, a first kiss, a first heartbreak, challenges, lessons, loss, all of it. There is just something so...well I was going to say magical but I am not quite sure even that adjective is the right one.

There is just something alluring about it so it was no wonder that when I saw the premises of this and that crazy fun cover, I couldn't resist picking it up and seeing what it was all about.

This was sadder, heavier than I thought it would be. 

Caggie is very much a damaged guilt ridden sorrowful girl and her story, her anguish was pretty darn heartbreaking and something that I hope most people never have to go through. Losing someone you love and being blamed (or at least feeling that way) for their death is just tragic and horrible and so so wrong. I felt her pain, her heartache and her guilt for something that can only be deemed a horrible tragic accident.

What happened afterwards was just as sad as the incident itself. 

Caggie goes through a lot. Her experiences a lot. She contemplates a lot and most importantly she learns a lot. 

I have always said that I am all about the growth in characters and this book is all about growing and learning and grieving and forgiving and loving. 

Caggie does grow and she makes some pretty sad and awful mistakes along the way, some that almost change her life forever and some she never would have been able to come back from but overall I think this was a very realistic, very real look at death and what it means to some, especially in the case of Cassie and her sister. 

Death is never easy, it is never pretty and it is never something that doesn't touch us all at some point in time.

I really liked what the author did with the tough subject matter, how she handled it, how Cassie grew and how it all felt very much like something I could really see and feel and fathom.

I think this was very well done and I commend the author on her efforts to make this as realistic as possible with still giving the reader an ending that was satisfying. 








*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

22 comments:

  1. I'm happy that you enjoyed The Edge of Falling and that it's not usual fluffy read. I'm really looking forward to it.
    Great review.

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  2. Can't do this one. No way, no how. The sister thing would kill me, I couldn't even get past the blurb. I don't always have to read light and fluffy books, I really enjoyed Morgan Matson's Second Chance Summer for instance, but bad things happening to sisters is one of my lines in the sand, you know? However, I am glad that you enjoyed it.

    Jessica @ Rabid Reads

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    1. I understand! These reads can be really hard especially if they hit (or could hit) close to home!

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  3. I read this author's other book and really enjoyed it, so I think I'll definitely be giving this one a try. It sounds pretty heavy, but I'm glad it was handled well. It's good that Caggie grows throughout the book, too! What she goes through sounds heartbreaking, though. Great review :)

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  4. This does sound a little intense, I do so much better with fictional situations then these type of reads, although I do enjoy coming of age novels.

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    1. I really do too but I have to read them in small doses.

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  5. I swear I thought you were going to say you are drawn to books with cute shoes on them. That shows where MY head is. But wow, I wouldn't have expected it to be so heavy either. Sounds good though. Definitely a mood read.

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    1. Ha ha! Well, that might have been it too. I do like a good pair of cute shoes!

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  6. Wow this is definitely a heavier read than I would expect based on that cover. I think I'm going to steer clear of this one, I feel like the sister thing will be too depressing for me. A similar storyline in Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly bummed me out for weeks (it was the MC's brother's death). Lovely review though!

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  7. I love the cover and Caggie is such a strange name, isn't it? I was tempted to pick this up just for that, but then I read your review and realized how serious and suffocating it all is. I'm an escapist through and through, I'm afraid, so I'll pass.
    Lovely review, though!

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  8. I was very curious about this one when I saw the cover, and I think I will still like to read it even though it is very sad. Thanks for your thoughts.

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  9. Ah, you just reminded me that I have an ARC of this! *hides head in shame* With that said, I'm glad you enjoyed this one. It's similarly tough for me to read topics that touch on death and grief, but I think it's well worth it to take on the journey so we ourselves may also learn with and from the main character. I'll still read this one and just hope my heart is well prepared to take the blow that's sure to come The Social Potato

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  10. I have really been wondering about this book. You're review is wonderful and informative. Books like this emotionally drain me for some reason. I have to pace myself with them.

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    1. It might not seem like it sometimes but I really do too.

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  11. I been curious about this one, and been wanting to read it - but it might be a while for me giving the circumstances and the subject in this book

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