Title: LESSONS IN FALLING
Author: Diana Gallagher
Release Date: February 7, 2017
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
About the book:
When Savannah Gregory blows out her knee - and her shot at a gymnastics scholarship - she decides she's done with the sport forever. Without gymnastics, she has more time for her best friend, Cassie. She's content to let her fun, impulsive best friend plan a memorable senior year.
That is, until Cassie tries to kill herself.
Savannah wants to understand what happened, but Cassie refuses to talk about it and for the first time, Savannah has to find her own way. The only person she can turn to is Marcos, the boy who saved Cassie's life. Being with him makes her see who she could be and what she really wants: gymnastics.
But Cassie doesn't approve of Marcos or of Savannah going back to gymnastics, and the tighter she tries to hold on to Savannah, the farther it pulls them apart. Without Cassie to call the shots, Savannah discovers how capable she is on her own - and that maybe her best friend's been holding her back all along.
Book Links:
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Book Review:
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
I was fascinated with gymnastics as a kid. I still am. The difference is that I now have a clear and realistic view that I could never be a gymnast. (No matter how hard I'd want to be one.) *sigh*
I went into this book thinking that it would revolve mostly on gymnastics. That wasn't the case though. Which, yeah, had me a little bit disappointed.
First of all, Savannah was not an easy character to like (for me at least). She was overly dramatic and seemed a bit self-centered. The friendship between her and Cassie? I was not sold on it. I kept thinking, "Are you two sure that you're friends?" Fortunately, I didn't feel that way the whole time.
I love the development Savannah's character took. It was realistic and I think we can all agree that we've all been in Savannah's shoes in one form or another. We're all scared of things we cannot control and sometimes we let that fear get in the way of who we really are as a person and who we want to become. As for Cassie, I still don't completely understand her but I think I get where she's coming from. I do think readers would have benefited more with a dual POV.
I also love that there were so many themes in the book. I just wish they were explored deeper and further. It didn't quite have the emotional punch I expected to get from a book such as this.
Lessons in Falling had an interesting plot, complex characters and a slow-burn romance. As far as debut novels go, this one's pretty good. Looking forward to reading more books from the author!
I received an e-arc to read and review.
About the Author:
Though Diana Gallagher be but little, she is fierce. She’s also a gymnastics coach and judge, former collegiate gymnast, and writing professor. Her work has appeared in The Southampton Review, International Gymnast, The Couch Gymnast, The Gymternet, and on a candy cigarette box for SmokeLong Quarterly. She holds an MFA from Stony Brook University and is represented by Tina Wexler of ICM Partners. To learn more, visit dianagallagher.blogspot.com.
Author Links:
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Goodreads
Giveaway:
Want to share your own Lessons Learned?? It's easy! Tell us about a time in your life when you persevered, despite a bad situation, and what lessons you learned from that situation. Share it however you like - on your blog, your social media, wherever! Submit your link to the Rafflecopter below and share the giveaway with your friends to win an annotated ARC!
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Oh and don't miss out on the book's wonderful trailer here!
Devourer of books,
