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Monday, October 25, 2010

Review: Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers


Title: Fall for Anything
Author: Courtney Summers
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pub. Date: December 2010
Genre: Contemporary YA
Keywords: Grief, Suicide, Love, Lies, Secrets
Pages: 240
Description (from arc):
When Eddie Reeves's father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why. Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, former student of her father's and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. He seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie's vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on... but some questions should be left unanswered.

Courtney Summers is the Queen of Mean; she holds hold court over characters that readers love to hate... and just plain love. Readers are well aware that Summers can write a compelling mean girl, but, with FALL FOR ANYTHING, she shows us that she can write vulnerable and broken with just as much skill.

I quickly realized that Eddie wasn't anything like Summers' previous two main characters, Parker and Regina. Eddie has never dated the most popular guy in school, she doesn't bully, and, most notably, she doesn't  hide her pain and vulnerability behind a mean exterior. She's had one best friend, Milo, for years, and, except for the occasional girlfriend, it's them against the world. That is, until her father commits suicide, Milo refuses to talk about what happened that fateful night, and Eddie meets Culler Evans.

Eddie's quest to find the reason for father's sudden death is painfully sad and incredibly moving. The novel begins "My hands are dying" and this line stayed with me throughout the novel. Since the night her father died, of which she only has a hazy, incomplete memory, Eddie does not feel alive. She constantly analyzes her father's actions, his words, his life, looking for the reason behind his departure. And when Culler Evans, her father's student whom she's never met, reaches out to her, she holds on for dear life because he's the only person who makes her feels alive. For the first time, something and someone has come between Eddie and Milo, despite the fact that Eddie might need Milo now more than ever.


I'll openly admit that I love everything I've read by Summers, so maybe my opinion regarding this novel is biased... or maybe, my love for her previous novels, CRACKED UP TO BE and SOME GIRLS ARE, and newfound adoration for FALL FOR ANYTHING, offers proof of just how wonderful her stories and characters are and will convince you to pick up these titles for your own collection.

13 comments:

  1. I've heard a few things about FFA. Unsurprisingly, all of them are good! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Courtney Summers has her way with her novels. They really shine. Ahh, I can't wait to read this! :D Thanks so much for your review!

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  2. Ah, awesome review! First one that I've read and it's a glowing one. I need this book! Courtney Summers is a genius.

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  3. This is the review I've seen of Fall For Anything - thanks! Great that she can portray the vulnerable teenager as well :)

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  4. Awesome review, you're so lucky you got to read this book before it came out! It looks really good.

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  5. Great review!

    Also, I just wanted to let you know that you've received an award over at my blog, Library Mosaic. Your blog is great.

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  6. Thanks for the review! I've been wanting to read this! It sounds heartbreaking and beautiful.

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  7. This is the 1st review I've seen of this book and it's making me REALLY wanna read the book. I love Courtney Summers' books. She's a genious, she writes the most emotional stories! I can't wait for this one to come out.

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  8. SO EXCITED for this book. Great review by the way. You've got me on the edge of my seat wanting to find out what happens and how Eddie deals with it.

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  9. Hey! I was wondering...do you only do reviews for published authors? Because I would love to get some constructive criticism on my romance novel. If not, do you have any suggestions of where I can get someone to review?

    Title:For Eternity
    Synopsis:
    When you're immortal, true love really is forever....
    Princess Ariana Blackmoor of Assania is not one to follow rules -a reason that is probably why she has yet to marry- and her father, King Alistair, has had enough of her eccentricities and decides that his daughter must marry by the end of September...or he will choose her husband for her. And so she's vowed to completely scare off her suitors one by one.
    As she narrows down the list of suitors, her world slowly turns into turmoil A delegate from the kingdom of Koranis is murdered brutally in the face of Assanian high society and her suitors are the prime suspects. And if she doesn't discover which one of them did it, war will begin. Will she succeed in finding the murderer and returning to her perfect world without her heart being stolen in the process?

    You can read it on my blog: aryalinea.blogspot.com

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  10. Oh boy this makes me even more excited to read this book! Thanks for the review!

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  11. I've heard so many good things about this author. While I own "Some Girls Are" and "Cracked Up To Be" I haven't read either yet. I can't wait for the release of this one because it sounds like something I would inhale.

    Great review!

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  12. Great review. I love Courtney's books. soooooo good. I'm glad you enjoyed this one :)

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