Review:
I started this book on a Saturday morning and finished it a few hours later. So good I simply couldn't put it down.
There is very little plot to the book. It was mostly the mystery angle that got my attention and why I picked it up. Though the main focus of the book is the relationship drama between Jackie and her cousin Marcus. The whole cousin romance thing was kind of icky, but weirdly compelling as well.
Jackie has moved to rural Missouri with her parents to live with her aunt and uncle, and their huge mess of kids of all ages. She developed a friendship with Marcus and it quickly turned into something more. Both of them are torn over what to do about it. They sneak around a lot, they are both smart enough to know that the whole situation is a difficult one, they are cousins and live in the same house and it would cause a lot of stress and drama if their families found out.
They go up and down on this roller coaster of emotion. They try setting rules and boundaries, but things always get twisted. Worse when a new girl comes to town and sets her sights on Marcus. Jackie tries to pretend she's okay with it...she and Marcus are messing around and both will go their separate ways to college before long.
But of course, its way more complicated than that. Despite the fact that the cousin thing was uncomfortable, the depth of feelings and Jackie's inner struggles were absorbing. The writing was amazing, and the book was just simply impossible to put down. Jackie had a great voice and a well rounded personality that made her extremely easy to like and care about her struggles. The family dynamic was great. The family was full of kids and parents who ran a pseudo hippy-ish lifestyle, even if one aunt was very overbearing. There were rules to follow and everyone pitched into help. There was plenty of drama, but it was different and entertaining.
There was a side mystery pot as well, involving Jackie's former best friend Ellie who had moved away and they had lost touch. Ellie turns up missing. And is soon found dead. Jackie doesn't get too involved, until she notices the new girl, has a connection to Ellie. Its almost like at some points the mystery is forgotten and then brought up again at the end in way that felt to me like - oh we really need to tie this plot up and everything is concluded during a storm in what seemed like an overly dramatic rush.
Despite a few uncomfortable themes, the book was exceptionally well written with some beautifully fleshed out characters exploring some deep emotions. I really can't wait to read something else by this author.
Original post: sunsetxcocktail.booklikes.com/post/1227081/review-how-we-fall
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