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yashviiii's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
ciuli's review against another edition
3.0
3,5/5
I listened to this book on audio book and let me just say this: Becca's voice actress. Oh. My. God. She was amazing, one of the best voices I've ever heard. She put so much feelings into her reading, her voice literally broke when Becca was crying and it felt like she was crying along with her.
Brett's voice actor on the other hand, not that good bro.
It was definitely a nice read and I enjoyed listening to it, but the reason of my kind-of-low rating is due to the fact that it was supposed to be a book about fake dating, and it wasn't. Yes, their relationship starts on the basis of lie, but other than that, we don't see the usual struggles we see in fake-dating tropes.
Allow me to explain. Usually, in fake-dating tropes, at the beginning the characters go out with each other in certain situations, because they need to be seen together, there is a reason why they are faking their relationship and it's vital that they are seen together by specific people and that they sell their relationship to them. What I'm seeing here is them going out by themselves straight from the beginning, flirting with each other IN PRIVATE, going out by themselves like.. What's even the point of the fake dating? It's no surprise that they would fall for each other, they are literally dating! I mean, I enjoyed it and it was a cute story, but the main element was supposed to be fake-dating and I saw none of that.
What I truly enjoyed was the main characters relationship with their families, I like how those parts were developed, even if I wanted to kill Becca's mom 3/4 of the time (I mean, your daughter is 17, what's the big fucking deal if she doesn't have a boyfriend?) and Brett's mom is the incarnation of a doormat.
I listened to this book on audio book and let me just say this: Becca's voice actress. Oh. My. God. She was amazing, one of the best voices I've ever heard. She put so much feelings into her reading, her voice literally broke when Becca was crying and it felt like she was crying along with her.
Brett's voice actor on the other hand, not that good bro.
It was definitely a nice read and I enjoyed listening to it, but the reason of my kind-of-low rating is due to the fact that it was supposed to be a book about fake dating, and it wasn't. Yes, their relationship starts on the basis of lie, but other than that, we don't see the usual struggles we see in fake-dating tropes.
Allow me to explain. Usually, in fake-dating tropes, at the beginning the characters go out with each other in certain situations, because they need to be seen together, there is a reason why they are faking their relationship and it's vital that they are seen together by specific people and that they sell their relationship to them. What I'm seeing here is them going out by themselves straight from the beginning, flirting with each other IN PRIVATE, going out by themselves like.. What's even the point of the fake dating? It's no surprise that they would fall for each other, they are literally dating! I mean, I enjoyed it and it was a cute story, but the main element was supposed to be fake-dating and I saw none of that.
What I truly enjoyed was the main characters relationship with their families, I like how those parts were developed, even if I wanted to kill Becca's mom 3/4 of the time (I mean, your daughter is 17, what's the big fucking deal if she doesn't have a boyfriend?) and Brett's mom is the incarnation of a doormat.
kiana2173's review against another edition
4.0
The Upside of Falling by Alex Light is a lighthearted, fake dating, high school romance.
The usual trope of fake dating, football player, and the girl who just doesn’t fit in. Both of them start getting closer and closer as they go on “dates” to prove that they are dating. You know as fake dating goes, they both second guess each other’s real feelings. Though, the picture perfect couple always has issues.
The story also brought an mysterious element, where both of their realities that they considered “true” crumbled around their eyes. I think this made me respect the author of the book, it felt real and true. The emotions felt raw and I could feel the hurt. I wish we could’ve had more candid feelings like that when that happened.
I recommend this to anyone if you just want a cliché fake dating novel, this is the one for you.
The usual trope of fake dating, football player, and the girl who just doesn’t fit in. Both of them start getting closer and closer as they go on “dates” to prove that they are dating. You know as fake dating goes, they both second guess each other’s real feelings. Though, the picture perfect couple always has issues.
The story also brought an mysterious element, where both of their realities that they considered “true” crumbled around their eyes. I think this made me respect the author of the book, it felt real and true. The emotions felt raw and I could feel the hurt. I wish we could’ve had more candid feelings like that when that happened.
I recommend this to anyone if you just want a cliché fake dating novel, this is the one for you.
evaaa0613's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
blurrypetals's review against another edition
3.0
This review contains spoilers.
This book wasn't necessarily bad, but it felt every bit the debut that it is.
Light did a fair enough job of introducing her characters and the fake relationship they get into, but it seemed like every conflict that was introduced was either ignored by the end or not dealt with.
There were also a lot of opportunities for things to not be what they seemed that Light didn't seem interested in even toying with. When it was revealed that Brett's dad was out with another woman I was almost certain we were going to find out that he was actually going to see a family member who was sick, but no, it was precisely what it appeared to be on the surface. Brett didn't get a chance to learn much of anything interesting from the experience, and his mom just ends up forgiving her husband.
I expected a similarly staggering revelation to be made with Becca's father, that his new wife knew who Becca was and thought he hadn't walked out on his last family, but again, everything is unfortunately precisely as it seems.
I was also kind of disappointed with the way the conflicts between the kids rose up, especially between Becca and Brett, but also with Jeff and Brett. The boys' friendship was really built up in a similar way as Becca's friendship with Jenny, building toward a sort of reconciliation or at least to acknowledge how they don't really talk the way friends are meant to talk, but it just isn't paid off in any way.
Becca and Brett also break up immediately after agreeing to really be together because of...reasons? It comes off as particularly cruel and forced because Brett literally just promised not to break Becca's heart. One might chock that up to the fact that he finds out about his dad's cheating, but he already knew his had was cheating when he agreed to be Becca's real boyfriend.
Anyway, this was messy and strange but it had some good bits to it, especially toward the beginning, when Light didn't have to think too hard about what she was doing. I don't know if I would read another book of hers in the future but it would definitely take a little convincing for me to try. Better luck next time, Alex!
This book wasn't necessarily bad, but it felt every bit the debut that it is.
Light did a fair enough job of introducing her characters and the fake relationship they get into, but it seemed like every conflict that was introduced was either ignored by the end or not dealt with.
There were also a lot of opportunities for things to not be what they seemed that Light didn't seem interested in even toying with. When it was revealed that Brett's dad was out with another woman I was almost certain we were going to find out that he was actually going to see a family member who was sick, but no, it was precisely what it appeared to be on the surface. Brett didn't get a chance to learn much of anything interesting from the experience, and his mom just ends up forgiving her husband.
I expected a similarly staggering revelation to be made with Becca's father, that his new wife knew who Becca was and thought he hadn't walked out on his last family, but again, everything is unfortunately precisely as it seems.
I was also kind of disappointed with the way the conflicts between the kids rose up, especially between Becca and Brett, but also with Jeff and Brett. The boys' friendship was really built up in a similar way as Becca's friendship with Jenny, building toward a sort of reconciliation or at least to acknowledge how they don't really talk the way friends are meant to talk, but it just isn't paid off in any way.
Becca and Brett also break up immediately after agreeing to really be together because of...reasons? It comes off as particularly cruel and forced because Brett literally just promised not to break Becca's heart. One might chock that up to the fact that he finds out about his dad's cheating, but he already knew his had was cheating when he agreed to be Becca's real boyfriend.
Anyway, this was messy and strange but it had some good bits to it, especially toward the beginning, when Light didn't have to think too hard about what she was doing. I don't know if I would read another book of hers in the future but it would definitely take a little convincing for me to try. Better luck next time, Alex!
ladyhippolyta's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't really like this book. I wanted something similar to [b:To All the Boys I've Loved Before|15749186|To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1)|Jenny Han|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1372086100l/15749186._SY75_.jpg|21442106] but this, unfortunately, meant I was comparing it unfavourable most of the book. I didn't see a reason to like many of the characters and it all felt rather shallow. Won't be reading again.
The audiobook narration was fine. It was nice that it was read by both a male and a female narrator.
The audiobook narration was fine. It was nice that it was read by both a male and a female narrator.
booklivers24's review against another edition
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
readandramblewithme's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5