If I Fall Back Down Again: A Punk Rock Memoir

by Raven Taylor

If I Fall Back Down Again continues with the story of Tobias Grave, leader of punk band The Radicals, his wife, Morven Strike-punk rocker and alternative model-and their young son, Reno. Five years have passed since Reno's birth, but after numerous failed attempts to make a success of their marriage, Tobi and Morven finally split. Reno lives with Tobi and his partner, and twenty-three-year-old Morven, now penniless, is forced to travel from Edinburgh to Brighton to see the son she hardly knows. But who really is Reno's father? Is it Tobi, the older father figure, or is it Goldie, Morven's ex-boyfriend, a violent extremist? And to what lengths is Goldie prepared to go to get Morven and Reno back into his life? This is an edgy, gritty story of relationships and modern life. It's a tale of drugs, fights, gigs and kidnapping with some shocking events. Promising young author Raven Taylor has skilfully crafted a page-turning, must-read sequel to If I Fall Back Down.

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2015

About the author

Raven Taylor is a British novelist writing character-driven social realism rooted in emotional truth rather than spectacle. Her work explores love, loyalty, masculinity, and inherited trauma, often set around music and subculture, but focused squarely on relationships and moral ambiguity rather than nostalgia.

Her novels examine people who love badly, cling fiercely, and struggle to reconcile who they were with who they are trying to become. She is particularly interested in chosen families, the afterlives of subculture, and the ways grief, guilt, and belonging shape adult identity.

Raven’s writing is uncompromising but compassionate, refusing neat redemption arcs while remaining deeply invested in the humanity of her characters. She lives and works in the North of England.

Reviews

[Gerry Neary · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so great to catch up with all the characters again and see what had become of their lives following the dramatic ending to "If I fall back down", I had forgotten how much I actually cared for Tobi and Morven and just how evil Goldie could be. On top of that all the punk rock sideshow and all the colourful characters were again in tow, albeit with not as much reminiscing as the first.

This sequel picks up a few years down the line and without wanting to spoil anything it hits you right away that Tobi and Morven did not simply live happily ever after - as if that was going to be the case. This novel has none of the romance of the first (if indeed that's what you called it), its a full on assault of broken relationships, drunkenness, violence, breakdowns, kidnap and even murder - no holds barred!

Raven is refining her own writing style with each release, the passion of the work is what really strikes you and makes you care so much for the characters - and in this novel that is going to take you on quite a ride. If you've read the first you've got to find out what happened next, and if you've not read the first yet then how I envy you - you've got it all to look forward to.Personally I can't wait for final part of the trilogy - bring it on Raven!

[Lauren Spark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raven Taylor has done it once again! ...

Following on from the first book (If I Fall Back Down), the 2nd installment delves even deeper into the chaos of Punk Rock...

There's more drama, more drugs and more violence...and then, as if that's not enough... carnage erupts!!!

What a fantastic read! I'm eagerly anticipating the last in the trilogy.