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Flying and Falling
Hollie is learning to live with depression. She’s working hard to put the darkest days behind her. She’s got a job she loves, friends she cares about, and she’s coping. In fact, she’s doing pretty well. Then a mysterious – and gorgeous – new boy shows up at school. Jonathan is running away from his past. Weighed down by a guilty secret, he’s fled to his aunt’s rural property under the guise of helping out on the farm. As Hollie and Jonathan are unexpectedly thrown together, a growing mutual attraction scares and excites them. But the past isn’t so easy to escape, and they both have to decide if it’s enough to keep hiding, from themselves and from each other. Or can they risk hoping for more?
This book contains detailed descriptions of mental health struggles, particularly depression.
Shortlisted for the 2022 Storylines Tessa Duder Award
This book contains detailed descriptions of mental health struggles, particularly depression.
Shortlisted for the 2022 Storylines Tessa Duder Award
- GenresRomanceYoung Adult
274 pages, Paperback
Published September 12, 2023
3 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Lynda Tomalin
4 books14 followersLynda Tomalin is an author of contemporary Young Adult novels with sweet romances, an emphasis on strong friendships and empowering mental health representation.
She lives in a small town in New Zealand, where she writes sweet, swoony kissing books about teenagers finding their place in the world.
Lynda is a mum of three girl and a farmer's wife, and when she's not daydreaming about her fictional characters and trying to find space for all the books she keeps buying, she works in administration (but mostly only to fund making more books).
She lives in a small town in New Zealand, where she writes sweet, swoony kissing books about teenagers finding their place in the world.
Lynda is a mum of three girl and a farmer's wife, and when she's not daydreaming about her fictional characters and trying to find space for all the books she keeps buying, she works in administration (but mostly only to fund making more books).
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 22, 2023
Here is a book that showcases the trials and tribulations of our youth. May I hope that everyone, no matter their age, has a friend like Dan in their corner. Never has a side character been more strongly written! This book showed the importance of a conversation and the effects of miscommunication and ‘faulty’ thinking. I’m looking forward to plucking the first novel by this author off my TBR and reading it soon!
July 17, 2023
Firstly, I received this book as an arc by Book sirens and Lynda Tomalin which I am super grateful to have been accepted for. Now getting on with my review for this book, so first of all I want to praise Lynda Tomalin for the amazing mental health representation it was the best that I have come across when reading a book and it is what all authors should aspire to write mental health like. Now I really enjoyed this book I thought the characters had depth and growth from the beginning of the book to the very end. I loved the how both the female main character, Hollie, and the male main character, Jonathan, both had separate stories of how they came to be who they are and why they were where they are today that was really sad but important to read about. The plots within this book are mainly focused around mental health and some dark secrets from the past that both characters are ashamed to revisit and admit but they have nothing to be ashamed about and throughout the book they start to become ok with who they are and why they are the way they are. The relationship between the two main characters is super cute and there was a little bit of tension between the two of them as the book progresses and I actually enjoyed the slow burn in this book I just wish that there was a little epilogue because selfishly I wanted to read more about the two main characters! Overall, this is an extremely well written book with some amazing representation, and I would 100% recommend. Just to mention please check trigger warnings before reading this book!
August 22, 2023
I fell in love with all of the characters in this phenomenal novel by Lynda. Two teenagers going through hard times and how their friendships and support systems can help them through. While I loved the relationship between the two protagonists it was actually the side characters that made me really fall in love. Thank you again for another amazing novel Lynda!!
September 10, 2023
4 stars
TW: depression, panic attacks, teenage drinking, (sober) car accident resulting in injury
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for an e-ARC copy. All thoughts are my own.
Flying and Falling follows two teens who have had their fair share of hardship and mental health struggles. I appreciated the way Lynda Tomalin navigated these feelings with care and respect to the characters, whilst allowing room for growth, hope and teenage emotions to shine. With the main theme being around tough mental health struggles, this read could have gotten dark and depressing, but the balance and careful execution of creating fully fleshed characters kept this an enjoyable, albeit emotional read.
I loved the connection between Hollie and Jonathan from the start. Their romance could have easily become an instalove tale, and whilst there is some element of fast feelings (they are teens after all), there is enough foundation to make their love story adorable and wanted by the reader. Both read as teenagers in tone, which I commend the author for voicing well, as too often YA romances don't feel like teenagers at all.
A surprising but fantastic element to this was the side characters, especially Beth and Dan. They weren't just added in to propel the main characters along but added challenges and separate connections outside of the one forming between Hollie and Jonathan. The intrigue around what happened to Jonathan to cause his anger and pain was explained without being too dragged out to create unnecessary angst. Everything felt very balanced.
This is set in high school and on a horse farm predominately, and I liked how the horses were used for healing for both characters. As a horse person, I felt this was a nice touch. I would have liked more time developed for the characters and with the horses, but at the length of this book was, it wasn't bad.
Only dropped a star because I felt like the ending was rushed after the confessions and resolutions to the outstanding angst. I would have enjoyed seeing what came after things were resolved and a bit more of their journey as a couple navigating their mental health struggles together. However, the author has hinted about a return to this world, which I'm quite excited about, and will no doubt have both these characters appear again.
TW: depression, panic attacks, teenage drinking, (sober) car accident resulting in injury
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for an e-ARC copy. All thoughts are my own.
Flying and Falling follows two teens who have had their fair share of hardship and mental health struggles. I appreciated the way Lynda Tomalin navigated these feelings with care and respect to the characters, whilst allowing room for growth, hope and teenage emotions to shine. With the main theme being around tough mental health struggles, this read could have gotten dark and depressing, but the balance and careful execution of creating fully fleshed characters kept this an enjoyable, albeit emotional read.
I loved the connection between Hollie and Jonathan from the start. Their romance could have easily become an instalove tale, and whilst there is some element of fast feelings (they are teens after all), there is enough foundation to make their love story adorable and wanted by the reader. Both read as teenagers in tone, which I commend the author for voicing well, as too often YA romances don't feel like teenagers at all.
A surprising but fantastic element to this was the side characters, especially Beth and Dan. They weren't just added in to propel the main characters along but added challenges and separate connections outside of the one forming between Hollie and Jonathan. The intrigue around what happened to Jonathan to cause his anger and pain was explained without being too dragged out to create unnecessary angst. Everything felt very balanced.
This is set in high school and on a horse farm predominately, and I liked how the horses were used for healing for both characters. As a horse person, I felt this was a nice touch. I would have liked more time developed for the characters and with the horses, but at the length of this book was, it wasn't bad.
Only dropped a star because I felt like the ending was rushed after the confessions and resolutions to the outstanding angst. I would have enjoyed seeing what came after things were resolved and a bit more of their journey as a couple navigating their mental health struggles together. However, the author has hinted about a return to this world, which I'm quite excited about, and will no doubt have both these characters appear again.
August 31, 2025
Hollie is learning to navigate life while living with depression, finding stability in her job, friendships, and coping strategies. But when Jonathan, a mysterious and striking new boy, arrives at school, her carefully balanced world is disrupted. Burdened by a guilty secret, Jonathan has fled to his aunt’s rural property to escape his past. As Hollie and Jonathan are drawn together, their growing attraction challenges them both, forcing them to confront whether they can keep hiding or if they’re ready to risk opening their hearts and hoping for something more
This is a YA book, and usually they feel a little too young for me, but this one didn’t. I really enjoyed it and thought it explored a lot of mental health issues in a way that feels accessible and appropriate for younger readers. The messages throughout were thoughtful and important, and I think they were handled really well
I especially loved Dan. He was such an amazing side character, written with so much warmth and care. Honestly, everyone deserves a friend like Dan, he really stood out to me and added so much heart to the story
The romance between Hollie and Jonathan also felt very believable. It was written in a way that made complete sense for teenagers, and I appreciated how they truly acted their age. That kind of authenticity is something I really enjoy in YA books.
Overall, I genuinely loved this story. It had strong characters, a meaningful romance, and really powerful messages surrounding mental health
This is a YA book, and usually they feel a little too young for me, but this one didn’t. I really enjoyed it and thought it explored a lot of mental health issues in a way that feels accessible and appropriate for younger readers. The messages throughout were thoughtful and important, and I think they were handled really well
I especially loved Dan. He was such an amazing side character, written with so much warmth and care. Honestly, everyone deserves a friend like Dan, he really stood out to me and added so much heart to the story
The romance between Hollie and Jonathan also felt very believable. It was written in a way that made complete sense for teenagers, and I appreciated how they truly acted their age. That kind of authenticity is something I really enjoy in YA books.
Overall, I genuinely loved this story. It had strong characters, a meaningful romance, and really powerful messages surrounding mental health
August 1, 2023
In this heartfelt YA romance, high school student and horse-lover Hollie feels an immediate connection to a new boy in school, Jonathan. He feels it, too, but he's too focused on avoiding his past to focus on his present. And, despite seeming to have everything together, Hollie has demons of her own…
The main characters' mental health struggles - Hollie's depression, and also Jonathan's anger and self-hatred - are the central component of this novel. Depicted powerfully and unflinchingly, they deepen the story but also make it difficult to read from time to time. This is enhanced by the fact that so much of the story takes place inside the characters' minds, focused more on their thoughts and feelings than on their friendships / studies / interests.
I found the romance between Jonathan and Hollie to be realistic; the pair felt appealingly mismatched-but-just-right, and their interactions seemed to justify the depth of their feelings. I also liked the side characters, several of whom were interesting enough to lead their own sequel.
CW: depression / mental health issues, teenage drinking,
[I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
The main characters' mental health struggles - Hollie's depression, and also Jonathan's anger and self-hatred - are the central component of this novel. Depicted powerfully and unflinchingly, they deepen the story but also make it difficult to read from time to time. This is enhanced by the fact that so much of the story takes place inside the characters' minds, focused more on their thoughts and feelings than on their friendships / studies / interests.
I found the romance between Jonathan and Hollie to be realistic; the pair felt appealingly mismatched-but-just-right, and their interactions seemed to justify the depth of their feelings. I also liked the side characters, several of whom were interesting enough to lead their own sequel.
CW: depression / mental health issues, teenage drinking,
[I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
May 18, 2025
Spoiler free review of Flying & Falling by Aotearoa author @lynda.tomalin.author!
Thank you also to @chroniclesofcosy for gifting this to me for my birthday last year 🥰
Firstly, if you have Flying and Falling on your TBR, pick it up immediately! I am kicking myself for not picking it up sooner because I was obsessed 😍
Flying and Falling is a YA romance that follows Hollie & Jonathan. Holly is working hard on her mental health as she’s had some dark days, and then a mysterious new boy Jonathan turns up to school. Jonathan also has his own secrets and struggles.
Mental health such as depression, anxiety and panic attacks was a prevalent theme in this book and the topic was handled so sensitively. I always appreciate when authors don’t veer away from these topics as it is something that’s so important in society today.
I also loved all of the characters and the underlying “mystery” kept me wanting to turn the page! While the romance isn’t the main theme in this book, I think it was one of those books that focused on characters, character growth and the importance of relationships which was so special.
Overall I loved this one and binged 100 pages of it in one sitting!
And if you don’t have a copy of Flying and Falling, I would recommend you pick one up ASAP 🥰
Thank you also to @chroniclesofcosy for gifting this to me for my birthday last year 🥰
Firstly, if you have Flying and Falling on your TBR, pick it up immediately! I am kicking myself for not picking it up sooner because I was obsessed 😍
Flying and Falling is a YA romance that follows Hollie & Jonathan. Holly is working hard on her mental health as she’s had some dark days, and then a mysterious new boy Jonathan turns up to school. Jonathan also has his own secrets and struggles.
Mental health such as depression, anxiety and panic attacks was a prevalent theme in this book and the topic was handled so sensitively. I always appreciate when authors don’t veer away from these topics as it is something that’s so important in society today.
I also loved all of the characters and the underlying “mystery” kept me wanting to turn the page! While the romance isn’t the main theme in this book, I think it was one of those books that focused on characters, character growth and the importance of relationships which was so special.
Overall I loved this one and binged 100 pages of it in one sitting!
And if you don’t have a copy of Flying and Falling, I would recommend you pick one up ASAP 🥰
September 14, 2023
3/5 Stars
At its core, Flying and Falling is a story about mental health, how it can affect the way you see the world, and your place in it, and how someone “showing up” can make all the difference in the world.
Hollie has her friends, exercise and outside of school commitments to help with previous trauma. Jonathan is running away from something that happened in his home town - and is nearly run over by Hollie on his first day at school. Their relationship develops from there.
For me, this had all the promise of a great read but unfortunately fell a little short. The writing is good, the characters are enjoyable, some of the relationships felt a little 2-dimensional but, for me, the “big reveal” from both Hollie and Jonathan took too long to get to and wasn’t as shocking (or soul destroying) as I had expected. The constant cliff hanger build ups, that came to nought, were so frequent that I started making the Eastenders theme tune drum roll in my head for each one… that somewhat detracted from the drama.
If you’re looking for a read that doesn’t shy away from mental health issues, or a fairly easy read, this would be a good one for you.
At its core, Flying and Falling is a story about mental health, how it can affect the way you see the world, and your place in it, and how someone “showing up” can make all the difference in the world.
Hollie has her friends, exercise and outside of school commitments to help with previous trauma. Jonathan is running away from something that happened in his home town - and is nearly run over by Hollie on his first day at school. Their relationship develops from there.
For me, this had all the promise of a great read but unfortunately fell a little short. The writing is good, the characters are enjoyable, some of the relationships felt a little 2-dimensional but, for me, the “big reveal” from both Hollie and Jonathan took too long to get to and wasn’t as shocking (or soul destroying) as I had expected. The constant cliff hanger build ups, that came to nought, were so frequent that I started making the Eastenders theme tune drum roll in my head for each one… that somewhat detracted from the drama.
If you’re looking for a read that doesn’t shy away from mental health issues, or a fairly easy read, this would be a good one for you.
July 19, 2023
Flying and Falling follows Hollie and Jonathan - two teens who have some undeniable chemistry but are both going through some pretty serious mental health challenges.
Lynda has perfectly executed writing about mental health in a realistic way without making the book itself depressing. It was clear that Hollie and Jonathan were struggling but they had a great group of people around them to support them and help them live life despite that.
Hollie is a very observant and thoughtful girl, who is trying to keep herself going. Her best friend Dan was an absolute hilarious character who I absolutely want to be friends with. Everyone needs a Dan in their life.
Jonathan had the brooding, being a dick but feeling bad about it thing going for him - long hair and all. And while he definitely is a dick you can’t help but want him to pull his head and keep being the sweet and charming guy you get flashes of.
This book was just awesome and everyone needs to get a copy 🥰
Lynda has perfectly executed writing about mental health in a realistic way without making the book itself depressing. It was clear that Hollie and Jonathan were struggling but they had a great group of people around them to support them and help them live life despite that.
Hollie is a very observant and thoughtful girl, who is trying to keep herself going. Her best friend Dan was an absolute hilarious character who I absolutely want to be friends with. Everyone needs a Dan in their life.
Jonathan had the brooding, being a dick but feeling bad about it thing going for him - long hair and all. And while he definitely is a dick you can’t help but want him to pull his head and keep being the sweet and charming guy you get flashes of.
This book was just awesome and everyone needs to get a copy 🥰
July 31, 2023
I really wish this book was out when I was a teenager in high school because the way mental health is discussed and just general negative internal dialog that comes with being an adolescent was captured perfectly in this story.
I really appreciate how the topic of depression was handled and the conversations around it were helpful. There was no "fix" and we just learnt that for Hollie this is going to be an ongoing journey for her.
So many valuable conversations were had throughout this book and the teenage way of handling tough situations were spot on. I think we can all remember moments in our youths were a simple misunderstanding happened but we avoided the difficult conversation for a resolution and made it feel so much bigger than it was.
Genuinely really enjoyed this story from start to finish and will be grabbing a physical copy to hang on to for when my daughters get older
I really appreciate how the topic of depression was handled and the conversations around it were helpful. There was no "fix" and we just learnt that for Hollie this is going to be an ongoing journey for her.
So many valuable conversations were had throughout this book and the teenage way of handling tough situations were spot on. I think we can all remember moments in our youths were a simple misunderstanding happened but we avoided the difficult conversation for a resolution and made it feel so much bigger than it was.
Genuinely really enjoyed this story from start to finish and will be grabbing a physical copy to hang on to for when my daughters get older
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2023
Flying and falling holds a good standing in its category and genre, I found the plot easy to follow, and each character was well rounded with logical intent.
Hollie is a fairly typical portrayal of a teenager, but there’s a realness and depth towards her approach to daily life, and the sport that she’s passionate about that I was impressed by.
Mental health was well written in this book, I found Hollies struggle relatable and felt a lot of empathy for her situation, I have a lot of respect for Lynda Tomalins depiction of depression
Emotion wasn’t always well written and came off awkwardly at points, but not so much as to ruin moments.
Whilst Flying and Falling wasn’t anything special, I still enjoyed reading it and would recommend for a casual, light read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Hollie is a fairly typical portrayal of a teenager, but there’s a realness and depth towards her approach to daily life, and the sport that she’s passionate about that I was impressed by.
Mental health was well written in this book, I found Hollies struggle relatable and felt a lot of empathy for her situation, I have a lot of respect for Lynda Tomalins depiction of depression
Emotion wasn’t always well written and came off awkwardly at points, but not so much as to ruin moments.
Whilst Flying and Falling wasn’t anything special, I still enjoyed reading it and would recommend for a casual, light read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 12, 2023
I was given an eARC from book sirens and Lynda Tomalin and this review is my own.
This novel was wonderfully written. I really loved the mental health representation for high schoolers, and I truly connected with Hollie because of this. The side characters were honestly some of my favorite parts of this novel. They really added to the storyline and made everything feel very well rounded and cohesive. I feel like both Hollie and Jonathan went through believable growth and really came into themselves by the end of the book. All in all, I truly enjoyed this novel and I would love to read more from Lynda Tomalin! 🤍
This novel was wonderfully written. I really loved the mental health representation for high schoolers, and I truly connected with Hollie because of this. The side characters were honestly some of my favorite parts of this novel. They really added to the storyline and made everything feel very well rounded and cohesive. I feel like both Hollie and Jonathan went through believable growth and really came into themselves by the end of the book. All in all, I truly enjoyed this novel and I would love to read more from Lynda Tomalin! 🤍
January 7, 2024
I chose to rate my books more strictly this year, but I couldn’t not give this book five stars! Lynda has made me feel every single emotion in this book and I could not be more grateful for that! I live with depression that can get debilitating a lot of times and the representation of depression in Hollie has been one of the most accurate that I have read about! I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more of Lynda’s work! P.S. Lynda queen, if you are reading my review i’m sorry for spam messaging you. I raved about TSBB to you and now I am raving about Flying & Falling.
September 5, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. Even better than Lynda Tomalin's first one. I loved how the author wrote about mental illness in relation to the teenager's lives but also complemented it with the sweet and swoony love story—so much hope in this book. I cried, I laughed, and I would read it all over again. I definitely would recommend it to both adults and teens from 14 years up.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 28, 2023
Such a fun and easy read!
This is a story about two teens who have mental health struggles (depression & panic attacks) Hollie and Johnathon first meet when Hollie nearly runs him over in the school parking lot, only to find out he is the nephew of the lady she works for (who is super sweet!) I loved the side character Dan - he was such a kind a caring friend, we all need a Dan in our life !
It was nice to see Hollie and Johnathan grow from friends to lovers with a bit of angst!
This is a story about two teens who have mental health struggles (depression & panic attacks) Hollie and Johnathon first meet when Hollie nearly runs him over in the school parking lot, only to find out he is the nephew of the lady she works for (who is super sweet!) I loved the side character Dan - he was such a kind a caring friend, we all need a Dan in our life !
It was nice to see Hollie and Johnathan grow from friends to lovers with a bit of angst!
January 7, 2024
My daughter got this from the library but wasn't fussed so, as I was out of books on our holiday, I thought I'd read it. The start was a bit slow, but it picked up towards the end. It dealt with some topical issues (eg depression and talking about your feelings) but was a bit slow and repetitive at times. Would be good for a teen who isn't after action but a slow, gentle love story with no spice.
July 26, 2023
Flying and Falling by Lynda Tomalin is a good, and enjoyable small town young adult romance read. The story has a great entertaining story line. The characters are great, and they have great undeniable chemistry. Both of the main characters are battling mentally issues that makes this story more realistic. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 13, 2023
This was the best YA romance I have read in awhile. I was able to get into the mind of both MC's and I fell in love with both of them. It is such a sweet read. I hope to read more from this author in the future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 24, 2024
This is not a novel I would usually pick up, only because it’s designed for teens, but I love reading and supporting fellow NZ authors. This is a great teen read for those looking for a novel full of heart, sweet romance, and some important messages around mental illness and talking about our feelings.
August 21, 2024
I found this in a second hand store but my teen daughter wasn't interested. An easy read, although not a lot happened so may lose many teens interest. I also felt the mental health representation could have had a little more depth. The reader is told how the characters are feeling, but you don't really FEEL the struggles.
July 20, 2023
This was a good read. Both characters were mentally battling things which made it so realistic. I enjoyed seeing how they thought and reacted. It made for an interesting story.
Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
September 9, 2023
This book was really good at first. Then some parts were so so, but it finished strong! Overall an enjoyable read with great mental health representation! I received an advanced readers copy from book sirens, but my review is unbiased!
July 11, 2023
It has a good premise, it got me hooked on the first chapter. The protagonist is very relatable, too.
November 18, 2023
It’s no easy thing to write a story that so accurately shows depression from the inside perspective, and yet holds that in balance with hope. Flying and Falling succeeds.
January 6, 2024
3.5 stars
January 16, 2024
3.5 stars (book from library)
July 11, 2023
LYNDA!!!! You’ve fricken done is again! This book is so so soooo good!! I loved everything about it and it had me stressing towards the end. I could relate to Hollie so much and I just wanted to wrap her up in a hug and gosh poor Jonathan carrying the whole world of his shoulders. Such a good story! Cannot wait to see what comes next!
September 12, 2023
Once again Lynda has written a book that I wish I’d been able to read as a teen. Knowing there are beautiful books available for when my own children are navigating being a teenager absolutely warms my heart 🥰
Flying and Falling is a cute teen romance story that hits you in the feels and explores some fairly heavy topics.
Main characters, Hollie and Jonathan, both have some mental health issues that they are working through, which makes the story realistic.
The side characters are also amazing and I’m quietly crossing my fingers we see some of them again in a sequel 🤞🏼
Overall, a great read and if you have a YA section on your bookshelf or a teenager who likes to read romance, I highly recommend you add this book to your library.
Flying and Falling is a cute teen romance story that hits you in the feels and explores some fairly heavy topics.
Main characters, Hollie and Jonathan, both have some mental health issues that they are working through, which makes the story realistic.
The side characters are also amazing and I’m quietly crossing my fingers we see some of them again in a sequel 🤞🏼
Overall, a great read and if you have a YA section on your bookshelf or a teenager who likes to read romance, I highly recommend you add this book to your library.
August 11, 2025
I’ll be honest, I put this book off as I thought I may be a wee bit too old for the YA genre, however, when I finally picked it up I couldn’t put it down!
I absolutely devoured Hollie and Jonathan’s story.
Encompassing many challenges that teens face - real, raw and beautifully told with metal health rep and a touch of mystery.
The farm and horse setting is incredibly realistic and is evidence that the author has real life experience in the rural sector.
I absolutely devoured Hollie and Jonathan’s story.
Encompassing many challenges that teens face - real, raw and beautifully told with metal health rep and a touch of mystery.
The farm and horse setting is incredibly realistic and is evidence that the author has real life experience in the rural sector.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews