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This Side of Falling
Driven by charged and complex relationships, this lyrical, emotional coming-of-age YA debut follows a Chinese American teen in the wake of her first love’s death by suicide.
Not real. The mantra seventeen-year-old Nina repeats to herself the morning after her almost-boyfriend, Ethan Travvers, jumped onto the tracks in front of a freight train. The two words that keep the truth just far enough away so the loss can’t touch her, grief can’t break her. After all, there is the family image to uphold, especially when her father’s startup is falling apart. Maintaining the illusion of wholeness and success within their tight-knit California community is everything to Nina’s mom and grandma.
The pretense is working—until Nina’s all-star older sister, Carmen, is dismissed from college and abruptly returns home. Carmen’s arrival and strange behavior dig up buried memories, leading Nina to wonder if there is more to the story of Ethan than even she knew. The truth is not what she wants to believe: about Carmen, about Ethan, but mostly, about herself.
Emotionally layered and unflinchingly honest, this novel will resonate with readers who love deeply affecting stories that tackle teen heartache in the vein of Kathleen Glasgow and Laura Nowlin.
Not real. The mantra seventeen-year-old Nina repeats to herself the morning after her almost-boyfriend, Ethan Travvers, jumped onto the tracks in front of a freight train. The two words that keep the truth just far enough away so the loss can’t touch her, grief can’t break her. After all, there is the family image to uphold, especially when her father’s startup is falling apart. Maintaining the illusion of wholeness and success within their tight-knit California community is everything to Nina’s mom and grandma.
The pretense is working—until Nina’s all-star older sister, Carmen, is dismissed from college and abruptly returns home. Carmen’s arrival and strange behavior dig up buried memories, leading Nina to wonder if there is more to the story of Ethan than even she knew. The truth is not what she wants to believe: about Carmen, about Ethan, but mostly, about herself.
Emotionally layered and unflinchingly honest, this novel will resonate with readers who love deeply affecting stories that tackle teen heartache in the vein of Kathleen Glasgow and Laura Nowlin.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published June 17, 2025
6 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 18, 2025
This book follows the story of Nina, a high school senior who loves violin who's life changes forever at the death of her boyfriend, Ethan. It also explores Nina's relationships with the members of her strict family, and what she chooses for her future.
I really enjoyed reading this book; I think it was paced really well and kept a nice balance of switching between the past and present. I hated seeing Nina go through such a sad time in her life, especially with problems with her family at home, so it was heartwarming to see her recover from these things throughout the book. She was a really likeable character that made me sympathise with her and become very invested in her story. I also liked how the author gave her an important relationship with music, and I think she described Nina's feelings while performing perfectly.
One thing I didn't love was that the ending seemed quite rushed to me: there were a lot of things that were revealed near the end that really could have been explored more to make the story feel more resolved, and instead, everything wrapped up quite fast and it didn't feel like the most satisfying conclusion.
Overall, this book is a really good YA contemporary novel, and explores a lot of important themes with a story that flows really well.
Thank you to Netgalley and Soho press for this copy 🫶🏽
I really enjoyed reading this book; I think it was paced really well and kept a nice balance of switching between the past and present. I hated seeing Nina go through such a sad time in her life, especially with problems with her family at home, so it was heartwarming to see her recover from these things throughout the book. She was a really likeable character that made me sympathise with her and become very invested in her story. I also liked how the author gave her an important relationship with music, and I think she described Nina's feelings while performing perfectly.
One thing I didn't love was that the ending seemed quite rushed to me: there were a lot of things that were revealed near the end that really could have been explored more to make the story feel more resolved, and instead, everything wrapped up quite fast and it didn't feel like the most satisfying conclusion.
Overall, this book is a really good YA contemporary novel, and explores a lot of important themes with a story that flows really well.
Thank you to Netgalley and Soho press for this copy 🫶🏽
May 29, 2025
I can't say I enjoyed reading this book because this isn't that type of book; instead of a feel-good comfort read, it's more one of those feel-bad realistic stories. I read the whole thing with an ache in my chest. This is a very dark contemporary YA following a sheltered Chinese American teen, Nina Yeung, as she processes her grief after she lost her first love to suicide.
I wish YA like this had existed when I was a teen in the 90s because I might have read more of it. This book deals with unsettling, triggering and sometimes taboo topics like mental health, abuse and addiction, but teens are dealing with these issues and it's important to see their real lives in all their gritty messiness represented on the page.
Yeungs don't make a scene - one of the many family rules. Nina is shriveling under the weight of rigid family expectations in a very relatable way. I remember what that was like, when you couldn't see the ways your parents cared for you and only saw the ways they controlled you and didn't listen to you. I was angry with her family for most of the book but it ends on a heartwarming, hopeful note.
This is an unconventional narrative structure where not much really happens and it is a slow pace to start. At first you think Ethan and Nina have your standard complicated friendship where neither can admit their feelings until the unthinkable happens. But as Nina works through her grief, she learns she never really knew Ethan all that well, or her family, especially her sister, Carmen. The perfect one, who followed all the rules and did everything right. Until she needed Nina, too.
I loved how Nina was a violinist applying to music colleges and the touches of orchestra nerd moments adding color to the story and teenage life. I'd love to see more band nerds in YA.
The second half picks up the slow pace of the first half and careens into a fast-moving story arc.
Overall I thought this was an important, gritty and well written book. It was a meditation in how everyone handles grief differently and the rocky journeys of families who learn to see each other.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I wish YA like this had existed when I was a teen in the 90s because I might have read more of it. This book deals with unsettling, triggering and sometimes taboo topics like mental health, abuse and addiction, but teens are dealing with these issues and it's important to see their real lives in all their gritty messiness represented on the page.
Yeungs don't make a scene - one of the many family rules. Nina is shriveling under the weight of rigid family expectations in a very relatable way. I remember what that was like, when you couldn't see the ways your parents cared for you and only saw the ways they controlled you and didn't listen to you. I was angry with her family for most of the book but it ends on a heartwarming, hopeful note.
This is an unconventional narrative structure where not much really happens and it is a slow pace to start. At first you think Ethan and Nina have your standard complicated friendship where neither can admit their feelings until the unthinkable happens. But as Nina works through her grief, she learns she never really knew Ethan all that well, or her family, especially her sister, Carmen. The perfect one, who followed all the rules and did everything right. Until she needed Nina, too.
I loved how Nina was a violinist applying to music colleges and the touches of orchestra nerd moments adding color to the story and teenage life. I'd love to see more band nerds in YA.
The second half picks up the slow pace of the first half and careens into a fast-moving story arc.
Overall I thought this was an important, gritty and well written book. It was a meditation in how everyone handles grief differently and the rocky journeys of families who learn to see each other.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 17, 2025
Happy publication day 🎉🥳🎧
3.75 🌟
This Side Of Falling was a lot heavier than I expected from a YA however I suppose it was fairly realistic in the way that Nina is treated by her family, who seem to expect a lot, demand maturity but don’t seem to respect her maturity.
Lots of content warnings, which the author acknowledges in the outset, Nina is trying to come to terms with the suicide of her boyfriend. Missing the closeness she once shared with her sister carmen who is away at uni, but it isn’t long before Carnen becomes the main character in Nina’s story.
Sad,shocking, distressing and disturbing, but incredibly well done.
Great narration by Cindy Kay 🎧
Huge thanks to RB Media via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
3.75 🌟
This Side Of Falling was a lot heavier than I expected from a YA however I suppose it was fairly realistic in the way that Nina is treated by her family, who seem to expect a lot, demand maturity but don’t seem to respect her maturity.
Lots of content warnings, which the author acknowledges in the outset, Nina is trying to come to terms with the suicide of her boyfriend. Missing the closeness she once shared with her sister carmen who is away at uni, but it isn’t long before Carnen becomes the main character in Nina’s story.
Sad,shocking, distressing and disturbing, but incredibly well done.
Great narration by Cindy Kay 🎧
Huge thanks to RB Media via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
June 19, 2025
3.5
thank you to netgalley and RBmedia for this alc.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ books with the same vibes:
🎻 all the bright place
🎻 grace notes
🎻 the fault in our stars
🎻⋆⭒˚｡⋆ this side of falling is a ya novel that explores grief and family expectations in the aftermath of a teenage boy's suicide. the story centres around Nina, a girl grappling with the loss of her almost-boyfriend, Ethan, who jumped in front of a train.
Nina - her struggles with her emotions and grief felt so raw and real. the way she felt the need to always be perfect and uphold everyone's expectations of her felt so much like how I feel, especially academically. the way she treats herself makes me so so sad but honestly I can relate to that and I'm sure a lot of other people can too.
🎧 Cindy Kay did an excellent job of narrating such an emotional book. it was definitely a hard listen at times but books like this are so important because of their portrayal of things that real people go through.
thank you to netgalley and RBmedia for this alc.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ books with the same vibes:
🎻 all the bright place
🎻 grace notes
🎻 the fault in our stars
🎻⋆⭒˚｡⋆ this side of falling is a ya novel that explores grief and family expectations in the aftermath of a teenage boy's suicide. the story centres around Nina, a girl grappling with the loss of her almost-boyfriend, Ethan, who jumped in front of a train.
Nina - her struggles with her emotions and grief felt so raw and real. the way she felt the need to always be perfect and uphold everyone's expectations of her felt so much like how I feel, especially academically. the way she treats herself makes me so so sad but honestly I can relate to that and I'm sure a lot of other people can too.
🎧 Cindy Kay did an excellent job of narrating such an emotional book. it was definitely a hard listen at times but books like this are so important because of their portrayal of things that real people go through.
June 20, 2025
This book really puts things into perspective—especially how families that seem to have it all can quietly fall apart under the weight of pressure, silence, and unspoken expectations.
As a Chinese American teen, Nina faces intense scrutiny from her mother, grandmother, and extended family who push her toward academic perfection, music competitions, and college prep—while dismissing her emotional needs. Even when Ethan, a boy she deeply cares for commits suicide. Despite how much he means to her, Ethan is never acknowledged by her family for showing emotions and weakness, and attracting attention does not align with the family’s rules.
So, after his death, Nina is left to grieve alone. She loses interest in the violin and struggles to keep up appearances. Meanwhile, her older sister Carmen, once the “golden child,” has slipped from high academic standing to being kicked out of school and is now more distant than ever. And yet, despite wanting to reach out to her, Nina doesn’t know how—or even where to begin. Their upbringing taught them silence, not connection.
This story carries real emotional weight. It doesn’t offer a tidy or happy ending—just a slow process of putting pieces back together and learning how to heal. And sometimes, that’s what life is. I’d caution that it includes triggers related to mental health, suicide, substance use, and parental pressure. Still, as a mother and a teacher, I found it deeply important. It’s the kind of book I would recommend to thoughtful teens aged 14 and up, and to adults who care for or work with young people.
I do believe that the ending felt a bit rushed. I would also have loved more insight into Carmen’s or Ethan’s perspective, perhaps through journal entries or a split narrative. Even so, this is a story that stays with you. The audiobook narration was excellent—emotionally grounded and well-paced.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC. 🎧
As a Chinese American teen, Nina faces intense scrutiny from her mother, grandmother, and extended family who push her toward academic perfection, music competitions, and college prep—while dismissing her emotional needs. Even when Ethan, a boy she deeply cares for commits suicide. Despite how much he means to her, Ethan is never acknowledged by her family for showing emotions and weakness, and attracting attention does not align with the family’s rules.
So, after his death, Nina is left to grieve alone. She loses interest in the violin and struggles to keep up appearances. Meanwhile, her older sister Carmen, once the “golden child,” has slipped from high academic standing to being kicked out of school and is now more distant than ever. And yet, despite wanting to reach out to her, Nina doesn’t know how—or even where to begin. Their upbringing taught them silence, not connection.
This story carries real emotional weight. It doesn’t offer a tidy or happy ending—just a slow process of putting pieces back together and learning how to heal. And sometimes, that’s what life is. I’d caution that it includes triggers related to mental health, suicide, substance use, and parental pressure. Still, as a mother and a teacher, I found it deeply important. It’s the kind of book I would recommend to thoughtful teens aged 14 and up, and to adults who care for or work with young people.
I do believe that the ending felt a bit rushed. I would also have loved more insight into Carmen’s or Ethan’s perspective, perhaps through journal entries or a split narrative. Even so, this is a story that stays with you. The audiobook narration was excellent—emotionally grounded and well-paced.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC. 🎧
September 29, 2025
Guess I'm on the wrong side of the aisle on this one. It had its moments...but they were just that..moments.
June 29, 2025
This was a powerful, emotionally compelling and startling YA. I read it in a day—the pacing swept me up and carried me along so that I couldn’t put it down. I empathized with Nina, the MC, but also so many supporting characters. I appreciated the realistic elements of this story, especially the ending. For anyone wanting to read a gritty coming-of-age story, this one is for you!
October 6, 2025
Walking A Mile In Someone Else’s Shoes.
Such a good human story with strong characters. This books felt like a beautiful experience of walking a mile in someone else’s shoes. If you enjoy an edifying peak into the human heart and someone else’s perspective, this book will be well worth your time.
Such a good human story with strong characters. This books felt like a beautiful experience of walking a mile in someone else’s shoes. If you enjoy an edifying peak into the human heart and someone else’s perspective, this book will be well worth your time.
October 1, 2025
so good and realistic to teenage mental health. I found myself being transported back to my teenage years and the ongoing thoughts you have about a teenage crush. Ninas thoughts were obviously impacted by the death of this crush. I also found myself frustrated with her grandma! anybody else?
June 21, 2025
Great YA book! Lots of heavy themes but well worth the emotional slog.
April 19, 2025
Yeungs don't make a scene is one of those rules in Nina's family that keep her being the top of her music class and just overall a good student. After her first love Ethan dies by suicide, she still tries to apply it by putting on a mask even though her inside is broken. She thinks she can handle it until Carmen, her all-star sister, comes home in an unlikely manner, shocking everyone. And when she discovers Carmen's relationship with Ethan, she needs to do something before it's too late.
The first chapters didn't entice me right away. They were jumbled, too 'right-onto-the-action' with very little context, so it was hard to connect with the situation and empathize with Nina's feeling. We find out that Ethan just committed suicide and Nina's crashing out by repeating not real but the reason why he means something to Nina is told much later, back and forth from flashback to present days and vice versa. The confusion dissipated after chapter 10, and Carmen situation started to pick up the pace at chapter 21. This is where the real story starts.
After that, I could begin to enjoy and understand what it feels to be Nina Yeung with all the pressure and expectations, with love that's mistranslated and words that wait to be spoken. The writing style might be choppy for those who get used to long poetic sentences, but it helped me keep up with the flow. Clues started to pop up, dots were connected, and I personally liked the twist and the build up before that. It was saddening to see that parents can be blind to what happened to their own children, making me hope for the opposite for myself. It resolved quite neatly in the end.
The way Nina retrieves and receives information about Ethan, Carmen, or her family is embedded nicely with the plot. Maybe just one about her dad's start-up problem, because I don't think an employee or a business partner should disclose something about their work to strangers that easily. This is my first realistic YA after quite a long time so getting back to it feels like coming home, especially with the cover that resemblances late 2010s YA covers that I personally hold so dearly. It screams angst, and I expected angst, and it eventually delivered.
This Side of Falling tells not only about grief, but also finding a way to live again and face the music doesn't have to be on your own. As someone who grew up in Asian household, this book also serves as a reminder to break generational trauma and while it isn't an easy task to do, it is possible. I wish the first chapters were more accessible and organized, but thankfully the rest of the book made it up.
3.5 stars rounded down. Thank you to Soho Teen and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this novel, opinion expressed are my own.
The first chapters didn't entice me right away. They were jumbled, too 'right-onto-the-action' with very little context, so it was hard to connect with the situation and empathize with Nina's feeling. We find out that Ethan just committed suicide and Nina's crashing out by repeating not real but the reason why he means something to Nina is told much later, back and forth from flashback to present days and vice versa. The confusion dissipated after chapter 10, and Carmen situation started to pick up the pace at chapter 21. This is where the real story starts.
After that, I could begin to enjoy and understand what it feels to be Nina Yeung with all the pressure and expectations, with love that's mistranslated and words that wait to be spoken. The writing style might be choppy for those who get used to long poetic sentences, but it helped me keep up with the flow. Clues started to pop up, dots were connected, and I personally liked the twist and the build up before that. It was saddening to see that parents can be blind to what happened to their own children, making me hope for the opposite for myself. It resolved quite neatly in the end.
The way Nina retrieves and receives information about Ethan, Carmen, or her family is embedded nicely with the plot. Maybe just one about her dad's start-up problem, because I don't think an employee or a business partner should disclose something about their work to strangers that easily. This is my first realistic YA after quite a long time so getting back to it feels like coming home, especially with the cover that resemblances late 2010s YA covers that I personally hold so dearly. It screams angst, and I expected angst, and it eventually delivered.
This Side of Falling tells not only about grief, but also finding a way to live again and face the music doesn't have to be on your own. As someone who grew up in Asian household, this book also serves as a reminder to break generational trauma and while it isn't an easy task to do, it is possible. I wish the first chapters were more accessible and organized, but thankfully the rest of the book made it up.
3.5 stars rounded down. Thank you to Soho Teen and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this novel, opinion expressed are my own.
June 14, 2025
Title: This Side of Falling
Author: Eunice Chan
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Cindy Kay
Publisher: RB Media
Genre: Teen YA
Pub Date: June 17, 2025
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pages 272
Seventeen-year-old Nina repeats to herself “Not Real” Not Real” “Not Real” as she clutches her violin case when she learns that e Ethan Travvers a boy she likes, killed himself by jumped in front of a freight train.
Nina Young is a sheltered Chinese American high school senior whose parents have a high expectation. However, right now the grief is consuming her and that is not allowed
I am a retired High School Guidance Counselor also a professional College
Counselor who worked privately with students not attending my school.
Nina’s school is very similar to the school where I worked.
Nina’s experiences were something I am familiar with ~ students were very competitive academically also very talents additionally active with community service.
My educational training included knowledge and understanding of different cultures. Also School Counselors are not therapists so need to have resources for referral.
Nina was very real to me! I knew the story was going to be emotional and it was!
Author Eunice Chan is new to me so I checked her bio. She is familiar with Davis, California, as it was her home additionally a graduate of UC Davis. She has completed a program in Special Publishing with the Institute of Children’s Literature and has published fiction with Clubhouse magazine. Currently, she lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and works full time as a civil engineer and part time as a freelance editor.
Want to thank NetGalley and RB Media for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 17, 2025.
Author: Eunice Chan
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Cindy Kay
Publisher: RB Media
Genre: Teen YA
Pub Date: June 17, 2025
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pages 272
Seventeen-year-old Nina repeats to herself “Not Real” Not Real” “Not Real” as she clutches her violin case when she learns that e Ethan Travvers a boy she likes, killed himself by jumped in front of a freight train.
Nina Young is a sheltered Chinese American high school senior whose parents have a high expectation. However, right now the grief is consuming her and that is not allowed
I am a retired High School Guidance Counselor also a professional College
Counselor who worked privately with students not attending my school.
Nina’s school is very similar to the school where I worked.
Nina’s experiences were something I am familiar with ~ students were very competitive academically also very talents additionally active with community service.
My educational training included knowledge and understanding of different cultures. Also School Counselors are not therapists so need to have resources for referral.
Nina was very real to me! I knew the story was going to be emotional and it was!
Author Eunice Chan is new to me so I checked her bio. She is familiar with Davis, California, as it was her home additionally a graduate of UC Davis. She has completed a program in Special Publishing with the Institute of Children’s Literature and has published fiction with Clubhouse magazine. Currently, she lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and works full time as a civil engineer and part time as a freelance editor.
Want to thank NetGalley and RB Media for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 17, 2025.
June 7, 2025
4.25⭐️ Wow, that was powerful and at times hard to listen to but not in a negative way. The author takes you on a forthright journey through a family dealing with various challenges and the impacts each of those things has on the family individuals and as a whole. It really examines the stress and hardships that can occur when the expectations are overly high in a family dynamic.
There is a bit of a mystery that unfolds when Nina’s sister Carmen ones home from college a completely different person then she was. To me everything is quite clear and there were no surprises but that could be because of my personal career.
The audio book was quick and listening at 2x speed I was able to consume it in one sitting at a bit over 3 hours. The narrator Cindy Kay did a fabulous job with her vocals which were very calming and fit the prose.
The most important part before you read this is to take a look at the trigger warnings as they are a lot but the raw look at reality can be very healing for some.
The book comes out June 17, 2025
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from RB Media through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
There is a bit of a mystery that unfolds when Nina’s sister Carmen ones home from college a completely different person then she was. To me everything is quite clear and there were no surprises but that could be because of my personal career.
The audio book was quick and listening at 2x speed I was able to consume it in one sitting at a bit over 3 hours. The narrator Cindy Kay did a fabulous job with her vocals which were very calming and fit the prose.
The most important part before you read this is to take a look at the trigger warnings as they are a lot but the raw look at reality can be very healing for some.
The book comes out June 17, 2025
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from RB Media through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
July 2, 2025
This Side of Falling opens as Nina finds out that her not quite boyfriend, Ethan Travvers, has perished by jumping onto railroad tracks in front of a moving train. As Nina spirals to find out what drove him to this, she discovers an underlying truth in her life...nothing much about it is real and honest. How long has she been living her life for everyone else? What does she really want? Then, in the midst of all this turmoil, Nina's sister, Carmen, comes home from college, well, is sent home from college. She has lost her scholarship and blown every second chance she was given. In a household where only the best is good enough, how will their parents deal with Carmen's complete disregard for rules and appearances and Nina's need to deal with the tragic death that her parents relegate to background noise on the news?
I listened to the audiobook for this and was so impressed with the beauty of the writing. It is lyrical, so much so, that I had to check and see if perhaps it was a novel in verse. It wasn't, but it reads beautifully.
This is a brilliant read for adults, but is specifically aimed at the YA audience. The message is sound without being pedantic and characters are relatable and believable. Her debut novel is spectacular and hopefully, just the beginning.
Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I listened to the audiobook for this and was so impressed with the beauty of the writing. It is lyrical, so much so, that I had to check and see if perhaps it was a novel in verse. It wasn't, but it reads beautifully.
This is a brilliant read for adults, but is specifically aimed at the YA audience. The message is sound without being pedantic and characters are relatable and believable. Her debut novel is spectacular and hopefully, just the beginning.
Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2025
The way I feel about this book is… complicated. On one hand, I liked the way it was written, with a narration taking a slightly different, more poetic approach than most traditional YA. I also enjoyed how Chan handled the heavier themes of depression, growing up, and the pressures others put on us and the way they affect us.
Unfortunately, where this book loses me a little is in the timeline of all the events. There are a lot of time jumps and flashbacks, and after a while, it was hard to keep track of how much time has passed between some pivotal scenes in the book.
Furthermore, while I understand this isn’t a romance and the story between Ethan and Nina wasn’t meant to be the main focus, their scenes left me feeling confused. I wish we could’ve seen more of their romantic relationship rather than just being told about it. Or was what we got really all there was between them? Honestly, I’m not sure.
All in all, it’s an interesting coming-of-age story, perfect for high school seniors who are struggling to balance the expectations of others while trying to figure out what they really want out of life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for granting my wish and providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, where this book loses me a little is in the timeline of all the events. There are a lot of time jumps and flashbacks, and after a while, it was hard to keep track of how much time has passed between some pivotal scenes in the book.
Furthermore, while I understand this isn’t a romance and the story between Ethan and Nina wasn’t meant to be the main focus, their scenes left me feeling confused. I wish we could’ve seen more of their romantic relationship rather than just being told about it. Or was what we got really all there was between them? Honestly, I’m not sure.
All in all, it’s an interesting coming-of-age story, perfect for high school seniors who are struggling to balance the expectations of others while trying to figure out what they really want out of life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for granting my wish and providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2025
Thanks to Net Galley and RBMedia for the ARC! This Side of Falling is a compelling and emotionally layered coming-of-age novel that delves into grief, family secrets, and self-discovery. Nina’s journey after Ethan’s tragic death is raw and authentic, capturing the numbness and the need to cling to comforting mantras—like her repeated phrase, which provides temporary relief from her pain. The story takes an intriguing turn with Carmen’s return home, stirring up long-buried memories and forcing Nina to confront uncomfortable truths about her family and herself. Eunice Chan masterfully explores themes of identity, loss, and the fragile masks we wear to maintain appearances, especially in the face of tragedy. While some moments felt slightly predictable, the depth of character development and the heartfelt portrayal of Nina’s internal struggle make this a worthwhile read. It’s a poignant reminder of how grief can both break us and lead us toward understanding and healing.
June 11, 2025
Aaaah teenage angst!
This was quite an emotional read following Nina after the sudden suicide of her crush. She is so grief stricken but has to keep it together because of her family's expectations. School, violin practice etc.
Her older sister Carmen returns home suddenly and her formally "perfect" sister seems to have taken a wrong turn somewhere, she's changed so much.. Nina doesn't expect or understand this but one thing is becoming clear there was a connection between Carmen and her crush Ethan.
So much heartache, I feel teens nowadays are so much more prone to metal health issues. There is so much pressure to perform academically, socially, look a certain way. This book is a reminder to me to be a better listener, to pay attention and not to put on extra/unnecessary pressure on my teen.
I absolutely loved the solemn narration by Cindy Kay!
Many thanks to Netgalley, Author and RB media for the opportunity to listen and share my thoughts.
This was quite an emotional read following Nina after the sudden suicide of her crush. She is so grief stricken but has to keep it together because of her family's expectations. School, violin practice etc.
Her older sister Carmen returns home suddenly and her formally "perfect" sister seems to have taken a wrong turn somewhere, she's changed so much.. Nina doesn't expect or understand this but one thing is becoming clear there was a connection between Carmen and her crush Ethan.
So much heartache, I feel teens nowadays are so much more prone to metal health issues. There is so much pressure to perform academically, socially, look a certain way. This book is a reminder to me to be a better listener, to pay attention and not to put on extra/unnecessary pressure on my teen.
I absolutely loved the solemn narration by Cindy Kay!
Many thanks to Netgalley, Author and RB media for the opportunity to listen and share my thoughts.
May 1, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for an eARC of Eunice Chan’s This Side of Falling! This was such a beautiful, heartbreaking story.
The main character, Nina, is a violinist and as a fellow violinist myself, this really hooked me into the story. I found a lot of her thoughts about music in general extremely relatable. There’s not a lot of specific music terminology, so the music aspect doesn’t really interfere with understanding the plot! I really liked the ending and I felt that it was quite symbolic.
Overall, this book was 4 stars for me. At times, I felt that the switching of the narratives between present and past tense was a little confusing. It didn’t really impact my understanding of the story in the long run, but sometimes, it took me a while to get my bearings. I did really enjoy the pacing and this was a multilayered, emotional YA that I will be recommending!
The main character, Nina, is a violinist and as a fellow violinist myself, this really hooked me into the story. I found a lot of her thoughts about music in general extremely relatable. There’s not a lot of specific music terminology, so the music aspect doesn’t really interfere with understanding the plot! I really liked the ending and I felt that it was quite symbolic.
Overall, this book was 4 stars for me. At times, I felt that the switching of the narratives between present and past tense was a little confusing. It didn’t really impact my understanding of the story in the long run, but sometimes, it took me a while to get my bearings. I did really enjoy the pacing and this was a multilayered, emotional YA that I will be recommending!
July 1, 2025
Nina has been struggling ever since her crush's unexpected death by suicide. As she tries to hold her life together and fulfill her parents' high expectations, Nina's sister returns home from college mid-semester. With her sister's behavior and challenges taking all of their parents attention, Nina falls further behind.
A serious, thought-provoking novel about grief, mental health, and self discovery. I typically enjoy books that deal with these topics but I just couldn't get into this one. I don't think there was enough detail to truly suggest that Nina and Ethan were anything more than casual friends, and Nina's parents were pretty unlikeable. Carmen's big reveal also seemed to come out of left field. Ultimately, I wanted more resolution between all of the various relationships.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.
A serious, thought-provoking novel about grief, mental health, and self discovery. I typically enjoy books that deal with these topics but I just couldn't get into this one. I don't think there was enough detail to truly suggest that Nina and Ethan were anything more than casual friends, and Nina's parents were pretty unlikeable. Carmen's big reveal also seemed to come out of left field. Ultimately, I wanted more resolution between all of the various relationships.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.
July 13, 2025
Nina’s facing senior year, worried about her violin show, her collage applications, her mother’s increasing demands, her father’s job, and the ever- growing distance between her and her sister. But then her situationship commits suicide, and her whole world falls apart.
This side of falling was a brilliantly written story. Nina was very relatable, and her family were so realistically complicated. The way people deal with suicide and the threat of it is very real and well- written. I found a lot of the problems in this story relatable and dealt with in a honest manner. Definitely check the trigger warnings and definitely read it if this book sounds interesting to you, because I promise it delivers upon its premise.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own!
This side of falling was a brilliantly written story. Nina was very relatable, and her family were so realistically complicated. The way people deal with suicide and the threat of it is very real and well- written. I found a lot of the problems in this story relatable and dealt with in a honest manner. Definitely check the trigger warnings and definitely read it if this book sounds interesting to you, because I promise it delivers upon its premise.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own!
July 16, 2025
I'm staying at my grandmother's apartment for the following week, and I unfortunately did not bring any books to read. As I was taking a stroll in the surrounding area, the local elementary school has a little library next to the property. I picked up this book, along with 'Moxie' by Jennifer Mathieu, as those were the only young adult books there. I only read the back of the book beforehand.
Let me just off by saying, I cried reading the end of the book. I relate so much, especially as a current high school student, to the pressure Nina and Carmen are facing from their family. Chan's vibrant figurative language and details will definitely place you right smack in the middle of Nina's story. Themes were explored well. Cover ties in good with the symbols of the book.
Pacing was inconsistent. It could have been faster in the beginning of the book, and slower in the end.
Let me just off by saying, I cried reading the end of the book. I relate so much, especially as a current high school student, to the pressure Nina and Carmen are facing from their family. Chan's vibrant figurative language and details will definitely place you right smack in the middle of Nina's story. Themes were explored well. Cover ties in good with the symbols of the book.
Pacing was inconsistent. It could have been faster in the beginning of the book, and slower in the end.
February 17, 2025
Layered, complex, honest, real.
A wonderful YA novel from Eunice Chan, This Side of Falling follows Nina between the past and present after her “complicated” almost boyfriend jumps in front of a train.
Nina, expected by her family to be perfect - in the footsteps of her older sister - struggles with her grief, her relationships and what she wants music to be in her life. Her family struggles with what not succeeding means to a perfect on the outside life.
I devoured this book over a couple of days, and whilst the ending does feel rushed it’s a brilliant read and one I won’t hesitate in recommending.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Soho Press (Soho Teen) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A wonderful YA novel from Eunice Chan, This Side of Falling follows Nina between the past and present after her “complicated” almost boyfriend jumps in front of a train.
Nina, expected by her family to be perfect - in the footsteps of her older sister - struggles with her grief, her relationships and what she wants music to be in her life. Her family struggles with what not succeeding means to a perfect on the outside life.
I devoured this book over a couple of days, and whilst the ending does feel rushed it’s a brilliant read and one I won’t hesitate in recommending.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Soho Press (Soho Teen) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2025
Poignant and gripping storytelling. It was so hard to put this book down! The story follows an Asian American adolescent as she tries to make sense of her life following the tragic suicide of the boy she loves. The juggling of high school academics, music, college applications, and family are all so relatable. Be ready for a deep dive into some dark and often under-addressed themes of suicide, substance abuse, and family brokenness. Creative structuring of the story, weaving between flashbacks to the past and the present, as Nina tries to process her life; the last chapter reads more like an epilogue and provides a glimpse of hope. An emotional roller coaster. Well worth the read!!
October 11, 2025
Exceptional debut by the author! Set in an American Asian family, the author tells the story of how a teenage girl tries to cope with the suicide of the boy she loves while still having to navigate the life that goes on, including college applications and keeping up with the expectations of grandma. I listened to the audio book version and Cindy Kay does a great job voicing the characters. Certain parts sent chills down my spine and some chapter transitions are done so well they brought a smile to my face. Definitely recommend it!
April 25, 2025
Thank you, Soho Press, Soho Teen, for providing the copy of This Side of Falling by Eunice Chan. What a sad and beautifully written book. Nina’s pervasive sadness made me really feel for her and wonder why her parents didn’t notice and help her. I loved how the characters felt real, so I cared about them. I couldn't stop reading until I knew how everything turned out. This is a book I will think about for a long time. 5 stars
July 13, 2025
This Side of Falling explores grief, mental health, & the complicated emotions of teenagers/children. It also involves family dynamics, community, and Chinese culture. As an adult, I found it a little hard to relate to, but I think would be good for young adults/teens. The narration on the audiobook was very goof. Check triggers if you are concerned about your children reading this.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the ALC audiobook. All opinions in this review are my own.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the ALC audiobook. All opinions in this review are my own.
July 30, 2025
3⭐
*** This book deals with a lot of heavy topics - especially for teens - so check your Trigger Warnings.
From losing her once strong connection with her sister, to dealing with the suicide of her boyfriend and applying for schools, Nina is struggling to navigate through this tough part of her life.
Very well told.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
*** This book deals with a lot of heavy topics - especially for teens - so check your Trigger Warnings.
From losing her once strong connection with her sister, to dealing with the suicide of her boyfriend and applying for schools, Nina is struggling to navigate through this tough part of her life.
Very well told.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 7, 2026
wow, what an emotional roller coaster! Where was this book when I was trying to figure out my feelings back in high school?
This book really captures what it's like growing up as the child of immigrant parents and trying to understand who you are when the world (and your parents) has different expectations of you. So many moments felt so real to me, especially cultural expectations and personal insecurities that Nina goes through. I've never felt so seen by a book before.
This book really captures what it's like growing up as the child of immigrant parents and trying to understand who you are when the world (and your parents) has different expectations of you. So many moments felt so real to me, especially cultural expectations and personal insecurities that Nina goes through. I've never felt so seen by a book before.
Want to read
July 12, 2024"Driven by the charged and complicated relationships surrounding a Chinese-American teen, this spare, lyrical, and thought-provoking debut examines the heartbreaks and imperfections of teen life."
what a shame they went with such a blah cover 👀
what a shame they went with such a blah cover 👀
June 23, 2025
Speed read in one day. Was the perfect book for a long drive and helped carry me through a lot of random house projects. Found the dynamics at play realistic and relatable. Felt proud of all the characters in the end <3
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