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Wherever the Dandelion Falls
Riley Montgomery is a bartender, a lab assistant, and a sex worker -- all in different lives.
A seemingly innocuous conversation with a graduate school professor unravels Riley’s life into three separate strands. The three versions of Riley’s life are as separate as can be, yet have one common thread: falling in love with a beautiful and brave woman named Faye Nguyen.
A seemingly innocuous conversation with a graduate school professor unravels Riley’s life into three separate strands. The three versions of Riley’s life are as separate as can be, yet have one common thread: falling in love with a beautiful and brave woman named Faye Nguyen.
485 pages, ebook
First published July 17, 2014
7 people are currently reading
543 people want to read
About the author
Lily R. Mason
5 books215 followersLily R. Mason is an author from California. She has written novels about queer women in many genres: coming of age, domestic drama, multiple realities, and historical romance. Her goal as a writer is to give voice to the women who are often written out of other stories.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 17, 2014
Three different stories, same two people falling in love.
I don't know where to start! This book is blowing my mind. When I started reading this, I was so confused that there are three different stories but the characters are the same. I thought about not finishing the book because I don't know if I could keep track of the stories. But I'm glad I continued reading it.
I was surprised that as the stories progressed, I can still keep up with each of them. Though the minor details like who were their exes and who hurt whom was all jumbled up in my mind.
The characters in each story resembles real life people. Their qualities, beliefs and decisions are pretty much what any person has and for me that makes this book not as superficial as any other books I've read. Unlike any other books, I can't even predict what will happen after every chapter for each of the stories and that's why this book blew my mind.
The book just tells us that no matter who we are, whatever we're doing and where we are in our life, once you meet the person you're meant to fall in love with, you can never stop the falling. Its inevitable.
I don't know where to start! This book is blowing my mind. When I started reading this, I was so confused that there are three different stories but the characters are the same. I thought about not finishing the book because I don't know if I could keep track of the stories. But I'm glad I continued reading it.
I was surprised that as the stories progressed, I can still keep up with each of them. Though the minor details like who were their exes and who hurt whom was all jumbled up in my mind.
The characters in each story resembles real life people. Their qualities, beliefs and decisions are pretty much what any person has and for me that makes this book not as superficial as any other books I've read. Unlike any other books, I can't even predict what will happen after every chapter for each of the stories and that's why this book blew my mind.
The book just tells us that no matter who we are, whatever we're doing and where we are in our life, once you meet the person you're meant to fall in love with, you can never stop the falling. Its inevitable.
September 26, 2020
"We live linearly, but we don't feel linearly."
Essentially, this is the story of three possible lives of one woman. One where she becomes a bartender, one where she's a lab assistant, one where she's a sex worker. But in each of those lives, no matter how things change and how's she's different as a person, she falls in love with the same woman.
I really liked the premise and how it was executed. In each of their lives, Riley and Faye were significantly different, but we got glimpses into why that was, and what little events in their lives unfolded in different ways that made such a huge impact on their personalities etc. And it's extremely believable to me, because I could see where it might have happened in my own life, or in the lives of people I know. The butterfly effect and all that. Each of Riley's lives and stories had something different to offer, and I was entertained and touched by them all. The writing was good, simple, very evocative of a woman in her 20s just trying her best to keep her life on track.
I wanted a little more connection, though. Even though I realised why Riley was so different in her lives, and Faye as well, I don't think we got enough connecting threads throughout the story? Not that we NEEDED any, necessarily, but without it, it almost felt like I was reading the story of three completely different women? Even though her life before the moment it split off into three threads was almost completely the same, even though we saw WHY each of her lives was so different. It just felt a bit disjointed.
The story also got a little frustrating sometimes.
This was definitely a really unique and interesting love story, and I'm glad I read it. I would change certain things if I could, but overall I'm satisfied with it. 3.5 stars.
Essentially, this is the story of three possible lives of one woman. One where she becomes a bartender, one where she's a lab assistant, one where she's a sex worker. But in each of those lives, no matter how things change and how's she's different as a person, she falls in love with the same woman.
I really liked the premise and how it was executed. In each of their lives, Riley and Faye were significantly different, but we got glimpses into why that was, and what little events in their lives unfolded in different ways that made such a huge impact on their personalities etc. And it's extremely believable to me, because I could see where it might have happened in my own life, or in the lives of people I know. The butterfly effect and all that. Each of Riley's lives and stories had something different to offer, and I was entertained and touched by them all. The writing was good, simple, very evocative of a woman in her 20s just trying her best to keep her life on track.
I wanted a little more connection, though. Even though I realised why Riley was so different in her lives, and Faye as well, I don't think we got enough connecting threads throughout the story? Not that we NEEDED any, necessarily, but without it, it almost felt like I was reading the story of three completely different women? Even though her life before the moment it split off into three threads was almost completely the same, even though we saw WHY each of her lives was so different. It just felt a bit disjointed.
The story also got a little frustrating sometimes.
This was definitely a really unique and interesting love story, and I'm glad I read it. I would change certain things if I could, but overall I'm satisfied with it. 3.5 stars.
July 21, 2014
I love how Lily wants her characters beautifully flawed individually and together.
I don't know whether to slap, hug, cry or laugh with them but one thing is for sure I won't forget Riley and Faye's story of discovering life and love.
I recommend Lily's other books too. :)
I don't know whether to slap, hug, cry or laugh with them but one thing is for sure I won't forget Riley and Faye's story of discovering life and love.
I recommend Lily's other books too. :)
January 14, 2015
I enjoyed the book though I found 3 stories with the same character names running in parallel a little confusing. But I applaud the author's creativity to come up such an idea and her courage in carrying it through.
May 20, 2024
Three stories in one; it was very confusing at times.
December 11, 2019
I started reading this because of the cover(dandelions <3) and the intriguing blurb. But I almost gave up after the 1st chapter which left me confused(even tho i read the blurb lol). I had doubts about whether I could keep up with 3 timelines with kinda same but kinda different characters and remain interested. But I'm so glad I kept on reading.
I'm pleasantly surprised by how I fell in love with each Riley and Faye equally. The Rileys and Fayes are at their core the same, just in slightly different circumstances. What remains the same, though, is their inevitable attraction to one another. That and the angst. But it's the good kind.
4.5 ಥ‿ಥ engaging with romances that made my heart swell with joy. also, im just soft for soulmates
I'm pleasantly surprised by how I fell in love with each Riley and Faye equally. The Rileys and Fayes are at their core the same, just in slightly different circumstances. What remains the same, though, is their inevitable attraction to one another. That and the angst. But it's the good kind.
4.5 ಥ‿ಥ engaging with romances that made my heart swell with joy. also, im just soft for soulmates
November 28, 2018
One book turns out to be THREE with the same underlying storyline, and I'm a complete sucker for "whatever i do, wherever i am, we'll find each other" types of stories. This book was undeniably great, whether you read one storyline at a time or do it per chapter, it was utterly enjoyable
September 21, 2017
should be more like 4.5..same as her other book...These are long books and would be like reading 3 series books put together....time well spent
November 16, 2017
lily writes her characters really well.
May 16, 2018
I didn’t think I’ll finish this book. The peculiar way it was written got me, but it took some time.
August 11, 2024
More like 4,5 ⭐️
Absolutely love Lily, her writing is amazing.
Absolutely love Lily, her writing is amazing.
April 25, 2016
I'm so glad Lily released this as a hardcover. To think I almost didn't get to read this just because I didn't wanna get it as an ebook.. O.O
So this story is pretty amazing. I love the complexity of the three stories and the challenge it gave me as a reader. It was super interesting to read them evolve in these different timeframes and under different circumstances.
It was written in Rileys POV and after the first few chapters it did feel like it was her in all timelines. Nothing ever felt out of character, her feelings and reactions were born out of the circumstances she found herself in and I loved how Lily captured and explored all that.
Faye was a bit different since we only get to know her through Riley. I had no problem grasping all her sides and I loved how she was written with these vast differences, yet we got these tiny glimpses shining through that connected her to the other timelines. But certain aspects of her remained in the dark, simply because we never get to experience her POV. So it was a bit harder for me to get her in the last chapter. I consciously thought about all three different sides of her and which one this last chapter fit best. Riley was a lot easier to put back together. I guess I have to push the event a bit further into the future in my mind, giving Faye a bit extra time developing and then it definitely fits!
Also I can't help but connect this to the general concept of fanfictions, especially AUs. Maybe this is were Lily came up with the idea, since she writes fanfics, too. But either way, the basic concept that two people just click and find themselves no matter the circumstances is something that I love about fanfics and it's what this book is all about. Just a bit more evolved and with super cool and complex original characters. (Never mind the fact that this actually is a adapted fanfic ;D)
So this story is pretty amazing. I love the complexity of the three stories and the challenge it gave me as a reader. It was super interesting to read them evolve in these different timeframes and under different circumstances.
It was written in Rileys POV and after the first few chapters it did feel like it was her in all timelines. Nothing ever felt out of character, her feelings and reactions were born out of the circumstances she found herself in and I loved how Lily captured and explored all that.
Faye was a bit different since we only get to know her through Riley. I had no problem grasping all her sides and I loved how she was written with these vast differences, yet we got these tiny glimpses shining through that connected her to the other timelines. But certain aspects of her remained in the dark, simply because we never get to experience her POV. So it was a bit harder for me to get her in the last chapter. I consciously thought about all three different sides of her and which one this last chapter fit best. Riley was a lot easier to put back together. I guess I have to push the event a bit further into the future in my mind, giving Faye a bit extra time developing and then it definitely fits!
Also I can't help but connect this to the general concept of fanfictions, especially AUs. Maybe this is were Lily came up with the idea, since she writes fanfics, too. But either way, the basic concept that two people just click and find themselves no matter the circumstances is something that I love about fanfics and it's what this book is all about. Just a bit more evolved and with super cool and complex original characters. (Never mind the fact that this actually is a adapted fanfic ;D)
December 1, 2014
Tuve el agrado inmenso de encontrar las historias de Lily hace 2 años. Me considero una fan de su impecable escritura. Soy Psicóloga y puedo darme cuenta que este libro ha sido pensado y escrito para aquellos prejuicios que nos persiguen diariamente. Y que manera de pulirlos! a fin que queden tan vulnerables y en parte perfectos para los que hemos leído el libro. Escribo este review en español, porque sé que hay muchas personas de habla hispana que leen aquí y quisiera llegar a ellos e invitarlos a que lean WtDf. Está escrito de una manera hermosa, 100% recomendable.
December 17, 2015
I didn't want to put it down. I really enjoyed the 3 different perspectives in the book. There were times when a section was over and I would want to skip ahead, but I refrained.
Breaking it down into its simplest form, I think this book is a reminder that single decisions can change the course of your life. I also feel it is a reminder that people who are different from us just chose a different path.
Overall, a really good book.
Breaking it down into its simplest form, I think this book is a reminder that single decisions can change the course of your life. I also feel it is a reminder that people who are different from us just chose a different path.
Overall, a really good book.
September 15, 2014
Exceptionally great book
Riveting, enjoyable, emotional and captivating story told in a three-year manner that weaves wonderfully together while remaining independent versions of one relationship.
Riveting, enjoyable, emotional and captivating story told in a three-year manner that weaves wonderfully together while remaining independent versions of one relationship.
September 27, 2014
Wow... just wow. I love that the characters were so flawed. It made for an interesting read.
October 20, 2016
I feel all the books I have read by Lily Mason we're pretty solid.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews