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Bear Creek #1
Falling From The Sky
All stability in sixteen-year-old Ridge McCoy’s life crashed and burned in the plane crash that killed his dad. This summer-long basketball camp is his chance to improve his skills and escape his problems back home. But his summer plans take a turn in an unexpected direction when he meets Micah Youngblood, the guy who runs the carousel at the local mall and has a reputation for devouring straight boys’ heterosexuality for breakfast, alongside his chocolate chip pancakes.
Ridge needs a way to avoid the guys at camp, whose only quest for the summer is to drown in beer and hook up with girls. So when Micah offers to explain how the ten unique horses on the carousel are significant to his tribe, Ridge takes him up on it. Still, Ridge can't decide if this is a bad thing or not. All he knows is that he hasn’t felt this alive since his dad fell from the sky, and as the horse adventures come to an end, Ridge finds himself falling as well – for Micah.
Ridge needs a way to avoid the guys at camp, whose only quest for the summer is to drown in beer and hook up with girls. So when Micah offers to explain how the ten unique horses on the carousel are significant to his tribe, Ridge takes him up on it. Still, Ridge can't decide if this is a bad thing or not. All he knows is that he hasn’t felt this alive since his dad fell from the sky, and as the horse adventures come to an end, Ridge finds himself falling as well – for Micah.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2014
10 people are currently reading
2081 people want to read
About the author
Nikki Chartier
26 books613 followersNikki Chartier is a young adult/new adult author. She writes everything from beach reads about surfers to witchy reads for Halloween lovers. She is an avid surf fan (who always wants Gabriel Medina to win), a dream-chaser, and a collector of crystals. She lives in the southern USA with her family.
I do not hang out on Goodreads often, so please see my website (http://www.nikkichartierbooks.com) for all updates and true links to my backlist.
I do not hang out on Goodreads often, so please see my website (http://www.nikkichartierbooks.com) for all updates and true links to my backlist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
February 26, 2014
That's how you write a damn book.
Holy shit.
I don't usually read YA, but this was recommended, and I tend to make exceptions for recs. i am SO glad I did! It was freaking beautiful! I so completely lived in Ridge's heart through this entire story, and I loved it so, so much. I cry over books all the time, but this one made me ugly cry all over my dog (who is used to it) and made my husband ask if Amy Lane had a new book out (smartass).
So, pretty much for the first time ever, I'm adding a YA author to my "autobuy" list. Nikki, you have a new fangirl here. <3
Holy shit.
I don't usually read YA, but this was recommended, and I tend to make exceptions for recs. i am SO glad I did! It was freaking beautiful! I so completely lived in Ridge's heart through this entire story, and I loved it so, so much. I cry over books all the time, but this one made me ugly cry all over my dog (who is used to it) and made my husband ask if Amy Lane had a new book out (smartass).
So, pretty much for the first time ever, I'm adding a YA author to my "autobuy" list. Nikki, you have a new fangirl here. <3
November 19, 2014
A must read for the M/M Young Adult fan! Dreamy sigh. I absolutely 5-star loved it!
Ridge McCoy is a 16-year-old who recently lost his father in a plane crash. He’s a shell of the person he once was. His mom is distant, his brother hates him, and he’s convinced his girlfriend is only staying with him for appearances. She can’t be the girl who broke up with the guy who’s still grieving the loss of his father.
He’s escaping it all by heading to Bear Creek for a summer-long basketball camp. His first day in town he runs to the mall to buy new basketball shoes before camp starts. There he meets Micah, the guy who works at the carousel. The guy who talks too much. The guy who talks too fast. The guy who begins to make Ridge feel happier than anyone else does.
This is a slow-building story with very little steam. There is nothing beyond kissing between Ridge and Micah, but it’s such a sweet story! Highly recommended!
Ridge McCoy is a 16-year-old who recently lost his father in a plane crash. He’s a shell of the person he once was. His mom is distant, his brother hates him, and he’s convinced his girlfriend is only staying with him for appearances. She can’t be the girl who broke up with the guy who’s still grieving the loss of his father.
He’s escaping it all by heading to Bear Creek for a summer-long basketball camp. His first day in town he runs to the mall to buy new basketball shoes before camp starts. There he meets Micah, the guy who works at the carousel. The guy who talks too much. The guy who talks too fast. The guy who begins to make Ridge feel happier than anyone else does.
This is a slow-building story with very little steam. There is nothing beyond kissing between Ridge and Micah, but it’s such a sweet story! Highly recommended!
July 7, 2014
had trouble with ridge's characterization. so much that i found spending time in his head to be largely unfun and kinda alienating.
i can't decide whether it's because of YA tropes i don't particularly admire, or because of him.
on the whole a kind of frustrating experience for me, what with distinctly female-gazey perspectives on some things, and some niggles plot-wise.
some good scenes, though.
two stars, as my friend expy says, For It Was Okay.
i can't decide whether it's because of YA tropes i don't particularly admire, or because of him.
on the whole a kind of frustrating experience for me, what with distinctly female-gazey perspectives on some things, and some niggles plot-wise.
some good scenes, though.
two stars, as my friend expy says, For It Was Okay.
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January 12, 2015Woah! Kindle FREEBIE today, 1/12/15!!
April 27, 2016
I had a bad streak before reading this book and was looking for something awesome to save the day. I found this book instead.
I loved the first half but in some moment in the way it lost heart. It’s not that it goes from bad to worse, it’s just I expected it to go from good to better, and that didn’t happen.
Ridge is a teenager whose father died in a plane crash. Since then he can’t help himself from praying when he sees a plane flying in the sky, thinking that it will fall from the sky.
Lately everything feels like that, like falling from the sky. His relationship with his mother grows more distant everyday. His brother wishes to be an only child. His girlfriend doesn’t break up with him because it would give her a bad reputation about abandoning the poor guy in the worst moment of his life. Everything is useless and uncomfortable, so when summer comes, he decides to go to a basketball camp, but with no alcohol, no girls and no stupid friends.
What’s left?
The guy at the carousel.
Micah talks too fast. Ridge doesn’t keep up with him. Micah talks too much. Ridge barely utters a word. Micah says the horses in the carousel are not usual, behind every one of then a story is hidden, waiting to be told. Ridge is too polite to interrupt Micah’s advances and, before he realizes it, Ridge has a new friend. Micah makes his place in Ridge’s life from one night to the next before Ridge has time to regret it.
This story is refreshing and cute in an innocent way. But this is deceiving, because we find the big conflicts also the adults have to confront, like bigotry, hate, fake couples, self-discovery, dysfunctional families, small and important traumas, past and present pains and personality problems. The world is not a welcoming place, and they have to deal with lies, half-truths and falseness, above all in themselves. Micah is not telling the whole truth, and Ridge tells too many lies.
I loved the writing and the MC are very well defined. It it curious because everything is painted like normal, even though there are some facts that are not. The good parts and the bad parts are just that, parts. There was no critizism in the narrator’s voice, in Ridge’s voice. It’s strange because he knows when he is behaving in a dubious way and recriminates himself, but I couldn’t shake the feeling he was narrating other person’s life. Maybe it’s due to his cold behavior during the book. People are not like that, people don’t have that much time to think things through, but it seemed like he had, and that didn’t feel real or natural. In any case, I liked his voice, apart from that weird sensation I could get myself into the story and into Ridge’s head.
Micah is less transparent, I think it would be interesting to get to know his limits as a person, because I was a little disappointed to know so little of him. They don’t talk that much, most of the time they play the X-Box and that looks like boring but it’s not.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, it's easy and fast to read, and there are not great adventures or real angst. The twists and turns are not very marked, instead they are soft and quiet, but in a endearing way.
With that, Micah unwraps a stick of blue rock candy and proceeds to seductively pull it in and out of his mouth. I guess he assumes he’s in the clear to practice blow jobs in public with me now. I can’t watch.
I loved the first half but in some moment in the way it lost heart. It’s not that it goes from bad to worse, it’s just I expected it to go from good to better, and that didn’t happen.
”I knew you could do it,” Micah teases me from across the table. “Is it terrible?”
I shake my head, but I hold back on telling him that there’s no one else in the world I’d have done that for. Instead, I say, “I’m braver than you think.”
And I only say that because I’m too scared to tell him the truth.
Ridge is a teenager whose father died in a plane crash. Since then he can’t help himself from praying when he sees a plane flying in the sky, thinking that it will fall from the sky.
”Where should we go?” Micah, asks me.
I shrug my shoulders. “It’d have to be a road trip”, I say.
“Why’s that?” he asks.
“Because you’ll never get on a ship and I’m sure as hell never getting on a plane.”
Lately everything feels like that, like falling from the sky. His relationship with his mother grows more distant everyday. His brother wishes to be an only child. His girlfriend doesn’t break up with him because it would give her a bad reputation about abandoning the poor guy in the worst moment of his life. Everything is useless and uncomfortable, so when summer comes, he decides to go to a basketball camp, but with no alcohol, no girls and no stupid friends.
"We have to go, zombie boy," I say.
He smiles. "I'll have you converted before the summer's over. Don't worry."
What’s left?
The guy at the carousel.
Until Micah, no one could handle me. But Micah gets me. And I get him.
Micah talks too fast. Ridge doesn’t keep up with him. Micah talks too much. Ridge barely utters a word. Micah says the horses in the carousel are not usual, behind every one of then a story is hidden, waiting to be told. Ridge is too polite to interrupt Micah’s advances and, before he realizes it, Ridge has a new friend. Micah makes his place in Ridge’s life from one night to the next before Ridge has time to regret it.
Micah leans closer. His hair brushes against my face before he whispers directly into my ear, “Fight or bite? What do you want, Ridge? Fight… or…”
“Bite me!” The words fly from my lips faster than I can even think to stop them.
But I can’t think of the words or the morgue or anything other than the piercing pain that shoots through my collarbone.
“Fuck! Micah!” I scream.
This story is refreshing and cute in an innocent way. But this is deceiving, because we find the big conflicts also the adults have to confront, like bigotry, hate, fake couples, self-discovery, dysfunctional families, small and important traumas, past and present pains and personality problems. The world is not a welcoming place, and they have to deal with lies, half-truths and falseness, above all in themselves. Micah is not telling the whole truth, and Ridge tells too many lies.
He takes two side steps closer to me. “Are you really that scared?”
What the hell do you think, Micah? Yeah, I’m really that scared. That’s why I’m standing on the wrong side of a bridge’s railing holding the hand of a guy who likes guys, and all the while, that elephant named Tension is behind us poking at me with its trunk waiting for me to take a leap of faith… in more ways than one.
I loved the writing and the MC are very well defined. It it curious because everything is painted like normal, even though there are some facts that are not. The good parts and the bad parts are just that, parts. There was no critizism in the narrator’s voice, in Ridge’s voice. It’s strange because he knows when he is behaving in a dubious way and recriminates himself, but I couldn’t shake the feeling he was narrating other person’s life. Maybe it’s due to his cold behavior during the book. People are not like that, people don’t have that much time to think things through, but it seemed like he had, and that didn’t feel real or natural. In any case, I liked his voice, apart from that weird sensation I could get myself into the story and into Ridge’s head.
He runs his fingers through the hair that’s fallen on the back of my back. I shiver – not an “I’m cold” sort of shiver but more of the “Hey, that feels, good, and you’re kind of turning me on” sort of shiver.
Micah is less transparent, I think it would be interesting to get to know his limits as a person, because I was a little disappointed to know so little of him. They don’t talk that much, most of the time they play the X-Box and that looks like boring but it’s not.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, it's easy and fast to read, and there are not great adventures or real angst. The twists and turns are not very marked, instead they are soft and quiet, but in a endearing way.
”And what do you want, McCoy?” Terrence asks. “Really and truly?”
“For this summer to never end.”
March 9, 2014
I loved this! Seriously, what a great, great book!
I can't say enough about how I loved Micah and his family. Such a genuinely nice guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, even though he tries his best not to do so.
I really like Ridge as well and I can't say enough about Terrence. He wasn't in the story a whole heck of a lot, but when he was, he was a really great friend to Ridge. I thought he gave some great advice and I really liked when he would 'mess' with Ridge by asking questions in conversations that he already knew the answers to. ;)
I really enjoyed reading this (even though it seemed to take me FOREVER to do so).
Apologies to Garrett and Mishyjo for stumbling on this one. I will do better on the next BR I promise!
I can't say enough about how I loved Micah and his family. Such a genuinely nice guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, even though he tries his best not to do so.
I really like Ridge as well and I can't say enough about Terrence. He wasn't in the story a whole heck of a lot, but when he was, he was a really great friend to Ridge. I thought he gave some great advice and I really liked when he would 'mess' with Ridge by asking questions in conversations that he already knew the answers to. ;)
I really enjoyed reading this (even though it seemed to take me FOREVER to do so).
Apologies to Garrett and Mishyjo for stumbling on this one. I will do better on the next BR I promise!
January 31, 2015
“I need more time than what you have tonight. It’d seriously take all day just to tell you about one horse, much less ten. You know, I could just show you instead. Give me ten days this summer”
Similar to last year’s “New Author Week” event – this year, we were supposed to read books from Debut Author (in M/M) of 2014 – I found myself again struggling to find which author to read. Those debut authors I were interested in, I had read their works. So whom should I pick? I am quite picky these days and I need to feel that ‘connection’ between the blurb and the sub-genre to even willing to try new-to-me authors.
And again, like last year, I decided to go with a Young Adult theme (last year I picked "Haffling" by Caleb James) simply because I thought I needed to use the event to also read more of this sub-genre. Nikki Godwin has written several young adult theme books prior to “ Falling from the Sky ” and seems like she won hearts of YA-readers with those. So I thought I’d give this LGBT debut of her as my choice.
To be honest, I’m having a difficult time if I have to describe what the story is all about. I actually have a friend asked me that and I stumbled with my reply. To me, this is a kind of story that just … flows.
Basically, sixteen-year-old Ridge McCoy meets Micah Youngblood when Ridge attends a summer-long baseball camp, and what strikes as tentative friendship at first (at least from Ridge’s side) progresses into a more complex situation as Ridge finds himself falling for the boy. In between those summer days, we have Micah showing Ridge the meaning of carousel horses, jumping from a bridge, riding ferris wheel, or simply playing Zombie Raiders xBox game.
Of course we also had inner conflict happening – Ridge never sees himself as liking boys and he currently is with a girlfriend, albeit their relationship is pretty much as dead as the slayed humans on the zombie game.
Writing wise, it feels slightly less sophisticated – especially if I have to compare it with most of the books I read that were published by bigger/mainstream publishers. However, at the same time, it also feels accessible and unpretentious. Characterization wise, I found it quite difficult to connect with Ridge, and often found myself being frustrated by his inability to make a decision when it came to Micah and his current girlfriend. He just took a bit too long to get out from that situation. Even if the girlfriend, later on, was written as one who was not quite sympathetic after all. Then again, I am probably not the most patient reader when dealing with teenage angst, which is why my relationship with Young Adult genre is lukewarm at most.
Micah, on the other hand, is quite wonderful. Micah’s willingness to open himself to heartbreak, by attaching himself to befriend a white boy who only visits Bear Creek during a summer-camp, and one he knows is in relationship, was both admirable and poignant. I found Micah brave to risk his heart like so.
“ Falling from the Sky ” might not be a deep life-changing read, and at times it went to a meandering state and slightly pointless repetitiveness … but in overall, this falls into an ‘okay’ read for me.
December 28, 2014
I 5683 this book!
It wasn't as angsty and sad as I expected. This book had heart and soul and it just touched me so many times. THIS is how you do YA- no melodrama, no perfect people, no slut shaming or woman hating. Even the absentee parent thing worked in this book.
Ridge's dad died a year ago in a plane crash, and he's just been existing since then. His mom and his brother have both pulled away from him, and he thinks his girlfriend Samantha is only with him because she can't be the girl who dumps the guy whose dad died. He goes off to basketball camp for the summer just to get away from it all.
Micah is happy go lucky, sweet, fun. At first, Ridge thinks he's kinda dorky, but he finds himself pulled along, day after day, until one day he can't imagine NOT being with Micah. Micah has had his own tough time, with a deadbeat dad he's never met, and a mom who seems to have some sort of mental problems, although it's never really detailed, and an ex who outed him and spread a bunch of lies about him at school.
So this summer, Micah and Ridge were both lonely and just kind of drifting through life, but they both saw something in each other, and it was really beautiful to watch. It never became about whether Ridge was gay or not, but just about how much he liked Micah, and how he'd rather be with him than without him.
I'd LOVE to read a sequel to this one, to see how they managed after the summer was over.
It wasn't as angsty and sad as I expected. This book had heart and soul and it just touched me so many times. THIS is how you do YA- no melodrama, no perfect people, no slut shaming or woman hating. Even the absentee parent thing worked in this book.
Ridge's dad died a year ago in a plane crash, and he's just been existing since then. His mom and his brother have both pulled away from him, and he thinks his girlfriend Samantha is only with him because she can't be the girl who dumps the guy whose dad died. He goes off to basketball camp for the summer just to get away from it all.
Micah is happy go lucky, sweet, fun. At first, Ridge thinks he's kinda dorky, but he finds himself pulled along, day after day, until one day he can't imagine NOT being with Micah. Micah has had his own tough time, with a deadbeat dad he's never met, and a mom who seems to have some sort of mental problems, although it's never really detailed, and an ex who outed him and spread a bunch of lies about him at school.
So this summer, Micah and Ridge were both lonely and just kind of drifting through life, but they both saw something in each other, and it was really beautiful to watch. It never became about whether Ridge was gay or not, but just about how much he liked Micah, and how he'd rather be with him than without him.
I'd LOVE to read a sequel to this one, to see how they managed after the summer was over.
June 13, 2015
This was me during a majority of this book:
This book was cute and quirky. I just loved this author grew their friendship into a relationship. I was loving it. I was ready to give it 5 stars. And then...
What happened you ask? Well...
1. I was heartbroken when I found out that Micah I don't know why it hurt me so much. I had to deduct a star for that. It killed it for me a little bit. Adding that to the story did nothing positive. At all.
and
2. Dude, this book sooo needed an epilogue!! A pet peeve of mine is an aprubt ending and this book just ended. Can we get a second book? PLeeease?!?!
If a second book is written all will be forgiven!
Overall, this was a great read!!! I highly recommend it. 3.75 Stars rounded up.
This book was cute and quirky. I just loved this author grew their friendship into a relationship. I was loving it. I was ready to give it 5 stars. And then...
What happened you ask? Well...
1. I was heartbroken when I found out that Micah I don't know why it hurt me so much. I had to deduct a star for that. It killed it for me a little bit. Adding that to the story did nothing positive. At all.
and
2. Dude, this book sooo needed an epilogue!! A pet peeve of mine is an aprubt ending and this book just ended. Can we get a second book? PLeeease?!?!
If a second book is written all will be forgiven!
Overall, this was a great read!!! I highly recommend it. 3.75 Stars rounded up.
March 7, 2014
4.5 Stars
I just needed a little more at the ending, and this would have been five stars.
The plot was strong, and the character development was excellent.
At first, I wasn't sure where things were heading, but the author wove together a nice intricate story of love, loss, and a summer of learning to live again.
I just needed a little more at the ending, and this would have been five stars.
The plot was strong, and the character development was excellent.
At first, I wasn't sure where things were heading, but the author wove together a nice intricate story of love, loss, and a summer of learning to live again.
January 11, 2019
“And what do you want, McCoy?” Terrence asks. “Really and truly?” “For this summer to never end.”
Rep: gay mc, gay Native American li
Hold on, folks, this could be a bumpy (and sarcastic and slightly angry because I wasted 2 1/2 hours on this book) ride.
First of all, it's always a bad sign when you get kind of leery about a book within the first chapter of that book. I mean, it doesn't help that one of the first comments made about the Native American character is
He nods. "I'm Micah. Youngblood." I was expecting something cooler. Like Blackfeather. Or Wolfcry. Something more Native American than Youngblood.
At which point, I was like, do I really want to be reading this book? But I continued, and came across this gem
"I'm guessing you're Ridge," he says to me. He tosses a gym bag onto the only empty bed. I seriously thought I lucked up just having Terrence as a roommate. I should've known better. "And I'd assume you're Terrence? I've never met a white guy named Terrence," he says.
I guess it's an effective way to mark out the arsehole, and make a point that Terrence is not white (which is pretty vague, but I'm being a little harsh. It does mention later that he is black). Anyway, having welcomed the douchecanoe, I figured I might as well get a bit further before deciding whether or not to continue the book.
Next up, Douchecanoe(TM) confesses that he can't possibly live without sex for the length of time the camp runs but, given that his girlfriend is back home, he's obviously going to have to find some girl nearby who will give him what he wants. And here I was thinking that they were at some elite, invitation-only, basketball camp and so would be serious about the sport. Clearly, I was mistaken.
Also at this point, I was getting increasingly doubtful of the portrayal of the Native American characters in this book. I don't know how much research the author did, but I felt like it was kind of leaning towards playing on stereotypes. I haven't been able to find any reviews which verify that though.
Then comes this (other) gem of a quote
"Okay. You asked for it," he warns. "The thing is, I hate labels. All labels. Race, gender, sexuality, all of it. I don't see color or gender or gay, straight, bi, whatever."
Which leads me to wonder, how much of this is the (white) author putting words into their Native American character's mouth in an attempt to be 'progressive'. I would hazard a guess that it's quite a bit. But then she has the white character say that he couldn't do the same, ie that he doesn't "not see colour". And once again I'm kind of leery. What's the author playing at? Is she wanting the white dude to seem more progressive than the Native American dude? Because, if so, that's gross.
Anyway. Moving on from that, there's then this lovely quote
Micah assumes the 'guy role' and says it's just one ticket. I should totally be the guy. Micah is such a girl. Of course I can't tell him that - ever - because he hates stereotypical gay relationships where one of the guys is 'the girl of the relationship'.
Because you can't go anywhere with a relationship of any sort without imposing some lovely het values on proceedings.
By this point, Micah and Ridge are 'together'. But wait!! Ridge has a girlfriend back home (who he keeps damn mentioning, only to complain about in the same sentence. Damnit, Ridge. Just break up already. I am not here for your teenage angst bullshit). And who he's currently cheating on, making him no better than Aaron, right?
But no! It's ok, because Micah's a boy. I'm not kidding, there was this semi-justification of it
But then I remember that I'm not into guys, and I have a girlfriend, and this technically makes me a cheater. I wonder if this is like prison, how a lot of inmates are "gay for the stay" because they need some form of affection.
Putting aside the fact that he repeatedly claims he's not into guys (sidenote; you'd think he hasn't heard of bisexuality the way he's going on... Hmm....), which simultaneously cheating on his girlfriend with a guy, this 'gay for the stay' idea is gross. Get this shit away from me.
There are also huge gaps in the development of their relationship. Like, one moment, they're kissing and Ridge is leaping away and having a gay/I-have-a-girlfriend freakout and then 5 pages (and an hour or so) later he's perfectly happy letting Micah kiss him. I don't understand.
And to top it off, would you believe it, Samantha's a bitch. She has no personality, all she likes to do is shop, and she's horrible to Ridge when he (finally) breaks up with her. But it turns out she was also cheating on him! So Ridge cheating on her with Micah is obviously now doubly ok. Because logic.
One last point, Micah is actually kind of manipulative. He puts Ridge in these coupley situations when he knows Ridge isn't entirely comfortable all the time with them, without checking whether Ridge wants to be in those situations and just lets him deal with it. It doesn't feel like particularly healthy relationship behaviour to me.
Actual last point: Terrence was easily the best character in this book, even if he did seem to be there just to have the role of relationship guru.
July 15, 2014
One summer.
Two boys.
Ten carousel horses.
OH THE FEELS.
This is one of the sweetest, most distinctive m/m romances I’ve read in many moons, and I recommend it to all m/m and YA fans looking for something pleasingly different.
FALLING FROM THE SKY hinges on a creative concept, something I always appreciate. Away at basketball camp for the summer, 16-year-old Ridge meets Micah, a Native American boy his age who runs the carousel at the local mall. Micah tells him the 10 carousel horses each have a special connection to him and his tribe, and he offers to reveal all the backstories to Ridge in a series of summer outings. Ridge accepts, reluctantly. He plays it off like he has nothing better to do, but he’s clearly intrigued by this confident, super-friendly guy who “talks too damn much” and “needs a haircut worse that I do.” (Yeah, Ridge can be pretty grumpy. It made me smile; he reminded me of a friend of mine, and his voice felt authentic.)
The ten-horse plan is an ingenious way to stir up sparks AND ramp up tension. It gives the developing romance a built-in countdown: What happens when the boys run out of horses (and summer)? A happy ending doesn’t seem like a foregone conclusion. Ridge has always identified as straight, and he wraps his growing feelings for Micah in reams of denials and justifications as they go on their “horse dates” and bond over Xbox Zombie Sanctuary 3.
If you’ve read Godwin’s other books, you already know she’s a master of slow-burn romance. The boys back into awkward friendship at first, which evolves into an “I want Micah to want me” situation that intrigues Ridge as much as it unnerves him. Soon he finds himself stalking his phone for Micah’s next text, getting pinpricks of jealousy when other guys are around his new “friend.” It gets to the point where you just FEEL that first kiss about to happen–but Ridge is such a tangle of emotion that you don’t have the slightest idea how he’ll react, and that’s both exciting and gut-wrenching.
That tension drives the book’s first half, but Godwin’s got more up her sleeve than a cat-and-mouse tease. FFTS is a fully developed romance between two teen boys who both challenge and complement each other. They open up about things that matter: Micah about his much-loved Nanna and his troubles with his parents, Ridge about his father’s death in the plane crash that haunts him. They push each other out of their respective comfort zones: Micah challenges Ridge to jump off a bridge with him, Ridge challenges Micah to ride a Ferris wheel. Neither one of them is perfect—Ridge is testy and full of typical teen-boy insecurities, Micah sometimes has trouble with boundaries—but I think their relatable flaws are what made me buy them as characters and root for their relationship.
To Godwin’s credit, she’s more interested in exploring the specifics of that relationship than the implications of “straight” Ridge loving a guy. I know that might seem like a controversial approach, but Ridge’s story arc is less about deciding how to label himself and more about opening himself to love in an unexpected guise. I love a good coming-out book, but I found FFTS’s approach refreshing. That’s not to say things are glossed over—there’s candor and depth to Ridge’s narration, but because it’s delivered with Godwin’s wry humor and light, assured touch, this never feels like a heavy “issue” novel.
This isn’t the book to pick up if you’re looking for hot and heavy—sex hasn’t really entered the equation for these two yet, though you know it’ll be great when it happens. But don’t let that dissuade you: this is a seriously sweet, thoughtful, and romantic book, with scenes you’ll be thinking about with a smile weeks later.
Two boys.
Ten carousel horses.
OH THE FEELS.
This is one of the sweetest, most distinctive m/m romances I’ve read in many moons, and I recommend it to all m/m and YA fans looking for something pleasingly different.
FALLING FROM THE SKY hinges on a creative concept, something I always appreciate. Away at basketball camp for the summer, 16-year-old Ridge meets Micah, a Native American boy his age who runs the carousel at the local mall. Micah tells him the 10 carousel horses each have a special connection to him and his tribe, and he offers to reveal all the backstories to Ridge in a series of summer outings. Ridge accepts, reluctantly. He plays it off like he has nothing better to do, but he’s clearly intrigued by this confident, super-friendly guy who “talks too damn much” and “needs a haircut worse that I do.” (Yeah, Ridge can be pretty grumpy. It made me smile; he reminded me of a friend of mine, and his voice felt authentic.)
The ten-horse plan is an ingenious way to stir up sparks AND ramp up tension. It gives the developing romance a built-in countdown: What happens when the boys run out of horses (and summer)? A happy ending doesn’t seem like a foregone conclusion. Ridge has always identified as straight, and he wraps his growing feelings for Micah in reams of denials and justifications as they go on their “horse dates” and bond over Xbox Zombie Sanctuary 3.
If you’ve read Godwin’s other books, you already know she’s a master of slow-burn romance. The boys back into awkward friendship at first, which evolves into an “I want Micah to want me” situation that intrigues Ridge as much as it unnerves him. Soon he finds himself stalking his phone for Micah’s next text, getting pinpricks of jealousy when other guys are around his new “friend.” It gets to the point where you just FEEL that first kiss about to happen–but Ridge is such a tangle of emotion that you don’t have the slightest idea how he’ll react, and that’s both exciting and gut-wrenching.
That tension drives the book’s first half, but Godwin’s got more up her sleeve than a cat-and-mouse tease. FFTS is a fully developed romance between two teen boys who both challenge and complement each other. They open up about things that matter: Micah about his much-loved Nanna and his troubles with his parents, Ridge about his father’s death in the plane crash that haunts him. They push each other out of their respective comfort zones: Micah challenges Ridge to jump off a bridge with him, Ridge challenges Micah to ride a Ferris wheel. Neither one of them is perfect—Ridge is testy and full of typical teen-boy insecurities, Micah sometimes has trouble with boundaries—but I think their relatable flaws are what made me buy them as characters and root for their relationship.
To Godwin’s credit, she’s more interested in exploring the specifics of that relationship than the implications of “straight” Ridge loving a guy. I know that might seem like a controversial approach, but Ridge’s story arc is less about deciding how to label himself and more about opening himself to love in an unexpected guise. I love a good coming-out book, but I found FFTS’s approach refreshing. That’s not to say things are glossed over—there’s candor and depth to Ridge’s narration, but because it’s delivered with Godwin’s wry humor and light, assured touch, this never feels like a heavy “issue” novel.
This isn’t the book to pick up if you’re looking for hot and heavy—sex hasn’t really entered the equation for these two yet, though you know it’ll be great when it happens. But don’t let that dissuade you: this is a seriously sweet, thoughtful, and romantic book, with scenes you’ll be thinking about with a smile weeks later.
July 27, 2014
This was a slow-building story of a young man on the cusp of adulthood, dealing with past tragedy and current confusion. Ridge lost his father in a plane crash almost a year before the book opens, but he's still coming to terms with that. Planes overhead still startle him into visions of falling from the sky.
His mother has been grieving and coping with his younger brother's problems, and not had much time for him. His girlfriend has been distant, shallow and unsupportive. Going off to a basketball camp out of town is his chance to start fresh, at least for the summer. And when he meets Micah, the local mall's amusement zone operator, he finds someone just a little different, open and a bit zany and not intimidated or put off by Ridge's lingering grief. There is an attraction between them from the start, but admitting it, let alone acting on it, demands that Ridge change all his own self-perceptions and expectations. Is it worth doing that, when at the end of summer he will be going back home?
I liked the quiet build of this story, the misunderstandings and set-backs. Micah is a great character, not perfect, but open and willing to risk his heart despite being let down more than once in the past. Ridge is seriously flawed, but the flaws are understandable, as he tries to cope with yet another complete upheaval of his world, but one he can avoid if he just doesn't admit to it.
I had a few minor concerns. Plot-wise, I can't imagine any summer sports camp that would let under-18 campers go off-property to spend the night, without any kind of checking. Ridge turns 17 here, but he has far more freedom that I would expect. The liability aspects of that would be completely untenable in reality. It would be different if the camp was not residential, but once it is, it stands in loco parentis for the juveniles in its care. So that founders the whole plot, and has to be disregarded.
I also wish Samantha, the girlfriend, was treated differently. There was no need to villify her, and it made the choice between her and Micah too obvious for Ridge. In fact, it made his hesitations seem almost unbelievable given how little he got out of that relationship. If she had been supportive, at least, then his waffling would have had a deeper sense of regret and loss and actual choice.
Despite those, I enjoyed this story as a smooth, slowly engaging young adult coming-of-age story that caught my attention more the further I got into it. There are some nice secondary characters, including family, although this is another YA with relatively absent parents. But siblings and friends make up some of that void. Terrence, Ridge's best friend, was a welcome voice in his isolation, and the teammates were plausible. The time I thought we might be in for a homophobic cliche moment the author managed to side-step it. Worth the read.
His mother has been grieving and coping with his younger brother's problems, and not had much time for him. His girlfriend has been distant, shallow and unsupportive. Going off to a basketball camp out of town is his chance to start fresh, at least for the summer. And when he meets Micah, the local mall's amusement zone operator, he finds someone just a little different, open and a bit zany and not intimidated or put off by Ridge's lingering grief. There is an attraction between them from the start, but admitting it, let alone acting on it, demands that Ridge change all his own self-perceptions and expectations. Is it worth doing that, when at the end of summer he will be going back home?
I liked the quiet build of this story, the misunderstandings and set-backs. Micah is a great character, not perfect, but open and willing to risk his heart despite being let down more than once in the past. Ridge is seriously flawed, but the flaws are understandable, as he tries to cope with yet another complete upheaval of his world, but one he can avoid if he just doesn't admit to it.
I had a few minor concerns. Plot-wise, I can't imagine any summer sports camp that would let under-18 campers go off-property to spend the night, without any kind of checking. Ridge turns 17 here, but he has far more freedom that I would expect. The liability aspects of that would be completely untenable in reality. It would be different if the camp was not residential, but once it is, it stands in loco parentis for the juveniles in its care. So that founders the whole plot, and has to be disregarded.
I also wish Samantha, the girlfriend, was treated differently. There was no need to villify her, and it made the choice between her and Micah too obvious for Ridge. In fact, it made his hesitations seem almost unbelievable given how little he got out of that relationship. If she had been supportive, at least, then his waffling would have had a deeper sense of regret and loss and actual choice.
Despite those, I enjoyed this story as a smooth, slowly engaging young adult coming-of-age story that caught my attention more the further I got into it. There are some nice secondary characters, including family, although this is another YA with relatively absent parents. But siblings and friends make up some of that void. Terrence, Ridge's best friend, was a welcome voice in his isolation, and the teammates were plausible. The time I thought we might be in for a homophobic cliche moment the author managed to side-step it. Worth the read.
May 3, 2015
I'm so tired of this whole bi-erasure thing. Micah saying he doesn't want labels, he likes girls, he likes boys but then Ridge asking him : so did you bring a girlfriend home? The answer being no, of course he just thinks oh dude just admit you're gay. I think if he had gotten a girl pregnant, then mayyybe it would have proven he had interest in vaginas too. And then Micah who keeps reapeating after that I'm gay, I'm gay. So yeah, he has been bisexual for a total of 30 seconds apparently.
Just don't make your characters say they are interested in minds, not in body parts if they forget all about it after.
I'm not even talking about Ridge clinging to "the girlfriend" (I'm not kidding, he called her the girlfriend at one point) who he can't even care enough about to text back but she is her excuse for saying for most of the book, I"m not gay, I've got a girlfriend (he even goes shopping with her to avoid doing "his boyfriend duties", meaning sex. Urgh. Though I find it interesting his dick is mentionned only once and it's when she wants to blow him but apparently the dicks never existed while he was making out with the-guy-who-is-not-his-boyfriend. Poor plastic dolls teenagers.)
Oh and another book with the trope of the mean and stupid girlfriend. I'm tired of that too.
Obviously there were other issues also annoying me but I don't want to waste more time on this book. A shame because there were some nice ideas like the Graffiti Kings.
Just don't make your characters say they are interested in minds, not in body parts if they forget all about it after.
I'm not even talking about Ridge clinging to "the girlfriend" (I'm not kidding, he called her the girlfriend at one point) who he can't even care enough about to text back but she is her excuse for saying for most of the book, I"m not gay, I've got a girlfriend (he even goes shopping with her to avoid doing "his boyfriend duties", meaning sex. Urgh. Though I find it interesting his dick is mentionned only once and it's when she wants to blow him but apparently the dicks never existed while he was making out with the-guy-who-is-not-his-boyfriend. Poor plastic dolls teenagers.)
Oh and another book with the trope of the mean and stupid girlfriend. I'm tired of that too.
Obviously there were other issues also annoying me but I don't want to waste more time on this book. A shame because there were some nice ideas like the Graffiti Kings.
June 10, 2020
I've never been much of a YA fan, but there are a few out there that are must reads..this is one of them. The characters, Micah and Ridge, immediately captured my interest and attention and didn't let go until the last word was read. Excellent read.
December 1, 2022
Kindle-Sort-ReRead
I'm really undecided on this.
On one hand grieving Y.A. meeting someone and rejoining life.
On the other some problematic attitudes.
A Native American who doesn't believe in labels including race. Then his new White friend who can't not not see such things.
Ridge doesn't want to learn about Micah's culture, er but invites himself to stay for the weekend on the reservation.
Micah constantly seems to be shirtless... around Ridge acting suggestive while accepting he's straight.
Ridge backs off, mentions his girlfriend then next minute they're kissing. He ignores his girlfriend then cheats on her, then dumps her - but its OK because she's horrid, selfish, was cheating all along!
I'm not sure how old the characters are (17yrs?). I think partly it's a young character learning himself, dealing with loss, confusion. But his coping doesn't make him likeable. I'm not sure why Micah'd bother, which is a big part if my issue with the book. Also it was feeling overlong. It started off promising but when I expected it to get good it instead dragged on.
I'm really undecided on this.
On one hand grieving Y.A. meeting someone and rejoining life.
On the other some problematic attitudes.
A Native American who doesn't believe in labels including race. Then his new White friend who can't not not see such things.
Ridge doesn't want to learn about Micah's culture, er but invites himself to stay for the weekend on the reservation.
Micah constantly seems to be shirtless... around Ridge acting suggestive while accepting he's straight.
Ridge backs off, mentions his girlfriend then next minute they're kissing. He ignores his girlfriend then cheats on her, then dumps her - but its OK because she's horrid, selfish, was cheating all along!
I'm not sure how old the characters are (17yrs?). I think partly it's a young character learning himself, dealing with loss, confusion. But his coping doesn't make him likeable. I'm not sure why Micah'd bother, which is a big part if my issue with the book. Also it was feeling overlong. It started off promising but when I expected it to get good it instead dragged on.
February 19, 2015
I have no idea how this book escaped my notice for so long, but holy moly, folks, if you love YA, if you love realistic, meaningful YA books that deal with realistic issues and contain fully formed characters, this is a book for you.
Ridge is attending a summer basketball camp, in an effort by his mother to get him out of his what I would call depression and overall melancholy after the death of his father. The camp is held near/on an Indian reservation, and while there, Ridge meets Micah, a boy his age from the tribe, who runs the carousel in the mall owned by his family.
Micah is gay, and Ridge isn't. But Micah is the first person who really "gets" Ridge, which is possibly because they both have similar loss of parental figures in their lives.
The entire book is told from Ridge's first person POV, so we don't get a whole lot of insight into Micah's inner workings, other than through Ridge's eyes.
All too often, YA are too overdone, too dramatic, too full of teenage angst. There's some here too, but it's done in a way that feel real, that feels organic and utterly believable. Most of it has a melancholy undertone, something that fits the plot and the characters, and it shows the struggles Micah had to overcome, struggles similar to what Ridge is still experiencing.
It shows that a devastating loss such as Ridge losing his father can be debilitating, that it can seem as if the world has ended, that things you previously enjoyed no longer seem fun, and that the memories associated with those things prevent you from enjoying them in the now. Anyone who's had such a loss in their life, especially at a young age, can surely see parts of themselves in Ridge. It's not overdone - it's real. I cried a few tears (okay, a lot of tears), whenever Ridge thought of his father. The stages of grief, while not explicitly explained here, are all there. We see Ridge move from denial to a sort of acceptance, as his trust in Micah grows, as he realizes slowly that Micah doesn't push him any more than he can take.
Yes, there's some drama too - what with Ridge having a girlfriend, and not being gay (or so he thinks), and Micah not being entirely honest as we find out toward the end - but it's easily overpowered by the relationship between these two young men, something that blossoms so simply and so organically that it often took my breath away.
Someone more cynical might say that it's unrealistic for these two boys to not get hot and heavy between the sheets - I'd disagree. I think that considering Ridge having a girlfriend for most of this book, and not thinking of himself as gay is a strong factor in the two of them not falling into bed. There is kissing and hand-holding, and the general excitement of first dates and such, but not even a mention of erections - not that I missed it. I think that it actually speaks more to the quality of this book to not portray them as only sexual beings, but focus more on their minds and their connection.
Someone more cynical might say that the pain of losing a parent can't be wiped out by finding a friend, a boyfriend, and I'd agree, but that's not what this book portrays. At the end, Ridge is still mourning his father. But Micah, unlike the other people in Ridge's life, is not telling him to get over it, nor does he react with discomfort or awkwardness when Ridge cries - he just accepts it, offers his shoulder, and gives comfort. Sometimes all that's needed is a good cry and a shoulder to cry on, arms to hold you.
This is an author to watch, for sure. I am SO glad I read this book. If you like YA novels, please give this a try.
Ridge is attending a summer basketball camp, in an effort by his mother to get him out of his what I would call depression and overall melancholy after the death of his father. The camp is held near/on an Indian reservation, and while there, Ridge meets Micah, a boy his age from the tribe, who runs the carousel in the mall owned by his family.
Micah is gay, and Ridge isn't. But Micah is the first person who really "gets" Ridge, which is possibly because they both have similar loss of parental figures in their lives.
The entire book is told from Ridge's first person POV, so we don't get a whole lot of insight into Micah's inner workings, other than through Ridge's eyes.
All too often, YA are too overdone, too dramatic, too full of teenage angst. There's some here too, but it's done in a way that feel real, that feels organic and utterly believable. Most of it has a melancholy undertone, something that fits the plot and the characters, and it shows the struggles Micah had to overcome, struggles similar to what Ridge is still experiencing.
It shows that a devastating loss such as Ridge losing his father can be debilitating, that it can seem as if the world has ended, that things you previously enjoyed no longer seem fun, and that the memories associated with those things prevent you from enjoying them in the now. Anyone who's had such a loss in their life, especially at a young age, can surely see parts of themselves in Ridge. It's not overdone - it's real. I cried a few tears (okay, a lot of tears), whenever Ridge thought of his father. The stages of grief, while not explicitly explained here, are all there. We see Ridge move from denial to a sort of acceptance, as his trust in Micah grows, as he realizes slowly that Micah doesn't push him any more than he can take.
Yes, there's some drama too - what with Ridge having a girlfriend, and not being gay (or so he thinks), and Micah not being entirely honest as we find out toward the end - but it's easily overpowered by the relationship between these two young men, something that blossoms so simply and so organically that it often took my breath away.
Someone more cynical might say that it's unrealistic for these two boys to not get hot and heavy between the sheets - I'd disagree. I think that considering Ridge having a girlfriend for most of this book, and not thinking of himself as gay is a strong factor in the two of them not falling into bed. There is kissing and hand-holding, and the general excitement of first dates and such, but not even a mention of erections - not that I missed it. I think that it actually speaks more to the quality of this book to not portray them as only sexual beings, but focus more on their minds and their connection.
Someone more cynical might say that the pain of losing a parent can't be wiped out by finding a friend, a boyfriend, and I'd agree, but that's not what this book portrays. At the end, Ridge is still mourning his father. But Micah, unlike the other people in Ridge's life, is not telling him to get over it, nor does he react with discomfort or awkwardness when Ridge cries - he just accepts it, offers his shoulder, and gives comfort. Sometimes all that's needed is a good cry and a shoulder to cry on, arms to hold you.
This is an author to watch, for sure. I am SO glad I read this book. If you like YA novels, please give this a try.
October 13, 2014
2.5
I had some problems with the amateur writing: pacing etc., some problems with cultural, ethnic and race references, and some issues with Ridge who was somewhat selfish and self-centred,
It's on the higher end of the okayness scale but reading this right after Gives Light did this book no favours.
I had some problems with the amateur writing: pacing etc., some problems with cultural, ethnic and race references, and some issues with Ridge who was somewhat selfish and self-centred,
It's on the higher end of the okayness scale but reading this right after Gives Light did this book no favours.
February 23, 2015
Great characters: Yup.
Creative story: Yup.
Lovely detailing: Yup.
Sweet, slow burning romance: Yup.
Light on the angst: Yup.
Another very satisfying, enjoyable read from Nikki Godwin. She really does know how to spin a good yarn :)
Creative story: Yup.
Lovely detailing: Yup.
Sweet, slow burning romance: Yup.
Light on the angst: Yup.
Another very satisfying, enjoyable read from Nikki Godwin. She really does know how to spin a good yarn :)
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March 21, 2016
Books don’t often make me feel the way Falling From The Sky made me feel. Which was 100%, completely, undoubtedly happy. They just don’t. I rarely get all giddy over a book, and smile at the characters because they’re so freaking adorable, and feel everything they’re feeling. It’s just really hard for a book to be able to capture me like that. Which is why Falling From The Sky has cemented itself as one of my new favourite books. Ever.
Everything about this book, from the moment I read the first sentence, completely captivated me. I read it in one sitting because I didn’t want to tear myself away from Ridge and Micah, and everything that was happening between them. The gosh darn cuteness of it all.
Micah is possibly the most adorable and endearing character I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. He’s so excitable, and kind, and completely fucking hyper, and I love him. I love him so freaking much, and it’s no wonder that Ridge fell for him, because there’s nothing about him that isn’t worth falling for.
But don’t get me wrong – I loved Ridge, too. I loved his awkwardness, and the fact that he isn’t consumed with “omg I hate myself for falling for a guy” feelings, and just kind of understands why he’s falling for Micah (because Micah is precious). I’m so glad that Godwin wrote Ridge’s revelations regarding his feelings for Micah the way that she did because they were perfect.
This whole book was perfect, though. Micah and Ridge were perfect as singular characters, and they were even more perfect together. Another perfect aspect of this book was Ridge’s friend, Terrence. Instead of being a complete jackass homophobe, he is 100% supportive of Ridge, and asks all the right questions, and doesn’t judge, and (I think, anyway) completely ships Ridge and Micah (and so he should, they’re fucking adorable godammit).
Falling From The Sky is simple. It’s a story about a boy falling for a boy, and learning more about yourself than you ever knew, and recovering from pain, and falling in love, and making friends, and spreading your wings. Which, now that I wrote it out, doesn’t sound simple at all. But it’s the way these things are executed, and the way they come about that is simple (and lovely). Nothing is overdone.
I know that Falling From The Sky will be a book that I return to when I need a pick-me-up, and I cannot wait to buy a beautiful physical copy so I can stare at the precious on my shelf. I have no doubt that Falling From The Sky will be in my favourite books of 2015 come the end of the year. No. Doubt.
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
Everything about this book, from the moment I read the first sentence, completely captivated me. I read it in one sitting because I didn’t want to tear myself away from Ridge and Micah, and everything that was happening between them. The gosh darn cuteness of it all.
Micah is possibly the most adorable and endearing character I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. He’s so excitable, and kind, and completely fucking hyper, and I love him. I love him so freaking much, and it’s no wonder that Ridge fell for him, because there’s nothing about him that isn’t worth falling for.
But don’t get me wrong – I loved Ridge, too. I loved his awkwardness, and the fact that he isn’t consumed with “omg I hate myself for falling for a guy” feelings, and just kind of understands why he’s falling for Micah (because Micah is precious). I’m so glad that Godwin wrote Ridge’s revelations regarding his feelings for Micah the way that she did because they were perfect.
This whole book was perfect, though. Micah and Ridge were perfect as singular characters, and they were even more perfect together. Another perfect aspect of this book was Ridge’s friend, Terrence. Instead of being a complete jackass homophobe, he is 100% supportive of Ridge, and asks all the right questions, and doesn’t judge, and (I think, anyway) completely ships Ridge and Micah (and so he should, they’re fucking adorable godammit).
Falling From The Sky is simple. It’s a story about a boy falling for a boy, and learning more about yourself than you ever knew, and recovering from pain, and falling in love, and making friends, and spreading your wings. Which, now that I wrote it out, doesn’t sound simple at all. But it’s the way these things are executed, and the way they come about that is simple (and lovely). Nothing is overdone.
I know that Falling From The Sky will be a book that I return to when I need a pick-me-up, and I cannot wait to buy a beautiful physical copy so I can stare at the precious on my shelf. I have no doubt that Falling From The Sky will be in my favourite books of 2015 come the end of the year. No. Doubt.
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.
October 29, 2014
This book hit all the right buttons for me. Wonderful characters, a great YA/NA storyline it really was exactly my cuppa tea!
Nikki Godwin is not an author I've read before - I liked the sound of this book, stuck it on my TBR list then Heather (thank you!) let me know it was in an Amazon deal and was only 77p. This marketing strategy works IMO because I can guarantee I'll be buying more from this author. A book that sounded good but may have taken a while to get to (if your TBR is anything like mine) was given the edge because of a great price deal. I will now be searching out work by this author and not waiting til I've got a free second in my reading schedule!!
So the book - well since reading Rose Christo's books a couple of months back I've been enjoying books that in some part embrace the native American Indian culture. So Micah was a character I really enjoyed. I also liked his quirkiness, yes I know I have a weakness for quirky characters, and while he wasn't off the wall zany, he was different enough to catch my eye.
Ridge too was great. He was living with the burden of his fathers death and the impact it was having on his life. How the circumstances of grief affected every corner of his world, especially his relationships.
While it masked something that should have fizzled pout but didn't, it al;so gave rise to a new beginning a fresh start. In the perfect world these two points would have remained separate - then again in a perfect world his dad wouldn't have died.
It was a great story, written with empathy, feeling and some great UST. I really loved it.
Nikki Godwin is not an author I've read before - I liked the sound of this book, stuck it on my TBR list then Heather (thank you!) let me know it was in an Amazon deal and was only 77p. This marketing strategy works IMO because I can guarantee I'll be buying more from this author. A book that sounded good but may have taken a while to get to (if your TBR is anything like mine) was given the edge because of a great price deal. I will now be searching out work by this author and not waiting til I've got a free second in my reading schedule!!
So the book - well since reading Rose Christo's books a couple of months back I've been enjoying books that in some part embrace the native American Indian culture. So Micah was a character I really enjoyed. I also liked his quirkiness, yes I know I have a weakness for quirky characters, and while he wasn't off the wall zany, he was different enough to catch my eye.
Ridge too was great. He was living with the burden of his fathers death and the impact it was having on his life. How the circumstances of grief affected every corner of his world, especially his relationships.
While it masked something that should have fizzled pout but didn't, it al;so gave rise to a new beginning a fresh start. In the perfect world these two points would have remained separate - then again in a perfect world his dad wouldn't have died.
It was a great story, written with empathy, feeling and some great UST. I really loved it.
February 23, 2014
I AM DEAD FROM FEELS, Y'ALL.
Seriously. I finished reading this and my mouth literally aches from smiling so hard. I don't think I've shipped a couple quite as hard as I shipped Ridge and Micah.
I suck at reviewing things, so pardon me if this is nothing but squees and swoons, because that was basically my reading experience.
I have been waiting for this book to come out from the second I heard about it- and not just because I love Nikki's writing, and not just because I love Nikki. Because it's a book that needed to be written, and the execution was flawless.
It's everything a love story should be. Period. Hands down.
This is a book everyone, everyone, everyone should be reading- regardless of gender, race, or sexual preference. If you believe in love, if you believe in the magic of good friends and summer days and moving on, you need to pick up this book right now.
I will never stop pushing this book on people, and chances are, I'll be rereading it very very soon.
(and one day I'll be able to write a coherent review, but that day is obviously not today.)
Seriously. I finished reading this and my mouth literally aches from smiling so hard. I don't think I've shipped a couple quite as hard as I shipped Ridge and Micah.
I suck at reviewing things, so pardon me if this is nothing but squees and swoons, because that was basically my reading experience.
I have been waiting for this book to come out from the second I heard about it- and not just because I love Nikki's writing, and not just because I love Nikki. Because it's a book that needed to be written, and the execution was flawless.
It's everything a love story should be. Period. Hands down.
This is a book everyone, everyone, everyone should be reading- regardless of gender, race, or sexual preference. If you believe in love, if you believe in the magic of good friends and summer days and moving on, you need to pick up this book right now.
I will never stop pushing this book on people, and chances are, I'll be rereading it very very soon.
(and one day I'll be able to write a coherent review, but that day is obviously not today.)
February 23, 2014
So, if you know me, you know I've been raving about this book since I read the blurb on Twitter. Just something about it hooked me and I couldn't wait to get my grubby little hands on it. I remember the author, Nikki, saying, "I hope this book lives up to your expectations."
Oh dearie, it surpassed them.
Ridge, the MC, hooked me from the beginning. He is such a well-rounded, fully fleshed character. I related to him and I cared about him. I wanted more than anything to see him happy.
And oh Micah. What I wouldn't give to go on one "horse date" with you. Micah was loyal and full of life and I wanted to wrap him up in a blanket and pet his head.
This really is a story about falling in love with the soul, not gender.
This was such a fascinating read that made me laugh and cry and sigh. I WANT A SEQUEL. There, I'm saying it. Just putting it out there. :)
I'm so proud of Nikki because this is such a wonderful book.
Oh dearie, it surpassed them.
Ridge, the MC, hooked me from the beginning. He is such a well-rounded, fully fleshed character. I related to him and I cared about him. I wanted more than anything to see him happy.
And oh Micah. What I wouldn't give to go on one "horse date" with you. Micah was loyal and full of life and I wanted to wrap him up in a blanket and pet his head.
This really is a story about falling in love with the soul, not gender.
This was such a fascinating read that made me laugh and cry and sigh. I WANT A SEQUEL. There, I'm saying it. Just putting it out there. :)
I'm so proud of Nikki because this is such a wonderful book.
February 7, 2017
I loved this book. It's a beautifully written YA story involving a boy who is grieving the death of his father in a plane crash who attends a basketball camp for the summer. he falls for a local native american boy, which is a surprise since the basketballer thinks he's straight. I found myself highlighting many envious passages (envious as in, I wish I'd written them!). The sex is off page but the sexual tension up to about 50% is off the charts. I loved both boys and all supporting characters were good too. Very realistic and smart writing. I immediately went to look for more by Nikki Godwin and it appears she's written a number of f/f and m/f books as well, but I'll try a few more of her m/m. Definitely recommended and will probably be on my favorites list for 2017.
October 15, 2020
https://celebrityreaders.com/2017/11/...
3 stars -- I will admit I'm a bit torn on this book. I actually liked quite a bit of it, but I still felt like there was just something lacking...like it could have been so much better, you know?? And I keep going back and forth on some of the other things that bugged me. Like they seriously bugged me, but there's a part of me that can see how characters (especially 17 year old characters) would behave in such a way.
I'll start off by saying that I chose to move this book up in my queue to fulfill a diversity challenge theme for this month, focusing on Native American History Month. And this is one of the first parts that both bugged me, but I could maybe see it. Ridge (our main hero, the only POV we read) is kind of a dick and maybe a bit of a bigot about Native Americans. Some of the comments he makes/thoughts he has early in the book made me uncomfortable. But then I kind of thought he's not praised or shown in a good light for that...so it kind of just shows the kind of prejudices that are pervasive in our society, especially about Native Americans...though while he's not shown in a good light, he's not smacked down for it either because it's in his head. But how many people out there think the same things? And we do get to see those things fall away, though it's never overt. And overall, I thought that Micah, and his family, and the bit we saw of his (made up) tribe weren't negative. Not being Native, I honestly can't tell you if they're positive, but they didn't feel negative to me. And most of the Native characters were kind of awesome; I really liked Micah, his sister, his nieces, his stories of his Nonna, his Poppa, even his cousins. So yeah, torn on the representation of this particular diversity, since we never see inside Micah's head.
And on a similar note with Ridge, this is a bit of a "gay for you" story, and he's a bit of a bigot about homosexuals too...he has some thoughts that made me uncomfortable here as well (like his comparison to prison inmates being "gay for the stay" -- ick). Part of me gets this, it's very realistic I think for many young adult males to be terrified of being gay, even if that makes me RIDICULOUSLY SAD. So I'm torn here...he made me want to smack him, but was he a realistic depiction? I think I would have been happier here if SOMEONE would have freaking brought up bisexuality ANYWHERE in the freaking book. Um, hello. Like seriously. That's why this lands more in the irks me category, it doesn't get as much of a pass as the race stuff.
And since I'm getting things that bug me out of the way, there's the cheating crap (might be minorly spoilery). I hate cheating stuff. I sort of get how confused Ridge was, both about his new feelings for Micah, and how he was just wanting to get away from all the things at home that had become status quo. But grow some balls. It shouldn't take the whole freaking summer to break up...and she didn't need to be a mean girl in the end, like I'm supposed to accept his behavior cheating with Micah because of that? Nope.
Well shit, I have more complaints...so I just had to downgrade this from a 3.5 star to a 3 star. Bummer. Really, so many of them just revolve around Ridge's characterization. So much of him just wasn't a very sympathetic character...he fell a bit flat a lot of times. He made decisions that made me not like him, I didn't really understand what he was really like. And OK, one last one: I wanted resolution with his family. I felt like that was so weird that we didn't ever see them, and it was all very in the background. So much of this book had a coming of age feel, but for it to truly be, I feel like we'd need to see him with his family.
OK, so things I liked!! And crap, even the things I liked are with caveats. This was a bit of a slow burn romance, and I appreciated that it wasn't fast (especially with all they were dealing with). Sometimes it would jump around a bit fast, like Ridge would be horrified about a kiss, and then still sleeping over. I think I think too much. But I did really think they were cute together. In general I really liked Micah...he was kind of an oddball, and I really did feel for him and what all he was dealing with. He felt like a pretty authentic 17 year old gay guy in a smaller town. I wasn't always happy with the way he pushed Ridge, but that could be just me.
I did GENUINELY love that we got to see Ridge showing emotions, and feeling things, and crying. So many times guys aren't allowed to cry, and that just sucks. I really loved Zoey and her twins...I thought they added something to the story, and Abby and Jade amused me (I could so picture their very different approaches to Ridge, right to the end). I thought the little bit we saw of Tuck was cool, I really liked the painting thing... While I was initially confused about the carousel horses thing, I was so happy with the fact that that was explained in the end...and I appreciated the little things those adventures taught us about our heroes. And I LOVED Terrance. We needed more Terrance. He was pretty much the one character who was 100% awesome in this book, and I think he was underutilized.
So yeah. Reading all that, I really did have a lot to complain about eh? Well crap. I did enjoy myself. Like I say, I just had reservations. I'm probably not properly expounding on the good parts of this story. I'm just conflicted, and it's always so much easier to talk about the things that didn't work than the things that did, you know? So there you go. My beautiful review. You're welcome.
3 stars -- I will admit I'm a bit torn on this book. I actually liked quite a bit of it, but I still felt like there was just something lacking...like it could have been so much better, you know?? And I keep going back and forth on some of the other things that bugged me. Like they seriously bugged me, but there's a part of me that can see how characters (especially 17 year old characters) would behave in such a way.
I'll start off by saying that I chose to move this book up in my queue to fulfill a diversity challenge theme for this month, focusing on Native American History Month. And this is one of the first parts that both bugged me, but I could maybe see it. Ridge (our main hero, the only POV we read) is kind of a dick and maybe a bit of a bigot about Native Americans. Some of the comments he makes/thoughts he has early in the book made me uncomfortable. But then I kind of thought he's not praised or shown in a good light for that...so it kind of just shows the kind of prejudices that are pervasive in our society, especially about Native Americans...though while he's not shown in a good light, he's not smacked down for it either because it's in his head. But how many people out there think the same things? And we do get to see those things fall away, though it's never overt. And overall, I thought that Micah, and his family, and the bit we saw of his (made up) tribe weren't negative. Not being Native, I honestly can't tell you if they're positive, but they didn't feel negative to me. And most of the Native characters were kind of awesome; I really liked Micah, his sister, his nieces, his stories of his Nonna, his Poppa, even his cousins. So yeah, torn on the representation of this particular diversity, since we never see inside Micah's head.
And on a similar note with Ridge, this is a bit of a "gay for you" story, and he's a bit of a bigot about homosexuals too...he has some thoughts that made me uncomfortable here as well (like his comparison to prison inmates being "gay for the stay" -- ick). Part of me gets this, it's very realistic I think for many young adult males to be terrified of being gay, even if that makes me RIDICULOUSLY SAD. So I'm torn here...he made me want to smack him, but was he a realistic depiction? I think I would have been happier here if SOMEONE would have freaking brought up bisexuality ANYWHERE in the freaking book. Um, hello. Like seriously. That's why this lands more in the irks me category, it doesn't get as much of a pass as the race stuff.
And since I'm getting things that bug me out of the way, there's the cheating crap (might be minorly spoilery). I hate cheating stuff. I sort of get how confused Ridge was, both about his new feelings for Micah, and how he was just wanting to get away from all the things at home that had become status quo. But grow some balls. It shouldn't take the whole freaking summer to break up...and she didn't need to be a mean girl in the end, like I'm supposed to accept his behavior cheating with Micah because of that? Nope.
Well shit, I have more complaints...so I just had to downgrade this from a 3.5 star to a 3 star. Bummer. Really, so many of them just revolve around Ridge's characterization. So much of him just wasn't a very sympathetic character...he fell a bit flat a lot of times. He made decisions that made me not like him, I didn't really understand what he was really like. And OK, one last one: I wanted resolution with his family. I felt like that was so weird that we didn't ever see them, and it was all very in the background. So much of this book had a coming of age feel, but for it to truly be, I feel like we'd need to see him with his family.
OK, so things I liked!! And crap, even the things I liked are with caveats. This was a bit of a slow burn romance, and I appreciated that it wasn't fast (especially with all they were dealing with). Sometimes it would jump around a bit fast, like Ridge would be horrified about a kiss, and then still sleeping over. I think I think too much. But I did really think they were cute together. In general I really liked Micah...he was kind of an oddball, and I really did feel for him and what all he was dealing with. He felt like a pretty authentic 17 year old gay guy in a smaller town. I wasn't always happy with the way he pushed Ridge, but that could be just me.
I did GENUINELY love that we got to see Ridge showing emotions, and feeling things, and crying. So many times guys aren't allowed to cry, and that just sucks. I really loved Zoey and her twins...I thought they added something to the story, and Abby and Jade amused me (I could so picture their very different approaches to Ridge, right to the end). I thought the little bit we saw of Tuck was cool, I really liked the painting thing... While I was initially confused about the carousel horses thing, I was so happy with the fact that that was explained in the end...and I appreciated the little things those adventures taught us about our heroes. And I LOVED Terrance. We needed more Terrance. He was pretty much the one character who was 100% awesome in this book, and I think he was underutilized.
So yeah. Reading all that, I really did have a lot to complain about eh? Well crap. I did enjoy myself. Like I say, I just had reservations. I'm probably not properly expounding on the good parts of this story. I'm just conflicted, and it's always so much easier to talk about the things that didn't work than the things that did, you know? So there you go. My beautiful review. You're welcome.
July 12, 2014
5683
originially posted here: http://alwayslostinbooks.wordpress.co...
After reading Chasing Forever Down and American Girl on Saturn, I’ve been a big Nikki Godwin fan. What can I say? Those two books were so easy to love, especially being stuck in summer vacation with swoon-worthy guys. But with Falling from the Sky, Nikki took a whole different turn. Her voice is still very clear in this one, but the composition feels different somehow. I must admit that I was afraid I wouldn’t like this book, but I actually found myself loving it. I actually don’t know how I could keep my review simple and concise when I have so many thoughts about this book. I will probably leave out a lot of them, and I hope I’m able to express myself clear enough.
Ridge McCoy is not a normal boy. Thankfully, Micah Youngblood isn’t that normal either. Ever since Ridge’s father died in a plane accident, Ridge has been praying for airplanes so that they won’t meet the sad fate his father did. His relationships back home fell apart, and the summer basketball camp is a good way to escape these people. And Micah somehow wheedles himself into Ridge’s life with the help of a couple of carousel horses. Oh, and zombies too. (Are you curious yet? I hope you are.)
I actually like the whole idea of the carousel horses and how each one could be special. Micah shows Ridge a lot about Bear Creek, his lifestyle, his culture, his relationships, and himself. I don’t really see a lot of Amerindians in books so I liked that somewhat unique aspect of the book. It’s also funny how Ridge could get intimidated being in the reservation, being different from everyone.
I liked seeing how the relationship between Ridge and Micah developed as Ridge tried to keep Micah at an arm’s length. But Micah surely doesn’t back down easily. I actually love him more than Ridge for all of his quirks. I even relate to his hate for labels. But they are both adorable throughout the book, especially when they show more and more of themselves. I loved the equality in their relationship. I really loved this book, but I think it could have used more dialogue. Or maybe I’m just a little biased. I want to see more of Micah and Ridge’s text message exchange.
I don’t think I’ve fallen in love with a Nikki Godwin book without falling in love with the side characters too. FFTS was no exception. There are actually a couple, but I will just mention the ones that are the most memorable to me – Abby, Jade, and Terrence. From the moment Abby and Jade came bounding up to the carousel calling out “Uncle Micah,” I knew I would love them already. They were these really adorable twins. And they have the innocence of the young, yet still have such distinct personalities. Jade naturally has the dominant personality, but Abby is actually a lot stronger. And then we have Terrence who is just one of the best friends ever. He’s not really around a lot, but he leaves impressions in all of the chapters he is present in so he is hard to forget. Also I loved how he stuck with Ridge throughout everything he went through.
There’s this big part about the book that I can’t really talk about because it’s the ending, but I loved it and it was perfect. It also reminded me how much technology has changed,and it brought me to my younger years when we had flip-up phones and not touch screen ones. (yes, I am vague)
If Ridge was praying for airplanes, I was praying for Nikki Godwin books. I hit a reading slump a few weeks back, and I just really wanted a book to enjoy. Thankfully, I got this early and it sure helped a lot. Of course I was being presumptuous, but I thought what could go wrong. Nikki’s books have certain charms that make me love them. She makes me laugh and melt. She also has a theme that she uses for each one that makes them stand apart from each other so there’s always something new to find. There are also a lot of people (yes, people. not characters :P) to meet and love.
Also, for those who are familiar with the Godwin (Nikki and Emily) sisters’ works, you will find a couple of familiar events or names. I actually really like this about their books. It feels like the sisters are letting you in their secret world.
**************************************************
OVERALL, Falling From The Sky was just wonderful. I totally shipped Micah and Ridge all throughout. It was impossible not to do so. But there’s also more to it than just the romance. It’s also about acceptance and letting one’s self let go and just fall. It’s about relationships and how others can affect another person. It’s about a lot of things, and I truly enjoyed it. I would certainly recommend this book.
originially posted here: http://alwayslostinbooks.wordpress.co...
After reading Chasing Forever Down and American Girl on Saturn, I’ve been a big Nikki Godwin fan. What can I say? Those two books were so easy to love, especially being stuck in summer vacation with swoon-worthy guys. But with Falling from the Sky, Nikki took a whole different turn. Her voice is still very clear in this one, but the composition feels different somehow. I must admit that I was afraid I wouldn’t like this book, but I actually found myself loving it. I actually don’t know how I could keep my review simple and concise when I have so many thoughts about this book. I will probably leave out a lot of them, and I hope I’m able to express myself clear enough.
Ridge McCoy is not a normal boy. Thankfully, Micah Youngblood isn’t that normal either. Ever since Ridge’s father died in a plane accident, Ridge has been praying for airplanes so that they won’t meet the sad fate his father did. His relationships back home fell apart, and the summer basketball camp is a good way to escape these people. And Micah somehow wheedles himself into Ridge’s life with the help of a couple of carousel horses. Oh, and zombies too. (Are you curious yet? I hope you are.)
I actually like the whole idea of the carousel horses and how each one could be special. Micah shows Ridge a lot about Bear Creek, his lifestyle, his culture, his relationships, and himself. I don’t really see a lot of Amerindians in books so I liked that somewhat unique aspect of the book. It’s also funny how Ridge could get intimidated being in the reservation, being different from everyone.
I liked seeing how the relationship between Ridge and Micah developed as Ridge tried to keep Micah at an arm’s length. But Micah surely doesn’t back down easily. I actually love him more than Ridge for all of his quirks. I even relate to his hate for labels. But they are both adorable throughout the book, especially when they show more and more of themselves. I loved the equality in their relationship. I really loved this book, but I think it could have used more dialogue. Or maybe I’m just a little biased. I want to see more of Micah and Ridge’s text message exchange.
I don’t think I’ve fallen in love with a Nikki Godwin book without falling in love with the side characters too. FFTS was no exception. There are actually a couple, but I will just mention the ones that are the most memorable to me – Abby, Jade, and Terrence. From the moment Abby and Jade came bounding up to the carousel calling out “Uncle Micah,” I knew I would love them already. They were these really adorable twins. And they have the innocence of the young, yet still have such distinct personalities. Jade naturally has the dominant personality, but Abby is actually a lot stronger. And then we have Terrence who is just one of the best friends ever. He’s not really around a lot, but he leaves impressions in all of the chapters he is present in so he is hard to forget. Also I loved how he stuck with Ridge throughout everything he went through.
There’s this big part about the book that I can’t really talk about because it’s the ending, but I loved it and it was perfect. It also reminded me how much technology has changed,and it brought me to my younger years when we had flip-up phones and not touch screen ones. (yes, I am vague)
If Ridge was praying for airplanes, I was praying for Nikki Godwin books. I hit a reading slump a few weeks back, and I just really wanted a book to enjoy. Thankfully, I got this early and it sure helped a lot. Of course I was being presumptuous, but I thought what could go wrong. Nikki’s books have certain charms that make me love them. She makes me laugh and melt. She also has a theme that she uses for each one that makes them stand apart from each other so there’s always something new to find. There are also a lot of people (yes, people. not characters :P) to meet and love.
Also, for those who are familiar with the Godwin (Nikki and Emily) sisters’ works, you will find a couple of familiar events or names. I actually really like this about their books. It feels like the sisters are letting you in their secret world.
**************************************************
OVERALL, Falling From The Sky was just wonderful. I totally shipped Micah and Ridge all throughout. It was impossible not to do so. But there’s also more to it than just the romance. It’s also about acceptance and letting one’s self let go and just fall. It’s about relationships and how others can affect another person. It’s about a lot of things, and I truly enjoyed it. I would certainly recommend this book.
September 22, 2015
I'm pretty sure that nearly everyone is gonna start their review by saying "I 5683 this book" but I can't help it, sue me!
I 5683 THIS !!!
The first part of the book was pretty slow to me but as it went on it got definitely better, I really enjoyed these characters, both the main ones and the secondary ones, every single one of them holds a special place in my heart (apart from Zach Perry and his gang, ew), I'm amazed by the wonderful characterisation.
Ridge is honestly so interesting! I adored being able to read about what was going on in his mind, his wishes, his fears, things he thought but couldn't really say out loud. It seemed to me to be very similar to reality.
He has his fears and he struggles with them through the book, he accepts himself for who he is and doesn't wish to change for others and that's the most important thing in my opinion. Ridge, I 5683 you.
Micah, on the other hand, is good at getting others, he's good at understanding and making others feel important, he's selfless and caring but he speaks out for himself, he doesn't keep things for himself, he clearly tells Ridge what's bothering him at some point, he might have started as someone who kept things for himself but he's able to change and open up later. His past, Taylor, that's the only thing he can't talk about, he keeps it all in that picture and that's a reminder of love to him, because, no matter what happened next, Taylor was his first love and that's what that picture represents to him. The good things.
Then we have the amazing Terrence aka friend-of-the-year, perhaps even of the century, I'm telling you. I wish we got to know him better, I would have liked that so much.
(I knew he was the one to ~ you know what I'm taking about ~ !!)
I can't help but relate to Jade, love of my life, and at the same time I love Abby, they're absolutely complementary but they're also the same if you look closely enough.
Every character was special and I'd like to talk about them too but long story short you should read the book and see for yourself!
The scene that made me absolutely 5683 was the "bite me" scene because !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's a proper explanation right there, I kid you not.
I 5683 THIS !!!
The first part of the book was pretty slow to me but as it went on it got definitely better, I really enjoyed these characters, both the main ones and the secondary ones, every single one of them holds a special place in my heart (apart from Zach Perry and his gang, ew), I'm amazed by the wonderful characterisation.
Ridge is honestly so interesting! I adored being able to read about what was going on in his mind, his wishes, his fears, things he thought but couldn't really say out loud. It seemed to me to be very similar to reality.
He has his fears and he struggles with them through the book, he accepts himself for who he is and doesn't wish to change for others and that's the most important thing in my opinion. Ridge, I 5683 you.
Micah, on the other hand, is good at getting others, he's good at understanding and making others feel important, he's selfless and caring but he speaks out for himself, he doesn't keep things for himself, he clearly tells Ridge what's bothering him at some point, he might have started as someone who kept things for himself but he's able to change and open up later. His past, Taylor, that's the only thing he can't talk about, he keeps it all in that picture and that's a reminder of love to him, because, no matter what happened next, Taylor was his first love and that's what that picture represents to him. The good things.
Then we have the amazing Terrence aka friend-of-the-year, perhaps even of the century, I'm telling you. I wish we got to know him better, I would have liked that so much.
(I knew he was the one to ~ you know what I'm taking about ~ !!)
I can't help but relate to Jade, love of my life, and at the same time I love Abby, they're absolutely complementary but they're also the same if you look closely enough.
Every character was special and I'd like to talk about them too but long story short you should read the book and see for yourself!
The scene that made me absolutely 5683 was the "bite me" scene because !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's a proper explanation right there, I kid you not.
June 26, 2015
I was super excited when I was given the opportunity to read this LGBT novel in exchange for an honest review—and my excitement was warranted because I enjoyed it from the beginning. Falling from the Sky is a young adult contemporary novel about sixteen-year-old Ridge McCoy and his unforgettable summer trying to live life again after a plane crash kills his father and turns his world upside down.
Nikki Godwin spun an unforgettable story about Ridge’s summer away at basketball camp, and how his life changes after meeting Micah Youngblood, a local boy who lives on the Bear Creek reservation. Through Micah, Ridge learns what it’s like to feel alive again—but more than that—he learns it’s okay to be true to himself and to live his life for himself, the way he wants to.
I’ve always loved young adult novels that explore topics of self-discovery, friendship, and love, and this novel had it all. It’s a refreshing, diverse novel that explores relationships from a same-sex perspective, and is done in such a way that it promotes the idea of loving whoever you want regardless of sex, race, class, and past. I liked Falling from the Sky from page one, and was rooting for Ridge and Micah until the sweet ending that left a smile on my face.
Godwin’s writing is well-crafted, and while the story might not be action-packed, it’s such a heart-warming tale, that you’ll keep turning the pages.
The only downside to the novel was the unnecessary use of profane language. While it doesn’t bother me, it was used liberally, which made it less effective, and it didn’t add anything to the story. Because of the profanity, I’d recommend this novel to mature young adults or older. Apart from that, if you’ve never read an LGBT novel, this is a great find. It’s also perfect for those wanting diverse young adult novels, those who enjoy sweet, clean love stories, and those who want to read something a little different.
Nikki Godwin spun an unforgettable story about Ridge’s summer away at basketball camp, and how his life changes after meeting Micah Youngblood, a local boy who lives on the Bear Creek reservation. Through Micah, Ridge learns what it’s like to feel alive again—but more than that—he learns it’s okay to be true to himself and to live his life for himself, the way he wants to.
I’ve always loved young adult novels that explore topics of self-discovery, friendship, and love, and this novel had it all. It’s a refreshing, diverse novel that explores relationships from a same-sex perspective, and is done in such a way that it promotes the idea of loving whoever you want regardless of sex, race, class, and past. I liked Falling from the Sky from page one, and was rooting for Ridge and Micah until the sweet ending that left a smile on my face.
Godwin’s writing is well-crafted, and while the story might not be action-packed, it’s such a heart-warming tale, that you’ll keep turning the pages.
The only downside to the novel was the unnecessary use of profane language. While it doesn’t bother me, it was used liberally, which made it less effective, and it didn’t add anything to the story. Because of the profanity, I’d recommend this novel to mature young adults or older. Apart from that, if you’ve never read an LGBT novel, this is a great find. It’s also perfect for those wanting diverse young adult novels, those who enjoy sweet, clean love stories, and those who want to read something a little different.
May 23, 2017
Beautiful love story! Cannot wait for the sequel. My only wish was for something less platonic in Mica's bed. Still the story catches two characters who need each other to work beyond their losses in each other's arms one summer, one fully realized summer. Their unlikely relationship unfolds so naturally, you believe in blue rabbit's feet and dreamcatchers and the magic of a carousel in a country mall and 5683 (love).
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