Here's to Falling

by Christine Zolendz

Every girl has that one guy…that one guy who steals her heart and never gives it back.

We were all friends…until we weren’t.
We depended on each other…until we couldn’t.
We were in love…until we were ripped apart.
We moved on…even when we didn’t want to let go.

This is our love story.

**This standalone novel contains material that some may find disturbing. Intended for mature readers only.
***TRIGGER WARNING!

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Friends To Lovers, Abuse, Contemporary, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance

340 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2015

About the author

USA Today bestselling romance author. Mother. Coffee drinker. Unicorn believer. New Yorker.
Books and writing are my escape from reality.
Read Me Free Here:
bit.ly/ChrisZo

Reviews

[Catarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Second Chance Stars.

I will not say much about this book, because I believe this is one of those stories that you have to discover page by page. Let’s just say that Charlie and Jase met when they were kids. And that was the day the fell in love. But their love wasn’t perfect and wasn’t all roses and cupcakes… like real life rarely is.
This story takes place in the present, when they aren’t currently together, but in takes us on a ride to the past, telling us what happened between them. And what will happen when life puts them in the same path again. Get in, it will be an emotional ride, but you will not regret.



When I first saw that this book was based on real events, I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy read: it wasn’t. I’m a person who starts reading a book immediately after finishing another, yet, I didn’t read anything else because I’m with a hangover from this one.
Let me very honest: this is a book that I’ll never re-read. Not because I didn’t like it, I did, but because there was so much hurt, that my heart still breaks when I remember what the heroes have had to deal through life. This is an emotional reading, full of angst, where you will want to scream with the protagonists, and you’ll want to scream about how unfair life sometimes is. And when things finally start to shine, this book will make you realize that life is exactly that: learn how to deal with the bad, enjoy the good and turn it into amazing memories for when we need motivation to keep going.
This wasn’t, for sure, an easy reading. But it was an unforgettable one.




Rating: 4 Stars.
Characters Development: The best part of this book was getting a change of seeing the protagonists grow, not only in age but also in character. We’ve heard their story since they were 9 years old, until the present time when they are already adults. You’re going to love them, hate them sometimes, but they aren’t flawless heroes and that is what made me like them: they were real. With fears, wrong and right decisions and feelings they didn’t know how to deal with, especially in the teenage years. You’re going to want to kick their asses, but stick with them, in the end it’ll all make sense.
Steam: Some heated moments.
Sensible Subjects: Abuse. Rape. Drugs.
Love Triangle: They are with other people through the book, but never a “real” triangle. They were never unsure of their feelings for each other.
Cheating: No.
HEA: Yes. With the most emotional epilogue ever, I swear I still get teary eyed when I remember it.

[Dilek VT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joey raised his glass higher. “Here’s to falling…” He leveled his eyes on both of us. “…in love…and to the best example of it that I’ve ever seen...”



HERE’S TO FALLING is a novel inspired by the events that the writer herself has lived through...

The following is the author’s note at the beginning of the novel.

Author’s Note:

It took me over twenty years to get this story out. Little by little, over the years I wrote, trying to get everything down. My readers will probably be able to tell the difference between the things I wrote long ago and things I wrote more recently. Honestly, this is probably the first story I really ever wrote. Trust me when I say it was very hard to do. It’s inspired by events that I have lived through. You’ll know the events when you read them. I weaved fiction through the story to make it a story . Just realize I’m giving you a piece of me on these pages. I hope my words are strong enough.

And knowing this is what makes it 10 times more painful and real when you read it.

HERE'S TO FALLING is one of the most painful life stories I have read. I don’t know which parts were fiction but even one trauma in the book is more than enough for someone in a lifetime.

So, I really would like to thank Ms. Zolendz for creating such a magnificent book out of the equally beautiful & painful experiences of her own life.

HERE’S TO FALLING will make your heart melt at the unique friendship of Joey, Jase and Charlotte (aka Charlie)...
But it will also crush your heart because of their sufferings.

All in all, it is worth the pain and the book is a must-read, if you ask me.



Writing:

It is difficult to write your own life experiences and create a novel out of it. Ms. Zolendz does it skillfully. The writing of the book is really very good. It keeps you hooked. It goes back to the childhood and teenage years of these three close friends, and comes back to the present. So it is a time travel between present and past all the time.

It is told by two main characters, Charlie & Jase and this dual point of view is my favorite as it lets me know what both sides think and feel.



Content:

There is a beautiful story of friendship in it.
There is a heart-felt love story in it.
There is a great amount of happiness in it.
But...
There are also evil people in it.
There is a lot of pain and suffering in it.
More importantly, there are many triggers in it.
Still, it is worth all the suffering, and I say, "do read it".

This book had also many of my triggers in it. Normally, I finish reading a book in one or two days but this took me a much longer time (more than a week) because I couldn’t bear the suffering in it, so I gave long breaks after each chapter or two. I needed to put the book aside for a while and collect some more courage before starting it again.

I remember going to bed, crying for them and falling into sleep with tears in my eyes. I thanked God for my own tragedies when I read about theirs. I won't complain ever again!



About the events & triggers:

I always write about the triggers and include warnings of safety in my reviews... But not this time. This will be my exception.

I don’t want to say much and spoil it, so I won’t go into many details. I won’t write the triggers as a spoiler even by hiding them because the truth is if I had known about those triggers, I wouldn’t have read this book but now I don’t regret a bit having read it no matter how much it pained me.

Therefore, I am now, on purpose, avoiding to inform you about the triggers because I know when I write them, they may cause you to avoid the book but the book is too good to avoid because of these triggers, it is a must-read, if you ask me.

So, whenever you feel courageous enough for a heart-felt story that might break your heart but then put it back together, go read this book. It is highly recommended. (Or, pm me if you really need to know about these triggers.)

The book shows the ugly sides of life, the bad side of some people - to the maximum extent of their evilness - and it also shows the weaknesses of others. It is a fiction based on real life so expect real life beauty and real life ugliness in it. It is not a light and fun book, not a pink-colored story. Not everything that happens in it is what we expect in our romance books. Ugly things happen here. Painful things happen here. And everyone deals with their trauma in a different way. But it still contains something very beautiful in it - a pure friendship and a deep love story.

I have read some very negative reviews about this book and I must say that nothing is as it seems in the negative reviews. You need to read and see yourself what caused them to make these mistakes because everything is in the details and you need to know these details to understand the characters' actions...

This is not a love triangle between best friends... Nope, not at all! This is completely a different story... Life ripping apart three best friends, two of whom were lovers.

Here are some quotes that may help you decide...

The heat from his body up against mine, the smell of the shampoo he used, the press of his lips against mine, and there was nothing and no one else in the world, but us.



JUMPING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

In my head, the written words of Lewis Carroll whispered in my ears, “In another moment, down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.”





Jase didn’t kiss me again after our seven minutes in Heaven, and we never spoke about it.
But sometimes… sometimes, I would catch those blue eyes on me, and when I did…
I would look right back at him.
And he never looked away.

***

There are sad songs that no one should ever have to listen to.
Goodbyes that no one should ever say.
Life is messy, it's never fair, and it's never pretty.

And I will always ask God why, why, why, why?
And I'll never get an answer.



All around us, people were going on, living, breathing, working, laughing; whatever it was they did. But, we noticed nothing. None of it mattered, because we were the world to each other. Our kisses healed our tears. Our touches healed our sadness, and we healed each other. There was nothing that could ever come between us. We were each other’s forever.

But forever isn’t real. Is it?



MEMORIES OF THE TREE-HOUSE



In the space between now and then, before and after, there’s a lifetime. A lifetime of the choices you could have made, the paths you choose at the forks in the road, and the paths you never took.

It’s a lifetime full of wondering who you truly are or who you could have been if you had just taken that other path.

Sometimes, I cry so hard. Sometimes I scream so loud, just wishing for that heartbroken seventeen-year-old girl to take a different path.

But, she doesn’t hear me.





I tried to forget. I tried to forget how everything happened, how the whole damn Charlie-Joey-fuck-my-life-situation played out. About how I tried getting it all back, but I couldn’t bring back shit.

Sometimes, when I’m working, and I see a woman with that long, silky chestnut colored hair standing in a crowd, my body freezes, and I stare at her until I know for sure it isn’t Charlie.

It’s never Charlie.

No one had that cinnamon colored hair; nobody held a cigarette the same way Charlie did.
Nobody ever had a book clenched tightly to her chest, and nobody’s laugh sounded anything like hers.
And no one ever looked at me the way Charlie did.
It had been years, and no one had ever come close to being anything like Charlie.

And Joey, well that was a whole other different level of shit.



"He's talking about you, Detective." I enunciated every word clearly and curtly.
The room stilled–quieted for a few heartbeats. Everyone was watching me.
"Pardon me?"
"He sees when I text you."









The words hung in the air.
Heavy with implications.
After what seemed like an interminable silence, Jase's entire body stiffened, his head turned, and his wide-open gaze slowly locked onto mine.
"Charlie..."
"Charlie? "
As if I physically hit him, he staggered back, his head slowly shaking with its denial. His face blanched to a sickening white, and his stare turned vacant. Immediately, his brain put the pieces together and he just knew.



His fingertips touched my face as tears slid down his cheeks. I'd never in my life seen a grown man cry. A fire spread across my chest and pooled up into my throat. I wanted to cover my face, curl up into a ball, and die, but he needed this. He needed to see me and forget all we ever were.
"No, Charlie. No, no. No, please, no."
He fell to his knees in front of me.
"How do I take that back? How? How do I erase that?"

***

"I can't leave you like this. I can't leave us like this," I whispered.
"Like what?"
"Unfinished."

5 stars from the bottom of my heart. This story will always stay with me...

( Not recommended to those who need safety in books but I must add that the book is worth all the pain it causes. )

P.S. Note to writer & publisher: I would definitely prefer a cover with 3 of them! Please change the present cover that doesn't say anything about the novel itself!

[~♡AB♡~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★ 5 Stars ★★★★★

Now LIVE!
Amazon - http://amzn.to/1Dlm3Bs
Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/1Hk5onD



When a book starts off with the author telling you that the story was inspired by true events, then you know it's going to be a passionate and emotional ride. I only rate a book 5 stars if it hits me in the gut and this one did, massively.

The blurb is vague, and I think it is vague for a reason. This story is best read blind so my review will contain few details as to the actual story.
_ _ _ _

Charlie Stone is a twenty four year old tattoo artist, living in New York City. She is in a bad relationship with a man called Bren who treats her badly and she is seriously starting to doubt why she is still with him. She is resigned to never finding true love again, having lost it when she was seventeen.

We flit from past to present, flawlessly I might add, and we are introduced to a younger and more innocent and happy Charlie who has two best friends, Joey and Jase.

The innocence and loyalty that the three of them experience was a joy to read, and we journey with them right up until they turn 17.

As with life, the older you get, the more jaded you become and it kicks you in the face just when things are on the up.




This is a story about love and friendship, and second chances.
_ _ _ _

This was not a love triangle but as with most teenage trials and tribulation it comes with a little angst so be prepared to want to shout at the characters to sort themselves out. I loved the sexual tension, and the hero was a true sweetheart, I loved him.

"What do you say, Charlie? Want to try jumping down the rabbit hole again?
I promise I'll be better than any adventure you could ever read.
The way I see it, Charlie, is that you've always belonged to me."

Charlie was a great character, feisty and fun in her younger years but very different as an adult due to her past which was understandable.

For the first half of the book, I was unsure as to how everything would all come together and I was glued to my kindle trying to work out how everybody fit in and where it was leading. When I hit the second half, boom - I was an emotional mess. It was a really beautiful story and it all came together so nicely.

I really did love this one, and considering I didn't even know it was coming out until the day I received it on my kindle, it was the best surprise.

This is a standalone novel, told in dual POV, but predominantly from the POV of Heroine.

ARC gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review

[Kelli C · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 hard Fallen Stars

I have yet to read a book by Christine Zolendz that hasn't rocked me, but for me this was her best...my 2015 favorite...the book that worked in every aspect.

"...one day you'll feel like your world is crashing, spinning out of control, whatever the Hell that is to you, whatever storm that comes, whatever tragedy floods your life....believe me we all get touched by some tragedy in our lives."

There is no exception for 3 young kids...three boys and one girl living to the best of their abilities while their environment and circumstances of growing up. Misfits? Misunderstood? Perhaps....or maybe just three kids who don't conform to the norm...who find support and love among only each other. To the outside word they were the average teens...the easy targets...within their world of 3 they were everything!



We were all friends…until we weren’t.
We depended on each other…until we couldn’t.
We were in love…until we were ripped apart.
We moved on…even when we didn’t want to let go.



This is a read full of feels. This is a coming of age and all the humor and horror accompanied with growing up. This is the development of forever friendship and deep rooted bonds that are unbreakable between Charlie and her boys Jase and Joey. This is all the first time feelings of drink, of touch, of pleasure and of pain. This is the highs and lows of love that bloomed between Charlie and Jase. This is also the loss of innocence...the loss of self...the loss of life.

"I've heard people say that what you remember is not the whole truth; it's our thoughts of what we wanted things to be remembered as"

Life for Charlie...Joey...Jase...was best lived when together. Laughs were the loudest. Jokes were he funniest. Love was the purest. When life as they know it was no more...they ceased to exist together. Time gone by and paths led away from the heart of them all. Not a day passed when the thought of those firsts weren't constants for Charlie and Jase. No time, distance or person could sever the love that was, even when the ugliest of events shattered them.



From this young adult story, the author uses past memories and dual POVs to transition to a harsh tale if survival, poor circumstances and a never ending sadness that haunts the characters. But just as fate brought and tore the connections apart...those harsh life circumstances work to find the loss and continue the tale....and well...Here's to Falling...again!!!



I cannot say loud enough how hard I loved this. From the young adult tale to the new adult growth I found all of my favorites for a perfect read...angst and heart wrenching sadness...frustrating emotions of anger and then overwhelming comfort and relief. This had Lol fun times and sweet sentiments that turned into sassy dialogue and raw intimacy. Christine Zolendz wrote a perfect book for me and I will praise her name for a long time!

[Jenny••Steamy Reads Blog•• · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s the thing, you want to read a book that makes you forget, a book that consumes you, a book that literally rocks your world. This is that book for you. My heart is still on the last page of this book... and i'm not sure if i'm getting it back.

I’m going to be vague in this review as going into this book blind is absolutely the way you need to go. I did. You aren’t going to find many reviews that say much about what happens or who it happens to, you need to experience it, live it!!!



Just know that this book will give you a love that is deep, a love that is forever, and a love that is like no other. A love that is trusting, its forgiving, and it is absolutely shattering. In a very good way!!! One that will stay with me for a really long time

[Suzana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a book!

It's 3 am and I'm in tears ... sad and happy tears ...



and I'm having a massive book hangover ... how will I now go to sleep ...




It took me one siting to read this book ... couldn't put it down ...

Beautiful and heartbreaking story about friendship of three kids, the love of two and the lost of one ...



"Life knocks you down. It's going to, and you just got to turn around and get back up, hold on to me if you have to, but always get back up."



"We were each others FOREVER"



"I won't be long until I'm back with my boys, the three of us hanging our legs off the edge of a tree house, swinging in the summer sun, waiting for the sunset and fireflies. Won't be long until we're licking our fingers clean of cheesy Doritos and chewing on blueberry bubblegum, watching out over Heaven, down through the wispy clouds, watching over all those we love below."

This story captured my heart ... one of the best reads in 2015 so far ...

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really so beautiful and also it was so sad... uhh I cried like a baby but still it was worth every minute of it. ❤

I wanna thank to my dearest friends Dilek, Halime and Tugba for recommending this book to me. Thank you ladies, I love you all. 😘

Ps. You can read Dilek's amazing review from this link. 🙂
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

TITLE: Here's to Falling
AUTHOR: Christine Zolendz
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: April 19th 2015
MY RATING: ★★★★★ (I wish there were 10 stars I could give this book)

5 MY BEAUTIFUL ALIEN MONSTER STARS

Gah not far in, it's funnily sweet, the feels, I'm loving this already!!

We were all friends…until we weren’t.
We depended on each other…until we couldn’t.
We were in love…until we were ripped apart.
We moved on…even when we didn’t want to let go.

This book was inspired "By True Events"

Come on, Charlie, come with me down the rabbit hole

And then I hit the bit that made it all seem so real, from three friends, to two..That just brutally broke my heart, just ripped my heart out and tore it to shreds, the feels are of my heart breaking in half..

Remember I told you about my BOOM..That was my first one..It wrecked me..My next BOOM, it completely destroyed me.



I am not a crier, but I had tears falling down my face..HERE'S TO FALLING like a sinking boat without a life raft..

We were each others FOREVER

TURN BACK- Don't go!! - Run - TRIGGER WARNING - Gut wrenchingly raw..BOOM!! HERE'S TO FALLING!!

I was violated, defiled and utterly destroyed, it shredded me into fine, little pieces of thin tissue paper

I NEED MY BEST FRIEND

I'm kind of writing this rough review as I read the book, usually I can handle the raw, emotional books, I'm usually like bring it, but this book is the exception to the rule, I couldn't carry on, I had to get up make myself a coffee and then carry on with it, this book just threw those punches, a gripping tale spoken from a young eight year old as she moves through the ages, the path she took at seventeen changed not one life but two forever..

TWO WORLD'S COLLIDE

True love ALWAYS comes BACK



A roller coaster of an emotional ride with twists and turns of two souls entwined..even though this is an emotionally raw book it's beautiful in its entirety..how ironic to laugh my ass off at the beginning of this book only to turn around and be crying at the end of it..

You've always belonged to me.



He claimed my body, my soul, my mind, he claimed all of me

There are no words to convey my absolute hate for these two spineless mothers in this book!!

This book ripped my heart out and put it back together piece by piece..

This book broke me, it made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me fall in love with the story line, the characters, the writing, it also deserves to be on my favourites shelf in here..



"Here's to Falling" destroyed me, it broke my heart into little pieces, I cried, I laughed and then I cried again..The feels just kept coming and coming, thank you for giving us a little piece of you..I wish I was an author and I could convey my emotions better and write a fitting review because this book just made me feel everything you set out to make me feel!! (Thank you) xxx (Kat)

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall rating: 4.5 stars

Writing style: 4 stars
Story: 5 stars
Flow of the story: 4 stars
Character development: 4 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Heroine: 4 stars
Secondary characters: 5 stars
Tone of the book: 5 stars
Emotion evoking: 5 stars
Originality: 4 stars
Enjoyment: 4 stars
Effect on me: 4 stars

[TheCrazyWorldOfABookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a story like nothing I have read before. It was truly a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Christine has this insane ability to make you bawl, then laugh so hard, and then make you want to put the book down and just sob on the floor. And, by the way, I did all of these. I laughed, I cried, and I even had to put the book down and just collect myself at one point.



Here's To Falling tells the story and life of Charlotte "Charlie" Stone, and her two best friends, Joey and Jase. I don't want to give too much away about where this leads or any of the plot because apart of the thrill for me while reading was trying to figure out the mysteries entwined through out the story - Who does Charlie refer to when speaking of heartbreak? Who is she texting in the present? What happened to her friendship with Joey and Jase?



But I will say just when I thought it was going one way....BAM....I was thrown off the damn roller coaster with my jaw dropped on the floor.



A love story at its core, but it was SO MUCH MORE than that. The journey Charlie went through is something I don’t think I will ever forget. Her strength, her courage, and more importantly, Christine’s courage to write this story is awe-inspiring.




A slow build to an incredible story, but my god, when you reach that high point, you can’t help but fall in love with the whole thing, EVERY LAST PART, even the incredibly sad ones.

[Sophia Triad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that's just me. Because the book has many great ratings 4s and 5s.

I was wondering for many cases in this book, if this is really based on true events.
I could not understand the way the characters behave and I could not connect with any of them. To be honest, I was wondering how they connect with each other in the first place.

The book has many triggers which are huge No No for many readers. I don't have many triggers, so I did not really mind this fact. But in case you need to be warned there is abuse, rape and other people and not just the mentioning of them. There are graphic details.

Anyway, the triggers did not bother me. But still I did not like the atmosphere, the characters, the story.

Oh, well as I already said... maybe that's just me.

[Syndi · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

I picked up this book because the good rating on Goodreads. When I read it, I feel like reading many stories by different authors jammed into one.

I got confused and soon lost interest.

DnF

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

”Come on, Charlie, come with me down the rabbit hole,” he squeaked in an unsteady voice.

For starters, this is the best book I’ve read this year so far and it's also one of my top favorite NA novels. The story takes the whole NA genre up a notch and shows me that these books aren’t just about graphic sex scenes but incredibly emotional elements as well. It’s a bit inappropriate to say I enjoy reading the book a lot because of certain reasons and background, but I’m deeply captivated by its plot and the protagonists’ experiences. However, I would’ve loved the book more without the epilogue.

Main Characters
• Charlotte “Charlie” Stone-Before 16, she had 2 best friends in the world and fell in love with one of them. Before 17, everything was perfectly perfect. After 17, she had nothing. No friends, no family, nowhere to go, and nowhere to live. There was no Charlotte Stone, either. She disappeared. She changed. She turned into a desperate damsel in distress and later worked in half of her tattoo parlor which initially owned by the third person she trusted. Now 24, her once settled world is turned upside down again. Everything won’t be the same, but it’s not necessarily getting worse, right?

• Jase “JD” Delaney-At 9, he flipped Charlie off because he had no clue how to react when seeing a pretty girl. At 14, he was coward enough to let the girl he’d ever loved go to the dance with some jerk. At 16, he finally manned up and got back his girl. At 17, he left her involuntarily but at the same time, lost her completely. He might as well lost the largest piece of his heart to her. Now 24, things change and he’s a narcotic detective so the situations get complicated.

• Joey Graley-He’d been Charlie's bestest best friend for as long as I know and his friendship with Charlie was definitely the ultimate goal in the entire friendship kingdom. He protected her, stood out for her, and was probably the only person who knew her jokes. Oh, and he was also the catalyst for Charlie and Jase’s relationship. Ain’t he just an awesome sauce?

Plot
As a 24-year-old girl, Charlie tells her story by reminiscing her childhood, teenage life, and everything before that horrific night. She also lets us know how she has been in the past seven years—years without Jase and friends and family—as a result, Charlie literally becomes my close friend after I finished reading this book. All I can say about Charlie is that she’s come a long way since she endured all those inhumane things and that it’s difficult for her to tell us her story.

A kaleidoscope of fleshy images and pain spun a design of madness before my eyes.

To begin with, Charlie, Jase, and Joey have been besties since forever; they go to the same schools, have the same enemies, and get the same sense of humor. When they’re not hanging around in Charlie or Joey’s house, they’ll gather in Charlie’s treehouse. Ironically, that treehouse turns out to be their safe haven when they grow up, but that’s another story.

One day, Charlie is bullied by her classmates, Slate Marshall and his minions in particular, because of her precocious puberty while Joey is bullied because he’s mistaken as Charlie's boyfriend. (Stupid reason, I know) Then, here comes the superhero, Jase, who has the guts to fight Slate back and defends Charlie bravely. After the incident, the undefeatable threesome has formed. Adorably, since Charlie is a huge bibliophile (just like us!), she makes Jase like reading as well. Throughout their early teenage years, their friendship remains as perfect as it used to be. Undoubtedly, they go on the same adventure together and explore the world in their rabbit hole.

Joey read the phrase with a raised brow. “What’s Rabbit Hole mean?”
Jases’s eyes grazed past Joey and landed on mine. “From Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, you know…down the rabbit hole, where there’s a whole different world. And it’s only ours. Our safe place to go from the jerks like Slate.”

Never do they expect something tragic will happen when they’re 16, and sadly, they’re no longer the threesome. In spite of the stone cold reality, their last toast together will always stay with them/us no matter how cruel Karma is.

Then Joey raised his glass higher. “Here’s to falling…” He leveled his eyes on both of us. ��…in love…and to the best example of it that I’ve ever seen, which is sitting right in front of me. And here’s to hoping my two best friends finally find the guts to tell each other they’ve been in love with one another since the fourth fucking grade. Cheers.”

Apparently, Jase and Charlie fall in love and become the most lovable couple in the entire history of coupledom. However, Jase is left kicking and screaming when he’s forced to leave Charlie. Later, Charlie experiences her biggest BOOM in her life and has forever changed. Her eyes has turned lifeless, her body used and broken, and her soul rotten.

At the age of 24, the secret she tries so hard to protect and hide from Jase is threatened to be spilt out loud and at that moment, she knows all those sweet memories will be tarnished by the ugly truth.

Features (WHY YOU NEED TO READ THE BOOK)
Speaking of the special features in this book, well, prepare yourself, it’s gonna be a long list (why, the book is legit!). Besides, these are also what you could expect from the book.

✔️Precious friendship.: As you may know by now, Charlie, Jase, and Joey’s friendship is the best kind we can only hope for in life (or blissful enough to have one). They’ve been friends since childhood and you could see how naturally it’s developed from their interactions and convos.

✔️#RelationshipGoal: Charlie and Jase’s relationship is slowly built up and they didn’t be with each other without many obstacles. Thus, challenge after challenge, they prove that their love will last for a long time, if not forever. I can’t say I don’t swoon over their steamy scenes, but I feel like cherishing them carefully because those moments are hard earned and delicate like a fragile piece of art.

The last thing I remembered hearing was Jase’s low whisper against my ear, “Stay in the rabbit hole with me this time.”

✔️BASED ON TRUE EVENTS: This is probably what makes the story more relatable and convincing compared to others. The author mentions that this story takes her over 20 years to finish and finally publish, so I could feel her words through every chapter and every scene. Besides, this background also manages to make the story all the more heart-wrenching. There were several times my chest convulsed with sobs while tears wouldn’t stop streaming down my face and blurring my vision and I couldn’t read the next lines. The pain is excruciating and I seriously don’t understand how emotionally wrecked a person can be.

All this time, she just went on thinking that the monster that did this was still out there, but her only worry was about how it would affect me if I found out. All this time I’d wanted to be her hero, and she was already mine.

✔️Unique layout of the TIMELINE: Since the author spent more than 20 years to write this story, it’s not hard to tell the difference between her earlier parts and later ones. Although some readers find it confusing to sort out the plot line, I’m positive that once you’re used to the certain pattern of her writing style, you’ll be addicted to it. For example, you’ll realize that each chapter starts with the character’s (either Charlie or Jase) current status and always ends with a piece of their childhood memory. Moreover, the story is told in the chronological order; therefore, (take Charlie’s POV for example) it’s like 24(yo)→9→24→10→24→…→17→24~present.

✔️Alternative POVs: Most of the chapters are told from Charlie’s POV and some are Jase’s. Either way, they make the plot more clear and easy to picture.

✔️Using “YOUs”: One thing I absolutely adore about this book is that the readers won’t feel left alone or read it as an outsider. The author sometimes tells the story including questions/explanations for us as if she’s making sure we’re on the same page with her. That’s really brilliant because the story sounds more like a diary this way and we’ll be able to feel closer to the characters.

✔️Bookworm Problems Alert! Did I mention Charlie is also a booklover? She reads, fangirls, and dreams about being swept away by book boyfriends or jumping into the rabbit hole with Jase. Hence, the fact she reacts like most of us do (believe me, I know what you guys do secretly when you think no one’s watching) when it comes to books reinforces the impression of the story. This is another reason which makes me smile throughout the book, aside from her reveling in the sweet memory of being young.

I mean, come on, my best friend just asked me to kiss him with a quote from one of my favorite books!

Ending/Epilogue
Unfortunately, the epilogue is the only part I strongly dislike. I mean, the whole story is about a young girl’s life and I’d rather let her and her Prince Charming stay that way instead of zooming out to their life 50 frigging years later! Although it’s still a HEA, the epilogue somehow feels foreign and out of place to me. I guess Christine Zolendz makes this arrangement because she wants to project the image of a once beautiful threesome (Charlie, Jase, Joey) again and wraps up the story beautifully. However, this feeling is too far away to grasp; hence, I would’ve enjoyed the book more if there were another ending or simply without the epilogue. Though I do have an idea for a different ending: Perhaps Miss Zolendz could tell the readers more about Jase and Charlie’s life after they get back together and he embraces her regardless of the incident. I’m more interested in how or when they get married, have kids, or build a lovable family together. In my opinion, it’s a bit superficial to cover their 50-year-life-afterward in a few sentences such as “they live happily and everything’s perfect” or “their kids and grandchildren are doing fantastic and grow up healthily”; instead, I’d prefer more detailed information about their life together and how they deal with the loss and past.

All in all, I’m truly, really, completely impressed with this story. The power of words, the courage those characters have, and the tremendous influence on me after reading it. There will never be enough words to describe my inner feelings when reading this book, so you’ll have to read it for yourself. Please give this book a try, guys. I’ll always be there when you need someone to talk to about the story. Lastly, Here’s to Falling is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to everyone who wants your heart to be shattered by the strongest words I’ve ever read. In other words, it’s a MUST-READ for you!

[Annie Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's
to
Falling.
In love with one of the best books ever.

Holy freaking shit. I'm such a mess. This book...this book is not for the faint of the heart. It deals with so much tragedy and loss and heartbreak and lots of other shit that had me gasping, sobbing, praying for resolution and most of all, falling in love with these incredible characters. Jase, Charlie and Joey will reside in my heart for a very long time. I can barely see what I'm typing so I hope to God it makes sense. If not, well...oh fucking well. I'm in physical pain from this journey but it was well worth the ride. Definitely recommend this book if you like crying your eyes out. Or stories that make you feel .

I'll write a better review when I can get my bearings.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It was you from the beginning … you were my horizon. Everything I could ever see.”

Stunning, emotional and an epically beautiful love story.

5 HUGE STARS

I read this book in one sitting. It’s now 2.30am and I can’t go to bed until I gush a bit because OMG, this book! The feels! Christine Zolendz has done an amazing job with this story – one based on true events which makes it even more meaningful. Both heartbreaking and tearfully beautiful, I absolutely loved it.

When we meet Charlie she is 24 years old, jaded and living under the tremendous burden of devastating memories from her past. She has been broken by the things that she has been through, but she carries on, and her strength is amazing.

When I look back on all the past chapters of my life, I see all the pain I have endured. I see the mistakes and heartbreak, the horror and loss. But when I stand in front of the mirror now, I see all my scars and the strength I’ve found from them. I see the lessons I have learned about life and the wisdom I’ve gained from each of my experiences. I will be fine.

Charlie’s story is told in both the present and the past, with the story of the past intermingled with the present and unravelling slowly to show us all that happened to Charlie, and how she ended up where she is. She tells us the story of her past – growing up with her two best friends, Jase and Joey. The three of them had something incredibly special together, and the story of them growing up together is absolutely sensational! From sweet and innocent 9 year olds, through the awkward teen years, to senior high school, I loved every funny, sweet, cringe-worthy and heartbreaking moment of their time together as they shared absolutely everything and were there for each other through it all.

Life knocks you down. It’s going to, and you got to just turn around and get back up, hold on to me if you have to, but always get back up. People will just walk all over you if you leave yourself beaten on the ground.

The story is told primarily from Charlie’s perspective, but there are some other POV chapters in there which give the story a whole lot more depth. And as the story flicks back and forth between present and past, threads of the story are revealed, leaving you guessing what is happening and how it all fits together, and the way it’s woven together really draws you in. We are given hints about what is to come, and I read with a great sense of anticipation as it all came together.

And, of course, there is a beautiful love story that is woven through both the past and the present. The beauty, wonder, and all-consuming nature of first love is brilliantly captured, only for it to be torn apart, creating the opportunity for a breath-taking, heart-pounding second chance romance. And with all that the characters go through, their love story takes on epic proportions as they battle against fate and the unfairness of life to find their way back to each other.

“It was always you. Always. There is nothing you can tell me that will make me look at you as anything other than my Charlie.”

“I want my best friend back. I want the best thing that ever happened to me back. And I promise you I will make you fall in love with me all over again. This time, it’ll be the forever kind.”

There are a few storylines overlapping through the book, but don’t go looking for too many details before you make a start because you just need to dive in and experience it. But for those who need to know whether it has a happy ending or not… Yes, it does. And it made me cry..

And I must warn that it’s not an easy road for these characters and there are some really confronting scenes in this book that some readers may have issues with…. there is bullying, drug use, death, verbal abuse and physical and sexual assault – including a brutally graphic rape scene that is both horrifying and devastating. I understand why Christine Zolendz told the story why she did, and as hard as those moments are to read, they convey an incredible depth of emotion, and help you relate to the characters, what they are going through, and the way they react to it all. It’s hard reading at times, and my heart broke over and over for all that these characters endure, but it just makes the happy times that much sweeter.

I am a mad fan of all of Christine Zolendz’s books, and this book is no exception. She is a wonderful storyteller, combining romance and drama with light and funny moments, and she writes the best love stories – hot, passionate, and all-consuming, and she manages to infuse just the right amount of angst into it to make it incredibly intense and have me sitting on the edge of my seat with my hand held to my heart, tears streaming down my face and frantically flipping pages on my kindle.

I absolutely loved this book!

5 huge stars.

[Bindi Boo · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

AMAZING childhood friends to lovers story! Their relationship spans over 15 years(from 9 year olds to 17 year olds, then separated for 7 years, only to meet again at 24)
So gut wrenching and my heart broke so many times for this couple.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5++ CHRISTINE ZOLENDZ FOR PRESIDENT STARS



This wasn't the way I wanted my story to go.
So I needed to rewrite it.
Word for word.
Rewritten.
Because I was so young.
So young.
And utterly broken"

Warning: SEVERE language ahead.

Holy shit. Like seriously, holy shit. This book was so beyond amazing.

I absolutely LOVED Brutally Beautiful and Cold-Blooded Beautiful by the same author and wow, this book did NOT disappoint. Christine Zolendz creates the most amazing and yet utterly heartbreaking characters. She has the ability to create this world that the characters live in and it literally sucks you in to the story. So much so that you are feeling every emotion that the characters feel.

I don't think I've cried so hard from reading a book before. Like I am so emotionally drained I don't intend on being able to function for at least a few more hours.

Just wow...you NEED to read this book. DO IT. (and bring tissues...lots of them...)

[Michelle [Helen Geek] · Rating 2 out of 5]

04/27/2015 --

Wow. That was tedious.

I read dedications. The dedication in this book gives you and idea that this is the story Ms. Zolendz was born to write. The story that feeds her and is her story. I wish I liked it more than I did.

Here's the deal .. I'm a very straightforward person. Why spend 10 words to say something when 2 will do as well. Why try to paint a picture with words when those words lack feeling. This is what I got out of this book. You could tell she really tried. She tried to write flowery, thoughtful, thought provoking prose, but it just didn't work for me.

She didn't pull me in. The story didn't suck me into it. I didn't care about the characters nor did I care about their situations. I couldn't imagine them. I didn't even get a good feel for the tree-house where so much of this story takes place.

I found myself skimming parts of the book and even jumped a whole chapter just to finish it. When Joey died, I seriously didn't care. When Jase and Charlie found each other again -- I just wanted the darned thing to end.

I want to apologize to the author. I know this book is important to you and I hate that I didn't like it. I hope for you, I'm in the minority.

I've tried one other book by this author and it didn't work for me either. I think my needs and her style are at an impasse so will avoid reading and reviewing more by her. I think that's fair.

I'd give a more detailed review, but frankly, little worked for me here, so won't bore you.

Happy [maybe] Reading!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Overall Rating = 2 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 3 / 5 / 3 = 3.5 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 2 Stars
Character / Secondary Character Development = 3 / 3 = 3 Stars
“Did I like” Hero / Heroine = 3 / 1 = 2 Stars
Story / Background Story Development = 2 / 2 = 2 Stars
“Did I like the Damned Thing” = 1.5 Stars
Ending = 3 Stars
Worth the Chili = 2 Stars -- [$2.99 on Amazon]
Smexy [HEAT] Rating = Mild
259 pages

First sentence: It was the edge of forever ago.

Last sentence: I miss the shit out of you.

[1-Click Addict Support Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

God damn, I need wine stat after finishing this book. I'm not talking about a glass or a bottle either, I'm talking a big ole five liter box of wine. And maybe throw in some Xanax for good measure. Here's to Falling is one of those epic sagas of childhood friendship turned to love. You know that saying, "I need therapy because of books," or something along those lines? That. Is. This. Book.

I laughed, I cried heaving sobs, I had my heart broken, all of it at the hands of this story. This is beautiful and emotional. It does deal with some very tough, graphic subject matter, so be warned. The fact that Christine lived through some of these events and laid herself bare to her readers really struck a chord with me. I applaud her for her courage to put this book out there into the reading community.

Honestly, I don't think I can even write up a summary for Here's to Falling. There is so much that happens in this book you just need to read it for yourself. It's a book that's going to stay with me for a long time and I kinda feel sorry for the book I have to read next for review; this one is going to be a hard act to follow. ~ Erin, 6 stars

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends, love, inspired by true events ...... how can you not read this? You must. And you must have tissues available! That is my warning to you!

'I've heard some people say that what you remember is not the whole truth; it's our thoughts of what we wanted things to be remembered as. They believe that we change our memories, that we just fabricate them into pasts that we can live with.
Do I believe that?
No. I believe I remember, every little detail."

This is the story of three friends, that spans across a fifteen year period taking you to both the past and present. I'll admit, I'm not usually a big fan of that, but this flowed smoothly between the two and I loved every minute of it.

Heroine:
Charlotte (Charlie) is a spunky, quirky little girl who wears glasses and loves to read.

"thou shalt not bother me until I finished thy chapter"

Eventually Charlie grows up.....

"Was the grass greener someplace else, or was it fertilized with loads of bullshit like it was on my side?"

Hero:
There are two, Joey and Jase. And they are heroes in every sense of the word.
One boy has soft sweet brown eyes, while the other has piercing blues unlike anything you've ever seen.

As kids these three had me laughing out loud.

"the kids stuck up his middle finger at me"

"It means he hates you and wants to poke you in the eye really hard with his finger. Duh."

But as the story goes on, the laughing turned to tears. Sometimes of joy, and sometimes.... well.... not.
This is their journey of discovery, friendship, strength, tragedy, loss, and love. These three have an unbreakable bond and it was beautiful to read.



This isn't a 'dark read', nor is it purely an 'emotionally draining' read. It has both of those elements, yes, don't get me wrong, there's some terrible things that will have you gasping and cringing, but it's also incredibly sweet and funny, and there's also an easy going feel at times, mixed with a bit of mystery. I knew there was something I was missing, something had to have happened and when it was revealed, I was crushed. Hence the tissue warning. In the back of my mind I thought to myself, was this the part that happened in real life? I read on, I wiped my tears, I laughed again, I was happy, I loved these characters and their quirkiness, then I was crying again. Is this the part? I was devastated.


These characters are beautiful, this story is inspirational and I implore you to read it! Go on... go down the rabbit hole with Charlie, Jase and Joey!!!



*I received an arc from the author for an honest review


Read more at Judy's Confessions

[Dora Koutsoukou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ❤️💔😞⭐️s

Having read the blurb and the author’s note that the story was inspired by events she had lived through, I was super excited and thought it would be a 5 star read.

Charlotte, Joey and Jace, the trio of friendship stole my heart but crushed it later on, where there was no trio any more.
These kids were thick as thieves, supporting, loving and taking care for each other.

But it was slow. Very slow.
I am fully aware of life not being full of rainbows and unicorns, but so much sadness and tragedy was spilling over through the pages and it was very depressing.
The epilogue was so rapid and abrupt, veering from the diction set overall.

[Anne OK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took my breath away in so many ways -- what a stunning read! The trio of Joey, Charlie and Jase brought laughter and tears and all those feelings that wrap a book into an all encompassing heart grabber. From childhood into adulthood, love found its way . . . finally.

[Ana Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is it touching to know that this story was based on the author's life? Maybe in some parts, yes, but most of the time I just thought, my God, if staying with this man who treated her like shit all her life is the author's conception of a happy ending ?! No, this is not a love story, this is sick. And still get the message that this kind of behavior must be accepted and "forgiven"?! It's just worrying. I hope the readers have the insight to realize that no one should submit to this kind of crap. If a boy treats you that way, block him, change cities, follow your dreams, go to therapy, do anything that keeps you too far from a PIG like this. And about the author I really hope her gets help long enough to not to waste the rest of her life on such a loser.

[Jacqueline's Reads]

I didn't even realized Christine Zolendz released this. I love her books like crazy mad. I love the really dark and twisted ones..I love that this one comes with a warning. HECK YEAH!

AMAZON

[✵Damjana✵ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!

Books based on true experiences always attract me. At the beginning where author wrote it's based on her true story, I was mesmerized into it. At some parts story dragged a little bit, but I understand author wrote it mainly because of herself, reader was not main focus in this story. If you read it carefully, you can notice where she added some parts to make it a "story".
I really appreciate when authors are willing to share their true stories, no matter how painful they are.

[Envywho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.... This story was amazing. Loved every part of it.

[Funda Demir]

DNF at 70%. I never DNF a book this far in but there’s a scene which wrecked my soul. I just couldn’t read it anymore. I don’t know whether it was too descriptive, or whether the author states that the book is based on her experiences, I just couldn’t. I’m sorry Dilek my love I know you loved this, and prob wanted me to love it too (which I did until this point), but I can’t carry it on. My throat still hurts from the anger and sadness I feel for the heroine.

[Sammy ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 If I could give it a million stars

First and foremost WOW!!!!!

OMFG, yes I'm writing it in shouty letters because OMFG, I FLOVED this book so Hard.

Nothing I say or write will express how fantastic this book is. In the hours it took me to read this beautiful masterpiece, I had my heart broken a thousand times. I ugly cried HUGE, I smiled like a kid on Christmas morning, my head was booming by the end and I was once again reminded that life is far too short.

At the very beginning of this book we learn that parts of the story are based on real life, I honesty think that, that one sentence, added massively to my emotions and reactions because let me tell you, I was a tear stained, wine guzzling mess. Christine Zolendz, I solute you, you knocked this one right out of the park.

I seriously don't want to give anything away, I can't possibly break this down, the synopsis is very brief for a reason and going in blind only increases the impact of heartbreak and unconditional love within these pages.

The characters were beyond perfect, the writing was spectacular and above all else, it felt so different from anything I've ever read before.



This is one that will stay with me FOREVER and will 100% make it onto the paperback shelf of awesome I have at home.

On a final note, thank you to my beautiful Twinnie for the recommendation, you always know exactly what I'll love and being there to 'hold my hand' throughout is always a bonus.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Within the first few lines of Here's to Falling, I was hooked.

I fell. Hard. Loved it and couldn't put it down.

I love all of Christine Zolendz's books, so when I read the blurb for this one, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. This is a story of three best friends who have an incredible bond. We see them grow together, doing all the crazy things best friends do. Joey, Jase, and Charlie. Inseparable. I loved hearing all about their childhood adventures and watching them go through high school together. Christine's writing is perfect, you feel as if you're right there with them through all the trials and tribulations they faced while growing up.

The emotions I felt while reading were just all over the place. I laughed, I cried, but most of all I fell in love. Each character was perfectly crafted, strong in their own way. I didn't love one more than another.

This is a love story of the truest form. It's a story of first love, true love, never-ending love.

"Here's to falling... in love...and to the best example of it that I've ever seen, which is sitting right in front of me."

I'm not going to tell you anything about the story. Go in blind with just the synopsis in your head. There were so many holy sh*t moments that I had to stop to take a breath. Christine nailed it!! I didn't want it to end. I was blown away. If I could give this one more than 5 stars I would. So I am. This was a huge BOOKGASM for me. Loved, loved, loved it!!! 6+++++++ Stars! Go one click!!!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 estrelas!

Amei ameii ameiiii

Só não dou 5 estrelas pq acho que a autora deveria ter separado melhor o passado do presente mas fora isso... s2

Jase, meu novo namorado literário! Nem vem hein Camila :p