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Trust Fall: A Not-Very-Magical Fairy Tale About The F Word
104 pages, Paperback
Published September 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
SPOILER-FREE Review:
This is a quick-read story, though from my experience it will linger with you long after you finish reading. Though the tale is fictitious and not a memoir, the author did interject pieces of her own childhood into it to flesh out the story’s landscape, which no doubt is the reason the story felt so vibrant and alive. You might find yourself piecing together memories and moments you’ve experienced in your own life that are eerily similar to those the main character shares.
As a child of the 70s and 80s myself, I found the book to be a reflection of many historical events I witnessed and personal events I experienced. Sellman made mention in an email to prospective ARC readers that she would love to hear what thoughts the book resurrected for us, so I will share some of those at the end of this review—including the inspiration for the first cannibal story I ever wrote in elementary school! (I didn’t think reading this book would bring up that memory, but it did, and I love it!)
First off, the title is fantastic. I immediately thought of the song “Trust Fall” by P!nk (which I love). It sets the tone before you even crack the book’s spine. Also, the fairy tale format and vibe make the book easily accessible to anyone. Though it harbors big emotions and serious subject matter, it’s still easy to read and digest. Like all fairy tales, there’s a moral to the story (maybe more than one!). It also parallels parts of today’s culture, reflecting life in the 70s-80s and the familiar “history repeating itself” phenomenon.
Trust Fall is one of the most researched fairy tales I’ve ever read, complete with a bibliography and a well-documented timeline. I loved reading through the dated events, especially since I was born around and lived through many of the historical moments in the story. It was helpful since for most I was too young to recall the details when they were happening, but I do remember hearing tidbits as a child.
The story takes place from the 1960s through the 1980s in suburban Portland, OR, following a young girl’s tumultuous coming of age. The generational abuse that was so commonplace in those decades is highlighted in a variety of situations that she experiences. Not to mention, the half-truth sage advice: “You can be or do anything you want, but—” is on full display, which is a common thread in the story. Sellman also shows how over time women have fought to erase that conjunction from the sentence.
As you read, you’ll watch time pass as the young girl grows up, faces tough decisions, learns when to speak up for herself, and forges her own life. The title continues to surface throughout the story, fitting perfectly into each season of her life. The term trust fall can have various meanings: Taking a chance, opening up to someone without a guarantee of support (emotional or otherwise), vulnerability, or taking a risk without a guarantee for your own safety. Sellman delivers on all of these meanings throughout the book in subtle ways, keeping the underlying theme flowing effortlessly.
This is a great book to showcase what times used to be like, and it’s no doubt going to be a jaw-dropper for people born in the past 20 years, depending on the landscape of their own family dynamics. It’s a peek behind the curtain of a family’s life and what an outsider sees versus what’s going on behind closed doors. Again, this is a story that stands the test of time from the decades it includes to today. I know it made me think back to reactions I got from generations older than I am when I would say things or make comments. The timeline made a lot of those moments, and what those people had experienced or been trained to think in that timeframe, make much more sense.
Also, it was interesting to go through the book and figure out exactly what the F word means. I challenge you to make a guess before you read the book, then see if you are correct at the end.
As promised, here are a few things that surfaced for me as I was reading:
***For the full spoiler-free review: https://robinknabel.squarespace.com/r...
This is a quick-read story, though from my experience it will linger with you long after you finish reading. Though the tale is fictitious and not a memoir, the author did interject pieces of her own childhood into it to flesh out the story’s landscape, which no doubt is the reason the story felt so vibrant and alive. You might find yourself piecing together memories and moments you’ve experienced in your own life that are eerily similar to those the main character shares.
As a child of the 70s and 80s myself, I found the book to be a reflection of many historical events I witnessed and personal events I experienced. Sellman made mention in an email to prospective ARC readers that she would love to hear what thoughts the book resurrected for us, so I will share some of those at the end of this review—including the inspiration for the first cannibal story I ever wrote in elementary school! (I didn’t think reading this book would bring up that memory, but it did, and I love it!)
First off, the title is fantastic. I immediately thought of the song “Trust Fall” by P!nk (which I love). It sets the tone before you even crack the book’s spine. Also, the fairy tale format and vibe make the book easily accessible to anyone. Though it harbors big emotions and serious subject matter, it’s still easy to read and digest. Like all fairy tales, there’s a moral to the story (maybe more than one!). It also parallels parts of today’s culture, reflecting life in the 70s-80s and the familiar “history repeating itself” phenomenon.
Trust Fall is one of the most researched fairy tales I’ve ever read, complete with a bibliography and a well-documented timeline. I loved reading through the dated events, especially since I was born around and lived through many of the historical moments in the story. It was helpful since for most I was too young to recall the details when they were happening, but I do remember hearing tidbits as a child.
The story takes place from the 1960s through the 1980s in suburban Portland, OR, following a young girl’s tumultuous coming of age. The generational abuse that was so commonplace in those decades is highlighted in a variety of situations that she experiences. Not to mention, the half-truth sage advice: “You can be or do anything you want, but—” is on full display, which is a common thread in the story. Sellman also shows how over time women have fought to erase that conjunction from the sentence.
As you read, you’ll watch time pass as the young girl grows up, faces tough decisions, learns when to speak up for herself, and forges her own life. The title continues to surface throughout the story, fitting perfectly into each season of her life. The term trust fall can have various meanings: Taking a chance, opening up to someone without a guarantee of support (emotional or otherwise), vulnerability, or taking a risk without a guarantee for your own safety. Sellman delivers on all of these meanings throughout the book in subtle ways, keeping the underlying theme flowing effortlessly.
This is a great book to showcase what times used to be like, and it’s no doubt going to be a jaw-dropper for people born in the past 20 years, depending on the landscape of their own family dynamics. It’s a peek behind the curtain of a family’s life and what an outsider sees versus what’s going on behind closed doors. Again, this is a story that stands the test of time from the decades it includes to today. I know it made me think back to reactions I got from generations older than I am when I would say things or make comments. The timeline made a lot of those moments, and what those people had experienced or been trained to think in that timeframe, make much more sense.
Also, it was interesting to go through the book and figure out exactly what the F word means. I challenge you to make a guess before you read the book, then see if you are correct at the end.
As promised, here are a few things that surfaced for me as I was reading:
***For the full spoiler-free review: https://robinknabel.squarespace.com/r...
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a powerful story about GenX women and the way so many grew up. I cannot express how many times I literally yelled out loud in simultaneous frustration and understanding at what the character was going through, from her own family and society as a whole.
I admit the format and style of the book took me a chapter or so to get used to, but the storytelling is so spectacular that once I did, it made so much sense for this particular story. Your heart will both ache for, and cheer on, the main character.
I can't recommend it highly enough.
I admit the format and style of the book took me a chapter or so to get used to, but the storytelling is so spectacular that once I did, it made so much sense for this particular story. Your heart will both ache for, and cheer on, the main character.
I can't recommend it highly enough.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews