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London Life Is Falling Down
Is belonging worth the risk of being known?
Fifteen-year-old Camille Lutton had life in D.C. on lock—academic success, loyal friend, and rising volleyball star. But a sudden family move to London throws her into an intimidating new prep school, turning her into a digital ghost.
While her "forever" friendships back home dissolve into missed calls and fading group chats, Camille feels invisible in her new reality. Isolated and overlooked, she begins retreating behind walls she never thought she'd need.
When a mishap on the Underground opens a door to 1985, Camille finds a temporary refuge. Her time-transcending friendship with Sasha offers a glimpse into a simpler, analog world—but the eighties can't solve Camille's twenty-first-century loneliness.
As Camille navigates the friction of a life in transition, she learns that real belonging requires more than a time-jump or a Wi-Fi signal. It is found in the courage to be seen—fears, flaws, and all. In a city where everything is falling down, Camille must decide if she is willing to confront her insecurities to step into the life she was always meant to live.
Fifteen-year-old Camille Lutton had life in D.C. on lock—academic success, loyal friend, and rising volleyball star. But a sudden family move to London throws her into an intimidating new prep school, turning her into a digital ghost.
While her "forever" friendships back home dissolve into missed calls and fading group chats, Camille feels invisible in her new reality. Isolated and overlooked, she begins retreating behind walls she never thought she'd need.
When a mishap on the Underground opens a door to 1985, Camille finds a temporary refuge. Her time-transcending friendship with Sasha offers a glimpse into a simpler, analog world—but the eighties can't solve Camille's twenty-first-century loneliness.
As Camille navigates the friction of a life in transition, she learns that real belonging requires more than a time-jump or a Wi-Fi signal. It is found in the courage to be seen—fears, flaws, and all. In a city where everything is falling down, Camille must decide if she is willing to confront her insecurities to step into the life she was always meant to live.
288 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2026
About the author
Kelly Stadler
1 book1 followerKelly Stadler spent decades as an executive in the real estate and technology industries before returning to her deepest calling: motherhood.
As a mother of four, she was inspired to write London Life Is Falling Down after witnessing the modern challenges children face in finding their footing and the critical role friendship plays in shaping who they become.
Kelly writes the sophisticated, value-driven stories she wants her own children to discover—books that offer a mirror to their struggles and a compass for their character.
She lives with her family in North Texas but is always looking for an excuse to hop across the pond for another tea-filled trip to London.
You can find Kelly at parliamentsquarepublishing.com
As a mother of four, she was inspired to write London Life Is Falling Down after witnessing the modern challenges children face in finding their footing and the critical role friendship plays in shaping who they become.
Kelly writes the sophisticated, value-driven stories she wants her own children to discover—books that offer a mirror to their struggles and a compass for their character.
She lives with her family in North Texas but is always looking for an excuse to hop across the pond for another tea-filled trip to London.
You can find Kelly at parliamentsquarepublishing.com
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
It can be hard to find books these days that parents feel comfortable putting in the hands of their daughter. Author Kelly Stadler has written a delightful book that incorporates the real struggles of being a teenager with themes of faith in God. While I do not yet have children in their teens, this is one I am happy to recommend to those who do!
When Camille finds herself uprooted from all that is familiar to move overseas to London, she feels as if everything in her life is falling down. At fifteen years old, starting over at a new all-girls prep school in an unfamiliar country feels like a nightmare. As she struggles to fit in and make new friends while navigating a new city, Camille suddenly finds herself on an underground train that transports her back to 1985, where comfort is found in an unexpected place.
This was such a delightful read! I particularly appreciated that while Camille was definitely written as a typical fifteen-year-old girl, she was also one who had a strong moral compass and wanted to do the right thing. While she certainly made mistakes, she also owned up to them and even sought the Lord in prayer when facing difficult decisions. I also loved the emphasis on the importance of good friendships. Any of us who have been teenagers know how difficult it can be to cultivate deep, meaningful friendships, and the author does an excellent job of portraying just how hard that can be. I think many teenagers will see themselves reflected in Camille's character and will hopefully be encouraged by the way God sustained her as her life was seemingly falling apart.
I recommend this book for girls 13 and up!
Content Considerations:
-While there is no profanity, there are a few instances of words such as: "freaking," "crap," "sucked," and one instance of the word "beachy," used as a euphemism. Exercise discernment depending on the age of your teen and what language is permitted in your home!
It can be hard to find books these days that parents feel comfortable putting in the hands of their daughter. Author Kelly Stadler has written a delightful book that incorporates the real struggles of being a teenager with themes of faith in God. While I do not yet have children in their teens, this is one I am happy to recommend to those who do!
When Camille finds herself uprooted from all that is familiar to move overseas to London, she feels as if everything in her life is falling down. At fifteen years old, starting over at a new all-girls prep school in an unfamiliar country feels like a nightmare. As she struggles to fit in and make new friends while navigating a new city, Camille suddenly finds herself on an underground train that transports her back to 1985, where comfort is found in an unexpected place.
This was such a delightful read! I particularly appreciated that while Camille was definitely written as a typical fifteen-year-old girl, she was also one who had a strong moral compass and wanted to do the right thing. While she certainly made mistakes, she also owned up to them and even sought the Lord in prayer when facing difficult decisions. I also loved the emphasis on the importance of good friendships. Any of us who have been teenagers know how difficult it can be to cultivate deep, meaningful friendships, and the author does an excellent job of portraying just how hard that can be. I think many teenagers will see themselves reflected in Camille's character and will hopefully be encouraged by the way God sustained her as her life was seemingly falling apart.
I recommend this book for girls 13 and up!
Content Considerations:
-While there is no profanity, there are a few instances of words such as: "freaking," "crap," "sucked," and one instance of the word "beachy," used as a euphemism. Exercise discernment depending on the age of your teen and what language is permitted in your home!
August 14, 2026
London Life is Falling Down by Kelly Stadler
I buddy read this book with my daughter and it was a perfect choice.
The story is about discovering oneself during times of change. Growing up is difficult, and books often depict this using content that is too mature to convey the point. This debut is a beautiful story about finding friendship, kindness and embracing your fears. With a time travel element intertwined into the story kept things interesting. "London Life is Falling Down" helps readers understand that change happens and that they control their own destiny through the choices they make. We both enjoyed this debut and can not wait to see what Kelly Stadler comes up with next.
If you are looking for a story great for tweens, with plenty of lessons, consequences and giving everyone a chance.
Thank you to Parliament Square Publishing and Kelly Stadler for the advance reader copy of this wonderful book. Get a copy of London Life is Falling Down for you or your favorite tween.
I buddy read this book with my daughter and it was a perfect choice.
The story is about discovering oneself during times of change. Growing up is difficult, and books often depict this using content that is too mature to convey the point. This debut is a beautiful story about finding friendship, kindness and embracing your fears. With a time travel element intertwined into the story kept things interesting. "London Life is Falling Down" helps readers understand that change happens and that they control their own destiny through the choices they make. We both enjoyed this debut and can not wait to see what Kelly Stadler comes up with next.
If you are looking for a story great for tweens, with plenty of lessons, consequences and giving everyone a chance.
Thank you to Parliament Square Publishing and Kelly Stadler for the advance reader copy of this wonderful book. Get a copy of London Life is Falling Down for you or your favorite tween.
September 12, 2026
Wonderful tween novel that works thru friendship, big life changes, technology, and a little time travel on the Tube. I loved that part 💛 clean, no spice or language. Will recommend this to students & nieces asap.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I read this book with my 9 year old and while she was a little bit below the target audience she still really loved the story. The only things that I felt like she didn't get was some of. the references to social media and teenage slang. However because I had been told by the author that the book was appropriate and did not have mature themes I felt comfortable reading it with her. My 11 year old is planning to read it next!
The book is a wonderful story of overcoming challenges and changes as a teenager. I especially loved the lessons she learned about friendship and thought those were relevant even for my 9 year old. She learned a lot about what it means to be a good friend and qualities that she wanted in a friend.
The story was relatable to teens and I think was engaging and developed enough that it will appeal to the YA audience without there being any mature themes or language which is SO amazing because there are not enough YA books like this.
The time travel element was fun and gave the story a fun twist that we loved and really liked how it played out. Overall such a fun story that we loved reading together.
The book is a wonderful story of overcoming challenges and changes as a teenager. I especially loved the lessons she learned about friendship and thought those were relevant even for my 9 year old. She learned a lot about what it means to be a good friend and qualities that she wanted in a friend.
The story was relatable to teens and I think was engaging and developed enough that it will appeal to the YA audience without there being any mature themes or language which is SO amazing because there are not enough YA books like this.
The time travel element was fun and gave the story a fun twist that we loved and really liked how it played out. Overall such a fun story that we loved reading together.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews