Life Happens on the Stairs

by Amy J. Markstahler

Life Happens on the Stairs And there's no running when it's your turn... 1st place - The Maggie Award, Young Adult, Georgia Romance Writers, 2019 Solo Medalist Young Adult, 2019 New Apple Awards Finalist - 2019 IAN Book of the Year Awards, Young Adult and First Novel Winner of the 2018 Breakthrough Novel Awards 3rd Place, Young Adult Romance - 2016 Linda Howard Award of Excellence "The story is well-written and edited to excellence, and will breeze almost magically, into your heart and soul." "So beautifully written, this book takes you there, you feel, you laugh, you cry sad tears, you cry happy tears, and in the end it makes you reflect that life really does happen on the stairs!" "A wonderful story - great characters and a nail-biting will they/won't they relationship." Elsie Richardson’s world crumbles when her dad drops from a seizure at the 4th of July festival. The reality that his brain tumor is back with a vengeance, slams the 17-year-old aspiring artist and her family into intense hardship. When her mom needs help to make ends meet it forces Elsie into adulting overnight. On top of that, Elsie’s caustic, grudge-holding brother is on his way home and she fears he will only make matters worse. Feeling alone and hopeless, Elsie does as she’s told and goes to work with her mom. That’s when she meets Tyler again. He's the grandson of her mom's wealthiest client and he hasn't stopped thinking about her since he first saw her at the festival when her dad was rushed to the hospital. After he invites her to go jogging at the historical Shiloh National Military Park, Elsie is warned by her mom to stay away from the wealthy young man. Elsie gets the notice a bit too late, and so she lies about who she’s meeting each morning. Over the next few weeks, Tyler becomes her secret solace amid the uncertainty she’s facing. But when reality strikes and her private world crashes, she's forced to find her inner strength. Amy J. Markstahler's Life Happens on the Stairs will touch your heart in many ways. It's a hopeful story that reminds us of the miracle of love and family, and the possibility of second chances. If you enjoy realistic fiction with a love story that will give you all the feels, this multi-award winning debut novel is a must read. Connect with Amy J. Markstahler On @Ajmarkstahler On

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance

431 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 2018

Reviews

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid YA contemporary. The story is structured well and stirs up a lot of feelings. I loved it for the most part, and it was close to being 5 stars. The writing, character development, and world building were great. It was easy to sympathize with the characters. The pacing at the end didn't flow well with the rest of the story and I was a little disappointed with it.

I came across this book on netgalley by accident and I'm glad I did. I had never heard of it before. I think more people should know about it so I plan to promote it whenever possible.

Thank you to netgalley for offering a copy for review.

[Susan Furlong · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters in this book are superbly written, the situations are realistic, the prose is fluent and sincere. I was hooked! Emotionally resonating, both heart breaking and heartwarming, this book stayed with me long after the last page.

[Eeva Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is no wonder that this debut novel has won awards even before it's released. Some people are just born to write, although it did take Amy J. Markstahler five years to finish this book. Life Happens on the Stairs is a well-written, coming of age novel that delves into family relationships and a young woman's tendency to run when life gets difficult. Best of all is the romantic angle. A forbidden love between a rich, handsome, wonderful man, and Elsie, our heroine, the daughter of the help.

In the midst of Elsie's turbulent life, with her father dying, Elsie could not stay away from the one thing that makes everything bearable. Tyler Vaughn.

With that, we can see that Elsie has a lot of challenges ahead of her, and we, the reader, can tag along for the ride.

Life Happens on the Stairs. There's no running when it's your turn. You can either go up and see where it goes, or go down and give up.

I highly recommend it to new adults and for adults who love reality fiction with a good dose of romance.

[booklover1113 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life Happens on the stairs is an amazing, substance filled novel that anyone would love to read. The exceptional writing drew me in quickly within the first few pages and had me hooked for the rest of it. I just couldn't put it down! It had enough action to keep me anticipating Elsie's every next move, but still made my heart swoon from the love story between Tyler and Elsie. I especially loved their wholesome relationship and the deep character development throughout the book. If you haven't already, read this book! This is an absolute must read.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful novel!

I totally enjoyed reading Amy’s first novel. It is a sweet and loving story about true love. I look forward to more of your novels.

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 5 out of 5]

ya reality hits hard
Overall 5 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 5 out of 5 stars

You really must enjoy this story from the very beginning. You will find that Elsie was more and less the typical teen. She finds that life for her has much to offer, take, and achieve. I found this story to be so much more than the synopsis/blurb offers the interested reader/listener. I found points to be very connective to my youth and my life now as an adult. I found that she made life more difficult for herself and those around her, but that was her youth or lack of wisdom. Then she begins to make slow growth. Slow changes. Life comes at her from all sides then she does something she very quickly regrets. She finally learns one of life's hardest lessons. The world does not revolve around one person and their wants, needs or desires.

In the process of all this going on we meet some interested characters; her mother, her brother, and Tyler. I want to give nothing away her, but I do feel there are a number of young adults that could read this and learn a thing or two about life.

Katie Marchant was new to me with this audio. I did enjoy her voice. I would have loved to have more of a masculine feel to the male characters but this was more from Elsie's perspective. Katie brough forth the feelings and emotions of the characters through her voice. Amy told a fantastic story of life and reality from the perspective of a teen needing to grow-up all to soon.

[Jess (jessreads1985) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great contemporary novel. I loved getting both Elsie’s and Tyler’s perspectives. I hope to see more of them in the future.

[Grant Leishman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This award-winning, debut novel, Life Happens on the Stairs by Amy J Markstahler is a wonderfully fresh and realistic look at life and love and the contrasts between the "haves" and the "have nots"; the "elite" and the rest of us ordinary folk. Markstahler has definitely touched a spot in her readers hearts with this beautiful and touching portrayal of young love.

Elsie Richardson, a seventeen-year-old budding artist should be preparing for college, but when a brain tumour strikes down her father and he is incapacitated in hospital, Elsie realises she needs to make some sacrifices, for the sake of her hard-working mother, who is struggling to make ends meet, with no income from Elsie's father. Elsie agrees to take on some of her mother's house-cleaning jobs to give her the time to spend with her husband, before the seemingly inevitable happens. It is whilst cleaning a Southern Society's grand lady's house, that Elsie first meets the handsome, young wealthy grandson, Tyler Vaughn. The attraction between the two is instantaneous, but being aware of her mother's admonition not to do anything that could affect her cleaning job, Elsie is forced to keep her attraction and growing love for Tyler, from her mother. The idea of Tyler ever dating anyone from "the other side of the tracks" is absolutely abhorrent to Tyler's domineering, arrogant and incredibly rude Grandmother, so Tyler also must keep the relationship quiet, on his side, also.

I loved the simple, sweet style of the prose Markstahler writes in. It makes the story very readable and her detailed descriptions of the surroundings gives the reader a wonderful insight into the grandeur of an old, southern, plantation mansion. The interaction and sizzling electricity between Elsie and Tyler is definitely the highlight of the story for me. For readers who love good old-fashioned values, true romance, yet without glossing over our character's flaws and mistakes, then Life Happens on the Stairs will be a rewarding and satisfying read for you.

I enjoyed this story immensely and again, I am pleased and excited to find another, superb, indie author arriving on the literary scene. I expect bigger and even better things from Markstahler in the future. She has definitely hit the mark on this coming-of-age romance. It's a superb debut novel, in my opinion and well worthy of the five stars I'm giving it.

[AnneMarie Dapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy J. Markstahler’s breakthrough novel, Life Happens on the Stairs, is a true masterpiece in young adult fiction. I was enchanted by the multi-dimensional protagonists, Elsie Richardson and Taylor Vaugn. Their entertaining backstories blended perfectly with the history of their town, a small Tennessee community, rich with expectations and deep-rooted traditions. Descriptive prose and fresh dialog bring the story to life. This novel offers a wonderfully balanced cast of characters, both young and old alike. The reader is drawn in immediately, feeling both the tension and angst, as Elsie tries to balance the duties of family, work, while exploring the joys of young love. The story offers hauntingly poignant life lessons. This five-star read will leave you yearning for the author's next novel!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got an ARC copy of book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


Life Happens on the Stairs leaves me with conflicting feelings, but the more I think about it, the more the negative out weighs the positive. On one hand, the portray of the struggles of a teenage girl experiences while trying to help her family and keep it together while her father slowly wastes away before her eyes due to a resurgence of a brain tumor is very interesting and thought provoking to me. I loved the portrayal of small-town life and how people come together to look after each other. But then you get Elsie, a storyline I feel really could have been tightened up by about 80+ pages to increase to pacing and shorten the book, classic rich people stock characters, and an unrealistic romance with the ultimate perfect rich guy. I honestly didn’t connect to Elsie at all. I could not relate to a girl who got everything in the end (but her loving father, yes). I may have even told the end of the book to “give me a break!”

Okay, I just have to get this off my chest…is it just me or is Elsie a Mary Sue? I mean she has a shitty life at home because her dad is dying (and she cleans toilets, yes. But it’s temporary), yes. BUT she’s beautiful and refuses to see that she’s anything but average, she magically lands the hot/smart/rich guy with just a glance who instantly loves her with his entire being, her mom loves her dearly, her brother loves her dearly at the end, and she pretty much gets everything she wants in life…but her dad. Mary Sue? I think so. I think it qualifies. Plus, if it doesn’t go her way she runs away and hides so everyone can go mental worrying about her.

I mean, she literally snags Tyler in one glance without even trying (still on this, yes). The boy who never wanted to date anyone falls head over heels in love with her…it reminded me of Edward and Bella. No lie…only he’s not 80 some-odd-years old. I couldn’t wrap my head around that one. And Tyler’s rich and super-hot, and super athletic and super smart. He’s good at whatever the hell he puts his mind to…Elsie’s father was a farmer and her mother cleans houses, her brother got tangled up in drugs and shipped off to a relative for awhile to sober up. How? How does this work? It is so…unrealistic that I developed a serious hang up over it that prevented me from enjoying other aspects of the book. The romance literary took away from the rest story for me.

As for her other relationships, particularly with her family (again, the romance overtook this aspect of the book, but what I did see I liked). Her and her dad got along great, and their relationship through the whole book was beautiful. Only I did notice that he and his illness really started to take a backseat to the romance we were all supposed to be getting behind. We’d have detailed romance scenes that lasted for ages and then maybe a line or two saying that Elsie ate dinner at his bedside. I mean, come on! I’m not reading this for the improbable romance, people!

Elsie and her mom seem to have a good relationship too. But things do seem to fall apart a bit as Elsie starts lying about who she’s spending all her time with and her mom starts making bigger and bigger demands of her while telling her she basically doesn’t care about what is going on with Elsie when she finally does try to tell her things. Her mother realizes her mistake later on and they do mostly patch things up.

The relationship development between Elsie and her brother was really nice though. I just wish the author had spent a little more time on it. Just like I wish the author had avoided the insta-love route with Elsie and Tyler’s romance. Yes I am really REALLY stuck on that. I was the whole book, which is probably why it took me so long to read the darn thing. It’s not a bad book. It’s actually pretty good. I just have serious hang-ups about spreading the message of inst-love is a good thing to the young masses.

I was looking for a book that was about a teen dealing with the slow degradation of her father’s health and how it affected her and her family with a splash of potential romance on the side. What I got was actually a Twilight-like romance with two Twilight like characters with a splash of a story about a family struggling to keep it together as the dad dies slowly to cancer. But the family part you did get was very good.

It's harsh, yes, but it's my honest opinion on this book. I shouldn't have gone in with expectations.

[Britt Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing read that is both fun and heartbreaking!

What a combination. But this author makes it work really, really well.

With the exception, of course, of the obvious antagonists — like the elder Mrs. Vaughn — every character in this book was refreshing, likable, and they all seemed fleshened out in ways that make them seem like real people. Elsie, as a narrator, is sweet (but Not in an over-the-top, seems-forced kind of way) and relatable, and it doesn’t take long at all to really fall into her character and the world around her.

The romance between Elsie and Tyler was really sweet, and puts a slightly different spin on the whole “forbidden love” trope. Like, it’s not Absolutely forbidden — nobody’s going to die if people find out they’re together — but he’s a guy that comes from a rich family, and she’s the daughter of his grandmother’s house cleaner. So there is some definite classism in this novel that I think is handled really well — like I said, it’s a refreshing modern spin on the whole “forbidden love” thing.

I do think that Tyler’s character seems a little ~too~ perfect — like, the whole “golden boy” thing is played into a little too much, in my opinion — BUT I do think it’s a nice change of pace from the more common clichès in Young Adult love interests. Namely, characters that are total freaking assholes in the light of being labeled “bad boys.” Don’t get me wrong, I can get into the whole “dark” personality type too, but there’s a fine line between being “dark and mysterious” versus downright cruel and abusive that I think some YA books kind of abuse. I can get into the “dark” thing, but I, personally, would much rather read about a golden boy who’s ~genuinely~ a sweet person than some jerk who’s labeled as “edgy” when he’s actually borderline abusive.

That said, there ~were~ a few things within Elsie and Tyler’s relationship that were just a little too cheesy for me. But, I expected nothing less of a contemporary teen romance and even the more cheesy things had their cute moments.

Now, back to what I said about this book being both fun and heartbreaking!

Elsie’s relationship with Tyler is sweet, fun, and lighthearted... which is a sharp contrast to the things going on in her family life. Her father is very sick and dying of cancer, so this book balances a lighthearted romance with a plot line that is actually very somber and serious. Elsie’s world is, quite literally, split down the middle, and the author clearly demonstrates how that messes with her mental health — as it very well would. It’s a heavy thing to try to juggle, but I think the author does a superb job of doing just that.

Overall, I ended up liking this book a lot! Fun and heartbreaking, that’s the motto for this read. If you’re looking for a book that balances serious with humor, somber with fun, with just a sliiiiight little cheesefest on the side, this very well could be a great book for you!

[Cindy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elsie and her family are Illinois Yankee transplants in Tennessee. Elsie's way of facing problems is to run, literally. Her mother works cleaning houses while her father is trying to grow peppers. Elsie is an artist and is finally going to exhibit her work at the fair. Thanks to her best friend, she is starting to get some attention but her father's tumor sends him into a seizure. A young man, Tyler Vaughn, comes to the rescue and helps get medical attention. This chance encounter leads to sparks between the two. Tyler, it turns out is the grandson of the richest woman her mother works for, and that lady hates Elsie. Tyler and Elsie are drawn to each other, but Elsie is worried their relationship will cost her mother her job. The tension of young love with the back story of prejudice and the impending death of her father is palpable. This story is amazingly well written. I will not give any more info because I hate knowing how books end, it runs the fun of reading. This book is well worth buying. The characters are well developed, the plot is full of twists and unexpected results. Kudos! I can't wait to see more from this author.

[Mark Carnelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A five star special read!

This wasn’t, for me, just a romance novel, nor just a coming of age story, nor even a story of first teenage love. This is a wonderful read about a young 17yo Elsie overcoming her fears and adversity and reaching her goals, aspirations and dreams.
Elsie, a talented artist, helps both her parents to make ends meet. Her Dad’s few acres of crops, and her Mum’s cleaning. She meets Tyler when he helps Elsie, following her Dad having a seizure, due to a brain tumour. Her Mum warns Elsie of starting anything with Tyler, as his family are very well off, and they are the hired help as Elsie’s mum cleans their home.
Elsie, and her wayward brother, are forced to step up and help out even more. Her blossoming love with Tyler, and his reciprocation of that love, are new feelings for Elsie, throwing her emotions all over.
As the reader, we are there with Elsie, step by step. For the many teenage girls out there, with hopes and dreams, this book can strengthen their resolve and loosen their fears, giving them something to hold on to, and letting them know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how long.
A thoroughly heartwarming story that deserves all the accolades, and more.
Five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars for a read that leaves a warm and fuzzy feeling.

[Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to give it full score, because it was so nice, pretty, so adorable, heart-breaking, sad, frustrating and wholesome. Yeah, all of those. BUT I found the ending to be extremely rushed and it bothered me. It was very quick jump from the “epic” fight to them being together again and it bothered me, all in all very rushed and very jump from this day to 6 months etc.. So, I did not give it 5 stars.

I got this eARC from Netgalley

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a stereotypical teenage romance. I did not enjoy it that much. I felt like there was a disconnect between the story and myself, like it was more "telling" than "showing." I did like Elsie's character and family though, and I hated Tyler's Nana. The characters were well fleshed out and easy to imagine in my head. All in all I give this one 3 stars.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Denno

What a delightful story of young love, life struggles and family relationships. I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to more from Amy. You really sucked me in with your ability to capture the emotional side of loss and how each character eventualky found healing and hope. Nicely done. This book made me smile, make me cry and most of all made me think more about life in general. I will definately buy your next book. If you haven't read it, get it before the price goes up! Because this book is worth way more than $0.99.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Life Happens on the Stairs” is the story of a young woman as she overcomes life’s struggles leading to adulthood. That’s the simple description of a story that is MUCH more. It isn’t often that I find myself so immersed in a book that it makes me cry, but “Life Happens...” is one such book. Ms. Markstahler puts the reader “into” the story in such a natural way that you feel the life of the protagonist, Elsie Richardson -- her ups and downs. It’s funny, sweet, sad, and heartfelt. I absolutely loved it! This is, hands down, the best novel I’ve read in ages. If I could give it ten stars, I would.

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, I just love, love this book. For a first time author, Amy Markstahler is pretty good.

Love, family life, second chances - they're all here. I cried at the scene when Tyler gave a eulogy on the death of Elsie's dad. That was so sweet.

Another book that I read in one day. It was that good.

[C.L. Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of the book is great. I liked the idea of a young woman dealing with grief, a new love interest, and growing up through the adversity. I think the author did a great job of taking us through those moments. What I struggled with was the narrative which seemed a bit drawn out (a tighter and more succinct story with clearly defined beats would have helped me) and I would have liked a bit more depth in the characters. The end was great - and that’s where I saw the author shine as the conflict pressed against the characters to force change... but it seemed a bit rushed and that was what made the growth relatable.

[Travis Borne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most heartfelt books I’ve ever read. You’ll cry from start to finish. For, such is growing up. In its unrelenting progression, as the clock ticks, as a 17-year-old young woman transitions from teenager into adulthood, and life etches its deepest scars. Consequences and tribulations, the weight of the world and Elsie’s first real taste of it. It’s the experiences, the scars and how we all deal with our hurdles, that make us who we are. But don’t let me drag the focus of this review toward the dark side. Most of your tears, by far, will spill out because of an overwhelming sense joy. Heartfelt, heart melted, total fulfillment. That’s what you’ll get from this novel. Life Happens on the Stairs, by Amy J. Markstahler, will reach into the deepest depths of your soul and switch on a bright light. Warmth, overcoming obstacles, true love. Imagine your heart on fire, while simultaneously experiencing newfound love, first times with youthful vigor. I read this in only two days. Yep, couldn’t put it down.
A year in the life of a teenage girl, Elsie, who thinks she isn’t good enough, smart enough, talented enough… She meets a very special, very handsome young man. And he’s special all right, and you’ll never guess every reason why. And all this and more happens while Elsie’s father is dying of cancer, while her mother needs, now more than ever, her help. Growing up fast. And the pressure is on. Will she, can she take the weight of the world? She’s run from it before and something terrible happened. To a special place where no one can find her. But will she keep running when times get tough this next time around, when it feels like all is lost, when it feels like the end of the world?
This story touched me on many levels and by the time I had finished reading it, I felt an uplifting sense of elation, absolution. Someone grew up and I realized in yet another dimension, from a superbly constructed perspective, just how special and wonderful, and heartbreaking life can be.
And no shocks for the sake of just shocking the reader, but things happen, real things, good ones, bad. This story is the real deal. It’s an account of real-life ups and downs, painful loss and secret loves, and personal growth. Grow up with Elsie as she gets a taste of the hardships parents face on a daily basis, year after year. Picking five acres of pimientos to help pay the bills, working her mother’s cleaning job, fending off ogling drunkards and dodging supercilious snobs…
I give Life Happens on the Stairs FIVE STARS, solid. The author excels at character development and her clean, easy-to-read prose flows like a Tennessee stream (pun intended, read it). The story is well-written and edited to excellence, and will breeze almost magically, into your heart and soul. Take this splendid journey, meet an exceptional someone and experience the exhilaration for yourself. A beautiful young woman’s life; Elsie grasps hardship, and then herself. She learns what true love is, and maybe, just maybe, she won’t run away from her problems when things get tough, as she has done in the past. And maybe, a change isn’t the end of the world. A little objectivity can do wonders. Perfectly sculpted experiences, joys and pains, bar-brawl to fist-fight, to jail, and a car crash that changed a young man forever. All of this and more, in this heartwarming, real-world experience. And then finally experience the BIG picture. The end will have you jumping! Don’t pass on this title.

[Anto · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off it was a good start, Elsie’s story starts out rough, her father has a seizure, and she gets help from a few people at the fair they were attending. And if I’m being honest, I truly only cared about the dad’s story line. I couldn’t connect at all with the romance that started to grow between Elsie and Tyler. It felt rushed and fairy-tale like. Here’s the thing, throughout a good portion of the book I thought Tyler was around 22, but turns out he’s about 19. Doesn’t really help the cause that he’s chasing Elsie who is about 17.
Either way, it felt as if they met and by the second time they saw each other they had already decided they would spend the rest of their lives together. Although they had some great scenes together, I don’t think they made a true connection to consider each other the love of their life. It was as if Elsie fell for him because he helped her at the fair, and from then on had a sudden connection to him because of this. And a good chunk of their talks were only about her Dad. This lead to the relationship feeling bland, I wished we had been able to see more of them doing things the other liked. To at least build them a stronger personality.
Next thing up is how things were described. I found myself uncomfortable or thinking what an odd choice of words was for describing people. You see Elsie saying things like “he built a wall as thick as East Berlin” when explaining how closed off someone was, or even saying that one character was a “stubborn German”. But the one thing that bothered me so much was when two characters are describing an ex, they use the term”pretty french girl, might’ve been anorexic though”, and all the characters kind of shoved the comment to the side? No, no, no, it’s harmful to use these terms towards people who are overall thinner than most. Oh also just a side not SHE WAS 15, and this character says that “she didn’t look like it” *facepalm* I had no choice but consider DNFing but because it was a review copy and I was almost done, I pushed through it, thinking the story would get better. It certainly didn’t though.
The second half of the book turns more fairy like, people coming together to help a family that from what I could tell didn’t really have many friends. The whole town from one second to the other pitched in to help. But at no point of the story did they come by the house and offer condolences, or even check on the family.
Final Thoughts
The only thing that saved this book was the connection Elsie has with her father, their bond was strong and carried this book to a 3 star rating. If it wasn’t for this main plot point, I wouldn’t have been able to finish it. Read at your own risk, give it a chance if you’d like it may not have been for me but it may be for you!

[Louise Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

17 year old Elsie Richardson decides to try and sell her art. She is a talented artist, hoping to go to an Arts College next year.
However at the fair where she was selling her art, her Dad collapses. A handsome young man helps her call her Mum and an ambulance.

Elsie dad has a brain tumour and it had taken a turn for the worse. With her Mum torn between her job (she couldn't afford not to work) and spending time with her husband. Claire her Mum asks Elsie for help to clean her properties.

Forced to be an adult she agrees.

Elsie meets the handsome stranger who helped her again. He turns out to be Tyler. Claire cleans her grandmother's house and she can be quite cruel at times.
Tyler asks Elsie to meet him, to which she agrees. But when her mother finds out that Elsie has met him she warns her to stay away. As it might cost her, her job. But Elsie can't - Tyler and Elsie began a secret relationship.

Yet at the end of the 6 weeks holiday Tyler is off to College.....As they confess their undying love for each other. Will their relationship survive and or is it just a summer fling.?
Will Elsie dad recover from his fall?

Wow what an emotional rollercoaster.. A brilliant YA romance novel.
I do not read romance books very often but after reading psychological thrillers and other genres. You sometimes cannot beat a good romance.

Although a predictable story, I still wanted to find out what happened in between and maybe just maybe the author may go the other way.. The characters I easily connected with. Elsie and Tyler's love felt real. The sad emotions involving her Dad and Brother.

I rate this book 5/5.

[ThatBookGal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life Happens on the Stairs felt a little tricky to read. On one hand, I really liked its portrayal of grief, particularly as the situation Elsie finds herself in, is one very familiar to my family. On the other, I really didn't like the main characters, at all, so I found the book hard to enjoy because I just didn't want to be spending time with them.

I've never been to Tennessee, so I really enjoyed the snapshot of life there. The people, the setting, the relationships, it all felt very genuine and as though you were glimpsing a real couple of months in the life of the town. Elsie's dad's sickness also felt entirely accurate, slipping in and out of lucidity, whilst gradually deteriorating. It was handled very sensitively, and at times it was emotional as heck.

For me, Elsie and Tyler were equally dislikable. I found Elsie to be fairly irritating, she spends a lot of time giggling, and her deciding not to talk to anyone about anything was painful. Tyler on the other hand felt like a rich boy cliche, which made him feel like the least believable thing about the whole book. But most of all, the clingy, overbearing way they talked to each other, just made me cringe quite a lot.

As an adult, I find there are occasionally YA books that just don't resonate with me, potentially because of my age. I feel like that's massively the case here. I can imagine teenage girls falling in love with Tyler, and empathising with Elsie way more than I ever could. This is certainly not badly written, and there were for sure some highlights, it just wasn't for me personally.

[Alexina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Elsie's world is drastically changing. While at a farmer's market with her father, he collapses, and she instantly knows that the cancer has returned. As she's desperate to find help, handsome and caring Tyler steps in to help get her father to the hospital.

At first, as many love stories go, Elsie doesn't think too much about Tyler. He's just another guy who helped out in a time of need.

But, as it's clear that Elsie's dad's health continues to deteroriate, Elsie has to start helping out her mother, which includes cleaning houses for her.

Then, one day, Tyler invited Elsie to go on a run with him and, thus, starts their romance. As Elsie works through navigating her life, Tyler is there for support even when Elsie, maybe, doesn't deserve him.

-------------

Alright, four stars for this one.

Tyler was almost TOO perfect. I kept waiting for something bad to happen with him but it didn't quite come! He was such a good guy all along. And, although good guys exist--my husband is one of them--, Tyler just seemed like an illusion.

Normally I don't usually like romance stories but this one wasn't all too horrible. Elsie had so much trauma that it made the love story edgier. She was definitely the one who had issues to work through and it made the story far more realistic.

The situation of Elsie's dad just about broke my heart. Grief is never easy but the author included some sweet moments to help me not feel at totally heartbroken.

I also loved the ending! I can't say much so as not to spoil anything but it wasn't at all what I expected and I appreciate that. Not all love stories have to end the same way so, thank you, for the ending on this one.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got an ARC copy of book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Life Happens on the Stairs has a great premise. It's about a girl who is struggling to help her family while her father is dying of a brain tumour. I loved the portrayal of small-town life and the community aspect of it. I did however struggle with the romance between Tyler and Elsie, it felt a little insta-lovey. They seemed to go from strangers to love-interest in a couple of chapters. I felt it would've been better if we saw it develop. Elsie is also a character who "doesn't think she's good enough" for Tyler which frustrates me to no end.

The story left me wanting more, I felt that it had a huge focus on the romance and I wanted more on the family dynamic and how they are coping. We saw her relationship with her dad, and it was beautiful but I felt that as the romance took off. her relationship with her dad and his illness took a backseat.

I felt that the narrative contained a lot more telling than showing, and it disconnected me from the story that was being told. I wanted a story that was a teenager dealing with her father's declining death, how it affected her and her family and a slow build to a romance. Instead, it seemed to be a romance with a hint of family tragedy. Don't get me wrong the scenes with her family are good, but I wanted more of that and less of the romance.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning: mild spoilers.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of Life Happens on the Stairs by Amy J. Markstahler.

When Elsie's dad collapses from a recurring brain tumor, her 17 year old life is turned upside down. Now her mom needs her to fill in for her at work, while she also babysits her older brother who has never made her life easier.

But Elsie's life is also turned upside down when she meets Tyler, a super smart, super sexy and super rich young man from a local high society family. They create a friendship through their morning jogs that quickly turns into a romance. But can their difference in class and family get in the way of their budding love?

This book was very readable and enjoyable, but I was surprised at how hard is hit the mark, as well as how hard it missed the mark, for me anyway. Maybe Twilight broke me, but I have a hard time taking such intense but YOUNG love seriously. Especially when the seventeen year old acts like an actual seventeen year old, proving that she still has growing up to do before committing herself to someone permanently. But I felt like that was what the author wanted us to want for them. If the ending could have had a bit less finality and a bit more wiggle room, I would have been a lot happier.

[Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life Happens on the Stairs is an impressive, complex young adult story by Amy J Markstahler.

Elsie's life is not going well. Her father is dying, her brother is on the outs with her family, and her mother is forcing her to work. Making things more complex, she ends up falling for the grandson of her employer. But in this forbidden romance, Tyler is relentless in his pursuit of Elsie.

This is a story of love between two opposites, in experiences and status. And it's a wonderful exploration that money does not equal happiness. It's a story that includes an attack and scars. There are crazy family members, family issues, and a whole lot of complications.

The writing is fabulous, the characters lovable, and the storyline riveting. The author excels in the telling of this romance that revolves around merging two different worlds. The author masters creating a villian that is vile, adding immensely to the tension and angst.

Life Happens on the Stairs is a stellar read. Just read it when you're looking for a meaningful coming of age novel. And when you learn the meaning of the title, you will be impressed beyond belief. It's perfect!

[Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life Happens on the Stairs is an impressive, complex young adult story by Amy J Markstahler.

Elsie's life is not going well. Her father is dying, her brother is on the outs with her family, and her mother is forcing her to work. Making things more complex, she ends up falling for the grandson of her employer. But in this forbidden romance, Tyler is relentless in his pursuit of Elsie.

This is a story of love between two opposites, in experiences and status. And it's a wonderful exploration that money does not equal happiness. It's a story that includes an attack and scars. There are crazy family members, family issues, and a whole lot of complications.

The writing is fabulous, the characters lovable, and the storyline riveting. The author excels in the telling of this romance that revolves around merging two different worlds. The author masters creating a villian that is vile, adding immensely to the tension and angst.

Life Happens on the Stairs is a stellar read. Just read it when you're looking for a meaningful coming of age novel. And when you learn the meaning of the title, you will be impressed beyond belief. It's perfect!

[Jayasri Prasanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I just finished reading this book and I wanted to write here immediately about it. This book is one of the best YA I have read in recent times. It is simple yet beautiful with a deep meaning.
Life Happens on the Stairs is a journey of a 17-year-old Elsie in a bad phase of her life. Her father is dying and she is in a relationship with a guy she isn't supposed to be and life doesn't look good. But she overcomes everything to have a happy ending.
The thing I liked about the book is it's writing style. The writing was elegant without any unwanted details. The story was fast-paced and hooks the reader right from page 1. The characters are relatable though they make questionable choices, we can relate and sympathise with them.
The grief of a family when a member dies is well captured in the book. But it is the chemistry between Elsie and Tyler is the major plus of this book. Though it seems weird that they have such a deep love in a short period of time, it was heartwarming to read. Overall, it's a well-written romance for hopeless romantics.

[elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite me liking contemporary romance novels, I found that Life Happens on the Stairs ended up with me disliking the book for the most part. Reasons as to why are:
-Tyler and mostly Elsie were unlikable as hell. All they seem to do is kiss, acknowledge Elsie's constant crying and run. I'm not discrediting their relationship, it's obviously genuine but as the outsider, I found it so repetitive.

-Elsie was so bland and is honestly a really bad friend (her only friend doesn't even get mentioned other than a couple times). It's almost like the author forgot that she existed because I did too.

-The pace of the book. Already by 50% through the story, I found myself feeling impatient as by that point I was sick of Elsie's and Tyler's clingy behaviour.

I wanted to like it. I really did. But the writing wasn't too good and despite the influx of positive reviews, I wasn't impressed like I thought I was going to be.