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Dreams of Falling
One of PureWow's "Best Beach Reads of Summer 2018"
New York Times bestselling author Karen White crafts evocative relationships in this contemporary women's fiction novel, set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, about lifelong friends who share a devastating secret.
On the banks of the North Santee River stands a moss-draped oak that was once entrusted with the dreams of three young girls. Into the tree's trunk, they placed their greatest hopes, written on ribbons, for safekeeping--including the most important one: Friends forever, come what may.
But life can waylay the best of intentions....
Nine years ago, a humiliated Larkin Lanier fled Georgetown, South Carolina, knowing she could never go back. But when she finds out that her mother has disappeared, she realizes she has no choice but to return to the place she both loves and dreads--and to the family and friends who never stopped wishing for her to come home.
Ivy, Larkin's mother, is discovered badly injured and unconscious in the burned-out wreckage of her ancestral plantation home. No one knows why Ivy was there, but as Larkin digs for answers, she uncovers secrets kept for nearly fifty years--whispers of love, sacrifice, and betrayal--that lead back to three girls on the brink of womanhood who found their friendship tested in the most heartbreaking ways.
New York Times bestselling author Karen White crafts evocative relationships in this contemporary women's fiction novel, set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, about lifelong friends who share a devastating secret.
On the banks of the North Santee River stands a moss-draped oak that was once entrusted with the dreams of three young girls. Into the tree's trunk, they placed their greatest hopes, written on ribbons, for safekeeping--including the most important one: Friends forever, come what may.
But life can waylay the best of intentions....
Nine years ago, a humiliated Larkin Lanier fled Georgetown, South Carolina, knowing she could never go back. But when she finds out that her mother has disappeared, she realizes she has no choice but to return to the place she both loves and dreads--and to the family and friends who never stopped wishing for her to come home.
Ivy, Larkin's mother, is discovered badly injured and unconscious in the burned-out wreckage of her ancestral plantation home. No one knows why Ivy was there, but as Larkin digs for answers, she uncovers secrets kept for nearly fifty years--whispers of love, sacrifice, and betrayal--that lead back to three girls on the brink of womanhood who found their friendship tested in the most heartbreaking ways.
465 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2018
1749 people are currently reading
12296 people want to read
About the author
Karen White
42 books7,523 followersWith more than 2 million books in print in fifteen different languages, Karen White is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 34 novels, including the popular Charleston-set Tradd Street mystery series.
Raised in a house full of brothers, Karen’s love of books and strong female characters first began in the third grade when the local librarian issued her a library card and placed The Secret of the Old Clock, a Nancy Drew Mystery, in her hands.
Karen’s roots run deep in the South where many of her novels are set. Her intricate plot lines and compelling characters charm and captivate readers with just the right mix of family drama, mystery, intrigue and romance.
Not entirely convinced she wanted to be a writer, Karen first pursued a career in business and graduated cum laude with a BS in Management from Tulane University. Ten years later, in a weak moment, she wrote her first book. In the Shadow of the Moon was published in August, 2000. Her books—referred to as “grit lit” (Southern Women’s Fiction)—have since been nominated for numerous national contests including the SIBA (Southeastern Booksellers Alliance) Fiction Book of the Year.
Karen’s next book, THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER, will be published by Park Row Books in July, 2025.
When not writing, Karen spends her time reading, scrapbooking, playing piano, and avoiding cooking. Karen and her husband have two grown children and currently live near Atlanta, Georgia with two spoiled Havanese dogs.
- See more at: http://www.karen-white.com/bio.cfm#st...
Raised in a house full of brothers, Karen’s love of books and strong female characters first began in the third grade when the local librarian issued her a library card and placed The Secret of the Old Clock, a Nancy Drew Mystery, in her hands.
Karen’s roots run deep in the South where many of her novels are set. Her intricate plot lines and compelling characters charm and captivate readers with just the right mix of family drama, mystery, intrigue and romance.
Not entirely convinced she wanted to be a writer, Karen first pursued a career in business and graduated cum laude with a BS in Management from Tulane University. Ten years later, in a weak moment, she wrote her first book. In the Shadow of the Moon was published in August, 2000. Her books—referred to as “grit lit” (Southern Women’s Fiction)—have since been nominated for numerous national contests including the SIBA (Southeastern Booksellers Alliance) Fiction Book of the Year.
Karen’s next book, THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER, will be published by Park Row Books in July, 2025.
When not writing, Karen spends her time reading, scrapbooking, playing piano, and avoiding cooking. Karen and her husband have two grown children and currently live near Atlanta, Georgia with two spoiled Havanese dogs.
- See more at: http://www.karen-white.com/bio.cfm#st...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,302 reviews
July 8, 2018
Dreams of Falling by Karen White is a 2018 Berkley publication.
So far, my summer reading experience has been second to none. I’ve enjoyed some great romances, thrillers, mysteries, and even touched base with my favorite series, and beach reads. So, Karen White faced some pretty stiff competition by the time I got around to reading this book. But, hands down this is my favorite book of summer.
Larkin is called home, from New York, to South Carolina, after a lengthy absence because her mother, Ivy, suffered a horrible, life threatening fall, under mysterious circumstances, which opens up a Pandora’s box of old family secrets. Meanwhile, Larkin must confront her painful past, and come to terms with the complicated relationship she has with Ivy and her father, and the horrible embarrassment she suffered back in high school.
Along the way, she will embark on a journey of self-discovery as she begins to decipher a decades old mystery surrounding her late grandmother.
Southern lit is a lot like indulging in good southern food. It always feels a little more succulent, a little more decadent, a lot more sinful, and much heavier and meatier. It’s also very comforting and always leaves me feeling peacefully gratified. Karen White’s southern dramas has the same effect on me as having consumed a huge southern style meal, a nice bottle of red wine, a rich dessert, and lovely cup of strong coffee to sip on, while I kick back and savor the feeling of satisfaction, absorbing and digesting all the various angles of the story, the characterizations, and the big emotions her stories often bring to the surface.
This book is no exception- but, this time, Ms. White has taken it to a whole new level. I have often lamented the death of those fabulous family sagas, wishing that someday, someone would come along and refresh the genre to fit into our busy lives, where huge ‘doorstopper’ tomes don’t quite fit anymore.
Karen White pulls that off with a novel that covers several generations but manages to wrap everything up in one book in just a little over four hundred pages.
Only a veteran, seasoned author could pull off this type of prose, using a variety of narrative options, going back and forth in time. Again- White stitched together an intricate web that kept me transfixed from beginning to end. There was never even the tiniest blip. If I had to make a complaint, I have to say I wish I had gotten a clearer picture of Bitty, and I wish Ivy’s past had been a bit more fleshed out, with a deeper analysis regarding her flightiness.
Other than that, this is a near perfect representation of southern lit. Long buried family secrets, a mystery, a small paranormal tint, eccentric characters, a wide range of voices and moods, lots of high drama and waves of emotions, strong familial ties and equally strong bonds of friendship, with a tender and sweet romance to cap it all off.
Naturally, one doesn’t want to over indulge in large, heavy meals and rich desserts too often, because too much of a good thing can be bad. However, the opposite is true with good southern dramas. Over indulgence is good for you. It nourishes the mind, spirit and soul- so, in this case- you can never have too much of good thing.
5 stars
So far, my summer reading experience has been second to none. I’ve enjoyed some great romances, thrillers, mysteries, and even touched base with my favorite series, and beach reads. So, Karen White faced some pretty stiff competition by the time I got around to reading this book. But, hands down this is my favorite book of summer.
Larkin is called home, from New York, to South Carolina, after a lengthy absence because her mother, Ivy, suffered a horrible, life threatening fall, under mysterious circumstances, which opens up a Pandora’s box of old family secrets. Meanwhile, Larkin must confront her painful past, and come to terms with the complicated relationship she has with Ivy and her father, and the horrible embarrassment she suffered back in high school.
Along the way, she will embark on a journey of self-discovery as she begins to decipher a decades old mystery surrounding her late grandmother.
Southern lit is a lot like indulging in good southern food. It always feels a little more succulent, a little more decadent, a lot more sinful, and much heavier and meatier. It’s also very comforting and always leaves me feeling peacefully gratified. Karen White’s southern dramas has the same effect on me as having consumed a huge southern style meal, a nice bottle of red wine, a rich dessert, and lovely cup of strong coffee to sip on, while I kick back and savor the feeling of satisfaction, absorbing and digesting all the various angles of the story, the characterizations, and the big emotions her stories often bring to the surface.
This book is no exception- but, this time, Ms. White has taken it to a whole new level. I have often lamented the death of those fabulous family sagas, wishing that someday, someone would come along and refresh the genre to fit into our busy lives, where huge ‘doorstopper’ tomes don’t quite fit anymore.
Karen White pulls that off with a novel that covers several generations but manages to wrap everything up in one book in just a little over four hundred pages.
Only a veteran, seasoned author could pull off this type of prose, using a variety of narrative options, going back and forth in time. Again- White stitched together an intricate web that kept me transfixed from beginning to end. There was never even the tiniest blip. If I had to make a complaint, I have to say I wish I had gotten a clearer picture of Bitty, and I wish Ivy’s past had been a bit more fleshed out, with a deeper analysis regarding her flightiness.
Other than that, this is a near perfect representation of southern lit. Long buried family secrets, a mystery, a small paranormal tint, eccentric characters, a wide range of voices and moods, lots of high drama and waves of emotions, strong familial ties and equally strong bonds of friendship, with a tender and sweet romance to cap it all off.
Naturally, one doesn’t want to over indulge in large, heavy meals and rich desserts too often, because too much of a good thing can be bad. However, the opposite is true with good southern dramas. Over indulgence is good for you. It nourishes the mind, spirit and soul- so, in this case- you can never have too much of good thing.
5 stars
May 13, 2018
Karen Whites novels remind me of perfectly made grits... just the right amount of simmering, butter & salt. This story was the perfect mix of setting, characters & story. “We are made of all those who have built and broken us.” Southern fiction at its finest! As always, 5 shiny southern stars.
May 31, 2023
It’s summer and that means book candy and chick-lit. Karen White, a prolific New York Times bestselling author, released “Dreams of Falling” in June with rave reviews. She’s a solid formulaic author who rarely disappoints when one needs to indulge in their guilty pleasure of book candy.
In this story, three generations of women battle with their need to be noticed, perfect, and the center of the universe. Add to that, it’s a great story of friendship, devotion, and trust.
Three young women on the cusp of adulthood promise their never-ending support and friendship to each other in 1951. Their friendship revolves around Margaret who is beautiful, wealthy and powerful. Margaret tests the boundary of the friendship thereby changing the course of multiple lives. Margaret’s daughter Ivy begins the novel by stating “I think I am dead”. The character driven novel then goes to Ivy’s daughter, Larkin, who purposefully left South Carolina to pursue an independent life in New York City. Larkin ran away from something in South Carolina of which the reader slowly learns. Because of Ivy, Larkin needs to go home.
The other characters are Margaret’s devoted friends, Ceecee and Bitty (although Bitty does not have her own chapters). Through Larkin’s unexpected stay while her mother is in the hospital, Larkin learns of her mother’s past and comes to terms with her own past.
In this story, three generations of women battle with their need to be noticed, perfect, and the center of the universe. Add to that, it’s a great story of friendship, devotion, and trust.
Three young women on the cusp of adulthood promise their never-ending support and friendship to each other in 1951. Their friendship revolves around Margaret who is beautiful, wealthy and powerful. Margaret tests the boundary of the friendship thereby changing the course of multiple lives. Margaret’s daughter Ivy begins the novel by stating “I think I am dead”. The character driven novel then goes to Ivy’s daughter, Larkin, who purposefully left South Carolina to pursue an independent life in New York City. Larkin ran away from something in South Carolina of which the reader slowly learns. Because of Ivy, Larkin needs to go home.
The other characters are Margaret’s devoted friends, Ceecee and Bitty (although Bitty does not have her own chapters). Through Larkin’s unexpected stay while her mother is in the hospital, Larkin learns of her mother’s past and comes to terms with her own past.
June 5, 2018
Larkin needed to come home from New York because her mother was missing.
What she found was that over the years a lot of things were missing and quite a few things were kept secret.
Larkin found secrets about her mother and her family at every turn.
When she asked why she wasn’t told, the answer was ignored or she was told to wait until her mother, Ivy, wakes up and to ask her.
Larkin wondered how long she would have to wait for her mother to wake up. She also wondered how long until she found out everything.
Ivy had been found near death at the old homestead, Carrowmore, underneath a rotting staircase.
Carrowmore had been a favorite childhood place of her mother and her friends where they put "wishes on ribbons" into the opening of a tree.
As the book continued, the plot thickened, and Larkin kept finding out more and more about what had been kept from her and how some close family members were not as they appeared.
DREAMS OF FALLING was a bit confusing at first in the character department. It took me a while to figure out who belonged to who and what their connections were. The connections became more tricky and quite intriguing as things were revealed.
We learn of the secrets kept and of the lives of the main characters by going back to 1951 and then returning to 2010. I really enjoyed seeing the three friends in their youth. Their current lives didn’t seem as exciting, but their youth and family history as with all of us had a major influence on their lives now and the paths they had chosen.
DREAMS OF FALLING started out not feeling like Karen White’s usual books because of the confusing character problem, but once the book got going, the familiar writing, the marvelous story line, the Southern charm, and warm characters made its appearance and made the story line completely wonderful and enjoyable as always.
DREAMS OF FALLING is another marvelous treat.
Despite the confusion with the characters at the beginning, DREAMS OF FALLING is another Karen White masterpiece that pulls you in and keeps you loving each turn of the page.
I hope you enjoy it too. 5/5
I received an Advanced Reader of this book. All opinions are my own.
October 23, 2019
2.5 Stars
A romance novel set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina where life long friendships, love and family secrets are at the heart of this novel.
Romance novels are not my cup of tea and while this was an ok read unfortunately Its not one for my my real life bookshelf.
I was drawn in by the premise of the Novel as family secrets and big houses tend to get my reading juices flowing but Dreams of Falling was a long winded romance novel that became predictable and a wee bit cheesy for my liking.
The story is set in two timeframes one in the 1950s and the other in present day and while the 1950s story is readable and interesting, the present day one was monotonous and drawn out.
While this book wasn’t a good fit for me I do think readers of romance novels may enjoy this one better.
A romance novel set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina where life long friendships, love and family secrets are at the heart of this novel.
Romance novels are not my cup of tea and while this was an ok read unfortunately Its not one for my my real life bookshelf.
I was drawn in by the premise of the Novel as family secrets and big houses tend to get my reading juices flowing but Dreams of Falling was a long winded romance novel that became predictable and a wee bit cheesy for my liking.
The story is set in two timeframes one in the 1950s and the other in present day and while the 1950s story is readable and interesting, the present day one was monotonous and drawn out.
While this book wasn’t a good fit for me I do think readers of romance novels may enjoy this one better.
May 7, 2019
Favorite author alert! Slipping into a Karen White book is a guaranteed inviting escape, and Dreams of Falling is Karen White at her best.
Larkin left Georgetown, South Carolina nearly nine years ago. It’s complicated. When she learns her mother has disappeared, she has to return.
Larkin loves Georgetown and her family. They anchor her. But she dreads so much about being there, and the past haunts her. Her family and friends have been waiting for her to come home ever since she left.
Larkin’s mother, Ivy, is found in the family’s charred plantation home, unconscious and injured.
The mystery is not just who did this to Ivy, or what happened, but why was Ivy at the rice plantation?
Larkin searches for answers and unearths secrets that have been buried for a generation. These secrets are between friends; friends who vowed an oath to each other forever.
This was a southern family saga with a mystery at its heart, and I ate it up! This saga is not heavy or overdone, as White covers generations of a family and its secrets in a mere 400 pages.
All the ingredients of delectable southern stories are present here- quirky characters, southern charm, family secrets, quotes and one-liners for days, the food, and the history. There’s also a trip to Myrtle Beach in the 1950s that captured this Carolina girl’s heart in so many ways.
Beautiful storytelling at its southern finest, do yourself a favor and carry this beauty with you to the beach or on vacation! Or read it at home when you want to drift away to South Carolina’s Lowcountry.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Larkin left Georgetown, South Carolina nearly nine years ago. It’s complicated. When she learns her mother has disappeared, she has to return.
Larkin loves Georgetown and her family. They anchor her. But she dreads so much about being there, and the past haunts her. Her family and friends have been waiting for her to come home ever since she left.
Larkin’s mother, Ivy, is found in the family’s charred plantation home, unconscious and injured.
The mystery is not just who did this to Ivy, or what happened, but why was Ivy at the rice plantation?
Larkin searches for answers and unearths secrets that have been buried for a generation. These secrets are between friends; friends who vowed an oath to each other forever.
This was a southern family saga with a mystery at its heart, and I ate it up! This saga is not heavy or overdone, as White covers generations of a family and its secrets in a mere 400 pages.
All the ingredients of delectable southern stories are present here- quirky characters, southern charm, family secrets, quotes and one-liners for days, the food, and the history. There’s also a trip to Myrtle Beach in the 1950s that captured this Carolina girl’s heart in so many ways.
Beautiful storytelling at its southern finest, do yourself a favor and carry this beauty with you to the beach or on vacation! Or read it at home when you want to drift away to South Carolina’s Lowcountry.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
February 25, 2018
I waffled between finding this book as "ok" then trending towards "liking"... with a final decision being this is an "ok, likable at times" read. One reason for this back and forth behavior was the soap opera-esque nature of this book. It really started to become boringly predictable and absurd. There was one distinct moment that I can recall thinking "Please, don't go down that Days of Our Lives Road.... and you are taking that route" Yet, honestly, the soap opera tone didn't seal my rating. I'll explain more below.
What's It About: 27 year old Larkin escaped her life in Georgetown, South Carolina for a life she made for herself in New York. It's been nine years since she saw her close friends and family as she escaped and remade herself. When she gets the call her mother is missing. She returns home. Larkin discovers her mother on the floor of her family's old decrepit rice plantation home. With her mother lapsing into a coma; Larkin stays nearby anxiously waiting on her recovery. While waiting, she renews ties with her honorary mothers- Ceecee and Bitty who raised her lovingly. She also mends fences with two of her childhood friends that she hurt deeply on her leaving. When an old crush who rebuffed her in high school admires this "new" Larkin; she has a decision to make on where this "new" Larkin wants to head in her life. Larkin finds herself discovering buried family secrets, love, family, and also where her home is.
My Thoughts:
Ugh. I hate to write them. In all honesty, I felt these were some of Karen White's weakest characters. In my defense, I'm a big fan and own all her books. Her House on Tradd Street series is one of my favorites- though the last one missed the mark for me as well. The characters in this book seemed superficial, convenient, or just not believable. I think two though that were wonderful are Ceecee and Bitty. The friendship between Ceecee and Bitty and their story was a highlight for me. However, Margaret, Larkin, and Ivy's stories just fell flat and needed cues for dramatic swelling music at times. The multigenerational storytelling and back and forth between past/present is a selling point for this book. White does that quite well.
The main character- Larkin. I just couldn't get behind her. She was all over the place and her issues are never really fleshed out. Except for her weight. The reader is treated to numerous references to her weight. I noticed in the last Tradd Street novel, White made weight an issue for the main character too. 18 year old Larkin was overweight and overate per the book. 27 year old Larkin has shed said weight, now can just wear a sports bra out on a boat, looks "hot", and chooses frozen yogurt over ice cream... or just follows a healthy portion size now. The reader gets this spelled out for them frequently; and not to worry, one of the love interests thought she looked great when she was overweight. It just became aggravating to me. Aggravating because we are experiencing a strong movement towards valuing women more for their appearance and this novel just gravitates more towards appearance than the substance of women. I just think the strong weight focus was tacky, unnecessary, and repeated too often in the novel. I would have rather learned how Larkin worked through her anger management issues. She mentioned she had a problem with her anger, especially after throwing a cooler at her best friend's head.
To Sum: I really don't want to hate on this book. I like Karen White's novels. I just found this one lacking compared to previous books. She eloquently writes about low country inlets with massive trees perfect for storing ribbon wishes in their trunks, boat rides to capture the sunrise, languid strolls on twilight it streets with ice cream in hand. You just either wish you were there or can envision yourself there with the characters. I truly think her images of the South are lovely and magical. I encourage you to read it for the images alone and the story is still entertaining. Just not my favorite.
Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
What's It About: 27 year old Larkin escaped her life in Georgetown, South Carolina for a life she made for herself in New York. It's been nine years since she saw her close friends and family as she escaped and remade herself. When she gets the call her mother is missing. She returns home. Larkin discovers her mother on the floor of her family's old decrepit rice plantation home. With her mother lapsing into a coma; Larkin stays nearby anxiously waiting on her recovery. While waiting, she renews ties with her honorary mothers- Ceecee and Bitty who raised her lovingly. She also mends fences with two of her childhood friends that she hurt deeply on her leaving. When an old crush who rebuffed her in high school admires this "new" Larkin; she has a decision to make on where this "new" Larkin wants to head in her life. Larkin finds herself discovering buried family secrets, love, family, and also where her home is.
My Thoughts:
Ugh. I hate to write them. In all honesty, I felt these were some of Karen White's weakest characters. In my defense, I'm a big fan and own all her books. Her House on Tradd Street series is one of my favorites- though the last one missed the mark for me as well. The characters in this book seemed superficial, convenient, or just not believable. I think two though that were wonderful are Ceecee and Bitty. The friendship between Ceecee and Bitty and their story was a highlight for me. However, Margaret, Larkin, and Ivy's stories just fell flat and needed cues for dramatic swelling music at times. The multigenerational storytelling and back and forth between past/present is a selling point for this book. White does that quite well.
The main character- Larkin. I just couldn't get behind her. She was all over the place and her issues are never really fleshed out. Except for her weight. The reader is treated to numerous references to her weight. I noticed in the last Tradd Street novel, White made weight an issue for the main character too. 18 year old Larkin was overweight and overate per the book. 27 year old Larkin has shed said weight, now can just wear a sports bra out on a boat, looks "hot", and chooses frozen yogurt over ice cream... or just follows a healthy portion size now. The reader gets this spelled out for them frequently; and not to worry, one of the love interests thought she looked great when she was overweight. It just became aggravating to me. Aggravating because we are experiencing a strong movement towards valuing women more for their appearance and this novel just gravitates more towards appearance than the substance of women. I just think the strong weight focus was tacky, unnecessary, and repeated too often in the novel. I would have rather learned how Larkin worked through her anger management issues. She mentioned she had a problem with her anger, especially after throwing a cooler at her best friend's head.
To Sum: I really don't want to hate on this book. I like Karen White's novels. I just found this one lacking compared to previous books. She eloquently writes about low country inlets with massive trees perfect for storing ribbon wishes in their trunks, boat rides to capture the sunrise, languid strolls on twilight it streets with ice cream in hand. You just either wish you were there or can envision yourself there with the characters. I truly think her images of the South are lovely and magical. I encourage you to read it for the images alone and the story is still entertaining. Just not my favorite.
Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 7, 2018
Larkin Lanier enjoys her life in New York City where she has lived for almost a decade. One day she learns that her mother, Ivy, is missing. This forces her back to her hometown of Georgetown, South Carolina which she has avoided since high school. The trip back is awkward since she has had little contact with her family and friends. She is greeted by her grandmother's lifelong friends, CeeCee, and Bitty. These two women played a big role in raising Ivy after her grandmother's untimely death.
Ivy is found unconscious and injured at the family’s plantation home which has been abandoned. Larkin wonders why her mother would venture out to this unusual location. In the process of seeking answers, she begins to uncover many secrets about her family. While waiting for her mother's health to improve, Larkin slowly reconnects with her childhood friends.
Dreams Of Falling is a vivid drama which explores complex relationships between lifelong friends. I enjoyed the way Karen White weaved together different time frames along multiple generations of women. This is my second review for this author and I look forward to her future works.
Ivy is found unconscious and injured at the family’s plantation home which has been abandoned. Larkin wonders why her mother would venture out to this unusual location. In the process of seeking answers, she begins to uncover many secrets about her family. While waiting for her mother's health to improve, Larkin slowly reconnects with her childhood friends.
Dreams Of Falling is a vivid drama which explores complex relationships between lifelong friends. I enjoyed the way Karen White weaved together different time frames along multiple generations of women. This is my second review for this author and I look forward to her future works.
August 1, 2018
A riveting tale of friendships and promises that lead to a lifetime of secrets.
SUMMARY
“Friends forever, come what may” was the dream three young women wrote on a ribbon in April 1951. Margaret, Ceecee and Bitty placed that ribbon in the opening of a special moss-covered tree on the banks of the North Santee River. No one could have imagined what that promise would mean.
Larkin had fled Georgetown, South Carolina nine years ago. She vowed never to return, but when she hears that her mother, Ivy has disappeared, she has to go back. She returns to the place that she both loves and hates, and to the family and friends that have missed her tremendously. Not long after her arrival, Larkin finds Ivy unconscious in the ruins of her family’s abandon plantation house. She had fallen through the rotten floor boards and her arm was at a funny angle. Carrowmore, a Greek Revival mansion, had burnt to the ground over fifty years ago. No one knows why Ivy had gone there.
As Larkin digs for answers, she uncovers secrets that lead back to three 18-year-old girls and an unchaperoned graduation trip to Myrtle Beach. That trip and it’s aftermath and the secrets that resulted would test their friendships and change each of their lives forever.
REVIEW
Be careful what you wish for. DREAMS of FALLING may having you thinking carefully about your next birthday wish. The story is dramatic and cleverly layered and there are tons of great characters. Most notably are the three best friends: the beautiful and rich Margaret; CeeCee, the preacher’s daughter; and the always smoking and red-headed artist, Bitty. Each one of them is flawed in their own way. As a matter of fact, practically all of the characters in the book are flawed in one way or another. And that is precisely what makes this book so real.
The story is built on secrets. Secrets that will make you mad, secrets that will astonish you, and secrets that will devastate you. KAREN WHITE’s entertaining and fluid writing will draw you in and only give you a moment to catch your breath before catapulting you to another time. Chapters alternate between Ivy, Larkin and CeeCee, with CeeCee’s chapters splitting time between 1951 and 2010. My favorite part of the book were CeeCee’s chapters about the trip to Myrtle Beach in May 1951. The champagne, the dancing, the boardwalk, the carousel, and walking on the beach with a handsome man under a star-filled sky...some dreams really do come true.
Lovers of Southern women’s fiction will appreciate this dramatic story by an author that knows her way around a keyboard. KAREN WHITE is the author of well over twenty novels. Thanks to Penguin First to Read for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Publish Date: June 5 2018
SUMMARY
“Friends forever, come what may” was the dream three young women wrote on a ribbon in April 1951. Margaret, Ceecee and Bitty placed that ribbon in the opening of a special moss-covered tree on the banks of the North Santee River. No one could have imagined what that promise would mean.
Larkin had fled Georgetown, South Carolina nine years ago. She vowed never to return, but when she hears that her mother, Ivy has disappeared, she has to go back. She returns to the place that she both loves and hates, and to the family and friends that have missed her tremendously. Not long after her arrival, Larkin finds Ivy unconscious in the ruins of her family’s abandon plantation house. She had fallen through the rotten floor boards and her arm was at a funny angle. Carrowmore, a Greek Revival mansion, had burnt to the ground over fifty years ago. No one knows why Ivy had gone there.
As Larkin digs for answers, she uncovers secrets that lead back to three 18-year-old girls and an unchaperoned graduation trip to Myrtle Beach. That trip and it’s aftermath and the secrets that resulted would test their friendships and change each of their lives forever.
REVIEW
Be careful what you wish for. DREAMS of FALLING may having you thinking carefully about your next birthday wish. The story is dramatic and cleverly layered and there are tons of great characters. Most notably are the three best friends: the beautiful and rich Margaret; CeeCee, the preacher’s daughter; and the always smoking and red-headed artist, Bitty. Each one of them is flawed in their own way. As a matter of fact, practically all of the characters in the book are flawed in one way or another. And that is precisely what makes this book so real.
The story is built on secrets. Secrets that will make you mad, secrets that will astonish you, and secrets that will devastate you. KAREN WHITE’s entertaining and fluid writing will draw you in and only give you a moment to catch your breath before catapulting you to another time. Chapters alternate between Ivy, Larkin and CeeCee, with CeeCee’s chapters splitting time between 1951 and 2010. My favorite part of the book were CeeCee’s chapters about the trip to Myrtle Beach in May 1951. The champagne, the dancing, the boardwalk, the carousel, and walking on the beach with a handsome man under a star-filled sky...some dreams really do come true.
Lovers of Southern women’s fiction will appreciate this dramatic story by an author that knows her way around a keyboard. KAREN WHITE is the author of well over twenty novels. Thanks to Penguin First to Read for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Publish Date: June 5 2018
June 21, 2018
★ Happy Summer Solstice ★
"We are made by those who have built and broken us." Set in gorgeous South Carolina lowcountry, DREAMS OF FALLING is about the strongest friendships and the painful secrets that test their bonds.
This is a multi-generational story told in both the past and present. In the early 1950s, three friends, Ceecee, Margaret, and Bitty, hide their wishes in the trunk of a magical tree, but the outcome was nothing like they'd expected. Be very careful what you wish for! Keeping secrets, even with the best intentions, can be so harmful even many years down the road.
In present day, Larkin returns to Georgetown, South Carolina, after nearly a decade in New York. Her mother Ivy is badly injured, and Larkin believes she wants to tell her something - about the past, their ancestral home, and Larkin's grandmother. She's been kept in the dark for so long that learning the truth will finally be a reprieve...
DREAMS OF FALLING is beautifully written Southern fiction with a Gothic touch, and a bit of mystery and romance too. It took me a few chapters to really get into the flow of things, especially trying to keep characters straight (ages, relationships, etc.), but once I was familiar with everyone, the story flowed nicely. The ending is sure to tug at your heartstrings.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
"We are made by those who have built and broken us." Set in gorgeous South Carolina lowcountry, DREAMS OF FALLING is about the strongest friendships and the painful secrets that test their bonds.
This is a multi-generational story told in both the past and present. In the early 1950s, three friends, Ceecee, Margaret, and Bitty, hide their wishes in the trunk of a magical tree, but the outcome was nothing like they'd expected. Be very careful what you wish for! Keeping secrets, even with the best intentions, can be so harmful even many years down the road.
In present day, Larkin returns to Georgetown, South Carolina, after nearly a decade in New York. Her mother Ivy is badly injured, and Larkin believes she wants to tell her something - about the past, their ancestral home, and Larkin's grandmother. She's been kept in the dark for so long that learning the truth will finally be a reprieve...
DREAMS OF FALLING is beautifully written Southern fiction with a Gothic touch, and a bit of mystery and romance too. It took me a few chapters to really get into the flow of things, especially trying to keep characters straight (ages, relationships, etc.), but once I was familiar with everyone, the story flowed nicely. The ending is sure to tug at your heartstrings.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2018
Lanier Larkin is a copywriter for a major marketing firm in New York having fled her roots in Georgetown, South Carolina nine years before. She’s also slightly estranged from her family, limiting her visits to annually at Christmas. But when she receives a desperate call from her grandmother, CeeCee, saying that her mother, Ivy, is missing, Larkin drops everything and returns home to the place that has so many wonderful—and hurtful—memories.
There are three narratives telling this lushly designed story of family, friendships and secrets and how they shape the people in its web. CeeCee is the woman who raised her best friend’s daughter, Ivy, after her death and was Larkin’s greatest influence. Ivy, who was seriously injured in a devastating fall, tells her story while in a coma. And, of course, Larkin, the daughter and granddaughter who is searching for answers and holds the key to unlocking secrets spanning over fifty years, as well as revelations of her own.
I loved how this story was presented with an homage to place, family and roots that are so important in Southern traditions. The three narrators were just excellent, handling transitions from 1951 to 2010 (present day) seamlessly. I always knew who was handling the story and where we were. There were a LOT of secrets and my one criticism is how long it takes for any of them to be revealed. The audiobook is much longer than the printed version because of the dramatic license taken by the narrators (it works).
This was my first book by the author and I loved her style of storytelling. I highly recommend the audio version because it takes the time to put emphasis on the relevant elements that underpin the meat of the story. It was a long journey (16 hours but I sped it up) but one that I was saddened to see end. And, it was worth the wait to learn those secrets in a most powerful ending.
(I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)
There are three narratives telling this lushly designed story of family, friendships and secrets and how they shape the people in its web. CeeCee is the woman who raised her best friend’s daughter, Ivy, after her death and was Larkin’s greatest influence. Ivy, who was seriously injured in a devastating fall, tells her story while in a coma. And, of course, Larkin, the daughter and granddaughter who is searching for answers and holds the key to unlocking secrets spanning over fifty years, as well as revelations of her own.
I loved how this story was presented with an homage to place, family and roots that are so important in Southern traditions. The three narrators were just excellent, handling transitions from 1951 to 2010 (present day) seamlessly. I always knew who was handling the story and where we were. There were a LOT of secrets and my one criticism is how long it takes for any of them to be revealed. The audiobook is much longer than the printed version because of the dramatic license taken by the narrators (it works).
This was my first book by the author and I loved her style of storytelling. I highly recommend the audio version because it takes the time to put emphasis on the relevant elements that underpin the meat of the story. It was a long journey (16 hours but I sped it up) but one that I was saddened to see end. And, it was worth the wait to learn those secrets in a most powerful ending.
(I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)
March 17, 2021
This is a romance mystery that takes place in South Carolina. The end of this book was so good even though I guessed the ended. This story starts out slow. I feel this story is two love story in one book with a twisted. I enjoyed the characters a lot. (*)
May 10, 2018
I couldn’t stop crying in parts. Awesome story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you have read the same author stories multiple times you tend to expect the same type of story that you’ve gotten in the past. That is not unusual and that’s what I was thinking when I open this book.
However, I could not have been more wrong.
This book started out in a traditional manner. I’m not sure where it was in the story that things started to change for me. However, it didn’t take long for me to become so connected and one with the story that I simply could not stop reading.
I’m not sure who I identified with most. There are multiple characters in this book – best friends whose friendship had broken years ago; best friends who still watch out and take care of each other 50 years later. Or maybe it was the parents who hid secrets that would change someone’s life.
Karen White is a master at telling and crafting an amazing story. Words truly escape me on how to describe the feelings I got with this book. I would read page after page with tears just coming down. My heart broken for what could’ve been, what should’ve been. Deep emotion, surprising twists, and even things that I knew were going happen and did, still got to me.
Intense, touching, sweet – this is the story about love on many different levels and true friendship that lasts the test of time.
If you have not read a story by Karen White, this is the one you’ve been waiting for. Do yourself a favor and block out an entire day to read this book. I hope it touches you the way it touched me.
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - http://amidlifewife.com/dreams-of-fal...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you have read the same author stories multiple times you tend to expect the same type of story that you’ve gotten in the past. That is not unusual and that’s what I was thinking when I open this book.
However, I could not have been more wrong.
This book started out in a traditional manner. I’m not sure where it was in the story that things started to change for me. However, it didn’t take long for me to become so connected and one with the story that I simply could not stop reading.
I’m not sure who I identified with most. There are multiple characters in this book – best friends whose friendship had broken years ago; best friends who still watch out and take care of each other 50 years later. Or maybe it was the parents who hid secrets that would change someone’s life.
Karen White is a master at telling and crafting an amazing story. Words truly escape me on how to describe the feelings I got with this book. I would read page after page with tears just coming down. My heart broken for what could’ve been, what should’ve been. Deep emotion, surprising twists, and even things that I knew were going happen and did, still got to me.
Intense, touching, sweet – this is the story about love on many different levels and true friendship that lasts the test of time.
If you have not read a story by Karen White, this is the one you’ve been waiting for. Do yourself a favor and block out an entire day to read this book. I hope it touches you the way it touched me.
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - http://amidlifewife.com/dreams-of-fal...
June 3, 2018
There is something utterly enchanting about the manner in which White weaves a tale, there’s always a little something for every type of reader and Dreams of Falling is no exception. There is family drama, secrets between friends, good old fashioned southern charm, romance and even a historical feel as some chapters flip back to the fifties.
This follows a family of women and the Darlington’s and Margaret Darlington’s two best friends, Ceecee and Bitty. Those two were my favorite, they share a long history and not much of it is happy, but theirs is a friendship based on true loyalty and love which is something you don’t see much of nowadays. They snipe and snark at each other as only old, true friends can and as more of their story was revealed I found myself liking them that much more.
I was never exactly sure what old secrets were trying to come to light, I had some ideas but never had things totally figured out. There was so much pain between these women, loss heartbreak and betrayal, but I loved how they stood by each other and any mistakes they made were done with only the purest of intentions. I think this will be a popular book club choice because it will satisfy so many different readers, if you’re a fan of White I think you’ll enjoy this immensely.
Dreams of Falling in three words: Captivating, Moving and Charming.
This follows a family of women and the Darlington’s and Margaret Darlington’s two best friends, Ceecee and Bitty. Those two were my favorite, they share a long history and not much of it is happy, but theirs is a friendship based on true loyalty and love which is something you don’t see much of nowadays. They snipe and snark at each other as only old, true friends can and as more of their story was revealed I found myself liking them that much more.
I was never exactly sure what old secrets were trying to come to light, I had some ideas but never had things totally figured out. There was so much pain between these women, loss heartbreak and betrayal, but I loved how they stood by each other and any mistakes they made were done with only the purest of intentions. I think this will be a popular book club choice because it will satisfy so many different readers, if you’re a fan of White I think you’ll enjoy this immensely.
Dreams of Falling in three words: Captivating, Moving and Charming.
April 16, 2019
Oh how I loved this! I think this might be my favorite book from Ms. White yet! Full review to come closer to the release date.
*EDITED TO ADD REVIEW*
Karen White has never let me down. From her beautifully worded stories to the rich lush settings and well thought out characters, everything about her stories draws me in and refuses to let me go even long after the story is over.
Her latest wasn't an exception. It was wholly entertaining, hard to put down and just enough of the supernatural to keep all lovers of the genre, both historic and fantasy enthralled and eagerly turning the pages.
I loved the family dynamic, the flashes from past to present and the intriguing mystery of it all as it slowly unfolded over the years. The friendship between these three girls and their live after that friendship, was just so believable and amazing. I loved every heart pounding moment as it all came together, was revealed, and put to rest.
Another wonderfully told, wonderfully narrated story by a master story teller.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*EDITED TO ADD REVIEW*
Karen White has never let me down. From her beautifully worded stories to the rich lush settings and well thought out characters, everything about her stories draws me in and refuses to let me go even long after the story is over.
Her latest wasn't an exception. It was wholly entertaining, hard to put down and just enough of the supernatural to keep all lovers of the genre, both historic and fantasy enthralled and eagerly turning the pages.
I loved the family dynamic, the flashes from past to present and the intriguing mystery of it all as it slowly unfolded over the years. The friendship between these three girls and their live after that friendship, was just so believable and amazing. I loved every heart pounding moment as it all came together, was revealed, and put to rest.
Another wonderfully told, wonderfully narrated story by a master story teller.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
May 7, 2018
When Ivy is found unconscious in an old plantation home and taken to the hospital, her daughter, Larkin, returns to her hometown of Georgetown, South Carolina. Larkin begins searching for answers as to why her mother was at the home which leads to discovering decades old secrets. This is a story of friendship, love, heartbreak, family, and figuring out where you truly belong.
Karen White's books fit the definition of comfort reading to me. While there might be some elements of predictability, I know that when I start the book, I'm going to be in for an enjoyable read. And as always the Southern setting plays an important role in the story, almost like an actual character in the book. I loved the alternating timelines and the different characters' point of view. This book really showed what lengths people are willing to go to for love and how decisions made with the best intentions might have lasting consequences. Overall, this book hit all the right notes for me and I definitely recommend especially if you are a fan of Karen White's other books.
Thank you to First to Read for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy! All views expressed are my honest opinion.
Karen White's books fit the definition of comfort reading to me. While there might be some elements of predictability, I know that when I start the book, I'm going to be in for an enjoyable read. And as always the Southern setting plays an important role in the story, almost like an actual character in the book. I loved the alternating timelines and the different characters' point of view. This book really showed what lengths people are willing to go to for love and how decisions made with the best intentions might have lasting consequences. Overall, this book hit all the right notes for me and I definitely recommend especially if you are a fan of Karen White's other books.
Thank you to First to Read for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy! All views expressed are my honest opinion.
June 10, 2019
dnf
As I find Karen White to be among the authors that I find the most enjoyable & I just wasn't able to get into this story I concluded that that it probably wasn't the novels fault but the timing of when I decided to read it. I am going to stop reading now & will pick it up again at a time where I can get the most enjoyment out of it...
June 10 2019
Glad I read this story but still have to say that in my opinion the story didn´t work as well as all the other Karen White novels I read... the characters were not quite as well defined as she usually does, and the story held no surprises, I knew exactly what was going to happen.
As I find Karen White to be among the authors that I find the most enjoyable & I just wasn't able to get into this story I concluded that that it probably wasn't the novels fault but the timing of when I decided to read it. I am going to stop reading now & will pick it up again at a time where I can get the most enjoyment out of it...
June 10 2019
Glad I read this story but still have to say that in my opinion the story didn´t work as well as all the other Karen White novels I read... the characters were not quite as well defined as she usually does, and the story held no surprises, I knew exactly what was going to happen.
April 14, 2019
We learn about Larkin in 2010 who comes back home because her Mom, Ivy, has had an accident. We also go back to the 1930's and learn about Larkin's Grandma Margaret and her friends Bitty and CeeCee. Margaret died in a fire and CeeCee raised Ivy. As we bounce back and forth between stories, we find out what happened all those years ago as we also learn about Larkin. There were several times I wanted to slap Larkin and tell her to wake up. It's a heartbreaking story and a heart warming story. Very enjoyable.
March 18, 2018
Family bonds and secrets are at the heart of Dreams of Falling. Set in Georgetown, South Carolina, the story begins as Larkin returns home to help locate her missing mother, Ivy. As the search for Ivy progresses, Dreams of Falling moves back and forth in time slowly unveiling secrets that have been kept hidden for 50 years. As always, Karen White writes a beautiful, cautionary tale full of love, loyalty, and loss. I received this book to read and review; all opinions are my own.
August 11, 2024
Tai antroji mano perskaityta Karen White knyga, ir ji manęs iki galo neįtikino, labai ištęsta. Aišku buvo įdomių vietų, bet užtrukau kol ją perskaičiau. 😉
April 3, 2018
Karen White’s books are always a perfect blend of family, friendship, mystery, and a little romance. In her latest book “Dreams of Falling” she offers us two generations of strong female friendships. After nine years away, Larkin returns to her childhood home in South Carolina when her mother Ivy takes a life-threatening fall, a fall that becomes the catalyst for exposing long held secrets. Larkin had fled her home insisting she would never return.
When Ivy is found in the burned out ruins of her family’s ancestral home, unconscious and badly injured, Larkin becomes determined to find out why her mother was there. It is in this search that Larkin uncovers the secrets kept by three teenage friends who fifty years earlier had sworn to remain best friends forever, never imagining the heartache that would result from that vow.
I admired the strength of the friendships in this story – the older generation (Margaret, Ceecee, and Bitty) and the younger generation (Larkin, Mabry, and Bennett). Their love for and loyalty to each other is so strong that they keep secrets to protect those they love.
Just as the older generation had their secrets, so too do the younger friends Larkin, Mabry, and Bennett - secrets kept in an effort to protect one of them. But it seems that all secrets are at some point revealed, leading to unknown consequences. This is the true beauty of Karen White’s writings – how do those who loved each other so strongly deal with consequences of those secrets.
Ms. White reveals the flaws in each of her characters, making them more human. She artfully wove together the strands of the backstories, slowly revealing the puzzle pieces one at a time. As the story evolved I found myself asking/guessing what role each character played in the central event. When I reached the end of the story, I marveled at the beauty of the writing and how well, and naturally, it all came together.
This is a story that tugged at my heart as the friends were dealt so much tragedy that normally would have destroyed friendships. Yet these friends stayed true.
I loved the characters, laughing with them, crying with them, asking “What were you thinking” a few times, and so hoping that a little sunshine would fall into their lives. I do highly recommend this book.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book.
When Ivy is found in the burned out ruins of her family’s ancestral home, unconscious and badly injured, Larkin becomes determined to find out why her mother was there. It is in this search that Larkin uncovers the secrets kept by three teenage friends who fifty years earlier had sworn to remain best friends forever, never imagining the heartache that would result from that vow.
I admired the strength of the friendships in this story – the older generation (Margaret, Ceecee, and Bitty) and the younger generation (Larkin, Mabry, and Bennett). Their love for and loyalty to each other is so strong that they keep secrets to protect those they love.
Just as the older generation had their secrets, so too do the younger friends Larkin, Mabry, and Bennett - secrets kept in an effort to protect one of them. But it seems that all secrets are at some point revealed, leading to unknown consequences. This is the true beauty of Karen White’s writings – how do those who loved each other so strongly deal with consequences of those secrets.
Ms. White reveals the flaws in each of her characters, making them more human. She artfully wove together the strands of the backstories, slowly revealing the puzzle pieces one at a time. As the story evolved I found myself asking/guessing what role each character played in the central event. When I reached the end of the story, I marveled at the beauty of the writing and how well, and naturally, it all came together.
This is a story that tugged at my heart as the friends were dealt so much tragedy that normally would have destroyed friendships. Yet these friends stayed true.
I loved the characters, laughing with them, crying with them, asking “What were you thinking” a few times, and so hoping that a little sunshine would fall into their lives. I do highly recommend this book.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book.
March 22, 2018
***I received an ARC for an honest review***
While I theoretically understood where the author was going here I didn't always love the execution.
Larkin is living (hiding) in New York when her mother has an accident that forces her return to her southern hometown. Larkin is hurt because she feels those closest to her lied to her in an effort to make her seem perfect. From what I could gather her issue is that those that loved her filled her with compliments and confidence - and when that was tested she ran.
There is a large cast here - Larkin, her mom Ivy (in a coma), the women who raised Ivy (and sort of raised Larkin) Ceecee and Bitty, Larkin's dead grandma Margaret, Larkin's friend Mabry and Mabry's twin Bennett. Plus some high school crush named Jackson.
Lies pile on lies - told between best friends Margaret, CeeCee and Bitty (when we travel back to the early 1950s to watch their journey to adulthood together), and between literally everyone and Larkin. And Larkin and Mabry. And Larkin and Jackson. And Larkin and Bennett.
There was sweetness and some eye-roll moments. I couldn't connect with Larkin - we were just too different. But I liked a number of the supporting characters. I found the story compelling enough to keep reading even though I sighed a few times.
I liken this story to a shopping cart with a wiggly wheel. It got the job done, but it was awkward.
While I theoretically understood where the author was going here I didn't always love the execution.
Larkin is living (hiding) in New York when her mother has an accident that forces her return to her southern hometown. Larkin is hurt because she feels those closest to her lied to her in an effort to make her seem perfect. From what I could gather her issue is that those that loved her filled her with compliments and confidence - and when that was tested she ran.
There is a large cast here - Larkin, her mom Ivy (in a coma), the women who raised Ivy (and sort of raised Larkin) Ceecee and Bitty, Larkin's dead grandma Margaret, Larkin's friend Mabry and Mabry's twin Bennett. Plus some high school crush named Jackson.
Lies pile on lies - told between best friends Margaret, CeeCee and Bitty (when we travel back to the early 1950s to watch their journey to adulthood together), and between literally everyone and Larkin. And Larkin and Mabry. And Larkin and Jackson. And Larkin and Bennett.
There was sweetness and some eye-roll moments. I couldn't connect with Larkin - we were just too different. But I liked a number of the supporting characters. I found the story compelling enough to keep reading even though I sighed a few times.
I liken this story to a shopping cart with a wiggly wheel. It got the job done, but it was awkward.
July 2, 2018
“Friends forever, come what may” was a dream three women wrote on a ribbon in 1951. No one could of imagined what that promise would mean..
I LOVED this Southern charmer giving me all the feels of the 50’s! Set in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, a murder mystery with decades old friendships sharing hidden secrets, loss and heartbreak intertwined with love, and having the courage to figure out where you truly belong. ❤️ Recommending! 4.5 ☆
I LOVED this Southern charmer giving me all the feels of the 50’s! Set in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, a murder mystery with decades old friendships sharing hidden secrets, loss and heartbreak intertwined with love, and having the courage to figure out where you truly belong. ❤️ Recommending! 4.5 ☆
February 25, 2018
I waffled between finding this book as "ok" then trending towards "liking"... with a final decision being this is an "ok, likable at times" read. One reason for this back and forth behavior was the soap opera-esque nature of this book. It really started to become boringly predictable and absurd. There was one distinct moment that I can recall thinking "Please, don't go down that Days of Our Lives Road.... and you are taking that route" Yet, honestly, the soap opera tone didn't seal my rating. I'll explain more below.
What's It About: 27 year old Larkin escaped her life in Georgetown, South Carolina for a life she made for herself in New York. It's been nine years since she saw her close friends and family as she escaped and remade herself. When she gets the call her mother is missing. She returns home. Larkin discovers her mother on the floor of her family's old decrepit rice plantation home. With her mother lapsing into a coma; Larkin stays nearby anxiously waiting on her recovery. While waiting, she renews ties with her honorary mothers- Ceecee and Bitty who raised her lovingly. She also mends fences with two of her childhood friends that she hurt deeply on her leaving. When an old crush who rebuffed her in high school admires this "new" Larkin; she has a decision to make on where this "new" Larkin wants to head in her life. Larkin finds herself discovering buried family secrets, love, family, and also where her home is.
My Thoughts:
Ugh. I hate to write them. In all honesty, I felt these were some of Karen White's weakest characters. In my defense, I'm a big fan and own all her books. Her House on Tradd Street series is one of my favorites- though the last one missed the mark for me as well. The characters in this book seemed superficial, convenient, or just not believable. I think two though that were wonderful are Ceecee and Bitty. The friendship between Ceecee and Bitty and their story was a highlight for me. However, Margaret, Larkin, and Ivy's stories just fell flat and needed cues for dramatic swelling music at times. The multigenerational storytelling and back and forth between past/present is a selling point for this book. White does that quite well.
The main character- Larkin. I just couldn't get behind her. She was all over the place and her issues are never really fleshed out. Except for her weight. The reader is treated to numerous references to her weight. I noticed in the last Tradd Street novel, White made weight an issue for the main character too. 18 year old Larkin was overweight and overate per the book. 27 year old Larkin has shed said weight, now can just wear a sports bra out on a boat, looks "hot", and chooses frozen yogurt over ice cream... or just follows a healthy portion size now. The reader gets this spelled out for them frequently; and not to worry, one of the love interests thought she looked great when she was overweight. It just became aggravating to me. Aggravating because we are experiencing a strong movement towards valuing women more for their appearance and this novel just gravitates more towards appearance than the substance of women. I just think the strong weight focus was tacky, unnecessary, and repeated too often in the novel. I would have rather learned how Larkin worked through her anger management issues. She mentioned she had a problem with her anger, especially after throwing a cooler at her best friend's head.
To Sum: I really don't want to hate on this book. I like Karen White's novels. I just found this one lacking compared to previous books. She eloquently writes about low country inlets with massive trees perfect for storing ribbon wishes in their trunks, boat rides to capture the sunrise, languid strolls on twilight it streets with ice cream in hand. You just either wish you were there or can envision yourself there with the characters. I truly think her images of the South are lovely and magical. I encourage you to read it for the images alone and the story is still entertaining. Just not my favorite.
Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
What's It About: 27 year old Larkin escaped her life in Georgetown, South Carolina for a life she made for herself in New York. It's been nine years since she saw her close friends and family as she escaped and remade herself. When she gets the call her mother is missing. She returns home. Larkin discovers her mother on the floor of her family's old decrepit rice plantation home. With her mother lapsing into a coma; Larkin stays nearby anxiously waiting on her recovery. While waiting, she renews ties with her honorary mothers- Ceecee and Bitty who raised her lovingly. She also mends fences with two of her childhood friends that she hurt deeply on her leaving. When an old crush who rebuffed her in high school admires this "new" Larkin; she has a decision to make on where this "new" Larkin wants to head in her life. Larkin finds herself discovering buried family secrets, love, family, and also where her home is.
My Thoughts:
Ugh. I hate to write them. In all honesty, I felt these were some of Karen White's weakest characters. In my defense, I'm a big fan and own all her books. Her House on Tradd Street series is one of my favorites- though the last one missed the mark for me as well. The characters in this book seemed superficial, convenient, or just not believable. I think two though that were wonderful are Ceecee and Bitty. The friendship between Ceecee and Bitty and their story was a highlight for me. However, Margaret, Larkin, and Ivy's stories just fell flat and needed cues for dramatic swelling music at times. The multigenerational storytelling and back and forth between past/present is a selling point for this book. White does that quite well.
The main character- Larkin. I just couldn't get behind her. She was all over the place and her issues are never really fleshed out. Except for her weight. The reader is treated to numerous references to her weight. I noticed in the last Tradd Street novel, White made weight an issue for the main character too. 18 year old Larkin was overweight and overate per the book. 27 year old Larkin has shed said weight, now can just wear a sports bra out on a boat, looks "hot", and chooses frozen yogurt over ice cream... or just follows a healthy portion size now. The reader gets this spelled out for them frequently; and not to worry, one of the love interests thought she looked great when she was overweight. It just became aggravating to me. Aggravating because we are experiencing a strong movement towards valuing women more for their appearance and this novel just gravitates more towards appearance than the substance of women. I just think the strong weight focus was tacky, unnecessary, and repeated too often in the novel. I would have rather learned how Larkin worked through her anger management issues. She mentioned she had a problem with her anger, especially after throwing a cooler at her best friend's head.
To Sum: I really don't want to hate on this book. I like Karen White's novels. I just found this one lacking compared to previous books. She eloquently writes about low country inlets with massive trees perfect for storing ribbon wishes in their trunks, boat rides to capture the sunrise, languid strolls on twilight it streets with ice cream in hand. You just either wish you were there or can envision yourself there with the characters. I truly think her images of the South are lovely and magical. I encourage you to read it for the images alone and the story is still entertaining. Just not my favorite.
Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 5, 2018
White shares the story of two generations. Larkin's mother goes missing and is later discovered injured in their burned out ancestral home. Our tale takes place in Georgetown, South Carolina, spanning two timelines over a fifty-year period.
Past: Margaret, Ceecee, and Bitty are best friends. Margaret comes from privilege, Ceecee's father is a minister and Bitty is just Bitty. The flashbacks share what happened the summer of graduation when they spent two weeks in Myrtle Beach and the consequences. I loved getting to know each of these women and while I didn't always love them, White fleshed them out, shared their emotions, strengths, and weakness allowing them to live and breathe within the pages of this tale.
Present Day: We meet Larkin first, who has moved away and lives in the big city. She hasn't been back to Georgetown in over nine years. Her childhood friends, Mabry and Bennett still reside in Georgetown. White shares their friendship and the events that drove Larkin to leave and never look back. The present-day story shares healing, rekindling of friendships and the possibility for love.
These threads were woven together and wrapped around the mystery surrounding Larkin's mom and their ancestral home and of what she had discovered. It brings the past into the present as it pulls the reader in emotionally. The author did this while adding a layer of suspense to their stories.
I devoured this in a single afternoon, and love when an author can pull me into the story. I laughed, cried and went through a slew of emotions and opinions based on their actions. I genuinely cared about these characters and thought about them long after I closed the novel. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Past: Margaret, Ceecee, and Bitty are best friends. Margaret comes from privilege, Ceecee's father is a minister and Bitty is just Bitty. The flashbacks share what happened the summer of graduation when they spent two weeks in Myrtle Beach and the consequences. I loved getting to know each of these women and while I didn't always love them, White fleshed them out, shared their emotions, strengths, and weakness allowing them to live and breathe within the pages of this tale.
Present Day: We meet Larkin first, who has moved away and lives in the big city. She hasn't been back to Georgetown in over nine years. Her childhood friends, Mabry and Bennett still reside in Georgetown. White shares their friendship and the events that drove Larkin to leave and never look back. The present-day story shares healing, rekindling of friendships and the possibility for love.
These threads were woven together and wrapped around the mystery surrounding Larkin's mom and their ancestral home and of what she had discovered. It brings the past into the present as it pulls the reader in emotionally. The author did this while adding a layer of suspense to their stories.
I devoured this in a single afternoon, and love when an author can pull me into the story. I laughed, cried and went through a slew of emotions and opinions based on their actions. I genuinely cared about these characters and thought about them long after I closed the novel. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
May 18, 2018
Amazing story! This was my first Karen White read. Powerful story and truly one of the best books I've read. Remarkable story of three lifelong friends who share a secret. Set the Lowcountry of South Carolina. These three girls share their hopes and dreams. They write these dreams on ribbons they place in the trunk of an old, said to be magical oak tree. Dreams come true,dreams haunt and these dreams have a ripple effect on the next generation. Amazingly wonderful. Emotional, witty and compelling. A great book club book.
Thank you
First to Read
Novels N Latte
Book Blog
Thank you
First to Read
Novels N Latte
Book Blog
August 1, 2018
I LOVED "Dreams of Falling!!! I laughed, I cried, and at times felt chills as if I was there with the wonderful developed characters. KW weaved a beautiful story of friends, family, secrets, and most of all love.
May 16, 2019
Wow!! Just wow......review to follow!! Everyone.....you need to read this!! NOW!!💜
Dreams of Falling
Karen White
DREAMS OF FALLING is not the first book I've ever read by Karen White and it definitely won't be the last. The twists and turns keep coming and I had to know how it was going to end! Every time I thought I knew where this story was going, a few pages later, Ms. White threw me for a loop and I knew I was wrong! I'm kicking myself for not reading this wonderful novel sooner. I knew I was going to love this story just by the description "best friends and family ties". Don't forget your tissues!!
DREAMS OF FALLING is a quick read and unputdownable! Larkin is summoned back home as her grandmother, CeeCee has just phoned to let her know her mother has disappeared. I found myself laughing one second and then being totally aggravated with the characters the next. Why couldn't they just be honest about things Larkin knew not thing above it but deserved to know. If you are looking for a great story with lots of mystery to pull you out of your book slump, you can’t go wrong with DREAMS OF FALLING. I’m so excited to read more by Karen White, she is one of my auto buy authors and I have quite a few of her older books to finally get to.
The twists and turns in DREAMS OF FALLING are going to keep you up late into the night trying to figure it out. One minute you believe you know what happened to Ivy when she disappeared and the next you are sitting there shaking your head, wondering what the heck just happened. Plus there is a fifty year old mystery of what really happened to Ivy's mother, Margaret, that involves deep dark secrets you can't even imagine. Once you start reading, trust me, you aren't going to be able to stop! When everything is finally revealed, well, you won't believe it!
DREAMS OF FALLING has Larkin confronting and dealing with her past even if she doesn't want to. She also tries to come to terms with the relationship she has with her parents. I thoroughly enjoyed reading DREAMS OF FALLING. There is so much going on in this story, but Ms. White does a wonderful job of weaving all the pieces together. All of the characters will have you feeling sad, then happy, and then yelling on the same page. More than once I wanted to be in Georgetown, South Carolina with my new found friends! Once you finish devouring this story, you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome story of southern fiction at its finest!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
Dreams of Falling
Karen White
DREAMS OF FALLING is not the first book I've ever read by Karen White and it definitely won't be the last. The twists and turns keep coming and I had to know how it was going to end! Every time I thought I knew where this story was going, a few pages later, Ms. White threw me for a loop and I knew I was wrong! I'm kicking myself for not reading this wonderful novel sooner. I knew I was going to love this story just by the description "best friends and family ties". Don't forget your tissues!!
DREAMS OF FALLING is a quick read and unputdownable! Larkin is summoned back home as her grandmother, CeeCee has just phoned to let her know her mother has disappeared. I found myself laughing one second and then being totally aggravated with the characters the next. Why couldn't they just be honest about things Larkin knew not thing above it but deserved to know. If you are looking for a great story with lots of mystery to pull you out of your book slump, you can’t go wrong with DREAMS OF FALLING. I’m so excited to read more by Karen White, she is one of my auto buy authors and I have quite a few of her older books to finally get to.
The twists and turns in DREAMS OF FALLING are going to keep you up late into the night trying to figure it out. One minute you believe you know what happened to Ivy when she disappeared and the next you are sitting there shaking your head, wondering what the heck just happened. Plus there is a fifty year old mystery of what really happened to Ivy's mother, Margaret, that involves deep dark secrets you can't even imagine. Once you start reading, trust me, you aren't going to be able to stop! When everything is finally revealed, well, you won't believe it!
DREAMS OF FALLING has Larkin confronting and dealing with her past even if she doesn't want to. She also tries to come to terms with the relationship she has with her parents. I thoroughly enjoyed reading DREAMS OF FALLING. There is so much going on in this story, but Ms. White does a wonderful job of weaving all the pieces together. All of the characters will have you feeling sad, then happy, and then yelling on the same page. More than once I wanted to be in Georgetown, South Carolina with my new found friends! Once you finish devouring this story, you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome story of southern fiction at its finest!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
May 9, 2018
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Secrets kept for decades, soul deep love, friendships carved from granite and “family,” made Karen White’s DREAMS OF FALLING an edgy, emotional journey that could be both intriguing and off-putting in nearly equal measures.
A young woman must go back to the world she swore never to return to when her mother goes missing. Found badly injured in the ruins of the family rice plantation, Ivy now lay comatose while her friends and family gather around her, each lost in their own thoughts of how she ended up where she is. Some know the answers, some will do anything to keep long-held secrets and some, like Larkin are clueless and demand answers.
What Larkin will discover will expose decades of lies, betrayals and fierce loyalties, as she learns truths that were hidden from her for her entire life. Will these revelations finally free Larkin to be who she was meant to be and bring her home again?
See through the eyes of numerous characters, jumping from past events to the present, even the thoughts of the comatose Ivy will be heard.
What starts out promising to be a magnetic and intense read becomes a twisted soap opera that runs alternately as slow as molasses and fast as fire in the wind. Ms. White doesn’t ask us to like her characters, she has made them flawed, deceitful and sometimes purely self-serving. There are those who are victims, those who are villains for the right reasons and those who never see beyond themselves.
For me, this was a love it, hate it read that could get too bogged down in its own shocking twists that felt so jarring they seemed too ill-fitting and too over-the-top. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the read in its totality when it was over, but I just didn’t end up feeling things felt/went right, good or bad.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley/Penguin Group
Publisher: Berkley (June 5, 2018)
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
Genre: Women's Fiction | Mystery
Print Length: 416 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Secrets kept for decades, soul deep love, friendships carved from granite and “family,” made Karen White’s DREAMS OF FALLING an edgy, emotional journey that could be both intriguing and off-putting in nearly equal measures.
A young woman must go back to the world she swore never to return to when her mother goes missing. Found badly injured in the ruins of the family rice plantation, Ivy now lay comatose while her friends and family gather around her, each lost in their own thoughts of how she ended up where she is. Some know the answers, some will do anything to keep long-held secrets and some, like Larkin are clueless and demand answers.
What Larkin will discover will expose decades of lies, betrayals and fierce loyalties, as she learns truths that were hidden from her for her entire life. Will these revelations finally free Larkin to be who she was meant to be and bring her home again?
See through the eyes of numerous characters, jumping from past events to the present, even the thoughts of the comatose Ivy will be heard.
What starts out promising to be a magnetic and intense read becomes a twisted soap opera that runs alternately as slow as molasses and fast as fire in the wind. Ms. White doesn’t ask us to like her characters, she has made them flawed, deceitful and sometimes purely self-serving. There are those who are victims, those who are villains for the right reasons and those who never see beyond themselves.
For me, this was a love it, hate it read that could get too bogged down in its own shocking twists that felt so jarring they seemed too ill-fitting and too over-the-top. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the read in its totality when it was over, but I just didn’t end up feeling things felt/went right, good or bad.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley/Penguin Group
Publisher: Berkley (June 5, 2018)
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
Genre: Women's Fiction | Mystery
Print Length: 416 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
April 25, 2019
Oh how I slogged through this waaaay too long book. And the payoff wasn't great either. It took me about 3 times longer than usual to read this book, and I think it's because I just wasn't super enthused about the story.
The premise is 27-year-old Larkin is called away from her life in New York where she works as a copywriter at an agency, to come back down south after her mother has an accident that has left her in a coma.
When she gets back to her hometown there is an older woman, Ceecee, who greets her and takes her to see her mama. There's also tons of drama with a former best friend, the best friend's brother, some random guy they went to high school with, an ice cream parlor with a mural chock full of secrets, and a father who cheated on her mother but it's OK because her mother is pretty open that he's not the love of her life anyway.
And the story is told between the 2010 events of Larkin returning home to her mother's accident and the year that Ceecee, Larkin's grandmother Margaret, and their other best friend Bitty all graduated high school. Flashing back to the events that occurred right after their graduation and how Larkin's mother came to be conceived.
I found it really hard to figure out who these older women were at first, how exactly they were related to Larkin, what the mysteries of Larkin's past that sent her fleeing for New York in the first place, and why I just couldn't bring myself to care enough to really go back and figure these things out right away.
There just really wasn't much action in this book. It's dragged out and boring. The characters aren't very interesting, and the foreshadowing that is fairly prevalent in the book doesn't tease me enough to rise above the boring story. I won a copy of this book from First Reads.
The premise is 27-year-old Larkin is called away from her life in New York where she works as a copywriter at an agency, to come back down south after her mother has an accident that has left her in a coma.
When she gets back to her hometown there is an older woman, Ceecee, who greets her and takes her to see her mama. There's also tons of drama with a former best friend, the best friend's brother, some random guy they went to high school with, an ice cream parlor with a mural chock full of secrets, and a father who cheated on her mother but it's OK because her mother is pretty open that he's not the love of her life anyway.
And the story is told between the 2010 events of Larkin returning home to her mother's accident and the year that Ceecee, Larkin's grandmother Margaret, and their other best friend Bitty all graduated high school. Flashing back to the events that occurred right after their graduation and how Larkin's mother came to be conceived.
I found it really hard to figure out who these older women were at first, how exactly they were related to Larkin, what the mysteries of Larkin's past that sent her fleeing for New York in the first place, and why I just couldn't bring myself to care enough to really go back and figure these things out right away.
There just really wasn't much action in this book. It's dragged out and boring. The characters aren't very interesting, and the foreshadowing that is fairly prevalent in the book doesn't tease me enough to rise above the boring story. I won a copy of this book from First Reads.
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