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Falling Apart
I’m sorry, but I don’t want to live any longer. It’s nothing to do with what you said, Dad, I’d made up my mind to do this ages ago. Mum, maybe it will help to think of your twins together again.
Jan, I’m leaving you my blue cashmere sweater and all my books, even though they mostly belonged to you in the first place.
Louise, you can have my diamanté brooch and all my make up and any clothes you want. I’d like Carly to have my toy dog.
Goodbye.
Love from Tina.
Tina is fifteen and having a miserable time at home since her twin brother died. She falls in love for the first time. Simon is from a private school and not part of Tina’s world. They don’t have much in common, but Tina convinces herself she’s in love. When Simon ends it with her, Tina’s world falls apart.
First published in 1989, Falling Apart is an honest and thought-provoking story written by one of the world’s most popular writers. Jacqueline Wilson captures the voices of teenagers perfectly in this engrossing novel about couples and families, and what can happen when it all goes wrong.
Jan, I’m leaving you my blue cashmere sweater and all my books, even though they mostly belonged to you in the first place.
Louise, you can have my diamanté brooch and all my make up and any clothes you want. I’d like Carly to have my toy dog.
Goodbye.
Love from Tina.
Tina is fifteen and having a miserable time at home since her twin brother died. She falls in love for the first time. Simon is from a private school and not part of Tina’s world. They don’t have much in common, but Tina convinces herself she’s in love. When Simon ends it with her, Tina’s world falls apart.
First published in 1989, Falling Apart is an honest and thought-provoking story written by one of the world’s most popular writers. Jacqueline Wilson captures the voices of teenagers perfectly in this engrossing novel about couples and families, and what can happen when it all goes wrong.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
6 people are currently reading
655 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Wilson
394 books5,748 followersJacqueline Wilson was born in Bath in 1945, but spent most of her childhood in Kingston-on-Thames. She always wanted to be a writer and wrote her first ‘novel’ when she was nine, filling in countless Woolworths’ exercise books as she grew up. As a teenager she started work for a magazine publishing company and then went on to work as a journalist on Jackie magazine (which she was told was named after her!) before turning to writing novels full-time.
One of Jacqueline’s most successful and enduring creations has been the famous Tracy Beaker, who first appeared in 1991 in The Story of Tracy Beaker. This was also the first of her books to be illustrated by Nick Sharratt. Since then Jacqueline has been on countless awards shortlists and has gone on to win many awards. The Illustrated Mum won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, the 1999 Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and was also shortlisted for the 1999 Whitbread Children’s Book Award.
Double Act won the prestigious Smarties Medal and the Children’s Book Award as well as being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. The Story of Tracy Beaker won the 2002 Blue Peter People’s Choice Award.
Jacqueline is one of the nation’s favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the UK but all over the world. She has sold millions of books and in the UK alone the total now stands at over 35 million!
In 2002 Jacqueline was awarded the OBE for services to literacy in schools and from 2005 to 2007 she was the Children’s Laureate. In 2008 she became Dame Jacqueline Wilson.
One of Jacqueline’s most successful and enduring creations has been the famous Tracy Beaker, who first appeared in 1991 in The Story of Tracy Beaker. This was also the first of her books to be illustrated by Nick Sharratt. Since then Jacqueline has been on countless awards shortlists and has gone on to win many awards. The Illustrated Mum won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, the 1999 Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards and was also shortlisted for the 1999 Whitbread Children’s Book Award.
Double Act won the prestigious Smarties Medal and the Children’s Book Award as well as being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal. The Story of Tracy Beaker won the 2002 Blue Peter People’s Choice Award.
Jacqueline is one of the nation’s favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the UK but all over the world. She has sold millions of books and in the UK alone the total now stands at over 35 million!
In 2002 Jacqueline was awarded the OBE for services to literacy in schools and from 2005 to 2007 she was the Children’s Laureate. In 2008 she became Dame Jacqueline Wilson.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 14, 2015
Not impressed, Jacqueline.
JW should stick to middle grade fiction. None of these characters felt like teens.
I'd like to think Falling Apart was about a girls infatuation and how it can push you over the edge- but it just didn't work.
Tina and Simon's relationship was awful. I can't believe she fell for it. She said she loved him almost straight away, wanted to marry him, and agreed to have sex when she clearly wasn't ready. It was so obvious that Simon didn't care about Tina, and Tina's clinginess and oblivion made me cringe. And not because I felt bad for her- I was shocked someone could be that stupid. Tina clearly didn't respect herself, because if she had, she'd have gotten OUT of that relationship.
Jan was the only character in the whole book with any sense. I hate to say it, but there is now a Jacqueline Wilson book I don't like.
It just felt unfinished, as pretty much NOTHING was resolved.
Also, after Tina attempted SUICIDE, NO ONE DID ANYTHING. SERIOUSLY. She was just.... sent to group therapy. That's it. Seriously. She was kept in observation for one day, and even if she said she didn't mean it and she wants to live, you cannot just keep a MINOR- 15 YEARS OLD- for ONE day and claim she's just "a little upset." She also refused to eat, and no one raised an eyebrow at that either. Apparently everyone in this book is a freaking idiot.
This book wasn't realistic. Teens acted like 5 year olds, adults didn't care about what they did, and the writing was third person and present tense. Hate that. The writing was also too simple. It felt like JW was trying to teach sex-ed to a group of kindergartners.
If you want a good book about girls being pushed to the edge over a relationships, don't read this.
JW should stick to middle grade fiction. None of these characters felt like teens.
I'd like to think Falling Apart was about a girls infatuation and how it can push you over the edge- but it just didn't work.
Tina and Simon's relationship was awful. I can't believe she fell for it. She said she loved him almost straight away, wanted to marry him, and agreed to have sex when she clearly wasn't ready. It was so obvious that Simon didn't care about Tina, and Tina's clinginess and oblivion made me cringe. And not because I felt bad for her- I was shocked someone could be that stupid. Tina clearly didn't respect herself, because if she had, she'd have gotten OUT of that relationship.
Jan was the only character in the whole book with any sense. I hate to say it, but there is now a Jacqueline Wilson book I don't like.
It just felt unfinished, as pretty much NOTHING was resolved.
Also, after Tina attempted SUICIDE, NO ONE DID ANYTHING. SERIOUSLY. She was just.... sent to group therapy. That's it. Seriously. She was kept in observation for one day, and even if she said she didn't mean it and she wants to live, you cannot just keep a MINOR- 15 YEARS OLD- for ONE day and claim she's just "a little upset." She also refused to eat, and no one raised an eyebrow at that either. Apparently everyone in this book is a freaking idiot.
This book wasn't realistic. Teens acted like 5 year olds, adults didn't care about what they did, and the writing was third person and present tense. Hate that. The writing was also too simple. It felt like JW was trying to teach sex-ed to a group of kindergartners.
If you want a good book about girls being pushed to the edge over a relationships, don't read this.
Read
November 1, 2022‘She wants to tell Mum she’s sick of the sight of her, slumped there, sodden with the same sick old grief.’
‘My life seems to be honed down to a few simple beautiful truths. And you’re the most shining truth of all.’
‘You’re so lovely, Tina. You’re so lovely,’ Simon whispers into her neck, his breath tickling her. The word lovely slides along her skin like a silk ribbon. It’s a word so close to love. It ties her tightly, stops her struggling free. She doesn’t want to be free, she loves the heavy hard feel of him, although his hands are fumbling, uncertain.
“You’re mad,’ says Simon. ‘But you’re wonderful, do you know that. So crazy, so sexy, so different. I'll keep you warm, Tina. I’ll warm you until you glow.’
actually quite bad but i was just so excited to have finally gotten my hands on a soft copy of this book thanks to the internet archive. i will bite my tongue and reserve any scathing comments (bland and forgettable cast of characters, weak storyline, events that really push the willing suspension of disbelief to its limits, and whack writing at times) for when i look back on this some time in the near future because i am just so pleased now that the pdf just turned up all of a sudden
‘My life seems to be honed down to a few simple beautiful truths. And you’re the most shining truth of all.’
‘You’re so lovely, Tina. You’re so lovely,’ Simon whispers into her neck, his breath tickling her. The word lovely slides along her skin like a silk ribbon. It’s a word so close to love. It ties her tightly, stops her struggling free. She doesn’t want to be free, she loves the heavy hard feel of him, although his hands are fumbling, uncertain.
“You’re mad,’ says Simon. ‘But you’re wonderful, do you know that. So crazy, so sexy, so different. I'll keep you warm, Tina. I’ll warm you until you glow.’
actually quite bad but i was just so excited to have finally gotten my hands on a soft copy of this book thanks to the internet archive. i will bite my tongue and reserve any scathing comments (bland and forgettable cast of characters, weak storyline, events that really push the willing suspension of disbelief to its limits, and whack writing at times) for when i look back on this some time in the near future because i am just so pleased now that the pdf just turned up all of a sudden
March 3, 2012
What seemed like a good storyline turned into an utter mess.
Jacqueline Wilson's attempt at recreating the moment of first love for most girls was ridiculous. Not to sound harsh but the novel was by far connecting or relatable. The character, Tina, turns out to be a crazy, clingy girlfriend who, at 15, could say that she was in love with a 17 year old and hands over her virginity like it is cake on a platter. As a character Simon is no better but at least he seems a little more realistic. The dysfunctional family is probably the only thing that a few can relate to. There are parts in which the plot becomes confusing and throughout it all, I was left cringing almost every moment.
Maybe it's not aimed at many my age but the novel was immature and completely silly!
Jacqueline Wilson's attempt at recreating the moment of first love for most girls was ridiculous. Not to sound harsh but the novel was by far connecting or relatable. The character, Tina, turns out to be a crazy, clingy girlfriend who, at 15, could say that she was in love with a 17 year old and hands over her virginity like it is cake on a platter. As a character Simon is no better but at least he seems a little more realistic. The dysfunctional family is probably the only thing that a few can relate to. There are parts in which the plot becomes confusing and throughout it all, I was left cringing almost every moment.
Maybe it's not aimed at many my age but the novel was immature and completely silly!
May 12, 2022
I first read Falling Apart in the late 90s or early 2000s, when I was about 11 years old. It’s not necessarily a book I would give to a kid that age now, but it’s one that has meant a lot to me over the years.
I feel the need to stick up for this book a bit, because several other reviews here take issue with the protagonist Tina’s behaviour (namely, having sex when she clearly wasn’t ready, becoming clingy and hysterical when her first serious boyfriend dumps her unceremoniously after ghosting her for several weeks over Christmas, then attempting suicide). From what I can see, people also take issue with her family’s responses to Tina’s breakdown and with the adults’ blasé responses to the suicide attempt.
I think there are two things that need to be kept in mind when reading this story. For one thing, Tina is not ever portrayed as an ordinary, rational young person who is just doing what any young girl in love would do. A big part of the story is Tina and her family’s unresolved grief at losing Tina’s brother Tim eight years before the story proper begins. She’s gone through an extraordinary trauma at a very young age and has clearly never received any therapy. Tina’s parents and older sisters are also shown to be struggling in various ways - the whole family, especially Tina and her mother, have been changed by this loss in ways no-one will face up to openly. The book is quite explicit that a big part of Tina’s desperation to hold onto Simon is due to her feeling that he heals the grief of losing Tim.
Secondly, while I think the book was rereleased sometime in the late 2000s or early 2010s, it was actually published in 1989. If you know what to look for, it’s pretty obvious that this was written in the 80s - not just the presence of Laura Ashley, Mills and Boon, video nasties and discos in the characters’ conversations, but also the way issues like anorexia, lesbianism, AIDS, teen pregnancy, class, grief and sex are all discussed is blatantly 80s.
I myself love unintentional period pieces in YA fiction, but I understand if they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. In any case, I would recommend new readers to consider this as a period piece, not as a contemporary novel. The lack of recognition of mental illness and trauma in the text? The bafflingly inadequate response to a 15-year-old’s attempted suicide? That’s not an accident, that was how things were for a lot of depressed kids then. I imagine if the book were written now, it would play out quite differently given the climate of YA fiction and the increased awareness around mental health. But in the late 80s, these responses were pretty expected.
And honestly, that’s a big part of why I still resonate with this book. Putting aside that it’s set around the time I was born, in the part of the UK where I would have grown up if my family hadn’t emigrated to Australia … even in the early 2000s, I didn’t have a lot of language to make sense of my feelings of loneliness, anger and depression. To read about a teenager who has to try and figure out, imperfectly, how to live, in the absence of any language or frameworks or much hope for the future, feels a lot more like my experience of adolescence than one where everyone reacts appropriately and has all the correct language to describe their feelings. It’s quite a cathartic book for me, because of its suggestion that even if I’d been born 15 years earlier, when people were even less informed about mental health, I might still have found a way to be okay.
I feel the need to stick up for this book a bit, because several other reviews here take issue with the protagonist Tina’s behaviour (namely, having sex when she clearly wasn’t ready, becoming clingy and hysterical when her first serious boyfriend dumps her unceremoniously after ghosting her for several weeks over Christmas, then attempting suicide). From what I can see, people also take issue with her family’s responses to Tina’s breakdown and with the adults’ blasé responses to the suicide attempt.
I think there are two things that need to be kept in mind when reading this story. For one thing, Tina is not ever portrayed as an ordinary, rational young person who is just doing what any young girl in love would do. A big part of the story is Tina and her family’s unresolved grief at losing Tina’s brother Tim eight years before the story proper begins. She’s gone through an extraordinary trauma at a very young age and has clearly never received any therapy. Tina’s parents and older sisters are also shown to be struggling in various ways - the whole family, especially Tina and her mother, have been changed by this loss in ways no-one will face up to openly. The book is quite explicit that a big part of Tina’s desperation to hold onto Simon is due to her feeling that he heals the grief of losing Tim.
Secondly, while I think the book was rereleased sometime in the late 2000s or early 2010s, it was actually published in 1989. If you know what to look for, it’s pretty obvious that this was written in the 80s - not just the presence of Laura Ashley, Mills and Boon, video nasties and discos in the characters’ conversations, but also the way issues like anorexia, lesbianism, AIDS, teen pregnancy, class, grief and sex are all discussed is blatantly 80s.
I myself love unintentional period pieces in YA fiction, but I understand if they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. In any case, I would recommend new readers to consider this as a period piece, not as a contemporary novel. The lack of recognition of mental illness and trauma in the text? The bafflingly inadequate response to a 15-year-old’s attempted suicide? That’s not an accident, that was how things were for a lot of depressed kids then. I imagine if the book were written now, it would play out quite differently given the climate of YA fiction and the increased awareness around mental health. But in the late 80s, these responses were pretty expected.
And honestly, that’s a big part of why I still resonate with this book. Putting aside that it’s set around the time I was born, in the part of the UK where I would have grown up if my family hadn’t emigrated to Australia … even in the early 2000s, I didn’t have a lot of language to make sense of my feelings of loneliness, anger and depression. To read about a teenager who has to try and figure out, imperfectly, how to live, in the absence of any language or frameworks or much hope for the future, feels a lot more like my experience of adolescence than one where everyone reacts appropriately and has all the correct language to describe their feelings. It’s quite a cathartic book for me, because of its suggestion that even if I’d been born 15 years earlier, when people were even less informed about mental health, I might still have found a way to be okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2011
I think it's obvious to say the only thing which irked me about this book was the posh language. But now, as I'm looking the book up on the internet, I'm beginning to realise it was written in 1989, meaning the language was kind of posh and a little less modern back in those times. So, I officially have nothing wrong with the story.
It's the same with the letters. All throughout the story, I was thinking, "Letters, really? Why not email each other? Isn't that more sensible?" And now everything is falling into piece. This has one of the most brilliant plotlines, with a dark edge but not too dark. Sure, she commits suicide and everything, but she lives. It's not very stylish at all to consider this as a dark story.
The romance in this story progressed way too fast. Half the time I was thinking (because I didn't realise how long ago this book was written) why Tina was so clueless and naive to love. It seemed as if she was obsessed and needed Simon so much. Didn't she ever watch on television about how true love never lasts? But now, I'm starting to suspect televisions weren't even invented back then!
Words to describe this book?
Dramatic. Slow-start. Laughable ending. Romantic. Bittersweet. Suicidal. A little dark at times. Funny. Quirky. Emotional.
Timothy was my favourite character in this book. He was always the golden child, even if he was seven years old when he died. I can't help hating Tina to an enormous extent. She's weak. Very ridiculously weak. But then, at the end, I kind of grew to her. That's what I love most about this book: all the characters had matured in their own way.
Simon, realising he was in love with Tina. Tina, realising love-at-first-sight doesn't exist. Adam, realising how stupid he was (read the book, because I'll spoil it for your otherwise.) Tina's mother, who I suspect has now grown to love her daughter, seeing how Tina was almost taken away from her.
Altogether, a nice story. But definitely not one of my favourites: it'd be painful to read it again, because it's set in such an olden time (I'm not particularly a fan of historic fiction, mind you.) But because I know there are audiences who aren't against historic fiction, I think they'd love this story, so I'm going to give this a four.
It's the same with the letters. All throughout the story, I was thinking, "Letters, really? Why not email each other? Isn't that more sensible?" And now everything is falling into piece. This has one of the most brilliant plotlines, with a dark edge but not too dark. Sure, she commits suicide and everything, but she lives. It's not very stylish at all to consider this as a dark story.
The romance in this story progressed way too fast. Half the time I was thinking (because I didn't realise how long ago this book was written) why Tina was so clueless and naive to love. It seemed as if she was obsessed and needed Simon so much. Didn't she ever watch on television about how true love never lasts? But now, I'm starting to suspect televisions weren't even invented back then!
Words to describe this book?
Dramatic. Slow-start. Laughable ending. Romantic. Bittersweet. Suicidal. A little dark at times. Funny. Quirky. Emotional.
Timothy was my favourite character in this book. He was always the golden child, even if he was seven years old when he died. I can't help hating Tina to an enormous extent. She's weak. Very ridiculously weak. But then, at the end, I kind of grew to her. That's what I love most about this book: all the characters had matured in their own way.
Simon, realising he was in love with Tina. Tina, realising love-at-first-sight doesn't exist. Adam, realising how stupid he was (read the book, because I'll spoil it for your otherwise.) Tina's mother, who I suspect has now grown to love her daughter, seeing how Tina was almost taken away from her.
Altogether, a nice story. But definitely not one of my favourites: it'd be painful to read it again, because it's set in such an olden time (I'm not particularly a fan of historic fiction, mind you.) But because I know there are audiences who aren't against historic fiction, I think they'd love this story, so I'm going to give this a four.
November 26, 2011
As a child I grew up reading the novels of Jacqueline Wilson , she was one of my all-time favourite authors ever since I was a girl of 7yrs and read my first copy of The Suitcase Kid. When this book arrived the other day at the library, I was like oh , a new Jacqueline Wilson and discover my surprise when I found out that it was actually written in 1989 but has just been recently reprinted with new covers. As I read this novel , it was odd to see Jacqueline Wilson target quite an edgy topic as I was used to her children's novels that do target edginess but not in the same way as Falling Apart. Falling Apart reminded me a tad of novels along the line of "Go Ask Alice" and "Lisa, Bright and Dark".
In Falling Apart , we meet Tina who has just lost her twin brother Tim and now after a series of events , she feels that she would be better off joining her other half on the other side as she just can't go on and has no use of living her miserable life. The final straw , is her boyfriend Simon dumping and breaking her heart. We read as Tina leaves a series of suicide notes behind and unfortunately failed attempt of trying to overdose on pills. Falling Apart is the story leading up to the final event - Tina trying to commit suicide. Parts of Falling Apart can be quite heavy and emotional as it plays a huge part on the grieving processes and how families can become after the loss of a loved one and a child at that. Falling Apart is definitely written for the Teen Audiences and I would advise 15+, no younger as the content will be too much for them to understand and take in.
In Falling Apart , we meet Tina who has just lost her twin brother Tim and now after a series of events , she feels that she would be better off joining her other half on the other side as she just can't go on and has no use of living her miserable life. The final straw , is her boyfriend Simon dumping and breaking her heart. We read as Tina leaves a series of suicide notes behind and unfortunately failed attempt of trying to overdose on pills. Falling Apart is the story leading up to the final event - Tina trying to commit suicide. Parts of Falling Apart can be quite heavy and emotional as it plays a huge part on the grieving processes and how families can become after the loss of a loved one and a child at that. Falling Apart is definitely written for the Teen Audiences and I would advise 15+, no younger as the content will be too much for them to understand and take in.
September 5, 2014
A confessed Wilson addict this book was much different from her other young adult/children texts. Some what darker and more adult in general it is obvious that this book is directed to an older audience. The main character aggravated me! within the first few minutes of the book i wanted to shake her and say "get the hell over it!!" despite this, i felt this story was well written and offered an interesting insight into the darker side of teen romance.
November 17, 2011
I enjoyed this book and the message that it sends out to teenage girls- 'It's not worth letting go of life because the guy you loved let you down'.
I think that falling apart was a great read and recommend it to girls in their early to late teens
I think that falling apart was a great read and recommend it to girls in their early to late teens
November 4, 2015
Another brilliant book by Dame Jacky Wilson!
I hope I never 'fall apart' over some boy :-)
A great read and a definite recommendation- R
I hope I never 'fall apart' over some boy :-)
A great read and a definite recommendation- R
August 29, 2018
So my experience of Jacqueline Wilson has been Tracy Beaker, and I wasn't quite expecting this. If I'd known some of the stuff in it I probably wouldn't have started it, which would have been a shame. I wouldn't give it to my 10 year old though!
August 11, 2012
Not to be harsh but I think this book was boring and depressing.
Jacqueline Wilson has written MUCH better books.
The story was falling apart and is just not interesting.
Jacqueline Wilson has written MUCH better books.
The story was falling apart and is just not interesting.
October 21, 2012
Story was quite weird but the writing was good.
March 20, 2025
Poor Tina 😢
December 14, 2015
Beautiful story, really moving in it's emotion and passion at times.
September 26, 2025
I know I said I never wanted to see Jacqueline Wilson's books again after the mess that was Picture Imperfect - but while searching forums and threads to validate that rage, I found people discussing her oft-forgotten YA novels from the 80s and 90s. I couldn't resist.
This is far more bearable than any recent Wilson. I think the third-person narration helps, because every internal monologue in her modern works sounds identical. Tina isn't the away-with-the-faries, obsessed with art and classic literature, talks like it's painfully obvious she's written by an elderly woman, protagonist that we've come to expect from a Jacqueline Wilson book. She's the peak of the "girl obsessed with a boy who treats her like dirt" trope.
You're not really meant to like anyone in this book except Tina and her sisters Jan and Louise. Tina is a victim to a seventeen year old boy while she is only fifteen. You feel dreadfully sorry for her, sympathising with her naïve adolescent delusions about love while wanting to shake her to make her stand up for herself. The book begins with Tina attempting suicide after this boy, Simon, dumps her, and suicide is one of my favourite themes in fiction, as harrowing as it can be.
Simon and his best friend Adam are insufferable, objectifying the poor young Tina and mocking her. The third person narrative could have distinguished a bit clearer from Tina's love-blindness, that Simon was truly an absolute pig, especially comparing her petite body to his eleven year old little sister, just after he and Tina have had sex. He literally calls her a little kid. Which she is. She's fifteen. Leave her alone.
I wish Tina's trauma had been explored further, and certainly its effect on how quickly she got attached to Simon. Her twin brother Tim died when they were seven, Tina is haunted by the experience but her mum refuses to acknowledge it. Tina likes comparing her seventeen year old boyfriend to her deceased seven year old brother, saying that's what he may look like now. That's unhealthy, and yes unhealthiness is what Wilson likes to portray, and (in most cases) not glamorised, but I wish it had been unpacked more!
Of course, a book published in the early 90s, I should have anticipated the constant AIDS references in poor taste. It's the only sexually transmitted risk that's every talked of, it's the illness brought up in flippant remarks.
Thankfully I only counted about two dreaded ever so's, for once the main character didn't have the pretentious old fashioned speech and it was her boyfriend using big words and making references (like to Emily Brontë's poetry!) that she doesn't understand, that was refreshing, but only off the heels of the horrors of Wilson's other works. Tina's dialect waned at times but it was a good effort.
Sex happens, is discussed, the word sex is used, but it's not described, no body parts are named, hell she can bring herself to say shit but not condom.
As usual the callous adult's attitudes to a young girl's despair and trauma enraged me, but that's true to life.
Reading Wilson's early stuff makes you realise she got too big for her boots. Yeah it's fun to look back on the outrageous boundaries her children's tales pushed, but the always either studious or boisterous, always good at art, all with the same imaginations, weird speech patterns, having childish interests they're ashamed of, making up pretend games, hates their body for being either too underdeveloped or too fat, it gets very repetitive. Ms Wilson lost originality some time ago.
The twist on the final page, if you can call it that because it's so ambiguous, was spoiled for me before reading. I don't think I'd have guessed it beforehand but I don't like the stereotype it conforms to.
I always wanted a first-person suicide attempt from Jacqueline Wilson. We both do love The Bell Jar. I won't tell you if Tina succeeds or survives, but I can tell you that no matter what happens, the story ends too abruptly afterwards.
This is far more bearable than any recent Wilson. I think the third-person narration helps, because every internal monologue in her modern works sounds identical. Tina isn't the away-with-the-faries, obsessed with art and classic literature, talks like it's painfully obvious she's written by an elderly woman, protagonist that we've come to expect from a Jacqueline Wilson book. She's the peak of the "girl obsessed with a boy who treats her like dirt" trope.
You're not really meant to like anyone in this book except Tina and her sisters Jan and Louise. Tina is a victim to a seventeen year old boy while she is only fifteen. You feel dreadfully sorry for her, sympathising with her naïve adolescent delusions about love while wanting to shake her to make her stand up for herself. The book begins with Tina attempting suicide after this boy, Simon, dumps her, and suicide is one of my favourite themes in fiction, as harrowing as it can be.
Simon and his best friend Adam are insufferable, objectifying the poor young Tina and mocking her. The third person narrative could have distinguished a bit clearer from Tina's love-blindness, that Simon was truly an absolute pig, especially comparing her petite body to his eleven year old little sister, just after he and Tina have had sex. He literally calls her a little kid. Which she is. She's fifteen. Leave her alone.
I wish Tina's trauma had been explored further, and certainly its effect on how quickly she got attached to Simon. Her twin brother Tim died when they were seven, Tina is haunted by the experience but her mum refuses to acknowledge it. Tina likes comparing her seventeen year old boyfriend to her deceased seven year old brother, saying that's what he may look like now. That's unhealthy, and yes unhealthiness is what Wilson likes to portray, and (in most cases) not glamorised, but I wish it had been unpacked more!
Of course, a book published in the early 90s, I should have anticipated the constant AIDS references in poor taste. It's the only sexually transmitted risk that's every talked of, it's the illness brought up in flippant remarks.
Thankfully I only counted about two dreaded ever so's, for once the main character didn't have the pretentious old fashioned speech and it was her boyfriend using big words and making references (like to Emily Brontë's poetry!) that she doesn't understand, that was refreshing, but only off the heels of the horrors of Wilson's other works. Tina's dialect waned at times but it was a good effort.
Sex happens, is discussed, the word sex is used, but it's not described, no body parts are named, hell she can bring herself to say shit but not condom.
As usual the callous adult's attitudes to a young girl's despair and trauma enraged me, but that's true to life.
Reading Wilson's early stuff makes you realise she got too big for her boots. Yeah it's fun to look back on the outrageous boundaries her children's tales pushed, but the always either studious or boisterous, always good at art, all with the same imaginations, weird speech patterns, having childish interests they're ashamed of, making up pretend games, hates their body for being either too underdeveloped or too fat, it gets very repetitive. Ms Wilson lost originality some time ago.
The twist on the final page, if you can call it that because it's so ambiguous, was spoiled for me before reading. I don't think I'd have guessed it beforehand but I don't like the stereotype it conforms to.
I always wanted a first-person suicide attempt from Jacqueline Wilson. We both do love The Bell Jar. I won't tell you if Tina succeeds or survives, but I can tell you that no matter what happens, the story ends too abruptly afterwards.
August 14, 2025
I can't remember the last time I cried at a book 😢
I only found out about Falling Apart this year. I think because I never saw it listed in JW's book list that she's written alongside Nick Sharrett's illustrations.
I relate a lot to Tina, and I couldn't help but love Simon as well, until near the end when he told Tina he'd been using her and had met someone else. my heart broke for her!
I believe Adam had feelings for Simon, and I thought that's who Simon was gonna to say he loved back at first, and felt worse for Tina when he said another girl's name instead of Adam's.
I stupidly wanted to believe that Simon and Tina would get together in the end, as Adam mentions about Simon saying about true love to Tina in the hospital, but my sensible head remembers all the snobby remarks he said about Tina, her worrying about not being posh enough for him etc. it was so good to read, though. im gonna have to read her other older books!!
I only found out about Falling Apart this year. I think because I never saw it listed in JW's book list that she's written alongside Nick Sharrett's illustrations.
I relate a lot to Tina, and I couldn't help but love Simon as well, until near the end when he told Tina he'd been using her and had met someone else. my heart broke for her!
I believe Adam had feelings for Simon, and I thought that's who Simon was gonna to say he loved back at first, and felt worse for Tina when he said another girl's name instead of Adam's.
I stupidly wanted to believe that Simon and Tina would get together in the end, as Adam mentions about Simon saying about true love to Tina in the hospital, but my sensible head remembers all the snobby remarks he said about Tina, her worrying about not being posh enough for him etc. it was so good to read, though. im gonna have to read her other older books!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2025
I absolutely adore Jacqueline Wilson and thought I had read all of her books but I came across Falling Apart at an op shop and was excited to read! But unfortunately I just couldn’t get into it, the writing felt so old fashioned and I know it was published in the 80s but it just wasn’t enjoyable. The storyline could’ve had so much more potential. I had to put the book down when Tina said “I love you” to Simon after literally knowing him for a day? I definitely will be putting this book back into the donation pile, lucky it was $1. I’ll stick to the rest of Jackie’s good books that I know and love.
October 8, 2025
i just love jacqueline wilson for the nostalgia and i liked this was for slightly older readers
but the outdated language did make me laugh
i've also noticed she is a big believer in describing an outfit, feel like the clothes a character wears says a lot about their feelings or personality in a situation
also i want to find more of her older books why are they hidden away and nobody talks about them
but the outdated language did make me laugh
i've also noticed she is a big believer in describing an outfit, feel like the clothes a character wears says a lot about their feelings or personality in a situation
also i want to find more of her older books why are they hidden away and nobody talks about them
January 25, 2020
Have loved Jacqueline Wilson books since a child which is probably why I enjoyed this book and found it an easy read. Readers need to bear in mind this was written over 30 years ago and teenagers and language has changed a lot since then.
February 3, 2022
I'm a big Jacqueline Wilson fan and I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't. I disliked the characters and the plot just wasn't it. It sends very negative messages to the readers. I know that it was published in 1989 but it didn't age well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2020
TRASH!!!
June 13, 2016
I read this for the first time in 2000 and reread it many times since then. It does seem dated it was written in 1989 so that explains a lot. I think Ms Wilson structured it in such a way that it was really difficult for Tina and Simon to communication, rather than it just being of the times.
On my last reread, I noticed something about Adam. I do need to talk to someone about this, so hello Goodreads community. I am pretty sure Adam was supposed to be a gay character. Not because he was written as super theatrical, but because he was super jealous of their relationship, and when Simon breaks up with Tina to be with someone else, Adam says he knows how Tina feels, and he has lost Simon too. Whether this was really underwritten because of the time it was published, or whether everyone was supposed to read between the lines, I'm really not sure, but it makes the character have a lot more motivation and make some kind of sense.
I didn't like the sex scenes, but I think there was a lot of realism and also Tina felt sure she loved Simon throughout the novel. He was a realistic boyfriend - he had some kind moments like their Christmas present swap - but he was mostly there for the action and didn't make any attempt to get to know her family or even walk her home. (No, paying for a taxi does not suffice).
The book does feel quite miserable, but I think this is purposeful. It is very different to Ms Wilson's later work, but in a dated way, neither better or worse, just different.
On my last reread, I noticed something about Adam. I do need to talk to someone about this, so hello Goodreads community. I am pretty sure Adam was supposed to be a gay character. Not because he was written as super theatrical, but because he was super jealous of their relationship, and when Simon breaks up with Tina to be with someone else, Adam says he knows how Tina feels, and he has lost Simon too. Whether this was really underwritten because of the time it was published, or whether everyone was supposed to read between the lines, I'm really not sure, but it makes the character have a lot more motivation and make some kind of sense.
I didn't like the sex scenes, but I think there was a lot of realism and also Tina felt sure she loved Simon throughout the novel. He was a realistic boyfriend - he had some kind moments like their Christmas present swap - but he was mostly there for the action and didn't make any attempt to get to know her family or even walk her home. (No, paying for a taxi does not suffice).
The book does feel quite miserable, but I think this is purposeful. It is very different to Ms Wilson's later work, but in a dated way, neither better or worse, just different.
April 21, 2012
a pity that girls can be so melodramatic. Good though that it confronts the issue of teenage suicide.
July 24, 2013
Great book
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