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The Ballad of Emery Brooks #2
The Fall
When you’ve lost all you’ve desperately sought to keep, why bother hoping for a second chance?
With her pent up faith in love unraveling, former hopeless romantic Emery Brooks is a shell of the girl who once craved a love story that mirrored her grandparents’ fifty-year marriage. Taking all efforts to guard her heart, she isolates herself from everything she’s ever loved, including her music and faith, now battling the same cynicism she worked so hard to protect Sawyer from.
When Emery is asked to post the video for the song she and Sawyer wrote online, her first instinct is to resist. No one understands their story. No one can relate to what they’ve gone through. Grief should not be publicized.
Resistance proves to be futile, as the video plunges Emery into a world of new possibilities. Will Emery succumb to her stubborn tendencies and avoid all risks, or learn to leap again into the comfort of God’s arms, despite uncertainty?
Nicholas Sparks meets contemporary YA in this tear-jerking continuation of The Ballad of Emery Brooks trilogy. Fans of A Walk to Remember will appreciate this throwback to timeless romance, along with the themes of overcoming hardships and learning the basis of faith.
With her pent up faith in love unraveling, former hopeless romantic Emery Brooks is a shell of the girl who once craved a love story that mirrored her grandparents’ fifty-year marriage. Taking all efforts to guard her heart, she isolates herself from everything she’s ever loved, including her music and faith, now battling the same cynicism she worked so hard to protect Sawyer from.
When Emery is asked to post the video for the song she and Sawyer wrote online, her first instinct is to resist. No one understands their story. No one can relate to what they’ve gone through. Grief should not be publicized.
Resistance proves to be futile, as the video plunges Emery into a world of new possibilities. Will Emery succumb to her stubborn tendencies and avoid all risks, or learn to leap again into the comfort of God’s arms, despite uncertainty?
Nicholas Sparks meets contemporary YA in this tear-jerking continuation of The Ballad of Emery Brooks trilogy. Fans of A Walk to Remember will appreciate this throwback to timeless romance, along with the themes of overcoming hardships and learning the basis of faith.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2022
About the author
Allyson Kennedy
8 books131 followersAllyson Kennedy writes contemporary Christian young adult books that honor God without sugarcoating the realities of the world. She is the author of The Ballad of Emery Brooks trilogy and other YA standalones, as well as Writing By Faith, a nonfiction book for Christian authors. She calls eastern North Carolina home and is well-versed in the art of southern sass, which she enjoys weaving into her stories.
Connect with Allyson and learn more about her books at https://authoringarrowheads.com/
Books Available At: https://books2read.com/allysonkennedy
Connect with Allyson and learn more about her books at https://authoringarrowheads.com/
Books Available At: https://books2read.com/allysonkennedy
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January 29, 2021
The Fall is available at all eBook retailers and is available in paperback at Amazon and other online retailers!
While The Fall is a clean and Christian young adult romance, it contains some heavy topics that are tackled from a Christian perspective. A complete content guide (spoiler and non-spoiler versions) can be found here: https://authoringarrowheads.com/conte...
The Ballad of Emery Brooks is a trilogy that must be read in order to understand Emery's entire journey. To order Book One, The Crush, visit the link below for all online store options!
Order The Crush: https://books2read.com/u/3Gd06P
If you've already read and enjoyed The Crush, order your copy of The Fall in eBook or paperback here: https://books2read.com/u/boyqDR
Add Book 3, The Dream, to your to-read list here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
October 15, 2022
4.5 stars!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Characters: Emery was such a well-developed, relatable character. I enjoyed seeing her growth throughout the novel.
Language: Clean.
Plot: This was a quick read and covered a lot of time, so nothing felt stagnant. I enjoyed the emphasis on Emery's musical career and how she was working to develop it.
Romance: Clean. Just kissing.
Theme: This novel featured themes of grief, second chances, moving on, love, and family.
Writing: Allyson Kennedy's smooth, clear writing style worked so well for this book. I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the series.
Overall: The Fall was an entertaining read that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction, contemporary romance, and YA novels.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Characters: Emery was such a well-developed, relatable character. I enjoyed seeing her growth throughout the novel.
Language: Clean.
Plot: This was a quick read and covered a lot of time, so nothing felt stagnant. I enjoyed the emphasis on Emery's musical career and how she was working to develop it.
Romance: Clean. Just kissing.
Theme: This novel featured themes of grief, second chances, moving on, love, and family.
Writing: Allyson Kennedy's smooth, clear writing style worked so well for this book. I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the series.
Overall: The Fall was an entertaining read that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction, contemporary romance, and YA novels.
October 8, 2022
I think Allyson wants to see me cry...legit...she is trying to squeeze the tears out of me in a beautiful, heart rending, emotionally powerful sort of way. I had a sob stuck in my throat for the first 30% of the book...and it returned to pester me a few times after that as well...okay, you win, many times afterward.
Characters
Emery is well rounded...it's easy to understand and see where she's coming from and how much she is hurting.
Auden and Rider her siblings are so fun! Rider (minus he's had a jagged past) reminds me of my brother Ky...lol...because they both tease relentlessly but when we need him to be serious or you are down he's there for you with some solid advice you wouldn't think he had.
Jace! I keep reading about all these awesome fictional guys...lol...
Ryanne is a dear and Saint to put up with Emery, friend of the century award goes to her! Hat's off to her...
All the characters were great! And I loved revisiting characters we knew and meeting new ones!
Romance
More about the loss of romance and the gift of second chances. You'd have to have read The Crush to understand that but...there is only one kiss in this book and it's very brief and fleeting.
Language
N/A
Theme
That moving on is okay, it doesn't mean we forget that person but rather learn to trust God with the next part of story and let Gim guide us toward the destination He has for us. Second chances in life are possible if we're only will to trust God and try.
Overall
I loved this book. I love the hopeful note on the end and I cannot wait to read The Dream which is the third and final book of Emry's story, I beleive...I only have one question. I'm from NC but the western most tip of the state...so could someone tell me what Shug means? Is it like an eastern NC version of dear or darling...or what? Because I just want to know...lol...
Overall recommend for anyone looking for a clean Christian YA contemporary!
*I received a free copy from the author but was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above sre my own own.*
Characters
Emery is well rounded...it's easy to understand and see where she's coming from and how much she is hurting.
Auden and Rider her siblings are so fun! Rider (minus he's had a jagged past) reminds me of my brother Ky...lol...because they both tease relentlessly but when we need him to be serious or you are down he's there for you with some solid advice you wouldn't think he had.
Jace! I keep reading about all these awesome fictional guys...lol...
Ryanne is a dear and Saint to put up with Emery, friend of the century award goes to her! Hat's off to her...
All the characters were great! And I loved revisiting characters we knew and meeting new ones!
Romance
More about the loss of romance and the gift of second chances. You'd have to have read The Crush to understand that but...there is only one kiss in this book and it's very brief and fleeting.
Language
N/A
Theme
That moving on is okay, it doesn't mean we forget that person but rather learn to trust God with the next part of story and let Gim guide us toward the destination He has for us. Second chances in life are possible if we're only will to trust God and try.
Overall
I loved this book. I love the hopeful note on the end and I cannot wait to read The Dream which is the third and final book of Emry's story, I beleive...I only have one question. I'm from NC but the western most tip of the state...so could someone tell me what Shug means? Is it like an eastern NC version of dear or darling...or what? Because I just want to know...lol...
Overall recommend for anyone looking for a clean Christian YA contemporary!
*I received a free copy from the author but was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above sre my own own.*
November 2, 2022
After the first book in this series, I desperately needed the next. Thankfully, this story gave me at least a little bit of resolution after that heartbreaker of a first book. The continuing story of Emery and her assorted trials made me keep flipping those kindle pages!
Characters: Having read the first book, Emery was a tried and true character, and she's such a good narrator. However, she's definitely changed since the first book, and the author did an amazing job showing how much she's grown - in positive and not so positive ways. Watching her work through life after the trauma of the last book was hard, but the healing she experienced was so necessary. Many of the side characters returned, and they were all fun to see. And I have to mention Jace - he was such a nice guy! I would like to see more character development with him, or maybe just a few more flaws. That will probably be explored more in later books, though, since he wasn't introduced until close to the midpoint of the book.
Writing Style/Setting/Plot: This author's writing style fits these books so well. It's a perfect combination of beautiful writing and no-nonsense, Southern speech. It feels so true to life. The small town the book was based in was sweet, too, and it was good to go back to familiar places from the first book! As for the plot, it focused a lot on Emery's past with Sawyer and moving on from so much pain. I also really liked the parts about Emery's music career - I love the direction it's all going! I personally would've like more about her career and just getting her life back on sort a stable environment rather than plunging into a romance after only a year or two post-Sawyer. Also, the way her friends and family sort of forced her into scared me a bit. (Maybe some people wouldn't mind that, but I'd be running scared!)
Theme: So many beautiful things! God's faithfulness, forgiveness, and love were on display throughout the book. Then there was this beautiful side plot about the fleeting nature of this life and what really matters - that was lovely! The deepness of the themes in this book was amazing. We need more YA books like this. And all the Scripture was a perfect addition.
Overall, this was a great second installment to this series, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes YA. Or really anyone, because I don't typically read a lot in this genre, but I really love this series. I'll be on the lookout for the next book!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Characters: Having read the first book, Emery was a tried and true character, and she's such a good narrator. However, she's definitely changed since the first book, and the author did an amazing job showing how much she's grown - in positive and not so positive ways. Watching her work through life after the trauma of the last book was hard, but the healing she experienced was so necessary. Many of the side characters returned, and they were all fun to see. And I have to mention Jace - he was such a nice guy! I would like to see more character development with him, or maybe just a few more flaws. That will probably be explored more in later books, though, since he wasn't introduced until close to the midpoint of the book.
Writing Style/Setting/Plot: This author's writing style fits these books so well. It's a perfect combination of beautiful writing and no-nonsense, Southern speech. It feels so true to life. The small town the book was based in was sweet, too, and it was good to go back to familiar places from the first book! As for the plot, it focused a lot on Emery's past with Sawyer and moving on from so much pain. I also really liked the parts about Emery's music career - I love the direction it's all going! I personally would've like more about her career and just getting her life back on sort a stable environment rather than plunging into a romance after only a year or two post-Sawyer. Also, the way her friends and family sort of forced her into scared me a bit. (Maybe some people wouldn't mind that, but I'd be running scared!)
Theme: So many beautiful things! God's faithfulness, forgiveness, and love were on display throughout the book. Then there was this beautiful side plot about the fleeting nature of this life and what really matters - that was lovely! The deepness of the themes in this book was amazing. We need more YA books like this. And all the Scripture was a perfect addition.
Overall, this was a great second installment to this series, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes YA. Or really anyone, because I don't typically read a lot in this genre, but I really love this series. I'll be on the lookout for the next book!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
October 23, 2022
4.5 stars & 5/10 hearts. So, I wasn’t sure where this would pick up after
The Crush
nor how the author would convince me A Certain Traumatic Incident would turn out okay and Ember could move on. Well, Allyson Kennedy did it.
This book picks up almost right after book 1 ended, which I appreciated, and goes on for about 4 years, if I remember correctly—at any rate, Ember is 17 by the end. But the small jumps were seamless, all the while keeping things from being draggy. I was very impressed. I loved the snark and sarcasm, although I had a few issues (see content list below).
The characters were excellent. I loved Ember, and I related so much to her. Ryanne was as awesome as ever, if not more. Austen felt less present, which I kind of missed? But I was also a bit bugged by how much she and Ember scrapped in the book, more than they had fun together. Ryder was much more present and though there were times I wanted to strangle or at least shake him, he turned out pretty awesome—again. Becca was a great new addition, and I loved Grandma Emmie. Also Miss J. did an awesome comeback. And I loved Jace. He was the cherry on top of the cake. Such a sweet, manly guy.
I really liked how the church was so nice as opposed to Humbler Servants; but I did feel like Ember’s family hadn’t grown much spiritually? She, Auden, and Ryder fought more than as ever; Ember did a lot of lying; her parents lost their tempers several times and said/did things and she had rebellious moments. It was a minor part of the book, but it did bother me some and I got a bit tired of the family drama and wished for the old camaraderie they had in the first book. However, the plot was very well done. I really related to Ember’s depression, lack of motivation, and struggle to move on. Her story was so inspirational to me once again. I started crying when I read the lines about the difference between guarding one’s heart and shutting people out, and I cried as I read about Ember’s fear to move forwards through fear of being hurt. I kept having to put the book down to think as God worked in my heart, and He brought about a whole change of perspective to my life through these pages.
And aside from the great themes, the romance was well done. The angst wasn’t too much, but it felt real and I couldn’t stop reading. I thought the relationship was super sweet and I loved how mature and Christian the MCs were. I also enjoyed seeing Ryder’s relationship on the side. Overall, this was a great sequel and I cannot wait for book 3!!
Content list: I forgot to keep a list this time, so this is a brief recapitulation of things I remember. Some euphemisms(dang, heck, etc); many mentions of butts, “having your head up your butt,” “believing the sun shines out of someone’s butt,” etc; for the romance, mention of kissing, cuddling, hugging + unchaperoned time together.
A Favourite Quote: “Shug, just because you’re making tons of money doing something, it doesn’t mean it’ll give you a stable life… You want stability, child?” She jabs her finger skyward. “Ask God what job He has for you. You want something that’ll guarantee stability and fulfillment? God will provide, Shug. God will provide.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “I was maybe twelve at the time, and my Papa Jack brought me hunting with Mr. Amos and Rider. Now, I’m not much of a hunter. So, while Papa Jack and Mr. Amos sat in the front of Papa’s truck on the way to his tree stand, Papa told Rider to give me some tips on deer hunting. Well, y’all know this dude. He goes into an all-out college-level lecture about the best ways to attract deer, what not to do as they’re approaching, and all that. All within the span of fifteen minutes.” The crowd laughs, nodding. “After my crash course, I still haven’t scored a buck, but getting to know this lunatic, and working with him at CKM, has been a blessing.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
This book picks up almost right after book 1 ended, which I appreciated, and goes on for about 4 years, if I remember correctly—at any rate, Ember is 17 by the end. But the small jumps were seamless, all the while keeping things from being draggy. I was very impressed. I loved the snark and sarcasm, although I had a few issues (see content list below).
The characters were excellent. I loved Ember, and I related so much to her. Ryanne was as awesome as ever, if not more. Austen felt less present, which I kind of missed? But I was also a bit bugged by how much she and Ember scrapped in the book, more than they had fun together. Ryder was much more present and though there were times I wanted to strangle or at least shake him, he turned out pretty awesome—again. Becca was a great new addition, and I loved Grandma Emmie. Also Miss J. did an awesome comeback. And I loved Jace. He was the cherry on top of the cake. Such a sweet, manly guy.
I really liked how the church was so nice as opposed to Humbler Servants; but I did feel like Ember’s family hadn’t grown much spiritually? She, Auden, and Ryder fought more than as ever; Ember did a lot of lying; her parents lost their tempers several times and said/did things and she had rebellious moments. It was a minor part of the book, but it did bother me some and I got a bit tired of the family drama and wished for the old camaraderie they had in the first book. However, the plot was very well done. I really related to Ember’s depression, lack of motivation, and struggle to move on. Her story was so inspirational to me once again. I started crying when I read the lines about the difference between guarding one’s heart and shutting people out, and I cried as I read about Ember’s fear to move forwards through fear of being hurt. I kept having to put the book down to think as God worked in my heart, and He brought about a whole change of perspective to my life through these pages.
And aside from the great themes, the romance was well done. The angst wasn’t too much, but it felt real and I couldn’t stop reading. I thought the relationship was super sweet and I loved how mature and Christian the MCs were. I also enjoyed seeing Ryder’s relationship on the side. Overall, this was a great sequel and I cannot wait for book 3!!
Content list: I forgot to keep a list this time, so this is a brief recapitulation of things I remember. Some euphemisms(dang, heck, etc); many mentions of butts, “having your head up your butt,” “believing the sun shines out of someone’s butt,” etc; for the romance, mention of kissing, cuddling, hugging + unchaperoned time together.
A Favourite Quote: “Shug, just because you’re making tons of money doing something, it doesn’t mean it’ll give you a stable life… You want stability, child?” She jabs her finger skyward. “Ask God what job He has for you. You want something that’ll guarantee stability and fulfillment? God will provide, Shug. God will provide.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “I was maybe twelve at the time, and my Papa Jack brought me hunting with Mr. Amos and Rider. Now, I’m not much of a hunter. So, while Papa Jack and Mr. Amos sat in the front of Papa’s truck on the way to his tree stand, Papa told Rider to give me some tips on deer hunting. Well, y’all know this dude. He goes into an all-out college-level lecture about the best ways to attract deer, what not to do as they’re approaching, and all that. All within the span of fifteen minutes.” The crowd laughs, nodding. “After my crash course, I still haven’t scored a buck, but getting to know this lunatic, and working with him at CKM, has been a blessing.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
October 21, 2022
I had to read this book after the last book left off, even with the heartbreaking cover, to see if Emery gets a better chapter in her story. And since this chapter features her having to process her grief, it spans a few years. Emery has to face the same things everyone else her age does: finishing up high school and preparing to face her future . . . but everything is through a different lens now. By accident, she's becoming a household name in her hometown. And quite on purpose, a new contender for her heart has arrived . . . but Emery is determined not to give her heart away to be broken again.
This book was not a light, fluffy read but something that consumed me as I was right there with Emery's psyche watching her heal and break and heal and break in perhaps the most realistic representation of grief I have ever seen in literature. This one pulls at your heart strings, but it has a heart while it does so, and just feels so real. Emotions are allowed to happen, and relapses occur. But Emery is not alone, even when it seems no one understands, they do, and so does God. A beautiful, bittersweet journey that has me anticipating the next installment.
This book is perfect for anyone who read book one and everyone who wants YA/NA books with more depth.
Note to more sensitive readers: this book deals with grief, so buckle up and brace yourselves.
I received a complimentary copy from the author, but was not required to leave a favorable review.
This book was not a light, fluffy read but something that consumed me as I was right there with Emery's psyche watching her heal and break and heal and break in perhaps the most realistic representation of grief I have ever seen in literature. This one pulls at your heart strings, but it has a heart while it does so, and just feels so real. Emotions are allowed to happen, and relapses occur. But Emery is not alone, even when it seems no one understands, they do, and so does God. A beautiful, bittersweet journey that has me anticipating the next installment.
This book is perfect for anyone who read book one and everyone who wants YA/NA books with more depth.
Note to more sensitive readers: this book deals with grief, so buckle up and brace yourselves.
I received a complimentary copy from the author, but was not required to leave a favorable review.
November 7, 2022
The Fall is another outstanding novel by author Allyson Kennedy which deals the hard topics in a God honouring way and encourages you to take a chance on your dreams.
In this book we come alongside Emery as she deals with grief over Sawyer's death and makes big decisions for her future. I feel like I related even more with her in this struggle over following her dreams or taking the easy way out.
Jace was a cute guy. I don't have any problem with Emery and him ending up together. I love how Jace was willing to go as slow as Emery wanted. They only made it official when they were both good and ready. I loved their banter and the way he helped Emery reach the dream Sawyer began in her. He had his own struggles, and he was the better man for them.
The plot spans three years and as you can imagine, a lot of stuff happened. But there was still an overarching character arc. Just like the previous book, it was on the move, but in a good way. The story kept me hooked until the end.
Oh, and honorary mention for Rider and Becca. They had me worried a couple times but all's well that ends well.
Although this book just came out, I am ready for the next and last book in the trilogy. But for now, snag yourself a copy of this book. You won't want to miss it.
Note: I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for a honest review
In this book we come alongside Emery as she deals with grief over Sawyer's death and makes big decisions for her future. I feel like I related even more with her in this struggle over following her dreams or taking the easy way out.
Jace was a cute guy. I don't have any problem with Emery and him ending up together. I love how Jace was willing to go as slow as Emery wanted. They only made it official when they were both good and ready. I loved their banter and the way he helped Emery reach the dream Sawyer began in her. He had his own struggles, and he was the better man for them.
The plot spans three years and as you can imagine, a lot of stuff happened. But there was still an overarching character arc. Just like the previous book, it was on the move, but in a good way. The story kept me hooked until the end.
Oh, and honorary mention for Rider and Becca. They had me worried a couple times but all's well that ends well.
Although this book just came out, I am ready for the next and last book in the trilogy. But for now, snag yourself a copy of this book. You won't want to miss it.
Note: I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for a honest review
July 2, 2024
3.75??
Super cute story though sad and a bit long at times. I realized that I technically read the series out of order but I wasn't confused at any point.
Super cute story though sad and a bit long at times. I realized that I technically read the series out of order but I wasn't confused at any point.
November 18, 2022
I'm finally getting around to writing my review! :D
Rating - 4.5 stars
“The Fall” takes place right where the author left us at the end of “The Crush.” Emery is still grieving over the tragic lost of Swayer, wondering how she could ever let go of him and the first love she ever experienced. As she tries to figure out how to move on, it does help that there’s someone who is itching to pursue her. Will she close up or dive in to try to find love again?
Pacing
I wasn’t sure if this book was going to feel drowned out because Emery was depressed for a good portion of the book. But Allyson Kennedy knows what she is doing. Even though in her mind she stuck with paralyzing thoughts of the past, life was still moving on, so I think that helped big time. There were no slow moments at all and moved from each big milestone, like graduation and the first day of college, quite smoothly.
Characters
I only have one complaint and that’s a specific character: Jace. There wasn’t really anything unique about him that made him stand out as a character. Thus, I had trouble trying to even like his character. I personally feel like he needed a little more development and can I say that it felt like he was 26 instead of 21? But I loved when Emery was giving him a hard time in the beginning. Their banter was amazing. On a different note, Kennedy did an excellent job of showing the change of someone. I loved the turnaround Jodie had after going downhill since the death of Swayer and Brynn leaving. It was very gradual, and I feel like it happened at just the right time.
Themes
I feel like the book seemed to still be a little preachy at times, but I loved how the main theme was seeking God amidst pain. During trials, it can be difficult to see God’s hand in it all because we wonder, “Why is He even allowing this to happen?” So, it’s easy to just fall away because His ways are confusing. But in “The Fall,” Kennedy explicitly showed that God is always right with us in the hard times and these trials are to help strengthen our faith in Him. This is something that I’ve bene learning a lot more recently, so it was nice to see this lesson in a book.
Content
Mentions of death, butt (way too many in my opinion…), kissing, and drinking (a couple of times, and it was very minor) and uses of euphemisms (dang, heck, crap, etc.).
Overall, this was another sweet read and I enjoyed it thoroughly! It’s so nice to see Christian YA that is SO centered around God and Kennedy does a fantastic job with that. I cannot wait to see what she brings in the last book of the trilogy!
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts are my own and I was not obligated to give positive feedback.
Rating - 4.5 stars
“The Fall” takes place right where the author left us at the end of “The Crush.” Emery is still grieving over the tragic lost of Swayer, wondering how she could ever let go of him and the first love she ever experienced. As she tries to figure out how to move on, it does help that there’s someone who is itching to pursue her. Will she close up or dive in to try to find love again?
Pacing
I wasn’t sure if this book was going to feel drowned out because Emery was depressed for a good portion of the book. But Allyson Kennedy knows what she is doing. Even though in her mind she stuck with paralyzing thoughts of the past, life was still moving on, so I think that helped big time. There were no slow moments at all and moved from each big milestone, like graduation and the first day of college, quite smoothly.
Characters
I only have one complaint and that’s a specific character: Jace. There wasn’t really anything unique about him that made him stand out as a character. Thus, I had trouble trying to even like his character. I personally feel like he needed a little more development and can I say that it felt like he was 26 instead of 21? But I loved when Emery was giving him a hard time in the beginning. Their banter was amazing. On a different note, Kennedy did an excellent job of showing the change of someone. I loved the turnaround Jodie had after going downhill since the death of Swayer and Brynn leaving. It was very gradual, and I feel like it happened at just the right time.
Themes
I feel like the book seemed to still be a little preachy at times, but I loved how the main theme was seeking God amidst pain. During trials, it can be difficult to see God’s hand in it all because we wonder, “Why is He even allowing this to happen?” So, it’s easy to just fall away because His ways are confusing. But in “The Fall,” Kennedy explicitly showed that God is always right with us in the hard times and these trials are to help strengthen our faith in Him. This is something that I’ve bene learning a lot more recently, so it was nice to see this lesson in a book.
Content
Mentions of death, butt (way too many in my opinion…), kissing, and drinking (a couple of times, and it was very minor) and uses of euphemisms (dang, heck, crap, etc.).
Overall, this was another sweet read and I enjoyed it thoroughly! It’s so nice to see Christian YA that is SO centered around God and Kennedy does a fantastic job with that. I cannot wait to see what she brings in the last book of the trilogy!
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts are my own and I was not obligated to give positive feedback.
December 13, 2022
oh... my word. i love this series so much, and will likely buy myself a hardcopy someday <3 i loved every part of this, whether it was jace being a goofball (have i mentioned yet that i'm in love with him? because yes, i am), ryder + becca's relationship working itself out, the gorgeously done faith elements, or emery feeling angsty.
the whole thing radiated comfort, and i just- oh goodness, i think any girl over the age of 11/12-ish would enjoy this.
*i received a free copy for review purposes. all thoughts reflected in this review are my own. i was not required to write a positive review.
the whole thing radiated comfort, and i just- oh goodness, i think any girl over the age of 11/12-ish would enjoy this.
*i received a free copy for review purposes. all thoughts reflected in this review are my own. i was not required to write a positive review.
November 9, 2022
What a ride! Y’all, I have so many emotions. This book made me feel so many things. Ahh😭 Allyson Kennedy has stomped on my heart again. But it’s okay, because this series is beautiful and the heartbreak is worth it.💗
I have been soo eagerly awaiting the release of The Fall ever since I finished The Crush in 2020 and loved it! I desperately needed to know the rest of Emery’s story.
Like The Crush, this isn’t a fluffy read and I cried so many times. But it’s real, and it’s beautiful because of that. It talks about grief in a very real way and I appreciate that.
I knew this book was going to be an emotional ride and it was.
First of all, I love these characters and I was so happy to return to their story. I’ve grown attached to them and this southern, small town where they live. As a southern girl myself, I love the southernness of these characters. I love the accents, the southern phrases, basically all of it. 🥰
It was hard to see Emery the way she was after the events of the first book. She is only a shell of herself and is clinging to her grief throughout most of the story. But watching her journey to finding hope again was beautiful. Honestly, I cried along with her. The Crush crushed me too (it is appropriately named, my friends. I have never cried so much over a book before.)
I loved watching her journey as she pursues a career in music, and the ups and downs of that. As someone who loves music and writing, I really love this aspect of the plot.
I love the family dynamics of this series. I really like Auden and Rider, especially Rider! I also love seeing her friendship with Ryanne.
And I love getting to see new characters as well, especially Jace. I loved him so stinkin’ much! He is the perfect, sweet country boy and he really stole my heart the way he respected Emery. He was such a gentleman, always patient and kind with Emery through it all. And the meet-cute in this book was pretty adorable. I just gotta say. I was totally fangirling.🥰
Like The Crush, the faith in this book was so good. It’s definitely been one of the major highlights of this series for me. It’s real, raw, and honest.
In conclusion, The Fall was soo good! I cried, laughed, smiled, and then cried some more (it’s emotional, y’all!) I literally can’t wait for The Dream! I am beyond excited for it. I love this series and seriously can’t wait to read the rest of Emery’s story!
*Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for a review! All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I have been soo eagerly awaiting the release of The Fall ever since I finished The Crush in 2020 and loved it! I desperately needed to know the rest of Emery’s story.
Like The Crush, this isn’t a fluffy read and I cried so many times. But it’s real, and it’s beautiful because of that. It talks about grief in a very real way and I appreciate that.
I knew this book was going to be an emotional ride and it was.
First of all, I love these characters and I was so happy to return to their story. I’ve grown attached to them and this southern, small town where they live. As a southern girl myself, I love the southernness of these characters. I love the accents, the southern phrases, basically all of it. 🥰
It was hard to see Emery the way she was after the events of the first book. She is only a shell of herself and is clinging to her grief throughout most of the story. But watching her journey to finding hope again was beautiful. Honestly, I cried along with her. The Crush crushed me too (it is appropriately named, my friends. I have never cried so much over a book before.)
I loved watching her journey as she pursues a career in music, and the ups and downs of that. As someone who loves music and writing, I really love this aspect of the plot.
I love the family dynamics of this series. I really like Auden and Rider, especially Rider! I also love seeing her friendship with Ryanne.
And I love getting to see new characters as well, especially Jace. I loved him so stinkin’ much! He is the perfect, sweet country boy and he really stole my heart the way he respected Emery. He was such a gentleman, always patient and kind with Emery through it all. And the meet-cute in this book was pretty adorable. I just gotta say. I was totally fangirling.🥰
Like The Crush, the faith in this book was so good. It’s definitely been one of the major highlights of this series for me. It’s real, raw, and honest.
In conclusion, The Fall was soo good! I cried, laughed, smiled, and then cried some more (it’s emotional, y’all!) I literally can’t wait for The Dream! I am beyond excited for it. I love this series and seriously can’t wait to read the rest of Emery’s story!
*Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for a review! All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
October 24, 2022
The Fall is a story of sorrow and healing, of stage fright and overcoming, of living and loving whole-heartedly, all woven together with larger-than-life Christian characters. We fell in love with young songwriter Emery in The Crush. The development of her beautiful, broken story in The Fall will have us cheering for an encore.
Allyson Kennedy did a fantastic job with a very meaningful book! I LOVED it, and now I'm counting down until the author finishes the next book in the series! The world needs more books like this - books that show relatable, lovable Christians going through life with all its twists and turns, books that wrestle with depression and grief and dreaming big, books that make readers laugh and cry, all while urging readers to strengthen their faith.
I recommend The Fall for mature readers, ages 12-adult. It is a very clean read with no profanity, violence, or sex. Readers should start the series at the beginning with The Crush to best appreciate The Fall.
I'd like to thank the author for the opportunity to alpha read. My review is honest.
Allyson Kennedy did a fantastic job with a very meaningful book! I LOVED it, and now I'm counting down until the author finishes the next book in the series! The world needs more books like this - books that show relatable, lovable Christians going through life with all its twists and turns, books that wrestle with depression and grief and dreaming big, books that make readers laugh and cry, all while urging readers to strengthen their faith.
I recommend The Fall for mature readers, ages 12-adult. It is a very clean read with no profanity, violence, or sex. Readers should start the series at the beginning with The Crush to best appreciate The Fall.
I'd like to thank the author for the opportunity to alpha read. My review is honest.
September 30, 2022
Building off of my review of the first book, The Crush, The Fall is a book that I have been anxiously awaiting for two years. Emery Brooks and her story in The Crush often pop up in my thoughts, so once I finally got The Fall in my hands, I dove in immediately.
While The Crush deals with early high school Emery, The Fall follows Emery as she finishes high school and goes to college. Watching Emery grow up felt so familiar because the author pens real-life in her story. We'll all be able to relate to something that Emery goes through in this book, and through it all, God is shown to be faithful, steadfast, and merciful. This book is a beautiful reminder of forgiveness, a challenging walk through grief, and an illustration of how important it is to have people who will continually pull you towards God and your dreams.
I read this book when I needed its message the most, and I know I won't be the only reader to say that.
While The Crush deals with early high school Emery, The Fall follows Emery as she finishes high school and goes to college. Watching Emery grow up felt so familiar because the author pens real-life in her story. We'll all be able to relate to something that Emery goes through in this book, and through it all, God is shown to be faithful, steadfast, and merciful. This book is a beautiful reminder of forgiveness, a challenging walk through grief, and an illustration of how important it is to have people who will continually pull you towards God and your dreams.
I read this book when I needed its message the most, and I know I won't be the only reader to say that.
November 20, 2022
I'm not sure how to go about reviewing this book without including spoilers from the previous one, The Crush, but I'll try.
First of all, you really need to read the first book before you do this one. They aren't stand-alones.
The first-well, through most of the book-Emery's in deep grief and depression. It was incredibly emotional. I spent much of the story in tears, and at one point, there was just plain ol' ugly crying from me.
I was also a little afraid to get to the end of the story, as in one of Allyson's posts, she'd been asked why she put Emery through so much pain. So I was a little scared. But without giving spoilers, this book is safe. 😉
Not gonna lie; Emery started getting on my nerves a little with the continual self pity she had going on, but I still 100% recommend this book.
First of all, you really need to read the first book before you do this one. They aren't stand-alones.
The first-well, through most of the book-Emery's in deep grief and depression. It was incredibly emotional. I spent much of the story in tears, and at one point, there was just plain ol' ugly crying from me.
I was also a little afraid to get to the end of the story, as in one of Allyson's posts, she'd been asked why she put Emery through so much pain. So I was a little scared. But without giving spoilers, this book is safe. 😉
Not gonna lie; Emery started getting on my nerves a little with the continual self pity she had going on, but I still 100% recommend this book.
November 4, 2022
The Fall is a beautiful, raw, well-written story following the growth of a young woman who has faced terrible setbacks.
My favorite part of this story is the very realistic way the author handles dealing with grief as a Christian. There isn't a lot of helpful representation of this in literature, but Kennedy doesn't shy away from the topic. With all the force and poignancy of the Psalms, Emery Brooks faces her demons while clinging to her faith in a world that really isn't fair.
I found this book encouraging, edifying, heart-wrenching, and heart-warming. It is well written, the characters feel like real people, and the story kept me interested. I highly recommend this series. Can't wait for the next one!
My favorite part of this story is the very realistic way the author handles dealing with grief as a Christian. There isn't a lot of helpful representation of this in literature, but Kennedy doesn't shy away from the topic. With all the force and poignancy of the Psalms, Emery Brooks faces her demons while clinging to her faith in a world that really isn't fair.
I found this book encouraging, edifying, heart-wrenching, and heart-warming. It is well written, the characters feel like real people, and the story kept me interested. I highly recommend this series. Can't wait for the next one!
November 24, 2022
The Fall surprised and impressed me in all the best of ways. It amounted to precisely the kind of book that I had been seeking for a while: a sequel to a great realistic (preferably YA coming-of-age) work that organically continues all of the threads established in the first book, ultimately producing a powerful, cogent story on its own merit. Impressive sequels to realistic works prove difficult to craft, especially in coming-of-age narratives—because, once the main character has traversed their trial and thereby “come of age,” what more does there exist to write about? I tried reading sequel after sequel to so many young adult coming-of-age books, but almost none of them struck me as necessary, and almost none of them felt anywhere near as heartfelt as the original—until I read The Fall. What sets The Fall apart from other Young Adult coming-of-age sequels is the fact that The Crush culminates with a personal tragedy occurring in Emery’s life. So The Fall explores how Emery responds to this tragedy and how she ultimately recovers from it; the first book naturally provides fertile ground for a sequel.
While, for me, The Fall admittedly lacks some of the emotional, riveting punch that The Crush contained (making me enjoy it slightly less than the original installment), this sequel nonetheless succeeds beautifully in expanding upon Emery’s storyline from the first book of learning to let go of her preconceived ideals of romance. I personally do not agree with the prominent theme of this series that we ought to look to God to write our love story; I personally believe that God gives us the freedom to merely choose our spouse (within reason, of course). However, I nonetheless so appreciate the way that Kennedy deconstructs the concept of soul-mates through Emery’s complex experiences. While Emery ultimately retains belief in relying on God to craft the right love story for her, she is forced in this installment to remove her sugar-coated glasses and come to the sobering realization that life is messy and that her love story will not be quite what she initially idealized. The first guy that she ever loved—someone who God probably even put in her life—died as a teenager (not to mention that he did so after hurting her tremendously). Emery learns that it is alright for her love story to significantly diverge from the storybook romance that her grandparents shared—that she can have two loves at different times of her life—and that this is okay.
To be sure, Emery does not amount to the only well-written character. While I so appreciated the development of Emery and Sawyer in The Crush, I did not feel that the other characters were captured quite as vividly as they could have been. In The Fall, however, far more characters—from Rider to Becca to Ryanne to Miss Jodie—undergo distinct arcs of their own, causing the reader to care for them, understand them, and resonate with them vastly more than they had in previous installments. Rider in particular feels so much more realistically rendered than he had in book one. Ryanne likewise had not quite managed to stand out to me in The Crush—but now I officially love her. When Emery makes a thoughtlessly cruel comment to Ryanne, causing Ryanne to finally stand up to Emery and call her out on all of her crap, I felt so proud of that girl! What’s more, watching how Brynn and Miss Jodie react to the death that occurred in their family proves immensely powerful. And while I do feel like a few flaws could have potentially enhanced Jace’s character, I still certainly like him—and I find his relentless pursuit to push Emery’s buttons hilarious.
Yet another thing to laud The Fall for would be the way that it steers clear of common shortcomings in the genres of Christian fiction and romance. Much like The Crush, I was encouraged by how much truer-to-life and grittier this work feels than most Christian novels do. A prominent theme in The Fall is how important it can be to abandon an idealized fairy-tale view of life and do the best that we can with the hand that we have been dealt, rather than merely relying on God to render everything perfect for us—which shines through in aspects of the book like Rider’s arc as he endeavors to fix up to his grandparents’ property. Such themes prove so refreshing in a piece of Christian fiction. There may not exist another Christian writer out there quite like Alyson Kennedy. And, similarly, in neither installment of this series did the romance ever strike me as overly sappy or gag-worthy. While some romances certainly come across as less sappy than others, I have never encountered any romance novel that seemed completely devoid of excessive sap—until now. Well done, Kennedy! I am impressed.
I would easily rank The Fall as Kennedy’s second-best work, after The Crush. It delivers as a powerful and fitting sequel to an outstanding novel—rendering it the best sequel that I have ever encountered in the genre of Young Adult Realism. The Fall truly seems to culminate Emery’s arc beautifully—which makes me wonder what Kennedy has in store for book three. Will she manage to produce a third installment that feels every bit as organic as this one does? It seems like an immensely difficult feat. The Ballad of Emery Brooks feels like a two-act story, with The Fall as its conclusion. Nevertheless, Alyson Kennedy has already surprised me and impressed me time and time again; I have little doubt that she can do so once more!
While, for me, The Fall admittedly lacks some of the emotional, riveting punch that The Crush contained (making me enjoy it slightly less than the original installment), this sequel nonetheless succeeds beautifully in expanding upon Emery’s storyline from the first book of learning to let go of her preconceived ideals of romance. I personally do not agree with the prominent theme of this series that we ought to look to God to write our love story; I personally believe that God gives us the freedom to merely choose our spouse (within reason, of course). However, I nonetheless so appreciate the way that Kennedy deconstructs the concept of soul-mates through Emery’s complex experiences. While Emery ultimately retains belief in relying on God to craft the right love story for her, she is forced in this installment to remove her sugar-coated glasses and come to the sobering realization that life is messy and that her love story will not be quite what she initially idealized. The first guy that she ever loved—someone who God probably even put in her life—died as a teenager (not to mention that he did so after hurting her tremendously). Emery learns that it is alright for her love story to significantly diverge from the storybook romance that her grandparents shared—that she can have two loves at different times of her life—and that this is okay.
To be sure, Emery does not amount to the only well-written character. While I so appreciated the development of Emery and Sawyer in The Crush, I did not feel that the other characters were captured quite as vividly as they could have been. In The Fall, however, far more characters—from Rider to Becca to Ryanne to Miss Jodie—undergo distinct arcs of their own, causing the reader to care for them, understand them, and resonate with them vastly more than they had in previous installments. Rider in particular feels so much more realistically rendered than he had in book one. Ryanne likewise had not quite managed to stand out to me in The Crush—but now I officially love her. When Emery makes a thoughtlessly cruel comment to Ryanne, causing Ryanne to finally stand up to Emery and call her out on all of her crap, I felt so proud of that girl! What’s more, watching how Brynn and Miss Jodie react to the death that occurred in their family proves immensely powerful. And while I do feel like a few flaws could have potentially enhanced Jace’s character, I still certainly like him—and I find his relentless pursuit to push Emery’s buttons hilarious.
Yet another thing to laud The Fall for would be the way that it steers clear of common shortcomings in the genres of Christian fiction and romance. Much like The Crush, I was encouraged by how much truer-to-life and grittier this work feels than most Christian novels do. A prominent theme in The Fall is how important it can be to abandon an idealized fairy-tale view of life and do the best that we can with the hand that we have been dealt, rather than merely relying on God to render everything perfect for us—which shines through in aspects of the book like Rider’s arc as he endeavors to fix up to his grandparents’ property. Such themes prove so refreshing in a piece of Christian fiction. There may not exist another Christian writer out there quite like Alyson Kennedy. And, similarly, in neither installment of this series did the romance ever strike me as overly sappy or gag-worthy. While some romances certainly come across as less sappy than others, I have never encountered any romance novel that seemed completely devoid of excessive sap—until now. Well done, Kennedy! I am impressed.
I would easily rank The Fall as Kennedy’s second-best work, after The Crush. It delivers as a powerful and fitting sequel to an outstanding novel—rendering it the best sequel that I have ever encountered in the genre of Young Adult Realism. The Fall truly seems to culminate Emery’s arc beautifully—which makes me wonder what Kennedy has in store for book three. Will she manage to produce a third installment that feels every bit as organic as this one does? It seems like an immensely difficult feat. The Ballad of Emery Brooks feels like a two-act story, with The Fall as its conclusion. Nevertheless, Alyson Kennedy has already surprised me and impressed me time and time again; I have little doubt that she can do so once more!
September 17, 2024
The Fall by Allyson Kennedy is heavier than the first book in The Ballad of Emery Brooks series, and the two books complement one another well. The focus is no longer on a naïve teens first experience with love and her desire to follow in her grandparent’s footsteps; now we are fully exploring grief, faith, and figuring out how to determine your next steps in life when things are no longer as simple and clear as they once seemed. It’s still a bit simplistic, but as a book aimed at teens (perhaps even younger teens and preteens), it is solid. None of this is to say that the book isn’t enjoyable – it’s still a fun read, just not as lighthearted. I enjoyed it enough to give it four stars, and it bumped my rating of The Crush up from three to four stars because now I understand where the story goes.
Extended review and more bookish content posted on my blog, Reviews From the Stacks.
Extended review and more bookish content posted on my blog, Reviews From the Stacks.
February 2, 2023
9/10
How to review without spoiling?
We definitely needed this book after The Crush. Emery deals with a whole heck of a lot within herself through the entire book, having to combat grieving, her own depression, & rediscovering her gifts. She also has to learn to break down the many barriers she’s put around herself & the gifts she’s hiding from the world.
So while it’s not immediately a fun, happy book, it shouldn’t be. I thought this slow recovery process was done great, because I wanted to see her life turn around again.
The damaged relationships are real & handled with care, but the characters are allowed to let out their frustrations on each other without losing what we liked about them in the first place.
The ending was perfect & I look forward to seeing where these characters go next in The Dream.
How to review without spoiling?
We definitely needed this book after The Crush. Emery deals with a whole heck of a lot within herself through the entire book, having to combat grieving, her own depression, & rediscovering her gifts. She also has to learn to break down the many barriers she’s put around herself & the gifts she’s hiding from the world.
So while it’s not immediately a fun, happy book, it shouldn’t be. I thought this slow recovery process was done great, because I wanted to see her life turn around again.
The damaged relationships are real & handled with care, but the characters are allowed to let out their frustrations on each other without losing what we liked about them in the first place.
The ending was perfect & I look forward to seeing where these characters go next in The Dream.
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