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The Girls of Fall
B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree
A funny, gritty, and fierce coming-of-age story with an authentic voice, The Girls of Fall is the nostalgic, perfectly angsty romp through the early aughts you didn’t know you needed.
In the era of blue eyeshadow, body glitter, and Axe, seventeen-year-old Sophia Salvatore starts her junior year with one get a boyfriend.
She’s an award-winning varsity athlete and the best friend of Bridget James—the most popular girl in school. That should make it easy, right?
Right. Except snagging the catch of their class turns out to be the easy part. Keeping him proves harder.
Especially when her dad comes back into her life—sober and saved—wanting to resume a father-daughter relationship and lecture about boys. Especially when she can’t untangle the ambivalent feelings about her first boyfriend. Especially when a rift begins forming between her and Bridget that she can’t explain.
It’s only after their friendship finally, and publicly, implodes that Bridget reveals a secret that could change both of their lives.
The girls of fall have an important decision to will they start their senior year together or fractured apart?
A funny, gritty, and fierce coming-of-age story with an authentic voice, The Girls of Fall is the nostalgic, perfectly angsty romp through the early aughts you didn’t know you needed.
In the era of blue eyeshadow, body glitter, and Axe, seventeen-year-old Sophia Salvatore starts her junior year with one get a boyfriend.
She’s an award-winning varsity athlete and the best friend of Bridget James—the most popular girl in school. That should make it easy, right?
Right. Except snagging the catch of their class turns out to be the easy part. Keeping him proves harder.
Especially when her dad comes back into her life—sober and saved—wanting to resume a father-daughter relationship and lecture about boys. Especially when she can’t untangle the ambivalent feelings about her first boyfriend. Especially when a rift begins forming between her and Bridget that she can’t explain.
It’s only after their friendship finally, and publicly, implodes that Bridget reveals a secret that could change both of their lives.
The girls of fall have an important decision to will they start their senior year together or fractured apart?
323 pages, Paperback
Published November 14, 2021
2 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Minyard
7 books29 followersJessica wrote and illustrated her first story in the fourth grade. “The Dragon of Grindley Grun” was about an evil wizard, a princess, and a dragon who was actually a prince. She likes to think her writing has evolved since that very first story, even though she still writes about magic and evil wizards...sometimes.
She likes to sing loudly and dance on occasion without being particularly talented at either. Her interests include reading, writing, procrastinating, animal advocacy, musicals, accessories, memes, and sweet tea.
Jessica lives in Kentucky with a spoiled pitbull.
She likes to sing loudly and dance on occasion without being particularly talented at either. Her interests include reading, writing, procrastinating, animal advocacy, musicals, accessories, memes, and sweet tea.
Jessica lives in Kentucky with a spoiled pitbull.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
4-tbr-maybe
November 20, 2021First of all, I can't believe the author's surname is Minyard, I'm so jealous.
And secondly, and most importatntly: Is this sapphic or not?
And secondly, and most importatntly: Is this sapphic or not?
February 2, 2022
Sophia has only a few simple goals for junior year: kick butt at the district tournament with her soccer team, work on her portfolio for AP Art, and get a boyfriend. However, things don’t proceed quite as smoothly as planned when the football quarterback she starts dating doesn’t charm her 100%, and her absent father suddenly makes a reappearance in her life. Worse still, a rift starts forming between her and her best friend Bridget that may become permanent when a surprising revelation shakes the foundation of their friendship.
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The Girls of Fall was a charming and utterly relatable YA novel. There were so many parts with which I empathized and remembered experiencing myself in my school years. The mid-2000’s setting was a wonderful throwback! I loved all the references to that era’s fashion like studded belts and two layered polos (a horrendous trend that needs to never ever come back again lol), along with pop culture references like the Shrek movies and flip phones.
I adored Sophia and Bridget’s characterizations and friendship; everyone had that one friend they leaned on as kids and shared secrets with, and with that same friend the relationship couldn’t be as rock solid as it was without a little bit of fighting and melodrama. I loved that the girls weren’t perfect, and neither was their friendship. They sniped at each other and exchanged mean words to get their points across, knowing that they would make up by the end of the day.
There were a number of engaging themes explored in the story including family dynamics, coming-of-age, first love, questions of identity, and religion/faith. The writing style was easy to follow and was able to be both humorous and poignant all throughout the pages. It was a quick read but the topics explored in this novel are sure to make a lasting impression on readers.
*Thank you so much to the author for the gifted novel in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The Girls of Fall was a charming and utterly relatable YA novel. There were so many parts with which I empathized and remembered experiencing myself in my school years. The mid-2000’s setting was a wonderful throwback! I loved all the references to that era’s fashion like studded belts and two layered polos (a horrendous trend that needs to never ever come back again lol), along with pop culture references like the Shrek movies and flip phones.
I adored Sophia and Bridget’s characterizations and friendship; everyone had that one friend they leaned on as kids and shared secrets with, and with that same friend the relationship couldn’t be as rock solid as it was without a little bit of fighting and melodrama. I loved that the girls weren’t perfect, and neither was their friendship. They sniped at each other and exchanged mean words to get their points across, knowing that they would make up by the end of the day.
There were a number of engaging themes explored in the story including family dynamics, coming-of-age, first love, questions of identity, and religion/faith. The writing style was easy to follow and was able to be both humorous and poignant all throughout the pages. It was a quick read but the topics explored in this novel are sure to make a lasting impression on readers.
*Thank you so much to the author for the gifted novel in exchange for my honest thoughts.
December 28, 2023
Book 100 of the year was a good one! Very cute & relatable. Boy drama, friend drama, crappy dad, Catholic school. What a time. 4.5 stars.
February 14, 2022
I very rarely read books with catholic characters, but I couldn't help but read this one. Not only is the author from my state, but it's a queer ya romance; how could I resist that? I was actually a little confused going into it because it took a while for the Sapphic aspect to become obvious (at least to me).
This is a great coming-of-age novel. I actually connected with Sophia fairly well, so I absolutely loved her character. I thought all of the characters were well-written, but I Sophia just resonated with me.
The author's writing style was amazing. I'll definitely be reading more of her books as soon as I can! I finished this book in no time, and it even got me out of a severe reading slump. Minyard's writing was just so engaging and captivating that I could not put this book down. It covered so many important topics - family, discovering your identity/sexuality, friendships, etc. I highly recommend this one for anyone who loves YA!
Thank you Pride Book Tours for the gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is a great coming-of-age novel. I actually connected with Sophia fairly well, so I absolutely loved her character. I thought all of the characters were well-written, but I Sophia just resonated with me.
The author's writing style was amazing. I'll definitely be reading more of her books as soon as I can! I finished this book in no time, and it even got me out of a severe reading slump. Minyard's writing was just so engaging and captivating that I could not put this book down. It covered so many important topics - family, discovering your identity/sexuality, friendships, etc. I highly recommend this one for anyone who loves YA!
Thank you Pride Book Tours for the gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
October 21, 2022
I can’t help but smile that books like this now exist for young adult readers. As a kid who went through some of these same feelings I found it incredibly relatable
November 20, 2021
A young adult tale for all ages
What a great read! I was here for the drama, the cringe, and the lust from a proper coming of age book. The characters are so relatable and I might also be in love with Father Adrian.
What a great read! I was here for the drama, the cringe, and the lust from a proper coming of age book. The characters are so relatable and I might also be in love with Father Adrian.
November 23, 2021
This is my book baby so I'm giving her five stars. <3
June 16, 2022
Soccer Girls, Sass, and Life’s Ups and Downs
Lots of character and personality, along with the sass and attitude you’d expect from high school juniors. Add to the mix, the teens attend Catholic school! Revisit all the feels of parents not understanding, adults at school you thought were out to get you, and the friends who hated you one day then loved you the next.
Lots of character and personality, along with the sass and attitude you’d expect from high school juniors. Add to the mix, the teens attend Catholic school! Revisit all the feels of parents not understanding, adults at school you thought were out to get you, and the friends who hated you one day then loved you the next.
February 9, 2022
4.5 stars
What a surprising little gem! Well-written, well-edited, and loads of character. I thoroughly enjoyed!
I have never attended a Catholic school (nor am I Catholic) but I could picture it perfectly. I’ve also never been an athlete, but the teenage-girl experience was all too familiar.
What a surprising little gem! Well-written, well-edited, and loads of character. I thoroughly enjoyed!
I have never attended a Catholic school (nor am I Catholic) but I could picture it perfectly. I’ve also never been an athlete, but the teenage-girl experience was all too familiar.
May 22, 2022
We are proud to announce that THE GIRLS OF FALL by Jessica Minyard has been honored with the B.R.A.G.Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). It now joins the very select award-winning, reader-recommended books at indieBRAG.
December 13, 2022
This was such a good palate cleanser. It was a sweet coming of age/dealing with sexuality and being different story.
April 15, 2023
Short and sweet. A bit of romance and plenty of drama. Just a cosy read if you feel like picking something lighthearted.
January 23, 2022
I was actually about 18/19 when this book takes place, so I was a couple years older… but I still totally get this age in this era and there was a major sense of nostalgia reading this. I had my absolute best friend from age 4 all the way through, so this totally hit for me.
Sophia is a junior in high school. She is a fantastic athlete. And she attends a very catholic school. She and her bestie Bridget know all of each other’s secrets. At this age in her life, it’s all about getting boys boys boys… and she catches the attention of the very handsome London.
While things are great on paper, she is struggling to connect with him. She is drawn to Bridget’s on again off again boyfriend, which is starting to make things weird on all fronts. Guilt and intrigue go hand in hand.
Maneuvering through boy troubles, high school drama and her alcoholic father coming home after leaving she and her mom years ago and now trying to make like he is the head of the God fearing household again makes for a whole lot of emotional angst…
The top blows when she and Bridget get into it in a very public way and I think that the rift between them is what is most difficult for Sophia.
I really liked this! It felt very mid 2000s. It felt very much on point with that age of being a teenager, with so many aspects that are still current to this age of being a teenager. All of the emotion and the angsty turmoil was evident. I read this in a day because it got better and better as the pages passed.
*I received a complimentary paperback of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Sophia is a junior in high school. She is a fantastic athlete. And she attends a very catholic school. She and her bestie Bridget know all of each other’s secrets. At this age in her life, it’s all about getting boys boys boys… and she catches the attention of the very handsome London.
While things are great on paper, she is struggling to connect with him. She is drawn to Bridget’s on again off again boyfriend, which is starting to make things weird on all fronts. Guilt and intrigue go hand in hand.
Maneuvering through boy troubles, high school drama and her alcoholic father coming home after leaving she and her mom years ago and now trying to make like he is the head of the God fearing household again makes for a whole lot of emotional angst…
The top blows when she and Bridget get into it in a very public way and I think that the rift between them is what is most difficult for Sophia.
I really liked this! It felt very mid 2000s. It felt very much on point with that age of being a teenager, with so many aspects that are still current to this age of being a teenager. All of the emotion and the angsty turmoil was evident. I read this in a day because it got better and better as the pages passed.
*I received a complimentary paperback of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
June 22, 2023
I bought the book because of the first line, but it didn't go in the direction I thought based on the first line. That is not a bad thing.
It was an easy-to-read story that brought in all kinds of relatable complications, such as family members suddenly getting religion and friendships changing in ways you might not expect.
It was an easy-to-read story that brought in all kinds of relatable complications, such as family members suddenly getting religion and friendships changing in ways you might not expect.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews