How I Fall by Anne Eliot

Got this and the next book in a 2 book bundle, so finally going back and finishing this series.  So had to reread this one again — thus includes my original review as well as a reread note.

Synopsis:
*WHAT IF YOU HAD AN IMPOSSIBLE CRUSH?*
Impossible because she’s Ellen Foster. The beautiful, smart, and possibly fragile photography-girl. You’re Cam Campbell. The guy who plays football 24/7 with no life. But what if during junior year, you decide to finally try for her phone number—until this glitter-crazed new girl ruins your plan. Worse, the girl is Irish, awkward, and insists you and Ellen should become best friends—with her! Only, you don’t want to be friends with a human tornado, and you think Ellen might need to stay a crush. This is because after one interaction you’ve discovered Ellen Foster really is fragile. Your problems and secrets are too big for anyone to understand.

*WHAT IF YOU COULDN’T RESIST?*
But what if the three of you wind up assigned to a group photography project, where rumors are already circling about the new girl being ridiculous? You know she’s nice but very alone, so you convince your crush to help protect the new girl. Suddenly, working on the project makes hanging out, texting, talking—and even high school—seem fun and completely normal when it’s anything but normal.

*WHAT IF YOU KISS*
What if you kiss Ellen Foster and it’s perfect enough to make you believe in things you shouldn’t. You tell her secrets and share your dreams. You make the kinds of promises and create plans to be together that might be impossible to keep when you’re only sixteen and your parents control your entire future,
but…

*WHAT IF YOU HURT HER…*

    

My Review:
ON REREAD: Probably would round down to 4 instead of up to 5.  The things I noted in the review below bothered me a bit more this time around.  But I’m going to leave it on here b/c I could be just in a mood.

4.5 stars — this book had me mega grinning from practically the first page.  Honestly, there was so much to love about the characters, and it was just one of those sweet ya romances….well, that is until they ran into conflict and my heart was ripped out when I discovered this was actually a 2 book series!!!  Seriously, how did I not know that??

REALLY had a hard time deciding whether to round up or down on this one.  The parts that I LOVED had this book at a 5++++.  But there were a few little things that bugged me, and one of those was the naivety of Cam.  I really disliked how blinded he was to his parents….well, sometimes I felt like he totally saw them for the snobs and jerks they were, but then he’d be like “don’t worry, when I explain it will all be good.”  I just don’t get where that came from?  It was the same with his friends.  Was he really that oblivious to how Ellen was treated?  But then I think, maybe it’s b/c he was only 16 and truly just thought that good would prevail and all that.  So yeah, not sure how I ended up feeling on that in the end.  I mean, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Cam.  Seriously, LOVE that boy.  And he and Ellen together were so sweet and just OMG <3’s everywhere awesomeness.  So maybe that’s why I was disappointed in him?

Regardless of that little niggle, I LOVED the characters.  I am chagrined to say that when I read the synopsis, I somehow got it into my head that Laura was either younger, or had perhaps a developmental handicap.  Honestly, I HAVE NO IDEA where I got that from.  Going back and rereading it doesn’t enlighten me, so feel free to laugh your butts off.  Seriously.  Laura was hilarious.  She was such a nice addition to the cast, along with Patrick.  So it wasn’t just a romance developing, but an expansion of both Ellen *and* Cam’s friend group.  Loved the dynamics between the 4 of them.

Some of the bits in the climax bordered on unbelievable, but it didn’t bother me as much as it has in previous books by Ms. Eliot.

And on a weird side note, as a Western Canadian, and HUGE CFL (Canadian Football League) fan, I found the football notes irksome on occasion….but that’s a TOTAL personal thing.  Honestly, I’m from Saskatchewan, and it’s like a religion over there.  So to see the CFL sort of relegated to lameness or second best rose my hackles.  😉  But since Timmie’s was appropriately worshipped in the book, I will forgive the American author.  Besides, maybe it’s different over in Ontario, especially closer to the border like the town was.

And now that I got rid of that silly aside, I will just say that it is BY FAR my favourite Anne Eliot book.  Seriously, most of it had me grinning and laughing and just happy so much my cheeks hurt.  Now I will have to impatiently wait alongside the rest of the fans for the conclusion.  *leg starts tapping uncontrollably*  HURRY!!!