Book Review: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

Title: The Way We Fall

Author: Megan Crewe
Series: The Way We Fall, #1
Pages: 304
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date of Publication: 24th January 2012
Source: netGalley*
Synopsis from Goodreads: It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

Megan Crewe crafts a powerful and gripping exploration of self-preservation, first love, and hope. Poignant and dizzying, this heart-wrenching story of one girl’s bravery and unbeatable spirit will leave readers fervently awaiting the next book in this standout new series.

My Thoughts:
I actually really, really enjoyed The Way We Fall, a whole lot more than I thought I would. I knew it was a post-apocalyptic novel before I read it, and I kind of assumed it would be the same as the other PA books I've read - as every single one of those were very, very alike. So that's what I thought I'd be getting with The Way We Fall. Luckily, I got something similar but not very similar. There were certain points which I recognised, and others that were completely new, so that was great.

I think the main thing that stood out for me about this book is how real it all felt. The problem with some PA books I've read, is that suddenly, something happens and everyone turns into flesh eating zombie killing machines. And it's not realistic. I don't believe that that could EVER happen in real life, and while that doesn't take away from the story (I have no problem with unrealistic scenarios), it was nice to read something that I could actually believe could happen. And the fact that it was so believable was terrifying.

Kaelyn's world comes crashing down around her when everyone on her island begins to get really ill. At first, she thinks it's nothing, just a few people getting ill, and then suddenly people are dropping like flies. And that's the thing. It's an epidemic, and it could so easily happen nowadays. All it would take is one person to contract a highly contagious disease and then spread it around a little bit, and then before the symptoms kick in, everyone already has it, and it's moving too fast and mutating too quickly that no cure can be made, and before you know it, hardly anyone survives. Scary, huh?

I really liked Kaelyn. I loved how determined she was, and how she never stopped trying to do what she thought was right, even when it came to risking her own life. Even when she was at risk of getting the disease, she carried on to save her family, to do what she could to make sure that as few people as possible got ill. I also really liked her relationship with Gav. I liked how it was realistic it was - how they got to know each other before and how even once they'd kissed, they weren't immediately 'in love' - they were hesitant and not really sure what their feelings for each other were... I don't know, I just think their relationship was very real and I could imagine it completely.

The plot definitely picks up towards the end - though that's not to say that it's slow at the beginning. As more and more people fall ill and the supplies on the island get lower and lower, more things start to happen, and it gets really rather exciting. I won't go into detail in case of spoilers, but there were some VERY surprising things that happened, that I wasn't expecting in the slightest... ;)

The book is written in the form of letters to Kaelyn's friend Leo. It's weird. It's very, very weird. Like, it's written in first person, and then suddenly Kaelyn will drop in a 'you did this' or 'you always thought' and I'll be confused for a second because it doesn't really make sense - I always had to look back over what I'd read to see if I'd missed some dialogue somewhere, or if I hadn't noticed she was talking - and then I'd remember that she's talking to Leo. I felt it was unnecessary, and it didn't really add all that much to the plot... However, it did help to tie up the end of the book in preparation for the sequel, so maybe it'll all come together in the next books... ;)

Overall, The Way We Fall was a really great read. I liked a lot more than I expected, and it's a very real and well written story that's guaranteed to keep you reading, even if it is just to find out whether or not the island manages to survive. I'd recommend this to fans of YA post apocalyptic and dystopian fiction (for there is a difference ;P ) as it would be great!

*Thanks to netGalley and Disney-Hyperion for allowing me access to this galley in exchange for an honest review! In no way has this affected my opinion of the novel. 


My Rating:

I give it 4 Feet!