Book Review: The Fall Up by Aly Martinez

From Goodreads

I wanted to jump.
He made me fall.

As a celebrity, I lived in the public eye, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost myself in the spotlight.

Until he found me.

Sam Rivers was a gorgeous, tattooed stranger who saved my life with nothing more than a simple conversation.

But we were both standing on that bridge for a reason the night we met. The secrets of our pasts brought us together—and then tore us apart.

Could we find a reason to hold on as life constantly pulled us down?

Or maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall in love at rock bottom—up. 

My Review

4.5 Falling... Stars!

My career was soaring while, personally, I was plummeting. Every single day felt like a terrifying free fall in no particular direction. I was stuck in the middle with no way up - or down. 

Levee Williams is a world famous pop star that has it all... at first glance. She's constantly in the spotlight, and between spending all her possible free time in the pediatric cancer ward brining smiles to sick kids' faces, grieving for the sister she lost to the same disease as a child, and pasting on a smile for the world to see, she's run herself into the ground. 

Every night for the past several days, she's found herself on a San Francisco bridge...contemplating. 

Enter Sam Waters.  Gorgeous, tattooed, and chain smoking, he's on that bridge to remember. When he catches a glimpse at the beautiful woman hiding behind oversized glasses and a wig, clinging to the railing, those memories are dredged up. Hoping to step in and prevent what he couldn't before, he starts talking to her, drawing her attention away from the water below. 

With that simple act, a bond starts to form between the raw characters that was so beautiful it made me tear up on more than one occasion. The couple has a long journey ahead of them, and we get a front row seat to everything between them.

I had absolutely no business trying to pursue something with her. We came from different worlds - and only part of that had anything to do with her being famous. Hell, that was the easy part. We were both so filled with pain. Only she was determined to escape it, while I physically ached to stop her. We'd be a fucking train wreck together. 

I adored this one! Aly Martinez is one of my favorite authors, and I was thrilled to get an ARC of one of my most anticipated releases of the year. The woman can do no wrong in my eyes! Her stories are captivating, emotional, hilarious, fresh, and gorgeously romantic. The Fall Up was no exception! 

This story was gorgeous. Completely, utterly gorgeous. I was pleasantly shocked at how the subject of running yourself so ragged and becoming depressed was handled! It wasn't overly dramatic. It wasn't selfish. It wasn't an angst-fest. It was funny, romantic, honest, swoon-worthy, and so realistic! 

The characters were so vivid! Each and every one, from Sam and Levee to the side characters, felt like tangible people that would come alive from the pages. This is Martinez's specialty, and I love it.

I was falling fast for that man, and I could only hope I was taking him with me. 

Levee was such an enjoyable heroine! She was so down to earth, funny, and just a genuinely good person. She wasn't the vapid pop princess you'd expect from that line of work, which I really appreciated. I was surprised at how much I could empathize with what she was going through; Martinez did a fantastic job of showcasing what happens when you help others without helping yourself. The circumstance as it was written felt like it could happen to anything, and it made Levee even more relatable.

"I'm not perfect, and I'd like to pretend you aren't, either."

Sam....!!! God, I loved him. He was the perfect hero in that he wasn't perfect, and he didn't think he was. He was so sweet, funny, humble, and honest. He, like Levee, was such a good person, with an enormous heart. The level of love and tenderness he had for Levee was gorgeous, of course, but he cared for everyone in his life with such dedication. He was an admirable character, and a fresh take on heroes that completely bypassed the asshole alpha trend. The world needs more men like Sam Waters. 

"That bitch!"
"She's nice enough, just -"
"Nice enough? I'm gonna put a hit out on her!"
"Okay, hold on there, Tony Soprano. No one's putting a hit on anyone." I paused. "Just to be clear, you don't have those kind of connections, do you?"
"No, but I have money! I'm sure I can buy some connections."

The chemistry and connection between Sam and Levee blew me away! They were broken, fragmented people that somehow still fit together perfectly. In any other story by any other author, their connection would have been insta-love. Not here, though. The way the met was so intense and so raw that it was no wonder they formed such a connection from it.

"From the moment I first met you, you made the world lighter. You didn't even know you were doing it at first. But just knowing you would be on that bridge every night soothed the madness that was ricocheting around inside my head. You made me laugh, and you made me feel special. The relief I felt in your arms made the craziness manageable. You were never a distraction to me, Sam. You were always my reprieve."

Their sex scenes were smoldering, and I laughed out loud on more than one occasion at their banter! They were hilarious together, and once again, so real.

"Your dick's pierced." 

"I...fuck...ugh. Is it? I thought they all looked like that."

The story was told in alternating perspectives, and it was so fun to see both their points of view. They had distinctive voices I could differentiate just on tone, without having to even read which was talking. 

The secondary characters were just as funny and enjoyable as Sam and Levee! I really hope Sam and Levee's best friends get their own novels. 

"Just make sure she keeps her mouth shut, yeah? Levee and I aren't telling people we're together yet."

"No problem. I had her sign a nondisclosure agreement."

"Who the fuck are you? Christian Grey?"

"Who the fuck are you? A post-menopausal woman? Why do you know anything about Christian Grey?"

There wasn't any sort of big reveal or anything, which I enjoyed. It was their story, no lies and no pretenses. So refreshing!

There was a point around 80% where I had expected the story to end on an all too prefect happily ever after, but it didn't. It went on to show that life isn't that easy or that perfect, and I was so thrilled to see that. We did get a very adorable, very happily ever after, but only after some very hard work from both of them. It was such a satisfying ending, too!

Levee and I were in love - there was no doubt about that. But we were still getting to know each other on so many levels. 

Not our bodies, though. They were sexual soul mates. 

Despite the very heavy subject matter, this was a beautiful, hilarious romance that perfectly balanced the happy and light with the serious. I loved it, and it resides on my all time favorites shelf!

"At the end of the day, you have to be the one to want to live. All I can do is be at your side while you do it."

Overall, The Fall Up was a beautiful, swoon worthy romance between relatable people. It sucked me in from page one, and I finished it in a day and a half. It was one of those books that just leaves you with a smile and a content feeling. Highly recommend! If you're new to the author, this is a great place to start.

Stats:

Rating: 4.5 stars

Genre: New adult, contemporary romance 

Series: Standalone

POV: 1st person, dual perspective

Steam/sexual content: Deliciously steamy, explicit sex

Warnings: Sex, swearing

Cliffhanger: No

HEA: YES!

On My Goodreads Shelves: 2015 releases, 4.5 Stars, ARCs, A Slut For Smut, Book Boyfriends, Enjoyed, Favorites, Forget Boyfriend I'd Marry Him, I Ship Them So Hard, Steamy, Sweet Romance

Length: 260 pages

Published: October 26th, 2015

ARC to Review

Goodreads

- The Bibliophile Babe 

6 Books I Am Dying to Read

Hey, everyone!


Happy Monday! I've been very good (or bad, depending on how you look at it) this month and haven't bought a single book. Gasp, I know. However, I'm finally getting my ass into gear and will be buying some professional lighting, backdrops and props that I've been meaning to get for months. I'm excited to learn how to use it all, but it's put book buying on the back burning. Not for too long, though! I'll be ordering these books very soon.

Add to Goodreads

Young adult, mystery, contemporary romance


SYNOPSIS:
Vic Howard never wanted to go to the party. He’s the Invisible Guy at school, a special kind of hell for quiet, nice guys. But because his best friend is as popular as Vic is ignored, he went…

And wished he hadn’t.

Because something happened to a girl that night. Something terrible, unimaginable, and Callie Wheeler’s life will never be the same. Plus, now Callie has told the police that Vic is responsible. Suddenly, Invisible Vic is painfully visible, on trial both literally, with the police, and figuratively, with the angry kids at school. As the whispers and violence escalate, he becomes determined to clear his name, even if it means an uneasy alliance with Callie's best friend, the beautiful but aloof Autumn Dixon.

But as Autumn and Vic slowly peel back the layers of what happened at the party, they realize that while the truth can set Vic free, it can also shatter everything he thought he knew about his life…

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Contemporary romance, suspense. Adult or new adult, not sure which.

One of my favorite reviewers recently started buzzing about this, and it's so highly rated!
As a college freshman, Erik Fiskare is drawn to the world of theater but prefers backstage to center stage. The moment he lays eyes on a beautiful, accomplished dancer named Daisy Bianco, his atoms rearrange themselves and he is drawn into a romance both youthfully passionate and maturely soulful. Their love story thrives within a tight-knit circle of friends, all bound by creativity and artistry. A newcomer arrives--a brilliant but erratic dancer with an unquenchable thirst for connection. And when this disturbed friend brings a gun into the theater, the story is forever changed. Daisy is shot and left seriously injured. And Erik finds himself alone in the aisle, looking down the muzzle of a pistol and trying to stop the madness. He succeeds, but with tremendous repercussions to his well-being and that of his loved ones.

Traumatized by the experience, the lovers spiral into depression and drug use until a shocking act of betrayal destroys their relationship. To survive, Erik must leave school and disconnect from all he loves. He buries his heartbreak and puts the past behind. Or so he believes. 

As he moves into adulthood, Erik comes to grips with his role in the shooting, and slowly heals the most wounded parts of his soul. But the unresolved grief for Daisy continues to shape his dreams at night. Once those dreams were haunted by blood and gunfire. Now they are haunted by the refrain of a Gershwin song and a single question: is leaving always the end of loving? 

Spanning 15 years, The Man I Love explores themes of love and sexuality, trauma—physical and mental—and its long-lasting effects, the burden of unfinished business and the power of reconciliation. Through Erik’s experience we reflect on what it means to be a man, a son and a leader. A soul mate, a partner and a lover. What it means to live the truth of who you are and what you feel. What it means to fight for what you love. 

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Adult, dark erotic thriller (with romance?)
My twisted little brain loves the sound of this.

I haven't touched a human in three years. That seems like it would be a difficult task, but it's not. Not anymore, thanks to the internet.

I am, quite possibly, the most popular recluse ever. Not many shut-ins have a 200-member fan club, a bank account in the seven-figure range, and hundreds of men lining up to pay for undivided attention.

They get satisfaction, I get a distraction. Their secret desires are nothing compared to why I hide... my lust for blood, my love of death.

Taking their money is easy. Keeping all these secrets... one is bound to escape.

What if you hid yourself away because all you could think of was killing? And what if one girl's life depending on you venturing into society?

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New adult, contemporary romance

There doesn't seem to be a middle ground with this book; people are either rating it 4-5 stars or shelving it as a DNF. I'm absurdly drawn to the cover, and that's what put it on my TBR. I'm not sure what I'll think.

Lose your heart to your new bad boy book boyfriend. Wes Carter - sexy, edgy, behind bars, with emotional scars as permanent as the ink on his skin, just waiting to be healed by love...

Fans of Samantha Young, Jodi Ellen Malpas, Jamie McGuire, Katy Evans and Prison Break will find this powerful love story utterly addictive and unforgettable.

Their love is forbidden. But won't be denied... Can true love heal the deepest scars?

For Kat Lane, teaching inmates at a New York prison is her way of upholding the legacy of her beloved father, murdered fifteen years ago. But when new student Wes Carter walks into her classroom, she's shaken by the strength of her attraction to him. Carter is as handsome as he is dangerous, as mysterious as he is quick-witted - and he ensures people keep their distance. Yet vibrant Kat bypasses his defences and challenges him to reveal the real man behind the intimidating reputation. As their emotional barriers crumble, their inescapable but forbidden feelings cannot be ignored. But will Kat's discovery of Carter's role on the night her father died force them apart...or bind their hearts for ever?

A Pound of Flesh is a tale of loyalty, redemption and all-consuming love against the odds, introducing an irresistible bad boy hero...

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New adult, contemporary romance
I loved Archer's Voice, though I'm having trouble getting into another book by the author.

Grace Hamilton was the girl with a plan. She knew exactly where her life was going and prided herself on always achieving her goals. It was who she was, and how she lived her life. She never stepped outside the lines, and never considered what she might desire and whom she was actually trying so hard to please. Until him . . . 

Carson Stinger was a man who didn't play by any rules except his own. Working in the adult entertainment industry, he didn't care what others thought, and took each day as it came, no direction, no plan. He knew what women wanted from him and believed it was all he had to offer. Until her . . . 

When circumstances forced them to spend several hours together, they walked away changed. But for two people who never should have meshed, overcoming the reality of their vastly different lives wasn't possible. At least not yet . . .

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Young adult, fantasy/paranormal romance

I was wildly entertained by this author's Soul Screamer series, enough that I actually pushed through a love triangle (and was happy with who won!). This has been getting really high ratings from reviewers I wouldn't have expected to like it.

Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

What books are you currently lusting after?

- The Bibliophile Babe