Fall (VIP, #3)

by Kristen Callihan

[stacey_is_sassy]

Taking the risk knowing you may Fall...

***4.5 Stars***

I’m struggling to write my review for Fall. It was SO BLOODY GOOD!!! This is my FOURTH attempt and I’m ready to just say...It’s good...Buy it. I’m exhausted after spending most of my day reading this emotional book. My eyes are still puffy from the few times I’ve cried today. I even went willingly with hubby to do the grocery shopping today, just to step away from all the emotions.

The characters were real, and I absolutely LOVED them. The storyline had me enthralled from the very first page and I couldn’t wait to get to know John and Stella better. The love story was sweet and at times heartbreaking, but it was realistic that there were hiccups along the way. Sure, there were plenty of tears, but there were also laughing moments and times where I wanted to jump into the pages and be a part of their world.

Seriously, Kill John (the band) and their entourage are wonderful. The VIP series has been brilliant, and I love that we’re not expected to just move on and forget about the previous couples. They are all part of each story, we see them moving forward, growing in their relationships and changing as time goes by. If you were a fan of Managed, you should read this story just to see Scottie in all his happy ever after glory. I loved having Mr Gandy (Scottie) back and he’s better than ever, in all his suited glory.

Fall does touch on the subject of mental illness. I found myself reflecting on the times in my life when I too felt lonely or in my head. I could completely relate to John wanting to just be left alone to deal with it by himself. His fame and fortune made it seem strange for him to have moments of doubt or loneliness.

John isn’t the only one who has issues though, Stella has her own brand of things to deal with. Stella is quite lonely, which is surprising as her business revolves around friendship. Her father was and is an absolute douchewaffle and I hated that she was left with emotional scars from dealing with him. With Stella coming into John's life, it was great to see their friendship blossom before they even contemplated a romantic relationship.

Kristen Callihan has written a smart and thoughtful story. It was obvious that she knew her subject matter and she made sure to make it as realistic as possible. We’re not expected to believe that John is “fixed” by Stella’s love. It was obvious that there will always be times of struggle for both John and Stella. Love is worth the risk and the effort for John and Stella.

I did remove half a star because I was a little disappointed in the number of errors I noticed. I don’t expect perfection but these were glaringly obvious.

I enjoyed the journey to love that Stella and John travelled. Their initial meeting was a crack up and there was a sizzling connection from the start. Fall is not an easy read or a light read and I have the puffy eyes to prove it. It was a good read and left me thoroughly satisfied with a big goofy grin on my face. I can’t wait for more in the VIP series.