Reviewed by clementine on
As soon as I started reading it, I was disappointed. The beginning sets Kaelyn up as a shallow character who cares only about the most inconsequential teenage issues. It does improve from there, although the conversational tone bugged me a little. I do think that sort of tone is appropriate for Kaelyn as a narrator, but the exact style it was written seemed a little like the author was talking down to readers. I believe that as an intelligent sixteen-year-old, Kaelyn can write in a more sophisticated manner.
The book itself was pretty interesting. It wasn't as exciting as I was hoping for, but the plot was decent. I wouldn't say it was anything special, but it never got dull, and it seemed pretty realistic. I still think there was room to make it truly thrilling - and more fast-paced - but it was fine.
One thing that bugged me with this book - and the vast majority of YA in general - is that the romance seemed so forced. You do NOT have to have a love interest in every book! I didn't feel that that subplot added anything to the book; I didn't really care about it at all, and I could have easily gone without it.
Another one of my big issues was that Kaelyn's reactions to some events seemed so inappropriate. For example, I didn't even realize her father was dead for the longest time because she barely reacted to it!
This is the first in a series, and I think it has great potential. In the next book, I'd love to see more character development (which I thought was handled decently - but not brilliantly - in The Way We Fall), more of an explanation for the virus, less of the romance, and more about Leo's significance. I also look forward to finding out the fates of Meredith, Drew, and Aunt Lillian (because I have a feeling she's going to make an appearance).
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 22 February, 2012: Finished reading
- 22 February, 2012: Reviewed