Monday, July 25, 2011

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Title: Falling Under
Author: Gwen Hayes
Info: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Release Date: March 1st, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Acquired: Bought
Interest: Series
Age Group: Young Adult
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author



Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.
As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.
And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul. 

Overall, I LOVED this book!

At first, I was afraid that this would be another Twilight-type novel, where the human girl falls in love with the supernatural being and all of a sudden her life just revolves around him and nothing else matters. That type of story. And for a while it seemed that way too, especially with the way Haden was acting, which is too Edward-like.

But, quickly into the novel you realize, this is nothing like Twilight. It's better, because Theia is a strong female and she does have her own mind. And since the beginning Theia has had to battle her own personal demons, but I didn't like how she was so down on herself. Yet, the reader can understand why she feels so low about herself considering everything that happened that led to her birth.

And I really wish there was more moments with her father, but I did like their one on one moment, but you get frustrated because here are two people who are suffering and instead of reaching out to each other they just push away, or at least that's what Theia's father does, and you're never sure if you should feel bad for this man because he's lost something important, or grab him by the shoulder and tell him, "Look, you lost one person, don't let the other go!"

Haden, for a moment I was afraid I would not like him. He seemed so smug and really pulls off the new-hot-guy-in-town persona, and what I really like what Gwen did was that she made him real! You see Haden and the Hell he lives in - literally. Well into the novel Gwen takes it a whole step further with Haden. And besides being real, he's hot, he's sexy, he's delicious, he really has a demon fighting inside of him that just won't let him go, and while his problem is paranormal you can almost connect to him. For those who did read it, I think it's safe to say we appreciate our mom's a heck of a lot more compared to Haden's.

The best part? I had fun reading this. I mentioned the Twilight reference I know this novel is going to suffer, well apparently Gwen knew the same thing too because there were moments where I had to stop reading I was laughing so hard to the little jabs she takes at the book. 

And Gwen herself, she had this way of bring the characters to life. Theia's two best friends are such opposite of each other and of her, and they all just fit together nicely. We all have those friend's that are afraid to do something risky, or those friends who likes to give the guy that likes her a real difficult time or those that are sheltered in life. There was something about these three girl's that fit nicely and they can play off each other well.

Some downsides? Like I said before, I wished that Theia was just a little tougher, but she was forgiven later on. Besides that, I felt like she could have added just a little more. I can't say too much, but there is a part which I hope will be addressed in book 2.

Haunting, sexy, funny, enjoyable, unexpected, twisted, and adventures are just a few words I can use to describe this novel and I cannot wait for book two to come out. This book was not at all what I expected!

For those who read it and didn't know there was a number two coming out it's Dreaming Awake and to be released January 3rd, 2012.

Again, great book.

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