Title: Dare to Fall
Author: Estelle Maskame
Publication: December 4, 2018
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Teens, YA Fiction
Pages: 336
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
The higher the stakes, the greater the fall.
MacKenzie Rivers knows the kind of impact death can have on those it leaves behind. She’s felt that grief firsthand. So when Jaden, her crush and almost-boyfriend, loses his parents in a car accident, MacKenzie steps back. It might not be the right thing to do, but with an alcoholic mother and a father who deals with their family problems by not dealing at all, self-preservation is her only option.
Then the pair meet by chance one night, reunited for the first time in months. Before MacKenzie can throw up her walls again, old feelings resurface and new memories are made. MacKenzie has missed Jaden more than anything. But can she dare to fall for the one person she’s so afraid of growing close to?
REVIEW:
**A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
A true to heard love story with the biggest elephant in the room… grief. Estelle Maskame brought it home with this inspired story about how whether it’s you suffering or someone you know, grief effects everyone and those around them.
Dare to Fall by Estelle Maskame follows MacKenzie Rivers as she tries to work through her school year alongside her two best friends, all while trying to avoid her ex-friend and ex-boyfriend, who happen to be twins. Why? Because she ghosted them after a horrific accident brought a lot of grief down on the two.
Maskame wrote teenagers in a realistic sense. They had parents who told them what to do. They went to school each day, whether they felt up to it or not. They had fights with their friends. Struggled with grades. All these things that happen to everyone as a teenager. In the midst of that, Maskame told a story about how different people deal with grief. You had Mackenzie, who hides her families grief, and chooses to tuck hers down deep where no one can see. Jaden tries to be as happy as he can, in hopes of being everything his parents would want him to be. Jaden’s sister Dani handles hers by going dark and trying to recreate herself into an image closer to her mother.
I love how the hard topics are not shied away from. Death. Grief. Crimes. Drinking problems. All these are topics a lot of authors choose not to read about in exchange for a more relaxed and light-hearted read. Maskame did not. Dare to Fall was what I would consider an easy read, but with these harder topics thrown in, I was enthralled the entire time. Maskame’s writing style is smooth, transitions are easy, and the characters are interesting. I’ll also add Jaden to my list of book boyfriends. He was everything a girl could want.
Definitely pick up your own copy of Dare to Fall by Estelle Maskame on shelves December 4th, 2018. You will not be disappointed. Perfect for the lovers of all things YA Fiction/Teen.
STAR RATING: 5/5
You can get your copy of Dare to Fall by Estelle Maskame on Tuesday, December 4 on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and check your local book retailer. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. You can check out more from Estelle Maskame, including her “Did I Mention I Love You?” series on her website HERE.
