Christy's Review: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

The Way We Fall

By: Megan Crewe

Thank you to Disney-Hyperion books for sending me this book to review!

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn's community, the government quarantines her island-no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest. 

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

Megan Crewe crafts a powerful and gripping exploration of self-preservation, first love, and hope.  Poignant and dizzying, this heart-wrenching story of one girl's bravery and unbeatable spirit will leave readers fervently awaiting the next book in this standout new series.

Review:

A few funny things happened to me after I began this book, which I read mostly on my commutes to and from work and in the evenings. First, my commute time seemingly shrank to nothing as I completely lost myself in the world of this story. Second, when I wasn’t reading the story, I was SUPER aware of myself and everyone around me: Was anyone coughing, should I be wearing a face mask? I need to disinfect my hands after touching that grotty commute train handrail! In fact I want to dip my entire body in sanitizer after riding the train!

So I’m not sure why, but this book had me completely convinced that the zombie apocalypse was about to begin any second! Stay out of Costco when it hits, people! (All of the zombies will go there to get the humans who go there to stock up on supplies! Duh!)

But be ye forewarned. This is NOT a zombie book. Is that a spoiler? I don’t think so. I just, for some reason, equated this story to something akin to a book version to Resident Evil. (The first movie, not any of the lame sequels.) What can I say? My imagination ran away with me.

The format of following Kaelyn’s experiences through journals and letters was a fantastic choice on the author’s part. It immediately pulls the reader onto the small Canadian Island along with Kaelyn and it’s other inhabitants. I felt as though I was really experiencing the bewilderment, fear, panic, sorrow and fight-or-flight responses of the virus’ victims right along with them!

Excuse me as I catch my breath… I’m practically hyperventrillicating just writing this review! Not that The Way We Fall is a scary book, in the horror-sense. It’s not. It’s not gruesome either. It’s just a really, really well written thriller. It catches the spirit of the happenings perfectly and pulls the reader into the character’s perspective with craftsmanship.

I loved this book until the very last page. Seriously, until the last paragraph even. And then I hated it. The ending was far too abrupt.

And that’s all I’ll say about it.