Danielle Younge-UllmanAnmeldelser

This book still makes me want to go on a wilderness trip. Beautiful book.

wow

Warning: Contains spoilers.

Thought this was one of those YA books that would generate some great and timely discussions. Obviously meant for older teens due to the mature content, but very important to have books like this that deal with discussions of what consent looks like. I especially loved that the example with Kyle was kind of grey due to her participation.

Literary merit: Poor
Characterization: Poor
Level: High School

LOOK UP TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING THIS BOOK. This book was *trying* to teach teens about consent. But to do that you had to read *at least* major 5 instances of sexual harassment of our main character ranging from groping to rape. It was awful. I get that the author was trying to show the complexities of situations and how none are acceptable, but it sucked to read all of that. Even the seemingly innocent conversation at the end between a young girl being bullied and her parents saying "he must like you" felt like too much after enduring this book. It was certainly not the book for me. In addition to the men in her life, our main character was also cut off from her family financially by her father, as well as mentally abused. He was clearly suffering from some sort of mental illness, and the mother stayed in denial putting her children in his line of fire for abuse. I hope it helps some people start conversations, but it is very triggering for those with similar experiences. I don't think the topics were handled responsibly by the author.

Few have more on their plate than Libby. Her college fund has been hijacked by her father, her brother quit college and ran off to Greece, her home life resembles living in a war zone, she has suspicions her experiences with two guys might have crossed the consent line, and she's frequently harassed while serving an older and extremely self-important patron at the restaurant.
When everything comes to a head and she loses it when said patron grabs her rear end, it's the messy and painful beginning of sorting out her confusing life. Following her as she does, is not only fascinating, but develops into a tribute to girls finding their strength, opens the reader to how much waitstaff have to endure to earn a living, what's out there in terms of help and healing for sex abuse survivors, and how the messy chaos of a family can result in healing. It takes a masterful author to tackle so many issues in one book, but it's done extremely well in this one.

This story of a high school server who gets in trouble for standing up for herself is part topical, part family, all drama (in the best way). Libby is a waitress at a restaurant outside of her small town and is good at what she does; unfortunately, her limits are tested by a lecherous diner who also happens to be the town’s savior. Throw in an estranged brother, an unhinged father, exceedingly stifled mother, and relationship problems, and Libby’s spring semester is not off to a great start. This book offers a nuanced take on sexual harassment and assault; instances in varying degrees are presented, from “I didn’t know it was assault” to “this is clearly harassment but there are power dynamics in play”. Overall, readable and accessible, and made me want to yell with excitement in the final restaurant scene (waitresses are badass and it’s time everyone else appreciated!!!)

This book blew me away. I didn't expected to love it and see myself in it.

I was very interested in this book when I first read what it was about and was very happy with the story after reading it. I loved reading about the relationship between Ingrid and her mother and her life as a child of an opera singer.

All the characters were very enjoyable to read about and I loved the wilderness setting. This book definitely became one of my favourites

After a childhood spent travelling with her opera star mother, Ingrid's life abruptly changes when her mother loses her singing voice. Adapting to "normal" life is hard on both mother and daughter, and eventually Ingrid is sent to a wilderness survival camp. The teens at the camp are all "at-risk", and at first Ingrid (and the reader) are unsure as to how that applies to her. However, through Ingrid's adventures, her interactions with the other teens, and a series of letters to her mother, the reader is taken on an emotional whirlwind of revelations about Ingrid's relationship with her mother and her plans for the future.
I absolutely loved this book. It was well-written, there is outstanding character development, and many serious issues are handled very well. I highly recommend it for older teens and adults.½

Oh my goodness, I loved this book. At first I wasn't completely sold on the story but I stuck to it because I really liked the characters and I'm really glad I did. By halfway through, I was hooked. I needed to know what was going to happen next. I finished in record time and no lie, I giggled at it and then I cried. I was shook. The characters are so easy to like (for not like in some cases) and I can relate to a lot of them and they're experiences. By the end, I was wrecked and immediately texted my reading buddy and handed the book off to her. Read it, you won't regret it.½

When Ingrid was younger she traveled all over Europe with her opera star mother, Margot-Sophia. They were so happy. But then Margot-Sophia could no longer sing and they no longer acknowledged the past. They settled into a small, normal life but Ingrid desperately wanted their old life back. Now Ingrid is on a summer wilderness survival trek for at-risk teens. She has no idea why her mother sent her here. It's grueling and every day she feels as though she's going to break. But she has to figure out why she's here and why the music really stopped.

I don't think there's anything I disliked. Ingrid had a magical childhood. Then things went downhill and fast. I liked her very much. She was a strong person. She was self-aware. She didn't give up. She was sarcastic. I liked the setting. The wilderness survival thing was fun to read. Ingrid went through a lot - physically, emotionally, mentally. She would write letters to her mother telling her about all the fun she was not having. It goes back and forth between Ingrid's childhood and present day during her three weeks of hell. I enjoyed both story lines. I felt all the secondary characters were important, had their own personalities and made the book feel real. There was one part in the book where everything just came together for me and made me feel for Ingrid and there was absolutely no coming down from five stars after that. This was such a great read.

I won a copy through LibraryThing. Thank you to Penguin Teen for my physical copy.

This is a stunning novel. Beautifully written, perfect and strong, this is a story about a young girl, growing up in a complex world. Captivating me from page one, this is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. Aside from a great read, it would make a captivating movie.

This is the story of Ingrid, about to enter her senor year of high school. She wants to study music at a prestigious school in London, England. Her mother, Margot-Sophia is a former international opera star who damaged her voice, bringing an abrupt end to her career. She wants a more stable life for Ingrid. So, they make a deal....Ingrid will spend three weeks at a wilderness camp, and if she succeeds, Mom will support her career decision.

Wilderness camp is not what Ingrid expected...no cabins, no showers, lots of physical challenges with fellow campers who all seem to be youth "at risk" -- a former street kid, a teenage mom, an ex-con, a cult escapee.... Ingrid's story proceeds on two tracks. The first, partly told through letters to her Mom that she doesn't intend to send, describes life in the camp. We see Ingrid confront both the physical challenges and some of the emotional issues she is dealing with. The second track is Ingrid's back story, where we learn about her Mom's depression, Ingrid's victimization at school, her coming of age and finding her voice.

This is well written with very compelling characters. I loved the story and Ingrid's sometimes caustic sense of humour, as well as both her strength and her vulnerability. Even the secondary characters are well developed. The author can really bring the reader in the physical and emotional settings without over-written descriptions and explanations....the characters and setting are able to "speak" for themselves. The ending is perfect....a bit of a twist that makes me want to re-read some of Ingrid's letters.

I tore through this book in a matter of days - I couldn't put it down, to see how it ended. I love that this is a Canadian book in a Canadian setting. The cover is so beautiful and mesmerizing! The story drew me right in, and I could relate to the characters. It is a coming of age story in a unique setting! I enjoyed all the challenges that were put forth, both physically and emotionally. It dives into depression and mental health and how everyone is affected. The ending is a surprise (but not really). This book is an awesome summer read. Would be great to bring on vacation... highly recommend!!

I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There are many YA fiction novels out there that discuss how a teenager deals with problems in her life. Some of these stories are good and some of them don't really make the cut. I haven't read one of these tearjerker novels in a while and I wasn't really expecting this novel to be one. But after reading the first chapter, I knew exactly what it was all about. I continued to read... and I'm so glad I did, because this novel definitely blew me away!

I adored this novel. Truly, I did. From the synopsis to the actual writing to the characters, everything was flawless and perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better story!

I loved the different characters that we were introduced to, even though it was apparent that Ingrid was the star of the show. The descriptions of the other characters was given through Ingrid and I really liked how this was done, because it showed Ingrid as someone who is not self-absorbed and consumed by her own problems. Ingrid, while seeming to be quiet, is actually a firecracker who knows how to stand up for herself. She may have wanted to back down from the challenges she faced but she doesn't, and that made me love her character! The other characters from the camp were written very well and did a good job in terms of giving Ingrid the support and baseboard that she needed in order to "grow".

I really enjoyed the way this story was written. The chapters would flit from the past to the present and it was really interesting to read from both perspectives and see how they all matched up. The emotions that Ingrid felt in the past, and the pain she was carrying with her in the present were powerfully written; it made me want to go and hug her! The story never dragged, which was really great to see since I frequently find books in this genre are ... slow-paced.

Overall, this book is emotionally-packed. It will make you laugh out loud, and cry, and just ... FEEL so much! I loved Ingrid, I loved Margot-Sophia, I loved every character (except Peace, of course)! This novel was amazing in terms of its writing style, pacing, story line, and character development. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good teen fiction that will make you emotional!

12 Things I loved about Lola Carlyle

Lola is spunky!
Lola realizes that Sunrise isn't what she expected
Her flirtatious encounter with Wade
The unique setting
Adam's refusal to allow Lola to get her way
The look into the world of addiction without it being portrayed heavily
The humor
The antics Lola pulls to get out of going to therapy
Lola's realization about friendships
Lola realizing she's hurting more than she cares to admit
Adam: just everything about him. He's an overall good guy.
The ending it was perfect, and exactly what I wanted to see for the characters.

3.5-4 fake addiction stars!

I really enjoyed this book.. lots of hilarious moments, and equally serious ones. I had a few problems with the book, especially with Sydney (Lola's bestfriend), and Jade (rehab roommate).. Nothing was clarified on what their stories were, especially with Jade, she hated Lola and kept saying a lot of things that were not explained. I don't want to give a lot away as the book is due to be published in May 2015, so there might be some changes!

My other issue is that the book was short, I wanted more -- Yes, I'm being greedy here lol.

All in all, I loved Danielle's style.. the writing was witty, and hilarious. The main character wasn't annoying and very relatable. And Adam was wonderful, I like it when the male protagonist isn't a douche to the MC and is likeable (read, loveable) from the get go.

*This arc was kindly provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

#insixwords I was pleasantly surprised with this


I will be writing an actual review closer to the pub date

Love triangles. We love them, we hate them. Falling Under has one, and it's a doozy. Mara Foster is a troubled artist, making a career of producing stock paintings of geometric designs to decorate peoples' offices. She used to paint other things, but other things awaken her emotions, and she's decided that her emotions are better off stifled. Mara is riddled with fears and anxieties that plague her whenever she dares to leave the safe confines of her house. Her parents' acrimonious divorce left a profound mark on her that leaves her terrified to love, so when she meets Hugo and dares to imagine a normal life with a normal guy, it threatens to undo her. Soon, she's painting for real and all that real painting is bringing the demons of her past close to the surface. She flees instead to Erik, the bad boy with baggage, the one she has plenty in common with, including a desire to eschew love for sex that will chase those demons away for a night.

Younge-Ullman, according to the author bio, is also a playwright and it shows. Falling Under is filled with fast flowing, excellent dialogue. Mara's past is brought to light in the immediacy of second person narration and easily draws readers' sympathies. There's a plot twist that actually surprises and supporting characters that fill out Mara's story while being their own people. I even liked the love triangle. It was so believable and viable that even I couldn't choose a guy for Mara.

This is Danielle Younge-Ullman's first book apparently. I seem to be at odds with other LibraryThing reviewers in only giving this two stars, and I suppose I can see where they're coming from, but to me this degenerated into pure unredeemed romance as it went on. Actually, as I look back on the beginning, the romantic element was pretty strong right from the start, but it seemed to have a sharper edge that I hoped would carry it through. It didn't.

I don't even know how to describe this novel, other than I've never experienced anything like it. Mara is truly a unique character and it was easy to understand her emotional state. I hated her mother, if you want to call her that. Though the father was an alcoholic, and a poor excuse for a parent, he still had something to offer.

Mara went through a very troubled childhood. She was essentially alone with no guidance other than her negative mother who rarely had a nice thing to say, let alone encourage her and love her unconditionally as a parent should.

If you're looking for a truly unique story with an emotionally scared heroine, I recommend Falling Under.

I only wish there were a sequel. It would be nice to see how Mara handles adulthood and relationships, and does she sort out her issues?

From my blog

A remarkable dark story told in a beautiful lyrical way, I loved the combination. While reading I wondered how many people we encounter day to day with agoraphobia - extreme or irrational fear of crowded spaces or enclosed public places. Such a worry addiction, overactive mind that makes her paranoid, unbelievable concept. I really enjoyed this story, I found the writing lyrical, a prose style delicious to my ears, it flowed through my soul, very artistic.

I enjoyed Mara as the main character, she was three dimensional, had different moods, friends, lovers, past-present-future moments for all of them. For some I think this may be an execution problem as you never knew were the next chapter was going to go but it flowed wonderfully in my opinion, you didn't need to figure out what was going on. Mara used sex to get through the hard times, to take away the pain, how this all comes together at the end.... brilliant.

The best part was there is a major mystery twist thrown in, completely caught me off guard and put this novel in a class of its own, I don't know what genre to put it in. This would be a banned YA for sure, there is betrayal, sex, homosexuality, broken marriage, language, it has it all.

And the cover is so eye catching, a favourite of mine. I enjoyed the art story lines. Following the journey of a young art student to becoming a brilliant artist through the scary, losing her mind times also.

I recommend you try this one, really great read and a debut for the author. And the ending, the last sentence, wow. I love the idea that depending on the reader the person at the end is him or him and then you wonder what life would be like for them, brilliant.

FALLING UNDER is amazing contemporary fiction, but to learn that it is a debut novel for Danielle Younge-Ullman makes it even more special. Younge-Ullman does a fantastic job of creating a broken heroine in Mara Foster. The author portrays Mara's dark world where she "literally" fears the world, everything in it, and herself, most of all. Younge-Ullman deftly introduces readers to Mara's past through effective narration, but not necessarily predictable flashbacks. No. This talented author just takes you there in first person present tense. I love that! I write in this technique as well and appreciate the dedication and intricacy of it. Younge-Ullman also utilizes first person past tense and second person for some of the flashback narration and effectively conveys Mara's pain so well this way. It's beautifully done.

Younge-Ullman keeps the story moving and readers guessing as to what has happened in Mara's past relationships, especially with Lucas, that make her so fearful. Readers will be intrigued with the introduction of Erik and the inexplicable tie in their relationship that makes them so dark and needy of one another. The subtext with her best friend Bernadette is also compelling. And, when Mara meets Hugo, it would appear he's set to be the ultimate hero and rescue her, since he appears to serve so well as the calm to the storm that is Mara. It is easy to discern Hugo's love for her early on, but Younge-Ullman avoids the predictable cliche of having Hugo be the one to save her. No. Younge-Ullman leads readers further into Mara's dark past and allows them to really feel her pain for themselves. Readers will come away enlightened as to why Mara's so bent on self-destruction and, perhaps, even comprehend how it could win out. I'll leave it at that.

This debut novel, Falling Under, is honest, heartbreaking, at times, yet so satisfying. The writing is amazing and so well done that it reads like a sheet of music.

Here's one of my favorite passages:
"I feel his eyes on me. He knows if I'm here, I've done everything I can to still the storm inside, to put all the demons back into their boxes and seal the lids. But sometimes they won't go. Sometimes my ears are full of screaming, and sometimes, like tonight, the voices are mine."

And this one:
"You haven't had his lips pressing onto yours, or heard the deep, low whimper that comes from the back of his throat when your lips move in response. You haven't had him hold your face in his hands and felt him shudder, and no painful, heated ache has rocketed down from your open lips to your tongue and fired along your nerve endings and made you feel like your body was on fire. But now you have. And the world is a different place. Locked together in a tangled embrace, you travel past desire, past time and age and circumstance, past, even, the barriers of body, to a place where you are together, linked in the deepest sense. And for a few timeless moments, you are not alone."

Danielle Younge-Ullman is a fantastic writer. And, all I can say is more, more, more!

Katherine Owen

There is so much to say about this book, yet I find myself tongue-tided thinking about its contents. I could relate to Mara, the main character of the story. She appears to be crippled from a traumatic childhood until the story unfolds and the reader discovers more behind her anxieties.

There was only one problem I had and that was with the ending. Readers might disagree with me, and I don't care. The author is a story-teller. I feel cheated when I am left without a solid ending. The author is the creator of the story, not me. Don't leave me wondering.

This is a book you don’t want to read much about as it will ruin the story, but it is a book you want to pick up. The book is different, deep, a bit dark, and highly seasoned with emotion. It’s a story you don’t want to miss out on. Put in on your wish list or beg your family to buy it for you for Christmas. Yes, people, it’s that good!

More reviews at http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/

In Danielle Younge-Ullman's emotionally charged debut novel, Falling Under, readers meet Mara, a twenty-something painter with more than her fair share of problems. In the past, Mara has experienced events and encounters that have left her emotionally scarred and seemingly incabable of having a healthy relationship with anyone.

In Mara, Younge-Ullman has created a character that is incredibly raw and vulnerable. Mara's story is told primarily in the first person, with second person narrative interspersed throughout, usually when she is recounting her childhood. There is no omniscient narration here. The reader sees only through Mara's eyes, which means normal physical descriptions of characters and place are few and far between. This only adds to the authenticity of the narrative and frees the reader to step more fully into Mara's life.

While Mara was indisputably the star of the story, there were several very well-developed secondary characters, such as her best friend Bernadette, and several of Mara's boyfriends. Her parents were both flawed in their own way. Bitterly divorced since Mara was a child, her father was a mentally ill alcoholic and her mother was cold, distant, and absorbed in her career to the point of neglecting Mara's emotional needs. Still, despite my frustration and disapproval of their parenting choices, they were sympathetic characters for whom I wished eventual redemption.

Younge-Ullman has a unique and mesmerizing writing style. It is at once raw and gritty, eloquent and beautiful. Most outstanding is her ability to take the reader inside her character's head and heart, creating a unique and unforgettable reading experience.