Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

In this YA offering, Cleveland native Clementine Haas is the sole survivor of a plane crash. She has a tattoo of a green heart on her ankle, a room in an Irish hospital, and a purple sweatshirt. What she does not have is any memory of her life leading up to the accident. Not ready to face her father, the press, or the situation in general, Clementine escapes from the hospital with a man she meets in the cafeteria. Clementine holes up in a cottage with the handsome and mysterious Kieran and his hostile (and pregnant) sister Siobhan and slowly unwinds her history.

In the author notes, Crane reveals that the book arose from a brainstorming session with high school students. My reaction on reading that was “Oh, that explains it.” The amnesia trope and the Prince Charming elements seem like they would come from adolescents devising a romantic plot. They certainly succeed, and Crane keeps it light and funny. Still, I can’t give this one as many stars as Crane’s The Odds of Loving Grover Cleveland, which if you haven’t read yet, go do it. Its flawed characters and their struggles give that book a poignancy and depth and ground it in the reality of adolescence. On the other hand, where The Upside of Falling Down is concerned . . .

Read if: You want something easy and escapist.

This book is adorable. Yes, adorable. It’s a fast read, and an uncomplicated book. However, that’s not enough to make me rate it 4 or 5 stars out of 5.

The book focus mainly on Clementine, as she tries to get her life back after a tragedy took away her memories. There are other characters introduced throughout the book (the nurse, Kieran, Siobhan, and that store owner (I forgot his name, darn), but aside from Kieran, all the other character just felt like props. To help with Clementine’s character development (not that there’s a lot of it), and I hate when that happens.

While the book was okay, I just couldn’t connect with Clementine. I thought I would, after some time, but I was kind of charmed by Kieran, so I continued reading. And I found out I was wrong. I couldn’t connect with Clementine at all. In fact, I was annoyed by her. I find her whiny, and insensitive (and being a victim and sole survivor of a plane crash only let you get away with so much). I hate the way she treated the people who cared for her, like the nurse who trusted her but she ran away instead, or her dad who flew all the way to Ireland, and waited there as she lived with Kieran and Siobhan. That was really selfish of her, and I can’t help but feel sorry for them.

I know what you’re thinking. I said it was an adorable book, but I’ve been talking about how annoyed I was with it (or just Clementine, to be specific).

I find the Ireland (or small town in Ireland) painted by Rebekah Crane adorable; the town, the sheep, and the eccentric shop where Siobhan worked at. I find the male nurse that attended to Clementine, and Siobhan’s boss (I forgot their name) sweet. And I guess, ignoring the annoying part, the story was sweet.

Overall, this book is half adorable and the other half a mixture of annoyance and frustration. There’s also a bit of mystery tucked in, although some people might be able to guess it from the beginning. All things considered, the book’s not that bad.

I rate it 3.5 / 5 stars.

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me and I did not finish it. Thank you for the opportunity :)

I thought this was really cute! I enjoyed it about as much as (possibly more than) Grover Cleveland. I do think it would have worked a bit better if Clementine was a bit older - I kept forgetting she was 18/19 and I just don't buy forever when characters are that young, but other than that, this was enjoyable. Funny, cute, little bit of romance with mostly self discovery. I liked all the characters and how everything unfolded. Most of all I loved all the sprinkles of Jane Austen, that was a pleasant surprise.

I just finished this book and I loved every moment of it.

I believe that if you have ever read (and loved) a book written by Sarah Dessen, you will love this book. I actually want to read the other books written by Crane now, just in the hopes they are like this.

Clementine Hauss loses her memory, but not her life, when her flight is downed in Ireland. The lone survivor of the crash she is the topic of a lot of media attention, but Clementine can't help fill in any back story. She survived the crash but has lost all memory of who she was. In a rash moment with a stranger, named Kieran, she takes off from the hospital under the guise of "Jane" to find herself. And find herself she does in this sweet book about discovery and love.

It is amazing how the things that she does remember, though subconsciously, relate to her true identity. It is also amazing that a book hid something from me for so long successfully! (You'll understand that when you read it, as you should!)

I received this book in exchange for my unbiased review. And I loved it.

The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane
Clementine Haas is searching for herself. Not just figuratively but literally searching for herself. Clementine is in an Irish hospital where she doesn’t know why she is in Ireland or anything about herself. She is told that she is the lone survivor of an airplane crash. The Irish press wants to know everything about her and she becomes overwhelmed and takes off to find herself. She meets Kieran O’Connell and travels to his hometown and begins to discover a new Clementine.
A sweet romance which moves at good pace. Clementine’s decisions sometimes leaves the reader questioning her but in light of the loss of memory can be understandable. Some of the things Clementine does such as escaping from the hospital so easily seemed a little unrealistic. The setting may cause some teen readers to shy away from this title but those readers who like a sweet romance will be rewarded by picking up this title. The reader will be rooting for Clementine and Kieran all along the way. The ending does explain why Clementine is in Ireland and the twist is enjoyable and unexpected. Give to a teen reader who enjoys a sweet and easy read.

I don't know, this book just fell flat for me. When I saw this at Netgalley, I thought it will be a quick and fun (maybe cute?) read but I really struggled continuing with this. I just can't connect with Clementine and Kieran, or any character for that matter. The story started out great but ended absurdly.

I'm always up for a good amnesia story. This YA novel tells the story of Clementine - the sole American survivor of a plane crash. When she wakes up in Ireland and doesn't remember anything about her life, she flees the hospital and takes solace in the comfort of a cute, mysterious boy (naturally!). Although the story is a little predictable, Clementine is a strong character with a clear ambition to discover who she really is. The resolution at the end was a bit too quick for me, but overall, I was left feeling satisfied by this charming story.

This was a great book about picking yourself up and finding a new identity after a tragedy. Clementine has no memory of who she was before the crash and she's scared of hurting the people from her old life by pretending to be someone she's not. So she runs away from her life and chooses to find a new identity rather than chasing after an old one.

Obviously it is not a good idea to run away from hospital and go off with a complete stranger in a foreign country, but I really understood Clementine and wanted her to succeed. I wanted her to go back to her dad, but I also wanted her to find her new life and run away with Kieran. It's a book that really makes you think hard about the choices that Clementine is making and whether what she's doing is for the best.

I love books that make you think about things differently. The right and wrong of it all is obvious, but even then, it still makes you think about it all.

A love letter to Ireland, with strong themes of identity and truth, this was a fantastic book all around.

3.5 stars. I loved that our protagonist was full of life even when she didn't have her memories. I found myself rooting for her throughout the book, and did't get too annoyed about her going back and forth about how she felt about lying (sometimes it was a bit whiplash, though). I really, really liked the surprise at the end--I saw it coming to some extent, but felt pleased by how it wrapped everything together in a slightly unexpected way. A fun, quick read.

I'd call this New Adult disguised as Young Adult, both in content (swearing, sex) and theme (figuring out who you are in the world around you).

Thanks, Netgalley, for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Skyscape and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Upside of Falling Down. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Clementine Haas is the sole survivor of a plane crash, only she does not remember anything at all. Without her identity to guide her, Clementine feels lost - that is, until she meets Kieran O’Connell and some of the inhabitants of Waterville, Ireland. As her past remains elusive, will Jane (as she calls herself) be able to shed who she was entirely and become someone new?

I liked the characters and the pacing of the plot, but the story itself was stunted by the ending. The pieces fall into place too neatly and the serious content of the book is shunted off in a lighthearted way. The Upside of Falling Down is a perfect read for those looking for a YA romance with an international setting.

The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane is written in first person with Clementine Haas as the narrator. The story is set in Waterville, Count Kerry, Ireland and follows the life of Clementine Haas, the only survivor in a plane crash but suffering with amnesia. Out of fear of facing her father with no memories and achingly longing to have them back, she decides to make a run for it with Kieran O'Connell, a stranger she had just met in the hospital grounds. Clementine takes in a new identity hoping to start anew. But would that be enough? This book that carries a taste of Ireland is one contemporary novel you definitely wouldn't want to miss!

The story holds an understanding of the past, the present and the future, what should be left behind, and what should be kept instead. It tells a story of looking ahead, instead of backward.

I immensely enjoyed this book from the tips of my toes to the ends of my hair! The first chapter was one that got me chuckling several times and simply attention-grabbing that sets the mood going, which I adore completely. This book is effortlessly easy to read and has a lot of LOVELY quotes that I couldn't help taking note of every time I spot one.

What made me love this book so much is that it had the right amount of contemporary, YA, and romance mixed together that I think Professor Utonium will appreciate this wonderfully written book! The book did my heart some flipping and my stomach flopping and it was just uh- MAZING! Also, there was this "so near yet so far" factor that I wholly love when it comes to romance, and GOSH! This made me love the story all the more!!! I had been so engrossed in this book that if it wasn't for my real life responsibilities, well, I could have finished it in a day! If you're a friend of mine in Goodreads, you'd see how my rants for every update I make in this book, explicitly handing out how good the book is!

While all the characters in the book were lovable, my favourite was Siobhan. She is charming in her savage, mean way and I see reason as to why she has that personality.

I actually felt like I was walking on Clementine's shoes. Almost all the emotions she displated throughout the book, I felt crystal clear. The pain, the frustration of not remembering at all, the giddiness, the joy, the brokenheartedness. All these I felt with her and that's one more thing added to the reasons of why this book is just adorable!

Another awesome thing about this book is that the word "dull" can't be found anywhere. Every time I felt that things were going downwards to boring land, I am met a few paces later with excitable events that would either leave me giggling or plow through.

Here are a few things to expect when reading the book:

-the word lovely
-Irish name pronunciation! (Here's an example: Saoirse Ronan. Love her!! But she's not part of the story haha!)
-quotes on self-discovery, individuality, and something about the upside of falling down
-Cleveland. It's in Ohio. On Lake Erie.
-Alternating between Irish and American accent
-Kieran O'Connell
-Some dares
-A bit of Jane Austen

This book is highly recommended to those who enjoy fluffy romance, innocent love, self-discovery and Europe, specifically Ireland, more specifically Waterville.

"It's never the end. Even when you think your life is over, a new story line appears."

**I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

“What is the point of cheating death if a life doesn’t exist when you wake up?”

Could you imagine your life where you don’t remember anything anymore? Waking up with amnesia and not able to decide what to feel- fear, confusion, panic, frustration? Feeling alone? I certainly can’t imagine myself being in that situation and this was exactly what attracted me towards this book. I knew from the beginning that this I would end up loving this, and I am glad I was not disappointed 🙂

This story is about Clementine Hass who is the sole survivor of a plane crash and wakes up in a hospital with retrograde amnesia. She found herself overwhelmed with all the strangeness around her so she runs away with a stranger (Kieran) to his house in a small village and decides to live there until she remembers her past life. She chooses a new name, Jane, and a new life for her, but soon she realized that she is not going to remember anything soon and that she is being accustomed to being Jane.

WHAT I LIKED
------------------------------
1. I loved the main character, Clementine. She has been portrayed as a strong woman with a stable mind and determination to achieve something. She is not afraid of uncertainties. After a certain time, she realized that she is nowhere near to knowing about her past, but even in that situation, she was ready to build everything for herself from scratch.
2. I loved the overall theme of this story. This is a book about new beginnings. This is about moving on with uncertainties. Life won’t always give you a fair chance at everything. There are a few times where you have to just move on. You have to keep digging the new possibilities. Rebekah Crane has done a wonderful job in depicting the overall theme.
3. I have found my new book boyfriend 😀 I LOVED Keiran! He was so adorable and cute. I liked how he was portrayed in the story along with Clementine. He was never shown as a bossy one or otherwise. He left her free to figure out her stuff and always made her comfortable. I like how he was shown as a person who liked to help everyone. But sometimes, Kieran was a complicated guy. While helping Jane, he was dealing with his own family crisis. He was trying to decide what he wanted to be, as his father had other hopes with him. And you know what is the cutest thing? He gave a nickname to Jane/Clementine – Bunny! Isn’t this adorable? 😍
4. The romance was slow-building and quite. In a way, perfect. I liked how it was not rushed. It took almost the end to build that perfect scene for the romance but it was worth it.
5. I really enjoyed the side characters, Siobhan and Clive, among others. I loved their contribution to the story and how they molded it.
6. I loved the setting of the book which was Ireland. Rebekah Crane has perfectly described Ireland’s places and it made me want to visit that beautiful place right away 🙂
7. I loved all the dares that Keiran and Jane did in the story, as I want to do them myself someday?
8. I LOVED the ending. It was NOT AT ALL what I expected. The last 50 or so pages were too intense and I was quite on edge thinking what would happen next. I loved how everything was wrapped up nicely in the end.
9. The writing style of Rebekah Crane was wonderful. It was kind of poetic which reminds with the writing of one of my favourite author John Green. One thing I appreciate most about his books are wonderful quotes and I can say, The Upside of Falling Down has plenty of them. The writing made this book a quick read and kept me hooked from first to the last page.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
---------------------------------
1. Though I loved Clementine as a character, sometimes she was too nosy in other people lives and I didn’t like it particularly? I felt as if she overstepped her boundaries, a few times, considering she was a total stranger in someone else’s home.
2. I loved Siobhan and Clive as a pair and I really wanted to know more about them and their stories.

“There’s a moment bungee jumping, when you’re free – falling. The air actually feels thick. Almost like it’s keeping you afloat more than pushing you down. And you forget to be scared. You forget to be anything. You’re just… still and falling at the same time. At the end, when the bungee catches, you’re actually disappointed because it felt so good. It’s over too soon. It’s the upside of falling down. It’s why you jump in the first place… for that moment.”


FINAL THOUGHTS
-----------------------------
Overall, this was a super cute, adorable and quick read about finding yourself and daring to accept the challenges. This is a great example of a perfect contemporary. This shows that it isn’t necessary to have a strong plot every time to make a story entertaining. You don’t need to have high romance and a perfect pair to make it swoon-worthy. Sometimes, just a simple story like this can also do the magic. I immensely enjoyed this book and thus I would highly recommend it.

what a unique situation.., the sole survivor of a plane crash, Clementine wakes up with amnesia and has to puzzle out who she is and who she was. A delightful quick read that is fun for all.

This is a solid book in my favorite genre, it's no surprise that I enjoyed it. It's well thought out and well executed. I liked the characters best of all, and the plot was very intriguing. The only thing that doesn't sit well with me is the ending, it felt rushed and it didn't seem believable.

I've got to say that this book tackle this issue in a refreshing way. I really liked how Clementine tried hard to enjoy her life even with her amnesia. I couldn't stop flipping through the pages. I think the author did well in talking about the hard times with the right amount of sensitivity and in a relatable way. The ending felt a little bit rush but overall it was a great read! x

The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane is a very unique and interesting book, and I loved it. Clementine Haas, from Ohio, wakes up in a hospital in Ireland with total amnesia. She is the only survivor of a plane crash. The only person Clementine feels comfortable with is her male nurse, so instead of facing her dad, she escapes the hospital to find who she really is. This book kept me reading page after page, and it had more twists and turns as we figured things out along with Clementine. I strongly recommend this book, I plan on reading other books by Ms. Crane.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I recieved this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exhange for an honest review. Thank you.

This story centers around Clementine, a girl who is the sole survivor of a plane crash and wakes up in a hospital with amnesia. Soon after this revelation, she makes a run for it with a handsome, swoon-worthy stranger to abandon her past life and the tragedy that her past reality is filled with.

This concept is SO new for a YA book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The romance had my heart fluttering from beginning to end, but it was laced with tragedy you knew was coming at any point when Clementine finally has to face the truth. What I loved most was that Clementine wasn't a perfect character. Readers get insight to her flaws and it gives off a more realistic portrayal overall.

Though at times the romance could become a little cliche, it was the perfect balance of innovative and the tropes we know and love.

The Upside of Falling Down
A Novel
by Rebekah Crane
Skyscape and Two Lions

Skyscape
Teens & YA
Pub Date 30 Jan 2018


I am reviewing a copy of The Upside of Falling Down through Skyscape and Netgalley:
Clementine Haas is the lone survivor of a plane crash, everyone tells her she's lucky to be alive. More than anything though Clementine wants to discover herself.

Clementine does not feel lucky, despite surviving, she feels lost.

Clementine has the relentless Irish Press bearing down on her, and a Father she likely won't recognize coming from America to take her home, Clementine decides to take on a new identity and enlists a blue eyed Irish stranger Kieran O'Connell to help her escape and start a new life.

Clementine hides in the sleepy town of Waterville Ireland, where she discovers there's an upside to a life that has fallen apart. But as her lies grow so does her affection for Kieran and she finds the truth about her identity becoming harder to reveal. Leaving Clementine with an impossible choice can she leave her past behind for a new love she'll never forget?

I give The Upside of Falling Down five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

I thought that this story had an interesting take on a character with amnesia. It wasn't what I thought that it would be. Normally, in books with this plot line a girl falls in love with a random guy but finds out that she had this whole other life complete with another guy. Thankfully, this book did not having any cheating in it and it also ended up having more depth than other books I have read. The author did such a great job of making Clementine such an approachable character. I felt as if I could feel her pain and frustration of not knowing who she was while I was reading. My heart was breaking for her throughout the book. She suffered so much heartbreak for someone so young and then to go through so many setbacks....she radiated so much strength in trying to remember regardless of her progress. I'm still not completely sure how I feel about Kieran. He seemed okay during parts of the book but during others he was a bit of a jerk. He was hot and cold. Then he seemed to blame Clementine for his behavior. I think that he was my main issue with the book. I didn't like him as the love interest. I preferred Clive over him even though Clive clearly had the hots for someone else. Even though this book is a romance, the most appealing part if this book for me was Clementine's journey of self discovery. I enjoyed learning about her alongside of her during the book. There were successes and failures which she bore beautifully. I also appreciated the secondary characters and the connections that were made between all of the characters. The author was able to set everything up in this book beautifully without spending too much time on any one thing. There was a subtleness to her writing that I appreciated.