I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Definitely the best I have read this year. A wonderful blend of romance, intrigue, sadness and drama. A must read.

Heather Fineisen's review Apr 05, 2018 · edit
liked it

A charming but predictable story of three friends and the men they love. Told in flashbacks, the characters were well developed and easy to care about. The modern day romance of the granddaughter told in real time was more satisfying although also transparent. Overall, a good read with enough heart and character to offset the predictability.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

I really enjoyed Dreams of Falling. It's the story of three women who were friends growing up in South Carolina and of one of the women's daughter and granddaughter. The narration switches among three of the women - Ceecee, Ivy, and Larkin - and two different time periods, the 1950's and 2010. I loved reading about the three friends in the '50's and their life after graduation. Larkin's life in the 2000's is also interesting. The style of writing is perfect for this novel of the South because their stories are doled out languidly like the movements of the waterways that surround their hometown in the Low Country. The plot has many twists and turns, some inevitable and some surprising. All of the long-kept secrets are revealed by the story's end in a satisfying conclusion. I would definitely recommend this book to all of the women I know.
I received an Advanced Review Copy of this book.

Karen White’s books are always a perfect blend of family, friendship, mystery, and a little romance. In her latest book “Dreams of Falling” she offers us two generations of strong female friendships. After nine years away, Larkin returns to her childhood home in South Carolina when her mother Ivy takes a life-threatening fall, a fall that becomes the catalyst for exposing long held secrets. Larkin had fled her home insisting she would never return.

When Ivy is found in the burned out ruins of her family’s ancestral home, unconscious and badly injured, Larkin becomes determined to find out why her mother was there. It is in this search that Larkin uncovers the secrets kept by three teenage friends who fifty years earlier had sworn to remain best friends forever, never imagining the heartache that would result from that vow.

I admired the strength of the friendships in this story – the older generation (Margaret, Ceecee, and Bitty) and the younger generation (Larkin, Mabry, and Bennett). Their love for and loyalty to each other is so strong that they keep secrets to protect those they love.

Just as the older generation had their secrets, so too do the younger friends Larkin, Mabry, and Bennett - secrets kept in an effort to protect one of them. But it seems that all secrets are at some point revealed, leading to unknown consequences. This is the true beauty of Karen White’s writings – how do those who loved each other so strongly deal with consequences of those secrets.

Ms. White reveals the flaws in each of her characters, making them more human. She artfully wove together the strands of the backstories, slowly revealing the puzzle pieces one at a time. As the story evolved I found myself asking/guessing what role each character played in the central event. When I reached the end of the story, I marveled at the beauty of the writing and how well, and naturally, it all came together.

This is a story that tugged at my heart as the friends were dealt so much tragedy that normally would have destroyed friendships. Yet these friends stayed true.

I loved the characters, laughing with them, crying with them, asking “What were you thinking” a few times, and so hoping that a little sunshine would fall into their lives. I do highly recommend this book.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book.

I am a big fan of Karen White, but this certainly was not my favorite book that she has written. It was entertaining, of course, but I found the flashbacks to be tedious. Yes, they were necessary to the plot, but I found myself skimming those parts, which is something I rarely do. There are twists and secrets aplenty; I think this book will appeal to many types of readers. Although it wasn't entirely my cup of tea, I appreciate the talent of Karen White, and will continue to read the books she releases in the future.

Not my favorite Karen White novel. I found Larkin not very likeable and I kept wanting to skip the flashbacks to the '50s. I understand the desire to draw out the suspense, but there were TOO many secrets, and they concealed the main characters' motivations so much that I wasn't sure who to like or dislike. And I would have to disagree with the main premise of the novel -- that you can't fault someone for loving too much. Maybe you can't fault one's motivation, but you can certainly blame her for bad decisions made because of it. Anyway, if you're new to Karen White, don't start with this one. :)

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Larkin needed to come home from New York because her mother was missing.

What she found was that over the years a lot of things were missing and quite a few things were kept secret.

Larkin found secrets about her mother and her family at every turn.

When she asked why she wasn’t told, the answer was ignored or she was told to wait until her mother, Ivy, wakes up and to ask her.

Larkin wondered how long she would have to wait for her mother to wake up. She also wondered how long until she found out everything.

Ivy had been found near death at the old homestead, Carrowmore, underneath a rotting staircase.

Carrowmore had been a favorite childhood place of her mother and her friends where they put "wishes on ribbons" into the opening of a tree.

As the book continued, the plot thickened, and Larkin kept finding out more and more about what had been kept from her and how some close family members were not as they appeared.

DREAMS OF FALLING was a bit confusing at first in the character department. It took me a while to figure out who belonged to who and what their connections were. The connections became more tricky and quite intriguing as things were revealed.

We learn of the secrets kept and of the lives of the main characters by going back to 1951 and then returning to 2010. I really enjoyed seeing the three friends in their youth. Their current lives didn’t seem as exciting, but their youth and family history as with all of us had a major influence on their lives now and the paths they had chosen.

DREAMS OF FALLING started out not feeling like Karen White’s usual books because of the confusing character problem, but once the book got going, the familiar writing, the marvelous story line, the Southern charm, and warm characters made its appearance and made the story line completely wonderful and enjoyable as always.

DREAMS OF FALLING is another marvelous treat.

Despite the confusion with the characters at the beginning, DREAMS OF FALLING is another Karen White masterpiece that pulls you in and keeps you loving each turn of the page.

I hope you enjoy it too. 5/5

I received an Advanced Reader of this book. It was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

I admit to being surprised at how much I enjoyed this book and how well it held my attention.
Karen White skillfully weaves the plot around 3 generations of women and their convoluted and complicated relationships

The catalyst is the life-threatening accident which occurs to Ivy, the central figure and co-narrator of the novel. We see events in the lives and loves of these generations which leads the youngest, Larkin, to return to her Southern hometown despite her estrangement from friends and family.

Yes, it is a lovely romance as Larkin rediscovers her past, but it also speaks to the cultural mores of mid-20th century. It also addresses the role of women and the expectations for the lives of women.

There is plenty to discuss, especially in a woman’s study group, while providing a lovely read.

I have read and loved many Karen White novels but this is in my opinion her is best.
I cried, I laughed and at times had chills from the filling like I was in the room with her characters.
I stayed up very late reading this one. I will recommend this book to everyone that loves a great novel about strong women and family values.

I love this author and all of her books. But this time, I struggled to connect with the main character. In her youth, she is depicted as someone who is both overconfident in her abilities and skills (to the point where she doesn't know when she's bad at things) and also insecure and mostly friendless except for those who tell her what she needs to hear. As an adult, she's pulled away from that life and those tendencies, but I had trouble understanding who she was--her friends from childhood keep assuring her, no, she really was charming and fearless and wonderful, but it was hard to gauge whether any of that was true or not, given what we know of their role in the past--and therefore it was hard to understand the changes she experienced and the acceptance of herself that she comes to in the end.

The setting, the writing, the past and present narratives interwoven were all spot-on brilliant. So, I suspect it might just be me that struggled to connect.

***I received an ARC for an honest review***

While I theoretically understood where the author was going here I didn't always love the execution.

Larkin is living (hiding) in New York when her mother has an accident that forces her return to her southern hometown. Larkin is hurt because she feels those closest to her lied to her in an effort to make her seem perfect. From what I could gather her issue is that those that loved her filled her with compliments and confidence - and when that was tested she ran.

There is a large cast here - Larkin, her mom Ivy (in a coma), the women who raised Ivy (and sort of raised Larkin) Ceecee and Bitty, Larkin's dead grandma Margaret, Larkin's friend Mabry and Mabry's twin Bennett. Plus some high school crush named Jackson.

Lies pile on lies - told between best friends Margaret, CeeCee and Bitty (when we travel back to the early 1950s to watch their journey to adulthood together), and between literally everyone and Larkin. And Larkin and Mabry. And Larkin and Jackson. And Larkin and Bennett.

There was sweetness and some eye-roll moments. I couldn't connect with Larkin - we were just too different. But I liked a number of the supporting characters. I found the story compelling enough to keep reading even though I sighed a few times.

I liken this story to a shopping cart with a wiggly wheel. It got the job done, but it was awkward.

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Family bonds and secrets are at the heart of Dreams of Falling. Set in Georgetown, South Carolina, the story begins as Larkin returns home to help locate her missing mother, Ivy. As the search for Ivy progresses, Dreams of Falling moves back and forth in time slowly unveiling secrets that have been kept hidden for 50 years. As always, Karen White writes a beautiful, cautionary tale full of love, loyalty, and loss. I received this book to read and review; all opinions are my own.

This book was a great tale of finding out more than you bargain for. I loved the relationships between the characters as well as the way the "before" and "now" weaved together.

This is a story of family secrets, regrets, and forgiveness.

Larkin lives in New York and works as a copywriter. She receives an unexpected phone call letting her know her mother (Ivy) has gone missing. Going back to Georgetown, where she fled from nine years ago, is the last place she wants to go, but she loves her mother and doesn’t think twice about returning home to help find her.

This is a story about three generations of women and is told from the perspective of Ceecee, Ivy, and Larkin. The main story is told in present day (2010) with flashbacks throughout to 1951. In these flashbacks, Ceecee, Bitty, and Margaret have just graduated from high school. These three best friends are young, ready to spread their wings, and want to find love. I initially found this story a bit confusing. It was a bit tricky keeping track of all the female characters, plus the younger and older versions of a couple of them. I did eventually get everyone straight in my head, so all was not lost.

I found myself drawn to the 1951 storyline more than the present day storyline. I had trouble connecting with Larkin, I found her a bit too naïve and immature. Although I didn’t completely connect with Larkin, I was quite intrigued by what she was hiding and why she ran away from Georgetown so many years ago. It was nearly impossible for her secrets to remain hidden while being surrounded by her family and friends who all care so deeply for her.

All of these women have their regrets and secrets that they’d rather keep under lock and key. But secrets have a way of coming out. This book had many sweet moments, and lots of revelations. The love all of these women have for each other is beautiful. It shows how friendship can transcend for generations through the good and bad. They have all had their struggles and made mistakes, but they will always be there for one another.

A story spanning generations of a sleepy coastal Carolina town. Luxurious low country setting and southern family secrets abound in Karen White's new novel. However, the plot moved slowly at times, and the promised appearance of an iconic character from the author's Trade Street Series proved disappointing. I did like the way the Tree of Dreams took on a magnanimous character role, watching over and helping the wisher figure out what they really desired.

I had a hard time getting into this book. I didn't feel a connection to the characters. Since I did not finish the book, I do not intend to publish a review. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Ceecee, Bitty and Margaret are young best friends headed to the beach after Graduation. When they meet the brothers, their vacation turns into the best two weeks young people falling in love could have. Plans are made, but the choices made, form a future with some twisted decisions.
Two generations later, Larkin, Margaret's granddaughter is called home because her mother is missing. When Larkin had left home years ago, she was angry. As she uncovers the secrets of the three best friends she discovers the truths of choices made and how they affected all of those she loves.

This story was a spell binding tale of family secrets, broken promises and the heartache that only best friends and family members can cause. I immediately connected with the main character, Larkin, and was rooting for her the whole book. Larkin has some clear issues and a lot of growth still to do throughout the book but that serves to pull you in even deeper. The story is told in several different POV’s, which I usually don’t like, but this time they were woven together so well that I didn’t find myself skimming at all. There was just something about this story that tugged at my heart. The fierce love between friends and the trials they will go through to protect each other showed the importance of true friendships. The characters all had their flaws but at the end of the day they loved each other and that was what truly mattered. This story was a beautiful example of all the matters in the world. From the writing, to the setting and the plotting, all elements of this novel worked perfectly. If you haven’t read any of Karen White’s book I highly recommend them and this one is a great place to start!

A story about friendship between three girls in the 1950's that survives death and heartbreak, and the secrets they keep and how those secrets impact the following generations.. Switching between the 1950's and today to tell the story was brilliant, everyone gets to tell their own story. A wonderful read. Thank you Karen White.

Dreams of Falling is a great book, it has everything you would want from a book. It's mysterious, intriguing,heartfelt and full of drama. I really loved how the plot weaved the past and present together. The friendships felt authentic and pure. I loved the girls connection, it was a great way to show that family isn't always who we are born to, its who we choose to love. Dream of falling was beautify written, full of excellent characters and has a storyline that pulls you immediately.