I really enjoyed this book. I was hesitant that it would be focused on a romance rather than anything else, but was pleasantly surprised that this was more a book about grief and family than romance. I enjoyed the characters, and was genuinely caught off-guard, in a good way, by a couple of the twists, which I didn't see coming. I enjoyed the writing style as well and am looking forward to reading more from Abigail Johnson.

Abigail has a unique ability to create characters that are slightly broken but grow back together, not perfect but better. I throughly enjoyed this book and would like to see more from her soon.

For once the drama and angst in a YA contemporary novel was done well and in a realistic way. Brooke’s brother, Jason, has confessed to the murder of his best friend, Calvin. Tearing apart not only the two families but upheaving the small town that they are all a part of. Brooke is convinced that her brother can’t possibly be a murder, and especially to his long-time best friend Calvin. But the rest of the town isn’t convinced and treats the rest of the family like lepers. When Brooke inadvertently offers the late Calvin’s brother Heath, a ride, things will slowly start to change.

I was really worried that this was going to end up being some over-the-top Romeo and Juliette love story and was so thrilled when the story continued on and ended up being more about Heath and Brooke trying to heal from a terrible situation. This is definitely a character driven piece and really focuses on the guilt and anger that’s left after Calvin is murdered and Jason goes to jail. The characters aren’t perfect, and they definitely act their age. But they realistically act like someone their age that has gone through a super emotional and life-changing situation. But, also because they are younger they are able to see things a little differently than the jaded adults they are surrounded with who are drowning in their disillusion and misguided blame.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys character driven drama that doesn’t shy away from tragic and sad circumstances, because this book can get pretty depressing in some parts. Don’t let the YA/Romance tags fool you, there isn’t anything lighthearted about this and it deals with very real and very adult themes.

Received via Netgalley. All reviews and opinions are expressly my own

I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is my third Abigail Johnson read, and I have to say I love them all so much. I think her stories and characters are some of my favorite in YA Contemporary, even over Morgan Matson and Kasie West. Why aren't more people reading her books?!

I loved every person in this novel - each character had their own personality and I was invested in them. Especially Brooke's best friend, Maggie, and her younger sister, Laura.

I was happy to see the mental and emotional journey that she and Heath took, and watch Brooke's whole family grow and learn.

The content was tackled well. The fact that I was sympathizing with Brooke's unwavering love for her older brother shows just how emotional Johnson's writing is, because he did not deserve any sympathy.

I completely believed in the main love story between Brooke & Heath. They were good for each other, in my opinion. And had ALL OF THE ANGST. Like seriously, this was Romeo & Juliet times a thousand!

Read this whole book in one sitting, and literally can't think of a single think I didn't like about it. Easy 5/5 stars from me.

Even If I Fall is a beautifully written story about what happens when your world is turned upside down from someone and something you’d never thought possible. Highly recommend.

"When he reaches for me, I know that I'm going to do everything I can to make sure he stays awake."

Wow just wow, this book was full of emotions!I was fully invested in Brooke and Heath's story. I wanted them both to find a way to heal and be happy.This is a poignant story that should be read from everyone!

"The first fireworks burst in the darkening sky. I'm suddenly afraid, and my feet have barely left the ground."

This is a beautifully thought provoking novel, I'm still thinking about it, its unforgettable!

Ever since her brother confessed to murdering his best friend, Calvin, a year ago, Brooke's life has been a struggle. Her family members barely speak to one another. She and her mother visit her brother in prison every weekend, but her father and her younger sister refuse to visit. Brooke and her sister are now home schooled and their family is shunned by the town. Then, she becomes secret friends with Heath, Calvin's younger brother because his family has also been destroyed. The story is touching and I think that fans of YA romance will enjoy it.

This book was very well written but I just wasn't able to connect to it how I hoped I would be able to. I do think some of our YA readers will enjoy this book and I will be sure to recommend to them.

I tried to get into this one and I just couldn’t. The synopsis sounded great, but the plot development just isn’t there for me.

I had a hard time getting into this book. I felt like it was rushed and poorly developed. The premise was interesting and I feel like if it was written differently I would have really enjoyed it.

An emotional and engrossing YA novel about a girl and her family dealing with the fallout of her brother's crime -- and falling in love with the wrong boy.

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

Inkyard Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Even If I Fall. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Brooke Covington lost everything when her older brother confessed to murdering his best friend Calvin. As social outcasts, Brooke's life is a shell of what it once was. Her little sister and her father will not engage, while Brooke's mom clings to the idea that Jason did nothing wrong. A chance encounter with Calvin's younger brother Heath, however, gives Brooke a connection to life that has been missing. Finally having someone in her life who gets how she is feeling, will Brooke expect too much and push too far? Will her desire for the truth cause more pain for all of those involved?

Even If I Fall realistically depicts a family torn apart by a senseless act, but from the perspective of the perpetrator's family instead of the victim's. The author did a good job of describing the aftermath, taking Brooke through a range of emotions as she investigates the actions of her brother during the night in question. Heath's reactions are very realistic as well, especially in regards to his handling of certain situations with Brooke. The ending was shocking, as the author took the novel in a direction that I did not expect. Even If I Fall was a well written YA realistic fiction and one that I would recommend to other readers.

I gave this book a good, hard try. But I just couldn't get through it. The story is interesting at the beginning, but the main character lacks depth. Her relationships with others lack depth. I kept waiting for the story to pick up and for something to happen, but it left me bored. I got 40% of the way through it before I decided to abandon it.

What a story! A beautiful telling of Brooke and Heath finding comfort through each other, even when events in life should have kept them apart. I found the end to be a tad boring compared to the rest of the book, The four month jump wasn't as long as I was hoping for. However, I am happy that the families did not come together right away and act like nothing ever happened, it is more realistic that way.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed above are solely those of my own.

Brooke has a lot to deal with. Her brother's in prison and her family is falling apart around her. The town has ostracized all of them. And her new to town best friend has no idea about any of it. Oh yeah, and she's also in the middle of giving up her dream to be a professional figure skater.

Not the easiest baggage to haul. Yet in the midst of it we see her remain hopeful and resilient. And lest you think this is just another one of those books about the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity, there is also some mystery and even a bit of romance.

All of this seems like way too much to squeeze in and still manage a cohesive and powerful story and yet, that is exactly what Abigail Johnson has done. Brooke, as the protagonist, is a complicated character. She has strength and weakness and bravery and cowardice and good and bad and indifferent. She's not perfect. But she's someone I wanted to know more about the entire way through.

If I had to offer a small criticism, I do think the ending felt a bit rushed. Otherwise, brava!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Lovely story, really engaging. I really think everyone should check this one out

Even If I Fall is an emotional & beautiful story about a family grieving with the loss of their son to the vicious crime he perpetrated & another family dealing with the repercussions of his actions.
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Told from the MC Brooke’s perspective as she tries to navigate through life as a social pariah in her small Texas town, Brooke has only one friend, the new girl in town Maggie who doesn’t yet know her family’s past. Brooke tries to be the good daughter & sister, visiting her brother in jail while trying desperately to hold onto any part of her old life where she was headed towards a figure skating career & a chance to get out of her town. What Brooke doesn’t expect is to meet Heath, the younger brother of the boy her brother killed.
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Very much so a tale of forbidden love, Brooke & Heath start meeting up, trying to work through their feelings of anger & sadness which slowly buds into a beautiful romance that faces some serious challenges. Johnson wrote the characters & their situation as realistically as I think possible, making for a compelling, touching story.
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Many thanks to Harlequin Teen for this ARC copy in return for an honest review.

I loved this book! It is so multifaceted, tackling grief, family dynamics, love and friendship. All of these themes were explored and done very well.

In some cases the twist at the end may have seemed forced, an excuse to add a twist, but it felt right in this story. Overall I think this has something for everyone and was one of my favorite reads of 2019 so far!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy.

A well-written YA contemporary novel that deals with important and intense topics. I will be checking more from this author in the future!

Brooke's brother Jason had committed a horrific crime. He killed his best friend Calvin in cold blood. But Brooke doesn't understand why or what even happened that night. All she knows is that her family has been left very broken. Her sister has stopped speaking and hides behind her ear buds. Her father is in his workshop constantly and rarely ever shows his face. Her Mom tries to put on a good front for them but Brooke knows when she has been crying and sometimes it gets so bad that she cannot even function.

One day Brooke sees Calvin's younger brother Heath walking in the rain down a side country road. She stops to give him a ride which he accepts to her surprise! This starts a whirlwind of sneaking around and forming a bond that no one had anticipated.