Cover Image: The Speed of Falling Objects

The Speed of Falling Objects

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I received an Advanced Readers Copy courtesy of Netgalley.

I'm finding it very hard to write this review without spoiling anything, but I will do my best.

The Speed of Falling Objects is a beautiful story of finding yourself. After a childhood accident, it leaves Danger Danielle Warren blind in one eye, and is plagued by high anxiety and fear of many different things.

After some turn of events, she is flying in a plane with 6 other people, one being the father she hasn't seen since her accident, over the Peruvian jungle. All she wants to do is be the daughter her father wanted her to be. Brave. A propeller.

But then their plane crashes. And the survivors must survive the jungle. Lives are lost, hearts are won, and secrets are realized.

The way the book is written is thrilling and hard to put down.

The details the author gives about the jungle are amazing. I'm not going to go and fact check her on any of it because its a story, but there were so many little details. Not to mention some foreshadowing, which I love with all my heart.

I love how Danny was a flawed character, like real flaws, and was able to overcome and grow. Because we as human beings have these feelings, and some of these anxieties, and it is possible for us to overcome. Danny wasn't a gorgeous, curvy bad-A by the end of the book, there was no physical change, (except for the fact that she lost a lot of weight having to live off bugs and snake meat) but her perception of herself changed, and I loved it.

The book reminded me that in a "plane crash then survive in a remote location" situation, just because you survive the initial crash, does not mean you will live. I don't know if the intention was to give me chills, but it did.

Something I didn't like though, was near the end of the book things started to get steamy between Danny and another character. I just skipped it and went to the next chapter. I don't feel like I missed out on anything by skipping it. I like cute tender romances, flirting, things like that. But if it starts to get steamy, I'm out.

While we are on this subject, Danny is worried about all the creatures in the jungle, and the creatures in the water, but when she is dared to go skinny dipping, she does it. Her dad had seriously just the other day said that there is a creature that will crawl up your urethra. I mean like seriously? Gross. You would not catch me skinny dipping in jungle water.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

This review will be posted on my blog, Reading Rambler, on 6/21/19. This review will be posted on my Goodreads immediately.

Was this review helpful?

The Speed of Falling Objects had me hooked from the very first line.

I flew through this story and really adored Danny’s character. She lost one eye in a childhood accident and has been been dealing with many struggles since. She had to relearn how to do things due the affects of having limited sight and the inability to perceive distances accurately. She went from a fearless child to a teenager who is scared of more things than she’s not. Even with fear setting in she finds the strength to join her dad on his latest filming of his tv show. Her dad takes celebrities into remote and dangerous terrain to teach them survival techniques. Danny cannot pass up the chance to join her dad and get to know him better even if it means entering one of the deadliest places on earth deep in the Rain Forrest of Peru where she will be forced to face her fears straight on.

Nancy Richardson Fischer has created a riveting story that pulls you in and makes you wonder how you’d survive when faced with your deepest fears. It’s full of twists, danger and keeps you wondering what could possibly happen next.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC. I really really loved this book! I am always watching survival TV shows on TV and a book where survival is the core center plot will be amazing to me! This was a wild adventure ride and I enjoyed my time reading this.

Was this review helpful?

Danny is blind in one eye, afraid of everything, and pretty sure that she's unlovable. Kids at school have teased her forever, and she hasn't spent time with her dad, Cougar, in years. He left after her accident, disappointed in all the things she suddenly couldn't do. Now Cougar is the star of his own reality show where he takes celebrities out into the wild and helps them survive extreme weather, animal-encounters, and death-defying treks through dangerous environments. He's doing an episode in the Amazon, and he invites Danny to come along and meet Gus Price, the latest teen heartthrob who will be joining him. But when their plane crashes in the rainforest, suddenly Danny has to find a way to conquer her fears and use her extensive knowledge of both her dad's show and medicine (gleaned from time with her mom, an ER nurse) to help them all make it home.

I didn't really know what to expect from this book, but it was a lot of fun. A little bit of Bear Grylls mixed with Survivor mixed with MacGuyver...basically just figuring out how to survive out in the wilderness where you have to use the random supplies you have (duct tape to close wounds, etc) and find food (snake and grubs) while avoiding all the things that can kill you (spiders and crocodiles and jaguars and SHARKS--did you know there were fresh-water sharks in the Amazon, because I didn't!). They built shelters and rafts, they waded through swamps, and they got to know the strangers they were traveling with pretty quickly due to the intense circumstances. It was an adventure for sure, and it was heartbreakingly clear that they weren't all going to make it. I couldn't put this book down because I had to find out what was going to happen.

All the characters had a lot of personality and a great back-story which is doled out in little pieces along their journey to keep the reader invested in them. You find out why Cougar is the way he is, how Gus became a movie star, and just how broken and defective Danny believes she is. Of course, the whole adventure changes Danny's whole image of herself, so even more than just being a story of survival in the rainforest, it's the story of a young girl realizing that sometimes those voices in your head are WRONG and that YOU get to decide who you're going to be. What a strong and empowering message.

This was a great read! I'm sad that it's over.

***Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Teen and Inkyard Press for such a fun read!***

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC of The Speed of Falling Objects by Nancy Richardson Fischer.

Danny (Danielle), feels like a lost soul. Dealing with teasing at school for only having one eye, not having a good relationship with her mother, or her best friend, and never really knowing her celebrity father, has left her feeling stranded. Danny is self conscious, easily intimidated and hesitant to make decisions. So it's no surprise when her "Bear Grylls-like" dad offers to take her on the adventure of a lifetime, that Danny eventually decides to go. A trip to the Amazon, on camera, with a hunky teen heartthrob Gus Price. Her mother is dismayed, but Danny is hopeful that this will strengthen her character and draw her closer to her dad.

Things take a dangerous turn quickly after their small plan crashes right in the heart of the jungle. They immediately lose members of their crew and they have to act fast to survive. Will this bring her and her dad closer? Will this kindle a romance between her and her celebrity crush? Things are going to have to get a lot worse before they get better.

If I were a teen, I probably would have loved this. It's got great adventure, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants action, and gooey romance. As a cynical old lady though, it's ridiculously unbelievable. The overly exaggerated characters, the accident itself, and the overnight transformation of Danny. But, that didn't mean that it wasn't fun to read.

Was this review helpful?

Hello Lovelies. Sorry I've been a bit neglectful in posting here. I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy The Speed of Falling Objects by Nancy Richardson Fischer courtesy of NetGalley and Harlequin TEEN. While I was granted the ability to read it for free, in exchange for my honest review, all thoughts are my own.

Here's the thing...I literally can't give this book fewer than five stars because it's the first one in probably at least a decade that I accidentally stayed up all night reading because I literally couldn't put it down. (Okay, I did put it down once, at about three in the morning, to try to sleep, but I couldn't stop thinking about it...apparently others have read the whole thing in less than four hours, but I'm not that fast of a reader.)

The most important factor to me, about this story, was the voice. Regardless of anything else, the voice was so gripping that I kept getting utterly caught up in the story. I don't actually think I'd have ever picked it up if I'd realized that this was not the cute contemporary that for some reason I had assumed it was, and that it was instead an adventure/thriller story set in a rainforest filled with horrible creepy crawlies constantly trying to kill everyone. I'm glad I read it, though. It was intense, and heartfelt. The main character's personal growth was beautiful to watch, and I was definitely rooting for her and her friends. I wasn't actually the biggest fan of the romance, but that was a small portion of the story. I would perhaps rate it 4.5 stars overall instead of 5 because of the romance portion, if it hadn't been the only book that had captivated me so utterly in such a long time.

I would recommend it for fans of The Sandcastle Empire (minus the sci-fi elements) and the show Lost, and thriller fans in general. It was incredibly gritty and vivid and raw. A fantastic read, even if I do end up drinking every bit of coffee I own today to stay awake, lol.

**I will be sharing this review on Goodreads, and my instagram stories today (https://www.instagram.com/read.write.coffee/), and on my Instagram feel at the end of August of beginning of September.

Was this review helpful?

Riveting adventure story with a protagonist who shares her worries and fears. After reading this, you will know more about the dangers of the Amazon than you ever wanted.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book. Being stranded in the rainforest jungle and needing to survive reminded me a little bit of the hunger games - the characters stuck together and had to survive. It also was realistic - not everyone gets a happily ever after. I loved the main character. Wish her dad was a little different. Gus was a fun character to be a part of the story.

Was this review helpful?

I wasn't sure what this book was entirely about but i was intrigued enough by the blurb. I'm so glad I got to read this book. It was a gripping tale of courage, love, and learning to stand on your own two feet. Love, courage and strength come in many forms and Danger Danielle Warren learns this the hard way.
There were times, I would think the adventure was too much but then would stop reading to reflect a little. Everything happened exactly as it should-- sometimes it was beautiful and sometimes it was gut-wrenching but it was always enlightening. I'm glad that Nancy Richardson Fischer didn't "Disneyfy" the book. While this story was fiction, it was not farfetched or over the top.
I also think that this book will appeal to many young adults not just females given that the lead character is a female. The backdrop/setting of the story will appeal to the guys and girls alike. It will also not only appeal to the young adult group but adults too. Upper middle grades would love the adventure-- so many bugs lol.
D 5/5

Was this review helpful?

The concept hooked me right away. Danny doesn't see herself as much since an accident caused her to lose an eye, but when her celebrity dad offers her a chance to be on his show for her birthday, she can't refuse and wants to do her best to prove she's still the same adventurous kid from before.

Danny pretty much worships Cougar and I had a feeling early on Cougar wouldn't be what he seems and that's about right. He loves the fame and attention and wants to use Danny for personal gain. Danny is so excited to get to know him better but he has other plans for her on the show.

I got more into the book after the crash and reality set in that these people are stuck in the jungle. It's even more about survival than discovering your self-worth.

One of my main complaints would be Cougar himself. He belittles and embarrasses Danny and thinks very highly of himself to the point where I got frustrated reading and would take breaks.

Overall, there are some good reveals in the book and darker scenes along the way as Danny tries to survive her dad, her growing crush on Gus, and the jungle itself.

3.5/5 stars

Was this review helpful?

I thoroughly enjoyed the author's first YA novel (When Elephants Fly) so I was delighted to receive an advance copy of her next one--The Speed of Falling Objects. The story revolves around a teen girl (Danny) whose father has been mainly absent from her life, and her attempt to reconnect with him by accompanying him on a "survival trip" to the Amazon jungle. The father is a narcissistic version of Bear Grylls, and Danny, once fearless and gregarious, has become timid in the years following an accident where she lost an eye. As if that doesn't set up enough of a conflict, there are plenty more, including a celebrity teen heart throb (Gus) who's also on the trip. When their plane crashes in the middle of the jungle with a crew of seven, one doesn't have to think too hard to imagine all the ways Danny's fate could quickly go south. It's heart-thumping, on-the-edge-of-your-seat action with literally never a dull moment. The action and the accompanying emotions felt authentic. The author pays great attention to detail and I learned a few things about survival and a lot of things about the rain forest in the process of reading. This was pure entertainment and I even set aside my other current reads once I got about halfway through because I was too anxious to find out what was going to happen next. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy.

Was this review helpful?

Hmmm. This book wasn't to my taste, but I can think of several other people who this would fit to a T. I'm just he**a picky sometimes and this was a bit ... I can't even think of the word. Regardless. The writing was well enough and the pacing jumped around a bit to be honest but was sufficient.

Would I recommend? Perhaps.

Was this review helpful?

Oh, this is a good one! The story starts with an almost impossibly perfect premise (a plane crash and survival with a father, a celebrity and a crew.) As such, our characters are thrown into a survival situation that reveals values and gets everyone into an authentic zone where relationships come alive and challenge the bugs for the most present influence. This is a quick read, but does more to accomplish a living, breathing environment than so many other recent book. Dialogue locks you in, and you're right there with these characters for a gripping, thought-provoking adventure. You'll be asking what you'd do, think and want if you were ever in that kind of scary situation, which is the mark of a very successful book. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for a review copy. I enjoyed this one very much and will look for other titles by this supremely talented author.

Was this review helpful?

This book was not my cup of tea! I felt as though it was aced very slowly and did not like Cougar at all as the father figure in the novel. He is a selfish person who could care less for his daughter. The story felt heavy and dragged on and on in the jungle.

Was this review helpful?

This one really surprised me! I was not expecting it to take such twists and turns, but I'm glad it did. I almost read the entire thing in one sitting.

It was a unique spin on the absent parent, single parent trope. It almost read like an episode of Survivor meets Naked and Afraid. I was very surprised by the ending and yet somehow not surprised at all. The entire book was a journey and an adventure.

Danny, the main character, is a real joy to get to know. Her dad kind of sucks, her mom has her own skeletons. It reminds us that parents are people, too. Do we forgive them for their shortcomings or do we cut them out of our lives?

There's adventure, drama, and just the right amount of romance, but most importantly, there's a lovely message for all readers: having anxiety and fears is okay, but so is not letting them rule your life. A wonderful read all the way around.

Was this review helpful?

This book was fabulous! Danny is the most amazing character and I think I fell in love with Jupiter just a little bit. From the time the plane crashes in the jungle until the very end and that last game of truth or dare I could not put this book down. It was so well written that I was pulled completely into the story and didn’t want to leave!

Was this review helpful?

The Speed of Falling Objects is a great edge of your seat novel. I fell in love with the story and characters from the very first chapter. This is a great story that teaches you if you dig deep inside yourself you can accomplish anything. GREAT STORY FOR ALL!!!!!

Was this review helpful?

The Quick Cut: A girl who lost her eye at a young age agrees to go on a trip to the Amazon with her long absent celebrity father. Chaos arises when the plane crashes and everyone's life is thrown in peril.

A Real Review:
Thank you to Inkyard Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Parents take a serious fall from grace the older we get. When we're young they often are seen as heroes who raise us and show us right from wrong. As we wise up, eventually the reality of being human like the rest of us sets in and disappointment occurs. So when one parent is missing in action, does the fall look like a crash & burn or do they stay mythical in status? For our heroine Danny, the reality of her parent's faults come epically crashing down.

Danny is a girl with many faults. Having lost her eye at a young age (and her father soon after), she has spent her life keeping her head down and playing it the safe route to ensure she keeps her remaining eye. Being the book smart one in the room is the way to going into any situation well advised. Unfortunately, thats all thrown out the window when her absentee dad offers Danny a spot on a trip to the Amazon and she accepts...with the plane crashing on the way there. Will she find that the truth hurts or is she more resilient than she gives herself credit for?

I inhaled this book in less than eight hours. Once I started this story, I could not stop myself because it just pulled me in and I had to know the ending for Danny. She's gone through so much in her life and blamed herself for so many issues with her parents that its hard not to feel for her. Once the action gets going, reality hits hard core for this group with snakes, bug bites, traumatic injuries, & impossible odds to find safety. I kept dropping my jaw in shock each time the odds increased and for good reason - you couldn't help but wonder if this would end ugly.

Danny takes a true journey in this book between discovering the truth of her childhood, seeing her father for who he is, realizing the person she truly is, & what strength she has inside her. Those are all areas in life alone that are tough to swallow and she takes the hits one after the next like a champion (even if she doesn't see it at first). It's intense and heroic all at once.

On the polar opposite side, her dad named Cougar is selfish, conniving, and basically Bear Grylls if you want another celebrity to match him against. Although on the outside he's a wilderness man, it doesn't take long for his true colors to show and how much it impacts everyone in his circle. I absolutely wanted him to die full disclosure but by the end felt bad for it. You see his reason for the way he is and instead he becomes a flawed man rather than a villain.

With a great story and heroine to pull you in, Nancy has written another hit that cannot be missed.

My rating: 5 out of 5

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy of The Speed of Falling Objects by Nancy Richardson Fischer. Danny (Danielle) feels like a misfit since losing an eye and being caught in the middle of a divorce. Raised by her mom, she hasn't seen her famous survivalist dad for years. Her mom is bitter since the divorce and her dad doesn't come around. Danny accepts an invite to be in one of his survivalist television shows filmed in the Amazon Rain Forest to try to get to know her dad better. In the end Danny learns who her father truly is. This story is about how people aren't always what we think they are, that people will disappoint us; but in the end we have to look for the good in people so we can move on and live a full life.

Was this review helpful?

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks NetGalley!

What an intriguing storyline. Danni lost an eye and had to relearn a lot. Her dad is a famous tv star whom has been mostly absent. Danni blames herself ro this, thinking she isn't "enough" for him so she jumps at the chance to start on his tv show. Unfortunately the plan crashes, and she learns a secret that will make herself question her father as she knows him.

such a fun/good read.

Was this review helpful?