Southern master storyteller, Kristy Woodson Harvey returns following (2019 The Southern Side of Paradise —check out my Q&A with Kristy) with her latest FEELS LIKE FALLING. A heartwarming tale of two women who form an unlikely friendship. Both of their lives are changed for the better.

Set on the coast of N.C, Gray Howard started a marketing company, ClickMarket, back in college, which has grown into an empire. However, now, her husband decides to leave her for his assistant.

Of course, with the divorce, he wants a little of everything, including her business. Plus, he is pulling their son away for a trip. On top of this, her mom died of cancer. And her sister Quinn has a cult-like leader/preacher for a husband.

Her work has been her life, and now it is being jerked away. As she is going through this process, she happens to be at the drug store getting some photos, and the gal, Diana (a clerk photo developer), wants her to get a release form signed.

After that, Diana gets fired and has no place to go. She also has experienced a bad breakup and now must live in her car.

However, through the process of several funny events, Diana winds up living in Gray’s guest cottage and working for her. This unlikely pair discovers they have more in common than they may know.

Kristy weaves a beautiful story of two women who find themselves at crossroads. Infused with emotion and humor with distinct voices (including a cast of secondary female characters), plus Trey (loved), her assistant, and a hunky younger love interest (Andrew) for Gray (yum).

Plus, an old flame comes back into Diana’s life, and they both get a second chance at life and love. I enjoyed Diana’s wit and humor.

“Sometimes we get right where we need to be by ending up exactly where we started.”

Each of the characters questions their relationships and who they are while searching for the courage to live a life of true meaning, not just what people expect.

A perfect beach read with relatable characters that showcase that life is always full of surprises and does not always have to “look perfect to be perfect for you.”

Emotionally resonant, and utterly captivating, FEELS LIKE FALLING is a story of family, friendship, love, and the courage to follow your own heart—wherever that may lead.

An ideal book to read during this time of isolation. As we think of others and what they may be experiencing.

Once again, the charming author knows her way around NC and Southern storytelling. I loved the characters. For fans of Mary Kay Andrews, Emily Giffin, Patti Callahan Henry, and Mary Alice Monroe.

Just give me a front porch and a swing on a breezy evening and this book. I highly recommend all of Kristy’s books! PS. Be sure and listen to Kristy’s video about the inspiration behind the novel. Fascinating!

A special thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy.

On a side note: As always, being an NC native, I enjoy discovering an essential or memorable place in one of Kristy’s stories. Was delighted when she featured Mast Farm Inn. It is a beautiful boutique historic Select Registry B&B Inn in Banner Elk, NC. I had stayed there many times when my oldest son attended college in Banner Elk and Boone. Many fond memories.

Being in the media business and a consultant for inns and the hospitality business, I have had the opportunity of seeing every room. The charming inn, the historic cottages, as well as the new cabins. The food is divine; the accommodations superb, and the owners and management are delightful. (I do wish Gray could have gone there with Andrew) but it all worked out in the end.

Kristy Woodson Harvey is back!

Her widely popular books always offer such a sweet blend of Southern charm and modern intensity, Feels Like Falling is no exception.

(from Goodreads) It’s summertime on the North Carolina coast and the livin’ is easy. Unless, that is, you’ve just lost your mother to cancer, your sister to her extremist husband, and your husband to his executive assistant. Meet Gray Howard. Right when Gray could use a serious infusion of good karma in her life, she inadvertently gets a stranger, Diana Harrington, fired from her job at the local pharmacy. Diana Harrington’s summer isn’t off to the greatest start either: Hours before losing her job, she broke up with her boyfriend and moved out of their shared house with only a worn-out Impala for a bed. Lucky for her, Gray has an empty guest house and a very guilty conscience. With Gray’s kindness, Diana’s tide begins to turn. But when her first love returns, every secret from her past seems to resurface all at once. And, as Gray begins to blaze a new trail, she discovers, with Diana’s help, that what she envisioned as her perfect life may not be what she wants at all. In her warmest, wisest novel yet, Kristy Woodson Harvey delivers a discerning portrait of modern womanhood through two vastly different lenses. Feels Like Falling is a beach bag essential for Harvey fans—and for a new generation of readers.

I enjoyed this beachy read so much, but while it makes for a light book for the summertime attractions, this novel also offers up more for readers. I am a fan of Harvey's work, but this one really topped my love for her writing, characters, and stories. Feels Like Falling is much more emotional and intense than her previous work, at least to me. I enjoyed all of the characters and how they bantered back and forth with one another very naturally. Diana was a bright spot for me. She was incredibly endearing and real with quick dialogue and dramatic appeal with her backstory. Gray was a dynamic and fresh main character. The dual POVs were easy to follow and blended well with one another to create a satisfying story.

This novel earns a 4/5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Title: Feels Like Falling
Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Genre: Women’s fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

It’s summertime on the North Carolina coast and the livin’ is easy.

Unless, that is, you’ve just lost your mother to cancer, your sister to her extremist husband, and your husband to his executive assistant. Meet Gray Howard. Right when Gray could use a serious infusion of good karma in her life, she inadvertently gets a stranger, Diana Harrington, fired from her job at the local pharmacy.

Diana Harrington’s summer isn’t off to the greatest start either: Hours before losing her job, she broke up with her boyfriend and moved out of their shared house with only a worn-out Impala for a bed. Lucky for her, Gray has an empty guest house and a very guilty conscience.

With Gray’s kindness, Diana’s tide begins to turn. But when her first love returns, every secret from her past seems to resurface all at once. And, as Gray begins to blaze a new trail, she discovers, with Diana’s help, that what she envisioned as her perfect life may not be what she wants at all.

I loved the relationship Gray had with her assistant and her best friend! Their interactions, especially when adding Diana into the mix, made the whole novel come alive. I didn’t quite get why Gray had such a problem with the age difference between herself and her new man—it wasn’t that big, and he was in graduate school, it’s not like he was a freshman or something. She also dropped him pretty quick and was interested in someone else—who she then handed to her best friend like he was a purse she tried out and didn’t like. This was definitely a novel about opposites, as Diana was a far cry from Gray’s posh and privileged life. A fun read, but not a lot of character depth.

Kristy Woodson Harvey is a bestselling author. Feels Like Falling is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.)

Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "Feels Like Falling" by Kristy Woodson Harvey, Gallery Books, April 28, 2020

Kristy Woodson Harvey, author of  "Feels Like Falling" has written a delightful, heartwarming, and memorable novel. The genres for this novel are Southern Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction, and Romance. The timeline for this story is sent in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events. I love the way Kristy Woodson Harvey tells her story and writes her vivid descriptions of the characters, events, and setting in her novel. I appreciate that the author describes the importance of friendship, family, forgiveness, love, and hope. The author describes her characters as likable and relatable. Some are complex and complicated and have their own problems to sort out. 

Imagine two strangers, each with incredibly bad luck, meeting and becoming the best of friends. Gray Howard and Diana Harrington meet under unusual unfortunate circumstances and Gray invites a homeless Diana to move into her home. Gray misses her young son who is with his father and girlfriend for 3 weeks. Both women do share some issues and do give each other emotional support.

I appreciate the positive tone that the author uses in her novel. The author discusses the importance of an open mind, and an open heart in approaching life. This is a feel-good story with wonderful characters, and I would highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy a thought-provoking and heartfelt novel.

Kristy Woodson Harvey is fast becoming one of my favorite authors when I’m in the mood for heartwarming stories filled with lovable characters. For those who haven’t read it, I highly recommend her Peachtree Bluff series, which is wonderful, and I’m happy to report that her new novel, Feels Like Falling, is equally delightful, perhaps even more so.

I was drawn to the protagonists in Feels Like Falling right away. Gray Howard is going through a messy and seemingly never ending divorce where her ex-husband, even though he cheated on her, is still trying to take half of the company she has built from the ground up as part of the divorce settlement. Gray refuses to cave so they’re basically at a stand-off, with their 8-year-old son, Wagner, caught in the middle. Our second protagonist, Diana Harrington, is also going through a messy breakup and, because her deadbeat of an ex gambled away all her money, is also currently living in her car. When the two women cross paths and Gray accidentally gets Diana fired from her job, they have no idea that their lives are about to become intertwined in ways they never could have anticipated from that first meeting.

Both Diana and Gray are smart and resourceful women who are going through a rough patch and who are used to being completely independent. What they start to learn the better they get to know each other, however, is that it’s okay to lean on others sometimes. You don’t always have to go it alone. The friendship and the sense of sisterhood that grew between Diana and Gray throughout the book kept a smile on my face the entire time I was reading.

I also adored the secondary characters that made up the rest of Gray’s found family. Her best friend Marcy and her gem of an assistant, Trey, really rounded out Gray’s support system and I loved that they pulled Diana in with warm and welcoming arms as well. The banter between this foursome had me chuckling to myself every time they appeared on the page together.

There are also some weightier topics in Feels Like Falling. There are some real family issues with sisters who have gone off the rails, mother-daughter issues, plus those dramatic breakups I already touched on. Harvey gives a very realistic portrait of just how messy and complicated life can be sometimes, which makes that support group of Gray’s (and now Diana’s as well) all the more important.

For those who love a bit of romance, Feels Like Falling has that too. There’s a fun summer fling that’s maybe more than a fling, and there’s also my favorite romance trope, a second chance romance. Both romances are very well written and felt completely authentic, and yes, I was rooting for them both to work out. 😊

Feels Like Falling is a fun read that is sure to leave you with a smile on your face, but it’s also a story that is filled with heart and with so many important themes and life lessons. I found it a very satisfying read on so many levels and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming story about friendship and love.

Having not read this author's work before, I wasn't entirely sure what I was stepping into, but boy, oh boy, did I enjoy my time on the North Carolina coast!

The dual story line between Gray and Diana keeps you captivated with every flick of the page. You can't help but fall in love with them both, cringe at their missteps, cheer at their successes, and be humbled by the hardships they've each faced. They are not the same, and yet they share the same experience...the HUMAN experience. The kindness they show each other, the friendship that grows, the hard times they tackle together, and the dreams they can't believe may turn into realities, endear them to you even more.

I loved Gray for her tenacity in business, yet innocence in love. I loved the fact that she would fight tooth and nail to keep her business HER business, as well as for the presence of her son in her life. My heart felt full when she had another chance at love (OMG...Andrew...I never thought I'd find their connection appealing with the younger man, slightly older woman couple, but he was definitely a keeper!), but her hesitation kept it at arm's length, leaving the HEA uncertain to say the least (FYI...there IS a HEA, but it may not be exactly as you suspect!). I loved Diana for her present self, grown from a past that was life changing to say the very least. I loved how once she made up her mind, she stuck to whatever path she decided, but wasn't so hardheaded that she wouldn't listen to friend founded wisdom when necessary. She kept chasing her tightly held dreams even when all looked lost and wasn't above employing a little subterfuge if the situation was dire. She was a good egg, and a wonderful friend to boot....and honestly they were both just what the other needed at this massive junction in their lives.

All in all, a FABULOUS read that I couldn't recommend more! It'll make the perfect add to your summer reading list, and a great way to escape self-quarantine and then some!

Loved this book! I was so invested in BOTH main characters that I didn’t know who to root for more! The quick wit and humor in this book is fantastic - you know how us southern girls love a snide comment - lol! Friendship, confidence and forgiveness is what this book is made of and some southern sass of course😉

At this memorable time in our world many readers are having trouble concentrating - all lamenting our "old" lives and the schedules that were so familiar to our hearts and minds. Here’s a chance to escape to the back porch of a stunning house with breathtaking views of waves, dunes, and sunsets, along with an empty guest house. The house, porch and guest house belong to Gray Howard, business owner and country club member. Gray’s “lazy, hang on to his wife's coat tails” husband has just left her for the company assistant the day after her mother's funeral! Gray's over-planned life is turned upside down. In the same town, Diana, aka "trailer trash orphan,” has finally left her boy-friend of way too many years, been fired from her job in the photo lab at the local pharmacy, and is presently homeless; unless the Impala counts. These two gals from different worlds collide at the photo counter and thus begins the making of a very "odd couple." Readers will find an emotional attachment to the servant heart of Di and come to appreciate the corporate mind of Gray.
The beaches are closed, but readers can pack a tote bag with lunch, a drink, and a copy of Feels Like Falling and experience a gratifying trip to the North Carolina shore.

Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a wonderful book of friendship and finding happiness. The story centers around Gray Howard, a woman with more than a full plate. She is going through a divorce while sharing custody of her son with her soon to be ex and his young fiance. She is fighting to main her company, one she started when she was in college. She has lost her mother and feels that hurt deeply.

The second main character is Diana Harrington. She too has too much she is struggling with. She has lost her job (not that she was good at it), lost her no good boyfriend (even though he represented safety and had a house), so she is living in her car.

Gray and Diana end up helping each other and slowly a friendship begins to happen. Gray is surrounded by other wonderful characters who are funny and irreverent. With Diana’s help, Gray begins to move forward and with Gray’s help, Diana moves forward as well.

Feels Like Falling was a book that made me fall in love with the author. The author kept me totally engaged. The setting made me want to savor the warmth of the sun and the people. I wanted to put my feet in the sand and watch the sunsets with the ladies. The characters were wonderful, with a captivating story. The story lines pierced the heart and then filled it back up. The theme of women finding their happiness and letting go of the past with their friends and taking care of each other was key. I have a new favorite author to follow. I loved the book! Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a great read!

Feels Like Falling, by Kristy Woodson Harvey, is a touching story with several powerful life messages held within its pages. It’s the story of two women from distinctly different backgrounds who find an unlikely friendship with one another at just the time they need it most.

These two women are each at a crisis in their lives and as their worlds come crashing down around them, they are able to pick themselves up and rebuild their lives for the better because of their friendship with one another and others around them. As they forge ahead to build something new, they also find healing from old wounds, reconciliation with their past and strength to face a better life ahead.

The story is humorous and emotional, as you see these women struggle with very real issues from their past and current situations, but garner strength from those around them with grace and humor. And though it’s touching, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the story is also really long. Though I found the concept sweet and important, I will admit that the story did drag for me and at times I felt hesitant to pick it back up. I would have preferred to have this same story condensed to better hold my interest and have maximum impact and enjoyment. I also wasn’t able to connect with these characters as much as did in her previous Peachtree Bluff series.

Regardless, Kristy Woodson Harvey is definitely a gifted writer and storyteller and her stores carry worthwhile messages.

This is the first book I’ve read by Kristy Woodson Harvey although I own a few of her other books. When I read the blurb for this book and then received my copy, I was so excited to get started.
I absolutely adored this book.!! It reminded me a lot of my favorite authors Elin Hilderbrand and Mary Kay Andrews - a light, easy read to escape into, but with some substance.
I won’t say much about the premise because I think it’s better to just go in blindly, but this book just kept on surprising me with how much I loved the characters and wanted to root them on. This book explores love, friendships, heartbreak, and relationships between parents and children and how to survive it all and come out better in the end.
I just can’t say enough how much I loved this book. I cannot wait to go and read her older books now.
Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of #feelslikefalling.

I loved this book!

Meet Gray and Diana, two strangers down on their luck who find themselves connected by circumstance. Their situations are vastly different but they quickly learn problems and their magnitude are in the eye of the beholder. The story alternates between Gray and Diana's perspectives, which is a feature I always enjoy in books. I feel it allows the reader to get to know the characters better.

This is a story about friendships, starting over and finding the joy in life. It's also a book about families, made by blood or by love. It was a great reminder that families and connections come in any forms and we should embrace and appreciate all those we hold dear. What perfect timing as many of us are living confined to our homes due to the global pandemic worried about the health and economic future of ourselves and those we love.

Diana has to be one of my favorite characters. She is middle aged, lived a rough life since a very young age, but has a huge heart. She understands people, is so observant and calls them out on their nonsense. She delivered so many witty one liners, I laughed out loud countless times.

Gray was also a great character. She was very logical in her decision making and some of those decisions made me cringe, even though I would have made the same decisions. Sometimes logic and love do not work in tandem and this book will serve as a great reminder as I raise my children. I'll question their choices for certain, but I hope I remember love matters most. Any book that challenges me to think differently and see the world through a different lens is 5 stars to me.

I look forward to reading more books by Kristy Woodson Harvey.

Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to reading Feels Like Falling after reading The Peachtree Bluff series written by Kristy Woodson Harvey. I loved that series and I am sorry to say that this book falls short of her previous work. I had difficulty connecting with the characters and didn't find them to be likable. But I did like that the story is told from two different points of view. I will most definitely read more from Ms. Harvey. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

Have I mentioned how much I adore Kristy Woodson Harvey yet? Have you had a chance to meet her in person? She is just as sweet and charming as you can imagine and if you've had a chance to read her books yet, you can definitely see her personality dripping off the pages. This is why I adore her books and why I jump at the opportunity to read and support her - she is good people, folks and she is truly a talented author. She will make you laugh and she will make you cry and by the time you finish one of her books, you will feel hope and compassion like no one else has made you feel.

One of my favorite aspects of Kristy's writing is her ability to create characters that you are immediately drawn to. She allows us to see the perfectly imperfect world of her characters, real women that any of us can relate to and I think that's what makes it so readable. You will fall in love with them right from the start, cheering at their successes, cringing at their missteps, and feeling humbled by their hardships. But what is so remarkable is that while these two women, who are not at all the same, go through their own experiences, they end up realizing just how much they are alike and how much they have come to depend on the other.

I loved the way the friendship developed between Gray and Diana...it wasn't immediate, but rather slow and cautious. But once it was there, you knew it was true and the kind that would last forever. And it was nice seeing a book that celebrated this friendship rather than a book where we have women constantly attacking each other.

This book is about second chances. It's about friendship and about love and loyalty. It's about picking up the pieces when life falls apart and moving forward. Maybe it's not the way you thought it would be, maybe it is, but as long as you stay true to yourself and are happy it's all good as we see our characters figure out.

I adored this book. It was the perfect escape reading for right now. While I would have loved to be sitting on the beach reading this, I nevertheless got the sense I was right there along with the characters by the very vivid descriptions that Kristy gives in her writing. I cannot recommend this book enough. This is absolutely southern fiction and summer reading at its best and I certainly will be recommending this to all my fiction-loving friends!

I absolutely loved the Peachtree Bluff trilogy, but this beach read blew me away. I loved the main characters Diana and Gray as well as their backgrounds. I was constantly rooting for them and didn't feel burned out by the characters as I do in most books. I simply could not get enough of them and their sweet story. This story is about growth and growing with those around you. You never know what you're going to get when you make a new friend, but it is always worth it. This one will be re-read for years to come.

Dear Hallmark Channel: Here is the perfect plot for you. Warm female friendships, a few snags in the road, lots of romance, and everyone lives happily ever after.

The word that keeps going around in my head to describe this plot: schmaltzy!

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Feels Like Falling, in Love with Southern Author, Kristy Woodson Harvey.

A true Southern Belle, Harvey writes from an authentic perspective of life in the South.
She presents complex and engaging characters and has a way of making them feel like your neighbors as you watch their lives evolve. Harvey masterfully peels back the layers of each of her characters to reveal their core vulnerabilities and pain, as well as their strength and soul beauty.

In lieu of a synopsis, I will just say that if you enjoy a feel good, beach or front porch read you are going to Love every word. This book has its share of drama, gossip and regular Beach Club shenanigans, and “Feels Like Falling” will surely be on every Summer 2020 “must read” and “Beach Read” book list.

The main character, Gray Howard is a YPDSM, Young Professional Divorcee’ and Single Mother, who finds out what “Cubbing” means when she engages in a Summer fling with the Hot Tennis Pro who happens to be her young sons tennis coach. Lets just say the FUN begins at The Beach Club and continues throughout the book. Diana, is a 40 year old, survivor, who becomes a second main character in this thoughtful story. Diana’s life has not been a huge success like Gray’s. She has had her share of bad relationships and bad decisions. She is however, complex, straightforward and the salt of the earth when it comes to those she cares about and loves. A series of events brings these two together and Harvey skillfully melds these unlikely friends into family. The imperfect lives of this cast of characters are a joy to read.

I particularly appreciate Kristy Woodson Harvey’s ability to write about a Mother’s Love. She has a firm understanding of the complexity and depth of the imperfect mother’s love and her willingness to sacrifice for her children. Harvey does a wonderful job with the twists and kinks in various mother/child relationships throughout the book. Her mother characters ,flex and bend and reveal that all a mother truly wants is for her children to have a happy life.

“Feels Like Falling” is a story of Loss, Love and Second Chances. “Feels Like Falling” celebrates the Beautiful, Imperfect, Weakness and Strength of Women. “Feels Like Falling” …..well, it FEELS LIKE FALLING in LOVE with a book and an author.

Can I just tell you that if you’re a fan of Southern fiction full of charm, heartfelt stories about family and friends and a gorgeous setting that you need to read this and that’s all there is for my review? Haha but seriously I cannot say enough good things about KWH or her books, not only is she one of the most genuinely sweet authors I’ve ever talked to, she’s an amazingly talented writer and hands down one of my favorites.

I was a teeny tiny bit nervous about this book going im but it’s only because the Peachtree Bluff series is so beloved by me I was anxious that I wouldn’t love this one as much. What a dumb thing for me to think because I adored this one just as much. In a time where we’re all longing to be swept away by the books we read this one is the ideal choice. KWH paints the prettiest picture of an idyllic coastal town, I swear there were scenes where I could feel a sea breeze, smell the saltwater and listen to the waves crashing on the shore. Besides an amazing setting you also have fantastic characters who are endearing, messy and utterly relatable. I fell in love with both Gray and Diana and was sad to say goodbye to them when I finished. Another hit from the author, highly recommended by me!

Let's take a look at Feels Like Falling written by Kristy Woodson Harvey. I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Its release date is April 28, 2020, and I encourage all of you looking for a beachy escape with a strong female lead, pick up a copy.

Now, don't get me wrong--when we first encounter our main characters Gray Howard and Diana Harrington, their lives are in various stats of disarray. Gray is about to turn 35, is a mother to an 8 year old, going through divorce, recently lost her mother to cancer, and has a sister who is married to an extremist "preacher." Diana is a 40 year old living in her car, lost her photo lab job "because of" Gray, and still hasn't gotten over the one who got away 22 years earlier.

That's a lot of baggage to fix in one book! But Feels Like Falling does it well. I thought that the story was well paced, mixing worries and self reflection, with fun, light romance. I loved how the two main characters become indispensable in the lives of each other--they become the family they need.

I enjoyed every bit the author gave. I became conflicted in the character's pain, I enjoyed the sarcasm and sass in their personalities, and was happy with the ending. If you're looking for a book that will give you all the feels--this is a great choice!

Happy reading :)

A fun story about two women on different ends of the life spectrum and how they become a family.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.