This was a rollercoaster of a book. It started out about friendship, with the main character starting cheerleading and struggling to maintain her friendship through that. Then this turns into a murder mystery, where a group of people are unsure if and who killed one of them. I love Hayley Krischer’s books because they always make me think about every side to stories and this book was no different. It’s a crazy and great read!

“‘You’re allowed to be a masterpiece and a work in progress simultaneously,’ she says, and I think about what that means… That we’re perfect and messy all at once. It’s the first time I feel defined.”

Many thanks to @prhinternational #partner & Razorbill Books for the free book! 🧡 The Falling Girls is the perfect thriller to read for fall! It featured a different side of female friendships, especially how toxic and obsessive it can get during high school. (when things go wrong) I finished reading the book yesterday, and I can't stop thinking about it. Highly recommend it if you're looking for an addictive read!

When I started reading Shade's story, I felt instantly uncomfortable about the toxicity in her friendship with Jadis. I know teenage friendships are complicated, but Shade and Jadis and oh my God. The obsession was just...over the top. It seems like I am complaining about the book, isn't it? I'm not. I like to read thrillers without reading the blurb beforehand, and I did the same for The Falling Girls as well. This is exactly why the female friendships in TFG took me by surprise.

The whole premise had an atmospheric vibe from the very beginning. There's a before and after the murder theme to the story, which I really enjoyed. Shade's life and her insecurities were perfectly fleshed out as well. I unexpectedly connected with her more than I thought I would. I wish the author shed more light upon the three Chloes' lives as well. I think that would have made reading the book a lot better.

I really appreciated how the author explored themes of obsession and toxicity of friendships in depth. There's mystery yes, but the main theme of the story revolves around the consequences of taking obsession with your best friend a little too far (even though friendship is the purest relationship in the world) Highly recommend it if you're looking for an addictive read!

Thank you PenguinTeen and NetGalley for this eARC!

This book was intense. I’m not sure what other words can describe it other than that. The friendships were intense, the plot was intense… I, as a reader, felt stressed out and pressured on behalf of the characters! This also ended up being a perfect spooky season read since it was kind of thriller-y without being a thriller.

Shade and Jadis are best friends. In some ways, they even seem like the same person. When Shade joins the cheerleading team, it throws their friendship off. As Shade spends more time with the cheer squad, especially Chloe O., Jadis seems to get angrier. Then, Chloe O. dies and suddenly Shade doesn’t know who to trust or what to believe. Who killed Chole O.?

Like I said, this isn’t so much of a thriller as it is a look into power dynamics in friendships and even in cheerleading. I wasn’t even sure what (or who) to believe at first. The storytelling in this was just that good. I think that the author handled some pretty complicated topics really well. For example, how does one describe what it’s like to be best friends with somebody but also needing your own space to grow and be an individual? She captured the betrayal, jealously, and anger so well. It’s hard to convey those feelings verbally, let alone on paper. In addition to that, I wasn’t even expecting one of the characters to die. Somehow, I must have missed that in the description. At first, I thought the book was solely about how Shade and Jadis had a falling out, but then Chloe O. dies and things get even more complicated. However, the placement of her death doesn’t feel random at all. Instead, it feels like everything led right up to that moment—the breaking point. I’m telling you, this author did an amazing job at conveying pressure in all of the different situations. I felt like the story flowed really well and was interesting because of that.

I also want to note that I think it’s awesome how the author wants to draw attention to the athleticism, skill, and overall risk in cheerleading. Cheerleading is ALWAYS brushed off, but it is a cutthroat sport. I will die on this hill. The author shows how taxing it is on Shade’s body and even how dangerous it can be. I hope this book helps people realize that cheerleading isn’t the stereotypical shallow thing that it is made out to be. There is so much more that goes into it, and this book helped me to see that.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of Pretty Little Liars, so if you enjoy those types of books, I highly suggest giving this one a shot.

I’ll post my review to goodreads and Instagram during publication week!

To be completely honest, The Falling Girls didn’t have the best shot with me. I just finished reading a book that I completely fell in love with, and the quality of this novel just couldn’t keep up, so my opinion of this may be lower because of circumstance.

The one thing I couldn’t get around was the writing style. It felt very robotic and stiff, there wasn’t much depth to it, and the maturity was not exactly there. It’s impossible to connect to the story if the writing doesn’t make those connections. The entire time I was reading, it almost felt like a news article but with more descriptions. I was just going through the motions instead of being able to really savor and enjoy what was happening. Usually, authors are able to transport me to another story, but with The Falling Girls, I couldn’t really get my mind into it, and that was a bit disappointing. Other than the writing style, the plot also fell short for me. It was incredibly predictable, which is rare for me to say, and this was nothing too out of the ordinary. It wasn’t clever, but just felt like another standard “small town murder” novel.

What I did appreciate, however, was the focus on how the female friendships were the common denominator, and how consumed teenage girls can get with these relationships. It was realistic, I’ve had friendships like this before, and it isn’t a good experience. This novel definitely puts an emphasis on that. The ebb and flow of power in these group dynamics is something that I’ve been through firsthand, you don’t see many accurate portrayals of girls like the ones featured in the novel, so I applaud the author for that.

While this wasn’t the worst novel I’ve read, I do think that with more writing experience and time, it could’ve been much better. Nothing good or bad stands out in particular, but I may stick to just letting this one fade from memory.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Shade and Jadis have been best friends since 4th grade. Claiming to be the same person, except for their hair, the fabric of their friendship is upset when Shade decides to try out for the cheer team at school. As Shade is pulled deeper into the culture of the squad, she quickly becomes close with Chloe Orbach, one of the three Chloes that rules the team. But when Chloe turns up dead under mysterious circumstances, Shade is forced to examine her inner circle and everyone looks suspicious.

The Falling Girls was a wild ride! Perfect for those that enjoyed They'll Never Catch Us, this book shows the lengths that high schoolers go to when they are desperate to fit in, especially in the world of competitive high school sports. Popularity, social media, and the hills and valleys of friendships are central themes throughout the book. It also shines a light on the entitlement that many high schoolers have and how they will do anything to keep their reputations in tact.

I loved to hate the Chloes, the core group of mean girls on the cheer squad. Shade showed tremendous self growth throughout the book. It broke my heart to see how stretched thin her years-long friendship with Jadis was, but this is a very real thing that happens, especially during high school. While there were a few unbelievable plot points (high schoolers giving each other tattoos, similar to girls self-piercing their ears back in the day) and a slower start, the book is a fun YA thriller that left me entertained. Parts II and III really left me turning the pages quickly to know how the story would turn out.

Thanks to Penguin Teen for the gifted copy!

An amazing portrayal of the intensity of female friendships and relationships. Truly addicting. Displayed the potential toxicity in female friendships within high school without going to far to say all female relationships are terrible. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would recommend.

This book has some of my favorite things to see in a story - coming-of-age, friendship breakups, and murder!

Seriously though, this was such a fun read, and perfect for fall! I sped through the second half of this extremely fast, and I loved the constant air of wondering who to trust. I don't know too much about cheerleading, but I also loved the descriptions of the routines, and I found them fairly easy to picture.

My one complaint would probably be that the ending was a bit obvious. I had hoped the murder would've been a character I wasn't expecting, but I wasn't really surprised by the reveal at all.

Overall, this was an exciting murder mystery and a great quick read for the Halloween season!

I was provided an ARC by Penguin Young Readers and NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

A very intense “who done it”. I would definitely purchase this for my library. The characters were well written, they could be students at any high school, the story was very realistic. You don’t have to be a cheerleader to enjoy this book.

3.5 stars
Going into this book, I didn't know what to expect: was it about friendship? Cheerleading? Was it a thriller? Turns out, it's a little bit of all of these things and it made for a really interesting story. We follow Shade who joins the cheerleading team, much to her best friend's dismay. Soon afterward, one of the top cheerleaders ends up dead at a dance and only a few people may know what happened--but do they really? I really loved that our main character was a cheerleader; so often we see cheerleaders being mean girls who only seek popularity but in this book, they are dedicated to the sport and being active and they have such a great bond throughout the story. The group goes through ups and downs but in the end they support each other on and off the field and I really enjoyed seeing that. Another thing, though, is the morality of each character. None of the characters in this book are completely good or bad, they all have pretty gray morals, but it makes them more realistic, especially in high school when teenagers are confused and learning. There is some drug use (and abuse) in this book so be aware of that going in. This was a good book, if you're looking for a thriller that's lower on the thrill level, this is the one for you!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. A riveting, intimate portrayal of just how intense and all-consuming female friendships can be. If you liked the movies Heathers this book is for you. Overall, I did enjoy the book, it was a fast and dark read, if you like YA thrillers this is for you.

This was a really good YA about the female friendships, high school cliques, jealousy, and so much drama. Oooh I liked this one. Fun fun!

High school Bff's, Jadis and Shade are inseparable. But when Shade joins the cheerleading team, and becomes almost obsessed with the cheer captain, and 2 other teammates, The Three Chloes.

Jadis feels left out and doesn't want to let her friend go. Shade is feeling a pull between her old friend and her teammates. Then one of the cheerleaders turns up dead under strange circumstances. Shade is determined to get to the bottom of it, and she wants to know if Jadis is responsible! Would that, then, make her responsible?!

Ya fans are going to want to add this one to your list!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own!

Thank you Penguin Teen for sending me this eARC!

This book had potential. The author has a good writing style, and I would be interested in reading her future works. The main problem I had with this book, however, was that it lacked originality. It was basically the cheerleader version of Heather's, except the Heather's were all named Chloe (which was really confusing). I think if the Three Chloe's were perhaps not named Chloe, the book would have been a lot better and seemed more original.

This was a really solid YA thriller/entry into one of my favorite subgenres (obsessive best friends possibly do crimes). I thought the characterization was fairly well-developed, and I loved the riff on 'Heathers' that the 'Chloes' clique played with. Overall, this wasn't my favorite entry into the obsessive friends YA subgenre, but it was a pretty great ride.

This was so good! Thrilling and mysterious, I needed to know what was going to happen at all times and was definitely pulled into the world of competitive cheerleading and friends. I came for the story and stayed for the drama. Definitely recommend.

“‘You’re allowed to be a masterpiece and a work in progress simultaneously,’ she says, and I think about what that means… That we’re perfect and messy all at once. It’s the first time I feel defined.”
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Shade and Jadis have been friends forever, but things start to change once Shade joins the cheerleading squad. After getting wrapped up in the three Chloe’s, some of the most popular girls on the squad, Shade starts to question the life she’s always known. But when a suspicious murder rocks her life, Shade not only has to fight for the truth… She must also fight to discover who she is and what she wants out of life. Full of relatable characters and enchanted with quick, compulsive style, The Falling Girls is a thoughtful, well-researched read.
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Wow! I don’t read much contemporary fiction, but The Falling Girls was a really great read. It’s a thoughtful look at female friendships, toxicity, stereotypes and more. As someone who really struggled with friendships (especially toxic friendships) and finding themselves as a young adult, I found that I really sympathized with Shade, the main character. Really, I wish this book had been written like 10 years ago, because my younger self really needed to hear and explore some of the themes in Krischer’s newest novel.
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I read The Falling Girls in one day! If you’re looking for a quick, compulsive read, this is definitely the way to go. Everything about it felt so genuine and thoughtful, and I loved that the novel didn’t lose that once the murder took place. There’s no unnatural drama surrounding the murder, and I actually really appreciated that. So often with thrillers I feel like the events start to stray from what might actually happen, but this felt so real from cover to cover. Unfortunately, I think this is a novel that women of any age can relate to, and it is one that will stick with you long after it is over.

Trigger warnings for this book: death, codependency, bullying

The Falling Girls follows Shade and Jadis, best friends that share everything from toothbrushes to secrets. But when Shade decides to join the cheerleading squad at school and begins to develop friendships with some of the most popular girls in the squad, things start to unravel between her and Jadis. When one of the cheerleaders ends up dead, Shade begins to question if she truly knew Jadis at all or if her codependency blinded her to all the red flags that had been there all along.

If you think this book is like Heathers, the answer is yes it is. Except in this case, it’s The Chloes. It dives into the dark side of friendships among teen girls: the codependency, the jealousy, the way everything feels monumental, and yes, the meanness.

This book was written in three parts and personally I felt the first part and the beginning of the second went slow. I also wished there would have been more character building as most of these characters felt stereotypical to every Mean Girl book and movie ever written: The Chloes were Regina George, Gretchen Weiners and Karen Smith; Shade was Cady Heron, Jadis was Janice Ian and all we needed was a Damian. The climax of the book felt rushed and it came in a few sentences: you win some, you lose some.

I will say that I enjoyed the descriptions of what being a cheerleader is about because I was a cheerleader in high school and I was base. Do you know what catching a 100 lb girl over and over and over again feels like? It sucks, that's what it feels like. There is a lot that goes into cheering other than being peppy and smiling and I liked how the author reminded you of that throughout the story. I agreed 100 and million percent: Cheer is a SPORT.

Overall, I did enjoy the book, it was a fast and dark read. As the parent of a teenager myself, there were plenty of moments where my blood went cold and the fear of all fears was staked in my heart. This was a 3.75 stars rating for me and would recommend it to anyone who is into YA thrillers.

Thank you to Penguin Group/Razorbill for the arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shade and Jadis have a friendship that straddles the line of codependency. When Shade decides to tryout for cheerleading, their relationship splinters. Shade is fascinated by cheer captain Chloe’s energy and quickly forms a relationship with this golden girl. But then during the homecoming dance, Chloe ends up dead. Would Jadis do anything to pull back in Shade? Or is there something more sinister laying beneath the female friendships we observe?

Similar to Heathers in the sense that popularity and friendships can often be much darker and twisted than what appears outwardly to others. Darkness, desperation and loneliness motivate most of the characters.

Despite the depravity, the author uses cheerleading as a way to show the strengths of female friendship. Literally, lifting each other up and catching falling girls.

Overall, the characters (that are still alive and not behind bars) show growth and work to create their own identity. Readers beware of the topics of toxic relationships and drug use.

I received a copy of this book as an e-ARC from NetGalley and Penguin Teen. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Shade and Jadis have been as close as sisters for as long as they can remember. They've never really separated from each other, that is until Shade chooses to join the school's cheerleading team and befriending the hierarchy that is the Chloes. Will Shade and Jadis's friendship survive in this near feminist retelling of Heathers?

I should have expected this book to have as much drama as it did. You couldn't go a page without there being some kind of argument or internal debate from Shade about said arguments. And some of it felt really petty, like the ones that girls from high school hold on to for years afterwards. Which leads me to one of the disappointments about this book, that being the dialogue. There are so many moments that build up to be this big, memorable argument or discussion that could really help turn the tides of the novel, but they get cut off halfway through the dialogue like that was the end of it. There could have been so much more development if that were extended longer.

Speaking of longer, this book needed at least 50 or more pages. This story was only 320 pages, and as a result felt like it missed out on a lot of good opportunities to either make commentary about the modern cheerleading world or to develop the characters. In the author's note, Krischer discusses the blatant racism in the sport and how there is also a lot of sexual harassment towards cheerleaders because of what they do. But is any of this featured in the novel? Nope. It's cast aside to make room for, you guessed it, more drama. If the author had more pages, it would have helped make this a more well-rounded novel.

In terms of characters, I was REALLY hoping for two characters to get together and it never happened. There was a LOT of queer-coded language in the first half of this novel that I really wished it would have played through but got severely disappointed when it didn't. Yeah, Jadis is gay herself, but you can't read this and tell me that some of the other characters aren't gay. Otherwise, it was hard to connect myself to them, mostly because of the amount of drama as well as the fact that I have never been a cheerleader.

However, I will add that I think the toxic relationship aspect of this story was done in a decent manner. Wanting to stay with the "friend" even though they hurt you in the most ways possible, still wanting to cling on to what you have, even though it's a thread at this point. I've been in a few of these and it was nice to see it play out this way.

The mystery aspect of this story did need more development and nuance to it, in my personal opinion. The main mystery doesn't occur until 50% through the book, and it nagged at me how simply solving the mystery just ended. It could have had more build-up, and I for sure guessed who the killer was. It was very obvious.

If you like Heathers or just love drama, The Falling Girls is for you. However for me, The Falling Girls ended up falling short.

Shade and her friend are best friends, you might say they form one person. Except Shade has different interests.. she joins a cheer group causing a riff with Jadis. The cheer team has three chloes that run the whole show. When one cheerleader dies, Shade doesn’t know who to blame, besides herself.

I love this book! I'm a huge fan of MEAN GIRLS-esque books and this doesn't disappoint. The writing is solid and the characterization is well-developed. Shade is a sympathetic protagonist and her friendship with Jadis is believable. I love the three Chloes and even though they're all named Chloe, I found it easy to distinguish between the three of them. I have no knowledge about the world of high school cheerleading but found it fascinating to read about. Highly recommend for fans of toxic teenage female friendship stories.