I loved this book. The feelings were raw and deep and real, and the writing had a strong voice. Thanks for sharing.

The first pages of Hayley Scrivenor’s novel, Girl Falling, show us the worst thing that has ever happened to Finn Young. Within a matter of pages, Finn’s girlfriend, Magdu—the woman Finn was hoping to marry—is dead. It will take the rest of the book for us to learn exactly what led to Magdu’s fatal fall. Who tampered with the climbing gear? Was it the man who insisted on joining the climbing trip Finn arranged with her old school friend, Daphne? Was it Daphne? Or was it all just a terrible accident?

Finn lives a marginal kind of life. She didn’t do very well in school and the only place she truly feels comfortable is clambering in the Blue Mountains, near her home. She works part-time as a trail guide and barista to make ends meet. There are no plans to go to college. Finn doesn’t really have plans of any kind until she meets Magdu, a lively woman (except around her conservative family) who might be able to get Finn out of her existential rut. Only six months pass before Finn starts carrying around an engagement ring and starts waiting for the right moment. Everything is going swimmingly until Daphne comes back to town.

There are layers of flashbacks in Girl Falling; thankfully, Scrivenor makes it easy to follow what’s happening when. Some chapters take us back to Finn and Daphne’s girlhood. Daphne’s treatment of Finn had my hackles up from the jump. Daphne is the kind of person who needs to have someone completely devoted to them, who will do anything Daphne dreams up, and who never apologizes for anything. Other chapters take us back to Finn’s appointments with a therapist to reveal the bone-deep feelings of guilt Finn has carried ever since her sister’s death, shortly before Finn met Daphne. More than once, we also see the conversations Finn and Magdu had just before they left for the climb that took Magdu’s life.

I dutifully collected what I believed were clues about what happened but I was shocked out of my socks when Scrivenor dropped the climax of Girl Falling on me. I love a good twist. I regularly marvel at authors who can surprise me with something original even after leaving hints scattered throughout the narrative. The twist in the book is jarring and, I think, not supported by the characterization or plot of what came before. I was actually a bit pissed off, to be honest. The conclusion, coupled with some overwrought writing in the book, make it hard for me to recommend this book. The only reason I didn’t pan this book entirely was because I enjoyed the sinister tension of Finn and Daphne’s relationship and nursed a hope that Finn would finally manage to get out from under Daphne’s spell.

An interesting read about female friendships, the murkiness of queer love, and the lengths you go through to protect youself and the ones you love. I thought this book was interesting in the shifting timeframes and POVs and the ending was a great twist. It was slow at first but I couldn't put it down once it picked up!

Girl Falling is an emotional thriller set in the Blue Mountains of Australia. Finn has been dating her girlfriend Magdu for six months. Magdu and Daphne, Finn's best friend, had a rocky first meeting, but Finn hopes she'll be able to get the two to bond during a rock climbing trip. Instead, Magdu falls to her death after a horrific accident and the police begin to investigate. Once they start to suspect foul play, Finn has to confront the realities of her relationship with Daphne and their toxic codependencies on each other.

For this one, I think I hoped for a bit more of the thriller aspect of the story. It was pretty easy to see the direction that the story was going in from the beginning. There was a twist at the end that I didn't totally expect, but it wasn't quite as exciting as I hoped it would be. I do enjoy stories that involve toxic friendships and this book definitely explored that. I think I would have liked it if there had been slightly more resolution in this aspect, though. I did enjoy the setting and I think that author did a great job painting a picture of Blue Mountains. I think that people who enjoy thrillers that focus on the more psychological aspect of the story will enjoy this one.

Alas, this one was not what I had expected or hoped for about her confident debut Dirt Creek. DNF at 30%.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

A tense, evocative thriller reminiscent of the survival thriller movies you see with your friends while clutching tightly to each other's arms. In some ways, this almost reads like a movie– sometimes it borders on too much surface writing that masquerades as reflective, internal writing. Nonetheless, I was captivated and pulled side to side by each twist and turn. I'm sure this will be a fun thriller for individuals interested in survival, wilderness, dire-situation, bottle episode style thrillers.

Finn and her best friend, Daphne, have grown up together in a small town. Bounded by the common ground that they both have a little sister they have lost to suicide. Since they have been very close, some may seem to close. When Finn develops feelings for a beautiful girl, Daphne starts becoming dangerously jealous and protective over what she is not use to sharing. This book was very tense and gripping throughout but the end has left me less than satisfied. It seemed unnecessary and irrelevant to the story that was being told so far. Also it is hard to enjoy a book where all of the characters are insufferable. This one wasn’t for me but it might be for you.

An early read I received from Netgalley. This story follows our protagonist, Finn, who is a young girl somewhere in her 20s. She has lived a complicated life where things just haven't ever really gone right. She had a younger sister who died tragically some years ago. We follow her in the present and also flash back to the time around when her sister died. Shortly after her sister's death, Finn meets a girl who she identifies as her best friend, Daphne. Daphne had also lost a younger sister and they were bonded from the start. However, it is pretty immediately obvious that Daphne can be a little manipulative in the relationship. Present day, Finn's life finally seems like it might be coming together. She is dating a girl she really loves, Magdu, and thinks she might marry. Except, the book opens with the three taking a mountain climbing trip together and one of them dies. The rest of the book tracks the fall out of that incident and how the various interpersonal relationships at play may have led to the "accident." I found this book fine. It dragged a little for me but I enjoyed the last little bit. I didn't spend time trying to figure things out along the way and I was surprised at the end.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it didn’t work. A big part of what makes a story engaging is connecting with the characters on some level—whether you love them, relate to them, or even love to hate them. Unfortunately, in this case, none of the characters were likable or compelling enough to hold my interest. Without that connection, staying invested in the plot or caring about what happened to them became hard. For me, a good story needs at least one character to root for, even if they’re deeply flawed, but this book just didn’t deliver that.

3.75⭐️ rounded up
After loving Scrivenor’s debut, Dirt Creek, I had high expectations for this one. Girl Falling is a literary slow- burn, character driven mystery that starts off with one of the main characters, Mandy, plunging to her death during a climbing trip. To figure out what truly happened to her, the story goes back in time dissecting the relationships of two of the other main characters and best friends, Finn and Daphne. The relationship between the two is toxic and manipulative. The writing is excellent and the characters are well fleshed out despite being unlikeable. I enjoyed this one but loved her debut much more. I would still love to read more from this author; she knows how to write and how to develop characters to keep the reader invested.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ah what a gripping thriller! I really enjoyed this one, it was so engaging and fun. I love how the cover image really fit the story. The friendship between Daphne and Finn slowly frayed apart just like the cover and I am a huge sucker when the cover just fits. Finn and Daphne are both pretty unlikeable characters, and that added to the beauty of this book. I wasn’t necessarily rooting for anyone, but I needed to know the truth. I always get a kick out of things when I don’t like the characters but love the book. It just is a little extra fun and I enjoy when authors are able to do that, I feel like it’s quite the accomplishment. The twist on this one was enjoyable, not necessarily groundbreaking, but still fun and I enjoyed it.

If you’re looking for an enjoyable book about a toxic friendship, then check this one out!

So, I had expected Girl Falling to be a Mystery/Thriller with queer main characters, but this didn't end up being very mysterious or thrilling. The story follows Finn in the aftermath of the death of her girlfriend with intermittent flashbacks to her relationships with Magdu (her girlfriend) & with her best friend, Daphne. Told from Finn's POV, the book focuses on grief and the nature of toxic relationships. If I'd expected a deep dive on queer relationships, I may have enjoyed this more.

I was not a fan of the "twist" either, which felt rather disingenuous. I was honestly leaning more toward 3/3.5 stars up until the last couple of pages, but the book ends rather abruptly on a huge twist, which I didn't like at all. It felt like I waded through all this backstory just to be cut off from any kind of actual conclusion.

As a large fan of thriller novels as well as survival stories this is one book that really seemed up my alley. A book that was not too long but also one that was going to keep me entertained throughout the whole thing was really something I was looking forward to and this book did not disappoint. One of the million things that made this book so fantastic was since it was a YA thriller you got all the suspense and mystery without any super dark themes. This book is one that really dug its claws in and left me gasping for breath. I couldn't get enough of this story and after every chapter I was desperate to see what was going to happen next which is the sign of a good read in my book. This story is told during, but mostly before the main characters' actual climb even started which gives the reader lots of time to come up with their own theories only to be proven right or wrong which is my favour part of these kinds of novels. The main story starts with our main character Fin and Daphne going on a climb with Fin's new girlfriend Magdu. When an accident happens and Magdu falls to her death. What happened to cause this and who if anyone is to blame and if so why? From there were are thrown back into the past where Fin and Daphne are great friends and we see their relationship change as Magdu comes into the picture. I love how it was written this way because it gave the reader lots of background on what was actually happening and the longer the book went on the more information the reader got and the more your opinion changed on the actual accident. I was constantly finding myself going back and forth on who if anyone was to blame as well as who I felt sorry for the most. The tension and suspense that was filled with this novel was so thick it was like a weighted blanket. It's desperate as I was for answers and to find out what was actually going on I never wanted this book to end. I found myself getting lost in the story very easily as I fell deeper and deeper into the plot. What made this book perfect was even with everything that was going on it all focused on what happened with Magdu and why. So many little things were brought up and the reader was consistently going oh yeah, what about that? I loved this book and couldn't get enough of it. This is a fast paced book that will really keep you on the edge of your seat. Great job and I'm so excited to be able to say that I got to check it out first.

It was nice like a little treat read it didnt excite me as much as i hoped it would but it was still worth the read

"Girl Falling" is a stunning showcase of beautiful writing and a masterful tone. The metaphors are some of the most powerful I've encountered in a novel recently, weaving depth and emotion into every page.

This author’s twisted mind is a place I’d gladly explore again. While the narrator's tendency to keep secrets from the audience added intrigue, it could also be frustrating at times. The time jumps occasionally made the narrative a bit confusing.

That said, I couldn’t put this book down. The twists were incredible, making it a thrilling and unforgettable read.

Thank you Netgalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Girl Falling” by Hayley Scrivenor is an atmospheric thriller that focuses on the themes of toxic friendship and betrayal, set against the rugged beauty of Australia’s Blue Mountains. Told from the perspective of Finlay (Finn) Young, a national parks guide, the story unfolds after the tragic death of her girlfriend, Magdu, who falls from a rocky escarpment on a group hike. As Finn grapples with her grief, she relives the complexities of her relationships with Magdu and her manipulative childhood friend, Daphne, unraveling a web of dark secrets and psychological control.

Scrivenor’s book balances psychological thriller elements with an exploration of human relationships. Finn is a complex protagonist, struggling with self-doubt and still haunted by the trauma of her younger sister’s death. Her relationship with Daphne, a domineering and possessive force in Finn’s life, is both unsettling and compelling. Through flashbacks, Scrivenor reveals how Daphne has long wielded control over Finn, using emotional manipulation and blackmail to bend Finn’s will, especially when it comes to her romantic choices. Daphne’s character is both magnetic and menacing, leaving you questioning her motives as the mystery deepens.

The story’s setting in the Blue Mountains adds a powerful, if underused, sense of isolation and danger to the story. The remote environment emphasizes the precariousness of Finn’s situation, mirroring the psychological cliff edge she teeters on as her friendships and past traumas converge. While “Girl Falling “excels in character development and tension, its pacing is a “slow burn.” The story oscillates between past and present, gradually building suspense as you start to piece together Finn’s relationships with Magdu and Daphne. However, the investigation into Magdu’s death doesn’t fully take shape until the final quarter of the book, and the climax and concluding twist were a bit unsatisfying as the sudden shift near the end feels discordant with the carefully constructed buildup, leaving the resolution feeling abrupt.

Overall, “Girl Falling” provides a raw look at the power dynamics within friendships, the yearning for self-worth, and the destructiveness of repressed desires. Scrivenor’s prose is thoughtful and attentive to detail, bringing Finn’s emotional landscape to life even when the plot veers away from conventional thriller territory. This is not a fast-paced mystery, but a slow, introspective exploration of how friendships can become twisted and how love can both heal and destroy.

It’s OK. If you’ve read enough thrillers, the twist aren’t super original. They’re almost too unpredictable— I felt like there wasn’t enough foreshadowing to fit the puzzle together. It’s also not psychological enough to compensate. Some people will like this, but it’s not my thing.

This novel totally lacks the depth and suspense of Scrivenor’s first one. Plot is predicable, characters are stereotypical and writing is flat.

Best friends Finn and Daphne have a great close friendship and can always understand how the other one feels since they have both lost sisters to suicide. When Finn falls in love with a new student, Daphne starts to show jealousy over having to share her best friend. When the 3 women go hiking one weekend, Finn's new girlfriend falls to her death and the mystery over exactly who's to blame begins.

I liked the flashbacks and flash forwards throughout the story slowly revealing the truth behind the death of Finn's new girlfriend. I also liked the close, albeit unhealthy, friendship between Finn and Daphne. But the ending felt too predictable and also rushed.

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***