I recieved this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exhange for an honest review. Thank you.

This story centers around Clementine, a girl who is the sole survivor of a plane crash and wakes up in a hospital with amnesia. Soon after this revelation, she makes a run for it with a handsome, swoon-worthy stranger to abandon her past life and the tragedy that her past reality is filled with.

This concept is SO new for a YA book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The romance had my heart fluttering from beginning to end, but it was laced with tragedy you knew was coming at any point when Clementine finally has to face the truth. What I loved most was that Clementine wasn't a perfect character. Readers get insight to her flaws and it gives off a more realistic portrayal overall.

Though at times the romance could become a little cliche, it was the perfect balance of innovative and the tropes we know and love.

The Upside of Falling Down
A Novel
by Rebekah Crane
Skyscape and Two Lions

Skyscape
Teens & YA
Pub Date 30 Jan 2018


I am reviewing a copy of The Upside of Falling Down through Skyscape and Netgalley:
Clementine Haas is the lone survivor of a plane crash, everyone tells her she's lucky to be alive. More than anything though Clementine wants to discover herself.

Clementine does not feel lucky, despite surviving, she feels lost.

Clementine has the relentless Irish Press bearing down on her, and a Father she likely won't recognize coming from America to take her home, Clementine decides to take on a new identity and enlists a blue eyed Irish stranger Kieran O'Connell to help her escape and start a new life.

Clementine hides in the sleepy town of Waterville Ireland, where she discovers there's an upside to a life that has fallen apart. But as her lies grow so does her affection for Kieran and she finds the truth about her identity becoming harder to reveal. Leaving Clementine with an impossible choice can she leave her past behind for a new love she'll never forget?

I give The Upside of Falling Down five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

I thought that this story had an interesting take on a character with amnesia. It wasn't what I thought that it would be. Normally, in books with this plot line a girl falls in love with a random guy but finds out that she had this whole other life complete with another guy. Thankfully, this book did not having any cheating in it and it also ended up having more depth than other books I have read. The author did such a great job of making Clementine such an approachable character. I felt as if I could feel her pain and frustration of not knowing who she was while I was reading. My heart was breaking for her throughout the book. She suffered so much heartbreak for someone so young and then to go through so many setbacks....she radiated so much strength in trying to remember regardless of her progress. I'm still not completely sure how I feel about Kieran. He seemed okay during parts of the book but during others he was a bit of a jerk. He was hot and cold. Then he seemed to blame Clementine for his behavior. I think that he was my main issue with the book. I didn't like him as the love interest. I preferred Clive over him even though Clive clearly had the hots for someone else. Even though this book is a romance, the most appealing part if this book for me was Clementine's journey of self discovery. I enjoyed learning about her alongside of her during the book. There were successes and failures which she bore beautifully. I also appreciated the secondary characters and the connections that were made between all of the characters. The author was able to set everything up in this book beautifully without spending too much time on any one thing. There was a subtleness to her writing that I appreciated.

Clementine Haas wakes up one day in an Ireland hospital with amnesia after being the only survivor in a horrible plane crash. She cannot bear to go back to her life in the U.S. because she doesn't remember who she is, so she enlists the help of Kieran, a guy she meets at the hospital, to help her run away from the hospital and hide from the press and publicity. She calls herself Jane and doesn't tell Kieran who she really is, and he takes her to his home in Waterville on the coast of Ireland. As Clementine and Kieran draw closer, the secrets they are both hiding become harder to keep. Will Clementine ever remember her past? Can Kieran and Clementine find happiness?
I love reading books set in the UK, so I couldn't wait to read this book. I did enjoy the plot and the unexpected ending, and I liked most of the characters as well. It was sadder than I thought it would be, but I was happy with the ending. I enjoyed the Irish setting, and I thought the love story was sweet. There were a few things that spoiled the book for me: the unnecessary amount of profanity (there were so many f-bombs), the forced diversity of characters, and the sexual content. That's why I gave the book four stars instead of five. I did like the way Clementine fought to reclaim the memories she lost as well as her determination to change her life for the better, and I think that's a great lesson to spread to everyone.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Clementine Hass is the sole survivor of a plane crash which has left her with amnesia. Waking up in a hospital she has no idea who she is, or where she is from. This is the perfect depiction of finding out who you are without the distracting influences of your past. Clementine isn't entirely sure her lost memories are relevant or useful and embarks on a reinvention of sorts to discover who this striped down and vulnerable Clementine truly. Perhaps she will find her memories in the process, and like who she is.

Along the way she collects a handful of friends who she warms to instantly. There are many special moments with her new acquaintances. Unfortunately the diversity of a couple of these characters seemed a bit disingenuous, forced even. Their interactions however, are well written.

I immediately doubted the believability factor of Clementine breaking out of a hospital after such a tragic event. Her recovery seemed too easy, her amnesia too romanticized.

In the end I loved the direction the story took with an unexpected sliver of mystery. I was curious the entire read on how everything would connect. Whilst throughout the read I felt what the author wanted us to accept was a bit of a stretch, the ending redeemed my lingering skepticism, slightly.

This is a cute YA read, that takes takes the reader to delightful Ireland where it cast the background on tragic event and turns it into a tale of self discovery, and love.

My blurb:  Chasing Liberty (you remember that Mandy Moore movie, right?) meets Leap Year.

This was a contemporary YA with a cute story.  The reason it wasn't a 4 star for me was that any "twists" that were supposed to have occurred- were well spotted and therefore not twists at all!  I read this book in one night, so it is a page-turner!  I enjoyed the characters especially the sister Siobhan.  (which apparently is pronounced with V- as her nickname in the book was Von- and we all know how I feel names that aren't easily pronounced *thumbs down*)  but Siobhan was sassy and great.

I will say that I normally hate the leading lady feeling helpless and whining about her life- but in this case, I felt like it was warranted.  So while it was still annoying- it was slightly less annoying than usual haha.

This was my first ever Advanced Readers Copy read and I've heard that they can be rough, so I was very pleased to be sucked into this Irish tale! The perfect book to get me out of my 1-star reading slump!

While reading this you should:
Listen to: Tears of the Saints by Leeland
Eat: Fish and Chips
Enjoy: The rain


Happy Reading,
Dux

Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy from Skyscape and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book caught my attention with its premise of a plane crash survivor who might possibly be suffering from retrograde amnesia, as well as the Irish setting. Also, the romance sounded as if it would be fairly swoon-worthy. Who wouldn’t be wooed by a charming blue-eyed Irishman? However, I can’t say that I was completely impressed by the story as a whole. That’s not to say that there weren’t some things I enjoyed! So let’s start there.

The supporting or secondary characters of this story are possibly its strength. While not ethnically diverse, the novel benefits greatly from the presence of charming individuals with unique lifestyles and differing sexual orientations. I found myself more attached to the secondary characters than Clementine and Kieran, both of whom I thought were somewhat dull.

Ireland, specifically Galway, was my home during Spring of 2016 and so I was really looking forward to reading about some locations I may have visited. The nostalgia allowed me to enjoy the setting more than usual, but with my bias removed, I’d have to say that there wasn’t much visual or sensory detail given to the protagonists’ surrounding environment. My memory helped lend vibrancy to the setting, but without it, I’m not so sure Ireland was given much chance to shine. But again, I am ridiculously biased in this case.

Besides the setting, the secondary characters, and even the emotional weight attached to the idea of losing one’s memory, there wasn’t much that held my attention. The romance between Clementine and Kieran was not all that romantic, especially since it was built on impulse and a string of lies that were often unnecessary.

Thinking back now, they didn’t really have much page time together. Clementine was alone or with friends for most of the book, trying to find pieces of herself, while Kieran was off doing something…else. The few times they were actually together weren’t all the memorable or even believable. By the end of the book, their connection just felt forced.

Clementine, as an individual, wasn’t all that bad. It was easy to sympathize with her insecurities and emotional conflicts surrounding her identity. Her thoughts, however, could be repetitive and cliché at times, and her dialogue with some of the other characters (particularly Kieran) felt stilted.

Overall, the book was just kind of boring. There wasn’t much going on. It felt like there was limited movement in both plot and character development and the fairy-tale ending was underwhelming. I can’t say the book was badly written or was filled with any serious issues; it was a cute read, but there just wasn’t all that much to help the book stand out for me.

"Just when you think your life is over, a new story line falls from the sky and lands right in your lap."

When Clementine wakes up in an Irish hospital without her memories she decides she needs to rediscover herself in order for them to return. The only thing she knows is she is a lone survivor of a plane crash, her name is Clementine, she’s from Cleveland, Ohio and she’s not ready to face the father that came all the way to get her because she can’t let the man down knowing that she doesn’t remember him at all.

A chance meeting with a guy named Kieran gives Clementine the opportunity she needs to try to get away from everything as she tries to figure out her past life and where she wants to go from there. The more she continues to lie to Kieran the more she starts to fall for the guy, and she’s not even sure if she would be willing to give up her new identity for the life she’s been trying to recover.

The Story- For me, this book was a solid middle grounder . The beginning was interesting enough, hooking me into who this girl could be, and I felt lost right with her. I was eager to see her set off onto her adventure with Kieran as she tries to figure out who she was. Unfortunately the middle sort of lagged. I started to lose interest as the book went into a mundane routine for her while she was staying with Kieran. Despite being with him for three weeks, their interactions were minimal, and when they did start spending time together we basically got a summary of what they did. This made the romance seem superficial especially considering the decisions made towards the end of the book. This also made the ending feel a bit rushed since a lot of time was spent doing, essentially nothing.

The book also had the opportunity to really spend a lot more time involving the fact that she was in Ireland. Despite dropping certain city names, Guinness,  and maybe some cozy sweaters, there really wasn't an extra Irish vibe. I think if some time was spent diving into the area  little bit more would have provided for a little extra flavor in the story.

The Characters-Despite the lack of substantial romance, I did really like the characters. Clementine and Kieran both were very strong with facing their fears and tackling what is set in front of them. Clementine made for a very likeable person that you wanted to root on because she seemed so genuinely nice, and granted she was lying, her motives were still, for the most part, pure. Sometimes I did feel like she put herself into a situation where she was desperately forcing herself into the lives to those who had taken her in, and I honestly felt that she was crossing some boundaries with them given the situation. Somehow her escape equated to them having to spend time and be friends with her.

The Soundtrack- Switchfoot – Dare you to Move

I love when a book surprises me. When I start a book that will unknowingly hit me in my feelings several different ways.

I have said time and time again, YA Contemporaries don't typically move me. I often find myself annoyed and usually the most positive statement I can make is, "it was cute" The Upside of Falling Down was more than cute. It was moving. It was emotional. It was hopeful, and sentimental, and full of feelings.

I read this at the right time - months after my first visit to Ireland. And believe me, everything written about it is true. "You've got Ireland in your blood now. You can't stay away too long." I have been homesick for Ireland since the moment I got on my plane home, and now I know it's just a normal feeling. Ireland is magical, and the way that Rebekah Crane writes about it will make you die inside knowing you aren't there, and if you've never been, she'll probably convince you to start planning your trip.

And the sports references! I die when I read a book that isn't about sports, but has sports knowledge and enthusiasm sprinkled through it. I'm from Baltimore, so I flinched when we were mentioned, but at least we can high five over hating Pittsburgh ;) And as a sports fan who's also an avid reader, using sports references in books not about sports is everything. You CAN get through this because you're a Cleveland Browns fan. Things like that may fall short on the reader who doesn't know anything about sports, but for someone who lives for them, it's so nice to come across little stuff in books.

Clementine did frustrate me at some points...good lord lady when are you going to come clean?! But I get it, and the inner turmoil was evident. Every character was likable in their own right - even Siobhan. Kieran, Stephen, and Clive were people that I would love to have in my own life.

Very grateful I was chosen to receive an ARC of this book <3

This isn't exactly a fun and fluffy romance story, but it's not especially heavy either. It strikes a nice balance between the two and was a solid four stars for me.

Set in Ireland, it's about an eighteen year old girl from Cleveland who ends up in the middle of Ireland. The sole survivor of a horrific plane crash, the only things she knows about herself are what other people tell her. This book follows her on her adventure to remember who she is without hurting anyone along the way, but what happens if she never remembers who she was, and what if she does and the answer is more painful than she imagined? Can the life she's built without her memories survive?

"What is the point of cheating death if a life doesn't exist when you wake up?"

I loved Rebekah Crane's The Odds of Loving Grover Cleveland, so it's no surprise that I enjoyed this one just as much. Rebekah has such a knack for making you fall in love with even the most unconventional of characters. Her ability to mix witty banter with sensitive topics gives you that heartwarming feeling in the end.

In the Upside of Falling Down we are introduced to Clementine Haas, an 18 year old from Cleveland, Ohio who has miraculously survived a plane crash, being the only survivor, waking up in a hospital in Ireland. Only Clementine has no memory of the accident, she has no memory of her past, she doesn't know why she's in Ireland either. As Clementine awaits the arrival of her father, a father she can't remember, she is feeling an overwhelming sense of panic. She feels trapped, trapped in a world that isn't hers... of this Clementine Haas... someone's life that she can't recall. Her nurse, Stephen, agrees to take Clementine out to the courtyard of the hospital for some fresh air. This is where Clementine meets Kieran. A peculiar young man who has a strange affinity for orange Jell-O. This is where Clementine's life is left behind and Jane's life begins. For fear of Kieran finding out who she really is and that she is the survivor of the plane crash, she lies, she tells Kieran her name is Jane. As a friendly game of "truth or dare" unfolds, Jane dares Kieran to take her away from the hospital. She creates a phony story as to why she's there in the first place and asks for his help. Kieran agrees to help. From this point on Clementine is forced to keep up the lie and the life of Jane. She's introduced to Kieran's twin sister, Siobhan, who is pregnant, and has a strong dislike for Jane. She meets Siobhan's boss, Clive, an eccentric shop owner who has a hidden love for Jane Austen novels. Soon, Jane has found her place... she falls in love with Waterville, Ireland, with Clive and his mohawk, and Siobhan and their love/hate relationship... but most of all, she's fallen in love with Kieran. So, how can she leave this behind? She knows that she has to return to her father, to her life as Clementine, even though she still doesn't know who he is and ultimately who she is.

Could you imagine? Waking up with amnesia, not remembering anything from your past? Being reborn again? What a flood of emotions that would bring? Fear, panic, sadness, confusion, frustration, but mostly the feeling of isolation. Even though you really wouldn't be alone, I can't help but think it would be a very lonely thing to go through. You have to reestablish yourself all over again. You can't just simply reenter your life like re-spawning in some video game. Rebekah Crane presents Clementine as a strong young woman... I would say mature well beyond her years, and it's not until later in the novel when Clementine finally finds herself that you truly understand where this strength comes from. All things considered, I will admit, this was the only part of the novel that I had a hard time with. I felt that the character that was being portrayed should have truly been older than that of someone who 18/19 years of age.

The way the story unfolds in the end at first seems to almost have this poetic justice about it, and although I saw it coming, my heart ached for Clementine. I didn't want her story to end there, carrying more guilt than she already felt. Everything unravels and it all begins to fall down around her. But I promise... with this story, there is an upside to falling down.

I want to thank NetGalley, Skyscape and Two Lions, and Rebekah Crane for allowing me the chance to read this novel in exchange for my review. It was truly a pleasure!

I'd like to thank Skyscape and Two Lions, NetGalley, and Rebekah Crane for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Excerpt:

PROLOGUE

I was born twice. The first time was on July 9 to Paul and Mimi Haas in Cleveland, Ohio. My mother died six years later. My parents hadn't conceived another child, and my father never remarried. I was born with brown eyes and brown hair, and for eighteen years, I was, for the most part, healthy.
I was delivered again on June 18, just weeks before my nineteenth birthday. The nurses said I was born unconscious with ash tangled in the burned ends of my hair. Rescue workers pulled me from the belly of an airplane, where I was stuck between two seats, like a cushioned sandwich. There was no mother to gaze down at me in amazement or cradle me if I cried, but according to my nurse, Stephen, there were a plethora of camera crews and flashing lights.
Out of the wreckage of that day, which included thirty dead bodies, I was a miracle. Amid so much death and destruction, I was born.

............................

Imagine waking up in a hospital having no idea how you got there. Even worse, having no idea who you are. This is what happens to Clementine Haas. Only, she has no idea who Clementine is supposed to be. A native of Cleveland, Ohio (just a few hours from me!) she wakes up in a hospital bed in Ireland surrounded by doctors and nurses only to learn she is the sole survivor of a plane crash. She remembers nothing about her old life. And when her father arrives to take her home, she panics and convinces a stranger, Kieran, to help her escape the hospital. She tells him her name is Jane and that she was mugged and everything was stolen from her. He takes her to where he lives in Waterville and allows her to stay with him and his twin sister, Siobhan, who seems to really hate her.

I loved all of the characters. Each one had a different personality that you couldn't help but love. Even Siobhan. I hated when it ended. I wanted more. I want to know how everything turns out in the long run for everyone. I'm really hoping Rebekah Crane will consider a sequel of sorts. Maybe in the style of "Something Borrowed" and "Something Blue" by Emily Giffin. The second book was told from the viewpoint of a different character. But you got to see how everything turned out in the end.

I highly recommend this to everyone. It was a great read.

I really wanted to like this one. There were so many things in it that I really should have loved, but it was rare that I found myself feeling anything other than indifference. I also had a few problems with the book that made it go from "maybe I'm just reading this at the wrong time" to "this is definitely not for me."

Firstly, let's examine our main character, Clementine. There's a difference between having a character who's unlikable but complex and interesting and having actual motivations behind their actions...and having a character who's just plain unlikable. Clementine repeatedly invades other people's privacy with no good reason other than "oh, maybe this will help improve our relationship!" In what world does an invasion of privacy help a relationship? She also repeatedly lies to people, which, okay, does allow the entire premise of the book to happen, but it gets a little ridiculous.

Another thing that bothered me was how the diversity was presented. We have a gay character who's allowed to flat-out say that from literally the first chapter, but the possibly bisexual character only gets to say that he "likes pretty people." There are people who don't describe themselves as bisexual even if it's a term that could apply, and that's fine, but there's already so much stigma around actually using it that having your one character avoid it with no explanation is not the greatest choice. I don't think the gay character was handled perfectly, either. He's a minor enough character that his three defining traits are gay, Jewish, and kind. I'm pretty sure he's literally described as "gay and Jewish" at three separate points during the book, even when those things are relevant once at best. I'm desperate for queer Jewish rep, but this kind of felt like "here's my token character!! don't forget about my token character!!"

The shining star of this book was one of the supporting characters: Siobhan O'Connell. She's the love interest's twin sister, and she's originally placed as Clementine's antagonist (which is another thing I had a bit of a problem with - having your only two female characters dislike each other for what is, at that point, no apparent reason? really?), but she gets a really nice backstory and character development arc. Even after everything I didn't like about this book, I would read an entire book about Siobhan immediately. She's snarky with a soft inside, she's unapologetically opinionated, and she makes mistakes and learns to deal with the consequences.

There were some other things about this book that annoyed me, but they really start to get into spoiler territory and are much more minor than the things I've already said. Basically, for pretty much every interesting thing about this book (besides Siobhan), I think you can find a better option.

I recieved this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I went into this book pretty blind. I picked it for the cover and didn't read the info on it. That said, it blew me away. The author took a tragic event and turned it into a beautiful story about new beginnings. Great story line, relatable characters, and a nice dollop of surprise to make it really stand out from the predictable stories I often find myself reading.

The Upside of Falling Down is a delightful, fast paced, fluffy contemporary novel that made me feel all the feels.

Clementine Haas is an eighteen year old girl who is the lone survivor of a plane crash. But with luck also comes misfortune, as the crash has left Clementine with a bought of amnesia. As she tries to piece her life back together with some help from a cute Irishman named Kieran, she learns in the process that maybe it’s not just about uncovering her past, but also about relearning who she is as a person and redefining a future without fear that’s full of new possibilities.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It was very sweet and full of characters that felt fully formed and well developed. I really loved Kieran (of course, he’s Irish and sweet and doting and just a perfect human being.) His relationship with Clementine and how he helps her figure out who she is as a person and who she wants to be is a really nice story arc that I liked getting into. I liked Clementine herself a lot too. There are a few flashbacks throughout that come to her as she slowly regains her memories that show the differences between whom she was and who she becomes. There’s not much of a difference, but there is enough to see growth and development.

There’s one plot twist near the end that I half figured out, as subtle hints to it were sprinkled throughout the book leading up to the big reveal. I liked the subtle hint of mystery the novel offered through Clementine trying to piece together her memories and uncovering the reason she was on the plane to being with.

If you’re looking for a fast paced contemporary with loveable characters, a little bit of mystery, and sweet romance, look no further. The Upside of Falling Down delivers all those feels and more while showing all the possibilities of new beginnings.

*Thank you to Skyscape and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This story was exactly as I thought it would be - a journey of self-discovery and a cute little love story.

It was interesting to be inside Clementine's head, not only as she struggles to learn who she is but also as she starts over. Clementine is brave, heroic and fearless and I found her love interest, Kieran, a sweetheart and completely swoon-worthy. I also loved the secondary characters as they were such a colorful and exciting group.

All in all, The Upside of Falling Down is an intriguing read, and I loved every minute of it.

Let me start off by saying I am a huge fan of all things Irish. I love Ireland and the setting for this story was amazing. However, I am not a huge fan of the amnesia storyline and this was a pretty generic take on that but I was intrigued by the characters and wanted to know more. Overall, it was a quick read that definitely kept my interest even though all the "twists" I saw coming a mile away it still felt satisfying when they came. I particularly liked the ending.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Note: Review Scheduled to Be Published on Friday January 26, 2o18 on my blog. Link below may or may not work on Friday.

The Upside of Falling Down is one that can only be described as unique. It has a unique setting, unique premise, unique characters, etc. Does that make it a good book? Well kind of...

The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane is about a girl named Clementine who has just woken up with amnesia after being the sole survivor of a plane crash. She wakes up in a hospital in Ireland with no recollection of her dad or her life in Cleveland, Ohio. When she meets a young Irishman named  Kieran visiting the hospital she dares him to help her escape while she pretends to be a girl name Jane and not an amnesiac patient. He accepts the challenge and from there it's a runaway adventure in which Clementine meets new people, tries new things, and most of all tries to make sure no one finds out her true identity... the one that she doesn't even truly know. 

Like I said the premise of the book is extremely unique. I have not seen many YA books take place in other countries besides America or England so it is nice to see one take place in a country that I do not see a lot of YA books take place in. I also feel that the secret identity plot line was also pretty unique. Any of the books I have seen or read in which someone has amnesia usually takes place in the persons home town and has them being introduced back into the life they can't remember. Here it is someone who wants to run away from everything and start over again, even if she can't remember exactly what happened in her life before the accident. The characters show their uniqueness by all having distinct personalities, likes, dislikes, etc. Everyone from Kieran's sister who seems to dislike everyone (especially Clementine) to Clive, the owner of a book/record shop that Kieran's sister works at and who secretly love classic romance books. Everyone has a reason that is reveled throughout the book or at the end why they act the way they do. The ending, without giving too much away, is very good and does give explanations for any lingering questions we may have had in the book. Something I always appreciate in a novel if I feel there should not be too much left up in the air or that there are questions that just can't be left unanswered. Sometimes a little "open-endedness" and ambiguity is good at the end of a book, but with this particular one I needed answers and boy did I get them. 

Warning Slight Possibly Spoilers Ahead. 

The reason behind rating this book a 3 out of 5 stars is because while I liked the book I felt like there were a lot of slow scenes near the end of the story. Some of the conversations between Clementine and her dad seemed to go on a little slow ad did not feel as realistic as they should have been. Clementine was missing for weeks and her dad mostly talks about her old life rather than what had happened to her after running away from the hospital or why. While Kieran probably filled him in on some things it felt like the discussion they have about her actions and what happened in Ireland could have been a little longer and more detailed. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the premise of the book, the characters, and the story itself. This is especially true for the ending which wraps up a lot of things perfectly. I felt like there were some slow moments and that the conversation between Clementine and her father could have been more realistic, but other than that I liked the book. I think that this is a book you should read if you like books with distinct characteristics cause this book definitely checks that box off. 

3 out of 5 stars

*** out of *****

I received this copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Summary: Clementine Haas is a miracle. It’s true, everyone says so. Clementine has been reminded of her miraculous status ever since she woke up in an Irish hospital and learned that she is the lone survivor of a plane crash. Yet, Clementine doesn’t know if she is actually a miracle because she doesn’t remember anything about the crash or her life in Cleveland, Ohio before it. However, Clementine does know that she is desperate to avoid the persistent Irish press who want to put her on the cover of all the country’s newspapers and she knows she needs to avoid her father who she can’t remember. Clementine needs an escape and she find it with the mysterious blue-eyed Kieran who helps her break out of the hospital and start a new adventure.

Review: I have a special place in my heart for amnesia books and Crane definitely gets points for writing an enjoyable amnesia book without just writing about amnesia. “The Upside of Falling Down” moves past Clementine trying to remember who she is to Clementine trying to discover who she is going to be. Beneath the “Clementine must remember” plot line, this is a story of a young woman trying to decide if she should stay in a familiar comfortable life or venture into the unknown. She is accompanied on this journey by dreamy Irish Kieran who is dealing with his own issues but to whom Clementine is drawn. Their relationship was complicated and their ups and downs rang true. Their interactions and evolving relationship made this book more enjoyable by just being present on the page. However, I did have a slight issue with this book classified as a teen book. The characters were all college aged, they were dealing with more adult issues then most teens would experience, and many of their backstories felt like they belong strongly in the adult category which, in my humble opinion, make this book New Adult and not teen.

Bottom Line: “The Upside of Falling Down” is a fun book set in a beautiful country that will appeal to young adult fans of realistic fiction.