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.

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.

Gray and Diana are both navigating broken relationships and putting the pieces of their lives back together when they have a perchance meeting. In an effort to help each other out, Diana moves into Gray's guest house and a friendship ensues between two very different women.

This was a story of friendship with a side or two of romance. I really came to care for both leading ladies. While their decisions were a bit frustrating at times, both were very endearing and I found myself cheering both on. I also enjoyed the supporting cast of friends - especially, Marcy & Trey.

This is the perfect light read for summertime! Kristy Woodson Harvey - a new to me author - writes in a way that is both engaging and easy to read. If you're looking for a book with likable female leads who support each other, pick this one up!

**Thank you NetGalley and Gallery books for the early access to this book.

I feel like I am good friends with Kristy Woodson Harvey because of her steady presence on Facebook. I adored “Dear Carolina” and the Peachtree Bluff trilogy so was looking forward to meeting her new characters in “Feels like Falling.”

When I took fiction writing classes in college, I remember discussing the difference between character driven and plot driven literature. While “Feels Like Falling” has plenty of plot, this is truly a story about human connection and relationships, which is what makes this novel especially poignant and a stand-point among the majority of typical “summer” reads.

The main heart of this story is the developing friendship of Gray Howard and Diana Harrington. Newly-single mom, Gray Howard returns the coast of North Carolina where she is licking her wounds after a sudden-split from her cheating spouse. Unfortunately, her first accomplishment is “helping” to get Diana Harrington fired from her job at a local CVS-type place. Diana (named after Princess Diana) may be down on her luck, but has plenty of spunk. She wants to do better than her mother who raised four children fathered by different men (and who deserted all four of them when they were still young), but leaving her down and out boyfriend, Harry (who she fears may be the best she can get) may not be enough.

Fortunately, the two women cross paths again, and Gray offers Diana both a place to stay and a job; as a result, the two women form of bond. The story alternates between the viewpoints of Gray and Diana and the author has a solid sense of the voice of each narrator. Neither woman is perfect but it’s their mistakes and misassumptions that help to make this such a wonderful read.

One thing I adore about Kristy Woodson Harvey’s writing is her use of setting. Though I have not ventured further than the outskirts of my neighborhood in over a month, I truly felt I was on the coast sharing in the ups and downs with these two ladies. I am going to definitely use my time in quarantine to read (and reread) the rest of the author’s backlist.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Gallery Books for an advanced copy.

Gray is a successful business owner who meets an unlikely friend, Diana. Their friendship helps them through a very hard year for both of them. This is a well-written book that kept me interested right until the last page! Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Gray is reeling from not only losing her mother, but also losing her husband. The divorce negotiation is not going well. She runs into a woman at the drugstore and she inadvertently gets her fired. Diana has had a sting of back luck with guys, she ends her recent relationship and finds her out of a job, and a place to live. She decides to track down the woman who got her fired. However she ends up playing on Gray's guilt to score herself a job.

Diana is hilarious with her quips, and honest opinions. She is also a whiz at cleaning and keeping Gray in line.

While Gray is trying to figure out how to co-parent her son is heading on vacation with her ex, and the soon to be step-monster. When her son is gone she ends up starting up a summer fling with a younger man. There is a lot of hilarity regarding those two, and he is determined to show her that age is just a number.

Diana is also realizing that old love, can become new love when the one who got away comes back to win her back.

This was such a good read, and the characters felt like people I would love to hang out with. A great book for the summer and getting that beach vibe!