Crystal Maldonado is back with another book about a plus-sized queer girl of color, and I'm going to lap it up as always!

This is a book I wish existed when I was 16 and had just been diagnosed with PCOS. I struggled and still struggle with something that afflicts so many women but is rarely talked about. So much of what Whit goes through, I completely relate to, and it warmed my inner-child so much to read about it.

The Fall of Whit Rivera is sweet and doesn't have too much conflict. It feels like a little slice-of-life, and I easily devoured it. I'm going to read everything Maldonado puts out and I'm also going to squeal about the covers every time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’ve been feeling very guilty that it is taking me so long to get through books. Life has gotten very busy - my apologies to the publisher.

This was a charming YA novel with uplifting messages re body positivity, and light-shining on PCOS. I loved the diverse cast and awareness raising. There was so much packed into the novel - reflecting on terminology used for prom royals, inclusion vs paternalism of students with special needs, and the impact a serious condition can have on your life.

I thought maybe there could have been more build up of Whit and her romantic interest (a little tension) but that was my only big concern.

In short: an important YA novel about the challenges living with PCOS, but learning to love yourself anyway. Would suit secondary school students.

The Fall of Whit Rivera by Crystal Maldonado is easily one of my favorite books this year and one of my most recent five star reads. I knew this would be a book that would stay with me for a long time the moment I opened it and read it’s dedication and started crying. I have never felt more seen that when I’m reading a Crystal Maldonado book and she’s done it again with Whit Rivera. I thought the way Whit’s struggles with her PCOS diagnosis & how it was represented in the book was really well done, it was real and something I know a lot of people will be see themselves in. One of my favorite parts of the book was the way we followed Whit on her journey and saw her learn to ask for help and advocate for herself, this is something that I felt deeply and I think it helped me see that it’s okay to ask for help. There was just such great care taken in the way Crystal wrote everything and as always, I am in awe and just grateful for this book. Also, the romance in the book filled my heart with joy and I overall just loved seeing the different kinds of love shown in the book too. Because love isn’t just about finding a partner, love is all around us in the people that we love and the ones who love us back. See, I’m getting emotional now. I just love this book so much. Books like this one are the kind that I wish had been around when I was young but I’m thankful every day that they exist now for all the youth of today but also for people like myself and friends, they are healing us all one page at a time.
If you take any book recommendation from me, let it be this book. It’s a must read this fall season and I’m so honored that I got to read it early. I also highly recommend the audiobook if that’s your thing!

This book was so cute I loved it! Whenever I really connect with one of the main characters I love the book even more and that was no different for this book. Whit was one of those characters who I could just really see myself in from her issues with letting people in when she needed help to her love for Gilmore Girls, fall, and just being a girlie girl. I loved her relationship with her family and how close she was to her grandma and sister as well as her relationships with her friends and Zay. Speaking of Zay...I LOVED HIM! He was such a perfect love interest and the way he treated Whit truly just warmed my heart. Overall I loved this book and highly recommend it to my YA romance fans!

It’s not my favorite book of the year, but this fall-themed YA Romance definitely had some high notes. Particularly in addressing how scary and frustrating it can be to try to keep up appearances and live your “normal” life while dealing with chronic illness.

This was an interesting YA romance. Whit and Zay had liked each other in middle school but after a misunderstanding, they hadn't even spoken to each other since. When Whit and Zay are pitted together to work on the Fall Fling, the school's Fall dance which has sentimental meaning to Whit since her grandparents' love story started at their Fall Fling, Whit and Zay get close but does that mean that they can overcome their past? It discusses important topics such as Latine identity, struggling with medical situations due to PCOS and chronic illness, and class.

Things I liked:
The autumn vibes
Diversity of characters and their relationships and side stories
The way it covered topics of PCOS and sexuality

Things I didn’t like:
I felt no to less chemistry between the main characters and it really felt like FMC is all over the MMC because of how hot he is his butt and muscle and all which was an instant no for me
I felt the FMC was like of annoying to be honest I didn’t really liked her character

Dare I say it, I think this is my favorite Maldonado book…. And yes I mean I liked it even more than Charlie Vega. This one has a relationship, a real chronic illness that I have, its body positive, and so much more. I loved this so much and wish I could read it for the first time all over again.

Ok so the main thing I liked about this book was the realness. I know it’s realistic fiction, but there’s so much representation and feeling in this, it hardly felt like it was a book character at all. Whit Riveria is me and I am her. That’s just how much I related to her. And yes I’m still saying this even with her being a teen. If I had this when I was a teen I think I would have handled my high school years differently. She really felt like someone I would sit down and talk to in real life. And like all her struggles and the way she was worried about certain things, it was uncanny being in her head because they were too close to some of the things that I felt as a teen as well.

As a reader, I said that this year I was going to focus more on reading books that have chronic or acute illness. I was hella excited to read this because this is one I can actually relate to. I have PCOS and was diagnosed with it like years ago. I only caught it because I was trying to get pregnant. I was already on birth control so it was really hard to catch. Yes our journey to finding it was there, but the symptoms, and the worries, and just all the things were so spot on. It was pretty powerful to read about someone else having this and seeing that it is normal. Now y’all know I just turned 35… Imagine reading this when you’re also a teen. I know they’d feel so empowered.

The romance was the cutest thing also. I knew Zay was a goner from the moment he appeared in the story. And he was! The pining! Ugh it was so cute. And the way she was trying to say she didn’t like him? I wanted to shake her lol It was so cute! Hearing what made them stop talking was so sad tho. I was glad they finally got it together. I hate miscommunication, so seeing them being upset over nothing was pretty sad. And like the whole peach thing? I have not laughed that hard in a long time.

The plot itself was fun too. It was more than just Zay and Whit falling for each other. This told the story of Whit learning more about herself and losing a terrible ex in the process. It’s about Whit learning about her illness and how to take care of herself and it. It’s about Whit and the way she is learning that her sister can do way more than she gives her credit for. It’s about Whit and the Fall festival and being as Fall-ish as it could be for her. This book had so much going on, but still somehow not enough. I wish there was more in this book. I was HOOKED.

I also tagged this for family diversity because Whit was raised by her grandmother after her mom abandoned her and her sister. Her grandmother was just as real as Whit. Maldonado HAD to have made these from real people. Because Lordt knows they were way too real. There’s also her autistic sister who Whit has to check herself about at one point. I got where she was coming from because (again) I related to this too. My sister has a disability and it took me a minute for me to realize that like Whit’s sister she has to make her own mistakes. Especially when I don’t know they’re mistakes. Seeing it in the written word like that was a real eye opener because it didn’t feel like that when we were growing up.

My favorite season is summer, but dammnit when there’s dates like apple picking, and Fall Festivals with promposals, hell yeah I’m going to fall for the fall anyway. As someone who lives in a place where we have a summer and a second summer, reading this was all the fall I needed.

For a young adult book, I found this one enjoyable but wasn't obsessed with the story or the characters. I enjoyed the fall setting and that is probably the main part of the story that kept me interested. I would recommend to a younger audience but may not recommend to more adults.

I loved this book, it gave me everything I wanted as a reader and more. I am a sucker for a cover and fell in love with the storyline and characters. Well written and kept me engaged :)

“-Nestled in the center of this tribute to the history of the homecoming dance is a striking monochrome photograph of our beloved grandparents—on this very night, all those years ago. Dimples in both of Abuela’s cheeks surround her coy smile, while Abuelo’s dark eyes are bright with hope, just like I remember.”

🍂☕️🕺🏽🍁💘

I was initially very excited for The Fall of Whit Rivera, but I honestly don’t have a ton to say about it!

It was a really sweet and cozy read. I love the PCOS representation, and I think it will be wonderful for teens struggling with the same things that Whit does to see themselves in her story. I found the autism representation to be a bit lacking, but I think Crystal made a really good effort and as far as an older sibling/younger sibling dynamic, I saw a lot of my sister and myself in the relationship between Whit and Lily.

Whit’s desire to have the perfect Fall Festival stemming from her grandparents’ love story was such a genuinely heartwarming element! I also always enjoy the way Crystal writes about and normalizes non-traditional families, and was pleased to see that continue to be a theme in The Fall of Whit Rivera.

Overall, this was a nice way to spend a fall day, but it didn’t hit me the same way that Crystal’s other books have. That said, I would still recommend it if you’re a fan of a cozy fall read or Crystal Maldonado’s other books!

Rating: 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

🏆new fav
💖loved it
👍🏻liked it
🥱meh
👎🏻disliked it
❌hated it/DNF

Coziest fall cover art by Ericka Lugo (@erilu.jpg)

"The Fall of Whit Rivera" wraps up the reader in the welcoming warmth of the season, creating a story that feels like an autumnal embrace. Perfect for these seasons, the author immerses us in the charm of a fall dance planned by the protagonist and her ex from high school, a relationship that evolves in a romantic and sweet way as we advance in the plot.

Every page of this book captivated me, exploring unusual topics such as Whit's disease. Their struggle is presented movingly, highlighting strength often not found in other books. The friendship she shares with her friends is adorable, and each character quickly becomes endearing.✨

Her relationship with her grandmother and her sister Lily, who has autism, adds an extra layer of sweetness. Watching Whit care for his little family is heartwarming and beautiful.🥺

Let's talk a little about Zay; He is a charming character, a romantic and attentive boy who becomes an irresistible literary crush. 😍🙈

"The Fall of Whit Rivera" is a cozy read, which combines emotional elements, endearing characters and a romantic story that captivates you from the first page. This book definitely deserves a high place on your reading list!🤎🍂

I will put my thoughts together for a review soon but I just want to take a second to really talk about the work Crystal is doing in the literary world with her magical writing. This is Crystal's third publication and I can truly say she never misses. I've seen myself more in all 3 of her books than I've really ever seen myself in any form of art. The Fall of Whit Rivera touches on Whit's journey with PCOS which is polycystic ovarian syndrome for those who don't know and it's one of the most infuriating diagnoses someone with ovaries could get. I was diagnosed in 2018 after thinking my whole life before then that the symptoms I was experiencing were simply because I weighed a certain amount which is so far from the truth. There was a part in the story that sheds light on how painful a ruptured cyst can be and it brought me back to the time where I had my own experience with this and my best friend saved the day and brought me back home from the hospital and spent the day comforting me in bed. Living with PCOS is so scary because there is so much incorrect info out there and I can ramble forever but thank you Crystal for truly being one of the best authors I've ever read.

I absolutely adore Crystal Maldonado so when I received an ARC of this book I made sure to read it right away. I love a good enemies to lover trope and though this wasn't quite that I still love the journey the our main character took in order to find love. There are some aspects that were very YA (as should be expected from a YA novel e.g. miscommunication, ambitions and dreams that remind us of our youth, first time romances, and friendships that are so indicative of a younger person). Truly everyone should read Crystal Maldonado.

I love crystals stories so much. Her characters are always unique and the supporting characters add life to it all. I enjoyed Whits story it was so cozy and heartwarming

This book was absolutely cozy and adorable! It definitely felt like drinking a warm PSL on a fall day. The characters were lovable and diverse, and I especially appreciate the thoughtful representation of PCOS. Thank you to the publisher!

Thank you to Holiday House for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was okay! Nothing bad but nothing I LOVED either.

This was amazing, perfect, apple pie, warm hug, everything that feels good and right in the world. I loved it so much.

This has allll of the autumn vibes and it just felt so cosy and warmhearted! I haven't read any of the author's books before, but I really want to read her backlist now because I enjoyed this so much. Whitney is just such a loveable main character - I love how she was such a girly-girl, with her pumpkin spice lattes and Gilmore Girl rewatches and careful outfit planning, and her relationships with her friends and family were also so lovely to read. I also really loved the discussion on women's health with the inclusion of Whitney's PCOS diagnosis - I think it's so important, particularly for YA, to bring these topics to mind and show young girls that it's not okay for your health to just be dismissed, especially by professionals who are meant to take care of you. The romance was also so cute, I loved Whitney and Isaiah together as well.

Admittedly sometimes the dialogue felt a little... cringeworthy, and these teens did not feel anywhere near as messy as I think is realistic - however, it was still really good and well written, and I think a perfect YA read for autumn!

This book was so incredibly written - a truly beautiful and moving story about life, love, growing up and moving forward even when you feel like you should be somewhere completely different in life.

Whit was such a relatable character; full of so much heart, and her relationships with her sister, Lily, her abuela and Isaiah were some of the highlights of the book.

But what sold this novel, and made a huge impact on me, was the representation of PCOS. I have been diagnosed with PCOS for several years now and I have never seen a book so perfectly represent the symptoms, the mental war that you go through because of the symptoms...there's so much that made the book so special and so important to me.

If you read a book this autumn, let it be this one.