4/5 stars
-Historical events told through time travel
-Interesting characters and backstories
- Relatable heroine/main character
- Beautiful writing
- Slow pacing
- Tricky to follow

I enjoyed this book and thought the writing was top-notch. The pacing was great at the start, but slowed a little for me as it was difficult to recall dates and timelines, and there are so many characters to follow. It felt like a lot of work to reorient myself so often. The characters are complex, and I loved that Cecily was a mother and wife, I felt so connected to her and her plight against the family curse. What a fantastical idea and concept, but time travel novels are tricky.

Cecily Bridge inherits a ramshackle farm from her family, with the intent of selling and moving on. A visit to the property has her unearthing a map, a bible, and an old spool, leading her to discover that she is unwittingly part of a family curse that causes her to travel back in time at odd intervals. She is determined to break the curse, trying to avoid the same fate. Her ancestors are in varying points of time, each going through trials that are heartbreaking, with an undercurrent of danger.

3.25 stars. Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC of this book. I enjoyed this book, and the time-travel premise had me intrigued for sure. It was a interesting historical fiction that follows the Bridges family through time in an fantastical way. One family member from each generation of Bridges randomly gets sent back in time and there's no way to stop it. This book deals with the different eras of slavery, civil rights movements and coping with all that while getting thrown into time. This story has you following Bridges from the late 1700's to the 1960's. I would recommend it if you're into historical fiction/sci-fi

The Fallen Fruit was what I would consider very slow paced. I wanted to love it so badly.
Seeing the slave trade through several different slave perspectives was fantastic at first, but then the different characters became overwhelming. It was still good but it was a lot of information to take in.
The time traveling felt almost like a second thought, it didn’t feel like other time traveling books for me. It felt as though there was no reason for it.
I feel like this would be better suited in a physical book where you can easily go back. It was just very hard to follow. I appreciate you the opportunity to read this.

The Fallen Fruit follows the Bridge family who are under a curse: each generation a member of each Bridge man falls back in time. They don't know at what age they'll fall or how far back in time they'll end up. A decade? A century? They don't know until it happens. The terror of being ripped away from their present-day home, family, and friends is compounded by the fact that they're a Black family and risk being enslaved depending on when they end up.

The story follows men and women in generations spanning from pre-Revolutionary War to the Civil Rights era. There are themes of grief, hope, and familial love. There are a couple of romantic subplots but they are not the point of this story. I cried more than once and felt terror at a couple of points while reading The Fallen Fruit, but also felt soaring joy at times. I felt deeply connected to every character, which is amazing since the story follows 6 or 8 characters over the course of the book.

The moment I read the last page, I put The Fallen Fruit on my re-read list. It's a 5 star read and I can't wait for it to come out so I can recommend it to friends and family.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A captivating and thought-provoking historical fiction that follows the Bridge family and their journey through history. When Cecily Bridge-Davis begins to dig through family history, she uncovers a family secret better kept hidden: one offspring from each Bridge family unit mysteriously vanishes and gets whisked back in time. As Cecily uncovers more and more of the Bridge family history, be prepared to become emotionally attached to each protagonist. Absolutely riveting and enthralling - this family saga will keep you up all night.

Spoilers ahead (Not included in Goodreads or Amazon reviews):
I enjoyed this book quite a bit but that ending made me want to throw the book against the wall and scream, “No!” I needed a few days to recover from the shock and calm down enough to reflect on the story. I wanted something else and was emotionally wrecked but there is something to be said about choice. I think that ending really makes you consider your own choices what kind of impact the what ifs would have had.

The Fallen Fruit is broken up into 5 parts, each following a different Bridge relative (or in the case of Part 2, two Bridge Relatives. The story is mostly told in 3rd person POV.

The Bridge Family have a curse. The first Bridge ancestor fell 22 years in the past in 1780. Since then, one child born of a Bridge man from each generation is cursed to fall back through time. It isn’t known when they’ll fall and how far back they’ll fall. Cecily Bridge-Davis was raised by her aunt and was unaware of this curse, but when she goes back to settle the estate left to her as a Bridge, she slowly discovers the curse and her soon to be fate.

This story was so interesting and I loved meeting all the characters. Emily’s part was my favorite, but my heart absolutely broke for Luke as well as for Rebecca. It was hard for me to imagine what these characters went through, knowing that at any moment they could fall through time. The author did a beautiful time describing historical events, especially as it pertained to Black History, as the story unfolded, covering the late 1700s, early 1800s, 1910s-1920s and the 1960s. If you love history, you’ll enjoy this story.

It was challenging to read as a digital book and I’d much prefer this book in hard copy as there were times I wanted to flip back to the family tree or to some of the ancestors, which is somewhat more difficult on digital format. This was a slower read for me too, I believe due to trying to keep dates and numerous characters straight in my head as I read. However, it was still a wonderful read.

Fallen fruit is a masterfully created novel. The pages turned easily as the story unfurled into a plot deeply rooted in family history and the relationships impacted as a result of an inescapable family curse. As I transported through history with the characters, I appreciated the nuggets of historical references that complimented the overall feel of the novel. I felt as though I was there with the characters on their individual journeys. I definitely recommend this book.

As always thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the privilege to read this book before it's published.

I enjoyed this book a lot.

It's definitely a 5 star read for me.

Seeing the slave trade through several different view points (especially from the slaves themselves) was refreshing.

The time traveling aspect was done really well.

Usually when a book has me in all the emotions I just want it to be over but I was left wanting more.

I'm also still suffering Bree and Luke (they would have been great) but I guess Emily already knew how that would have ended.

If you liked the unmaking of June Farrow this book os definitely for you.

It being diverse definitely adds to it.

This book pulled me in from the beginning. I'm a sucker for mysteries and suspense and Shawntelle Madison sets this up from the beginning. I read it online via a NetGalley ARC and could not be happier to have received this book. The book begins in 1964 with Cecily Bridge-Davis inheritying an unoccupied house. "My family has poisoned roots"...she begins. The fact that she has been warned to stay away but is driven to lear more about her family, makes us,, the readers want to know more about her family as well.

We later learn that there are people who disappear in the family and that the family is cursed. One member through the male line is doomed to travel back in time. Cecily is on the hunt to find out how to break the curse. I find that the plot moves at a good pace and that the time jumps in the book help keep things moving to the inevitable conclusion.

The narrative is captivating, and character development shines. I grew attached to the characters, wishing for more time with these newfound literary companions.

The Bridge family's thoughtfulness and resilience contribute significantly to the book's appeal. Perseverance emerges as a compelling theme.

The ending, though bittersweet, resonates with optimism, leaving me yearning for more encounters with these memorable characters.

I received an advance copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison is an epic family saga intertwined with elements of time travel, masterfully spanning two centuries from the 1760s to the 1960s. One of the novel's most compelling aspects is its rich character development. Each member of the Bridge family that the reader follows is vividly brought to life, fostering a deep emotional connection with the reader. The clever blend of time travel with the family saga illuminates the unchanging nature of racial dynamics, showing that in some ways, life for Black people in the 1960s wasn’t at all so different from the 1760s (for a free Black family). It highlights a constant underlying fear, a reflection of the historical and current threats from slavers to police, underscoring an ongoing reality in America. Amidst its historical richness, the book remains anchored in the personal journey of the family, exploring the enduring connections across generations and the consistent nature of their challenges and victories. The narrative also delves into the contemplation of fate and individual impact, questioning whether history is destined to repeat itself or if personal actions can forge a different path.

The novel's ambitious scope, however, presents certain challenges. The frequent shifts in time periods, coupled with each character's nickname, can make the narrative somewhat difficult to follow. I found myself occasionally lost in the lineage and timeline, which required a bit more effort than expected to keep track of the unfolding story.

I highly recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction, family sagas, and time-travel narratives.

Expressing gratitude to Netgalley, Amistad, and Shawntelle Madison.

Cecily Bridge-Davis reveals a family curse, thrusting one member back in time each generation. Endeavoring to grasp and reverse it, she travels through time, connecting with ancestors and peeling back layers of fate. Despite a captivating premise, Madison's inaugural historical fantasy encounters challenges with the flow of its storyline and an abundance of characters. The measured pace necessitates focused attention, potentially finding greater ease in a physical copy for quick reference.

Despite my anticipation, I struggled to resonate with this book. As a dedicated fan of "The Time Traveler's Wife" and captivated by time travel concepts, my expectations were lofty. Regrettably, this narrative fell short. The unhurried pace and excessive exposition impeded my connection with the story.

Amazing! I love historical fiction but the time travel aspect adds a fantastic fantasy spin. It pulled me in and kept me reading. I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well done, the sense of place was really well developed and a character in its own right, and the time travel aspect used really well. I think fans of historical fiction will really like this.

Time travel, historical fiction, romance…..What’s not to love? I happily rate this book 4.5 stars. I wish we could actually award half stars!

The deduction of half a star comes mainly from the need to continually look back to see where we were in time and who was narrating to us. I feel Iike this issue could potentially be lessened or even eliminated if I were reading a physical book rather than an e-book. It still may require some looking back, but it would definitely be easier then in an e-book format.

The novel is very engaging and the character development is wonderful. I would have loved to spend more time with the characters as I found them to become good friends of mine as I learned about them and their lives.

I appreciated the empowerment of women. It was not necessarily the focus of the book, but it didn’t fail to shine though. The understanding that Bree needed and deserved more than the environment provided for her was a light in the book to show that she was worth more than she would have been able to achieve in her current situation. It was acknowledged and then acted upon. Emily(Millie) and her education was another example.

The thoughtfulness and attentiveness of the Bridge family was an attractive part of the book. Perseverance and steadfastness proved to be a great theme.

The ending left me wanting more! Whilst it was bittersweet, along with many other parts of the book, it held a note of optimism. I’d love to meet the characters again!

This book is an ARC read and I am giving my review voluntarily.

This was a really good read. The fantasy involved in the historical fiction was an interesting twist. It was woven well together and kept me engaged. The author did an amazing job. The characters developed well and were endearing. It took me through several emotions. Some parts were heartbreaking. It is well worth the read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC book.

Loved this book so much. The characters drew me in and the story was matched k my by the voice of this author. I couldn’t wait to open and read where and when these characters would take me next

While I’m not a historical fiction fan normally the fantasy element pulled me in. If one thing is gonna get me interested in something it’s time travel.

That being said even the time travel trope wasn’t enough to pull me in. It’s slow paced but also over complicated so you have to pay really close attention to tons of information and characters being dumped on you while the plot itself goes in slow motion.

But if slow paced, character centric, historical fiction with a time travel twist sounds like something you may like then give it a try.

An outstanding multigenerational read of a family cursed to fall through time. This is a story of love, the bonds of family, and the inevitably of fate. I loved the non-linear plot, time jumps, and really enjoyed how it all came together at the end. I highly enjoyed the Black history and bipoc characters and the complications it added for the family since most of the story took place in a time of slavery. Overall, it is a very compelling read. I felt it lacked in description and could have painted a better visual image. I wish it had some visual imagery, something to reference the timelines, too. I would have loved a visual of the family tree, the Bible that was referenced, or even some of the research notes that were talked about.

The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison is a historical fiction fantasy novel that spans generations of Bridge family that is plagued with a curse through which one member of each family unit (through the male line) falls back in time. The story opens in 1964 with Cecily Bridge who inherits her father's family's farm and uncovers evidence of the curse and then is on a mission to figure things out before she too succumbs to the curse.

I originally wanted to read this book because I like history and I'm starting to enjoy historical fiction. This book having a fantasy spin also added to my interest levels because while I know the genre blend exists, I have not read many by black authors. Generally speaking, though the pacing is slow, the story is an enjoyable read because you get to learn about the various moments of Bridge history and real history, gaining small pieces of the puzzle that Cecily is trying to figure out. This book is better suited to a physical copy or in conjunction with a reading journal because there are a lot of dates (the story is not told linearly), and though the chapters are linked in the ebook, it is still a hassle to go back-and-forth when you want to get your bearings on the passage of time. Also, without the family tree available in the beginning, I was lost on how the characters were related because there were so many to remember and some who seemed to barely be mentioned, if at all. I personally would have liked an image of the record in the family bible that marked the Bridge family.

There were loose ends in this story that frustrated me to no end. I admit that they may have been explained or alluded to and I missed it. The ending itself left me a bit unsatisfied because I personally felt like the answers I was seeking weren't answered. However, I can also admit that this may also be done by design. Black people attempting to research their family history and piece together stories further back than 1 or 2 generations can be difficult and my frustration may mirror the frustration Cecily felt throughout her research (though she had some minor advantages of family members who kept their own records). Still, some things were never tied up and, as a reader, I wish they were. I did also find some areas where the logic of the curse did not make sense to me once some key findings were revealed.

The book's title and cover image also seem to allude to the bible story of Adam and Eve, which is supposed to be the story of mankind. The Bridges also kept pieces of their story (the records of family members) in a bible. The curse is also passed down through the male line just as sin was passed down through Adam. There were also some things that I think lend to this idea, but they'd be spoilers, so I won't put them here.

Overall, it was a decent read that I should probably read again at some point because I'm sure there are things I've missed.