I had a hard time getting into parts of the novel. I really liked the rainbow-haired girl, and the journey the middle son, Miles, makes. I couldn't really follow the oldest Fall son, Wynton, or youngest child, Dizzy. There were too many story-lines. The novel was well written, and the lives intertwined, but I wasn't invested in their stories.

I have recommended this story to a friend who loved everything about the book, and was giddy when she found I had this book by the author. I do plan to read other books by Jandy Nelson and reread this, to see if my views change when I have read another of her books.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the magical realism parts of this book and couldn't stop reading. Really really enjoyed this one!

Thanks NetGalley for giving me access to this ARC. Jandy Nelson’s writing is lyrical and beautiful. I especially loved Miles’ storyline — how he evolved to be more himself throughout the book. In fact, I got irritated when the narration would change to a different character when I just wanted to stay in Miles’ world. I’m not sure Cassidy’s backstory furthered the plot or character development besides her own, so I could’ve done without those cut-aways. I wish this book was told in chronological order rather than jumping between narrators and timelines. Just when I was getting into it, it would switch to someone else and temporarily take me out of the story. I still read it much faster than I anticipated though. Once I hit the halfway point (when Miles became the focus), I was all in. It’s too long for classroom use but would be a good addition to my classroom library.

There’s always at least a little bit of magic and otherworldliness to Jandy Nelson’s novels, and this new one is really rich and alive and textured. Its magical surrealism, however, was less impactful as I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. Definitely not my favorite Jandy Nelson book, but still a worthwhile read.

This novel is astounding!
Jandy Nelson is a genius. She weaves together stories of captivating people through time and space. She captures the agony of not being able to express yourself and the exhilaration of human connection and love in all its forms. There's a thread of magic and a sense of such expansiveness —I recommend it to readers with no hesitation.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

"When the world tips over, joy spills out with all the sorrow."

Perhaps a bit too twee and whimsical at times but it mostly worked for me. Really dug Jandy Nelson's writing style here. I DNF'd I'll Give You the Sun years ago but this makes me want to give that book another go.

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

To no one's surprise, Jandy Nelson does it again! What an intricate, emotional and unique book full of characters that feel so incredibly real. Definitely worth the wait of 10 years!!!!

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for the arc.

This had a bit of a slow start but was a wonderfully multilayered family drama with a kiss of magic realism and the consequences to our actions.

Jandy Nelson's first book release in a decade is kind of a sad read (not in a totally hopeless way though). It follows the Fall siblings, 12-year-old Dizzy, 17-year-old Miles, and 19-year-old Wynton, and the story is intriguing from the outset as Nelson tells it from the alternating POVs of all 3 siblings. I also thought the sibling dynamic was unique, with Dizzy and Wynton being close, so much so that they effectively shut Miles out. Miles copes with this by becoming the "perfect" child whose image unravels during this book. Even if I sympathized with Miles the most, I liked Dizzy's and Wynton's characterizations. Dizzy is a dramatic, romantic dreamer (she ended up resonating with me a lot actually because she reminded me of my younger self) and Wynton is a sort of wild child who is going through some stuff deep down. It's Wynton's getting in a car accident and ending up in a coma, actually, that sets the events of this book in motion.

All 3 siblings meet a mysterious girl named Cassidy, and nobody can figure out where she came from or why, but it becomes clear pretty quickly that the Fall kids need her somehow. With her, Dizzy and Miles learn about their family history in which there is seemingly the solution to ensuring Wynton's survival. Nelson does a great job at seamlessly weaving the stories about the Falls' ancestors into the larger plot, and honestly that's where a lot of the sad aspect of the story comes in. It was an exploration into generational trauma, yes, but also illuminating as it allows our characters to figure out how to break those cycles.

At the beginning of this book I found it a bit hard to understand what was happening and I almost DNF’d it. I am so glad I kept going. This story was fantastic. The alternating storylines between the Fall family and Cassidy and her mom Marigold was so great to read. The way the two storylines merged just gave me the best feeling. Dizzy was a great character & the brothers were fabulous today. I can’t say too much more without spoiling the ending but this book is so good and you won’t regret reading it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a copy of this book.

This novel impacted so many genres such as Young Adult Nonfiction, LGBTQ, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Contemporary no wonder it was nominated for an award! This was soooooooo impactful and resilient I think for younger reader because of the storyline. The setting is stunning because it's in wine country which I still remember loving it there so much. Family drama and road trips go hand in hand with crazy stories! Thank you to Jandy Nelson, Dial Books, and Netgalley!

The summary is the barest of overviews I could write. It's hard to put this novel into words. I teared up throughout the story. We see the perspectives of all three Falls kids. We read letters their mom is writing in a notebook. We get Cassidy's story (the angel) and her childhood and what brought her to Paradise Springs and how she crossed paths with the Falls. We get the (much exaggerated) history of the family and how they came to live in their town and have their winery. And we also learn there are many secrets among all the family members and they are all finally coming out. I laughed out loud. I cried. This book touched me in so many ways an instantly became one of my favorite books of the year. I just can't explain how this book is lovely and tragic and heartbreaking and heartwarming wrapped in a big hug.

Gosh, this was worth the wait! Nothing will ever compare to I’ll Give You the Sun, but this comes close. I devoured this, I am a huge fan of Jandy’s melodic, fluffy, colorful writing that explodes on and off the page. I wish the overall story was a *bit* more cohesive, but in true Nelson style, there’s stories within the stories, and truth and fiction begin to blur together

When The World Tips Over is a beautifully written and emotionally layered story about the Fall family, whose lives are defined by loss, mystery, and the deeply tangled threads of their past. The novel explores the lives of Dizzy, Miles, and Wynton Fall, three siblings who each carry their own burdens of grief, self-doubt, and unfulfilled dreams in the aftermath of their father’s mysterious disappearance. Dizzy, the youngest, bakes cakes and converses with spirits, while Miles, a brilliant but restless teenager, yearns for connection, and Wynton, a gifted violinist, faces the dangerous allure of fame and self-destruction. The author’s portrayal of their individual struggles is rich with nuance, making each sibling’s journey both unique and universally relatable.

The arrival of a rainbow-haired girl brings a strange new energy into their lives, offering a glimmer of hope or perhaps an illusion, depending on how you look at it. Her impact on the family is profound, tipping their already fragile world further into chaos. The narrative weaves together elements of magical realism, family curses, and complex love stories within the backdrop of Northern California’s sun-soaked vineyards and stormy winds. While the book is at times an emotional rollercoaster, filled with moments of heartbreak and self-discovery, it ultimately celebrates the power of family, storytelling, and the possibility of redemption. The author’s lyrical prose and intricate plotting make this a compelling, if at times bittersweet, exploration of a family’s past and their hope to rewrite their future.

There is something about a Jandy Nelson book. This was my last read of 2024 and I'm so glad to end the Year on such a high. This story follows the Fall family mainly the siblings.

I can't put into words about Jandys writing its been years since shes released anything and I was never so excited to get to read her newest story.

This like all her books is a beautiful family story even in the ugliest of times.
I will always read her books no matter how often she releases them!

Thank you a million Times Netgalley for this E-Arc in Exchange for my review.

Jandy Nelson writes beautifully but I had trouble connecting with a story with so many secrets. At some point people just need to speak the truth. I found the level of generational secret keeping to be an exhausting burden to bear, even as a reader. That said, even an exhausting Jandy Nelson is a rewarding Jandy Nelson.

I’m gonna say, right off the bat, I have complicated feelings about this book. Ultimately, I did enjoy it and ultimately my view of the book as a whole and the way I feel about my personal reading experience with it is positive. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have some capital-T Thoughts.

I think if you’re already a fan of Jandy Nelson’s work—as I am—you’re most likely going to enjoy this. Her trademark off-the-wall lyricism, surprising prose, and distinctive character work are once again on full display in this winding, heart-wrenching family saga. It is deeply emotional, as you might suspect, and I do think it really lands when it needs to. I also appreciate the journey this story takes the reader on as it progresses. Even though I cannot truthfully say that I was blown away by every single aspect of the story, I can say that it still feels like an unforgettable whirlwind of events. It’s a unique story that puts mystery, road trips, family curses, generational lore, and just a touch of whimsy on a strangely poignant collision course.

In a lot of ways, I think this is a heartfelt ode to the unlikeliest of roads that lead us back to ourselves, and how the most common family curse that most of us are contending with is our own inability and unwillingness to forgive. Not only to forgive people we care about, but more so to forgive ourselves.

All that said, I do think the story is far from perfect. For one thing, it’s absolutely too long. It’s over 500 pages, which is not in itself an issue, but I don’t think it fully earns that page count because I don’t think it successfully or satisfactorily sees everything though and I don’t think it closes the loop on some of the central character arcs for the all the main characters despite the fact that it has all that space.

There were also romantic subplots for all the main characters in the story that a) I didn’t love the power dynamics or social dynamics of and b) didn’t feel fully fleshed out and that I don’t think the story needed in the end. There’s also a main character—I won’t say who or why—who isn’t even active in the story for a majority of the book, which is kind of wild because I felt like they were the character who had the most growing and healing to do, and we didn’t get to see any of that development on page.

While the story as a whole is worthwhile and while I ultimately appreciate the project of the story and feel glad that I got to experience it for myself, I do think the book has its issues, and I think it somewhat falters in its execution. Jandy Nelson is the kind of writer who takes risks in her writing. Sometimes those risks pay off, sometimes they don’t.

Somewhat of a mixed bag for me, although I still enjoyed and appreciate the experience of the story overall.

A parent disappearing from a family is a popular theme and one I just don't understand. Also such big family secrets are questionable. The Fall siblings live in hot Northern California wine country, where the sun pours out of the sky, and the devil winds blow so hard they whip the sense right out of your head.
Years ago, the Fall kids’ father mysteriously disappeared, cracking the family into pieces. Now Dizzy Fall, age twelve, bakes cakes, sees spirits, and wishes she were a heroine of a romance novel. Miles Fall, seventeen, brainiac, athlete, and dog-whisperer, is a raving beauty, but also lost, and desperate to meet the kind of guy he dreams of. And Wynton Fall, nineteen, who raises the temperature of a room just by entering it, is a virtuoso violinist set on a crash course for fame . . . or self-destruction.

Then an enigmatic rainbow-haired girl shows up, tipping the Falls’ world over. She might be an angel. Or a saint. Or an ordinary girl. Somehow, she is vital to each of them. But before anyone can figure out who she is, catastrophe strikes, leaving the Falls more broken than ever. And more desperate to be whole.