the audiobook was super high quality. excellent first chapter and portrayal of anticipation and anxiety

OMG the dynamic between daphne and fin was so delicately written. it was such a real representation of narcissistic abuse. the author really spared no detail.

I really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down. I nearly finished it in a day and would've had I not been pull away with work. I liked the audiobook narrator a lot as well. I think she really helped bring each character to life. The switch between the past and present left a breadcrumb trail with just enough information that made me feel like I knew what each twist would but left enough obscured that at the end I was still surprised. I wish we had a little more of a conclusion at the end of the book but honestly that was my only disappointment.

Unfortunately I dont think this book is for me. That doesn't make it a bad book, but its not what I thought it was by the description. I would struggle to call it a thriller. I listened to the audiobook version. I enjoyed the narration as it was narrated by my favorite audio company however the storyline fell flat for me. I'm a fan of a good twisty thriller. This book seemed to focus more on female friendships/relationships and if anything I think it was just categorized wrong. I think it was written well, and I think a lot of women could find value out of it, it just wasn't for me.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. The characters were all thoroughly unlikeable, though the novel was well written.

I enjoyed the narrators in this book very much!

The stroryline and the plot were awesome… kept me engaged and wanting to keep reading till the very end!

Awesome book would definitely recommend it!

This book was pretty good, I liked the characters and wanted to see how things were going to turn out. The end was a surprise and I'm not mad at it! LOL

This novel was a bit lackluster for me. The premise is good, and the characters are well built. It starts well and does become obvious that this won't be a typical fast-paced thriller. I really liked how the author described the toxic female friendships and how deep they went. The queer romance and friend jealousy felt realistic... but the extent that the toxic blackmail went into the adult relationships didn't. I would have been much more on board with the slow build if the twist had felt believable. Building the characters so well actually did a disservice to the ending twist because it just didn't feel true to the character.

The audio narration was great, love the accent!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review

I enjoyed the writing style of Girl Falling. The story kept a steady pace, and I thought I had the ending figured out… until that last twist completely caught me off guard. It was a satisfying way to wrap up the story and saved the book for me.

That said, I struggled with the way narcissism was so central to the narrative. One character’s constant manipulation and control over another grew frustrating and, at times, felt repetitive without much growth or resolution until the very end. Additionally, the spicy scenes sprinkled throughout felt unnecessary—they didn’t add much to the plot and came across more as filler than meaningful moments.

Overall, the ending elevated what was otherwise a decent read. It’s worth a shot if you enjoy complex friendships and suspenseful twists, but be prepared for some frustrating dynamics along the way.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the advanced audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

The reason I requested this novel was because of the cover, and I'm happy to say I enjoyed the novel as much as I enjoy the cover. The concept of the novel was interesting, a girl falling to her death during a climb with her girlfriend and girlfriends best friend. Hayley Scrivenor did a wonderful job at flushing out the story. I enjoyed how the novel went between flashbacks and the present, keeping me engaged with the content and wanting to learn more about the relationships between the girls. I was not the biggest fan on how the story ended which is why I gave this book only four stars.

Publish Date: March 11th, 2025

Set in two timeframes, “before” and “after”, the narrator Finn reflects on her complicated relationship with best friend Daphne while mourning the sudden loss of her girlfriend, Magdu, who is killed in a climbing incident at the beginning of the novel. The novel takes place in the Blue Mountains in Australia, and is a slow burn of whodunnit—was Magdu’s death a terrible accident, suicide, or murder?

I would hesitate to call this book a thriller or crime novel , but I appreciated how it focuses on the complexity of female relationships and friendships. I liked the small details and descriptions Scrivener uses to immerse the reader in Finn’s thoughts and emotions. I will say it took me a good third of the book before I was fully invested in the characters, and felt like the ending was rushed and not in line with what we learned of the characters, and without a satisfying explanation. Despite this, I would still recommend if you are looking for a female-centered POV with tangled relationships. I’m interested in reading Scrivener’s other book, Dirt Creek, which I’ve heard is more engaging!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

this was incredible. I consider myself pretty smart, and I love it when authors are very clearly smarter than me. This book was clever, twisty, and I don't doubt I'll be thinking about it for a long time to come.

rep: Desi lesbian, white lesbian

spice: clinical depictions of sexual assault

tw: sexual assault, gaslighting, abusive relationship, death of a major character

You know how you enjoy a book so much then the ending spoils everything? That’s how this book felt. The ending was so off. Missed opportunity that ended up leaving a bad taste instead.. Narration was good.

A super twisty thriller that moved at an almost languid, unreal pace. I kept turning the pages waiting for a jump scare or some big moment, but it didn’t come until the final 20 pages. By then I wasn’t expecting it at all and I think that made it WAY more powerful. Overall the book gave me a similar vibe as Blue Hunger - two twisted girls circling around each other until inevitably they collide.

I didn't love this one. Every character was unlikable - which isn't a bad thing in books - just a point to be made. I really hated the twist which is surprising as someone who usually loves a twist. This one just felt....off.

There was the right amount of tension that was held almost perfectly... until the last few pages. Well developed characters that were consistent with the story being told.... until the last few pages. A facinating story that drew you in and kept you wanting to read.... until the last few pages. The twist at the end was unnecessary and unsatisfying. It didn't align well with the story and characters that had up until then been quite well crafted. It struck a discordant note - for this reader, at least.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor offers a compelling exploration of grief, resilience, and the tangled web of small-town secrets.

The novel's power lies in its complex characters and evocative prose, brought vividly to life by Sophie Loughran's expert narration.

Loughran's performance is a masterclass in audiobook narration. Her rich, emotive voice adds depth to Scrivenor's already rich storytelling, making the characters' struggles and triumphs feel intensely real. Loughran's ability to convey the subtle nuances of emotion truly enhances the listener's experience, making every moment feel intimate and personal.

Scrivenor's narrative delves into the heartache of loss and the intricate dynamics within a community reeling from tragedy. Her portrayal of the protagonist, whose journey is heart-wrenching yet uplifting, is poignant and thought-provoking. The themes of the book resonate deeply, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of love, loss, and healing.

The synergy between Scrivenor's writing and Loughran's narration creates an immersive experience, drawing the listener into the world of Girl Falling.

This audiobook is an emotional journey that lingers long after the final chapter.

In conclusion, *Girl Falling* is a powerful narrative beautifully complemented by Sophie Loughran's narration. It's a must-listen for those who appreciate deeply moving stories about the human condition.

I don't really get the bad reviews on this one. While the ending was shocking, and certainly not what I was thinking (or hoping) would happen, I don't think that's as important as the story making sense. This one did. It also left me reeling due to the emotional whiplash, but I consider that a bonus in my book.

At its core, the novel is an emotionally charged psychological drama that explores the complexities of friendship, grief, and the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of seemingly close relationships. The story centers around Finn and Daphne, two women bonded by their shared trauma—both have lost a younger sister to suicide. Their friendship, formed in the small town of the Blue Mountains, NSW, has always been intense, and as they enter their twenties, the lines between love, loyalty, and control blur in unsettling ways.

Things begin to unravel when Finn starts a relationship with Magdu, a newcomer who offers Finn a fresh start, something Daphne is unwilling to share. Daphne’s jealousy and need for control push her into increasingly erratic behavior, and when the three women go mountain climbing, Magdu tragically falls to her death. From here, the book dives into a tense investigation of what really happened—is it a suicide, a tragic accident, or is something more sinister at play?

Scrivenor’s writing is intimate and immersive. I felt deeply for these complex characters. Finn, caught between the toxic pull of her friendship with Daphne and her love for Magdu, is a relatable but sympathetic character, struggling with feelings of guilt and confusion. Daphne, on the other hand, was not so relatable or sympathetic, but was a fascinating study in toxicity and manipulation. The tension between the two women kept me rapt.

The book was a little slow in parts, but I think that was necessary to build the psychological depth and really get into the characters complicated head spaces. And the end, wow. My jaw was on the floor. I did not see that final revelation coming. I can see how it might not be a popular choice to leave it there, but I appreciate Scrivenor's outside-the-box thinking.

Girl Falling was complex, emotional, and character-driven in the most readable sense of the descriptor. I really enjoyed this one. The narration was phenomenal as well.

i'm super drawn to stories that include climbing/the outdoors, so when i saw that this book was about a girl unraveling what happened when her girlfriend dies on a climbing excursion, i was in.

i wish this had worked for me.

ultimately, this is a book about toxic female friendships, something that i'm not often a fan of because i don't think they're done expressly well.

our main character is finn and she's deeply in love with magdu. unfortunately, her childhood bff daphne doesn't seem to be as smitten. off the bat, daphne seems to constantly exert her control over finn. the two seem connected over the deaths of both of their sisters and as the story unfolds, you realize that perhaps their 'innocuous' deaths were actually the work of something much more sinister.

i'm not going to lie, this is billed as a mystery but regular mystery fans aren't going to be surprised with the outcome at all. all in all, the book was fine, but...

there were so much excessive description about finn's period and finn's bad tooth. seriously - the day after her girlfriend dies, she's in an interrogation room being asked questions and finn wonders if the police can smell her period. seriously. it was bizarre.

additionally, there were some murky commentaries that felt either weird, offensive, perfomative, or all three - finn goes to hug her mother to be comforted after returning home after magdu's death. the narrative discusses how comforted she feels about her mom's fat rolls. her mom is sloppy, smelling of cigarette smoke, and poor. it just felt fatphobic and strange.

magdu is a woc. in the narrative, finn says she's proud to be dating someone of color, speculates if it's wrong to be proud she's dating a woc. i found this so strange. other racial commentary was peppered in throughout. i'm not sure how any of this was necessary and frankly, it rubbed me the wrong way.

This book definitely surprised me!

I am thankful to have gotten an ALC for free from Macmillan Audio through NetGalley to enjoy which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

This is a hard book to categorize.. the story moves very slowly is some aspects which that can be because I consumed the audiobook but the narrator recitation seemed to match the prose.

It had sort of a sleepy quality to the story but it made me
Want to keep listening.
Much of the story is the female MC recounting her relationship with her girlfriend Magdu as she processes her death.

I really felt for Finn and Magdu as well as enjoyed listening to how everything unfolded.

This book comes out on March 11, 2025.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

This broke my heart. This young woman basically loses everything in a tragic moment. The narration was spot on. The story was interesting and I love how she unpacked the relationship with her best friend.