Title: If I Fall
Author: Anna Cruise
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Mission Bay Publishing
Publication Date: April 6th
Meg Calloway is at the edge.
Reeling from her parent's sudden divorce, fifteen-year-old Meg has never felt more alone. Her father is about to marry a woman she can't stand and her mother's only companion is an endless supply of alcohol. When Aidan Westwood, an older boy at school, shows interest in her, she grabs on and doesn't let go, thinking he's exactly what she needs to help stem her loneliness and despair. She quickly learns that Aidan lives a darker, more dangerous life than she does and the more isolated she feels from her family, the more willing she is to step into Aidan's world.
As Meg drifts further from her friends, she tries to find comfort with a boy who is opening her eyes up to new things, none of them good. Will she listen to those around her who are warning her that she's headed down a path of self-destruction?
Or will she fall too far...too fast...too deep?
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RATING:
5 out of 5 stars
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“All I'm saying is I think you deserve better,” Case said.
“From my point of view, anyway. You deserve better.”
I threw my head back on the sofa and laughed. It was a harsh
laugh with no mirth. “Most of the time, I don't think I deserve better.”
“Everyone deserves better.”
“Not me.” I didn't look at him. “No one else would want me.
I've royally fucked up. Everything. There isn't anything better out there.
Anything or anyone.”
“Yeah, there is.”
“Oh, really?” I brought my eyes back to him. “And where
exactly would I find better?”
It was quiet for a moment. Then he said,“Well, you might
start with me.”
My eyes widened. “With you?”
His cheeks flushed just a bit. “You don't have to sound so
surprised.”
I immediately felt bad. “That's not what I meant. Sorry.”
He laughed. “It's fine. I'm kidding. About you being
surprised. Not about being better.”
“Well how would I know you were better?” I said. “It's not
like you've ever asked me out.”
He thought about this for a minute. “So if I asked you out,
you'd go?”
I honestly had no idea where the conversation was headed. He
was confusing me like crazy and I wasn't sure what to say to him. I thought
maybe he was just screwing around with me.
“Yeah, I would,” I said, calling his bluff.
“What about Aidan?” he asked.
“What about him?” I said, shrugging. “You just pointed out
all the reasons I shouldn't be with him. Maybe you're right and I've just been
too dumb to see it.”
I didn't know if I believed what I was saying but it felt
like the truth was on the wall, some message that everyone had deciphered but
me. And I was going to try my hardest to translate it, however I could.
He stared at me for a long time. I didn't say anything, just
stared into those eyes that were always friendly, always honest.
Can you share your playlist of favorite 80’s songs with us?
This is going to be soooooo difficult. Not because I don’t
know many songs from the 80’s but because I’m a child of the 80’s. I could
probably do my Top 100 if necessary, but I will just offer up my Top 10.
10. The Warrior - Scandal. Any song that has “bang bang” on
the lyrics is automatically included. But then you add in Patty Smythe’s
awesome voice and a killer rock hook and you get one of the least appreciated
songs of the 80’s.
9. Shadows of the Night - Pat Benatar. Picking one Benatar
song is nearly impossible, but I’ll go with this one simply because the video
is TREMENDOUS as well.
8. Our Lips Are Sealed - Go-Go’s. Greatest girl band of
all-time? Greatest girl band of all-time. The opening notes to this song always
put me in a good mood.
7. Keep On Lovin’ You - REO Speedwagon. Dare me to sing
along to any REO song. Go ahead. I dare you.
6. Into The Groove - Madonna. I could probably put ten
Madonna songs on here, but I really, really love this one and it makes me want
to break out my awkward dance moves.
5. Jessie’s Girl - Rick Springfield. A great song that would
hold up in any decade. And I always wondered what her name was.
4. Free Fallin’ - Tom Petty. A song that just makes it under
the wire for the 80s, as it was realeased in 1989. Great hook, great lyrics,
totally sing-a-long-able.
3. You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi. Another song that
holds up for any decade. It feels like the ultimate rock anthem and MUST be
turned up loud when it comes on the radio.
2. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson. I was tempted to just put
the entire Thriller album on here, but I went with the song that introduced the
world to the album and that made Michael a superstar. I can still picture him
moonwalking across the stage at the Motown awards and trying to figure out what
I just saw.
1. Photograph/Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard. Fine.
It’s a Top 11. But picking between these two songs is like picking between my
kids - I can’t choose a favorite. They are both awesome in their awesomeness.
And now I’m off to crimp my hair, get my lace bow headband
and my neon green earrings so I’ll be ready to go out tonight...
Can you share your idea of the perfect soundtrack to ‘If I
Fall’ with us?
I don’t know if I could choose the perfect soundtrack but I do know that these songs are ones that I
listened to over and over again while writing If I Fall. And these songs are
the ones I hear when I see certain scenes.
Nobody's Home – Avril Lavigne
This song pretty much sums up Meg's life. She wants to go
home—but nobody's there. Nobody she can connect with, anyway, and certainly no
one who can help her navigate everything that's going on in her life.
Le Pony – Italian Japanese
This is an obscure, brilliant band from Southern California.
Listen beyond the instrumental opening and you'll hear a sweetly haunting song
about saying “your last goodbye”—just like Meg did when her
father drives away in the opening scene.
Free Falling – Tom Petty
One of my most favorite songs in the Universe. The first
four words of the song pretty much sum up Meg: “She's a good girl...” and these
words, “And I'm a bad boy 'cuz I don't even miss her...” have Aidan written all
over them.
Wanted -- Hunter Hayes
I can totally see Case singing this song to Meg. He wants to
make her feel loved, make her feel wanted, even when she doesn’t think she
deserves him.
Just The Way You Are
– Bruno Mars
I'm not a big Bruno Mars fan, but this song—for me,
anyway—speaks exactly to how Case feels about Meg. He's not trying to change
her, he's not trying to make her into someone she's not and he's not trying to
make her feel bad about who she's become. He doesn't care about any of that. He
likes her for who she is, flaws and all. Just the way she is.
I’d love to hear what readers think, too! What songs do you see on the soundtrack?
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This was an amazing book and I would highly recommend it to any teenager or adult who is struggling through life. It was completely well written and thoroughly thought out. It delved into topics that I have never read about in any book before. It was a book that made me think about my own life and whether I am on the right path myself. It was very thought provoking and I encourage all teens to read this book.
Megan deals with her parent's divorce, dad's remarriage and mother's going to rehab all at the same time and she doesn't deal well. With help from her aunt and a new friend she finally realizes it and gets better. Her life choices may have changed but she finally fixes things and goes back to her normal life.
This book teaches that life is precious and Anna Cruise has written a GREAT yet heartbreaking book. I can't wait to read more by Anna!
RATING:
5 out of 5 stars
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Anna Cruise has been writing -- and drooling over boys -- since middle school. Lots of years have passed but some things never change...
Her books include the best-seller IT WAS YOU (New Adult), IF I FALL (Mature YA) and MAVERICK (New Adult). Additional titles releasing in 2013 will include a follow-up to Abby and West's story from IT WAS YOU. Anna loves to hear from readers and authors. Email her at authorannacruise@gmail.com. You can also like her Facebook page, find her on Twitter or friend her on Goodreads.
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