Review: Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang

Title: Falling Into Place
Author: Amy Zhang
Series: n/a
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: September 9th, 2014
Source: Received from Publisher via Edelwiess
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

On the day Liz Emerson tries to die, they had reviewed Newton’s laws of motion in physics class. Then, after school, she put them into practice by running her Mercedes off the road.

Why? Why did Liz Emerson decide that the world would be better off without her? Why did she give up? Vividly told by an unexpected and surprising narrator, this heartbreaking and nonlinear novel pieces together the short and devastating life of Meridian High’s most popular junior girl. Mass, acceleration, momentum, force—Liz didn’t understand it in physics, and even as her Mercedes hurtles toward the tree, she doesn’t understand it now. How do we impact one another? How do our actions reverberate? What does it mean to be a friend? To love someone? To be a daughter? Or a mother? Is life truly more than cause and effect? Amy Zhang’s haunting and universal story will appeal to fans of Lauren Oliver, Gayle Forman, and Jay Asher.

I really LOVED this book. I wasn't sure if I was going to because I kept seeing all this talk of sadness. All that stuff, it's true. It's sad as hell, there are parts that had me tearing up like a baby, but it is so beautifully written. *sigh* I love books that surprise me and this one really did. :) 

The fact I loved it came as a surprise because Liz Emerson is an asshole. I was not a fan of her. Usually that kills a book for me, but there was something about her that I liked. A tiny redeeming quality about her that made me still feel for her, even after all the horrible things she does. As the story goes on, you learn more about why she's the person she is. Life has not been kind to that girl, and my heart went out to her. All the while I wanted to punch her in her stupid face. 

One thing about Falling Into Place that you should know is, it bounces around a lot. The chapters are pretty short for the most part, and each one is told from a different time. Example, you will have a chapter from 2 days before the accident, then a day after the accident, and back to say... minutes before the accident. I kind of loved that, it switched things up for me, and always kept me on my toes. It is why it took me a little longer to get this one finished though. I only picked it up when I could give it my fullest attention. 

I really dislike comparing books to other books, but I kept thinking how.. if Lauren Oliver's book Before I Fall and Gayle Forman's book If I Stay got married and had a baby.... Falling into Place would be it. So in the description, I can see why it's recommended to fans of these authors. 

I would have to say that's the only reason it didn't earn a full 5 stars from me, based on the simple fact that it felt too familiar at times. Overall though, great debut and I would definitely recommend it.  :)

About the author:


Amy Zhang used to have lots of imaginary friends. When people told her to grow up, she turned her imaginary friends into characters and started telling their stories. When she isn't writing, she can be found playing piano, hitting balls on the tennis court, or struggling through her weekly existential crisis. She lives in Wisconsin with her family.

Find Amy:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Labels: 2014 debut, amy zhang, falling into place, harper-collins, reviews, tough subject