Dreams of Falling by Karen White

About the book:

(from the publisher) On the banks of the North Santee River stands a moss-draped oak that was once entrusted with the dreams of three young girls. Into the tree’s trunk, they placed their greatest hopes, written on ribbons, for safekeeping–including the most important one: Friends forever, come what may.

But life can waylay the best of intentions….

Nine years ago, a humiliated Larkin Lanier fled Georgetown, South Carolina, knowing she could never go back. But when she finds out that her mother has disappeared, she realizes she has no choice but to return to the place she both loves and dreads–and to the family and friends who never stopped wishing for her to come home.

Ivy, Larkin’s mother, is discovered badly injured and unconscious in the burned-out wreckage of her ancestral plantation home. No one knows why Ivy was there, but as Larkin digs for answers, she uncovers secrets kept for nearly fifty years–whispers of love, sacrifice, and betrayal–that lead back to three girls on the brink of womanhood who found their friendship tested in the most heartbreaking ways.

Genre: Fiction/Women’s Fiction/Southern Lit

If this were a movie, I’d rate it: PG

About the author:

Karen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and currently writes what she refers to as ‘grit lit’—Southern women’s fiction—and has also expanded her horizons into writing a mystery series set in Charleston, South Carolina. Karen hails from a long line of Southerners but spent most of her growing up years in London, England and is a graduate of the American School in London. When not writing, she spends her time reading, scrapbooking, playing piano, and avoiding cooking. She currently lives near Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and two children, and two spoiled Havanese dogs.

Connect with the author: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

My take:

I’ll always be at the head of the line for any new novel by Karen White. Many of her backlist have made it onto my favorites lists. I was drawn to her latest by not only its lovely cover but, more importantly, its intriguing premise.

It began well, with the kind of mysterious opening sure to hook me. But I soon found I had a hard time getting into it. I struggled to connect with the characters, the pacing felt slow, the crux of the story slow to reveal itself. I also felt a bit as if I’d seen this tale before. It reminded me quite a bit of White’s 2014 release, A Long Time Gone (which remains one of my tip-top favorites).

Toward the end, I did find that the promise of the premise came to a satisfying conclusion, but getting there wasn’t the pure pleasure I’ve come to expect from White’s novels. As an aside, I have discovered that, on average, I love or don’t-love every other of her books. She is one of the most prolific novelists out there, releasing a novel about once a year. (And let’s be honest, that’s probably part of the problem). Which means I liked her last one a lot, and that I have good reason to hope I’ll love her next one.

Thanks to Berkley Books for providing me this book free of charge. All opinions are mine.

Buy it here. 

After words:

Any Southern Lit on your reading pile this summer?