Hey everyone!
If you have been following me for a while, you know very well that I don’t read much contemporary YA. However, this book seemed very different from most of the contemporary novels out there. It tells the story of a plane-crash survivor that loses her memory, and to me, that sounds excitedly different and so intriguing. I love the authors, like Rebekah Crane, that put a twist on your usual romances and add different aspects to the story. Crane also mentions snarky, flirty banter, which I adore. ❤
Rebekah Crane’s Twitter: @RebekahCrane
Her Website: rebekahcrane.com
There isn’t much there for the Goodreads synopsis, and you can get a better description in Crane’s interview, but I will still put it below:
~ Goodreads Synopsis ~
Set in Southwest Ireland and features a girl who is the lone survivor of a plane crash. She wakes up with amnesia in Ireland with no memory of her life. It’s cute and heartfelt and, of course, funny.
~ ~ ~ ~
Because this book caught my interest, I had to ask Crane some questions to get to know the book a little more and to show you guys. Her responses are so endearing, and she was so nice to answer me:
How would you sum up the story?
For Clementine Haas, finding herself is more than a nice idea. Ever since she woke up in an Irish hospital only to discover she’s the lone survivor of a plane crash and suffering from complete amnesia, self-discovery has become her mission.
With the Irish press bearing down on her, and a father she may not even recognize on his way from America to take her home, Clementine assumes a new identity and enlists an Irish stranger, Kieran O’Connell, to help her escape her forgotten life…and start a new one.
In the sleepy town of Waterville, Ireland, Clementine discovers there’s an upside to a life that’s fallen apart. But as her lies grow, so does her affection for Kieran, and the truth about her identity becomes harder to reveal, forcing Clementine to decide: Can she leave her past behind for a new love she’ll never forget?
What inspired you to write The Upside of Falling Down?
Interestingly enough, the general story line was brainstormed during an author visit I did a few years ago at a local high school in Denver. I always ask the students to throw out book ideas and someone said, “Why not a book about the lone survivor of a plane crash?” We took the idea and ran with it.
Also, setting a novel in Ireland was a goal of mine. In my early twenties, I lived in County Kerry, Ireland (the novel’s setting). It’s such a beautiful and lush backdrop for a romance. I couldn’t resist writing Kieran and Clementine’s love story in one of the most romanticized countries on Earth.
Which character was your favorite to write and why?
This is such a hard question! I truly enjoyed writing them all. The flirty banter between Kieran and Clementine and their chemistry was fun to create. That said, I’ve always enjoyed writing snarky characters and Siobhan and Clive fit that bill. Their friendship is laced with loving sarcasm, a combination I adore writing.
This is exactly what I have been looking for in a contemporary YA novel – something unique! I love the amnesia concept and her running from her old life to start fresh. The story is one that I have never read before, or anything close, and I am super excited to see how this plays out. I am also in love with the idea of Kiernan and Clementine because it has been so long since I read something cute and this sounds like exactly what I have needed and didn’t know I needed. Also, the name Kiernan is beautiful and Clementine is so different. The fact that this story is taking place in Ireland as well is a turn on because I have never read anything set in Ireland and it is one of my favorite countries (though I have never left the Untied States).
Let me know what you think of The Upside of Falling Down, and whether or not you plan to read it.
Thank you for reading!
Taylor
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