Fall From Grace by Charles Benoit
Published by HarperTeen
Publish Date: May 8, 2012
304 Pages
Source: ARC from publisher
Grace always has a plan. There’s her plan to get famous, her plan to get rich, and—above all—her plan to have fun.
Sawyer has plenty of plans too. Plans made for him by his mother, his father, his girlfriend. Maybe they aren’t his plans, but they are plans.
When Sawyer meets Grace, he wonders if he should come up with a few plans himself. Plans about what he actually wants to be, plans to speak his own mind for a change, plans to maybe help Grace with a little art theft.
Wait a minute—plans to what? –(summary from Goodreads)
My Thoughts: I enjoyed the heck out of Fall From Grace. I really did. I wasn’t sure what I was gonna get when I started it – based on the cover – but I liked the description. What a fun story.
1. The Characters.
- Sawyer. Sawyer is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. What HE wants to do – not what his parents tell him he wants to do. But they have it all mapped out for him – where he’s going to school, what he’s choosing for his career – they even want to check behind him on his homework! Sawyer has a hot girlfriend Zoe. She is really HOT, but she wants to control him too. Poor guy can’t catch a break and make any decisions on his own. I don’t think Sawyer was necessarily weak, he was just stuck in a rut. We all get that way sometimes, right?
- Grace. Grace just wants to have fun. She doesn’t want to do anything at all if it isn’t fun. Her goals in life? Have fun, get rich, and be famous. Grace isn’t as hot as Zoe, but there’s definitely something cute about her. She goes to a different school on the other side of town, but Sawyer can’t help but be drawn to her. One day, he calls Grace and they start hanging out, watching movies, just having a great time. Grace shows Sawyer that life can be fun and that he can make some decisions on his own, and he kind of likes it.
Sawyer can’t believe it when Grace starts talking about how fun it would be to steal a piece of art. Is she serious? Oh my gracious, she is serious! While he listens to her plans, and even helps a little, Zoe becomes furious at the fact that Sawyer is spending so much time with Grace and his parents become a little nutty about the fact that he’s trying to make some big life decisions for himself. Still, the art theft plan is really fun and fun is looking really good to Sawyer with all the pressure he’s under…
2. Romance. There really isn’t that much of a romance in this book. It’s really interesting like that, and also a little bit refreshing. Sawyer is already dating Zoe when the story opens (I never liked Zoe – she’s pretty awful. Intentionally awful.) and Sawyer gives his reasons for the comfort of their relationship, but he never tries to be with anyone else. This is not a romance story that involves Grace. Grace is just…his friend. How about that, you guys?
Male Leading Character
Stories Containing Art, Art Theft
is currently available for purchase.
**I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion and review. I received no compensation for my thoughts. Thank you HarperTeen!
About Asheley
Asheley is a Southern girl. She loves Carolina blue skies, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and NC craft beer. She loves all things history but prefers books over everything.
You can find her somewhere in North Carolina, daydreaming about the ocean.
Find Asheley on Litsy @intothehallofbooks!
sounds awesome
i like how different the cover is as a contemp
gr8 review
Thanks roro! The cover is pretty neat, particularly for a contemp!
Hmmm. This sounds interesting. Was not sure what to expect with this cover so I appreciate the summary. I like fun contempts(as opposed to issues books) so in theory, I should like like this. I may put it on my TBR list. Great review!
I know – the cover is a little odd for it being a contemporary, but the story is really fun. Non-issue, non-romance – just a regular story. Quick read, great pacing. I think you would like it. 🙂
Sounds good! And what? No love triangle?!?! 🙂 How refreshing!
It WAS refreshing! Just a plain ole story to read. Nothing at all to bog me down. It was fun! I loved it.
This definitely caught my attention! I hadn't heard of it before, but it does sound pretty darn fantastic.
Alexa, it was really refreshing and such a neat book. It was a quick read without a romance to speak of, nothing heavy to bog me down, no big issues. Just a great STORY. And I think sometimes a good STORY (for the sake of a story) is lacking in YA – it seems authors always are making it about romance or issues (which is good, don't get me wrong). It's just that this was different and so good to me. I loved it.
The cover was a little different. I liked it, but it didn't really tell me much about the story.
I recommend it. I really do!
This certainly sounds interesting! Plus, it's sounds really unique, compared to what's out and about on the YA book market I dont think I've come across a premise like this one so that's refreshing! And a ending that you won't see coming? YES PLEASE.
I haven't read many reviews for this book so thanks for another great review, it's always nice to hear your thoughts on a book!
P.S – Strange cover alert! With the eyes and glittery effect it makes it look like a paranormal, not a contmeporary! ;D
YES, that cover! It does indeed have a paranormal look to it, but the book is nothing like that at all. In fact, the book is really nothing like that cover – I'm not sure where the design comes from.
This book was just fun. I recommend it highly!
thanks for the review. it's great. and the book certainly sounds worth reading.