Five Ways to Fall

I haven't fallen in love with a book series in a while. Especially in this new adult category. I finished the entire series in a week and a half. So happy we got to see everyone's story. Of course though, as any fan would, I started brainstorming what other characters should get their own story too: Storm, even though her story develops throughout the series... But maybe Storm in the past, before Penny's? And Nate. Duh. Lol. I can only dream.

Let's just say these books were written and thought out beautifully. The characters were so alive and I wished so hard they were real. But alas, it has come to an end(???).

So, K.A. Tucker, thank you.

AudioBook Review:
Stars: Overall: 4 Narration: 4 Story: 3

I’ve jumped about a bit with this series, but to Tucker’s credit, the story does stand without needing to have the information from the earlier books in the series. This is a solidly new adult series, with characters that are still finding themselves, at times frustrating but always engaging.
This is predominantly Ben’s story – we are focused on his versions of events – with a solid input from Reese, and the total train-wreck that is her life. For me, Reese was about as emotionally mature as a turnip, or perhaps a 12 year old: spiteful, vengeful, angry and wholly insecure: completely unwilling to look forward to ‘consequences’ until long after she leaps. Her attempts to regain control of her life is a step in the right direction, but she still needs to deal with many more issues.

Ben was the playboy in college, and he hasn’t changed his stripes at all. Even passing the bar and starting as a new associate in a law firm hasn’t matured his own views on relationships. That whole commitment-phobe storyline is well crafted, Tucker manages to give him enough personal insight to have an awareness of the immaturity, even as he is unwilling to change.

Now, these two meet as a one night stand in Cancun – never believing they will meet again. Of course, this wouldn’t be much of a story if one night was all it was, and they meet again and Reese enlists Ben’s help in enacting her vengeance against her ex-husband. Oh, and she’s the stepdaughter of the boss, a relationship that Reese has studiously avoided and is acting out against, even though more backstory on that interaction would have served the story well.
Tucker creates wonderfully compelling characters: easy to engage with, and wholly consuming your emotions for good and bad. Where this story lacked was in the actual storytelling: giving enough background to explain WHY Reese was such a train-wreck and so very vengeful: the attraction between she and Ben was well done and easily explained. And Ben? Most of his behavior was pretty self-explanatory and easy to understand, even when he didn’t quite see the writing on the wall.
Narration in this story is provided by Elizabeth Louise and Deacon Lee. Both of these narrators did a wonderful job incorporating subtle nuance into Reese and Ben to bring their characters to light. Additional characterizations were also easy to delineate, pitch and pacing changes to indicate each secondary character’s appearance all were distinct and easy to pick out. Both narrators worked in concert to present a story that wasn’t overacted or overly presented, and never once distracting.
Tucker’s conclusion to the series is a light and fun story, perhaps not what everyone that is a fan of her story to date will have expected, but a decent escapist read.
I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Simon & Schuster Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

What can I say about this book, this author.....she's a creative genius! If you don't know this series or this author, get to know them now! I love these books! Love the characters, and the story! Keep writing Miss Tucker!