Heather Cobham's Reviews > Rules of Falling

Rules of Falling by Leslie Tall Manning is a mystery, romance and coming of age novel all in one. Manning does an excellent job creating complex and intriguing characters, and by the end of the first chapter I was fully aligned with Erica, the protagonist living with syncope. Erica manages high school thanks to her best friend and protector Lindsey, but when Lindsey becomes obsessed with her affair with a married man, things quickly complicate.

Erica tries to protect her friend, but ends up being pulled into the drama along with Lindsey’s ex-boyfriend Adam. Against the backdrop of a string of unsolved fires in town, Erica must deal with lies, betrayal, and navigating her newfound feelings for Adam. With each chapter Manning escalates the tension, and the intense ending both surprises and inspires.

Using the combination of mystery and strong character development, Rules of Falling expertly tackles the teenage challenges of friendship, romance, fitting in, independence and making ethical choices. This is a fabulous read for all ages, but young adults will especially resonate with the themes.