Hi everyone! Today I’m excited to participate in the bookstagram & creative blog tour for BREAK THE FALL by Jennifer Iacopelli hosted by MTMC Tours! Break the Fall is a fiercely told survivorship YA Contemporary novel about one girl’s determination to push her body to win gold at the Olympics, and the power of uniting as women to speak out. Publishing on February 18th, 2020 from Razorbill and February 20th, 2020 from Hodder Children’s (UK).
Break The Fall by Jennifer Iacopelli
Publication date: February 20th, 2020
Publisher: Hodder Children’s
Pages: 304
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary
Buy: Book Depository(US edition)|Book Depository(UK edition)| Wordery
Synopsis:
Audrey Lee is going to the Olympics.
A year ago, she could barely do a push up as she recovered from a spine surgery, one that could have paralyzed her. And now? She’s made the United States’ gymnastics team with her best friend, Emma, just like they both dreamed about since they were kids. She’s on top of the world.
The pressure for perfection is higher than ever when horrifying news rips the team apart. Audrey is desperate to advocate for her teammate who has been hurt by the one person they trusted most–but not all the gymnasts are as supportive.
With the team on the verge of collapse, the one bright spot in training is Leo, her new coach’s ridiculously cute son. And while Audrey probably (okay, definitely) shouldn’t date him until after the games, would it really be the end of the world?
Balancing the tenuous relationship between her teammates with unparalleled expectations, Audrey doesn’t need any more distractions. No matter what it takes, she’s not going to let anyone bring them down. But with painful revelations, incredible odds, and the very real possibility of falling at every turn, will Audrey’s determination be enough?
– My Thoughts –
Break The Fall is a YA contemporary about the world of competitive gymnastics. It’s also a story of friendship and sexual assault survivors.
Audrey Lee, after suffering a spine injury, is competing to represent the USA in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. After making it to the Olympics, she along with her teammates learns a horrifying truth: their coach had sexually abused one of their team members.
There’s so graphic scenes but mentions of sexual assault. This book deals with the aftermath of the assault that has happened to secondary characters. It deals with believing, supporting sexual assault survivors. Being an Ally.
Break The Fall is set completely around the Olympics stage; the pressure, the challenges and the gymnastics routine. There’s also drama, jealousy, good natured ribbing and a cute romance in this book. The friendship is so good; I loved Audrey, Emma, Dani and Chelsea’s bond! And, oh boy! The gruelling regimens these girls have to follow since such a young age shocked me so much.
Can we talk about Leo, now? He’s supportive and so very adorable *heart eyes*. The romance remains in the background but it is so soft that I said “aww” out loud, way too many times.
Lastly, the pacing was perfect. Sure, don’t ask me to recall some of the routines as I flew through the book but there were lots of friendship moments to balance them out. The twist, the ending and everything was just so perfect(yes, I wrote ‘perfect’ twice) !
Overall, I would recommend this if you’d like to read a book about surviving, sisterhood, love and the strength of believing in others.
Thanks to MTMC Tours for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review and for including me in the blog tour!
– Giveaway –
Win one hardcover of BREAK THE FALL. Enter here. Open INTERNATIONALLY!
Make sure to visit the rest of the tour stops to get more chances to win:
Tour Schedule:
February 3
@paperfury – Bookstagram + Blog
February 4
@moonlight_rendezvous – Bookstagram
February 5
@thereaderandthechef – Bookstagram + Blog
February 6
@old.enough.for.fairytales – Bookstagram
February 7
@bibliophile_daydream – Bookstagram
February 8
@ernest.bookingway – Bookstagram + Blog
February 9
@kylielovesbooks – Bookstagram
February 10
@book_rambler – Bookstagram + Blog
February 11
@storybookend – Bookstagram
February 12
@mayushiibooks – Bookstagram
– About the Author –
Jennifer Iacopelli was born in New York and has no plans to leave, ever. Growing up, she read everything she could get her hands on, but her favorite authors were L.M. Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett, both of whom wrote about kick-butt girls before it was cool for girls to be kick-butt. As a high school librarian, she frolics all day with her students, books and computers and writes at night while cheering on her beloved Yankees. Follow her on twitter and instagram, @jennifercarolyn.
Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram
Thank you for reading! Do you think you’ll read Break The Fall? If you’ve already read it, then I’d love to know what you thought!
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