Lynn H

This is a fascinating book that explores themes such as friendship, trauma and its aftermath, and the complexities of growing up.

Girl Falling centers on Finn and her best friend, Daphne, who have grown up together in the Blue Mountains of Australia. Bonded by the shared tragedy of losing younger sisters to suicide, their friendship is both deep and sometimes too close. Now in their twenties, their lives are beginning to diverge - Daphne is at university, while Finn remains in their hometown, working and rock climbing.

The book delves into the dynamics of their relationship, especially as it becomes entangled with Finn's girlfriend, Magda. An inciting incident, a climbing accident, leaves Finn to deal with profound grief and unanswered questions.

The portrayal of the Blue Mountains captures the region's natural beauty contrasting it against the dark undertones of the story. The exploration of memory, truth and human connections is thought-provoking in this captivating story.

Happiness is a book of love, compassion, vulnerability and fear. I could not put this moving book down. It grips you from the first page and keeps you turning pages until the last page when you are so sorry the book has come to an end. This book demonstrates the love of a parent for a child in such a gut-gripping way it makes you hug your own child and not let go. This book is so memorable and gripping because it is a true story and you root for the health of a beautiful little girl and the relationship between her parents. I will recommend this book to everyone I know.