When We Fall

September 1, 2014

After the untimely death of her husband, Jack, Allison Parker and their son, ten-year-old Logan, move from Manhattan back to her hometown of Wincourt, in the New York suburbs. Being closer to her family allows Allison to focus more on her art career, the distance making it easier for her to heal from the loss of Jack. Once settled, Allison befriends Logan's classmate Gia's mom, Charlotte, who is married to her late husband's best friend, Charlie. While Charlotte and Allison's friendship blossoms, issues begin to rise to the surface. Charlotte and Charlie's seemingly perfect marriage is anything but. Charlotte's sister Elizabeth comes into the picture as she, too, befriends Allison, adding jealousy to the other problems between the two sisters. VERDICT Liebert's second novel (after 2013's You Knew Me When) does an excellent job of exploring various forms of loss. What begins as a predictable story becomes much more as Liebert tangles and untangles the ties that bind the women as friends, sisters, wives, and mothers. A beautiful account of what it means to love, lose, and remember.--Erin Holt, Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2014
Allison Parker and Charlotte Crane never expected to become fast friends. After discovering their 10-year-old children are in the same class, Charlotte decides to show Allison what the sleepy Manhattan suburb of Wincourt has to offer. Allison is quiet and artistic, only now beginning to broaden her social circle after her husband's tragic death. Charlotte is more concerned with outward appearances, happy to serve on charity boards and host wine-fueled gossip sessions for the like-minded wives in Wincourt. Lunch dates turn into spa trips, and Allison can't imagine what her life in Wincourt would be like without Charlotteuntil suspicion and gossip creep in, threatening to wreck not only Allison and Charlotte's friendship but also established marriages and burgeoning romances. Liebert offers an unflinchingly realistic portrait of female friendship, complete with trusting, giddy highs and uneasy, paranoid lows. Fans of Jane Green and Jennifer Weiner will appreciate the realistic concerns of Liebert's heroines, and anyone who's had to rebuild after a tragedy will relate to the fragile friendship between Allison and Charlotte. A compelling read, When We Fall is poignant, honest, and incredibly charming.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)