Review: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Title: Falling Under

Author: Gwen Hayes

Series: Probably the 1st in a series

Pages: 336

Published: Available now from New American

ISBN: 9780451232687

Source: ARC from Around The World Tours

 

Description: Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams. As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

I Give This ...

I really wanted to love this book.  But, there were far to many distractions for me to really enjoy it.  In the end, I was left wondering if I might have enjoyed it more if I hadn't already read a particular series of books.  

I liked Theia for the most part.  Her personality was interesting, as was her relationship with her Father. Yes, it's capitalized in the story if that gives you any indication of their relationship.  She seemed boring and I think that what makes her fascination with Haden so intense.  I LOVED her friends.  I particularly enjoy a story that gives a lot of life to the secondary characters. 

I also liked Haden.  I liked who he really is and what he originally set out to do.  I actually enjoyed the games he plays with Theia.  They may be a little bit cdark reepy, but for some reason it gave the story an edge.  But for some reason I did not really like Theia and Haden together.  The relationship had too many flaws.   We go from caution to lust to love way to fast.  I also disliked how at times the story sounds exactly like another popular teen novel.  Enough so that at one point Theia tells Haden that he better not tell her he's really a sparkly vampire.   

I was actually surprised at the ending though.  I got sucked in when the story took on a life of it's on.  It was almost able to redeem itself but not enough to give it more than a 3.  Still, I think I will read the next one if the author makes this a series.  I'm intrigued by the circumstances.