The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
"It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they're old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When sixteen-year-old Kaelyn lets her best friend leave for school without saying goodbye, she never dreams that she might not see him again. But then a strange virus begins to sweep through her small island community, infecting young and old alike. As the dead pile up, the government quarantines the island: no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for the island's dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?"- summary from Amazon

I had heard some great things about this book before starting it, and I can tell you that they're true. Crewe creates an interesting island world here that's rich with depth, people and locations. Kaelyn is a wonderful main character who feels like a real girl; while she can be strong and spunky, she's also fragile and introspective. The other characters were great to read about too; I enjoyed Tessa, Gav, Meredith, and Nell- they were great friends.

I liked the idea of Kaelyn writing journal entries to her friend Leo on the mainland. It was a great way to learn more about Kaelyn, especially about her life before the virus, and to get her perspective on the virus being spread around. Plus, it was an easy way of seeing when the virus started and the timeline of it since the entries are dated.

The romance aspect was cute, working its way from friendship into love. I always enjoy stories like that since it just seems more realistic. Gav and Kaelyn are really good together. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but nothing too huge.

Overall, a fantastic start to a new trilogy and I can't wait to see what Crewe comes up with next!

FTC: Received e-galley from Netgalley. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.