Review: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Title: Falling Under

Author: Gwen Hayes

Publisher:  New American Library

Publication Date: 3.1.2011

Pages: 324

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series:  Yes (Falling Under #1)

Rating: B+

Summary (from Goodreads):

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.

Review:

If I had to describe Falling Under in one word, it would be: quirky. I found this book to be strange, frustrating, amusing, sweet, and jaw-droppingly crazy at various times. Occasionally all at the same time. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is about this book that has me so curious, but my curiosity has most definitely been piqued by this intro book into Gwen Hayes’ Falling Under series.

Theia is a great character. She is sweet and intuitive and very easy to like.  But she’s very much a trapped teenage girl, who is constantly watched (almost to an obsessive degree) by her father. I felt like his reasons for why he kept such a tight rein on Theia were tedious at best, but the parents of teenagers have done stranger things in real life so who am I to question motives in fiction?

Haden, the leading man, however was another story. I found myself strongly disliking him for a good portion of the book—not a good thing since this is the guy Theia is supposed to fall for. While Haden does get redeemed by the end (thus setting up book #2, Dreaming Awake), I find that I had a hard time forgetting his actions and the fact that he genuinely annoyed me for a good chunk of the novel. I will say that the romance between Theia and Haden sizzled and kept my attention throughout the book.

I found some parts of this book insanely absurd. So absurd that I told several friends, which made them run out and buy this book so they could read it for themselves. We all agreed, however, that there is some magic about this book that just works. Hayes has tapped into some recess of my brain that is craving to know more of this story. The end is somewhat frustrating, and there’s a bit of a wait for the next book. Needless to say, I will be armed with my copy of Dreaming Awake when it’s released in January to see what happens next.