Book Review: How to Keep Rolling After a Fall by Karole Cozzo

Book: How to Keep Rolling After a Fall
Author: Karole Cozzo
Published: August 2, 2016
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Number of Pages: 272
Format: ebook (.mobi)
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Tags: YA, 3.5 Stars, ARC, Contemporary, NetGalley, Received for Review

Goodreads/Amazon

Synopsis: The party was at her house. The photos were posted to her Facebook account. That's all the evidence anyone needed to condemn Nikki Baylor for a cyberbullying incident that humiliated a classmate and nearly resulted in the girl's suicide. Now Nikki's been expelled from her old school, her friends have abandoned her, and even her own parents can't look her in the eye. With her plans for the future all but destroyed, Nikki resigns herself to being the girl everyone hates - almost as much as she hates herself. But then Nikki meets Pax, a spirited wheelchair rugby player who knows what it's like when one mistake completely shatters your life. Refusing to judge her because of her past, he shows her that everyone deserves a second chance... and everyone deserves to be loved.

-MY REVIEW-

"I'm a firm believer in new beginnings. Looking back all the time ... It really starts to hurt your neck.' He shrugs carelessly, "If you don't want to be defined by your past, you shouldn't have to be."

This book talks about a lot of issues that aren't talked about a lot. Mainly suicide and cyberbullying. Usually when ever you read about them, you read from the victim or a victim's family's POV, but this time, it's the other way around.

In this book we follow Nikki, as she tries to get her life back in order after her friends posted pictures of a girl half-naked on the internet. Because this was all done on Nikki's computer and account (even if she didn't post the pictures) she got expelled and her parents aren't helping the situation. Nikki feels terrible until she meets Pax, who doesn't judge her for mistakes from her past, and is more interested in her in the present.

I didn't think that I was going to like Nikki as much as I did, which was surprisingly a lot. Nikki isn't mean spirited, or a flat out bully. If anything I would call her more of a bystander to what happened because she didn't do it, but she didn't stop it either. As the story goes on, it was cool to see her accept what happened, and what she did, and coming to terms that she can't change the past, but she can change what happens in the present.

Pax was very sweet and supportive! And besides that one bit in there, I really liked him! He was very realistic, and I really want to meet him in real life! Is there a Pax robot? I would buy it! Make my friend count a grand total of nine. I do wish that we got to see a bit more of Nikki's sister though.

The thing that left me confused was that the book didn't seem finished at the end. It was too rushed to sufficiently end the story. I felt like there was all this build up for a rushed ending that I wished was stretched out. It was a good book with a mediocre ending, which left me feeling meh about the whole thing.

So over all I really liked this book! With characters that aren't perfect, and a lovable book boyfriend, I recommend this book.