This book made me feel a little like a voyeur! The every day details of the friends lives are exposed in all their detail, le the privacy cover is peeled away and I was invited into their lives. This is less a rom com and more a twenty year sage following a group of friends as they fight their way through life. The friendship gets damaged by what is said and what is unsaid, manipulation happens and there are parts that are really quite sad. This is well worth a read for the detail and accessibility of this group of women, their WhatsApp group and monthly drinks,

Wow! It’s going to take a minute to collect my thoughts I think so I may update this after I let it sit for a bit but, this was excellent!

I am so thankful to have gotten the eARC for free from Netgalley and Storm publishing so I can leave my voluntary and honest review.

This morning I set out to read a book and do nothing else after a very busy few weeks. Whilst I was 13% into another ARC I received an email from the publisher stating that I was pre approved to read this title as I had enjoyed and reviewed the author last book, The Love Hack. I was excited to be pre approved for something (silly I know) so I wanted to at least read the first chapter or 2 to see what it was about.

Within a few pages I was hooked! I set aside my other book (which is shaping up to be really good too) and 4 hours and some change later, I am finished and blown away!

What did I like? Well, everything! It was so real and refreshing. The prose was easy to read and moved along at a nice clip. There were so many different facets to get connected to and explore. From the friendships, to the spouses, parenthood, mental health, worrying about an aging parent etc.. all of it was so realistic and easy to identify with.

What I really enjoyed was that nothing went overboard or pandering for drama like a few books I’ve read of late. The word choices flowed naturally rather than being included for some ulterior motive.

I loved watching the friendships unfold and seeing how they dealt with pitfalls as well as honoring individual friendships within the greater friend group. Sorry, this is really hard to write without spoilers!!

The book is written from the perspective of Naomi. She is the one of the friend group who is married to a very good looking man, is a stay at home mother who struggles with all that goes along with having 4 year old twins and struggling to maintain healthy relationships with her girlfriends after the death of one of the groups male friends.

The book is equal parts heart breaking, anger producing, uplifting and inspiring. The book drops on July 19th 2024, a month from this writing. So get it on your TBR now! I’m definitely going to purchase the physical book for myself as well as for some girlfriends who are book lovers.

Rating
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Title: The Fall-Out by Sophie Ranald

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Release date: July 19th 2024

This story revolves around Naomi and her three best friends, whose tight-knit friendship is shaken when their estranged fifth member, Zara, reappears with a startling secret. Naomi, content with her life as a happily married mother of twins, finds herself confronted with unresolved tensions and buried truths from the past.

Through Naomi’s eyes, the story delves into themes of guilt, forgiveness, and the consequences of past actions on present relationships. As Zara’s revelation disrupts the group’s dynamics, Naomi is forced to confront her own vulnerabilities and the fractures in her seemingly idyllic existence.

What I loved most about "The Fall-Out" is its authenticity! The characters are vividly portrayed, each with their own flaws and vulnerabilities, making them relatable and engaging.

Ranald expertly captures the nuances of friendship, showing how misunderstandings and unspoken tensions can threaten even the strongest bonds. The reunion of the Girlfriends’ Club at a pivotal moment forces them to confront buried secrets and unresolved conflicts, leading to moments of laughter, tears, and ultimately, growth.

The novel’s pacing is excellent, keeping me hooked from start to finish with its blend of witty dialogue, heartfelt moments, and unexpected twists.

The writing style is both warm and insightful, drawing readers into the lives of these women as they navigate life’s messy moments together, done very realistically.

"The Fall-Out" is a uplifting read that celebrates the power of friendship in overcoming life’s challenges. Which let’s be honest, is a daily problem with many of us.

Grab a copy, pour yourself a drink, and join Naomi and her friends on their journey of rediscovery and reconciliation.

Thank you to The Publisher Storm Publishing ,The Author Sophie Ranald & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great romcom. I loved the story and the characters. One of my favorites of the week. Pick this one up!

I adored this cast of characters. Ranald knows how to craft a story. I immediately became invested in the outcome of the friend group. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a reflective read looking back over a friendship group which one of the friends left some years back, her return at a funeral of a close friend to them all starts causing cracks amongst the group. Told from the perspective of Naomi whose actions played a large part in Zara leaving the group as she feels increasingly alienated from her friends at a time she’s struggling in her own life. This really looks at the complexities of relationships and also the effects of a toxic friendship which makes it a slightly more challenging read in some respects but it’s thoughtful and the impact events have on Naomi feel realistic, I didn’t especially like any of the characters however Zara was a very fascinating and complex person. 7/10

I think friendships are a different type of relationship that are much needed in a person's life, so the fact that this book is centered around friendship made it that much more enjoyable. I really thought the character development was perfect and the story moved effortlessly. I wish I didn't read this so quickly because it was such a great read!

I absolutely love and adore Sophie Randall and am so looking forward to sharing my thoughts on this books I love that’s it’s centered around friendships in our lives which is something I don’t feel gets discussed enough. I cannot wait to share my full thoughts and review very soon, I apologize I’m dealing with some serious health issues at the moment, but look forward to sharing much more soon. I can’t wait to discover what bombshell secret blows this tight group of ladies apart and if it’s possible for repair.