Book review by Corey
Before I Fall
Before I Fall follows Samantha Kingston, a popular high school student who dies in a car accident and then wakes up to relive the same day again. Each time through, she starts noticing things she ignored before, including the way she treats other people, the damage caused by her choices, and how much of her life has been built around fitting in.
The time-loop setup keeps the story moving, but the real focus is on Samantha changing as a person. She is not always easy to like, especially at the beginning, but that is part of what makes her growth work. The book is emotional, reflective, and much more interested in regret, consequences, and second chances than in the mechanics of why the day keeps repeating.
The Goods
- Strong character growth
- Good use of the time-loop idea
- Emotional without being overly sentimental
- Makes you think about consequences
- Interesting look at high school social pressure
The Bads
- Samantha is hard to like at first
- Some high school drama feels repetitive
- The middle can drag a little
- A few characters are very stereotypical
- The ending may frustrate some readers
My Recommendation
This is a good choice for readers who like YA with a supernatural hook but still want the story to focus heavily on character and emotion. Samantha’s growth is what really carries the book, and the repeating day gives her chances to see how differently things can turn out when she changes even small decisions. If you enjoy coming-of-age stories about regret, empathy, friendship, and second chances, this one has a lot more depth than the basic time-loop setup might suggest.