Falling Together - Marisa de los Santos

Thanks to Carrie at Books and Movies, I was introduced to the Wonderful World of Marisa.  Both "Love Walked In" and its sequel "Belong To Me" (on audio of course) just grabbed my heart and squeeeeeeezed.  This is not your ordinary women's fiction, people.  It is characterization of precious (but maybe a little flawed) people.  It is witty banter that is charged with chemistry, cleverness, cuteness.  It is seeing an imperfect world through the glasses of someone who believes in love and joy and hope.  After these two books, I was smitten.  I friended Marisa on Facebook and everything.

Then I heard Marisa was laboring on a new book.  YES!  But alas, I did not go to BEA and get a copy of the ARC.  So I pleaded, begged, whimpered to Marisa to send me one, and she did, God bless her.  I forced myself to wait to read it until it was close to the official launch (which is today), and to make things more exciting, I read it with the Jill.  So, what has Marisa bestowed upon us this time?

Synopsis:  It has been six years since Pen, Cat and Will parted ways.  In college, they were inseparable.  They loved each other without reservation...Pen's goody-two-shoes primness, Will's practicality, and Cat's outlandish princess joie de vivre.  But the real world's harsh realities broke their bond, perhaps forever.  Until Pen and Will get a note from Cat, begging them to meet her at a college reunion, begging them for their help.

Many things have changed over the past six years.  Pen is unmarried and has a five year old child.  Will is a famous author.  Parents have died, grievances have festered.  And what should have been a memorable reconciliation instead turns into a journey to the other side of the world, to find Cat and rediscover the friendship they should have never abandoned.

My thoughts:  In many ways, this book reflects everything I love about Marisa.  The characters are so very special...unique, fully-developed individuals that you have to love.  You have no option in the matter.  Even the most obnoxious characters worm their way into your heart.  And back again is the dialogue that can't be matched.  You know when you get together with your best friend, have a glass of wine, and your words just bubble over each other, and you end up finishing each other's sentences?  And you think "this is what it is all about"?  That is what you get here.  Marisa gets dialogue in the best way possible.

However, the book's plot did start out slow for me.  It was gentle, and meandering.  And rest assured, by the end, it did blossom into something beautiful and memorable, but it did not quite have the multiple layers of awesomeness that "Belong To Me" had.  In other words, if "Belong To Me" was a trifle of fruit, whipped cream, cookies, nuts and chocolate, then "Falling Together" was pumpkin pie.  Delicious, but simple.  A tad disappointing because my expectations were so high.

I do believe the book is worth reading, however.  And, if I may be so bold, I'd like to suggest that the ending of this book, while satisfying, it a perfect set-up for a sequel.  Just like the last two books.  I will be waiting with bated breath.

With regards to Jill, we are back in sync with each other again (versus the near knock-down-drag-out we had with The Taker).  For Jill's sage opinion, head on over and see what she has to say. 

4 out of 5 stars