Here is a quick description of the novel: Becca Hart loves romance. But only if it exists in books. Real-life romance? Definitely not her thing. But when her former best friend starts teasing her about not having a boyfriend, Becca hastily lies that she does have one. And when Brett Wells, the hottest and most liked guy in school steps in to be her ‘boyfriend’, Becca is in shock. On Brett’s side, being one of the most popular guys in school and not having had a girlfriend before is rough. So when he hears Becca’s lie, he decides to step in. That way, both their problems get fixed. But when the lines begin to blur between fake and real, Becca and Brett must ask themself - can this fake relationship possibly turn into something more?
This novel is appropriate for readers aged 14 or above. This book is a romance book, so younger readers shouldn’t be exposed to it. While the physical part of the romance isn’t much, the ideas of it are strong enough expressed that young readers may not feel comfortable, or they may get exposed to something they shouldn’t too early. As mentioned before, the book revolves around a romance between two high schoolers, and readers below the age of 14 may not be mature enough to understand this. There are some sensitive topics in there, such as an affair, and a father leaving a child, both of which smaller children may find scary. One child also punches his father, which may negatively influence smaller readers. Overall, readers above the age of 14 would be better suited to read this book.
There are very few adult topics in this book. In one part of the story, two characters get very intimate with each other and undress while in bed. One character’s father has an affair, and another character’s parent has had a divorce because the father left their family. When Brett and Becca go to a party, they accidentally come across people having sex.
Holy MOLY. This book was…. spectacular. The plot was very similar to the book ‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’ by Jenny Han, but I have to say, I liked this one a lot more. The subtle way Becca and Brett’s romance grew was amazing. I absolutely adored it. The small mix-ins of drama were also great. They kept the story from just being a sappy romantic one. Overall, the book was so, so, SO great, and this is definitely on my go-to reading list for when I’m in the mood for something light and romantic!

It was a fun read. Brett and Becca compliment each other quite well, and it's a neat way to deal with the fake relationship trope, especially when each one of them is dealing with real baggage from their parents' issues and relationships. This was quite satisfying for a YA novel and felt more based on reality than some of the premises I have read.

This book was so cute! I could really relate to Becca and her love for reading (not "dating" the most popular guy in school though). At the beginning she talks about "a day worth remembering or forgetting", I would have liked to see that incorporated throughout the book, rather than just at the end. The Upisde of Falling was adorable, and is recomened it to anyone looking for a quick and cute read.

First book I've read by Alex Light. I think it's a good one for the beach. People who like romance with a little twist, should enjoy this one.

“The Upside of Falling,” by Alex Light was an easy read that left me wanting more after each chapter. It follows Becca and Brett, two people from completely different social circles; meaning Brett had a social circle and Becca preferred to sit and experience life with her nose in a book. After sparking up a fake relationship to get their parents off their backs, the lines between the fiction and reality of their relationship starts to blur. This book, while being a cliche romance, was very fun to read and took me only three hours to get through. I wasn’t able to put it down, and constantly wanted to know the next twists and turns that the author was going to throw at us. Usually, the basic “popular boy falls for shy girl” trope can be boring and overused, but the author added many other elements and surprises that made this book very enjoyable. While it’s not unlike other romances I’ve read, sometimes a cliche, lighthearted romance can be very effective at helping you out of a thick reading slump or at lifting your mood. I would rate this book a 4.5 stars and would recommend it to anyone. This book was super easy to get through, and if you’re ever looking for something fun and playful to read, this book is the perfect option.
-@academia_fanatic of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board
The Upside of Falling is author Alex Light's debut. It's about two teenagers who start fake dating to please their families and friends, but start to feel something more. It's told in dual narratives; Brett, the captain of the football team with a seemingly perfect life and Becca, the timid bookworm. This book has many cliché elements, and the author barely managed to pull it off. From the "shy, quiet girl dating popular football player" to "fake dating and falling in love" stories, the plot was very predictable. Also, the side characters were underdeveloped. Many of them had little influence on the protagonists and made a few appearances before disappearing for most of the novel. Despite the predictability, this book was very fun to read. There is a lot going in Brett and Becca's lives, and they manage to help each other through their problems. The way Brett and Becca complement each other's personalities is lovely. The author did a great job creating profound protagonists. I believe Alex Light shows promise and I will be sure to read another one of her novels. 2.5/5 stars
@PennyFields of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board

The two main characters in this book, Brett and Becca, have great chemistry. Both characters have a great sense of humour and complement each other’s personalities. Brett and Becca fake date in the story and so if you have read and enjoyed the “To all the boys I’ve loved before” series, you will most likely enjoy this book too. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend because I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book is a relatively quick read, though I really enjoyed this book so maybe that’s why I read it so fast. This book is the type of book you cannot put down. In this book you get to hear from the narrative of both the main characters, which personally I liked because then you know what each of the main characters are thinking. This book is a romantic comedy so if this sounds like something you would enjoy I highly recommend you read it! 4.5/5 stars
@bookreaderbrunetter_1 of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library

Reminded me somewhat of To All the Boys I've Loved before. But I enjoyed reading about both Brett and Becca.

The Upside of Falling is a great read for those who enjoy books with love, laughs, and everything in between. Becca Light, one of the main characters, is faced with a major dilemma in the beginning of the story. While she would prefer reading about love rather than experiencing it, a lie slips out during her english class in which she tells her ex-best friend that she is in fact dating someone. Brett Wells, who holds the status of being the most popular guy at school and having the perfect family, is quick to notice Becca’s lie and decides to help Becca by taking on the role of her fake boyfriend. Along with having to convince others of their relationship, the pair deals with family problems that may or may not sabotage their newly found friendship. This book is definitely one of my favorites. Not only does it provide a great romantic plot but it also acknowledges issues that many teens face today. For those that loved the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series, you will absolutely love this story.

Becca doesn’t believe in love in real life. Period. For her, it’s too much of a struggle; the pain and heartbreak that comes with a breakup or divorce makes love not worth it, so she lives solely in her fictional realm of romance books. She has no hopes for falling in love or dating, until her old best friend asks who she’s seeing. Suddenly, Brett Wells, the high school’s resident jock, jumps in and says that he’s her boyfriend and they begin a fake relationship to please both their classmates and parents. They become quick friends, but will their relationship turn into something more?

Breakout author Alex Light’s novel, The Upside of Falling, is a good book, though it lacks good chemistry between the characters and is a bit unrealistic from a reader’s vantage point since going from fake dating at school to seeing each other constantly is a bit of a stretch, even for sweet young adult books.

this book was great but just too predictable! its like every teen romcom book starts with the 2 love intrests fake dating then falling and its getting a little old, especially as a teen into romance books.

Such a cute book! Definitely recommend, especially if you're a fan of Kasie West's books!