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The Falling is the latest novel from bestselling author Carole Hailey, and has been one of my most anticipated reads for 2026.
Cassie had an unconventional childhood, growing up with a father who spent all of his time preparing for the apocalypse. Instead of going to school, she had an eccentric curriculum at the kitchen table with her mum, and instead of going out to play, she either snuck off to see her beloved grandparents or went to the family safe space, a garage that had been sealed off and stocked with tinned food and emergency batteries.
Now middle-aged and living alone, Cassie continues the rhythms of preparing for the worst, even though her dad failed to prepare for the slow-motion tragedy that became their family. But when an asteroid is located in the solar system, the chance of impact in northern Europe climbing every day, the worst finally seems to be confirmed. Cassie’s strange dad might just turn out to have been her salvation…
The Falling is an utterly spectacular read, but trust me when I say clear your schedule to read it, as it will take over you life while you are reading it, and will linger in your thoughts long after you’ve finished.
Carole has created such a beautiful and human novel, where Cassie is someone who you is this deeply flawed and traumatised woman,not that she realises it. She believes her childhood as a preppers daughter and being taught the prepping way is normal. Her experiences of this carry through to adulthood and make her quite a loner who still believes in everything her father taught her.
But it turns out he may just be correct when her worst fears potentially come true. The story is told from Cassie’s POV as dual timeline. Her now as an adult and her as a child. The detail and depth Carole has gone to in creating Cassie, and writing about prepping is just next level.
It’s the way you truly feel for Cassie and go through the emotional ringer with her as she navigates the inpending catastrophe. How she learns to let people in slowly.
The ending.I am still not sure if it was satisfying or devastating but it’s a phenomenal, timely and thoughtprovoking read from start to finish. It shows off just how brilliant Carole Hailey is at creating complex characters and stories that just consume your thoughts for days after reading. She did it The Silence Project and with Scenes From A Tragedy and now again with this.
If your looking for a book that makes you think and becomes your entire personality while you read it then put this book at the top of your list.
Get a copy of The Falling here!
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