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Book Summary and Reviews of I Dreamed of Falling by Julia Dahl

I Dreamed of Falling by Julia Dahl

I Dreamed of Falling

A Novel

by Julia Dahl

  • Critics' Consensus (4):
  • Published:
  • Sep 2024, 352 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

In acclaimed author Julia Dahl's new standalone, the death of a young mother triggers an avalanche of secrets in a small Hudson Valley town.

Roman Grady is the sole reporter for the local newspaper in a tiny Hudson Valley town - a town so small that every store opening and DUI is considered newsworthy. But when Roman's longtime girlfriend, Ashley, the mother of his four-year-old son, is found dead, he realizes he had no idea what was really going on in her life.

And when he starts asking questions, he's not prepared for the answers.

What was Ashley doing at the cliffside home of her troubled ex-girlfriend? How did no one in a house full of people see what happened to her? And why does it seem like everyone in town suddenly has something to hide? As Roman and his mother dig into Ashley's last few months, the truths they uncover threaten to expose painful secrets. The kind of secrets that can get you killed.

A gripping thriller and a moving portrait of a family struggling through tragedy, I Dreamed of Falling showcases Julia Dahl's talent for using crime fiction to tell an immersive and unforgettable story. Dahl's unflinching novel asks hard questions about love, regret, inequality, and the possibilities and the perils of forgiveness.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
  1. The novel provides glimpses of Ashley's life before her death. What did you think of the choices she was making? Were you able to empathize with her?
  2. The novel is set in a small town where people think they know everything about one another - but it turns out they don't. What is the role of secrets in this novel? How do they affect Ashley, Roman, and Tara's life? And given this atmosphere, what role do the townspeople play in the novel?
  3. Dahl evaluates generational trauma in both Ashley's and Roman's families. Do you think this brought them together? How are Roman and Tara trying to break this cycle? How do they contribute to it?
  4. There are complicated family dynamics explored throughout the novel, especially ...
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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Dahl's gift for suspense will keep readers flipping pages, but in the end, it's her finely wrought characters they'll remember. It's an impressive leap forward from the author's previous, more plot-driven efforts." ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The devastating crime novel will appeal to readers who appreciate tragic family stories and fans of Julia Keller's Bell Elkins books." ―Library Journal (starred review)

"With this suspenseful, poignant book, Julia Dahl delivers not only an intricately crafted thriller, but also a profound portrayal of generations of life in the Hudson Valley, and of the making and unmaking of family. Its characters will stay with you for long after you're done reading." ―Clemence Michallon, internationally bestselling author of The Quiet Tenant

"I Dreamed of Falling is one of those rare novels in which you feel the pulse of every single character down to the mail carrier. It's an uncompromising look at love and its complications, and a frank, sometimes burning story about the tricky business of learning how to be a grownup. Oh, and it's all wrapped up in a blistering mystery. With I Dreamed of Falling, Julia Dahl proves she's simply one of the best thriller writers working today." ―Gillian Flynn

This information about I Dreamed of Falling was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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Author Information

Julia Dahl Author Biography

Photo: Chasi Annexy

Julia Dahl is a journalist specializing in crime and criminal justice. Her first novel, Invisible City, was named one of the Boston Globe's Best Books of 2014, won the Macavity, Barry, and Shamus Awards, and was a finalist for an Edgar Award and a Mary Higgins Clark Award. She lives in Brooklyn, NY and writes for CBSNews.com.

Other books by Julia Dahl at BookBrowse
  • Invisible City jacket
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