Format Read: eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley
Number of Pages: 400 pages
Release Date: December 27th 2011
Publisher: Mira
Formats Available: Paperback, ebook
Purchasing Info: Author’s Website, Goodreads, Amazon. com, Book Depository (US),  Book Depository (UK), Barnes&Noble

Book Blurb:

In the midst of a chaotic midnight assembly, Sunshine is forced outside into the darkness. Holding a scrap of paper scrawled with a stranger’s name and address, Sunny grasps the hands of her three small children and begins her escape.
Liesel Albright has dreamed of starting a family. She never bargained on inheriting one already in progress…or one so deeply damaged. When nineteen-year-old Sunshine appears on the Albrights’ doorstep claiming Liesel’s husband, Chris, is her father, all they can think to offer is temporary shelter. The next day, they’re stunned by the news that the Family of Superior Bliss, led by a charismatic zealot, has committed mass suicide. Sunny and her children haven’t just left the compound—they’ve been left behind.

Now, instead of a baby of her own, Liesel must play mother to the four survivors, while Chris retreats into guilt and denial. For Sunny, however, a lifetime of teachings is not easily unlearned. No matter how hard she tries to forget, an ominous catechism echoes in her mind, urging her to finish what the Family started.

My Thoughts:
All Fall Down is nothing like I expected it to be. This book really isn’t an easy read. I had to force myself to read on several times. Not because I was bored or anything- rather the opposite. I was so invested in the story and characters that it broke my heart to see them suffer. You are forced to witness some not so nice things but it also shows you that we all shouldn’t just turn away.

We meet Sunshine who lived her whole life in the commune of the Family of Superior Bliss- a religious group that, at least in my eyes, can be classified as a sect. She lived through  some horrendous incidents during her time there and after her  escape she has to cope with her memories. But she is not alone. First there are her 3 children and her “new” family- her dad Christopher and his wife Liesel. Sunshine is a clever girl but her past really makes her different from the rest. She isn’t like the other girls her age.  She dresses meek- always wearing long skirts and never showing her bare arms, she insists on being green and avoiding toxins in her children’s and her own food. She tries to keep their vessels aka their bodies clean so they will be able to leave this world when the time is right . She still believes in what she was taught all her life so living in the “blemished” world is hard for her.

Liesel is stunned when she hears about Sunny’s exsitence. Christopher never wanted to have any kids- even though Liesel craves to have one of her own. He always was so insistent about this and now out of nowhere his daughter shows up with 3 kids in tow. When the initial shock wears off Liesel is determined to give those 4 kids a home and help as best as she could. But it is harder than she thought. To find a balance between what Sunny thinks is appropriate and what society accepts is a real challenge. Liesel realizes that not everything Sunny believes is wrong. Some of her views make so much sense but others are so morphed she can’t believe someone would actually consider doing it.

All Fall Down shows us that life isn’t only black and white. There is always a grey zone where judging what is wrong and right is actually hard. I love books that challenge my brain and this one definetely did. You keep trying to figure out what the  Family of Superior Bliss is all about. Is it as evil as it seemed? What will happen with Sunny now? And you have the emotional connection to the characters. I always kept praying for Sunny to get better- to find her way in life. Every bump on the way broke my heart. She lived through so much and I didn’t want her to suffer any more.  Also I wanted Liesel to get what she wanted- she deserves happiness just like the rest of us.

All Fall Down is a book I just have to recommend. I’m actually thinking about sending my high school English teacher a copy.  This book isn’t a happy book but it really is worth your time. It shows us what people are able to do and how one person can life through this.
I give All Fall Down 4 out of 5 stars.

About Susi

Susi is a geeky vegetarian from Gemany. She just finished university and now works as a civil engineer in steel construction. Besides her reading addiction she also knits like a maniac while listening to audiobooks. Susi also blogs at the Secret HEA Society.

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