“Sometimes the best way to find something real is to start with something fake.” ― Alex Light, The Upside of Falling
Are you interested in learning about Alex Light’s charming young adult romance novel, The Upside of Falling? You’ve come to the right place! This heartwarming story explores what happens when a fake relationship starts to feel surprisingly real.
In this article, I’ll discuss the key elements of this delightful story, from the unlikely pairing of bookish Becca and popular Brett to their journey from pretense to genuine connection. Many readers find themselves drawn to Light’s authentic portrayal of teen relationships and her ability to balance sweet romance with deeper themes of family and self-discovery.
Trust me when I say this book offers more than just another fake dating story. It presents a thoughtful exploration of vulnerability, trust, and the courage it takes to open your heart after being hurt.
Plot Summary
“Love isn’t like a book. It doesn’t have chapters or character arcs. It doesn’t follow a specific plot or lead to a satisfying conclusion. It’s messy and complicated and rarely makes sense.” ― Alex Light, The Upside of Falling.
The story takes place in a typical American high school where seventeen-year-old Becca Hart has sworn off love after witnessing her parents’ painful divorce. A dedicated student and avid romance novel reader, Becca prefers the fictional love stories in her books to the messy reality of teenage relationships.
Main Characters
The main characters include:
Becca Hart: A cynical, book-loving senior who doesn’t believe in real-life romance
Brett Wells: The popular football captain with a perfect family who’s hiding his insecurities
Jenny Crawford: Becca’s former best friend who drifted away but still cares about her
Wes and Ryan: Brett’s best friends and teammates who provide comic relief
Mrs. Hart: Becca’s hardworking single mother who struggles to connect with her daughter
Mr. and Mrs. Wells: Brett’s parents who present a perfect image while facing their issues
The story begins when Becca, tired of being teased about her cynical views on love, impulsively claims she has a boyfriend. When popular football captain Brett Wells overhears this lie, he surprisingly offers to be her fake boyfriend.
Brett has his reasons for wanting a pretend relationship—his parents are concerned about his lack of serious girlfriends, and he wants to get them off his back.
What starts as a mutually beneficial arrangement soon becomes complicated as Becca and Brett establish ground rules and begin spending time together to make their relationship convincing.
They create a backstory, learn each other’s likes and dislikes, and start appearing together at school and social events. Brett introduces Becca to his seemingly perfect family, while Becca begins to see there’s more to Brett than his popular jock persona.
As they continue their charade, unexpected genuine feelings develop. Becca, who has been hurt by her father’s abandonment and her best friend Jenny’s gradual distancing, finds herself enjoying Brett’s company and opening up to him about her passion for books and writing.
Brett, who feels pressure to maintain a perfect image while hiding his insecurities about the future, appreciates Becca’s authenticity and her ability to see beyond his façade.
The fake relationship becomes increasingly real as they support each other through personal challenges. Brett encourages Becca to reconnect with her estranged father and pursue her writing, while Becca helps Brett confront his fears about disappointing his parents with his uncertain career plans.
The story concludes with Becca choosing to embrace the messiness and uncertainty of real love, accepting that while real relationships don’t always have the perfect endings found in books, they offer something more valuable—authentic connection.
What Genre is The Upside of Falling?
“Sometimes it’s worth getting your heart broken to find the pieces you didn’t know were missing.” ― Alex Light, The Upside of Falling
The Upside of Falling blends multiple genres, creating an engaging reading experience:
Young Adult Contemporary: The high school setting and coming-of-age elements Romance: The central fake-dating-to-real-feelings storyline Coming-of-age: Both characters’ journeys of self-discovery Contemporary Fiction: The realistic portrayal of family dynamics and friendships
The central themes include the risk and reward of emotional vulnerability, Appearances versus reality in relationships and families, and healing from past hurts (particularly parental).
Finding courage to pursue authentic connections, the gap between romantic ideals and messy reality, Self-discovery, and accepting imperfection.
The writing style is accessible and authentic to the teen experience, with a good balance of humor, heartfelt moments, and realistic dialogue.
Ratings and Reviews
“That’s the thing about falling. There’s a certain kind of freedom in it. In the moment before you hit the ground.” ― Alex Light, The Upside of Falling
The Upside of Falling has a 3.8/5 star rating on Goodreads from over 30,000 readers, indicating solid reader satisfaction for this young adult romance.
Reviews
Readers across platforms share many positive thoughts about the book:
“This book perfectly captures the sweet, awkward intensity of first love. The fake dating trope is well-executed, and watching Becca and Brett gradually develop real feelings felt both natural and heartwarming.” -Goodreads user, 5-star review.
“As someone who grew up with divorced parents, Becca’s emotional journey felt incredibly authentic. Her wariness about relationships and struggle to connect with her dad added emotional depth to what could have been just a fluffy romance.” -Amazon customer, 4-star review.
“Brett is such a refreshing male lead in YA—popular but kind, confident yet vulnerable. His family storyline about the pressure to be perfect really resonated with me, and his chemistry with Becca was adorable.” -Goodreads user, 4-star review.
Critical Reviews
“The resolution felt somewhat rushed compared to the careful build-up.”
“Some of the secondary characters could have been more developed.”
“Certain aspects of the plot were predictable for readers familiar with the fake-dating trope.”
What sets this book apart from other YA romances is its thoughtful exploration of how family dynamics shape our approach to relationships.
Who Should Read The Upside of Falling?
This book is best for young adult readers who enjoy contemporary romance with emotional depth. The high school setting and themes make it most suitable for readers 13 and up.
Content warnings: Parental divorce and abandonment Some mild language References to underage drinking (at parties) Mild romantic content Discussion of parental conflict.
It’s particularly good for readers interested in: Fake-dating trope with authentic emotional development Stories about overcoming fear of vulnerability Books featuring book-loving protagonists Balanced portrayals of family dynamics alongside romance Sweet, relatively clean YA romance Character-driven stories with dual perspectives.
If you prefer fast-paced plots with high stakes or romances with more mature content, this might not be your ideal match.
Book Recommendations If You Liked The Upside of Falling
If you enjoyed The Upside of Falling, here are some books with similar qualities:
- To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han: Another fake-dating story with a bookish protagonist and family themes.
- Tweet Cute by Emma Lord: It is a contemporary YA romance featuring dual perspectives and family business drama.
- Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter: It is a romance featuring a protagonist who loves romantic comedies and must team up with her annoying neighbor.
- Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon: A rivals-to-lovers story set during the last day of high school.
- 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston: A sweet holiday romance with strong family elements.
- Frankly in Love by David Yoon: A fake dating story that explores family expectations and cultural identity.
Conclusion
The Upside of Falling offers a charming exploration of how pretending to be in love can sometimes lead to the real thing, especially when two people see beyond each other’s carefully constructed defenses.
While the romance between Becca and Brett forms the heart of the story, their journeys of self-discovery and healing make this novel more substantial than many entries in the YA romance genre.
If you’re looking for a sweet romance that doesn’t shy away from emotional complexity, The Upside of Falling is a satisfying read that reminds us that sometimes the best relationships begin when we least expect them and that love, in reality, can be even more fulfilling than love on the page.
More From This Author
Alex Light is a Canadian author who began her writing career on Wattpad before publishing her work traditionally. She has a background in journalism and is known for creating relatable young adult romances that balance sweet moments with more serious themes.
Light gained initial recognition on Wattpad, where her stories garnered millions of reads before she became a published author. Her writing often explores themes of self-discovery, family dynamics, and the complexities of teenage relationships.
Other notable books by Alex Light include:
- The Upside of Falling (2020)
- Perfect on Paper (2021)
