Told from the points of view of both Belinda and Evelyn, Free-Falling is a story about grief, loss and finding meaning in life when your whole world has imploded. The dual voice works really well – with alternating chapters further exploring each woman’s personal reaction to the death of a person they both adored. While Belinda is initially the more likable character and the one I felt more sympathetic towards, I was also drawn to Evelyn and increasingly curious to know what made her tick and why she hated a (seemingly) nice person so much.
Other characters in the novel – Andy’s twin James and Evelyn’s skydiving instructor Bazza also round out the story, with each injecting further intrigue as to what actually happened to Andy and how their involvement was all part of the series of interlinking events that have led Belinda and Evelyn to where they are. Even though the character of Andy is only explored through flashbacks, you also get a very strong sense of who he was and why those left behind are so devastated.
I thought the author illustrated the horrific (and varied) experience of raw grief really well, without being overly melodramatic or making the story too sad to read (and enjoy). I also liked the way she explored the guilt of those left behind, who grapple with the thought that ‘if only’ they had done something different the tragedy may not have occurred.
Sad but uplifting, bittersweet yet humorous, Free-Falling is a fantastic debut novel that kept me hooked right until the end. The pace is good, the writing concise and the overall feel is a positive one, that makes you realise life can move on in the most unexpected ways.
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