Review: A life spiraling out of control
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 20, 2012
When author Stephen Bradlee queried me to see if I would be interested in reviewing Falling in Love, I was a bit hesitant. The premise of the story sounded intriguing, but I was concerned that a story about a young woman who was addicted to sex might turn out to be hardcore erotica, which isn't one of my genres. My concern was unwarranted, however. The real story was the tragedy of Sherry Johnson, abused, abandoned, and unloved as a child, who grew up in a vicious cycle of fear and self-loathing that continually led to greater and greater degradation and despair as she tried desperately to find love through alcohol and sex.In the prologue, the author claimed that the story was based on interviews that he had with the real "Sherry Johnson." Whether that's true or if the interviews were a plot device to introduce the story doesn't matter--it's a very dramatic, well-told narrative with a hard emotional impact. It's likely that many readers know someone who--like Sherry--is trapped in a self-destructive behavior, be it alcohol, drugs, or sex, and cannot move forward in their life. The big question throughout the book was whether Sherry could learn to love herself and gain the self respect that would give her a chance to live a normal life. Surprisingly, she would eventually find a measure of redemption in an activity she excelled at as a child, but even that might not be enough to save her.As compelling as the storyline was, the characters really made the story come to life. Sherry was a sympathetic figure, even if I did want to kick her sometimes for taking that first drink that always led to waking up in a stranger's bedroom with a killer hangover. Elaine, Sherry's mother's childhood friend, was a unique character, and the dark secrets that she guarded could hold the key to Sherry's salvation, but she wasn't talking. Paul was a good guy, and Sherry was convinced that he was "Mr. Right," but her sordid past came back to haunt her. And for many months, her best friend was Artie... but you'll have to read about Artie yourself.Highly recommended reading.Note: The author sent me a prepublication copy of this book with a request for an honest, unbiased review.