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    Dreams of Falling
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    Dreams of Falling
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    Dreams of Falling
    Audiobook16 hours

    Dreams of Falling

    Written by Karen White

    Narrated by Shannon McManus, Cassandra Campbell and Susan Larkin

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    New York Times bestselling author Karen White crafts evocative relationships in this contemporary women's fiction novel, set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, about lifelong friends who share a devastating secret.

    On the banks of the North Santee River stands a moss-draped oak that was once entrusted with the dreams of three young girls. Into the tree's trunk, they placed their greatest hopes, written on ribbons, for safekeeping—including the most important one: Friends forever, come what may.

    But life can waylay the best of intentions....

    Nine years ago, a humiliated Larkin Lanier fled Georgetown, South Carolina, knowing she could never go back. But when she finds out that her mother has disappeared, she realizes she has no choice but to return to the place she both loves and dreads--and to the family and friends who never stopped wishing for her to come home.

    Ivy, Larkin's mother, is discovered badly injured and unconscious in the burned-out wreckage of her ancestral plantation home. No one knows why Ivy was there, but as Larkin digs for answers, she uncovers secrets kept for nearly fifty years—whispers of love, sacrifice, and betrayal—that lead back to three girls on the brink of womanhood who found their friendship tested in the most heartbreaking ways.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJun 5, 2018
    ISBN9780735289352
    Unavailable
    Dreams of Falling
    Author

    Karen White

    Karen White is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-five novels, including Dreams of Falling and The Night the Lights Went Out. She has two grown children and currently lives near Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two spoiled Havanese dogs.

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    Reviews for Dreams of Falling

    4/5

    56 ratings13 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I have found another author that will keep me reading for quite awhile. Karen White writes about relationships, and the two books I have read of hers are told in dual timelines. In this story we meet Larkin Lanier, She is living a rather simple, independent life in New York City when she is notified that her mother, Ivy, is missing. She heads home to Georgetown, South Carolina, assuming that her mother will have been located by the time she arrives and that she will head home after a short visit. She has not been back to her hometown since she graduated from high school and the trip home will probably be uncomfortable, since she has had little contact with her family and friends. She is greeted by her grandmother's lifelong friends, CeeCee, and Bitty. These two women played a big role in raising Ivy after her grandmother's untimely death. When Larkin finds Ivy unconscious and injured at the family’s plantation home which has been burned out, abandoned and rather dilapidated, Larkin is full of questions. She did not know about the house, the trust, what happened to her grandmother or anything about her mother's past. As Ivy remains in a coma for several weeks, Larkin starts to ask questions about her mother and grandmother. What slowly unfolds is a tragic past that has made both Ivy and Larkin the women they became.

      Dreams Of Falling is a slow moving drama which explores complex relationships between lifelong friends. It is told in two time frames and by several narrators. I was never confused by the story, but I did prefer the past story more than Larkin's. The various friendships, both past and present all suffered betrayals, protection and conflicting viewpoints. I was not sure if I liked Larkin at the beginning of the story, but she grew on me as she began to understand everything that everyone had done for her over the years. The ending was both sad and happy as we learned more about the characters. The two friendships come together in this story and reveal many secrets to the reader. Bitty, Ceecee and Margaret were best friends forever in the 1950's and Larkin, Mabry and Bennett were best friends during their high school years. There was so much pain between these women; loss, heartbreak, and betrayal, but I loved how they stood by each other and any mistakes they made were done with only the purest of intentions. Can they find each other again and finally put the secrets to rest?

      There were parts of this book that I loved, and parts that moved a bit too slowly for me. I will continue to read Karen White's books because there is more that I loved than not, and she makes you think about your own life and reflect on what you have.
    • 5/5
      Call Ait: Thin Places. Gaelic for where this world and the next are said to be too close...Karen White hit that right on when introducing this new book of hers. What a great read, the family, and extended family, in this book are involved in distant secrets and new secrets. It's true sometimes things turn out be for the best left unknown. Another great read from a long time favorite author of mine.
    • 3/5
      Karen White provides an interesting Southern story, but the incorrect usage of raise/rear set this reader on edge. Animals are raised, and people are reared, according to proper English. The incorrect usage sounds like a scratch on a blackboard and ruined the story as this verb was used in every chapter. Also, I either missed or Karen White omitted the importance of Ellis in relation to Ivy in the story. The segments divided among the 1950’s and current times provides insight into the various women of the story. The secrets that each person carries in order to protect a loved one do not always follow expectations. Karen White evolves vivid pictures of South Carolina and the seasons and the grandeur of old Southern plantations and the boundaries of friendship.
    • 4/5
      Larkin Lanier enjoys her life in New York City where she has lived for almost a decade. One day she learns that her mother, Ivy, is missing. This forces her back to her hometown of Georgetown, South Carolina which she has avoided since high school. The trip back is awkward since she has had little contact with her family and friends. She is greeted by her grandmother's lifelong friends, CeeCee, and Bitty. These two women played a big role in raising Ivy after her grandmother's untimely death. Ivy is found unconscious and injured at the family’s plantation home which has been abandoned. Larkin wonders why her mother would venture out to this unusual location. In the process of seeking answers, she begins to uncover many secrets about her family. While waiting for her mother's health to improve, Larkin slowly reconnects with her childhood friends.Dreams Of Falling is a vivid drama which explores complex relationships between lifelong friends. I enjoyed the way Karen White weaved together different time frames along multiple generations of women. This is my second review for this author and I look forward to her future works.
    • 5/5
      Dreams of Falling by Karen White is a 2018 Berkley publication. So far, my summer reading experience has been second to none. I’ve enjoyed some great romances, thrillers, mysteries, and even touched base with my favorite series, and beach reads. So, Karen White faced some pretty stiff competition by the time I got around to reading this book. But, hands down this is my favorite book of summer. Larkin is called home, from New York, to South Carolina, after a lengthy absence because her mother, Ivy, suffered a horrible, life threatening fall, under mysterious circumstances, which opens up a Pandora’s box of old family secrets. Meanwhile, Larkin must confront her painful past, and come to terms with the complicated relationship she has with Ivy and her father, and the horrible embarrassment she suffered back in high school. Along the way, she will embark on a journey of self-discovery as she begins to decipher a decades old mystery surrounding her late grandmother. Southern lit is a lot like indulging in good southern food. It always feels a little more succulent, a little more decadent, a lot more sinful, and much heavier and meatier. It’s also very comforting and always leaves me feeling peacefully gratified. Karen White’s southern dramas has the same effect on me as having consumed a huge southern style meal, a nice bottle of red wine, a rich dessert, and lovely cup of strong coffee to sip on, while I kick back and savor the feeling of satisfaction, absorbing and digesting all the various angles of the story, the characterizations, and the big emotions her stories often bring to the surface. This book is no exception- but, this time, Ms. White has taken it to a whole new level. I have often lamented the death of those fabulous family sagas, wishing that someday, someone would come along and refresh the genre to fit into our busy lives, where huge ‘doorstopper’ tomes don’t quite fit anymore. Karen White pulls that off with a novel that covers several generations but manages to wrap everything up in one book in just a little over four hundred pages. Only a veteran, seasoned author could pull off this type of prose, using a variety of narrative options, going back and forth in time. Again- White stitched together an intricate web that kept me transfixed from beginning to end. There was never even the tiniest blip. If I had to make a complaint, I have to say I wish I had gotten a clearer picture of Bitty, and I wish Ivy’s past had been a bit more fleshed out, with a deeper analysis regarding her flightiness. Other than that, this is a near perfect representation of southern lit. Long buried family secrets, a mystery, a small paranormal tint, eccentric characters, a wide range of voices and moods, lots of high drama and waves of emotions, strong familial ties and equally strong bonds of friendship, with a tender and sweet romance to cap it all off. Naturally, one doesn’t want to over indulge in large, heavy meals and rich desserts too often, because too much of a good thing can be bad. However, the opposite is true with good southern dramas. Over indulgence is good for you. It nourishes the mind, spirit and soul- so, in this case- you can never have too much of good thing. 5 stars
    • 5/5
      I love southern fiction and the new book by Karen White is southern fiction at its best. It's a book full of secrets that slowly come to light and its the story of a family, not just a family by blood but by the love they share with each other. Larkin returns home from NYC to Georgetown SC. She had left there 9 years earlier and never wanted to return but her mother was missing and she had to help find her. When they find her mother, gravely injured, the close friends that made up Larkin's family were there to help her. As the story shifts back in time, we learn about the three friends who vowed to be friends forever and how their lives changed over the years. As secrets are revealed, will the friendships remain intact?This is a wonderful novel that takes place in the beautiful lowcountry of SC full of characters who are so well written that the reader will laugh and cry with them. This is a book that needs to go on everyone's summer lists - they won't be disappointed.I read an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
    • 5/5
      This is my third book by this author and I am so happy to say that they have each touched me and thoroughly entertained me.I loved this saga of three generations of Darlington women and their very close friends. A small town epic centered around the rich Darlington's, whose family have lived in Carrowmore (?) for over 200 years. While the town may be small, the lies, deceit and secrets are huge.I could not tear myself away from this beautifully written sad story and with the thrill of a mystery fire - I was in reader heaven!Thanks to Penguin Random House First to Read program for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
    • 4/5
      Enjoyable. Sweet. A love story. A mystery. A novel about learning to know yourself. Lovely Coastal South setting.
    • 5/5
      I feel as though I KNOW all of the people in this book----White provides so much detail in how her characters think and behave, as well as wonderful descriptions of surroundings and events. Of course perhaps she has TIME when you consider that the book is just over 400 pages. I must admit that I really did NOT like one of the three "best friends forever"---yes, she is presented as a question mark by the mother of at least one of the friends so the doubt is there. How White comes up with her ideas...whew! I really hated what happened with Boyd and Margaret...was that really necessary or perhaps even believable? Another reason for me to NOT appreciate Margaret......
    • 5/5
      If I could rate this book higher than a 5, I would! I loved everything about this book...the characters, story line, the writing. I may have found a new favorite author. So many beautifully written sentences and so true.

      This a story of family, the one we are born into, and the ones we choose. Three little girls become friends, and are friends all their lives. Each bring different dynamics to the mix. Each make choices that affect the other, and secrets are kept. Keep tissues handy, this isn’t a sobbing cry book, but one that gives you a lump in your throat and tears falling quietly.

      Thanks to Great Thoughts Reading Ninja Team and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
    • 5/5
      Larkin needed to come home from New York because her mother was missing.What she found was that over the years a lot of things were missing and quite a few things were kept secret.Larkin found secrets about her mother and her family at every turn.When she asked why she wasn’t told, the answer was ignored or she was told to wait until her mother, Ivy, wakes up and to ask her.Larkin wondered how long she would have to wait for her mother to wake up. She also wondered how long until she found out everything.Ivy had been found near death at the old homestead, Carrowmore, underneath a rotting staircase.Carrowmore had been a favorite childhood place of her mother and her friends where they put "wishes on ribbons" into the opening of a tree.As the book continued, the plot thickened, and Larkin kept finding out more and more about what had been kept from her and how some close family members were not as they appeared.DREAMS OF FALLING was a bit confusing at first in the character department. It took me a while to figure out who belonged to who and what their connections were. The connections became more tricky and quite intriguing as things were revealed.We learn of the secrets kept and of the lives of the main characters by going back to 1951 and then returning to 2010. I really enjoyed seeing the three friends in their youth. Their current lives didn’t seem as exciting, but their youth and family history as with all of us had a major influence on their lives now and the paths they had chosen.DREAMS OF FALLING started out not feeling like Karen White’s usual books because of the confusing character problem, but once the book got going, the familiar writing, the marvelous story line, the Southern charm, and warm characters made its appearance and made the story line completely wonderful and enjoyable as always.DREAMS OF FALLING is another marvelous treat. Despite the confusion with the characters at the beginning, DREAMS OF FALLING is another Karen White masterpiece that pulls you in and keeps you loving each turn of the page.I hope you enjoy it too. 5/5I received an Advanced Reader of this book. All opinions are my own.
    • 4/5
      Family secrets and drama are something every family experiences. Larkin ran from her hometown and family to escape all that but when she is pulled back due to her mother being in the hospital she starts to realize that her memories may not be quite so spot on. What she thinks she remembers may not be the entire truth, there might be more to her family that she was never aware of, and there are friendships she left behind that might have more to tell. I loved that the friends she ran from still had open arms welcoming her home as if she had never left. The family that she left doesn’t push her to stay just work on reminding her what she was missing and why she shouldn’t leave again. Dreams of Falling is a story rich with family history. The history starts with Margaret, CeeCee, and Bitty and their amazing friendship. Add Ivy, Margaret’s daughter, to that history a few years later and the story just gets more interesting. Then Ivy has a daughter, Larkin, and you have three generations of wonderful, strong, and smart women. The thing with history is that there are secrets kept, hidden, or needing to be forgotten. I am a Karen White fan and recommend this wonderful Southern fiction story.
    • 5/5
      Karen White’s books are always a perfect blend of family, friendship, mystery, and a little romance. In her latest book “Dreams of Falling” she offers us two generations of strong female friendships. After nine years away, Larkin returns to her childhood home in South Carolina when her mother Ivy takes a life-threatening fall, a fall that becomes the catalyst for exposing long held secrets. Larkin had fled her home insisting she would never return. When Ivy is found in the burned out ruins of her family’s ancestral home, unconscious and badly injured, Larkin becomes determined to find out why her mother was there. It is in this search that Larkin uncovers the secrets kept by three teenage friends who fifty years earlier had sworn to remain best friends forever, never imagining the heartache that would result from that vow.I admired the strength of the friendships in this story – the older generation (Margaret, Ceecee, and Bitty) and the younger generation (Larkin, Mabry, and Bennett). Their love for and loyalty to each other is so strong that they keep secrets to protect those they love. Just as the older generation had their secrets, so too do the younger friends Larkin, Mabry, and Bennett - secrets kept in an effort to protect one of them. But it seems that all secrets are at some point revealed, leading to unknown consequences. This is the true beauty of Karen White’s writings – how do those who loved each other so strongly deal with consequences of those secrets. Ms. White reveals the flaws in each of her characters, making them more human. She artfully wove together the strands of the backstories, slowly revealing the puzzle pieces one at a time. As the story evolved I found myself asking/guessing what role each character played in the central event. When I reached the end of the story, I marveled at the beauty of the writing and how well, and naturally, it all came together.This is a story that tugged at my heart as the friends were dealt so much tragedy that normally would have destroyed friendships. Yet these friends stayed true. I loved the characters, laughing with them, crying with them, asking “What were you thinking” a few times, and so hoping that a little sunshine would fall into their lives. I do highly recommend this book. I received an Advance Review Copy of this book.