One of the most important novels in Brazilian literature

Nassar's book is a masterwork, a rare exception in a constantly levelling out literature business

A captivating debut novel

An astonishing piece of work. Christie combines lyrical prose and true-to-life characters—and skateboarding—to craft a remarkable tale of mothers and sons, and what it means to grow up.

There are moments of real tenderness, and real strangeness too, as Will gradually embraces risk and seeks friendship. It feels less part of some sub-genre cooked up by the marketing department than a contribution to a real, archetypal literary tradition, that of the coming-of-age story.

If I Fall, If I Die is an expertly crafted work of great heart and sensitivity. I can’t recall a truer or more beautiful debut.

A bruiser of a tale, one you will feel in your shins and your solar plexus. Michael Christie is a virtuosic prose stylist and boy is he so very wise and so funny on families and friendships, fear and joy, and the physics of sky and pavement. If I Fall, If I Die is a death-defying coming of age story; it’s also as weird and as convincing a love story as I have ever read. And so beautifully told that you’ll want to pass it on immediately.

A lyrically descriptive tale with an endearing young protagonist

Beautiful … [a] wonderful, quirky, eccentric book full of wit and spectacular prose. If you are looking for a unique read which you can immerse yourself in, with stimulating language and characters to latch on to and love, then If I Fall, If I Die needs to be your next book purchase. A book that I will go back to and read again and a stunning first novel from Michael Christie. A wonderful treasure of a book.

The reader alternates between knowing more than the characters and searching to unravel the mystery, with creative prose and incremental pay-offs, the 300 pages of Christie’s captivating debut novel fly by

I love Fallon, she's in a category all of her own - her books are great fun and her characters are fabulous, believable women who take no nonsense. The plot is so juicy: it's about trapping a cheating man and it's told from the points of view of two women who were friends, but one of them has developed an agenda all of her own. It's fun, clever, warm and utterly un-putdownable.

****

Fallon's characterisation is always spot-on and this book is no different, with well-drawn out characters and a tight plot that barrels along towards a brilliant climax

Queen of chick lit Jane Fallon brings us another gripping novel of friendship, deceit and drama. She is at her edgy and entertaining best - definitely one to be passed around your girl squad!

Absorbing, entertaining and spiky tale full of twists, turns and ruthless double

A clever book that makes you laugh, makes you angry - and makes you wonder whose side you would take if it happened to you . . .