I received a copy of the contemporary romance as well as a speculative fiction book, Still Falling For You by Holly Miller, from NetGalley. The book follows the story of Rachel and Josh, who have been together since college. I loved reading the author’s What Might Have Been and knew this one would be an emotional rollercoaster too.
Rachel and Josh meet at the age of 18 at university and realize very soon that there is something special about their connection. Their relationship develops naturally over the years, and they build a life together. In Josh’s family, on his father’s side, no male has lived past the age of 30, and this aspect has caused a shadow over his life, which is deepened as he approaches his 30th birthday. He is given a shot at an experimental treatment by a scientist that would stop his ageing, leaving him 29 but alive. It’s an impossible decision, but his choice changes everything for them.
Rachel is suddenly left alone in the future they had imagined together. Now, Josh is not ageing, but Rachel is, and their lives look different. She comes from a broken home, having been abandoned by her mom. She and her father have to struggle to make things work emotionally and even financially. Rachel craves security, which she finds in Josh, but it’s suddenly taken away. Josh lost his dad very early, and since the history of his family, he is aware of his mortality all the time. He hates to think that Rachel will be left alone and they will be unable to build the life they want together.
When Josh takes the pill to stop ageing, it changes everything for them. Personally, I completely agree with how Rachel handled it. She takes her time to think about what she wants. There is no denying that Josh and Rachel really love each other, but now he can’t really give her the family she dreamt of having. This constant pull and push between them is the emotional core of the story. Although I don’t feel Rachel’s decision to walk away is unfair, she does feel like she ignores a lot of red flags in guys and tries to make it work because she knows it will never be as perfect as it was with Josh.
On the other hand, Josh’s character is sympathetic too. He knows he screwed up when he took the pill without telling Rachel, and now he has to live with the consequences. You feel really bad for him because there is no reversing it. He has to live with his decision regretfully forever, it seems. As the story follows their life together and then apart, it’s heartbreaking. Rachel, in a way, gets what she wants, but it’s not how she imagined it. She questions her choice to leave Josh, and this bond between them affects their romantic relationships. I feel they do become slightly like toxic exes who keep saying we can still be friends, and I want you in my life.
Still Falling For You by Holly Miller is not a light-hearted romance. It has a unique concept, and it is emotional and heartbreaking. You really want there to be a magic solution that can help Josh and Rachel be together again, but it doesn’t end that way. The pacing falters a little in places, but it never really took me out of the story. I loved reading this book.
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