The Girl I was Before (Falling, #3) by Ginger Scott [Audio Review]

I’m the selfish one. I suppose that’s the nicest thing people say about me. I’ve heard the other things, too. “Paige Owens is a pretty girl with nothing else to offer. She’s just a good time at a party. She’s stupid, heartless, cold and useless. All she cares about is getting a guy to look at her. Why would anyone want to be her friend?”

Some of those things are true. Others were true. They’re all hurtful.

None of it matters.

I’m ready to make the hard choices. I’m ready to face the consequences. I’m ready to be the girl I was before, and I’m done being the one who lost her way.

I’m ready to become the girl Houston Orr sees when he looks at me.

 Houston isn’t a star athlete. He doesn’t play in a band. He’s never going to be president, and his life is so far away from simple and easy it isn’t even funny. He wasn’t part of my plan. But I’m starting to think plans are overrated, and maybe our stories are what we make them. And mine depends entirely on me, and the choices I make…starting now.

 Houston is my fairytale. He’s perfectly imperfect. He’s poetry and life. He’s truth and heartbreak, all rolled up in a tall body with dark hair, broad shoulders and green eyes that lull me into submission. He’s nothing I ever thought I wanted, but the very thing I need. He’s the only guy I’ve ever really loved, and he thinks I’m a princess. I fell into him, and now I’m holding on.

 But sometimes life takes away our ability to choose. Sometimes…things aren’t in your control. Sometimes, it hurts to be selfless. My only hope is that when it comes time to choose, I get it right.

 Welcome to my once upon a time and wish for happily ever after.

5 I’ve got a Crush on you Stars

This is an AUDIO Re-read < --- because its my favorite form of re-reading. The Girl I was Before just became Live on audio. I have been waiting MONTHS for this. I actually wanted to do the audio when I finished reading it. I love this book like mad.

FUN FACT < ---- The female and male audio narrators are a REAL LIFE couple. I know, I have mega heart eyes. It just makes listening to them even better right?!!!!

The Girl I was Before is a standalone and is part of the Falling series. If you are a fan of the series, I highly recommend you read this. If you have not started this series, I highly recommend you read it.

Paige is Cass’ twin sister. Rowe is in the first book and Cass is in the second book. Paige is like Barbie. She’s blonde, pretty and is social. Usually these Heroines make me cringe, but I’ve invested into Paige since the first book and I was super curious to how Paige would redeem herself.
The female narrator fits Paige perfectly. Paige is a tough character, so the voice is really strong, not too girly, but feminine. She sounds older and wiser (how I picture Paige).

The first two books in the series follow the same time-line, HOWEVER The Girl I was Before is after the first two books. I really liked this and I’m glad Ginger went in this direction. Paige is known as the stuck up, self-centered, selfish, spoiled girl. She’s upset with a lot in life, mostly because she has to deal with her sister’s illness. She’s trying to change for the better, but it’s a slow process.

When the story starts, we see Paige the way she was in book one. She’s mean, spiteful and very calculating. She will hurt people to get her way and get ahead. Crazy as it sounds, I loved it. Paige is so complex, I just couldn’t get enough of her. Why is she the way she is? Why is she so mean? Does she have any feelings? To answer your question, yes, she does.

Paige has a lot of feelings. I loved reading her POV and I loved getting into her head. I completely clicked and related with her character. Way to go Ginger!

"I’ll indulge in the fact that I have a crush- a crush on a guy whom I under no circumstances really want to be with – but a crush all the same."

At first Houston seems like your typical college Hero. He works hard and he lives at home to help support his mother. He’s was slightly flirty when I read the little teaser from the second book. So, I just had to sink my teeth into Houston when I started the book finally. I loved him from day one. He’s a good guy and he has a heart of gold. A complete opposite of Paige. Kind of ironic no?

I LOOOOVVVEEEEE the male narrator. I LOVVEEE Him. Did I say that already? I kind of stalked his other books, that’s how much I love him. I usually don’t google narrators because I have a picture of them in my head and I don’t want to ruin the fun, but I am so tempted. He reads at the right pace, his voice is not too deep, but fits Houston. It’s strong, masculine and PERFECT. I kind of imagine Houston as a nerdy guy with glasses.

Houston needs help with Spanish and Paige happens to be at the library while Houston is studying. She reluctantly helps him. The banter between Houston and Paige is off the charts cute, adorable and funny. I loved how rude Paige was and I love how awkward Houston was.

But not everything is what it seems right? Paige isn’t a nice person and Houston comes with baggage. Houston doesn’t have time for a personal life, he’s too busy working and he’s focusing on school. Paige doesn’t want anything to do with Houston because well, for one, she has a boyfriend and another she has girl drama she has to deal with.

Somehow, they forge this crazy bond and it just worked for me. I enjoyed this book so much because the characters are so complex and Ginger really pulled everything together nicely. I got the issues and I understood both sides (Houston and Paige’s). I felt for them and I was rooting for them both.

"When you want something for someone else more than you want them to be here for you-when you just wish they had more time, rather than more time with you. I’m pretty sure that’s love"

More stuff happens in the book and it was a delicious delight as I uncovered more and more. I wouldn’t say this book is too angsty, which surprised me because that is what Ginger is known for, but it had that enough mild tension to keep you panting for more and happy.

It’s a coming-of-age college romance book that will pull at your heart and make you sigh in a very good way.

I can’t stress enough how much I love Audio reads. It’s great for the first time, second time or even the fifth time.  You can listen to this book in one sitting or in breaks. I usually turn on a book as I work in the office. It keeps me happy.

Audio Questions
Would you consider the audio edition of The Girl I Was Before to be better than the print version?
I don’t like to compare the reading and listening of a book because to me it’s two completely different things. I listen to books for a different experience. Usually I feel more emotions when I listen and it’s a wonderful journey. I think this book is perfect reading print or listening. I recommend both because you get two wonderful but different experiences.

What other book might you compare The Girl I Was Before to and why?
This is a tough one because you can’t really compare The Girl I was Before to other books. This book is so unique and wonderful on its own. The best I can do is compare The Girl I was Before to the following books. I don’t want to give anything away, but there’s a common element.
Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros, Worth the Fall by Claudia Connor, Consolation Corinne Michaels

Have you listened to any of Claire White and James Fouhey ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I LOOOOVVVEEEEE the male narrator. I LOVVEEE Him. Did I say that already? I kind of stalked his other books, that’s how much I love him. I usually don’t google narrators because I have a picture of them in my head and I don’t want to ruin the fun, but I am so tempted. He reads at the right pace, his voice is not too deep, but fits Houston. It’s strong, masculine and PERFECT. I kind of imagine Houston as a nerdy guy with glasses.

The female narrator fits Paige perfectly. Paige is a tough character, so the voice is really strong, not too girly, but feminine. She sounds older and wiser (how I picture Paige).

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The whole book is moving, but the one that stood out the most is listening to Houston’s past. I really liked getting a deeper glimpse to who he is and what kind of man he was. It made me fall in love with him just a tiny bit more.

An ARC was provided

I was lucky to meet Ginger at the RT convention in Dallas. She's is incredibly sweet and generous.  I told her how excited I was for This is Falling in audio. I love meeting authors and it's extra special when they are humble and nice. More photos HERE 

SERIES ORDER

This is Falling - AUDIO REVIEW - AMAZON

You and Everything After - AMAZON

The Girl I was Before - AMAZON - Google Play - Barnes and Noble - Kobo

Other Books by Ginger

How we Deal with Gravity - REVIEW - AMAZON

Wild Reckless - AMAZON

 Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling author of seven young and new adult romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, Blindness, How We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After and Wild Reckless.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than 15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns.

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