Book Review: Walking on Trampolines by Frances Whiting

Walking on Trampolines

By::Frances Whiting

Published:
February 3, 2015

Publisher:
Gallery Books

Source: eArc from publisher for a honest review

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GR's Summary:

Praised as “a tender exploration of friendship, families, and first love” (Liane Moriarty, New York Times bestselling author of The Husband’s Secret), this coming-of-age novel from bestselling author Frances Whiting is equal parts heartwarming, accessible, and thought provoking.

“Tallulah de Longland,” she said slowly, letting all the Ls in my name loll about lazily in her mouth before passing judgment. “That,” she announced, “is a serious glamorgeous name.” 

From the day Annabelle Andrews sashays into her classroom, Tallulah ‘Lulu’ de Longland is bewitched: by Annabelle, by her family, and by their sprawling, crumbling house tumbling down to the river. 

Their unlikely friendship intensifies through a secret language where they share confidences about their unusual mothers, first loves, and growing up in the small coastal town of Juniper Bay. But the euphoria of youth rarely lasts, and the implosion that destroys their friendship leaves lasting scars and a legacy of self-doubt that haunts Lulu into adulthood. 

Years later, Lulu is presented with a choice: remain the perpetual good girl who misses out, or finally step out from the shadows and do something extraordinary. And possibly unforgivable… 

It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce.

My Thoughts:

Walking on Trampolines is the debut novel written by Australian author, Frances Whiting.  The story had an Australian flavor to it with vocabulary, and phrases that are native to Australia.  I found this charming, and loved learning the lingo, because I am a huge lover of learning about various cultures.

This is the story of Tallulah "Lulu" Longland.  It starts out in the present where Lulu has done something she is ashamed of.  It then goes back and forth between the present and the past as we are told about how Lulu came to be best friends with Annabelle Andrews.  These two girls became best friends at the age of twelve, and were inseparable from that time until the end of their high school years.  They were always at each others homes, and each of their parents became like second parents to the other girl.  They developed their own special way of communicating, were loyal to one another, knew each other's secrets, and understood one another better than anyone else. 

After high school graduation, Lulu makes a discovery that breaks her heart, and sends the girls lives off in two very different directions.  Things come full circle, and as life goes on, many years later, they find their way back to one another.

Walking on Trampolines was a coming of age story.  It dealt with family, friendships, betrayal, love, forgiveness, and healing.  There were a variety of unique characters in this story.  I loved Lulu.  She was a very giving and nurturing person, who had a way of healing others broken hearts.  Annabelle was difficult for me to like.  She had a bit of dysfunction in her family life, as did Lulu.  Yet, Annabelle came off as jealous, possessive, selfish, and use to getting her way.  She may have changed when she got older, but she never grew on me.  Lulu's first love Josh was flakey and made me very angry and frustrated in this story.  Even at the end, I wasn't a fan of his.  My favorite character was Duncan, Lulu's first boss and good friend.  He was hilarious, kept dialogue interesting, and had a fun wisdom about him despite his problem with monogamy.  I also loved Simone and Stella, two of Lulu's best friends, and Will, a very special man, who I fell for from the moment I met him.  He was patient, a great friend, and a very special person.

Walking on Trampolines was very realistic to life.  There were a lot of ups and downs, themes of growing up, discovering yourself, forgiving yourself and others, learning from your past mistakes, and what it means to be human.

My Rating:

I give, Walking on Trampolines, by Frances Whiting, 3.5 Important Friendships, Growing-Up, Healing, First Love & True Love Filled Stars!

My Favorite Quotes:

"It's the words we don't say, Lulu, not the ones we do, that linger longest."  (eARC, Loc. 1855)

~Duncan

"Anyone can get on a boat, Lulu, you just buy a ticket.  There're thousands of us out there flailing about in the ocean, but there's not that many of you.  You're the one standing on the shore and shinning the light, guiding us all in safely.  He picked up a newspaper and pretended to read it.  So fuck em', he said."  (eARC, Loc. 2017)

~Duncan

"They had both been my first loves, and that night I let them go, finally realizing that your first love, no matter how big it may have been, wasn't necessarily your true one."  (eARC, Loc. 4527)

~Lulu

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About Frances Whiting:

Frances Whiting is one of Australia's best known and favourite columnists. For more than fifteen years her Sunday Mail column has engaged readers in the highs, lows and the wonderful of the every day. She is also an award winning journalist and Senior Feauture writer for Q Weekend Magazine in the Courier Mail. She has published two collections of her columns: Oh To Be A Marching Girl, and That's A Home Run, Tiger! Walking on Trampolines is her first novel.

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Giveaway:

1 Paperback Copy of Walking on Trampolines 

By: Frances Whiting (U.S./Canada Only)

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