Watch Us Fall
- Judith D Collins
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
By: Christina Kovac
Narrators: Rebekkah Ross, James Fouhey
ISBN: 9781501141720
Publisher: Scribner
Publication Date: 12/02/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
“A stunning work of suspense that’s impossible to put down. Christina Kovac masterfully combines a twisty missing person mystery, a heartbreaking love story, and an insightful exploration of the nature of obsession and trauma. I loved this novel.” —Angie Kim, New York Times bestselling author of Happiness Falls and Miracle Creek
Lucy and her three best friends share a glamorous but decaying house in the heart of Georgetown. They call themselves “the Sweeties” and live an idyllic post-grad lifestyle complete with exciting jobs, dramatic love lives, and, most importantly, each other.
But when Addie, the group’s queen bee, discovers that her ex-boyfriend Josh has gone missing, the Sweeties’ worlds are turned upside down. In the days leading up to his disappearance, Josh, a star investigative journalist from a prominent political family, was behaving erratically—and Lucy is determined to find out why. All four friends upend their lives to search for him, but detectives begin to suspect that the Sweeties might know more than they’re letting on.
As the investigation unfolds, Lucy’s obsession with the case reaches a boiling point, and with it, her own troubling secrets begin bubbling to the surface of her carefully curated life. A thrilling account of the lies and delusions that lurk beneath cloistered groups of female friends and the sinister realities of celebrity, Watch Us Fall is a gripping mystery and an examination of the things we tell ourselves when we can’t face the truth.
About the Author
Photo credit Tina Krohn
Christina Kovac, author of the Watch Us Fall and The Cutaway, writes psychological suspense/thrillers set in Washington, DC.
Prior to writing fiction, Christina worked in television news, covering crime and politics at Fox 5’s Ten O’Clock News in Washington, DC, and after that as a news producer and desk editor at the Washington Bureau of NBC News.
She lives outside Washington DC with her family. She loves morning writes with her cat on her lap, ballgames at Nationals Park, book hauls from her town library, and hiking national parks. Her favorites—C&O Canal National Park, Assateague Island, and Rock Creek Park—provided inspiration for Watch Us Fall. She’s currently at work on her third novel. WEBSITE
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Praise
"Brisk pacing and bountiful melodrama keep the pages turning. Paula Hawkins fans should take note.” —Publishers Weekly
“Kovac (The Cutaway) has written a superb suspense that will keep readers on tenterhooks.”
—Library Journal
"An insightful look at the complex dynamics of close female friendships and the lingering effects of trauma, Watch Us Fall is also a fast moving, twisty thriller that pulls you in on page one and keeps you reading until the surprising and satisfying ending.”
—Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of The Note
“No one writes about D.C. like Christina Kovac. Her latest, Watch Us Fall, is as much a poignant examination of female friendship as it is about what happened to a golden boy journalist from a Kennedy-esque political family chock full of secrets. I couldn’t put it down!”
—Kellye Garrett, award-winning author of Missing White Woman
"Fast paced and full of surprises, Watch Us Fall is like a Russian nesting doll with layers of secrets and mystery—and at its center, a rumination on how grief and desire can distort reality. Christina Kovac has written a very of-the-moment thriller about love and friendship that will keep readers on their toes and compulsively turning pages."
—Janelle Brown, New York Times bestselling author of What Kind of Paradise
"Watch Us Fall is a stunning work of suspense that’s impossible to put down. Christina Kovac masterfully combines a twisty missing-person mystery, a heartbreaking love story, and an insightful exploration of the nature of obsession and trauma. I loved this novel."
—Angie Kim, New York Times bestselling Author of Happiness Falls and Miracle Creek
“There’s nothing twistier and more fascinating than the human mind, and Christina Kovac does a terrific job of exploring that landscape in Watch Us Fall. Lucy Ambrose is a compelling main character and an even more engrossing narrator, making this novel of secrets and lies the kind of puzzle that keeps you guessing on every page.”
—Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author of Crooks
“One of the best psychological thrillers of the year! Watch Us Fall is a beautiful exploration of the bonds of friendship and how far we’ll go to protect those we love—and what happens when secrets threaten to tear everything apart. Emotionally rich, atmospheric, and twisty—Brace yourself for the fall.”
—Alex Finlay, bestselling author of Parents Weekend
My Review
Christina Kovac makes her triumphant return following The Cutaway with her latest psychological thriller, of obsession and trauma, WATCH US FALL.
This captivating suspense mystery delves into the hidden secrets of a close-knit group of female friends and the enigma of a missing journalist. Offering a profound exploration of the deceptions we craft for ourselves and others when confronted with uncomfortable truths.
About the Story...
Characters and Setting
Meet "The Sweeties": four close friends—Lucy, Addie, Estella, and Penelope—who share an aging yet charming house in Georgetown post graduation, while striving to live their best lives.
Addie James:
The charismatic leader of the group recently ended a romance with the influential television journalist, Josh Egan.
Lucy Ambrose:
Addie's insightful roommate, who harbors a past marked by domestic abuse and grows increasingly wary of the circumstances surrounding Josh's disappearance.
Josh Egan:
A prominent investigative journalist from a politically connected family, whose erratic behavior raises concerns before his sudden disappearance.
The Mystery
The story kicks off with Addie, a fresh college graduate, abruptly breaking up with her older, powerful boyfriend, Josh Egan.
The Disappearance
Following a period of strange and erratic behavior, Josh disappears, leaving Addie and Lucy alarmed. The police approach them for information, intensifying their worries.
The Investigation
As the search for Josh unfolds, the friends find their lives turned upside down, with detectives suspecting they may know more than they are letting on.
The Search
Determined to uncover the truth, the friends embark on their own investigation, and Lucy's suspicions about the situation deepen.
Escalating Obsession
Lucy becomes increasingly fixated on the case, causing her own hidden secrets to surface.
Unraveling Secrets
The inquiry into Josh's disappearance reveals the lies and concealed truths that permeate the friends’ seemingly perfect lives.
My Thoughts...
WATCH US FALL is an irresistible, atmospheric pageturner, and intricately woven work of suspense. Rich in psychological depth and insight, it explores the profound bonds of female friendship and how grief, trauma, and obsession can skew our perceptions of reality.
Set against the vivid backdrop of the cold, snowy winter in Washington, D.C., it enhances the intrigue surrounding the friends’ facades and complex dynamics. Notably, Lucy's traumatic past resurfaces, adding layers to her well-developed character.
As the investigation progresses, the narrative delves into the darker aspects of celebrity culture, examining how individuals craft narratives to shield themselves from uncomfortable truths. The author deftly portrays the lingering effects of trauma, all while maintaining sensitivity.
The story employs a nonlinear structure, blending Lucy's anxious first-person perspective with third-person flashbacks of Josh in the months leading up to his disappearance.
Beneath the glamorous lifestyle of the Sweeties lies a profound delusion. As the police investigation intensifies, the friends’ carefully constructed reality begins to crumble, exposing the lies and delusions that lurk beneath their relationships. The narrative intricately explores their loyalties, revealing the lengths they will go to protect one another.
In a shocking conclusion, dark secrets come to light, culminating in a surprising twist regarding Josh's fate. Ultimately, the secrets extend beyond Josh's disappearance, serving as a broader commentary on how individuals deceive themselves and others to maintain a fragile sense of control and normalcy. This finale offers a poignant reflection on the lies we tell in the face of truth.
Kovac, a former television journalist, uses her own experience in Washington, D.C., newsrooms to build a compelling and credible mystery about how grief and desire can distort reality. For those orbiting a celebrity like Josh, the desire to protect a carefully curated life and the fear of social ruin can lead them to cling to delusions and participate in deceit and cover-ups.
Recommendations...
WATCH US FALL is perfect for fans of the author and those who appreciate emotionally rich and thought-provoking thrillers. If you enjoy the works of Hank Phillippi Ryan, Michelle Campbell, Paula Hawkins, Laura Lippman, Lisa Gardner, Alex Finlay, Chevy Stevens, and Lisa Unger, this book is a must-read.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Dec 2, 2025
