Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strong teen braves awful family in boozy, intriguing sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In WE FELL APART, 18-year-old Matilda Klein is used to following her mother across the globe while her mom falls in love with artist after artist. This time, though, her mother leaves her behind, moving to Mexico City without her. Reeling, but realistic, Matilda doesn't mind living in L.A. with Saar Adler, the most devoted of her mom's boyfriends. But after a tough breakup with her high school boyfriend, the email sent from someone claiming to be her father feels like destiny. He's sending for her, while offering her a painting that could be worth millions. She's set to study video game design in college, which starts after the summer break. Will her summer trip to Martha's Vineyard answer Matilda's biggest questions about herself?
Is It Any Good?
A confident teen's voice, which never wavers, steers this mysterious third book of a series through rough tides. In We Fell Apart, Matilda Klein sticks to her personal orbit despite the chaos of her family's mess. Though the crossover to the other stories could have been capitalized upon with more gusto, this solid effort lands effortlessly in intergenerational chaos. E. Lockhart's precision crafting of a character who knows herself very well gives readers a worthy role model, who rises from the ashes of a pretty cruddy life. Riches don't tempt her. Lies don't sway her. She's only a little distracted by the gorgeous surfer boy she's living with. Okay, a lot distracted, but she still possesses sterling boundaries. In a family saga where the patriarch and his family live in an artist's feverish dreamtime, here's a character who knows how to fight, how to level up, and how to win.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about perseverance in We Fell Apart. How does the main character Matilda stay focused on her wellbeing even when she's confused? How does her self-talk help her advocate for herself consistently?
The teens living together in this story fill in the gaps when adults aren't helping out. How does their teamwork make the drudgery more tolerable?
Some of the main characters exercise self-control when they are tempted to make bad choices. What happens when they lose control? Can they walk back their mistakes? When you make a mistake, how do try to make it right?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Arts , Family Stories ( Dads , Siblings ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Self-control , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Delacorte Press
- Publication date : November 4, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 275
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : November 20, 2025
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