Welcome to Paradise Springs, Northern California – a hot, dusty, half-magical, wine-country town where there are so many grapes fermenting at one time, you get drunk from breathing the air; where devil winds blow so hard they whip your sense away. A town where every fairy tale you’ve ever read could be set … and “home” to the family Falls.
When a strange, enigmatic, rainbow-haired girl shows up in their fantastical hometown, it sends the lives of Fall brothers Wynton and Miles and their sister Dizzy into tumult. With road trips, rivalries, family curses, love stories within love stories within love stories, and sorrows and joys passed from generation to generation, this is the intricate, luminous tale of a family’s complicated past and present. And only in telling their stories can they hope to rewrite their futures.
Buy a copy of When the World Tips Over here.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
When a book gives me the emotional roller coaster the way this one did, it tends to win me over. Because what I want as a reader is to be sucked into the lives of the characters and go on an adventure with them, and that is exactly what happens in When the World Tips Over. Tania, QLD, 5 stars
This is one of the best books I have read in recent times. I was completely invested in a happy outcome for every single character and loved how the past family stories were interspersed with the current events. This one is definitely a reread! A new favourite that I would love to eventually see as a film or tv series. Highly recommended! Lee, VIC, 5 stars
Wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but upon opening it, a kaleidoscope of characters spilled out of the pages and into my imagination. There were so many main characters to choose from and to root for, I loved all of the heroes wishing they would sit by me and tell me their stories too. Spanned over several generations, this story takes you through the highs and lows of life, passing through sacrifice, betrayal and love. Recommend this read to any avid reader. Suzie, WA, 5 stars
So good! I loved this book. It had me hooked. The mystery, love, secrets and excitement kept me enthralled until the very end. I will be telling all my friends to read it. Samara, QLD, 5 stars
I loved reading this story and the many inside it. A rollercoaster of emotions in an easy and joyful style to enjoy and continue reading late into night, because I needed to know what happens next. Wynton, Miles and Dizzy are a creative family, incredibly different and interesting and being able to listen to them has opened me to also see that we all have a different point of view that is true to each of us. Paradise Springs is a small town that seems to swing through its own emotions too. The people that live there and those that come through, are all affected and shaped in unexpected ways. Vera, WA, 5 stars
A beautiful whimsical tale of families, curses and magic- I loved it! The characters felt real and became my friends as I read further. I love that it was told from the perspectives of each individual character throughout the book. How their lives are all intrinsically connected in ways they would never have imagined. The whole book is just FUN reimagined in often childlike descriptions that though fantastical, make you feel like you become the story. Starting off with Dizzy. She takes you by the hand and immediately throws you off the deep end, with an almost tragic near miss after a school yard bullying incident. She believes she is saved by an angel, someone who really saw her when she feels invisible. Then there is Miles, who sees the same angel girl and feels an unexplainable connection. The book is best summed up in the words of Cassidy “I do believe that when the world tips over, joy spills out with all the sorrow. But you have to look for it.” In “When the World Tips Over” the stories of all its characters collide in a kaleidoscope of colour that brings them all together. Cassidy, the one who fears being lost, saves them all. My one criticism is that I don’t think the age rating is right for this book. 14 years is a little young for some of the graphic detail and if it was a movie it would be rated at least M. My recommendation would be ages 16 and up, but I enjoyed it a lot reading as an adult. Not only is the book graphic, but a lot of the metaphor and innuendo would be lost on a younger reader. Sarah, TAS, 5 stars
I love this funny, tender, exuberant story of family, coming of age trauma and generational angst. It’s like a technicolour fairytale for YA. Told with different voices, it comes together seamlessly, the narrative bringing all the threads to life. Loved it. Liesl, NSW, 5 stars
I felt very uncertain about this book when I started, as the first sentence was weirdly clunky – but I loved it. It was just the right mixture of magic-realist weirdness, epistolary-ish storytelling (a mixture of diary entries, letters, stories told to other people, interspersed with ordinary third person narrative), and a great collection of characters whose stories are really beautifully explored. A fantastic read. (I wouldn’t specifically call this YA, even though many of the characters are young adults.) Celia, QLD, 5 stars
Jandy delivers once again and takes the reader on an epic journey with the Fall family. The Fall family consists of Dizzy, Miles and Wynton, each a unique and delightful character who adds so many layers to this story. The book commences with the appearance of a rainbow-haired girl who brings something much needed to Dizzy who sees spirits, Brainiac Miles who has not come out about being gay and the eldest Wynton who is the ultimate black sheep of the family. Whilst tragedy strikes this family they ultimately discover that whilst the truth can hurt you it can also set you free. I highly recommend ‘When the world tips over’ as the must read book this summer. Every reader will take a little something from the Fall family. Kelly, 16, NSW, 5 stars
Northern California little town Paradise Springs where the Fall family live. Wynton, Miles and Dizzy have enough going on in their lives when a rainbow haired girl arrives and things just go wild. Enter their lives and find the twists turns and family issues. A gripping read that will have you in and wrapped up. Tianne, NSW, 5 stars
What a journey you will go on by reading When The World Tips Over. Have the tissues ready as you go on an all emotional roller coaster. Absolutely loved this novel and will now be looking for copies of other novels from Jandy Nelson. Highly recommend!!! Sheree, NSW, 5 stars
My 14 year old devoured this in 3 days…. said it was the best book she had read for ages. Good enough for me so I did the same. Had me hooked early on.. so many relevant themes. Well done Jandy! Jenny, VIC, 5 stars
The best word I can use to describe When the World Tips Over is electric. The story pulled me in from the very first page and did not let me go until I had read every last word. While there are some flaws with the overall plotting of the book, it is hard to deny that I loved every minute of the whirlwind adventure this book took me on. Claire, VIC, 4 stars
A brave and at some times confronting new novel full of love, secrets and mystery. This book has it all – road trips, family curses, rivalries and love stories and succeeds in entertaining the reader. Phoebe, 15, NSW, 4 stars
Jandy Nelson’s When the World Tips Over is a beautifully crafted exploration of grief, love, and resilience. It centres around a young protagonist navigating the aftermath of loss, blending lyrical prose with vivid imagery that captures both the heaviness of sorrow and the lightness of hope. The characters are rich and complex, which makes their struggles and triumphs feel deeply personal. The book balances poignant moments with a touch of whimsy. Overall, it’s a touching, heartfelt journey that lingers long after the last page. Highly recommend!! I, VIC, 4 stars
When the world tips over is an interesting book told from multiple perspectives. Mostly I found the perspectives easy to follow. The characters were full of imperfections with many special talents that were seemingly passed down through the generations. I liked the way the story evolved and the historical elements were woven in. It was a relatively large book at just over 500 pages and although it didn’t keep me 100% enthralled it wasn’t boring at any point. It’s in the YA genre but I’m not sure I would encourage my 13 year old to read it just yet. Sarah, VIC, 4 stars
if you’re looking for a poignant tale of teenage angst, family secrets and curses, breaking cycles of trauma, then this book is for you. I found the start slow and nearly decided I was too old for this book but I kept reading and I am glad I did. There are interwoven plots and timelines, richly drawn characters ands lyrical language. It’s a gift of a story. Nell, NSW, 4 stars
When the world tips over is a inspiring story around family and relationships and bringing people together through love and acceptance. Very clever writing style that engages the reader. Jacinda, 15 plus, NSW, 3 stars
I found this to be a rather quirky read. It did take me a while to settle into the writer’s style. Interesting, and surprising at times. Mary, QLD, 3 stars
When the World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson is a story of the Fall siblings. Twelve year old Dizzy, seventeen year old Miles, and nineteen year old Wynton, all react differently to the disappearance of their father Theo Fall. Each of these quirky characters have their own story to tell, along with stories of other family members. The arrival of rainbow haired girl Cassidy challenges the children to uncover family secrets. The character of Dizzy is of a heart-warming child, and the reader can instantly connect with her struggles and experiences. Dizzy believes she can see magical beings which only makes her more endearing. The author’s lyrical prose enhances the story and creates the magical feeling of the story. Readers will enjoy reading this book with the flow of the melodic prose. Kelly, Young Adult, VIC, 1 star
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