Trust Falls
TRUST FALLS
A failed stage actress. A beleaguered pop star. Two cousins with nowhere else to go. And an unscrupulous developer, poised to bulldoze their rural sanctuary.
Charley Dupree’s family Christmas tree farm is everything to her: a place of beauty, a refuge from a world that has offered nothing but betrayal, and home to her mother Penny, her oldest friend Julian, and his cousin Mark, a former baseball star who might just be Charley’s soul mate, if she can learn to trust again. But with foreclosure looming, Charley is short on time and options—until a stroke of luck and an act of kindness bring acclaimed singer-songwriter Maya Santoro to her doorstep, seeking a secluded place to finish her overdue album.
But the more Charley tries to balance Maya’s demand for privacy with her fight to keep the farm afloat, the more her relationships suffer. And when a scheme that should be the farm’s ultimate saving grace goes catastrophically wrong, Charley must decide what matters most: her home, or those she shares it with.
Emotionally resonant and brimming with hope, Trust Falls is a story of friendship, found family, and claiming one’s place in the world.
Advance Praise for
"Trust Falls"
“I’ve fallen for Basi’s moving story and the delightful characters she brings to life. Trust Falls captures a Christmas tree farm in ruin, a pop star in hiding, a failed stage actress, and a love for the ages. Basi knows how to spin a tale full of heart and sacrifice. A beautiful, affecting read.”
Rochelle B. Weinstein, Bestselling author of We Are Made of Stars
*****
“Kathleen Basi writes about sticky relationships and complicated people with emotional depth. In Trust Falls, Basi’s sense of place and careful exploration of the human condition infuse every thoughtful page. There are surprises around every corner, and this book absolutely pulses with resonance and hope. Exquisitely written, tender, and just a warm, enveloping read.”
Nicole Baart, bestselling author of Everything We Didn’t Say and Where He Left Me
*****
“A beautifully written story of heartbreak, found family, healing, and most importantly, hope. Basi handles delicate topics like disability and infertility with a deft hand. These are characters that felt so real and flawed. I rooted for them, yelled at them, and wanted to know them in real life. It made me long for a trip to the Rainbow House of my own.”
Sharon M. Peterson, author of The Do-Over and The Fake Out
*****
With lyrical prose, a vivid sense of place, and a compassionate, nuanced portrayal of disability, Trust Falls explores the deeply relatable journey of learning to trust, both yourself and others, even in the face of profound regret. An immersive story of growth, resilience, and self-discovery.
Melissa R. Collings, award-winning author of The False Flat
*****
Kathleen Basi’s sophomore novel radiates a rare and refreshing blend of honest emotion and unwavering hope. From the moment we meet protagonist Charley Dupree and are transported to the mid-Missouri farm that’s become her sanctuary, Basi evokes our empathy: for washed up pro baseball player Mark, Charley’s dearest friend who might just become something more; for his chromosomally-gifted cousin Julian, who’s called the farm home most of his life; for the singer-songwriter desperate to hide away; and for Charley herself, as she fights her own demons from her past while trying to hang onto the land for the sake of them all.
The pages of Trust Falls are filled with heart and grit, more than a little angst, and an abundance of love, in all its messy and beautiful forms.
Amy Hagstrom, author of Now That I Know You By Heart