Nikki Baylor has been expelled from her school and ostracized from all of her friends. Because of the cyberbullying incident at a party at her house, Nikki’s parents don’t trust her and she is now the girl everyone hates. Then, she meets Pax, who is in a wheelchair, and begins to forgive herself and see that maybe even she deserves a second chance.

4.5 stars.

How to Keep Rolling After a Fall by Karole Cozzo is a unique yet highly engaging young adult romance that deals with relevant social issues in a realistic manner.

Nicole "Nikki" Baylor's life forever changed the second she took part in a cyber bullying incident the morning after a party at her home. With her reputation in tatters, she is struggling with her shame over the incident as she tries to repair her fractured relationship with her parents. Once a popular student with a bright future ahead of her, Nikki is starting her senior year at a new school where everyone keeps their distance from her. Fulfilling her community service at a local rehabilitation center, Nikki meets Matty "Pax" Paxton, a young man who is now confined to a wheelchair after car accident. Knowing how difficult it is to move past horrible decisions, Pax takes Nikki at face value and offers her friendship when she needs it most. With his relentless optimism and upbeat personality, Nikki cannot help but begin to feel better about herself, but when her feelings deepen into more than friendship, will Pax be willing to take a risk on love?

Initially, Nikki is a little self-pitying as she bemoans everything she has lost. She definitely feels remorse and shame for her actions, but she cannot help be a little bitter over her friends' abandonment. She is also struggling to cope with the fallout from the incident in the present as well as the realization her hopes and dreams for the future may never materialize due to her lapse in judgment. There is much more to the cyber bullying incident than meets the eye and once the whole truth emerges, it is easy to feel empathy for what Nikki is going through. Nikki's emotions always ring true as she owns up to her mistake and begins to take responsibility for what she did. Nikki is an easy person to relate to because when it comes down to it, everyone has done something they are not proud of.

Like Nikki, Pax had everything going for him before the car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. A popular jock whose entire future was riding on an athletic scholarship, he has such a bright outlook despite his disappointment that his life will turn out nothing like he originally planned. Realistic and honest to a fault, Pax's enthusiasm and cheerfulness is catching as he accepts his limitations and embraces the positive rather than dwelling on the negative. Despite his self-confidence, he backs away from a romantic relationship with Nikki, but can she change his mind after Pax confesses his fears to her?

How to Keep Rolling After a Fall by Karole Cozzo is an uplifting young adult contemporary romance that offers a realistic portrayal of the effects of cyber bullying. Seeing the incident from the perspective of the bully is a refreshing change of pace and watching Nikki deal with the repercussions of her actions is quite sobering. The growth of her character is absolutely phenomenal as she finally begins to understand what motivated her participation in the incident and more importantly, she recognizes the lasting effects her bullying has on her victim. I highly recommend this well researched, engrossing novel to readers of all ages. ( )

Kind of a middle of the road read. I liked the plot but I feel like we focused on Nikki and glossed over Pax... it was just irksome. I like scarred (physically and/or emotionally) heros and it was annoying that the author barely touched him, basically made him this 2 dimensional 'I just further the plot' robot .

My father had bad scars from under his ears all the way down to his elbows and chest and he had issues from them. I remember all growing up he'd never go swimming without a shirt and if anyone (usually kids) ever said anything, you'd see the shutters slam over his eyes and he'd be pretty depressed for a bit... those were scars, Pax lost not only the use of his legs but the future he had mapped out for himself and all it took was a 'no get in the pool it's fine' and he managed to get over his hurtle of swimming in front of her meh :/ I just didn't buy it. ( )