I really enjoyed this coming of age, bi-awakening Sapphic sports romance set in the world of Roller Derby that had great disability rep, found family, new love and great emotional depth and character growth. Highly recommended for fans of the movie Whip it and the graphic novel Pillow talk. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy of this debut in exchange for my honest review!

I really liked this book.

Casey was so relatable, and some of her experiences with anxiety felt a lot like my own. And I also love her mum.

Imogen is a fireball. We've all known and loved an Imogen who crashes into our lives.

Who doesn't want a friend like Mel?? I love her.

I appreciate that Casey realizes her bi identity in this book but that it's not the main focus. The story is more about finding community and passion, and what that kind of love feels like. The ending feels very fitting.

As a WLW who also loved "Whip It" and daydreamed about being a Derby Girl, this was a great book.
Also, definitely read the author's note at the end.

I must say, I loved this!

It was such a cute YA sapphic romance, that had me right in the feels.

Then opening to the book--Casey walks in on her boyfriend with someone else-- really hooked me right in.

There are definitely immature moments for the characters but, to be honest, that makes sense for their age. At nineteen, I was still a bit childish.

THE WRITING. THE ROLLING DERBY. THE DETAIL!!! I loved it! It hooked me in!

This was such an enjoyable book, and I'm looking forwards to reading more from Peach Morris.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review!

thank you to netgalley and 8th note press for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I did not finish this book. I got about 20% in and I couldn’t finish it. I will try to read it again at a later date.

Thank you netgally, 8th note press and Peach Morris for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very cute coming of age story about discovering your sexuality and found family. I love all the representation that was in the book, from different sexualities to gender identity and illnesses.

I have a lot of feelings about Casey’s relationship with her family. She has such a beautiful relationship with her mom, I love that her mom tried to give her the gay sex talk. I feel for how much responsibility she feels about taking care of her mom and I hate how her sister left but still gave her shit about joining roller derby in case something happened and she wouldn’t been able to take care of their mom anymore.

I also loved her relationship with all of the roller derby girls, especially venom. Who doesn’t love a bad ass girl who doesn’t take shit from no one but really has a heart of gold and is there for you in the toughest of times.

And lastly, her crush on Imogen was so cute to me. From the first time they met (which was very awkward because Casey’s ex cheated on her with Imogen) when imogen chased after Casey to apologize about her ex and taking her to see a roller derby game to them being girlfriends🫶🏻

I didn’t really like how Imogen just up and left without an explanation to Casey. I know she had a hard time but she could have at least send a text. But the character arc that Casey ended up having because of it was really good. Meeting a new person who helps you through your anxiety isn’t a great solution so I’m really glad Casey got help with her anxiety and can deal with it on her own now.

Thank you NetGalley and 8th Note Press for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I've really been on a roller derby kick recently, it's making me very interested in the sport! This book does a good job at explaining the game and how it works. I also could relate to Casey so much in regards to her anxiety and being scared of literally everything. I'm a fellow catastrophizer as well, and it can be debilitating. I loved watching Casey grow and learn over the course of the book, and see her become more confident in herself. This is yet another book with some amazing found family components. I also like how Morris formed Imogen and Casey's relationship, and how it realistically progressed throughout. Overall this book is a super cute coming of age novel that I recommend!

This might sound harsh but I really wish I would have DNF'd this book. I thought about doing it about 20% of the way through but I checked the reviews and they were all pretty positive. So I decided to carry on hoping it would get better. However, it absolutely didn't. Typically my 1 stars are for books I actively hated, and I can tell you this isn't one of those cases. However, I just think it was extremely poorly written, and the give it more than 1 star just isn't fair. Gosh, that sounds harsh. I don't want to be harsh, because gods knows that I can't really write anything better myself.
Anyway, this basically just felt extremely bare bones. This really felt like random scenes poorly stringed together with barely any plot. It was so hard to follow along because there was just no transition from one moment to the next. We're just doing one thing, you turn the page, and all of the sudden you're in the middle of doing something else. Because of the way it is written there also was no tension or stakes. I just knew that in the next scene whatever conflict arose would be completely gone by the next one. On top of that this sort of writing led to a lot of dropped minor plot threads. There were just so many things that we never really went back on.
Besides that because this is so bare bones, with no actually meat of the story in it, it also just feels very fleeting and forgetable. I already can't tell you anything about our main character that isn't in the synopsis. I mean, the characters are extremely one dimensional in general because of the way it is written but they also just aren't memorable at all. I found it so difficult to keep the side characters apart as well. I'm still convinced someone got mentioned like we already knew them but it is the first time we ever got that name. I mean, I could look it up, to see for sure it's not just my memory being shit, but honestly with the way the rest of this book was I wouldn't be surprised if its true.
The resolution completely fell flat as well. I mean, are you surprised? Did you expect me to say anything else? I feel like all of our main character's issues were just over all of the sudden. There wasn't really any developement or anything. I don't know. This could have been something, for sure, but it just wasn't.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for an ARC of Learning to Fall by Peach Morris.

This book is so raw, so powerful, so very real. The protagonist, Casey, is a bright young woman with a lot going on in her life - she's deferred from university for a year; she's a full time carer to her mum, Laura, who has myalgic encephalomyolitis (also known as chronic fatigue syndrome,) and she just discovered her boyfriend cheating on her with a beautiful girl named Imogen, who eventually introduces her to a sport called roller derby.

Casey struggles a lot in this book. She has severe anxiety, and how refreshing it was to read a compassionate, kind portrayal of both anxiety disorders and CFS/ME. The book never demonises Casey's anxiety or her mother's disability; both aspects of the story are offered nothing but understanding, both from the narrative and from most of the characters around Casey. The depictions of both mental and physical illness were grounded in reality, even when Casey's symptoms were at their most severe. She manages to face her anxiety with true courage throughout the story - with some help from Imogen.

Imogen and Casey's story is beautifully told, perhaps even moreso because it doesn't get a clear cut ending. I would advise anyone going into this expecting it to be a sapphic romance to lower their expectations massively; yes, Casey and Imogen fall in love, but so many things happen that add conflict to their relationship. The resolution is beautiful, but by no means is it clean. Casey and Imogen are very messy together, and they get a messy - but definitely beautiful - ending.

The supporting cast, including Mel and Venom, and of course newcomer Charlie, are all so vibrant. They leap off the page with personality. Most wonderfully, Casey gains a found family in roller derby, a group of people who one hundred percent have her back. This story is brimming with queer joy and queer love. Casey ends up finding her place in the world thanks to the sport, and through it gains the courage to start being herself, putting herself first.

I'll admit, I was a little annoyed Casey's older sister and brother-in-law never get a bit of retribution for how they treat her over joining roller derby when she's supposed to be caring for her mother. The whole scene set at Christmas had me on the edge of my seat, ready to start fights with fictional characters for their extremely wrong opinions! But that's the beauty of a story this well written - it makes the characters come alive, both good and bad. Truly, every character in this, from our lead Casey all the way down to the fresh meat on the roller derby team, is so well-constructed you almost want a whole collection of these books following each one of them.

Alas, this is Casey's story, and what a perfect story it turned out to be.

i was sadly not able to read this by pub date but i will always keep my eye out for sapphic books and if this looks up your alley i highly recommend!!

Who on God's green earth decided to market this as romance? In hindsight, NOT the good folks at NetGalley, but it seems every other listing has this tagged as romance. There "romance" portion of the book is quite literally 12% of the story. I'm not rating the book based on this, but for folks who see the cover an tags and go, "Oh, a sapphic derby romance!" I think it worth noting that this is a YA novel *WITH* romance elements, not a romance novel. Unless we're counting roller derby as the love interest, in which case, carry on.

As for the story itself: I liked it, but I struggled with the actual prose. I had to keep going back and rereading to figure out where things were taking place, what things or people looked like, and felt like there was very little sensory description. There were places where Imogen and Casey were talking and instead of learning more, there would be a few lines akin to, "We talked for a long time and got really close." I need more than that. A lot of telling, not showing, which made it a quick read but not always a satisfying one.

On the other hand, this book takes on a number of topics that I liked to see: chronic illness, anxiety, being a caregiver, alcohol abuse, etc. That makes the book sound quite dark, and it's not, though perhaps with more depth it would have been. I got quite attached to Casey and her journey, especially her battle with anxiety and panic attacks. Her character arc throughout the book is quite strong. I just wish there had been more depth, nuance, description, etc. The writing would have been fine for a middle grade book but was just too surface-level for me in this context to fully immerse myself. It's clear from the end notes that this is a very personal story for the author, and that shows.

Lastly, a gentle reminder for other reviewers: the author uses they/them pronouns.

Than you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. My thoughts are my own.

Learning to Fall by Peach Morris is a really adorable coming of age story. In this book Casey is going through the motions of life caring for her chronically I'll mother, planning for university, and engaging in social activities but her life just doesn't fill full until she stumbles upon roller derby. It is there that she realizes what it means to be part of something that feels really good, and also that she definitely likes women. I binge read this book because it was just so good. The characters are likable and their stories feel real. I think most readers in the LGBTQ can find a part of this story that really resonates with them.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book.

I was accepted to read this book before official publication through NetGalley and below is my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It’s a YA book about our FMC Casey. She is at a loss with what to do with her life until she discovers Roller Derby!

There’s many things I liked about this book - it’s British, it’s sapphic and there was a But I’m a Cheerleader reference 😍

This was a lighthearted read with emotional parts. I felt connected to Casey, the writing style really captivates you. It feels like you’re on the journey of self discovery with her.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes a sapphic and YA novel.

Overall, I give this book 4 stars!

What a beautiful love story to roller derby. The highs and the lows. The disability rep was so good, and I’m so proud of all the character growth. Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

3.5 rounded up to 4

Casey feels a bit stuck. She's taking a gap year to take care of her mother while her best friends go off to university. She spends her nights at home watching TV instead of going out. And to top it all off, she just caught her boyfriend cheating on her. The answer to all her problems comes from the unlikeliest of sources: Imogen, the woman she caught with her now ex-boyfriend. Imogen asks Casey to go to a roller derby, and Casey soon finds herself emersed in the sport.

Read if you like:
-NA
-Discovering the Real You
-Roller Derby
-Strong Mother/Daughter Relationship

I love the symbolism of the title: Learning to Fall. Falling the right way (so you don't hurt yourself unnecessarily) was Casey's first roller derby lesson. But it also applies to Casey's life lesson of stepping out of her comfort zone. This book was billed as a YA romance. I'd say it's more new adult than young adult and while there are romantic elements, it's more about believing in yourself and being comfortable in your own skin. I also loved all the roller derby action in this book. It made me feel like I was really there. And it made me want to throw on my own kit and get out there on the track.

A queer coming of age/coming of self story with a heavy roller derby influence? Sounds like a book I'd pick up. Casey is floundering under the pressure of figuring out her uni plans, how to be a carer for her mum or find someone who can do it as well, and generally unsure of her next steps when she stumbles into an entrance to roller derby. In learning, she falls for a teammate (who doesn't?), and discoveries new parts of herself.
The mental health aspect was well done, but sometimes felt dismissed. I wish one of the characters wasn't put aside for so long.
I think this would be a great teen read.

Pub Date: May 13th, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for a copy of this eARC.

I want to thank Netgalley and 8th Note Press for giving me the opportunity to read Learning to Fall by Peach Morris. The story kept me pretty engaged. If you're a fan of the movie Whip It, you'll want to give this book a read. The story follows Casey, who is just kind of stuck in life. She doesn't really have anything going for her. She deferred her first year at university to care for her mom and get caregivers set up for the following year. Casey's biggest issue is she suffers from debilitating anxiety and doesn't have the skills to better herself. She's terrified of change and terrified of the future. Enter Imogen, a spunky woman Casey runs into under crappy circumstances. Imogen is wild and free. Imogen sees something in Casey and introduces her to the world of Roller Derby. While it takes her a little while to learn the ropes, Casey is a natural. During her time on the team, Casey learns a lot about herself, including her love of roller derby. I enjoyed reading this story, I gave it 3.5 stars and recommend other read it, especially if you have a soft spot in your heart for the movie Whip It.

If, like me, you assumed this book was a sapphic romance, you need to know right now this is not a romance. This is a coming of age story featuring a queer main character. Don't go in expecting a romance between Casey and Imogen, you'll be disappointed. Their romance is part of the story, but it's not The story.

That being said, I really enjoyed the book and I'm kind of glad for my mistake because I wouldn't have picked it up otherwise. Coming of age and college age characters can be hit or miss for me, but this was really well done. Casey acts and feels like a young adult and not a teen as she navigates responsibilities and fear of the future, her anxiety and newly discovered queerness. And of course, all of that is wrapped around her deep love for roller derby. If there's a romance here, it's definitely between Casey and the sport. It was great to follow her arc as she "grew up" and figured things out, from family dynamics to friendships, from her anxiety to her finding herself and her confidence.

I adored the found family aspect of this book and would love more stories in this universe. I want to see how Imogen's doing (she broke my heart...), and I want to know more about Venom, and I'm always down for more Mel. She's the friend we all want.
Add to that the great representation (that isn't shoved down your throat either) both of LGBTQ+ individuals and of illness. Obviously, from the author's note at the end it's not surprising but it's still worth mentioning.

I know nothing about roller derby outside of "contact sport with mainly women on roller going around a track" and the author obviously knows a lot about the sport. I think people who know the sport well will really enjoy the vivid descriptions of all the training and then competition but for novices there's enough explanations given that I wasn't completely lost on what was happening. Could I picture everything? Not really, but enough that I got the gist of it and didn't miss any important part of the story. And I now need to track down Whip It and watch it because I want to see roller derby.

All in all, a nice book with a good mix of found family and growing up without either being too much or too moralist. It felt realistic and I could believe those people actually exist. Plus, I always appreciate young adults acting like young adults.

I enjoyed this book! I’m always a sucker for a coming-of-age story and I liked the way Casey grew throughout the story. I was expecting a romance, and while there is a love story, this is not a romance novel.

I also really enjoyed the roller derby scenes. I loved how inclusive and supportive her team was and I liked feeling immersed into this world and her team.

The story explores the topics of mental health (including panic attacks), chronic illness, and alcoholism.

Thank you to 8th Note Press and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book!

Learing to Fall did an AMAZING job of showcasing and explaining Casey's anxiety, and much of what she said and did reminded me of my own anxious thoughts. She felt like a real teenager, fearful for college, worried about her disabled mother, and trying to take on the world while being too nervous to step into it. I love how it advocated for community, therapy, and self-acceptance. Also, I've never read a roller derby book before but it was so fun!

I found the plot to be sort of all over the place sometimes, unfortunately, which seems to be this book's biggest weakness. Side plots are left unfinished or wrapped up as an aside, some characters speak like stereotypes and don't feel real, and we don't know much about Casey until the second half of the novel.

I think this is a book I wish 18 year old me could have read; Casey is inspirational in her purusit of roller derby and overcoming great things while still not being "cured" of her anxiety. Also, maybe I would have learned to skate and realized I'm bisexual way earlier! Definitely reccommend this one.

Thank you first off for letting me read this as an arc book.

I truly enjoyed this book. Learning to Fall is a great coming to age book with a lot of emotions and sensitivity topics.

Casey is learning more about herself. Her journey in learning more about herself brings a lot of ups and downs. Her struggles feel real in so many ways.. Casey has to figure out how to transition from being in high school to taking a year off to ready herself for uni. She has to learn to navigate a new life and build on what she has already.

I love the writing style and the flow of the book. Learning about roller derby and the way it works was really cool. In all this book is a great slice of life book to bring you into someone else's world.