Wow! What a story! Ryder and Penny and their families stories interwoven so beautifully. There is family, friendship, crazy work schedules, teenage angst, parents, health issues, death issues, life in general issues and yet LOVE overcomes and conquers even the hardest hearts! Love how Jill Shalvis tells her stories. They are are easy to start and hard to put down. You always end with a satisfying sigh!

Ryder Colburn and his siblings didn't have it easy growing up, their father was a hard man. They are all grown up now and Ryder is running the family business as well as taking care of his father who doesn't remember how he treated his family. He's a busy man and doesn't have time for anything else in his life right now. Penny's life has not.been going how she planned, she lives in a run down house with her grandmother and tween brother. She works all the time and her dreams are now just a memory. Penny works for a catering company that Ryder's sister owns, the catering business provides food for the family company. The two meet and sparks fly immediately but neither is ready to dive right into anything. The more they see one another the harder it is to hide their feelings. Can they get past their fears so they can be together?

Thank you to Jill Shalvis, Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for this ARC and to Hambright PR for this ALC!

3.75 rounded up! This one was super cute. The only reason it wasn’t rated higher for me was because I feel like I didn’t really connect with the characters as much as I was hoping to, but I still enjoyed the book!

One of my favorite tropes is he falls first and this book was the definition of that (I mean look at the title). Ryder Colburn is as swoony as they come and I love how much he adores Penny.

Penny has a troubled past and is very reserved but I loved getting to read about how she blossomed and opened up especially with Ryder’s help.

I was thrilled when Hambright PR gifted me this paperback copy of He Falls First, and it absolutely delivered on my expectations for a refreshing take on contemporary romance. What immediately drew me in was Jill Shalvis's decision to flip the typical romance script – finally, we get a story where the guy does the pursuing and puts in all the emotional labor from the start.

Ryder Colburn is everything I want to see more of in romance heroes. Instead of being the usual brooding, emotionally unavailable alpha male who needs to be "fixed" by the heroine, Ryder is the one making genuine effort to win over Penny's heart. He's patient, understanding, and willing to work for her trust – a welcome change from the tired trope of women having to chase after jerks who eventually transform into Prince Charming.

Penny's character resonated deeply with me as someone who's survived an abusive relationship and is rebuilding her life piece by piece. Her journey back home to care for her grandmother and younger brother Wyatt feels authentic and grounded. The way Shalvis handles Penny's trauma is particularly well done – she's not magically "healed" by love, but rather learns to trust again through Ryder's consistent actions and respect for her boundaries.

The family dynamics add wonderful depth to the story. Penny's grandmother, with her questionable DIY skills that lead to hilarious household disasters (from sink mishaps to furnace adventures), provides both comic relief and heart. These domestic scenes create a cozy, lived-in feeling that makes you want to be part of this chaotic but loving family.

What really sets this book apart is how Jill Shalvis explores the theme of healing without rushing the process. Penny's reluctance to dive back into dating feels realistic for someone emerging from trauma, and Ryder's willingness to take things at her pace shows emotional maturity rarely seen in romance heroes. Their relationship builds on friendship and trust rather than just instant attraction, making their eventual romance feel earned rather than convenient.

The supporting characters, particularly Ryder's brothers, add richness to the story world. Charlie especially caught my attention with his fun, cheeky personality – I'm genuinely excited to see what Shalvis has planned for his story. The brotherhood dynamics feel authentic and provide great potential for future books in what I assume will be a series.

While the pacing occasionally slows during some of the family drama scenes, the emotional payoff is worth it. Shalvis has crafted a story that proves not all men are "abusive jerks" while never minimizing the very real impact of Penny's past experiences. The romance feels like a true partnership between equals rather than a rescue fantasy.

If you're craving a sweet romance that subverts expectations and features a hero who actually does the work of wooing his love interest, He Falls First is exactly what you need. Jill Shalvis has created something special here – a story that's both comforting and progressive, proving that the best romances happen when both people choose each other every single day.

Perfect for readers who love: second-chance-at-love stories, family-centered romance, emotionally mature heroes, and books that handle trauma with care and respect.

This was my first Jill Shalvis book and definitely will not be my last!
Watching the relationship develop between Penny & Ryder was an absolute delight. Not because it was fantastical & perfect but rather because it felt real and difficult at times. These two are both dealing with heavy & complex family drama, trauma from childhood and recent adult trauma. They have to work very hard to be together and both committed to each other.
The cast of side characters really helps to round out this story. Ryder is constantly trying to make sure his siblings are doing alright while dealing with his dad who isn’t the same man who raised him. Penny is trying to balance keeping both her Grandma Nell and half-brother Wyatt out of trouble.
I am really looking forward to the next book in the series!

✨️ Anyone from Stars Falls knows the legend... ✨️

Thank you @hambright_pr @sourcebookscasa @jillshalvis for the #gifted copies of "He Falls First"

I am fully invested in reading about all the Colburn siblings falling in love. This book is e v e r y t h i n g I love in a romance novel. A family you want to be adopted into. A female main character who is fierce & strong. A sparkle of magical realism that makes the lore of the story extra whimsical. A slow burn that is worth the wait *fans face*

I adore the Colburn family with my entire heart. Ryder, Caleb, Tucker, and Kiera are my new favorite fictional characters + they will live in my heart for the rest of my days. I am seriously already itching to read "Free Falling" which is our ex-professional hockey player who's SWORN off the magic of the Star Falls Legend & love, brothers story.

What can you look forward to in this story? A protective older brother who has too much on his shoulders that gets a release when he spends time with an adorably fierce cook. Top-tier banter. Characters you're guaranteed to fall in love with. A parrot that is obsessed with poop (and it's beyond hilarious). Emotional moments that will have you reaching for the tissues. Steaming encounters in kitchens and cars *eyeballs*

Jill Shalvis has written an extremely impressive amount of books & it can be overwhelming trying to figure out where to start. Take it from someone in the same boat. "He Falls First" is your golden ticket into the Shalvisverse & it's deliciously romantic.

I may be bias because I am ADDICTED to when authors write interconnected romances. There's just something extra sparkly & swoony about when you get to see one of your favorite side characters get a romance of their own.

✨️ Small Town
✨️ Hot Contractor
✨️ Found Family
✨️ He Falls First (and H A R D)
✨️ Grumpy Sunshine
✨️ A sassy grandma & her pet parrot

🎧 The audiobook was well done. Lila York and Sebastian York are great narrators. I had a great time listening to this book. It was really relaxing to earball read this one.

First Person dual POV. I wasn’t expecting that. Penny and Ryder both have their baggage to work through, although Ryder falls first (obviously). Penny’s walls were near permanent, but Ryder finally knocked them down. The secondary characters are classic. Shalvis’ signature snark and family connections were the best part.

This was such a great read! A fun, entertaining, interesting and beautifully written story full of family and feel goods. I loved the characters being so vulnerable and real. The chemistry between Ryder and Penny was wonderful, sweet and heartwarming.The amazing and clever dialog is always my favorite thing in a Jill Shalvis story. Her books always bring out a big smile and make me laugh. I loved He Falls First and can't wait to read the next Colburn Brothers book!

This book is Jill Shalvis at her best—sharp wit, irresistible small-town charm, and banter that practically sparks off the page. It even gave me nostalgic flashbacks to her earlier novels, in all the best ways, while kicking off a brand-new series I’m already invested in.

Ryder is peak grumpy-with-a-soft-center energy 🥺—completely smitten with Penny, and I savored every moment of it. Penny, with her big heart and habit of putting everyone else first, completely won me over, and watching her take a chance on love was pure joy. Throw in the lovable chaos of the Colburn brothers and some hilarious, heart-squeezing side characters, and I’m counting the days until the next installment.

Sweet, Funny, and Full of Feels

He Falls First was exactly the kind of comforting, swoony romance I needed. Jill Shalvis always delivers, and this one had me grinning like an idiot half the time and clutching my chest the other half.

He falls first is the first book I've read by Jill Shalvis and safe to say, I'll be running to read more of her work!!

I was hooked from the beginning and honestly couldn't put it down, it had me laughing and crying.

He Falls First is a gorgeous story of grief, family, and giving yourself another chance at love. I absolutely loved Penny & Ryder and i'll definitely be recommending this to all of my romance girlies.

I can not wait for the second book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

🌶️🌶️

This was a good start to a new series. There is some pretty heavy baggage that these characters come with, so make sure you take a peek at the trigger warnings to protect yourself ❤️ I lovvveee the legend in the town between shooting stars and soul mates. I also can’t wait for future brothers who are currently pretending like they didn’t see anything 😅 this is a slow burn because of the trauma that the FMC was healing from, but honestly I don’t think she would have healed without the MMC. At least not as well. The patience this man had, along with the protectiveness had me swooning. I also was tearing up while I read it, so this book brought out the whole spectrum of emotions. Overall, a good listen.

❤️ Tropes ❤️
💋 Small Town Romance
💋 forced proximity
💋 protective MMC
💋 sassy FMC that won’t ask for help
💋 slow burn
💋 he falls first (weird, right? 🤣)

Penny moved back home after the end of a bad relationship and her mom took a job on a cruise line to take care of her Grandma and her 15 year old brother. Because why would her mom think about them? She took a job for a catering company and the pay isn’t great, but it’s the only option in town. Her dream of opening her own cafe is on the back burner. But when she is delivering a standing order to a construction company, she almost got ran over by a truck. She was tackled out of the way, and not by just any guy. Nope. It’s the hot CEO of the company who also caught her in her Wonder Woman pjs when he was dropping off Hank for her Grandmother to watch during the day. As if that wasn’t embarrassing enough. The only way to get to the other side of a bad situation is through it. Even if that situation is staring at her with heat in his eyes, her mind and heart are on lock down. Now if only her body would get with the program there wouldn’t be any issues.

I can always count on Jill Shalvis for a heartwarming, steamy, and well-executed romance; and this was no exception. The characters are well-developed, likable people, who show maturity and level-headedness while dealing with real life issues.

I was hooked by page two and really enjoyed the premise of this book. There was one circumstance that had the potential to become a big misunderstanding and I was very happy with the way this part of the plot played out. He Falls First is about family, grief, and taking a chance on love and yourself.

4 Stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

A sweet, slightly steamy read about 2 people slowly opening their hearts to romantic love. Ryder was such a dreamy MC. His love and patience with everyone was swoon worthy. Penny was such a caring individual too. But she didn’t seem to grow much past her trauma. The book seemed to drag as both Ryder and Penny wallowed in their insecurities. I loved the dynamics from both families! And the sarcastic banter was hilarious. Tyler and Caleb were a hoot. I hope their stories are next!

Loved the story and the characters. Both Penny and Ryder come from dysfunctional families, but they are still close to the ones they love. Ryder and his siblings grew up with a very stern father who was abusive. They learned early to disappear. Now they are all grown and their father is totally different person because he has had two strokes. Penny's father died when she was young and her mother is a flake. Her mother is off working on a cruise ship and Penny is taking care of her grandmother and little brother. She hasn't had good luck in the man department and the last one almost broke her. Now here is Ryder and she doesn't know what to do about him. She gives him the anger test and he passes every time. He is patient and is willing to wait until she is ready. What is she supposed to do with that? With his crazy brothers, her well-meaning grandmother and her little brother trying to get them together, how can she hesitate. She hesitates because she doesn't trust herself. She thinks her judgement if faulty. Will she finally realize that Ryder genuinely loves her?

He Falls First, the first book in the Colburn Brothers series by Jill Shalvis introduces us to Ryder Colburn, a man who is running his family business while caring for his failing father. He is beyond busy...or so he thinks. Insert Penny, who is home and living with her grandmother, helping to raise her 12 year old brother. She comes with a scarred background, but there is just something about Ryder that she is drawn to. Overall, this was a great first book of a series and I can't wait to see what the next book in the series will be!

This was the first Jill Shalvis book that was five stars for me in awhile. The magic for me was back!
First, the sense of community in this little California town is what I always look for in a book. The younger brother, the feisty grandmother. All good.
And our hero. Wow. What a tragic family story, and a surprising thing he and his brothers are doing.
And Penny, she was determined and brave and oh so clever.
Add it together, and it made a delightful story!

I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after listening/reading a free ALC/ARC via Hambright PR and Netgalley. HE FALLS FIRST is the first book in a new series, THE COBURN BROTHERS, by Jill Shalvis. This book is a first person, open door, dual POV, contemporary romance/women’s fiction with tropes including Small town, Hot contractor, Found family, He falls first (and hard), and Grumpy x sunshine. The main characters are Ryder and Penny. Ryder is the CEO of a construction and restoration company and Penny is a chef. Ryder is the oldest of his siblings and is too busy with work and providing care for his father after two strokes for relationships outside his family. Penny has just escaped an abusive relationship and is leery of starting one again. Ryder couldn’t seem to fight the pull he felt toward Penny. However, when he invited her out to dinner, she declined. I loved how he always left the decision to Penny without putting any pressure on her at any time. Over the course of the book, the reader is privy both to the relationships that both main characters have with members of their families and the way that their relationship evolves. I always love Jill Shalvis’ books. These characters have so many layers and as she peels them away through their interactions with people who are important in their lives, painting portraits of complex human beings. The story is about more than just the romantic relationship, touching on family and friends. The book is well written and well paced. The audiobook was perfect. Kudos to Lila Winters and Sebastian York for making the listening experience so great! I recommend this book/audiobook to readers who enjoy contemporary romance/women’s fiction stories with depth, emotion, and humor.

Jill Shalvis hit another home run here! Absolutely loved Ryder and Penny’s story! The queen of ROM Com doesn’t disappoint in this latest book.
If you love small town romance this a book/ series This series follows the Colburn Brother will they all get hit by the “Legend of Star Falls”

Penny and Ryder have been hurt in the past. Both have always put their family first. Both have trust issues. Both love to banter with each other.

We get to see both MCs motivations and hesitations. The two circle each other, they want but they can't. And this push and pull gets boring. There are lovely secondary characters, including a very rude parrot, whom I found more annoying than endearing, and there are some distracting side plots that could have been a bit more developed.

In conclusion, this could have been shorter and more concise, or the series could have started with a different brother and then come back to Ryder and Penny.