Ryder Colburn is a hardworking contractor juggling the family business and caring for his now-ailing father. Romance is the last thing on his mind until he rescues Penny Rose, a wary chef with a painful past and a guarded heart. Penny is starting over in a small California town, focused on surviving, not dreaming. As Ryder and Penny grow closer, both must confront their past wounds and decide if they are ready to risk falling for love again.

He Falls First delivers the charm and small-town warmth that fans of Jill Shalvis have come to expect, but it didn’t completely sweep me off my feet. The chemistry between the Ryder and Penny is sweet and heartfelt, and there are some genuinely touching moments that showcase emotional growth and vulnerability for both characters.

However, parts of the plot felt a bit predictable, and the pacing dragged a bit in the beginning. Overall though, it’s a pleasant read—perfect for a cozy weekend—but not the most memorable of Shalvis’s works (that honor will always go to her Lucky Harbor series). Fans of her style will likely still enjoy it, but newcomers might want to start with one of her more older titles.

Penny Rose is positive she is never falling in love again. She is back home to be there for her grandmother and brother. Ryder Colburn is too busy for romance and is caring for his father. They both had not so good childhoods and are not interested in romance. But fate keeps throwing them together. Will they give in to love?



Thanks to Jill Shalvis and Sourcebooks Casablanca

🛠️💖 HE FALLS FIRST 💖🛠️
by Jill Shalvis
📖 Pub Date: 8/5/25 | Sourcebooks Casablanca

“She’s not looking for love. He falls anyway.” 🫶

Penny Rose isn’t here for love and she’s too busy juggling her feisty grandma, tween brother, and amateur plumbing projects in a dilapidated California house. Enter Ryder Colburn: sexy, snarky contractor with a soft heart and way too much patience for a woman determined to keep her walls high.

This small-town romance has:
🏡 grumpy but golden-hearted hero
💔 a fiercely independent heroine with scars (inside and out)
💬 banter for days
🍳 breakfast casseroles + big family chaos
🩷 and yes…he falls first.

✨ Jill Shalvis is back with her signature humor, tender moments, and all the swoony, slow-burn chemistry that made me fall for her romances in the first place. Ryder and Penny’s dynamic is messy, sweet, and full of heart. And the found family feels? Absolutely perfect.

If you’re craving:
✅ comfort read energy
✅ alpha hero meets sunshine-with-walls heroine
✅ a small-town setting with family drama and lots of love…
this is the perfect late-summer romance for you.

💭 QOTD: Do you like when he falls first in romances? Or do you prefer when she does?

#HeFallsFirst #JillShalvis #SmallTownRomance #GrumpyXIndependent #RomanceBooks #BookstagramRecs #ComfortReads #SourcebooksCasablanca #SummerRomance #SwoonyHeroes #HeFallsFirstEnergy

thank you so much for this arc. i really enjoyed this story. i loved Ryder emotinal intelligence in the story. there tough subject heartache and humor. just a really good story.

Wow! I was so lucky to get this book for my 9 hour plane trip. Thanks Jill for entertaining me.
This is the first book in Jill’s new series. The thing you can expect from Jill is humor. And even though this book emotionally pulled at my heart strings there was still humor.

This is Ryder and Penny’s story. They are both grieving a loss. The losses are quite different, but still a loss.
Penny was in a very abusive relationship. She lives with her grandmother and helps to raise younger brother Wyatt.

Ryder Colburn is the oldest of the Colburn siblings, and he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. When his brother in law dies in a tragic accident, he blamed himself. When his very abusive father has suffered two strokes, he takes him into his home to care for him.
And he also helps his sister with his niece and nephew as much as he can.
He had to take over the running of the business instead of working in the business.

These two definitely deserve happiness!

Between Wyatt‘s shenanigans and the parrot Pika-boo’s Jill still can make us laugh during an emotional book.

My favorite quote : “ my body isn’t a temple,” Renee said. “ it’s a Catholic Church. Filled with wine, bread, and guilt. Oh, and cookies.”

“ When life gives you lemons,” Vi said, “ grab the salt and the tequila”

I give this one five stars. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.!
Thank you Jill for this ARC in return for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Jill's new series. The Colburn brothers.
Book one starts with the eldest brother,Ryder. Ryder meets Penny, and neither one is interested in dating anyone... but the universe has other plans... no spoilers. my suggestion is to read it and find out! I'm already watching out for book 2!

As a fan of Ms. Shalvis, I found this to be an enjoyable, lighthearted and feel-good read. We have Penny & Ryder, the romantic leads exploring their attraction. I appreciate how Ryder let Penny set the pace of the growing relationship. This is a man very secure in his masculinity and, as such, is more than willing to take a “wait and see” approach. I look forward to the next book in the series.

This is book one of the Colburn Family. Who win your heart in the first pages. And I’m anticipating these brother’s succumbing to Star Falls Legend! Have to love small towns with a legend! Ryland is the first of the brothers to fall!

He lives a life loaded with self imposed guilt. Believing he doesn’t deserve to find love or do what makes him happy. His life is centered on helping his family, making up for their traumatized childhood and all he blames himself for. He works for the success of his family construction restoration company … walls up so love and emotions aren’t felt, he wont desire what he doesn’t deserve .

But along comes Penny with walls of her own, her own faith in her dreams locked behind walls of her own after an abused relationship she blames her poor choices on…all she’s determined to do now is take care of her grandma and younger brother.

Ryland recognizes the signs of hurt, her loss of confidence in herself, in her dreams, Penny struggles with the fear of vulnerability vs the safety her heart feels around him… the excitement vs trepidation of what he makes her feel has her yo-yoing on her journey. Yet her insistence of caring for him, seeing him, understanding what’s behind his walls, her sassy spunky nature that lightens his burdens, wins his heart… gives him the patience to wait for her to be ready for him, for a future... let's her set the course.

Both learn they’ve found someone they can be honest with, to accept redemption for themselves. And find the answer to their dreams in each other… through several entertaining circumstances!
I love as these two realize those walls are coming down, partially because of them and the forces both his family and hers play in encouragement and meddling. It is heart touching and humorous… you can’t help but love them all, especially those using best intentions. Until they realize, it's okay to accept support, to give and accept understanding and their self worth... acceptance of themselves, even those parts hidden behind the walls.

I laughed alot, even while forming a lump in my throat while revelations were made. Jill Shalvis hits all the feels while introducing these characters and following Ryland and Penny a happily ever after... Excited for the next brother to fall!

Errors I Found:
Chapter 2 • LOCATION 208
where had the nerve
NOTE - where he had

LOCATION 240
because I also could also use a nap.
NOTE - remove an also

Chapter 9 • LOCATION 1285
He flashed a mischievous smile when bit my lower lip.
NOTE - when I bit

LOCATION 1370
So I wasn't sure exactly sure when my bar had
NOTE - wasn't sure exactly when

Chapter 18 • LOCATION 2385
Then bit my lower at the
NOTE - lower lip

LOCATION 2385
Gamely, I reached for one,
NOTE - Slowly or gently?

Chapter 19 • LOCATION 2403
in a farmhouse on acreage?
NOTE - on an acreage

LOCATION 2427
My couch was a huge, an overstuffed U-shape sofa
NOTE - remove a or an

LOCATION 2449
But I wasn't about to give intel the enemy
NOTE - intel to the enemy

Chapter 20 • LOCATION 2722
going out on with me
NOTE - out on a date with me

Chapter 24 • LOCATION 3179
I'm good at making believe people whatever
NOTE - making people believe

Chapter 27 • LOCATION 3393
like I might die if stopped touching me,
NOTE - if he stopped

Chapter 29 • LOCATION 3659
He told about his family
NOTE - He told me about

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! This was my first book by Jill Shalvis, and I will happily pick up a few more of hers. I love it when the guy secretly already likes her! I was enjoying their story so much that I forgot about the grandma thing until almost the end!! Penny and Ryder are perfect for each other! So happy with their ending, it was perfect! I loved this family dynamic and I can’t wait to read more about the other Colburn Brothers.

Will also review on Amazon on release date

When I need a feel-good, humorous, happily-ever-after read, I know I can turn to a Jill Shalvis book. This novel was no exception, it had me giggling while also aching for the characters who endured trauma and sadness before finding their happiness.

I loved how the story incorporated the Stars Fall legend, where seeing three falling stars means you've found your soulmate. The Colburn brothers all experience this phenomenon, even as they try to deny it. First up is Ryder, who gradually falls for Penny. As the oldest brother, Ryder is accustomed to handling his siblings' problems while keeping his own buried. He meets Penny, who after a bad relationship, isn't looking for romance. Like Ryder, she's focused on caring for others and has neither time nor desire for anything more. Yet when they meet, their chemistry is undeniable, and Ryder proves himself to be the perfect cinnamon roll male main character.

I read this in one afternoon and don't regret a moment of my self-indulgence. I can't wait to read about the rest of the brothers and watch them fall. After all, though they deny it, they saw the stars fall too!

I absolutely loved this book! I’m a long time reader of Jill Shalvis and I always find her books cozy with lots of heart! I loved that this book was written in the first person with dual points of view.

3.5 ⭐️Penny has been back in Star Falls for six months after her free-spirited mom took off and now she’s juggling life taking care of her younger half-brother and her grandma Nell. She’s working for a catering company and regularly delivering to Colburn Restorations, where Ryder Colburn is the CEO.

Ryder’s been bringing his dad, Hank, to be cared for by Nell (Penny’s grandma), despite their complicated past—Hank was abusive when Ryder was a kid, but now he’s a shadow of himself after a stroke. Seeing Penny’s chaotic life, Ryder starts to get involved, slowly but surely. Cue a guy who’s ready to trade in his buttoned-up CEO vibes for a tool belt just to spend more time with the stubborn, guarded girl who has zero interest in romance.

Add in one matchmaking grandma, a sassy bird , and a heroine who’s fighting love with everything she’s got, and you’ve got a heartfelt and very entertaining read. A great start to a new series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

Another winner by Jill Shalvis! Loveable characters combined with an entertaining plot creates a great read. I will definitely be buying this for our collection and recommending it to patrons! Thank you for the chance to preview it.

Irrefutably enchanted!
Penny Rose has come to Star Falls to help her grandmother care for her teenage half-brother, Wyatt. Instead of opening the café of her dreams, Penny spends every waking hour working for a local catering company, repairing their dilapidated house, keeping her brother in line, and trying to forget the disastrous relationship that left her bruised in more ways than one.
Ryder Colburn has even more on his plate. As the oldest brother and company owner, Ryder is not doing a great job of keeping it together. The best part of his day is Penny dropping off his company’s catered food order.
Penny and Ryder have very good reasons to be leery of entering into a relationship, and you will be pulled into their story immediately and irrevocably! He Falls First is a lovely, schmexy, intriguing story you never want to end! There’s also a fun town legend to be reckoned with!

4 ½ Stars ... a heartbreaking romance

This is a fabulous start to a new series ... and I'm hooked! Ms. Shalvis has made a world that I became apart of as I emersed myself into the book. I loved Ryder and Penny and I so wanted them to have a happily-ever-after after the childhoods they had to endure. Both Ryder and Penny are givers and they needed someone to give back. I laughed so hard at the banter between the brothers ... it's just how I would think brothers converse with one another. Penny's grandmother was a hoot. I can't wait for the rest of Ryder's sibling's books.

Ryder and his siblings grew up in an abusive housebold after their mother died. With Ryder being the oldest, he was protective over his youger siblings and that protectiveness carried over when they became adults. Ryder opened a restoration business and wanted all his siblings to work there. Penny moved back home after a breakup to look after her much younger brother and grandmother as her mother took off on another one of her adventures. Penny is a chef and one of her clients is Colburn Restorations and Ryder is the CEO. She delivers food there every morning and has gotten to know everyone there. Even though she has sworn off relationships, she is drawn to Ryder ... and he's drawn to her. Can two broken people find eacher other and begin to heal?

I received an ARC courtesy of SOUREBOOKS Casablanca through NetGalley.

Another 5 star read from Jill Shalvis
! You will laugh and cry along with Ryder and Penny as they navigate love after trauma. The author deals with the issue of domestic abuse with empathy and compassion.

Along the way they deal with family issues that compound their past. They learn to communicate, trust, and love again despite what they dealt with in the past. They overcome obstacles and learn to deal with new experiences and feelings.

Although I received a free ARC from Net Galley and the publisher all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a fantastic start to a new series and Jill Shalvis left me wanting more, more, more. Ryder and Penny have so much chemistry and I was rooting for them from the first meet cute. The extended family and friends are super endearing and I'm already imagining possible couples in future books. A novel full of heart, family ties and unconditional love!

I just couldn't put this newest installment down! What a story. I loved Grandma right from the get go. In my opinion, she's what really made this story lol. Her shenanigans made me laugh out loud.
The only thing I really didn't like was that each character got their own chapter. I like a straight read.
Sometimes I felt like I was reading two different stories.
But overall as I said I loved this book. It has a way making you turn the pages to see what happens next.
This story will also make you fall in love with the characters and as I said at the beginning Grandma was my favorite. The rest just fell behind her lol
4 stars for the reasons I mentioned earlier. I still love Jill Shalvis books.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

This was a good start to a new series and in true Jill Shalvis fashion, there were plenty of characters to fall in love with and it had plenty of humor.

The main characters were good and I was very fond of Ryder and how good he was to everyone around him. I really identified with him. Penny's story really draws attention to how intelligent women can be targeted by an abusive ex. It is important to talk about issues like that and it also made her very real to the reader.

My favorite characters so far are definitely Grandma and Caleb. I just loved the brotherly banter in this book and how Grandma is a little spitfire!

I am very much looking forward to the next installment in the series and another great read by Jill Shalvis.