Absolutely no one writes heroes as swoony as Jill Shalvis. I absolutely loved this story… packed with emotion, Shalvis weaves a story of family and friendship and learning to trust again. I can’t wait to see how the rest of these brothers stories unravel…. And I need some resolution on who is messing with the Colburn brothers livelihood! Also I’m not sure anyone is going to outdo Ry from a swoon perspective but I probably say that about each of her characters and then she ends up proving me wrong!

Thank you for the early copy for review!

Ryder is your quintessential gruff-but-golden contractor with a soft spot for his chaotic family, and Penny is a tough, no-nonsense chef trying to rebuild her life while juggling a tween brother, a sassy grandma, and a whole lot of emotional baggage.

Their chemistry? Definitely there, though it simmers more than it sizzles. I loved the “he falls first” trope (obviously), and Ryder’s patience and emotional intelligence were total green flags. Penny’s journey toward trusting herself again was touching, even if a few of her walls felt a little too sturdy for a little too long.

The side characters—especially the meddling family and the hilariously foul-mouthed parrot, Pika-boo—added a lot of warmth and humor. That said, some of the deeper emotional threads (like Penny’s mom or Ryder’s past) felt a bit undercooked, and the ending wrapped up a little too neatly for my taste.

Still, it’s a solid start to a new series, and I’m definitely curious about the rest of the Colburn brothers. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good romance with heart and humor, this one’s worth picking up.

A sweet read that had low drama.

I liked the journey the characters had to take to get to each other. The MMC was definitely a green flag guy which was nice to read about. Definitely some heavy subjects that are addressed but handled well. The story flowed well and I look forward to the rest of the series!

Sweet and wholesome read on the low drama side.

⟡ Tropes and Rating ⟡
🏞️ Small Town
🥰 He Falls First
🖤 Trauma Recovery

3.5/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️

⟡ Review ⟡
Penny returns to her small home town to take care of her little brother and grandma after her mother up and left. She works at a catering company who delivers food to Ryder, who runs a local building company and is still trying to find his footing after his best friend and business partner recently died in an accident.

He falls for her, hard and fast but Penny is hesitant to let herself pursue a relationship due to past experiences. However, both definitely had to live through their fair share of hardship. Penny got out of an abusive relationship, Ryder grew up with an abusive father.

I liked their journey to each other. I often struggle a bit with the “I’ve been hurt so I can’t ever date again” attitude, specifically when the guy is the greenest of green flags. Here, Penny’s hesitation works as she just escaped a relationship with a nice man turned abuser.
And Ryder is just the guy you‘d actually date in real life.

Be aware that this is on the super-low drama side despite the heavy subjects in the characters past.
There is a subplot around some potentially stolen goods at Ryder’s company, some tension teased with some workers/friends, Ryder’s father, and Penny actually working for Ryder’s sister but that ultimately doesn’t lead to much.
This story ultimately is about Penny and Ryder and that’s it. If you’re in the mood for that, this is the book for you. There is no real third act breakup but some conflict which I wasn’t the biggest fan of.

Thank you to Sourcebooks, NetGalley, and the author for the free ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Jill Shalvis never disappoints! I was instantly engrossed in the Colburns’ life stories and can’t wait for what’s next for this series. Ryder’s gentle love for Penny was very inspiring.

I love this new cast of characters. Penny and Ryder are both well-developed characters. I was captivated on page one. Their story is full of family, love, loss, and coming to terms with the past. There is so much to love about this story. I’m excited to see what happily ever afters are to come in this new world.

He Falls First is the first installment of a new series by this author, and like her other series, this did not disappoint. While the story about Ryder and Penny was humming along, I felt more engaged with the other characters that will have their story. Suffice it to say, I was wanting more.

Ryder is the oldest of four siblings that are deeply connected by their difficult childhood by a father who ruled with an iron fist and the business that connects them. Ryder also has demons as he is mourning the loss of his best friend, who happened to be married to his sister. After two years, he still cannot shed the guilt that he feels with the loss. He is juggling family and business and has no time for himself. That is until Penny enters his business. She is a chef, who works for one of his many businesses and soon their paths cross. Penny is not ready for a relationship and wants to run for the hills at that thought. She had a bad experience and is putting up walls to insure she is not in a vulnerable state again.

The two initially like each other and agree for friendship, but it's clear that their efforts to resist is futile. He Falls First and he is trying to navigate through his feelings and be the rock his family depends on.

The story flowed well, and the cast of characters add many, many layers to keep you hooked for the next installment.

Jill Shalvis has done it again and now I need book 2 to come out faster. This book had me laughing so hard. The joking between the Colburn siblings and between Penny and Wyatt was hilarious. I loved the consistent sexual tension and the flirty banter between Penny and Ryder. It is the perfect romantic comedy book that I didn't realize I was missing.

This was my first time reading a book by Jill Shalvis, and after seeing the blurb, I knew it had all the ingredients I love in a romance and it totally delivered!

Ryder and Penny’s story was everything, heartfelt, messy in the best way, and with just the right balance of spice and drama. I really appreciated how the trauma was handled with care, and the emotional depth it brought to the story.
The sibling dynamics were such a fun and chaotic addition, and now I’m officially invested in the Colburn brothers. I seriously can’t wait to read the rest of their stories!

If you’re a fan of small town romance with heart, healing, and a good dose of chemistry, this one is definitely worth checking out.

I went into He Falls First, expecting a swoony, emotionally layered romance... something Jill Shalvis usually delivers with charm and heart. Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

The premise is promising: Ryder, a gruff contractor juggling family responsibilities, meets Penny, a guarded chef with a complicated past. Sparks are supposed to fly, emotional walls are meant to crumble, and love should blossom in a quaint small town setting. But despite that setup, the story felt like it never quite got off the ground.


There’s a lot of potential in both Ryder and Penny’s backstories, but somehow, their chemistry never clicked for me. I struggled to connect with them... individually and as a couple.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, and Penny and Ryder’s story. It was an easy read, and a gorgeous small town romance. I’m looking forward to the next books in the series, and reading more about Ryder’s brothers and sister.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me an advance e-copy.

This was a wonderful story. Penny had come home to live with her grandmother and half brother when her boyfriend had hit her. She worked as a chef for someone else until she could open her own cafe someday. One of her food deliveries was to Ryder's company and they kept running into each other. The chemistry between them was hot!!! and she fought it tooth and nail. Ryder was very patient with her and understood
The beginning of the book told in a few pages how awful Ryder and his siblings home life was with their father. The difference of how he was now was night and day. Their was lots of drama, some romance, funny segments and siblings that were making their way back to each other.
I can't even begin to say how much I enjoyed this book. I highly recommend

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

A heartwarming romance that blends humor, and chemistry between the leads. While some plot points are a bit predictable, the charm and wit is fun to read. Overall, it’s a fun read for fans of contemporary romance. Thank you NetGalley for my arc.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book! This is the first book I've read by this author, and I already looked and saw this book has a sequel in the works and I cannot wait! I loved Penny and loved Ryder and the Coburn brothers even more. Penny's grandmother was hilarious and this just had so many heartwarming and funny moments. Love the small town story and also Penny's history with past relationships, and trying to let Ryder in. Loved her writing style! Ryder Coburn was an amazing MMC!

This is a 3.5(ish) rounded up.

Both Penny and Ryder were pretty likable characters, and while their story was cute, the beginning was lackluster.

Penny was very anti-dating, and honestly, she seemed like she couldn’t even stand Ryder in the first chapter. Then, next thing you know, they’re suddenly kissing and you’re kind of confused as to where it came from.

Both of their backgrounds being brought up multiple times made it seem like they should’ve become more of a point of conflict later in the story.

Overall, this is a quick, easy read. I do love the “he falls first” trope, so that part of it was super enjoyable for me. I was also a big fan of Penny’s grandmother and Wyatt. Getting to read their relationship was super cute and fun. There was definitely some depth to the overall story I was missing, though.

**3.5 Stars**

He Falls First is a sweet romance involving Penny and Ryder. Penny moves home after getting out of a bad relationship so she can help care for her grandmother and brother. Ryder is a business man who is also taking care of his father who had a stroke. They find themselves around each other a lot as Penny's grandmother helps take care of Ryder's father, and Penny works as a chef for Ryder's sister.

Ryder is smitten with Penny and isn't afraid to show it. Penny is much more hesistant due to her past relationship, but the chemistry is definitely there. I really liked Ryder's brothers and how close his siblings are with each other.

There was a lot of back and forth in the book and I also felt like there were several side plots mentioned that were left unanswered or could have been developed further. All in all, I really liked the characters but the story fell a little flat to me.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this story. All opintions expressed are my own.

"The Legend of the Star Falls: if you caught sight of the rare phenomenon of three falling stars arching together across the sky, your soul mate would enter your life." And whether the Colburn Brothers will admit it or not, they all saw the falling starts that night while sitting in the cemetery.

Ryder and Penny instantly click but both are emotionally closed off; Penny has sworn off men since her last abusive relationship and Ryder is still dealing with his grief from the loss of his best friend as well as childhood trauma. But Ryder knows just how to handle Penny and never pushes; he always lets her know she makes all her own choices about their relationship and he will be there for her no matter what she decides. Ryder, who restores historical buildings, treats Penny like one of his projects, knowing that he has to take his time, be gentle, replace the rotting parts and polish the precious parts until you have the restored treasure. What he doesn't realize is that he is trying to restore his own life too.

I loved <b><i>He Falls First</i></b> and the Colburn Brothers, not just Ryder but all the emotionally damaged brothers. For all the childhood (and adult) trauma they have gone through, I loved the family bonds that they maintained; that they all just want to protect each other even if it's camouflaged by teasing and pranks. Shalvis develops her supporting characters and makes the reader want to know more about their backstories as well as weaving a mysterious plot within the walls of Colburn Renovations that I want to solve. I can't wait for Caleb's story next in February 2026!

I am a HUGE fan of Jill Shalvis. I have read almost all of her books, so I was SO excited to get the advanced copy of He Falls First. It did not disappoint!!!!!! Penny is our main character who comes back home to help her grandmother and brother. She is also running away from a tragic and abusive relationship that leaves her skittish at best. Enter Ryder. Stand up, handsome, charming guy with a rough past of his own. But the spark fly with these two from day one. Ryder is so patient with Penny, meeting her anywhere she is willing to be. Can these two get past their pasts and out of their own ways, so that they can have their own happy ending? I love a book where the main male character falls hard and falls first. And Ryder did not disappoint! This book has all the things, feels, love, family, humor, and great chemistry.

4 Stars
One Liner: Establishes the series

Ryder Colburn is busy running the family businesses and caring for his ailing father. But a chance encounter with Penny compels him to help her and get to know her more.
Penny has paid the price and is living in a dilapidated house with her grandmother and tween brother, trying to survive on the catering job. She has no time for anything, definitely not love.
But maybe life has other plans!
The story comes in Penny and Ryder’s first-person POVs.

My Thoughts:
This is my first book by the author, and I’ll be happy to read the other books in the series (fingers crossed the publisher will make them Read Now).
The plot is pretty thin as the focus is on building the foundation for the series and establishing the main characters (the Colburn brothers and sister). I hope the sister also gets her book.
That said, the characters are well-developed, layered, and realistic. They have their flaws, but they are good people. They have been through enough trauma and are doing their best to be there for their loved ones.
As the title suggests, the MMC falls first, and he is pretty open about it. The FMC calls herself a hot mess (more than a few times) and is willing to heal (always a good sign).
The characters know their flaws and insecurities, so they have meaningful conversations even when there’s a sort of breakup. They talk about things and communicate, making it easy to root for them to be together.
The toddlers (Abi and Alex) are little tornadoes or wolf cubs (as their mum calls them). Needless to say, the kiddos brighten up the book each time they appear on the page.
A few plot threads have been left open and will presumably be resolved in the later books. I’m curious to know where they’ll lead.
There’s quite liberal open-door spice (3+) and a generous dose of F-bombs (alpha brothers and all that, I suppose). The banter is pretty good, though. The book has many funny moments despite having a sense of heaviness (due to dark themes like parental abuse, childhood trauma, domestic violence, death, illness, etc.).
We don’t know about the FMC’s mom, though her grandma and half-brother are sweet. Still, I wish we had a little more backstory about her family. It would have enhanced the plot.

To summarize, He Falls First is a heartwarming read about finding love, family support, and being there for one another.
Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Jill Shalvis shines when she does a family series. The way she writes sibling relationships is so endearing and fun, and I’m immediately drawn in to all of them, which makes me excited for their books.

Ryder and Penny were simply sweet. They each had past trauma and heartbreak that they were working through and it was nice to read a romance with two adults, who acted like adults and didn’t have some stupid third act break up, which is one of my big pet peeves.

I thoroughly enjoyed the start of this new series. It’s a great small town romance that I fell into with ease. I instantly cared about all of the characters, main and supporting, and I’m excited to have a new series to look forward to.