I knew this writer, having already read another of their books (that I liked a lot).
But this one I don't know, it just fell flat to me. The storyline was interesting at first, and then it felt a repetition of the same thing over and over. And I get that this is the first book of a new series but the side characters were a little too present with the result that the story of the two main characters didn't get enough attention.

Jill Shalvis has done it again! Penny is a guarded woman just trying to keep her family afloat all the while being reluctant of dating after a previous relationship turn sour. Ryder is a busy business owner and the rock of his family shouldering the guilt of things he shouldn’t. Ryder was so patient and understand, I absolutely adored him. The banter Penny and Ryder had through book had me smiling and chuckling to myself as I read. I truly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what else this series may have in stored. The side characters stood out just as much as the main characters and leaves you wanted more. I would give this book a solid 4.25 out of 5.

Really enjoyed this book. Ryder and Penny, both are trying to keep their families together and well cared for. Each not looking for a relationship until they meet. Lots of laughter, love, sorrow and steam. The interaction between the brothers is a hoot.

I am in love! I am in love with Penny and Ryder and all of their family members. I am in love with their vulnerabilities and their story. I am in love with the pacing and the setting. I am just in love with it all.

~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

I received an ARC for He Falls First from NetGalley. This was my first book by this author. I enjoyed the dynamics and humor between the siblings. All of the major and supporting characters felt like people I could know in real life. I assume this will become a series about the siblings and I look forward to it. Cute love story with a good bit of spice. 3.5 to 4 stars. Thank you again for the ARC!

Penny set her dreams aside to move back home to help her grandmother, Nell, take care of Penny’s half-brother, Wyatt. She works as a chef for a catering company, through which she meets Ryder Colburn. There’s an attraction, but neither one is ready for a relationship. Both Penny and Ryder carry emotional baggage from their past that they still deal with regularly; Penny with the memories and physical scars of a past relationship and Ryder by taking care of the father that abused him and his siblings when he’s left unable to care for himself.

I loved the snarky bantering between Penny and Ryder, the humor, the family dynamics, and more. I laughed and shed a few tears and totally loved this story!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really loved the first in the Colburn Brothers series from Jill Shalvis, He Falls First. It is the story of Penny Rose, a cook who recently moved back home with her grandmother, Nell, to help raise her twelve year old brother, Wyatt, when their mother moves away. She has also left an abusive boyfriend behind, so the last thing she is looking for is love.
Ryder Colburn is the oldest of a family of four siblings that grew up with a military father who was very cold, and often used corporal punishment on his children. Ryder had recently lost his best friend/brother-in-law and was not looking for love either.
Penny & Ryder's paths cross because she delivers catering orders to Ryder's company, and Penny's grandmother is a caregiver for Ryder's dad, but when Penny almost gets hit by a truck at Ryder's workplace, and he saves her, sparks fly.
In the small California town of Star Falls, there is a legend that if you see three falling stars at once, you will meet your soulmate. When Ryder and his two brothers see the falling stars, his brothers won't let him forget the legend.
Will Penny & Ryder ever learn to trust each other enough to see where their attraction leads? In her usual funny, warm way, Jill Shalvis brings their story to life. Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOK Casablanca, for an advance ebook to review.

If you like your romance novels with a dose of humor delivered via hilarious animal antics, choose this read.

If you like your romance novels featuring sexy male fused with a protective streak for family and his love interest, choose this read.

If you like your romance novels showcasing a female main character who does not let her past define but, instead, takes it and becomes 'more than', choose this read.

The pacing of this book was spot on as was the backstories of the characters. Was expecting Penny's past to make an appearance so bit surprised about the direction taken to let that storyline dissipate especially given this author's trajectories in similar past reads.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca | Sourcebooks Casablanca , via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#HeFallsFirst #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Very fun romance about second chances and found family. Loved the side characters. I think it is going to be a series, which would be awesome.

a first for me to read this author and I love that there is a huge backlist.

It was a small town romance that was cozy and sweet but with sex and grit. Doesn't make sense to you?! lol well that is what it felt like to me.
There was a few things that I didn't love (grandma after the abuse happened?!- no grandma) and flippant in some ways about mental health...but it was still a good read.

He Falls First by Jill Shalvis. This is the first book in her Colburn Brother’s series. Penny is a chef that returns home to her grandmother’s house to help raise her brother Wyatt after her mother leaves. Penny has been abused by her last boyfriend and now doesn’t trust her own judgement. Ryder the oldest of the Colburn brother’s was always protecting his siblings from their father’s abuse. Now going through his own tragedy, he is running the family business and helping with their stroke riddled father. I loved this story. Had me at the first paragraph. Great characters that have you invested. With heartache, healing, flirty banter, family and a Starfall myth this is a must read book for summer! Enjoy! Thank you to #NetGalley, #Sourcebooks Casablanca and #Jill Shalvis for this Arc. Releases Aug 5, 2025. This is my honest review. #HeFallsFirst

ARC review

"He Falls First" by Jill Shalvis is the first book in the "Colburn Brothers" series.

I received an advance review copy from Sourcebooks Casablanca (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

Ryder is the oldest brother that took over a lot of responsibilities after his dad got sick.
He is running the family business and also takes acre of his father.
Penny moved with her grandmother to help her fix up her house and also to take care of her brother.

This is small town romance, but it is not an easy, feel good book.

As indicated by the title, Ryder falls for Penny first, but she has trauma from an abusive relationship and needs time before she can be in a new one.
She is a strong and hard working woman that managed to become independent and does her best to help her family.

I liked the way their relationship developed and the I think they are good one for the other.

There is also a cute parrot that will make you laugh a lot.

Looking forward to the next books in the series.

This is a small-town, slow burn romance. Ryder and Penny both are bothered by their pasts and have sworn off the opposite sex. But there is an attraction between them. Ryder starts to waiver but Penny has too much pain in her past. Can they move forward? A very good read.

Thank you Net Galley and Jill Shavis for providing me with this arc.

I loved this book so much! Penny moves in with her grandma to help take care of her brother, Wyatt when their mom leaves (again). She has dreams of opening her own cafe, but puts that on hold believing its just a pipe dream. She doesn’t have time for love.. or does she? She’s given up on love completely, but Ryder Colburn continues to push past the walls she’s put up. She continues to battle whether its worth letting someone in again or just walking away

I really loved this book. I’m a sucker for the ‘he falls first’ trope (pun not intended). That and a lot of this felt like found family as we watched everyone begin to come together. It was wholesome and I loved watching Penny come out of her shell and learn to trust herself.

I will say, I wish the storyline with her mom was a bit more flushed out. Because it seemed like it was going in a direction of she would be coming and that would create conflict. Same with parts of Ryder’s backstory.

All and all I really liked this book and can’t wait to get to know the other characters in their upcoming books!

There is a legend of three shooting stars in the sky that lead to finding your soulmate - who knows if it was legend or reality that led to Ryder and Penny finding each other, but I'm glad they did!

A bit of a meet cute crosses with office romance, both characters find themselves resisting connection at a time when they both need it the most. Ryder falls first, which is always a goosebumpy ride! The banter between them is delicious, as they try to keep it all at bay. The surrounding characters keeps it funny and also highlights how much we find comfort in our family, however that looks for each of us.

There was a lot of backstory packed into the first couple of chapters, I wasn't convinced right away but am so glad I read this story! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a wonderful read. Ryan is a caretaker for everyone except himself. He seems to fall into that role by his very nature. He is even taking care of his father – the former military man who abused the family while they were growing up. Now he is running the family business and sorely missing the hands-on work he used to do.

Penny has come home to help her grandmother raise her younger brother after her mother has, once again, abandoned them.

I love Jill Shalvis’ characters. They are flawed, they are real, they are human.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All the opinions are my own.

Jill Shalvis gets the goosebumps out on her readers! This book is swoon worthy. Just the most adorable story! I cherished every page.

Classic, small town romance. I greatly enjoyed the side characters and look forward to reading the rest of this series! I wish I could have seen more of Penny and Ryder beyond their trauma. I think I would’ve loved them more if I had seen their personalities shine. The legend of Star Falls was unique, and I wished to hear more about it. Hopefully in the next one! This series has potential.

The first in a new series about three brothers and a sister.

This books is about the oldest brother, Ryder. He has always looked after his siblings, and protected them as best he can from his very strict father as they grew up. The same father had a couple of strokes and is now living with Ryder, having had a complete change in personality. He was strict to the point of abusive when they were growing up with all siblings having issues as adults because of it, but his personality has now changed to a gentle, friendly man who doesn't remember anything and doesn't talk, which the siblings find very hard to come to terms with.

Penny has also come home, leaving an abusive relationship, to look after her half brother and grandmother, and works for Ryder's sister in the catering field, delivering meals to Ryder's construction company every day, which is where Ryder and Penny meet and sparks fly.

It's the usual funny, romantic, snarky dialogue that I expect from a Jill Shalvis book, with some lovely characters. There's always a wonderful animal too, and this time we have Pika-boo the very, very funny budgie - loved him!

I'm really looking forward to the rest of the siblings stories, as they all really deserve a HEA.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a honest review.

He Falls First by Jill Shalvis is about two people damaged by the events in their lives, unable to trust but not being able to walk away from each other. Penny has come home to get away from an abusive relationship and to take care of her brother and grandma. Ryder has always taken care of and protected his siblings from his father but now that his father has suffered a second stroke he must take care of his father too. Two good people, learning to trust themselves and each other, I enjoyed the journey.