He Falls First was a charming and sweet read full of entertaining moments that had me smiling. While it had some more serious undertones, the overall vibe was filled with goodness. Ryder and Penny were great, and I loved their crazy families and the different dynamics happening there. It made for a perfect light and easy read!

Ryder and Penny were wonderful characters. Penny worked herself to the bone for the ones she loves, and Ryder is a protector at his core. They both have hard pasts that held them back and I loved them opening up and sharing as they came together. It wasn’t always easy because they both had their guards up but I loved watching those walls come down. They were fun and flirty with the best banter, and I adored the chemistry building between them. They had some spicy moments that were super passionate as well. Just as the title says, Ryder falls first, and I loved the care and patience he had with Penny as they navigated their way to a happy ending. It made me melt.

I thought the more emotional elements from Penny and Ryder’s past were handled well, and I liked the development of those details. I felt for Ryder and the conflicted feelings he had about his father and the new dynamic they now had, it was heartbreaking and sweet all rolled into one. I loved both of their caring, yet slightly zany families. Ryder's siblings were all introduced and I am excited for their stories. Penny's grandmother was a delight and her brother was adorable. I loved the humor their families brought with their fun teasing and quips, as well as their big hearts and bonds.

This was entertaining with a good mix of heartfelt, spicy, and emotional scenes. It was a fast-paced, easy read with good details that kept me engaged. This is the first book in the Colburn Brothers series and it definitely had me hooked. Can’t wait for the rest!

I thought this was a really fun read! I think the main thing that confused me was the title. To me, both characters fell first/fast. But I loved the banter, and chemistry!

When Ryder meets Penny he knows his heart is in trouble, there's just something about the guarded chef that draws him in. He also immediately recognizes the hurt she carries, as he has a little of that himself. He knows his life is too busy for dating, but the idea of letting her slip away just doesn't set right with him. So he bides his time and holds out hope that things will fall into place.

He Falls First is a perfectly penned story of healing, finding love, family, mending hearts, and self discovery. These two haven't had the best luck with love so it was understandable why they first tried to ignore what was developing between them. Their experiences with love and relationships left them both badly broken and they weren't really up to going down that road again. So that alone made it easy for them to turn into their family responsibilities and act like they weren't interested. But love wasn't going away that easily...

I loved following these two on their journey, it was one rich with feeling and full of heart-skipping love... and some witty battles too. I am excited to see what Ms. Shalvis has in store for the Colburn brothers, she laid some amazing groundwork with Ryder and Penny and I can only imagine things will just keep getting better from here! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

He Falls First by by Jill Shalvis, book one in the Colborn Brothers series, is a heartwarming, laugh out moments, found family, small town shenanigans, family drama reminding how important family really is, and where finding love might just be the key to finding yourself. Ryder and Penny are two people who have had missing or incompetent parents. On the other hand, they never let anyone down and work hard to take care of their family members.

Ms. Shalvis excels when she writes a family series; delivering on heart, humor and honest emotion. The way she writes sibling relationships with their drama and their love for each other is charming, beautiful, and delightful; immediately drawing me in and making me invested in and caring cared about all of the characters and excited for their books. I’m can't wait to read about the rest of the Colburn family in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Avon #TheLoveFix #JillShalvis

I loved this book with my whole heart for so many reasons. Obviously the sweet and spicy romance between Ryder and Penny, Penny's fun feisty Grandma, the way Ryder takes care of his disabled father despite previous abuse, the siblings and the way they love each other, the humor that runs throughout, and mostly the fact that this is book one in a new series and I will get more of these people. There is so much beautiful growth among the diverse characters and their families, that I didn't want it to end. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Lila Winters and Sebastian York, and they did a fabulous job bringing this story to life. No pressure Jill, but I'm going to have a hard time waiting for the next book!

He Falls First by Jill Shalvis is full of beautiful emotions. Ryder and Penny has amazing chemistry but the slow burn added to the allure. I love to see family dynamics in my romance books and the Colburn family has plenty of secrets and strengths. This small town romance is all about healing and fresh start.

* he falls first
* she works for his sister
* opposites attract ( he is rich, she is;almost penniless)
* legend of the shooting stars
* protector hero
* history of trauma in both main characters
* small town romance

Ryder and Penny's paths cross because her grandmother is taking care of his sick father part time. The father who was abusive and cruel to the Colburn siblings but has a personality change after his stroke. Penny came to live with her grandmother and teenage brother after her mother left them in a bind and she needed a place to escape from her evil ex. She works for Ryder's sister's catering company and Ryder is the CEO of their very successful construction business. She is weary but he is persistent. After all, meddling grandmas are the best

The secondary characters from Colburn family occupies a big chunk of the book as the author is building up the characters. I actually enjoyed it. Ryder has always tried to protect his siblings from his father's wrath and he never stopped playing that role. The recent changes with his father has left him disbalanced. And also there is the soul crushing grief of losing his best friend( who was also his brother in law). His brothers trier to get him out of his self made cage but Penny is the one with the key. She has been hurt recently and she is definitely reserved and skittish. But she has a smart mouth and sassy personality and big heart. And I just love her. It was her grandmother's idea to ask Ryder to take her out but Ryder already liked her a lot. And he can be really charming and sexy when he wants. It was built up really slowly, giving Penny time to heal and open up and letting Ryder show his sincerity. The passion wasn't an issue but being vulnerable to each other was more difficult. Penny was jaded and had a lot on her plates. Ryder had to prove that they are real and forever. I loved their banter and their chemistry and all the little moments they spent together. I cannot wait for the next books.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

He Falls First begins the Colburn Brothers series with Penny and Ryder’s slow-burning romance. This one is Jill Shalvis at her best.

Penny has survived emotional and physical abuse at the hands of the man who was supposed to love her. So much for love. Something she never, ever intends to invite into her life again. While she is a professional chef, at the moment she’s catering, and that works just fine for her right now. Ryder’s company is one of those catering jobs, and a man, if she were ever to be tempted again (she’s not, or so she tells herself), she would definitely be tempted to trust his kindness and acknowledge that spark that flies between them whenever they meet. But she’s not ready to trust again, and Ryder recognizes that wary look in her eyes, one he’s seen reflected in his own mirror.

I could talk about Penny and Ryder for hours, the nuances of their personalities, the different types of abuse they both survived, the family members who shine and support, even a very vocal parrot. I could give you details simply from wanting to relive the story… but I won’t spoil it for you, I’ll just re-read their story again, because, yes, it’s that good.

If you need a well-written, emotional, funny, intense, believable romance in your life, then He Falls First by Jill Shalvis is perfect for you. Their slow-burn romance is full of all the feels you could ever ask for. I loved watching Penny, and yes, Ryder, too, leave the past behind as each healed and thrived through the love they had. Oh, it’s not going to be easy, nor quick… but the best things in life often come through patience and understanding. I’d give this story ten stars if I could!

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

A fab read.
Penny is struggling along, hoping to realise her dream of opening her own cafe but putting her grandmother and brother first.
Ryder owns a local contracting company and is helping her out. I liked the setting and how it was told from both points of view. Looking forward to the next books in this series.

This book is warm and heartfelt with a small-town charm that feels like a comforting hug. Penny’s journey back to Star Falls, caring for her grandmother and brother after a brutal past, set against Ryder, steady, quietly strong, and quietly swoony, makes for a romance that feels earned and real. Their chemistry unfolds gently, full of witty banter, emotional honesty, and just enough steam. Overall, such a feel-good slow-burn with plenty of heart.

This is such a sweet and swoony small town romance (with a side of humor and sass)! BUT it’s also layered with grief and sadness. Ryder and Penny came into each other’s lives at the perfect time. He needed someone to help him through his guilt and grief, she needed someone to know her worth and help her realize it. I loved getting to know these characters and the town. Each of their family dynamics is so complex, especially Ryder’s. What he has to deal with regarding his dad is heart-wrenching, and nothing I’ve come across before. Penny is dealing with trauma, but she is strong and resilient, and really resonated with me. These two are so easy to love and root for. And so are the rest of them, I can’t wait to see what happens in the rest of the series!!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
Small town
Fake dating - only one of them knows
Found family
Grumpy x sunshine
He’s a hot contractor
She’s a chef/baker
He falls first
Dual POV
Spice

Thank you Sourcebooks Casa for the advanced copies!

Penny and Ryder have both experienced great trauma. She was abused by her ex-husband and he lost his best friend in an accident. Ryder blames himself.

They are in a small town and Penny works for a catering company where she cooks food and delivers it to her accounts. One of them is Ryder's business. He's attracted to her, but can't break out his self-recrimination. She's sworn off relationships. But somehow, with interference from friends and family, they find their way to each other.

Some laugh out loud moments, more very sexy scenes. I enjoyed reading every moment of this book.

𝐇𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐬
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★★

I was beyond excited to dive into this book knowing it took place in my hometown of Sonoma County! While it didn’t actually go into much detail about the area, I did love the vibes the setting gave.

Ryder and Penny were truly addictive characters and I adored how well the two came together, how deep the story went and the beautiful family connections and history that ran deep through each of them. The way this story balanced a slow burn romance with high amounts of trauma and continued to develop such depth between Ryder and Penny was the perfect mix.

The story was written so well to keep you connected with the characters, their developing chemistry and the ups and downs of mixing two people and their families. I appreciated the overall balance of emotions, trauma, spice and family dynamics. Penny’s grandma and brother plus Ryder’s family were fun side characters to bring more depth to their lives and stories. I loved that this story had me laughing at times, emotional at others and swooning the whole way through.

I went back and forth with listening to the audiobook and reading the ebook. I enjoyed the way Lila Winters and Sebastian York brought so much personality and depth to each of the characters. They both did a phenomenal job with their narration of this story.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
Found Family
Hot Contractor
Forced Proximity
Small Town Vibes
Grumpy x Sunshine
He Falls First (and hard!)

I enjoy anything Jill Shalvis writes. She is my ultimate romance writer! I never miss any of her newest romance releases. They are always a joy to read. And this one isn't any different. It's a grumpy sunshine romance story with the he-falls-first and forced-proximity tropes.

Please keep in mind that this book does contain some heavy topics that may be triggering. Please check out the trigger warning beforehand.

He Falls First is Jill Shalvis’ latest steamy romance and the first in her Colburn Brothers series set in Sonoma County, California. He Falls First is an opposites-attract, small-town love story that involves two emotionally scarred people who are afraid to take a chance on love. It contains profanity and sex scenes.

27-year-old Penny Rose uprooted her life in Seattle six months ago to return to her hometown of Star Falls, California in order to help her family. Her flighty mother left the family home for a job as a lounge singer on a cruise ship, leaving behind her elderly mother, Nell, and her 12-year-old son, Wyatt. Penny does her best to keep her Grandma Nell from injuring herself with her continuous household repairs on their century-old home while also keeping her half-brother out of trouble and doing something other than playing online video games. Penny is currently working as a chef at Hungry Bee, a local catering company where she makes and delivers meals to individuals and businesses. One of her regular clients is Colburn Renovations.

Ryder Colburn is an enigmatic, wealthy businessman who is the CEO of Colburn Renovations and the head of the Colburn family. He has two younger brothers, Caleb and Tucker, who reluctantly work for the family business, and a younger sister, Kiera, who owns Hungry Bee. Kiera is grumpy and stern with her employees, probably because she is still grieving the death of her husband, Auggie, and overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising their three-year-old twins, Abi and Alex.

Their father, Hank, was a former military man with PTSD who was abusive until he suffered two strokes two years ago, requiring brain surgery. When Hank recovered, he had a completely different personality, presenting as a nice guy. Unfortunately, he is estranged from his children, banned from all area senior living facilities, and the brothers are taking turns allowing him to live at their homes. Currently Ryder is taking Hank to stay at Nell Rose’s house during the day while he works.

Penny was emotionally abused by her boyfriend, Mitch, and then physically abused when she ended the relationship. Now she has a scar on her chin and a locked-down heart, not trusting herself to choose a mate wisely. However, she keeps running into handsome Ryder, their paths crossing at her home and through her job at his business. While her secret dream is to operate her own café and achieve financial security to support her grandma and Wyatt, her life seems to get more and more intertwined with Ryder’s. Will they be able to overcome their emotional baggage in order to find a future together?

He Falls First is more emotional than some of the author’s other stories. Both Penny and Ryder have painful pasts and are fully committed to their families. Ryder has the unusual situation of his father’s total personality change, going from abusive to a decent person. Penny has to overcome her self-fulfilling prophecy of picking bad men. Readers will identify with their very real personal struggles while admiring their commitments to their families. There’s so much depth to the side characters that readers will be eagerly anticipating their stories! Jill Shalvis knows how to combine the right amounts of heartfelt emotion and hilarious scenes to craft a wonderful romantic story for her readers.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and SourceBooks Casablanca for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.25/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you @hambright_pr for the #gifted audio copy and @sourcebookscasa for the ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If there’s one thing Jill Shalvis never misses, it’s writing the kind of book boyfriend that feels like coming home—and Ryder Colburn is no exception. He’s got that quiet, brooding intensity I love, but underneath the rough exterior is a heart that’s raw, vulnerable, and so soft when it comes to the people he loves.

Ryder’s relationship with his family was fiercely complicated, but the way he loves and cares for his siblings is something strong. My favorite moments of this book were watching all four Colburn siblings coming together to deal with their shared trauma. It was extremely raw, but also realistic, with them poking fun at each other in between the heartfelt moments. Shalvis really captured that messy, beautiful bond between grown siblings who are still figuring it all out.

Penny was just as compelling - full of love in a world that has not been the kindest to her. Her relationships with her grandma and brother were so tender, and I wish we got more of her and her brother being vulnerable together. I also found myself craving a bit more backstory on her childhood, just to understand her inner world more deeply. However, watching her slowly open up to Ryder was sweet, and it felt like the more she opened up to him, the more she healed herself. Their connection wasn’t all sparks and flames - it was a slow-burn that felt like a soft place to land, which both of them needed.

As always, Jill Shalvis’s writing makes me so freakin happy. She really nailed the sibling dynamic in this book, in addition to the romance. I loved this book and can’t wait for the rest of the series! I tandem read this and loved both the physical and audio versions.

He Falls First is a great start to a new smalltown romance series - and the Colburn siblings are going to be a lot of fun! Jill Shalvis's books are always fun, feel-good romances with genuine characters. Penny & Ryder were a great couple to start the series with. They each bring their own physical and emotional scars to the table and help each other be vulnerable, ask for help, and move on from the past. And of course have fun in the moment and be open to love when it basically smacks you in the face. The Colburn siblings and their interactions throughout the book, especially between the three brothers, is fantastic! Looking forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

First- I love series that are based on brothers! Especially since we get to know the quirks of those men in each book that leads up to their own novel. Second- dual POV’s can sometimes be confusing but in this novel it allows the reader to see into each character in a way that brings insight into their interactions and really, really worked. Third- I love it when the hero has patience, is gentle, and eases into the heroine’s life rather than breaks down barriers. He Falls First was exactly that- Ryder was intrigued, attracted to, and patient with the very skittish Penny. When we learn her back story we can certainly see why she was all prickly and he worked for that happily ever after and I was all in for their story- 100%.

As with all of Jill Shalvis’ novels, the surrounding characters added a ton of heart to the main storyline. Ryder’s dynamic with a father who, due to his health, is no longer the man from his youth, Penny’s interfering grandmother, her fatherless brother Wyatt who years for a male figure to her worship, and of course Ryder’s brothers. I can’t wait to read the next novel in this series to see where the author takes all of these characters. This was a good one folks!

I love Jill Shalvis, but this book is too dark for me. It should have a content warning for childhood abuse. DNF after chapter 4.

This first book in the Colburn Brothers series by Jill Shalvis, was such a great feel-good read!

Ryder and Penny each had their scars from their past, and secrets in their lives, but they somehow find a way to overcome the obstacles in their way enough to work together to help Penny’s Aunt and her run-down home that Penny had to return to.

This is a book of forgiveness, moving on, and finding one’s strength. The romantic storyline was beautifully woven in the chaos and hidden dreams, one that slowly came together but at a perfectly written pace.

I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book and look forward to the next one in the series!

He Falls First by Jill Shalvis is the story of one woman who has good reasons to be wary of men and their promise of everlasting love and one man who should be wary too. Still it is a book of two characters who have troubled pasts finding exactly what it is that they need. An emotional yet fun story of complex characters. I like how patient Ryder is with Penny Rose in this carefully sympathetically written novel. A keeper for sure.