I am a big fan of Shalvis' books and was excited to see a new series. I always enjoy her books because not are the main characters lovable but the supporting characters play such a big role in the story too.

Ryder is so swoon worthy. He was so attune to Penny's needs and I love the slow burn romance. Both Ryder and Penny had great personal journey and I appreciate they worked on that.

Ryder's siblings added so much fun to the story. I am rooting for his sister and her journey with her kids. I can't wait to see which sibling's story is next.

I loved Penny's grandma and how she meddle in Penny's life. Penny's devotion to her grandmother and brother was endearing. I do love how Ryder incorporated into her family so well.

Thank you @sourcebookcasa for a copy of the book.

Penny is back in her hometown living with her grandmother and younger brother. She's just gotten out of an unhealthy relationship and is focusing on working on herself and spending time with her family. What she didn't expect is to get slowly and gently swept off her feet by one of the kindest romance heroes ever. Ryder grew up with an abusive father, who he now has to care for after a stroke left him incapacitated. Ryder also helps to support his sister who was recently widowed and runs a large company singlehandedly. He does this all, without a thought for himself until he meets Penny. Penny and Ryder get together in such a lovely way, just two imperfect people getting to know each other and finding their perfect match.

This is the first book in the Colburn Brothers series, and I can't wait to read the next one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

He Falls First is one of those feel-good romances that sneaks up on you with its emotional depth, lovable characters, and slow-burn goodness. Jill Shalvis kicks off her new Colburn Brothers series with Ryder and Penny’s story, and let me tell you- it’s tender, swoony, and packed with heart.

Ryder is the responsible, emotionally aware oldest brother in a family still healing from a rough past. Penny is a talented chef trying to rebuild her life after surviving an abusive relationship. Their chemistry is immediate, but what really got me was the way they handled each other, with patience, honesty, and real emotional maturity. The pacing of their romance felt just right, giving both characters space to grow while still pulling you into the warmth of their connection.

Shalvis brings her signature charm here, from the cozy small-town setting of Star Falls to the quirky side characters (including a parrot named Pika-Boo who steals scenes). The dialogue is snappy, the emotional beats hit just right, and the found-family vibes are strong. I closed the book feeling like I’d just been wrapped in a big, comforting hug.

If you love slow-burn romance with healing arcs, supportive families, and just the right mix of sweet and spicy, this one’s definitely worth picking up. I’m already counting down to the next Colburn brother’s story!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really live this one. This was such a good start od the series. I live the dinamics between main chatacters. They are sooo good together. And brotherly love, wow.
Can not wait for Calebs and Tuckers story.

This was an arc, soo big thanks to Netgally. I read it in one sitting.

Rating: 3.75/5

I enjoyed this book. It was sweet, fun, and easy to sink into. There were definitely some predictable and slightly cheesy moments, but the writing was strong and the tone stayed consistent throughout. The spicy scenes were well written and added a nice bit of tension to the story.

I liked the dynamic between Penny and Ryder, though their relationship did feel a little rushed in places. They went from interested to all-in pretty quickly, and I would’ve loved a bit more buildup or emotional tension along the way. I also thought the story was hinting at a bigger conflict (maybe with Penny’s ex?) but that never really materialized. Despite that, the book was still sweet and entertaining and I enjoyed it.

This book was swoon-worthy perfect. I really enjoyed reading Penny and Ryder's story, but the best character without a doubt was Penny's grandmother. This book will make you hungry - and that can definitely be taken both ways between the man that is Ryder and all the delicious sounding food mentioned throughout the book. Breakfast casserole anyone?

thank you to sourcebooks casablanca and net galley for this arc. i thought over all this was a good read, but just that, a good read. i didnt love it. but i didnt hate it. its hard to put into words how i really feel about it lol. but i would still recommend it.

Shalvis stirs up trouble with heat, humor and heart. He Falls First is an emotional paradox. Penny and Ryder thrive on being unpredictable. From surprise revelations to never ending shenanigans this duo is sure to keep emotions invested and readers craving more. Small town heart with big city drama and irresistible romance.

He Falls First is book one in the new series by Jill Shalvis and i was lucky enough to get an ARC to read. I loved this book and enjoyed all the emotions that came with it. Penny is a woman who never wants to fall in love again. She has been hurt in the past. She is living with her Grandmother and younger brother and taking care of them is her first priority. Ryder has had a tough past, childhood and losing a friend, now running the family business with his 2 brothers. I loved the way he is always there for Penny and also for his family no matter what. You can see through his actions how he falls hard for her first. There are some sad moments but there are funny moments, sexy moments, and soo many sweet moments that i wanna go back and read it again. I will be buying this in paperback on release day to add to my collection. Reading this gave me the same kinda feelings i got back when i read her Heartbreaker Bay series and i love those books. Added to my favorites for sure.

I love these kinds of books. They have just the right vibe, and are written so well. You fall in love with the main characters, and their families as well.

Ryder and Penny are perfect for each other. They have to fight to get there together, but the fight is so worth it.

The 3 brothers make it so easy to see this as a three part series, and I truly hope it is!!

I'd definitely recommend this book!!

Thanks to Netgalley, and the publisher, for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a wonderful book that was incredibly hard to put down. If it weren’t for having to adult and take care of my children on my day off, I would have finished the book in mere hours. Jill Shalvis wrote a beautiful book that flowed just perfectly making you get caught up in the story of Penny and Ryder.
I adore Penny’s grandma, Nell, she is a spitfire character who has a wonderful talking parrot (Pika-boo) who says awesome one-liners. Grandma Nell is not afraid to tell it how it is, or guilt trip someone into getting what she wants. She loves her grandchildren so much, and just wants them to be happy and successful life. Ryder’s brothers are also spitfire character who has no issues giving their big brother a bunch of crap. Even though the three brothers tease and torment each other, you can tell how much they support and love one another.
Then there are the main male/female characters Penny and Ryder. Both have baggage from their pasts and don’t think they will ever want a serious relationship. Of course, that was before they found one another. I felt that both characters had such wonderful growth throughout the novel and it made for such a wonderful read. I loved how they supported one another and didn’t make the others feel bad for being who they were. More people need to be like that in life. I am hoping there will be more books based on Ryders brothers and sister and we can see more of Penny and Ryder. I would 100% recommend this book!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an arc. I thought this was a good read, I just didn’t love it. Wasn’t really anything that stood out and connected me to the characters but I did enjoy overall.

A romance that focuses on two people who have been hurt in the past - abusive relationships in different ways.... Lots of hurt, fear, hesitation to trust etc.... We meet Penny, a chef who comes back to town to heal and take care of her younger brother and Ryder, a local who has taken care of his younger siblings all his life and is now caring for his father as well. Both characters put their families first always leaving little time for their own happiness.

With all that being said - we navigate through the characters meeting and falling head over heels for each other obviously. The book did suck me in, I wanted to see what was going to happen and I did LOVE the banter between the brothers and main characters! However, there was something about the writing style I just could not get on board with - there were repetitive references that bothered me, descriptive language I did not love and sentence structure that drove me nuts as well.... Do these things break the book/story for me, no..... but I did find myself rolling my eyes more than once and I am not sure I would read the next book in the Colburn brother series because of it.....

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

If you like sweet love stories this is the book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Penny didn't trust herself to love again, but along came Ryder and a great love story began.

Another laugh out loud heartwarming tale that will leave you smiling. Two troubled souls find love and a new path for a happy future. This story features two quirky families with all the drama that entails. Ryder is a unicorn that will steal your heart.

“He Falls First” by Jill Shalvis is a heartwarming, fun, and easy-to-read romance that pulls you in from the first page.
Ryder and Penny are two beautifully broken souls, each carrying emotional baggage, trying to rebuild their lives. Their chemistry is electric, their banter brings both laughs and feels, and the story delivers just the right mix of swoon and soul.
With its small-town charm, relatable characters, and a touch of humor, this is the kind of feel-good romance you’ll devour in one sitting. Perfect for fans of second chances, found family, and a hero who falls first (and falls hard). 💛

I totally enjoyed this story! Ryder is a dream. I love the interactions of the brothers-their love language is insults. Their care of their little sister and her kids is phenomenal. Ellie has her hurts that keep her bottled up but she loves her grandma and her little brother. Two family caretakers are bound to recognize one another and then what?

Jill Shalvis does not disappoint (does she ever) in this well-written novel that is populated with multi-dimensional, relatable characters,

I am an absolute FAN of the books of Jill Shalvis. I love her quick wit and books that are interesting to read and move along. I'm not sure if He Falls First just didn't sit right with me or if there was a difference in writing style for about the first 2/3's of the book, but this book just didn't draw me in like her other books!

I really didn't like the wishy washy emotions of Penny. I get it that she's been hurt, physically and emotionally, and has given up on men in general. Ryder seemed to get past her walls rather quickly, but she pulled back even when she thought it was the wrong thing to do.

Ryder was fabulous. Caring, tolerent, and patient even when he has SO MANY more family issues on his plate than Penny. I don't know why he stayed.

Now...the last third of the book was absolutely Jill Shalvis. That redeemed the whole book for me. Loose ends were tied up and there were tendrils leading me to believe that this WILL be another fabulous Shalvis series.

Four stars since I felt that the ending was perfect.

This was everything I love about a Jill Shalvis book, it had her signature wit, lovable small town charm, and banter that crackles. It gave me strong vibes of her earlier work (in the best way!) and introduced a new series I’m already hooked on.

Ryder is the ultimate grump with a marshmallow center 🥺— completely down bad for Penny, and I ate up every second of it. Penny stole my heart too, she’s always putting others first, so seeing her take a chance on love? Adorable. Add in hilarious, heartwarming side characters and the tight bond between the Colburn brothers, and I’m already desperate for their stories next. Bring on the next books!