The Hardest Fall

New Adult/Sports Romance - Zoe and Dylan cross paths a few times over a period of years. Each time, they are not in a situation where they can act on their feelings of attraction. In a twist of fate, they become roommates. This romance is also what I would label as a slow burn. We watch as they get to know one another, but there are circumstances/secrets that delay them taking their relationship beyond friendship.

This romance kept me interested all the way through. There are some unique parts to this story that add tension and make for the slow burn. The sports/football element to the story is there, but not overly so even though Dylan is good enough to be drafted to the NFL and a lot of the conflict in the story centers around his show more college coach.

This is my second book by Ella Maise and my favorite so far. show less

4.6 stars

This author is quickly becoming one of my favorites. The storyline is always excellent, dialogue is spot on and Her characters are truly sublime. I laughed out loud several times at the ramblings of Zoe. I used to have that problem too. Dylan was delicious and together they were perfect. I wasn't expecting the twist in this story. Well played.

Highly recommend this story.

The Hardest fall drew me in right away with that cover. I am so in love with that cover!! I liked Zoe-she is so strange and quirky it was fun! Then this thing with Mark (the football coach) threw me. And I struggled with her after that. Why did she let him treat her so poorly; Why did she didn't tell anyone but Kayla and Jared, etc. She was a smart girl and fairly independent so her determination to do everything Mark asked of her for 3 years despite how awful he had been was baffling.

The winner of this book is Dylan! He is hilarious, endearing, and a football player who isn't a man whore. That bears repeating: footballer who isn't a whore. I love that Maise wrote a character like Dylan!

Kayla is Zoe's best friend and her story has a show more heartbreaking culmination. While it didn't have anything to do with Zoe and Dylan, I think it was really appropriate in a college based romance. The reality of Kayla's story plays out on campuses all across the country and I think its important to bring all the attention possible to this struggle.

The Hardest Fall is slow burn for sure! Zoe and Dylan dance around each other for month. As the reader, you know both find the other attractive, but Dylan thinks Zoe has a boyfriend and Zoe feels that she can't start anything with a football player. This was a great example of how perfect a friends to lovers romance can be!

I have listened to many books narrated by Lidia Dornet and she does a fabulous job! This was my first book narrated by Alexander Cendese and he was good. His attempts at the voice of female characters often came across a bit screechy. That was my biggest struggle.

 

• POV: dual 1st


• Tears: a few


• Trope: opposites attract, friends to lovers


• Triggers: Kayla is physically and sexually abused by her boyfriend. There is no details about the rape but there is a scene of physical abuse between the boyfriend, Kayla, and Zoe that could be upsetting to readers who have experienced domestic abuse


• Series/Standalone: stand alone


• Cliffhanger: no


• HEA: yes, with epilogue

The Hashtag Series by Cambria Hebert, How to Date a Douchebag series by Sara Ney, I Dare You by Ilsa Madden-Mills...then you will probably like The Hardest Fall!

 


The Hardest Fall


 

See full review on The Book Disciple show less

I did not like the book. I never finished it to be honest and I cannot bring myself to pick it up and read the rest of the pages. I got annoyed with the time jumps and how one of the main characters had a boyfriend or a girlfriend each time they were seeing each other in the first 1/3 of the book. I also didn't want to read about the threesome the hero's girlfriend had. I just wanted to read some romance and not stuff like that. When I stopped reading the book, the hero and the heroine were still friends and I don't think they will cross the line very soon. I am not familiar with the author, so I am not sure if it was her or me or something in-between. I will remain neutral on the recommendation since I never managed to finish the book show more for some reason. I just don't want to read it and I cannot bring myself to click on the cover of the book on my kindle. It's a little messed up. show less

I really enjoyed this book, I was hooked by the first sentence.
I really like the recipe of alternating between the main characters because it helps to know them better. Although it rarely explores besides the times they are together in a scene. If the author had allowed us to see more of their time apart it would enrich the characters and allows to know them better. Nevertheless, I really did enjoy it. It feels really fun sometimes and you could feel their feelings building up.
There were some really steaming scenes!

But I couldn't understand if the author really intended for the characters to tell the story or if they sometimes talked to the reader to make a point or hint about something in the near future...that really threw me show more off...like:
"If you could’ve stepped into that bathroom with us, you wouldn’t have been able to tell which one of us was holding the other tighter under the water."

It was the first time I read an ebook. I really do prefer the real thing. However, it wasn't a bad experience. I was addicted, I really wanted to know what was going to happen, and all I had to do was pick up my phone.

I will definitely read more of this author. Although there was something missing, I wasn't completely embedded I have come to appreciate Colleen Hoover a lot, and you thing that she can do besides get you addicted to the book is making you feel that you are there, you can really feel the characters emotions, that didn't happen here. I missed feeling overwhelmed by the emotions which felt disappointed because I really like them. So I hope the author improves that.
And I must say that it was not predicted, it has some unexpected twists that I really enjoyed.
So keep up the good work, Ella Maise. show less