Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
This was such a sweet reverse age gap story. The quick origin story was just enough in the beginning and having more details thrown in as they were relevant to their current story was a great way to keep going back to the second chance trope, Kat and Jake were POLAR opposites and I enjoyed seeing them connect. I loved that Jake made a point to remember small things about Kat and even about Kat's daughter, like the orange tootsie pop.
The only problem I had with the story was the excess details of Kat's job that weren't necessary to the story, those parts ended up being skimmed.

This book I struggled with especially getting into the flow of the first portion of the story.

While this might be a favourite of some people I stepped out of my normal genre and decided to try something different after reading
the premise of this book. Unfortunately this was not a book I really enjoyed.

The premise sounded great. The characters were OK. Just not my cup of tea

Thank you NetGalley & She Writes Press for this arc read.

Okay, look. I primarily read horror and thrillers. I like a weird puzzle to solve. Sometimes, however, I need a straightforward love story. "And They Had a Great Fall" from Shelby Saville is the latest to fill that need.

Kat is a single mother and widow. She's on the C-Suite track at her tech company job, often working 14, 15 hour days. Three years prior, her husband, Ben, died from cancer, and Kat wants to make sure that their daughter has the best life possible.

Jake is a movie star on the rise. He's young, he's handsome, he's famous. Jake is also the son of Kat's next-door neighbors. Despite the 8-year age difference, Kat and Jake connected during the pandemic and found they had the beginnings of a relationship.

Now, a year later, Jake calls Kat from Copenhagen in full meltdown mode. He doesn't know who he is or why he's having so much trouble with his current role. Kat is on the verge of the largest product launch of her career, which is leading to her much-desired promotion.

These are two people who are at turning points in life. Kat is working harder than ever, neglecting a work-life balance. Jake's rise to stardom is getting faster, and keeping his relationship with Kat a secret is starting to impinge on his fame. These two people are drawn to each other and are pulled apart by their self-interests.
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Let's address the elephant in the room. Is this similar to "The Idea of You"? Sure, if you want to give into the older woman, younger man thing. But here's the thing: the age difference in this story is much less aggressive (8 years vs. 19 years). This is also, somehow, more realistic. A young widow focused on her career and family is easier to connect with than a wealthy gallery owner.

Shelby Saville develops flawed characters who grow realistically throughout this novel. The setting of Copenhagen and New York adds to the plot, as both cities add their character to the story. Each person is layered; it isn't just a young party boy and a career-focused woman. It's a man struggling with fame, isolated from his family and friends. It's a woman who is still grieving and wants to provide the best life for her daughter, no matter what it takes.

Now....who is going to play Jake in the movie....

Thanks to NetGalley, Shelby Saville, and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! While I felt the first half of the book felt rushed, the chemistry and dialogue between Jake and Kat was quite excellent. The pacing for the second half was better and there were some great emotional, self reflective moments.

And They Had a Great Fall is the perfect blend of angst, chemistry, and heartfelt emotion—a reverse age-gap romance where he falls first, and oh, does he fall hard. If The Idea of You walked, And They Had a Great Fall ran with the celebrity-normal person trope, delivering a love story that is equal parts steamy and deeply emotional.

Told in dual POV, we get both Jake’s swoony, determined pursuit and the internal tug-of-war that makes this relationship feel so authentic. If you’re picturing Timothée Chalamet as Jake? Same. The open-door spice is deliciously balanced with real vulnerability, making their connection feel electric yet grounded.

With its mix of glamour, self-discovery, and off-the-charts tension, this is a must-read for fans of unconventional love stories.

Thank you NetGalley and She Writes Press for providing this ARC.
The storyline was good, a love story between a twenty five year old famous actor and a thirty three year old single mom. I found that the second half of the book was better, with the emotion building from how the main characters struggled to make their relationship work. However, the ending was a bit rushed. When they parted ways, we didn’t get to know how Jake overcame the heartbreak and hadn’t fallen back to his dark period of partying and drug.
My rating : 3,5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and She Writes Press for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~ Widow
~ Mental health support
~ second chance
~Age Gap
~Celebrity romance
~Pandemic romance
~Single Mom

“And to my favorite girl out there . . .” He dug into his pocket and held up a small object. The camera zoomed in on an orange Tootsie Pop. “Thanks for sending me with a good luck charm . . . It worked! I love you, sweetheart.”

“Kat’s tears were simply physical drops of joy.”

I loved this book! This is the first book I’ve read where the romance began during the pandemic, I love how relatable the book is to that time of life.
I enjoyed the growth of the characters from the beginning to the end. Thank you for breaking my heart but putting it back together.

I was surprised to learn this was a debut author for how well it was written. Jake, a broken man and young actor reaches out to a former friend and lover Kate, a widow and young mother up for a major promotion and she flies to Denmark to help him find his way. As they explore each other and fall in love, he helps her figure out what is really important in life.

And They Had a Great Fall was a short and sweet love story about two adults coming together to find themselves. It took me some time to get in to the story and understand/ like the characters, and I wish the end didn’t feel so rushed, but I devoured the book in a day and a half and cried multiple times. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

*Thank you NetGalley and She Writes Press for to opportunity to read the ARC for And They Had a Great Fall*

At first I wasn't sure about how to be supportive of Kat and Jake's relationship because they are obviously so different- Jake being a young celebrity, and Kat being a mom and corporation powerhouse. Shelby Saville does such a great job at keeping the story engaging and developing the characters relationships, not only with each other but with themselves. The emotions of the characters are so raw and real and had me crying during a few chapters. Having both gone through intense emotional hardships, you really are rooting for them to help each other heal and work hard for their own personal goals throughout the book.

*Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Jake Laurent is the “human equivalent of Friday,” a young actor rising to stardom but struggling under the weight of public pressure. Kat Green, on the other hand, is “Monday,” a single mother juggling a demanding career while barely holding herself together. A year after their secret, casual affair during the pandemic, the two cross paths once again in Copenhagen, the “city of fairy tales.” But neither of their lives resemble a fairy tale.

For Jake, Kat is an escape from fame’s relentless glare. For Kat, Jake offers a brief reprieve from her carefully controlled world. But as their connection deepens, the security Kat has worked so hard to build for her daughter is put at risk, and Jake must decide whether he can protect their relationship without sacrificing his own career. And They Had a Great Fall is a heartfelt exploration of two people rediscovering themselves and each other in pursuit of a true happily ever after.

I generally enjoyed And They Had a Great Fall, especially its unique setting of Copenhagen. The backdrop felt fresh and added a distinctive charm to the story, immersing me in a city I’ve not yet had the pleasure of visiting, and is one I don’t often encounter in romance novels. Shelby Saville did a great job of making the setting feel vibrant and alive, which added depth to Jake and Kat’s journey.

The story itself is sweet and emotional, exploring themes of vulnerability, fame, motherhood, and personal growth. Kat and Jake are two very different people at different stages in life, yet their connection feels believable and heartfelt. Their chemistry works, and their struggles are relatable, especially Kat’s as a single mother trying to protect her family.

That said, the writing style didn’t fully work for me. I struggled to get into the book initially, and at times, the pacing felt uneven. There were moments when the story slowed too much or felt repetitive, which made it harder to stay fully engaged. Despite this, I can see this book resonating with other readers, particularly fans of books like The Idea of You - the themes of complicated relationships and self discovery align well.

Overall, And They Had a Great Fall is a tender and thought-provoking romance that will appeal to those looking for a love story with emotional depth. While it wasn’t completely my cup of tea, I would still recommend it to others.

I’m not gonna lie, I struggled with the first 25% of this book and almost DNF’d it. 🫣 I couldn’t connect to the characters and it just seemed like it kind of dragged on a bit. However, I’m glad I stuck it out. I really enjoyed the 2nd half of the book. Learning why Kat was so determined and uptight and then how she grew and changed as the book went on was my favorite part. It had so much heart and dealt with some pretty heavy topics well. The ending felt a little rushed, but I enjoyed reading it.

Thank you to She Writes Press for the advanced copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed above are my own.

My rating for this book is 3.5 stars from 5.

First I would like to say I really liked the writing. It had depth, and there were moments where the emotions really hit. That said, I found some of the dialogue and descriptions a bit unoriginal. So while the writing was good, it didn’t feel entirely fresh.

Now, about the story—it dragged in places. A lot of time was spent talking about their work, like Jake’s life on set and Kat’s career. I get that we need to know the characters, but it felt excessive. Those parts made the book feel longer than it needed to be, almost like filler.

What I did enjoy, though, was the emotional depth of the characters. Jake’s struggles with fame, mental health, and addiction added a lot of complexity, and Kat’s grief over losing her husband and her guilt about moving on were handled beautifully. These heavier themes—grief, mental health, guilt—were definitely the highlights for me. Despite their differences in age, personality, and lifestyle, Jake and Kat’s connection felt real and believable. I liked how their personalities complemented each other, and their chemistry really came through in their dialogue.

The setting in Copenhagen was another strong point. It added a unique atmosphere to the story that I really enjoyed.

However, I wasn’t happy with the ending. After a big fight where Jake messed up by publishing their story without Kat’s consent, which at the same time was a already very predictable plot twist, they broke up, and she avoided him for six months. Then, out of nowhere, she texted him, and they had a short conversation that felt too rushed and too easy. I wanted to see them work through their issues together, not just skip ahead to four years later where everything is magically perfect. Jake hurt her, and while it’s clear he worked on himself, I feel like he needed to grovel more. That part of the resolution felt too convenient and unsatisfying.

Overall, the book had its moments. I liked the emotional depth and the characters’ individual struggles, but the pacing, excessive details about their jobs, and the rushed ending held it back for me. I’m glad they got their happy ending, but I wish it had been more earned.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this arc.

As much as I wanted to like this one based on the synopsis, I learned very quickly that this book was not for me. It's similar to The Idea of You, but didn't quite captivate me as much as that one did. I DNF'd about 30% in. I do think this book could be great for the right audience, just not for me.

✨ARC Review✨
📚 Book: “And They Had A Great Fall”by Shelby Saville’s
🗓️Release Date: 3/11/25
🌟Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖Review: “And They Had a Great Fall”
is a beautiful, messy, and deeply human story—one that will stay with you long after the last page. Highly recommended for anyone who loves romance with a thoughtful, introspective edge. The novel follows Jake Laurent, a young actor struggling under the pressure of rising fame, and Kat Green, a dedicated single mother balancing her career and personal life. Their secret affair during the pandemic, built on fleeting moments of connection, resurfaces a year later in Copenhagen—the "city of fairy tales." But as they reconnect, it becomes clear that neither is living the dream life they once imagined.

The book explores heavy themes such as the objectification of famous people by society, self-discovery, and the tension between love and fame. It’s an insightful reflection on the nature of celebrity and how people can be reduced to mere commodities in the eyes of the public. Yet, at its heart, this is a story of two individuals pushing through their own insecurities and fears to find something real.

Saville’s writing is engaging, and the novel kept my attention from start to finish. I found myself emotionally invested in both Jake and Kat’s journey, crying several times as they navigated their personal and professional struggles. The emotional depth is real, and the author handles the complexities of their relationship with nuance and sensitivity.

DNF at 25% – I was really looking forward to this book, but unfortunately, it ended up being a DNF for me. The writing style didn't quite click; there was a lot of telling through dialogue rather than showing, which made it hard for me to fully immerse myself in the story. I also struggled to connect with the characters, which made continuing difficult.

Kat, a widow with a small child and a high powered corporate job binds with her neighbors son during Covid. They go their separate ways afterwards but neither can shake the other. Jake, a-list actor, is having trouble connecting with his role and calls the first person he thinks of to help, Kat. She doesn’t hesitate to fly to Copenhagen to work on a major project at her company’s home base and help Jake. From there the love grows stronger but Kat is hesitant due to the high profile life Jake leads. This is a story about two people meant to be together that just have to learn how to make it work. I enjoyed the whole book and couldn’t put it down!

It was a good book, not the best, but the story was good behind it all.
I don't have really anything to say about the book that was standing out to me . I would for sure recommend this book but I wouldn't read it again for fun.

I am grateful that I had the opportunities to have read this book.

Cheers,
Cass's Bookshelf

And They Had a Great Fall is a sweet romance by Shelby Saville. In this story, single mom, Kat and famous actor, Jake take us with them on their journey of the love they have for each other and the obstacles they encounter. Kat and Jake are both characters you’ll find yourself invested in. If you liked The Idea of You by Robinne Lee, you’ll enjoy this one, as well. Thank you to NetGalley and to She Writes Press for this ARC. I’m grateful for the opportunity.

This book is the epitome of how timing is everything as well as the realization as to what is truly important. Kat during the majority of her life did not create a distinction as what it feels to be herself versus what she thinks is important in terms of financial success. Kat was extraordinary successful at Path and in fact was in the primary candidate for COO; however, she was a shell of herself after Ben and only worked. She was never truly happy and wanted to be there as a mother to Becca. Unfortunately, she was there to act as a mother rather than truly be there in experiencing moments with her as a mother. Jake was hugely successful as an actor but was lost as a person as he didn't know who he was beyond the character he was meant to play. Yes, they took time apart but it made them realize how much better they are together. Love cannot be replicated and doesn't fall apart.