A fiercely independent woman. A man who’s always loved her quietly. When their worlds collide, everything changes.
Get ready for a heart-melting, small-town romance that sneaks up on you.
Title: He Falls First by Jill Shalvis
Series: Colburn Brothers #1
Publish Date: August 5, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Book Description
No one is going to convince her to fall in love again...
Ryder Colburn has his hands full running the family business and caring for the ailing father who’s a virtual stranger from the cold, heavy-handed man he used to be. He’s got zero free time for hobbies or women. Or so he thinks until one walks into his life… and the path of an oncoming car.
Ryder doesn’t mind playing the hero for the skittish, scarred chef Penny. Maybe it’s the secrets in her eyes or the scar on her chin. Whatever the reason, he’s compelled to get closer.
Penny’s learned her lesson and now she’s paying the price. That’s why she’s sharing a dilapidated house in a tiny California town with her feisty grandmother and tween brother living off the leftovers from her catering job. It’s a far cry from her dream life. But who needs dreams… or love… or sex when there’s amateur plumbing projects to tackle and breakfast casseroles to bake?
One thing’s for sure, she’s never falling in love again. Not even with the sexy, snarky contractor who keeps testing the walls she’s built.
My Review
Penny Colburn didn’t plan on becoming the family’s safety net. But when her mother skipped town, leaving her younger brother Wyatt and their grandmother to fend for themselves, Penny did what she always does—she stepped up.
Love isn't in her plans, not when survival comes first. But some people are worth reconsidering those plans for.
Ryder Colburn, the quiet rock of his family, has watched Penny from afar, respecting her walls but never leaving. When family ties, small-town legends, and a lifetime of unsaid words pull them closer, Ryder is ready to fall first… if Penny will let him.
This book had me hooked from the start. Jill Shalvis is a master at slow-burn, heartfelt romances, and He Falls First might just be my favorite. Ryder’s steady, quiet love is the kind that stays with you. Penny’s fierce independence makes their connection feel earned, not given.
The Colburn family dynamics add so much heart. These siblings survived a stern, emotionally distant father, and now, as adults, they’re still learning how to navigate love, grief, and connection. Their banter is hilarious, but their loyalty is what makes them unforgettable.
The Legend of Star Falls—the myth that three falling stars will bring you your soulmate—adds a magical thread to a story deeply grounded in real, messy emotions. And when those stars show up, the payoff is *chef’s kiss* perfect.
Favorite Quotes
Having you in my life has made me a better man, that I’m so in love with you I can no longer remember what it was like without you. That my present and future are yours.
If you let fear run your life, you’ll never know what you missed out on.
Ryder: "Sometimes I look at you and I can’t breathe"
Penny: “You probably just need an allergy pill.”
Character Spotlight
Ryder Colburn:The silent protector whose love runs deep. Haunted by guilt over his best friend’s death, Ryder carries his family with a quiet strength. His devotion to Penny is patient, unwavering, and will make you swoon.
Penny Colburn:A talented chef turned reluctant caretaker, Penny returns home after leaving a toxic relationship. Fiercely independent, she puts her family’s needs before her own dreams, but beneath her guarded exterior is a woman learning to believe in love again.
Kiera Colburn:Ryder’s sister, a grieving widow, fiercely independent but struggling to find her way after the loss of her husband Auggie.
Caleb & Tucker Colburn:Brothers bonded by survival. Caleb is the protector who avoids emotions; Tucker, the sarcastic rebel who feels everything deeply.
Hank Colburn:Their father, once stern and emotionally distant, now dependent after strokes. The siblings’ care for him is a quiet act of complex love.
Grandma:The no-nonsense matriarch with Brazilian-Italian roots. She’s sharp, loving, and never holds back.
Wyatt:Penny’s half-brother, whose plea for help brings Penny home and reshapes her path.
Pika-boo:Their mischievous parakeet, known for blurting out questions about bowel movements at the worst moments. His comedic timing is impeccable.
Cheese Puff Moment 🧀😳
Penny’s attempt to maintain her dignity is ruined when a cheese puff tumbles out of her shirt mid-conversation. Her deadpan, “Well, that’s not embarrassing at all,” perfectly captures the book’s blend of humor and heart.
Final Thoughts
He Falls First is more than a romance—it’s a story of family, forgiveness, and falling in love with someone who’s been there all along.
There’s a reason Jill Shalvis books always find a home on my shelves—and in my heart. He Falls First is a story of quiet devotion, messy families, and finding love in the most unexpected ways.
When Ryder tells Penny, “You take my breath away,” it wasn’t just a swoony moment—it also felt like a perfect nod to my ongoing series celebrating quotes that do exactly that. So of course, I will have to feature this book in one of my Takes My Breath Away series.
If you’re a fan of small-town romances with heart, humor, and heroes who fall first (and hard), this is a must-read. 💕 Explore more in Contemporary Romance .
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis writes contemporary romance and romantic comedies filled with madcap adventures and shenanigans and sexy times. She’s sold twenty million plus copies worldwide to date and lives with her family in a small mountain town near Lake Tahoe full of quirky characters. (Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is mostly coincidental.)
Follow Jill Shalvis on Website, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
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