She was holding everything together—until it all came undone.
Backlist pick: D’Angelos #1 (2022)—Little Italy warmth, found family, second chances.
What does “backlist” mean?
back·list /ˈbakˌlist/ noun
1 a publisher’s list of older books still in print. “backlist titles”
This is the first in my four-part D'Angelos series spotlight. Books #2–#4 reviews are coming soon—find the complete collection on the D'Angelos series page.
Title: When It Falls Apart by Catherine Bybee
Series: The D’Angelos #1
Publish Date: June 21, 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Second Chance Romance
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
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*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley; all opinions are my own.*Book Description
When It Falls Apart is an emotionally rich story that explores what happens when life’s foundations crumble and unexpected love offers a chance to rebuild.
Brooke Turner’s world shatters when she puts everything on hold to care for her estranged father—only to find herself abandoned by her longtime partner and uprooted to San Diego’s Little Italy. Grieving the loss of what she thought her life would be, Brooke moves into a rental above the D’Angelo family’s home and is pulled into a new kind of chaos—one with noisy siblings, heartfelt traditions, and a single father who doesn’t want her there.
Luca D’Angelo is fiercely protective of his young daughter and wary of letting strangers get too close. But Brooke's quiet strength, emotional vulnerability, and unshakable kindness start to break through his walls. As trust builds and sparks fly, both Luca and Brooke are faced with a difficult truth: sometimes love comes in the middle of life falling apart.
My Review
When It Falls Apart opens in the emotional aftermath of the pandemic and gently unfolds into a story about starting over. Brooke’s complicated relationship with her father—strained yet rooted in love—is at the center of her journey. Despite a painful history, she steps up to care for him, leaving behind a partner who never truly supported her. Her quiet strength and decision to walk away from a life lacking commitment was, in its own way, a powerful act of self-love.
She’d once been told not to expect the fairy tale—by someone who never believed in showing up for her. That memory lingers until the very moment her world shifts.
It’s worth noting how Luca’s daughter, Franny, becomes the unexpected bridge between two guarded hearts. Her innocence and charm soften Brooke’s resolve and quietly draw Luca into her orbit. Without fanfare, Franny sets their love story in motion—proof that sometimes, the smallest characters have the greatest impact.
Once Brooke lands in San Diego’s Little Italy, the warm, chaotic, and deeply loyal D’Angelo family creates the foundation for what becomes a bittersweet, heartfelt romance. Through quiet acts of kindness and understanding, Luca opens up. And Brooke—who once believed she didn’t need the fairy tale—realizes that sometimes, love finds you exactly when you stop chasing it.
One moment sealed it all:
“Thank you, Luca.”
“For what?”
“Giving me the fairy tale.”
Quote Spotlight
“Sometimes family are the people that you choose and not the people that you’re born to.”
Series Progress Tracker: The D’Angelos
Book 1: When It Falls Apart ✅
Book 2: Begin Again (review coming soon)
Book 3: Making It Right (review coming soon)
Book 4: Be Your Everything (review coming soon)
Final Thoughts
*When It Falls Apart* is more than just a second chance romance—it's a heartfelt journey about finding your footing when life unravels. Brooke’s emotional strength, Luca’s steady presence, and the bond that grows between them remind us that love often shows up when we least expect it.
The story touches gently on the realities of post-pandemic life, highlighting how personal priorities shift when faced with uncertainty. Readers will appreciate how Catherine Bybee layers in real emotional stakes with the vibrant charm of the D’Angelo family.
In the end, Brooke may not have set out in search of a fairy tale—but thanks to Luca, she got one anyway.
Join the Conversation
Have you read When It Falls Apart? What do you think about romances that grow out of heartbreak and healing? And which D’Angelo sibling stole your heart first?
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