After We Fall

Actual Rating 4.5 stars After We Fall is a beautiful and emotional second chance love story. It will make you cry and break your heart, but just as quickly, it will make you laugh out loud and feel giddy with hope. I loved Jack and Margot - both individually and together. I also loved that the story was told from both of their points of views and that we got glimpses into the feelings and reasons they were acting the way they were. On paper, Margot and Jack couldn't be more different, but once the walls and masks fell away, they really complemented each other so well. I did want to scream at Jack a few times for the way he behaved, but in the end it was hard not to fall in love with him after everything he had experienced. Plus, there were plenty of swoony and steamy moments that left me blushing! Let's just say, that I have a new appreciation for farmers! ;) The other characters in the book were just as great! I loved Jack's brothers, Pete and Brad, and his sister in law, Georgia, and how cute was his nephew, Cooper!? My heart melted every time they were together. I liked that his family pushed when they needed to, but also just supported Jack the way that they thought was most helpful (even if Jack didn't/couldn't see it that way). I especially enjoyed Margot's best friend, Jamie. She is the girlfriend we all need, who will tell you like it is, but still have your back 100%. One of my favorite parts of the book though, were all the scone puns! Seriously, they were so funny and helped lighten the mood when things got a little heavy. I definitely enjoyed After We Fall a lot and the only reason it's not 5 stars for me is that I'm not really a fan of the dead spouse/lover storyline and I thought the ending chapters felt a little rushed. The epilogue was perfection though and Melanie's writing is so witty and relatable that this was still an amazing read! If you're really not a fan of the dead spouse trope though, you may not enjoy the book as much since it plays a big part in Jack's character arc.

Here's a secret: yes, some books are definitely pallette cleansers and simple. But those fillers are some of my guiltless pleasures. After We Fall definitely fits in that catagory. 📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Jack cares about one thing and one thing only: his farm. After battling PTSD and losing his wife, he has no room for anything else but farming. And in comes Margot, sweeping into his life with new PR and plans to take his farm to the next level. 🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: All the best romance tropes in one book. Grumpy-sunshine, enemies-to-lovers, famer and city girl so opposites attract. Was there instalove? Absolutely. Did I care? Not one bit. Jack was all the best kinds of grumpy and walled off. Margot wasn't your typical naive damsel - she was smart and educated and funny to read. The added layer of Jack's loss of his wife was really authentic and read so realistically I found myself feeling for the fictional man. Sometimes simple is what we need. And this one delivered it so well. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶

There is nothing better than a good book on a long road trip to pass the time. The next thing I knew, we were two hours away from home, (having been on the road for nine hours) and I had just finished what is sure to be a favorite for those that are fans of Melanie Harlow. She has written a sweet and sad story about a man that loved his wife. He grieves for her, yearns for her touch and blames himself for her death. If you are a lover of romance books, you have probably already read this familiar trope. The great thing about this story, is that the characters have such great depth and chemistry that this familiar story line does not get old. Rather, we get to see how tragic once again death of a loved one truly is. Jack is a farmer. A rugged, dirty, damaged hot ex-army farmer. He lives his life, takes care of his family's farm and punishes himself with the idea that the love of his life's death was his fault. He will never love, marry, or have children. He believes he does not deserve to. Well.... Then we get Margot. A spoiled rich girl/marketing genius. She loves luxury and the country club, but not in the way one might think. She loves to help people achieve their dreams. Small businesses pay her a sum to help with PR and Valentini farms is her next project. What she doesn't account for is super hot farmer, swimming naked...in a lake...climbing a tree for a better look. Shame on Margot! She got an eyeful for sure. Jack, standing on the pier, water rivulets streaming down his body. Tanned and toned and oh so big... She has not experienced men at their greatest. She almost married a total douche of a man, (pink polo shirts and white shorts) just for the sake of getting married. Experience she lacks, but she wants to experience Jack. Even though he is a brooding grumpy farmer who seems completely irritated with the fact she wants to change things on HIS farm, she wants him. And quite honestly, he wants her too, even though it totally pisses him off. That mad irritation leads to some pretty crazy amazing sex. Up against a tree, in a truck, on the floor. They are electric together. When crazy hot chemistry leads to true feelings, Jack is not sure he can do it. She isn't asking for any promises, just a chance to see what they could be together. Jack on the other hand, is scared to death that he will betray his wife's memory by learning to love another. He shouldn't get a second chance he already had his first. Could he find his last with Margot? I absolutely loved Melanie's take on loss and how difficult it is to find that love again. Margot is sweet and lovely and not at all the typical spoiled rich girl. She is understanding and sassy and fun and everything that Jack wants but doesn't. She never pushes him to be something he isn't, she just gives him everything that she is. I loved them together. Their chemistry was off the charts, but their true connection was what really made this story. Margot just wants her first love, Jack is not sure he deserves a last.

I normally don’t leave reviews, but I wanted to say how great this book was! It was well written, had a thoughtful story line and lots of humorous moments. I loved the characters and how they grew and changed through it all, and most of all, how they kept it real. It was sweet and touching with just the right amounts of steam.

One of the many things I love about book signing events is that I am introduced to new-to-me authors. Melanie Harlow is attending Four Brits Book Fest in York at the end of this month, and there have been lots of readers in the attendee group talking about her stories which of course made my FOMO appear. After We Fall is the first book by Ms. Harlow that I have read and OMG why has it taken so long to find this author! I absolutely adore this story. The characters, the emotions, the settings and the storyline are all incredible. My heart hurt for Jack. What he has been through and continues to go through absolutely broke my heart. It’s so easy for someone on the outside to see things from a different perspective, yet I believe individuals can react to a situation in different ways. There is no right nor wrong in some instances. What matters is not only having the correct support from family, friends and professionals but also allowing the individual time to come to terms with past events no matter how long it may take. I absolutely adore Margot. The maturity, patience, care and understanding she shows throughout the book makes me want her to be within my close circle. I loved witnessing the interactions between her and Jack. I instantly saw that they could be perfect for each other, however, they have so many obstacles to overcome and I loved how emotional their story made me feel. There is nothing I didn’t love about After We Fall. I highly recommend this book to you to read – although I seem to be rather late to this party and I suspect many of you have already read Jack and Margot’s story. I’m already looking forward to reading more from this author and meeting her in a few weeks’ time.

I had been putting off reading After we fall for sometime because I didn't want to face the angst of a lost wife, as well as this concept not always sitting right with me - that a character can have more than one "love of their lifes". However I was not dissapointed when I finally bit the bullet and dived in. After we Fall is an emotional journey which covers many themes; heart breaking loss, grief, guilt, self hate, PTSD, as well as forgiveness, acceptance and love. It is all woven together so respectfully and compassionately, pulling you in and tugging on your heart strings that I was a believer in fate and things happening for a reason leading to the possibilty of love at first sight and different loves for the different people we can be over the course of our lives. Jack and Margot were such engaging characters that were so realistic with their flaws and all. I loved their light and shade and how their differences complimented each other. Their instant chemistry sizzled off the page and I was falling right along with them. Even though it was fast paced, it didn't feel rushed. Their experiences had depth and a genuine connection and attraction, making for a believable, heart felt story, that reminded of the healing power of forgiveness, letting go and love

After We Fall foi um sucesso de críticas quando do seu lançamento, super comentado nos blogs e motivo de elogios a autora. Merecidamente, os elogios são plenamente justificados pela delicada e emocionante história de amor que une Jack e Margot. Este é o que se pode chamar de um romance clássico que combina um herói atormentado pelo passado e uma heroína que o salva de uma vida triste e insatisfatória. Jack é um veterano de guerra que passou por diversas situações de estresse e que vê sua vida tomar um rumo inesperado ao perder a jovem esposa Steph. O estresse da guerra e a perda da esposa o tornam um homem recluso, triste e que recusa tratamento médico e não tem ânimo para recomeçar a viver plenamente sua vida. Quando ele conhece Margot sua vida muda, porém ele reluta em deixar o passado e seguir em frente. Esta é uma história bastante bonita, centrada nos personagens principais, suas interações, na construção do envolvimento inicial, a atração física rapidamente se transformando em afeto. Tanto a trama quanto os personagens conquistam a atenção desde as primeiras páginas do livro. Jack e Margot são concebidos de forma realista, com falhas, medos, inseguranças e imperfeições. Fáceis em inspirar simpatia, foi natural torcer por seu final feliz. O conflito que se estabelece e afasta o casal é resolvido de forma bastante realista e sem excesso de drama. A autora deu a ambos, Jack e Margot, tempo para refletir sobre suas vidas e seu futuro, e sua reaproximação em nada pareceu falsa ou forçada. Recomendo, com toda a certeza, aos leitores que apreciam uma história bela e super romântica.

Nice easy read. A sweet story of a widowed farmer and a city girl who meet and fall for one another