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VIP #3
Fall
The first time I met Jax Blackwood things went a little sideways.
In my defense, I didn’t know he was Jax Blackwood—who expects a legendary rock star to be shopping for groceries? More importantly, a blizzard was coming and he was about to grab the last carton of mint-chocolate chip.
Still, I might have walked away, but then he smugly dared me to try and take the coveted ice cream. So I kissed him. And distracted that mint-chip right out of his hands.
Okay, it was a dirty move, but desperate times and all that. Besides, I never expected he’d be my new neighbor.
An annoying neighbor who takes great pleasure in reminding me that I owe him ice cream but would happily accept more kisses as payment. An irresistible neighbor who keeps me up while playing guitar naked–spectacularly naked–in his living room.
Clearly, avoidance is key. Except nothing about Jax is easy to ignore—not the way he makes me laugh, or that his particular brand of darkness matches mine, or how one look from him melts me faster than butter under a hot sun.
Neither of us believes in love or forever. Yet we’re quickly becoming each other’s addiction. But we could be more. We could be everything.
All we have to do is trust enough to fall.
In my defense, I didn’t know he was Jax Blackwood—who expects a legendary rock star to be shopping for groceries? More importantly, a blizzard was coming and he was about to grab the last carton of mint-chocolate chip.
Still, I might have walked away, but then he smugly dared me to try and take the coveted ice cream. So I kissed him. And distracted that mint-chip right out of his hands.
Okay, it was a dirty move, but desperate times and all that. Besides, I never expected he’d be my new neighbor.
An annoying neighbor who takes great pleasure in reminding me that I owe him ice cream but would happily accept more kisses as payment. An irresistible neighbor who keeps me up while playing guitar naked–spectacularly naked–in his living room.
Clearly, avoidance is key. Except nothing about Jax is easy to ignore—not the way he makes me laugh, or that his particular brand of darkness matches mine, or how one look from him melts me faster than butter under a hot sun.
Neither of us believes in love or forever. Yet we’re quickly becoming each other’s addiction. But we could be more. We could be everything.
All we have to do is trust enough to fall.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2018
740 people are currently reading
15384 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Callihan
29 books14k followersKristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she'd rather be. She is a RITA winner and three-time nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer's Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine's Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,106 reviews
October 30, 2018
where is the angst tho
so if you didn't already know, i waited for over a year for this book. i prayed and i waited and i wished for it to come to me sooner but alas. i still had to wait until october. and i'm a little bit disappointed.
i think the biggest issue i had with this book was that jax's character seemed so incongruous with the characterization he's given in the previous 2 books. he's the other lead singer & guitarist for Kill John and he attempted suicide before the events of the 1 books (these are standalones but they're all about one band). when we get to meet him he's really sullen and angry and angsty. and i was thrilled to read about a character who's obviously been through some shit.
but when we get in to jax/john's book we don't get that same level of anger. i understand that people have layers but we're thrown into him being almost completely recovered from his depression (which isn't even a thing? i digress) and just genuinely a nice guy now.
yeah we've got some flirting and tension between him and his new girl and he does question his worthiness a couple times. and there is one minor breakdown. but overall this was not the angsty, gritty, raw story that i had been hoping for.
and that might just be my own fault for having that expectation because objectively, if you hadn't read the previous 2 books, i think you would really fucking like this book. it's incredibly sexy, the characters have a playful banter and relationship that i could see people actually having in real life. and there wasn't needless drama thrown in either.
it really wasn't bad. it just wasn't what i needed it to be. and i didn't get the proposal of my dreams either... so 3 stars.
so if you didn't already know, i waited for over a year for this book. i prayed and i waited and i wished for it to come to me sooner but alas. i still had to wait until october. and i'm a little bit disappointed.
i think the biggest issue i had with this book was that jax's character seemed so incongruous with the characterization he's given in the previous 2 books. he's the other lead singer & guitarist for Kill John and he attempted suicide before the events of the 1 books (these are standalones but they're all about one band). when we get to meet him he's really sullen and angry and angsty. and i was thrilled to read about a character who's obviously been through some shit.
but when we get in to jax/john's book we don't get that same level of anger. i understand that people have layers but we're thrown into him being almost completely recovered from his depression (which isn't even a thing? i digress) and just genuinely a nice guy now.
yeah we've got some flirting and tension between him and his new girl and he does question his worthiness a couple times. and there is one minor breakdown. but overall this was not the angsty, gritty, raw story that i had been hoping for.
and that might just be my own fault for having that expectation because objectively, if you hadn't read the previous 2 books, i think you would really fucking like this book. it's incredibly sexy, the characters have a playful banter and relationship that i could see people actually having in real life. and there wasn't needless drama thrown in either.
it really wasn't bad. it just wasn't what i needed it to be. and i didn't get the proposal of my dreams either... so 3 stars.
October 5, 2018
I loved the first two books in the VIP series and one secondary character in particular has stood out to me. John “Jax” Blackwood, the enigmatic lead singer of Kill john. Finally, we get his story and it does not fail to deliver. With ALL the feels. What I want out of a great romance novel is to have my emotions toyed with. Really, truly. I want to laugh out loud so people think “who is that crazy woman wiping tears of laughter from her eyes as she waits in line for the car wash?”. I want to feel the characters joy and the giddiness that comes from forming a thrilling new connection with someone. I want to be cheesy-smiling at the kindle app on my phone. Moreover, I want to feel the hero and heroine’s frustration as they deal with their own and each other’s issues. I want the characters to be likeable but flawed because we all are flawed. And honestly, I want a book to make me cry. I want the characters to have affected me so much, their pain makes me cry. There was one scene in particular in FALL that really hit me in the gut emotionally. It was so, so well-written.
FALL took me through the whole aforementioned spectrum of emotions. Not only does Callihan weave a sexy love story filled with lots of steaminess, quick wit, banter and humor, but she also skillfully and sensitively handles serious issues with poignant empathy. A beautiful romance! Kristen Callihan just gets better with every book. I’m a fan!
FALL took me through the whole aforementioned spectrum of emotions. Not only does Callihan weave a sexy love story filled with lots of steaminess, quick wit, banter and humor, but she also skillfully and sensitively handles serious issues with poignant empathy. A beautiful romance! Kristen Callihan just gets better with every book. I’m a fan!
October 25, 2018
*****4.5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
Neither of us believes in love or forever. Yet we’re quickly becoming each other's addiction. But we could be more. We could be everything. All we have to do is trust enough to fall.
British Heroes are my favorite and to have that hero also be a hot rock god, well that’s just a special cherry on top of an already delicious cake! The VIP series is by far my most favorite series about a famous rock band. Kristen Callihan has been one of my idols for quite some time and it's almost agonizing having to wait for one of her books to release. I knew going into this story, that it was not going to be as light-hearted as the past two books. Jax is a broken hero, whose suicide attempt nearly broke up the band for good. He battles inner demons almost on a daily basis and his self-loathing only fans the flames, but a fiery little redhead that he has a run in with over a carton of mint chocolate ice cream is about to turn his world upside down.
Stella was Jax’s true soul mate. They may have come from two completely different worlds but they were two halves of a whole. She was the one person in his life who didn’t blame or punish him for his debilitating depression. Jax had never had someone to truly lean on until he met Stella. And Stella found it easy to relate to him because not once in her life has she ever felt like she could love or be loved by anyone. She’s a vivacious woman who has many acquaintances due to her profession but not a single person who she can truly call a friend.
Be forewarned, there is some serious angst to deal with in this story and Jax will act like a complete idiot at times, but he’ll be hard not to fall in love with. I completely melted the moment he called Stella by the pet name, ”Button”. Those Brits sure know how to make a girl swoon!
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 4.5
Heroine: 4.5
Plot: 4
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
FALL is currently available! Make sure you give it a one-click!
AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2Q4cW7b
APPLE BOOKS: https://apple.co/2P88Kpf
B&N: https://bit.ly/2A4Y1DQ
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
Neither of us believes in love or forever. Yet we’re quickly becoming each other's addiction. But we could be more. We could be everything. All we have to do is trust enough to fall.
British Heroes are my favorite and to have that hero also be a hot rock god, well that’s just a special cherry on top of an already delicious cake! The VIP series is by far my most favorite series about a famous rock band. Kristen Callihan has been one of my idols for quite some time and it's almost agonizing having to wait for one of her books to release. I knew going into this story, that it was not going to be as light-hearted as the past two books. Jax is a broken hero, whose suicide attempt nearly broke up the band for good. He battles inner demons almost on a daily basis and his self-loathing only fans the flames, but a fiery little redhead that he has a run in with over a carton of mint chocolate ice cream is about to turn his world upside down.
Stella was Jax’s true soul mate. They may have come from two completely different worlds but they were two halves of a whole. She was the one person in his life who didn’t blame or punish him for his debilitating depression. Jax had never had someone to truly lean on until he met Stella. And Stella found it easy to relate to him because not once in her life has she ever felt like she could love or be loved by anyone. She’s a vivacious woman who has many acquaintances due to her profession but not a single person who she can truly call a friend.
Be forewarned, there is some serious angst to deal with in this story and Jax will act like a complete idiot at times, but he’ll be hard not to fall in love with. I completely melted the moment he called Stella by the pet name, ”Button”. Those Brits sure know how to make a girl swoon!
Here are my overall ratings:
Hero: 4.5
Heroine: 4.5
Plot: 4
Angst: 4.5
Steam: 4.5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
FALL is currently available! Make sure you give it a one-click!
AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2Q4cW7b
APPLE BOOKS: https://apple.co/2P88Kpf
B&N: https://bit.ly/2A4Y1DQ
October 24, 2018
4.5 ★
This is a review and most likely a philosophical rant with some honesty chucked in for the hell of it. You have been warned and I may have put some spoilers in.
“There is no such thing as perfect. Human beings make mistakes. Humans who feel greatly often make the biggest ones. It’s the intent that counts. Is it a mistake based on hate, selfishness, or moral cowardice? Give them no quarter. But an honest mistake backed by a true heart is another matter entirely.”
Ms. Callihan doesn’t lie about the content of this book she puts it all out there and I went in with trepidation more than I expected because I know, I can relate, and it broke my heart but, in a way, it gives hope as well. It is a topic that is ostracized not matter how much attention it garners at some point it disappears again until at the most opportune moment you are reminded of the ugliness of the world and what it can lead to. If you hadn’t realized this is the philosophical part.
Characters & Chemistry
This is the review part Stella Button Grey is average. Average looks, body etc. Her thoughts not mine. She does have fantastic hair though. A Jack or Jill of all trades but really, she is a professional friend. She is about to be kicked out of her unit. Her Dad and money. She has no family and only friends that touch the surface.
I liked Stella but some of her insecurities I could relate to but others not so much. She is a carer and a giver. But no one cares for her or really gives her what she needs or wants.
John Jax Blackwood is one of the leads in the rock band Kill John yet with all his fame and fortune he suffers from depression and anxiety until one day it just becomes too much. But with all the progress that he has made in the last two years he can’t forget who he is. He tried to take his life two years ago. How can it not affect a relationship in anyway?
I adore John, but I prefer John and I see him as John and not as Jax even if he is a rock star. I feel for him. He must fight something every day and every day you can not let it off the leash. It feels as if you are a couple of steps away from being where you were. If you hadn’t realized this is the philosophical part.
When these two meet on a snowy, stormy night in an almost empty grocery store their life is forever changed. Stella knows he seems familiar, but she can’t quite pinpoint it. But numbers aren’t exchanged but they both left a lasting impression on each other.
Writing, Plot & Pace
This author is a fantastic writer IMO and I can’t get enough of her although I am yet to tackle on of her other series, but I must be in the right frame of mind. She hits every emotion be it good or bad. She makes you feel although you don’t want to. She captures you with her words.
Two years ago, there was an event that lead the band to question life, question fame and to question what you really know about your closest friends. Each dealt differently with the aftermath, but things were never the same.
For those of you who are iffy. He talks about his man whore days but once he meets the heroine he doesn’t try anymore. Oh, and one more thing that is kind of gross is he got an STD in his throat. Score. Nice one dude. More than anything else I felt sorry for him. It was how he dealt with things.
To get John out of his PR nightmare Brenna asks Stella to be his paid girlfriend, John flips because he made that mistake once and isn’t prepared to do it again. But then they date for real and get to know one another.
This book won’t be for everyone because he depicts a difficult topic of a life filled with darkness, the blackness of that gaping hole. The guilt and doubt that can eat at you until you fade then only then will you get an inkling of how the Hero fills in this book.
For each person with depression it can similar and but not quite the same.
Ms. Callihan brings out those subtleties of the feelings of both the heroine and the Hero. But how can you escape your own thoughts as they are always there. Nothing in life is black and white.
Verdict
There is more depth to Fall as it tackles some serious topics than book 1 & 2. But it doesn’t make it any less of a beautiful book and John is my all-time favourite Hero here.
This is a series one of a kind rock romance series to read. It is a breath of fresh air.
What touched me the most when it came to the author’s note at the beginning was that people with mental health issues aren’t all doom and gloom. That there are often extremely intelligent, talented, funny and charismatic people. John is no exception and I absolutely loved him. By the way reach out to anyone if you do have problems.
"I'm not falling in love," Jax declares. "I have enough fucked up emotions to work through."
"Famous last words, dude," Whips says from the floor.
This is a review and most likely a philosophical rant with some honesty chucked in for the hell of it. You have been warned and I may have put some spoilers in.
“There is no such thing as perfect. Human beings make mistakes. Humans who feel greatly often make the biggest ones. It’s the intent that counts. Is it a mistake based on hate, selfishness, or moral cowardice? Give them no quarter. But an honest mistake backed by a true heart is another matter entirely.”
Ms. Callihan doesn’t lie about the content of this book she puts it all out there and I went in with trepidation more than I expected because I know, I can relate, and it broke my heart but, in a way, it gives hope as well. It is a topic that is ostracized not matter how much attention it garners at some point it disappears again until at the most opportune moment you are reminded of the ugliness of the world and what it can lead to. If you hadn’t realized this is the philosophical part.
Characters & Chemistry
This is the review part Stella Button Grey is average. Average looks, body etc. Her thoughts not mine. She does have fantastic hair though. A Jack or Jill of all trades but really, she is a professional friend. She is about to be kicked out of her unit. Her Dad and money. She has no family and only friends that touch the surface.
I liked Stella but some of her insecurities I could relate to but others not so much. She is a carer and a giver. But no one cares for her or really gives her what she needs or wants.
John Jax Blackwood is one of the leads in the rock band Kill John yet with all his fame and fortune he suffers from depression and anxiety until one day it just becomes too much. But with all the progress that he has made in the last two years he can’t forget who he is. He tried to take his life two years ago. How can it not affect a relationship in anyway?
I adore John, but I prefer John and I see him as John and not as Jax even if he is a rock star. I feel for him. He must fight something every day and every day you can not let it off the leash. It feels as if you are a couple of steps away from being where you were. If you hadn’t realized this is the philosophical part.
When these two meet on a snowy, stormy night in an almost empty grocery store their life is forever changed. Stella knows he seems familiar, but she can’t quite pinpoint it. But numbers aren’t exchanged but they both left a lasting impression on each other.
Writing, Plot & Pace
This author is a fantastic writer IMO and I can’t get enough of her although I am yet to tackle on of her other series, but I must be in the right frame of mind. She hits every emotion be it good or bad. She makes you feel although you don’t want to. She captures you with her words.
Two years ago, there was an event that lead the band to question life, question fame and to question what you really know about your closest friends. Each dealt differently with the aftermath, but things were never the same.
For those of you who are iffy. He talks about his man whore days but once he meets the heroine he doesn’t try anymore. Oh, and one more thing that is kind of gross is he got an STD in his throat. Score. Nice one dude. More than anything else I felt sorry for him. It was how he dealt with things.
To get John out of his PR nightmare Brenna asks Stella to be his paid girlfriend, John flips because he made that mistake once and isn’t prepared to do it again. But then they date for real and get to know one another.
This book won’t be for everyone because he depicts a difficult topic of a life filled with darkness, the blackness of that gaping hole. The guilt and doubt that can eat at you until you fade then only then will you get an inkling of how the Hero fills in this book.
For each person with depression it can similar and but not quite the same.
Ms. Callihan brings out those subtleties of the feelings of both the heroine and the Hero. But how can you escape your own thoughts as they are always there. Nothing in life is black and white.
Verdict
There is more depth to Fall as it tackles some serious topics than book 1 & 2. But it doesn’t make it any less of a beautiful book and John is my all-time favourite Hero here.
This is a series one of a kind rock romance series to read. It is a breath of fresh air.
What touched me the most when it came to the author’s note at the beginning was that people with mental health issues aren’t all doom and gloom. That there are often extremely intelligent, talented, funny and charismatic people. John is no exception and I absolutely loved him. By the way reach out to anyone if you do have problems.
"I'm not falling in love," Jax declares. "I have enough fucked up emotions to work through."
"Famous last words, dude," Whips says from the floor.
March 10, 2021
That was a mediocre book for me. 2,5 stars rounded up to 3!
Pros:
1. There are some fun dialogues.
2. Some emotional scenes are well-written.
3. Hot scenes are well-written.
4. Stella is a nice and likable character.
Cons:
About the characters
1. I couldn’t connect to Jax/John. Not enough background is given about his depression so I couldn’t understand what his deal was. And to me, he always seemed to be a weak, moody and untrustworthy character. I couldn't make myself like him.
2. Jax’s moods make the book really depressing from time to time. I was really bored. And maybe because I didn't get the foundation of his illness, I couldn't bother about it.
3. It was way too lazy to make one of Jax's dark moods “the reason for their separation” – such an unimaginative and unoriginal plot twist it was and I can hardly call it a plot twist; it was just some drama for the sake of drama.
4. Because the heroine was described as a plain girl with red hair & freckles, I never understood how Jax became interested in her because he even described her in this way: A plain girl he normally wouldn’t look twice.
5. I never felt the chemistry between Jax & Stella. Even when they had really hot scenes, I found myself skipping them because I didn’t believe in them as a couple. They were not convincing. I never believed a guy like Jax would fall for a girl like Stella. And that’s all the writer’s doing.
6. Stella’s job! What was that about and why? I’ll never understand why the writer chose that job for her.
About the events & writing
7. The book has a slow burn and it drags way too much! What is it about the heros in this series?
Like Scottie (Gabriel), Jax/(John) also insists that they do nothing else but kiss for a long while!
Huh? Is this the way to show the guy cares about her more than just her body? What it makes me think and feel is that he can easily resist her!
8. What was the point of Jax’s STD? What did it serve? Fill the pages? Show what a man-whore he was!?
9. What was the point of a father who came to embarras and blackmail them but then, left without doing anything like for example, selling their story to a magazine? Why did he come and act like a jerk and then just left? To fill the pages?
10. Why were there so many side characters? What did they serve? To fill the pages?
They made the book so boring that when the band came together and we had scenes with those characters we loved in previous books, I couldn’t enjoy them either because there were already too many scenes with other people.
So, as you can see, there is too much “filling stuff” and the book is nearly 400 pages!!!
The book dragged so much with its slow burn, unnecessary events that led nowhere and boring side character scenes that it took me forever to finish it - and if I have to confess, I might have skipped some pages here and there :)
Safety:
After Stella and Jax are a couple, there is no one else for them so no cheating! No OW/OM drama.
*********************************************
You can follow my instagram page from here
Pros:
1. There are some fun dialogues.
2. Some emotional scenes are well-written.
3. Hot scenes are well-written.
4. Stella is a nice and likable character.
Cons:
About the characters
1. I couldn’t connect to Jax/John. Not enough background is given about his depression so I couldn’t understand what his deal was. And to me, he always seemed to be a weak, moody and untrustworthy character. I couldn't make myself like him.
2. Jax’s moods make the book really depressing from time to time. I was really bored. And maybe because I didn't get the foundation of his illness, I couldn't bother about it.
3. It was way too lazy to make one of Jax's dark moods “the reason for their separation” – such an unimaginative and unoriginal plot twist it was and I can hardly call it a plot twist; it was just some drama for the sake of drama.
4. Because the heroine was described as a plain girl with red hair & freckles, I never understood how Jax became interested in her because he even described her in this way: A plain girl he normally wouldn’t look twice.
5. I never felt the chemistry between Jax & Stella. Even when they had really hot scenes, I found myself skipping them because I didn’t believe in them as a couple. They were not convincing. I never believed a guy like Jax would fall for a girl like Stella. And that’s all the writer’s doing.
6. Stella’s job! What was that about and why? I’ll never understand why the writer chose that job for her.
About the events & writing
7. The book has a slow burn and it drags way too much! What is it about the heros in this series?
Like Scottie (Gabriel), Jax/(John) also insists that they do nothing else but kiss for a long while!
Huh? Is this the way to show the guy cares about her more than just her body? What it makes me think and feel is that he can easily resist her!
8. What was the point of Jax’s STD? What did it serve? Fill the pages? Show what a man-whore he was!?
9. What was the point of a father who came to embarras and blackmail them but then, left without doing anything like for example, selling their story to a magazine? Why did he come and act like a jerk and then just left? To fill the pages?
10. Why were there so many side characters? What did they serve? To fill the pages?
They made the book so boring that when the band came together and we had scenes with those characters we loved in previous books, I couldn’t enjoy them either because there were already too many scenes with other people.
So, as you can see, there is too much “filling stuff” and the book is nearly 400 pages!!!
The book dragged so much with its slow burn, unnecessary events that led nowhere and boring side character scenes that it took me forever to finish it - and if I have to confess, I might have skipped some pages here and there :)
Safety:
After Stella and Jax are a couple, there is no one else for them so no cheating! No OW/OM drama.
*********************************************
You can follow my instagram page from here
September 20, 2021
✩⡱ July 2021: 3.25 stars
✧ Jax and Stella have one of the cutest meet-cute in the histories of meet-cutes. Look me in the eyes and tell me it's not wholesome when the Hero and heroine fight over the last ice cream in the grocery store and the heroine manipulates the guy to give her the ice cream by kissing him and then stealing said ice-cream.
✧ I loved the first one-third(ish) of Fall w the whole ice cream incident, how Stella ends up being Jax's new neighbour and babysits Killian's pets. They had some fun banter and are likeable characters. I mean, Stella is a "professional friend" ffs, but overall I just couldn't really connect to the characters or the romance. Maybe because in my head Stella belongs in the goody-two-shoes department w her being kind that's she's even doing it as a profession of being a friend and that were always the kind of heroine I have the hardest time connecting with.
✧ Jax's a cute soft little bean and I wanted to give him a hug or two. I liked how Kristen Callihan handled his mental illness and how depression never goes away. But when Jax tried to commit suicide and had that big fight with Killian.. that was such a big part of his life and I wished that would been adressed more in depth as well Jax and Killian's talk.
✧ What was the point of giving Jax chlamydia? I didn't understand that plot at all. Was it to give him a reason not to sleep around so much anymore after meeting Stella? Jax woke up one day and got an STD because he was going down on some girl like why? I thought it was so stupid. 😂
✧ Man... I love you Scottie, but Felix TIBERIUS Scott??? Tiberius for real? What did your son do to deserve that kind of treatment. Anyway Scott is a dad!!! 🥺🥺🥺
My highlight was Scottie, Sophie and baby Felix. My favorite couples and their cute little boy that's all I wanted to read about. My overies exploded too when I see Scott carrying Felix on his chest aww I'm soft.
✧ I love the found family trope, so every scene where the whole gang is together is a big win. There was this one scene when they had all dinner together and they were talking about flicking the bean and that scene reminded me so much of Six of Crows lmao I love them.
✧ The conflicts in Idol and Managed made me roll my eyes and I didn't like how the conflict was handle, but surprisingly I loved the conflict and break up in this book w how Jax feels like he is not worthy enough.
Conclusion
Fall was a bit lenghy and I was a little bored, but Stella and Jax make a cute couple and were really sweet and I can see why so many people love this book.
┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑
VIP SERIES
#1 Idol – 3.5 stars
#2 Managed – 4.5 stars
#3 Fall – 3.25 stars
#4 Exposed – tbr
┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙
✧ Jax and Stella have one of the cutest meet-cute in the histories of meet-cutes. Look me in the eyes and tell me it's not wholesome when the Hero and heroine fight over the last ice cream in the grocery store and the heroine manipulates the guy to give her the ice cream by kissing him and then stealing said ice-cream.
"You are not going for the mint!" It isn't a question.
He pauses, and again his dark brow lifts, this time a little higher, a little more outraged as well. God, those eyes, green sin surrounded by thick, thick lashes. Girl lashes. Nothing else about him is girly. "And if I am?"
✧ I loved the first one-third(ish) of Fall w the whole ice cream incident, how Stella ends up being Jax's new neighbour and babysits Killian's pets. They had some fun banter and are likeable characters. I mean, Stella is a "professional friend" ffs, but overall I just couldn't really connect to the characters or the romance. Maybe because in my head Stella belongs in the goody-two-shoes department w her being kind that's she's even doing it as a profession of being a friend and that were always the kind of heroine I have the hardest time connecting with.
"I'm sorry," I say with a false smile. "Do I know you?"
His expression clearly says he thinks I'm a smartass. But he extends his big hand with those long, talented fingers.
"Hi, I'm John Blackwood. You glared at me all over a grocery, kissed me, then stole my dessert."
I don't take his hand. "You seem fairly stuck on that whole kissing and stealing bit."
✧ Jax's a cute soft little bean and I wanted to give him a hug or two. I liked how Kristen Callihan handled his mental illness and how depression never goes away. But when Jax tried to commit suicide and had that big fight with Killian.. that was such a big part of his life and I wished that would been adressed more in depth as well Jax and Killian's talk.
Because when I'm low, I don't want to be the one seeking out company. I want someone to find me, to tell me I'm wanted, needed. And when I don't get that, I sink lower.
✧ What was the point of giving Jax chlamydia? I didn't understand that plot at all. Was it to give him a reason not to sleep around so much anymore after meeting Stella? Jax woke up one day and got an STD because he was going down on some girl like why? I thought it was so stupid. 😂
✧ Man... I love you Scottie, but Felix TIBERIUS Scott??? Tiberius for real? What did your son do to deserve that kind of treatment. Anyway Scott is a dad!!! 🥺🥺🥺
My highlight was Scottie, Sophie and baby Felix. My favorite couples and their cute little boy that's all I wanted to read about. My overies exploded too when I see Scott carrying Felix on his chest aww I'm soft.
Another set of brilliant blue eyes has me enthralled. I fall a little in love just then. Because the infant cozily tucked in the chest carrier the man wears is the cutest baby I've ever seen. The little guy clearly knows it and gives me a gummy smile while waving his chubby fist.
"Oh, my god. Be still my heart."
The man in the suit doesn't change his expression, but something that looks a lot like beaming pride fills his eyes and makes him suddenly seem human. He puts a protective hand upon the baby's stomach. And there goes my overies.
✧ I love the found family trope, so every scene where the whole gang is together is a big win. There was this one scene when they had all dinner together and they were talking about flicking the bean and that scene reminded me so much of Six of Crows lmao I love them.
Whip scowls at Scottie. "And what's all this proclivities nonsense? Since when did beating the meat or rubbing the bean become a deviant activity?"
"Beating the meat." John snickers into his beer.
"Got a better one," Whip counters with a brow waggle.
"Wanking the willy?"
"Charming the snake," Sophie offers.
"Polishing the pearl," Jules says.
"Tickling my treat," Brenna adds.
"I'm becoming uncomfortably aroused," Rye grumbles, which makes Brenna flush bright pink and hide her face behind the rim of her martini glass.
✧ The conflicts in Idol and Managed made me roll my eyes and I didn't like how the conflict was handle, but surprisingly I loved the conflict and break up in this book w how Jax feels like he is not worthy enough.
With one last kiss, John cups my cheeks and meets my gaze, his eyes tender and wide. "We're going to be okay."
It isn't a question, but I answer anyway.
"Of course we are. We're going to be forever."
Conclusion
Fall was a bit lenghy and I was a little bored, but Stella and Jax make a cute couple and were really sweet and I can see why so many people love this book.
┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑
VIP SERIES
#1 Idol – 3.5 stars
#2 Managed – 4.5 stars
#3 Fall – 3.25 stars
#4 Exposed – tbr
┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙
October 24, 2018
When you love a book so much, you’re rendered speechless
To form complete thoughts right now is impossible for me. So if I can think of anything better to say than, Jax & Stella were so captivating and addictive, then by all means, I’ll add more to this really short review 😉
These two captured my heart, I want more and more and more
To form complete thoughts right now is impossible for me. So if I can think of anything better to say than, Jax & Stella were so captivating and addictive, then by all means, I’ll add more to this really short review 😉
These two captured my heart, I want more and more and more
October 24, 2018
Live https://www.amazon.com/Fall-VIP-Book-...
❤5 stars ❤
I loved Fall so much, everything about it was perfect.I adored Jax and Stella, their love story is cute,sweet,heartwarming,intense and there were some really hot moments.
I devour it, it was captivating and I connected so much with both characters.I loved how they met and the way they start their relationship.They have a great banter and I was melting and swooning.
I wish I could have more of Jax and Stella.They were so addictive.
❤5 stars ❤
I loved Fall so much, everything about it was perfect.I adored Jax and Stella, their love story is cute,sweet,heartwarming,intense and there were some really hot moments.
I devour it, it was captivating and I connected so much with both characters.I loved how they met and the way they start their relationship.They have a great banter and I was melting and swooning.
I wish I could have more of Jax and Stella.They were so addictive.
September 30, 2021
4 stars
Fall is the third book in Kristen Callihan’s VIP series and it focuses on front man, Jax Blackwood. This series started out as a bit of mixed bag for me, as the first book was just okay and I was obsessed with book two (five star favorite obsessed). This one was kind of in the middle of those two.
Stella and Jax have a hilarious and fun meet cute at a grocery store. After that, it feels like they run into each other a lot which is strange because lets be honest, NYC isn’t a small town. Jax (also known as John) has had some serious mental health issues in the past, but he’s working on them. Stella has her own abandonment issues but together, they seem to fit perfectly, issues and all.
This was a great slow burn and friends to lovers story. I’ll be honest, it felt way too long at times, and I think I would have loved it much more had some of the time been shaved off. A 14 hour romance audiobook is a bit long if the story doesn’t call for that length. Still, I enjoyed this one lots and I’m looking forward to reading more in this series! Plus, it’s always a joy to get more Scotty ;)
She’s my new favorite song; I want to play her over and over.
Fall is the third book in Kristen Callihan’s VIP series and it focuses on front man, Jax Blackwood. This series started out as a bit of mixed bag for me, as the first book was just okay and I was obsessed with book two (five star favorite obsessed). This one was kind of in the middle of those two.
Stella and Jax have a hilarious and fun meet cute at a grocery store. After that, it feels like they run into each other a lot which is strange because lets be honest, NYC isn’t a small town. Jax (also known as John) has had some serious mental health issues in the past, but he’s working on them. Stella has her own abandonment issues but together, they seem to fit perfectly, issues and all.
This was a great slow burn and friends to lovers story. I’ll be honest, it felt way too long at times, and I think I would have loved it much more had some of the time been shaved off. A 14 hour romance audiobook is a bit long if the story doesn’t call for that length. Still, I enjoyed this one lots and I’m looking forward to reading more in this series! Plus, it’s always a joy to get more Scotty ;)
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Maxine Mitchell & Nelson Hobbs
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance (rockstar)
Length: 14h 11m
October 25, 2018
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
3.5 Stars
This book has me very conflicted and a little confused on how I feel. I enjoyed the story, I liked the characters, and I had a fun time reading it. But then there are things that I didn't enjoy so much and there even some things that had me feeling a little rage-y. So basically my brain is just all over the place.
Let me explain. So the beginning of the book went very well and full on devoured it. Stella was this fun-loving, quirky character and Jax was a bit of brooding mess. I thought it was really fun how they came together and I liked that they were so opposite of each other and that Stella could make Jax smile so much. They just seemed to fit together better than peanut butter and jelly.
Then as I continued to read on things changed. And on one hand I could appreciate that the further we dug into Stella's character the more we got the true her and not just the smiling and loving part of her. But on the other it was like she became this can-do-no-wrong person in Jax's eyes and it had me rolling my own eyes. It was like she had no flaws other than the fact she had a horrible singing voice and it made her character turn into an unbelievable one for me.
And I'm talking about Stella so much in this review because I felt like it was almost more her story than Jax's. Which was a little disappointing because I felt like his character had so much to say and yet he was silenced. There were times when he was emotional but it was like that wasn't focused on enough to actually bring that emotion to the story and let me see it.
And then the ending is the part that made me a little furious. True to romance book fashion there was a big grand apology for something at the end. Which if it was the opposite person apologizing I wouldn't have had a problem with it. But as is, the character that actually went and apologized I felt like shouldn't have been the one doing that. Which is just how I felt about that situation.
Overall, I still recommend reading this book even though I had some issues with it. I think a lot of people will love it and that I was just looking for a different type of story for Jax which is probably why it fella little flat for me.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
3.5 Stars
This book has me very conflicted and a little confused on how I feel. I enjoyed the story, I liked the characters, and I had a fun time reading it. But then there are things that I didn't enjoy so much and there even some things that had me feeling a little rage-y. So basically my brain is just all over the place.
Let me explain. So the beginning of the book went very well and full on devoured it. Stella was this fun-loving, quirky character and Jax was a bit of brooding mess. I thought it was really fun how they came together and I liked that they were so opposite of each other and that Stella could make Jax smile so much. They just seemed to fit together better than peanut butter and jelly.
Then as I continued to read on things changed. And on one hand I could appreciate that the further we dug into Stella's character the more we got the true her and not just the smiling and loving part of her. But on the other it was like she became this can-do-no-wrong person in Jax's eyes and it had me rolling my own eyes. It was like she had no flaws other than the fact she had a horrible singing voice and it made her character turn into an unbelievable one for me.
And I'm talking about Stella so much in this review because I felt like it was almost more her story than Jax's. Which was a little disappointing because I felt like his character had so much to say and yet he was silenced. There were times when he was emotional but it was like that wasn't focused on enough to actually bring that emotion to the story and let me see it.
And then the ending is the part that made me a little furious. True to romance book fashion there was a big grand apology for something at the end. Which if it was the opposite person apologizing I wouldn't have had a problem with it. But as is, the character that actually went and apologized I felt like shouldn't have been the one doing that. Which is just how I felt about that situation.
Overall, I still recommend reading this book even though I had some issues with it. I think a lot of people will love it and that I was just looking for a different type of story for Jax which is probably why it fella little flat for me.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2021
3.5 Ms. Mint Thief Stars ⭐
Well this is disheartening. There were many amazing and heartfelt moments in Fall and I completely adored the authors footnotes of her life reflected throughout this story. However, it felt like forever completing this book. And I honestly don’t get why but it took me days to finish this.
I have become comfortably numb. I exist in a world of neither highs nor lows. It works for me.
Fall was an honest depiction of the struggles of dealing with depression and anxiety. This illness doesn’t discriminate and regardless of your status, we are all equals. Jax Blackwood is front man of the hugely successful rock band Kill John. Yet through all his accomplishments he is lonely. Heartbreakingly so. But it’s all about to turn around after a hilarious encounter over the last mint ice cream…
Odd that this strange girl even affects me. That hair certainly does. I took one look at that hair and imagined it sliding over my hard dick. But she’s way too baby-cute for me. Not to mention the fact that she’d be more likely to bite my dick than suck it.
Stella Grey is an average girl just trying to get by in New York like thousands of others. Surrounded by many, she’s still alone. The chances of bumping into a celebrity isn’t impossible but unlikely for a girl like her. Yet when a surreal moment occurs, life gets crazier when she finds herself neighbours with the thorn in her side, John (Jax Blackwood).
These two form an unexpected friendship. John and Stella are like two sides of a tarnished coin. Two people yearning to be seen and loved. But putting themselves out there and risking their prides and hearts is the ultimate challenge. Except over time they do. With each day they unveil a piece of themselves until they are completely whole again.
“Stells,” he whispers, “where have you been all my life?”
A lump rises in my throat. “Drifting.”
The corner of his lip quirks. “Well, stop. Don’t drift away.”
Gah, their interactions were touching and sweet which made me feel giddy and hopeful. I don’t want my review to sway you to not read this book because I have no regrets. However, the pacing felt off and this book was possibly too long. I wanted to read and finish John and Stella’s story but I found myself procrastinating every time I picked it up. Trust me, I’m disappointed in myself!
Well this is disheartening. There were many amazing and heartfelt moments in Fall and I completely adored the authors footnotes of her life reflected throughout this story. However, it felt like forever completing this book. And I honestly don’t get why but it took me days to finish this.
I have become comfortably numb. I exist in a world of neither highs nor lows. It works for me.
Fall was an honest depiction of the struggles of dealing with depression and anxiety. This illness doesn’t discriminate and regardless of your status, we are all equals. Jax Blackwood is front man of the hugely successful rock band Kill John. Yet through all his accomplishments he is lonely. Heartbreakingly so. But it’s all about to turn around after a hilarious encounter over the last mint ice cream…
Odd that this strange girl even affects me. That hair certainly does. I took one look at that hair and imagined it sliding over my hard dick. But she’s way too baby-cute for me. Not to mention the fact that she’d be more likely to bite my dick than suck it.
Stella Grey is an average girl just trying to get by in New York like thousands of others. Surrounded by many, she’s still alone. The chances of bumping into a celebrity isn’t impossible but unlikely for a girl like her. Yet when a surreal moment occurs, life gets crazier when she finds herself neighbours with the thorn in her side, John (Jax Blackwood).
These two form an unexpected friendship. John and Stella are like two sides of a tarnished coin. Two people yearning to be seen and loved. But putting themselves out there and risking their prides and hearts is the ultimate challenge. Except over time they do. With each day they unveil a piece of themselves until they are completely whole again.
“Stells,” he whispers, “where have you been all my life?”
A lump rises in my throat. “Drifting.”
The corner of his lip quirks. “Well, stop. Don’t drift away.”
Gah, their interactions were touching and sweet which made me feel giddy and hopeful. I don’t want my review to sway you to not read this book because I have no regrets. However, the pacing felt off and this book was possibly too long. I wanted to read and finish John and Stella’s story but I found myself procrastinating every time I picked it up. Trust me, I’m disappointed in myself!
October 23, 2018
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
Gahd. I've been waiting for this book for a loooong time. So when this landed on my Kindle...
So let's talk about FALL, shall we?
Jax/John Blackwood's story has intrigued me from the first time we met him. He's one of those tragic characters you don't undestand why they would do something drastic as trying to kill himself. He has it all: the good looks, immeasurable talent, charm, charisma. You will get all the answers and as easy as the answer seems as complicated it really is. Depression is such an insidious illness.
When a little impish ice-cream thief also steals a kiss, he isn't outraged. Nope, famous rockstar of one of the hottest bands John is charmed, the only regret he has is that he let her go.
Stella has never had a proper home. She lives in an apartment in New York City that belonged to her father until he up and left when she turned eighteen. Now thirty, she hasn't seen him since. She doesn't have any close friends although there's nothing she wants more. When she runs into larger than life lead singer and guitarist of one of the hottest bands repeatedly, ending up being neighbors, they become friends. Friends who bicker, friends who talk and friends who laugh. I can't even begin to say how much I loved their connection. Both of them snarky, goofy and broken in a way that it made perfect sense for them to become close.
John doesn't want to be treated like the resident elephant in the room, he doesn't want people to tiptoe around him but it's hard to tell people when you think you screwed up. Especially when you still give into the dark when it comes over you. The depiction of John's depression was done in taste and credible. He displayed the ups and downs of somebody who feels too much and that abundance of emotion can turn against him from one second to the other and it was positively heartbreaking at times.
I feel sick down to my brittle bones and terrified heart. Everything ends. Love dies. In the end, I’ll be alone, and there isn’t a thing I can do to stop it.
Stella doesn't trust easily. She had my heart from the very beginning. She was independent, sweet and a bright light in every life she touched. I thought she was the perfect girl for John. The woman with the big heart that held compassion and love for all the people in her life who was so scared of needing somebody that she couldn't let anyone close. And John was the perfect man for her - he bolstered Stella's self confidence, broke her defenses and showed her the beauty he saw in her.
She’s my new favorite song; I want to play her over and over.
John and Stella's love is a slow burn but oh so delicious. Their banter definitely sparks up their chemistry and when it was time for them to connect on another level I was just as eager for them to get there as they were. It was a thing of beauty, their hunger for each other, their emotional and physical connection. And can I say that John had the cutest nickname for Stella? It was breathtaking to watch them fall in love.
Stella giggles. That sound. It bubbles over my skin, trips my heart. I love that sound.
This was a very long book but it never felt boring. At no point did I have the urge to skim, I absorbed the words on my kindle. I laughed a lot, I had a little watery eyes now and then and I enjoyed the hell out of the story. But most of all I felt. So so much. Jax's bandmates and Scottie are the bomb - they stand behind their man no questions asked. Their loyalty and friendship was everything. And if you need different colloquialisms for masturbating apparently Kristen Callihan is a good source to go to...
“Beating the meat.” John snickers into his beer.
“Got a better one,” Whip counters with a brow waggle.
“Wanking the willy?”
“Charming the snake,” Sophie offers.
“Polishing the pearl,” Jules says.
“Tickling my treat,” Brenna adds.
“I’m becoming uncomfortably aroused,” Rye grumbles, which makes Brenna flush bright pink and hide her face behind the rim of her martini glass.
And Scottie with his son? Gird your ovaries, people!
OK that's not a baby but you get the picture.
I hope Kristen Callihan doesn't keep as waiting as long for the next book as she did with this one. I am absolutely addicted to her stories and her writing style which is so crisp, beautiful and polished. She catapulted FALL up into my top favorites and is now competing for the top spot for this year. Can I say I loved it? Yeah. That epilogue was the sweetest thing. I need the next one. Like NOW!
“Stella Button, the moment you ripped that ice cream out of my hand, you knocked me off-balance. All I could do was fall.”
July 31, 2025
NOW LIVE!!!! https://amzn.to/2QH0SIz
Ok, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again (and again and again and again):
Kristen Callihan writes some of the BEST heroes.
She writes some of the MOST SCORCHING sex scenes you will ever read.
She writes some of the most beautiful lines.
She writes characters that are so unabashedly truthful, you can’t help but connect with them. And especially with this book focusing on Jax, who suffers from depression and anxiety, being in his mind was sometimes hard. But I really admire the empathetic way the author depicts his struggles, and the realistic way his ups and downs are shown. Because yes, some days are awful, and some days are great. And anyone who suffers as Jax does knows how isolating being in your own head can be. How tiring it is when your mind just won’t shut off.
^ that gave me goosebumps. Because the way Stella tries to understand Jax is a damn beautiful thing.
This series is turning out to be a top favorite of mine and I pray and hope Kristen continues with the series and the rest of the band members get their own books. I LOVE the friendship they all have and the sometimes sweet / sometimes hysterical way they interact with one another.
***While I guess this can technically be read as a standalone, I’d recommend reading the other 2 books first. Not only because the story will just make more sense, but they are freaking fantastic too!
Idol (VIP #1) | https://amzn.to/2PqRfxD
Managed (VIP #2) | https://amzn.to/2QJgHP6
Fall (VIP #3) | https://amzn.to/2QH0SIz
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Ok, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again (and again and again and again):
Kristen Callihan writes some of the BEST heroes.
“There is no more talking, no more waiting. We’re kissing each other, and it isn’t demanding or frantic; it’s consuming, a fall right into the deep end of the ocean. John comes after my mouth like it’s his right, his pleasure. I’ve never been kissed this way. I am the banquet and he is the hunger.”
She writes some of the MOST SCORCHING sex scenes you will ever read.
“What do you think about?” she asks in the dark. “When you do it?”
“You.” I’m stroking faster now, getting into a rhythm. “Since that first night, it’s only been you.”
…
I lick my lips. “Truth?”
Her answer is a husk of sound. “Always.”
“I think of watching myself slide into you. Imagine sinking into your heat.” My voice goes rougher, my balls drawing up tight and sweet. “That first push when I take you, knowing that you’re letting me. That’s it. I think of having you. Finally, fucking having you. That’s the moment I dream about.”
She writes some of the most beautiful lines.
“There isn’t anyone I want to be around more than you. You occupy my thoughts, haunt my dreams. I can no more stay away from you than I can try to keep my heart from beating.”
She writes characters that are so unabashedly truthful, you can’t help but connect with them. And especially with this book focusing on Jax, who suffers from depression and anxiety, being in his mind was sometimes hard. But I really admire the empathetic way the author depicts his struggles, and the realistic way his ups and downs are shown. Because yes, some days are awful, and some days are great. And anyone who suffers as Jax does knows how isolating being in your own head can be. How tiring it is when your mind just won’t shut off.
“…You endure. You keep moving forward. But some days, Stella … Some days I get so fucking tired.”
“Then rest,” I whisper. “Rest with me. Let me be where you lay your head for a while.”
^ that gave me goosebumps. Because the way Stella tries to understand Jax is a damn beautiful thing.
This series is turning out to be a top favorite of mine and I pray and hope Kristen continues with the series and the rest of the band members get their own books. I LOVE the friendship they all have and the sometimes sweet / sometimes hysterical way they interact with one another.
***While I guess this can technically be read as a standalone, I’d recommend reading the other 2 books first. Not only because the story will just make more sense, but they are freaking fantastic too!
Idol (VIP #1) | https://amzn.to/2PqRfxD
Managed (VIP #2) | https://amzn.to/2QJgHP6
Fall (VIP #3) | https://amzn.to/2QH0SIz
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March 24, 2021
This series has the best meet-cutes I swear. A stolen ice cream kiss? The fact that they had all the same snack items in their grocery karts? Tell me more 😌
Stella was just aight so Jax carried the book for me, and the man honestly deserved an award for somehow getting the pet name 'Button' to work for me. Stella Button, so cute. Sometimes these two were a bit toooo cute and wholesome that I wanted him to idk.... shove her face into the mattress or somethin, but those are my own issues popping out so don't mind me 😇 I should've been more prepared for the sweetness. I was def smiling a lot at the gentleness of their relationship development, and Kristen Callihan writes such good sexual tension scenes too.
Stella was just aight so Jax carried the book for me, and the man honestly deserved an award for somehow getting the pet name 'Button' to work for me. Stella Button, so cute. Sometimes these two were a bit toooo cute and wholesome that I wanted him to idk.... shove her face into the mattress or somethin, but those are my own issues popping out so don't mind me 😇 I should've been more prepared for the sweetness. I was def smiling a lot at the gentleness of their relationship development, and Kristen Callihan writes such good sexual tension scenes too.
He glances up, and I’m hit with the full force of his green gaze. “Been thinking about you, Stells.”I do wish that heart to heart scene between Killian and Jax had been... more. It was such a long time coming that I should've been crying when they finally went there. Also as of now, I think Brenna can do better than Rye so by all means Kristen Callihan, change my mind
October 31, 2018
I loved every single page of this book!! Actually, if I think back about the whole series so far; I have fallen in love with each story!! They have so much heart, passion and humor and it makes for an epic romance!
In “Fall” it was a very realistic story in a lot of ways too. Stella and John are two characters who not only are fabulous; but they are flawed in a lot of ways too. It was their flaws that made me fall in love with them both ironically!! I was many times heartbroken for both of them... mainly because I could relate so much to their emotional pain. For that reason this book became so much more for me.
The author did a wonderful job of addressing issues that are some issues that are not often talked about.. she put a humorous twist on one particular issue and I thought it was brilliantly done!!! My hat goes off to her for having the hero struggle with a life error he had to deal with! John learned and changed from his mistake too which made me root for him even more. I’m being vague but I don’t want to give anything away!
This whole series is a must read!!! It’s one of my all time feel good series that I will for sure reread over the years! The characters are ones I won’t ever forget!!!
Thanks for the Buddy Read Steph!!!! It was a blast as usual!❤️
In “Fall” it was a very realistic story in a lot of ways too. Stella and John are two characters who not only are fabulous; but they are flawed in a lot of ways too. It was their flaws that made me fall in love with them both ironically!! I was many times heartbroken for both of them... mainly because I could relate so much to their emotional pain. For that reason this book became so much more for me.
The author did a wonderful job of addressing issues that are some issues that are not often talked about.. she put a humorous twist on one particular issue and I thought it was brilliantly done!!! My hat goes off to her for having the hero struggle with a life error he had to deal with! John learned and changed from his mistake too which made me root for him even more. I’m being vague but I don’t want to give anything away!
This whole series is a must read!!! It’s one of my all time feel good series that I will for sure reread over the years! The characters are ones I won’t ever forget!!!
Thanks for the Buddy Read Steph!!!! It was a blast as usual!❤️
October 20, 2018
5 STARS
This book.
THIS. BOOK.
*flails happily*
This is, hands down, my favorite Kristen Callihan book to date. A poignantly written, slow burn, friends to lovers romance that was brimming with emotion; Fall owned my heart from beginning to finish. It sucked me in from the beginning and kept me glued to the pages with two incredibly multi-layered, raw, and endearing characters. Jax and Stella were everything. Simply everything!
Oh how I loved this book. Let me count the ways!!!
1. One broken yet devastatingly swoony rockstar.
Jax is a man that has been to the dark bottom of emotion, and almost didn't make his way up.
I really have to applaud the author in just how well she handled such a sensitive matter as depression and suicide. There was just something so real and raw about Jax that you couldn't help but love. He captivates the reader from the very first page, and you only fall harder and harder under his magnetism and charisma the more you read. As one of the front man of a famous band, Jax is no stranger to all the women that his fame brings. But one quirky redhead that's set to kiss him out of his ice cream at a grocery store manages to tilt his world on his axis.
2. Stella
She was just so perfectly imperfect. She was completely extraordinary in her ordinariness. Without giving much away, this is a heroine that just wins you over with her quirky, selfless, and loving personality. And then she makes you fall in love with her strength, perseverance, heart, and hints of vulnerability.
Stella works some of the oddest jobs, yet they make her happy. And when her job as a pet sitter land her one rockstar neighbor that she stole ice cream from with a kiss and never expected to see again? Well, let's just say, things get interesting. Which brings me to the next thing...
3. The banter. OMG! THE BANTER!!
4. The delicious, and I mean DELICIOUS slow burn romance. It hurt SO GOOD.
5. The secondary characters. I love the brotherly camaraderie the band shares. I love the friendship between Jax and Killian. I NEED a book for Whip and Rye.
This book was sheer perfection. It captivated and ruined me. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me swoon. I absolutely loved it. I loved everything about it. Everyone needs to read this book. I just can't recommend it enough.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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Stella Button, the moment you ripped that ice cream out of my hand, you knocked me off-balance. All I could do was fall.”
This book.
THIS. BOOK.
*flails happily*
This is, hands down, my favorite Kristen Callihan book to date. A poignantly written, slow burn, friends to lovers romance that was brimming with emotion; Fall owned my heart from beginning to finish. It sucked me in from the beginning and kept me glued to the pages with two incredibly multi-layered, raw, and endearing characters. Jax and Stella were everything. Simply everything!
Oh how I loved this book. Let me count the ways!!!
1. One broken yet devastatingly swoony rockstar.
Jax is a man that has been to the dark bottom of emotion, and almost didn't make his way up.
I really have to applaud the author in just how well she handled such a sensitive matter as depression and suicide. There was just something so real and raw about Jax that you couldn't help but love. He captivates the reader from the very first page, and you only fall harder and harder under his magnetism and charisma the more you read. As one of the front man of a famous band, Jax is no stranger to all the women that his fame brings. But one quirky redhead that's set to kiss him out of his ice cream at a grocery store manages to tilt his world on his axis.
2. Stella
She was just so perfectly imperfect. She was completely extraordinary in her ordinariness. Without giving much away, this is a heroine that just wins you over with her quirky, selfless, and loving personality. And then she makes you fall in love with her strength, perseverance, heart, and hints of vulnerability.
Stella works some of the oddest jobs, yet they make her happy. And when her job as a pet sitter land her one rockstar neighbor that she stole ice cream from with a kiss and never expected to see again? Well, let's just say, things get interesting. Which brings me to the next thing...
3. The banter. OMG! THE BANTER!!
Her flustered blather ends in a gurgle and a new tide of rapid hand flapping. Even though her sudden appearance scared the shit out of me—until I realized it was Stella and not some stalker who’d gotten in—a laugh escapes me.
“My cock is godlike, so I can see the confusion.”
Her face flames bright red. “Dick.”
“It goes by that name too.” I wink at her.
4. The delicious, and I mean DELICIOUS slow burn romance. It hurt SO GOOD.
5. The secondary characters. I love the brotherly camaraderie the band shares. I love the friendship between Jax and Killian. I NEED a book for Whip and Rye.
This book was sheer perfection. It captivated and ruined me. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me swoon. I absolutely loved it. I loved everything about it. Everyone needs to read this book. I just can't recommend it enough.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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May 10, 2021
The story was as good as I remembered it but, unfortunately, the male narrator didn't work for me. This was surprising as I have listened to other books by Nelson Hobbs that I really enjoyed. I don't think Mr Hobbs is English and I struggled with how Jax was portrayed. A little too toffee-nosed, stick up his butt. Maxine Mitchell does a great job and she was very easy to listen to.
Not changing my rating because it was still a great story to listen to.
**********
Taking the risk knowing you may Fall...
***4.5 Stars***
I’m struggling to write my review for Fall. It was SO BLOODY GOOD!!! This is my FOURTH attempt and I’m ready to just say...It’s good...Buy it. I’m exhausted after spending most of my day reading this emotional book. My eyes are still puffy from the few times I’ve cried today. I even went willingly with hubby to do the grocery shopping today, just to step away from all the emotions.
The characters were real, and I absolutely LOVED them. The storyline had me enthralled from the very first page and I couldn’t wait to get to know John and Stella better. The love story was sweet and at times heartbreaking, but it was realistic that there were hiccups along the way. Sure, there were plenty of tears, but there were also laughing moments and times where I wanted to jump into the pages and be a part of their world.
Seriously, Kill John (the band) and their entourage are wonderful. The VIP series has been brilliant, and I love that we’re not expected to just move on and forget about the previous couples. They are all part of each story, we see them moving forward, growing in their relationships and changing as time goes by. If you were a fan of Managed, you should read this story just to see Scottie in all his happy ever after glory. I loved having Mr Gandy (Scottie) back and he’s better than ever, in all his suited glory.
Fall does touch on the subject of mental illness. I found myself reflecting on the times in my life when I too felt lonely or in my head. I could completely relate to John wanting to just be left alone to deal with it by himself. His fame and fortune made it seem strange for him to have moments of doubt or loneliness.
John isn’t the only one who has issues though, Stella has her own brand of things to deal with. Stella is quite lonely, which is surprising as her business revolves around friendship. Her father was and is an absolute douchewaffle and I hated that she was left with emotional scars from dealing with him. With Stella coming into John's life, it was great to see their friendship blossom before they even contemplated a romantic relationship.
Kristen Callihan has written a smart and thoughtful story. It was obvious that she knew her subject matter and she made sure to make it as realistic as possible. We’re not expected to believe that John is “fixed” by Stella’s love. It was obvious that there will always be times of struggle for both John and Stella. Love is worth the risk and the effort for John and Stella.
I did remove half a star because I was a little disappointed in the number of errors I noticed. I don’t expect perfection but these were glaringly obvious.
I enjoyed the journey to love that Stella and John travelled. Their initial meeting was a crack up and there was a sizzling connection from the start. Fall is not an easy read or a light read and I have the puffy eyes to prove it. It was a good read and left me thoroughly satisfied with a big goofy grin on my face. I can’t wait for more in the VIP series.
Not changing my rating because it was still a great story to listen to.
**********
Taking the risk knowing you may Fall...
***4.5 Stars***
I’m struggling to write my review for Fall. It was SO BLOODY GOOD!!! This is my FOURTH attempt and I’m ready to just say...It’s good...Buy it. I’m exhausted after spending most of my day reading this emotional book. My eyes are still puffy from the few times I’ve cried today. I even went willingly with hubby to do the grocery shopping today, just to step away from all the emotions.
The characters were real, and I absolutely LOVED them. The storyline had me enthralled from the very first page and I couldn’t wait to get to know John and Stella better. The love story was sweet and at times heartbreaking, but it was realistic that there were hiccups along the way. Sure, there were plenty of tears, but there were also laughing moments and times where I wanted to jump into the pages and be a part of their world.
Seriously, Kill John (the band) and their entourage are wonderful. The VIP series has been brilliant, and I love that we’re not expected to just move on and forget about the previous couples. They are all part of each story, we see them moving forward, growing in their relationships and changing as time goes by. If you were a fan of Managed, you should read this story just to see Scottie in all his happy ever after glory. I loved having Mr Gandy (Scottie) back and he’s better than ever, in all his suited glory.
Fall does touch on the subject of mental illness. I found myself reflecting on the times in my life when I too felt lonely or in my head. I could completely relate to John wanting to just be left alone to deal with it by himself. His fame and fortune made it seem strange for him to have moments of doubt or loneliness.
John isn’t the only one who has issues though, Stella has her own brand of things to deal with. Stella is quite lonely, which is surprising as her business revolves around friendship. Her father was and is an absolute douchewaffle and I hated that she was left with emotional scars from dealing with him. With Stella coming into John's life, it was great to see their friendship blossom before they even contemplated a romantic relationship.
Kristen Callihan has written a smart and thoughtful story. It was obvious that she knew her subject matter and she made sure to make it as realistic as possible. We’re not expected to believe that John is “fixed” by Stella’s love. It was obvious that there will always be times of struggle for both John and Stella. Love is worth the risk and the effort for John and Stella.
I did remove half a star because I was a little disappointed in the number of errors I noticed. I don’t expect perfection but these were glaringly obvious.
I enjoyed the journey to love that Stella and John travelled. Their initial meeting was a crack up and there was a sizzling connection from the start. Fall is not an easy read or a light read and I have the puffy eyes to prove it. It was a good read and left me thoroughly satisfied with a big goofy grin on my face. I can’t wait for more in the VIP series.
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May 18, 2024
3.5 stars. “Stella Button, the moment you ripped that ice cream out of my hand, you knocked me off-balance. All I could do was fall.” There are things about this book that I didn’t like, but that line said later made even the meet cute that I didn’t find at all cute better retroactively. I mean kissing a random gorgeous stranger in a supermarket to steal some ice cream from him is kind of crazy and creepy when you think about it. It just didn’t work for me. I much preferred Scott and Sophie’s meet cute in the plane in book 2. (That book is just plain wonderful, funny and hot. You should totally read it.)
What else didn’t I like? Stella is a live-in pet-sitter next to Jax’s apartment, basically an employee of another member of Jax’s band, and she secretly enters Jax’s apartment to complain and tell him to not make so much noise making music. While she technically didn’t break and enter, it feels like she did. Again, crazy and creepy and also out-of-line.
Then there is the obligatory relationship complication at 85%, which I’m usually not a fan of during my best days, but here part of it felt contrived. I tend to prefer relationship-external reasons for break-ups etc. and here we have a conflict that is due to a character whose reasoning didn’t entirely make sense to me. And I disliked how the other MC dealt with that reasoning.
But there were also things I loved about this book, one of which was the portrayal of depression; you could tell that the author has suffered from it too.
Jax’s thoughts when he was depressed really resonated with me, his inner voice sadly all too familiar. It really made his character feel real, despite him being a rock star, which is harder to relate to. The best thing was that this book wasn’t all about romance; love didn’t magically fix everything. Of course, Stella and Jax helped each other a lot and there is a HEA, but dealing with the dark days is also a road you need to walk under your own power.
I also loved Jax and Stella’s relationship and how they slowly got to know each other. It wasn’t about sex (though there was plenty later in the book) but about discovering who the other person is - while having the hots for each other. Relationship arcs are something Callihan does very well and is one of the reasons why I usually like her books. (Especially the Game On sports romance series.) So far, I really loved Managed (book 2) as mentioned above; Idol (book 1) was a 3.5-star experience for me - ok but nothing stellar. And this third book is probably another 3.5 stars for me, mostly because of the realistic depiction of depression. (Note though that despite the heavy topic this book is far from angsty.)
So all in all, I’m not sorry I read this; it was time well spent despite some things that bothered me. I’m still committed to reading the fourth and final (?) book of this series. It’s Rye and Brenna and I really want to see more of them.
!! Spoilery thoughts below !!
In a way Jax’s depression being the reason for the break-up is fitting as it tells us that love cannot fix everything, but his reasoning that he’s afraid to lose Stella and therefore he breaks up with her just doesn’t make sense to me. He is clearly deeply depressed when he talks to Stella and I hate that she doesn’t fight for him. Despite her own issues, she shouldn’t accept what he says at face value when he is in that state.
What else didn’t I like? Stella is a live-in pet-sitter next to Jax’s apartment, basically an employee of another member of Jax’s band, and she secretly enters Jax’s apartment to complain and tell him to not make so much noise making music. While she technically didn’t break and enter, it feels like she did. Again, crazy and creepy and also out-of-line.
Then there is the obligatory relationship complication at 85%, which I’m usually not a fan of during my best days, but here part of it felt contrived. I tend to prefer relationship-external reasons for break-ups etc. and here we have a conflict that is due to a character whose reasoning didn’t entirely make sense to me. And I disliked how the other MC dealt with that reasoning.
But there were also things I loved about this book, one of which was the portrayal of depression; you could tell that the author has suffered from it too.
“And all I could think was, who the fuck am I? I felt like a lie, and then all this … ugliness started pouring in—telling me I was unlovable, unworthy, a fake—until I felt so dirty and trapped in my own skin that I couldn’t stand it. And there was no way out.”
Jax’s thoughts when he was depressed really resonated with me, his inner voice sadly all too familiar. It really made his character feel real, despite him being a rock star, which is harder to relate to. The best thing was that this book wasn’t all about romance; love didn’t magically fix everything. Of course, Stella and Jax helped each other a lot and there is a HEA, but dealing with the dark days is also a road you need to walk under your own power.
I also loved Jax and Stella’s relationship and how they slowly got to know each other. It wasn’t about sex (though there was plenty later in the book) but about discovering who the other person is - while having the hots for each other. Relationship arcs are something Callihan does very well and is one of the reasons why I usually like her books. (Especially the Game On sports romance series.) So far, I really loved Managed (book 2) as mentioned above; Idol (book 1) was a 3.5-star experience for me - ok but nothing stellar. And this third book is probably another 3.5 stars for me, mostly because of the realistic depiction of depression. (Note though that despite the heavy topic this book is far from angsty.)
So all in all, I’m not sorry I read this; it was time well spent despite some things that bothered me. I’m still committed to reading the fourth and final (?) book of this series. It’s Rye and Brenna and I really want to see more of them.
!! Spoilery thoughts below !!
In a way Jax’s depression being the reason for the break-up is fitting as it tells us that love cannot fix everything, but his reasoning that he’s afraid to lose Stella and therefore he breaks up with her just doesn’t make sense to me. He is clearly deeply depressed when he talks to Stella and I hate that she doesn’t fight for him. Despite her own issues, she shouldn’t accept what he says at face value when he is in that state.
October 5, 2018
The VIP series keeps getting better with every book. Omg how I enjoyed Fall with John(Jax) and Stella. These two have been through so much in their young lives. Reading about them was a fresh breath of air in the rockstar/romance genre. Stella and John battle real life struggles and the author Kristen Callihan treats these topics with care and respect.
Mental health topics such as depression, anxiety and suicide are what John is battling with and it’s depicted with such an authenticity that it was emotional to read at times. He’s a survivor and yet he has setbacks but he keeps fighting.
Stella is a survivor too. Alone in the world without any close family or friends. She’s such a good and kindhearted woman who treats people with respect and wants to help the ones in need.
Both John and Stella are familiar with loneliness and feeling alone in the world so when they meet each other in the grocery aisle everything changes for the both of them. Their meeting has set things in motion. Affected them both. Their friendship and how it grew and evolved was pure joy to read. Everything from their bantering to them enjoying each other’s company was amazing. So many emotions jumped off the pages.
Stella made John feel whole and not a person who needed to be fixed because of his psychological struggles. John gave Stella people in her life and he made her feel important and needed. They complemented each other to perfection. They changed each other’s outlook on life. They became each other’s anchor.
The other guys from Kill John appears and it was incredible. They added humor to the story and reaffirmed how strong their bond is. I hope the remaining two band members Rye and Whip get their own book cause I can’t get enough of this fantastic series and its characters.
5 Button Stars
I received an ARC
Mental health topics such as depression, anxiety and suicide are what John is battling with and it’s depicted with such an authenticity that it was emotional to read at times. He’s a survivor and yet he has setbacks but he keeps fighting.
Stella is a survivor too. Alone in the world without any close family or friends. She’s such a good and kindhearted woman who treats people with respect and wants to help the ones in need.
Both John and Stella are familiar with loneliness and feeling alone in the world so when they meet each other in the grocery aisle everything changes for the both of them. Their meeting has set things in motion. Affected them both. Their friendship and how it grew and evolved was pure joy to read. Everything from their bantering to them enjoying each other’s company was amazing. So many emotions jumped off the pages.
Stella made John feel whole and not a person who needed to be fixed because of his psychological struggles. John gave Stella people in her life and he made her feel important and needed. They complemented each other to perfection. They changed each other’s outlook on life. They became each other’s anchor.
The other guys from Kill John appears and it was incredible. They added humor to the story and reaffirmed how strong their bond is. I hope the remaining two band members Rye and Whip get their own book cause I can’t get enough of this fantastic series and its characters.
5 Button Stars
I received an ARC
October 27, 2019
I loved so much the first two books 😍 And this was such a fun book too!
RTC
RTC
November 22, 2018
Dnf
It's a very long book and I'm not patient enough to read a book with that length if I'm 30% in and nothing interesting is happening yet. And the characters aren't intriguing enough for the story to be character-driven. Ad to that my friends negative reviews. So, I'm stopping before I end up with another 1 or 2 stars read.
It's a very long book and I'm not patient enough to read a book with that length if I'm 30% in and nothing interesting is happening yet. And the characters aren't intriguing enough for the story to be character-driven. Ad to that my friends negative reviews. So, I'm stopping before I end up with another 1 or 2 stars read.
February 4, 2021
4.5 Stars – Loved it!
September 13, 2022
y’all ….. this book? PHENOMENAL
October 13, 2018
“Stella Button, the moment you ripped that ice cream out of my hand, you knocked me off-balance. All I could do was fall.”
4,5 “light and dark” stars.
Fall is another stellar light yet deep, funny yet serious creation of Kristen Callihan!
It is the perfect blend of fun *see some of my favorite quotes* and thoughtfulness.
Fun because Stella and John alias Jax are what we call in our “jargon” OTP or One True Pairing. In other word made for each other.
They have the same taste in food, they went through difficult time as kids, they both are caring people and have one of the best banter!
This story is filled with swoony moments and laugh. I swear just the opening scene with Stella stealing John’s ice cream had me smiling like a loon! I laughed not only reading the quick remarks flying between Stella and John but between Scottie and Jax! Haaaa! Scottie my man. He was back in all his glory making fun of John/Jax and being completely smitten by his son Felix. Pure bliss!
Here is Scottie explaining parenting after John failed to calm Felix:
“Scottie and Felix shoot me twin glares. My nerves are officially shot, and I swear I need a drink or to run this adrenaline out. “Holy hell, mate, how do you even know what to do?” “Trial by fire.” Scottie smiles thinly. “Only the strong survive.””
And another one of my favorites in the book, when John confesses to Scottie that he may have offended Stella:
“What do I do?” I blurt out. Scottie gives me a sidelong look. “Invest in a good set of kneepads. I predict a lot of groveling in your future.”
The story is not pure light and fun. You have a serious and thoughtful undertone. John suffers from depression and is battling inner demons for years now.
Kristen told us she also had hard times and it’s obvious she knows her topic. Depression is broached with acute precision and enormous respect. It’s hard to escape your thoughts when your mind is trying to trick you and pull you down. You can’t just turn a switch and make it go away. Even if the person wants to get better and to be better it’s still a hard battle. Sometimes you slip down into that really dark hole because it’s just too hard to keep fighting. That’s what John is living for years now, very bravely.
“But that’s not what I think about.” He swallows audibly. “What I hold onto, what I keep crystal clear, is that moment when I started to fade. I remember how fucking terrified and regretful I felt. I didn’t want to go. Not really. I just wanted to feel okay.”
Stella is also what I would call a courageous soldier. She’s suffered from parental neglect and has been alone for a very long time. Her father left her to fend for herself. Yet she is one of these sunny personalities, always wanting to help others and possessing a true warmth. She is an Uber resilient human. That’s what makes her the perfect counterpart to John’s own brand of shadows.
I loved how Kristen Callihan made their love story progress. It was not insta-love even if there is insta attraction but the more they’ll know each other the more their feelings will grow.
I loved…so many things!
-the main and of course side characters (we got to see our old favorites);
-reading about Scottie being smitten by his baby boy Felix and still so in LURV with Sophie;
-the banter! Priceless. I was chuckling alone on the train;
-the past of both characters that added a real depth and some drama to the story when said past resurfaced;
-Kristen spot on yet respectful writing about depression and mental illness.
Reading Fall was like getting your favorite blanket out of the closet *you know because it is fall and you got a little bit cold* and wrapping his comfortable warmth around you.
Well now you do just that: grab you favorite blankie and dive under to read Fall while drinking hot chocolate. Better try to eat mint chocolate chip ice cream to get in the mood!
A copy was generously provided by the author but it had no influence whatsoever on my willing and always honest review.
Find me on:
Wordpress: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook group : Beware Book Boyfriends Alert
Instagram: @bewareofthereader
Twitter: @BewareOffReader
4,5 “light and dark” stars.
Fall is another stellar light yet deep, funny yet serious creation of Kristen Callihan!
It is the perfect blend of fun *see some of my favorite quotes* and thoughtfulness.
Fun because Stella and John alias Jax are what we call in our “jargon” OTP or One True Pairing. In other word made for each other.
They have the same taste in food, they went through difficult time as kids, they both are caring people and have one of the best banter!
This story is filled with swoony moments and laugh. I swear just the opening scene with Stella stealing John’s ice cream had me smiling like a loon! I laughed not only reading the quick remarks flying between Stella and John but between Scottie and Jax! Haaaa! Scottie my man. He was back in all his glory making fun of John/Jax and being completely smitten by his son Felix. Pure bliss!
Here is Scottie explaining parenting after John failed to calm Felix:
“Scottie and Felix shoot me twin glares. My nerves are officially shot, and I swear I need a drink or to run this adrenaline out. “Holy hell, mate, how do you even know what to do?” “Trial by fire.” Scottie smiles thinly. “Only the strong survive.””
And another one of my favorites in the book, when John confesses to Scottie that he may have offended Stella:
“What do I do?” I blurt out. Scottie gives me a sidelong look. “Invest in a good set of kneepads. I predict a lot of groveling in your future.”
The story is not pure light and fun. You have a serious and thoughtful undertone. John suffers from depression and is battling inner demons for years now.
Kristen told us she also had hard times and it’s obvious she knows her topic. Depression is broached with acute precision and enormous respect. It’s hard to escape your thoughts when your mind is trying to trick you and pull you down. You can’t just turn a switch and make it go away. Even if the person wants to get better and to be better it’s still a hard battle. Sometimes you slip down into that really dark hole because it’s just too hard to keep fighting. That’s what John is living for years now, very bravely.
“But that’s not what I think about.” He swallows audibly. “What I hold onto, what I keep crystal clear, is that moment when I started to fade. I remember how fucking terrified and regretful I felt. I didn’t want to go. Not really. I just wanted to feel okay.”
Stella is also what I would call a courageous soldier. She’s suffered from parental neglect and has been alone for a very long time. Her father left her to fend for herself. Yet she is one of these sunny personalities, always wanting to help others and possessing a true warmth. She is an Uber resilient human. That’s what makes her the perfect counterpart to John’s own brand of shadows.
I loved how Kristen Callihan made their love story progress. It was not insta-love even if there is insta attraction but the more they’ll know each other the more their feelings will grow.
I loved…so many things!
-the main and of course side characters (we got to see our old favorites);
-reading about Scottie being smitten by his baby boy Felix and still so in LURV with Sophie;
-the banter! Priceless. I was chuckling alone on the train;
-the past of both characters that added a real depth and some drama to the story when said past resurfaced;
-Kristen spot on yet respectful writing about depression and mental illness.
Reading Fall was like getting your favorite blanket out of the closet *you know because it is fall and you got a little bit cold* and wrapping his comfortable warmth around you.
Well now you do just that: grab you favorite blankie and dive under to read Fall while drinking hot chocolate. Better try to eat mint chocolate chip ice cream to get in the mood!
A copy was generously provided by the author but it had no influence whatsoever on my willing and always honest review.
Find me on:
Wordpress: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook group : Beware Book Boyfriends Alert
Instagram: @bewareofthereader
Twitter: @BewareOffReader
October 26, 2018
This book gave me chills. It made me laugh. I started writing my review at 20%.
There was this moment in this book, when Jax brings stella into his life, essentially, and she says yes. And this moment he picks a song that makes me ache every time I hear it. And then the moment where he realizes it’s made so vulnerable, and that vulnerability is such a risk that he has to get out of there and alienate Stella by any means necessary. As someone with depression, I can’t say how familiar that feeling is that you risked too much of yourself and you regret it. And these types of charming highs, chill-making romance, and relatable lows make this book so glorious. There are so many moments of living with depression that were so realistic and well done—so identifiable.
Kristen Callihan took her time on this one. I think she got Jax right. I think with Stella, we were able to understand and admire her heart and compassion.
If I have a couple of hang-ups about this book (I do), one is this: there was endless talk about the beauty of the characters. Endless. It got repetitive to the point where the first 40% flowed, but it started pulling me out of the story a bit because the characters stumbled over the beauty of the other so often. Had about 1/4 of this been cut, I would’ve been so happy. My other problem with this was the grifter father. I can’t tell you why, and though I appreciated the story of Stella’s abandonment as a basis for her character development, I did not think the grifter plot line well done. (Though if I’m honest,
Kristen Callihan gets a lot of points here dealing with a few heavy plot points-between depression and the fact that it is a chronic condition, to the acute STI dealt with sensitively and realistically. Maturely, if you will. Sure, the speech from Stella there might have been heavy-handed, but it is also essentially what I would tell romance authors (I can think of two in particular) that these diseases can be used with their proper weight and accompanying humor without being the punchline.
Ultimately, the book is incredibly satisfying and I was pleased with what felt like a lack of plot contrivances save one. ( Jax and Stella had far enough to come on their own and in a relationship, there was no use driving a wedge between them that wasn’t self-made. One of Stella’s grand gestures definitely made me cry.
Maybe, upon reread, I’ll bump this up. Maybe I won’t. For now, though, it’s a really solid 4
There was this moment in this book, when Jax brings stella into his life, essentially, and she says yes. And this moment he picks a song that makes me ache every time I hear it. And then the moment where he realizes it’s made so vulnerable, and that vulnerability is such a risk that he has to get out of there and alienate Stella by any means necessary. As someone with depression, I can’t say how familiar that feeling is that you risked too much of yourself and you regret it. And these types of charming highs, chill-making romance, and relatable lows make this book so glorious. There are so many moments of living with depression that were so realistic and well done—so identifiable.
Kristen Callihan took her time on this one. I think she got Jax right. I think with Stella, we were able to understand and admire her heart and compassion.
If I have a couple of hang-ups about this book (I do), one is this: there was endless talk about the beauty of the characters. Endless. It got repetitive to the point where the first 40% flowed, but it started pulling me out of the story a bit because the characters stumbled over the beauty of the other so often. Had about 1/4 of this been cut, I would’ve been so happy. My other problem with this was the grifter father. I can’t tell you why, and though I appreciated the story of Stella’s abandonment as a basis for her character development, I did not think the grifter plot line well done. (Though if I’m honest,
Kristen Callihan gets a lot of points here dealing with a few heavy plot points-between depression and the fact that it is a chronic condition, to the acute STI dealt with sensitively and realistically. Maturely, if you will. Sure, the speech from Stella there might have been heavy-handed, but it is also essentially what I would tell romance authors (I can think of two in particular) that these diseases can be used with their proper weight and accompanying humor without being the punchline.
Ultimately, the book is incredibly satisfying and I was pleased with what felt like a lack of plot contrivances save one. ( Jax and Stella had far enough to come on their own and in a relationship, there was no use driving a wedge between them that wasn’t self-made. One of Stella’s grand gestures definitely made me cry.
Maybe, upon reread, I’ll bump this up. Maybe I won’t. For now, though, it’s a really solid 4
June 5, 2021
I've just read Idol and Managed back to back and ADORED them.
All I need to know is WHEN? When is Jax's book coming?
All I need to know is WHEN? When is Jax's book coming?
October 28, 2018
I don’t think I’ve swooned this hard since.....well ever!! Stella Button and John Jax own my fucking heart! This book was PERFECT for me. I did not want it to end.
These two characters are so perfect for one another!!
Their lonely broken souls are so perfect together. I’m in awe of this perfection! I love stories where the characters are flawed, but doing their best to make it. They’re strong fighters who will persevere no matter what it takes. Stella and John are those types of characters. Each of them have their own doubts, fears, and worries. They fit like yin and yang.
The story is the perfect combination of serious, edgy, and funny. Gah, when she calls him a few of the names she comes up with when they argue, I literally laughed out loud. The writing is flawless! The storyline is perfection.
I can’t recommend it enough. You need this in your life! GRABBY HANDS!
Full review coming soon...
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These two characters are so perfect for one another!!
Their lonely broken souls are so perfect together. I’m in awe of this perfection! I love stories where the characters are flawed, but doing their best to make it. They’re strong fighters who will persevere no matter what it takes. Stella and John are those types of characters. Each of them have their own doubts, fears, and worries. They fit like yin and yang.
The story is the perfect combination of serious, edgy, and funny. Gah, when she calls him a few of the names she comes up with when they argue, I literally laughed out loud. The writing is flawless! The storyline is perfection.
I can’t recommend it enough. You need this in your life! GRABBY HANDS!
Full review coming soon...
For more of my reviews:
My Blog: Book Twins Reviews
Facebook Blog Page
Subscribe to Blog
March 23, 2021
4.25 stars ⭐️
“I don’t need you to fix me, Stella. I need you for everything else. I need your smiles, your laughter. I need you to be my best friend, my lover, my all. I need to take care of you, touch your skin, make you dinner, give you pleasure whenever you’re in need.”
Watch me bawl my eyes out because of this frkn couple🥺 Omg, why are people so cute and why can’t i meet these kinda cute and good-hearted people 😭 Where do i sign up😩
Stella is the most selfless person I’ve ever read about. The fact that she is a professional friend (people pay her to be their friend cause they don’t have any one) is another level kindness for me.
“She told me she’s a professional friend, someone whose job it is to make other people feel a little less lonely in life, and that had been it for me. I fell straight into the abyss. My want of her isn’t just physical; it is soul deep.”
Stella has her demons. She has always been alone and the fact that she’s there when one needs her but not vice versa really broke my heart. I felt for her cause sis same😭
“Do you know how many actual friends I have? None. Not a fucking one. Nobody knows the real me. Nobody calls on my birthday, or to see how I’m doing when they haven’t heard from me in a while. No one turns to me for anything other than a fleeting laugh or paid companionship.”
John-Jax Blackwood is a survivor. He’s one of the strongest H I’ve read about. He attempted suicide few time back in his life and yes, he has his moments where he feels low like it’s not worth it but he FIGHTS and I admire him for that.
“Hear me well, John Blackwood, because I know how hard it is for you to take a compliment. You talk of my strength? You are the strongest person I’ve ever known. You are a survivor. Every day you fight for a better life. I am in awe of you. I adore you. I have since the beginning. Fear isn’t an easy thing to shake. But for you? I will be right there fighting by your side and never regret a day.”
If you couldn’t tell, these two make a dynamic duo! Their banter, sexual tension, love, their moments. Everything was perfect.
This book was just such a sweet and enjoyable ride! Kristen is making a place in my heart with these cute ass novels😭🤍
“I want everything with you, Stells. Everything and anything. You want kids, we’ll have kids. If you don’t, then we’ll have each other alone. That we are together is what matters.” His grip tightens. “That is my dream. You and me. It’s what gives me peace.”
“I don’t need you to fix me, Stella. I need you for everything else. I need your smiles, your laughter. I need you to be my best friend, my lover, my all. I need to take care of you, touch your skin, make you dinner, give you pleasure whenever you’re in need.”
Watch me bawl my eyes out because of this frkn couple🥺 Omg, why are people so cute and why can’t i meet these kinda cute and good-hearted people 😭 Where do i sign up😩
Stella is the most selfless person I’ve ever read about. The fact that she is a professional friend (people pay her to be their friend cause they don’t have any one) is another level kindness for me.
“She told me she’s a professional friend, someone whose job it is to make other people feel a little less lonely in life, and that had been it for me. I fell straight into the abyss. My want of her isn’t just physical; it is soul deep.”
Stella has her demons. She has always been alone and the fact that she’s there when one needs her but not vice versa really broke my heart. I felt for her cause sis same😭
“Do you know how many actual friends I have? None. Not a fucking one. Nobody knows the real me. Nobody calls on my birthday, or to see how I’m doing when they haven’t heard from me in a while. No one turns to me for anything other than a fleeting laugh or paid companionship.”
John-Jax Blackwood is a survivor. He’s one of the strongest H I’ve read about. He attempted suicide few time back in his life and yes, he has his moments where he feels low like it’s not worth it but he FIGHTS and I admire him for that.
“Hear me well, John Blackwood, because I know how hard it is for you to take a compliment. You talk of my strength? You are the strongest person I’ve ever known. You are a survivor. Every day you fight for a better life. I am in awe of you. I adore you. I have since the beginning. Fear isn’t an easy thing to shake. But for you? I will be right there fighting by your side and never regret a day.”
If you couldn’t tell, these two make a dynamic duo! Their banter, sexual tension, love, their moments. Everything was perfect.
This book was just such a sweet and enjoyable ride! Kristen is making a place in my heart with these cute ass novels😭🤍
“I want everything with you, Stells. Everything and anything. You want kids, we’ll have kids. If you don’t, then we’ll have each other alone. That we are together is what matters.” His grip tightens. “That is my dream. You and me. It’s what gives me peace.”
October 18, 2018
4.5 stars
Fall is the third book in Kristen Callihan’s addictive rock star romance series, VIP, and let’s just say I was more than a little excited to read Jax’s story. Each book in the series is a standalone, but I highly suggest you read the previous books first. Jax has an important back story that alters the dynamics of the band Kill John, and I think you lose some of the impact if you skip those books.
I have a huge soft spot for Jax—the lead singer and guitarist in the band—but my heart made a nice cushy space for immensely likable Stella “Button”. An almost playful animosity arises between them at first sight and results in begrudging curiosity for both. These two have eerily similar tastes, and I enjoyed how fate laughs at Stella’s determination to avoid Jax by continually crossing their paths.
It’s amazing how alone you can feel even while being surrounded by people who care about you. It’s one of the greatest things Jax and Stella have in common. They are both people pleasers who are fiercely independent. Their transition from enemies to friends and eventually lovers is smooth and heartwarming. There is a liberal sprinkling of humor throughout, particularly between the band members.
I admire the way the book deals with the subject of mental health in a compassionate, realistic, and relatable way. It avoids clichés and challenges the reader to shake the shame and stigma attached to mental illness.
Fall is thought provoking, funny as all get out, sinfully sexy, and simply charming. What a great addition to the series.
Recommended for fans of:
Rock star romances
Mint chocolate chip ice cream
Wise neighbors
Fall is the third book in Kristen Callihan’s addictive rock star romance series, VIP, and let’s just say I was more than a little excited to read Jax’s story. Each book in the series is a standalone, but I highly suggest you read the previous books first. Jax has an important back story that alters the dynamics of the band Kill John, and I think you lose some of the impact if you skip those books.
I have a huge soft spot for Jax—the lead singer and guitarist in the band—but my heart made a nice cushy space for immensely likable Stella “Button”. An almost playful animosity arises between them at first sight and results in begrudging curiosity for both. These two have eerily similar tastes, and I enjoyed how fate laughs at Stella’s determination to avoid Jax by continually crossing their paths.
It’s amazing how alone you can feel even while being surrounded by people who care about you. It’s one of the greatest things Jax and Stella have in common. They are both people pleasers who are fiercely independent. Their transition from enemies to friends and eventually lovers is smooth and heartwarming. There is a liberal sprinkling of humor throughout, particularly between the band members.
I admire the way the book deals with the subject of mental health in a compassionate, realistic, and relatable way. It avoids clichés and challenges the reader to shake the shame and stigma attached to mental illness.
Fall is thought provoking, funny as all get out, sinfully sexy, and simply charming. What a great addition to the series.
Recommended for fans of:
Rock star romances
Mint chocolate chip ice cream
Wise neighbors
*I received an early version of this book to voluntarily read.*
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