Review: The Hardest Fall by Ella Maise
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Hardest Fall by Ella Maise Published by Self Published on 18th April 2018
Pages: 420
Format: eARC
Source: the Author
Buy on Amazon US, Buy on Amazon UK
The first time you meet someone, you make eye contact. You smile, say hello. Should be simple, if you’re anyone but me. The first time I met Dylan Reed, I found myself making eye contact with a different part of his body. You see, I’m very good at being shy, not to mention extremely well-versed in rambling nonsense and, unfortunately, rather highly skilled at making a fool of myself in front of a guy I’m attracted to.
At the time, I knew nothing about him and thought none of what I said would matter since I’d never speak to him again. Turns out, I was very wrong. He was the star wide receiver of the football team, one of the few players expected to make it into the NFL, and I ended up seeing him all over campus.I might have also propositioned him, run away from him, attacked him with a cooking utensil…and…uh, maybe I shouldn’t tell you all of it. It’s pretty normal stuff, things you’d expect…from me. Eventually, the time came when I couldn’t hide anymore—not that he’d have let me even if I tried.Before now, he never knew I was secretly watching him. Now that we see each other every day, he knows when I have a hard time looking away. It doesn’t help that I’m not the most subtle person in the world either.
He smiles at me and tells me he finds me fascinating because of my quirks. I can’t even tell him that I think my heart beats differently whenever he’s around.
He thinks we’re going to be best friends. I think I have a big thing for him, and the more I get to know him, the more I don’t care that I’m not allowed to be his friend, let alone fall for him.
The thing is, that’s exactly what I’m doing—what we’re doing, I think.
Falling.
Hard.
I had been waiting for Ella Maise to release a book ever since reading To Hate Adam Connor back in 2016 and while I’m not a huge fan of NA romance I wanted to read this one as soon as I read the blurb and this book didn’t disappoint at all!
I really don’t want to give away much so I’ll try and keep this a normal length review without spoiling too much and bare with me because it might be a mess.
Zoe Clarke and Dylan Reed’s first meet isn’t exactly meet cute, they are both cute but they meet under the most embarrassing and funny circumstances, their second meet up ends up in a demolition of a project and their third meet up is fate?? They go from being near strangers to roommates and having to end up dealing with a lot more than they bargained for.
I have no other words than saying cute and adorable because thats what both of them are. Zoe is shy and cute and Dylan is sexy and cute. Zoe has a word vomit issue when it comes to Dylan, she’s just can’t help but blurt out stuff and Dylan finds it the most endearing thing ever. Pretty sure they were heart eyes at each other every moment they spend with one another.
“I loved for you so long, I don’t even know when it started anymore.” ~ Zoe
The plot isn’t what you typically expect from an NA that has college and sports but maybe because it was so unique that I gobbled the book in one sitting. The book has all the elements that make it a worthwhile read i.e humour, angst to make you want to curse, sweet romance, sexual tension and a great HEA while it is a slow burn you get to see them become friends and then more. Which makes you even more invested in their HEA.
The plot was refreshing and Ella Maise does write beautifully so on that score everything is pretty great as well.
“You’re my best friend, like I told you you’d be and I already love your brand of weird.”~Dylan
Zoe and Dylan both very easy characters to connect with, they are both trying their best and are just genuinely nice people that you can root for. The book does have family drama and toxic relationships and people making it difficult for our leads to get what they want.
Zoe and Dylan were adorable together, they both so sweet! Of course Dylan was a bit sly but their interactions with each other made me so happy. They are the definition of smitten with each other from the moment they meet. Their first few interactions are funny and cute. Their later interactions made me smile, laugh and swoon.
“On and off the field, you’re my hardest fall. No one has ever compared, and no one ever will. It was always going to be you for me.” ~Dylan
Quibbles: View Spoiler »
Overall, this book is recommended to anyone who likes NA sport romance and slow burn friends to lovers romance with the most adorable and sweetest characters.
About Ella Maise
I’m a big dreamer. And that’s how it all started for me, really. Reading and dreaming. I love nothing more than to escape real life to find those very few magical moments in a book. I love how it has the power of stealing your worries away, putting a smile on your face even when smiling is the last thing on your mind. Crushing on fictional characters is also another bonus. Through my words, if I can manage to make even one-person smile, it means I’ve done my job well.
Writing became my world and I can’t imagine myself doing anything other than creating new characters and telling their stories. You know how some things simply makes your heart burst with happiness? A really good book, a puppy, hugging someone you’ve been missing like crazy? That’s what writing does to me. And all the hard work, all the sleepless nights, all the anxiety that comes with publishing…everything is worth it at the end.
