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The Hardest Fall
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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
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Kindle Edition, 1st Edition, 420 pages
Published
April 16th 2018
by Ella Maise
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➳A slow-burn college romance in which the word “masterpiece” is not enough to describe such creative ways of making a reader swoon over both characters in which fate has separated, & brought together for a final story plot...

➳When it comes down to slow-burn, angsty romance— this girl is not the biggest fan of them. Now, there are a few times where there are exceptions that I encounter upon and end up absolutely devouring said novel and just fall to my knees with adoration. Ella Maise is that ...more

➳When it comes down to slow-burn, angsty romance— this girl is not the biggest fan of them. Now, there are a few times where there are exceptions that I encounter upon and end up absolutely devouring said novel and just fall to my knees with adoration. Ella Maise is that ...more


🤎Isn't it lovely when the guy you got dared to kiss, was butt naked when you meet him for the first time, become your roommate whom you thought was a thief ends up becoming the love of your life?
5 "FlAsH" stars!!!
“My heart beats differently for you. It feels different somehow. I know this probably doesn’t make sense, but…it beats louder, wilder when I see you.”
Dylan, the college heartthrob, the nice guy, the leading athlete. No matter how many girls he's been with, nobody turned his head li ...more

3.75 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a cute friend's to lovers story. It definitely is what I would consider "slow burn", and while I'm never really a fan of that type of story, I didn't mind it that much. That being said -- there still were some parts that felt slow for me. It also felt on the longer side, and it was @ 423 pages on my kindle app. I think some of those slower parts could've been edited out to make it flow a little better. I appreciated how the H was a star athlete but not a manw ...more
Overall Opinion: This was a cute friend's to lovers story. It definitely is what I would consider "slow burn", and while I'm never really a fan of that type of story, I didn't mind it that much. That being said -- there still were some parts that felt slow for me. It also felt on the longer side, and it was @ 423 pages on my kindle app. I think some of those slower parts could've been edited out to make it flow a little better. I appreciated how the H was a star athlete but not a manw ...more





MY REVIEW can also be found on my blog:
KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
‘THE HARDEST FALL’: Is a standalone full length, sports romance novel by new to me Author Ella Maise. ‘Spoken in Dual Perspectives’
In this we meet, shy, klutzy, kooky, quirky over talkative College Freshman Zoe Clarke.
And Dylan Reed the IT boy around campus. A football player who had a big chance of going pro. He’s gorgeous, laid back and finds himself drawn towards Zoe like no other female before.
The v ...more

Apr 19, 2018
Nissa | Of Pens and Pages Book Blog
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
college,
roommates,
2018-reads,
dual-pov,
friends-to-lovers,
new-adult,
arc,
sports-romance

Review at Of Pens and Pages.
This is the strangest thing, but I think you're going to be my best friend, Zoe Clarke."
Oh Ella, how I've missed your words! If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for the slow-burn. I'm pleased to announce that I got that with this book, and I got it in spades. The Hardest Fall is a sweet, slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance that hit me in all the right places. There's a touch of mystery and angst added into the mix that makes this fun romance even mo ...more

May 16, 2018
chan ☆
added it
dnf @ 11%... heroine annoyed me
surprisingly, i have a lot to say for a book i didn't read very much of. but i'll keep it short.
girl walks in on dude peeing and can't stop commenting on his penis. i think it was supposed to be cute that she was 'flustered' but she didn't ever leave???? like you walked into a bathroom, see something you're not supposed to and then you leave. you don't stand there gawking regardless of if the guy is laughing it off. weird vibe.
and then the whole scene where this d ...more
surprisingly, i have a lot to say for a book i didn't read very much of. but i'll keep it short.
girl walks in on dude peeing and can't stop commenting on his penis. i think it was supposed to be cute that she was 'flustered' but she didn't ever leave???? like you walked into a bathroom, see something you're not supposed to and then you leave. you don't stand there gawking regardless of if the guy is laughing it off. weird vibe.
and then the whole scene where this d ...more


“On and off the field, you’re my hardest fall. No one has ever compared, and no one ever will.”
I truly loved The Hardest Fall. This story included some of my favorite things to read; sports romance, angst and the slow burn which is to the point of perfection, not annoyance. I devoured every beautifully and carefully crafted word Ella Maise produced. The only downer for me reading this was that it ended.
There are a few words that come to mind when thinking back to Dylan and Zoe’s fir ...more

5 Cute Stars
Such an amazing book,I devour it in one sitting!I'm in love with the story and the characters rocked this story!The Hardest Fall was a cute and fun read!I was smiling most of the time with these two!

Zoe and Dylan were adorable!I loved every minute of these two together!The way they first met was funny and then the second and third time!I found their story refreshing!Dylan is a swoon worthy hero and I loved Zoe,she is shy,funny and cute!They have an amazing chemistry!Their romance i ...more
Such an amazing book,I devour it in one sitting!I'm in love with the story and the characters rocked this story!The Hardest Fall was a cute and fun read!I was smiling most of the time with these two!

Zoe and Dylan were adorable!I loved every minute of these two together!The way they first met was funny and then the second and third time!I found their story refreshing!Dylan is a swoon worthy hero and I loved Zoe,she is shy,funny and cute!They have an amazing chemistry!Their romance i ...more

Great take on the new adult sports romance!

The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Romance: 💙💚🖤❤️💜
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎
Character development: ☺️🤬🥵😘
The heroine: Zoe - a shy college student. Zoe is awkward, uncoordinated and timid. She makes a fool out of herself more often than not, especially around men. She wants to be a professional photographer after college.
The Hero(s): Dylan Reed - a wide receiver for the college football team. Dylan was expected to ...more

The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Romance: 💙💚🖤❤️💜
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎
Character development: ☺️🤬🥵😘
The heroine: Zoe - a shy college student. Zoe is awkward, uncoordinated and timid. She makes a fool out of herself more often than not, especially around men. She wants to be a professional photographer after college.
The Hero(s): Dylan Reed - a wide receiver for the college football team. Dylan was expected to ...more

At 74% in, I'm done. The author manipulation is just too much and I can't stand it any longer. I like the characters. They're sweet and watching them come together was engaging. But Ella Maise seems addicted to manipulating things for drama and that's a fast turn-off for me.
I pushed through my concerns from the 20%-40% range. That's when she was manipulating Zoe's perspective to imply something not true. There were two possibilities and each would have had profoundly different manifestation in h ...more
I pushed through my concerns from the 20%-40% range. That's when she was manipulating Zoe's perspective to imply something not true. There were two possibilities and each would have had profoundly different manifestation in h ...more

*4.5 stars*
Loved this book!
Dylan and Zoe are perfect for each other. I really liked that they were friends before lovers. Their sexual tension was off the charts and I really enjoyed the slow burn. When they finally get together it was so hot!
I loved Dylan. He’s such a great guy and loves Zoe unconditionally. He embraces her quirks and accepts her just as she is. Zoe is amazing too. She’s shy but so fun! I truly loved them as a couple.
This was a great friends to lovers sports romance. I swoo ...more
Loved this book!
Dylan and Zoe are perfect for each other. I really liked that they were friends before lovers. Their sexual tension was off the charts and I really enjoyed the slow burn. When they finally get together it was so hot!
I loved Dylan. He’s such a great guy and loves Zoe unconditionally. He embraces her quirks and accepts her just as she is. Zoe is amazing too. She’s shy but so fun! I truly loved them as a couple.
This was a great friends to lovers sports romance. I swoo ...more

It took Dylan and Zoe three years to finally be together, and when I say this I mean, same room and place and to finally have a conversation that was long over due.
They met at a frat party and 3 years later, they're roommates. Zoe and Dylan were destined to be together, my heart when Dylan claimed her as a best friend from the beginning.
“I tucked my hands in my front pockets. “This is the strangest thing, but I think you’re going to be my best friend, Zoe Clarke.”
Also, I love Zoe but man she r ...more

Jun 10, 2018
Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
contemporary,
sport-music-actors,
3-stars,
friends-to-lovers,
romance,
reviewed,
new-adult,
read-in-2018
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Not bad, but a bit boring*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
The book centers around Zoe ‘Flash’ Clarke (21), who is an art major focused in photography (she also take photos to make extra money) and Dylan Reed, who in his final year of College, one of the hotshots from the football team, the star wide receiver who was apparently one of the few players expected to make it into the NFL, and that made him pretty popular around campus. Zoe walked in on Dylan taking a piss in her freshman year. She asked him if they ...more

I discovered Ella Maise this month and devoured To Love Jason Thorn and To Hate Adam Conner in just two days. I was obsessed with her writing style and gave both books a 5 star.
Fortunately for me, I didnt have to wait the almost two years that everyone else did for a new release from this author. Phewww! I was kicking myself for taking this long to discover her but now im just grateful.
After devouring those two books I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Hardest Fall and I literally freake ...more
Fortunately for me, I didnt have to wait the almost two years that everyone else did for a new release from this author. Phewww! I was kicking myself for taking this long to discover her but now im just grateful.
After devouring those two books I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Hardest Fall and I literally freake ...more

★★★★★ 5 Stars ★★★★★
My guilty pleasure as a woman in her forties, is college sports romance. Add slow burn to the mix and I will devour this trope like there's no tomorrow.
This was my first novel by Ella Maise, and I am extremely excited to read her future works if this is anything to go by, the writing was phenomenal! I was gripped, I became so attached to these characters and their struggles. I literally couldn't keep the smile off my face whilst reading this.
Dylan is the star of the Football t ...more
My guilty pleasure as a woman in her forties, is college sports romance. Add slow burn to the mix and I will devour this trope like there's no tomorrow.
This was my first novel by Ella Maise, and I am extremely excited to read her future works if this is anything to go by, the writing was phenomenal! I was gripped, I became so attached to these characters and their struggles. I literally couldn't keep the smile off my face whilst reading this.
Dylan is the star of the Football t ...more

I finished this book about three days ago, and I want to go back and start it again. Right now. Is that normal?
We all read romance because of the hero, am I right ladies? Alright, well, most of the time, that is. There's story. The imagination. And you're darn tootin I read for the hero too. The hero in The Hardest Fall... *SWOON*! Like swoon until I melt, sort of swoon. Dylan was just amazing, and the perfect match for Zoe. Not only was he sweet, and sensible, but he had a good head on his sho ...more
We all read romance because of the hero, am I right ladies? Alright, well, most of the time, that is. There's story. The imagination. And you're darn tootin I read for the hero too. The hero in The Hardest Fall... *SWOON*! Like swoon until I melt, sort of swoon. Dylan was just amazing, and the perfect match for Zoe. Not only was he sweet, and sensible, but he had a good head on his sho ...more

Sep 03, 2021
Lucía
added it
Well well, if it isn’t the consequences of my own actions…
I set myself up with this one.
At 30% I went to see people’s ratings and I read a big ass spoiler in the preview of their review 😀😀
I continued reading thinking it wasn’t that big of a deal, but the book revolved around that spoiler 😀😀
I would have rated it 2 stars, but it’s unfair since it was my own fault I ruined the experience🥲
I set myself up with this one.
At 30% I went to see people’s ratings and I read a big ass spoiler in the preview of their review 😀😀
I continued reading thinking it wasn’t that big of a deal, but the book revolved around that spoiler 😀😀
I would have rated it 2 stars, but it’s unfair since it was my own fault I ruined the experience🥲

Dylan and Zoe are a testament to there being a right time for everything. Though their attraction has always been there, it wasn’t the right time until it was.
This cute story was the perfect return for Ella Maise after an absence from the writing scene. It’s a slow burn, which I don’t always enjoy, but this additional time was definitely worth the build up of the relationship.
Individually, I really liked how Dylan was structured. He had a good balance between sweet and sexy with maturity. Zoe ...more
This cute story was the perfect return for Ella Maise after an absence from the writing scene. It’s a slow burn, which I don’t always enjoy, but this additional time was definitely worth the build up of the relationship.
Individually, I really liked how Dylan was structured. He had a good balance between sweet and sexy with maturity. Zoe ...more


🌟4.5 'M&M' stars🌟
“On and off the field, you're my hardest fall, Zoe. No one ever compared. No one ever will.”
The Hardest Fall was my second book by Ella Maise after Marriage For One. I loved that book so very much just like this one. Ella Maise had me hooked from the very beginning and had me completing this book in one sitting.
Me the entire time I was reading this book:


And when someone dare interrupt me:


...
Plot:
Zoe and Dylan have an awkward first meeting which leaves Zoe in tears a ...more

https://romanticcynicblog.wordpress.c...
Beware of Spoilers!
Star Ratings:
Heroine (Zoe): 21yrs old
Hero (Dylan): 22yrs old
Plot: 4/5
Grovel: none
Cheating: none
HEA: yes with a ‘6 years later’ epilogue!
Triggers: none
Average score: 4/5
Best Line: “Who would buy a cheeseburger and not get fries? One isn’t complete without the other.”
Worst Line: “Leave”
Personal Review:
A good slow burn college romance between a photographer and a footballer
Random Ramblings:
•Author’s note…

•Her rambling was funny
•The kissing ...more
Beware of Spoilers!
Star Ratings:
Heroine (Zoe): 21yrs old
Hero (Dylan): 22yrs old
Plot: 4/5
Grovel: none
Cheating: none
HEA: yes with a ‘6 years later’ epilogue!
Triggers: none
Average score: 4/5
Best Line: “Who would buy a cheeseburger and not get fries? One isn’t complete without the other.”
Worst Line: “Leave”
Personal Review:
A good slow burn college romance between a photographer and a footballer
Random Ramblings:
•Author’s note…

•Her rambling was funny
•The kissing ...more

May 14, 2018
Alaina
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
may-challenge-2018,
contemporary,
sports,
kindle-unlimited,
humor,
romance,
new-adult,
young-adult
The Hardest Fall was such a cute read! It also had some smutty chapters which I really enjoyed. Dylan and Zoe were my everything. Some things were highly predictable between these two but some of the twists - well, I didn't see coming.
Zoe was an okay kind of character. She sometimes annoyed me and others I really enjoyed her sassy or smart comments. I honestly just kept shipping the shit out of her and Dylan. I also knew that there was something dark and mysterious about this girl. Something was ...more
Zoe was an okay kind of character. She sometimes annoyed me and others I really enjoyed her sassy or smart comments. I honestly just kept shipping the shit out of her and Dylan. I also knew that there was something dark and mysterious about this girl. Something was ...more

“This is the strangest thing, but I think you’re going to be my best friend, Zoe Clarke.”
THIS BOOK GAVE ME ALL THE FEELS!
From roomates to lovers. The Hardest Fall was just so good - I laughed, my heart was so full with emotions that I thought it explodes, I had butterflies in my stomach and a stupid smile on my face almost the whole time. Exactly everything I expect to get from reading a romance book.
Zoe ist just adorable, she talks way too much when she's shy and Dylan is a dreamy ...more

The Hardest Fall is simply very good. Miss Maise done it again with a NA sport romance. The meet cute between Zoey and Dylan is not ordinary and yet mesmerizing. And I do love these two. They are so sweet together.
In Hardest Fall, Miss Maise done her story telling in much more realistic way. The chemistry is unbelievable hot and sexy. Although, I can not stand Zoey when she being nervous and rambling, I can not denied a strong chemistry between her and Dylan.
Overall a very good book.
4 stars
In Hardest Fall, Miss Maise done her story telling in much more realistic way. The chemistry is unbelievable hot and sexy. Although, I can not stand Zoey when she being nervous and rambling, I can not denied a strong chemistry between her and Dylan.
Overall a very good book.
4 stars

It was an unexpected "Hardest Fall" for me. I could not put the book down, stop laughing, smiling, or make my heart beat slower, it was truly amazing.
I absolutely loved the characters. I loved the craziness and quirks. I loved the banter and everything in between. Dylan Reed is perfection!!! And Zoe Clarke is perfect for him. I saw that some people didn't like Zoe, but I happen to like awkward, zany characters so I was all for her.
I reread this right after i finished reading it the first time, ...more
I absolutely loved the characters. I loved the craziness and quirks. I loved the banter and everything in between. Dylan Reed is perfection!!! And Zoe Clarke is perfect for him. I saw that some people didn't like Zoe, but I happen to like awkward, zany characters so I was all for her.
I reread this right after i finished reading it the first time, ...more

Sweet & Quirky
This is my first ever book by this author and I was swept away with their story. Its more than YA and its more than being friends, but there's no way that you'll be disappointed or feel disconnected with the main MCs Dylan & Zoe, cause you'll love the quirkiness of Zoe and the alpha ness of Dylan.
"ιт'ѕ нard тo eхplaιn wнaт drawѕ yoυ тo a perѕon, wнaт ιт ιѕ aвoυт тнeм тнaт мaĸeѕ тнeм тнaт ѕpecιal тнaт yoυ gιve тнeм yoυr нearт. ι вelιeve ιт'ѕ all aвoυт wнo yoυ are тogeтнer, нow yoυ ...more
This is my first ever book by this author and I was swept away with their story. Its more than YA and its more than being friends, but there's no way that you'll be disappointed or feel disconnected with the main MCs Dylan & Zoe, cause you'll love the quirkiness of Zoe and the alpha ness of Dylan.
"ιт'ѕ нard тo eхplaιn wнaт drawѕ yoυ тo a perѕon, wнaт ιт ιѕ aвoυт тнeм тнaт мaĸeѕ тнeм тнaт ѕpecιal тнaт yoυ gιve тнeм yoυr нearт. ι вelιeve ιт'ѕ all aвoυт wнo yoυ are тogeтнer, нow yoυ ...more

Super cute NA sports romance
This was super cute. I found the heroine to be funny and quirky and the hero to be precious and endearing. I loved the first part and I loved the ending. I didn’t love some of the drama and that the big “misunderstanding” just dragged, I’m just not a fan of H/h keeping secrets with each other. Anyway, this overall was a great read!
This was super cute. I found the heroine to be funny and quirky and the hero to be precious and endearing. I loved the first part and I loved the ending. I didn’t love some of the drama and that the big “misunderstanding” just dragged, I’m just not a fan of H/h keeping secrets with each other. Anyway, this overall was a great read!

Apr 27, 2018
Jennifer
rated it
it was ok
Shelves:
romance,
kindled-unlimited,
2018,
takes-their-time,
stars-2-25,
friends-to-more,
not-a-mh,
sports,
college
Currently, I need to read something that's not a tome. This has been on my KU shelf since it came out and I thought it might fit the bill. Four chapters in, however, I'm sensing that I've made a mistake. I'm just too old for this story, for this setting, and for the MCs and their problems. :(
2.25 stars. Upon finishing, here are my scattered thoughts.
What worked for me:
1) The H, while he had a bit of a past with the ladies, it only lasted one year before he found random hookups to be empty and un ...more
2.25 stars. Upon finishing, here are my scattered thoughts.
What worked for me:
1) The H, while he had a bit of a past with the ladies, it only lasted one year before he found random hookups to be empty and un ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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What's the Name o...: SOLVED. College roommate romance where girl lives in apartment payed for by her biological father who coaches or teaches at the college she attends. Spoilers ahead. [s] | 4 | 51 | Jul 08, 2020 02:28PM | |
Challenge Corner: The Hardest Fall by Ella Maise - Starting May 5th 2018 | 2 | 5 | May 17, 2018 07:03AM |
Writing has become my world and I can’t imagine myself doing anything other than giving life to new characters and new 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…everything is worth it at t ...more
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“I didn't want to miss out on another second with this girl. Fuck everything. Fuck everyone. None of it mattered.”
—
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“How my heart missed beating like this. For him. Only for him.”
—
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