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One Day to Forever #2
One Day to Fall
Of all the taxis in all of Cape Town, Sophia Roux had to stumble into his.
She should be at her “perfect” sister’s bedside, awaiting the arrival of the newest member of her family. But the thought of spending hours at the hospital with her suffocating relatives has Sophia hailing the first taxi she sees. Only to realise too late that the man at the wheel of her getaway car is the most unpleasant one she’s ever had the misfortune to meet.
Parker Jones, the handsome yet surly driver in question, is used to dealing with baggage of the family variety. And it just so happens he’s in need of temporary escape from his own. Witty banter with a beautiful—if exasperating—woman while chauffeuring her around the city on a gorgeous spring day makes for an ideal break from reality.
But a lot can happen in twenty-four babies can be born, family can reconnect. And maybe the most unlikely pair can fall in love.
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
This book is approximately 72,000 words
She should be at her “perfect” sister’s bedside, awaiting the arrival of the newest member of her family. But the thought of spending hours at the hospital with her suffocating relatives has Sophia hailing the first taxi she sees. Only to realise too late that the man at the wheel of her getaway car is the most unpleasant one she’s ever had the misfortune to meet.
Parker Jones, the handsome yet surly driver in question, is used to dealing with baggage of the family variety. And it just so happens he’s in need of temporary escape from his own. Witty banter with a beautiful—if exasperating—woman while chauffeuring her around the city on a gorgeous spring day makes for an ideal break from reality.
But a lot can happen in twenty-four babies can be born, family can reconnect. And maybe the most unlikely pair can fall in love.
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
This book is approximately 72,000 words
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2019
5 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Therese Beharrie
108 books352 followersTherese Beharrie is a South African romance author of several acclaimed novels, including her One Day to Forever series. She takes pride in writing diverse characters and settings, and her books are often recommended for their heart and banter. She lives in Cape Town with her husband, her inspiration for every hero, and two adorable baby boys. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook or visit her at theresebeharrie.com.
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August 19, 2019Therese Beharrie is a master of the close-study romance. Her books tend to lay out knotted-up people and unpick them in tight focus, and this is a particularly strong example: it takes place over something like 36 hours, and shows two people with a lot of problems uncramping themselves from rigid positions and clearing up their feelings up to the point where they're able to face falling in love. This means that the book very much takes us to a relationship beginning, rather than an end point, but we're in no doubt that Parker and Sophia will work things out despite the life stuff that still has to be faced (and which doesn't go away even if you clarify your thinking on it).
It's possible for romance that takes a deep dive into complicated gnarly feeling to end up miring the reader as well. Beharrie avoids this for the most part by pulling back and letting us see the characters in action, exploring Cape Town together, bickering, having fun. It strikes an effective balance to keep the story flowing.
Thoughtful, intelligent romance with great dialogue, swoony emotion, challenge, and sexytimes. What more do you want?
It's possible for romance that takes a deep dive into complicated gnarly feeling to end up miring the reader as well. Beharrie avoids this for the most part by pulling back and letting us see the characters in action, exploring Cape Town together, bickering, having fun. It strikes an effective balance to keep the story flowing.
Thoughtful, intelligent romance with great dialogue, swoony emotion, challenge, and sexytimes. What more do you want?
August 12, 2019
“I’m sorry.”
“Finally. The apology I deserve.” There was a beat. “I do not accept.”
You have been missing ONE DAY TO FALL all your life if you are a fan of:
- Badass, unapologetic heroines
- Grumpy but secretly angelic heroes
- Biting humour and casually awesome social commentary
- Rom-com-style shenanigans paired with sob-inducing events and emotions
I still can’t quite grasp that this book takes place in a single day, even though it is literally called ONE Day to Fall and it is part of the ONE Day to Forever series. My lack of comprehension is not (solely) due to my being especially slow on the uptake. SO MUCH happens in this book, you guys. I don’t mean a ton of events are cramped in, I mean THINGS happen. Transformations occur, years of pressure and strain come to a head and are resolved, people know themselves in ways they’ve never known themselves before. I can’t believe the journey Therese takes us on over 24 hours. Virginia Woolf is quite frankly shaking.
So, here’s a basic rundown: Sophia (grumpasaurus-rex, meaner than you, bad mama jama) is at the hospital with her mother and two sisters, one of whom is giving birth (that would be Angie, heroine of A Wedding One Christmas). If you read the previous book (which you should) you’ll already know there’s family tension re the death of the girls’ father, emotional labour, and Angie running off to leave Sophia as the family caregiver. Sophia is undervalued and misunderstood by her family, and resentful of Angie’s sudden reappearance. Plus bored because childbirth be long.
The other MC is Parker, whose mother is in the hospital after an accident caused by her developing Alzheimer’s Disease. Parker adores his mother, and is also dealing with the reappearance of his NO GOOD WOTLESS FATHER. Basically, Parker be struggling.
So these two are having a truly sh*t day, they meet each other, and immediately brighten - wait, no, they don’t get along at all. Top-notch bickering, snarkiness, and enemies-to-lovers energy here. But they are both in desperate need of a distraction, and bothering each other proves an excellent distraction indeed. Over the course of the day they get to know each other, help each other, talk each other through their problems (and get to thinking on new perspectives), acknowledge their burning attraction (I said, BURNING, BABY), decide they can’t be together because baggage. But then… uh… well, you know. It’s a romance novel!
It was incredible how honestly and realistically the characters’ personal and emotional issues were dealt with - and when I say ‘dealt with’, I don’t mean ‘magicked away’. Although it IS entirely possible that the author is a witch, considering how invested she made me in the future of two people who have known each other for a single day.
Now, you might be wondering why I described this as rom-com-like when it is undeniably heavy in subject matter and clearly very emotional. The answer is, this story somehow manages to be both - largely because Sophia is delightfully chaotic. I mean, DELIGHTFULLY. The insults, the tour bus, the stand-up, THE SNEEZE - when you finish reading this book, come back here and tell me how right I was about its powerful rom-com energy.
Okay, okay, I feel I’ve said enough. If I keep going I might slip and tell you the whole story, but you should go and let the BOOK tell you its whole story, because it does a much (MUCH) better job than me lol.
Content Notes -
1. As you may have gathered, there’s a lot of reference to parental illness and death. Sophia’s father died after a lengthy illness and his passing still affects the family; Parker is coming to terms with his mother’s Alzheimer’s.
2. Sophia’s sister, Angie, has a very long labour and eventually goes into surgery. She and the baby are fine.
“Finally. The apology I deserve.” There was a beat. “I do not accept.”
You have been missing ONE DAY TO FALL all your life if you are a fan of:
- Badass, unapologetic heroines
- Grumpy but secretly angelic heroes
- Biting humour and casually awesome social commentary
- Rom-com-style shenanigans paired with sob-inducing events and emotions
I still can’t quite grasp that this book takes place in a single day, even though it is literally called ONE Day to Fall and it is part of the ONE Day to Forever series. My lack of comprehension is not (solely) due to my being especially slow on the uptake. SO MUCH happens in this book, you guys. I don’t mean a ton of events are cramped in, I mean THINGS happen. Transformations occur, years of pressure and strain come to a head and are resolved, people know themselves in ways they’ve never known themselves before. I can’t believe the journey Therese takes us on over 24 hours. Virginia Woolf is quite frankly shaking.
So, here’s a basic rundown: Sophia (grumpasaurus-rex, meaner than you, bad mama jama) is at the hospital with her mother and two sisters, one of whom is giving birth (that would be Angie, heroine of A Wedding One Christmas). If you read the previous book (which you should) you’ll already know there’s family tension re the death of the girls’ father, emotional labour, and Angie running off to leave Sophia as the family caregiver. Sophia is undervalued and misunderstood by her family, and resentful of Angie’s sudden reappearance. Plus bored because childbirth be long.
The other MC is Parker, whose mother is in the hospital after an accident caused by her developing Alzheimer’s Disease. Parker adores his mother, and is also dealing with the reappearance of his NO GOOD WOTLESS FATHER. Basically, Parker be struggling.
So these two are having a truly sh*t day, they meet each other, and immediately brighten - wait, no, they don’t get along at all. Top-notch bickering, snarkiness, and enemies-to-lovers energy here. But they are both in desperate need of a distraction, and bothering each other proves an excellent distraction indeed. Over the course of the day they get to know each other, help each other, talk each other through their problems (and get to thinking on new perspectives), acknowledge their burning attraction (I said, BURNING, BABY), decide they can’t be together because baggage. But then… uh… well, you know. It’s a romance novel!
It was incredible how honestly and realistically the characters’ personal and emotional issues were dealt with - and when I say ‘dealt with’, I don’t mean ‘magicked away’. Although it IS entirely possible that the author is a witch, considering how invested she made me in the future of two people who have known each other for a single day.
Now, you might be wondering why I described this as rom-com-like when it is undeniably heavy in subject matter and clearly very emotional. The answer is, this story somehow manages to be both - largely because Sophia is delightfully chaotic. I mean, DELIGHTFULLY. The insults, the tour bus, the stand-up, THE SNEEZE - when you finish reading this book, come back here and tell me how right I was about its powerful rom-com energy.
Okay, okay, I feel I’ve said enough. If I keep going I might slip and tell you the whole story, but you should go and let the BOOK tell you its whole story, because it does a much (MUCH) better job than me lol.
Content Notes -
1. As you may have gathered, there’s a lot of reference to parental illness and death. Sophia’s father died after a lengthy illness and his passing still affects the family; Parker is coming to terms with his mother’s Alzheimer’s.
2. Sophia’s sister, Angie, has a very long labour and eventually goes into surgery. She and the baby are fine.
July 11, 2020
2019 Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo: Heroine Smells Like a Flower
A review: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/r...
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A review: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/r...
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2019
Sophia Roux is in the hospital, awaiting the birth of her perfect older sister Angie’s perfect baby when she realizes she has to get out. Right now. When she runs out of the hospital, she ends up in the cab of one Parker Jones, who is running away from some of his own emotionally fraught baggage. Let me tell you, ALOT happens. Paradigm shifts galore, and yes romance. Now, this is a more emotional type of tale, so the way I deal with that is humor, so buckle up buttercup, it’s review in the form of gifs time.
Ok, yeah and plenty words, because that’s how I rock. And roll. Let’s dive into this.
The Good
Blown away. That’s my first reaction.
Wasn’t sure what I expected, but with a title like One Day to Fall, I was totally picturing some whirlwind, escapist, whimsical kind of fantasy, maybe?
I mean, it usually takes me more than a day to finish my laundry (don’t judge), much less fall in love. And the way the e-book opened to Chapter One, I completely missed the content warning.
This book has depth and dimension. There are serious issues that it tackles and does it brilliantly. The themes of parental caretaking, loss, grief, resentment, family? They’re all complicated but when it all comes together? It’s magic.
There are so many scenes, especially when Parker is facing the reality of his mother’s future, and when Sophia is relaying her own experience with her father’s illness that I was all
And it did, not gonna lie. But it was cathartic. While everyone’s grief, and the way they process it, is different, Ms. Beharrie tapped into the universality of these emotions. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Cape Town, South Africa, or a suburb in Western New York. It’s the feelings that pull you in and make you care in the best way possible. (Side note - I love how Cape Town came alive in this story, and it made me want to see this story on screen, either big or small, it's got that cinematic quality to it).
But back on point, she made me cry (twice!)
There’s not one cardboard cutout masquerading as a character in this. Each and every character has flaws that ring true and even when I didn’t agree with a character’s decisions, I never felt as if I didn’t understand the motivations behind those decisions.
Speaking of characters, Sophia and Parker are just
Sophia is smart, witty, blunt, and caring with no time for fools. Her confidence is sexy, and her wit is delicious. Parker is caring, smart, witty, at times blunt (especially with Sophia) and protective in all the ways I adore. His appreciation for her strength is sexy. This is a kisses/mild foreplay kind of book, but the emotional heatscore is off the charts between these two. Loved them. Alot.
The Bad(ish) and Everything in Between
Because I love this book, I see all of it, much like Parker sees Sophia - exactly as she is. This is a book with alot of introspection. It’s what the themes require. That introspection is revelatory, fascinating and emotionally resonant with me. However, when that introspection comes along during scenes between different characters, and it could be confusing. There were times when I completely forgot where they were, because I was caught up in the internal discussion Sophie or Parker were having with themselves. It interrupted the flow of dialogue, even if I appreciated the character development and the way it moved the story along. As a dialogue stan, I wanted more of it, because when the dialogue flowed it was fantastic. The time between the inevitable and completely believable dark moment, but before the ultimate resolution, had a slight bit of repetitiveness, as if it were simply biding its time for the story to really kick into gear. Other than that, I was captivated throughout their journeys, individual and romantic.
I fell in love today and it was with Therese Beharrie’s writing. I want more of it. The romance between Sophia and Parker was exactly what I needed. This is the second book in the series, and I didn’t know that when I started, but it’s not necessary to read that book in order to enjoy this one. And yes, I do want to read Angie and Ezra’s book.
Be prepared for the emotions, but the humor and heart that she writes with will keep you coming back for more. Ms. Beharrie has jumped way up my “authors to watch” list and I’m keeping an eye out for Sophia’s sister Zoey’s book.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
For more reviews, visit
Ok, yeah and plenty words, because that’s how I rock. And roll. Let’s dive into this.
The Good
Blown away. That’s my first reaction.
Wasn’t sure what I expected, but with a title like One Day to Fall, I was totally picturing some whirlwind, escapist, whimsical kind of fantasy, maybe?
I mean, it usually takes me more than a day to finish my laundry (don’t judge), much less fall in love. And the way the e-book opened to Chapter One, I completely missed the content warning.
This book has depth and dimension. There are serious issues that it tackles and does it brilliantly. The themes of parental caretaking, loss, grief, resentment, family? They’re all complicated but when it all comes together? It’s magic.
There are so many scenes, especially when Parker is facing the reality of his mother’s future, and when Sophia is relaying her own experience with her father’s illness that I was all
And it did, not gonna lie. But it was cathartic. While everyone’s grief, and the way they process it, is different, Ms. Beharrie tapped into the universality of these emotions. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Cape Town, South Africa, or a suburb in Western New York. It’s the feelings that pull you in and make you care in the best way possible. (Side note - I love how Cape Town came alive in this story, and it made me want to see this story on screen, either big or small, it's got that cinematic quality to it).
But back on point, she made me cry (twice!)
There’s not one cardboard cutout masquerading as a character in this. Each and every character has flaws that ring true and even when I didn’t agree with a character’s decisions, I never felt as if I didn’t understand the motivations behind those decisions.
Speaking of characters, Sophia and Parker are just
Sophia is smart, witty, blunt, and caring with no time for fools. Her confidence is sexy, and her wit is delicious. Parker is caring, smart, witty, at times blunt (especially with Sophia) and protective in all the ways I adore. His appreciation for her strength is sexy. This is a kisses/mild foreplay kind of book, but the emotional heatscore is off the charts between these two. Loved them. Alot.
The Bad(ish) and Everything in Between
Because I love this book, I see all of it, much like Parker sees Sophia - exactly as she is. This is a book with alot of introspection. It’s what the themes require. That introspection is revelatory, fascinating and emotionally resonant with me. However, when that introspection comes along during scenes between different characters, and it could be confusing. There were times when I completely forgot where they were, because I was caught up in the internal discussion Sophie or Parker were having with themselves. It interrupted the flow of dialogue, even if I appreciated the character development and the way it moved the story along. As a dialogue stan, I wanted more of it, because when the dialogue flowed it was fantastic. The time between the inevitable and completely believable dark moment, but before the ultimate resolution, had a slight bit of repetitiveness, as if it were simply biding its time for the story to really kick into gear. Other than that, I was captivated throughout their journeys, individual and romantic.
I fell in love today and it was with Therese Beharrie’s writing. I want more of it. The romance between Sophia and Parker was exactly what I needed. This is the second book in the series, and I didn’t know that when I started, but it’s not necessary to read that book in order to enjoy this one. And yes, I do want to read Angie and Ezra’s book.
Be prepared for the emotions, but the humor and heart that she writes with will keep you coming back for more. Ms. Beharrie has jumped way up my “authors to watch” list and I’m keeping an eye out for Sophia’s sister Zoey’s book.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
For more reviews, visit
August 21, 2019
I absolutely loved A Wedding One Christmas, the first in this series about the Roux sisters, so I was excited to pick up One Day To Fall to review as well. It’s a different kind of book to the first; while Angie and Ezra’s first meeting and subsequent day together read like a delightful romantic comedy, Angie’s sister Sophia is a much more prickly customer, and her love interest Parker is in a very difficult headspace as well after just learning his mother has early-onset dementia. The timing is poor for both of them, and yet when you find that one person who understands you, the one person who’s both on your wavelength and with whom you share an intense attraction… well, maybe the universe is telling you that the timing doesn’t really matter.
Sophia and Parker spend an intense day together, using each other as distractions from the emotional situations neither are ready to deal with. Neither of them are the type to back down from speaking truths, no matter how harsh, though, and from each other they also gain a new perspective. It’s a very introspective read as both protagonists examine themselves and their situations and realize they need to make changes, and at times I found myself disliking both Sophia and Parker even while I understood the background and motivations which made them react so defensively, at times going on the attack just to avoid having to face unpalatable truths about themselves.
Here’s a truism about romance, though; everyone deserves it, and even though Sophia might be a hard person to like at times (her own sister, when accused of being passive aggressive, comments that Sophia is just ‘aggressive aggressive’) she still absolutely deserves to find love with someone who gets her, and she and Parker really are superbly well-suited.
The other thing I really enjoy about Therese Beharrie’s writing is that her protagonists are ordinary people. They’re not billionaires or film stars; Sophia works in Human Resources and Parker is a freelance journalist who drives regular shifts for a car service. They’re normal people. Oh, and they’re Black South Africans living in Cape Town, a city which plays a large part in the story as Sophia and Parker ‘play tourist’ for the day.
I have to confess I didn’t like this one as much as A Wedding One Christmas. Lacking the romantic comedy aspects and featuring a great deal more soul-searching, the writing was still superb but it was Sophia’s aggressive nature that put me off a bit. I honestly think I’d avoid her as just a bit too much if I met her in real life. Still, it’s a great story and I’m going to give it four and a half stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
Sophia and Parker spend an intense day together, using each other as distractions from the emotional situations neither are ready to deal with. Neither of them are the type to back down from speaking truths, no matter how harsh, though, and from each other they also gain a new perspective. It’s a very introspective read as both protagonists examine themselves and their situations and realize they need to make changes, and at times I found myself disliking both Sophia and Parker even while I understood the background and motivations which made them react so defensively, at times going on the attack just to avoid having to face unpalatable truths about themselves.
Here’s a truism about romance, though; everyone deserves it, and even though Sophia might be a hard person to like at times (her own sister, when accused of being passive aggressive, comments that Sophia is just ‘aggressive aggressive’) she still absolutely deserves to find love with someone who gets her, and she and Parker really are superbly well-suited.
The other thing I really enjoy about Therese Beharrie’s writing is that her protagonists are ordinary people. They’re not billionaires or film stars; Sophia works in Human Resources and Parker is a freelance journalist who drives regular shifts for a car service. They’re normal people. Oh, and they’re Black South Africans living in Cape Town, a city which plays a large part in the story as Sophia and Parker ‘play tourist’ for the day.
I have to confess I didn’t like this one as much as A Wedding One Christmas. Lacking the romantic comedy aspects and featuring a great deal more soul-searching, the writing was still superb but it was Sophia’s aggressive nature that put me off a bit. I honestly think I’d avoid her as just a bit too much if I met her in real life. Still, it’s a great story and I’m going to give it four and a half stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
September 10, 2019
Originally posted on For What It's Worth on 9/5/19 https://www.fwiwreviews.net/2019/09/r...
Tightly focused stories where where the characters are mostly stuck in their own head with their baggage are not usually my jam but Beharrie handled Sophie & Parker's story so well.
They are both stubborn and ornery, but both are caretakers and the years of watching out for their families have taken there toll.
Sophie's, somewhat estranged, sister is in the hospital to have a baby while Parker's mom has just been diagnosed with dementia. Everything comes to a boiling point and they try to escape the hospital and dealing with their issues.
They don't have a meet cute - more like a meet dislike on the spot but give as good as they get. They call each other out on any bullshit, but understand and give support when needed.
Sophie and Parker slowly unpack their pasts, exposing truths about themselves and others - then rebuild themselves back up. It's not always pretty. They lash out, there are more coitus interruptus moments than I can count lol, and they are stubborn as hell but... it works.
I think, for me, it's because they are so honest with themselves once they start putting in the work. And they're always moving forward as characters.
This book takes place in one day, with an HEA, so each word and action has to count and move the story forward for this to work and it does.
There are a few spots that lag, but overall, she does a great job packing in a lot of character development and issues seamlessly.
Tightly focused stories where where the characters are mostly stuck in their own head with their baggage are not usually my jam but Beharrie handled Sophie & Parker's story so well.
They are both stubborn and ornery, but both are caretakers and the years of watching out for their families have taken there toll.
Sophie's, somewhat estranged, sister is in the hospital to have a baby while Parker's mom has just been diagnosed with dementia. Everything comes to a boiling point and they try to escape the hospital and dealing with their issues.
They don't have a meet cute - more like a meet dislike on the spot but give as good as they get. They call each other out on any bullshit, but understand and give support when needed.
Sophie and Parker slowly unpack their pasts, exposing truths about themselves and others - then rebuild themselves back up. It's not always pretty. They lash out, there are more coitus interruptus moments than I can count lol, and they are stubborn as hell but... it works.
I think, for me, it's because they are so honest with themselves once they start putting in the work. And they're always moving forward as characters.
This book takes place in one day, with an HEA, so each word and action has to count and move the story forward for this to work and it does.
There are a few spots that lag, but overall, she does a great job packing in a lot of character development and issues seamlessly.
September 15, 2019
CW: past death of parent (brain tumor), grief, parent diagnosed with dementia, past parental abandonment, references to labor/delivery
I just want to gush about this book! It made me smile throughout and there’s a lovely sense of humor, even as the characters dealt with hard things.
Parker and Sophia have magnificent tension, from the moment they run into each other at the hospital. The barbs turn into banter which then turns into conversation over the course of 24 hours together. I don’t think this type of short timeframe has ever worked so well for me. I was fully invested in their world and I loved all the glimpses we got of Cape Town.
Both characters have great arcs but for me, the star of this story is Sophia. If you love prickly heroines, this book is a must. Sophia has valid reasons for said prickliness but she also knows there are areas where she can grow, especially when it comes to her family dynamics. We can put up with a lot of BS from our immediate family simply because it’s family and not even realize it. Sophia and her younger sister Zoey come to see they see everything through an Angie-filter (their other sister), which doesn’t serve anyone well. But as adults, they have the power to change that dynamic. I loved watching them have open, honest dialogue and figure out a new way forward.
There’s also some really great exploration of parent-child relationships and grief. Parker has a really complicated relationship with his father who was not around while he was growing up but is now back in the picture. He’s also grappling with his mother’s diagnosis of dementia and what that will mean for them. Sophia differentiates between grieving the loss of a role (i.e. her dad) vs. the loss of the person (someone whom she wasn't close with.) That's an important distinction in grief, particularly with complicated relationships.
Also worth noting: I loved how straight forward Sophia was about not wanting to have kids. It made complete sense given her feelings about her childhood and how she was raised. And it was nicely juxtaposed with Angie giving birth.
Beharrie has a really deft hand in getting her characters to confront their weaknesses, while also putting the building blocks in place for their romantic relationship. No matter what Parker and Sophia are figuring out, their romance is front and center and what a delicious ride it was. They were so good for one another and I absolutely believed in their HEA. Such a gem!
I just want to gush about this book! It made me smile throughout and there’s a lovely sense of humor, even as the characters dealt with hard things.
Parker and Sophia have magnificent tension, from the moment they run into each other at the hospital. The barbs turn into banter which then turns into conversation over the course of 24 hours together. I don’t think this type of short timeframe has ever worked so well for me. I was fully invested in their world and I loved all the glimpses we got of Cape Town.
Both characters have great arcs but for me, the star of this story is Sophia. If you love prickly heroines, this book is a must. Sophia has valid reasons for said prickliness but she also knows there are areas where she can grow, especially when it comes to her family dynamics. We can put up with a lot of BS from our immediate family simply because it’s family and not even realize it. Sophia and her younger sister Zoey come to see they see everything through an Angie-filter (their other sister), which doesn’t serve anyone well. But as adults, they have the power to change that dynamic. I loved watching them have open, honest dialogue and figure out a new way forward.
There’s also some really great exploration of parent-child relationships and grief. Parker has a really complicated relationship with his father who was not around while he was growing up but is now back in the picture. He’s also grappling with his mother’s diagnosis of dementia and what that will mean for them. Sophia differentiates between grieving the loss of a role (i.e. her dad) vs. the loss of the person (someone whom she wasn't close with.) That's an important distinction in grief, particularly with complicated relationships.
Also worth noting: I loved how straight forward Sophia was about not wanting to have kids. It made complete sense given her feelings about her childhood and how she was raised. And it was nicely juxtaposed with Angie giving birth.
Beharrie has a really deft hand in getting her characters to confront their weaknesses, while also putting the building blocks in place for their romantic relationship. No matter what Parker and Sophia are figuring out, their romance is front and center and what a delicious ride it was. They were so good for one another and I absolutely believed in their HEA. Such a gem!
Want to read
August 25, 2019Excuse me. Why is now the first time I'm hearing about this book SET IN MY HOME COUNTRY?!
August 14, 2019
4.5/5
One Day to Fall was another incredible and emotionally-satisfying love story from one of my favorite authors. I always seem to say this about Therese Beharrie's books, but damn can this woman get me attached to the characters and their one-day romances so fast. You can't even tell that One Day to Fall takes place in one day because there is so much going on in terms of events and character growths. Truly, this was an exceptional book and I'm going to want all of you to pick it up.
I've never made any attempt at hiding my love for grumpy heroines. Sophia, the heroine of One Day to Fall, was grumpy x10,000. Boy, did I love this woman beyond comprehension. She was angry at her family, sad at her circumstances, and fairly lonely. As her sister, Angie (from A Wedding One Christmas), goes into labor, she is dragged to the hospital where she is confronted with the resentment she has towards Angie, her youngest sister, and her mother. Angie left home a few years back after the death of their father, leaving Sophia behind to take care of the family. For most of the book, Sophia is grappling with the grudge she has towards them as well as the obvious love and loyalty she has for them. She has never openly expressed her feelings about the situation, but she does eventually, and let me tell you, that scene just about punched me in the heart. It was beautifully written and absolutely heart-wrenching, which is really no surprise because if you've read Therese Beharrie then you know that she is the queen of emotional scenes. My heart 100% belonged to Sophia in this book. I sympathized with her and watching her go through this journey of emotional growth to come to terms with her feels was gratifying in every way. Of course, this doesn't happen on the first page. She tries to run away which is when she bumps into and clashes with a fellow grump outside the hospital.
This fellow grump is Parker, who is quite possibly my favorite hero from the author. He may have been a grump, but what a wonderfully soft-hearted and sweet man he was. I loved that he was so open with his feelings. Parker had his own issues that he was dealing with. His mother is suffering from Alzheimer's disease and his father decides to make a re-appearance in their lives. The poor guy had a lot on his plate and dealing with a grumpy, rude woman is not what he needs ... or so he thinks! When these two begin to bond over the course of them running away from their problems - my goodness, the energy between them! It is hard to nail romances that develop over a day. They can easily come across as unrealistic, but Therese Beharrie is a master of words, and she took utmost care at making Sophia and Parker's relationship a real one. Along with them, the reader goes on a rewarding emotional journey. By the end, you will have laughed, wept, and swooned with them. Sophia and Parker's chemistry was nothing short of combustible. They could not have complemented each other better. What I've always loved about this author's books is how much the characters communicate with each other about everything and anything. I think that's the primary reason why it's so easy to entertain the idea that falling in love in a single day is not implausible. Besides the many moments of Sophia and Parker being open with each other, I loved all of the super cute and romantic moments peppered throughout the story. I thought they brought about humor and lightness to One Day to Fall.
I've said everything that I wanted to say about this stunning book. It's so good, you all. Please do yourself a favor and pick up One Day to Fall or anything by Therese Beharrie really! You won't regret it!
One Day to Fall was another incredible and emotionally-satisfying love story from one of my favorite authors. I always seem to say this about Therese Beharrie's books, but damn can this woman get me attached to the characters and their one-day romances so fast. You can't even tell that One Day to Fall takes place in one day because there is so much going on in terms of events and character growths. Truly, this was an exceptional book and I'm going to want all of you to pick it up.
I've never made any attempt at hiding my love for grumpy heroines. Sophia, the heroine of One Day to Fall, was grumpy x10,000. Boy, did I love this woman beyond comprehension. She was angry at her family, sad at her circumstances, and fairly lonely. As her sister, Angie (from A Wedding One Christmas), goes into labor, she is dragged to the hospital where she is confronted with the resentment she has towards Angie, her youngest sister, and her mother. Angie left home a few years back after the death of their father, leaving Sophia behind to take care of the family. For most of the book, Sophia is grappling with the grudge she has towards them as well as the obvious love and loyalty she has for them. She has never openly expressed her feelings about the situation, but she does eventually, and let me tell you, that scene just about punched me in the heart. It was beautifully written and absolutely heart-wrenching, which is really no surprise because if you've read Therese Beharrie then you know that she is the queen of emotional scenes. My heart 100% belonged to Sophia in this book. I sympathized with her and watching her go through this journey of emotional growth to come to terms with her feels was gratifying in every way. Of course, this doesn't happen on the first page. She tries to run away which is when she bumps into and clashes with a fellow grump outside the hospital.
This fellow grump is Parker, who is quite possibly my favorite hero from the author. He may have been a grump, but what a wonderfully soft-hearted and sweet man he was. I loved that he was so open with his feelings. Parker had his own issues that he was dealing with. His mother is suffering from Alzheimer's disease and his father decides to make a re-appearance in their lives. The poor guy had a lot on his plate and dealing with a grumpy, rude woman is not what he needs ... or so he thinks! When these two begin to bond over the course of them running away from their problems - my goodness, the energy between them! It is hard to nail romances that develop over a day. They can easily come across as unrealistic, but Therese Beharrie is a master of words, and she took utmost care at making Sophia and Parker's relationship a real one. Along with them, the reader goes on a rewarding emotional journey. By the end, you will have laughed, wept, and swooned with them. Sophia and Parker's chemistry was nothing short of combustible. They could not have complemented each other better. What I've always loved about this author's books is how much the characters communicate with each other about everything and anything. I think that's the primary reason why it's so easy to entertain the idea that falling in love in a single day is not implausible. Besides the many moments of Sophia and Parker being open with each other, I loved all of the super cute and romantic moments peppered throughout the story. I thought they brought about humor and lightness to One Day to Fall.
I've said everything that I wanted to say about this stunning book. It's so good, you all. Please do yourself a favor and pick up One Day to Fall or anything by Therese Beharrie really! You won't regret it!
August 24, 2020
FTC - I bought this book.
Content Warnings - childbirth, death of a Father (prior to the start of the book), parent with a long term illness, dead-beat Dad.
I picked this up because I loved the cover. Yes, I know that that goes against that old saying but I do it all the time. This cover looked cute, light and lots of fun - this is not that book. This book is dripping with angst, tension and humour and I simply could not put it down.
This book takes place over a day. I need to keep repeating this as the amount of character development that happens over the course of this book is remarkable and then you remember that it all takes place over a day ... wow.
We meet both of the protagonists having a really bad day at the hospital.
Sophia is at the hospital with her sister who is in labour. Of course, all those hormones, and all that emotion, means all the family tension that has been brewing starts to come to a head. After their Father died, Sophia was left as the main carer for her family. One sister left them to do her own thing, the other was too young, and so Sophia is left holding the reigns... And the family doesn't seem to appreciate it one bit. They judge her by her manner, which is very direct, and not her actions, creating a resentment that she holds close to her chest. When they all end up in a hospital room together for hours, she feels that she needs to escape as soon as possible.
Parker is in the hospital with his mother. He has to deal with the reappearance of his sperm donor alongside the knowledge that his mother has Alzheimers, a fact that she has apparently hidden from him for years. Devastation wars with anger and he ends up leaving the hospital too ... in his cab. Which Sophia thinks is in service and jumps in the back of in a bid to find some peace..... And so their day begins.
This book is so well written. Very little else happens in this book but it doesn't matter; this story is a microscopic view into the beginnings of their romance. They spend the majority of the day with each other, unloading their baggage and opening up to each other in a way that they haven't been able to do with anybody else. I loved it.
The dialogue really drives this plot forward. There is snark from line one, but it quickly transforms into honest communication that leads them to question themselves and their perception of their own lives. Both of these characters are stuck in their own heads at the start of this book. They have taken on massive responsibilities and dealt with it on their own; they are so used to doing all things solo that they have stopped considering other points of view or even attempting to lean on others.
They hold the mirror up to each other and it opens their eyes up to how others see them. Sophia is so angry all the time, she has forgotten how to trust anyone else. Parker is so devoted to his mother, he can't quite get his head around the fact that she is starting to be become vulnerable and needs help. I immensely enjoyed watching how their developing relationship challenges their world view and that then starts to mend some fences.
I loved this book - It was beautifully written with wonderful characters and engaging dialogue. I cannot wait to read book three.
Content Warnings - childbirth, death of a Father (prior to the start of the book), parent with a long term illness, dead-beat Dad.
I picked this up because I loved the cover. Yes, I know that that goes against that old saying but I do it all the time. This cover looked cute, light and lots of fun - this is not that book. This book is dripping with angst, tension and humour and I simply could not put it down.
This book takes place over a day. I need to keep repeating this as the amount of character development that happens over the course of this book is remarkable and then you remember that it all takes place over a day ... wow.
We meet both of the protagonists having a really bad day at the hospital.
Sophia is at the hospital with her sister who is in labour. Of course, all those hormones, and all that emotion, means all the family tension that has been brewing starts to come to a head. After their Father died, Sophia was left as the main carer for her family. One sister left them to do her own thing, the other was too young, and so Sophia is left holding the reigns... And the family doesn't seem to appreciate it one bit. They judge her by her manner, which is very direct, and not her actions, creating a resentment that she holds close to her chest. When they all end up in a hospital room together for hours, she feels that she needs to escape as soon as possible.
Parker is in the hospital with his mother. He has to deal with the reappearance of his sperm donor alongside the knowledge that his mother has Alzheimers, a fact that she has apparently hidden from him for years. Devastation wars with anger and he ends up leaving the hospital too ... in his cab. Which Sophia thinks is in service and jumps in the back of in a bid to find some peace..... And so their day begins.
This book is so well written. Very little else happens in this book but it doesn't matter; this story is a microscopic view into the beginnings of their romance. They spend the majority of the day with each other, unloading their baggage and opening up to each other in a way that they haven't been able to do with anybody else. I loved it.
The dialogue really drives this plot forward. There is snark from line one, but it quickly transforms into honest communication that leads them to question themselves and their perception of their own lives. Both of these characters are stuck in their own heads at the start of this book. They have taken on massive responsibilities and dealt with it on their own; they are so used to doing all things solo that they have stopped considering other points of view or even attempting to lean on others.
They hold the mirror up to each other and it opens their eyes up to how others see them. Sophia is so angry all the time, she has forgotten how to trust anyone else. Parker is so devoted to his mother, he can't quite get his head around the fact that she is starting to be become vulnerable and needs help. I immensely enjoyed watching how their developing relationship challenges their world view and that then starts to mend some fences.
I loved this book - It was beautifully written with wonderful characters and engaging dialogue. I cannot wait to read book three.
August 15, 2019
One Day to Fall is a cute, sweet contemporary romance that perfectly captures those first precious hours of meeting someone special.
Sophia Roux is already tense and fractious when the accident occurs. An early morning visit to the hospital waiting room to sit for hours as her older sister Angela goes through labor is not her idea of a good time. She had escaped under the pretext of getting snacks for her other sister Zoe and some water for her mom when a man barrels into her and knocks her flat, sending her much needed food fortifications flying.
Parker Jones is in something of a stupor as he walks across the hospital lobby. He hasn’t slept for twenty-four hours and has just been told his mom has alzheimers. What had seemed like a small car accident had in fact been the final conclusive piece of evidence the doctor needed to make the assessment. His mom hadn’t been hit by a car – she’d walked into one. Naturally, this is the cue for him to have a collision of his own. He isn’t sure how he misses seeing the beautiful woman with her arms full of treats but he is sure he doesn’t like her attitude after the two crash into each other. They snark as they get themselves sorted and then part ways, both thinking that it was a shame the beauty on the inside of their crash buddy hadn’t matched the attractive exterior.
Parker heads for the hospital parking lot, where he picks up his taxi to head home. He’s rolling out of the lot when he hears a hand slam on the bonnet and his back door open. He recognizes the imperious voice of the woman he ran into earlier demanding to be taken to The Company Garden.
Sophia delivered the food but when Zoe berated her rather thanked her, she’d fought back and stormed away. This early in the morning, the only thing she can think of to do is visit the Spring Ceremony at The Company Garden. She’s not thrilled that the nearest taxi she finds is being driven by the nasty man she’d bumped into that morning but she’s desperate enough to get away that when he tells her he’s off duty she talks him into driving her. She turns down Parker’s offer to accompany her once they get to the park but he tags along anyway and the two wind up sharing an emotionally intimate breakfast at a nearby restaurant afterwards. They don’t always get along but their conversation is both meaningful and plentiful. They quickly find themselves spending a full day together and wondering – should they end the relationship that evening or explore where it goes over the days ahead? See the rest of my review at
https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
Sophia Roux is already tense and fractious when the accident occurs. An early morning visit to the hospital waiting room to sit for hours as her older sister Angela goes through labor is not her idea of a good time. She had escaped under the pretext of getting snacks for her other sister Zoe and some water for her mom when a man barrels into her and knocks her flat, sending her much needed food fortifications flying.
Parker Jones is in something of a stupor as he walks across the hospital lobby. He hasn’t slept for twenty-four hours and has just been told his mom has alzheimers. What had seemed like a small car accident had in fact been the final conclusive piece of evidence the doctor needed to make the assessment. His mom hadn’t been hit by a car – she’d walked into one. Naturally, this is the cue for him to have a collision of his own. He isn’t sure how he misses seeing the beautiful woman with her arms full of treats but he is sure he doesn’t like her attitude after the two crash into each other. They snark as they get themselves sorted and then part ways, both thinking that it was a shame the beauty on the inside of their crash buddy hadn’t matched the attractive exterior.
Parker heads for the hospital parking lot, where he picks up his taxi to head home. He’s rolling out of the lot when he hears a hand slam on the bonnet and his back door open. He recognizes the imperious voice of the woman he ran into earlier demanding to be taken to The Company Garden.
Sophia delivered the food but when Zoe berated her rather thanked her, she’d fought back and stormed away. This early in the morning, the only thing she can think of to do is visit the Spring Ceremony at The Company Garden. She’s not thrilled that the nearest taxi she finds is being driven by the nasty man she’d bumped into that morning but she’s desperate enough to get away that when he tells her he’s off duty she talks him into driving her. She turns down Parker’s offer to accompany her once they get to the park but he tags along anyway and the two wind up sharing an emotionally intimate breakfast at a nearby restaurant afterwards. They don’t always get along but their conversation is both meaningful and plentiful. They quickly find themselves spending a full day together and wondering – should they end the relationship that evening or explore where it goes over the days ahead? See the rest of my review at
https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
August 21, 2019
I requested this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review at the same time that I requested Therese Beharrie’s Island Fling with the Tycoon. I’m so glad I was given both books. I follow Beharrie on Twitter, where she is funny and smart. One Day to Fall is so good. It’s out on August 12.
Sophia is at the hospital with her mother and younger sister while her older sister is in labor. Parker is at the same hospital where his mother has been treated for injuries after being hit by a car. Sophia’s relationships with her mother and sisters have been strained for a while. Parker has just received bad news from his mother’s doctor and his estranged father has arrived acting like he’s got the answers. One of Parker’s jobs is as a driver for hire. Sophia, needing to escape family tensions gets in his car thinking he is available to drive her away. They end up reluctantly and then not so reluctantly spending the day together.
Beharrie takes a rather improbable premise – strangers meet and fall in love in one day – and makes it completely believable, and enjoyable. Parker and Sophia are both under tremendous stress and take a day as each other’s distraction. They have stepped outside their normal and are more open and vulnerable than they would be on a normal day. The sparks they strike start as irritation and annoyance. Sophia, like Island Fling‘s Piper, is guarded and straight forward. She knows her own worth, she just doesn’t have a lot of experience with other people knowing her worth. Parker has always been a team with his mother but now everything he thought was true about his life is being challenged. Beharrie keeps them grounded and relatable, which keeps the relationship believable.
Having stepped out of their normal lives, Parker and Sophia end up doing the sort of touristy things in Cape Town that residents don’t normally do. looking at their city from different perspectives give them a chance to look at their lives from a different perspective. It also gives Beharrie a chance to show off her city. Therese Beharrie is delightful on Twitter and in her books. I look forward to reading her back catalog.
Sophia is at the hospital with her mother and younger sister while her older sister is in labor. Parker is at the same hospital where his mother has been treated for injuries after being hit by a car. Sophia’s relationships with her mother and sisters have been strained for a while. Parker has just received bad news from his mother’s doctor and his estranged father has arrived acting like he’s got the answers. One of Parker’s jobs is as a driver for hire. Sophia, needing to escape family tensions gets in his car thinking he is available to drive her away. They end up reluctantly and then not so reluctantly spending the day together.
Beharrie takes a rather improbable premise – strangers meet and fall in love in one day – and makes it completely believable, and enjoyable. Parker and Sophia are both under tremendous stress and take a day as each other’s distraction. They have stepped outside their normal and are more open and vulnerable than they would be on a normal day. The sparks they strike start as irritation and annoyance. Sophia, like Island Fling‘s Piper, is guarded and straight forward. She knows her own worth, she just doesn’t have a lot of experience with other people knowing her worth. Parker has always been a team with his mother but now everything he thought was true about his life is being challenged. Beharrie keeps them grounded and relatable, which keeps the relationship believable.
Having stepped out of their normal lives, Parker and Sophia end up doing the sort of touristy things in Cape Town that residents don’t normally do. looking at their city from different perspectives give them a chance to look at their lives from a different perspective. It also gives Beharrie a chance to show off her city. Therese Beharrie is delightful on Twitter and in her books. I look forward to reading her back catalog.
July 22, 2020
Not many authors can write a believable romance that mostly takes place on one day, but Therese Beharrie can. And she does it so beautifully. It's intimate and emotional and oh so good.
August 13, 2019
This was a beautiful book that had me happy reading throughout. Yes, there were emotional points and it dealt with grief, acceptance of oneself, and some family drama. But it still had me smiling because who doesn't love two grumps falling in love over one day?
Sophia is a grumpy, sarcastic, blunt woman who has been dragged to the hospital as her eldest sister has gone into labour and there is some resentment there both to her eldest sister, but also her mom and younger sister which eventually leads to her doing a runner. But not before bumping into a grumpy guy outside the cafeteria and sparring with him some. You just know that pair will bump into each other again.
The grumpy guy? Well, that's Parker... except he was nowhere near as much of a grump as Sophia was. He was a soft marshmallow totally in touch with his emotions and who is annoyed some rude woman got the upper hand in a conversation. So when he's leaving the hospital dealing with some news about his mother and avoiding his father who should happen to climb into his car but Sophia (I will say she's not randomly getting in the car with a stranger, he works for a car company. But funny side story, my nan once got into a car with a stranger thinking it was someone she knew and they drove her all the way home from the shops. She had very poor eyesight but how nice that random stranger did that for her!).
Anyway, wonderful antics ensue from that meet cute and I was there for all of them. Sophia was just so good. I didn't realise I wanted some grumpy heroines in my life until I was reading this. Women are not all sunshine and rainbows, why do men always get the corner of the grumpy market? And I loved that it was not her changing for a man but instead Parker loved her for her bluntness and occasional sharpness and that he would have her no other way.
I admit, romances taking place over one day always have me wary. How can the couple possibly develop enough of a connection for us as readers to believe they will make it through? I don't know how Therese Beharrie does it but she pulls the romance off flawlessly. It never felt rushed and considering both of these characters were convinced they weren't ready for any relationship I was there convinced they were perfect for each other even when they weren't so certain of it. Their connection just was there and it worked and they helped one another reach some life realisations and they weren't always happy about it.
I was a little late to reading this one, I had an arc for a while but I was so glad I read it when I did. I got to fly through it in a single day and I think that helped me fall head over heels right along with these characters. I was invested in their lives and now I'm eager to go back and read the first in this series because how did I miss that one?!
Sophia is a grumpy, sarcastic, blunt woman who has been dragged to the hospital as her eldest sister has gone into labour and there is some resentment there both to her eldest sister, but also her mom and younger sister which eventually leads to her doing a runner. But not before bumping into a grumpy guy outside the cafeteria and sparring with him some. You just know that pair will bump into each other again.
The grumpy guy? Well, that's Parker... except he was nowhere near as much of a grump as Sophia was. He was a soft marshmallow totally in touch with his emotions and who is annoyed some rude woman got the upper hand in a conversation. So when he's leaving the hospital dealing with some news about his mother and avoiding his father who should happen to climb into his car but Sophia (I will say she's not randomly getting in the car with a stranger, he works for a car company. But funny side story, my nan once got into a car with a stranger thinking it was someone she knew and they drove her all the way home from the shops. She had very poor eyesight but how nice that random stranger did that for her!).
Anyway, wonderful antics ensue from that meet cute and I was there for all of them. Sophia was just so good. I didn't realise I wanted some grumpy heroines in my life until I was reading this. Women are not all sunshine and rainbows, why do men always get the corner of the grumpy market? And I loved that it was not her changing for a man but instead Parker loved her for her bluntness and occasional sharpness and that he would have her no other way.
I admit, romances taking place over one day always have me wary. How can the couple possibly develop enough of a connection for us as readers to believe they will make it through? I don't know how Therese Beharrie does it but she pulls the romance off flawlessly. It never felt rushed and considering both of these characters were convinced they weren't ready for any relationship I was there convinced they were perfect for each other even when they weren't so certain of it. Their connection just was there and it worked and they helped one another reach some life realisations and they weren't always happy about it.
I was a little late to reading this one, I had an arc for a while but I was so glad I read it when I did. I got to fly through it in a single day and I think that helped me fall head over heels right along with these characters. I was invested in their lives and now I'm eager to go back and read the first in this series because how did I miss that one?!
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August 9, 2025Therese Beharrie does it again! One Day to Fall is a romance between two strangers whose lives intersect in the hospital and spend a day together falling in love. I'll be honest, the first half of this book was rough. Therese's writing is strong and I genuinely enjoyed the interactions between these two. But god, it was hard for me to suspend my disbelief like this. You guys are having feelings for each other after... one day? Are you sure?
But it works. Their love works and I found the ending super heartwarming. So much about their lives is pure chaos and heartbreak, it makes sense they will hold on to the source of joy they find. And both of them have to go through so much growth as well. Do I think they kind of 'grow' a little bit too quickly? Yeah, for sure. But again, that's the timeline of the story and I guess, we can take it as it is.
It was nice to see their families and their relationships with them being a big part of the story. As well as the first book, the heroine has a conflicted relationship with her sisters and parents that she has to go through and sort out her feelings. Meanwhile, the hero is dealing with the recent diagnosis of his mother and having his father back in his life. It is quite a lot. There are many emotional conversations. I'm very happy that Therese managed to balance out the difficult family themes with this fast-paced romance, the book didn't feel heavy and I finished reading with a huge smile on my face. I will be reading more by the author. And if this is a trope you want to try, or already adore, highly recommended!
But it works. Their love works and I found the ending super heartwarming. So much about their lives is pure chaos and heartbreak, it makes sense they will hold on to the source of joy they find. And both of them have to go through so much growth as well. Do I think they kind of 'grow' a little bit too quickly? Yeah, for sure. But again, that's the timeline of the story and I guess, we can take it as it is.
It was nice to see their families and their relationships with them being a big part of the story. As well as the first book, the heroine has a conflicted relationship with her sisters and parents that she has to go through and sort out her feelings. Meanwhile, the hero is dealing with the recent diagnosis of his mother and having his father back in his life. It is quite a lot. There are many emotional conversations. I'm very happy that Therese managed to balance out the difficult family themes with this fast-paced romance, the book didn't feel heavy and I finished reading with a huge smile on my face. I will be reading more by the author. And if this is a trope you want to try, or already adore, highly recommended!
May 30, 2020
Honestly, I was kind of bored. There was nothing wrong with the story and Beharrie writes great romance from what I can tell but I didn't connect with the female lead or her family. Parker and his mom, however, could have been the whole book for me. I will give her work another chance but this one wasn't my jam.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.
November 4, 2019
I dunno how you write a slow burn when they fall in love in one day but WHOOBOY does Therese nail that. Tropetastic enemies to lovers, with a prickly heroine & a soft-hearted, pricklier-than-he-can-seem hero.
August 20, 2019
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I love a heroine who is confident and not afraid to say what she thinks, and ditto for a hero. I thought it was really admirable the way both the main characters in this book, Parker and Sophia, were not afraid to tell each other difficult truths. I also admired the way that the difficult family dynamics for both characters were part of the novel. I am tired of seeing perfect families or completely dysfunctional and cruel ones in romances. I also felt that both characters did a lot of soul searching and growing in the novel - also a tick.
Here’s the thing though, I couldn’t really get into the book, I felt that I plodded through it, picking it up and putting it down a lot. I didn’t feel the pacing worked for me until almost 2/3 of the way through the book.
Parker is a journalist and writer who also drives a taxi, to help make ends meet. His father walked out when Parker was young, and disappeared for a while when Parker was 9. He is back now, and friendly with Parker’s mum again. Parker is very conflicted about that. His mum has brought him up singlehandedly, making sure he felt loved and happy even though they had to scrape to make ends meet. She has just been diagnosed with a dementia related condition, he is devastated, and needs to get out. Sophia is also trying to escape the hospital, her older sister is having a baby and her mum and little sister are at the hospital too. She can’t cope, as although she stepped in to support her needy mum and younger sister though her father’s illness and death, when her older sister left, she feels judged and found wanting when compared to her big sister.
Parker and Sophia literally bump into each other in hospital and are instantly cross and snarky with each other. When they meet again in the car park, Parker drives Sophia to where she wants to go. They snark and snap at each other, but are also attracted. The story takes place over one day, and covers how they work through their commitment issues and personal reactions to their families. Will they succumb to their attraction or resist the connection between them.
I am completely ok with characters not wanting children, but I found the reactions to breastfeeding etc a bit weird.
I wish I’d enjoyed it more.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Here’s the thing though, I couldn’t really get into the book, I felt that I plodded through it, picking it up and putting it down a lot. I didn’t feel the pacing worked for me until almost 2/3 of the way through the book.
Parker is a journalist and writer who also drives a taxi, to help make ends meet. His father walked out when Parker was young, and disappeared for a while when Parker was 9. He is back now, and friendly with Parker’s mum again. Parker is very conflicted about that. His mum has brought him up singlehandedly, making sure he felt loved and happy even though they had to scrape to make ends meet. She has just been diagnosed with a dementia related condition, he is devastated, and needs to get out. Sophia is also trying to escape the hospital, her older sister is having a baby and her mum and little sister are at the hospital too. She can’t cope, as although she stepped in to support her needy mum and younger sister though her father’s illness and death, when her older sister left, she feels judged and found wanting when compared to her big sister.
Parker and Sophia literally bump into each other in hospital and are instantly cross and snarky with each other. When they meet again in the car park, Parker drives Sophia to where she wants to go. They snark and snap at each other, but are also attracted. The story takes place over one day, and covers how they work through their commitment issues and personal reactions to their families. Will they succumb to their attraction or resist the connection between them.
I am completely ok with characters not wanting children, but I found the reactions to breastfeeding etc a bit weird.
I wish I’d enjoyed it more.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
November 28, 2020
🗺 Q: where’s the first place you want to travel to when coronavirus is no longer a big concern?
Sophia Roux & Parker Jones fall in love in ONE DAY in Therese Beharrie’s aptly named One Day to Fall, & the way that it’s done—the emotional & physical moments, the big revelations & the small—feels believable to me.
But things between Sophia & Parker don’t start off on the right foot, as they crash into each other at the hospital where they’re both waiting out tense family moments & wading through deep emotions.
Parker’s mother’s just been diagnosed with dementia & the dad who abandoned them keeps showing back up making things complicated. Sophia’s sister is in labor & she must sit with the family who doesn’t appreciate her efforts after her/their dad died, most of whom believe she’s “mean.”
But then they run into each other again at Parker’s taxi, & then they’re seeking out each other’s company (& sometimes trying to escape it, depending on how emotional things have gotten)...all in the course of one day.
Intensely emotional, One Day to Fall tackles family issues that won’t be easily resolved even with a HEA & does so with a lot of heart. This book isn’t interested in cutting corners in the feelings department, even as Sophia & Parker protest that they can’t have any kind of lasting relationship with the other.
I love a strong, take charge, no-nonsense heroine & a sensitive hero (who is apologetic when he occasionally acts dumb). Though there aren’t any explicit sex scenes, their first kiss gave me butterflies, it’s so sexy. & various Cape Town settings offer exciting backdrops to their big day of romance.
But there are a few moments where the book feels like it gets a little bogged down, where it feels like the focus is on considering something that seems not as critical to me.
Beharrie’s One Day to Fall is a lovely, heart-grabbing journey with a heroine & hero who go through a lot emotionally & mentally & end up choosing each other—& it was a journey my heart needed last week.
4⭐️. Thanks to @harlequinpublicityteam for the complimentary finished copy. All opinions provided are my own. #Sponsored #HarlequinPublicityTeam
Sophia Roux & Parker Jones fall in love in ONE DAY in Therese Beharrie’s aptly named One Day to Fall, & the way that it’s done—the emotional & physical moments, the big revelations & the small—feels believable to me.
But things between Sophia & Parker don’t start off on the right foot, as they crash into each other at the hospital where they’re both waiting out tense family moments & wading through deep emotions.
Parker’s mother’s just been diagnosed with dementia & the dad who abandoned them keeps showing back up making things complicated. Sophia’s sister is in labor & she must sit with the family who doesn’t appreciate her efforts after her/their dad died, most of whom believe she’s “mean.”
But then they run into each other again at Parker’s taxi, & then they’re seeking out each other’s company (& sometimes trying to escape it, depending on how emotional things have gotten)...all in the course of one day.
Intensely emotional, One Day to Fall tackles family issues that won’t be easily resolved even with a HEA & does so with a lot of heart. This book isn’t interested in cutting corners in the feelings department, even as Sophia & Parker protest that they can’t have any kind of lasting relationship with the other.
I love a strong, take charge, no-nonsense heroine & a sensitive hero (who is apologetic when he occasionally acts dumb). Though there aren’t any explicit sex scenes, their first kiss gave me butterflies, it’s so sexy. & various Cape Town settings offer exciting backdrops to their big day of romance.
But there are a few moments where the book feels like it gets a little bogged down, where it feels like the focus is on considering something that seems not as critical to me.
Beharrie’s One Day to Fall is a lovely, heart-grabbing journey with a heroine & hero who go through a lot emotionally & mentally & end up choosing each other—& it was a journey my heart needed last week.
4⭐️. Thanks to @harlequinpublicityteam for the complimentary finished copy. All opinions provided are my own. #Sponsored #HarlequinPublicityTeam
July 28, 2019
CW: parent diagnosed with dementia. Mention of death of a parent
How to express my absolute love for Sophia the snarky, blunt,, heroine???? I loved her and the not quite meet cute when she literally ran into the hero Parker had my loling.
She was so pissed when they bumped into each other so i call it not a meet cute cuz they were both like what the hell watch where you're going this is your fault. I cackled all the way through that and the taxi ride where they meet again.
Sophia runs away from dealing with her fam at the hospital where her sis Angie is in labour. Angie is the heroine of book one which i also loved. While this one can standalone I'd suggest reading because it's good!
To me where Therese shines is the emotions she writes. Her characters are always communicating and sharing and Therese builds so much emotion between Sophia and Parker in this one day they met. The intimacy that builds between then gradually is so powerful. They both annoy each other but also force each other to examine their issues with their families:Sophia's strained relationship with her sisters and Parker's with his dad and his feelings about his mom,'s illness
And Therese upped the heat level here because when Sophia and Parker get intimate whew! There's kissing and teasing and it was so well done. That ferris wheel moment and the car moment had me going ok alright get iiiit lol. The characters never have penetrative sex but lemme just say it was fireeee and funny and intimate. Therese is a boss at scenes packed with feelings and i dont know how she does it but this entire book was feels city.
From Sophia interacting with Parker then her sisters, Parker interacting with his dad. The black moment between Soph and Parker!!!
Also let me not forget this: neither Soph or Parker wants kids. That's mentioned early a d i truly related to Sophia here so much.
So i loved it and Zoey's book will be out in 2020 yayyy!!
How to express my absolute love for Sophia the snarky, blunt,, heroine???? I loved her and the not quite meet cute when she literally ran into the hero Parker had my loling.
She was so pissed when they bumped into each other so i call it not a meet cute cuz they were both like what the hell watch where you're going this is your fault. I cackled all the way through that and the taxi ride where they meet again.
Sophia runs away from dealing with her fam at the hospital where her sis Angie is in labour. Angie is the heroine of book one which i also loved. While this one can standalone I'd suggest reading because it's good!
To me where Therese shines is the emotions she writes. Her characters are always communicating and sharing and Therese builds so much emotion between Sophia and Parker in this one day they met. The intimacy that builds between then gradually is so powerful. They both annoy each other but also force each other to examine their issues with their families:Sophia's strained relationship with her sisters and Parker's with his dad and his feelings about his mom,'s illness
And Therese upped the heat level here because when Sophia and Parker get intimate whew! There's kissing and teasing and it was so well done. That ferris wheel moment and the car moment had me going ok alright get iiiit lol. The characters never have penetrative sex but lemme just say it was fireeee and funny and intimate. Therese is a boss at scenes packed with feelings and i dont know how she does it but this entire book was feels city.
From Sophia interacting with Parker then her sisters, Parker interacting with his dad. The black moment between Soph and Parker!!!
Also let me not forget this: neither Soph or Parker wants kids. That's mentioned early a d i truly related to Sophia here so much.
So i loved it and Zoey's book will be out in 2020 yayyy!!
August 16, 2019
4.5 stars
ARC supplied by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Sophia and Parker unexpectedly and kind of literally run into one another at a hospital while they are both dealing with some difficult emotions. They keep running into one another over the course of the day as an attraction blooms between them. Sophia is a bit of a prickly heroine who likes to keep people at a distance. Meanwhile, Parker has spent years of his life not thinking beyond the survival of himself and his mother. The two of them are very interesting characters with a number of faults that feel real. It is these very faults that allow them to build a relationship with one another.
Character development is definitely the strongest part of One Day to Fall. The novel takes place over the course of one day, therefore much of the conflict between the characters comes from their own emotional baggage. As Sophia and Parker confront emotions that they have buried deep within themselves, it is clear to see how they grow as people. The two of them act as mirrors to one another forcing each other to face reality. They come to accept new and uncomfortable truths about themselves and in doing so develop a better understanding of who they are. By centering the emotional growth and development of Sophia and Parker, Beharrie avoids this novel feeling contrived or reeking of insta-love. The relationship between the two of them feels genuine and sweet.
The families of Sophia and Parker feature heavily throughout the novel. They give insight into their characters, especially as much of their emotional baggage involves their families. Their families are essential parts of how they have become the people that we see in the novel. Additionally, it is good to see a heroine like Sophia who does not want to have children. This is not something that she changes her mind about even after her sister has a child.
It is unsurprising that the book dives into a number of heavy issues such as losing a parent, supporting a family (emotionally and financially), estrangement from a parent, and a parent suffering from dementia. Beharrie handles these issues with awareness and respect, providing a content warning in the beginning of the novel.
Overall, Beharrie has written an emotionally heavy, but still sweet novel about two very flawed people who happen to find their match in one another. The next novel in the series is about the youngest sister and I can’t wait!
find me at: twitter | instagram
ARC supplied by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Sophia and Parker unexpectedly and kind of literally run into one another at a hospital while they are both dealing with some difficult emotions. They keep running into one another over the course of the day as an attraction blooms between them. Sophia is a bit of a prickly heroine who likes to keep people at a distance. Meanwhile, Parker has spent years of his life not thinking beyond the survival of himself and his mother. The two of them are very interesting characters with a number of faults that feel real. It is these very faults that allow them to build a relationship with one another.
Character development is definitely the strongest part of One Day to Fall. The novel takes place over the course of one day, therefore much of the conflict between the characters comes from their own emotional baggage. As Sophia and Parker confront emotions that they have buried deep within themselves, it is clear to see how they grow as people. The two of them act as mirrors to one another forcing each other to face reality. They come to accept new and uncomfortable truths about themselves and in doing so develop a better understanding of who they are. By centering the emotional growth and development of Sophia and Parker, Beharrie avoids this novel feeling contrived or reeking of insta-love. The relationship between the two of them feels genuine and sweet.
The families of Sophia and Parker feature heavily throughout the novel. They give insight into their characters, especially as much of their emotional baggage involves their families. Their families are essential parts of how they have become the people that we see in the novel. Additionally, it is good to see a heroine like Sophia who does not want to have children. This is not something that she changes her mind about even after her sister has a child.
It is unsurprising that the book dives into a number of heavy issues such as losing a parent, supporting a family (emotionally and financially), estrangement from a parent, and a parent suffering from dementia. Beharrie handles these issues with awareness and respect, providing a content warning in the beginning of the novel.
Overall, Beharrie has written an emotionally heavy, but still sweet novel about two very flawed people who happen to find their match in one another. The next novel in the series is about the youngest sister and I can’t wait!
find me at: twitter | instagram
November 11, 2019
One Day to Fall is the second novel about the Roux sisters set in South Africa, though in the interest of full disclosure, I did not read the first novel. This is an oversight I hope to rectify, as this novel was a pleasure to read.
Beharrie's romance takes place in the course of an intense and emotional day. There aren't many circadian novels, and the ones that come to mind are not romances, such as Michael Cunningham's The Hours, Saturday by Ian McEwan and Christopher Irshwood's A Single Man, so I was particularly excited to see her take on this particular structure and execute it so well. The emotional intensity is heightened but it is punctuated with moments of humor that keep the narrative from being claustrophobic.
A further variation that I truly enjoyed in this novel is the Sophie, a heroine who is prickly, bad-tempered and not in a particularly good place, emotionally. Parker, the driver for the car service who picks her up and with whom she falls in love, is also suffering from his own personal complications. They essentially use each other to distract themselves from the distressing facts of their lives but in doing so, discover that they have stumbled on the one person who might understand them better than anyone else in their lives.
I also enjoyed the way the author used the premise to treat readers to a tour of Cape Town, the setting of the romance. I've never visited so my natural wanderlust was stimulated by the descriptions of the places they visit.
A well-written, thoroughly satisfying romance.
ARC provided by Netgalley
Beharrie's romance takes place in the course of an intense and emotional day. There aren't many circadian novels, and the ones that come to mind are not romances, such as Michael Cunningham's The Hours, Saturday by Ian McEwan and Christopher Irshwood's A Single Man, so I was particularly excited to see her take on this particular structure and execute it so well. The emotional intensity is heightened but it is punctuated with moments of humor that keep the narrative from being claustrophobic.
A further variation that I truly enjoyed in this novel is the Sophie, a heroine who is prickly, bad-tempered and not in a particularly good place, emotionally. Parker, the driver for the car service who picks her up and with whom she falls in love, is also suffering from his own personal complications. They essentially use each other to distract themselves from the distressing facts of their lives but in doing so, discover that they have stumbled on the one person who might understand them better than anyone else in their lives.
I also enjoyed the way the author used the premise to treat readers to a tour of Cape Town, the setting of the romance. I've never visited so my natural wanderlust was stimulated by the descriptions of the places they visit.
A well-written, thoroughly satisfying romance.
ARC provided by Netgalley
February 14, 2020
Sophia and Parker meet because they're both at the hospital visiting family. Sophia is there for her sister, who is giving birth. Parker is there for his mother, who was just in an accident and was diagnosed with dementia. Sophia asks for a ride from valet driver Parker, and they end up spending the entire day together and falling in love. Given the single day setting, this requires some suspension of disbelief, but it was a cute romance! It was a lot heavier than I expected, too. The characters talk about grief, illness, and trauma. Beharrie deals with these subjects well and balances out the seriousness with the adorable meet-cute moments.
I thought the pacing was slow in some parts. This is a very dialogue heavy book. I don't think I've ever read a romance that had so many scenes of the characters just talking, and some of the interactions felt wooden. I wanted a little more action, especially since the characters only have a day and a half to spend together. However, by the end I was definitely convinced that they needed to be together.
This is the second in a series, and I haven't read the first one yet. It works as a standalone but I'm planning to read the first book soon.
I thought the pacing was slow in some parts. This is a very dialogue heavy book. I don't think I've ever read a romance that had so many scenes of the characters just talking, and some of the interactions felt wooden. I wanted a little more action, especially since the characters only have a day and a half to spend together. However, by the end I was definitely convinced that they needed to be together.
This is the second in a series, and I haven't read the first one yet. It works as a standalone but I'm planning to read the first book soon.
July 15, 2019
Sophia is feeling suffocated by her family who keep comparing her to her 'perfect' big sister. The idea of sitting in a hospital waiting room for hours is too much to bear, so she runs away.
Parker is also running away from the same hospital. In his case, it's from his mother's diagnosis. Sophia jumps into his taxi and despite himself he cares that she might not be safe.
Eventually, they make a pact to have this one day to run away from their problems. One day to forget it all and have fun. One day in which they fall in love.
Both Sophia and Parker start the book in terribly bad moods. They are sharp and angry and snipe at each other. As time goes on, they mellow.
This is a slow burn (despite it all happening in one day!), introspective, character driven romance. I love this kind of thing. Sophie is prickly and blunt. Parker is adorable and kind. They complement each other beautifully. It's a minor thing, but I liked how Cape Town was so vivid that it almost became a character in the book too.
This is the first Therese Beharrie book I've read. I will definitely be reading more.
I got an advance copy of the book via Netgalley.
Parker is also running away from the same hospital. In his case, it's from his mother's diagnosis. Sophia jumps into his taxi and despite himself he cares that she might not be safe.
Eventually, they make a pact to have this one day to run away from their problems. One day to forget it all and have fun. One day in which they fall in love.
Both Sophia and Parker start the book in terribly bad moods. They are sharp and angry and snipe at each other. As time goes on, they mellow.
This is a slow burn (despite it all happening in one day!), introspective, character driven romance. I love this kind of thing. Sophie is prickly and blunt. Parker is adorable and kind. They complement each other beautifully. It's a minor thing, but I liked how Cape Town was so vivid that it almost became a character in the book too.
This is the first Therese Beharrie book I've read. I will definitely be reading more.
I got an advance copy of the book via Netgalley.
August 14, 2019
One Day to Fall is the second book in Therese Beharrie's One Day To Forever series and centers around a freelance journalist with a side job driving for a car service along with a human resources pro. On an emotional day for them both, they find themselves colliding and hanging on for dear life as they each undergo deep introspection of who and what they are.
Parker Jones has been hit with a bombshell that is going to change his life forever and he's not sure how to process it all. He's in a surly mood as he leaves the hospital and runs smack into Sophia.
Sophia Roux is feeling the pressure of holding her family together for years and now finds herself resentful as she's being made to cater to her "perfect" sister who's about to give birth. She happens to jump into the car of a man who just might have an attitude to rival the biting edge of her own.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a snarky banter that keeps you smiling as the characters try to act like they don't like each other, when it's obvious to all looking on that they do. The day drug out a tad, but the feel of the story was enriching and delightful!
Parker Jones has been hit with a bombshell that is going to change his life forever and he's not sure how to process it all. He's in a surly mood as he leaves the hospital and runs smack into Sophia.
Sophia Roux is feeling the pressure of holding her family together for years and now finds herself resentful as she's being made to cater to her "perfect" sister who's about to give birth. She happens to jump into the car of a man who just might have an attitude to rival the biting edge of her own.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a snarky banter that keeps you smiling as the characters try to act like they don't like each other, when it's obvious to all looking on that they do. The day drug out a tad, but the feel of the story was enriching and delightful!
August 15, 2019
This was a lovely, lovely book, with this remarkable balance of serious, emotional topics and fun, adorable dating high-jinks. Sophia and Parker had wonderful banter and chemistry and watching them figure each other out and let each other in was magical. And there were hot together. Totally hot.
However, what was especially poignant and special about this book where the complex family dynamics and stories, both Sophia's and Parker's. We got to see families who loved each other but often either didn't quite know how to convey it or balance real, difficult circumstances with their own needs, work and struggle and finally communicate in such important an meaningful ways. There were no true villains, only real, imperfect people. Nothing was going to be perfect (or could be) but watching equilibrium and honesty get achieved was really, just special and wonderful.
Anyway, this was such a fabulous read and I can't wait for Zoey's story!
However, what was especially poignant and special about this book where the complex family dynamics and stories, both Sophia's and Parker's. We got to see families who loved each other but often either didn't quite know how to convey it or balance real, difficult circumstances with their own needs, work and struggle and finally communicate in such important an meaningful ways. There were no true villains, only real, imperfect people. Nothing was going to be perfect (or could be) but watching equilibrium and honesty get achieved was really, just special and wonderful.
Anyway, this was such a fabulous read and I can't wait for Zoey's story!
August 13, 2019
picked this up on a whim, after the recommendation i found on talia hibbert's (another gifted author!) facebook group, despite its terribly saccharine stock image cover.
as the title suggests most of the story unfolds within a day where two struggling, bitter, snarky and prickly strangers meet and then quickly become more than strangers. it's a terrific character study and really introspective in its writing and dialogue. the romance is also the slow-burn kind. 'One day to fall' sucker-punched me with all the feels, there's a lot to relate to in terms of how complex family dynamics and relationships can be. if you like romances with less fluff and more bite, pick this up. it's one of those stories where you laugh and then sniffle from one breath to the next,- the best kind!!
this is an author to watch out for!
as the title suggests most of the story unfolds within a day where two struggling, bitter, snarky and prickly strangers meet and then quickly become more than strangers. it's a terrific character study and really introspective in its writing and dialogue. the romance is also the slow-burn kind. 'One day to fall' sucker-punched me with all the feels, there's a lot to relate to in terms of how complex family dynamics and relationships can be. if you like romances with less fluff and more bite, pick this up. it's one of those stories where you laugh and then sniffle from one breath to the next,- the best kind!!
this is an author to watch out for!
August 16, 2019
I really enjoy stories set in a short space of time, in this case (as the title suggests) one day. They make me think of romances like Before Sunset, which have a lot of dialogue and have to be character-driven, which this definitely is. Both of the main characters change a lot, starting off arguing (understandably, given the circumstances in which they meet) and then gradually opening up to each other while dealing with a lot of big emotional (mainly family and health based) issues. Emotionally intense, sweet and poignant - recommended for fans of slow-burn, character-driven romances.
June 23, 2019
Full RTC closer to the release day
Such an emotional yet amazing book.
I was so charmed by Sophia and Parker and rooted so deeply for them. Their banter is superb and I've felt so seen by Sophia's struggling I was actually crying. 😭
The book is loaded with lots of heavy topics so please consider the CWs before you start reading it:
- on page talk of dementia
- absentee parent
- death of a patent (brain tumor)
- one page talk about a side character being in labor/giving birth
Such an emotional yet amazing book.
I was so charmed by Sophia and Parker and rooted so deeply for them. Their banter is superb and I've felt so seen by Sophia's struggling I was actually crying. 😭
The book is loaded with lots of heavy topics so please consider the CWs before you start reading it:
- on page talk of dementia
- absentee parent
- death of a patent (brain tumor)
- one page talk about a side character being in labor/giving birth
Displaying 1 - 29 of 42 reviews