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Winter Ball #3
Fall Through Spring
A Winter Ball Novel
As far as Clay Carpenter is concerned, his abusive relationship with food is the best thing he’s got going. When a good friend starts kicking his ass into gear, Clay is forced to reexamine everything he learned about food and love—and that’s right when he meets troubled graduate student, Dane Hayes.
Dane Hayes doesn’t do the whole monogamy thing, but the minute he meets Clay Carpenter, he’s doing the friend thing in spades. The snarky, scruffy bastard not only gets Dane's wacky sense of humor, he also accepts the things Dane can’t control—like the bipolar disorder Dane has been trying to manage for the past six years.
Dane is hoping for more than friendship, and Clay is looking at him with longing that isn't platonic. They’re both positive they’re bad at relationships, but with the help of forbidden desserts and new medication regimens, they prove outstanding at being with each other. But can they turn their friendship into the love neither of them has dared to hope for?
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2019
39 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
About the author
Amy Lane
219 books3,469 followersAmy Lane dodges an EDJ, mothers four children, and writes the occasional book. She, her brood, and her beloved mate, Mack, live in a crumbling mortgage in Citrus Heights, California, which is riddled with spiders, cats, and more than its share of fancy and weirdness. Feel free to visit her at www.greenshill.com orwww.writerslane.blogspot.com, where she will ride the buzz of receiving your e-mail until her head swells and she can no longer leave the house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
November 18, 2019
~3.5~
It took me ages to get through this book: eight days to be exact, which is unheard of in my reading world. This isn't a very long book, either, but for some reason it dragged for me. Why? I'm not sure, but I'll try to muddle through an explanation:
I love Amy Lane, and that is no secret, but sometimes her stories sink under the weight of all that angst. This was the case here.
Clay (Carpenter) has an eating disorder (compulsive overeating), which is most definitely a thing. Clay can never have just one cookie; he eats the entire package.
Dane has biopolar disorder, first diagnosed six years prior. His current meds aren't working, and Clay (along with Dane's brother, Mason, MC from book 2) support Dane through a very rough mental breakdown.
The romance is not at the forefront of this story. Clay and Dane are friends first, friends who love each other, but only friends. Clay has issues with anyone seeing him naked, and Dane doesn't trust that anyone will stay once they know about his special brand of crazy.
There is a lot of back and forth, a lot of arguing, a lot of inner drama ... frankly, it was exhausting.
Look, imperfect MCs are my preference. I don't mind one iota that both men struggled with demons, but the story felt heavy, with not enough brightness.
This book overlaps with book 2, Mason and Terry's story. I don't remember Dane and Clay being that present in the second book, but here we get constant updates on the state of Mason and Terry's relationship, which felt intrusive.
I strongly suggest you do NOT try to read this book as a standalone. The MCs from the other books are VERY present, and the narrative of the story is busy enough even if you've read the other books like I have.
Don't get me wrong: in the end, I LIKED this story. The slow burn is all kinds of delicious, and once the guys got going, they really got going. Hot damn, but Clay's first time with a man was all kinds of juicy. Dane really knows his way around a cock, and Clay most certainly benefits (except when he freaks because Dane goes all porn star on him; yeah, even the sex was fraught with complexities).
The interactions with Clay's family felt super real. Clay's mom meant well, but she was just so judgy, as was Clay's sister. No wonder Clay ate his feelings. Also, Dane giving Clay's sister a piece of his mind was fabulous.
The foil to Clay's family are Clay and Dane's friends: their true family. There's a lot of togetherness here and a big focus on making your own family, which, hell, yeah.
I'd consider the ending a HEA, even though everything is not all roses, and both men have ongoing struggles ahead, including Clay coming out to his family as bi. We know it's not going to be EASY (life never is), but it's going to be RIGHT.
It took me ages to get through this book: eight days to be exact, which is unheard of in my reading world. This isn't a very long book, either, but for some reason it dragged for me. Why? I'm not sure, but I'll try to muddle through an explanation:
I love Amy Lane, and that is no secret, but sometimes her stories sink under the weight of all that angst. This was the case here.
Clay (Carpenter) has an eating disorder (compulsive overeating), which is most definitely a thing. Clay can never have just one cookie; he eats the entire package.
Dane has biopolar disorder, first diagnosed six years prior. His current meds aren't working, and Clay (along with Dane's brother, Mason, MC from book 2) support Dane through a very rough mental breakdown.
The romance is not at the forefront of this story. Clay and Dane are friends first, friends who love each other, but only friends. Clay has issues with anyone seeing him naked, and Dane doesn't trust that anyone will stay once they know about his special brand of crazy.
There is a lot of back and forth, a lot of arguing, a lot of inner drama ... frankly, it was exhausting.
Look, imperfect MCs are my preference. I don't mind one iota that both men struggled with demons, but the story felt heavy, with not enough brightness.
This book overlaps with book 2, Mason and Terry's story. I don't remember Dane and Clay being that present in the second book, but here we get constant updates on the state of Mason and Terry's relationship, which felt intrusive.
I strongly suggest you do NOT try to read this book as a standalone. The MCs from the other books are VERY present, and the narrative of the story is busy enough even if you've read the other books like I have.
Don't get me wrong: in the end, I LIKED this story. The slow burn is all kinds of delicious, and once the guys got going, they really got going. Hot damn, but Clay's first time with a man was all kinds of juicy. Dane really knows his way around a cock, and Clay most certainly benefits (except when he freaks because Dane goes all porn star on him; yeah, even the sex was fraught with complexities).
The interactions with Clay's family felt super real. Clay's mom meant well, but she was just so judgy, as was Clay's sister. No wonder Clay ate his feelings. Also, Dane giving Clay's sister a piece of his mind was fabulous.
The foil to Clay's family are Clay and Dane's friends: their true family. There's a lot of togetherness here and a big focus on making your own family, which, hell, yeah.
I'd consider the ending a HEA, even though everything is not all roses, and both men have ongoing struggles ahead, including Clay coming out to his family as bi. We know it's not going to be EASY (life never is), but it's going to be RIGHT.
November 29, 2019
You know how sometimes you feel like you'll just die if you don't get a follow-up story for a previous side character? And sometimes, you just... don't?
Well, this was kinda the latter for me.
In the previous books, Clay seemed like a nice enough guy, but he was sort of the green bean casserole at Thanksgiving dinner for me. Sure, he was 'there', but he didn't end up taking up much space on my interest plate.
However, as this story began, I didn't actually like him very much. He was unhappy, ate his feelings, and didn't seem to want to take much ownership in the situation where he had actively put himself. I mean, two degrees in fields in which he had no interest? Dude. Really? No wonder you're miserable.
Dane's character was much more fun and likeable. Even if he was prone to severe mood swings, due to his bipolar diagnosis, at least he was trying to be happy and putting in the work to improve his overall satisfaction with life.
I did like how the MC's were able to mellow one another out and be happier together than apart, no matter what life threw their way, which was quite a bit.
The drama here came on two fronts, First, from Dane and his chosen family helping him get to a good place with his mental illness, then second in the form of Clay's pretentious, judgy family.
My favorite part of the story was where Dane called out Clay's "perfect", can-do-no-wrong sister and her kids. I wanted to be a fly on that wall so bad. : )
But overall, the story didn't totally excite me and I wasn't sad to finish it, so I'd rate it at around 3.25 stars.
As a side note, I really was hoping to see Clay reconnect with his estranged childhood friend, Jordyn, only as friends, because that unresolved hurt kept bugging me like a stray cookie crumb stuck in Clay's beard. Oh well, missed opportunity felt missed.
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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
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January 28, 2022
The characters. of Clay and Dane are just guys, not super rich, not super poor. they are, however, overweight, impatient, have poor coping mechanisms, guilty, suffer from profound mental illness and generally, are not your typical romance fair. At the same time, they are simple...more. As usual, Amy Lane creates people that just come to life and drag you in with them. You find that you are hoping for the happy ending, because you’ve come to love these guys. There’s a little...well, a lot, of snark. Some sweet things...some heat...and some angst. A really excellent adventure. Plus, you get to see the relationships and characters from the other two books from different viewpoints. Hope there will be a book 4, but these m/m romance series tend to be only 3 or 4 books in length. BUMMER!
November 19, 2019
The Winter Ball series is in my top two Amy Lane series. I love these characters. These are books I've read and listened to (and re-listened to, seriously, if you have the coin grab them on audio - they're spectacular) multiple times.
But Fall Through Spring, which I was ridiculously excited to read, was an emotionally exhausting read without the emotional payout in hurt/comfort Amy Lane usually provides.
For me, it was missing so much of the humor and underlying hope, or je ne sais quoi, that the last two books had, and I'm so sad because Clay and Dane were the two characters I was really, really looking forward to getting their romance. We do get to see their relationship unfold, but I would have liked the parts explained in exposition to have been filled in and given me something more.
I love these characters and I don't know why, but something did not click for me while reading it. This was a real emotional rollercoaster and it drained me so much I had to keep putting it down and finding something upbeat or funny to stare at for a while before picking it back up.
Maybe I tried reading it at a bad time, or was in a mood? I don't know. If Nick revives his role and narrates the audio, I'll pick it up and give it another try in audio format.
Dual POV hurt/comfort romance with some angst, the good kind of UST, some humor, sexy times later in the story, and a HFN happy ending with strong potential for the future.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Fall Through Spring provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted to Gay Book Reviews.
But Fall Through Spring, which I was ridiculously excited to read, was an emotionally exhausting read without the emotional payout in hurt/comfort Amy Lane usually provides.
For me, it was missing so much of the humor and underlying hope, or je ne sais quoi, that the last two books had, and I'm so sad because Clay and Dane were the two characters I was really, really looking forward to getting their romance. We do get to see their relationship unfold, but I would have liked the parts explained in exposition to have been filled in and given me something more.
I love these characters and I don't know why, but something did not click for me while reading it. This was a real emotional rollercoaster and it drained me so much I had to keep putting it down and finding something upbeat or funny to stare at for a while before picking it back up.
Maybe I tried reading it at a bad time, or was in a mood? I don't know. If Nick revives his role and narrates the audio, I'll pick it up and give it another try in audio format.
Dual POV hurt/comfort romance with some angst, the good kind of UST, some humor, sexy times later in the story, and a HFN happy ending with strong potential for the future.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Fall Through Spring provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted to Gay Book Reviews.
December 30, 2019
You know that friend the one who's just always there when you need them...
I'm sure we've all met or maybe we are that person..the friend...the quiet, steadfast friend who's there when they're needed. No, they're probably not the person who draws a crowd at parties or comes up with the crazy wild ideas for fun. They may not even get noticed much at events but when everyone else has gone home they're the one who's still there helping you clean up even though they were the one who arrived early to help you set things up for the party to begin with, they're the friend who drives you home after you've had one to many when the gang's out on the town, they make sure you get into your home safely. They're not the star of the party or even your knight in shining armor but they're just like you and I...they're someone who's looking for love...this is Clay Carpenter.
Clay's been here since the beginning and I think most of us saw him as Skipper's best friend and we never really gave him a lot of consideration beyond that. He was nice and dependable and really in the history of romance have there ever been two words more solidly connected to the 'kiss of death' when it comes to love than 'nice & dependable' I think not...that is unless your name's 'Dane Hayes'. Dane's done hot, attractive, sexy, exciting, yadda, yadda, yadda...he knows what those words mean or at least he knows what those words mean for him. For Dane they mean 'sh*t's getting real, so it's been nice and I'm outta' here. Dane's bipolar so sometimes his world goes sideways really fast and the only thing he's ever been able to depend on is his family...his parents and his brother Mason. He's accepted this. But Dane's like Clay...they can say what they want but the truth is their hearts want someone to love, someone to call their own.
I loved Skipper and Ritchie and Mason and Terry were truly adorable but I felt a connection to Clay and Dane that I just didn't with the others. Clay may be the silent, dependable, steadfast friend but that's not all that he is and Dane sees that... Dane truly sees him. He sees all that's good and honorable about Clay but he also sees his faults and insecurities right along with what makes Clay one incredibly sexy and attractive man in his eyes...he sees Clay the real Clay and Clay does the same for Dane. Their relationship is grounded in a love and appreciation of the whole person flaws and all and as the story unfolds we are shown this on more than one occasion.
Most of Clay and Dane's story runs parallel to that of Mason and Terry so there's definite overlap but we've given different perspectives of a lot of events and while some things may have seemed familiar I never found that anything felt repetitive or boring. However, I would have probably liked it more if there'd been a bit of post-getting back-together Mason and Terry shared with us...but truly it wasn't their story so that's me being greedy...again.
I loved how Clay and Dane fit together...it was neither seamless, nor effortless but it was real and worked at, so hard by both of these men. It as a happy ending that was very much deserved. I don't know if there's more in store for us from the lives of these men but if there is I'll certainly be happy to find out what comes next.
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An ARC of 'Fall Through Spring' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I'm sure we've all met or maybe we are that person..the friend...the quiet, steadfast friend who's there when they're needed. No, they're probably not the person who draws a crowd at parties or comes up with the crazy wild ideas for fun. They may not even get noticed much at events but when everyone else has gone home they're the one who's still there helping you clean up even though they were the one who arrived early to help you set things up for the party to begin with, they're the friend who drives you home after you've had one to many when the gang's out on the town, they make sure you get into your home safely. They're not the star of the party or even your knight in shining armor but they're just like you and I...they're someone who's looking for love...this is Clay Carpenter.
Clay's been here since the beginning and I think most of us saw him as Skipper's best friend and we never really gave him a lot of consideration beyond that. He was nice and dependable and really in the history of romance have there ever been two words more solidly connected to the 'kiss of death' when it comes to love than 'nice & dependable' I think not...that is unless your name's 'Dane Hayes'. Dane's done hot, attractive, sexy, exciting, yadda, yadda, yadda...he knows what those words mean or at least he knows what those words mean for him. For Dane they mean 'sh*t's getting real, so it's been nice and I'm outta' here. Dane's bipolar so sometimes his world goes sideways really fast and the only thing he's ever been able to depend on is his family...his parents and his brother Mason. He's accepted this. But Dane's like Clay...they can say what they want but the truth is their hearts want someone to love, someone to call their own.
I loved Skipper and Ritchie and Mason and Terry were truly adorable but I felt a connection to Clay and Dane that I just didn't with the others. Clay may be the silent, dependable, steadfast friend but that's not all that he is and Dane sees that... Dane truly sees him. He sees all that's good and honorable about Clay but he also sees his faults and insecurities right along with what makes Clay one incredibly sexy and attractive man in his eyes...he sees Clay the real Clay and Clay does the same for Dane. Their relationship is grounded in a love and appreciation of the whole person flaws and all and as the story unfolds we are shown this on more than one occasion.
Most of Clay and Dane's story runs parallel to that of Mason and Terry so there's definite overlap but we've given different perspectives of a lot of events and while some things may have seemed familiar I never found that anything felt repetitive or boring. However, I would have probably liked it more if there'd been a bit of post-getting back-together Mason and Terry shared with us...but truly it wasn't their story so that's me being greedy...again.
I loved how Clay and Dane fit together...it was neither seamless, nor effortless but it was real and worked at, so hard by both of these men. It as a happy ending that was very much deserved. I don't know if there's more in store for us from the lives of these men but if there is I'll certainly be happy to find out what comes next.
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An ARC of 'Fall Through Spring' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2023
This was a good one. If you know me well, you know I’ll read any male/male book bc representation matters! Sorry not sorry! Loved this one because it felt real. It wasn’t two dreamy people that the gay community idealizes, but two real people dealing with their stuff, being truly supported for it & finding love.
I need more Carpenter & Dane!
I need more Carpenter & Dane!
March 19, 2020
Ok I really love Dane. Like love, adore, and want him to be happy adore him. He's bipolar and doesn't have everything together, but he wants to. He's struggled for years, and he's trying to finally move his life forward and finish up the school program he's always wanted to compete. He's going to be a vet, no matter how long it takes him.
Carpenter is such a patient soul. He's falling in love with Dane and doesn't even realize it. He just knows he wants to continue their friendship and would do anything to help the guy. He has issues of his own. His perfectionist family has given him a complex and he eats to stave off the stress and anxiety. So weight has always been an issue and he has an unrealistic view of his own body. Together these two are a mess of issues and yet are so perfect to balance each other. I loved how there for each other they were and yet they didn't try to rush their relationship either. Carpenter was determined to get Dane as stable as possible before they took their relationship to the next level.
Another sweet story in this series and it's fun to see all the rest of the guys. This story takes place over-lapping with the last book in the series, Mason's story. Such a good job interweaving what we already knew with the new elements. Really enjoyed this one.
Carpenter is such a patient soul. He's falling in love with Dane and doesn't even realize it. He just knows he wants to continue their friendship and would do anything to help the guy. He has issues of his own. His perfectionist family has given him a complex and he eats to stave off the stress and anxiety. So weight has always been an issue and he has an unrealistic view of his own body. Together these two are a mess of issues and yet are so perfect to balance each other. I loved how there for each other they were and yet they didn't try to rush their relationship either. Carpenter was determined to get Dane as stable as possible before they took their relationship to the next level.
Another sweet story in this series and it's fun to see all the rest of the guys. This story takes place over-lapping with the last book in the series, Mason's story. Such a good job interweaving what we already knew with the new elements. Really enjoyed this one.
November 26, 2019
3.5 stars for me. After reading the first two books in the Winter Ball series, I was eagerly looking forward to getting Carpenter and Dane's story, since we saw the beginnings of their relationship so much from different POVs in the previous book.
However, even though this was their book, I felt like there was still so much focus on Mason and Terry and there were SO many hurdles that they had to get through, it was a bit of a struggle to get to that HEA. It's like, what I imagined their story being like in my head while I was reading book 2, was not what Amy Lane saw for their story and so it wasn't what I actually read.
Dane struggles daily with his bipolar disorder, and the highs and lows and medications that come with that. Then he meets Clay Carpenter, who struggles daily with food and his weight and weight gain and his own self image. These two have so many things against them - also including that Clay doesn't see himself as wanting or having a boyfriend - that I knew in the 2nd book that they would have an angsty road ahead.
But there was something in this story that kept me from feeling that still-a-bit-of-lightheartedness like I did in the previous books. There was so much back and forth, there was like a...disconnect between wanting them for me as a reader, and I don't know how to really explain it.
I definitely recommend you read this series in order, and I know many many people will enjoy this one just as much as the previous ones. For me, however, Winter Ball will remain my favorite in the series. I look forward to what Amy Lane has in store for us next! (And I pray she has a publishing home to do so in 2020...)
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
However, even though this was their book, I felt like there was still so much focus on Mason and Terry and there were SO many hurdles that they had to get through, it was a bit of a struggle to get to that HEA. It's like, what I imagined their story being like in my head while I was reading book 2, was not what Amy Lane saw for their story and so it wasn't what I actually read.
Dane struggles daily with his bipolar disorder, and the highs and lows and medications that come with that. Then he meets Clay Carpenter, who struggles daily with food and his weight and weight gain and his own self image. These two have so many things against them - also including that Clay doesn't see himself as wanting or having a boyfriend - that I knew in the 2nd book that they would have an angsty road ahead.
But there was something in this story that kept me from feeling that still-a-bit-of-lightheartedness like I did in the previous books. There was so much back and forth, there was like a...disconnect between wanting them for me as a reader, and I don't know how to really explain it.
I definitely recommend you read this series in order, and I know many many people will enjoy this one just as much as the previous ones. For me, however, Winter Ball will remain my favorite in the series. I look forward to what Amy Lane has in store for us next! (And I pray she has a publishing home to do so in 2020...)
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2019
Oy vey. This might be a very unpopular review because a lot of readers love Amy Lane. As do I. But I did not love this book. My all-time favorite MM romance, Beneath the Stain, was written by Amy, which makes it all the more difficult to say that Fall Through Spring was painfully boring.
I was quite looking forward to reading about main characters with bipolar disorder and overeating/weight issues. I have close family members with both conditions and I think Amy did a very good job portraying the realities of both; this is the one area where the book excelled. The upswing, crashes, depression, irresponsibility, forgetting or refusing to take medication, feeling dependent on drugs that make your life bland, hyper-sexuality, and an inability to function are all accurate features of bipolar. I’m most pleased with how Amy characterized bipolar as having a far-reaching effect on the sufferer's loved ones the way it did Dane's brother Mason, his friend/boyfriend Carpenter, his parents, and other friends. The patience and devotion Mason and Carpenter exhibited for Dane was remarkable; I don’t think he could’ve survived without it.
Carpenter's battle with food issues was likewise handled well, showing how his weight problem was always on his mind, all day, every day. Food was his obsession.
He fretted over what he could eat, if he had to exercise, if his clothes fit and did they look okay, and his family harping on his weight. Amy mentioned the eight different sizes of clothing in his closet and that body image was always on Carpenter’s mind. Like Dane, he also had a solid support system in his best friend Skipper and Skipper’s boyfriend, Richie, and Dane, who all helped him make better food choices. Skipper, Richie, and Mason were all very likable, compelling characters, (and starred in books one and two of this series), whereas the MCs were not, and therein lies the problem with Fall Through Spring.
The book has no plot, which is fine – I enjoy character driven stories. But you need interesting, well-developed, captivating main characters and on this Amy did not deliver. Carpenter and Dane were mundane, both insecure, and Dane was whiny and broody. I was not invested in either. The secondary characters were much more enjoyable.
Something I found to be odd is that Fall Through Spring runs concurrently with book two in the series. They are on the same timeline, and cover many of the same events, but are told in different points of view. There are even some of the same lines in both books.
I first considered DNFing somewhere around 20%. It was so slooow and boring and got confusing with extraneous stories about soccer buddies. It drove me crazy how Amy switched between calling Carpenter by both his last name and first name, Clay, sometimes in the same sentence.
By 80%, the pace had yet to pick up, the story didn't get more interesting, and the whining and insecurity became more pervasive. I was skimming everything, even the sex which felt inorganic to me. The urge to bail was overpowering but I figured I could push through the last 20%.
The book ended on a positive note with Dane realizing Mason needed him, too (through a break up), and Skip and Richie needed him when he helped them with house projects. It was so important for Dane to feel useful.
The best I can say is that the book portrays bipolar disorder and overeating admirably, and the book is inoffensive, just interminable. I still love Any Lane and will read her future books; this was just not for me, and I do not recommend it.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
I was quite looking forward to reading about main characters with bipolar disorder and overeating/weight issues. I have close family members with both conditions and I think Amy did a very good job portraying the realities of both; this is the one area where the book excelled. The upswing, crashes, depression, irresponsibility, forgetting or refusing to take medication, feeling dependent on drugs that make your life bland, hyper-sexuality, and an inability to function are all accurate features of bipolar. I’m most pleased with how Amy characterized bipolar as having a far-reaching effect on the sufferer's loved ones the way it did Dane's brother Mason, his friend/boyfriend Carpenter, his parents, and other friends. The patience and devotion Mason and Carpenter exhibited for Dane was remarkable; I don’t think he could’ve survived without it.
I’m living at home at thirty. I mean, I’m living with my brother, but that’s because my parents are getting older and I’m exhausting them. If I didn’t have ...these people in my life, I’d be in a care center, or homeless – I know this Clay. I know this.
Carpenter's battle with food issues was likewise handled well, showing how his weight problem was always on his mind, all day, every day. Food was his obsession.
Clay Alexander Carpenter was the first to admit it – his first love was a chocolate chip cookie … the chocolate chip cookie never let him down.
He fretted over what he could eat, if he had to exercise, if his clothes fit and did they look okay, and his family harping on his weight. Amy mentioned the eight different sizes of clothing in his closet and that body image was always on Carpenter’s mind. Like Dane, he also had a solid support system in his best friend Skipper and Skipper’s boyfriend, Richie, and Dane, who all helped him make better food choices. Skipper, Richie, and Mason were all very likable, compelling characters, (and starred in books one and two of this series), whereas the MCs were not, and therein lies the problem with Fall Through Spring.
The book has no plot, which is fine – I enjoy character driven stories. But you need interesting, well-developed, captivating main characters and on this Amy did not deliver. Carpenter and Dane were mundane, both insecure, and Dane was whiny and broody. I was not invested in either. The secondary characters were much more enjoyable.
Something I found to be odd is that Fall Through Spring runs concurrently with book two in the series. They are on the same timeline, and cover many of the same events, but are told in different points of view. There are even some of the same lines in both books.
I first considered DNFing somewhere around 20%. It was so slooow and boring and got confusing with extraneous stories about soccer buddies. It drove me crazy how Amy switched between calling Carpenter by both his last name and first name, Clay, sometimes in the same sentence.
By 80%, the pace had yet to pick up, the story didn't get more interesting, and the whining and insecurity became more pervasive. I was skimming everything, even the sex which felt inorganic to me. The urge to bail was overpowering but I figured I could push through the last 20%.
The book ended on a positive note with Dane realizing Mason needed him, too (through a break up), and Skip and Richie needed him when he helped them with house projects. It was so important for Dane to feel useful.
Having people mattered. Having people made you a better person.
The best I can say is that the book portrays bipolar disorder and overeating admirably, and the book is inoffensive, just interminable. I still love Any Lane and will read her future books; this was just not for me, and I do not recommend it.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
December 3, 2019
This was a very hard book for me to read. It made me look at my own life and what I had to deal with with my ex. Only he refused to get help. And it’s like looking in a mirror as well as I struggle with what Clay does. Being constantly nitpicked about your weight. It was hard and I’m not going to lie, I cried like a baby during the whole thing. It’s hard to see the bad parts of your life in a book and wish there was hope at the end like there is here. But that’s the good thing about this book and about others out there. There are happier endings. Life is never perfect. Especially when dealing with mental illnesses or people that constantly mentally berate you. But you have to learn to live for you. And that was one good message in this book. Well, several actually. Support teams and family are who you make it. And if you can’t be healthy for you, and are trying to be for someone else, it will never work.
With Clay dealing with his food addictions due to some of his back history, and Dane dealing with severe bipolar disorder, when the two met, the sparks were there on both sides, but both had lots of baggage and things they had to overcome in order to move things to the next level. Plus Clay had to finally accept that he really was a bisexual person and not be ashamed or hide that part of himself. These two struggled in this book, through lots of ups and downs with food, and meds that weren’t working or stress overloads that caused Dane to forget to take them. It was hell on their friendship mental wise. Because both were putting themselves in very vulnerable positions with each other. But the support system was there. They weren’t giving up on each other, even if they stayed friends forever. It was hard as hell. But with both wanting more, they both knew they had to get in the right mindset to be able to do so. But could they do that and it last?
Even thinking about this book, writing this, I still am crying. It’s a hard story and Amy, as usual, pulls no punches. She doesn’t hold anything back and I’m glad to see it. Bipolar and food addictions, mental disorders and the such are no joke. They rip people’s lives apart and when they have no support system, it’s worse. Even with a support system, it can be bad, because some people just can’t deal with it. The constant ups and downs. But what I loved with Clay and Dane is even during the shittiest parts of what they were dealing with, they gave each other hope for each other. They bonded and even if it just meant talking each other down they were there in a heartbeat for each other. And that made things so much harder and easier. It’s a heavy burden to take on sometimes, but when you truly care for someone, you care and love all the parts of them. And I loved Clay for standing up and saying that to several people. You don’t get to pick and choose the bad and good parts. You love someone wholly or not at all. And Clay was in all the way. Even Dane in his way. He just had to get a little clearer headed to see it.
You will definitely need tissues with this book. But again, Amy does not disappoint. She pulls no punches and tells it like it is and I love her more for it. Thank you Amy, for another masterpiece.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
With Clay dealing with his food addictions due to some of his back history, and Dane dealing with severe bipolar disorder, when the two met, the sparks were there on both sides, but both had lots of baggage and things they had to overcome in order to move things to the next level. Plus Clay had to finally accept that he really was a bisexual person and not be ashamed or hide that part of himself. These two struggled in this book, through lots of ups and downs with food, and meds that weren’t working or stress overloads that caused Dane to forget to take them. It was hell on their friendship mental wise. Because both were putting themselves in very vulnerable positions with each other. But the support system was there. They weren’t giving up on each other, even if they stayed friends forever. It was hard as hell. But with both wanting more, they both knew they had to get in the right mindset to be able to do so. But could they do that and it last?
Even thinking about this book, writing this, I still am crying. It’s a hard story and Amy, as usual, pulls no punches. She doesn’t hold anything back and I’m glad to see it. Bipolar and food addictions, mental disorders and the such are no joke. They rip people’s lives apart and when they have no support system, it’s worse. Even with a support system, it can be bad, because some people just can’t deal with it. The constant ups and downs. But what I loved with Clay and Dane is even during the shittiest parts of what they were dealing with, they gave each other hope for each other. They bonded and even if it just meant talking each other down they were there in a heartbeat for each other. And that made things so much harder and easier. It’s a heavy burden to take on sometimes, but when you truly care for someone, you care and love all the parts of them. And I loved Clay for standing up and saying that to several people. You don’t get to pick and choose the bad and good parts. You love someone wholly or not at all. And Clay was in all the way. Even Dane in his way. He just had to get a little clearer headed to see it.
You will definitely need tissues with this book. But again, Amy does not disappoint. She pulls no punches and tells it like it is and I love her more for it. Thank you Amy, for another masterpiece.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
December 28, 2019
I never dreamed that Amy Lane would write Dane and Clay’s story. I hoped. Oh yes. But I didn’t believe she would mainly because their story coincided, on a timeline anyway, with Mason and Terry’s in ‘Summer Lessons’. There is more than one reason why I’m so happy and grateful that she did write their story. Dane isn’t the first of Ms. Lane’s characters to struggle with mental health issues, but he is the first that I truly grasped the full extent of his battle.
“Dane was the friend and companion Carpenter had always dreamed about… And Dane was fragile. Carpenter had to make sure Dane didn’t death spiral in his own head. But he had to do that while he made sure he didn’t eat a dozen donuts a day because he was stressing about Dane’s internal death spiral, and dammit, he wasn’t strong enough to do this and he really wanted some fucking donuts!” ~ Clay
Clay Carpenter has been around since the first book, ‘Winter Ball’, as he works in the IT department with Skipper and he, somehow against his will, ended up playing on their rec league soccer team. Or as he always refers to it, the church of holy soccer. Clay wasn’t exactly thrilled in the beginning, but anything he can do to try and exercise while watching what he eats can only be a good thing. Because while Dane fights his body chemistry, Clay has his own war he deals with: the one against using food as a way to feel better about himself and eating all of his negative emotions. I wanted to hate his parents and his sister but I just couldn’t. They’re not horrible people. They didn’t abuse him. They just didn’t listen… but he never really spoke up. Clay views his family as perfect and himself as far less than. A viewpoint I could intimately relate to.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
“Dane was the friend and companion Carpenter had always dreamed about… And Dane was fragile. Carpenter had to make sure Dane didn’t death spiral in his own head. But he had to do that while he made sure he didn’t eat a dozen donuts a day because he was stressing about Dane’s internal death spiral, and dammit, he wasn’t strong enough to do this and he really wanted some fucking donuts!” ~ Clay
Clay Carpenter has been around since the first book, ‘Winter Ball’, as he works in the IT department with Skipper and he, somehow against his will, ended up playing on their rec league soccer team. Or as he always refers to it, the church of holy soccer. Clay wasn’t exactly thrilled in the beginning, but anything he can do to try and exercise while watching what he eats can only be a good thing. Because while Dane fights his body chemistry, Clay has his own war he deals with: the one against using food as a way to feel better about himself and eating all of his negative emotions. I wanted to hate his parents and his sister but I just couldn’t. They’re not horrible people. They didn’t abuse him. They just didn’t listen… but he never really spoke up. Clay views his family as perfect and himself as far less than. A viewpoint I could intimately relate to.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
December 5, 2019
3.5
I like this book I just did not love it. I think I expected more from Dane and Clay. They were cute and all, but they did not wow me. I liked seeing them both grow and share their insecurities and try to help each other. Clay broke my heart when seeing his toxic relationship with food, which stemmed from his childhoods. I loved seeing him gore as Danes genuine Desiree and love for him became clear. Seeing Dane battle his bipolar and anxiety was tough but well worth it. I enjoyed this story, however Mason and Jefferson are still my favourites, and their book is still the best in my opinion.
I like this book I just did not love it. I think I expected more from Dane and Clay. They were cute and all, but they did not wow me. I liked seeing them both grow and share their insecurities and try to help each other. Clay broke my heart when seeing his toxic relationship with food, which stemmed from his childhoods. I loved seeing him gore as Danes genuine Desiree and love for him became clear. Seeing Dane battle his bipolar and anxiety was tough but well worth it. I enjoyed this story, however Mason and Jefferson are still my favourites, and their book is still the best in my opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2019
4.5 stars...
Talk about angst...on top of angst!
I think I read in Amy’s blurb, or somewhere, “everyone deserves to be loved” and OMG, never a truer statement has been made! These characters make you love them, want to strangle them and even shed tears for them..
Such an emotional roller coaster of emotions!
Recommended!
Talk about angst...on top of angst!
I think I read in Amy’s blurb, or somewhere, “everyone deserves to be loved” and OMG, never a truer statement has been made! These characters make you love them, want to strangle them and even shed tears for them..
Such an emotional roller coaster of emotions!
Recommended!
July 5, 2021
I swear to God, I wasn’t going to read this book. The first in the series got five stars from me. Great, holiday stuff. The second told the story of two side characters that didn’t interest me very much at all on their own, and this book takes the story of two side characters, one layer further removed, who had enough angst between them to fill a soccer field. Reviews warned me this was the direction it was going, I wasn’t down for it, barely got through the last one, so of course, I bought the damn thing and kept my head down.
Honestly, there was nothing that offended me here. This is the case where I read a book I didn’t want to read and wasn’t excited by it. I usually read books in three or four days and it’s been almost a month and it was a true slog just to finish. I can’t give it a higher rating, but I do want to acknowledge these circumstances in case readers of this review find it unfair.
I was honestly fine with Skipper and Richie’s storyline. I felt like there was some good stuff in the following two books, this one included, but the real story had already been told.
Honestly, there was nothing that offended me here. This is the case where I read a book I didn’t want to read and wasn’t excited by it. I usually read books in three or four days and it’s been almost a month and it was a true slog just to finish. I can’t give it a higher rating, but I do want to acknowledge these circumstances in case readers of this review find it unfair.
I was honestly fine with Skipper and Richie’s storyline. I felt like there was some good stuff in the following two books, this one included, but the real story had already been told.
February 15, 2021
My Recommendation: What a great end to the trilogy! With two protagonists facing their own challenges, this book could've gone so differently and I wasn't really looking forward to going into it, but I was pleasantly surprised at the story and the relationship. Lane has left plenty of characters to come back to (see the very last quote under more quotes), but she doesn't have to if she doesn't want to because this feels like a nice ending point of the series. Lane's definitely toward the top of my Tier 2 writers and I'll definitely read more of her work in the future.
My Response: And this just goes to show what happens when you have to eat your words. At the end of my review for Summer Lessons , I said I wasn't sure Dane and Clay needed their own story and Lane proved me wrong for the most part.
I still wonder how all of this happened when Mason and Terry were getting together, but I guess Dane did disappear for large swaths of the books. The one scene that really gets me though was when Skip called Clay out during a heart-to-heart when they were eating lunch with Mason. Clearly things were a lot further along at that point than it appeared in book two!
Continue reading on my book blog at geoffwhaley.com.
My Response: And this just goes to show what happens when you have to eat your words. At the end of my review for Summer Lessons , I said I wasn't sure Dane and Clay needed their own story and Lane proved me wrong for the most part.
I still wonder how all of this happened when Mason and Terry were getting together, but I guess Dane did disappear for large swaths of the books. The one scene that really gets me though was when Skip called Clay out during a heart-to-heart when they were eating lunch with Mason. Clearly things were a lot further along at that point than it appeared in book two!
Continue reading on my book blog at geoffwhaley.com.
May 20, 2021
It was refreshing to read a story where the main characters aren't perfect, chiseled, Adonises. These seemed like pretty average guys - guys with pretty serious hangups and mental health issues - but pretty average, nonetheless. All of the characters - main and supporting - were endearing in their own ways. I laughed out loud several times, as the author has a frank, in-your-face writing style. You really do hope for the best for the two MCs, Clay and Dane. Their interactions felt realistic. The bond that formed between them felt authentic and believable. I was actually hoping for more chapters in the book to solidify and ensure their HEA in my mind! Great story!
March 16, 2021
Apparently I was really looking for to the story of these two. Sadly I didn't remember that because I read the other two so long ago. Things did come back to me but not to the extent I probably needed them to. That said, this one did seem heavier than the other two. Loved Dane and Clay's friendship and once the romance (sex) got started, it was really great but by the end these two weren't anywhere near an HEA. More of a HFN with a whole lot of potential. More of a 3.5 star read for me.
December 26, 2022
Dane Hayes and Clay Carpenter find a spark of attraction but Clay’s never dated a man, and Dane needs some help staying balanced.
Amy Lane’s Fall Through Spring is a lovely bi-awakening story with characters who deal with mental health struggles and is a portrayal that shows the tough stuff as well as provides hope for handling the bad and good days. It’s a lifelong journey for Clay and Dane, and for us readers too.
Amy Lane’s Fall Through Spring is a lovely bi-awakening story with characters who deal with mental health struggles and is a portrayal that shows the tough stuff as well as provides hope for handling the bad and good days. It’s a lifelong journey for Clay and Dane, and for us readers too.
November 30, 2023
REALLY wonderful! I hadn't realized how much I wanted to see the other two books from Dane and Clay's POVs, but this was the perfect wrap for the team. Both these guys are complex and worthy of someone being head over heels for them. Dane is so freaking good with Clay's family, since obviously none of them see him clearly. Clay is the best support Dane could ever have, even including Mason doing his best to take care of his brother. Big happy sigh.
May 17, 2024
Not sure if there was a new editor for this book, but the writing was significantly better than the previous two. The story itself was good, a bit slow, but that may have been because a lot of the peripheral details had already been revealed in previous books. Regardless, I really enjoyed the story and was happy to see everything wrap up for these characters
August 25, 2020
Awww
I loved this series so much. I felt it all. My chest was tight during most of the second and third book. But oh how wonderful they all turned out. Everyone deserves a happy ending, and I’m glad the guys all found theirs.
I loved this series so much. I felt it all. My chest was tight during most of the second and third book. But oh how wonderful they all turned out. Everyone deserves a happy ending, and I’m glad the guys all found theirs.
December 8, 2021
I’m new to M/M romance genre. This touched my heart bc there was no homophobia and love wins in the end, thank goodness. An open portrayal of the human experience: we’re in this together, we all have issues, we work through them, love wins. What could be better than that? Thank you Amy Lane.
December 12, 2024
Another wonderful book by Amy Lane
Fall Through Spring is another wonderful book by Amy Lane. Its a great sequel to Winter Ball. I can't express how much I relate to the character of Clay. How much his struggle with food and weight resonates with my soul. Buy this book.
Fall Through Spring is another wonderful book by Amy Lane. Its a great sequel to Winter Ball. I can't express how much I relate to the character of Clay. How much his struggle with food and weight resonates with my soul. Buy this book.
December 26, 2020
Am I glad I read the third book in the series? Yes. Was it absolutely necessary? Probably not.
January 22, 2021
Fall through Spring was not a necessary sequel from a plot perspective (you get the plot in Summer Lessons), but I’m sure glad it exists.
I LOVE Dane, and it was nice to get a better handle on Carpenter. I’m also thrilled at the existence of an M/M romance with a bipolar character and a bisexual man— so much good representation without the feeling of tokenism.
I LOVE Dane, and it was nice to get a better handle on Carpenter. I’m also thrilled at the existence of an M/M romance with a bipolar character and a bisexual man— so much good representation without the feeling of tokenism.
March 25, 2021
Sweet
I enjoyed this book, and the building of the characters from the previous 2 books in this series. It gave a background & fullness to the stories.
I enjoyed this book, and the building of the characters from the previous 2 books in this series. It gave a background & fullness to the stories.
May 25, 2021
4+ Stars
June 21, 2025
4.5 stars
December 9, 2019
4.5 stars! This review and lots of other cool stuff can be found at The Blogger Girls
Note: While technically the third book in the series, the book can be read as a standalone. This story takes place in parallel to a good part of Book 2, so there are a few spoilers for both Books 1 and 2.
Clay and Dane meet during a golf game where Skip, Clay’s best friend and Mason, the VP at Tesko where Clay and Skip work, first meet each other in person. The golf game doesn’t go so great for anyone but Skip (who has never played before), but the guys all get acquainted and this sets off a chain of events that lead to closer friendships between Mason and Clay and Skip. Dane is in graduate school, but he’s dealing with bi-polar and trying to keep the stress level down and the brain-chemistry even. He’s not always successful. He feels guilty about living with his brother – who has always been his hero and best friend.
Clay has his own issues – working a job that is pretty far below his education level, battling his weight, paying off his student loans, and basically keeping a low profile with his high achieving family who appear to be disappointed in who he is and what he does. When Clay and Dane start gaming together and then doing other things together, things get a little intense. Dane hasn’t had a real relationship since he was diagnosed – so for about 6 years. Clay has had girlfriends in the past, but he’s never found the person that would just want him for himself. His family’s support and love have been conditional to him and we learn how far back this pattern started and what it’s done to his psyche.
When Dane starts to miss his meds and then he’s pretty sure they aren’t working anyway, there is a meltdown. And Clay wants to be there for him, but it’s tough. It’s a good few weeks of Clay basically putting everything aside to tag team with Mason to get Dane back to a place where he can get on a meds regimen that will allow him to function. He’s got homework and classes to make up and a lot to work through. This part of the book is hard. For anyone who has dealt with or is dealing with or is supporting anyone going through this very difficult journey, I think this will resonate. It certainly did with me. Dealing with mental illness and bipolar meds balancing is not for the faint of heart. Clay and Mason do everything they can to support Dane.
At the end of the day, all of the guys on the Soccer Team do what they can to support each other. Whether it’s supporting Mason and Jefferson or Skip and Richie or Dane and Clay, these guys really do have each other’s backs. The power of friendship and the true support and doing what’s needed in the moment is clearly part of the DNA of this group. I loved seeing all these guys get some much-needed love in this story.
I absolutely loved Clay. This guy is just such a sweetheart. He really just wants to be loved for himself. He wants a job where he doesn’t hate himself at the end of the day. He would like his family to truly see him – not the potential he has, not the education he has but him. The person he is and the person he likes. He’s spent so long feeling bad about himself for not living up to what everyone else wants, regardless of his desires, that he spends most of the time avoiding them. He creates his own family with Skip and Mason and Richie and Dane. This is really a story of found family.
Dane has a lot on his plate. While he has a loving family and a brother who would do anything for him, he doesn’t always have control of his brain. He hates that but he knows he has to do something about it. The roller coaster ride that everyone involved goes on with him as he tried to get a handle on his meds is a little bit heartbreaking. I loved how Clay and Mason just did what needed to be done.
Once again, the supporting characters in this series were outstanding. I loved getting to see Mason’s assistant, Mrs. Bradford, again – a heroine in the previous book 😊 She’s still the best. Dane and Clay’s families, who are integral to the story, also are well drawn and realistic and certainly not perfect. I also really appreciated the way Amy Lane didn’t pull punches on the difficulty of supporting someone going through this type of cycle with bi-polar. And she is right – everyone deserves to be loved and to find that happy ending. As someone who has a family member who has been on this journey for 8 years now and seems to be holding his own at this point, I certainly appreciated that in this book.
Highly recommended.
Note: While technically the third book in the series, the book can be read as a standalone. This story takes place in parallel to a good part of Book 2, so there are a few spoilers for both Books 1 and 2.
Clay and Dane meet during a golf game where Skip, Clay’s best friend and Mason, the VP at Tesko where Clay and Skip work, first meet each other in person. The golf game doesn’t go so great for anyone but Skip (who has never played before), but the guys all get acquainted and this sets off a chain of events that lead to closer friendships between Mason and Clay and Skip. Dane is in graduate school, but he’s dealing with bi-polar and trying to keep the stress level down and the brain-chemistry even. He’s not always successful. He feels guilty about living with his brother – who has always been his hero and best friend.
Clay has his own issues – working a job that is pretty far below his education level, battling his weight, paying off his student loans, and basically keeping a low profile with his high achieving family who appear to be disappointed in who he is and what he does. When Clay and Dane start gaming together and then doing other things together, things get a little intense. Dane hasn’t had a real relationship since he was diagnosed – so for about 6 years. Clay has had girlfriends in the past, but he’s never found the person that would just want him for himself. His family’s support and love have been conditional to him and we learn how far back this pattern started and what it’s done to his psyche.
When Dane starts to miss his meds and then he’s pretty sure they aren’t working anyway, there is a meltdown. And Clay wants to be there for him, but it’s tough. It’s a good few weeks of Clay basically putting everything aside to tag team with Mason to get Dane back to a place where he can get on a meds regimen that will allow him to function. He’s got homework and classes to make up and a lot to work through. This part of the book is hard. For anyone who has dealt with or is dealing with or is supporting anyone going through this very difficult journey, I think this will resonate. It certainly did with me. Dealing with mental illness and bipolar meds balancing is not for the faint of heart. Clay and Mason do everything they can to support Dane.
At the end of the day, all of the guys on the Soccer Team do what they can to support each other. Whether it’s supporting Mason and Jefferson or Skip and Richie or Dane and Clay, these guys really do have each other’s backs. The power of friendship and the true support and doing what’s needed in the moment is clearly part of the DNA of this group. I loved seeing all these guys get some much-needed love in this story.
I absolutely loved Clay. This guy is just such a sweetheart. He really just wants to be loved for himself. He wants a job where he doesn’t hate himself at the end of the day. He would like his family to truly see him – not the potential he has, not the education he has but him. The person he is and the person he likes. He’s spent so long feeling bad about himself for not living up to what everyone else wants, regardless of his desires, that he spends most of the time avoiding them. He creates his own family with Skip and Mason and Richie and Dane. This is really a story of found family.
Dane has a lot on his plate. While he has a loving family and a brother who would do anything for him, he doesn’t always have control of his brain. He hates that but he knows he has to do something about it. The roller coaster ride that everyone involved goes on with him as he tried to get a handle on his meds is a little bit heartbreaking. I loved how Clay and Mason just did what needed to be done.
Once again, the supporting characters in this series were outstanding. I loved getting to see Mason’s assistant, Mrs. Bradford, again – a heroine in the previous book 😊 She’s still the best. Dane and Clay’s families, who are integral to the story, also are well drawn and realistic and certainly not perfect. I also really appreciated the way Amy Lane didn’t pull punches on the difficulty of supporting someone going through this type of cycle with bi-polar. And she is right – everyone deserves to be loved and to find that happy ending. As someone who has a family member who has been on this journey for 8 years now and seems to be holding his own at this point, I certainly appreciated that in this book.
Highly recommended.
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