After She Falls Review

 

 About the Book

 Strong-willed Adri Rivera always dreamed of becoming a professional mixed martial artist, but then she fell in love with a man who smashed everything to pieces. When their tumultuous relationship finally comes to a head, Adri flees with their young daughter to her small hometown in the mountains of Pennsylvania. There, she must face the people she left behind and put her broken life back together as a single mother.

Adri struggles to regain her independence after so many years under the oppressive influence of her ex, but a job opportunity at a local gym gives her hope that she'll be able to stand on her own two feet. The one problem? The man who offers it to her is the handsome but hardened Max Lyons--her former best friend and training partner, whom she left heartbroken years before.

As Adri dares to pursue her dream again, training for a big tournament, can she confront her weakness and avoid the past defining her future? (Goodreads)

 

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 My Thoughts

I started this book with a complete open mind. This is not a book I would typically pick up and read but I really like to read debut authors. I had no idea what to expect and this story really goes deep in a lot of ways. I was a bit surprised at how much honesty and candid dialog this author chose to write in her first novel. I applaud her because she didn't avoid the hard topics. Right from the first few pages you realize this isn't a typical Christian fiction read and I found myself wrapped up in this story until the end. Some of the fighting scenes I wasn't as into because it is really difficult for me to visualize since I am clueless about such things. But the many characters and the incredible growth they all have is really well done. I love seeing broken characters grow from their pain and this novel has that. I struggled a bit with Max and I still am not sure how I feel about him or his side of the story. All that to say I really did enjoy this book. There were a few things I thought perhaps could have been left out or added to but I also realize only so much can be written within the limited pages of a book. I did think that the physical attraction between the two leads was overdone a bit and romantically speaking could have been written a tad differently.

All that to say, I am eager to read what Carmen Schober writes next and if you are wanting a story with some depth this is the book for you.

Three and a half stars! 

"I received this book from Bethany House publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."