When It Falls Apart

The D'Angelos, Book 1

By: Catherine Bybee

Narrated by: Devon Sorvari

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes a bittersweet romance about the power of love in the face of heartbreak and loss.

Brooke Turner has always had a complicated relationship with her father. But when his health takes a turn for the worse, she drops everything to care for him. He’s her dad, after all, and he needs her. What Brooke doesn’t anticipate is the unraveling of her long-term relationship and a cross-country move to San Diego’s Little Italy.

Luca D’Angelo is the oldest of three children and a single father to a young daughter. When his mother rents the top floor of their house to Brooke, he’s angry. Who is this beautiful stranger with no ties to the neighborhood? Can she be trusted in such close proximity to his family?

As Luca learns of Brooke’s difficult journey with her ailing father, his heart softens. And Brooke, who witnesses Luca’s struggle as a single parent, develops feelings for him, too. But when it all falls apart, will love heal their wounded hearts?

©2022 Catherine Bybee (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Sovari's command of the Italian language and expert vocal intonations transport the listener into the midst of a loving family of restaurateurs, providing an enjoyable listen.”—Booklist

“With the type of hero every woman deserves in her corner and a heroine you’ll want to befriend for life, When It Falls Apart is a must-read. I have a feeling that whether this is your first Catherine Bybee book or if you’re a diehard fan, you’ll find yourself completely smitten with The D’Angelos.”—Harlequin Junkie

“This book is as much women’s fiction as it is romance…It is superbly portrayed and achingly real.”—TJ Mackay, Publisher & Editor-in-chief at Ind’tale Magazine

Another Awesome Book

I have read most of Catherine's series books. I really like that she writes connected books so you get the story of each character. This first book in the D'Angelo series is great. Can't wait for Chloe and Gio's search for love. Only downside is time between books. I want read the next one right away.

Great story

What a wonderful start to the D’Angelo series by author Catherine Bybee! I loved Luca and Brooke together and really enjoyed how their relationship developed throughout this book. Both of them had their own personal issues to deal with and I liked that they had support from each other and the D’Angelo family. I also adored Luca’s young daughter, Franny and his interactions with her melted my heart. I enjoyed the close knit family vibes in this book as you’d expect with an Italian family. Devon Sorvari did a wonderful job narrating this audiobook and brought so much realism as Brooke and all the different emotions she was feeling. I also loved her portrayal of Franny who was just too cute. This was a great audiobook that I devoured in one sitting.

Bybee writes another good one!

Another very HEA from Bybee! And a great Sunday easy read. I love the Italian family support.

wonderfully romantic

Absolutely beautiful and heartwarming. I simply love single parent romances. But add in a loyal, honest and faithful hero and I'm totally in love.

Even though it’s falling apart she keeps going.

Nice story telling. I liked the characters and the setting. Mama is the best and smartest.

Loved it

I love Catherine Bybee's books. I have listened to almost all of them. I am always hooked from the very beginning all the way to the end.

Loved the narration

Great narration handling various Italian accents, males, a stroke patient and a child. Really brought the story to life. Likable characters except for the ex-wife! Only “closed door” love scenes. No cheating, and a cute HEA. Brooke moves to San Diego to be near her father after she has breaks up with her unsupportive bf to put her dad in assisted living and sell his home. While searching ads for housing, the owner of the Italian restaurant where she’s eating offers her a cute studio above the cafe - where the owner’s son and his cute 7 yo daughter also live. The whole family welcomes her and she is very attracted to the single dad. Enjoyed this story a lot and a chance at happiness for Brooke, Luca, and sweet Franny.

When It Falls Apart

Took me a bit to pull this one up as I have had it since release day but once I started it I could not put it down! It is that way with every book I start by this author. I think I have read everything she has published and will forever! This one hits close to home as I took care of my dad for a while until he passed. Brooke has to make some decisions when she gets the call that her dad is in the hospital and needs surgery. He suffered a stroke in the not to distant past and he has been on his own but now with this surgery her live-in boyfriend really shows his colors and it not supportive. When she packs for the trip, she packs for an extended stay and it is a good thing because once she is there she finds she is not going to be able to leave her dad alone. Life choices lead to a move from Seattle to San Diego and there she her friend from Seattle are having a meal at a wonderful Italian restaurant when a girl runs by and Brooke catches her. This meeting leads to their meal being comped by the chef and when she returns a couple weeks later meeting the matriarch of the family and being rented the upper floor. Luca is the father of the young girl who Brooke met that fateful day and the chef she also met. Their meeting seemed to be destined and when they meet again, yes there is so much chemistry but also so much more. These two seem to fulfill something that is missing in both of their lives. This story was perfection from the beginning and I cannot wait for more in this series and getting to know more of this family.

This felt like my life

This story was very interesting to me cause a lot of it hit home with the parent. If you've never had to take care of a parent you wouldn't understand but if you have but if you have there can be a lot of struggles. And this definitely was right on the money. But the story has a lot more than that and has about not only parent daughter relationships but it has Romance, Dealing with your Significant others Exes, So there is a little drama in it. All in all the story was a wonderful lesson and narrator of course was outstanding. Did a very good job of bringing it to life which is what I love about listening to books.

A great beginning of a great series

This story intertwined every day circumstances and a great connection a two people that were meant to be together. Great job on another great series Catherine Bybee.