Falling

North University, Book 1

De: Janisha Boswell

Narrado por: Dexter Thornton, Leanne Woodward

WREN HACKERLY refuses to quit. Figure skating has always been her life, but when her ex humiliates her on the ice and her career is on the line, she needs a comeback. With her college team's morale and donations plummeting, she has to find a way to keep people interested.

MILES DAVIS is North University's golden boy, famed for his hockey skills and movie-star looks. After a team tragedy, he's the only one still struggling to bounce back, making it hard to even think about hockey when it used to be the only thing on his mind.

After an eventful meet-cute and a bet-turned-date, Wren and Miles form the perfect partnership. His popularity could revive her star status and team support, while her workouts might get him back on the ice. But their fake dating pact reveals more than they expected. Miles's kind side starts to thaw Wren's frozen heart, and she finds herself falling for him more each day.

When the line between what's real and what's fake begins to blur, will either of them admit to feelings that aren't just pretend?

Contains mature themes.

©2024 Janisha Boswell (P)2025 Tantor Media

Fell flat

2.5⭐/2.5🌶️

I've been super excited for this book since it came out. I fell in love with the cover art, and all the content i saw on IG and was totally influenced. When the book came out, i bought it instantly but life got in the way and i held off till now - and got the audiobook! :)

However i was pretty disappointed by the book, and also the execution of the audiobook sadly.

The characters feel very much like walking tropes in a not good way. A lot of the things that happen feel as if they happen.... to check them off on a list? There's a "fuck it" kiss moment, but its literally so out of no where it feels like the author wanted to add the moment and just put it in the first place she could, instead of a place where it made sense. The trope details just feel very forced.

The fmc is meant to be a black cat, and she is, but she's also the most confusing almost bi-polar girl ever. I will say the mmc is the golden retriever i thought he would end up being. Though for some reason a lot of the things online make him seem like he's going to be some daddy dom in the bedroom scenes and he just is not. Also??? These two are 19, and it felt like they were meant to be 21 or older.

As for Wrens friends, they also seemed a little annoying and their personalities just felt all over the place like they REALLY want to set the stage for future books and have the girls fit into tight little boxes so the books can be whatever trope is planned. It was just odd to me.

Most of the stars I'm giving it are from Miles being such a cutie patootie. I love a good golden retriever boy. Even if he wasn't the best I've ever read, he was still very precious and a good fake boyfriend to Wren, despite his personal issues.

I wanted to love this very much, but between the male narrator voice, in my opinion, being a terrible casting decision, and under/overdeveloped content, this just fell flat to me :(