Resisting the Fall by Jess Heileman: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

Their divorce never finalized. Neither did their feelings.

The discovery that I was still legally married — years after I thought my divorce was final — was supposed to be the worst thing to happen to me this fall.

It wasn’t.

Because apparently the state of Vermont believes in closure. And no regrets. And court-ordered thirty-day reconciliation efforts. So now, in order to fast-track my divorce from Bennett Walker—my high school sweetheart and the man who walked out on our marriage six years ago—I’m being forced back to the small town we grew up in to spend an entire month proving our relationship isn’t worth saving.

A situation Ben annoyingly finds amusing.

Which is why I plan to make this the most memorable, insufferable, torturous thirty days of his life. As a prank-loving aficionado, I have countless ideas about how to drive Ben crazy while keeping myself focused on the goal: finalizing our divorce.

With my life in New York and a career I absolutely love, not even deeply embedded habits and old feelings can threaten my resolve.

I’m resolved.

So resolved.

Absolutely, definitely, one hundred percent resolved. And if I keep saying it, maybe this time around, I’ll be capable of resisting the fall.

*****

Perfect for fans of cozy autumn romance, delightful banter, and heart-melting second chances, Resisting the Fall is a swoony, closed-door romcom about first loves, unfinished endings, and the unexpected journey of getting lost on the way to where you thought you were meant to be.

The Author

Jess Heileman is quite content being an average human being. Besides her five darling children and swoon-worthy husband, she doesn’t tout much claim to glory—even her middle name is just plain old Ann with no “e.” After a ten-year stint as a portrait photographer where she put her BA in Political Science from Brigham Young University to good use, Jess now spends her time frolicking between this awe-inspiring world and the one in her head where enthralling stories come to life. Besides her love of storytelling and her deep obsession with her perfectly quirky little family, Jess is an avid reader, proud introvert, collector of awkward moments, shameless people watcher, international café loiterer, and perpetual student. For sparse updates on what she's up to, feel free to follow her on IG @authorjessheileman, though know that her presence there is left wanting.

Book Review

Oh my goodness, Ben and Maven... simply put, I adore them! From their very first childhood meet cute to the reconnection upon realizing they were still married, these two had me absolutely hooked. The banter, the pranks, the court-ordered forced proximity... I couldn't get enough. I loved how these two drove each other crazy... in all the ways possible. Their marriage may have been over years before (even if not legally), but their feelings certainly were not. Second chance romances are some of my favorites, and this one was done so perfectly. We are given a look at their past as they meet as children and through their teenage years when they fall in love and early adulthood at the start of their marriage, all through his POV. In the present, we get her POV and are left to wonder how they got to this point... and how they were going to work it all out. It was truly such a great way to tell their story. If you love a second chance romance that will have you laughing out loud and will deliver all the small-town autumn vibes, this is one you absolutely won't want to miss. 

Resisting the Fall is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is the third book in the Falling for Autumn series. This is a multi-author series and while they are interconnected, I had not personally read the previous two books in the series and found I was able to enjoy it just fine as a standalone. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4bKUhJa