Written by Sasha Zatz
I genuinely do not know where to start with reviewing this book. Break the Fall was an uplifting, powerful story of abuse, sisterhood, and solidarity, mixed with exhilarating sports that lifted the plot and a romance that made me smile. This book truly had no shortcomings, and I adored it with all my heart.
Audrey was a fierce, loving, and relatable protagonist whom I loved. Her story was one of resilience and claiming her own future as she was fighting injury to take part in the Olympics, but wouldn’t let that stop her. She was also fiercely stubborn in helping and supporting her friends, always ready to defend and love them against all odds. Audrey was flawed, but that was only natural as her ambition blinded her at times, leading her to push herself too far, but when it was crucial, she made the right decisions. I loved her so much, and the rest of her team as well. Audrey, Emma, Chelsea, and Dani totally own my hearts. Their strength and love really show throughout the book and it’s completely beautiful. The fierce female friendships in this book really lifted it up and made it wonderful.
While the gymnastics aspect confused me somewhat, but I loved it still! Honestly, it took me a while to figure out what each of the moves even meant, but I still found myself holding my breath in the gymnastics sequences, all tense and excited! This side of the story made it so exhilarating and really lifted the plot to make it exciting and compulsively readable. We’re given an inside look into the lives of these women who push their bodies to the limits in a beautiful way, and it was amazing.
The romance was also integral to the plot and it was a super cute and natural romance that didn’t play a massive part in the overall story, but was important for Audrey’s character arc and gave the story some fluffy and cute parts that made it even better. Plus, Leo was totally swoonworthy.
Both the gymnastics and romance parts of the story were ever so slightly predictable, but in an enjoyable way. Break the Fall was well structured which made it easy to read and follow. The plot just flowed so well that I was swept up in it, and there were certainly plot twists that took my breath away, though not always in a good way. I was completely captured by this book and sped through it!
Jennifer’s writing makes the story powerful, unputdownable and stunning. It’s emotive, simplistic, and always powerful. Of course, my favourite part of Break the Fall was the incorporation of feminism and overall messages. It is a powerful exploration of sexual abuse and how important it is to believe and trust the victims, to stand up for them. It’s about how this abuse can tear apart friendships and communities but also bring them together, and how it’s always more than it seems. The author discusses trauma and its effect in a powerful and hard-hitting way. I was absolutely blown away by how raw and real this book is, and it had me full on sobbing from sadness and happiness at the sometime. Break the Fall is so centrally about believing and supporting survivors. It’s about rebuilding relationships and trust and love in the aftermath of abuse. It tackles all this from an angle that is refreshing and beautiful with Audrey’s firm belief, unending support, and fierce love of the survivors.
Break the Fall was poignant, raw, and fiercely important, and I hope everyone will pick it up.
Break The Fall is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
“This book makes you understand exactly what it is like to compete as a woman at the highest level in sport, and it is exhilarating and satisfying indeed.” –Holly Sorensen, Television Creator/Showrunner, Make it or Break It, Step Up
Audrey Lee is going to the Olympics.
A year ago, she could barely do a push up as she recovered from a spine surgery, one that could have paralyzed her. And now? She’s made the United States’ gymnastics team with her best friend, Emma, just like they both dreamed about since they were kids. She’s on top of the world.
The pressure for perfection is higher than ever when horrifying news rips the team apart. Audrey is desperate to advocate for her teammate who has been hurt by the one person they trusted most–but not all the gymnasts are as supportive.
With the team on the verge of collapse, the one bright spot in training is Leo, her new coach’s ridiculously cute son. And while Audrey probably (okay, definitely) shouldn’t date him until after the games, would it really be the end of the world?
Balancing the tenuous relationship between her teammates with unparalleled expectations, Audrey doesn’t need any more distractions. No matter what it takes, she’s not going to let anyone bring them down. But with painful revelations, incredible odds, and the very real possibility of falling at every turn, will Audrey’s determination be enough?
