And They Had a Great Fall by Shelby Saville

Okay, look. I primarily read horror and thrillers. I like a weird puzzle to solve. Sometimes, however, I need a straightforward love story. "And They Had a Great Fall" from Shelby Saville is the latest to fill that need.

Kat is a single mother and widow. She's on the C-Suite track at her tech company job, often working 14, 15 hour days. Three years prior, her husband, Ben, died from cancer, and Kat wants to make sure that their daughter has the best life possible.

Jake is a movie star on the rise. He's young, he's handsome, he's famous. Jake is also the son of Kat's next-door neighbors. Despite the 8-year age difference, Kat and Jake connected during the pandemic and found they had the beginnings of a relationship.

Now, a year later, Jake calls Kat from Copenhagen in full meltdown mode. He doesn't know who he is or why he's having so much trouble with his current role. Kat is on the verge of the largest product launch of her career, which is leading to her much-desired promotion.

These are two people who are at turning points in life. Kat is working harder than ever, neglecting a work-life balance. Jake's rise to stardom is getting faster, and keeping his relationship with Kat a secret is starting to impinge on his fame. These two people are drawn to each other and are pulled apart by their self-interests.
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Let's address the elephant in the room. Is this similar to "The Idea of You"? Sure, if you want to give into the older woman, younger man thing. But here's the thing: the age difference in this story is much less aggressive (8 years vs. 19 years). This is also, somehow, more realistic. A young widow focused on her career and family is easier to connect with than a wealthy gallery owner.

Shelby Saville develops flawed characters who grow realistically throughout this novel. The setting of Copenhagen and New York adds to the plot, as both cities add their character to the story. Each person is layered; it isn't just a young party boy and a career-focused woman. It's a man struggling with fame, isolated from his family and friends. It's a woman who is still grieving and wants to provide the best life for her daughter, no matter what it takes.

Now....who is going to play Jake in the movie....

Thanks to NetGalley, Shelby Saville, and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.