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Learning to Fall
A YA debut about found family and queer awakening, set in the lively world of roller derby, perfect for fans of
Whip
It
and
Heartstopper.
Eighteen-year-old Casey feels stuck; while her friends are all going to university, she's taking a gap year at home to care for her disabled mother. Then she walks in on her boyfriend blatantly cheating on her. Surprisingly, though, she's not as heartbroken as she thinks she should be. And when a chance encounter with the young woman in question, the very pretty and confident Imogen, includes both an apology and a tentative extension of friendship, Casey realizes her life may be about to change.
Imogen convinces Casey to tag along to a roller derby bout, and there Casey finds herself surrounded by fearless women and nonbinary teammates who aren't afraid to speak their minds —and body slam each other. Her friends and family aren't so sure about all the injuries, but she doesn't care; there's something magic about this game and this team. Plus, she soon finds herself nursing a serious crush on her magnetic new friend. Can Casey become a brand-new, stronger, more confident version of herself? And will dating a teammate lead to a winning season, or total heartbreak?
Eighteen-year-old Casey feels stuck; while her friends are all going to university, she's taking a gap year at home to care for her disabled mother. Then she walks in on her boyfriend blatantly cheating on her. Surprisingly, though, she's not as heartbroken as she thinks she should be. And when a chance encounter with the young woman in question, the very pretty and confident Imogen, includes both an apology and a tentative extension of friendship, Casey realizes her life may be about to change.
Imogen convinces Casey to tag along to a roller derby bout, and there Casey finds herself surrounded by fearless women and nonbinary teammates who aren't afraid to speak their minds —and body slam each other. Her friends and family aren't so sure about all the injuries, but she doesn't care; there's something magic about this game and this team. Plus, she soon finds herself nursing a serious crush on her magnetic new friend. Can Casey become a brand-new, stronger, more confident version of herself? And will dating a teammate lead to a winning season, or total heartbreak?
340 pages, Paperback
Published May 13, 2025
7 people are currently reading
3041 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
May 9, 2025
When Casey catches her boyfriend in bed with someone else, her summer plans go up in smoke—but she almost immediately finds something much better. Before she knows it, she's training for a sport she didn't know existed, and taking spontaneous day trips, and expanding her social circle beyond what she could have imagined. But those things can't stop her anxiety at the thought of leaving her mother behind for uni in a year, and they can't tell her what to do about the feelings she's caught for a teammate.
I don't want to play roller derby (I like my osteopenic bones intact), but gosh it's fun to watch, and fun to read about. I knew from the first couple of scenes that this was going to be a good one: so many books that open with the POV character catching their partner in bed with someone else immediately spiral off into drama and bad decisions, and I loved seeing Casey be so...rational about it, I guess. Not happy, but rational. Seriously underrated, that.
Other things that are nice to see: how matter-of-fact Casey is about taking care of her mother. Chronic illness that's presented in a way that just is—not a good thing, and sometimes a source of worry, but not a source of drama. A romance that goes in unexpected directions. I don't want to say too much about the plot or the various sources of tension, because they're better unfolding as you go, but this is an excellent addition to the slowly growing library of roller derby books out there, and an excellent debut.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
I don't want to play roller derby (I like my osteopenic bones intact), but gosh it's fun to watch, and fun to read about. I knew from the first couple of scenes that this was going to be a good one: so many books that open with the POV character catching their partner in bed with someone else immediately spiral off into drama and bad decisions, and I loved seeing Casey be so...rational about it, I guess. Not happy, but rational. Seriously underrated, that.
Other things that are nice to see: how matter-of-fact Casey is about taking care of her mother. Chronic illness that's presented in a way that just is—not a good thing, and sometimes a source of worry, but not a source of drama. A romance that goes in unexpected directions. I don't want to say too much about the plot or the various sources of tension, because they're better unfolding as you go, but this is an excellent addition to the slowly growing library of roller derby books out there, and an excellent debut.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
August 13, 2025
Venom once told us that roller derby attracts all the weirdos, and I think that's only partly true - it attracts people who haven't felt like part of anything before and teaches them how to be a team.
Learning to Fall is a debut coming-of-age novel starring 18-year-old Casey who is caring for her mother during her gap year when she catches her boyfriend cheating on her. It wasn't serious between them, but the other girl he was entangled with, Imogen, feels guilty and strikes up a friendship with Casey, inviting her to be a part of her roller derby league.
So begin two love stories: Casey and Imogen, of course, but more importantly, Casey and the sport of roller derby. The former is a bit complicated and comes with an awakening on our main character's part. But the latter is where this book really shines because Casey loves roller derby. Like, really loves it. She's naturally athletic, so she excels at it, but more importantly, it gives her a kind of family - a community she's been sorely needing.
It's a nice story and there's some not-half-bad sports writing in here when the games (bouts?) are being described. I've been to a handful of bouts myself, so I got what the author was talking about, but it occurred to me that someone unfamiliar with roller derby might be wondering what the heck was going on. That, plus the fact that the passage of time was only ever loosely referred to - I had trouble realizing a whole YEAR had gone by - made it apparent that this was a debut. But it's a solid effort from a new writer who clearly loves derby themselves.
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April 28, 2025I enjoyed this book! I’m always a sucker for a coming-of-age story and I liked the way Casey grew throughout the story. I was expecting a romance, and while there is a love story, this is not a romance novel.
I also really enjoyed the roller derby scenes. I loved how inclusive and supportive her team was and I liked feeling immersed into this world and her team.
The story explores the topics of mental health (including panic attacks), chronic illness, and alcoholism.
Pub Date: May 13th, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for a copy of this eARC.
I also really enjoyed the roller derby scenes. I loved how inclusive and supportive her team was and I liked feeling immersed into this world and her team.
The story explores the topics of mental health (including panic attacks), chronic illness, and alcoholism.
Pub Date: May 13th, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for a copy of this eARC.
September 9, 2025
I really liked this! I loved that the main character was new to roller derby, so I as a reader got to learn everything about the sport along with her. I LOVED the representation of all kinds (LGBTQ spectrum, I’m pretty sure every letter was represented, along with anxiety in the MC and chronic fatigue in the MC’s mother). I was entertained the entire time and would highly recommend to anyone who thinks the premise looks or sounds interesting!
August 5, 2025
Funny, heartwarming and so very relatable. Mirrors so many of my own feelings about coming out, roller derby and how this ridiculous sport has made me feel about myself. Highly recommend.
March 5, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
An ode to found family, growing up and trying new things, this YA novel will appeal to queer folks who need a safe space to be themselves without shame.
With that said, I had a hard time believing the age of the main and side characters. Had it been a lower YA book, it would have made sense. But what was the point of making the MC nineteen years old and her closest friend twenty-three? The players are supposed to be adults but it didn’t feel like it at all. Besides, the writing style didn’t help because it was very poor, and made it feel even younger.
Once I grew accustomed to the writing style, I must say that the roller derby part of the story was very compelling. I love when authors create a montage of the MC growing stronger and more confident in their skills throughout the pages, and that’s exactly what we have here.
I also liked the anxiety representation, even though it becomes quite prominent at the end of the book (it is understandable but still a bit heavy after spending the majority of the book mentioning it in passing).
The sapphic romance is cute and messy, and I liked the resolution, because for a while I was scared that their issues wouldn’t be addressed.
Overall, it’s a fun and fast-paced read that tackled really well the queer-safe-space aspect of roller derby.
An ode to found family, growing up and trying new things, this YA novel will appeal to queer folks who need a safe space to be themselves without shame.
With that said, I had a hard time believing the age of the main and side characters. Had it been a lower YA book, it would have made sense. But what was the point of making the MC nineteen years old and her closest friend twenty-three? The players are supposed to be adults but it didn’t feel like it at all. Besides, the writing style didn’t help because it was very poor, and made it feel even younger.
Once I grew accustomed to the writing style, I must say that the roller derby part of the story was very compelling. I love when authors create a montage of the MC growing stronger and more confident in their skills throughout the pages, and that’s exactly what we have here.
I also liked the anxiety representation, even though it becomes quite prominent at the end of the book (it is understandable but still a bit heavy after spending the majority of the book mentioning it in passing).
The sapphic romance is cute and messy, and I liked the resolution, because for a while I was scared that their issues wouldn’t be addressed.
Overall, it’s a fun and fast-paced read that tackled really well the queer-safe-space aspect of roller derby.
August 16, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and 8th Note Press for providing me with an early copy of Learning to Fall!
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
When I found this book, I knew I was going to enjoy it by the premise alone. Roller derby is a sport I’m familiar with in terms of its ties to queer culture, but not a sport I have an intense knowledge of, unlike Peach Morris, who delivered a touching story of found family and finding yourself that I would have loved as a younger teenager. Learning to Fall is about so many things: love, acceptance, family, and how to get back up when you fall.
The unconventionality of love is what makes it feel stronger. Casey and Imogen’s relationship is messy from the start, which drives home the point that life is unexpected. I adored the way that they ended up getting together, despite how doomed they seemed from the start, as well as the conclusion to their story together. They fall together while still having separate storylines and conflicts of their own to work through, which was so refreshing to see for two queer girls.
For all its beautiful character work, I felt that the story moved way too fast. Moments felt rushed to complete a word count, which took away from my reading experience. It’s likely due to the fact that this is a debut novel, and debut authors are under much tighter schedules and rules for publishing, so in reality, it doesn’t bother me too much. I do hope to see more works from Morris, as their sheer love for the queer community found in roller derby is infectious through the pages, and I’m sure they can deliver again.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
When I found this book, I knew I was going to enjoy it by the premise alone. Roller derby is a sport I’m familiar with in terms of its ties to queer culture, but not a sport I have an intense knowledge of, unlike Peach Morris, who delivered a touching story of found family and finding yourself that I would have loved as a younger teenager. Learning to Fall is about so many things: love, acceptance, family, and how to get back up when you fall.
The unconventionality of love is what makes it feel stronger. Casey and Imogen’s relationship is messy from the start, which drives home the point that life is unexpected. I adored the way that they ended up getting together, despite how doomed they seemed from the start, as well as the conclusion to their story together. They fall together while still having separate storylines and conflicts of their own to work through, which was so refreshing to see for two queer girls.
For all its beautiful character work, I felt that the story moved way too fast. Moments felt rushed to complete a word count, which took away from my reading experience. It’s likely due to the fact that this is a debut novel, and debut authors are under much tighter schedules and rules for publishing, so in reality, it doesn’t bother me too much. I do hope to see more works from Morris, as their sheer love for the queer community found in roller derby is infectious through the pages, and I’m sure they can deliver again.
March 13, 2025
2.75 ⭐️’s rounded up to 3.
Thank you NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the ARC ebook of Learning to Fall in exchange for my honest review.
I was so excited for this book, but unfortunately could not click with the story. I too watched Whip It many tines and thought it would be badass to be a roller derby girl… went to games, studied the rules & never went for it. So needless to say I was ready for this sapphic derby book! Overall it was a quick fluffy read about a 19yr old girl finding new passions while questioning her sexuality. She struggles with anxiety and balancing the uncertainty of going to University soon and leaving home while she also cares for her mom (chronic illness). I found the narrative of her not believing in herself and her friends cheering her on repetitive, but I finally got some satisfaction on where I think she was headed by the very end.
The roller derby action…. I can’t help but feel a large percentage of this story was straight from a “roller derby for dummies” book and I wish the author would have spent a little more time fleshing out the relationships/interactions with the characters. There were many amazing side characters that had great potential to further help the story line. I appreciated the emphasis on the beauty of the community, that it’s a home for those who’ve felt like they don’t belong. A safe haven for LGBTQ+ to thrive in sports. The diverse representation was there and I know this book will find its audience, it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the ARC ebook of Learning to Fall in exchange for my honest review.
I was so excited for this book, but unfortunately could not click with the story. I too watched Whip It many tines and thought it would be badass to be a roller derby girl… went to games, studied the rules & never went for it. So needless to say I was ready for this sapphic derby book! Overall it was a quick fluffy read about a 19yr old girl finding new passions while questioning her sexuality. She struggles with anxiety and balancing the uncertainty of going to University soon and leaving home while she also cares for her mom (chronic illness). I found the narrative of her not believing in herself and her friends cheering her on repetitive, but I finally got some satisfaction on where I think she was headed by the very end.
The roller derby action…. I can’t help but feel a large percentage of this story was straight from a “roller derby for dummies” book and I wish the author would have spent a little more time fleshing out the relationships/interactions with the characters. There were many amazing side characters that had great potential to further help the story line. I appreciated the emphasis on the beauty of the community, that it’s a home for those who’ve felt like they don’t belong. A safe haven for LGBTQ+ to thrive in sports. The diverse representation was there and I know this book will find its audience, it just wasn’t for me.
March 5, 2025
ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley.
3.75 stars rounded up. Learning to Fall is a young adult debut novel set in the UK. It's about finding your true self and learning to cope with mental health issues. It has a love story plot on the side but the novel is more about coming to terms with yourself and falling in love with a sport and the community it comes with. And it's about roller derby. There's chronic illness rep (side character), bipoc love interest, trans and non-binary rep (side characters) in the novel. There are a lot of difficult and serious topics in the book, like alcohol abuse, mental health issues, and toxic family dynamics.
For me there was a bit too much roller derby in the book. For someone who has seen Whip It (2009) but basically does not know anything else about the sport, all the practice and scrimmage and game description were a bit boring. But most of those bits helped to build Casey as a character.
It was a good read and the novel was well written. Really well done debut. It would be great read especially for a teen reader.
3.75 stars rounded up. Learning to Fall is a young adult debut novel set in the UK. It's about finding your true self and learning to cope with mental health issues. It has a love story plot on the side but the novel is more about coming to terms with yourself and falling in love with a sport and the community it comes with. And it's about roller derby. There's chronic illness rep (side character), bipoc love interest, trans and non-binary rep (side characters) in the novel. There are a lot of difficult and serious topics in the book, like alcohol abuse, mental health issues, and toxic family dynamics.
For me there was a bit too much roller derby in the book. For someone who has seen Whip It (2009) but basically does not know anything else about the sport, all the practice and scrimmage and game description were a bit boring. But most of those bits helped to build Casey as a character.
It was a good read and the novel was well written. Really well done debut. It would be great read especially for a teen reader.
March 4, 2025
4⭐️
“Learning to Fall” by Peach Morris is a quick, sapphic sports young adult novel.
I was instantly drawn to the cover of this book, and luckily, the story itself didn’t disappoint.
I absolutely loved every aspect of this book, from the queer found family to the way it represented mental illness.
I liked the romance between Casey and Imogen, and at the same time, I appreciated how, at least in my opinion, it wasn’t the main focus of the story.
I really connected with Casey and her characterisation. All her fears and concerns really shaped her into a well-developed and realistic character.
In conclusion, I was totally captivated by this author’s debut, and I can’t wait to read their other works in the future.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
“Learning to Fall” by Peach Morris is a quick, sapphic sports young adult novel.
I was instantly drawn to the cover of this book, and luckily, the story itself didn’t disappoint.
I absolutely loved every aspect of this book, from the queer found family to the way it represented mental illness.
I liked the romance between Casey and Imogen, and at the same time, I appreciated how, at least in my opinion, it wasn’t the main focus of the story.
I really connected with Casey and her characterisation. All her fears and concerns really shaped her into a well-developed and realistic character.
In conclusion, I was totally captivated by this author’s debut, and I can’t wait to read their other works in the future.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
April 29, 2025
From the cover, "Learning to Fall" looks like a lighthearted roller derby-themed teen romance story. What you are actually diving into with this one is a deep and thoughtful coming-of-age powerhouse of a book. Nineteen-year-old Casey loses herself in roller derby, and finds herself there too--a stronger, more confident self she never knew to be looking for, a self so in love with this sport that changes her relationship to her body, both mentally and physically. Abundant queer representation (it is roller derby after all) as well as chronic illness discussions, and a very personal look into the mind of someone dealing with anxiety and panic attacks. And yes, there is a good helping of roller derby-themed romance along the way.
TW: anxiety. panic attacks, alcohol use/abuse
TW: anxiety. panic attacks, alcohol use/abuse
March 11, 2025
I genuinely can’t begin to explain how much I loved this book!
Not only was it a sweet and wholesome story about finding yourself and your people but it explored mental health, living with disabilities and addiction in a true and thoughtful way - like these were a part of the characters lives but never ALL of the characters lives.
Casey was a great protagonist and despite this being only a short book her character development was well paced and believable. Loved the references to ‘Whip It’ and the parallels of the ending (and I 100% agree it should have been a queer love story)
Right, got to go now and find the nearest roller derby team to watch.
[I received an ARC from NetGalley]
Not only was it a sweet and wholesome story about finding yourself and your people but it explored mental health, living with disabilities and addiction in a true and thoughtful way - like these were a part of the characters lives but never ALL of the characters lives.
Casey was a great protagonist and despite this being only a short book her character development was well paced and believable. Loved the references to ‘Whip It’ and the parallels of the ending (and I 100% agree it should have been a queer love story)
Right, got to go now and find the nearest roller derby team to watch.
[I received an ARC from NetGalley]
May 15, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for an ARC of Learning to Fall by Peach Morris.
This book is so raw, so powerful, so very real. The protagonist, Casey, is a bright young woman with a lot going on in her life - she's deferred from university for a year; she's a full time carer to her mum, Laura, who has myalgic encephalomyelitis (also known as chronic fatigue syndrome,) and she just discovered her boyfriend cheating on her with a beautiful girl named Imogen, who eventually introduces her to a sport called roller derby.
Casey struggles a lot in this book. She has severe anxiety, and how refreshing it was to read a compassionate, kind portrayal of both anxiety disorders and CFS/ME. The book never demonises Casey's anxiety or her mother's disability; both aspects of the story are offered nothing but understanding, both from the narrative and from most of the characters around Casey. The depictions of both mental and physical illness were grounded in reality, even when Casey's symptoms were at their most severe. She manages to face her anxiety with true courage throughout the story - with some help from Imogen.
Imogen and Casey's story is beautifully told, perhaps even moreso because it doesn't get a clear cut ending. I would advise anyone going into this expecting it to be a sapphic romance to lower their expectations massively; yes, Casey and Imogen fall in love, but so many things happen that add conflict to their relationship. The resolution is beautiful, but by no means is it clean. Casey and Imogen are very messy together, and they get a messy - but definitely beautiful - ending.
The supporting cast, including Mel and Venom, and of course newcomer Charlie, are all so vibrant. They leap off the page with personality. Most wonderfully, Casey gains a found family in roller derby, a group of people who one hundred percent have her back. This story is brimming with queer joy and queer love. Casey ends up finding her place in the world thanks to the sport, and through it gains the courage to start being herself, putting herself first.
I'll admit, I was a little annoyed Casey's older sister and brother-in-law never get a bit of retribution for how they treat her over joining roller derby when she's supposed to be caring for her mother. The whole scene set at Christmas had me on the edge of my seat, ready to start fights with fictional characters for their extremely wrong opinions! But that's the beauty of a story this well written - it makes the characters come alive, both good and bad. Truly, every character in this, from our lead Casey all the way down to the fresh meat on the roller derby team, is so well-constructed you almost want a whole collection of these books following each one of them.
Alas, this is Casey's story, and what a perfect story it turned out to be.
This book is so raw, so powerful, so very real. The protagonist, Casey, is a bright young woman with a lot going on in her life - she's deferred from university for a year; she's a full time carer to her mum, Laura, who has myalgic encephalomyelitis (also known as chronic fatigue syndrome,) and she just discovered her boyfriend cheating on her with a beautiful girl named Imogen, who eventually introduces her to a sport called roller derby.
Casey struggles a lot in this book. She has severe anxiety, and how refreshing it was to read a compassionate, kind portrayal of both anxiety disorders and CFS/ME. The book never demonises Casey's anxiety or her mother's disability; both aspects of the story are offered nothing but understanding, both from the narrative and from most of the characters around Casey. The depictions of both mental and physical illness were grounded in reality, even when Casey's symptoms were at their most severe. She manages to face her anxiety with true courage throughout the story - with some help from Imogen.
Imogen and Casey's story is beautifully told, perhaps even moreso because it doesn't get a clear cut ending. I would advise anyone going into this expecting it to be a sapphic romance to lower their expectations massively; yes, Casey and Imogen fall in love, but so many things happen that add conflict to their relationship. The resolution is beautiful, but by no means is it clean. Casey and Imogen are very messy together, and they get a messy - but definitely beautiful - ending.
The supporting cast, including Mel and Venom, and of course newcomer Charlie, are all so vibrant. They leap off the page with personality. Most wonderfully, Casey gains a found family in roller derby, a group of people who one hundred percent have her back. This story is brimming with queer joy and queer love. Casey ends up finding her place in the world thanks to the sport, and through it gains the courage to start being herself, putting herself first.
I'll admit, I was a little annoyed Casey's older sister and brother-in-law never get a bit of retribution for how they treat her over joining roller derby when she's supposed to be caring for her mother. The whole scene set at Christmas had me on the edge of my seat, ready to start fights with fictional characters for their extremely wrong opinions! But that's the beauty of a story this well written - it makes the characters come alive, both good and bad. Truly, every character in this, from our lead Casey all the way down to the fresh meat on the roller derby team, is so well-constructed you almost want a whole collection of these books following each one of them.
Alas, this is Casey's story, and what a perfect story it turned out to be.
March 14, 2025
So much roller skating… too much roller skating…
Casey is taking a gap year before going off to college and is taking care of her mother. She finds her boyfriend cheating on her and doesn’t really care that much. She ends up seeing the girl he was cheating with at the gym and talks to her. She learns about roller derby and decides to try it out. It ends up being something she really enjoys and soon she joins a team and makes a lot of new friends, as well as gets a new crush…
This book had an interesting concept, I’ll give it that. I really liked the idea of a roller derby book because I’ve never read or seen one of those and I thought it would be interesting to learn about roller derby…
There was A LOT of roller skating. Too much, if you ask me. And it was all “tell” instead of “show” which made me skim over so much because none of the roller derby talk was sticking in my brain and I got bored.
Another thing is, I feel like this book was missing an introduction… I liked the first chapter and the set up with her meeting Imogen, but besides that it was missing something. We didn’t really get a good introduction to Casey or her life. It went straight to roller derby. There was barely anything else in this book besides roller derby, except the brief hangouts with her teammates.
I appreciate how the author incorporated anxiety, panic attacks, disabilities, and mental health/abuse issues and topics.
The writing style is very YA, but they’re supposed to be college aged. And yes, this is a YA book, but the dialogue felt very unrealistic most of the time for the character’s ages.
I don’t have a lot of comments about Casey as a character besides what I’ve already mentioned above. I wasn’t a big fan of her, but she was an okay main character.
The rest of the characters were okay as well. Imogen kind of got on my nerves, but she definitely brought up some important issues that were discussed in this book. I did really like Mel. She was a good friend to Casey and she was funny. The one character I did not like at all was Billy, Casey’s sister. Luckily she’s not in it much and I don’t think we were supposed to like her most of the time, anyway.
I think this book had a lot of potential and I wish I didn’t have to rate it so lowly, especially with this being the author’s debut. The book had a lot of great concepts, but they were not executed very well and I personally got bored and skimmed over a lot of stuff. There is a lot of great diversity and important issues talked about in this book, though!
And, I read the author’s note at the end of the book and this story is very personal to the author!! I’m sure it will be relatable to other readers, but unfortunately it wasn’t to me.
Casey is taking a gap year before going off to college and is taking care of her mother. She finds her boyfriend cheating on her and doesn’t really care that much. She ends up seeing the girl he was cheating with at the gym and talks to her. She learns about roller derby and decides to try it out. It ends up being something she really enjoys and soon she joins a team and makes a lot of new friends, as well as gets a new crush…
This book had an interesting concept, I’ll give it that. I really liked the idea of a roller derby book because I’ve never read or seen one of those and I thought it would be interesting to learn about roller derby…
There was A LOT of roller skating. Too much, if you ask me. And it was all “tell” instead of “show” which made me skim over so much because none of the roller derby talk was sticking in my brain and I got bored.
Another thing is, I feel like this book was missing an introduction… I liked the first chapter and the set up with her meeting Imogen, but besides that it was missing something. We didn’t really get a good introduction to Casey or her life. It went straight to roller derby. There was barely anything else in this book besides roller derby, except the brief hangouts with her teammates.
I appreciate how the author incorporated anxiety, panic attacks, disabilities, and mental health/abuse issues and topics.
The writing style is very YA, but they’re supposed to be college aged. And yes, this is a YA book, but the dialogue felt very unrealistic most of the time for the character’s ages.
I don’t have a lot of comments about Casey as a character besides what I’ve already mentioned above. I wasn’t a big fan of her, but she was an okay main character.
The rest of the characters were okay as well. Imogen kind of got on my nerves, but she definitely brought up some important issues that were discussed in this book. I did really like Mel. She was a good friend to Casey and she was funny. The one character I did not like at all was Billy, Casey’s sister. Luckily she’s not in it much and I don’t think we were supposed to like her most of the time, anyway.
I think this book had a lot of potential and I wish I didn’t have to rate it so lowly, especially with this being the author’s debut. The book had a lot of great concepts, but they were not executed very well and I personally got bored and skimmed over a lot of stuff. There is a lot of great diversity and important issues talked about in this book, though!
And, I read the author’s note at the end of the book and this story is very personal to the author!! I’m sure it will be relatable to other readers, but unfortunately it wasn’t to me.
April 28, 2025
3.5* rounded up
If, like me, you assumed this book was a sapphic romance, you need to know right now this is not a romance. This is a coming of age story featuring a queer main character. Don't go in expecting a romance between Casey and Imogen, you'll be disappointed. Their romance is part of the story, but it's not The story.
That being said, I really enjoyed the book and I'm kind of glad for my mistake because I wouldn't have picked it up otherwise. Coming of age and college age characters can be hit or miss for me, but this was really well done. Casey acts and feels like a young adult and not a teen as she navigates responsibilities and fear of the future, her anxiety and newly discovered queerness. And of course, all of that is wrapped around her deep love for roller derby. If there's a romance here, it's definitely between Casey and the sport. It was great to follow her arc as she "grew up" and figured things out, from family dynamics to friendships, from her anxiety to her finding herself and her confidence.
I adored the found family aspect of this book and would love more stories in this universe. I want to see how Imogen's doing (she broke my heart...), and I want to know more about Venom, and I'm always down for more Mel. She's the friend we all want.
Add to that the great representation (that isn't shoved down your throat either) both of LGBTQ+ individuals and of illness. Obviously, from the author's note at the end it's not surprising but it's still worth mentioning.
I know nothing about roller derby outside of "contact sport with mainly women on roller going around a track" and the author obviously knows a lot about the sport. I think people who know the sport well will really enjoy the vivid descriptions of all the training and then competition but for novices there's enough explanations given that I wasn't completely lost on what was happening. Could I picture everything? Not really, but enough that I got the gist of it and didn't miss any important part of the story. And I now need to track down Whip It and watch it because I want to see roller derby.
All in all, a nice book with a good mix of found family and growing up without either being too much or too moralist. It felt realistic and I could believe those people actually exist. Plus, I always appreciate young adults acting like young adults.
An advanced copy was provided to me but all opinions are my own.
If, like me, you assumed this book was a sapphic romance, you need to know right now this is not a romance. This is a coming of age story featuring a queer main character. Don't go in expecting a romance between Casey and Imogen, you'll be disappointed. Their romance is part of the story, but it's not The story.
That being said, I really enjoyed the book and I'm kind of glad for my mistake because I wouldn't have picked it up otherwise. Coming of age and college age characters can be hit or miss for me, but this was really well done. Casey acts and feels like a young adult and not a teen as she navigates responsibilities and fear of the future, her anxiety and newly discovered queerness. And of course, all of that is wrapped around her deep love for roller derby. If there's a romance here, it's definitely between Casey and the sport. It was great to follow her arc as she "grew up" and figured things out, from family dynamics to friendships, from her anxiety to her finding herself and her confidence.
I adored the found family aspect of this book and would love more stories in this universe. I want to see how Imogen's doing (she broke my heart...), and I want to know more about Venom, and I'm always down for more Mel. She's the friend we all want.
Add to that the great representation (that isn't shoved down your throat either) both of LGBTQ+ individuals and of illness. Obviously, from the author's note at the end it's not surprising but it's still worth mentioning.
I know nothing about roller derby outside of "contact sport with mainly women on roller going around a track" and the author obviously knows a lot about the sport. I think people who know the sport well will really enjoy the vivid descriptions of all the training and then competition but for novices there's enough explanations given that I wasn't completely lost on what was happening. Could I picture everything? Not really, but enough that I got the gist of it and didn't miss any important part of the story. And I now need to track down Whip It and watch it because I want to see roller derby.
All in all, a nice book with a good mix of found family and growing up without either being too much or too moralist. It felt realistic and I could believe those people actually exist. Plus, I always appreciate young adults acting like young adults.
An advanced copy was provided to me but all opinions are my own.
May 18, 2025
I received a galley of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book has content warnings for panic attacks, alcohol, and homophobia.
This might sound harsh but I really wish I would have DNF'd this book. I thought about doing it about 20% of the way through but I checked the reviews and they were all pretty positive. So I decided to carry on hoping it would get better. However, it absolutely didn't. Typically my 1 stars are for books I actively hated, and I can tell you this isn't one of those cases. However, I just think it was extremely poorly written, and the give it more than 1 star just isn't fair. Gosh, that sounds harsh. I don't want to be harsh, because gods knows that I can't really write anything better myself.
Anyway, this basically just felt extremely bare bones. This really felt like random scenes poorly stringed together with barely any plot. It was so hard to follow along because there was just no transition from one moment to the next. We're just doing one thing, you turn the page, and all of the sudden you're in the middle of doing something else. Because of the way it is written there also was no tension or stakes. I just knew that in the next scene whatever conflict arose would be completely gone by the next one. On top of that this sort of writing led to a lot of dropped minor plot threads. There were just so many things that we never really went back on.
Besides that because this is so bare bones, with no actually meat of the story in it, it also just feels very fleeting and forgetable. I already can't tell you anything about our main character that isn't in the synopsis. I mean, the characters are extremely one dimensional in general because of the way it is written but they also just aren't memorable at all. I found it so difficult to keep the side characters apart as well. I'm still convinced someone got mentioned like we already knew them but it is the first time we ever got that name. I mean, I could look it up, to see for sure it's not just my memory being shit, but honestly with the way the rest of this book was I wouldn't be surprised if its true.
The resolution completely fell flat as well. I mean, are you surprised? Did you expect me to say anything else? I feel like all of our main character's issues were just over all of the sudden. There wasn't really any developement or anything. I don't know. This could have been something, for sure, but it just wasn't.
This book has content warnings for panic attacks, alcohol, and homophobia.
This might sound harsh but I really wish I would have DNF'd this book. I thought about doing it about 20% of the way through but I checked the reviews and they were all pretty positive. So I decided to carry on hoping it would get better. However, it absolutely didn't. Typically my 1 stars are for books I actively hated, and I can tell you this isn't one of those cases. However, I just think it was extremely poorly written, and the give it more than 1 star just isn't fair. Gosh, that sounds harsh. I don't want to be harsh, because gods knows that I can't really write anything better myself.
Anyway, this basically just felt extremely bare bones. This really felt like random scenes poorly stringed together with barely any plot. It was so hard to follow along because there was just no transition from one moment to the next. We're just doing one thing, you turn the page, and all of the sudden you're in the middle of doing something else. Because of the way it is written there also was no tension or stakes. I just knew that in the next scene whatever conflict arose would be completely gone by the next one. On top of that this sort of writing led to a lot of dropped minor plot threads. There were just so many things that we never really went back on.
Besides that because this is so bare bones, with no actually meat of the story in it, it also just feels very fleeting and forgetable. I already can't tell you anything about our main character that isn't in the synopsis. I mean, the characters are extremely one dimensional in general because of the way it is written but they also just aren't memorable at all. I found it so difficult to keep the side characters apart as well. I'm still convinced someone got mentioned like we already knew them but it is the first time we ever got that name. I mean, I could look it up, to see for sure it's not just my memory being shit, but honestly with the way the rest of this book was I wouldn't be surprised if its true.
The resolution completely fell flat as well. I mean, are you surprised? Did you expect me to say anything else? I feel like all of our main character's issues were just over all of the sudden. There wasn't really any developement or anything. I don't know. This could have been something, for sure, but it just wasn't.
March 18, 2025
3.5 stars rated up. YA/New Adult, UK-based, roller derby F/F coming-of-age type thing. It’s intense, lovely, and (guessing from the Author’s Note) comes from a very personal place, which strengthened what could otherwise have been a merely frothy piece of niche sports entertainment.
There’s quite a lot going on for Casey, the MC, who at barely nineteen is the main caregiver for her mum and is struggling with anxiety over various issues ranging from the prospect of having to move out and go to university, her sexual identity, her caregiving responsibilities, social interactions and, well, literally anything under the sun that could trigger a person with undiagnosed anxiety, which… you know, quite a lot of things.
The roller derby is front and central, and the book absolutely shines with love and passion for it. There is quite a lot of it, in quite a lot of detail, so do take that into account if you’re not into sporty books. I rather enjoyed it – I thought there was enough detail to get a good idea of how it works, and how utterly bonkers it is, lol. My favourite thing about it was how much the narrative centres roller derby as a safe space for queer folks and as a source of found family, fierce friendships and support. There are some wonderful side characters and lots of good rep (trans, non-binary, BIPOC, disability) and the sense of community among the roller derby players was one of the strongest suits of the story.
Casey’s anxiety was well handled, but it does get rather intense towards the end of the book, so things got very heavy at times. There’s also other heavy topics like shitty family dynamics, alcoholism as a coping mechanism, and chronic illness/disability (Casey’s mum has chronic fatigue syndrome). The love story is lovely and real and a central part of Casey finding out who she is, but don’t go in expecting standard romance conventions.
Thanks to Netgalley and 8th Note Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There’s quite a lot going on for Casey, the MC, who at barely nineteen is the main caregiver for her mum and is struggling with anxiety over various issues ranging from the prospect of having to move out and go to university, her sexual identity, her caregiving responsibilities, social interactions and, well, literally anything under the sun that could trigger a person with undiagnosed anxiety, which… you know, quite a lot of things.
The roller derby is front and central, and the book absolutely shines with love and passion for it. There is quite a lot of it, in quite a lot of detail, so do take that into account if you’re not into sporty books. I rather enjoyed it – I thought there was enough detail to get a good idea of how it works, and how utterly bonkers it is, lol. My favourite thing about it was how much the narrative centres roller derby as a safe space for queer folks and as a source of found family, fierce friendships and support. There are some wonderful side characters and lots of good rep (trans, non-binary, BIPOC, disability) and the sense of community among the roller derby players was one of the strongest suits of the story.
Casey’s anxiety was well handled, but it does get rather intense towards the end of the book, so things got very heavy at times. There’s also other heavy topics like shitty family dynamics, alcoholism as a coping mechanism, and chronic illness/disability (Casey’s mum has chronic fatigue syndrome). The love story is lovely and real and a central part of Casey finding out who she is, but don’t go in expecting standard romance conventions.
Thanks to Netgalley and 8th Note Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2025
Who on God's green earth decided to market this as romance? In hindsight, NOT the good folks at NetGalley, but it seems every other listing has this tagged as romance. There "romance" portion of the book is quite literally 12% of the story. I'm not rating the book based on this, but for folks who see the cover an tags and go, "Oh, a sapphic derby romance!" I think it worth noting that this is a YA novel *WITH* romance elements, not a romance novel. Unless we're counting roller derby as the love interest, in which case, carry on.
As for the story itself: I liked it, but I struggled with the actual prose. I had to keep going back and rereading to figure out where things were taking place, what things or people looked like, and felt like there was very little sensory description. There were places where Imogen and Casey were talking and instead of learning more, there would be a few lines akin to, "We talked for a long time and got really close." I need more than that. A lot of telling, not showing, which made it a quick read but not always a satisfying one.
On the other hand, this book takes on a number of topics that I liked to see: chronic illness, anxiety, being a caregiver, alcohol abuse, etc. That makes the book sound quite dark, and it's not, though perhaps with more depth it would have been. I got quite attached to Casey and her journey, especially her battle with anxiety and panic attacks. Her character arc throughout the book is quite strong. I just wish there had been more depth, nuance, description, etc. The writing would have been fine for a middle grade book but was just too surface-level for me in this context to fully immerse myself. It's clear from the end notes that this is a very personal story for the author, and that shows.
Lastly, a gentle reminder for other reviewers: the author uses they/them pronouns.
Than you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. My thoughts are my own.
As for the story itself: I liked it, but I struggled with the actual prose. I had to keep going back and rereading to figure out where things were taking place, what things or people looked like, and felt like there was very little sensory description. There were places where Imogen and Casey were talking and instead of learning more, there would be a few lines akin to, "We talked for a long time and got really close." I need more than that. A lot of telling, not showing, which made it a quick read but not always a satisfying one.
On the other hand, this book takes on a number of topics that I liked to see: chronic illness, anxiety, being a caregiver, alcohol abuse, etc. That makes the book sound quite dark, and it's not, though perhaps with more depth it would have been. I got quite attached to Casey and her journey, especially her battle with anxiety and panic attacks. Her character arc throughout the book is quite strong. I just wish there had been more depth, nuance, description, etc. The writing would have been fine for a middle grade book but was just too surface-level for me in this context to fully immerse myself. It's clear from the end notes that this is a very personal story for the author, and that shows.
Lastly, a gentle reminder for other reviewers: the author uses they/them pronouns.
Than you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. My thoughts are my own.
March 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Aaaaaaaa.
I wanted to love this. As a gay derby gal I desperately wanted to love this. But so much of it felt cliched, shoehorned in or kind of empty? Plus name checking an actual team that folded? A bit shady… did the author check with the Nottingham Hellfire Harlots before using their name in the book? Seems like the kind of thing you should really ask permission for first especially when other teams are fictionalised.
There were also some really peculiar quotes like “Derby practice…” “I was confused, we don’t live in Derby”. Palm, meet face. You can make it clear that someone knows nothing about the sport without so much exposition dumping. There was a lot of “telling” the reader rather than showing, which also left me a bit cold.
The book did tackle heavy topics like sexuality, gender identity, mental health, chronic illness and alcohol abuse, but it felt like each thing was being shoehorned in for the plot. That being said I loved Mel so much, she was a perfect character and I liked that the fact she’s trans was entirely incidental.
The book did get better as it went along but I found the ultimate ending pretty predictable.
It’s a nice, entertaining and fluffy read and I do wish the author all the best and I hope she keeps writing and honing her craft because I do think there’s loads of potential and talent there. However, despite being about two of my great loves - roller derby and queer awakenings - this just read like any other sports romance book on the market. It’s candyfloss in book form, very sweet, but little substance to be had.
Aaaaaaaa.
I wanted to love this. As a gay derby gal I desperately wanted to love this. But so much of it felt cliched, shoehorned in or kind of empty? Plus name checking an actual team that folded? A bit shady… did the author check with the Nottingham Hellfire Harlots before using their name in the book? Seems like the kind of thing you should really ask permission for first especially when other teams are fictionalised.
There were also some really peculiar quotes like “Derby practice…” “I was confused, we don’t live in Derby”. Palm, meet face. You can make it clear that someone knows nothing about the sport without so much exposition dumping. There was a lot of “telling” the reader rather than showing, which also left me a bit cold.
The book did tackle heavy topics like sexuality, gender identity, mental health, chronic illness and alcohol abuse, but it felt like each thing was being shoehorned in for the plot. That being said I loved Mel so much, she was a perfect character and I liked that the fact she’s trans was entirely incidental.
The book did get better as it went along but I found the ultimate ending pretty predictable.
It’s a nice, entertaining and fluffy read and I do wish the author all the best and I hope she keeps writing and honing her craft because I do think there’s loads of potential and talent there. However, despite being about two of my great loves - roller derby and queer awakenings - this just read like any other sports romance book on the market. It’s candyfloss in book form, very sweet, but little substance to be had.
March 8, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
# Pages: 196 (ebook)
Publication Date: 05.13.25
“I’ve never felt before. Skating and being around all these badass people make it feel like my blood is fizzing, like I’m standing on the precipice of something exciting and scary and dangerous.”
🛼 YA Contemporary Romance
🛼 Sapphic Romance
🛼 LGBTQ+ Rep
🛼 Roller Derby
🛼 Found Family
🛼 Self Discovery
🛼 Anxiety Rep
Book Blurb:
- A YA debut about found family and queer awakening, set in the lively world of roller derby, perfect for fans of Whip It and Heartstopper.
- “Meet Casey. She doesn't know it yet, but her life is about to change. A chance encounter ends up with Imogen inviting her to see some live roller derby where she finds herself surrounded by fearless women and non-binary players who aren't afraid to speak their minds-- and body slam each other.
Some crushes just hit different.”
“Learning To Fall” by Peach Morris was a cute and quick read. They really helped to show that it’s okay to love who you love and try new things. Even if those new things are scary at first. The character development and world building was good. I feel like the characters are likable and easy to relate to.
The romance isn’t the primary focus, which in this case, works out great. It allows you to really get yourself into Casey’s shoes and experience all aspects of her life. Including her mental health and the anxiety she felt a lot. She faced a lot of heavy topics and it was done well.
Overall, I think Peach Morris did a great job. I do recommend this book and I think it’s perfect for queer teens looking for a safe place to explore. I look forward to more work from them
in the future.
Thank you netgalley and 8th note press for this ARC read.
# Pages: 196 (ebook)
Publication Date: 05.13.25
“I’ve never felt before. Skating and being around all these badass people make it feel like my blood is fizzing, like I’m standing on the precipice of something exciting and scary and dangerous.”
🛼 YA Contemporary Romance
🛼 Sapphic Romance
🛼 LGBTQ+ Rep
🛼 Roller Derby
🛼 Found Family
🛼 Self Discovery
🛼 Anxiety Rep
Book Blurb:
- A YA debut about found family and queer awakening, set in the lively world of roller derby, perfect for fans of Whip It and Heartstopper.
- “Meet Casey. She doesn't know it yet, but her life is about to change. A chance encounter ends up with Imogen inviting her to see some live roller derby where she finds herself surrounded by fearless women and non-binary players who aren't afraid to speak their minds-- and body slam each other.
Some crushes just hit different.”
“Learning To Fall” by Peach Morris was a cute and quick read. They really helped to show that it’s okay to love who you love and try new things. Even if those new things are scary at first. The character development and world building was good. I feel like the characters are likable and easy to relate to.
The romance isn’t the primary focus, which in this case, works out great. It allows you to really get yourself into Casey’s shoes and experience all aspects of her life. Including her mental health and the anxiety she felt a lot. She faced a lot of heavy topics and it was done well.
Overall, I think Peach Morris did a great job. I do recommend this book and I think it’s perfect for queer teens looking for a safe place to explore. I look forward to more work from them
in the future.
Thank you netgalley and 8th note press for this ARC read.
May 19, 2025
Thank you netgally, 8th note press and Peach Morris for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very cute coming of age story about discovering your sexuality and found family. I love all the representation that was in the book, from different sexualities to gender identity and illnesses.
I have a lot of feelings about Casey’s relationship with her family. She has such a beautiful relationship with her mom, I love that her mom tried to give her the gay sex talk. I feel for how much responsibility she feels about taking care of her mom and I hate how her sister left but still gave her shit about joining roller derby in case something happened and she wouldn’t been able to take care of their mom anymore.
I also loved her relationship with all of the roller derby girls, especially venom. Who doesn’t love a bad ass girl who doesn’t take shit from no one but really has a heart of gold and is there for you in the toughest of times.
And lastly, her crush on Imogen was so cute to me. From the first time they met (which was very awkward because Casey’s ex cheated on her with Imogen) when imogen chased after Casey to apologize about her ex and taking her to see a roller derby game to them being girlfriends🫶🏻
I didn’t really like how Imogen just up and left without an explanation to Casey. I know she had a hard time but she could have at least send a text. But the character arc that Casey ended up having because of it was really good. Meeting a new person who helps you through your anxiety isn’t a great solution so I’m really glad Casey got help with her anxiety and can deal with it on her own now.
This was a very cute coming of age story about discovering your sexuality and found family. I love all the representation that was in the book, from different sexualities to gender identity and illnesses.
I have a lot of feelings about Casey’s relationship with her family. She has such a beautiful relationship with her mom, I love that her mom tried to give her the gay sex talk. I feel for how much responsibility she feels about taking care of her mom and I hate how her sister left but still gave her shit about joining roller derby in case something happened and she wouldn’t been able to take care of their mom anymore.
I also loved her relationship with all of the roller derby girls, especially venom. Who doesn’t love a bad ass girl who doesn’t take shit from no one but really has a heart of gold and is there for you in the toughest of times.
And lastly, her crush on Imogen was so cute to me. From the first time they met (which was very awkward because Casey’s ex cheated on her with Imogen) when imogen chased after Casey to apologize about her ex and taking her to see a roller derby game to them being girlfriends🫶🏻
I didn’t really like how Imogen just up and left without an explanation to Casey. I know she had a hard time but she could have at least send a text. But the character arc that Casey ended up having because of it was really good. Meeting a new person who helps you through your anxiety isn’t a great solution so I’m really glad Casey got help with her anxiety and can deal with it on her own now.
April 9, 2025
much like the author of this sapphic YA sports romance, i too was greatly impacted by the film Whip It when it came out (as well as being extremely disappointed in the straightness of it all). obviously this meant i had no choice but to give this a read.
this was good for a debut novel, i enjoyed the sports of it all and appreciated the HFN plus Found Family rather than HEA ending for the MCs. i also was going crazy at how this is such a common type of relationship for sapphics when they’re younger or newly out. and obviously the awkward sapphic yearning and miscommunication was extremely accurate and relatable. and it made me want to strap on the skates and jump in so badly despite the fact i am an ambulatory wheelchair user and definitely not fit for such a brutal sport!
i do feel like i maybe needed more from this story, and definitely felt upset that some of the parts regarding the way the rest of the family treated the topic of the MC being a carer for a parent. i think i would have liked some of them to realise the error of their horrible words and realised the pressure they were putting on her when she was already struggling.
it also broke my heart with the realistic representation of how often alcoholism is missed in young people in britain due to the normalisation of the binge drinking culture and how long it takes to access any sort of mental health services when you need them.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✖️
this was good for a debut novel, i enjoyed the sports of it all and appreciated the HFN plus Found Family rather than HEA ending for the MCs. i also was going crazy at how this is such a common type of relationship for sapphics when they’re younger or newly out. and obviously the awkward sapphic yearning and miscommunication was extremely accurate and relatable. and it made me want to strap on the skates and jump in so badly despite the fact i am an ambulatory wheelchair user and definitely not fit for such a brutal sport!
i do feel like i maybe needed more from this story, and definitely felt upset that some of the parts regarding the way the rest of the family treated the topic of the MC being a carer for a parent. i think i would have liked some of them to realise the error of their horrible words and realised the pressure they were putting on her when she was already struggling.
it also broke my heart with the realistic representation of how often alcoholism is missed in young people in britain due to the normalisation of the binge drinking culture and how long it takes to access any sort of mental health services when you need them.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✖️
September 11, 2025
With a starting point of knowing nothing about Roller Derby I found that I was completely taken by this first novel written by Peach Morris, told from young adult Casey's point of view.
The book is set in a tight time line covering Casey's gap year before she goes to University. However, unlike others who go travelling or are working, Casey's year is spent caring for her mother who has Chronic Fatigue, and discovering Roller Derby.
The Roller Derby is pivotal in making a gap year of enlightenment and change for Casey (no need to go travelling), as she creates a new friendship group, questions her sexuality, and pursues physical fitness. But, her own doubts and fears still remain - I saw this as creating a kind of imposter syndrome for Casey - both with reference to Roller Derby and going to Uni.
Casey's relationship with Imogen is well fleshed out - not as a HEA but a chance to learn about herself and sensitively deals with issues around alcohol and homophobia.
The parts dealing with panic attacks are very well written and Casey's mother condition is dealt with in a very empathic way, making her mother one of the best characters in the book.
I'd totally recommend this book for people of any age. I've read other books with a sports basis where I know nothing about the sport in question, such as ice hockey (there's a lot around) and it makes no difference to your enjoyment of the book because it's the characters driving (rolling?) the book. Read it!
The book is set in a tight time line covering Casey's gap year before she goes to University. However, unlike others who go travelling or are working, Casey's year is spent caring for her mother who has Chronic Fatigue, and discovering Roller Derby.
The Roller Derby is pivotal in making a gap year of enlightenment and change for Casey (no need to go travelling), as she creates a new friendship group, questions her sexuality, and pursues physical fitness. But, her own doubts and fears still remain - I saw this as creating a kind of imposter syndrome for Casey - both with reference to Roller Derby and going to Uni.
Casey's relationship with Imogen is well fleshed out - not as a HEA but a chance to learn about herself and sensitively deals with issues around alcohol and homophobia.
The parts dealing with panic attacks are very well written and Casey's mother condition is dealt with in a very empathic way, making her mother one of the best characters in the book.
I'd totally recommend this book for people of any age. I've read other books with a sports basis where I know nothing about the sport in question, such as ice hockey (there's a lot around) and it makes no difference to your enjoyment of the book because it's the characters driving (rolling?) the book. Read it!
May 30, 2025
What a firecracker of a debut!
I read the whole book in less than 12 hours, I was hooked! I devoured as much as I could before falling asleep one evening, and finished the rest in the morning.
Although there is a romantic aspect to the story, it’s much more about the journey of the main character, Casey. As well as having a very touching coming-out storyline, she also goes on a journey with her mental health and self-confidence that was really powerful. I particularly liked the way her experience with compulsory heterosexuality was depicted.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
The whole book is a love letter to roller derby, and the author’s love for both the sport and its community is leaping off every page. You can’t help but sense the excitement and exhilaration of the sport, as well as the strong bonds forged between teammates. I particularly enjoyed the parallels the author drew between the sport and queerness, in exploring how they often go hand in hand.
Although the pacing was a little rushed at the start, this was a really great read that I loved from start to finish. I look forward to reading more from the author!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
I read the whole book in less than 12 hours, I was hooked! I devoured as much as I could before falling asleep one evening, and finished the rest in the morning.
Although there is a romantic aspect to the story, it’s much more about the journey of the main character, Casey. As well as having a very touching coming-out storyline, she also goes on a journey with her mental health and self-confidence that was really powerful. I particularly liked the way her experience with compulsory heterosexuality was depicted.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
The whole book is a love letter to roller derby, and the author’s love for both the sport and its community is leaping off every page. You can’t help but sense the excitement and exhilaration of the sport, as well as the strong bonds forged between teammates. I particularly enjoyed the parallels the author drew between the sport and queerness, in exploring how they often go hand in hand.
Although the pacing was a little rushed at the start, this was a really great read that I loved from start to finish. I look forward to reading more from the author!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
May 1, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4
Casey feels a bit stuck. She's taking a gap year to take care of her mother while her best friends go off to university. She spends her nights at home watching TV instead of going out. And to top it all off, she just caught her boyfriend cheating on her. The answer to all her problems comes from the unlikeliest of sources: Imogen, the woman she caught with her now ex-boyfriend. Imogen asks Casey to go to a roller derby, and Casey soon finds herself emersed in the sport.
Read if you like:
-NA
-Discovering the Real You
-Roller Derby
-Strong Mother/Daughter Relationship
I love the symbolism of the title: Learning to Fall. Falling the right way (so you don't hurt yourself unnecessarily) was Casey's first roller derby lesson. But it also applies to Casey's life lesson of stepping out of her comfort zone. This book was billed as a YA romance. I'd say it's more new adult than young adult and while there are romantic elements, it's more about believing in yourself and being comfortable in your own skin. I also loved all the roller derby action in this book. It made me feel like I was really there. And it made me want to throw on my own kit and get out there on the track.
Casey feels a bit stuck. She's taking a gap year to take care of her mother while her best friends go off to university. She spends her nights at home watching TV instead of going out. And to top it all off, she just caught her boyfriend cheating on her. The answer to all her problems comes from the unlikeliest of sources: Imogen, the woman she caught with her now ex-boyfriend. Imogen asks Casey to go to a roller derby, and Casey soon finds herself emersed in the sport.
Read if you like:
-NA
-Discovering the Real You
-Roller Derby
-Strong Mother/Daughter Relationship
I love the symbolism of the title: Learning to Fall. Falling the right way (so you don't hurt yourself unnecessarily) was Casey's first roller derby lesson. But it also applies to Casey's life lesson of stepping out of her comfort zone. This book was billed as a YA romance. I'd say it's more new adult than young adult and while there are romantic elements, it's more about believing in yourself and being comfortable in your own skin. I also loved all the roller derby action in this book. It made me feel like I was really there. And it made me want to throw on my own kit and get out there on the track.
April 3, 2025
The cover drew my attention and as every queer Millenial I have seen Whip it and loved it. So my hopes for this were high. After finishing the book they might have been too high.
The author starts off great with a killer opening chapter and setting the characters up for their story. The first part was heavy on the roller derby part and then there was some romance which then turned into a sob story about Casey's anxiety.
I really do believe this book will find it's intended audience but I don't think I'm one of them. The first chapters I flew through because I was enjoying them a lot but then once I was over the 50% mark the story fell kind of flat for me. I had no interest anymore in continuing the story as it became pretty depressing and as all I wanted was a fluffy romantic sports story. But I know this is probably mostly a me-thing.
There were also a lot of interesting side characters of which I would have loved to see more of.
Also little sidenote, it felt off having Casey watch 90's movies with her friend. Like why would a teenager watch them and not just stream some movie online?
An ARC was given to me via Edelweiss in return of an honest review.
The author starts off great with a killer opening chapter and setting the characters up for their story. The first part was heavy on the roller derby part and then there was some romance which then turned into a sob story about Casey's anxiety.
I really do believe this book will find it's intended audience but I don't think I'm one of them. The first chapters I flew through because I was enjoying them a lot but then once I was over the 50% mark the story fell kind of flat for me. I had no interest anymore in continuing the story as it became pretty depressing and as all I wanted was a fluffy romantic sports story. But I know this is probably mostly a me-thing.
There were also a lot of interesting side characters of which I would have loved to see more of.
Also little sidenote, it felt off having Casey watch 90's movies with her friend. Like why would a teenager watch them and not just stream some movie online?
An ARC was given to me via Edelweiss in return of an honest review.
April 29, 2025
I want to thank Netgalley and 8th Note Press for giving me the opportunity to read Learning to Fall by Peach Morris. The story kept me pretty engaged. If you're a fan of the movie Whip It, you'll want to give this book a read. The story follows Casey, who is just kind of stuck in life. She doesn't really have anything going for her. She deferred her first year at university to care for her mom and get caregivers set up for the following year. Casey's biggest issue is she suffers from debilitating anxiety and doesn't have the skills to better herself. She's terrified of change and terrified of the future. Enter Imogen, a spunky woman Casey runs into under crappy circumstances. Imogen is wild and free. Imogen sees something in Casey and introduces her to the world of Roller Derby. While it takes her a little while to learn the ropes, Casey is a natural. During her time on the team, Casey learns a lot about herself, including her love of roller derby. I enjoyed reading this story, I gave it 3.5 stars and recommend other read it, especially if you have a soft spot in your heart for the movie Whip It.
July 1, 2025
Learning to Fall is a love letter to roller derby and more importantly a story about how everybody is going through shit. For a debut novel I think Peach Morris absolutely nailed the writing and narrative of Casey, an anxious 19 year old who is still very much figuring out her identity. Her struggles are very relatable and I loved seeing her work through her anxiety and self doubt thanks to her support system.
I appreciated the matter of fact way she wrote about things like Casey’s mom’s illness, Mel’s transition, and Imogene’s issues as well. Everything is presented in a way that normalizes people being different and shouldn’t feel shame about it. I did expect this book to be more focused on Casey and Imogen’s romance but I didn’t mind that instead the focus ended up on Casey as an individual.
I was also really impressed how comprehensively Morris actually depicted the sport of roller derby which can be very hard to explain to someone with no background in the sport. So many times reading it I could imagine the exact drill or scenario the skaters were in.
Thanks to 8th Note Press for the advanced copy of this book!
I appreciated the matter of fact way she wrote about things like Casey’s mom’s illness, Mel’s transition, and Imogene’s issues as well. Everything is presented in a way that normalizes people being different and shouldn’t feel shame about it. I did expect this book to be more focused on Casey and Imogen’s romance but I didn’t mind that instead the focus ended up on Casey as an individual.
I was also really impressed how comprehensively Morris actually depicted the sport of roller derby which can be very hard to explain to someone with no background in the sport. So many times reading it I could imagine the exact drill or scenario the skaters were in.
Thanks to 8th Note Press for the advanced copy of this book!
May 19, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.25 stars
Before going too far, I should mention that this isn’t really a romance. While Casey has feelings for Imogen, and the two share a brief moment as possible girlfriends, all of that happens off page, assumed and implied rather than shown or explored. The focus of this book is Casey’s self-discovery, her growth as a person, and her coming out, as well as coming of age. There are also quite a few mentions of injuries incurred while skating, such as bruises, twisted ankles, broken ribs, punctured lungs, and a broken nose. It’s not graphic, but it’s there.
The writing’s fine, Casey’s relationship with her mother and sister are well written, and I think both her mother’s chronic fatigue and Casey’s anxiety and panic attacks are handled well. I just think the rest of the book feels lifeless. If you give it a try, I hope you enjoy it.
Read Elizabeth's review in its entirety here.
3.25 stars
Before going too far, I should mention that this isn’t really a romance. While Casey has feelings for Imogen, and the two share a brief moment as possible girlfriends, all of that happens off page, assumed and implied rather than shown or explored. The focus of this book is Casey’s self-discovery, her growth as a person, and her coming out, as well as coming of age. There are also quite a few mentions of injuries incurred while skating, such as bruises, twisted ankles, broken ribs, punctured lungs, and a broken nose. It’s not graphic, but it’s there.
The writing’s fine, Casey’s relationship with her mother and sister are well written, and I think both her mother’s chronic fatigue and Casey’s anxiety and panic attacks are handled well. I just think the rest of the book feels lifeless. If you give it a try, I hope you enjoy it.
Read Elizabeth's review in its entirety here.
June 5, 2025
This was solid coming-of-age YA about how taking a risk by throwing yourself fully into a new hobby or interest—especially one that might feel scary or even dangerous—can change your life for the better. As a non-derby roller skater myself, I especially enjoyed reading about her training, skill development, hip-checking, and—most importantly—the team bonding, camaraderie, and inclusive “weird” (in the best way!) community that’s integral to roller derby.
***Vague but *potentially* spoiler-y in this next assessment?***
It’s not a typical Romance in the way I expected it to be based on the cover (which I love), but I’m okay with that! I really appreciated the MC’s journey of discovering herself and addressing mental health challenges in the face of new life changes, heartbreak, and caring for a chronically I’ll parent. The title truly speaks to what the MC learns to do in more than one way, but of course it’s ultimately also about learning how to get back up after.
Thank you so much to 8th Note Press for the advance copy!
***Vague but *potentially* spoiler-y in this next assessment?***
It’s not a typical Romance in the way I expected it to be based on the cover (which I love), but I’m okay with that! I really appreciated the MC’s journey of discovering herself and addressing mental health challenges in the face of new life changes, heartbreak, and caring for a chronically I’ll parent. The title truly speaks to what the MC learns to do in more than one way, but of course it’s ultimately also about learning how to get back up after.
Thank you so much to 8th Note Press for the advance copy!
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