All the Way

When You Fell from Heaven #2

by Alyson Greaves

While Maxwell Giordano is going through the motions at home, his alter ego Maxine is living the dream. She’s found her place—on the cheer squad, among friends—but keeping her two lives separate is driving her crazy.

Taylor Scott’s senior year is going better than she’d ever dreamed, and she owes it all to Maxine. But the secrets are piling up, and one mistake could bring their carefully constructed world crashing down. Worse, she’s falling for Maxine, a girl who might not even exist after graduation!

Together, they must face school, the squad, and Max’s traditionally minded family, all while concealing a love that is becoming impossible to deny.

ALL THE WAY is the second book of WHEN YOU FELL FROM HEAVEN, a slow-burn cheerleading trans romance from the author of THE SISTERS OF DORLEY.

Genres: Transgender Romance

615 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 18, 2025

Reviews

[emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

THESE CHEERLEDERS CAN DO ANYTHING. ESPECIALLY FALL IN LOVE AND BREAKY MY HEART.

[Elena Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

if the first book was excellent, it's follow up is simply phenomenal. I devoured this beast of a book in three days and I can't stop thinking about it. The way the characters are written and the things that happen sent me right back to my days in high school (too long ago) and simply felt so very real, like these could easily have been real people living a story that actually happened. And the last 100-200 pages? I couldn't put it down. It was simply amazing.

I'd give more than 5 stars if I could. Amazing work Alyson

[Skye Doto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book so much. It means an incredible amount to me and I can't believe it hasn't always been in my life.

That said, this book gets Heavy by the end. It makes for quite a tonal shift from how the series started (in my opinion). As said, I love this book, but I recommend being prepared and take the trigger warnings seriously.

[Rachel Childers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is 2003. America has invaded Iraq, gay marriage is being banned in several states and will soon be a losing issue on the ballot. Evangelical purity culture and low-rise jeans are all over our TVs and our high schools. I am one of the only people in my (blue state, wealthy, suburban) school to be out as gay, though all my friends in the Art Club will come out years later. None of the very small number of trans people are out. The most notable news story about actual trans people is the murder of Gwen Araujo in California the year before and her killers' use of the "trans panic" defense. A very scared young woman who will go on to campaign to be homecoming queen "as a joke" will decide that becoming a girl is something that only happens in the fantasy stories about magic or aliens that she reads with the computer room door locked.

Alyson Greaves second novel in her TG/TF cheerleader yuri series captures this era with surprising deftness. A story that started as "what if I made `Bring It On' gay and trans" hits all the tropes of the TG/TF romance genre, with contrived reason why Max must dress as a girl and join the cheerleading squad and fall in love with the cheer captain, but then, per Greaves modus operandi, takes those characters and gives them real interiority and thoughtfully explores their situation through the experiences of actual trans life in the early aughts. This at times diverts the focus from the romance, which is very sweet, to the more general fantasy of "what if people were nice to the trans girl". Max is threatened, beaten, assaulted, outed, etc (all period-appropriate) but also loved, defended, and (in a way which is fantastical for the era) understood by her closest friends and loved ones. The resulting story is not so out of character for 2003; we were just as gay back then. But it gives us the 2003 that we maybe could have had if all of us were maybe just a bit braver and just a bit more empathetic.

[Jamie Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

TLDR; Read the book. This is a threat, pick up the pompoms and read the book.


This book picked me up and shook me like a dog. It gripped me tightly and refused to let me go. I started reading it and found myself unable to put it down, I spent like 14 hours reading it one day because it was just. so. compelling!

The characters felt so real, the way they talked, the way they interacted, the heartache they felt, it felt as real as the person next to me. Their world became my world, Their stories became my stories.

And the story, oh my god does it cuddle your heart then break it. As a trans woman myself, I have never felt so seen and simulatiously so called out in the same book before. My family is in this photo and NOBODY LIKES IT. I started checking under the couch cushions to see if I could find Alyson Greaves with a notepad and a sketch for book 3.

The story was true, it was tense, the characters acted as I would expect a series of stupid teenagers to act, and there were times were I could not physically stop reading until I knew this dumb little gays on my kindle were okay.

It is levels of tooth rotting sweetness previously achieved only by Augustus Gloop, and you will do the leg kicking squelling noises when people finally kiss, and you will LOVE IT. And then it kicks you in the gut and makes you gasp out loud, but in a good way like a tall lady in big boots.

You will fall in love with the story like it is the first girl to ever show you affection, and you will never stop thinking about it.

Specific notes, spoilers:

Oh God, especially the scene where Maxine compares her parents reaction to Clay vs her. The "openness" of being trans compared to just gay felt like a dagger in my heart, and old wound from when my own parents reacted well to me being "gay" vs badly to me being trans. It was gut wrenching, and made me cry to see someone understand the pain and put it into words when I couldn't

The fucking text chains during homecoming had me cackling

The girlfailures of Avery and Willa were so fun to watch!

I swear if this doesn't end in a polycule, I am going to be slightly disappointed but also understand because its not my story and I respect the authors intent and vision.

Also, on a personal note, it was really refreshing to see how the topic of Maxine's genitals were handled (pun not intended). As a trans women who hasn't gone through any surgeries yet, seeing a story where a trans woman reclaim that part of herself, and to have her partner respect her wishes and love every part of her for the girl she is - it was so sweet and lovely to see! Girls can have whatever genitals they want, as a treat!

[Issy Waldrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow. That was a ride, and then some. Devouring both books in the matter of a few days is a testament how to how good the series is, and how good Alyson's writing is. And this book is not small either, around double the size of the first. There is a lot of depth to it, an exploration of coming out, even through circumstances that were not optimal, and how well some of those around her handle it. Yes, it is a reflection of the time in which it is set, but sad to say, it also reflects some areas in our world today.

There is a lot of love and joy in this book, of exploring Maxine and Taylor's relation, and honestly that is pure bliss to read. There are struggles, of course, but seeing the joy of Maxine being herself, and the two of them being together, so so worth it.

But damn, be prepared to cry, and have your heart torn open, because some parts of the book are rough. You know that it's coming, that Maxine's going to have to face it eventually, and when it does arrive... oof. Not to mention that the book finishes on a cliffhanger as well.

It is, though, and absolutely wonderful book, a reflection of the struggles of being trans, and of discovering yourself, both gender and sexuality. There are those who are supportive, and those who are not, and you're there with them for it all. I am eagerly going to be hanging out for the next volume.

[Ashe · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Adding a spoiler tag cuz of minor implications I put here)

Holy shit. This book pulled on my heart strings in all the right ways and ALREADY has me yearning for book 3. There's gotta be a book 3, right? I think I would go insane if THAT's where it left off. Maxine and Taylor's budding romance had me hooked from page 1 of book 1 to the last page of book 2, and has me craving more. The drama in this book had me constantly on edge, shaking a little as each word went by. And let me just say: Fuck Gina. I don't think any other book has had me hate a character as much as this book has me hate Gina. And GOOD ON LYNN for standing up to her!!! I'm hoping Maxine gets to resolve with a happy ending away from her abusive family in book 3. (but, hey, if there's more after that one - I won't complain!)

[Nisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply Superb !!!

I loved it so much! The characters are so well developed ... I finished both the books in a week and now can't wait for the next one !

loved this one a lot!!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

maxine you have to meet my friend stef