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No Fall Zone
Mabel Quinn and Ryder Finch aren’t rivals—they’re lifelong frenemies, fellow pro snowboarders, and the children of a pair of legendary athletes and best friends. They’ve trained together, traveled together, and annoyed each other for years.
But being in love? Absolutely not… right?
Until one impulsive night in Vegas—and a few too many drinks—ends with an Elvis-officiated wedding neither of them remembers. With the Winter Games weeks away and the media watching their every move, a public fallout could jeopardize both their careers. Their stay “married” until Milan.
Keeping up the act should be easy. Except Ryder’s been head-over-heels for Mabel for years, and Mabel is suddenly seeing Ryder in a way she hasn’t allowed herself to before. Now they’re sharing a home, sharing secrets, and sharing far too many moments that no longer feel like pretend.
If they’re not careful, this fake marriage might turn into something real… and the biggest risk they’ve ever taken on the slopes.
But being in love? Absolutely not… right?
Until one impulsive night in Vegas—and a few too many drinks—ends with an Elvis-officiated wedding neither of them remembers. With the Winter Games weeks away and the media watching their every move, a public fallout could jeopardize both their careers. Their stay “married” until Milan.
Keeping up the act should be easy. Except Ryder’s been head-over-heels for Mabel for years, and Mabel is suddenly seeing Ryder in a way she hasn’t allowed herself to before. Now they’re sharing a home, sharing secrets, and sharing far too many moments that no longer feel like pretend.
If they’re not careful, this fake marriage might turn into something real… and the biggest risk they’ve ever taken on the slopes.
308 pages, Paperback
Published February 2, 2026
14 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Emily Shacklette
13 books72 followersEmily Shacklette is an avid reader, Swiftie and cat lady. She loves romantic tension and spice that lasts for pages. She currently resides in the heart of beautiful San Francisco with her husband and Olive, Punky, and Chicken (her cat children). When she's not reading or writing, you can find her watching Community, riding her Peloton, or listening to Taylor Swift as loudly as the volume will go.
Find her on Instagram (@authoremilyshack) and TikTok (@authoremilyshaack).
authoremilyshack.com
Find her on Instagram (@authoremilyshack) and TikTok (@authoremilyshaack).
authoremilyshack.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
February 9, 2026
Love a good marriage of convience and this is so much more.
This was such a fun, different sports romance (I love when the FMC is also an athlete). The frenemies-to-lovers tension was chefs kiss and the Vegas wedding twist added just the right amount of chaos in this eventual MOC. I loved the emotional slow burn beneath the fake marriage and how naturally their history deepened every moment. A great mix of humor, heart, and high-stakes romance.
- ARC Review
This was such a fun, different sports romance (I love when the FMC is also an athlete). The frenemies-to-lovers tension was chefs kiss and the Vegas wedding twist added just the right amount of chaos in this eventual MOC. I loved the emotional slow burn beneath the fake marriage and how naturally their history deepened every moment. A great mix of humor, heart, and high-stakes romance.
- ARC Review
February 2, 2026
Thank you love notes and Emily for the ARC! Absolutely loved this light romantic and funny book in preparation for the “Winter Games” Ryder was such a lovely character :)
February 8, 2026
Can somebody tell me where I can get myself a Ryder, please and thank you??? The way this man was head over heels in love with this woman for what seems like an eternity made me fold like a damn lawn chair.
Let me start this review by saying that the blurb left me feeling pretty curious. Two pro snowboarders accidentally getting married in Las Vegas and then having to fake a marriage for the press? COUNT ME IN.
Right away we learn about their teasing nature through flashbacks. Mabel and Ryder met when they were just small kids. They love bickering and subtly taking jabs at one another. However, Ryder has been fancying Mabel for quite some time… Meanwhile, Mabel is busy complaining to her friend about Ryder’s cockiness. INTERESTING.
I personally loved how fast paced this book was. You didn’t have to read hundreds of pages just for them to finally have their shotgun wedding. Thanks to this, I was able to better enjoy their journey of falling for one another in their totally-fake-and-strictly-business-arrangement. Or, to put it into better terms: watching Mabel (fmc) slowly losing it after realizing she doesn’t find Ryder annoying at all- she actually likes him (shocker, I know).
I don’t have much left to say except for: RYDER! How is that man the epitome of a perfect book boyfriend?!? Probably because he’s fictional, but I digress. No matter their relationship, he always made sure to satisfy her sweet tooth with local delicacies and protect Mabel from the scrutiny of the media. Staging an orgy to make drunk pictures of her disappear? Of course. Anything for his Marshmallow.
Looking at the current Winter Olympics I can fully recommend giving ‘No Fall Zone’ a shot. It is the perfect addition to watching the sport in real time.
Thank you so much for providing me with an arc!!!
~arc for honest review~
Let me start this review by saying that the blurb left me feeling pretty curious. Two pro snowboarders accidentally getting married in Las Vegas and then having to fake a marriage for the press? COUNT ME IN.
Right away we learn about their teasing nature through flashbacks. Mabel and Ryder met when they were just small kids. They love bickering and subtly taking jabs at one another. However, Ryder has been fancying Mabel for quite some time… Meanwhile, Mabel is busy complaining to her friend about Ryder’s cockiness. INTERESTING.
I personally loved how fast paced this book was. You didn’t have to read hundreds of pages just for them to finally have their shotgun wedding. Thanks to this, I was able to better enjoy their journey of falling for one another in their totally-fake-and-strictly-business-arrangement. Or, to put it into better terms: watching Mabel (fmc) slowly losing it after realizing she doesn’t find Ryder annoying at all- she actually likes him (shocker, I know).
I don’t have much left to say except for: RYDER! How is that man the epitome of a perfect book boyfriend?!? Probably because he’s fictional, but I digress. No matter their relationship, he always made sure to satisfy her sweet tooth with local delicacies and protect Mabel from the scrutiny of the media. Staging an orgy to make drunk pictures of her disappear? Of course. Anything for his Marshmallow.
Looking at the current Winter Olympics I can fully recommend giving ‘No Fall Zone’ a shot. It is the perfect addition to watching the sport in real time.
Thank you so much for providing me with an arc!!!
~arc for honest review~
February 9, 2026
This is my third of Emily’s books and she excels at building chemistry. Her chapter titles are always clever and witty, the angst is swift and necessary, and the melty moments are constant. I had so many highlights in my ARC copy. I am blown away by the love and respect between these two characters. Mabel and Ryder must endure “friendly” competition for years. Mabel wants to break out from under her parents’ names meanwhile Ryder is coasting along trying to bask in the crumbs of attention Mabel nonchalantly tosses his way like a ponytail over her shoulder. Their hatred is so unfounded that it only takes an unplanned visit to a Vegas chapel for them to face the flames kindling beneath a thin veil of animosity. Living together and competing together had things heating up in no time! This is a perfect book to pick up as the Olympics are starting! I think it has given me a special interest in watching the snowboarding competition this year. I recommend to anyone who is a fan of enemies who don’t actually hate each other, spicy sports romance, and entertaining banter. HEA guarantee!
Review of advance copy
Thank you, Love Notes PR and Emily Shacklette for an ARC copy of this book. All of the thoughts below are my own.
I really love the theme of winter sports in this book and I liked how much attention the author paid to that part of the story, including not so nice treatment of female athletes.
Mabel and Ryder were very likeable characters, I was rooting for them and I would've given this book a higher and the pacing of their story was better. It goes from 0 to a 100 and unfortunately it completely disengaged me from the story. I'd rather the author skipped all of the chapters in italics and instead wrote more of the in-between moments between the MCs.
I really love the theme of winter sports in this book and I liked how much attention the author paid to that part of the story, including not so nice treatment of female athletes.
Mabel and Ryder were very likeable characters, I was rooting for them and I would've given this book a higher and the pacing of their story was better. It goes from 0 to a 100 and unfortunately it completely disengaged me from the story. I'd rather the author skipped all of the chapters in italics and instead wrote more of the in-between moments between the MCs.
February 3, 2026
Thank you love notes PR for the ARC copy!! ✨
This book unfortunately just did not do it for me. It felt so corny and surface level the entire time. I didn’t feel any character development at all. I wanted to like it more because the trope really stood out to me!
One big plus was .. It was a really quick read.
One note on a specific section that could have been omitted .. The moms and publicist walking into their room when they were both naked. This made me so incredibly uncomfortable. I feel like the parents were way too involved in their sex life tbh it felt unnecessary and unnatural.
This book unfortunately just did not do it for me. It felt so corny and surface level the entire time. I didn’t feel any character development at all. I wanted to like it more because the trope really stood out to me!
One big plus was .. It was a really quick read.
One note on a specific section that could have been omitted .. The moms and publicist walking into their room when they were both naked. This made me so incredibly uncomfortable. I feel like the parents were way too involved in their sex life tbh it felt unnecessary and unnatural.
February 9, 2026
ARC Review ❄️🏂
I need to file a formal complaint because where exactly am I supposed to find a Ryder?? This man has been gone for this woman for basically his entire life, and I was NOT emotionally prepared. Absolutely folded. Done for. Goodbye.
When I read the description, two professional snowboarders, a chaotic night in Vegas, an accidental marriage, and then they have to keep up the act for the media?? I was already sold. Say less.
Thank you so much to the author and Love Notes PR for the ARC because I devoured this in one sitting. I told myself I’d read a few chapters before bed, and suddenly it was the end of the book and my eyes were burning. No regrets.
Mabel and Ryder have that top-tier history that makes every conversation feel loaded. The teasing? Sharp. The tension? Constant. You can feel how badly they know each other and how much they try to pretend they don’t care. Meanwhile the entire snowboarding world, the pressure from their famous families, and the countdown to the Winter Games keeps turning up the heat.
And the fake marriage??? Elite chaos. Being stuck together starts dragging up old feelings, bruised egos, jealousy, all the things they’ve avoided saying for years. Every fight felt like it meant ten different things at once, and I ate it up.
If you like sports romance where the stakes are high on and off the mountain, with messy emotions, long history, and a hero who is pathetically in love, you’ll have a really good time with this one.
I need to file a formal complaint because where exactly am I supposed to find a Ryder?? This man has been gone for this woman for basically his entire life, and I was NOT emotionally prepared. Absolutely folded. Done for. Goodbye.
When I read the description, two professional snowboarders, a chaotic night in Vegas, an accidental marriage, and then they have to keep up the act for the media?? I was already sold. Say less.
Thank you so much to the author and Love Notes PR for the ARC because I devoured this in one sitting. I told myself I’d read a few chapters before bed, and suddenly it was the end of the book and my eyes were burning. No regrets.
Mabel and Ryder have that top-tier history that makes every conversation feel loaded. The teasing? Sharp. The tension? Constant. You can feel how badly they know each other and how much they try to pretend they don’t care. Meanwhile the entire snowboarding world, the pressure from their famous families, and the countdown to the Winter Games keeps turning up the heat.
And the fake marriage??? Elite chaos. Being stuck together starts dragging up old feelings, bruised egos, jealousy, all the things they’ve avoided saying for years. Every fight felt like it meant ten different things at once, and I ate it up.
If you like sports romance where the stakes are high on and off the mountain, with messy emotions, long history, and a hero who is pathetically in love, you’ll have a really good time with this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh Ryder! I absolutely loved him. He adored Mabel and protected her in ways she didn't even realize. Always there to support her no matter how annoyed she was with him. Mabel was strong and independent. She fought her feelings for Ryder for so long. I loved seeing their friendship grow into so much more.
January 25, 2026
Thankful for the opportunity to ARC this book and I LOVED IT!!! Mabel and Ryder are the best frenemies and I couldn’t get enough!
February 11, 2026
Great little quick Olympics-inspired read!
February 10, 2026
Thanks to the author for this ARC opportunity! I read this book in one night. I literally read it in one sitting. I started and couldn't stop until I finished it.
It’s a sports romance packed with all the classic tropes in a snowy, high-stakes adventure. It had frenemies turning into lovers, a fake marriage, and even an accidental Vegas wedding!
Mabel and Ryder’s banter was sharp, and rooted in years of shared history, which makes every interaction crackle with tension. I loved how the competitive snowboard world added pressure and realism. Plus, the media scrutiny, the legacy of famous parents, and the looming Winter Games (Olympics) all raise the stakes in a way that actually matters. The fake marriage setup is deliciously messy, especially as forced proximity starts peeling back emotional layers neither of them wanted to face.
There’s pride, jealousy, unspoken feelings, and the weight of living in each other’s shadow as the children of legendary athletes. Every argument feels layered with things they’ve never said out loud.
Ryder being secretly mad for Mabel for years completely reframes their dynamic in the best way. His patience and quiet devotion contrast beautifully with Mabel’s emotional walls and denial of it. Mabel’s development from seeing Ryder as her lifelong annoyance and rival to realizing he’s been her safest place all along was incredibly satisfying to watch unfold. And the fake marriage only amplifies their frenemy energy: forced proximity, shared spaces, and lingering looks that turn arguments into sparks. Their relationship is messy, competitive, tender, and real. Exactly what you want from a romance done right.
So, this is a swoony, entertaining read that balances romance and sports really well. Perfect if you love fake relationships that blur into something real.
It’s a sports romance packed with all the classic tropes in a snowy, high-stakes adventure. It had frenemies turning into lovers, a fake marriage, and even an accidental Vegas wedding!
Mabel and Ryder’s banter was sharp, and rooted in years of shared history, which makes every interaction crackle with tension. I loved how the competitive snowboard world added pressure and realism. Plus, the media scrutiny, the legacy of famous parents, and the looming Winter Games (Olympics) all raise the stakes in a way that actually matters. The fake marriage setup is deliciously messy, especially as forced proximity starts peeling back emotional layers neither of them wanted to face.
There’s pride, jealousy, unspoken feelings, and the weight of living in each other’s shadow as the children of legendary athletes. Every argument feels layered with things they’ve never said out loud.
Ryder being secretly mad for Mabel for years completely reframes their dynamic in the best way. His patience and quiet devotion contrast beautifully with Mabel’s emotional walls and denial of it. Mabel’s development from seeing Ryder as her lifelong annoyance and rival to realizing he’s been her safest place all along was incredibly satisfying to watch unfold. And the fake marriage only amplifies their frenemy energy: forced proximity, shared spaces, and lingering looks that turn arguments into sparks. Their relationship is messy, competitive, tender, and real. Exactly what you want from a romance done right.
So, this is a swoony, entertaining read that balances romance and sports really well. Perfect if you love fake relationships that blur into something real.
Review of advance copy received from Author
જ⁀➴ 3 stars
Thank you to Emily Shacklette and LoveNotes PR for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. No Fall Zone will be officially published on February 2nd, 2026!
༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ
After reading Cloud Nine, I was definitely in the mood for another snowboarding romance, and it just so happens that BOTH MCs in the story are Olympic snowboarders, so if you're looking to build your winter romance TBR for the Olympics coming up, I highly suggest adding this one to your list, too! This was such a fast read and a lot of fun, and while it wasn't without its flaws—specifically with the romance itself—I was glad to see that snowboarding romances are entering the mix of sports romances and I'd love to read more about the sport in the future!
Mabel Quinn and Ryder Finch are the children of a sports dynasty. With each of their parents being not only Olympians, but also best friends, they've been stuck together since day 1. They've grown up alongside each other and became frenemies and competitors at the Olympics, and because of their families' statuses, they're constantly in the spotlight. When a night out in Vegas before the Winter Olympics results in them waking up next to each other in bed with rings on their fingers, it doesn't take long for them to realize they got married in a drunken haze. With their reputations—and their careers—on the line, they reluctantly decide to be fake married until the Olympics are over. It's easier said than done...right?
As I mentioned earlier, I think it's refreshing to see a winter sports romance that doesn't revolve around hockey or figure skating. Don't get me wrong, I love me a good hockey romance, and I've always been fascinated by figure skating, but I think it's nice that other sports are starting to leave their mark on the sports romance subgenre that are always so heavily dominated by wildly popular sports, like football, hockey, basketball, F1, and baseball.
The other thing I loved about this story is the juxtaposition between Quinn and Ryder's experiences as world-famous athletes in the spotlight. It highlights a lot of flaws that are still seen not only in sports, but society as a whole when it comes to gender expectations and stereotypes. We see Ryder as a "playboy," although there are reasons why he's done what he's done in the past and everything you see doesn't mean it's true, and people seem to be more interested in his love life and just everything about him in general. On the other hand, we see Quinn heavily media-trained to give out generic, professional responses in interviews because one wrong step will get her ripped apart by the masses. We see Quinn having to take and endure every shot, jab, and insult hurled her way and having to prove herself on the halfpipe, yet even after she succeeds, she's still trashed on by beat reporters. I think No Fall Zone highlighted these disparities well.
The one thing I couldn't get past is the development of Quinn and Ryder's relationship. Yes, they've known each other since they were babies, and yes, they've grown up alongside each other. However, for Quinn, who sees Ryder as a nuisance 90% of the time, but the feelings didn't really seem the same coming from Ryder, I found it hard to believe that once they got drunkenly married, the relationship between them went from like, 0 to 10,000 in a matter of a few chapters. I think part of this is because the book is a little more than 200 pages, so while it is a fast read, I personally didn't think it was long enough to let their relationship develop and deepen to make it believable that they were developing feelings for each other. I honestly wouldn't have minded if the book was like, 50-100 pages longer if that meant we got to see Quinn and Ryder get to know each other a little more.
Overall, if you're looking for a cute, fast Olympics-themed read before the Olympics start in a few days, this might be the book for you!
༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ
Trigger/content warnings: alcohol consumption, sexual content (1.5/5 stars, although this is just MY personal rating and this may vary from person to person depending on their comfort level with spice)
Thank you to Emily Shacklette and LoveNotes PR for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. No Fall Zone will be officially published on February 2nd, 2026!
"It's not crazy, Mabel. It's you and me. Our destinies have always been intertwined. We're written in the stars."
༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ
After reading Cloud Nine, I was definitely in the mood for another snowboarding romance, and it just so happens that BOTH MCs in the story are Olympic snowboarders, so if you're looking to build your winter romance TBR for the Olympics coming up, I highly suggest adding this one to your list, too! This was such a fast read and a lot of fun, and while it wasn't without its flaws—specifically with the romance itself—I was glad to see that snowboarding romances are entering the mix of sports romances and I'd love to read more about the sport in the future!
Mabel Quinn and Ryder Finch are the children of a sports dynasty. With each of their parents being not only Olympians, but also best friends, they've been stuck together since day 1. They've grown up alongside each other and became frenemies and competitors at the Olympics, and because of their families' statuses, they're constantly in the spotlight. When a night out in Vegas before the Winter Olympics results in them waking up next to each other in bed with rings on their fingers, it doesn't take long for them to realize they got married in a drunken haze. With their reputations—and their careers—on the line, they reluctantly decide to be fake married until the Olympics are over. It's easier said than done...right?
As I mentioned earlier, I think it's refreshing to see a winter sports romance that doesn't revolve around hockey or figure skating. Don't get me wrong, I love me a good hockey romance, and I've always been fascinated by figure skating, but I think it's nice that other sports are starting to leave their mark on the sports romance subgenre that are always so heavily dominated by wildly popular sports, like football, hockey, basketball, F1, and baseball.
The other thing I loved about this story is the juxtaposition between Quinn and Ryder's experiences as world-famous athletes in the spotlight. It highlights a lot of flaws that are still seen not only in sports, but society as a whole when it comes to gender expectations and stereotypes. We see Ryder as a "playboy," although there are reasons why he's done what he's done in the past and everything you see doesn't mean it's true, and people seem to be more interested in his love life and just everything about him in general. On the other hand, we see Quinn heavily media-trained to give out generic, professional responses in interviews because one wrong step will get her ripped apart by the masses. We see Quinn having to take and endure every shot, jab, and insult hurled her way and having to prove herself on the halfpipe, yet even after she succeeds, she's still trashed on by beat reporters. I think No Fall Zone highlighted these disparities well.
The one thing I couldn't get past is the development of Quinn and Ryder's relationship. Yes, they've known each other since they were babies, and yes, they've grown up alongside each other. However, for Quinn, who sees Ryder as a nuisance 90% of the time, but the feelings didn't really seem the same coming from Ryder, I found it hard to believe that once they got drunkenly married, the relationship between them went from like, 0 to 10,000 in a matter of a few chapters. I think part of this is because the book is a little more than 200 pages, so while it is a fast read, I personally didn't think it was long enough to let their relationship develop and deepen to make it believable that they were developing feelings for each other. I honestly wouldn't have minded if the book was like, 50-100 pages longer if that meant we got to see Quinn and Ryder get to know each other a little more.
Overall, if you're looking for a cute, fast Olympics-themed read before the Olympics start in a few days, this might be the book for you!
༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ༘⋆🤍˚ .❄️₊˚ෆ
Trigger/content warnings: alcohol consumption, sexual content (1.5/5 stars, although this is just MY personal rating and this may vary from person to person depending on their comfort level with spice)
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you're looking for some fun in the snow then this is for you! A Childhood friends/frenemies to lovers romance who are olympic athletes. Thank you to LoveNotesPR and the author for the ARC in return for an honest review!
★ ★ ★.2 ☆ ☆
"You might as well start thinking of me as a vertical drop off the side of a mountain. Stay in the air, buddy, because this? This is a no fall zone."
Children of a pair of legendary athletes and best friends, Mabel and Ryder are lifelong frenemies and fellow pro snowboarders. Although Ryder has been pining for Mabel since they were teens, he riles her up any chance he gets just for a scrap of attention from her. Meanwhile, Mabel sees him as a frenemie as she believes her childhood crush on Ryder was unrequited. After an impulsive drunken night out in Vegas, they wake up to find out they accidentally got married! With the upcoming Winter Sports competition in Milan and the media on their case, they will have to fake it to avoid damaging their careers. As confessions and truths are unearthed, can they unwind the ropes that hardened their hearts and make it through the competition? Will it remain the no fall zone?
"...even though I sometimes want to push him off the side of the mountain, Ryder is also the person I don't ever want to live without."
I loved the female in sport representation and recognition on women talked about differently in sport; focusing on their appearance, when they're having children or comparisons to other women. A woman can't POSSIBLY be just good at sports. I wish there was more of a plot that dove deeper into this topic but I was glad the FMC stayed true to her characters and tried to fight the backlash rather than letting it drown her.
The romance had promise at the start, with Mabel and Ryder consistently bickering but with undertones of love and yearning. However, once they were married it kind of went from zero too a hundred and I would have liked to see more development in their feelings for each other, especially the difficulties of unwinding what years of bickering back and forth did to Mabel. Despite this, Ryder is just a sweet little cookie and I enjoyed his patience with Mabel and that he had been secretly protecting her reputation for years.
"It was always going to be me and Ryder, the love of my life masquerading as my best frenemy."
Better than the romance was the friendship with Danny and Mabel. Their banter was so smooth and hilarious - Danny had me cackling! Without his tough love and witty comebacks, I don't think this book would be what it was. All in all I did devour this in two nights as it was a fun, light read!
"No fall zone, my ass."
What's included:
Pro Snowboarders
Frenemies to Lovers
Accidentally Married
Fake it till you make it
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
"It's always been you"
★ ★ ★.2 ☆ ☆
"You might as well start thinking of me as a vertical drop off the side of a mountain. Stay in the air, buddy, because this? This is a no fall zone."
Children of a pair of legendary athletes and best friends, Mabel and Ryder are lifelong frenemies and fellow pro snowboarders. Although Ryder has been pining for Mabel since they were teens, he riles her up any chance he gets just for a scrap of attention from her. Meanwhile, Mabel sees him as a frenemie as she believes her childhood crush on Ryder was unrequited. After an impulsive drunken night out in Vegas, they wake up to find out they accidentally got married! With the upcoming Winter Sports competition in Milan and the media on their case, they will have to fake it to avoid damaging their careers. As confessions and truths are unearthed, can they unwind the ropes that hardened their hearts and make it through the competition? Will it remain the no fall zone?
"...even though I sometimes want to push him off the side of the mountain, Ryder is also the person I don't ever want to live without."
I loved the female in sport representation and recognition on women talked about differently in sport; focusing on their appearance, when they're having children or comparisons to other women. A woman can't POSSIBLY be just good at sports. I wish there was more of a plot that dove deeper into this topic but I was glad the FMC stayed true to her characters and tried to fight the backlash rather than letting it drown her.
The romance had promise at the start, with Mabel and Ryder consistently bickering but with undertones of love and yearning. However, once they were married it kind of went from zero too a hundred and I would have liked to see more development in their feelings for each other, especially the difficulties of unwinding what years of bickering back and forth did to Mabel. Despite this, Ryder is just a sweet little cookie and I enjoyed his patience with Mabel and that he had been secretly protecting her reputation for years.
"It was always going to be me and Ryder, the love of my life masquerading as my best frenemy."
Better than the romance was the friendship with Danny and Mabel. Their banter was so smooth and hilarious - Danny had me cackling! Without his tough love and witty comebacks, I don't think this book would be what it was. All in all I did devour this in two nights as it was a fun, light read!
"No fall zone, my ass."
What's included:
Pro Snowboarders
Frenemies to Lovers
Accidentally Married
Fake it till you make it
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
"It's always been you"
Review of advance copy received from Author
My Rating: ✨✨✨✨✨
FIVE STARS. NOTHING LESS. EVERYTHING MORE.
Let me start off by saying that I finished this book in a matter of hours and within two chapters I knew this book would be five stars. I know there’s a lot of readers out there fighting to see some male yearning and I have to tell you, Ryder Finch has nailed it throughout this book. The longing, the desire and the need that is coursing through this mans veins for Mabel was the best I have read in years. I loved loved loved this book and I will not only be reading it again, I will be purchasing my book trophy and admiring it for years to come. To those of you in my direct circle, good luck, because I will never shut up about this book.
This story follows pro-snowboarders, Ryder Finch and Mabel Quinn at the many Winter Games they attend over the years. We see Ryder fighting for Mabel to pay him any inch of attention and eventually win her heart. The two riders, whose parents are best friends, have known each other for as long as Mabel has been alive and grew up boarding together. I am recommending this book to anyone (and everyone) who loves a bit of sport with their romance, a lot of male yearning, an accidental marriage, a black cat and golden retriever couple and some of “it has always been you”. This book holds a special place in my heart as I am a snowboarder/skier also, and I loved how Emily Shacklette captured every element that comes with a sport like this. Her detail and the recognition she showed to the struggle for women to be recognised equally was amazing and added the emotional depth that this story required.
Quotes and Notes
I am only posting a limited number of quotes on here, but check out my instagram for more of this man's obsession
‘And later that night, when Mabel sends me a picture of herself lying in bed and flipping me the bird, I set it as my phone’s wallpaper and stare at it until I fall asleep.’
My reaction: OH MY DEAREST GOODNESS
I didn't say much here because I want you to experience all the giddiness I did while reading this book but this man is everything someone is looking for in a book boyfriend and I hope you enjoy reading about his love for Mabel as much as I did.
I am beyond grateful for receiving this book as an ARC and to Love Notes PR and Emily Shackette for selecting me for this opportunity.
FIVE STARS. NOTHING LESS. EVERYTHING MORE.
Let me start off by saying that I finished this book in a matter of hours and within two chapters I knew this book would be five stars. I know there’s a lot of readers out there fighting to see some male yearning and I have to tell you, Ryder Finch has nailed it throughout this book. The longing, the desire and the need that is coursing through this mans veins for Mabel was the best I have read in years. I loved loved loved this book and I will not only be reading it again, I will be purchasing my book trophy and admiring it for years to come. To those of you in my direct circle, good luck, because I will never shut up about this book.
This story follows pro-snowboarders, Ryder Finch and Mabel Quinn at the many Winter Games they attend over the years. We see Ryder fighting for Mabel to pay him any inch of attention and eventually win her heart. The two riders, whose parents are best friends, have known each other for as long as Mabel has been alive and grew up boarding together. I am recommending this book to anyone (and everyone) who loves a bit of sport with their romance, a lot of male yearning, an accidental marriage, a black cat and golden retriever couple and some of “it has always been you”. This book holds a special place in my heart as I am a snowboarder/skier also, and I loved how Emily Shacklette captured every element that comes with a sport like this. Her detail and the recognition she showed to the struggle for women to be recognised equally was amazing and added the emotional depth that this story required.
Quotes and Notes
I am only posting a limited number of quotes on here, but check out my instagram for more of this man's obsession
‘And later that night, when Mabel sends me a picture of herself lying in bed and flipping me the bird, I set it as my phone’s wallpaper and stare at it until I fall asleep.’
My reaction: OH MY DEAREST GOODNESS
I didn't say much here because I want you to experience all the giddiness I did while reading this book but this man is everything someone is looking for in a book boyfriend and I hope you enjoy reading about his love for Mabel as much as I did.
I am beyond grateful for receiving this book as an ARC and to Love Notes PR and Emily Shackette for selecting me for this opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from Author
MMC/FMC: Ryder and Mabel
Tropes:
* Sports romance (pro snowboarders)
* Frenemies to more
* Impulsive wedding
* Fake marriage
* Unrequited love
* It’s always been her
* LGTBQI+ rep
Safety:
* Perceived pressure from parents
* Attempted SA (historical, off page)
* Excessive alcohol use
I quite liked Ryder and Mabel. Both with crushes, both thinking the other didn’t want them, so it ended up being a very interesting ‘friendship’.
Ryder, for all intents and purposes, is a bit of golden retriever for Mabel. He lives to torment her, but he’s secretly in love… His secret reveal in chapter 19 made me squee!!!! He’s a unicorn!
Mabel, proudly queer, has had a crush on Ryder for years, but I can understand her reasons for steering clear. I mean, if someone was tormenting me, I would probably assume the same as she did.
“I need some kind of structure. I need to know I have even the smallest amount of control over my life or I’m going to lose it.”
Their parents, and Trina… not a fan. Controlling, judgemental and actually not nice. The fact that it ends well does not justify their attitudes and actions. I suppose it’s good that they like their careers, because it seemed like they had no real choice about those either. I know it ended well, but it just wasn’t a nice feeling.
The story hooked me, and I had a great time reading it. This tackled tough topics; misogyny, media, nepotism, media intrusion, the realities of fame and the double standards that we’re all forced to live with.
Mabel was so real. She was grumpy, tired of the c.rap and so hurt by what is being thrown at her. Despite him annoying me at times, I’m glad she had Ryder in her corner.
So much humour, and emotion. Their relationship ended up being gorgeous… and I loved how ‘marshmallow’ was continued!
Thanks Emily, for the advance copy!
Tropes:
* Sports romance (pro snowboarders)
* Frenemies to more
* Impulsive wedding
* Fake marriage
* Unrequited love
* It’s always been her
* LGTBQI+ rep
Safety:
* Perceived pressure from parents
* Attempted SA (historical, off page)
* Excessive alcohol use
I quite liked Ryder and Mabel. Both with crushes, both thinking the other didn’t want them, so it ended up being a very interesting ‘friendship’.
Ryder, for all intents and purposes, is a bit of golden retriever for Mabel. He lives to torment her, but he’s secretly in love… His secret reveal in chapter 19 made me squee!!!! He’s a unicorn!
Mabel, proudly queer, has had a crush on Ryder for years, but I can understand her reasons for steering clear. I mean, if someone was tormenting me, I would probably assume the same as she did.
“I need some kind of structure. I need to know I have even the smallest amount of control over my life or I’m going to lose it.”
Their parents, and Trina… not a fan. Controlling, judgemental and actually not nice. The fact that it ends well does not justify their attitudes and actions. I suppose it’s good that they like their careers, because it seemed like they had no real choice about those either. I know it ended well, but it just wasn’t a nice feeling.
The story hooked me, and I had a great time reading it. This tackled tough topics; misogyny, media, nepotism, media intrusion, the realities of fame and the double standards that we’re all forced to live with.
Mabel was so real. She was grumpy, tired of the c.rap and so hurt by what is being thrown at her. Despite him annoying me at times, I’m glad she had Ryder in her corner.
So much humour, and emotion. Their relationship ended up being gorgeous… and I loved how ‘marshmallow’ was continued!
Thanks Emily, for the advance copy!
February 5, 2026
MMC Riley and FMC Mable have known each other their whole lives - their parents are best friends and also all former Olympic medalists. Riley and Mable have both been living under the pressure of the "family name" so to speak their whole lives and they both chose to go away from the family sports and into snowboarding. I was so excited to get another chance to ARC read a book by Emily, but I had a hard time in the beginning of the book - I'm not gonna lie, this started off a bit slow for me and I found Mable to be a bit annoying in the first few chapters. In fact this quote from her " I'm a mess. I'm a confused, messy brat and even I can't be on my side right now" summed it up perfectly how I felt about her. HOWEVER, after about page 60, when the action really picked up I could NOT put this book down. Not only did I get a female athlete MC, I got my favorite "drunk wedding in Vegas" trope! And once I was hooked on the story, Riley and Mable kept me laughing and cheering for them. I love Emily's books have the BEST chapter titles. Riley totally made the best golden retriever MMC I think I've ever read and the boy has been DOWN BAD for Mable since he was 17. I loved watching Mable come into her own on several levels. Watching her finally let her walls come down, to admit her feelings for Riley, to see his for her was great. But even better was watching her navigate being a woman in competitive sports - going from the "perfect PR" package to speaking out about the misogyny and calling out the blatant double standards give to female athletes vs male made me cheer! And Riley's ability to stand back and let her fly was *chef's kiss*. At slightly more than 200 pages this was a quick read and while I could have read another 100 pages - I also didn't feel like there was a single thing missing! Thank you Love Notes PR and Emily for the ARC read.
February 9, 2026
📖Book Review📖
No fall zone
Please check for any trigger warnings before you start this book. Your Mental Health is important.
I was kindly given an arc copy of this by love notes pr and Emily Shacklette.
I enjoyed this, the story flowed an the chapters were quick and easy to read and it was fast paced.
I loved Mabel and Ryders relationship and how they bantered with eachother.
And I loved the spicy 😘👌🏻
Ryder was a man OBSESSED and I was so here for it, it was adorable.
I loved how the chapters had names, it made the reading experience more fun. I also liked how we got to see Mabel and Ryder in some of the past olympics and how they interacted each time.
Also Ryder getting the traditional sweet for Mabel 🥹🩷. Stop because my heart can’t take it.
This book has me smiling all the way through.
I think this is important to note as well but the fmc in the book is bisexual and I loved that because it made the book more inclusive and that’s great, we always need more inclusivity in the world. It helps to show that it’s ok to love who you love and you shouldn’t be shamed for it.
I thought it was really cute how when something would happen with Mabel in the tabloids that Ryder would create a bigger scandal just so the spotlight would be on him rather than her, so she wouldn’t get into trouble.
It’s a romance about professional snowboarders which is new to me but I loved it a lot.
Definitely a read you should pick up x
Tropes
🏂Professional snow boarders
🥇Winter games
💍Accidentally married
🗣️Teasing as a love language
❤️🔥Frenemies to lovers
😍He falls first
🥵Virgin MMC
🐈⬛Black cat x 🐶golden retriever
🥰Cute nicknames
💋Bisexual FMC and MMC
4.5⭐️
3/3.5🌶️
*Images are from Pinterest and are being used for book review aesthetic/purposes only.
No fall zone
Please check for any trigger warnings before you start this book. Your Mental Health is important.
I was kindly given an arc copy of this by love notes pr and Emily Shacklette.
I enjoyed this, the story flowed an the chapters were quick and easy to read and it was fast paced.
I loved Mabel and Ryders relationship and how they bantered with eachother.
And I loved the spicy 😘👌🏻
Ryder was a man OBSESSED and I was so here for it, it was adorable.
I loved how the chapters had names, it made the reading experience more fun. I also liked how we got to see Mabel and Ryder in some of the past olympics and how they interacted each time.
Also Ryder getting the traditional sweet for Mabel 🥹🩷. Stop because my heart can’t take it.
This book has me smiling all the way through.
I think this is important to note as well but the fmc in the book is bisexual and I loved that because it made the book more inclusive and that’s great, we always need more inclusivity in the world. It helps to show that it’s ok to love who you love and you shouldn’t be shamed for it.
I thought it was really cute how when something would happen with Mabel in the tabloids that Ryder would create a bigger scandal just so the spotlight would be on him rather than her, so she wouldn’t get into trouble.
It’s a romance about professional snowboarders which is new to me but I loved it a lot.
Definitely a read you should pick up x
Tropes
🏂Professional snow boarders
🥇Winter games
💍Accidentally married
🗣️Teasing as a love language
❤️🔥Frenemies to lovers
😍He falls first
🥵Virgin MMC
🐈⬛Black cat x 🐶golden retriever
🥰Cute nicknames
💋Bisexual FMC and MMC
4.5⭐️
3/3.5🌶️
*Images are from Pinterest and are being used for book review aesthetic/purposes only.
February 8, 2026
I went into No Fall Zone a little unsure because friends-to-lovers isn’t usually a trope I gravitate toward, but the ice sport theme instantly pulled me in and the way Emily Shacklette wrote this completely won me over. I loved every second of it. The emotional depth between the characters felt so genuine, especially knowing they had secretly loved each other since childhood while everyone around them could see it long before they did. That slow, heartfelt realisation made the romance incredibly satisfying.
The tropes in this book were done so well. The slow burn had me completely hooked—I was just waiting for that kiss the entire time. And the sheer surprise when Ryder turned out to be a virgin because he wanted only Mabel omg!!! That reveal added such an emotional punch and made their connection feel even more meaningful. I also loved that they’re both pro athletes who are deeply passionate about their sports, longtime rivals on the surface but so obviously and severely in love underneath it all. That tension between competition and devotion was everything.
One of my absolute favourite side characters was Danny. His dynamic with the Mabel added such a great layer of warmth and humour, giving the story those lighter moments that balance the emotion perfectly. He truly felt like the kind of character who makes a book memorable.
Alongside the beautiful friends-to-lovers arc, the story also weaves in elements of slow burn tension, emotional healing, rivalry-to-love energy, and found-family vibes all of which made the story more enjoyable and it gave me a greater connection with the story.
I’ve given this 4.5 stars and will definitely be buying a physical copy as a trophy for my collection. I’m already excited to dive into more books by Emily Shacklette because if this story is anything to go by, I know I’m in for something special.
The tropes in this book were done so well. The slow burn had me completely hooked—I was just waiting for that kiss the entire time. And the sheer surprise when Ryder turned out to be a virgin because he wanted only Mabel omg!!! That reveal added such an emotional punch and made their connection feel even more meaningful. I also loved that they’re both pro athletes who are deeply passionate about their sports, longtime rivals on the surface but so obviously and severely in love underneath it all. That tension between competition and devotion was everything.
One of my absolute favourite side characters was Danny. His dynamic with the Mabel added such a great layer of warmth and humour, giving the story those lighter moments that balance the emotion perfectly. He truly felt like the kind of character who makes a book memorable.
Alongside the beautiful friends-to-lovers arc, the story also weaves in elements of slow burn tension, emotional healing, rivalry-to-love energy, and found-family vibes all of which made the story more enjoyable and it gave me a greater connection with the story.
I’ve given this 4.5 stars and will definitely be buying a physical copy as a trophy for my collection. I’m already excited to dive into more books by Emily Shacklette because if this story is anything to go by, I know I’m in for something special.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 24, 2026This book completely stole my heart—and as someone who loves the Winter Olympics, lives for snowboarding, and used to work on a mountain where I rode every chance I got, this story felt tailor-made for me (minus the real life romance).
Mabel and Ryder are lifelong frenemies, elite snowboarders, and the kids of legendary athletes. They’ve grown up side by side on the slopes, pushing each other, competing, and pretending there’s nothing more there. Then a chaotic Vegas night happens (what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas....right?!?!?!) With the Winter Games just weeks away and the spotlight blazing, they’re forced to deal with the "mistake" until Milan to protect their careers.
What I loved most is how authentic the snowboarding world feels. The training, the pressure, the media attention, the all-consuming focus - it all rang so true to life on a mountain and the mindset of competitive riding. Shacklette doesn’t just use snowboarding as a backdrop; it’s woven into the characters, their fears, and the risks they’re willing to take.
Add in fake marriage, forced proximity, lifelong chemistry, and Ryder’s long-held feelings for Mabel finally bubbling to the surface - and suddenly this “plan” doesn’t feel fake at all. The romance builds naturally, the banter is fun, and the emotional stakes hit just as hard as the athletic ones.
If you love the Winter Olympics, sports romance, or have ever lived for powder days and competition runs, No Fall Zone is such a rewarding, swoony read.
Thanks @lovenotes.pr and @authoremilyshack for the opportunity to be an advanced reader.
Mabel and Ryder are lifelong frenemies, elite snowboarders, and the kids of legendary athletes. They’ve grown up side by side on the slopes, pushing each other, competing, and pretending there’s nothing more there. Then a chaotic Vegas night happens (what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas....right?!?!?!) With the Winter Games just weeks away and the spotlight blazing, they’re forced to deal with the "mistake" until Milan to protect their careers.
What I loved most is how authentic the snowboarding world feels. The training, the pressure, the media attention, the all-consuming focus - it all rang so true to life on a mountain and the mindset of competitive riding. Shacklette doesn’t just use snowboarding as a backdrop; it’s woven into the characters, their fears, and the risks they’re willing to take.
Add in fake marriage, forced proximity, lifelong chemistry, and Ryder’s long-held feelings for Mabel finally bubbling to the surface - and suddenly this “plan” doesn’t feel fake at all. The romance builds naturally, the banter is fun, and the emotional stakes hit just as hard as the athletic ones.
If you love the Winter Olympics, sports romance, or have ever lived for powder days and competition runs, No Fall Zone is such a rewarding, swoony read.
Thanks @lovenotes.pr and @authoremilyshack for the opportunity to be an advanced reader.
Review of advance copy
✨️✨️ARC Review✨️✨️
This is a fun, fast-paced sports romance with plenty of heart and tension woven through it. Mabel and Ryder’s lifelong frenemy dynamic is established straight away and their banter feels natural and clearly has years of shared history behind it. Their Vegas wedding is delightfully chaotic and the fallout adds just the right amount of pressure with the way their families are so closely connected, the Winter Games looming and how the media watches their every move, especially Mabel.
I really enjoyed the fake marriage setup and how it forces both characters to confront feelings they have been ignoring for far too long. Ryder’s long-held love for Mabel adds a lovely layer of yearning, while Mabel’s gradual realisation that she isn't one sided in the way she feels is handled with warmth and care. Their transition from pretending to something deeper feels believable, especially as they arw forced to start sharing a home and opening up to each other in quieter, more vulnerable moments.
I loved how Emily didn’t shy away from showing how differently the media and society at large treat women who are in the limelight. Facing head on the difference in how their "sudden marriage" was spoken about and also showing the affect it can have on how a woman behaves. The way Ryder wanted to jump in and protect her but held back to let Mabel speak for herself was well written and didn't feel forced.
The snowboarding backdrop is a great fit for their story, giving the romance a sense of adrenaline and high stakes without overwhelming the relationship itself. While a few moments leaned into familiar tropes, the strong chemistry and emotional payoff made it easy to stay invested.
Overall, this is a charming friends-to-frenemies-to-lovers romance full of humour, tension, and many heartfelt moments. The jump to their future was well done and showed how much Ryder really cares for Mabel's dreams, not following the usual gender bias of a woman having to give up her career once they've found love and have a child.
A great pick if you enjoy fake marriages, forced proximity, and characters who have been in love with each other long before they are brave enough to admit it.
This is a fun, fast-paced sports romance with plenty of heart and tension woven through it. Mabel and Ryder’s lifelong frenemy dynamic is established straight away and their banter feels natural and clearly has years of shared history behind it. Their Vegas wedding is delightfully chaotic and the fallout adds just the right amount of pressure with the way their families are so closely connected, the Winter Games looming and how the media watches their every move, especially Mabel.
I really enjoyed the fake marriage setup and how it forces both characters to confront feelings they have been ignoring for far too long. Ryder’s long-held love for Mabel adds a lovely layer of yearning, while Mabel’s gradual realisation that she isn't one sided in the way she feels is handled with warmth and care. Their transition from pretending to something deeper feels believable, especially as they arw forced to start sharing a home and opening up to each other in quieter, more vulnerable moments.
I loved how Emily didn’t shy away from showing how differently the media and society at large treat women who are in the limelight. Facing head on the difference in how their "sudden marriage" was spoken about and also showing the affect it can have on how a woman behaves. The way Ryder wanted to jump in and protect her but held back to let Mabel speak for herself was well written and didn't feel forced.
The snowboarding backdrop is a great fit for their story, giving the romance a sense of adrenaline and high stakes without overwhelming the relationship itself. While a few moments leaned into familiar tropes, the strong chemistry and emotional payoff made it easy to stay invested.
Overall, this is a charming friends-to-frenemies-to-lovers romance full of humour, tension, and many heartfelt moments. The jump to their future was well done and showed how much Ryder really cares for Mabel's dreams, not following the usual gender bias of a woman having to give up her career once they've found love and have a child.
A great pick if you enjoy fake marriages, forced proximity, and characters who have been in love with each other long before they are brave enough to admit it.
February 4, 2026
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆/5 stars!!!
“Our destinies have always been intertwined. We’re written in the stars.”
Book Tropes:
* Accidental marriage
* Frenemies to lovers
* Sports romance
I want to give a huge thank you to Love Notes PR and Emily Shacklette for this fun ARC read! This was the perfect book to get into the mood for the upcoming Winter Olympics, and I had a great time reading it!
Professional snowboarders Mabel Quinn and Ryder Finch have been frenemies since they were kids. Now, especially with Ryder’s insistent teasing and obnoxious nicknames, they hate each other more than ever. However, when one drunken night in Las Vegas ends with the two of them accidentally married just weeks before the Winter Games, Mabel and Ryder have no choice to stay together. However, as they are forced to spend more time together, Mabel and Ryder learn more about each other and begin to develop a deeper connection. Soon enough, Mabel realizes that she’s far past the point of return and begins to fall in love with her rival.
This book was so much fun!! It was the perfect time to read it, especially with the Olympics coming up, and I loved it! The banter between Ryder and Mabel was incredible, and the pacing in it was perfect! I was never bored reading this book, and I was engaged from beginning to end. Also, I LOVED Ryder’s golden retriever energy! It perfectly contrasts Mabel personality, and it made their relationship so much more fun.
Thank you again to Emily Shacklette and Love Notes PR for this fun ARC read! No Fall Zone is out today, so I highly recommend checking it out, especially if you love the Olympics or any kind of sports romance!
“Our destinies have always been intertwined. We’re written in the stars.”
Book Tropes:
* Accidental marriage
* Frenemies to lovers
* Sports romance
I want to give a huge thank you to Love Notes PR and Emily Shacklette for this fun ARC read! This was the perfect book to get into the mood for the upcoming Winter Olympics, and I had a great time reading it!
Professional snowboarders Mabel Quinn and Ryder Finch have been frenemies since they were kids. Now, especially with Ryder’s insistent teasing and obnoxious nicknames, they hate each other more than ever. However, when one drunken night in Las Vegas ends with the two of them accidentally married just weeks before the Winter Games, Mabel and Ryder have no choice to stay together. However, as they are forced to spend more time together, Mabel and Ryder learn more about each other and begin to develop a deeper connection. Soon enough, Mabel realizes that she’s far past the point of return and begins to fall in love with her rival.
This book was so much fun!! It was the perfect time to read it, especially with the Olympics coming up, and I loved it! The banter between Ryder and Mabel was incredible, and the pacing in it was perfect! I was never bored reading this book, and I was engaged from beginning to end. Also, I LOVED Ryder’s golden retriever energy! It perfectly contrasts Mabel personality, and it made their relationship so much more fun.
Thank you again to Emily Shacklette and Love Notes PR for this fun ARC read! No Fall Zone is out today, so I highly recommend checking it out, especially if you love the Olympics or any kind of sports romance!
Review of advance copy received from Author
BETA review
5⭐|3🌶|14%🌶frequency
So many emotions... So much pining...
Why am I such a ma$och!$t when it comes to pining? Give me an MMC who is in love with the FMC since forever, and I'm a goner 🥰 And then an accidental marriage in Vegas... 🤩 Love that so much.
Ryder, Ryder, Ryder 😍 I really don't know what to say. He is just perfect. It's not just his secret love for Mabel, but everything he did for her.
But it's not just Ryder who is secretly in love, it's Mable too 🥰
And still both act as if they hate each other 🙈 Especially Mable's bickering 🤣
It's definitely a typical Emily book 😁
But don't ask me what that means 🙈 I just know, if I were to get it without knowing who wrote it, I could name it.
The way the characters act and interact. The way the MMCs protect their significant other. The fact of so many queer characters. The fact of secrets. Just all of that. Oh, and not to forget the dirty talking MMCs 😎
If you like winter sports, especially snowboarding. If you like the Winter Olympics. If you like all the other things I already said, then you need to read this book!
You will laugh. You will swoon. You will get wet eyes 🥹 And of course, you will get warm because of the 🌶️ 😎
One thing just for Emily, because I know she will read this review...
If you ever change the ebook cover, I'll never forgive you!!! The model is just so freaking 🔥 and absolute Ryder 😍
Thanks to the author for trusting me with a BETA 🩷
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
5⭐|3🌶|14%🌶frequency
So many emotions... So much pining...
Why am I such a ma$och!$t when it comes to pining? Give me an MMC who is in love with the FMC since forever, and I'm a goner 🥰 And then an accidental marriage in Vegas... 🤩 Love that so much.
Ryder, Ryder, Ryder 😍 I really don't know what to say. He is just perfect. It's not just his secret love for Mabel, but everything he did for her.
But it's not just Ryder who is secretly in love, it's Mable too 🥰
And still both act as if they hate each other 🙈 Especially Mable's bickering 🤣
It's definitely a typical Emily book 😁
But don't ask me what that means 🙈 I just know, if I were to get it without knowing who wrote it, I could name it.
The way the characters act and interact. The way the MMCs protect their significant other. The fact of so many queer characters. The fact of secrets. Just all of that. Oh, and not to forget the dirty talking MMCs 😎
If you like winter sports, especially snowboarding. If you like the Winter Olympics. If you like all the other things I already said, then you need to read this book!
You will laugh. You will swoon. You will get wet eyes 🥹 And of course, you will get warm because of the 🌶️ 😎
One thing just for Emily, because I know she will read this review...
If you ever change the ebook cover, I'll never forgive you!!! The model is just so freaking 🔥 and absolute Ryder 😍
Thanks to the author for trusting me with a BETA 🩷
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
Review of advance copy received from Author
One day I will read a book by Emily Shacklette and not finish in a complete emotional mess. Today is not that day. This book was a true masterpiece, and I don't think I could have loved it any more!! Mabel was so incredible, and while it took me a bit to really crack her personality, once she allowed herself to feel her feelings, she was so amazing to watch! The way that she glowed as she opened herself up to what she really wanted and what life could really be like, was so beautiful to see! And her strength and resilience in the face of the media through the whole book, and how she grew and evolved just in how she dealt with them, was absolute perfection!! And truly, I fell head over heels for Ryder INSTANTLY! I can't remember the last time a MMC had me so deeply hooked into his story so quickly, he was absolute perfection!! I loved how perfectly protective and supportive of Mabel he was, without trying to hold her back, and how he was able to continue his own journey and maintain his own goals and expectations for his own career! These two were just the absolute best to watch as they were able to grew together! And while this story had a very understandably limited cast of side characters, the ones we did meet were impeccable!! (Please give me so much more of Danny!!) Overall this one is maybe my favorite Emily Shacklette book yet!! I absolutely adored every second of it!! 5 stars; 3.5 chili peppers
Tropes:
- Childhood Friends
- Forced Proximity
- Accidental Wedding
- Olympic Athletes
- Frenemies to Lovers
- Black Cat x Golden Retriever
Tropes:
- Childhood Friends
- Forced Proximity
- Accidental Wedding
- Olympic Athletes
- Frenemies to Lovers
- Black Cat x Golden Retriever
Review of advance copy
Thanks Emily and LoveNotes PR for the ARC!
No Fall Zone delivers exactly what I want from a sports romance: high stakes, emotional tension, and characters who feel like real people under very public pressure. Emily Shacklette does a great job immersing the reader in the elite athletics world, from the relentless training schedules to the scrutiny that comes with competing at the highest level. The setting adds a constant sense of urgency, and that “one mistake can change everything” energy carries through the story in a really engaging way.
What stood out most to me was the character work. The protagonist’s internal struggle - balancing ambition, vulnerability, and personal relationships - felt authentic and thoughtfully developed. The romantic dynamic is a satisfying slow burn, built on banter, mutual respect, and shared experiences rather than instant attraction. When the emotional beats hit, they land, especially during moments tied to competition and recovery.
Overall, No Fall Zone is a strong, engaging read for fans of sports romance and character-driven stories. It’s heartfelt, dramatic in the best way, and leaves you rooting hard for the characters both on and off the slopes. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a romance with stakes that go beyond just the relationship.
No Fall Zone delivers exactly what I want from a sports romance: high stakes, emotional tension, and characters who feel like real people under very public pressure. Emily Shacklette does a great job immersing the reader in the elite athletics world, from the relentless training schedules to the scrutiny that comes with competing at the highest level. The setting adds a constant sense of urgency, and that “one mistake can change everything” energy carries through the story in a really engaging way.
What stood out most to me was the character work. The protagonist’s internal struggle - balancing ambition, vulnerability, and personal relationships - felt authentic and thoughtfully developed. The romantic dynamic is a satisfying slow burn, built on banter, mutual respect, and shared experiences rather than instant attraction. When the emotional beats hit, they land, especially during moments tied to competition and recovery.
Overall, No Fall Zone is a strong, engaging read for fans of sports romance and character-driven stories. It’s heartfelt, dramatic in the best way, and leaves you rooting hard for the characters both on and off the slopes. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a romance with stakes that go beyond just the relationship.
January 27, 2026
✨ARC Review✨
“No Fall Zone” by Emily Shacklette
Rating: 4.25⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶
First Person, Dual POV
Release Day: February 2, 2026
I really liked this book! No Fall Zone is a short and spicy sports romance about two young pro snowboarders, Ryder and Mabel, who drunkenly accidentally get married in Vegas and agree to stay married to maintain their images in the press. This was a really cute story and the perfect palate cleanser with everything that’s going on in the world right now.
Ryder is the ultimate golden retriever. I love a man who pines, and Ryder does it so well. Snowboarding is a sport that I know literally nothing about, so it was also cool to learn about the sport, different tricks, etc., all while enjoying the smuttiness. No Fall Zone is a great sports romance for readers who like a good frenemies to lovers romance with an MMC who falls first and falls hard.
What to Expect:
🏂 Pro Snowboarders
❤️🔥 Frenemies to Lovers
💍 Accidentally Married
💜 Fake it till you make it
🐈⬛ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
💘 “It’s always been you”
Thank you to @authoremilyshack and @lovenotes.pr for this opportunity and the gifted eARC. This review was left voluntarily, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
⚠️The author provides a full list of potential triggers and content warnings at the beginning of the book, so be sure to check those before reading.
“No Fall Zone” by Emily Shacklette
Rating: 4.25⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶
First Person, Dual POV
Release Day: February 2, 2026
I really liked this book! No Fall Zone is a short and spicy sports romance about two young pro snowboarders, Ryder and Mabel, who drunkenly accidentally get married in Vegas and agree to stay married to maintain their images in the press. This was a really cute story and the perfect palate cleanser with everything that’s going on in the world right now.
Ryder is the ultimate golden retriever. I love a man who pines, and Ryder does it so well. Snowboarding is a sport that I know literally nothing about, so it was also cool to learn about the sport, different tricks, etc., all while enjoying the smuttiness. No Fall Zone is a great sports romance for readers who like a good frenemies to lovers romance with an MMC who falls first and falls hard.
What to Expect:
🏂 Pro Snowboarders
❤️🔥 Frenemies to Lovers
💍 Accidentally Married
💜 Fake it till you make it
🐈⬛ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
💘 “It’s always been you”
Thank you to @authoremilyshack and @lovenotes.pr for this opportunity and the gifted eARC. This review was left voluntarily, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
⚠️The author provides a full list of potential triggers and content warnings at the beginning of the book, so be sure to check those before reading.
February 8, 2026
No Fall Zone was so good, and it delivers exactly what I want from a sports romance: emotional tension, high stakes, some pining, and characters who are honest and relatable. Emily Shacklette did an excellent job writing this book and immersing you in the professional snowboarding world. The urgency and one-mistake-can-change-everything vibe that is simmering under the surface of the entire book adds a lot to the story!
I loved the characters in this book. Mabel and Ryder have both had crushes on each other since they were teenagers, too scared to let the otherknow. With this accidental marriage, Mabel sees it as a mistake, as she has pushed down and hidden her feelings for so long. Ryder sees it as a chance to show Mabel how he truly feels. As their marriage continues, they get to truly know each other and build a deeper connection. Eventually, Mabel discovers that she is past the point of no return and has fallen into the “ no fall zone.”
This book was so good and had my attention from the beginning. It was also a perfect time to read this with the Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics being last night and the Winter Olympics truly starting today. I loved the characters and the dynamics in this book. It was also really nice reading a sports romance that isn't football or hockey.
I loved the characters in this book. Mabel and Ryder have both had crushes on each other since they were teenagers, too scared to let the otherknow. With this accidental marriage, Mabel sees it as a mistake, as she has pushed down and hidden her feelings for so long. Ryder sees it as a chance to show Mabel how he truly feels. As their marriage continues, they get to truly know each other and build a deeper connection. Eventually, Mabel discovers that she is past the point of no return and has fallen into the “ no fall zone.”
This book was so good and had my attention from the beginning. It was also a perfect time to read this with the Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics being last night and the Winter Olympics truly starting today. I loved the characters and the dynamics in this book. It was also really nice reading a sports romance that isn't football or hockey.
February 9, 2026
An easy read that got me in the Olympic Spirit!
This new release was simply an enjoyable read while I was waiting for commercial breaks to be over during the Olympic Games. I think Emily Shacklette had a very fun idea of making two pro-athletes who grew up together FINALLY fall in love after many, many years of people assuming they would. I was surprised that the majority of the book took place before the games even began. I'm thinking this is because the author doesn't know what goes on while the athletes are at Milan waiting for their competitions, but everything was still enjoyable and made sense training wise.
I think both characters Ryder and Mabel are fun and complex characters, which gave me lots of context as to why they made certain choices. I sadly felt Mabel was pigeonholed into the "I'm picked on in every aspect of my life because I'm a woman" rabbit hole, which I think is just unrealistic for female Olympians nowadays. Not saying women don't get more scrutiny, I know they do as a woman myself, but it was just blown out of proportion making it unbelievable for someone who isn't like.....IDK Taylor Swift. But this was easy to overlook, and wasn't a dealbreaker for the story.
Overall, I recommend this book if you are just looking for something quick and fun to get you into a winter sports/winter romance mood! Great job Shacklette!
This new release was simply an enjoyable read while I was waiting for commercial breaks to be over during the Olympic Games. I think Emily Shacklette had a very fun idea of making two pro-athletes who grew up together FINALLY fall in love after many, many years of people assuming they would. I was surprised that the majority of the book took place before the games even began. I'm thinking this is because the author doesn't know what goes on while the athletes are at Milan waiting for their competitions, but everything was still enjoyable and made sense training wise.
I think both characters Ryder and Mabel are fun and complex characters, which gave me lots of context as to why they made certain choices. I sadly felt Mabel was pigeonholed into the "I'm picked on in every aspect of my life because I'm a woman" rabbit hole, which I think is just unrealistic for female Olympians nowadays. Not saying women don't get more scrutiny, I know they do as a woman myself, but it was just blown out of proportion making it unbelievable for someone who isn't like.....IDK Taylor Swift. But this was easy to overlook, and wasn't a dealbreaker for the story.
Overall, I recommend this book if you are just looking for something quick and fun to get you into a winter sports/winter romance mood! Great job Shacklette!
January 22, 2026
3.5 Stars.
I would like to start by saying I enjoyed No Fall Zone. Both Mabel and Ryder were good main characters and I could definitely feel the connection between them. Mabel was so strong and I adored her personality and her dedication to her sport. I also liked how it was explained how the comments could really get to her but she did her best to never let it get in the way of how well she did at her sport, I loved her passion and commitment. She also clearly cared very much for Ryder but had used shields to protect herself. Ryder was great, he was also so dedicated and passionate about his sport. I loved the way he went out of his way to care for Mabel and protect her even if it meant him getting into trouble. He knew as a male in the sports world he could get away with a bit more and used that to his advantage even if it shouldn’t be like that he knew the realities and did whatever it took to protect Mabel and her image. I enjoyed the secondary characters. I do wish we saw more of the sport itself and the practices etc. I feel like their relationship went from to 0 to 60 really fast and could’ve used a bit more fleshing out. Ultimately, I enjoyed this book and recommend people give it a go.
I would like to start by saying I enjoyed No Fall Zone. Both Mabel and Ryder were good main characters and I could definitely feel the connection between them. Mabel was so strong and I adored her personality and her dedication to her sport. I also liked how it was explained how the comments could really get to her but she did her best to never let it get in the way of how well she did at her sport, I loved her passion and commitment. She also clearly cared very much for Ryder but had used shields to protect herself. Ryder was great, he was also so dedicated and passionate about his sport. I loved the way he went out of his way to care for Mabel and protect her even if it meant him getting into trouble. He knew as a male in the sports world he could get away with a bit more and used that to his advantage even if it shouldn’t be like that he knew the realities and did whatever it took to protect Mabel and her image. I enjoyed the secondary characters. I do wish we saw more of the sport itself and the practices etc. I feel like their relationship went from to 0 to 60 really fast and could’ve used a bit more fleshing out. Ultimately, I enjoyed this book and recommend people give it a go.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
Antecdotal notes while reading
Spicy, open door romance
Love a playlist to help set the reading mood for the book.
Nicknames: Rye Bread and Marshmallow
Mabel comes from Olympic gold, but oh the pressure must be intense!
Ryder and Mabel basically be up together and the pressure of legacies and relationships....geez!
The tension between two, feeding off antagonizing the other.
Several LQBTQIA+ characters including the main ones.
Is the necklace charm a reminder of Mabel?
Poor Danny!! 🤪
Ryder, protector of Mabel's reputation. Make it all about him wirh smoke and mirrors, mo one sees why she should making headlines in a bad way.
Is "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" going to happen???
"What's the worse that can happen?" famous last word there
I like in the press release, the female's names precede the husband's.
Oh Ryder, you are playing with 🔥 . Watch out Mabel or you will get burned!
"wife-scicle" 🤣🤣
"fed my own sliced-off testicles" 🤣🤣 oh dawd these two!!!!
Illegal run down the double black diamond before Milan spells trouble
"You're my circus and my monkeys" swoon 🥰
OMG Danny!!! Your timing!!! 🤣
Congrats on the halfpipe runs!
The French Alps experience was 👨🍳💋
Antecdotal notes while reading
Spicy, open door romance
Love a playlist to help set the reading mood for the book.
Nicknames: Rye Bread and Marshmallow
Mabel comes from Olympic gold, but oh the pressure must be intense!
Ryder and Mabel basically be up together and the pressure of legacies and relationships....geez!
The tension between two, feeding off antagonizing the other.
Several LQBTQIA+ characters including the main ones.
Is the necklace charm a reminder of Mabel?
Poor Danny!! 🤪
Ryder, protector of Mabel's reputation. Make it all about him wirh smoke and mirrors, mo one sees why she should making headlines in a bad way.
Is "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" going to happen???
"What's the worse that can happen?" famous last word there
I like in the press release, the female's names precede the husband's.
Oh Ryder, you are playing with 🔥 . Watch out Mabel or you will get burned!
"wife-scicle" 🤣🤣
"fed my own sliced-off testicles" 🤣🤣 oh dawd these two!!!!
Illegal run down the double black diamond before Milan spells trouble
"You're my circus and my monkeys" swoon 🥰
OMG Danny!!! Your timing!!! 🤣
Congrats on the halfpipe runs!
The French Alps experience was 👨🍳💋
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨️arc review✨️
5🌟/5
No surprise, this book was AMAZING!
Emily writing is just so good, so funny, i loved everything in this book!
Mabel pretends to hate her childhood friend, Ryder, just because she's afraid that he sees her just as the little annoying family friend daughter. She shoved her crush so so so deep inside her until her best friend Danny, i need him in my life too, make her stop pretending and calls her out.
So she decides to give Ryder a chance, to hang out with him, be friends, what can go wrong? They are just in Vegas, they got drunk and guess what? They got married!!
I love the accidental marriage so much, let me tell you, but this one has so much more, one Ryder has been in love with her since he was seventeen, his lucky charm is a gold chain with her initial that he wanted to gift to her, he is twenty-seven and he's still a virgin because the only one he wanted to be with was her???
I mean, Ryder can only exist in books.
As always i find Emily's book brings subjects that i don't see often in books, i love that the mmc was the virgin and the way Mabel treats all of this was just so sweet.I loved this book so much, did I already said it? haha
I can't wait to read more from this author♡
5🌟/5
No surprise, this book was AMAZING!
Emily writing is just so good, so funny, i loved everything in this book!
Mabel pretends to hate her childhood friend, Ryder, just because she's afraid that he sees her just as the little annoying family friend daughter. She shoved her crush so so so deep inside her until her best friend Danny, i need him in my life too, make her stop pretending and calls her out.
So she decides to give Ryder a chance, to hang out with him, be friends, what can go wrong? They are just in Vegas, they got drunk and guess what? They got married!!
I love the accidental marriage so much, let me tell you, but this one has so much more, one Ryder has been in love with her since he was seventeen, his lucky charm is a gold chain with her initial that he wanted to gift to her, he is twenty-seven and he's still a virgin because the only one he wanted to be with was her???
I mean, Ryder can only exist in books.
As always i find Emily's book brings subjects that i don't see often in books, i love that the mmc was the virgin and the way Mabel treats all of this was just so sweet.I loved this book so much, did I already said it? haha
I can't wait to read more from this author♡
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