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The Hardest Fall
She’s chasing gold. He’s chasing her.
Alexandra Delacroix
Lexi has worked her entire life chasing one The Olympics.
Perfection isn’t optional. Failure isn’t a possibility. And with the pressure of competitions mounting, Lexi is determined to train harder than ever and keep her focus exactly where it belongs — on the ice. Starting college is a fresh start. A chance to push herself further than ever before. There’s only one problem...
Carter Hayes
Carter and Lexi have been neighbors — and best friends— since they were five years old. Where Lexi is disciplined and relentlessly focused, Carter is everything she’s not—carefree, charming, and determined to prove himself as the star quarterback at North Range University. But while Carter is fighting to win on the football field, there’s one challenge that matters even more to convincing Lexi that life isn’t meant to be lived entirely on the ice. And maybe — just maybe— he can convince her that there’s room in her life for something more than skating. Because Carter has spent years pretending he’s okay with just being her friend. But this year? He’s done waiting.
As pressure mounts and the line between friendship and something more begins to blur, Lexi must decide if she’s willing to risk everything she’s worked for…
For the one person she might not be able to live without.
The hardest fall isn’t on the ice or on the field — it’s falling in love.
Alexandra Delacroix
Lexi has worked her entire life chasing one The Olympics.
Perfection isn’t optional. Failure isn’t a possibility. And with the pressure of competitions mounting, Lexi is determined to train harder than ever and keep her focus exactly where it belongs — on the ice. Starting college is a fresh start. A chance to push herself further than ever before. There’s only one problem...
Carter Hayes
Carter and Lexi have been neighbors — and best friends— since they were five years old. Where Lexi is disciplined and relentlessly focused, Carter is everything she’s not—carefree, charming, and determined to prove himself as the star quarterback at North Range University. But while Carter is fighting to win on the football field, there’s one challenge that matters even more to convincing Lexi that life isn’t meant to be lived entirely on the ice. And maybe — just maybe— he can convince her that there’s room in her life for something more than skating. Because Carter has spent years pretending he’s okay with just being her friend. But this year? He’s done waiting.
As pressure mounts and the line between friendship and something more begins to blur, Lexi must decide if she’s willing to risk everything she’s worked for…
For the one person she might not be able to live without.
The hardest fall isn’t on the ice or on the field — it’s falling in love.
411 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Hardest Fall is about childhood best friends Lexi and Carter. Both grew up as neighbors and best friends and have been inseparable ever since.
Lexi is a high-class figure skater. Her mother, who let her own dream slip away because she was pregnant with Lexi, placed her dream on Lexi's shoulders.
She is smart, funny, but above all, fiercely competitive. She demands a lot of herself on the ice, but also off it. Her performances must be perfect, otherwise she already knows her mother will be disappointed. Her life cannot be anything other than disciplined, with her sole focus on that spot at the Olympic Games.
Carter is a quarterback and plays rugby, and is essentially the opposite of Lexi.
He cares deeply about his sport, but knows his limits. For him, life is more than just sport and numbers.
Carter makes it his goal to help Lexi realize that there is more to life than just figure skating and winning competitions.
He wants her to understand that she is allowed to relax and that a healthy balance is important. Even though he likes her more than just best friends, he cares so much about her that he shows he is always there for her with even simple small gestures.
Throughout the story, you see how far Lexi pushes herself to the absolute limit, even when her body is increasingly screaming for her to rest. The last thing she wants is to disappoint her mother and herself.
This story touched me. It touched me not because it was a romance, but because of the realistic aspects of this story. A young girl who feels the pressure from her mother to always be better. That pressure that ultimately affects her mental and physical health.
And then there is Carter, a walking green flag; I wish there were more people like him around. He always knew what Lexi needed and noticed with just a glance if something was wrong.
Not suffocatingly protective, but warm and loving actions to show her that life is more than just performing.
Once I finished reading, I was so incredibly excited! I had read a story that didn't contain any spice or overprotective MMCs. It is nothing like the sports romance you usually read. It is truly a unique story.
A story about two best friends who have known each other since they were little. He tries to teach her to be kinder to herself so that she would see herself the way he does. And she finally learns that top performance isn't everything and that she accept herself for who she is. The beautiful, sweet, funny, and strong Lexi that Carter has seen all these years.
Lexi is a high-class figure skater. Her mother, who let her own dream slip away because she was pregnant with Lexi, placed her dream on Lexi's shoulders.
She is smart, funny, but above all, fiercely competitive. She demands a lot of herself on the ice, but also off it. Her performances must be perfect, otherwise she already knows her mother will be disappointed. Her life cannot be anything other than disciplined, with her sole focus on that spot at the Olympic Games.
Carter is a quarterback and plays rugby, and is essentially the opposite of Lexi.
He cares deeply about his sport, but knows his limits. For him, life is more than just sport and numbers.
Carter makes it his goal to help Lexi realize that there is more to life than just figure skating and winning competitions.
He wants her to understand that she is allowed to relax and that a healthy balance is important. Even though he likes her more than just best friends, he cares so much about her that he shows he is always there for her with even simple small gestures.
Throughout the story, you see how far Lexi pushes herself to the absolute limit, even when her body is increasingly screaming for her to rest. The last thing she wants is to disappoint her mother and herself.
This story touched me. It touched me not because it was a romance, but because of the realistic aspects of this story. A young girl who feels the pressure from her mother to always be better. That pressure that ultimately affects her mental and physical health.
And then there is Carter, a walking green flag; I wish there were more people like him around. He always knew what Lexi needed and noticed with just a glance if something was wrong.
Not suffocatingly protective, but warm and loving actions to show her that life is more than just performing.
Once I finished reading, I was so incredibly excited! I had read a story that didn't contain any spice or overprotective MMCs. It is nothing like the sports romance you usually read. It is truly a unique story.
A story about two best friends who have known each other since they were little. He tries to teach her to be kinder to herself so that she would see herself the way he does. And she finally learns that top performance isn't everything and that she accept herself for who she is. The beautiful, sweet, funny, and strong Lexi that Carter has seen all these years.
October 8, 2026
I adored this book! It was such a feel-good romance, and I honestly had such a great time reading it. I’ve read plenty of sports romances, but I haven’t read one where the girl is an ice skater, and I absolutely loved that different twist!
I also loved Carter and Lexi’s relationship so much. It honestly felt like we had grown up with them because of how much history they had together. I loved seeing everything they went through and how their relationship developed throughout the story.
I’m also really glad Lexi was able to fix her relationship with certain people. It was nice seeing that part of her story come full circle and watching her work through those relationships.
And I absolutely loved the last two chapters! They were so sweet, but they also made me realize that I’m saying goodbye to these characters, and I’m definitely not ready for that. 🥹
This was also a really fast-paced book, which made it so easy to get through. I never felt like the story dragged, and I was completely invested the whole way through.
Overall, this was a great read, and I would definitely recommend it! 📚✨
I also loved Carter and Lexi’s relationship so much. It honestly felt like we had grown up with them because of how much history they had together. I loved seeing everything they went through and how their relationship developed throughout the story.
I’m also really glad Lexi was able to fix her relationship with certain people. It was nice seeing that part of her story come full circle and watching her work through those relationships.
And I absolutely loved the last two chapters! They were so sweet, but they also made me realize that I’m saying goodbye to these characters, and I’m definitely not ready for that. 🥹
This was also a really fast-paced book, which made it so easy to get through. I never felt like the story dragged, and I was completely invested the whole way through.
Overall, this was a great read, and I would definitely recommend it! 📚✨
September 24, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ Honestly where do I begin with this book! It was beautifully written and I was invested from the start. Lexi and Carter's relationship was incredible! I honestly have been left speechless and I may have shed a tear or two towards the end. The way Lexi was with Lily too melted my heart.
I NEED an Emmy and Noah book like now please! I'm so invested in seeing where they go together!
All in all I have absolutely no complaints about this book. I would read it again in a heartbeat.
I NEED an Emmy and Noah book like now please! I'm so invested in seeing where they go together!
All in all I have absolutely no complaints about this book. I would read it again in a heartbeat.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews