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Learning to Fall
Learning to Fall is book #9 of the Stargazing series, a 12 book series of standalones.
At sixteen years old, Max Downey has never had a family to call his own. Bounced around from foster home to foster home, he is used to rejection and being labelled as trouble.
The clock is ticking, counting down to the day he’ll be shunted out of the system and left to fend for himself in a world that has never wanted him.
He begins yet another placement, and believes it’s only a matter of time before everything falls apart again, but Ron and Doreen Chessford seem different. Their kindness awakens a hope he’d buried deep, and life really starts to look up for Max.
However, when the charismatic Toby Carter barrels into his life and refuses to leave it, Max struggles to find the courage to let him past the walls he’s built to protect himself, and risks leaving him knocking on a closed door, too afraid to allow himself to fall.
At sixteen years old, Max Downey has never had a family to call his own. Bounced around from foster home to foster home, he is used to rejection and being labelled as trouble.
The clock is ticking, counting down to the day he’ll be shunted out of the system and left to fend for himself in a world that has never wanted him.
He begins yet another placement, and believes it’s only a matter of time before everything falls apart again, but Ron and Doreen Chessford seem different. Their kindness awakens a hope he’d buried deep, and life really starts to look up for Max.
However, when the charismatic Toby Carter barrels into his life and refuses to leave it, Max struggles to find the courage to let him past the walls he’s built to protect himself, and risks leaving him knocking on a closed door, too afraid to allow himself to fall.
330 pages, Paperback
Published October 18, 2022
17 people want to read
About the author
H.A. Robinson
14 books122 followersH. A. Robinson is a jet-setting billionaire with a home on each continent, who spends her free time saving kittens from trees and babies from burning buildings. A graduate of Hogwarts and a frequent visitor to Narnia, she drinks coffee in Central Perk and tames dragons on Westeros.
In her dreams…
In reality, she’s a teaching assistant living in a small town in Cheshire, who would almost always choose fantasy over reality. She’s been an obsessive reader from the moment she picked up her first Enid Blyton book, more years ago than she cares to admit, and enjoys nothing more than getting lost in new worlds and adventures from the minds of all the amazing authors out there.
She’s had the voices of characters in her head for as long as she can remember, and puts them down on paper in order to convince herself and the men in white coats that she isn’t crazy.
In her dreams…
In reality, she’s a teaching assistant living in a small town in Cheshire, who would almost always choose fantasy over reality. She’s been an obsessive reader from the moment she picked up her first Enid Blyton book, more years ago than she cares to admit, and enjoys nothing more than getting lost in new worlds and adventures from the minds of all the amazing authors out there.
She’s had the voices of characters in her head for as long as she can remember, and puts them down on paper in order to convince herself and the men in white coats that she isn’t crazy.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 17, 2022
This was heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measures. Max has had the worst start and feels rejected and unwanted by everyone. He finally finds a home with Doreen and Ron but is unable to believe it can last so constantly lives on the edge. Thankfully there are some kind faces along the way.
Max and Toby are absolutely adorable, and the love and protection they show Clara had me in bits. She had my heart. along with them. I just loved this sweet story with a beautiful romance and found family that filled me with warmth whilst the bullying and trauma had my heart in pieces. Ron was a total hero.
Max and Toby are absolutely adorable, and the love and protection they show Clara had me in bits. She had my heart. along with them. I just loved this sweet story with a beautiful romance and found family that filled me with warmth whilst the bullying and trauma had my heart in pieces. Ron was a total hero.
January 6, 2023
A heartfelt story based on Max who is a teenager stuck in the foster care system without the true support he needs. Finally ending up at his last chance house. Where he meets Ron and Doreen his new carers.
The main themes are the MC learning about trust, love, family and heartbreak. A coming of age novel from a different perspective than what i, myself, am used to reading. I loved how natural and unspoken the relationship between Max and Toby unfolded.
The supporting characters play a huge part in the book. Asperger's representation was a breath of fresh air that i didn't know i was in need of. I wouldn't say no to a book in the future where Clara takes on the world discovering who she is and maybe a love interest herself.
The way the author has written about dark and horrific subjects is almost delicate and soft.
An enjoyable quick read!
The main themes are the MC learning about trust, love, family and heartbreak. A coming of age novel from a different perspective than what i, myself, am used to reading. I loved how natural and unspoken the relationship between Max and Toby unfolded.
The supporting characters play a huge part in the book. Asperger's representation was a breath of fresh air that i didn't know i was in need of. I wouldn't say no to a book in the future where Clara takes on the world discovering who she is and maybe a love interest herself.
The way the author has written about dark and horrific subjects is almost delicate and soft.
An enjoyable quick read!
January 22, 2023
Book review for Learning to Fall by H.A.Robinson
Book synopsis -
At sixteen years old, Max Downey has never had a family to call his own. Bounced around from foster home to foster home, he is used to rejection and being labelled as trouble.
The clock is ticking, counting down to the day he’ll be shunted out of the system and left to fend for himself in a world that has never wanted him.
He begins yet another placement, and believes it’s only a matter of time before everything starts to fall apart again, but Ron and Doreen Chessford seem different. Their kindness awakens a hope he’d buried deep, and life really starts to look up for Max.
However, when the charasmatic Toby Carter barrels into his life and refuses to leave it, Max struggles to find the courage to let him past the walls he’s built to protect himself and risks leaving him knocking on a closed door, to afraid to allow himself to fall.
Please note there may be spoilers in this review, so SPOILER ALERT!
TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️
Abandonment
Adoption
Death
Abuse
Bullying
Homophobia
Disablist bullying
I recently read this book and here is my honest review on Learning to Fall by H.A.Robinson.
I really enjoyed learning the story behind the character of Max and his past and the way adoption affects them in so many different ways through childhood upwards. The book took me through a whole range of emotional from happiness, sadness, heartbreak and back to happiness again and I really enjoyed how well written about the character of Clara is written into the story.
I don’t have any massive negatives into the story line, however I did notice a few spelling mistakes in the book, and also a big this that I did notice on a few occasion was there was no noticeable breaks in between paragraphs, they just followed onto the next sentence which made it read as though it was a carry on from the sentence before. Something like an asterisks in between the 2 sentences, or even just a bigger gap in between the paragraphs would have been nice.
Overall though I would give Learning to Fall 5 out of 5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This book is perfect for younger adults and teenagers, and is a fantastic book for the LBQT+ community.
This is the first book I have ever read from H.A.Robinson, but it definitely will not be my last! A fantastic read and at 304 pages long, it’s a lovely quicker read too!
Also, the sizing of the writing and the font it is written in, make it super easy to read, which is also an added bonus.
Learning to Fall is available now on Amazon.
Learning to Fall is book nine in the ‘Stargazing series’, a 12-book series of stand-alones.
Book synopsis -
At sixteen years old, Max Downey has never had a family to call his own. Bounced around from foster home to foster home, he is used to rejection and being labelled as trouble.
The clock is ticking, counting down to the day he’ll be shunted out of the system and left to fend for himself in a world that has never wanted him.
He begins yet another placement, and believes it’s only a matter of time before everything starts to fall apart again, but Ron and Doreen Chessford seem different. Their kindness awakens a hope he’d buried deep, and life really starts to look up for Max.
However, when the charasmatic Toby Carter barrels into his life and refuses to leave it, Max struggles to find the courage to let him past the walls he’s built to protect himself and risks leaving him knocking on a closed door, to afraid to allow himself to fall.
Please note there may be spoilers in this review, so SPOILER ALERT!
TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️
Abandonment
Adoption
Death
Abuse
Bullying
Homophobia
Disablist bullying
I recently read this book and here is my honest review on Learning to Fall by H.A.Robinson.
I really enjoyed learning the story behind the character of Max and his past and the way adoption affects them in so many different ways through childhood upwards. The book took me through a whole range of emotional from happiness, sadness, heartbreak and back to happiness again and I really enjoyed how well written about the character of Clara is written into the story.
I don’t have any massive negatives into the story line, however I did notice a few spelling mistakes in the book, and also a big this that I did notice on a few occasion was there was no noticeable breaks in between paragraphs, they just followed onto the next sentence which made it read as though it was a carry on from the sentence before. Something like an asterisks in between the 2 sentences, or even just a bigger gap in between the paragraphs would have been nice.
Overall though I would give Learning to Fall 5 out of 5 stars.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This book is perfect for younger adults and teenagers, and is a fantastic book for the LBQT+ community.
This is the first book I have ever read from H.A.Robinson, but it definitely will not be my last! A fantastic read and at 304 pages long, it’s a lovely quicker read too!
Also, the sizing of the writing and the font it is written in, make it super easy to read, which is also an added bonus.
Learning to Fall is available now on Amazon.
Learning to Fall is book nine in the ‘Stargazing series’, a 12-book series of stand-alones.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2022
Ok so Max and Toby might be my new favourite book 📚
I love how Robinson takes such an emotive subject and delicately delivers a story of heartache, followed by hope for the future.
Max is a child who has been moved from pillar to post in the foster system, he’s at his last chance home 14… Seemingly always to “blame” at school he hides out as much as he can until he meets autistic Clara and her older brother Toby and a friendship blossoms into something more.
The story shows that’s you just need one person who gets you, to be there to support without placing blame, in the hope trust will follow.
I love how Robinson takes such an emotive subject and delicately delivers a story of heartache, followed by hope for the future.
Max is a child who has been moved from pillar to post in the foster system, he’s at his last chance home 14… Seemingly always to “blame” at school he hides out as much as he can until he meets autistic Clara and her older brother Toby and a friendship blossoms into something more.
The story shows that’s you just need one person who gets you, to be there to support without placing blame, in the hope trust will follow.
October 2, 2022
There’s a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to H. A. Robinson’s writing, a quality that is quintessentially her and that is weaved through all the books she has written.
Learning to Fall is no exception. She has created characters with heart, soul and who bleed and ache as if they were living in the real world.
Max will nestle himself next to your heart in the first chapter and stay there for the entirety of the story, mark my words. He is broken, bruised and some might say beyond repair, but the emotional journey H. A. Robinson takes him on makes the story one of healing, of acceptance but above all love.
The supporting characters in this tale are wonderful, crafted perfectly to be exactly what Max needs to be able to find himself, forgive himself and love himself.
This story is worth every second you’ll spend reading it. It’s sweet, heartbreaking, heart-filling and emotionally beautiful.
Well done, Missus. You’ve done it again. 5 sparkly stars!
Learning to Fall is no exception. She has created characters with heart, soul and who bleed and ache as if they were living in the real world.
Max will nestle himself next to your heart in the first chapter and stay there for the entirety of the story, mark my words. He is broken, bruised and some might say beyond repair, but the emotional journey H. A. Robinson takes him on makes the story one of healing, of acceptance but above all love.
The supporting characters in this tale are wonderful, crafted perfectly to be exactly what Max needs to be able to find himself, forgive himself and love himself.
This story is worth every second you’ll spend reading it. It’s sweet, heartbreaking, heart-filling and emotionally beautiful.
Well done, Missus. You’ve done it again. 5 sparkly stars!
July 31, 2023
Another fab story by HA Robinson.. you cant help but feel everything that these characters are going through.
Its hard hitting, emotional, and jam packed with feelings and you cant help but root for an HEA for both Max and Toby.
Max is going through the motions with no support either at school or in his home life, but all that starts to change with foster care home 14 and when an unexpected freindship starts to blossom.
Read this all in one go as didn't want to put it down.
*Read as part of KU*
Its hard hitting, emotional, and jam packed with feelings and you cant help but root for an HEA for both Max and Toby.
Max is going through the motions with no support either at school or in his home life, but all that starts to change with foster care home 14 and when an unexpected freindship starts to blossom.
Read this all in one go as didn't want to put it down.
*Read as part of KU*
January 18, 2023
Absolutely adored this story. H.A. Robinson portrays true to life characters who you cannot help but fall in love with and root for. This author has a real way with words, the writing so poetic and the story has a clear arc and a gorgeous HEA. I look forward to more books being released by this author!
November 6, 2022
Max has had enough of being through the foster home experience. His whole childhood was being shifted house to house and never being a part of a family. So when he’s brought into Doreen and Ron’s house he’s prepared for the experience to be much of the same, until it’s not and that’s just the beginning. This story is about friendship,family and love. Without spoiling too much, I will just say it’s a good story that will make you smile!
December 9, 2022
A very touching story that had me captivated throughout. HA Robinson has a special way of telling emotional stories that instantly make you love the characters and never allow them to leave your mind, even months or years after you have read the story. Max's poor start to life and his journey is inspiring and will never be forgotten.
February 4, 2023
Loved it so much
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💖💖💖💖💖 I loved Max & Toby's story so much. H.A. Robinson grabbed my heart with her beautiful words, yet again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💖💖💖💖💖 I loved Max & Toby's story so much. H.A. Robinson grabbed my heart with her beautiful words, yet again.
August 2, 2023
The characters were amazing.
Good story line.
Really enjoyed reading, but prefer books with spice x
Good story line.
Really enjoyed reading, but prefer books with spice x
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews