Falls From Grace: Grace Notes, Book One

It's taken me a minute to review this book b/c life got busy but this book stuck with me. This is an incredible debut novel from Ruby Landers. I'm honestly in awe that this is a debut. When I first read the synopsis about a lesbian "fake marriage" to her male bestie, I wasn't really sure I was in the mood for that kind of story but I'm oh so glad that I jumped in. This book made me laugh, made me cry, and made me so frustrated I was ready to throw things across the room. I'm so lucky I had a friend reading this at the same time (@Lez_be_readin_ya - check out her review too) because I NEEDED someone to talk to about this book. Landers had so many feelings bubbling up out of my chest that I couldn't function, literally, for a whole day while I devoured this book. This is an ANGSTY SLOW BURN NOVEL. When I say slow burn, bundle up kids, because we're watching this fire start from the woodchopping stage all the way through to the blaze of this sapphic fire. It's so freaking good. Savannah and Brynn are such incredible characters. Their magnetic pull to each other is so incredibly strong. There's something about celebrity romances for me right now - I'm all in. I can't seem to get enough of the behind-the-scenes storylines. Landers did an amazing job with everything from the songwriting sessions to the recordings to the tour - it felt so authentic every step of the way. I adored how Brynn was with Savannah's son. He was such a light for Savannah and a wonderful connection…

First, this is a slow burn and I’m not one to read slow burn stories, however, do not let the deter you, otherwise you’ll miss out on one of the best books of your life! It’s so awesome that this book is a debut! Exquisite writing! This story is funny & sexy, and sweet & smart! Kudos to the new author! Bravo!👏👏👏 So, about the book….we have a recently divorced, single, new mama, beautiful country music star, think Taylor swift fame, Savannah Grace who is having some trust issues because of her cheating rat b*stard, country music star ex-husband. The other mc is a medical school drop out , gorgeous lifeguard, and funny girl, Brynn Marshall! Think “Baywatch Babes!” Let’s just say these two set off the explosives with their chemistry! 🔥🥵 Lots of challenges and bumps in the road, but let’s see how Brynn and navigate them or not! 🎢 Mostly it’s a love story, sometimes it felt like a fairytale ❄️, you may get choked up like I did, but mostly I laughed and swooned! 😍 A must mention of Noah, Brynn’s musician BFF (and fake husband 🫢) and Tucker, Savannah’s toddler! Awesome secondary characters with lots of camaraderie! Amazing story, I cannot say enough about it! Read it!! 🩷Loved the “Pretty Woman” reference! 🙌

I don’t really think there’s much to say about the story that hasn’t already been said. Despite the tropes, it is exceptionally well-executed, the characterization is outstanding, and the prose is top-notch. My only problem with the story, and why I give it only four stars, is that it is formatted like a webpage. Without paragraph indentation and with paragraph spacing. It’s a book, and not formatting it like a book not only makes it less readable (as you can see) but loses a good half-dozen lines on each page.

Stars: 5 Stars Format: Audiobook Narrator: Quinn Riley Series: Grace Notes Book 1 Steam Level: Steamy CW: mention of attempted suicide (past), addiction (past), cheating (not by the protagonists), near drowning I read this for the 2025 Sapphic Book Bingo reading challenge for the prompt Witty Banter. I had been seeing people going gaga over this series since this book came out. My idiot self was skeptical it could actually be that amazing and, honestly, only picked it up because I saw that Quinn Riley was the narrator. There needs to be a way to smack my past self upside the head for not reading this sooner. Quick Thoughts: - Have I read other books with the set up of a private retreat to write music together? Yes. Did I greatly enjoy those books? Yes. Is this book my new high standard for that set up? Hell yes - I adored both Savannah and Brynn and would happily read thousands of more pages about these two - There were definite times I wanted to shake Noah but he was still a good egg - I was about to throw hands with Brynn about her comments on country music. Good on Savannah for setting her right - There is some EPIC pining in this book - The third act break up and the time frame from that to them getting together is pitch perfect for this situation and watching them grow as people was amazing - As a rule, I despise books where the couple gets together at the end of the book but I didn’t here, it fit the story and didn’t come across like the author didn’t…

I am so thrilled that I discovered Ruby Landers-- she might be one of my new fave authors. Falls from Grace is the first book in her series (the other two are coming out later this year) and it was a really fun, engaging read that I couldn't put down. Savannah Grace is newly split from her cheating no-good ex-husband, who was also the other half of their popular country music duo. She's trying to launch a solo career, but finding songwriting inspiration almost impossible. So she invites Noah Lyman, an indie musician, to come to her Vermont getaway and help co-write her new songs. Brynn Marshall has recently flunked out of med school and is currently lifeguarding in LA while feeling very directionless. Her best friend, Noah, offers to bring her along on his songwriting trip to give her some much needed space and time to to figure out what to do with her life. The only catch? She needs to pose as Noah's wife in order to justify coming along. This story is a slow burn (emphasis on the slow, here!) that was still very satisfying to read. It admittedly dragged a little in the first act, but things did pick up in the second half, and by the end I was holding on for dear life. I really enjoyed the setting, and getting to see glimpses into Savannah's life as a music star who has so much materially, but is still missing genuine connection in her life. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say that this story had a lot of really interesting twists and turns and a very…