What happens when the one thing you've always been good at suddenly becomes something you can no longer do? And who are you when the future you've spent years working toward disappears?
That's the question at the heart of It's All in How You Fall by Sarah Henning, a young adult contemporary romance that combines summer sports, first love, friendship, and the challenge of finding yourself again. With a former gymnast, an unexpected summer of trying new sports, and a crush she definitely didn't plan on, this story has plenty to offer fans of sweet YA romance and coming-of-age fiction.
If you're looking for a YA sports romance with a little more emotional depth, make room for this one on your reading list.
What Is It's All in How You Fall About?
Caroline Kepler has spent years working toward her gymnastics dreams. With three state balance beam titles and ambitions of competing at an elite level, making Nationals, and eventually competing in college, gymnastics isn't just something she does. It's a huge part of who she is.
But Caroline has also been dealing with chronic back pain. When a bad fall makes her condition career-ending, she suddenly has to face a future without the sport that has shaped her entire life.
Enter Alex Zavala. Alex is a talented three-sport athlete, incredibly cute, and, perhaps most importantly, her older brother's best friend. When he offers to teach Caroline a different sport every week throughout the summer, she agrees. In return, she'll help him get together with his longtime crush, Sunny, who happens to be Caroline's former gymnastics teammate.
It's a deal that seems simple enough. As Caroline tries volleyball, running, golf, and eventually tennis, she begins discovering that there might be more to her identity than gymnastics. But somewhere along the way, she also develops feelings for Alex. And suddenly, helping him find love with someone else isn't quite as easy as she expected.
What to Expect from It’s All in How You Fall
Sarah Henning’s It's All in How You Fall brings together several elements that make for a fun and heartfelt young adult romance.
1. A Sports Romance with a Fresh Perspective
Gymnastics is at the center of Caroline's story, but this isn't simply a novel about winning competitions or chasing athletic success.
Instead, it explores what happens when an injury takes away the future you've been working toward. Caroline has to figure out how to move forward when the familiar routines, goals, and achievements that once defined her are no longer an option.
The story also introduces readers to several other sports as Alex helps Caroline discover new interests. From volleyball and running to golf and tennis, the summer becomes an opportunity to try something completely different.
2. Brother's Best Friend Romance
Alex is Caroline's older brother's best friend, which adds an extra complication to their growing connection. He's also someone Caroline has known for her whole life, making their changing relationship all the more interesting. What starts as a summer arrangement between friends gradually becomes something neither of them quite planned for.
If you enjoy YA romance with a little forbidden-crush energy and the added tension of a protective older brother, this trope is definitely a fun part of the setup.
3. A Summer Romance and a Slow-Burning Crush
Admittedly, I’m a sucker for romances that develop over the course of a summer. And, in It’s All in How You Fall, Caroline and Alex spend their days trying new sports, getting to know each other in different ways, and navigating the arrangement they've made. But Caroline's plan to play matchmaker for Alex becomes increasingly complicated as her own feelings enter the picture.
It's a setup that leaves plenty of room for romantic tension, unexpected feelings, and those moments when a friendship starts to look a little different.
4. Finding Yourself After Losing a Dream
Despite all the fun and forbidden tropes, one of the most important themes in the book is identity.
For Caroline, gymnastics has been more than a hobby. It's been her ambition, her routine, and a major part of how she sees herself. Losing the ability to compete means facing a difficult question: who is she without it?
Thus, her summer with Alex gives her the chance to explore new interests and discover that starting over doesn't mean losing everything she's worked for. In this way, the story touches on the pressures of competitive youth sports, the emotional impact of injury, and the uncertainty that comes with having to imagine a different future.
5. Friendship, Family, and First Love
Romance is an important part of the story, but Caroline's relationships with the people around her matter too. Her friendships, her relationship with her older brother, and her connections with other athletes all contribute to her journey. The book explores how the people closest to us can support us through difficult changes, even when they don't always make things easy.
The Main Tropes in It's All in How You Fall
If you like knowing the romance tropes before adding a book to your TBR (no judging, I actually do this all the time), here's what you can expect:
💕 Brother's best friend romance
☀️ Summer romance
🎾 Learning a new sport together
🐢 Slow-burn romantic feelings
💗 Unexpected crush
🤝 Friendship and first love
🌱 Self-discovery and starting over
👨👩👧 Family relationships
✨ Coming-of-age story
Who Should Read It's All in How You Fall?
This book could be a lovely addition to your reading list if you enjoy:
✨ Young adult contemporary romance with a sweet love story.
🎾 Sports romance featuring talented teen athletes.
💕 Brother's best friend romance and unexpected crushes.
☀️ Summer settings, new experiences, and coming-of-age stories.
🌱 Stories about finding a new direction after a major setback.
🤝 Books that balance romance with friendship, family, and personal growth.
You don't need to be a gymnastics fan to enjoy It’s All in How You Fall. Although the sporting world plays an important role, Caroline's journey is ultimately about learning to see herself beyond the thing she has always known.
About Sarah Henning
Sarah Henning is an American author who writes books for young readers. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a journalist. Her books include YA contemporary novels, fantasy, and romance. Some of her other titles include Throw Like a Girl (obviously added to my TBR), The Lies We Conjure, the Sea Witch duology, and the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky trilogy.
Final Thoughts: Should It's All in How You Fall Be on Your TBR?
If you're looking for a young adult romance that combines summer adventures, sports, friendship, and unexpected feelings, I think It's All in How You Fall by Sarah Henning is worth checking out.
The premise offers more than a straightforward teen love story. Caroline's journey is also about dealing with disappointment, figuring out who you are when life doesn't go according to plan, and discovering that a new beginning can lead somewhere you never expected.
Add in a brother's best friend, a summer spent trying new sports, and a romance that catches the main character unaware, and you have a sweet YA contemporary romance to consider for your next read.
Have you read It's All in How You Fall?
I'd love to hear what you thought of Caroline and Alex's story!
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About Me
📍Dumbo - New York
I'm Zøe!
I write heartfelt, character-driven fiction featuring resilient teenage heroines navigating personal challenges and striving to become their best selves. Beyond my novels, I love storytelling in all its forms. On this blog, I share narrative-rich travel pieces, offering glimpses into my favorite places, hidden corners, and unforgettable encounters around the globe.
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