Completed series
Giving this book a 5/5⭐️📚📖
One thing I KNOW: when an FMC gets on my nerves because she reminds me too much of myself…that’s how I know it’s a good book. 😂
Marissa was an overthinker, and whew…my girl had me STRESSED. 😩 I didn’t love how one incident shaped so much of how she moved through life. Now, granted, it was a BAD situation, but girl…you gave that moment way too much power! 😂 I also didn’t like how she assumed her friends were going to judge her instead of trusting them enough to let them show up for her.
Did Marissa make some questionable decisions? Absolutely. But don’t we all? 🤷🏾♀️ What I loved was watching her finally get herself together, set boundaries, and start choosing herself. THAT growth? I was here for it. 👏🏾
Now ASHER…👀
I was NOT expecting him to be this kind of man, and somehow he snuck his way right onto my book boyfriend list. 😂❤️ His backstory gave so much more insight into why he was the way he was, but I also loved that he had positive examples of relationships and marriage influencing him.
Marissa and Asher’s journey was really about growth, finding yourself, patience, unexpected love, boundaries, and learning what true friendship looks like. Out of all three books, this one felt the MOST relatable to me.
Overall, The Rise and Fall series was such a great read. And honestly? Each book could definitely stand on its own.
This series touched on some HEAVY topics—loss of a parent, moving and starting over, healing, forgiveness, child abuse, abortion, and learning what it means to be loved correctly.
And these characters? They have BEEN through some things. And I love that the struggles weren’t only centered around the women—the men had their own wounds, trauma, and growth to work through too.
But at the heart of it all, this series reminded me that sometimes healing means setting boundaries, letting people love you, and finally learning that what happened to you doesn’t have to define who you become.
And Asher? Yeah…I’ll be adding him to the book boyfriend roster. 😂📚❤️
5/5⭐️ — Marissa stressed me out, Asher surprised me, and somehow I loved every minute of it.
Reading The Rise and Fall series was a deeply relatable experience for me, much like the reviewer described. Marissa’s character, an overthinker burdened by a painful past, mirrors the struggles many of us face when past trauma colors how we interact with the world. I found myself empathizing with her hesitation to fully trust friends, a sentiment many people wrestle with in real life. The way the series illustrates her evolution—moving from self-doubt to self-empowerment through establishing boundaries—feels authentic and inspiring. What truly stood out to me was Asher’s character development. Often in books, male characters are either too perfect or stereotypically flawed, but Asher felt genuine. His backstory offered a nuanced understanding of how positive role models and experiences can shape a person’s approach to love and relationships. This dimension added depth to the romance, making it less about idealized love and more about real emotional growth. The series doesn’t shy away from addressing heavy but important issues including loss, healing from child abuse, and learning self-love. These themes are handled with sensitivity and honesty, which makes the characters’ journeys feel earned. It’s refreshing to read a story where healing isn’t linear and where both women and men confront their own wounds and traumas. From a personal perspective, the message that our past doesn’t have to define our future resonated deeply. It reminded me of my own path to healing where setting boundaries and allowing people to truly support me was crucial. This series offers a comforting reminder that growth often involves patience and unexpected love, and that true friendship can be a powerful source of strength. If you enjoy stories that combine emotional depth with relatable characters and meaningful life lessons, this series is definitely worth adding to your reading list.
