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Watch Me Fall
After Ari's parents abandon him at a church camp for being a sinner, he no longer knows how to survive.
Just breathing is hard enough on any given day with the abuse and torture he must endure.
Paisley, club owner and friend, understands Ari in a way no one else ever will. He can see the boy's pain written across his face as though Ari is an open book.
Can Paisley be there to help Ari in ways that no one ever has before? And will Ari be able to accept the help to learn to trust human kind again after the horrors of a conversion therapy camp?
Note from author - This book contains abuse around conversion therapy, PTSD, panic attacks and age regression.
Just breathing is hard enough on any given day with the abuse and torture he must endure.
Paisley, club owner and friend, understands Ari in a way no one else ever will. He can see the boy's pain written across his face as though Ari is an open book.
Can Paisley be there to help Ari in ways that no one ever has before? And will Ari be able to accept the help to learn to trust human kind again after the horrors of a conversion therapy camp?
Note from author - This book contains abuse around conversion therapy, PTSD, panic attacks and age regression.
325 pages, ebook
Published May 18, 2023
About the author
Autumn Winchester
27 books172 followersI’ve always been passionate about storytelling and impressed by the influence it has on people and the decisions they make in life. My novels are something that won't be found anywhere else.
I live in a small town in Colorado. I have 4 kids, 4 dogs, and a cat.
I love to write. I am more than just an author; I'm a storyteller.
I live in a small town in Colorado. I have 4 kids, 4 dogs, and a cat.
I love to write. I am more than just an author; I'm a storyteller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 15, 2023
- hurt x comfort
- MC with PTSD
- ace rep
- found family
- age play/regression
TW: homophobia, conversion therapy, mental & physical abuse, rape
I’m gonna preface this by saying that there’s a lot of hurt and trauma in this book, and it is definitely not for everyone. If you do happen to carry on, be prepared to ugly cry through the first part of this book like I did.
Ari is sent away to a conversion therapy camp where he suffers terrible mental, physical, and sexual abuse in the guise of “curing” him. It’s horrific.
Fast forward and Ari is free but homeless and applies for a job as a bar back of sorts, not realizing it’s sort of a kink club (but different). There he meets Toni, Paisley, and the rest of their little family, and gets offered an apartment above the club. With their help Ari starts his journey towards healing (through age play), but it’s an uphill battle and there are a lot of setbacks.
I will say this was nothing like I expected it to be, and was way heavier than anticipated, but overall I liked it. There were some timeline discrepancies (it says 9 months later, the changes to 3 years since he’s been out of the camp) throughout that had me a bit confused, but other than that no complaints.
- MC with PTSD
- ace rep
- found family
- age play/regression
TW: homophobia, conversion therapy, mental & physical abuse, rape
I’m gonna preface this by saying that there’s a lot of hurt and trauma in this book, and it is definitely not for everyone. If you do happen to carry on, be prepared to ugly cry through the first part of this book like I did.
Ari is sent away to a conversion therapy camp where he suffers terrible mental, physical, and sexual abuse in the guise of “curing” him. It’s horrific.
Fast forward and Ari is free but homeless and applies for a job as a bar back of sorts, not realizing it’s sort of a kink club (but different). There he meets Toni, Paisley, and the rest of their little family, and gets offered an apartment above the club. With their help Ari starts his journey towards healing (through age play), but it’s an uphill battle and there are a lot of setbacks.
I will say this was nothing like I expected it to be, and was way heavier than anticipated, but overall I liked it. There were some timeline discrepancies (it says 9 months later, the changes to 3 years since he’s been out of the camp) throughout that had me a bit confused, but other than that no complaints.
May 28, 2023
Book safety, tropes and tags down below.
Man, I had such high hopes for this book, but it was absolutely torture to get through it at some points, and not because of the heavy subject matter. It needs another round with a proofreader and copyeditor. I had a really hard time immersing myself in the book because of all the mistakes, including typos of every kind, grammatical errors, the author mixing past and present tense in the same sentence, misspelling names twice in a row, oh and the timeline. That shit threw me off for nearly the entire book. Ari is dropped off at conversion camp at almost 17 years old. Three ish months later, he escapes. The book then tells you '9 months later', but in actuality, there's a three year jump in time! What the fudge happened there. Suddenly Ari is 20, not 18, and has been homeless for ages, not a couple of months. Quite a significant mix-up.
Honestly, at some point it felt like someone had put the entire book through Google Translate, which is an absolute shame, because I really wanted to love this book. I'm all for a really traumatic backstory with hurt/comfort. If you're someone that can overlook a general lack of proofreading and editing, go for it. I am not that person, lol.
I think a lot of the books contents were done 'right', and I think it suited the story and characters well that neither Ari or Paisley wanted a sexual relationship (in other words, if you want spice, this isn't the book for you). The first five or six chaptes are pretty detailed in all the sexual abuse and torture, so definitely take a gander at the content warning and take care of yourself while reading. All the mistakes aside, the book deals with serious subject matters.
Book safety
Tropes & tags
Man, I had such high hopes for this book, but it was absolutely torture to get through it at some points, and not because of the heavy subject matter. It needs another round with a proofreader and copyeditor. I had a really hard time immersing myself in the book because of all the mistakes, including typos of every kind, grammatical errors, the author mixing past and present tense in the same sentence, misspelling names twice in a row, oh and the timeline. That shit threw me off for nearly the entire book. Ari is dropped off at conversion camp at almost 17 years old. Three ish months later, he escapes. The book then tells you '9 months later', but in actuality, there's a three year jump in time! What the fudge happened there. Suddenly Ari is 20, not 18, and has been homeless for ages, not a couple of months. Quite a significant mix-up.
Honestly, at some point it felt like someone had put the entire book through Google Translate, which is an absolute shame, because I really wanted to love this book. I'm all for a really traumatic backstory with hurt/comfort. If you're someone that can overlook a general lack of proofreading and editing, go for it. I am not that person, lol.
I think a lot of the books contents were done 'right', and I think it suited the story and characters well that neither Ari or Paisley wanted a sexual relationship (in other words, if you want spice, this isn't the book for you). The first five or six chaptes are pretty detailed in all the sexual abuse and torture, so definitely take a gander at the content warning and take care of yourself while reading. All the mistakes aside, the book deals with serious subject matters.
Book safety
Tropes & tags
May 16, 2023
3.25
This book was damned tough. I'm still not sure how to rate it, because my heart is so full of emotions, but at the same time, I ended skimming quite a bit because it was nearly too much for me.
I did enjoy it, but still, I'm not sure how to rate it.
Anyway, this was my first romance that revolves around age play and age regression, and I THINK this experience was a success. I'll definitely be reading more of this particular kink: although it was very minimal here, because of all the trauma and abuse Ari has survived, it intrigued me. It also left me with a huge smile on my face because damn, the way Autumn Winchester portrays it is cute as hell.
Ari's story was very difficult to read. It's set in two different timelines, with the first few chapters set while he was horribly abused in a conversion camp, and the rest, 3 years later, when, destitute and poor and nearly homeless, Ari applies for a job in a BDSM club.
Needless to say, those first few chapters where absolutely horrific and while the present-time ones where still difficult, I found them much more easier to follow, and much more satisfying too. Seeing Ari, slowly but surely, come back to himself and find himself, while also opening up to his little found family at the BDSM club (the pun was intentional), was absolutely heart-warming. His romance journey, with the absolute sweetest club owner ever, was as heart-warming to witness and I swoooooned. A lot. Paisley was an utter sweetheart; and I loved every single side character too.
"Watch Me Fall" is an emotional, gut-wrenching rollercoaster ride; it tackles difficult themes, but it's also a very sweet, hopeful read.
I'll be looking forward to reading more books by this author, and hopefully reading more age play books in the near future too.
TWs/CWs: conversion camp, abuse, rape, sexual assault, violence, suicidal thoughts.
Thank you GRR for the ARC. I received it in exchange for an honest review.
This book was damned tough. I'm still not sure how to rate it, because my heart is so full of emotions, but at the same time, I ended skimming quite a bit because it was nearly too much for me.
I did enjoy it, but still, I'm not sure how to rate it.
Anyway, this was my first romance that revolves around age play and age regression, and I THINK this experience was a success. I'll definitely be reading more of this particular kink: although it was very minimal here, because of all the trauma and abuse Ari has survived, it intrigued me. It also left me with a huge smile on my face because damn, the way Autumn Winchester portrays it is cute as hell.
Ari's story was very difficult to read. It's set in two different timelines, with the first few chapters set while he was horribly abused in a conversion camp, and the rest, 3 years later, when, destitute and poor and nearly homeless, Ari applies for a job in a BDSM club.
Needless to say, those first few chapters where absolutely horrific and while the present-time ones where still difficult, I found them much more easier to follow, and much more satisfying too. Seeing Ari, slowly but surely, come back to himself and find himself, while also opening up to his little found family at the BDSM club (the pun was intentional), was absolutely heart-warming. His romance journey, with the absolute sweetest club owner ever, was as heart-warming to witness and I swoooooned. A lot. Paisley was an utter sweetheart; and I loved every single side character too.
"Watch Me Fall" is an emotional, gut-wrenching rollercoaster ride; it tackles difficult themes, but it's also a very sweet, hopeful read.
I'll be looking forward to reading more books by this author, and hopefully reading more age play books in the near future too.
TWs/CWs: conversion camp, abuse, rape, sexual assault, violence, suicidal thoughts.
Thank you GRR for the ARC. I received it in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2023
A teraz mam napisać recenzję.
Od czego tu zacząć. To jest nie jest łatwa i przyjemna książka. Ari trafia na terapię i autorka nie oszczędza nam szczegółów. Są momenty,kiedy nienawidzę ludzi. Jak oni mogą to robić innym ludziom. Ch*je. Druga część sprawia, że nabiera się wiary w ludzi. Są jeszcze ludzie, którzy po prostu są dla Ari, starają się mu pomóc, kochać go, pokazać ,że świat może być piękny.
Co najbardziej mi się podobało , to ,że tu nie ma magicznego dick. Jeden z bohaterów jest aseksualny.
Trudna ,ale świetna książka,która zostaje na długo.
Od czego tu zacząć. To jest nie jest łatwa i przyjemna książka. Ari trafia na terapię i autorka nie oszczędza nam szczegółów. Są momenty,kiedy nienawidzę ludzi. Jak oni mogą to robić innym ludziom. Ch*je. Druga część sprawia, że nabiera się wiary w ludzi. Są jeszcze ludzie, którzy po prostu są dla Ari, starają się mu pomóc, kochać go, pokazać ,że świat może być piękny.
Co najbardziej mi się podobało , to ,że tu nie ma magicznego dick. Jeden z bohaterów jest aseksualny.
Trudna ,ale świetna książka,która zostaje na długo.
May 14, 2023
That was an amazing story, the hurt was indescribable, not just a few pages, oh no, it did go on and on. I loved it, even though it was a harsh read, it was incredibly written, just how I like my hurt/comfort stories.
Ari at seventeen was handed over from his heavily religious parents to a therapy group, a boys' camp, where they will converse him to a, in their opinion, ‘normal’ boy. Maybe it will work, maybe not. Maybe you’ll get free, or maybe they will hold you forever, they use you, break your spirit, body, and your whole human being, and shred you into a million pieces so you’ll never find yourself again.
Be aware the author didn’t hold back writing what happened to Ari.
So, this was Ari’s reality. Until he escaped.
He’s homeless, all skin and bone, his soul broken beyond repair, he silenced himself, his body just didn’t give up, like he wanted.
He finds shelter and a job at a club owned by Paisley Maxcy. Time after time they tell him he’s safe, and time after time he doesn’t believe it. He’ll never be safe, he doesn’t deserve to be safe.
The demons are there, every moment, they will take him back to Hell.
With the most minuscule pace, so tiny you’d almost missed it, Ari's resistance breaks. Paisley is balsam to his soul, soothing and safe.
Paisley's soul reached out to Ari, he can’t let this utterly vulnerable, exhausted, and utterly broken guy go.
He wants to take care of him. If only he let him.
What a heartbreaking, breathtaking story, literally! Amazingly written, and immensely captivating, it was a quite heavy read. So much hurt, but at the end of the tunnel, there was light.
Ari at seventeen was handed over from his heavily religious parents to a therapy group, a boys' camp, where they will converse him to a, in their opinion, ‘normal’ boy. Maybe it will work, maybe not. Maybe you’ll get free, or maybe they will hold you forever, they use you, break your spirit, body, and your whole human being, and shred you into a million pieces so you’ll never find yourself again.
Be aware the author didn’t hold back writing what happened to Ari.
So, this was Ari’s reality. Until he escaped.
He’s homeless, all skin and bone, his soul broken beyond repair, he silenced himself, his body just didn’t give up, like he wanted.
He finds shelter and a job at a club owned by Paisley Maxcy. Time after time they tell him he’s safe, and time after time he doesn’t believe it. He’ll never be safe, he doesn’t deserve to be safe.
The demons are there, every moment, they will take him back to Hell.
With the most minuscule pace, so tiny you’d almost missed it, Ari's resistance breaks. Paisley is balsam to his soul, soothing and safe.
Paisley's soul reached out to Ari, he can’t let this utterly vulnerable, exhausted, and utterly broken guy go.
He wants to take care of him. If only he let him.
What a heartbreaking, breathtaking story, literally! Amazingly written, and immensely captivating, it was a quite heavy read. So much hurt, but at the end of the tunnel, there was light.
May 14, 2023
Painful But Good Hurt/Comfort Story
There is definitely a lot of pain in this one for poor Ari. It is a significant part of the story and it gets hard to read. It's worth getting through that hard part to get to experience Ari's journey towards healing with Paisley.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
There is definitely a lot of pain in this one for poor Ari. It is a significant part of the story and it gets hard to read. It's worth getting through that hard part to get to experience Ari's journey towards healing with Paisley.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
May 22, 2023
Very very painful but beautiful story which had me in tears a number of times. It's scary how easy it could be to break someone. Anyone involved in conversion camps should be locked up permanently. Paisley was a lovely person, and it's amazing that he and the others at the club were so willing to help the so very silent and hurt Ari.
May 20, 2023
Watch Me Fall
Author: Autumn Winchester
CW: Homophobia, Conversion Therapy, Mental health issues, anxiety, human trafficking, sexual and physical abuse.
Raised by extremely religious parents, Ari, just seventeen years old, is sent to a conversion camp. Though he's sure he never indicated anything, it doesn't matter anymore, because he's still a minor and has no choice.
There begins a life of hell.
Four years later, we find him facing homelessness, drifting from shelters, to halfway houses to the streets. Until a job interview leads to so much more.
First off, we have a really good, professional cover, with a cover model who seems a fit for the character of Ari.
Whilst the story arc is fascinating and lots of emotions are spilt on the page, there are quite a few technical issues.
"Between the hollowing wind and thunder," which I assume should be 'howling' is one example. And further on, "still moving down steam," as the character is following a river, I'm assuming here, that Winchester meant to write "stream".
This is the kind of thing that a spellcheck would pass, yet in context isn't right, and a beta reader or copy editor might catch. I'm a writer, so I know it's an expensive game putting a book out as an independent writer, but putting a call out to get beta readers in exchange for perks could help.
Despite some of these editorial issues, Autumn Winchester does have potential as you can see from this metaphor she uses for Ari.
"I had to keep the broken pieces swept under the rug, hidden from sight at all costs."
It says such a lot about Ari's upbringing and his fears.
I won't go into the period at the camp, but suffice to say it's dark stuff.
However, his meeting with Toni who works at Paisley's BDSM club, then Paisley himself, sets Ari on his road to recovery.
A lot of things in the club trigger his anxiety and trauma; such as small, dark rooms if he's tasked with going in them, yet he also has a safe space in the flat above.
The middle part of the book where Ari is starting to collapse after his experiences and Paisley and Benny are trying to help him, is where the story starts to get stronger.
It becomes apparent as the book progresses, that Ari might be a 'little' and both Toni and Benny trial activities with him - colouring, cookies and cuddles - to see if it offers him comfort. Whilst it does, it's clear that Paisley's care is the thing bringing Ari out of his shell and helping him heal. But he can't express what he needs.
Seeing Benny with Wyatt is also sweet and I'm interested in reading their story. And with Ari and Paisley, the guessing game scene near the end is absolutely adorable.
There's a lot of themes explored in the book, including non-typical relationships, PTSD, ADHD and aspects of the BDSM scene.
Despite some of these technical errors, the story arc was engaging, the characters believable and the end was a satisfying HFN.
Author: Autumn Winchester
CW: Homophobia, Conversion Therapy, Mental health issues, anxiety, human trafficking, sexual and physical abuse.
Raised by extremely religious parents, Ari, just seventeen years old, is sent to a conversion camp. Though he's sure he never indicated anything, it doesn't matter anymore, because he's still a minor and has no choice.
There begins a life of hell.
Four years later, we find him facing homelessness, drifting from shelters, to halfway houses to the streets. Until a job interview leads to so much more.
First off, we have a really good, professional cover, with a cover model who seems a fit for the character of Ari.
Whilst the story arc is fascinating and lots of emotions are spilt on the page, there are quite a few technical issues.
"Between the hollowing wind and thunder," which I assume should be 'howling' is one example. And further on, "still moving down steam," as the character is following a river, I'm assuming here, that Winchester meant to write "stream".
This is the kind of thing that a spellcheck would pass, yet in context isn't right, and a beta reader or copy editor might catch. I'm a writer, so I know it's an expensive game putting a book out as an independent writer, but putting a call out to get beta readers in exchange for perks could help.
Despite some of these editorial issues, Autumn Winchester does have potential as you can see from this metaphor she uses for Ari.
"I had to keep the broken pieces swept under the rug, hidden from sight at all costs."
It says such a lot about Ari's upbringing and his fears.
I won't go into the period at the camp, but suffice to say it's dark stuff.
However, his meeting with Toni who works at Paisley's BDSM club, then Paisley himself, sets Ari on his road to recovery.
A lot of things in the club trigger his anxiety and trauma; such as small, dark rooms if he's tasked with going in them, yet he also has a safe space in the flat above.
The middle part of the book where Ari is starting to collapse after his experiences and Paisley and Benny are trying to help him, is where the story starts to get stronger.
It becomes apparent as the book progresses, that Ari might be a 'little' and both Toni and Benny trial activities with him - colouring, cookies and cuddles - to see if it offers him comfort. Whilst it does, it's clear that Paisley's care is the thing bringing Ari out of his shell and helping him heal. But he can't express what he needs.
Seeing Benny with Wyatt is also sweet and I'm interested in reading their story. And with Ari and Paisley, the guessing game scene near the end is absolutely adorable.
There's a lot of themes explored in the book, including non-typical relationships, PTSD, ADHD and aspects of the BDSM scene.
Despite some of these technical errors, the story arc was engaging, the characters believable and the end was a satisfying HFN.
May 15, 2023
An extremely uncomfortable read during the first several chapters where we read about the outrageous ordeals of the conversion camp. I literally have no words. Ari has a hard life, he is barely surviving. He is thrown a life line when he is offered a job. He is naturally suspicious of everyone and doesn't feel any self worth. Almost mute from his previous abuse, he struggles with conversing and social situations in general. He has no joy in his life, almost like he is punishing himself for existing, for surviving hell. This book is written in single POV with Ari's viewpoint so at first we make assumptions as to what we believe are Paisley's lifestyle choices. Paisley is his saviour with patience that would win awards. He is an incredible character; although at first we don't fully know him, we believe he is safe and Ari seems to know this too. Paisley's safety is Ari's comfort blanket and we start to see age play taking place, very subtlety. Initially this concept is not broached or voiced out loud, just little additions that Paisley gifts to Ari for comfort and to help him self soothe. This book is not a typical romance story, the intimacy takes shape in comfort and safekeeping. You will find no intimate acts due to several reasons, primarily because of the abuse Ari suffered. This story is sad and deep and was hard to not think about. I'm not sure I will ever forget Ari's character. This book comes with an army of trigger warnings so take care with them. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 19, 2023
Watch Me Fall is my first Autumn Winchester read, and it is a story that left me conflicted. While I was hooked on the book and could not put it down, the way everything came together later in the book had me unable to give higher than a three-star rating.
From the start, Watch Me Fall had me hooked. There was plenty packed into the pages, ensuring I was sucked in by the emotion and my quick connection with the main character. I had high hopes for how the story would progress, and my investment maintained… yet my wishes were never fulfilled. This is mostly because everything happened so quickly. It was like a switch was flicked, and suddenly everything was coming together. I blinked and our characters were in love, even though I felt like the love interest was not as fleshed out as I had hoped. I blinked again and our characters had fallen into their relationship, even though the main character knew nothing about that side of life. For me, it went from a story that explored things well – explored them deeply – to a story that was rushed to finish. As harsh as it sounds, the rush to be finished shows – not just from the speedy change to the story, but also in the way there were sudden errors and inconsistencies appearing. It took away from what was a powerful book, changing it from a book I adored to one that was just okay.
Overall, this started strong. As strong as it started, things changed for me in a way that altered my perspective. I’m sure many will adore it, but I wanted a little more.
From the start, Watch Me Fall had me hooked. There was plenty packed into the pages, ensuring I was sucked in by the emotion and my quick connection with the main character. I had high hopes for how the story would progress, and my investment maintained… yet my wishes were never fulfilled. This is mostly because everything happened so quickly. It was like a switch was flicked, and suddenly everything was coming together. I blinked and our characters were in love, even though I felt like the love interest was not as fleshed out as I had hoped. I blinked again and our characters had fallen into their relationship, even though the main character knew nothing about that side of life. For me, it went from a story that explored things well – explored them deeply – to a story that was rushed to finish. As harsh as it sounds, the rush to be finished shows – not just from the speedy change to the story, but also in the way there were sudden errors and inconsistencies appearing. It took away from what was a powerful book, changing it from a book I adored to one that was just okay.
Overall, this started strong. As strong as it started, things changed for me in a way that altered my perspective. I’m sure many will adore it, but I wanted a little more.
May 13, 2023
So this book was... not as expected. This is the first book by this author I've read.
We have Ari, 17 years old, who has just been sent to a conversion camp by his parents. The first few chapters actually depict his time there. And not like a memory, but happening right now. Further trigger warning here:
After he can finally leave the camp, we see him again (9 months/3 years?) later, applying for a job in Paisley's club.
Ari slowly warms up to Pasley, but he still has to deal a lot with what happened to him. Meaning, after reading the whole book, we actually know next to nothing about Paisley except for that he is ace. For everyone wanting to read a few nice comforting sex scenes: not happening. Which is fine, since Ari is not done healing at all.
What I found a bit odd, though maybe that is because I'm just not in the scene, was Ari's transgression to becoming a little. I'm happy for everyone who has that urge and leads that life. But Ari was basically given all this stuff and he was completely indifferent about it. Put colouring books in front of him: he colours. Give him a stuffie: he cuddles it. Literally, the only thing he actually wanted (at the beginning), was the pacifier. And suddenly he completely regresses and is a little.
All in all it was an alright read.
We have Ari, 17 years old, who has just been sent to a conversion camp by his parents. The first few chapters actually depict his time there. And not like a memory, but happening right now. Further trigger warning here:
After he can finally leave the camp, we see him again (9 months/3 years?) later, applying for a job in Paisley's club.
Ari slowly warms up to Pasley, but he still has to deal a lot with what happened to him. Meaning, after reading the whole book, we actually know next to nothing about Paisley except for that he is ace. For everyone wanting to read a few nice comforting sex scenes: not happening. Which is fine, since Ari is not done healing at all.
What I found a bit odd, though maybe that is because I'm just not in the scene, was Ari's transgression to becoming a little. I'm happy for everyone who has that urge and leads that life. But Ari was basically given all this stuff and he was completely indifferent about it. Put colouring books in front of him: he colours. Give him a stuffie: he cuddles it. Literally, the only thing he actually wanted (at the beginning), was the pacifier. And suddenly he completely regresses and is a little.
All in all it was an alright read.
May 23, 2023
This book is heartbreaking but hopeful, too. At age 17, Ari is sent to a gay conversion camp where his parents sign away custody of him. There he is cruelly treated, even more so than many of the other boys, until he is a broken shell. He is able to escape, living broken and alone until found by Paisley and Toni. Not giving up on him, Paisley and others fight to reach Ari through his fear, anxiety and pain and help him heal.
Emotional read, detailing some of the methods said to be used by some of the conversion camps, and possibly to more extremes than reported. The mental and emotional torture are equal to, or more than, the physical, determined to break down hope and the very soul, leaving just a hollow shell, but somehow Ari’s spirit continues to strive on, searching for the acceptance, love and family he craves, if he can just allow himself to take it when offered.
Ari and Paisley as the two main characters are developed with love, caring, compassion, perseverance, and an unquenchable desire and striving to find what is their heart and home. Beautiful, hopeful, emotional read.
Emotional read, detailing some of the methods said to be used by some of the conversion camps, and possibly to more extremes than reported. The mental and emotional torture are equal to, or more than, the physical, determined to break down hope and the very soul, leaving just a hollow shell, but somehow Ari’s spirit continues to strive on, searching for the acceptance, love and family he craves, if he can just allow himself to take it when offered.
Ari and Paisley as the two main characters are developed with love, caring, compassion, perseverance, and an unquenchable desire and striving to find what is their heart and home. Beautiful, hopeful, emotional read.
May 19, 2023
This book was by no means a light romantic tale. In fact the first 46 - 50% I was wide-eyed, my heart in my throat beating to the rhythm of my pulse. Look away, take a walk around the garden - no way - I had to know that Ari would survive. the inhumane treatment by his so-called parents and the place they left him at. Thank the Lord that Ari knew the true God.
After escaping the camp, Ari became homeless, wandering the streets for food and odd jobs. Then a compassionate person met him at an interview and could finally convince him she needed his assistance. Toni and Paisley took Ari under their wing and gave him hope.
Although this author has written quite a few books, this is the first I have read. I have not seen God shown in a positive light in books dealing with this topic and I am pleased to encounter this at last. I look forward to more from this author if this is her viewpoint.
I received a copy from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest and voluntary review.
After escaping the camp, Ari became homeless, wandering the streets for food and odd jobs. Then a compassionate person met him at an interview and could finally convince him she needed his assistance. Toni and Paisley took Ari under their wing and gave him hope.
Although this author has written quite a few books, this is the first I have read. I have not seen God shown in a positive light in books dealing with this topic and I am pleased to encounter this at last. I look forward to more from this author if this is her viewpoint.
I received a copy from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest and voluntary review.
May 18, 2023
This was a powerful read. Not an easy read at all in terms of content but very well written. Please read all the trigger warnings. There was so much hurt in this story and at times I just needed to step back and take a breath but it all worked out in the end, eventually, with a lot of love and patience. The story is all from one point of view and very much not your normal romance but it is worth it to finally see Ari happy with Paisley who has his own past and issues to contend with. Although this is a work of fiction, it really opened my eyes to exactly what could happen at conversion camp and how important it is to keep up the pressure to close these. I won’t say I ‘enjoyed’ this book but it was so worthwhile and, if you have no triggers, something I would recommend.
May 26, 2023
Reading about what Ari went through thanks to those people who definitely don't deserve the title of "parents" is just shattering. Paisley and those who want to love and befriend him later basically have to tread gently as one does with any damaged creature who is justifiably wary, fearful and skittish. Lots of patient, gentle, ever so slow approaches with open hands and hearts. It can feel like and impossible, thankless task and does here, until that sudden realization by Ari that these people don't intend harm. The author perfectly captures that gradual gifting of trust and it will make you smile through your tears.
May 26, 2023
Ari and Paisley ❤️
4.5 stars ⭐️
Wow!! This book was amazing!! Even though this read has been my heaviest so far this year, it was beautiful just the same. I've got to give this author the ultimate kudos for turning something so ugly into a truly soul touching love story. I teared up more than once as the emotion of this story reaches out and grabs a hold and does not let go until the very end. Ari and Paisley were equally great characters and you will fall just as hard for them as I did and that's a guarantee. I would most defiantly recommend, this story was very emotional and heartfelt.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
4.5 stars ⭐️
Wow!! This book was amazing!! Even though this read has been my heaviest so far this year, it was beautiful just the same. I've got to give this author the ultimate kudos for turning something so ugly into a truly soul touching love story. I teared up more than once as the emotion of this story reaches out and grabs a hold and does not let go until the very end. Ari and Paisley were equally great characters and you will fall just as hard for them as I did and that's a guarantee. I would most defiantly recommend, this story was very emotional and heartfelt.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
October 22, 2023
Got me in a chokehold
I’m not even sure how to put this book in to words ….. I feel raw….. my heart aches for Ari - no one should ever have to endure what he has. I know this is a work of fiction but it could be a true story and to me this is a prime example of the hypocrisy of religion.
Watch Me Fall is story that grabs you and let’s you feel the fear and despair that Ari is experiencing but also the hope and love that comes with finding people who will help and love you, for just being you and without ulterior motives or a price. Family is not about blood but about who is a safe, loving and soft place to fall.
I’m not even sure how to put this book in to words ….. I feel raw….. my heart aches for Ari - no one should ever have to endure what he has. I know this is a work of fiction but it could be a true story and to me this is a prime example of the hypocrisy of religion.
Watch Me Fall is story that grabs you and let’s you feel the fear and despair that Ari is experiencing but also the hope and love that comes with finding people who will help and love you, for just being you and without ulterior motives or a price. Family is not about blood but about who is a safe, loving and soft place to fall.
May 15, 2023
This book is dark, yes, but it’s so full of emotions that it’s remarkable. It’s gripping to the point of being captivating. It’s nearly impossible to put down. Watching Ari’s journey is heartbreaking yet seeing the end result is encouraging. Justice for the parents, excellent. Happiness for Ari and Paisley, fabulous. The book has an extremely strong pull and as difficult as it is, at times, to continue reading when you reach the end you can feel the happiness flow from the pages. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.
November 24, 2023
This was dark but also full of light.
It is definitely a slow burn, with abuse on page but also so many tender moments. I loved it to bits. There is lots of anxiety attacks, depression, suicidal thought, and overall darkness that is gradually changing to a new family and happiness.
Those complaining about the lack of smut - did we you not read the abuse Ari suffered? If yes, how can you expect any smut? Without smut it felt completely satisfactory and just right. There is enough swoon to keep me going!
It is definitely a slow burn, with abuse on page but also so many tender moments. I loved it to bits. There is lots of anxiety attacks, depression, suicidal thought, and overall darkness that is gradually changing to a new family and happiness.
Those complaining about the lack of smut - did we you not read the abuse Ari suffered? If yes, how can you expect any smut? Without smut it felt completely satisfactory and just right. There is enough swoon to keep me going!
May 21, 2023
Ari's story is intense. What Ari went through was horrifying. I am not sure what Ari would have done without Paisley. I do not want to give too much away. If caretaking, nurturing one back and protecting is something you like to read about Ari and Paisley are a must read for you. The story is told from Ari's POV, so you go through everything with him. It is very heavy read but so rewarding to see Ari find himself. The age regression is actually a quite sweet element here.
May 26, 2023
Please read the trigger warnings for this book!!
This book is a tough one. There’s a lot of very very heavy topics at the start of this book. It’s very emotional and descriptive.
The found family aspect and the hurt/comfort were great. All in all this was a good book, it’s just very heavy and felt very long. I’m sure if I gave it a few more days my rating would change, it’s all fresh right now and I’m feeling a lot.
3/5 ✨
This book is a tough one. There’s a lot of very very heavy topics at the start of this book. It’s very emotional and descriptive.
The found family aspect and the hurt/comfort were great. All in all this was a good book, it’s just very heavy and felt very long. I’m sure if I gave it a few more days my rating would change, it’s all fresh right now and I’m feeling a lot.
3/5 ✨
May 28, 2023
Ari is put through hell by people he thought loved him. As a teen his parents decide to “fix” him since he isn’t behaving the way they want him to. He meets Toni and she won't give up on him. Down the road he also meets Paisley. The characters were well written and this story really sounded like it was real life. It had me crying and laughing with what Ari had to go through. I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.
June 7, 2023
The first part of this book is brutal! Poor Ari is abandoned at a church conversion camp by his parents to be fixed. What happens is he is subjected to unbelievable levels of mental and physical abuse. And when he finally manages to escape his resulting PTSD is crippling. To try to keep his head above water he applies for a job at a BDSM club. Paisley, the club owner, and the other employees and patrons take him in and help him find a way to stand on his feet
July 11, 2023
Such a heartfelt book!
Definitely not what I was thinking I was going to get when I dive into this book omg I loved every second! Definitely an emotional rollercoaster so have your tissues ready! I fell in love with Ari and became so attached to this character, I literally felt like I could feel his pain through out this read.
Can’t wait to read more of this series!
Definitely not what I was thinking I was going to get when I dive into this book omg I loved every second! Definitely an emotional rollercoaster so have your tissues ready! I fell in love with Ari and became so attached to this character, I literally felt like I could feel his pain through out this read.
Can’t wait to read more of this series!
July 31, 2023
Have to admit, did not end up being a fan of this one and I wasn't prepared for all the triggers. Maybe I missed a more detailed warning in the beginning, but definitely not enough details in the blurb. I found the plot weirdly paced and a bit chaotic. And even though the story was HEA I felt kinda blue after I was finished.
August 28, 2023
Good read
If you are looking for a sexy steamy romance this isn't it. Its a great read however it was not dark enough for me. There's no smut period. It doesn't need it. The characters are likable. Everything in this book seemed friend zone. The jerk parents got what they deserved. The friends now can live happily every after...just not steamy at all.
If you are looking for a sexy steamy romance this isn't it. Its a great read however it was not dark enough for me. There's no smut period. It doesn't need it. The characters are likable. Everything in this book seemed friend zone. The jerk parents got what they deserved. The friends now can live happily every after...just not steamy at all.
May 13, 2023
This book broke my heart, but luckily it was put back to pieces at the end. Ari is helped back to his feet by Paisley and have a happy ending. This book has a lot of trigger, so read the trigger warnings carefully. But I thought it was a good book to read.
May 14, 2023
Watch Me Fall had me in tears for Ari and the boys at this terrible camp. Ari’s flight and his fight to survive after so much abuse just tugged at my heartstrings. I’m so glad he had Paisley and Toni and Paisley’s family.
May 16, 2023
Very Deep
This book is very dark, but it reminds the reader what was written happened to innocent children by narrow minded individuals who consider themselves as holier than thou. All in the name of religion. Very good book. As it says book one, will look forward to the next one.
This book is very dark, but it reminds the reader what was written happened to innocent children by narrow minded individuals who consider themselves as holier than thou. All in the name of religion. Very good book. As it says book one, will look forward to the next one.
May 24, 2023
His parents has delivered him to a church camp because he is gay, his life is full of pain and torture. Can he survive it all? Can he escape? Can he find true love? See how he may escape all the pain and torture to find the love he deserves
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