If Jake Laurent is the “human equivalent of Friday,” Kat Green is “Monday.” Nevertheless, the two shared a secret (if casual) affair during the pandemic, and now, almost exactly one year later, they’ve reunited in Copenhagen, the “city of fairy tales.” Only neither one of them is living a fairy tale.
Jake is a young actor who’s cracking under the public pressure that comes with rising celebrity. Kat is a single mother at the top of her career who believes she’s holding it all together but is barely living. Each one is a simple escape for the other—until the security Kat has worked so hard to build for her tiny family comes under threat, and Jake has to decide if he can keep Kat a secret even if it’s at the expense of his own fame.
And They Had a Great Fall is the story of two people who are going through the motions in life—until they finally look inside themselves to figure out what it takes to find a happily ever after. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)
And They Had a Great Fall really resonated with me. I felt inspired by Kat and her zest to do her best, delicately balancing motherhood and career. Her backstory really fits her characterization; she’s lost loved ones who made her feel secure and safe, and in an effort to protect herself and her daughter’s well-being, she aims for perfection in all areas, no matter the cost.
Jake’s view is entirely different. He’s spent the majority of his life the center of attention, succeeding with breaking into the actor’s realm with little to no trouble. Showcasing his personality and stepping into character has never been an issue for him, until Copenhagen. There, finding the voice and motivation for the character he’s trying hard to portray feels like it’s an unachievable task, leading into the constant pressure and demand his job entails.
Kat doesn’t think that Jake can ever understand her viewpoint, and Jake just wants Kat to let him in a little. For so long, they’ve seen each other as a means to an end in the moment, but Jake wants more, and Kat doesn’t want to admit that she wants that too. It was a constant juxtaposition that made sense and didn’t delineate from the truth behind this struggling couple: they both want the freedom to let go, but don’t know how they can get there.
I liked how despite their fears, they are a much-needed support for one another. Despite their differences, I could see the potential there. It was hard not to relate with Kat, considering I’m a mother myself and want to do as much as I can for my children, but she’s learning through her evolving relationship with Jake that it’s okay to trust again and make herself a priority, too. Both steps can take time. I loved getting to see the changes both characters experience as they grow together and separately as individuals, trying to navigate a really torrential environment that isn’t always kind to the people within it. And They Had a Great Fall was a sweet, eye-opening and at times, an inspiring experience, worthy of the five-stars I’ve given it!
Thanks to BookSparks for the book in exchange for an honest review.
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