When It Falls Apart is the first in a new contemporary romance series from Catherine Bybee. When Brooke Turner ends a long-term relationship and moves half way across the country to care for her ailing father it’s ore from a sense of duty than out of love but once there she meets the D’Angelo family and in particular the oldest son and single father Luca D’Angelo. What follows is a slow burn romance as Brooke and Luca’s friendship deepens into love as they overcome their trust issues on their road to happiness..

I really enjoyed this book. It has fantastic characters in Brooke and Luca and the rest of the D’Angelo family and as someone who has been in a similar situation to Brooke I felt I could relate to her and this story did stir up some memories for me. The storyline itself is one of two people falling in love without any angst or drama just the usual tribulations of everyday life, concentrating more on the development of their relationship rather than any major plot twists. One thing I especially liked was that the characters were both mature people in their middle to late thirties – it lets the rest of us live in hope of an Italian chef being in our futures! I’m left looking forward to the next book in this series.

When it Falls Apart is a new book in a new series by Catherine Bybee. I love it when my favorite authors write new series'. It gives me new characters to fall in love with, and I feel hard and fast for Luca, Brooke and Franny! I also love a good Italian family in my romance stories and the D'Angelos are top-notch! Brooke gives up her life to help her ailing father. She moves to a different state, needs to find a place to live and a place for her father so he can get the care he needs. They have a strained relationship, so it's tough for her to keep trying, but she does. When she randomly ends up in an Italian restaurant in San Diego, it just feels like the place she was meant to be. She meets the family who runs it and just feels like she's home. When she's offered the top floor apartment, the chef, Luca, isn't thrilled there's a stranger in his house. But the more he sees her and watches her struggle, the more he wants to care and protect her. Brooke has never had anyone truly want to help her. It's hard to accept Luca's help, but once she does and she gets to know him, she realizes she's happy. Her life might actually be falling into place. She might actually be falling in love. I loved watching Brooke and Luca fall for each other. They each fought it, but it was just meant to be. Luca's daughter Franny is freaking hilarious and I loved the relationship she had with her dad, Brooke and her family. The D'Angelos are family goals and they remind me a lot of my family! This story made me miss Italy and made me want a huge bowl of pasta! Overall, I loved the journey Brooke and Luca went on to find each other. The past leads you to where you are meant to be. It's a feel good, fun and sexy story and I'm looking forward to more in the series!

When it falls apart is a beautiful story dealing with parent/child relationships and how we deal with the emotions and feelings we have for our family. Each situation is unique and gives an inside look at how we are affected by the power of love.

Brooke is the star of this fabulous story. She teaches us that we can do better and grow from our traumas. Brooke gives up everything for her father and does everything she can to ensure he has everything he needs. She is a fantastic daughter and friend.

Luca is a beautiful and dedicated father to his daughter. He does everything for his family, ensuring they are ok and forgetting about himself. Until he meets Brooke, she opens him up for love and brings him the joy and excitement he needs to be happy.

Brooke helps guide him to be the best father he can be with her support and understanding. Together they find happiness and give you a story that will melt your heart. Catherine Bybee is my go-to author who writes must-read stories.

Wow, this story really hit close to home. I found it to be heartachingly familiar to my own journey with my dad. Brooke’s unwavering patience in a situation that can cut like a blade was inspirational, causing me to look back at my own experience and compare the two. Unfortunately, Brooke was traveling her journey alone and my heart hurt for her because of that fact.

Once Luca entered the picture, he helped to carry her emotional load as she was able to lay much of her concerns on him. And oh my, what an incredible hero to make himself available to her in those times. I adored pretty much everything about Luca but nothing as much as his loyalty and dedication to his family.

This was a fast paced book that dealt with some hard issues on both Luca and Brooke’s side. They didn’t fly through it without a problem, but they dealt with it in a mature style that made me love them even more as a couple. Luca’s family was amazing, especially his daughter Fanny, and I’m hoping we get more from them in the future.

Brooke's life is upended by a dead end relationship, a sick father that needs round the clock care, & a job that is falling by the wayside. She's not where she wants to be in life. Sometimes it takes life falling completely apart for everything to become clear to the point where life altering decisions must be made. The question is would you be willing to drop everything to make a move that will alter your life forever?

Luca, Luca, Luca... does anything more need to be said? He's the leader of the pack for his family, and it's a role he takes as seriously as he does being a wonderful father to his sweet daughter Franny. He has put his own life on hold to run the family restaurant and to be the father he needs to be to Franny. His past comes back to haunt him in a way that he never saw coming. Franny is a little tell-it-like-it-is spitfire for an eight yr old. I love her to pieces. She sees people for who they really are right from the start.

There's so much more to be said about this wonderful book, but I'm just going to stop there and recommend you read it for yourself. It's a quick read in my opinion, because you want to find out what happens next and never want to put it down.

This is the first of the D'Angelo series. I'm already looking forward to the next book.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 Star Review of When It Falls Apart (The D’Angelos #1) by Catherine Bybee
Having read a number of books by Catherine Bybee I couldn’t wait to read the first book in her latest The D’Angelo’s series.
When Brooke Tuners father becomes ill, she does what most daughters would do and returns to San Diego’s Little Italy to look after him. However, that decision soon puts her life into turmoil and her relationship in jeopardy.
Meeting single dad, Luca D’Angelo complicates her life even more and yet sometimes fate knows what needs to happen. As a tentative friendship morphs into more, Brooke and Luca, along with his daughter Fanny will find a loving relationship that was heart warming and uplifting for them all.
This was a well written, romantic love story with characters whose story you cannot help but become invested in. I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

Sometimes you just need a little sweet in your life and this book delivers all the sweet, feel good vibes you need for a good summer read. Filled with family, a vibrant community, and characters you love for their goodness, When It Falls Apart will capture your heart on so many levels. It has some gentle matchmaking of two people who weren’t looking for love, but really needed it after life has fallen apart.

Brooke has been the care provider for her ailing father for years and her longtime boyfriend has never supported her need to be there for him. She is all he has. When her father falls ill again, it’s the last straw for their relationship. Leaving for California to take care of him, Brooke leaves him behind for good. Once her father is on the mend, but needing to go into a full care facility, she realizes what a mess her life is. To try to piece together a little bit of her life again, she moves to San Diego’s little Italy and discovers so much more than just a place to live. Meanwhile, Luca doesn’t know or trust this stranger who has rented an apartment above his, but as they reveal their secrets to each other, they come to find that his matchmaking mother may have been right all along.

I loved Luca and his big, meddling family. He is just the sweetest of men, with just enough Italian machimso behind him to make him a provider and protector. He couldn't just let Brooke struggle all alone. I loved how they supported each other throughout the story. This read will leave you with all the warm fuzzy feels about a sweet love story. Spice lovers beware, this story isn’t FTB but it isn’t about the steam factor. It was a delightful break from angsty, steamy, and darker romances which made me want Italian food and wine, and dream of a dark haired man to sweep me off my feet.

I enjoyed Brooke and Luca's story. I found that the author compiled a good mix of elements that not only enhanced the story but also helped to drive it along. I liked that some of the content was relatable, especially when it came to familial relationships and the overwhelming emotions that come with dealing with family. I also appreciated the light humor used throughout and how well it mixed with some of the heavier emotions brought to the page. This wasn't an angsty kind of read, yet the range in emotions was apparent and fit the events brought to the page.

As for the romance, I found Brooke and Luca complemented each other nicely. I enjoyed their dialogue and candid moments as well as their flirty banter. In the end, it was nice to see their connection flourish and seeing them allowing themselves a new chance at love.

All in all, a sweet, low-angst romance about family and new beginnings.

When it Falls Apart… the title describes the beginning of this book, but not where it ends up. Also, I would say that the blurb here doesn’t necessarily align with the story being told, but the story is still amazing.

When we meet Brooke, her world is literally falling apart. Her father is Ill and requires care, her long term relationship ends, she has a move, and her job causes stress. That mess leads to changes and those changes mean some unexpected people joining her life.

The story that surrounds Brooke, Luca, Franny and the rest of the D’Angelo family is touching. I expected a bit on angst between Luca and Brooke (based on the blurb), but was pleasantly surprised by the sweet relationship that unfolded. The secondary cast and the community that surround the D’Angelos help move the story forward and make it so easy to embrace these characters.

I truly enjoyed seeing Brooke and Luca’s story unfold and I am curious about who in the family will have a story next.

I’ve read all of Catherine Bybee’s books and this one definitely has a different “feel” maybe because it’s part fiction and part non-fiction (ie I think some of the struggles taking care of an elderly parent are real life issues for her). Regardless, I loved it. I loved Luca and his big Italian family and his sweet little girl. The struggles of caring for an elderly parent definitely effect a persons dating life/married life and the author did a great job of portraying that in the book. 5stars and hopes for more of this family!

This new book by Catherine Bybee is relatable to children dealing with the issues their elderly parents are experiencing and to women who are looking for and answer to the age old question...is this it?

Brooke is doing her best for the father who had little to do with her while she was growing up. She has purchased a townhouse for him, and keeps an eye on him from two states away. When she gets a call about her dad's health, she makes the decision to go to him and see what exactly is going on. Her boyfriend is not happy about her decision and gives her an ultimatum. Not a good move.

After she gets to Southern California, Brooke realizes her father cannot live independently any longer. She decides to move from Seattle to San Diego and sets about settling her father's living arrangements and finding somewhere she can live that will be close, but not too close to her father.

Luca is a chef, oldest son, single dad, and brother. His family lives above their restaurant in the Little Italy area of San Diego. His family is close knit and they would do anything for each other. They are also meddling and sometimes exasperating! But love is always foremost.

Brooke stops for lunch at the D'Angelo's restaurant. She makes an impression on Luca's mom and when Brooke is looking for apartments...well of course there just happens to be an unused top floor of the restaurant! Brooke has found the perfect living arrangement! Now the good stuff begins!

Brooke and Luca are drawn to each other, but of course there are issues that continually come up. A wonderfully written, very relatable, and enjoyable book. It makes you take a look at your own life and how issues with parents, children, and others in your circle impact life changing decisions.

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. The review is my own.

This is a whole new side of the author and I have to say that I really like it.  The story is real, rich, emotional, messy with an absolutely delightful cast of characters that I'm looking forward to getting to know better as the series progresses.
Brooke's long-term relationship is failing as she flies out to California to deal with her aging father's health issues. When she finds out that he cannot live independently, she moves him into an assisted living facility while she moves herself closer to him.  Craving the water, she picks San Diego as her and her father's new base. Over lunch at a family-owned Italian restaurant in Little Italy she meets the D'Angelo family and finds herself a tenant in one of the tiny family apartments located above the restaurant. 
Soon she's making friends with the D'Angelo family particularly the so very handsome Luca and his motherless daughter with who she relates given similar circumstances of her upbringing. Before she knows it, she's giving Luca parenting tips, and doing the horizontal mambo even as he's there to provide emotional support as she deals with issues related to her dad. Luca's family, his sister, his brother, his mother, are all delightful and absolutely matchmaking to the hilt. 
Trouble in the form of Luca's ex-wife shows up and they have to deal with the emotional fallout that impacts Luca's daughter even as Luca has to dodge the wiles of an ex-wife who makes no bones of getting her man back. The story just sweeps you in and you find yourself living along with the characters as they go about their daily lives, laughing, doing yoga, playing ball at the park or flying off to deal with high powered clients. 
I absolutely can't wait to read the next book in the series that is queued up already and getting more of these characters.

When It Falls Apart is the first in a new companion series from Catherine Bybee. In this story we follow Brooke as she learns to balance her wants and needs with her father’s and Luca as he learns to open himself up to more than just being the backbone of his family.

A few years ago, Brooke’s father had a serious stroke, one he was able to recover from and keep most of his independence. Now he’s sick again and in need of a pretty serious surgery for a man in his condition, this time, he won’t be able to live on his own. As a compromise Brooke and her father move to San Diego, her father into an assisted living home and Brooke into a small apartment above a family-owned restaurant in Little Italy. Where she meets the D’Angelo’s, a wonderful open family who immediately welcome her into the fold. Well, after a bit of a misstart with Luca, a single father who does everything he can for his family. Will Luca and Brooke be able make it work with all the complications arising in their lives?

Catherine Bybee does it again! This was a great book, different from her other work, but just as good. The story was well developed, the characters were strong with deep emotional connections, and the relationship created, not just between Luca and Brooke, but everyone were great. I can’t wait to see where this series goes and revisit these characters again.

I do like Catherine Bybee's stories. I could enjoy them more if she didn't use all the foul language and the explicit steamy parts. There were only a couple of steamy parts, but they were too detailed for my reading preferences.

I liked that Brooke and Luca were a team through all the hard times. They were honest with each other and kept the communication going, even when other people were not making it easy.

The ending was exactly what you would expect from a romance book - no surprises there.

When It Falls Apart by Catherine Bybee, book one in the D’Angelos series is an amazing story that captures you on page one, not letting you go until you reach the end. This is a book many readers can relate to as they live this story. It is a heartwarming family drama with romance and sparks flying between Brooke and Luca. If you're in the mood for an Italian single dad with a loud, obnoxious, loving, meddling family, you're in for a treat.

Brooke Turner decided to move to California from her Seattle home as her father is ill and needs to live close to help care for him. Her relationship was already rocky as he was unsupportive of her helping her dad. That made it easier to break up and make some decisions about her future. She is fortunate to be able to work anywhere, but does not want to live in the landlocked town her father was living. Discovering San Diego's Little Italy district, she decides that’s the perfect place for her. Brooke meets the D'Angelos while having a meal in their family restaurant. She meets Luca D'Angelo, the chef of the restaurant, and his huge loving Italian family when Brooke saves Fanny, his adorable daughter, from a mishap in the restaurant. Little did he know that fate and his mother would be changing his life. Fanny, who was abandoned by her mother at a young age, will steal your heart. She becomes important to Brooke, and you too will want to become a part of the D’Angelo family, just as Brooke does when she moves into the 4th floor apartment in their building. Brooke never thought a man would become so important to her and provide everything she ever wanted.

Ms. Bybee wrote an emotional and wonderful romance with all the feels that should not be missed. She provided a tale rich with emotions, sizzling chemistry, family dynamics, clever banter, and endearing secondary characters giving Brooke and Luca a chance at love, and a future together. I highly recommend When It Falls Apart to other readers and I can't wait to find out who is next to fall in love, in the D’Angelo family. Will it be Chloe or Gio.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Brooke Turner has a tough relationship with her dad and when he has a health crisis she decides to show up and showing up for her dad sends her own life into a tail spin. She ends up moving her whole life from Seattle to San Diego and hopefully she can piece together a new life that looks better than the last.

When it comes to romance book, I always have a hard time when the characters meet in the book and don't have any history. For me it always feels like instalove and this one did. I felt as though they went from oh hello to oh I am in love way too fast. Going into the book knowing it was the first in a series, I was hoping for something a little different.

The plot of the book was great and the characters were entertaining, so I will continue in this series, but just wish for a little more slow builds. This Italian family in San Diego with a restaurant was just so much fun. There were a few times while reading where I wish I had a bowl of homemade pasta to enjoy! The plot was great, young woman new to town, single dad trying to keep his life afloat - and they both fit what the other needs.

I hope that book two focuses on someone else in Luca's family and we can see Brooke and Luca in the future.

I'm so excited to introduce Catherine Bybee's brand-new book When It Falls Apart. This story will grab your heart and take off running with it. The characters, plot, and setting captivated me. Although it contains some sexual content and profanity, it is not graphic. Bybee masterfully combines real-life situations concerning family, love, and romance for an intriguing plot.

Synopsis:
Brooke Turner has to make a sudden move to San Diego's Little Italy district. Because Brooke's dad is ill she needs to live close by to help care for him. It is while Brooke is there that she meets Luca D'Angelo and his huge loving Italian family. Luca has an adorable daughter named Fanny who was abandoned by her mom at a young age. Luca is very protective of Fanny. Can Luca trust Brooke with his daughter Fanny?

When It Falls Apart is available on June 21st. Kudos to Catherine Bybee for writing this beautiful novel.
(5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake, for allowing me to review this delightful book. I have my fingers crossed for a sequel.

4.5 stars. This was a lovely book that read more like women’s fiction with a bit of heat. Brooke has to give everything up to take care of her aging father after a stroke. Realizing he has let the condo go, made purchases he can’t afford, and needs to be in an assisted living facility, she moves them to San Diego. Upon her arrival she meets Luca and his family who own an Italian restaurant.

Luca is the head of the household. He takes that and the responsibility of being a single father seriously. He doesn’t date often and falls for Brooke. I liked the two of them together and adored Franny. She’s a precocious 8 year old and reminded me of my daughter at that age.

This book dealt with some serious issues and I though they were handled well. The author does share that some of this book was based off of her own experiences growing up with her father and I feel like that is why the book is just that good.

Can’t wait for more of the family. Chloe and Dante next?

I received this arc is exchange for my unbiased review.

I've listened to books by Catherine Bybee but When it All Falls Apart was my first read.

I was very quickly immersed in the story and by the D'Angelo family. Their friendliness and commitment to family was so quickly established, it's no wonder that Brooke connected with them so well.

The relationship between Brooke and Lucas is unquestionably a beautiful story but the way the author manages to include some of life's toughest situations is amazing.

Having had to make decisions regarding my elderly father's wellbeing myself, I really related to Brooke and her struggles. I got the frustration, the anger and the feeling that roles had somehow been reversed. I also know how important it is to have a 'rock' that can be depended upon.

Luca and the D'Angelo family, as well as all the other characters, have stolen a piece of my heart and I can't wait to visit them again.

This book reads like a Netflix Rom Com and I loved every minute! Brooke's life changes in a moment when her father's health takes a turn for the worse, causing her to end her relationship and uproot her life. She ends up in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego where she rents a one bedroom unit from Luca's mother. Luca is wary of having Brooke there as his family lives in the same building as well as owns and works the restaurant on the ground floor. Particularly, Luca is protective of his young daughter and having strangers come in and out of their building doesn't make him happy.

This had the perfect blend of family drama, romance, and the warm and cozy atmosphere of the Italian food and culture. Luca's family is amazing. I loved the way they loved one another and all worked together as a family unit. Brooke herself is strong and resourceful. The way that she cared for her ailing father, despite the difficulties with their relationship, was admirable. Luca and Brooke had definite chemistry. The romance was perfection.

This is a nice, light, easy read, that is perfect for an afternoon escape. There are references to the pandemic, and while it wasn't overwhelming in the book, I cannot decide if I particularly enjoyed that aspect. While Luca had a young child, she wasn't overly precocious or annoying as can sometimes happen with kids in romances. I really enjoyed the start to this new series from Bybee and look forward to reading more in the future. 3.5 stars