How Not to Fall in Love

By: Jacqueline Firkins

Narrated by: Brittany Wilkerson

A hardened cynic and a hopeless romantic teach each other about love in this swoony and heartful romance that’s perfect for fans of Tweet Cute and The Upside of Falling.

Harper works in her mom’s wedding shop, altering dresses for petulant and picky brides who are more focused on hemlines than love. After years of watching squabbles break out over wedding plans, Harper thinks romance is a marketing tool. Nothing more.

Her best friend Theo is her opposite. One date and he’s already dreaming of happily-ever-afters. He also plays the accordion, makes chain mail for Ren Festers, hangs out in a windmill-shaped tree house, cries over rom-coms, and takes his word-of-the-day calendar very seriously.

When Theo’s shocked to find himself nursing his umpteenth heartbreak, Harper offers to teach him how not to fall in love. Theo agrees to the lessons, as long as Harper proves she can date without falling in love. As the lessons progress and Theo takes them to heart, Harper has a harder time upholding her end of the bargain. She’s also checking out her window to see if Theo’s home from his latest date yet. She's even watching rom-coms.

If she confesses her feelings, she’ll undermine everything she’s taught him. Or was he the one teaching her?

A cute, nerdy, and easy read!

Best friends to lovers// He falls first// HEA

I’m a little bias, because this takes place in a Pennsylvania town about 30 minutes from where I grew up, so, it was fun for me, hearing about the landmarks and being able to create a vivid picture in my brain!

This was a very cute, nerdy, and easy read! It was cheesy, without being over the top! The characters weren’t unbearable, which was a huge plus! Sometimes with YA contemporary romance books, I can’t stand the MCs, because they’re so dumb and written like they have no sense.

Harper is smart, funny, witty, and weary of love, which seemed relatable in a way. She was burned in the past, plus, she was raised by a single mom, so finding a partner, and believing in love seemed hopeless.

Theo, her best friend, is nerdy, smart, and a hopeless romantic. “When Theo loves something, he loves it forever.” He’s constantly giving more than he takes when it comes to relationships, and girls find him a bit… weird.

I was lowkey rooting for Felix… She was trying to make memories with him, but, she already had love with Theo, and didn’t realize it until she opened up her heart! “Something’s off, as if I’ve spent too many hours on this sofa with Theo. Now I’m trying to lay this version of my life on top of those memories, but the details won’t line up.” He wasn’t a bad guy, at all. I feel like he gave Harper a sense of security. He’s exactly what she needed to believe in love again, and to wake up, and see what was right in front of her! I’m glad she didn’t do Felix dirty.