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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
Original review can be found at: http://www.nerdprobs.com/books/book-review-how-not-to-fall-in-love-by-jacqueline-firkins/
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
When the email for this book came across to me I was so excited. It sounded so cute and something that I could lose myself in. It was also a YA Romance which had me saying yes please even more. I make it no secret that I am a huge fan of YA books. Sometimes they are even better than adult books. I couldn’t wait to start it.
Harper is a cynic when it comes to romance and weddings. It’s really not entirely her fault. She helps run her mother’s Bridal Boutique and sees plenty of the things that come with it. She was also completely blindsided by a summer romance where she was dropped like a cheap pair of socks. So in her mind, she has every right to be cynical. Enter her best friend in the whole world, Theo. Theo is always falling in love and getting burned. Harper says she will spend the summer teaching him how not to fall in love but will she see what happens next coming? This book was really sweet. I enjoyed every minute of it. It is YA but some of it may be for older kids. Like there is heavy petting and there is talk about getting naked and needing condoms. Other than that it doesn’t go into detail.
I really liked the character of Harper. She was so mature for her age about some things and very naive about other things. She was raised by a mother who was very open and honest about everything except for matters of the heart. On the other hand, you had Theo who believed in love and went overboard when it came to matters of the heart. They are complete opposite ends of the spectrum. I did find myself getting angry at Harper she was so clueless as to what was right in front of her and then it was almost too late for her. I loved the character of Pippa. She marched to the beat of her own drum and didn’t let anyone dictate her. From wearing less formal black work clothes to the random colored wigs see always wore. I really enjoyed this book. I would certainly read more by this author and would probably allow my kids to read it once they are a little older.
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
When the email for this book came across to me I was so excited. It sounded so cute and something that I could lose myself in. It was also a YA Romance which had me saying yes please even more. I make it no secret that I am a huge fan of YA books. Sometimes they are even better than adult books. I couldn’t wait to start it.
Harper is a cynic when it comes to romance and weddings. It’s really not entirely her fault. She helps run her mother’s Bridal Boutique and sees plenty of the things that come with it. She was also completely blindsided by a summer romance where she was dropped like a cheap pair of socks. So in her mind, she has every right to be cynical. Enter her best friend in the whole world, Theo. Theo is always falling in love and getting burned. Harper says she will spend the summer teaching him how not to fall in love but will she see what happens next coming? This book was really sweet. I enjoyed every minute of it. It is YA but some of it may be for older kids. Like there is heavy petting and there is talk about getting naked and needing condoms. Other than that it doesn’t go into detail.
I really liked the character of Harper. She was so mature for her age about some things and very naive about other things. She was raised by a mother who was very open and honest about everything except for matters of the heart. On the other hand, you had Theo who believed in love and went overboard when it came to matters of the heart. They are complete opposite ends of the spectrum. I did find myself getting angry at Harper she was so clueless as to what was right in front of her and then it was almost too late for her. I loved the character of Pippa. She marched to the beat of her own drum and didn’t let anyone dictate her. From wearing less formal black work clothes to the random colored wigs see always wore. I really enjoyed this book. I would certainly read more by this author and would probably allow my kids to read it once they are a little older.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book. I am voluntarily leaving a review, all opinions are my own.
This book was so cute. I loved Harper and despite her being blind to certain things, it felt real. Everything came together in a way that thrilled me, but there were some realistic bumps along the way.
I flew through this book in what would’ve been one sitting, but ended up being two. It was so cute, I had to know how it all played out.
I definitely want to check out other books by this author because I loved the way she writes. Overall, a very cute romance, and a very quick read.
This book was so cute. I loved Harper and despite her being blind to certain things, it felt real. Everything came together in a way that thrilled me, but there were some realistic bumps along the way.
I flew through this book in what would’ve been one sitting, but ended up being two. It was so cute, I had to know how it all played out.
I definitely want to check out other books by this author because I loved the way she writes. Overall, a very cute romance, and a very quick read.
*3.5 Stars* - review to be posted on my blog on 11/22/21
Likes:
How Not to Fall in Love is a really quick, light hearted, young adult romance story. It’s about a girl named Harper who works at her mom’s bridal shop, helping her alter dresses for excited and stressed out brides. Being in the bridal industry has made Harper a cynic about love. It doesn’t help that her quirky best-friend and next door neighbor, Theo, falls in love easily and gets his heart broken often. So she tries to help him not fall so fast by giving him lessons in dating.
As for Harper she finally talks to Felix, her crush, and tries to show Theo how to keep things casual except it’s a bit challenging for Harper because Felix is perfect. Theo and Harper both date other people but it’s clear that the person Theo really likes is Harper. She’s pretty clueless about it until she thinks it’s too late for them.
I think I should note the boys in this book – cry! Yes, they both do and that’s rare to see in books. Theo is sensitive, very quirky, dorky, so smart and oh so cute. I can definitely see why Harper started falling for him – he seems to give really good hugs, emotional support and vocab lessons! They have such a cute friendship filled with affection. Felix, on the other hand is perfect as well, it just came down to who knew Harper the best, and that was Theo.
Random Notes:
Harper has to pick between two boys so if you aren’t into love triangles then you might not be into this love story.
I think the “lessons” Harper was supposed to help Theo with was kind of lost in the story. I didn’t see too many lessons going on, just some advice she’d give him about when to call a girl back and such. Also I thought it was weird that Harper was giving lessons when she only had one ex-boyfriend and wasn’t the dating type – it took her awhile to talk to Felix. For awhile all she did was stare at him from the shop window.
It’s a sex positive book which was nice because yes, teens do have intercourse. I’m glad Harper’s mom was there for her to talk about her love life.
I’m not a fan of this book cover! I really think they could make it as cute as the story is, at least.
Final Thoughts:
This one is a really quick read and I think it’s such a sweet love story between two best friends. I enjoyed Harper and Theo’s relationship a lot. I thought the love triangle was handled pretty well considering Felix was a good guy too and it was no fault of his that things didn’t work out – sometimes, that’s just the way it is in young love. If you like a friends to lovers romance story, you may enjoy this one.
Likes:
How Not to Fall in Love is a really quick, light hearted, young adult romance story. It’s about a girl named Harper who works at her mom’s bridal shop, helping her alter dresses for excited and stressed out brides. Being in the bridal industry has made Harper a cynic about love. It doesn’t help that her quirky best-friend and next door neighbor, Theo, falls in love easily and gets his heart broken often. So she tries to help him not fall so fast by giving him lessons in dating.
As for Harper she finally talks to Felix, her crush, and tries to show Theo how to keep things casual except it’s a bit challenging for Harper because Felix is perfect. Theo and Harper both date other people but it’s clear that the person Theo really likes is Harper. She’s pretty clueless about it until she thinks it’s too late for them.
I think I should note the boys in this book – cry! Yes, they both do and that’s rare to see in books. Theo is sensitive, very quirky, dorky, so smart and oh so cute. I can definitely see why Harper started falling for him – he seems to give really good hugs, emotional support and vocab lessons! They have such a cute friendship filled with affection. Felix, on the other hand is perfect as well, it just came down to who knew Harper the best, and that was Theo.
Random Notes:
Harper has to pick between two boys so if you aren’t into love triangles then you might not be into this love story.
I think the “lessons” Harper was supposed to help Theo with was kind of lost in the story. I didn’t see too many lessons going on, just some advice she’d give him about when to call a girl back and such. Also I thought it was weird that Harper was giving lessons when she only had one ex-boyfriend and wasn’t the dating type – it took her awhile to talk to Felix. For awhile all she did was stare at him from the shop window.
It’s a sex positive book which was nice because yes, teens do have intercourse. I’m glad Harper’s mom was there for her to talk about her love life.
I’m not a fan of this book cover! I really think they could make it as cute as the story is, at least.
Final Thoughts:
This one is a really quick read and I think it’s such a sweet love story between two best friends. I enjoyed Harper and Theo’s relationship a lot. I thought the love triangle was handled pretty well considering Felix was a good guy too and it was no fault of his that things didn’t work out – sometimes, that’s just the way it is in young love. If you like a friends to lovers romance story, you may enjoy this one.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Swoon ML
This was really cute and I really saw myself in Harper. Great start to a new year of reading.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Almost all the characters felt likeable and real. A quick, delightful read filled with missed timing and poor communication, culminating in a lovely and expected end to a rom-com. I loved that it was set in a normal, safe and healthy atmosphere with supportive parents and a stable home. There were no villians, backstabbing friends, or elements of contrived drama, and it was extremely refreshing.
My only lament is that something with Felix and Harper wasn't quite lining up. The central issue is Harper's lack of communication. Harper clearly thinks things through, yet she let things get extremely hot and heated with Felix a month into dating and then everything halted with the word "girlfriend." The scene would have made more sense had it occurred before things got really hot and heavy. Also, if Felix felt that way, how had the word girlfriend not come up before, even teasingly or flirtatiously? Or in a conversation with Pippa or Theo, who loved to tease her?
Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the ARC.
My only lament is that something with Felix and Harper wasn't quite lining up. The central issue is Harper's lack of communication. Harper clearly thinks things through, yet she let things get extremely hot and heated with Felix a month into dating and then everything halted with the word "girlfriend." The scene would have made more sense had it occurred before things got really hot and heavy. Also, if Felix felt that way, how had the word girlfriend not come up before, even teasingly or flirtatiously? Or in a conversation with Pippa or Theo, who loved to tease her?
Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the ARC.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes