A review by valreadssometimes
The Feeling of Falling in Love by Mason Deaver

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book is advertised as a romantic comedy. it is not that.
I was not rooting for the main couple. At all.

Here's the thing, in order to want the main couple to fall in love and end up together and have their happily-ever-after love story you need to believe that they're good together. You have to like the characters.

The main character of this book is the most unlikeable protagonist I have read in a while, especially because, as the reader, you're supposed to be rooting for him. Neil is a rich, self-centered, self-pitying, excuse-ridden mess. He expects everyone around him to live constantly accommodating his needs and wants. Even at the end, when he's supposedly "redeemed," he continues to have expectations and demands of the people around him.
I was actually upset when he decided to randomly show up at Wyatt's house. Neil's whole arc revolved around him becoming more empathetic and kind; There is zero empathy in immediately demanding a relationship from the guy you decided to insult and send home for basically zero reason.
No one is safe from Neil's whining and his excuses. He uses every inconvenience is his life as a way to write off his bad behaviors. Even his gender identity and journey is finely crafted in his internal monologue as this get-out-of-jail free card for not knowing how to treat others around him with basic empathy and respect.
The whole arc with his mother was greatly upsetting. Neil blamed her for his bad childhood and his terrible experiences which was, in my opinion, incredibly unfair. Yes, in the end he does end up taking some responsibility for his own actions, but it felt cheap after berating his mother who, while misguided, was trying her best. Either make it more nuanced and real, or write it out. Neil does not deserve to placate his own guilt by targeting his family.


Wyatt, the main love interest, was sweet. He seemed to be authentic and naive and all of the good things Neil isn't. In a way, he was meant to help Neil become better, but he really just made me more aware of what a terrible person he was.
Also the "hallmark moment" made me want to claw my eyes out. Like, Neil trying to make his Beverly Hills problems seem comparable to Wyatt's made me laugh out loud (not in the good way).


I was rooting for Wyatt. I was rooting for Josh. I was rooting for everyone that wasn't Neil.

Wyatt and Neil were just not meant to be. Maybe if Neil was able to step back (like really, really far back) and re-evaluate himself and his choices, it could have worked. But guess what? He can't. Not with this short of a time frame.

This could have been a better book if Neil and Wyatt had not ended up together (sorry not sorry).
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