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A review by queerafictionado
Don't Fall in Love by Sally Brooks
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
š³ļøāšRep: Lesbian MC, Asian Bi/Pan LI, Nonbinary & Queer SCs
This was a quick and fairly lighthearted read considering some of the more intense themes underlying the story. Chrissie and Nisha used to be best friends. More than friends. But then everything went south and they never spoke again. But a couple decades later Chrissie still has no idea why. Nisha is also the last person she expected to see standing in the classroom as the new teacher she would be assisting that year. Chrissie has been trying to start over after she went through a very traumatic experience that completely changed her life. Now she lives by three rules: Donāt Fall in Love, Question Everything, Give Back. But can she stick to rules with her old flame back in her life?
There was a lot of backstory packed into this relatively quick read and the author did a great job of slowly filling in more details and gaps along the way. I enjoyed the relationship and connection between Chrissie and Nisha. Chrissie was a bit chaotic and messy - but with everything sheād been through it was easy to understand why. I was definitely rooting for them to work through their past and find a new path forward together. They could not deny the bond they shared even if they tried. They were just drawn to one other and their chemistry was undeniable from the moment they reconnected. It may have taken them a long time to find their way back to each other, but together is where they truly belong. I also really loved seeing Chrissie grow and learn to trust again. She was not the same person at the end of the story as she was in the beginning. She was finally ready to start living again, not just survive.
There were a few aspects of the story that I just couldnāt get on board with. Iām not sure if things are different in the UK than in America, but as someone who knows a lot of teachers and has worked with children and youth in a lot of different capacities - the bits about the school trip were just not jiving for me. I know itās fiction, but it was way too unrealistic for me. The trip came together way too fast. They got drunk at night while out of the country with 25 children and were more focused on hooking up than on chaperoning. If not for the school trip part of the story I probably would have rated this a bit higher. It just made it harder for me to connect and get pulled into the story when I kept cringing about their behavior on that trip.
I did not realize the second book in a series when I signed up to be an ARC reader, but while characters from book one make an appearance in this story, it can very much be read as a standalone. There are definitely some ties between the books (the MC in book one being the ex of the MC in book two) and Iām not sure how much of Chrissieās backstory was included as part of book one, but I didnāt feel like I was missing anything while reading this book.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.
šTropes/Themes: Forced Proximity, Second Chance, Only One Bed, Friends to Lovers, Return to Hometown, Workplace Romance, Starting Over, Setting: UK/Paris
This was a quick and fairly lighthearted read considering some of the more intense themes underlying the story. Chrissie and Nisha used to be best friends. More than friends. But then everything went south and they never spoke again. But a couple decades later Chrissie still has no idea why. Nisha is also the last person she expected to see standing in the classroom as the new teacher she would be assisting that year. Chrissie has been trying to start over after she went through a very traumatic experience that completely changed her life. Now she lives by three rules: Donāt Fall in Love, Question Everything, Give Back. But can she stick to rules with her old flame back in her life?
There was a lot of backstory packed into this relatively quick read and the author did a great job of slowly filling in more details and gaps along the way. I enjoyed the relationship and connection between Chrissie and Nisha. Chrissie was a bit chaotic and messy - but with everything sheād been through it was easy to understand why. I was definitely rooting for them to work through their past and find a new path forward together. They could not deny the bond they shared even if they tried. They were just drawn to one other and their chemistry was undeniable from the moment they reconnected. It may have taken them a long time to find their way back to each other, but together is where they truly belong. I also really loved seeing Chrissie grow and learn to trust again. She was not the same person at the end of the story as she was in the beginning. She was finally ready to start living again, not just survive.
There were a few aspects of the story that I just couldnāt get on board with. Iām not sure if things are different in the UK than in America, but as someone who knows a lot of teachers and has worked with children and youth in a lot of different capacities - the bits about the school trip were just not jiving for me. I know itās fiction, but it was way too unrealistic for me. The trip came together way too fast. They got drunk at night while out of the country with 25 children and were more focused on hooking up than on chaperoning. If not for the school trip part of the story I probably would have rated this a bit higher. It just made it harder for me to connect and get pulled into the story when I kept cringing about their behavior on that trip.
I did not realize the second book in a series when I signed up to be an ARC reader, but while characters from book one make an appearance in this story, it can very much be read as a standalone. There are definitely some ties between the books (the MC in book one being the ex of the MC in book two) and Iām not sure how much of Chrissieās backstory was included as part of book one, but I didnāt feel like I was missing anything while reading this book.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.
šTropes/Themes: Forced Proximity, Second Chance, Only One Bed, Friends to Lovers, Return to Hometown, Workplace Romance, Starting Over, Setting: UK/Paris
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Stalking, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Mentions/brief description of a cult, Divorce