Review: How Not to Fall in Love by Jacqueline Firkins

How Not to Fall in Love

by Jacqueline Firkins

December 21, 2021

Goodreads Summary:

A hardened cynic and a hopeless romantic teach each other about love in this swoony and heartfelt contemporary 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?

Review

Jacqueline Firkins is a local author to me so I was more than thrilled to have been offered a copy of her latest novel to read. How Not to Fall in Love is the type of contemporary story I most enjoy- thoughtful and sweet.

How Not to Fall in Love had me really invested in Harper's love life. Having been hurt badly by her first love, I underst00d her aversion to love. Her reservations felt very valid. Don't get me wrong, Harper's indecisions were frustrating but I'm glad she took time to be sure (of herself).

I can't not talk about the extremely loveable Theo! With his super sensitive side, he stood out from other love interests I've met. Theo wasn't afraid to be who he was. He put all of himself into the things he loved. Ren Fest Theo was the most adorkable.

While I wasn't a fan of the kind of love triangle (at times love square), it made for good story. All the interferences and misunderstandings Harper and Theo faced helped advance their relationship. They were so natural together, they belonged together.

Harper's coworker/friend, Pippa, is the greatest!! She was gentle but also straightforward with Harper every time. If not for Pippa's encouragements, Harper would not have had her shots at happiness. The parental units in How Not to Fall in Love were also really awesome, dishing out sound advices. "Maybe perfection isn't the right fit for you." (p. 209) A good support system goes a long way.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with How Not to Fall in Love. It's a love story with just the right amount of tension, surprise and sweetness. Now I need to go pick up Jacqueline Firkins's debut novel~

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.