Title: How Not To Fall In Love
Author: Jacqueline Firkins
Publication: December 21, 2021
Publisher: Clarion Books
Genre: Teen, YA Fiction, Romance
Pages: 341
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
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:
**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.
