Harper doesn’t believe in love and romance. Her best friend Theo, on the other hand, is a hopeless romantic. After yet another heartbreak for Theo, Harper offers to teach him how not to fall in love. He agrees but with one caveat: Harper has to prove she can date without falling in love herself. But holding her end of the bargain ends up being a bit more challenging than she anticipated.

This was such a charming YA love story filled with wedding dresses, medieval tournaments, and SAT words. I loved Harper and Theo’s friendship, and how it progressed throughout the story. This one is definitely predictable so don’t go in looking for a big surprise, but it is a sweet journey to get to the end. I really enjoyed that this book had no unnecessary conflict - really all of the conflict was internal within the character’s own personal battles with their feelings (which is so accurate for teenage feelings). I really enjoyed this one more than I expected to!

Thanks to Clarion Books for the advanced copy!

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the it was friends to more. I also like this book had a fun job setting, set in a wedding shop. I thought this book was it bit on the messy side. I also wish we would have gotten both characters pov. But i enjoyed this book. I thought it was fun read. I also really liked the lead as well. It was quick read, I also liked this book more then this author previous book!

What a cute, funny, and sweet young adult romance this book was! Really enjoyed "How No to Fall in Love".

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This book has such a sweet story. Although the trope of friends to lovers is not new, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey along the way. Harper is your typical 'love does not exist' girl however the way in which her character changes their arc is lovely to read. I'm a big believer of the idea of being with your best friend so I loved the story. I get that perhaps this trope may not be for everyone so for all of those --- fair warning.

There weren't any real conflicts/villains in the story however so in that aspect, the progression was a little slow. It was refreshing to see that the real conflict was the characters coming to their own realizations however and that was new. All in all, a lovely read if you enjoy friendship turns to lovers stories with cute banter, coming to realizations type of stories, this one is for you!

I knew this was friends to lovers; however, I started to doubt because at the 50% mark, although we could see the slight jealousy between the two over the others dating life and the fact that they were now more aware of each other, I loved her and Felix. They were so sweet, and I saw their relationship as more robust, while she and Theo weren't given enough time in this book, so it lacked lustre to me.

With more attention, I would have loved this book a lot more as the beginning was so cute and charmed me, but it lost it.

How Not to Fall in Love is a friends to lovers YA starring Harper who works at her mother's bridal shop and her best friend Theo. Theo has been unlucky in love, where he comes on way too strong with girls and they break up with him only a few week in. Harper has never dated and wants to help Theo so he stops getting his heart broken. So they agree - Harper with teach Theo how not to fall in love and Harper will start dating. But instead, Harper and Theo start to get closer and lines start to blur...

This one was fun. I read Jacqueline's first as well and what I've learned is that she really likes love triangles. Which is fine for those who love them, but I'm ambivalent at best about that trope. I didn't love it in her first book but wanted to give this one a try anyway. Whereas I did enjoy it more that the first, I still can't get behind the love triangle. Other than that, I have no complaints about this one. Harper and Theo were adorable and I was rooting for them from the beginning. I love nerdy, awkward boys and friends to lovers so I was in my happy place with this one.

Definitely recommend if you aren't the type of reader that really hates love triangles, because I did really feel bad for the guy Harper blew off for Theo - even though I seriously shipped Theo and Harper.

**Thank you to HMH Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review**

I didn't realize this was YA romance until I started reading it, and normally I would go in expecting to hate it because I generally do not enjoy YA romance. That being said, I did find myself enjoying this book. Something about it brought me back to being in high school and being in love with your best friend. It had me emotionally involved the whole way through and I found myself actually caring about the couple getting together. I liked how it was slow burn and the couple didn't get together till the end of the book. I don't think I have ever read a best friends to lovers trope based book before but I found I really like it and will be looking for this trope in romances I read in the future. If you are looking for a light and easy romance read I would definitely give this a go, but keep in mind that it is YA so the spice level is mild and they are juniors/seniors in high school.

How Not To Fall In Love by Jacqueline Firkins

Harper works in her mum's bridal shop and has seen enough of the wedding world to have become a total love cynic. Her best friend and neighbour, Theo, is a hopeless romantic and is always getting his heart broken. So Harper and Theo come up with a plan - Theo will let Harper teach him how to date without giving his heart away, but only if Harper can prove that she can date without falling in love.

The story of Harper and Theo follows a well worn path - friends to lovers, the boy next door, the reformed love cynic - but OMG it does it well.

The characters are relatable, loveable and fun.

The reasons for Harper's cynicism is believable and understandable. The friendship between Harper and Theo feels real and their twists and turns to love may end up happily ever after but not in a way that makes you feel overloaded by sweetness..

Definitely a recommended read for lovers of YA romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the review copy of this book.

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.

**3.5 Stars**

"...This morning was good fun. The bride came in with inspiration pics of a fluffy, organza ball gown that would fill an aisle. Twenty-seven dresses later, she decided on a knee-length satin sheath. This is the world I work in.”

“You make stocking canned goods seem like a pretty sweet gig.”

“Do canned goods have surly bridesmaids and picky mothers?”

Felix laughs. “Um, no. They generally arrive unaccompanied.”

“Then you definitely have the better job.”


I knew how the plot/book was going to play out by the time I got to the second chapter, it was very predictable (at least for me, but I read a TON, but an actual upper teen (the book deals a lot with sex and sexual urges so I reccomend for the older more mature teens to read this) YA reader might not since that is who this book is geared for anyway) I still found the journey to be cute and entertaining with a solid HEA. While I feel like the overall point of the book was to be a YA contemporary romance, I will say my absolute favorite things about the book were the two female relationships here- between Harper and her mom, and the one between Harper and her female friend Pippa. Both of these relationships were totally open, full of hard conversations and support no matter what and I loved seeing these in a YA book- we need more positive female relationships in YA, in my opinion.

Harper overall went through a nice personal growth, being able to see the good and bad in things instead of her negative outlook previously, so this was a good example too of a coming of age story. There were a lot of positives to come out of this story and while a HEA is not super realistic for teens, I feel like this was a pretty honest portrayal of relationships and feelings- and spoiler alert, I enjoy a book with a happy ending.

I received an advanced copy of the novel from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

This was a cute rom-com type YA novel about two best friends who don't have the best of luck with love. Harper is jaded and does not think love really exists, even when she is surrounded by it working in her mother's wedding dress shop. Theo, Harper's childhood best friend and neighbor, very much believes in love and falls in love.....a lot. Harper is frustrated with seeing her friend always falling in love and getting hurt and Theo is annoyed with his friend never giving love a chance, so they devise a plan. Theo will teach Harper how to let love in and Harper will teach Theo how to NOT fall in love every time.

It was funny and cute and the supporting characters, particularly Pippa, is the BEST and hysterical! Harper and Theo's story feels predictable for the most part, although there is a couple of chapters that throws you for a SERIOUS loop and makes it seem more realistic.....then summarily falls into the typical rom com happily ever after situation.

The one really big issue I have with this novel, and I have with a lot of teen novels/shows, is the sort of flippant attitude about sex. The fact that the parents seem to have no problem their teens are having sex and spending the night with each other. It seems weird, not realistic and I do not support the flippant attitude towards sex. Teens and kids are already sexualized too early as is and I do not like when novels make it normalized. It's different if they are in their 20s and older, but not in their teens.

My full review can be read here: https://twincitiesgeek.com/2022/01/how-not-to-fall-in-love-fumbles-the-friends-to-lovers-trope/

After years of working in her mother's wedding dress shop, Harper has become uber critical of love and happily ever after. When her best friend, Theo, ends up crying over another lost love after a short week of dating, Harper offers to teach him how to not fall in love. But she technically doesn't have the hands-on experience Theo believes she needs to teach him anything about not falling in love. So, he dares her to start dating the cute boy she's had her eyes on and prove that not falling in love is easy. But as the lessons progress Harper might be learning more about falling in love, and it might just be her best friend is just who she needs to teach her about happily ever after.
This was a sweet teen rom com. Harper and Theo are both loveable characters and you will find yourself cheering them on in their journey. The story is told from Harper's point of view, and you will start to see what she hasn't been seeing for years. This was a fun quick read.

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.

The following words can arguably be taken either/both more seriously, or less seriously due to the fact that I rarely read books in the romance genre. I have been pleasantly surprised these last few days, therefore, that this book has proven more than satisfactory, and I have almost exclusively positive things to say.

First of all, How Not to Fall in Love takes place in New Hope, PA, allowing me the unique experience of picturing exactly where the characters are and what they mean as they poke fun at the little village in which they reside. Having been there, I can attest that it is as idyllic as described, and definitely the perfect, cutesy little place for this cutesy little tale to unfold.

How Not to Fall in Love is the story of Harper, a 17-year-old who is taking the summer between her junior and senior year of high school to help her mother get her bridal attire business back on track. (This bridal affair – no pun intended - is a whole other story, and one I wish the author had dived deeper into. It definitely could have added more subplot, and I wanted to know more and see more happen with it!) Harper decides to jump over the hurdle of the effects of her most recent relationship – one that ended in heartbreak and unrequited love – and ask sexy, smoldering Felix out on a date. All of this happens while her best friend and best oddball Theo is consistently having his heart broken after coming on way too strong with every woman he dates. As Harper explains his problem (wearing his heart on his sleeve, being too lovey-dovey and not at all hard-to-get, flat out falling in love too easily), the two come up with a plan for her to give him lessons on - wait for it - How Not to Fall in Love. While Harper guides Theo through the wrongs of his natural dating tendencies, she becomes wary of a couple of things: falling too head-over-heels for Felix and mirroring exactly what she warns Theo against; and, the somewhat unwelcome, yet very intense feelings that are cropping up for someone completely unexpected.

There is no bad guy in this story, no villain to watch out for. In fact, every character is endearing and someone I would personally be more than happy to be friends with. The ending will inevitably leave a character heartbroken, but all is fair in love, and they’re so young that who knows what will happen next, even in the lives of the lucky characters for whom it all works out.

I would definitely recommend this book, and with a couple of cautions: it is a simple story, with very little subplot, and will leave one wanting more answers that could potentially have been given and elaborated on; the characters are 17 but act much older and wiser, making the story somewhat realistic but not necessarily believable in exactly the details in which it is told. Both "cautions" are things I quickly moved on from and pushed aside, thoroughly enjoying the story regardless.

How Not to Fall in Love is adorable, slightly racy, a quick and easy read, and one that might just possibly turn one on to the romance genre. Well done, Jacqueline Firkins!

This was such a cute romance and I loved it so much. While I loved Harper, Theo was definitely my favorite character and i loved his “quirks”. The plot itself moved so smoothly and was written well. The character development was good for both characters and I loved watching/reading about them grow.

How Not to Fall in Love is a good YA book. I enjoyed the setting being the wedding shop and that Harper’s feelings on love are partially so negative due to seeing tons of bridezillas. I think the pressure Harper feels to help her mom’s shop succeed is also a great illustration of the amount of pressure teens are under these days. She’s under pressure to keep the shop afloat, score higher on her SATs so she can get into her dream college, and she’s so busy that most of her friends have stopped inviting her to anything and she’s starting to feel isolated. Pippa is a great side character and I loved her and Pippa’s friendship. I also liked that Pippa shows Harper that it’s okay to be yourself and to be different. That’s also the major reason why I enjoyed Theo’s character as well. The author could have just made him the typical hot, BFF, boy next door, but instead, she made Theo comfortable in his oddness and his feelings. Which is the exact opposite of Harper. One thing I disagreed with was the author deciding that Harper was going to sleep with or almost sleep with every guy mentioned in the book. While Harper and her mom get closer in the book when Harper decides to open up and her mom makes sure she knows how to be safe, I feel there was way too much emphasis on having sex. Harper is very obviously confused throughout the entire story and the fact that she was willing to ignore her doubts and fears and sleep with Felix after only a couple of weeks is emotionally and mentally unhealthy. The author does have Felix put on the breaks which is good, but I wish the story had included more emotional awareness. Teens need to read not only that sexual desires are normal, but also that it is a big deal and consequences can be more than just an unwanted pregnancy. Not everyone you date deserves that much of you.

3.5 Stars

How Not to Fall in Love by Jacqueline Firkins is a sweet story about a cynic and a hopeless romantic who teach each other how to date without getting attached. The main characters are best friends, and their friendship is so heartwarming to read. I had some issues with the love triangle, but I would still recommend this cozy story, especially to those who enjoy the friends to lovers trope.

Working with her mom in a bridal shop, Harper has witnessed her fair share of disaster and views love as nothing more than a marketing tool. However, her best friend Theo is her exact opposite, falling in love too easily and ending up heartbroken every time. Determined to put an end to Theo’s suffering, Harper offers to teach him how to fall in love without attachment, and in return, she’ll prove to Theo that she can date without falling in love herself. However, with each lesson that goes by, and with a new boy who has caught her attention, Harper realizes that not falling in love is easier said than done. As she realizes she is also starting to fall for Theo, Harper must reconsider her perspective on love.

❀ REALISTIC MAIN CHARACTERS

Both main characters are realistic, and their dynamic is well-written. Harper has a cynical outlook on love, and I enjoyed the tension between her job at a bridal shop and her lack of interest in romance. Theo is her best friend, and the author did an excellent job capturing their closeness though small, touching moments like Theo helping Harper study vocabulary for her SATs. I loved how Theo is the one with the role of the hopeless romantic and the one who ends up crying over his failed attempts at love, as this is not something I have encountered in books very often. I enjoyed getting to see the male character being vulnerable for a change.

❀ NOT A FAN OF THE LOVE TRIANGLE

While I loved the concept of this book, I had some issues with the drama and the love triangle. When love triangles are written effectively, I can be convinced to give them a chance, but I wasn’t satisfied with the direction this one took. Personally, I’m not a big fan of the concept of the main character dating someone else while she figures out her feelings for her best friend, only to eventually realize her feelings for her best friend and hurt the second love interest in the process. In this case, Felix seems like a nice character, and because there is so much investment into his relationship with Harper at first, it was a bit difficult for me to switch over to Theo so quickly. I just feel as though there are more effective ways to execute the best friends to lovers trope.

❀ PERFECT FOR FANS OF FRIENDS TO LOVERS TROPE

How Not to Fall in Love by Jacqueline Firkins is a realistic story with a lot of heart. I enjoyed the premise of the main characters attempting not to fall in love, and both of them are well-developed. Where I struggled was with the love triangle, but those who enjoy this trope may like this one more than I did. This is a great read for fans of the friends to lovers trope.

Chain Maille making romantic lead for the win. Geeks will rule the world. Perfect for readers who love a good Meet Cute ( or that actual book) I'd hand it off to teens ages 12-17 looking for some light popcorn reading over winter break,

“After working in this store from the time I was old enough to thread a sewing needle or tally a spreadsheet, it’s hard to believe weddings have anything to do with love. Frankly, it’s hard to believe in love at all.”

Hardened cynic Harper has been working in her mom’s wedding shop for years. She’s seen everything from petty arguments to full-on screaming matches and has a hard time believing that love even exists. So when her hopeless romantic best friend and neighbor, Theo, comes to her nursing his umpteenth heartbreak, Harper makes a deal with him: she’ll teach him how not to fall in love…but only if she proves she can date without falling in love too. At first, everything seems to be going great, but as the lessons progress, Harper realizes this love thing may not actually be so simple. When her feelings start complicating things, she has to decide whether to listen to her heart or her head—and figure out who was truly doing the teaching and the learning after all.

Jacqueline Firkins has crafted a masterful love story full of heart, humor, and hope. Harper and Theo are perfect foils of each other, and I had such a great time following their story. How Not to Fall in Love is fabulously full of fun characters, brilliant twists, and a fantastic best-friends-to-lovers romance. I especially enjoyed learning about LARPing along with Harper and how Theo’s quirks aren’t put down but applauded. The world could use some more zany people! The wedding shop setting absolutely sparkles with charm, and I really loved the dynamic between the three women who work at the shop: Harper, her mom, and Pippa. Firkins doesn’t shy away from discussing the very real internal turmoil that love can cause, and I think she does an excellent job with it. Overall, How Not to Fall in Love is perfect for fans of fun and flirty teen romances.

Content Warnings: Strong language, mentioned eating disorder, toxic relationship, intimate scenes, underage drinking, anxiety, mentioned infidelity, absent father

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)