How Not to Fall in Love

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

• Best Friends to Lovers: She’s a cynical wedding shop seamstress; he’s her hopelessly romantic best friend. Their fake dating lessons might just be the most real thing that’s ever happened to them.
• Opposites Attract: Harper believes love is a marketing gimmick. Theo cries over rom-coms and dreams of happily-ever-after. When they make a bet, their opposing views on romance are put to the ultimate test.
• Nerdy Hero: He plays the accordion, makes his own chain mail, and takes his word-of-the-day calendar very seriously. Theo is the adorkable, big-hearted hero you can’t help but root for.
• Slow Burn: As Harper’s lessons in heartbreak-proofing start to work on Theo, she finds herself watching his window, waiting for him to come home—and questioning everything she thought she knew about love.

"The story effectively strikes a balance between sweet, serious, and steamy (though not explicit), with Harper’s sardonic narration adding nice touches of humor. Her anxiety over relationship failure, which she equates with personal failure, is portrayed realistically and with sympathy....(Im)perfectly real and endearing." - Kirkus Reviews

"Firkins creates an adroit, even suspenseful dance of push and pull. . . The resulting will-they-or-won’t-they not only gives rom-com formulas a playful refresh, it makes a strong case for the joys of medieval cosplay." - Publishers Weekly