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I love Fall. I live and breathe all things Autumn. Pumpkin spice coffee is a steady friend of mine. At any given moment, you can find cinnamon and a can of pumpkin in my cabinets. Scarves. Cooler air. Changing leaves. Snuggling under a warm blanket while reading a book. All. Of. Fall.
Can't Help Falling by Courtney Walsh felt like a cozy, September day. It made me want to grab that blanket and my favorite coffee cup and curl up in my favorite chair to read for the day. Never mind that it's still in the 90s here. Mentally, I was in Harvest Hollow.
From the very first chapter, I was caught up in the story. I did NOT want this book to end. It had a Stars Hollow feel that I adored. From the small-town bookshop that Emmy owned to the meddling neighbors to a farmer's market and the town that pulled together to fix Emmy's house. Let's not forget the Coffin Dodgers!
Emmy and Owen have an interesting past, and I loved every minute of it. The author gave us glimpses into their origin story without breaking the feel of being present in their now. This story has it all: best friend's brother, a fun spin on secret identity, firefighters, a bookshop owner heroine, a brooding hero, a dashing rescue, literary references, a twist on second chances (at least for one of them), unrequited love, sort of forced proximity when they are pushed to do a news story together, romance, laugh out loud moments, one hopeless romantic set to change the mind of a practical romantic. You'll love how that last one turns out.
Plus-the photo shoot had all the romantic tension that had me smiling like a giddy schoolgirl with her first crush. It was probably my favorite part of the book, followed closely by the hero trying to do a list of actions to show Emmy that he liked her. The flowers and the soup and the movie scene. Swoon.
I personally enjoyed the aspect of Owen learning to live well with a learning disability. I won't share about it here, but it was encouraging in a way that Courtney Walsh doesn't even know.
Do not miss this book. Can't Help Falling is at the top of my 5 star reads for the year!
About the book:
Sometimes all it takes to start a fire is a single match. . .
Owen Larrabee is not my soulmate.
He wasn't when I confessed my love to him on his wedding day, and he isn't now. I should probably say that I wasn't the bride when that happened. I don't have the best timing.
He’s got a temper, he's moody, and he has a history of being misunderstood and making big mistakes.
I, on the other hand, make pumpkin cupcakes, spend my Friday nights curled up with a beloved romance novel and long to be kissed in the rain.
Owen is my best friend’s older, off-limits brother and the only boy I ever thought I loved. Which is laughable because he only ever saw me as his kid sister’s dorky friend.
But that was a long time ago. And I’m over him.
Mostly.
Until he comes back to Harvest Hollow like some kind of hero, showing up just in time to pull me out of my burning house and make me feel all the things I told myself I’d never feel again.
But I have questions. Why is Owen back? And does he remember our secret friendship or the day I’ve spent the last eight years trying to forget?
I know better than to get hung up on Owen again. Especially now, when he’s sworn off relationships and thinks romance is a farce. And I’m something of an expert—at least to the people who listen to my podcast, The Hopeful Romantic.
Never mind that nobody would guess their local bookshop owner is the one doling out popular weekly relationship advice.
Never mind that I’m basing all that advice on the hundreds, (thousands?) of romance novels I’ve read over the years and not on personal experience.
And especially never mind that Owen is making me question everything I believe about all of it.
Can’t Help Falling is a best friend’s brother, childhood crush, opposites attract sweet rom-com with plenty of sizzle but none of the steam.
Title: Can't Help Falling
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publication Date: September 14, 2023
Series: Book 3 of Sweater Weather Series
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