The Blurb
Seventeen-year-old Darcy Covington doesn’t know the difference between a pawn shop and a thrift shop. Even her dog eats gourmet food, so she’s totally unprepared when her car is repossessed from the parking lot of her elite private school. Turns out her father, a semi-famous motivational speaker, has skipped town, abandoning his family while his business collapses. Even David Letterman comes up with ten reasons why her father won’t ever return home.
Desperate to sell her expensive jewellery for much-needed cash, Darcy discovers that her dad’s brother runs a funky thrift shop on a street full of eccentric characters, including a coffee shop owner named Liz and one supremely hot fix-it guy named Lucas.
Darcy finds some solace hanging out with her uncle and Lucas in the thrift shop and working in Liz’s coffee shop, while the rest of her life falls apart. The time she spends with the uber hot Lucas helps takes her mind off her family’s troubles, even though she’s sure he’s only nice to her because he works for her uncle, especially when she meets the cover girl beauty she thinks he’s dating.
Can Darcy find the courage she needs to adapt to the necessary changes brought about by her family’s drastically reduced lifestyle? And will she open her eyes to the amazing realization that Lucas wants much more than friendship from her?
The Review
How (Not) to Fall in Love is a surprising novel; it is surprising in many ways but mostly because the title is somewhat misleading. Don’t get me wrong, the result of this subterfuge is really impressive however upon picking it up (yes, purely based on the cover) I was expecting a fluffy romance story. How wrong could a girl be?
One of the storylines does involve a love story but it isn’t a silly little teen romance; it is a love born from mutual respect, attraction and also learning to love all parts of another person. Darcy and Lucas’s story is lovely. You see it unfolding and you beg and plead with the characters just to reveal their feelings for each other. And thank you to Lisa Brown Roberts for not making it a whole they-got-together-no-they-broke-up drama because sometimes you need a sustainable romance.
However, I think the main thing that I enjoyed about How (Not) to Fall in Love was the strong protagonist that we had in Darcy. Even though her entire world was falling apart she could have become a spoilt brat; the poor little rich girl who had to face a harsh reality. But that just isn’t interesting and Brown Roberts knows this and made sure that Darcy wasn’t just likeable but she was strong. Flawed, yes, like many a teenage girl but intent on keeping her life – and the life of those around her on track – and it is for this reason I can honestly say that I bloody loved How (Not) to Fall in Love.
How (Not) to Fall in Love by Lisa Brown Roberts is available now.
Follow Lisa Brown Roberts (@LBrownRoberts) on Twitter.
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