Book Review: Can’t Help Falling (Sweater Weather #3) by Courtney Walsh

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 360 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: September 14th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

All it takes to start a fire is one 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. Darn him and that brooding, intense way he looks at me. 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.

OWEN.

He MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS. This is definitely one of my new favorites from Courtney Walsh. I LOVED all of the fall aesthetic vibes and this small town. The Sweater Weather series is hitting it out of the park.

I loved the contrast between more practical, Owen, and romantic, Emmy. I loved all of the conversations and themes surrounding the importance of both and how each facet can fit into your life and relationship. There’s no ridiculous third act, just two people who are finally getting the chance they’ve always deserved to be together.

There were so many moments I want to highlight. I loved the firefighter aspects, the CALENDAR, the podcast, the dock, the bar scene, they were all amazing!! The amount of times I was swooning and loving every single moment y’all.

This was a gem. Read it.

Overall audience notes: