While second chance romances are not my favorite trope, I really enjoyed the way this story was approached. The story was a bit whimsical, the banter and tension were well done, and enough mystery was left about what happened in Alex and Holly’s past that made it easy to get swept away in the book and finish it in one sitting.

The book begins with Holly and Alex being thrown back into each other’s lives for the first time since their break up ten years prior. Their previous relationship and what went wrong are revealed over flashbacks throughout the book.

Holly and Alex each have a kind and loving heart that they have learned to guard over the years in different ways. Holly has protected her heart by not allowing herself to fully open herself up emotionally to her partners, while Alex hides his vulnerable side with brooding silence and bitting comments. The two are supported by loving and supportive friendships with strong female characters that have become a found family.

The miscommunication trope heavily permeates the entire book, however, at times the failure to communicate seemed a bit forced in an effort to prolong the story at times. Overall, I did enjoy the book.
—
✏️ Debut novel
📓 Second chance romance
✏️ Grumpy x sunshine
📓 Lovers to enemies to lovers
✏️ Primary school teachers
📓 Found family
✏️ Strong female friendships
📓 Miscommunication
✏️ Banter
📓 Tension
✏️ Cheating (not between main characters)
📓 Alcoholism (referenced, familial)
✏️ Fade to black
📍England, UK
—
Thank you The Book Guild & NetGalley for this complimentary ARC - all thoughts are my own! 📚
Publishers release date 2/28/2025

I really enjoyed this book about first love and second chances! Was an enjoyable, easy read that had me wanting to bang the 2 main characters heads together! However , I totally got it all! Loved all the characters apart from 2!

Thank you Netgalley and The Book Guild for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. This was my first Nina Wynter book. I was worried at first being from the US if the British reference would be difficult to follow but they were very well written into the story. Holly and Alex, young love that consumes your heart and never lets go. This book will bring you back to those teenage feelings and expose them in your adulting world.. Holly finds through her trials how to speak up for herself and still stay true to who she is. The book does go from past to present a few times, ,it happens without any warning or notice and I found myself scratching my head for a few paragraphs before I would realize we were in the past. I feel some of the back and forth between the side characters could have been several pages less. This was an overall fun and easy read. 3.5 stars ⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! As someone that lives in the US, I was worried I wouldn’t understand some thing but that did not happen, there was plenty of context when needed. I really enjoyed the storyline and the complicated emotions and topics covered. Great writing and dialogue.

oh holly and alex where do i begin? i did enjoy this book so much. a second chance romance done really well.
the teacher element was an original one and added layers to the book and allowed the past to be brought into the mix too.
there is so much relatable to this plot too. its all about how things can be messy, or how things that happen with love can form and change us forever. and sometimes how mixed communication can wrongly change our feelings!
our couple were really sweet in their own rights. they both had baggage which i could totally sympathize with. noone was a good guy or bad guy it just got a little complicated and needed both of them working together, or each other to figure it out.
i love the side characters in this one too. the friendships were fabulous.
really great read and anyone who loves a swoony yet not cliche or icky romance will love this book just as much i did. top recommendation for sure.

When Holly begins her new job as a primary school teacher, she is shocked to find that her ex-boyfriend from high school, the love of her life, is the assistant principal. What follows is a journey of Holly and Alex bumpily finding their way back to each other. The book is single POV, with many flashbacks to high school.

I read this book as an Advanced Readers copy via NetGalley. It publishes on Feb 28, 2025.

3.5 stars but rounding up to a 4 just on that Pushing Daisies reference alone.

I love a second chance romance and this one did it well. It was really smart to weave in flashbacks the way that Nina Wynter did, every one came exactly where it needed to in the story. Holly was so much fun, and I LOVED the relationship she had with her best friends. Alex was a little tougher for me, there are very understandable reasons for why he is the way he is with Holly (or rather how they are with each other) but especially towards the end I was thinking “Just talk to each other!!” It makes total sense for the story though, and how important communication really is in relationships.

I haven’t read books by Nina Wynter before but I will definitely add her to my fav authors, because this whole story was incredibly well written! It is just so layered and realistic, with life just happening and everything that goes with that. Of course it is about Holly and her first love Alex, but like in real life it is about so much more. Life is complicated and often messy and there are all these messy emotions like doubts, guilty feelings, feeling vulnerable, the judging people around us do and the way we keep judging ourselves; hurt feelings but also a longing to be accepted, loved, cherished. And it’s about beautiful friends that love you the way you are and where you can be yourself and in whom you can confide. It’s about complicated family dynamics, and how your childhood shapes you into the adult you are. And how all of that affects your relationships. Definitely about the struggles in communicating, because that also gets affected by our experiences. This story is about so much, it has the precise pace it needs; not too fast by skipping over all the layers of life but at the same time not too slow to loose interest. I think the author did an incredible job.
There were a few scenes where I expected something else to happen; like when Holly and Alex came out of the hospital for her to kiss him. A bit unrealistic. There’s a lot of pushing and pulling but it is expected and I could see how all of this would turn out, but it is a satisfying ending nevertheless.
I loved Lydia and Claudia! They are the best! I liked that one was single and the other was happily married and a mum. Like in real life you have friends in different stages of life. I also liked holly’s family dynamic, how that experience shaped her but made her realize she treated Alex the same way and how she finally took charge and spoke up. You go, girl! I loved how the situation with her parents evolved.
This really is a good book, you will enjoy reading it! I can honestly recommend it and will check out other books by Nina Wynter.
And by the way: Nickolas made me laugh, he has great sense of humor!
Thank you Netgalley, The Book Guild and Nina Wynter for providing an advanced copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed it; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

P.S.: Chapter 9: Holly is talking about Aaron’s Mercedes but I think the author meant Alex’ car since Alex works at the same school as Holly…

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC!

If you like
* relatable, believable characters
* genuine, strong, supportive female friendship
* sweet MMC with a heart of gold
* lovers to enemies to lovers
* rebuilding relationships
* shaming the cheating assholes
This book will probably land on your tbr

I will start with praise. I really liked this book. It was funny, moving and captivating. I was bought after the first page, I immediately started rooting for the FMC. She was relatable, clumsy, sassy and I loved the character development at the end. Her relationship with her mother was really good-written, I loved their bond and cried at one of their conversations. I also loved girls’ genuine friendship and how they cared for each other. They would go through hell for their pack.
~
I have a real question. Why is every good-hearted bookish boyfriend named Alex? Is it a sign that I should look for Alex in real life? Anyway, the MMC is a sweet, broken boy that I want to protect at all cost. He can be an arse sometimes but you’ll understand him.
~
When it comes to the structure, I really liked the flashbacks from the characters’ teenage years. They added a lot to the pacing of the story and hinted at the biggest mystery in this book- what really happened between the characters?
~
What I think could have been developed more is the portrayal of infidelity and its impact on the whole family. Another downside was the never-ending push-pull dynamic between the main characters. At first it was entertaining but at some point it started to be tiresome. The characters could have behaved like adults and talked it through a little sooner.

And the last thing- I need an epilogue. I want to know how the characters are doing after a few years 🥹

Holly is just starting a new job after being let go from her last one due to the school funding. She is starting at a new school as a teacher in her final course of school. She just moved into a studio apartment that likely hid a dead body at some time during the course of its life. So, obviously, it’s in great shape. Once she starts at school she runs into her first love, Alex, who is also the grumpy boss and her new mentor. He was one that whole-heartedly broke her. It’s been 10 years and she’s had relationships since then so she’s definitely over him and fine. Right? Of course she is. Well, maybe?

I really enjoyed this story! I loved Holly. I love someone who makes ridiculous comments and is relatable clumsy. Somewhere towards the beginning of the book she says something like “I’m not usually this clumsy” and then proceeds to be throughout the rest of the book. I really enjoyed her friends. They were so supportive and showed up for her when she needed help, but when they were struggling, Holly also stepped up and helped them and made sure they knew she was there for them no matter what was going on with her. I just loved seeing good solid female friendships.

I enjoyed Alex’s character as well. I could feel his conflicted feelings throughout the book, but you didn’t really understand why until almost the end of the book. He was just so sweet!

I was completely invested throughout the entire book and I loved that there were parts of the story that went back to Holly and Alex when they were teenagers and their relationship. It was really cute! I wish that we understood a little bit more from Alex’s perspective though. I was so confused as to why he was struggling so much with his emotions. I would have loved to have Dual POV throughout. There was a lot of push-pull throughout the book and they are both 27 years old…. just communicate with each other!

Lastly, I was SO disappointed that there wasn’t an epilogue! I literally tapped the last page several times because my brain did not comprehend that there was, in fact, nothing more. I just love an epilogue to give me a little glimpse into their future.

ARC Review!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild!

The book starts off with Holly's life being thrown into shambles. She's starting off a new job and is trying to get over finding out that her long time boyfriend cheated on her. Not only was he cheating but she caught him right in the act. Throw into the mix that her new mentor at the new job, it's her old ex high school boyfriend.
It's been 10 years since Holly saw Alex and things didn't exactly end on good terms. As the book goes on, we get snippets of the past and see exactly how Holly and Alex ended up not speaking to each other for 10 years.
The plot flows nicely and is a quick read. Very easy to get into and I ended up loving it. I love how throughout the story we see Holly gain confidence and stand up for herself. From telling her scumbag of an ex that she deserves her money and not letting him just walk over her. To standing up to her dad about what she knew all along. And finally Vicky. I clocked Vicky from the beginning!!! I knew that bitch was up to no good. What Holly ended up doing, was well deserved.
There's miscommunication but luckily I was able to somewhat overlook that. There's side characters who are so lovable and make the story even better!
4 stars!!!!

I love a good second chance romance!

I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the lingo being from the Southern US, but it was easy to follow!

I really liked the leads Holly & Alex! I do however wish that there was a little more ending. Just another chapter where they talked a little bit more about what happened between then, and also what all they (aka Alex mostly) were up too during those 10 years apart.

Overall it was a good read, 4/5 stars!!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for the ARC read!

Absolutely loved this! Holly and Alex haven't seen each other in 10 years, since they broke up in their teens. When they both end up working in the same school, they both lash out, wounded by decade old memories of what went wrong. When Alex ends up as her mentor, Holly struggles to fight what she is feeling.
Will they be able to work together without imploding? Or will the sparks fly in their relationship and rekindle what was lost?

This was such a fun read. Holly is a great character perspective, and I really enjoyed her inner monologues, as well as her relationship with her two besties. I also loved the interpersonal relationships, especially at the school.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5

What an unexpectedly fun read!

First off, let’s start with a potential trigger. There is cheating in this book but it isn’t with our main characters. However, cheating is a major plot in this story so if you are someone who is sensitive to that, I would proceed with caution. But don’t let me stop you from reading whatever you want to read.

The amount of times this book had me laughing despite the more serious nature is amazing. The humor in this book caught me off guard and I love it even more for the good laughs.

I adored the main characters.

Holly grew up with a seemingly perfect life, but as an adult, everything seems to be falling apart. I personally loved this because it definitely made her relatable. I also want to praise her for the way she continuously picks herself up and keeps going. Towards the end, Holly finds her voice and learns to stand up for herself which was such a beautiful thing to witness. The growth in her character was like a breath of fresh air.

Alex has this sort of alluring mystery to him. Honestly, I couldn’t figure out what this dude’s problem was through most of the book but I love him for it. Figuring him out was definitely a fun ride that kept me clinging to this book for answers. On top of his mysterious demeanor, his jealousy and protectiveness of Holly made my heart flutter.

The storyline itself was unique and utterly gripping. The author takes a sort of mystery/suspense approach to this romantic story and I loved every second of it. It was like the gift that kept on giving. Honestly, the structuring of this book is brilliant.

As for the spice, there really wasn’t much in that department. There was definitely a couple of moments where things heat up between our main characters, but it wasn’t overly descriptive. For me, I definitely appreciated the way the author tackled this. I feel like the writing during these scenes was so tasteful and perfect for those who prefer tamer books but also appreciate a little extra sprinkle. In other words… it wasn’t a smutty book at all but I still felt like I wasn’t reading a YA because the author decided to awkwardly skirt around the topic. Honestly, it was the perfect balance and I am here for it.

I do have a slight nitpick.

The romance between the main characters was a slow burn. I certainly didn’t mind this as all, but I definitely wish the ending would have given us a little more. If anything, I think an epilogue would have been sufficient. I just feel like I invested so much into Holly and Alex, and I would have loved to have more of them as a couple. Even though we get an HEA, i just felt like it wasn’t enough.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed this read and despite my little nitpick, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

I recommend to anyone looking for a second chance romance.
Especially if you aren’t into overly descriptive spicy scenes. Honestly, this book is for you.

A second-chance romance that focuses on the character building of the fmc, Holly. From the beginning Holly has been through it: cheating ex, loss of employment, shabby apartment. So seeing her first love after ten years is the cherry on top.... there's some unresolved issues from the past with Alex (her first love & mentor) which adds more to the growing pains of life for the both of them. What I appreciated is how the story goes to show that no matter the age, life comes at you and everyone has their own things to deal with.

I found both characters likable and despite be a hint of how things got messy, was intrigued to read on to figure out what happened when they last interacted in high school. The family and friendship dynamics were easy to connect and empathize with as well, there's something for every reader to connect with. The ending did feel a bit rushed towards the end I wish we got to spend more time with Holly and Alex post resolution especially since we started with them at the school.

I appreciate a good second chance romance book and I just finished one worth mentioning. Still Falling for You by Nina Wynter is one to grab. It's out today.

ahh where do I begin?? When I started reading this book, I just couldn't put it down after. This book tells the story between Holly and Alex, from Holly's pov, and we get glimpses of their past and present. Everything about this book was just so captivating to read. From Holly's dynamic with her friends to reading her various emotions out on display, I was so intrigued by how this was all going to play out in the end. As a second chance trope lover, I really enjoyed how this book was different from the others second chance novels. Plus, I think it's ~somewhat~ realistic on how second chances would be in real life. Do I think people get second chances in general? Eh, depends. But, I do think this book showcases how hard that aspect is while making you kicking, screaming, and giggling for various reasons you'll just have to read about ;)

Now why I didn't give this book 5 stars despite loving it so much...well there were just a few things that stuck with me that I couldn't shake off while reading it. First, there were some moments in the book I had to reread because I was truly like ???? what is this trying to say?? BUT!!!! these were very, very few moments. I think my big thing was mostly the miscommunication aspect. I thought it was so well done in the book, but I kinda wish Alex and Holly settled their problems and communicated just a bit earlier than when they had. And from there, it would have been nice to get more of their relationship dynamic after settling everything.

Nonetheless, I ate this book up. I really enjoyed reading it despite it not being the usual dual POV I love.

This was my first novel by this author, and I hope to read more. I loved that this was a British novel that was not "Americanized." While I have read many British modern novels, I never find myself having to look up words. This truly felt like another culture, which I appreciated. I enjoyed both the plot and the lovable characters as well.

This was such a cute book with strong female friendships, enemies to lovers, loveable characters, and a story that you could not help but get invested in.

Another Galley for the list!

First of all, thank you to NetGalley, Nina Wynter and the Book Guild for an advanced reader copy of "Still Falling For You." Now, onto my thoughts!

Holly's life is, at best, shaky. Her now ex-boyfriend cheated on her, she moved into a questionable new studio apartment, and on her first day at her new job, she accidentally gets caught in a downpour. Just when things look like they cannot get any worse, she finds out her teacher mentor is none other than her first love, Alex — the man who broke her heart ten years ago. But a lot can change in ten years, Holly comes to realize. Will it be enough?

Second-chance romances can be tricky to get right, in my opinion. Sometimes, the amount of time that has passed makes it feel super unlikely that a second chance could have been achieved. Other times, it feels like the characters haven't changed outside of the number on their birthday card, and so there is no "chance" it's just falling back into old patterns.

But with "Still Falling For You," I think having the first chance occur at such a young age (both characters are 17) and the second chance occurring ten years later really worked. Most people remember how it felt to be seventeen and in love, as well as how much different it feels to be in love in your 20s. Also, as the title states, the main characters admit that while they were definitely giving one another a second chance, they never forgot the first time they were in love.

I also really enjoyed the friendship aspects of this book, particularly those between Holly, Lydia, and Claudia and Holly and Vicky. The dynamic between Holly, Lydia, and Claudia was very real. They couldn't drop everything all the time, but they each showed up for each other in tangible, real ways, and that was a beautiful bit of female friendship I loved. With Vicky, I really appreciated the juxtaposition her character gave to Holly and Alex. While the two of them had grown and changed since high school, Vicky hadn't, which made it all the more obvious that the theme of getting the timing right has as much to do with circumstance as it does with the characters' own choices and growth.

The thing I had a hard time with was that because all of the side characters were memorable, I found myself wanting more of them, but also wanting more of just Alex and Holly. Not a terrible problem by any means, and honestly, that just leaves an opening for future books with other characters!

All in all, this is a great quick read and gives me the vibes of being good for a rainy afternoon snuggled up on the couch with some tea and biscuits.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, moving and captivating. I was hooked after the first page, I immediately started rooting for the FMC. She was relatable, clumsy, sassy and I loved her character development and her journey of discovery. Her relationship with her mother was really good-written, I loved their bond and cried at one of their conversations. I also loved girls’ genuine friendship and how they cared for each other.

The MMC is a sweet, broken boy that I want to protect at all cost. He can be an arse sometimes but you’ll understand him.

When it comes to the structure of the story, I really liked the flashbacks from the characters’ teenage years. They added a lot to the pacing of the story and hinted at the biggest mystery in this book- what really happened between the characters?

What I think could have been developed more is the portrayal of infidelity and its impact on the whole family. Another downside was the never-ending push-pull dynamic between the main characters. At first it was entertaining but at some point it started to be tiresome. The characters could have behaved like adults and talked it through a little sooner.

Finally, I neeeeeeeeed an epilogue. I want to know how the characters are doing after a few years.

I am a huge fan of traditional romance, although there are certain “tropes” that I enjoy more than others. Although I’m not the biggest fan of “second chance” romances, the description of this book really hooked me. Because of this, I was extremely excited to read this book.

I am sometimes hesitant to read books from a new author, because I sometimes have a hard time adjusting to their particular writing style. Fortunately, I did not have an issue with this book at all. I really liked that it was told in first person. Also, although I appreciated the disclaimer, I didn’t find that it was necessary to the enjoyment of the book.

I didn’t really enjoy the secondary characters in this book as I would have liked to. With the exception of like two of them, they were pretty insufferable.

I really liked this book, and am a little disappointed that I am done with it. I would have liked to give this book five stars, but I was not a fan of the ending. Not to be a spoiler, but I would have liked to see a more satisfying ending.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

This is a cute second-chance romance story, told alternating with flashbacks to the main character’s past. Read if you like: Second chance romance, first love, angsty enemies to lovers, and genuine & supportive female friendships.

There was something about this book that just didn’t quite pique my interest enough - probably that the plot really hinges on misunderstandings, as well as teen love, which personally aren’t my cup of tea.

A note about the writing - I was confused on a couple plot points about the main character’s career path, not sure if it was just my lack of cultural understanding of British things or if details were not explained well-enough.

Thanks to Netgalley and The Book Guild for providing me with a copy of the book.

Still Falling for You is a heartfelt second-chance romance that delves into themes of love, heartbreak, and personal growth. The narrative follows Holly, a newly qualified teacher navigating the aftermath of a painful breakup and the loss of her dream job. Seeking a fresh start, she relocates and unexpectedly finds herself working under the mentorship of Alex, her first love who left her heartbroken a decade earlier.

The story masterfully weaves several engaging tropes, including second-chance romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, first love, and workplace romance. These elements create a compelling backdrop for Holly and Alex's complex relationship, filled with tension and unresolved emotions.

Holly is a deeply relatable protagonist whose journey of self-discovery and healing is both authentic and inspiring. Her growth throughout the story is evident, and readers will find themselves rooting for her happiness. Alex's character, initially frustrating, gradually reveals layers that add depth to his persona, making his evolution alongside Holly's journey both believable and satisfying.

One of the novel's standout features is its portrayal of strong, supportive female friendships. Holly's camaraderie with her friends adds warmth to the narrative and provides a realistic depiction of women's relationships. The flashbacks to Holly and Alex's teenage years offer valuable context, enriching the present-day storyline and enhancing readers' understanding of their complex history.

However, while the book excels in many areas, certain aspects may not resonate with all readers. The pacing, particularly towards the end, might feel drawn out, and some may find the miscommunication trope overly familiar. Additionally, a deeper exploration of the impact of past infidelities on all involved could have added more emotional depth to the story.

In conclusion, Still Falling for You is an enjoyable read for fans of contemporary romance, especially those who appreciate the dynamics of second chances and complex relationships. It offers a blend of emotional depth, relatable characters, and engaging tropes, making it a worthwhile addition to any romance enthusiast's reading list.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
Still Falling for You by Nina Wynter is a charming and heartwarming romance that captures the magic of love and second chances.Wynter’s writing is engaging and filled with heartfelt moments, making the characters’ journey feel genuine and relatable. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and the plot offers a perfect blend of sweet moments and tension. It’s a great read for fans of contemporary romance looking for a touching and enjoyable love story.

I admit, I judged this book by its cover and I'm glad I did.

I really enjoyed the style in which this book was written. I found it very relatable and honest.
Essentially, this is about Holly who has just split up with her partner and ia living in a dingey studio flat and she's just about to start a new job.
Which is where she bumps into Alex. He was her boyfriend when she was 17 and we quickly learn that it wasn't a particularly amicable break-up.

I really liked Holly. I could imagine being friends with her. She has great morals and is just trying to get through life.
She has issues with her parents (who doesn't) is desperate for payday and has some truly wonderful friends - the three women as a group are formidable and reading the ways in which they support and lift ea h other up is a beautiful thing.

Thus is such a multi- layered story about all the different kinds of relationships we find ourselves in.

There was the usual miscommunication but not in the predictable sense and although there were a few unlikely scenarios, it wasn't enough to dampen my enjoyment.

I am going to be keeping my eye on Nina Wynter and will be first in the queue when their next book is available.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC from NetGalley/The Book Guild—thank you!

Holly is starting her NCT year at a new school after being made redundant and discovering her ex-boyfriend's infidelity. True to form, she arrives on her first day drenched from the rain and late—only to be faced with her new mentor, Alex, who also happens to be her sixth-form love.

The premise of this book immediately grabbed me, and I was eager to uncover what had happened between Holly and Alex. The slow reveal of their past was handled well, keeping me intrigued throughout. Holly’s friendships with her besties were another highlight—heartwarming, supportive, and full of fun moments. The book maintains a lighthearted tone while still touching on deeper themes, and there are some brilliant pop culture references (Pushing Daisies, anyone?!).

However, I struggled to fully invest in Holly and Alex’s romance. Their present-day interactions are riddled with miscommunication, and their past relationship, while sweet, felt somewhat underdeveloped. We primarily see them sharing a few conversations in class or on the bus before quickly jumping into something romantic, and I would have loved more moments that truly showed why they were right for each other. What was uniquely them about their relationship? What common ground do they come back to every time?

I also found aspects of the writing style a little unnatural for me. The introduction of 13 named characters in the first 10% felt a little overwhelming, and some word choices pulled me out of the story—such as “road maintenance” instead of “roadworks” and “travel nausea” over “car sickness", as well as some americanisms (Kindergarten, Principal, Vice Principal). There were also a few continuity issues, like Alex’s piercing changing from a nose piercing in the first half of the book’s flashbacks to a lip piercing in the second half. Additionally, the use of marine and Japanese culture-based metaphors seemed like they were hinting at deeper character interests, but this never really materialised, which felt like a missed opportunity.

Overall, this was a fun and easy read—I finished it in 24 hours! There are some great golden nuggets here, but I think the book could have been a little longer, allowing for more development and depth.

World: 6/10
Characters: 6/10
Writing: 6/10
Enjoyment: 6/10
Rereadability: 1/5
Recommendability: 2/5

Final Score: 27/50 ~ 2.75 stars

Holly is a lovable 27-year-old who just can’t seem to catch a break. She recently ended a relationship and is trying to get her career requirements finished up when she ends up with her high school ex-boyfriend, Alex, as her ECT mentor. Alex is a strait-laced, no-nonsense type, and Holly finds him hard to read but her teaching certification is dependent on him. She slowly chips away at his tough exterior as they spend more time together working for the same school but there are mixed messages sent both ways. Meanwhile, Aaron, Holly’s most-recent ex, makes her life miserable throughout the book. He cheated on her, and owes her money, preventing her from letting go and ultimately moving on. I love how Holly eventually confronts Aaron, near the end, by insisting he give her some of her things. Ultimately this results in her dragging a huge rug to a nearby restaurant. I loved the closeness of Holly, and her two best friends, Lydia and Catherine. I laughed-out-loud that Holly dragged a rug into a restaurant, to meet Lydia for dinner, and Lydia didn’t question it until they debriefed about Alex. That’s true friendship!

Luckily Holly has wonderful friends because her relationship with her parents is not great. Although it’s realistic to believe not everyone has wonderful parents, I sort of felt like this wasn’t a necessary storyline for the book. Holly’s dad was unfaithful to her mother, at a young, and her mother is overbearing and harasses her about her looks, constantly berating her about when she plans to get married. Seems like one of these storylines could have been eliminated without taking away from the overall theme of the book. I do appreciate, however, that her mom admits her shortcomings, eventually, and they are all able to move on.

The dynamic between Holly and Alex was fun and flirty but the on-again, off-again seemed to drag a bit, for me, as well as the the flashbacks were confusing at times. It gave off an It Ends With Us vibe, as it’s clear Alex did not have an ideal upbringing and Holly's parents did not approve. Maybe it would have been helpful to time-stamp the flashbacks? We are all in it for the love story and I feel like this one could have gotten there quicker. The dynamic throughout the book with Holly's high school friend, Vicky, felt forced. I love that Alex steps in, when Holly’s dad has health concerns, and you end up rooting for them to get together despite his tough demeanor. Overall, this was an enjoyable romantic comedy by Nina Winter and look forward to seeing what else she has written!

Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild Ltd for this eARC!

I'm a little bit lost on how I feel about this book.
Looking at the positives, I like Nina Wynter's writing! It's interesting, at a good pace, and it makes the characters lovable (for the most part). She also wrote about family issues in a way that was both authentic and nuanced. Showing us that family (and love interests) are not wholly right or wrong despite what things may look like. Moreover, she writes about female friendships in a beautiful way - showing that love is not only limited to family or romance.
That being said, the longer the book went on the less and less I was rooting for Alex and Holly to get together. I still don't see the characters' relationship lasting more than a few weeks. I get the miscommunication trope (at times I even like it) but when the entire relationship is just miscommunication after miscommunication, you stop rooting for the couple. In fact, you stop rooting for the individuals themselves.
All in all, I loved the first 75 - 80 percent, however, the miscommunication continued throughout the book and it became too much. I lost interest in the characters' stories and, therefore, the book itself.
Thank you very much to NetGalley for providing this ARC! All opinions shared are my own.

Holly's life is a mess. Her boyfriend cheated on her and she lost her job. The new job she works for her assistant principle is her ex boyfriend and he seems to be still holding a grudge from 10 years a go.
For the first half of this book I was really enjoying the tension between the two characters. It really felt like an enemies to lovers situation. But unfortunately in the back half is when things started to fall apart. Alex was very wishy washy with his feelings for Holly the whole time. The characters have been hiding on go a grudge for 10 years built on a lie someone else told them. Lack of communication/miscommunication trope is my least favorite and sadly this book had that in spades.
The main reason I was interested in this was because Holly is a teacher so I did enjoy the couple of times we got to see her interacting with her students and teaching lessons.

3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thankyou NetGalley, the author and The Book Guild Publishing for an arc copy of this book.

I loved this second chance romance! There was so many aspects that were really well done and definitely improved the reading experience. I read this in under 24 because I was so hooked to our storyline and our two main characters Holly and Alex. Holly has just started a new job as a teacher where her former teenage boyfriend will be her mentor. This shocks Holly and she learns to navigate this new job as well as having Alex as her grumpy mentor. I really enjoyed both of our main characters and loved reading the flashback moments of their teenage years and their relationship ten years ago. I think this aspect added a lot to our storyline and we were able to understand our characters on a deeper level. Another aspect I loved was Holly friends and how the friendship continued to grow and displayed genuine female bonds throughout. I was itching to find what had happened to ruin the connection between Holly and Alex during their teenage years and the mystery of this was suspenseful! However, I would loved to see more of Alex and Holly towards the end and even an epilogue. They ended up together but it felt really rushed, I would’ve loved to see where they are ten years from now.

Still Falling for You is the first book I have read by Nina Wynter. It has two main characters who knew each other in their past, and have to face each other in their present. I love a good second chance romance, and this definitely gives you that.

Thank you netgalley for an arc of Still Falling for You by Nina Wynter

(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)

Publication date: 28 February 2025
Publisher: The Book Guild

"Still Falling for You" serves up a classic second-chance romance with a side of teacher tension, but it didn't quite ace the test for me. Holly's life is a relatable mess of bad boyfriends and career woes, and her decision to swear off men is something many of us can probably get behind (at least on a particularly bad day). The reappearance of Alex, her first love and heartbreaker adds a good dose of awkwardness and intrigue. Their dynamic is definitely the highlight – the push and pull, the snarky banter, the undeniable chemistry – it's all there. However, I felt like Alex was more mean than mysterious and I occasionally wanted to shake Holly and tell her to stop being so forgiving. While the "knight in shining armor" routine is cute, it's also a bit predictable. Overall, a solid contemporary romance with some genuinely hot moments but it could have benefited from a bit more originality and less reliance on well-worn tropes.

This was a cute book. As a former teacher, I always like to read books like this. The romance twist was sweet, but it was very similar to a lot of what is out there. It was a quick and easy read before bed last night!

Holly lleva una vida sencilla, sin muchas emociones, pero después de que su exnovio le fuera infiel, todo parece estar en su contra. En su nuevo trabajo se encuentra con Alex, su primer amor, quien le rompió el corazón. Ahora, no solo tendrá que trabajar con él, sino que él también calificará su desempeño por lo que deberán pasar mucho tiempo juntos.


~

El libro es entretenido; ojalá Alex tuviera capítulos desde su punto de vista, porque, tal como está, parece que Holly tiene un crecimiento, pero él no y no se sabe nada de si vida fuera de la escuela.
Los últimos capítulos son apresurados.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

Wow!! What a great book!! This one was a page turner! Had me hooked from the first page! This was a first for me by this author but will not be my last. I enjoyed the plot, characters and the writing style!!

I really enjoyed this romantic new voice in women’s fiction! I loved the chemistry between our MC and Alex and it was fun and relatable looking at the teaching world. I could relate from some of my friend’s experiences and I loved how lost love was once again found proving how what’s meant to be will be and what is meant for you will never pass you by

The whole concept of two people who have history together, being at the same place and the forced proximity in the situation was really interesting to me. I liked Holly but I wasn't a big fan of Alex. She was relatable while he was sometimes very frustrating but he somewhat made up for it. And the miscommunication between them was also kind of unnecessary. But they definitely had chemistry and I liked the push and pull in this book. The plot was gripping and the writing was easy to get into. So I have mixed feelings about this book. I did not hate it but I didn't love it either.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

While overall this is a sweet second chance romance, I rolled my eyes so many times at all the miscommunication. It made me want to yell at the characters to GROW UP. Alex is one of those people I just want to hug and Holly had me rooting for her quite a few times.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc and provide honest feedback.

Still Falling For You follows Holly Collins, a teacher who has moved to a new academic institution with a fresh new start to life after finding out her boyfriend was unfaithful. However, on her first day, she is late and also recognised a certain face wearing a grey suit, Alex - her first love.

As the story progresses, we see Holly and Alex’s delevorpment, not only through their rekindling after not seeing one another for years, but what lead to their heartbreak in the first place with several flashbacks. It’s not over-done and isn’t confusing to follow within the present pov.

Holly is a funny, silly, relatable and strong, yet has vulnerability that i was so glad to see especially when she has gone through so much. You see her navigating her love life breaking apart, pressure from her parents and career difficulties and the unseriousness of her trying to get by each day and picking herself up the best she can. Someone give her a vacation !!!!! It’s goofily relatable and it’s refreshing. She was incredibly written and It really gave her depth as a character, especially when she confides with her best friends who she leans on and you can feel the love all between them.

Alex is much more stern especially compared to his younger self in the flashbacks, and eventually his softer side comes through and when it does, you see him in a different light. He can be funny and a little unserious to lighten his character and you watch how his facade begins to break. He listens, doing small things and remembering details, even when they weren’t on best terms, about Holly that even she was surprised about so i loved that side to him.

But their push and pull, the barriers of their past together and separate creates an intrigue of their connection. Even though it’s only from Holly’s pov and not duel, you really feel their connection trying to break through those hurdles and leaps. However, the miscommunication between the two really stopped this from being a 5 star. I wanted to scream through my kindle and give them both a wobble and encouragement to talk more, to listen to each other to get all cards on the table once and for all.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book for its humour, its reliability and the connection between Holly and Alex. The pacing with the flashbacks was excellently done and i just couldn’t put the book down really. These style romcoms just do it for me and i need more. If we were ever to get a sneak peak into Holly and Alex’s relationship in the future as we don’t get an epilogue, I will be reaching for it in an instant.

it's always a light-haired man at the scene of the crime isn't it

this was fun! i read this on the treadmill and i'm lucky there were no major plot twists to make me fall (don't ask). there were a little bit too many side characters and i wish our fmc had a bit more a backbone, but the writing was easy to rid and everything wrapped up nicely.

Still Falling for You was a slow burn, second change romance. I loved the characters and how their real world problems from when they were younger affected them as adults. I found myself really wishing I could read the story from Alex's POV because I'd love to know what was going on in that broody head of his. An epilogue would have been a welcomed addition to their story too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Still Falling for you is a second chance romance, that follows Holly and Alex when they reconnect ten years after their break up. Holly is starting her new teacher job, and on the first day she finds out Alex is going to be her mentor. Both of them are still hurt from their past experience, but as time goes on they try to explore what's left of their conenction.

I enjoyed this, but I probably would've enjoyed it a little more if the conflict wrapped up a bit earlier and left more space for them to be happy. The characters were realistic, I really enjoyed them, even the side characters.

*Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a free copy of this book for an honest review!

Still Falling for You is a second chance romance that follows the past and present love story of Holly and Alex. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book contained multiple tropes including second chance romance, lovers to enemies then enemies to lovers, and miscommunication.

What I loved about this book was that it was witty. The inner and outer dialogue had me giggling at times. The authors descriptions of how the FMC was feeling was funny too. I really connected with the FMCs relationship with her mother as I feel it can be the same in my life. I also loved Holly’s relationship with Lydia and Catherine. We STAN good besties.

My problems with this book and why I knocked it down some is I felt that all of this could have been resolved very quickly with a good ole conversation. I do think that the miscommunication when they were in high school tracks because of immaturity. But once you are not only adults, but also working together, they literally could have just talked about what happened and it could have been clear. (But what’s the fun in that?) Alexa inability to communicate literally anything was very frustrating as well.

Second thing is there were times that it wasn’t clear that it was a flashback. I got confused twice trying to figure out what was going on and come to find out it was a flashback. I did LOVE the flashback chapters though and I think this book could have benefitted from more flashbacks of them falling in love while in high school.

Overall I enjoyed the book. If you’re looking for a quick palette cleanser I think this is a great option to throw in!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It is a cute second chance/enemy to lovers romance. I loved the FMC Holly and felt she was very relatable (I have never known anyone else who also has a crush on Domhnall Gleeson!) While the MMC, Alex was quite frustrating at the beginning, he grew on me. It was an enjoyable quick romance read, although I wish there had been an epilogue at the end. As a reader who gets invested in the characters, I love to know where they end up beyond he story. Anyone looking for a fun rom-com read should give this book a chance!

Super obsessed with Holly and Alex.

Nina Wynter's created a main character that is so relatable with all the struggles people face to fit into the mold others created for them. Holly life is closer to the side of rock bottom than it is any higher. Cheating boyfriend, let go from work, judgemental family, and to top it all off her new mentor is none other than "the ex" of all exes. Forced to work together Holly and Alex struggle to not blur the lines with past history only to find out that the history they each remember might not be the truth they think it is.

This is a cute feel good story that leave you wanting more.

This was a good read.
I enjoyed the angst between the two main characters, and even though this was a slow burn trope, the pace was good, and the angst well written. It made me crave the moment they would get together.
This being said, I could only give it 4 stars, because I wish I had seen more of them together in a relationship, even if just the start of it.

fabulously fun and romantic. lovely, and i loved the dynamic between the two mc's. a teacher/teacher romance was very fun to read about.

Thank you to Netgalley and The Book Guild for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and felt like the characters and storyline went well. Great character development . I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you so much to Nina Wynter and Book Guild for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this one, I felt like the setting and the ambiance was exactly right for a love story of two teachers. At times, the pacing felt a bit rushed, and the conveniences of the novel felt unbelievable, despite being a romance novel. My overall impression of the book is that it's a cosy and cute romance to read on a sunny spring afternoon, while sipping on a warm cuppa and eating your way through one (or three) packets of HobNobs.

I struggled a bit with some of the conveniences this book had, it felt quite unrealistic to have the two characters living in the same place for so many years and never running into each other, but as soon as Holly first interacts with Alex, he's everywhere she is.

The main character, Holly, was a hot mess express who I couldn't help but love. She's clumsy, uncoordinated, awkward, and blunt, in a way that makes her seem so real while reading her point of view. I would have loved to see a bit more character development for her, especially before her and Alex get together, as she didn't seem to undergo transformation, other than her opinion of the main conflict changing in the climax of the novel.

Overall, I liked this book and would recommend to friends and family, especially those who are just getting into the romance genre and are looking for something easy to sink your teeth into.

Sweet and fluffy, with a good interesting plot and characters, but overall it felt a little unfinished, I think it could have done with more editing. The ending feels a little rushed,

.˚🦋༘⋆ 3 stars

You know those books that are just perfect to pick up when you are roaming the airport trying to kill time before a long-haul flight? This is one of them. Note: I did read this while on a plane from Thailand to Finland!

Still Falling For You is an easy read with a satisfying enough end. While I wouldn’t have recommended Holly give Alex a second chance, as I found him quite mean, I do wish there had been more time for them to simply be happy after the conflict. Seriously though, Alex deserves at least a slap... even if all is forgiven!

Thank you kindly to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a review!

This was my first time reading a teacher rom-com, and it was amazing! I need more immediately! I am also not usually a huge fan of the 'ex-lovers' trope, but oh my gosh am I converted! I was rooting so hard for Holly and Alex to get back together!

The characters were extremely likeable, and I found myself immediately connecting to them due to their backstories. I found this novel quite emotional and really loved the depth the backstories gave to the characters.

I adored the flashback scenes and how they gave us a look into the exciting moments of first young love between our two love interests. I was absolutely swooning and just loved the description of anticipation and excitement between them. These scenes made the book all the more immersive for me.

I wish this novel had been even longer I loved it so much, and I don't often say that about romances as I prefer them short and sweet most of the time, but this one was just so well written!

I would have liked for there to have been more spice, though, as there was so much pent-up tension between the love interests!

My only critique is that the reason Holly and Alex ended up breaking up originally was due to a miscommunication error, so it was frustrating to see that the same issue of multiple miscommunications was happening again in keeping from them getting back together ten years in the future.

Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this!

*I received this book as an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) for free in exchange for an honest review*

Overall this was a good book, it was well written and had a satisfying ending. There were parts that felt a little unrealistic but I think that could be more to do with my lived in experience more than anything else which brought me out of the book at times but still a decent read.

Holly is part way through her teacher training when she has to move to a different school. At her new school she is working with her first boyfriend, who she dumped by text 10 years earlier. She tries to avoid Alex but as the deputy head and supervisor for her training they keep having to interact. Holly also has to deal with the others teachers, some of whom are friends, but not them all.

I liked the premise of this book, and the cattiness with some of the other teachers is realistic. There was a bit too much tell at times with a week in time being told in one page where I would've preferred a bit more interaction. I liked the characters more than the actual plot.

I liked the premise of this book but it didn’t quite deliver for me.
The plot felt like it had too many elements, too much drama and was too rushed. I think if you removed some of the points of tension and built up one or two I think it would have served the story better.
The relationship felt fairly toxic and the lack of communication between Alex and Holly really irritated me. I think the relationship would have been better developed with a dual POV rather than only getting Alex’s explanation for his behaviour in the last 2%.
The writing style also wasn’t my favourite. The dialogue felt forced and at times unnatural, and some of the phrasing seemed clunky.

Overall, I really wanted to enjoy this book, and I’m sure others will, but it wasn’t what I wanted it to be.

Thanks to Netgalley and The Book Guild for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great relaxing read for a long weekend! As a teacher it was kind of fun to see a story play out in the workplace. I would recommend this!

This is not your typical cheesy romcom. It's a story you want to get lost in in the best way.

After Holly finds her boyfriend cheating, she moves out to a crappy apartment and gets a new teaching job only to find out she's working with her high school ex. Things ended horribly 10 years ago but what really happened?

I usually hate the miscommunication trope, but this was well done. We don't have the information as the reader so I didn't feel frustrated they didn't make up right away. I felt like I was going through all of Holly's emotions with her. Do I wish they had resolved the conflict a little sooner so we could see them happy together? Yes. Honestly, even an epilogue would have been nice. But it wasn't cringey like so often done with this trope.

The relationships were so well written. This isn't just about Holly and Alex. We also get great friend group relationships (and some bad ones) and a huge heartfelt family one. It's beautiful. It's not just a romance, it's about all the relationships in Holly's life and her growth.

The flashbacks to high school mixed in with the growth Holly sees in Alex in real time was my favorite part. Also, I laughed quite a bit. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Thank you Netgalley and The Book Guild for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I liked this book, but I did not LOVE it. I wanted to love it so bad. I wish there was more romance, more yearning, more passion from the characters. The story did not pick up for me until about 50% through. I think it was a little too back and forth/hot and cold through out the whole book for me. Kind of the same things happening over and over again just in different settings. I did love the characters and the ending was sweet, but also felt kind of rushed. I wish there was an epilogue.

⭐⭐⭐.75/🌶️🌶️ Still Falling For You by Nina Wynter is a romance about Holly, who has accepted a job teaching at a school right out of college. She's just broken up with her long-term boyfriend after she caught him cheating, so it's a new start in multiple areas of her life. This school is where she runs into her old high school boyfriend, Alex, who's also a teacher there, and her boss.

I love a dual timeline and a man who's an asshole to everyone, gooey inside for her, who will punch any guy who touches her. This was good! And it's already out and available for purchase.

💜He's her boss
💜Second chance romance
💜They're both teachers at the same school
💜Dual timeline
💜Grumpy-sunshine
💜Protective MMC

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC copy, I will be giving my honest and unbiased review.

Tropes:
Debut novel
- Second chance romance
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Lovers to enemies to lovers
- Miscommunication

This book was a very cute and easy read, I really enjoyed the fact that both of the main characters were teachers, it was something new and interesting.
I really liked how kind and sweet Holly is and the way that she guards her heart is also super realistic and relatable. I overall enjoyed the whole book but I do have to say that I’m not a fan of the miscommunication trope and I felt that there was a lot of that in this one!