Friends-to-Lovers but Make It Destined: Why I’m Obsessed with Can’t Help Falling in Love

Okay, listen up, because I need to scream about this book. Can’t Help Falling in Love by Libby Waterford isn’t just another cutesy friends-to-lovers romance—this one feels like fate physically dragged these two together and was like, "Yep, you’re soulmates. Deal with it."

Fate, You Sneaky Matchmaker

Rosie is out here being a badass doctor, working herself to the bone, when life is like, "Girl, sit down before you pass out." So, she begrudgingly takes a break (aka is forced to chill) and ends up back in her Connecticut hometown. Enter Gus—charming, familiar, and suddenly incredibly attractive Gus. If she hadn’t been on this unplanned staycation, these two might have kept skimming past each other forever. But nope. The universe had other plans, and honestly? I’m so glad it did.

From the second they reconnect, it’s not some drawn-out, awkward "do we like each other?" mess. Oh no. These two know. The vibes are vibing. Sparks? Flying. You can practically hear the rom-com soundtrack playing in the background. This isn’t your usual friends-to-lovers, slow-burn situation—this is full-on, "Wow, okay, we’re doing this" energy, and I ate it up.

Fling? Yeah, Right.

So technically, they start this whole thing as a little "staycation fling." But let’s be real—neither of them is fooling anyone. The way they look at each other? The way they just get it? Please. These two were toast from the moment they kissed. It’s honestly refreshing how neither of them wastes time pretending they don’t care. No unnecessary drama, no dumb miscommunication—just two people falling hard and actually embracing it.

If I Had to Pick One Bad Thing…

Okay, so if I had to choose one thing that wasn’t perfect, I’d say the first few chapters (like 1-5) didn’t really flow for me. I wasn’t feeling super connected at first, and it took a bit to get into the groove. But thank god I stuck with it because once it picked up, I was all in. Trust me, push through the slow start—it’s worth it.

Why This Book Stands Out

I’ve read a lot of romance novels, and sometimes they blur together—but Can’t Help Falling in Love stands out in all the best ways. The dialogue is sharp and feels so natural, like you’re eavesdropping on real conversations. The banter between Rosie and Gus? Top-tier. They have that perfect mix of flirtiness and emotional depth that keeps every interaction engaging. Also, the setting! The cozy hometown vibes, the sense of familiarity and comfort, it all adds to the meant-to-be energy of their romance.

And can we talk about Gus for a second? Because damn. He’s not just some generic, too-perfect love interest—he’s charming, grounded, and actually feels like a real person you’d want to know in real life. He’s got just enough emotional baggage to make him interesting but not so much that it weighs the story down. And his chemistry with Rosie? Whew.

Obsessed. Completely Obsessed.

I don’t know what kind of magic Libby Waterford sprinkled into this book, but I was hooked. Fate practically smacked Rosie and Gus together, and watching them lean into it was chef’s kiss. The chemistry? Off the charts. The emotions? All over the place (in the best way). The love story? I will be thinking about it forever.

If you want a romance that skips the nonsense and goes straight for the this is meant to be feels, Can’t Help Falling in Love is your next read. I laughed, I swooned, I yelled at my Kindle. Go read it. Now.