Falling in a Tulip Field

by Shira De Rooij

Nora Tuinstra always been good at making plans and writing checklists in her notebook, but she can't seem to complete the number one goal on her list- Finding a job to sharpen her skills as an event planner. After a long period of learning to deal with her anxiety, stress and a harsh breakup, her parents want her to focus on her degree and live life as calming as possible. But just as Nora runs out of options, she runs into William Vanderweide, who's in great need of someone with marketing knowledge to save his family's restaurant.

William Vanderweide spends his days between studying for his business degree and trying to find a way to convince his parents not to sell his family restaurant, that isn't succeeding as much as it used to. His grandparent's founded the place decades ago, and after they passed away, he wants to do anything in his power to keep it alive. After all, he still hasn't found a way to deal with his grief, and he's not ready to say goodbye yet- not to the restaurant, and not to his past. Nora appears to be the perfect solution to his problems- she's creative, confident and has all the skills to change things around. They make their own little master plan, but keep it as a secret, knowing neither of their parents is going to understand.

While working together, Nora learns more about the sweet guy she offered to help to. He tells her about the meaning of tulips to his grandparent's love story, and about his own view on love. From being good friends, they turn to something more- He's the guy who tries to help her see it's okay to not be miss sunshine all the time, and she's the girl who wants to help him move on. Between one tulip to the other, between liking and falling, between staying stuck in the past to moving on, they have only one big choice to make.

Love is either a tulip field or a battlefield, and they can only pick one.

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2024

About the author

Shira De Rooij is a romance author.
Since she was a little girl she loved creating stories in her head and write poems and stories in her journal.
She's always loved the idea of writing about all the sides and shapes of love, and capturing moments like the first kiss or a sweet love confession.
She likes painting, and learning new languages and completely obsessed with Taylor swift, Kdramas and Harry Potter.

You can catch her active on instagram
(@shirader), where she posts and updates about her books and writing journey.

Reviews

[Shannai · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This was such a cheesy, wholesome read; I don’t think I’ve actually read anything like Nora and William’s story before. They were so sweet, and really brought out the best in each other with all their tender moments.

Thank you Shira for the eARC!

Tropes:

🌷he falls first
🌷strangers to friends to lovers
🌷introverted boy x extroverted girl
🌷mental health rep
🌷slow burn

[sosob · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the most wholesome book ever🥹🥹
Nora and Will are so cute and precious, I want to keep them forever😭
Thank you so much Shira for the ARC!

full review on my insta! https://www.instagram.com/p/C9DTxaAxf...

[Juliana Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling in a Tulip Field by Shira De Rooij is a heartwarming romance about two young people finding love and purpose in a small town. Nora Tuinstra is always making lists to keep her life in order. However, her biggest goal—finding a job to boost her event planning career—remains elusive. After dealing with anxiety, stress, and a tough breakup, her parents want her to focus on her studies and lead a calm life. Just when Nora feels out of options, she meets William Vanderweide, who desperately needs help saving his family's struggling restaurant.

William is juggling his business studies and trying to keep his family's restaurant from being sold. The restaurant holds sentimental value, as it was founded by his late grandparents, and he isn't ready to let go. Nora, with her creativity and marketing skills, seems like the perfect person to turn things around. Together, they create a secret plan to save the restaurant, knowing their parents wouldn't understand.

As they work together, Nora discovers the sweet and caring side of William. He shares stories about his grandparents' love and the significance of tulips in their relationship. Their friendship blossoms into something deeper, with William helping Nora realize it's okay to not always be perfect, and Nora encouraging William to move forward from his grief. Between the beautiful tulip fields and their growing affection, they face a pivotal choice: embrace love or stay stuck in the past.

The characters in Falling in a Tulip Field are well-developed and relatable. Nora is driven, confident, and caring, making her a character readers can easily connect with. William, shy but deeply loving, complements her perfectly. Their story is incredibly sweet, with great communication and mutual support. The inclusion of High School Musical references adds a fun and nostalgic touch to the story.

Overall, Falling in a Tulip Field is a delightful read, filled with charming characters and a touching romance. Shira De Rooij has crafted a story that is both engaging and emotionally satisfying, making it a perfect book for anyone who loves a good love story with meaningful character development.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating:★★★★★
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
🌷Strangers to Friends to lovers
🩷Extrovert black cat x introvert golden retriever
🌷Showing love through flowers
🩷He falls first
🌷Mental health + grief rep
🩷Slow burn
🌷Dual POV

Happy release day to the amazing Shira de Rooij! I'm bursting with excitement and pride for Falling in a Tulip Field. Having been a beta reader for this gem, it holds a special place in my heart, especially because it's William and Nora's story.

This book is an absolute delight, one of the cutest I've ever had the pleasure of reading. It had me grinning from ear to ear the entire time! William, the introverted golden retriever type, and Nora, the extroverted black cat, stole my heart right from their first moments together. Their journey from best friends to lovers was pure magic, filled with laughter, heartfelt moments, and a bond that grew beautifully with every page.

The way their characters evolved throughout the story was incredibly well-done, despite the challenges they faced from their families. Finding solace in each other, they navigated these struggles together, making their relationship even more meaningful.

I also adored the side characters who added so much depth and warmth to the story. Their relationships with each other brought an extra layer of joy and authenticity to the narrative.

This book is an absolute must-read, and I'm overjoyed that it's finally out in the world for everyone to enjoy. Trust me, you won't want to miss out on William and Nora's heartwarming journey. Congratulations again to Shira de Rooij, I can't wait for more readers to fall in love with this beautiful story!

[Wajiha (Jiya) ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved "Falling in a Tulip Field"! The whole feel of the book was amazing, especially the cozy restaurant setting and all the characters. The main female character (FMC) was my favorite; she's ambitious, bold, loving, and knows exactly what she wants. She felt so real and relatable, and I admired her strength and vulnerability in equal measure. The male main character (MMC) was a perfect compliment for her. He is shy but so loving, which made their story incredibly cute. I couldn't help but smile and sometimes even blush while reading their scenes. Their romance was like watching tulips bloom—slow, delicate, and utterly beautiful. It was a slow burn, which made every moment they shared even more special and rewarding. Also, I adored the friendship dynamic with the side characters and how everyone communicated so well.

Every detail, from the setting to the character development, was crafted with such care and precision. The romance truly blossomed in the most delightful way, and I was screaming in excitement and joy for the characters.

Overall, "Falling in a Tulip Field" was an absolute joy to read. I loved everything about it and can't recommend it highly enough. Thanks so much for the ARC—it was an unforgettable experience!

[Sammy Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗔 𝗧𝗨𝗟𝗜𝗣 𝗙𝗜𝗘𝗟𝗗 • 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️.5
out now

☕️ 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘵𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢 ☕️
loves coffee, making plans, and writing checklist • loves rainy days but always forgets her umbrella • communication student/wannabe event planner • wants to get an event planning job • secretly helping william save his families restaurant

🌷𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘮 𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘥𝘦🌷
business student • also loves rainy days • works at his families restaurant and trying to save it • secretly working with nora to save the restaurant • show love through flowers

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦:
📚 college romance
🌷 strangers to friends to lovers
🤎 mental health & grief rep
🥰 he falls first
🫶🏽 introvert mmc x extrovert fmc
🐌 slow burn

𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:
ughhh, this was so sweet and wholesome 🥹 if you are looking for a friends to lovers story with adorble characters that just want to help each other and be there for one another then look no further, this book is for you!!!
•
i loved how nora was all in for helping william after meeting each other. they are both so work/goal orientated and refused to give up. but they also were able to help each other take a step back before getting too stressed out and make sure they take breaks so they don’t burn out
•
the writing was so good that you are able to see the connection between these two just based on reading it…so flippin sweet!!! also i loved the side characters and their involvement with getting nora and will together

@tropesandblurbs

[Angy Twisted Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2🌶🌶

It was a bit slow paced for me, and i couldn't find myself in the characters.
Felt like missing some chemistry at the start.
But after the character development, it was ALL so worth it!✨️
The characters are so sweet, the Mmc is a golden retriever introvert, and it was perfect for the Fmc Extroverted Black cat .
The spice was veeeeery slow burn, yet it was cute and lovely, i could've started crying for those two, deepening their bond like that🥹
The other secondary characters were making the story interesting to introduce them in the next books, and i am so excited to read it!
It was a bit healing, and i teared up a bit, making the experience even more magical.

Tulips and love stories are my favorite things so i would totally suggested this for friends to lovers story towards the young adult with spice (but the characters are 18!)🌷🩷

[Echo's Journey Through Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora and William warmed my heart from the very beginning and had me obsessively in love with them. These two are the sweetest angel souls and need to be protected at all costs. They were so freaking adorable, they gave such cozy and warm feels that simply bring a smile to your face. It's like being cuddled up in a blanket or the sweetest of hugs!

These two matched so perfectly, they're both sweethearts that are dealing with their own hardships. This has heavily topics of grief from losing a loved one and mental health rep that I absolutely loved. I could relate to Nora so hard which is one of the many reasons I adored her so much. They're both still little rays of sunshine peaking through the rain.

I loved the slower burn with their love story, it just fit so well for them and I loved experiencing all the small moment of them hanging out with each other as just friends turning to falling and becoming this absolutely beautiful love that is loving, affectionate, special and so pure! I loved all the things about these two!

Nora and William both go through character development that was amazingly done, like every other aspect as well. Their chemistry is over the roof and they definitely surprised me how hot they were together hehe but even in those moments it was so sweet and passionate. You can already feel the deep connection in every moment before but especially on those differently vulnerable moments.

There's nothing I didn't absolutely adore about Falling In A Tulip Field, it was a perfect read for me. Easily one of my fav books of the year!

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

I love how this book addresses mental health struggles and how the characters navigate their daily lives and grief. This book is adorable, and it's one I would have devoured if I were a bit younger. At this point in my life, it's a 3.5 🌟 read for me. However, I absolutely recommend this book to a younger audience, particularly those around the same age as the characters, about 18 or 19 years old. Keep in mind, there are two sex scenes in this book.

I am really happy and thankful to the author for giving me an ARC of this book, and I'm glad I got to read this adorable love story! This is definitely not like any other book I have read before, so if anyone is looking for a different, special and heartfelt read, this is it 🫶

[Mascha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for sending me an ARC. 🌷

This was such a cute story. I loved the cozy vibe it gave off!

The character development of both main characters was so good and I loved the way Nora and William communicated with each other.

I also loved all the HSM references. Who didn't want a Troy Bolton back in the day? 🤭