What do you think?
Rate this book
Fall in Love (Or Don't) : The Billionaire's Son
Nala Barks was liberty and brains. Combine a boy who doesn’t live next door, a villain who costs a fortune, and an unavoidable headache, and you get Adonis Russo. They were a perfect match, complementing each other well, just like up and down, left and right.
When the wealthy college student Adonis hauls transferee Nala into trouble as he and other delinquents of his kind rob a convenience store, friction between them is created even before they get to know each other. Nala’s goals for being at Monarch University are simple—to study journalism and keep the billion-dollar-worth brat Adonis under her surveillance per his parents’ request in exchange for giving her a better, more financially stable life.
Only one person is getting in the way. That is Adonis himself who might just return Nala’s feelings of hatred toward him. Yet, as long as the two are forced to be in one university, the probability of enemies becoming lovers is not vague. If so, she would have to choose between the task that saves her life and the love Adonis' parents forbade. She could lose either her job or Adonis. Even worse, both.
Previously published as Never Fall in Love Again by the same author.
When the wealthy college student Adonis hauls transferee Nala into trouble as he and other delinquents of his kind rob a convenience store, friction between them is created even before they get to know each other. Nala’s goals for being at Monarch University are simple—to study journalism and keep the billion-dollar-worth brat Adonis under her surveillance per his parents’ request in exchange for giving her a better, more financially stable life.
Only one person is getting in the way. That is Adonis himself who might just return Nala’s feelings of hatred toward him. Yet, as long as the two are forced to be in one university, the probability of enemies becoming lovers is not vague. If so, she would have to choose between the task that saves her life and the love Adonis' parents forbade. She could lose either her job or Adonis. Even worse, both.
Previously published as Never Fall in Love Again by the same author.
- GenresRomance
480 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2025
2 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Read
November 17, 2025So I joined the book tour for Fall in Love (or Don’t) and went in totally blind. All I knew was: campus setting, romance, scholar girl + rich boy = chaos. Very teleserye-core. 😂
The story follows Nala, a scholar who gets recruited to “observe” (okay, spy on 😭) Adonis Russo — the wealthy, rebellious, rule-breaking male lead who has that “I cause problems on purpose” energy. Their dynamic is honestly the heart of the book: flirty, messy, and full of “ano ba talaga kayo???” moments.
Reading it actually reminded me of that old K-drama “Cinderella and the Four Knights” — alam mo yung vibe?? Scholar girl + rich heirs + family drama + chaotic boy who’s impossible to manage but somehow endearing. That’s the energy. 😆
Writing-wise, it’s fast-paced, dramatic, feelings-first, and very YA campus romcom — like a mix of diary-style emotions and wattpad-esque kilig scenes. Super youthful and expressive. Very “girl… inhale… exhale.” 😂
BUT!
Full honesty — this isn’t my usual genre. You all know what I normally read (crime, horror, thriller, lahat ng pang-stress haha). So I won’t be rating it. It wouldn’t be fair since I’m not the target audience. I joined the tour to explore something new, and I’m glad I gave it a chance.
If you’re into teleserye-level drama, rich boy x scholar girl trope, campus romance, messy-but-cute chemistry, and maybe K-drama feels…then this might be right up your alley!
The story follows Nala, a scholar who gets recruited to “observe” (okay, spy on 😭) Adonis Russo — the wealthy, rebellious, rule-breaking male lead who has that “I cause problems on purpose” energy. Their dynamic is honestly the heart of the book: flirty, messy, and full of “ano ba talaga kayo???” moments.
Reading it actually reminded me of that old K-drama “Cinderella and the Four Knights” — alam mo yung vibe?? Scholar girl + rich heirs + family drama + chaotic boy who’s impossible to manage but somehow endearing. That’s the energy. 😆
Writing-wise, it’s fast-paced, dramatic, feelings-first, and very YA campus romcom — like a mix of diary-style emotions and wattpad-esque kilig scenes. Super youthful and expressive. Very “girl… inhale… exhale.” 😂
BUT!
Full honesty — this isn’t my usual genre. You all know what I normally read (crime, horror, thriller, lahat ng pang-stress haha). So I won’t be rating it. It wouldn’t be fair since I’m not the target audience. I joined the tour to explore something new, and I’m glad I gave it a chance.
If you’re into teleserye-level drama, rich boy x scholar girl trope, campus romance, messy-but-cute chemistry, and maybe K-drama feels…then this might be right up your alley!
May 20, 2025
The book has a compelling premise: a romance between two university students from different social standings, where one (Nala Barks) takes a job spying on the other (Adonis Russo) to support her family.
Adonis is the son of a billionaire, and we first meet him as brash and careless. Watching him transform into a sweet and caring person as he falls in love with Nala was genuinely heartwarming. His character’s change felt natural, which made the romance feel sincere.
However, the book left me with mixed feelings. Nala, who seemed intended as a strong, independent female lead, often came across as insecure. This isn't inherently negative—feeling out of place in a world of wealth makes sense for her character—but the narrative didn’t always seem aware of this. Instead of exploring her vulnerability and growth, Nala occasionally leaned into arrogance, such as when she threatens a security guard with job loss using her connection to Adonis. If this was meant to be a flaw, it could have been developed further, perhaps as a growth arc in future installments.
The book's descriptions of luxury also sometimes fell short. Rather than simply labeling items as "expensive," the story would have benefited from more vivid, sensory details. For instance, describing the craftsmanship of Nala’s pageant dress or the ambiance of a high-end restaurant would have helped the luxury setting feel more immersive.
Additionally, the story touches on serious themes, such as socioeconomic struggles and a scene involving SH, but these moments could be handled with more grace. When victim-blaming is introduced, it goes largely unchallenged, and the perpetrator faces little consequence. This feels like a missed opportunity for deeper exploration, where characters could have voiced stronger objections or taken a stand to show their bond.
Ultimately, this is a romance novel, and it does deliver its share of sweet, romantic moments. Readers who aren’t looking to overanalyze and just want a dramatic, glamorous love story might still enjoy it.
Adonis is the son of a billionaire, and we first meet him as brash and careless. Watching him transform into a sweet and caring person as he falls in love with Nala was genuinely heartwarming. His character’s change felt natural, which made the romance feel sincere.
However, the book left me with mixed feelings. Nala, who seemed intended as a strong, independent female lead, often came across as insecure. This isn't inherently negative—feeling out of place in a world of wealth makes sense for her character—but the narrative didn’t always seem aware of this. Instead of exploring her vulnerability and growth, Nala occasionally leaned into arrogance, such as when she threatens a security guard with job loss using her connection to Adonis. If this was meant to be a flaw, it could have been developed further, perhaps as a growth arc in future installments.
The book's descriptions of luxury also sometimes fell short. Rather than simply labeling items as "expensive," the story would have benefited from more vivid, sensory details. For instance, describing the craftsmanship of Nala’s pageant dress or the ambiance of a high-end restaurant would have helped the luxury setting feel more immersive.
Additionally, the story touches on serious themes, such as socioeconomic struggles and a scene involving SH, but these moments could be handled with more grace. When victim-blaming is introduced, it goes largely unchallenged, and the perpetrator faces little consequence. This feels like a missed opportunity for deeper exploration, where characters could have voiced stronger objections or taken a stand to show their bond.
Ultimately, this is a romance novel, and it does deliver its share of sweet, romantic moments. Readers who aren’t looking to overanalyze and just want a dramatic, glamorous love story might still enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2025
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
Reading 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 (𝘖𝘳 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵) felt like dipping back into the kind of warm romance books I used to love—light, dramatic in a fun way, and full of classic tropes. The premise is undeniably charming: Nala Barks, smart and headstrong, takes on a secret surveillance job to keep an eye on wealthy “troublemaker” Adonis, and naturally, sparks start flying. It had all the makings of a lively enemies-to-lovers romance. 💖
I appreciated the humor Kish aimed for, and Nala had strong potential as a grounded, capable FMC. The banter between her and Adonis had moments that genuinely worked, and the “secret job” angle added an interesting twist. In many ways, the book reminded me of my younger reading days—back when campus drama, chaotic flirting, and heightened emotions were exactly the kind of thing that thrilled me.
That said, some parts didn't land for me the way they might've years ago. The pacing dragged in certain sections, and I found myself wanting deeper character development to fully root for the romance. I also felt that the story could've been tighter overall. But that's more about my current reading preferences than the book itself.
In fact, I truly believe younger audiences or readers who love campus drama and playful banter will have a great time with this. If I had read this during my high school or early college years, I know I would've eaten it up—the tension, the secret jobs, the mischievous rich boy, the emotional whirlwinds. It carries that youthful energy that many readers will find nostalgic and fun. ☺️
Overall, 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 (𝘖𝘳 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵) has a lot of heart and a premise full of potential. While it didn't fully click with me now, it still brought back memories of the tropes I adored growing up. ✨
Reading 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 (𝘖𝘳 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵) felt like dipping back into the kind of warm romance books I used to love—light, dramatic in a fun way, and full of classic tropes. The premise is undeniably charming: Nala Barks, smart and headstrong, takes on a secret surveillance job to keep an eye on wealthy “troublemaker” Adonis, and naturally, sparks start flying. It had all the makings of a lively enemies-to-lovers romance. 💖
I appreciated the humor Kish aimed for, and Nala had strong potential as a grounded, capable FMC. The banter between her and Adonis had moments that genuinely worked, and the “secret job” angle added an interesting twist. In many ways, the book reminded me of my younger reading days—back when campus drama, chaotic flirting, and heightened emotions were exactly the kind of thing that thrilled me.
That said, some parts didn't land for me the way they might've years ago. The pacing dragged in certain sections, and I found myself wanting deeper character development to fully root for the romance. I also felt that the story could've been tighter overall. But that's more about my current reading preferences than the book itself.
In fact, I truly believe younger audiences or readers who love campus drama and playful banter will have a great time with this. If I had read this during my high school or early college years, I know I would've eaten it up—the tension, the secret jobs, the mischievous rich boy, the emotional whirlwinds. It carries that youthful energy that many readers will find nostalgic and fun. ☺️
Overall, 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 (𝘖𝘳 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵) has a lot of heart and a premise full of potential. While it didn't fully click with me now, it still brought back memories of the tropes I adored growing up. ✨
Read
November 24, 2025Fall in Love (Or Don’t) centers around Nala Barks (yes, Nala like in Lion King), a young aspiring but struggling writer who was hired by billionaires to watch over their troublesome son, Adonis Russo. She will be given everything she could hope for: money, scholarship, and education at Monarch University. How could she say no?
As she enters the world of the affluent, she begins to explore her identity and standing as an outsider in the world of the rich. She begins to learn that she should be thrifty with her trust and generous with her feistiness.
As if social tension was not enough to deal with, Adonis pulls her into his world of gangs, trouble, and charm. They unexpectedly find a friend in each other and will it become more?????? I MEAN I WILL LET YOU FIND OUT but I will say this, it’s not the sunshine ending you think it would be.
I took this novel as a cute fluffy teen/young adult read. It was hard to pick up at first because I had to adjust to the writing but once I was attuned to the narrative writing style, I was able to enjoy the story and just be in it for the ride. There was a sense of nostalgia while I read this – like I was drawn back to years (maybe even a decade) back when I loved reading/watching high school/college romances with a bad boy x good girl and rich x poor dynamic. It’s such a classic Filipino romance trope too! Filipinos know what’s up!
This novel might be a little out of my age but it has a youthful charm that takes me back. ✨
As she enters the world of the affluent, she begins to explore her identity and standing as an outsider in the world of the rich. She begins to learn that she should be thrifty with her trust and generous with her feistiness.
As if social tension was not enough to deal with, Adonis pulls her into his world of gangs, trouble, and charm. They unexpectedly find a friend in each other and will it become more?????? I MEAN I WILL LET YOU FIND OUT but I will say this, it’s not the sunshine ending you think it would be.
I took this novel as a cute fluffy teen/young adult read. It was hard to pick up at first because I had to adjust to the writing but once I was attuned to the narrative writing style, I was able to enjoy the story and just be in it for the ride. There was a sense of nostalgia while I read this – like I was drawn back to years (maybe even a decade) back when I loved reading/watching high school/college romances with a bad boy x good girl and rich x poor dynamic. It’s such a classic Filipino romance trope too! Filipinos know what’s up!
This novel might be a little out of my age but it has a youthful charm that takes me back. ✨
December 21, 2025
Nala Barks transfers to Monarch University to pursue journalism while quietly taking on a secret task from Adonis Russo’s parents: keep an eye on their trouble-making, billionaire heir. Their clashing personalities spark tension from day one, but as they navigate campus life, messy encounters, and unexpected chemistry, the possibility of enemies turning into something more becomes harder to ignore.
The premise intrigued me - bad boy MMC, goody two-shoes FMC, enemies to lovers, college chaos, undercover setup, plus the added layer of social class tension sounded like an exciting YA mix.
I know many readers enjoy fast-paced YA drama, chaotic campus energy, and high-emotion romance.. and this book definitely leans into that vibe. It may appeal especially to younger readers.
While the concept had a lot of promise, the book wasn’t fully aligned with my reading taste, particularly in terms of writing style. I also personally look for character growth and more resolved family dynamics, which I didn’t quite find here. But since this story has a sequel, I’m hopeful the characters grow and that the emotional threads deepen in the next installment.
That said, even if this wasn’t my personal match, I appreciate the heart and creativity behind the story and I believe others might connect with it more.
July 4, 2025
This was an incredibly enjoyable romance read. I thoroughly enjoyed both Nala and Adonis.
Adonis, our MMC, is the son of a billionaire who transforms into a kind and caring person only for Nala. The gradual transformation we witness for her only made me swoon more for him.
Nala, on the other hand, took a job to spy on Adonis to support her family. She’s an incredibly strong and badass female protagonist.
I genuinely loved every aspect of this book.
Adonis, our MMC, is the son of a billionaire who transforms into a kind and caring person only for Nala. The gradual transformation we witness for her only made me swoon more for him.
Nala, on the other hand, took a job to spy on Adonis to support her family. She’s an incredibly strong and badass female protagonist.
I genuinely loved every aspect of this book.
Read
November 26, 2025Full review later on.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews