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One darkly seductive immortal’s powers of persuasion have worked flawlessly for nine centuries—until he meets the one woman who can resist him—in a wickedly hot short story by New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren.

Cat should be afraid of Brigan—the devastatingly gorgeous stranger at a Halloween party whose very presence makes everyone else fall at his feet. But while his supernatural allure drives others to mindless obsession, Cat somehow keeps her wits…even as she surrenders to temptation. When this cursed being realizes she alone can see his true nature, one night of searing passion could break a centuries-old spell—or doom them both.

Christina Lauren’s Falling is part of Scared Sexy, a deliciously dark collection of Halloween romance where things that go bump in the night might just steal your heart. These seductive stand-alone stories blend chills and heat in the perfect Halloween treat—each designed to be devoured in one sitting.

56 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 23, 2025

3202 people are currently reading
8689 people want to read

About the author

Christina Lauren

89 books98.6k followers
Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced twenty New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 30+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)


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5 stars
6,062 (14%)
4 stars
11,449 (27%)
3 stars
16,301 (39%)
2 stars
6,259 (15%)
1 star
1,179 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,118 reviews
Profile Image for Clace .
874 reviews2,994 followers
October 13, 2025
It's my fault for reading a Christina Lauren book and expecting it to be good
Profile Image for Ana.
138 reviews470 followers
October 4, 2025
2.5 ⭐

That ending was, quite honestly, rude.. Just as I was beginning to vibe with the story, it ended.. Just like that.. There's nothing I hate more than an abrupt ending, it makes me so mad..

Brigan is a Fallen, alive for nine centuries, feeding on pleasure, which was definitely a strange choice, but oh well. People fall at his feet, but not her. Catalina is immune, but she's still intrigued..
I liked the spicy scene, but the pub scene was my favourite. I wish it was longer though, we were really starting to feel their connection there. It's the scene I enjoyed the most and I just knew Twilight was going to be mentioned..
But, again, a proper ending would've been appreciated, please and thank you. It could've been such a sweet scene, instead it was disappointing..

I feel like I'm repeating myself over and over again, but why is everything so rushed. Two more chapters aren't going to affect this being a novella, but would've gone a long way into making this a much more enjoyable experience than it was!!!
Profile Image for rei ‧₊˚✩彡.
192 reviews581 followers
October 17, 2025
╰┈➤ 2 stars!

i wouldn’t be tempted too if i was called “little lamb” a bajillion times 💀

・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・

pre-read:

i’m really looking forward to this because i love the heart on the cover, but all the reviews are scaring me! 🥲
Profile Image for Sonia.
1,304 reviews2,077 followers
October 1, 2025
what even was that?!?

Like seriously. What?!? It’s been a few years since I’ve read a Christina Lauren book, and by the looks of it, I’m not missing out on much 😐.

I hope this isn’t how their books are now, because this was sooooo DISAPPOINTING 😒.

The ending????

WHAT. THE. FFF####€€€KKKK?!? 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

Am I supposed to write the ending??? 🤬🤬🤬
Do I decide it’s like a “choose your own adventure but make it an ending” kind of book??!?!

It’s NOT even an HFN!!!

I’ve read four of the novellas from this collection and this is, by far, the WORST one!

I rarely give low ratings, but I can’t give this anything higher than a 1.5 stars 🤷🏻‍♀️

Cat goes to a Halloween party with her terrible boyfriend when she thinks she feels/sees someone… and this someone is dressed as an angel, Brigan. Cat has had her fair share of experiences before, but she’s over her current boyfriend.

And she ends things with him through text (which he likes back 🤣).

Brigan has been alive for 9 centuries and basically uses women to get his energy/sustenance and for sex 😐, which is how he’s always looking like he’s 25. He has a special power of “allure”
BARFFFF 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

But it all changes for him when he can’t get Cat to listen to him, and that’s when he realizes that she’s not like all the other women.

Now, I could’ve appreciated this more if we actually had some proper answers with a proper ending, but we didn’t, so I can’t 🤷🏻‍♀️

What I could’ve liked if this would’ve ended better:
—that Cat has experience 👏🏻
—that he’s an angel and has wings 👀
— that Cat is literally someone completely different to Brigan (unlike all the other ones he’s been with)
—mates??? Maybe!?!??
—Brigan’s background could’ve been interesting
—the 🔥. We actually get one scene. Better than none

THATS IT!!!! ^^^ 😒😐

What I HAAAAATED/needed more of:
—THE F’ING ENDING!!! 🤬 what in the HHHHH was that?!?!?

—so, Cat is the mate he’s been looking for this entire time- like a reincarnation of his murdered mate?!? Meanwhile, he’s f ing females left and right 🤬
What?!? How is this romantic?!?! Ewww just noooo!!!

—HFN??? It feels like an ONS with a twist and then bam
It ends 😵‍💫

—nothing says seeeeexy than a male who can never keep it in his pants 😵‍💫🤬🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴
Yes. I don’t give any Fs that he needs it to stay alive
PICK A DIFFERENT TALENT 😐
If I wanted to read about a manhooooar, then I’d just read an mc book 😐

—protection? Come on Cat!!! Who knows what kind of diseases Brigan is carrying 😵‍💫 (sure. He’s not human so probably none, but it’s the principle of it all 😐😒)

—all the references to his previous lovers or what he’s done with other women 😒

—did I mention the ending?!?! Cause it was F’ING TERRRRRIBLE

Overall, I’m so glad this was free to read and listen to in KU and that I was making dinner while I had this playing, cause I would’ve been even MORE upset otherwise

At least my dinner was delicious 👏🏻 unlike this book 😐

⚠️safety squad⚠️
-it’s stupid 😐 (lol)
-no cheating*/sharing/owd/or real omd
-the h is with OM at the beginning of the book but then she ends it with a text
-the H is basically a manwhore who has to sleep around to get energy
-the h is experienced
-apparently, the h is like his dead mate but reincarnated?!
-NOOOO EPILOGUE OR AN HFN ENDING 😐
Profile Image for ariyel 𝄢.
276 reviews380 followers
November 1, 2025
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ── ⋆˙⟡ ‎ ‎ 1.5 stars! ★

౨౿ my thoughts. ⟢ so the reviews were right… i kinda hated this. it was so short and still managed to feel like nothing happened. the fmc had no survival instincts and the mmc was somehow the most boring immortal ever written. i don’t even think this would’ve been better as a full length because the setup just wasn’t interesting to begin with. i was so insanely bored the entire time. this did not make me wanna read another christina lauren book.

౨౿ pre-read. ⟢ i’ve only read one christina lauren book before and liked it, but i’ve seen the reviews for this one and yeaahh… not feeling super confident.


𓏲 ⟡ scared sexy ⊹◞
⌗﹒ 01 hot for slayer — 5
⌗﹒ 02 falling — 1.5
⌗﹒ 03 spicy little curses — ??
⌗﹒ 04 space vampire — ??
⌗﹒ 05 beautiful nightmare — ??
⌗﹒ 06 my boyfriends are all monsters — ??
Profile Image for naz .
443 reviews879 followers
October 16, 2025
Another short novella means another short review 😅

tbh, this one didn't hit as much as I wanted it to. I felt the premise of the story was just so meh. It all happened in like almost 24 hours? Or at least that's how it felt....

The audiobook didn't help 😩 The narrator's voice… how is he supposed to be a cursed being that’s forever 25, but the voice sounds hella OLD? (A nice voice, don’t get me wrong, but not for a 25 year old!) It gave me the ick 🙃!!!

The characters’ chemistry also wasn’t as smooth compared to other novellas I’ve read, so overall this one felt a bit messy as an audiobook listener 🎧 sorryyy :(
Profile Image for Casey Reads 🌸.
433 reviews414 followers
September 28, 2025
This one started out weird & Christina Lauren is so hit or miss for me, so I almost stopped reading. But the 2nd half of it was really good once everything was explained. It ended up being a really good story in my opinion. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I will leave it at that. 🖤
Profile Image for Alya.
444 reviews139 followers
October 3, 2025
3.5⭐️ Thoughts
This one didn't quite hit the five star mark because I couldn't connect to the characters- you could say I was reading for the storyline -- still thoroughly enjoyable, if you enjoy supernatural elements and a no brainer feel kinda read I think you'll enjoy this, it was cute and fun with an abrupt ending -- if you loved twilight back in the day like myself then this is another bonus as this story does give twilight feels -- ofc my then obsession has worn off now🤣 (no judgement to anyway who still feels the same )

Tropes
▪︎ Cursed MMC
▪︎ Supernatural elements
▪︎ Strangers to lovers


Plot Summary
At a Halloween party, Cat meets Brigan—a dangerously captivating stranger whose charm leaves everyone else spellbound. Unlike the crowd under his supernatural thrall, Cat manages to stay clearheaded, though she can’t resist the pull between them. When Brigan discovers that she’s the only one who can perceive his real identity, their irresistible night together could either shatter a curse that has haunted him for centuries—or seal both their fates forever.

My Bookstagram
Profile Image for Christy.
4,544 reviews35.9k followers
September 30, 2025
2.5 stars

I love Christina Lauren, but this was unfortunately 'meh' for me.
Profile Image for Melanie (meltotheany).
1,196 reviews102k followers
September 21, 2025
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

the collection on amazon
the collection on goodreads

cat is attending a halloween party in new york, with her soon to be ex-boyfriend. brigan is an immortal being, who was cursed by a sorceress many years ago, who is also attending this random party, and instantly is intrigued by cat in her lamb costume lol. and one break up text in a bathroom later, these two have what they think will be a one night stand. but then a game of five questions, with a lot of past trauma, and a couple twilight references happens, and maybe their paths were fated to cross again. this just was not my favorite, and i didn’t feel anything for the characters, and the set up was just very wild because you have such few pages in a short story. (if you’re looking for a sexy 120 page story that’s set at a halloween party, i really highly recommend the dare (losers, #0.5) by harley laroux! )

trigger + content warnings: mind control persuasion magic (that might not work 100% on the mc, idk >.<), drinking, talk of loss of loved ones (and partner) in past, brief talk of suicide attempts as an immortal in past, one sentence mention of a car crash in past

Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood ★★★
Falling by Christina Lauren ★★
Spicy Little Curses by J.T. Geissinger ★★
Space Vampire by Ruby Dixon ★★★★
Beautiful Nightmare by Katee Robert ★★★
My Boyfriends Are All Monsters by Kimberly Lemming ★★★★

blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | substack

Autoboyography ★★★★★
The Unhoneymooners ★★★★
Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating ★★★
My Favorite Half-Night Stand ★★
Roomies ★★★★
Twice in a Blue Moon ★★
Beautiful Bastard ★★
Profile Image for Alina ♡.
231 reviews125 followers
October 2, 2025
☆☆☆

Falling by Christina Lauren was a quick and easy read, but not one that left a lasting impression. The premise had potential, but the execution felt rushed and a bit all over the place. The plot was light—borderline nonexistent at times and while some moments were charming, they didn’t add up to much overall.

It’s been over 15 years since I last read anything about fallen angels, and unfortunately, this wasn’t the comeback I was hoping for. The supernatural element felt more like a backdrop than a fully developed part of the story. Everything moved so fast that I didn’t feel connected to the characters or their journey, and it left me wondering what the point of it all really was.

If you're looking for something low-effort and mildly entertaining, this might work for you. For me, it just didn’t stick and I’m not sure I’ll be picking up another book by this author anytime soon.
Profile Image for Jill (readinginpjs).
685 reviews217 followers
September 18, 2025
Ugh this was just so disappointing 😭
I LOVE Christina Lauren, they’re one of my fav author-duos & I generally adore their books.

This really didn’t feel like they wrote it at all.
It was lacking all their cuteness & humor that I love 😢

I realized halfway through I wasn’t even listening and had to start over 🙃
it was fine, but didn’t really capture my attention.

🎧 audiobook thoughts:
Marli Watson & Nicholas Boulton did a great job with the characters, I loved Nicholas' accent.

Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
______
⋆*・゚:⋆*・゚➳❥ pre-read

going in blind, I'll read ANYTHING Christina Lauren writes!

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing for the ALC
_________
eeeee didn’t think we were getting anything new from Christina Lauren this year - this is SO EXCITING!! 😍
Profile Image for Jen ♥.
1,753 reviews967 followers
Read
September 24, 2025
Not sure what that was, or if I'm just too dumb to understand what happened here.

Brigan was like a fallen angel who was cursed to roam alone until his beloved (his wife) found him again?? So I'm not sure if I get it correctly, but I think Cat is the reincarnation of his wife. Ugh, what was that ending anyway??

Anyway, he has been alive for centuries and has been both given and cursed with the ability to allure women. He used sex both as a means of sustenance and as a way to experience emotions. For something so short, this novella surely made me feel icky about him.

Also, this happens in a span of a few hours. Cat broke up with her ex through text. She and Brigan met at a Halloween party and then had sex. They decided to have some drinks because, for some reason, she felt he was different. Something happened to him, and he realized that she's his love, and his heart beats again, then ending.

Like I said, I didn't understand what happened here. 🫠
Profile Image for Giulia ❀.
92 reviews11 followers
December 24, 2025
The last sentence is cute. That’s the only sentence of this novella that I really enjoyed though. A novella whose parents are Twilight and Fallen
Profile Image for Luisa.
153 reviews3 followers
September 27, 2025
ARE YOU INSANE????????? i get why people didn't like it, i'm frustrated as well BUT THIS WAS GOOD.

the ending will haunt me forever i fear
Profile Image for SJARR ✨.
314 reviews46 followers
October 20, 2025
I fear I will obsess over every last paranormal romance that I read. (Highly probable) (God forbid a girl has interests)

I kinda love this, and I’m not 100% sure I know why.
Perhaps, it is giving me vampire vibes. Though, Brigan isn’t a vampire. Those same type of powers and dark moodiness and atmosphere is definitely still there.

I also think the writing style is perfect.
This is the first thing I’ve read by Christina Lauren, but if all of their work is like this- I think i get the hype.
There is something really smooth and captivating about the way that it's written, which totally elevated things for me.

Basically, this was fire.
Profile Image for Jonetta.
2,595 reviews1,328 followers
October 2, 2025
the setup…
Cat goes to a Halloween party with her loser boyfriend Jake who quickly leaves her own once they arrive. A strangely alluring man notices her and compels Cat to come to him but she barely gives him a glance. See, Brigan is a fallen immortal who has been around for nine centuries and this is the first time his power of allure hasn’t worked on a human. But strangely, she can hear his voice. Both are curious about what’s going on and deeply attracted to each other.

the heart of the story…
When Cat and Brigan engage, their banter is fun, witty and sexy. Both feel an elusive attraction to each other beyond the physical, though that was inevitable. The cursed immortal has never felt this way since the death of his humanity.

the narration…
Marli Watson’s silk and sexy tone combined with Nicholas Broughton’s low and vibrating voice captivated me from the first page! This story is best served up on audio because this team nailed it.

the bottom line…
I had a good time with this one as both characters were nicely developed, especially for a short story and the witty dialogue kept me guessing. The ending has a very nice payoff. Scared sexy indeed!

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy of the entire collection. All opinions are my own.)
Profile Image for ˚₊꒰ა Jii ໒꒱₊˚ (catching up).
164 reviews65 followers
November 2, 2025
˙₊➴ ꒰ 1-star★ ꒱ ꒷⊹࣪˖

❝ What kind of idiot brought the most beautiful girl to a tawdry, cacophonous party like this and deserted her? If only he knew there were monsters out there, waiting for their turn. ❞


‧˚ ꒰ 🪽 ꒱ story ₊˚⋆

A Halloween one-night stand full of endless who, what, where, why, how, and more questions and more questions.



╴╴⊹ ꮺ˚ Scared Sexy Collection 🎃 ╴⊹˚ ╴╴
⟢ ♯01 ∼ hot for slayer 🦇꒰ 3.5✩
⟢ ♯02 ∼ falling 🪽꒰ 1✩
⟢ ♯03 ∼ spicy little curses 🪦꒰ 2✩
⟢ ♯04 ∼ space vampire 🪐꒰ 2✩
⟢ ♯05 ∼ beautiful nightmare 💭꒰ 1.5✩
⟢ ♯06 ∼ my boyfriends are monsters 🪙꒰ 1✩
╴─ ⟢・⸝⸝ Overall rating ~ 1.83 stars ☆.ᐟ ─ ╴

˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆

Enjoyed the first one sooo imma read the rest since im here for the vibes these novellas may bring!🩶
Profile Image for Meags.
2,479 reviews694 followers
October 3, 2025
3.5 Stars

A cursed immortal with powers of persuasion meets his match at a random Halloween house party, when he connects with a lonely twenty-something who unfathomably manages to counteract his mystical allure to see the real man within.

There’s some insta-love vibes and some quickly transpiring hanky panky, with the whole thing spanning a sparse few hours one Halloween night. Naturally, I was pleased to get an actually spicy on-page sex scene from CLo here, which is something that’s been noticeably lacking in many of the duos more recent romances, much to my smutty despair.

Honestly, this wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be, with all those negative ratings and reviews popping up. It was probably half the length it needed to be to feel fully realised and that ending was abrupt as hell, but for the most part I had a nice time reading this sexy paranormal short story, so no regrets on my end.
Profile Image for Jessica .
2,637 reviews16k followers
September 30, 2025
2.5 stars

This was just too short and didn't give me the paranormal romance that it promised! They basically just meet at a party and hook up and that's about it.
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