How to Fall in Love: A Novel

by Dalma Heyn, Jill Smith (Narrator), Richard Marek

Does real love, great love, still exist? Or have online texting, sexting and ghosting ruined romance forever?

Cupid, about to be kicked upstairs for lack of work, has one last chance to prove that love is alive and well. His targets? Two strangers who have sworn off romance.

Eve, a once-famous ballerina now happily running her family farm in Vermont, was too busy dancing to be swept away by passion. Evan, a sought-after San Francisco anthologist, prefers all his passions without strings. When they meet, the sparks are otherworldly….but when their real worlds collide, Cupid admits he’s way out of his depth.

In a luminous narration by celebrated voice actor Jill Smith, How to Fall in A Novel weaves earthly wisdom, celestial mischief, and a touch of famous literature into a magical story about second chances.

Audible Audio

Published September 17, 2025

About the author

Dalma Heyn is a New York Times bestselling author and psychotherapist who has worked for twenty-five years to help women develop the best possible intimate relationships, while still flourishing as individuals. Her books, which explore the loss of self that many women experience within marriage, have been lauded as revolutionary.

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one just didn't fully resonate with me for some reason, and I honestly can't put my finger on why.
I had high hopes for it from the prologue - that was fun, and I already had a Gods-loving friend I was ready to recommend it to, but then... The fun of the Gods sorta faded into the background and it no longer seemed fitting as a recommendation (even if I think said Gods-loving friend would still enjoy the few parts there are...)

It struggled to hold my attention, and I often felt lost in some places that didn't feel entirely relevant to the story in general (though I think I've grasped enough to know it was largely backstory, I don't think it always needed to go as in depth as it did).
But even after restarting it *3* times, I'm still willing to give it another go after a breather just to see if it's a me/timing issue.

I did enjoy Eve's farm - that's not really something I've seen before in books, and it's something I can vaguely relate to, having family and friends who also have such farms and have experienced such storms.
There's definitely redeeming qualities, and I'm hoping some time away before another attempt will have it sit better next time.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Fall in Love: A Novel by Dalma Heyn, Richard Marek
Starts with dedication page then the story.
He contemplates his next story and the research he plans to travel to Germany and learn about cars.
He gets a packet in the mail and calls the publisher and is informed the manuscript, the letters he will compile into a book as the owman writing it has just died.
The company needs her notarity to keep the customers happy.
Love the maple industry and how Evan seeks out Cara and they fall for one another til the Christmas diaster ...
He's back in CA and gets a note from an ex Ruth that she's dying and needs a place to stay while in the city, he will allow her at his place.
He's not heard from Cara and is drinking heavily.
Story also follows Cara as she's recuperating in the hospital. Miracles do happen.
Like story line but not celestial intervention.
Received this review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.

[James Uscroft · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'd really been enjoying this novel, because it truly seemed to be a cut above the endless stream of "Hallmark Christmas Movie" tropes, cliches and general slop which infests the romance genre like a plague. Even the ludicrous framing device of Cupid/Eros being challenged to bring two lovers together in order to keep his job served to make the absurd contrivances feel slightly less absurd. But then, the inevitable sabotage at the end of the second act was so cliched, so predictable and so ridiculously spiteful that all of my goodwill was incinerated; not least because it was so completely unnecessary! But of course, the law of romance fiction demands under penalty of death that there must be a massive secret, lie or misunderstanding which appears to destroy the relationship, simply to make the final part of the story more dramatic. A trope which I find deeply insulting, because we already know how the story's going to end. So ultimately, the only reason why I finished this tripe was that it was almost over anyway.