Why romance readers will love (and hate) Netflix’s Falling Inn Love

Look, I’m generally not a fan of cheesy rom com movies. I’ve never been able to watch a Hallmark movie all the way through. But I’ve generally had better luck with Netflix movies. I mean, I did enjoy The Kissing Booth, based on the book by Beth Reekles, and I ADORED To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, based on the book by Jenny Han. So when I saw the promo for Falling Inn Love, I figured Netflix had earned the benefit of my doubt. (If I’m being honest, though, if I’d seen the premise on a Hallmark movie, I would’ve run the other way, screaming. But I digress...)

Now, I’d love to say that everything about this movie was sunshine, roses, and unicorns pooping rainbows, but I won’t lie to y’all. There was some cringe-worthy, super-cheesy stuff. I’ll tell you this, though...it’s still worth watching. And that’s why I’m breaking down the stuff you’ll love (and hate) about this movie. You’re welcome.

Plot overview: When city girl Gabriela (Christina Milian) spontaneously enters a contest and wins a rustic New Zealand inn, she teams up with bighearted contractor Jake Taylor (Adam Demos) to fix and flip it.

Reason you’ll love it #1: Christina Milian

It has to be said, this girl is ridiculously adorable. And after an initial bumpy start where she doesn’t throat-punch the dude who orders her a raw kale salad and pushes bread away from her at a restaurant, and when she goes out of her way to do a few stupid things just to show Jake how independent she is, Gabriela is a fun, quirky, likeable character. I have to think part of why she’s so likeable and relatable is Christina Milian’s natural magnetism. Whatever the case may be, she made me smile. 

And if you love fun, quirky, likeable characters in rom com novels, you should consider these:

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Reason you’ll hate it #1: The title

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Seriously? The title is “Falling Inn Love”, and it’s about a woman who falls in love while renovating an inn? It’s so...on-the-nose. And punny. No...just no.

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Reason you’ll love it #2: Adam Demos

I’ve heard Twitter rumblings about his acting ability, but to be honest, this guy could read the phone book to me (in THAT accent with THAT face and THOSE abs) and I’ve be riveted. RIVETED, I tell you. But beyond the actor’s crazy hotness, Jake is a great character, too. He’s sweet, he’s good to his friends, he fixes stuff, he encourages Gabriela to eat more than salad (this can’t be stressed enough, especially after the douchebag in the beginning of the movie took the bread from her. If I learned anything from the great Jennifer Crusie it’s that you’re supposed to dump the dude who doesn’t let you eat carbs and marry the dude who tells you to eat whatever the eff you want. The end) ... he’s basically a cinnamon roll hero with a hot accent who is good with his hands. That’s 3 of my all-time favorite romance tropes right there (Note: click on the links above for our list of book recommendations for each of those tropes. You won't be sorry).

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Reason you’ll hate it #2: Cliches

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Yeah, there are cliches here. Stuff that romance critics would sneer at. I was able to overlook it all because the pluses outweigh the minuses in my opinion, but if I’m being honest, readers who hate these cliches might be triggered during certain parts of the movie:

1. She gives her scumbag boyfriend an ultimatum, saying “more commitment, or it’s over,” completely overlooking the fact that the guy shouldn’t be allowed to walk her dog, let alone move into her house. Smart, beautiful, successful women making horrific choices in men. Probably my least favorite romance trope EVER.
2. The whole I’ve-lost-my-job-and-my-boyfriend-so-I’ll-uproot-my-life-and-do-something-insane-to-get-a-fresh-start thing is...a bit overdone. I know I’ve certainly seen it a few—or a few hundred thousand—times.
3. She finds love letters in the wall, y’all. Old time-y love letters that make her feel all the feels and realize there’s more to life than work. 

At one point, Jake saves Gabriela from a fall—and of COURSE he breaks her fall, and they end up nose-to-nose, with her on top of him, his mouth inches away from hers. (OK...confession time...yes, this is a cliche. But it’s a cliche I actually adore. It makes me happy whenever I see it, even as I roll my eyes and insist it’d never happen that way in real life. Whatever. It’s adorable. And I’m going to go back and add it to my list of cliches I love, because no one is the boss of me.) Just curious though, do guys practice catching girls in case they fall? I mean, if you watch rom coms, it seems to happen a lot and men are always ready for it. They can't all just be good at it naturally, right? If that's the case, keep up the work, guys. We appreciate it.

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Reason you’ll love it AND hate it: The premise

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She drunkenly enters an online contest to win an inn in New Zealand, y’all. THEN SHE GOES THERE without doing any research on the place. That is batshit crazy. I actually kind of love batshit crazy, though. What can I say? It’s fun. #SorryNotSorry

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Reason you’ll love it #3: The scenery

Jake takes Gabriela hiking at one point, and they see the most gorgeous scenery that will make you immediately want to hop on a plane and head to New Zealand. It’s just breathtaking. As is the inn when it’s complete. I’m a huge HGTV fan, and the before and afters of the remodel are almost pornographic in their beauty (much like the movie’s star, Adam Demos. Ahem. But I digress…). 

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Reason you’ll love it #4: The secondary characters...and Gilbert

The secondary cast of characters are your typical lot of small-town romance standards, but they’re so adorable and lovable that I don’t even care that they’re a little cliched. And Gilbert is fabulous. All movies should have a wily goat in them. That is all. 

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So, long-story-short, I think this one’s worth watching for fans of light-hearted, heart-warming rom coms. (Or, for fans of hot shirtless guys who fix stuff and have unbearably sexy accents. Whatever floats your boat, you know?)

What about y’all? Did you watch it? What did you think? Let’s discuss!