Falling by Christina Lauren

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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 Timesbestselling 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.

A Curse, a Spark, and a Halloween Night

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋🙂☺️😎😘
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

🛡️ Audiobook Review: Falling (Scared Sexy Collection)

Author: Christina Lauren
Genre: Paranormal Romance Novella
Narrator: Marli Watson and Nicholas Boulton

Characters and Plot

Cat would rather be anywhere else than at a Halloween party thrown by Jake’s best friend — which is saying something, considering Jake is the boyfriend she’s planning to break up with imminently. Jake means well, but he’s never really seen her. He’s all sports, surface‑level chatter, and obliviousness, while Cat has spent her New York years buried in schoolwork with very few people she genuinely connects with. Jake was convenient companionship, not a soulmate.

The moment they arrive, Jake promptly hands Cat off to a random girl, leaving her adrift in a party she didn’t want to attend. Enter Brigan — who notices Cat the second she walks in. There’s something about her spark, her quiet fire, that pulls him in. Brigan is an immortal cursed to remain twenty‑five forever, a creature who feeds on the energy of spirited women. He followed the partygoers inside looking for someone to feed from, yet he keeps turning down every willing woman who approaches him. He’s lonely, restless, and unexpectedly captivated by Cat — especially when she seems immune to the magic he uses so effortlessly on others.

Their connection is immediate, dangerous, and strangely intimate, even before either of them understands why.

Highlights

The strongest character development in the series so far.
• This is my third novella in the series, and it’s the first one that really delivers satisfying background on both leads. The earlier installments felt thinner in comparison, so this one was a welcome shift.
Cat and Brigan’s dynamic is electric.
• I loved the tension between her grounded bravery and his dangerous allure. Brigan feels genuinely threatening in a way that adds excitement rather than fear, and Cat’s lack of intimidation — even once she realizes he’s not human — makes their chemistry pop.
Brigan’s backstory is surprisingly layered.
• His curse, his loneliness, and the nuances of his supernatural nature make him stand out from the usual paranormal archetypes. He’s not just another brooding immortal; he’s something stranger and more compelling.

Low Points

It’s a novella… and it feels like one.
• The story is engaging, but it easily could have supported a full‑length novel. I wanted more time with Cat and Brigan — more banter, more danger, more emotional depth. Their initial meeting is so strong that it almost hurts to leave them so soon

Narration

The audiobook uses a dual‑POV structure with dual narration by Marli Watson and Nicholas Boulton. Marli’s voice is soft, feminine, and wonderfully pleasant — a great match for Cat’s introspective nature. Nicholas Boulton brings a deep, resonant British accent that fits Brigan perfectly. Given Brigan’s centuries‑long existence, the European tone feels natural and adds an extra layer of mystique. Together, the narrators elevate the story and make the characters feel even more distinct.

Final Assessment

This novella is easily one of the strongest entries in the series so far. It blends danger, longing, and supernatural intrigue with a pair of characters who feel genuinely well‑matched. While the short length left me wanting more time with Cat and Brigan, the story delivers enough tension and emotional texture to make the journey worthwhile. The narration enhances the experience beautifully, making this a quick but satisfying paranormal escape. If the author ever expands this pairing into a full novel, I’d be first in line.

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