This was a sweet and a little steamy love story. There were a few interesting themes brought up and I appreciated how the author handled them. The beginning was a bit confusing but then I rolled with the story and it got easier. Cute romance even if I don't meddle much in the country music scene.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

⭐️ 4/5
🌶️ 3/5

This was one of my very first gifted books from a publisher, and I’ve finally had the chance to read it! Thank you @youhadmeathea for the gifted copy!

Erin Hahn has such a way of writing romance. Her characters are so relatable and their problems so REAL. You can’t help but get completely drawn in. I absolutely loved BUILT TO LAST and CATCH AND KEEP and HIGHLY recommend you check out this series!

I loved the instigator of Lorelai and Huck’s relationship being her ex-fiancé and his ex-bandmate. It tied their stories together so well and made this second chance romance all the more complicated. And dear lord, Drake drove me absolutely crazy! I hate doing it, but I was rooting for a VERY public downfall. Every celebrity romance needs one, right?

The friendship between Lorelai and Huck was everything! I’m usually not a friends to lovers… lover, but this worked out so well! The mutual pining even after years apart! The “let’s just do it one more time to get it out of our system”! 😍😍😍 The support they provided each other through their music and smutty poetry! Swooooooon! I really enjoyed every moment.

Though I adored the romance, there were a couple of things I wanted more of. For one - Arlo! He was such an amazing side character, I just wanted to see more of him. Get to know him a little deeper! Seeing so much of Shelby and Maren, the FMCs of the other two books in this series, made me feel like we missed out on getting to know Arlo better… I also wanted more from the whole debacle with what’s his face (Drake). For me, it wrapped up way too easily. I wanted to see that man child draaaagged… 🤪 Knowing he got what was coming should be enough… I guess…

Thank you again to St. Martin’s Press for the free copy of this book! I’m so happy that I discovered this series and Erin Hahn as an author! I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I didn’t realize that this book was connected to Built to Last & Catch and Keep, but once I was reading Catch and Keep (and loving it), I knew I needed to go back and read this one immediately – so I did. I loved the country music and Nashville vibes - there were moments I felt like I was also walking along Broadway hearing live music from the different bars. Lorelai and Craig had such a natural, untamed connection that I think it scared them away after their one night together. Their friendship always came first, but it was clear they were being fools denying their feelings once they reunited to produce music together again. This had a lot of back and forth, will they or won’t they, with some miscommunication woven in… but it also made their relationship feel authentic as they dealt with professional and personal hurdles to get to their HEA.

Friends Don’t Fall in Love is another connected standalone adult romance from Erin Hahn, where we get Lorelai’s story. For those who have read these books in release order, Lorelai is recognized as one of the friends from Built to Last. We also get to meet Craig, who goes by Huck, one of Lorelai’s friends and a former bandmate of her former fiancé as the love interest.

This story has all the best vibes of second chance romance with the charming backdrop of songwriting and musical performance. The slow burn and the development of the relationship between the characters was perfect pacing, and I loved watching the relationship develop, even as they tried to convince themselves that this wasn’t something serious. The steamy moments complement the plot and character development perfectly.

Friends Don't Fall in Love by Erin Hahn is a total gem! This friends-to-lovers romance set in the heart of Nashville's country music scene is full of tension, heart, and chemistry that kept me hooked from start to finish. Lorelei was on top of the world—huge success in the country music industry and a fiancé who was just as talented. But when she spontaneously sang a divisive song, everything came crashing down. She was blacklisted, and her fiancé chose his career over her, leaving her to pick up the pieces. Fast forward five years and Lorelei's considering a comeback. She reaches out to her old friend Craig, her ex-fiancé's former co-writer, who now has his own indie label. The tension between these two is palpable, but can they turn their friendship into something more without losing everything they've worked for? I immediately fell for Lorelei. She's strong and independent, and I loved how she handled everything life threw at her. Craig? It took me a little while to fully warm up to him, but once I did, I was ALL in. His quiet affection for Lorelei completely won me over. The found-family aspect of this book was another highlight. Lorelei's friends brought so much joy to the story with their hilarious conversations and texts. Those moments were some of my absolute favorites! And then there were the steamy scenes... after all that slow-burn tension, those moments were everything I wanted and more. If you're into slow-burn romances with lots of chemistry, a bit of country music, and the sweetest payoff, Friends Don't Fall in Love is a must-read!

I enjoyed the story. While I get the politics of it and fully stand by it, I just wish it wasn't in the book as much as it was. Despite that, I truly enjoyed the plot, characters and the spicy scenes.

Erin Hahn is one of my favorite romance authors and this one is no exception. I love the friends to lovers trope and she slayed it with this one. I felt their chemistry and loved the banter between our MCs. It was a lesson in tension and the friends part didn't drag on too long. And I LOVED being in the country music world even though I don't love country music.

I struggle with friends to lovers sometimes and so this one was just fine to me. Pretty surface level but cute enough

Thank you to @netgalley @smpromance and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Erin Hahn's "Friends Don't Fall in Love" is a delightful and sensual romance that seamlessly blends the allure of the country music scene with the cherished tropes of friends-to-lovers and second chances.

Lorelai's journey, from ostracized musician to determined comeback artist, is compelling, and her dynamic with Huck, her devoted best friend and producer, is the heart of the story. Hahn masterfully portrays their years of deep-rooted trust and unspoken affection, allowing their burgeoning romance to unfold with genuine warmth. Huck's unwavering support and palpable adoration for Lorelai are incredibly endearing, making him a quintessential book boyfriend.

Beyond the central romance, the narrative is rich with emotional layers, revealing the complex history that binds Lorelai and Huck. While the initial time jumps were slightly disorienting, the flashbacks ultimately added valuable context to their evolving relationship. Hahn's writing is both accessible and emotionally resonant, making "Friends Don't Fall in Love" a captivating and satisfying read.

4 stars

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This was such a romantic, well-developed, gorgeous new romance from Hahn. I absolutely adored watching this friends-to-lovers arc, and the themes were resonant and complex as always. I cannot wait for Hahn's next!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley!

**Updated Review**

Years after watching her career and personal life implode, singer Lorelai Jones is being given a second chance. Songwriter-turned-producer Craig Boseman, who has long held feelings for Lorelai, wants to help her succeed. The pair decide to team up to rebuild both of their careers.

Friends Don’t Fall in Love is the follow-up story to Built to Last. I’m not sure why these aren’t listed as a series but it can be read as a stand-alone. This contemporary romance does contain open-door content.

This author always does such a fantastic job portraying what could be considered more sensitive topics in realistic and thought provoking ways. I appreciate her consistently having such strong, relatable FMCs. One thing I love about the friends to more trope is the chemistry. Craig and Lorelai already know each other so well so the inevitable progression of their relationship doesn’t seem forced or too quick.

I have yet to read a book by Erin Hahn that I did not enjoy and I look forward to seeing what she has next for her readers.

I don't really know how to rate this book. I liked the premise centered around country music, but I didn't really get the emotional connection between the two characters (I honestly think the author made it too spicy, and it felt like the connection was all physical). It was well written though, and I did like the characters.

*Friends Don't Fall in Love* by Erin Hahn delivers a charming, friends-to-lovers romance that is both heartwarming and relatable. The chemistry between the protagonists is natural, and the banter between them is enjoyable, making their transition from friends to something more a fun journey to follow. Hahn’s writing is easy to read, and the pacing of the romance is steady and satisfying.

However, the story often feels predictable, with familiar tropes and conflicts that are resolved a bit too quickly. While the characters are likable, they sometimes lack depth, and the emotional stakes don't always feel as high as they could be. There are moments that tug at the heartstrings, but they don’t quite pack the punch that fans of the genre might expect. Overall, it's an enjoyable, feel-good read that will likely appeal to fans of lighthearted romance, though it doesn’t offer much new or unexpected.

I really enjoyed this book. A solid follow-up to the previous book in the series. I personally love a friends to lovers story, especially when they've been right in front of each other the whole time.

Did not finish, do not feel like I can give an honest review of the plot, characters and story, There was nothing that turned me off from the book, I was just overwhelmed at the time and couldn't give my attention to reviewing the book in time.

This was packed with drama, love and swoon worthy moments (plus tropes I don't get to experience often enough). If you're looking for a friends to lovers, fast paced read then i'd definitely recommend this one.

3.75/5 ⭐

Sweet storyline about two friends who realize they're perfect for each other. Also includes the one-night-stand trope which I swoooon over, because I know it's not really just going to be for one night! The poetry in here is adorable and the fact that the MMC falls hard AND fast, count me in! But, the book moved veeeery slow. So much backstory, yet it was supposed to be focused on present day which is difficult to grasp for me! I will also say that I cannot stand a miscommunication trope and this book also proved that, too. Just tell her/him already!!! I will say the spice was spicing and the writing was well done and descriptive, which I appreciate. Thanks for the opportunity to read!

REVIEW: Friends Don't Fall in Love

I'm torn about my feelings about Friends Don't Fall in Love. I'm giving it a three-star rating mostly because I was frustrated with the characters' behavior.

I usually love friends-to-lovers and second-chance romances, but this one didn't quite hit the mark. It technically fits those tropes, but it didn't do them justice. Instead, it turned into a short-lived friends-with-benefits situation, which wasn't handled all that well.

The story follows Lorelai and Craig, who've been friends for years, had a one-night stand in the past, and are both significant players in the music industry. They're pining for each other, but instead of being honest, they avoid their feelings and refuse to discuss them. On top of that, Lorelai is trying to stage a comeback in country music after being blocked for speaking out against guns.

I loved the parts of the book that dealt with gun violence and school shootings—they were critical topics and handled well. The music industry setting was super interesting. But man, the characters just drove me up the wall. Lorelai and Craig had zero self-confidence in themselves, making their dynamic toxic. Everyone around them constantly cheered them on and told them how amazing they were.

And then it takes forever for anything to happen. It's 90% into the book before they even admit to themselves how they feel and not until 93–95% before they tell each other. At that point, it didn't feel like a slow burn—it just felt like they were dragging their feet.

While I appreciated some parts of the book, like the social commentary and the music, the story, the characters, and the way the romance played out let me down.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

This one was cute! I regret waiting so long to read it as I’m a mood reader but it was definitely a fun and quick read! It had tropes I enjoyed in it and the content was very easy to consume and relate with in some aspects. Would definitely recommend to others

This book follows Lorelai Jones (who we met in the book "Built to Last") and her music producer Craig "Huckleberry (yes, I shit you not, that is his middle name)" Boseman. The way this is set up with flipping back and forth between the past and present was too confusing and at time aggravating. I almost wish they had their whole "flashback" scene at the beginning of the book and then the rest was set in the present-day.

I liked seeing the other characters from Hahn's book make cameos here and there, including Annie Mathers and Clay Coolidge from "You'd Be Mine." And while I understood the storyline parallel already, I liked the note at the end referencing the struggles The (Dixie) Chicks went through in the country music industry when they protested George W. Bush and how it is similar to Lorelai's story.

(Disclaimer: I may have enjoyed this book more if I hadn't listened to it on audiobook. The "southern accents" were just not it and it was almost "twang-y" if that makes any sense at all.)