A great story! This book is in the same friend universe as last year's Built to Last. This time it's Lorelai's second chance - at a career in music after a very unforgiving fan base doesn't approve of her singing a protest song and dropped her. Her career over she heads to Michigan to teach third graders (where she's friends with Shelby and Maren) for five years, then she calls Craig, her old friend and bandmate to her douchy ex. Lorelai wants to try to rebuild her singing career and thinks Craig can help. Craig, meanwhile has been carrying a torch for Lorelai as long as he can remember. He also dumped Lorelai's ex which means the douche doesn't have a song writer anymore. Craig and Lorelai reconnect and give in to an attraction that causes all kinds of problems, as they each have their demons to slay in the romance department. Unfortunately, they both make wrong assumptions without ever talking to each other, messing up everything. Luckily, there's an HEA at the end. I loved each character individually and how they reacted with friends and family, but they had a lot to learn together in the end. I was cheering for both Lorelai and Craig (Huckleberry).

Thank you to St Martin's Press/St Martin's Griffin for providing an eARC. All opinions are my own.

Erin Hahn was a new-to-me author with You’d Be Mine, the first book of hers I read, and I loved it so much I’ve been hooked on her words ever since. I was curious how well she’d make the jump from YA to adult contemporary romance, and I really enjoyed Built to Last. The end felt like an excellent setup for a follow-on book for one of the secondary characters, and it was, much to my delight. While I had wished for more of the main characters’ backstory in the previous release, she more than delivered in this one. It’s an unrequited love, friends-to-more-to-best friends, best friends-to-more contemporary romance. I’m sure I left out a trope somewhere, but there is so much to this incredibly emotional epic tale. It’s a coming of age, coming into your own for the hero and heroine, along with that age-old tale of figuring out who you are separately so you can be so much better together while maintaining your own hard-fought-for identity. Since it’s a romance, we know the main characters ultimately get their HEA, but the journey Ms. Hahn takes us on before allowing it is incredibly emotional and heartfelt. I couldn’t put this book down and read it in just a few hours as I could not stop turning the pages. It’s an incredibly well-written, circumspect account of life in the country music industry when it chews you up and spits you out and how each character deals with the fallout.

NICUnurse’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Well, here we are. Me. All the way in love with Craig Huckleberry Boseman. Positively charmed by “Huck” and Lorelei’s sweet, heated chemistry. But mostly with full-on heart-eyeballs for the steadfast, supportive, slightly nerdy but insanely sexy Huck. Good gravy, how I loved him.

I sometimes struggle with friends-to-lovers because I’m not a patient enough reader. The miscommunication, the stubborn refusal to see what’s right in front of them, it can make me absolutely crazy! And I found some of that here. Huck and Lorelei’s inability to get out of their own way when it came to each other – sometimes felt like a bit much. I might have liked them to have figured it out a little sooner. To have not held themselves back for so much of the book. To have really seen what Huck was capable of (because, hot dang, I suspect he might have ruined my ovaries in the very best way).

That said, I still really enjoyed this book. I absolutely adore Erin Hahn’s writing. I fall into it so effortlessly, it’s exactly the perfect amount of witty humor, and characters I can’t help but adore. While some of the middle parts seemed to drag for me, the ending was everything and my heart was so happy.

It’s hard to explain, and I don’t mean this in a bad way at all, but this story felt lazy to me. Like spending a lazy day reading in front of a fire or in a hammock. It meandered around and had comfy and snuggly parts and parts with some angst, but not to an overwhelming degree.

I love how Lorelai and Craig communicate through songs, lyrics, and poems. I also hate how Lorelai and Craig don’t communicate because they are both so scared to speak their true feelings out loud. I get it. They don’t want to lose the beautiful relationship they have as friends and how well they work together to make amazing music. Yet sometimes they left me wanting to bang my head against the wall. When these two are in synch it’s a beautiful thing. There is chemistry from their attraction, but also their friendship. They get each other on a level nobody else can.

The author has a lot to say in this story. While she doesn’t cram it down our throats, she does use Lorelai and her experience teaching and being in schools with children to address some big issues. Her adamant belief that there needs to be something concrete done about gun violence in the US is the whole reason Lorelai was shunned by the country music community. She’s ready to make a comeback but that may mean apologizing for voicing her opinion. Lorelai has a very strong personality and it was interesting to watch her struggle with finding her way back to her music career and staying true to her morals and beliefs.

If you have read this author’s other books, there are some familiar faces that help Lorelai find her confidence again. Not only are her friends from Built to Last supportive from afar, but she makes new friends that we’ve seen before.

When Craig and Lorelai are together they are combustible. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I wish the duo had more time together on the page as a couple. Although their pining is superbly written.

Cute and Spicy read!

Friends to lovers for sure but I love when he loves her first! And from afar. Craig!! Loved him and all the ways he was there for her! This however is a slow burn!! So if that is not for skip 😅

I overall enjoyed and recommend this for anyone who is looking for a sweet, finally happened love story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read.

This book took me a moment to get into, I didn't understand the rhythm, no pun intended. But once I did, it was pretty hard to put down.

If you like stories that take place in Nashville, stories that have to do with musicians, stories that involve decade old friendships with strong women? Then this is for you.

3 1/2 solid stars.

I loved this book so much! Erin Hahn's books are like warm hugs for me. They are automatic reads and I get excited when a new one is announced.

Lorelia and Huck were an adorable couple, but it was their friendship that really solidified it for me. There were times that I wish they would just actually communicate with one another because that got a little frustrating, but overall I loved the way that they interacted with one another. Because they had been friends for so long, I did believe that they struggled to communicate out of fear/anxiety.

I loved Hahn's foray into steamy scenes. I think she did a good job and I was glad to be back in the fictional world with Annie, Clay, Shelby, and Cameron!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was literally the sweetest love story ever. This book has it all.
* Friends to lovers
* He falls first
* He falls harder
* Sunshine FMC
* Cinnamon Roll MMC
* Spicy

This book has it all. Angst, tension, banter, steam, pining. All the things that make a book amazing. It does have some of the miscommunication trope, too, so watch out for that one! There were also so time jumps in the beginning that had me a little confused.

Overall, a super cute story that fans of friends to lovers and he falls first will definitely eat up!

Many thanks to NetGalley and SMPRomance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Don't let the cutsie cover fool you. This story has plenty of romance, angst, and steam. Lorelei and Craig have been friends for years and one night changed everything-in more ways than one- for both of them. The fear they both have of losing their amazing friendship keep them friend zoned. As they both try to move forward with their lives and forge new futures, they will have to make decisions that scare them both. Often funny with great banter, I enjoyed the story very much and look forward to reading more

Lorelai saw her entire life turned upside down when she played a protest song at one of her concerts. Five years later, she is still holding on to her dreams and gives a call to Craig, her former's fiancé's co-writer and bandmade, the one that always stuck by her. Craig has been in love with Lorelai for years, but he knows that he could never get the girl. However, things are different now.
This is a friends to lovers, one night stand, spicy romance, where he falls first and hard, and he's a total cinnamon roll. But... I really couldn't feel the connection or the tension between the two main characters. I felt at times, the story was a bit choppy and hard to follow. I would have loved to see them get together earlier and see them as a couple for a bigger part of the book. They had nothing to lose by getting together earlier so I don't understand why it took so long. But it was a cute and quick read.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a great story! Lorelei and Huckleberry and Drake and country music careers in Nashville! Loved all of it!

If you enjoy reading friends to lovers, country music star references and more this book is for you!

I loved Lorelai’s strong female character and Huckleberry’’s bad boy turned good! Don’t want to give away any spoilers but I really loved this story!

I’ve always enjoyed novels by Erin Hahn. Her writing is so easy to read, the rhythm and flow of her words totally appealing, especially in a book with music at its center. Lorelei was a character who was also very easy to like. She and I have the same politics, so that helps, but she’s also someone who took a stand even though she lost everything by doing that. Craig or “Huckleberry” as Lorelei calls him, is just an average guy with a lot of talent for writing hit songs. He was one of Lorelei’s best friends and it was easy for them to pick up where they left off, but both of them had feelings for each other that couldn’t be ignored. Their transition from friends to lovers was not without its hiccups but it too had an easy flow that fit with the style of writing by Ms. Hahn.

Living in Nashville and reading novels set in Nashville are always kind of fun. It’s interesting to see someone’s take on my city and in this case I think the author viewed downtown through slightly roses tinted glasses, but you could tell she loved what she was writing and I really appreciated that. I also really loved the romance that was told through lyrics a wonderful way of styling this novel and really making it feel authentic. I really didn’t find a note wrong with this novel and if I could sing a lick, I’d be howling at the moon.

I absolutely loved listening to this book on scribd! I followed along on my kindle! There was a song that was included that goes with the story and you get a snippet in the beginning! Let me tell you I was excited to get to the end of the book to hear the full song, it was worth the wait!! It’s a great song and it was so different to hear that in an audiobook! This was such a cute country romance! The high tension and longing between Lorelei and Craig was “Chef’s Kiss” The slow burn, friends to lovers was done fantastically. There is nothing I love more than dual pov, so I was excited to see it! I highly recommend this book!

When Lorelai Jones left country music—well, was shoved out of country music—she returned to her native Michigan, went back to teaching elementary school kids, and lived her best life. She never regretted her decision to make a public stand against guns, but she didn’t expect all the doors to slam in her face quite so loudly. Or for her fiancé Drake to go on social media to announce to the world the wedding was off before he spoke to her.

Drake was the half of a music partnership that was white hot when he’d been with Lorelai. Since then, the partnership had dissolved and while Drake was still out singing and touring, his partner had bought a recording studio in Nashville and started producing. Craig Boseman had made a name for himself as Drake’s partner, but the truth was that he had done all the songwriting that Drake took credit for, and when he got tired of seeing Drake use everyone around him (until they were of no use to him), Craig started a new career for himself.

So when five years had gone by since Lorelai had left Tennessee, some appearances on her friend’s home restoration show helped her remember what she had walked away from. And she was thinking about going back. So she saved up some of her teaching salary and headed back south to try out some new songs at Craig’s studio. He had always been a good friend to her, and one memorable drunken night, he had been an especially great friend. She’d kept that in mind all those years and wondered if they could have more than just that one night. But she didn’t want to risk ruining the friendship. And she didn’t want to put her producer in a difficult position.

And when her manager comes back into Lorelai’s life, offering up an apology tour to media outlets and suggesting a tour with Drake again, she’s not sure what to say. She wants back into country music, but does she want it that badly? And what about her feelings for Craig? Will she ever get up the courage to tell him that she loves him, or even tell him how much that night meant to her, and that she wants more? Lorelai is finding that she has a lot she wants to say—to her manager, to Drake, to her fans, and especially to Craig. But will Lorelai be able to find the words that go with the melodies of her heart?

Friends Don’t Fall in Love is the continuation of the story started in Built to Last. Where that novel tells the story of Shelby and her home restoration projects and love story, this novel picks up the story of Lorelai Jones finding her way back into the hearts and playlists of her country music fans. I loved Built to Last, but I felt like Lorelai stole every scene she was in, so when I found out that author Erin Hahn has expanded her story in this novel, I knew immediately I wanted to read it.

I loved Friends Don’t Fall in Love. It’s a fun, moving story of finding your voice and going after your dreams, but it’s also a steamy love story that does not mince any words at all. The love between Lorelai and Craig is so present that it’s hard to believe that there are any obstacles to them getting together, but Hahn manages to put some in their path anyway. Lorelai is a large, passionate, intelligent character, and she needs someone equally smart and big-hearted, and Craig is the perfect guy for that. This story is sexy as hell but also balanced, clever, and genuine. It’s a true page-turner. But you might not want to read it at work.

Egalleys for Friends Don’t Fall in Love were provided by St. Martin’s Griffin through NetGalley, with many thanks.

*3.5

I really liked the first one and wanted to like this but it just wasn't as good. I think that a lot of the problems could be solved if it was longer. Quite a few things were told to us and not shown which is annoying. Lorelai and Huck are cute and I wanted more of them together.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Sexy, angsty, music filled story. I loved tension between the main characters, and the steam level was steamy!

I want to start off by saying I just read “Love, Naturally” by Hahn, which was a super sweet romance novel with minimum spice. “Friends Don’t Fall in Love” is definitely Not closed doors, and man is it spicy and different from other reads by her.

This novel is actually a companion novel to “Built to Last” which features characters Shelby and Cameron. They make some appearances in this book, with our FMC Lorelai being Shelby’s best friend. I didn’t know this was a companion novel (can be read as a stand-alone) but I was so happy to see these characters again. Hahn know how to write relatable and memorable characters.

I really liked Craig. He was a sweet guy who likes to write some steamy poetry and post it anonymously online. Those poems are pretty good (Hahn- you should write a poetry collection!) Craig is always there for Lorelai (think Luke from Gilmore Girls, but less grouchy) and I liked reading about how he always pined for her but wanted her to do what she thought was best for her life at the time. The only issue I had with Craig was sometime he says things that don’t sound like someone his age would say. He sounds 30 years older.

Lorelai was easy to like. We can all relate to having a moment in life where we made a choice we later regretted, except Lorelai’s was public. Yikes. She has one passionate night with Craig and then they remain friends for 6 years. Luckily the time gap is only the first chapter (I’m not a fan of time jumps). We sometimes get brief flashbacks of what happened to Lorelai’s career at the start of a chapter but they are short and to the point. I feel they added to the story and we’re worked in better this way.

I also wanted to point out that as a Country music fan I got a kick out of each chapter being named after a different country song. Some brownie points were earned here!

I want to say a big thank you to Ms. Hahn for creating a FMC with celiac disease. I myself have struggled for the past 4 years, and it is not easy. Not to mention everyone always thinks I’m being too much of a pain and the disease is not real. IT IS REAL, and thank you Hahn for spreading the awareness through your super strong character Lorelai.

This was another slow burn where we just want the characters to be together! I really enjoyed my time reading this one, and I can’t wait to see what Hahn comes out with next.

*An ARC was provided by NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

There were a lot of things I absolutely loved about this book, most importantly the romance. I adore the friends to lovers trope and I love a celebrity romance, and I thought especially the friends to lovers aspect was done really well here. I just felt like the book was so slow,

ah, i was really unsure about reading this one, i liked built to last but it really fizzled at the end for me, though that might be a me problem - i'm not a huge fan of second chance or friends to lovers sometimes because of how it can be handled 'boom, we are in love because we say we are' and we don't really get to experience that as the readers. i still enjoyed it, just not as much as in the first half. anywho, this one was pretty good as well, it was a bit slow for me in the beginning, but overall i liked it. both sweet and spicy.

Initial Thoughts
I loved this book! I have read everything that Erin Hahn has written so far and have really liked every single book. If you are a romance reader and have not tried this author yet, do yourself a favor and give her work a try. I ended up listening to the audiobook of this one (because I am perpetually behind) and am so glad that I did. The narrators were able to take this story to the next level. Huck and Lorelei belonged together. They had so much in common and the chemistry between them was palpable. I couldn't wait to see them work things out to find their happily ever after.

Review copy provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon.