4.25/5 stars
2/5 spice

Friends to lovers with maaaaad pining coming from the MMC... yessss

Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Country singer FMC
Producer MMC
Close proximity/neighbors
One night stand turned more
Songwriting with love messages
Erotic poetry
Banter & tension
He fell first and hard
Dual timeline
Dual POV

I only have a few things that irked me about this book, and that was the length and the miscommunication. Other than that, I really enjoyed both MCs. They have so much ground to cover in this book, so I understand the length, but it did feel like a few things could have been edited out. I loved both MCs, but I could relate to Lorelai and her inner dialogue so much. The pep talks and arguments she had with herself were funny and real. As for Craig/Huck... goodness me, that man was just amazing. The bestest friend and supporter a girl could ask for... which is why I was so mad Lorelai was so blind to his love for her. Just the way he takes care of her... uuuugh swoon 🫠

Everything wrapped up really nice and sweet in the end. I highly recommend this book for fans of friends to lovers or secret pining. This is an open door romance with some nice tension via songwriting and poetry 🥵

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Trigger/Content warnings:
Mentions school shöötings, misogyny, sexual harassment, sexual content

Country Music Romance For The Anti-Second Amendment Crowd. So let's get it out of the way as quickly as Hahn does in the book: Seemingly literally on page 1 of this tale, Hahn brings in an anti-Second Amendment screed. Which could have been excused... except that then became a recurring and even somewhat central theme of the overall book. And not even in a way that felt particularly organic, if anything it actually felt quite derivative of the real-life Dixie Chicks anti-Iraq War controversy of a generation ago. So there's the star deduction, right there. And from a tactical side of "As an author, I want to sell as many books as possible"... tacking into the *anti* Second Amendment side of *Country Music*? As a lifelong fan of Country in all its forms... eh, there may in fact be a sizeable enough niche there to sell a few books. I wouldn't recommend trying to build a career as a romance author specifically within that niche. (Though it is certainly wider within the overall romance novel reader set, and perhaps *there*, it could in fact be more sustainable in today's hyper-divisive world.)

As to the actual friends-to-lovers romance here... it works, and it certainly has enough spice and XXX elements that the clean/ sweet crowd probably won't like this one as much. And enough F-bombs that those who abhor those won't like it either. But overall, for the characters as portrayed and the situations they are placed into, it actually works rather well. Maybe not as good as the first book in this series - but that could be the lingering aftertaste of the hyper politicization and preachy politics still tinging my thinking of this book.

Ultimately, if you like spice and you like being in the room for sex scenes in your romance novels, you're going to like this book - likely even if you don't actually care much for Country Music itself and particularly if you find yourself to be more of a Dixie Chicks / Taylor Swift fan. If you happen to actually agree with its preachy politics, you'll probably like it even more. For more Country Music traditionalists... eh, maybe less, maybe you want to build your trust in Hahn a bit by reading the first book in this series first before you come into this one.

And as more of a note to Hahn, herself a teacher who openly notes that she wrote the politics of this book this way due to her beliefs about the classroom... I myself am *also* a former teacher. One who actually had a high school senior lean across my desk and directly say "If you do [the thing I had just told him I was about to do, which was to write him up for blatantly sexually harassing a Junior in my classroom not 10 feet from where we were then standing], I *will* kill you." Yes, I then wrote him up for the threat, and yes, he then spent a few days out of school. So yes, I've seen at least some of the same things you have. And I still disagree.

Recommended.

Slow burn of a romance set in the country music industry. Lorelei Jones and Craig Boseman best friends and talented singer songwriters have had ups and downs in their careers but were always there for each other.
When Nashville turns it’s back on Lorelei and it takes years for her comeback, Craig is right there to assist.
Alternating povs and flashbacks give the reader perspective on their lost opportunities and complicated history..
Themes of love, found family and second chances make for an enjoyable story. Received from Netgalley and St Martin Griffin for a review.

“...if she let me, I’d never let her fight another battle alone for the rest of her life.”

This is a really sweet rom-com & I liked it even more bc I am a fan of country music. Overall, I really enjoyed this story & liked the characters but for some reason I don’t find myself LOVING it. It took me a bit to get into the book- probably until past the first spicy scene which was about 50%, but after that it started to pick up & get more interesting. I’m giving it 4 stars bc while, yes, conventionally this is a “good” book, there was something missing in it for me personally to make it a 5 star read

Craig & Lorelai were great main characters & I think the author did a great job of balancing the tension, love, friendship & all the other emotions between them. The social activism part didn’t overwhelm the reader, making it more politicky (not a word but I think you know what I mean) than it should have been & I felt that it was age appropriate, ie: the problems the characters faced & feelings they had matched how old they were & what they were going through. I really liked that they were able to maintain a good & positive working relationship bc I mean they are in their mid 30s & have careers that depend on their cooperation together!

The side characters were great & brought a levity to the story. I am hoping that there is an opportunity for another story with some of the other characters? Maren, possibly? If not, I still appreciated the variety of personalities the others & liked that they were real! Again- just so appreciative that this was a book where adults acted like real adults!

I felt that the spicy scenes were done well however, even though it’s open door, it wasn’t overly steamy & descriptive & THAT’S FINE! :) I just was not expecting it to be as tame as it was with the tension & angst levels where they were.

Another thing to add is I LOVED all the nods to country music. I am a country fan (not in an eagle screeching MURICA! way though 😂) & liked the headers to the chapters & the scenes w lyrics. I’m a sucker for a good line in music & really loved the turns of phrases & poetic lines that tied back into what was happening w Lorelai & Chris. I also thought the social media posts/comments/screen names were HILARIOUS & often laughed out loud at a few lines!

This is a book that I would definitely recommend to those who like country music, friends to lovers, & angst between workmates! It was super cute & funny romcom that is an easy read & quite lighthearted!

A wonderful story about second chances, not only at romance but also at life.

Lorelai Jones had a successful country career until she had the "nerve" to say something politically improper and her entire life imploded afterwards. Now it's years later and she's contemplating trying to get back into the industry but have people forgotten enough to be open to allowing her back in?

Craig Boseman has loved Lorelai for as long as he can remember but for a time he couldn't act on it. Lorelai was once engaged to a friend of his but that friendship is no longer and neither is the engagement. So now Lorelai is back in town and they are working together and those feelings are still there.

I really loved these two characters. They were human and real in the way that neither of them wanted to truly put their feelings out there for fear that the other person didn't feel the same way. They obviously were over the moon for each other but kept a piece of themselves back just to be safe.

This was a well thought out book with a lot to say. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to more by Ms. Hahn in this "world."

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

The tension. The banter. Friends to lovers. The angst. Craig and Lorelei have all the chemistry needed to make a great spicy romance.

When Lorelai Jones sang a protest song at a concert, she not only ruined her successful music career, but her fiancé dumped her on the internet. Craig Boseman, known to her as Huckleberry, was there for her anytime she needed him. He was her constant supporter and best friend. Craig has always had a crush on her but felt she needed time to figure out what she wanted to do next. Now years later, she contacted Craig and asked if he could see her, that she had a song she wanted his opinion on. Craig and Lorelai have both been writers, as well as, played instruments. Watching her regain her confidence and how much she struggled to get back into the game showed her she was working with the wrong people and when the right ones came along how everything changed for her.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy.

Thank you Erin Hahn, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC copy of Friends Don't Fall in Love, in exchange for my honest opinion and review!

This #friendstolovers romance is all about taking chances, and finding that sometimes the right person has been in front of you all along 😍

Read if you love:
🎶Nashville Music Scene
💕Friends to Lovers
📖Fun Chapter Titles🎶
💞Dual POV’s
🎭Flashbacks

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Erin Hahn writes extremely wholesome books, and I literally cannot get enough of them when I start! |

This time around we follow Lorelai Jones (former country music star) who is looking for her comeback. Enter Craig Boseman - her ex-fiance's bandmate. They've always been friends... but maybe he is just the thing that she's needed all along... in more ways than one!

I enjoyed the flashbacks that gave us further insight to their pasts, and how it is impacting their potential future. The dual POV's in this one are so good - and those fantastic song/chapter titles are so fun!

If you are looking for a fun read that is good for anytime of the year - with a happy ending - then this one will be for you!

Content warning: References to gun control in relation to school shootings.

Erin Hahn’s upcoming book “Friends Don’t Fall in Love,” a sequel to her 2022 book “Built to Last,” takes a tried-and-true romance trope and breathes modern life into it.

As the title suggests, this is a friends-to-lovers story. Lorelai, a country music singer who has been shunned by the industry, finds trust, compassion and love in her long-time friend (and the ex-bandmate of her terrible ex-boyfriend), Craig. Set partly in Michigan (a nod to Hahn’s local roots) and partly in Nashville, Tenn., country music capital of the world, this book is like a cozy, comforting Hallmark movie. From the moment you read the title, you know what you’re getting yourself into, and that’s a good thing.


Since the book follows a country star and her country music producer love interest, it’s no surprise that there are tons of easter eggs for country music fans in the book. Each chapter references a different song, from “Take Your Time” by Sam Hunt to “Better Man” by Little Big Town (or Taylor Swift, depending on which version you prefer).

“I’m a huge country music fan, but I’m also just a really big songwriting fan,” Hahn said in an interview with The Michigan Daily. “(I wanted) Craig to be this person who used to be an artist who performs but … he’s just been … more well-known for being a lyricist, and that’s what has come into play for him starting to produce music.”

Craig’s relationship with songwriting plays a pivotal role in the story, which means that songwriting was something that Hahn herself had to dabble with, to an extent, when writing.

“The first time I wrote a song, I did (it) for ‘You’d Be Mine,’ and it was totally by accident,” Hahn explained. “I just needed to express something that the character Annie was feeling. There’s a scene where she’s just ticked off, and so she decides to write this song, and then she (decides), ‘I’m going to perform it tonight.’ And so I wrote it, intending to remove it — just use it for me.”

She forgot to remove the song before showing it to anyone else. Her critique partners loved it and so did her editor. When she decided to write another book about a songwriter, everyone told her she’d have to write another song. The song, “Jonesin,” is a meaningful addition to the story, so we’re lucky she decided to try her hand at songwriting once more.


One of the most interesting and unique things about this book, however, is the way Hahn managed to touch on some real controversies that exist in the music industry — especially in the country music industry.

We learn early in the book that Lorelai was shunned as a country music singer because of a performance she did in support of gun control laws. Having been a teacher before she became a singer (and after she left the industry), school shootings were an important issue to her, and she decided to use her platform to raise awareness. The historically conservative country music industry blacklisted her as a result.

For some, the inclusion of this hot-button issue might seem disconnected from the story, but in Hahn’s case, it was extremely well-executed. Lorelai’s beliefs stemmed naturally from her experiences, and her actions matched her beliefs.

“‘Friends Don’t Fall in Love’ was super inspired by … Natalie Maines in the Chicks, like what happened in the 2000s,” Hahn explained. “I think that there is a big division between what especially male country artists … can say (versus) what female artists can say and how we treat them after that happens. And the fact that the female artists can completely lose everything, and male artists can maybe get a ding and keep going, was something I really wanted to speak to. … Pretty much in every story (I write), I do end up inserting some of my own thoughts. … Social justice always ends up in the story.”

The issue at hand in the book was particularly close to Hahn, who also works as a teacher.


“I’ve done the drills, I have children who are in school, I went to a training where they had to use … blanks and shotguns … and you have to (think about) the choices that you have to make and … how do you not say something?” she said. “(The book) is my chance to say something.”

Being able to touch on social justice issues in a romance book — and do it seamlessly — is certainly not an easy task, but Hahn does it with “Friends Don’t Fall in Love.”

And the romantic aspects of the book don’t suffer as a result of her attention to another topic. On the contrary, the relationship between Lorelai and Craig is sweet, loving and really, truly believable. Romance writers often create characters and relationships we love to read about but that would never really exist. Those are absolutely valid, typically providing a form of escapism for readers, but it can be equally wonderful to read about a love story that feels normal. Despite the fact that Lorelai and Craig are celebrities, to an extent, their relationship feels natural and almost ordinary, in that they’re just living their lives with each other. Even when they need to present personas to the outside world or keep their celebrity in mind around others, they are comfortable with each other, which is refreshing.

“Friends Don’t Fall in Love” is a success, thanks to Hahn’s dedication to fashioning a combination of empowerment, justice and love.

Erin Hahn will be at Schuler’s Books on Oct. 17 to discuss “Friends Don’t Fall in Love.

Daily Arts Writer Sabriya Imami can be reached at simami@umich.edu.

4.5/5 - Friends Don't Fall in Love by Erin Hahn is a friends-to-lovers romance for Lorelai Jones and Craig Huckleberry Boseman, "Huck", and a wonderful follow up to Built to Last. Lorelai accidentally falls in love with her best friend, Huck, and both of them think they're the lucky one in the relationship. They're both right and it was amazing.



Lorelai was an elementary school teacher who became a country superstar. Heartbroken after another school shooting she sang a song condemning the second amendment; a song totally unlike her that it snuffed out this upcoming star, sending her reeling. The backlash came at her from all directions: her label dropped her, her manger left her, and her fiancé, Drake, broke up with her via a public Instagram reel, and ghosted her. Everyone let her struggle; everyone except Craig. He was not only Drake’s band mate, he was also the songwriter, and once he located Lorelai, they ended up spending a sizzling night together before she disappears to start her life over. Five years later, Lorelai is attempting another go at her music career and as one of the best producers and songwriters in country music Craig works and supports Lorelai as she tries to make a comeback. They are spend a lot of time together in the studio and living in a duplex; which meant really close proximity. Craig has always been in love with Lorelai, keeping his true feelings about her to himself Lorelai also has feelings for Craig, but fears losing him as a friend if they cross the line. Friends don't fall in love, or do they?



This is more than their love story. It’s the story of Lorelai finding her feet, her voice and coming into her own. It's Craig's story of standing up for himself and fighting for his love for her. It's filled with characters from Hahn’s earlier books. It's a fun, cute, emotional, and sizzling friends-to-lovers romance set around country music. It is filled with anxiety, tension, banter, chemistry, and wonderful secondary characters; especially Arlo and Maren. Unfortunately it does have the miscommunication trope and that drove me crazy. If only they would have talked to each other like mature adults, open up to their feelings. However, the author does do an amazing job at making the characters feel so real and relatable and you cannot help but root for them. I highly recommend Friends Don't Fall to other readers, and hope that there’s a book for Maren.


I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. This was charming. Shelby and Cameron are a major presence in this book and I couldn't help but compare them to Loreali and Huck, and their chemistry is stronger. But this is still a solid read.

The comparison to Tessa Bailey is apt; it's up to whether that's a pro or con. Not for me, the character/plot development/ chemistry wasn't there, but those looking for lighter fare may be pleased.

“I write words for a living. Words that people all over the world use to access their feelings. But right now, with her, I’m speechless.”

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Spicy Meter: 3 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Mentions gun violence and shootings. Contains explicit sexual content.

It seems like I’m in my music industry book era, and I’ll stand by it. “Friends Don’t Fall in Love” follows Lorelai Jones, a singer-songwriter that was ousted of Nashville and the whole Country scene after performing a protest song against gun violence, and Craig Boseman, her ex-fiancé’s ex-band member and now indie music producer. They’ve been friends on and off for a very long time, always evading the what-ifs of what their relationship might become if they let it.

Bringing us back and forth through different timelines, and giving us two different points of view, Erin Hahn definitely knows how to keep us on our toes. One thing to note, tho, is that this book has a lot for internal monologue, so if that isn’t your vibe maybe you won’t love it as much as I did. Funny, because I’m not overly enthusiastic about long internal monologues, yet I was fascinated by Lorelai’s and Craig’s minds and inner turmoil. I mean, they’re songwriters, for God’s sake, of course their minds were fascinating.

I would highly recommend this book for those good, ol’ Country music lovers. Also, if you’re looking for a friends-to-lovers slow burn that eventually turns spicy-packed, then “Friends Don’t Fall in Love” is for you.

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ARC provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: October 17, 2023

This book was right in my wheelhouse. Country music and friends to lovers, what’s not to love. It was refreshing to see Craig as the nerdy vans wearing male lead. I loved Lorelai’s determination to not conform to the traditional Barbie doll country star. Although there were miscommunications their feelings were told through love songs and sexy poetry. I hope the series continues with Maren’s story and what things that were left to her! This author was new to me and I loved her writing.Thank you to NetGalley and this ARC in return for my honest opinions.

This book was a sweet, charming and endearing story and I loved it! It had some of my favorite tropes in it, friends-to-lovers, cinnamon roll MMC and he falls first and falls harder. Also the MMC writes poetry?! Swoon! This was my first book by this author and it did not disappoint. I also loved that both characters thought they were the lucky ones in the relationship! I love it when characters are so smitten that they think "they don't deserve the other one." Overall, this was a very enjoyable read!

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to to others.

Erin Hahn has written another really enjoyable adult romance! This one is hot and steamy with a great friends to lovers (a lot of friends with benefits before they eventually admit it’s not just benefits), country superstar and record producer/songwriter romantic storyline.

Lorelai Jones was on top of the world - member of a popular country girl group, engaged to a country star, until she sings a protest song (Ohio by Crosby, Stills and Nash) and everyone - literally everyone, is suddenly against her. Her label and group drop her, her Fiancé Drake dumps her on social media without a single word spoken to her. She’s persona non grata in Nashville… Drake’s bandmate and her good friend Craig Boseman (aka Huck, after his middle name Huckleberry) seeks her out to ensure she’s ok, and they accidentally spend the night together before she flees home to Michigan. He admits to her that night about writing all of his band’s songs instead of Drake (who claims sole writing credits, which causes many later problems), including a song about her.

Six years later, Lorelai leaves a teaching career and returns to Nashville and Craig to go back to country music and writing. Craig has left Drake’s band and has an indie record label and is writing, so they team up for her comeback… as best friends… with benefits. Benefits all over the place. Super hot and steamy benefits, and Drake makes appearances trying to get back into the picture for his own benefits (because of course she’s just been waiting for him to return to her).

I really enjoyed the story, the characters and the friendship between Lorelai and Huck, the progression from friends to so much more, the struggles they worked through together - a very strong second adult romance I can definitely recommend! I feel like I need to go back and re-read Built to Last again (did some characters reappear in this one?!), which I had rated 5-stars, while this one is a 4.5. I also still plan to read her YA romances.

I received a copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin, and this is my honest feedback.

Friends Don’t Fall in Love is a fun romance between a country music singer superstar, Lorelai, and her friend, a song writer/indie record label owner, Craig.

What I loved -
-Nashville is such a fun setting! There’s so much Music City, USA and the music industry in this story.

-Country music, country music, country music. Between songs Huck writes, songs Lorelei sings, the song title chapter headings…country music is everywhere!

-HUCK and his secret IG account

-Cameos from Cameron, Shelby and Maren from Built to Last

-Main characters in their 30s

-Arlo. What a side character. Dude needs his own book.

-Friends to lovers with a bit of a history and lot of pining, celebrity romance.

I didn’t realize going into this one that is connected to Built to Last, which I had already read. There was more steam than I expected - these friends definitely have a lot of benefits all over the place! Another unexpected element was the school shootings and gun violence discussion, while both of these are mentioned, there are no on page events. And lastly, there’s a lot of frustrating miscommunication.

Overall, I enjoyed this one, especially country music and friends to lovers vibes and am looking forward to Maren’s upcoming story.

Thank you to NetGalley and StMartinsGriffin for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I love a redemption story. And if it’s one where the “little guy” triumphs over the corporate machine in the process? So much the better. Even though this book isn’t “officially part of a series, several of the supporting cast have appeared in previous releases. And it looks like my crossed fingers worked because we’ve now got one of the besties’ stories. Lorelai and Craig are so endearingly awkward together. You can tell there’s so much emotion between them that they just don’t know what to do with all of it. This wasn’t your typical “will they or won’t they?”, it was all about how long they’d hold out. Spoiler alert: in some ways they hold out longer than I thought and in others, not nearly as long. I loved seeing how much care and attention they gave to each other’s concerns. The ending was absolutely perfect, and I’ve just realized that there may be a book or two I have to go back and read to get the full story on some of the supporting cast. Also, my fingers are still crossed to see another bestie with a book of her own.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book through NetGalley.

This is a sweet book with a great mix of steamy and touching scenes. I loved Lorelai so much and seeing her achieve her dreams with Craig by her side. I enjoyed this book even though I felt like their backstory and past was a little hard to follow at points.