Always love a good friends to lovers book, but I felt like this one skipped a few chapters. I didn't feel like we got truly see the friendship before we were dumped right into the tension. It felt like it escalated too quickly, and I think a few chapters showing the baseline of the friendship would've helped a lot. There was also a bit too much miscommunication in this story for me. I think this book could've been a little bit longer and it would've helped a lot.

3.5 stars. This was a spicy friends to lovers book set in the Nashville music scene. We follow Lorelai, a musician who is making a comeback after her career went up in flames 5 years earlier, and Craig, her new producer and long time friend who always supported her.

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes so I was excited to pick this one up. While I enjoyed it overall, it took me a little to get into and follow what was going on. The writing started a little choppy and there were so many side character names thrown out initially (sometimes using first names, others last) that it distracted me from the story as I tried to keep everyone straight.

I did love our soft hero Craig/Huck and his long term pining and how supportive he was of Lorelai every step of the way. There were lyrics and text exchanges woven throughout that added to the story, though their problems could have been solved a lot faster with some straightforward communication.

I enjoyed this overall and recommend picking up if you like steamy contemporary romance or country music.

Thanks St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for my advance copy.

Thank you to SMP for a gifted copy of this book.

I really hope Erin Hahn will continue to write adult romance because this series is fantastic! I enjoyed this second book in the series - we've got friends to lovers and amazing female friendships. It's a perfect weekend afternoon read!

This book was not for me. The writing felt choppy, the flashbacks didn't always make sense, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was insanely adorable and a very quick read. I loved both main characters but I absolutely loved Craig. He's a fantastic MMC/book boyfriend. If this book appeals to you at all I recommend it.

I also completely forgot that Lorelai was from Built to Last so I loved being able to see the characters from the previous book and now I'm curious to know if a book for Maren is coming as well.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. I love how this author brings all her characters together in the next books. It’s not critical to read in order; but it’s nice seeing familiar friends pop up. I enjoyed this!

this was a really cute book!

thank you to the author, netgalley, and the publisher for this advanced copy to review!

Erin Hahn has done it again. Dang I just love everything she writes!
I should really start by thanking NetGalley for the ARC, idk why on earth it took me so long to read this, but as always, it was a truly enjoyable story. Lorelei is portrayed a little softer in this book than in her others, in a way that show more character development. And Huck is just perfect. Do guys like that exist? I mean he was unbelievable to a degree, but damn if him being secure in him self wasn’t just the hottest thing. It was giving me Deacon Clayborn vibes for those that watch Nashville.
I really and truly will be sad if Maren doesn’t get her own book, please Erin Hahn, don’t let me down.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I've read most of Erin Hahn's books, and I really liked the one that came before this one. As much as I remember and liked Shelby's best friend, Lorelai Jones, I didn't love this book as much. The beginning was a little choppy, time wise. I don't recall Lorelai quitting her teaching job in Xichigan to make music in Nashville again. For a reader who hadn't read the first book, it might not be as confusing, or maybe it might be more so. Nevertheless, there were some timing and pacing issues I had with this book. Both Lorelai and Craig were likable love interests but flawed. Either stubborn or afraid to admit their feelings for each other? It's clear the two have known each other for years and love each other.

The music industry part of the book was more interesting to me, even though I'm not a country music fan. Lorelai was canceled 6 years ago for performing a cover of CSNY's song Ohio to protest school shootings in the country. She got dumped on IG by her ex fiancé, a country music star. Total douche bag. Why does Lorelai need to go on an apology tour? Gun rights/2A vs. common sense laws to keep kids protected isn't a new issue, and it's definitely relevant. There are no school shootings in this book, just mention of how someone was personally affected.

I liked seeing Lorelai's friends again. I wish there was more of this, as I didn't enjoy Craig's inner thoughts at times. Why did he get talked into a FWB situation? It didn't feel genuine. At one point, he mused he wasn't taking her on a real date because they went to a BBQ place that was a hole in the wall. It implies either that he doesn't think he deserves better or he doesn't think she does. Especially when she thought her reputation could hurt Craig's business.

It's a sweet and quick read. Release date 10/17/23. 3/5☆

Erin Hahn's books just make me feel happy, and her latest, Friends Don't Fall in Love is no exception. Lorelei has a Dixie Chicks moment where she sings out her protestations of gun violence that crashes her career and leads her superficial fiance to end their engagement. There for her is Craig, aka Huck, aka bandmate to the superficial fiance. And while the Drake, the superficial fiance, may be pretty, Craig is really what every woman wants. Except for Lorelei, because after everything that's happened the last thing she wants it to be in a romantic relationship. So she heads to Michigan and rebecomes a teacher. Until she starts getting the itch and wants to rebecome a singer. And with Craig now an up-and-coming producer in Nashville, she has the opportunity to restart her musical career and a relationship with Craig. Unfortunately for Craig, Lorelei is still in a "friends with benefits" place, and he has decide if he takes the relationship he can get with her or be true to his heart. The book works it's way through the pair's first feelings for each other and then settles down into the two feeling each other out as older, wiser individuals. For knowing the pair are in love with each other from the beginning, Hahn does a good job of using the whole book to show them figuring it out. The characters feel real, with the real feelings, real opinions, and the f-bombs people drop in real life when things are falling apart. Admittedly, Huck feels almost too good to be true - the man who loves you irregardless and is willing to buy out the grocery store when celiac disease flares up for the woman he loves and nurse her back to health - but that's why I read romance novels. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Going in to this one I had high hopes for it. Friends to lovers? Yes please! Country music references and a Nashville setting? Yes and yes.

I flew through the first half of the book. I really enjoyed the back story, the side characters, the setting, and the celebrity name dropping (although they were fictitious). However, a little over half way through I felt like the story was becoming repetitive & drawn out.

During the second half I found myself feeling frustrated with the main characters. They are both made out to be incredibly talented and sexy and just all around great people, yet neither could see their own worth. They are both in their thirties, which I enjoyed, but aren’t able to have face to face, honest conversations about their feelings. They are known in the industry for their song writing abilities but can’t articulate emotions without saying “fucking” in every other paragraph.

I am happy with how things ended, but the journey to get there left me underwhelmed and annoyed at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc to read & review.

Lorelai Jones is hitting it big on the country music scene, but after playing a protest song at one of her concerts, she is basically disowned from the country music scene. And dumped very publicly by her hotshot boyfriend. Craig Boseman has wanted Lorelai for years, but knows she's out of his league. When Lorelai decides to rebuild her career, she turns to Craig, who has his own indie record label, to put her life back together.

This is one of the most adorable friends-to-lovers that I've read recently! I love their friendship and the banter between Lorelai and Craig, the secondary characters, and the spice in this book is hot. 😂 Erin Hahn is a new-to-me author, and I really enjoyed her writing style. I definitely recommend this book if you like feel-good stories! ❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Lorelai Jones has a great country music career and a famous fiancé. But when she dares to be a tad “political,” her career – and her engagement – end.

But her friend Craig Boseman is there for her. He’s a musician, too, but always in the background. A little nerdy, but a brilliant songwriter. Heck, he wrote most of Lorelai’s fiance’s songs (not that anyone knows that). He opens his own indie record label and, eventually, Lorelai is lured out of her quiet life to record some new songs. And her friendship with Craig thrives.

Craig and Lorelai can’t fall in love, though – even though they did have one steamy night together. But as they get closer and life Lorelai’s career again, a romance begins to blossom. Can they risk their friendship for what might be love?

This book dove right into the drama and I was all in. I love when a woman risks everything to stand up for what’s right. Lorelai was both strong and vulnerable. Meanwhile, Craig was a heartthrob: smart, sensitive, a little nerdy. He was there for Lorelai and ready to risk a lot for her.

The heightened drama at the beginning of the book fizzled a bit, but the story was still enjoyable and I really rooted for Lorelai and Craig as friends and lovers.

Erin Hahn knocks it out of the park again! I have read many of Erin Hahn books (most recently Built to Last last year) and have enjoyed all of them so I'm not surprised to find out that Friends Don't Fall In Love is another winner for me. This small town, friends to lovers book is cute, funny, and easy to read.

The two main characters in this book are absolutely wonderful. Lorelai is such a badass female main character with strong morals and no problem defending them. After losing her country music career when she released a song speaking out against school shootings, she decides to try to make a comeback with the help of our main male character, Craig. Craig is the perfect love interest: sweet, sensitive, and protective with such golden retriever energy. Their relationship growth from friends to lovers was so sweet, swoony, and special. Like a Hallmark movie with more depth (and more steam).

My only complaint about this book is that the main conflict between Lorelai and Craig is 100% just miscommunication, so if you're not a fan of the miscommunication trope, you might be a bit annoyed with our two MCs. For me personally, this didn't prevent me from enjoying the book. I will be recommending it to anyone who wants to read a small town country romance!

Read if you like:
- Hallmark movies
- dual POV
- friends to lovers
- country music references
- motorcycles (*wink*)
- good spice

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to @netgalley for my eARC of this book.

Holy chemistry. And holy banter. I love a good friends to lovers trope. Especially when there’s some healing to be done on each of the characters. This book is a definite recommendation from me! I loved Built to Last and this one was just as good! Lorelei and Craig are definite couple goals!

When Lorelai Jones decides to take a stand for what she believes in through her music she loses everyone. Well just about everyone. After her music tour got canceled, her manager quits, her band mates leave her, and her fiancé calls off the wedding on an instagram post. While Lorelai is in a bar drowning her sorrows who should come looking for her but her ex’s band mate and her best friend Craig Huckleberry “Huck” Boseman.

Sparks always having been there are finally turned to flame for one night of holding nothing back. What will become of the two after that one hot night. Read this book to find out.

I absolutely loved this romance. Following the life’s of Lorelai and Huck keeps you sucked in right from page one.

I loved the country music theme in this friends to lovers romance. The characters are realistic and accomplished which kept me engaged in the story. A great read.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a 3.5 star read for me, but I'm rounding down because I cringed really hard, several times.

Things I loved: feisty female country singer taking on the country music patriarchy nonsense; cinnamon roll hottie best friend male lead who has pined over her for years; excellent use of secondary characters.

Things I liked: Nashville felt like a character (I love settings that come alive); female friendships of multiple types; writing songs for each other.

Thing I didn't like: I struggled with the timeline of the flashbacks, they weren't in a super logical order and I had to keep reorienting myself to where we were in their relationship progression.

Things I pretty much hated: his instagram poetry (it basically made me crawl out of my skin); their inability to communicate like adults.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and I liked the couple once they figured out how to talk to each other about their feelings, and this would be a great pick for readers that don't mind a little miscommunication!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the chance to read and review!

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

FRIENDS DON’T FALL IN LOVE is the follow-up to Erin Hahn’s adult debut, BUILT TO LAST, and is every bit as entertaining and adorable as its predecessor, while also touching on some serious topics.

Years after being shunned by country music fans for making her stance on gun control known, Lorelai Jones reunites with Craig “Huck” Boseman, her longtime friend, one-time lover, and ex-fiancé’s former bandmate/songwriter, to attempt a comeback. It isn’t easy, considering her opinions have only become stronger, but she knows she isn’t done yet—with country music or Huck.

FRIENDS DON’T FALL IN LOVE was an easy and fun read. I loved the playful, fully-formed relationship between Lorelai and Huck, avoiding the sometimes painful slog of reading chapters and chapters of characters getting to know each other. I also really enjoyed being immersed in the music industry and getting to see the ebbs and flows of both characters’ careers. However, I do wish we had gotten just a little bit more information before the novel’s end, like a deeper exploration of Lorelai and Huck’s time as friends with benefits, as well as closure on their ongoing “battle” with Lorelai’s ex, Drake.

Overall, FRIENDS DON’T FALL IN LOVE was definitely enjoyable and I am looking forward to Erin Hahn’s next book!

3.75 ⭐️s

I had already read the first book in this series (Built to Last) and was so excited to read the second book when it became available. Considering how much I loved Built to Last, I had high expectations for Friends Don't Fall in Love. I love Erin Hahn's writing style and this book had me hooked right from the start. Lorelai and Craig (Huckleberry / Huck)'s chemistry from the start is so strong, its hard to believe that they couldn't just tell each other how they felt, especially since they are both songwriters. I loved that Huck always had Lorelai's back, during her highs, but especially in her lows. If I had to give this book one critique, I would say that I wish the title of the book were something different. Yes, it tells you exactly what the book is about, but I wish it were more subtle. Jonesin' for Love, or something like that would have been more fitting in my opinion. Regardless, I knew that I loved this author and was going to enjoy this book before I even started, it, so the title doesn't really matter to me very much. If you like celebrity romance, friends to lovers, and witty banter, this book is 100% for you.