I had complete faith in Erin Hahn to deliver something sweet, steamy, and swoon-y in her latest adult romance Friends Don’t Fall in Love—and I wasn’t disappointed! This friends-to-lovers romance can be read as a standalone, but includes the characters introduced in Built to Last, this time focusing on best friend Lorelai.

I breezed through this dual point-of-view story, especially enchanted by Lorelai’s love interest Craig, or Huck as he’s better known thanks to his horrible middle name Huckleberry (who does that to their child??), who is an absolute cinnamon roll, despite having his own flaws. Neither one of our leads is perfect, but that’s what keeps this story interesting and relatable.

While this romance contains the often dreaded miscommunication trope, thankfully it doesn’t drag out. However, I did laugh out loud when it took a preteen boy to point out to Huck that maybe they just needed to communicate.

Friends Don’t Fall in Love does touch on some serious subjects, like Lorelai’s recent celiac diagnosis, but it maintains a lighter touch. I wouldn’t have minded more depth, but it was also nice just staying on the surface.

Being set in Nashville, along with Lorelai’s and Huck’s jobs in the country music industry, there are a ton of music references. And some original song lyrics, which I thought were quite good, actually. Perhaps Erin Hahn moonlights as a songwriter?? AND just like in Built to Last, the chapter titles are song titles. I’m always a fan of books that tie into music, although I’m not a big fan of the celebrity trope. Lorelai’s and Huck’s celebrity status isn’t a big focus, though, so it didn’t influence my reading experience.

I did struggle a bit with why Lorelai longed to return to the country music scene when it had treated her so badly, but who am I to argue with a fictional character’s dream, right?!

If you were a fan of Built to Last, rest assured we get plenty of time with Shelby and Cameron, as well. Entertaining and relaxing, I had fun returning to this tight friend group.

Rom-coms with musicians have my heart. Two musicians? Can’t put it down. Great read! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Out 10/17/23.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
The beginning confused me with the time jumps, and I can't stand the miscommunication trope. However! This is Erin Hahn, and I really enjoy her writing, so overlooking those negatives, I found myself smiling throughout most of this story. Lorelai was a frustrating character at times but she showed growth and her relationship with Huck did too. I really liked the country music aspect and the Nashville setting. I'm wondering if there will be a third book in this "series" (if you can call it that) and if it will be about Maren, because there was a bit of a cliffhanger with her, where something happening in her life is mentioned then forgotten. Except for Drake, of course, all the side characters are fun and could have their own books. Looking forward to what's next for them.

A great follow-up to Erin Hahn's previous romcom, Friends Don't Fall in Love is a sweet and charming friends to lovers/second chance romance. Well constructed characters, fully believable problems, nice details about the Nashville music scene and the vagaries of the country music industry.

A sweet book about finding your way to those you love. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced read. I enjoyed this book

The book opens in the aftermath of Lorelai's crumbling music career. She played a protest song at a concert, and the industry shut her out, including her fiance. Pretty prescient of the current political environment.
The one person who has stuck by her through thick and thin is Craig. Craig worked for the aforementioned fiance. He now has his own indie recording studio and works with Lorelai - on multiple fronts.

A light rom-com that navigates between friendship, industry politics, multiple betrayals. If you're looking for a light read that is also entrancing, this is it.

Lorelai Jones is working hard to achieve her dreams. It does not matter that she ruined her chances at a thriving country music career and a superstar fiance by playing a protest song at a concert.

She calls her best friend and former fiance's co-writer and bandmate, Craig, or who Lorelai affectionatly calls, Huck.

Craig Boseman has loved Lorelai from afar for years. He decides to help Lorelai with her new songs and record, as he owns his own indie record. Lorelai finds her voice and her true love.

This is a slow burn, second chance, miscommunication friends to lovers romance. Not really a fan of singer / country music novels, but this was a great read! I love that Lorelai and Craig were friends and their friendship. This is the first book I've read by Erin Hahn, and it will not be my last.

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinpress for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

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Friends Don't Fall in Love by Erin Hahn is a captivating tale that delves into the complexities of long-time friendships, the courage to seize opportunities, and the realization that our ideal match may have been by our side all along. This remarkable novel is adorned with exquisitely crafted prose and dialogue, while its narrative is enriched with a tapestry of creativity.

This is my first Erin Hahn and will certainly not be my last.

I initially requested this because of my love for friends-to-lovers trope but I fell in love with the main characters and the way the author portrayed music here.

Some things I loved about the book include the dual POV, the banter, the chemistry!!! I would’ve rated it higher if only there was less miscommunication. I’m not into the miscommunication trope so that’s on me! Overall, I would definitely recommend this book.

Frustratingly and deliciously slow burn - second chance (one night in the past), friends to FWB to lovers romance, producer and singer. I don't like poetry or country music and this book had both and I am OBSESSED with it. Also the tie in of Ohio and gun violence and the prejudice in the country scene is so good
thank you to publisher, author and Netgalley for the ARC

Holy Smokes!!!! What a divine read. Erin Hahn has written a new top 5 fave. Her writing is so eloquent and clear. She's created such a thoroughly modern world of words.

Lorelai and Craig's romance is adult with a capital A. So sexy yet so mature. I've never wanted to be a fly on a wall more than when I was reading their love story.

GO BUY THIS WORK ON ITS RELEASE DAY!!!!!!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.

I really loved a lot of this book. There are so many incredible words inside but sometimes there are just too many.
I loved Craig and Loralei as people and their friendship. I loved his writing and her singing and the intertwining of things.
At times though I wanted to skip words or phrases or paragraphs because they were just too much.
But, there is so much good in this book and so many of the words are so good so its a very conflicted feeling to say that.
I'd go for 3.5 to 4 stars overall because I still really did enjoy it.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Lorelai Jones has it all - a thriving career, and a star fiancee. But when she dares to show her opinion on stage, she loses it all. There's only one person she can turn to, her friend and ex-fiancee's old band mate, Craig ("Huck" to his friends). What she doesn't know, however, is that Huck feels more than friendship for Lorelai, and will do just about anything for her. So when their friendship starts to blur the lines, and their work brings them closer together, will they be able to 'scratch the itch', or are they actually falling in love with each other?

Since Erin's debut, I've loved her work, but have only read her YA releases so far. I did request this as somewhat of an impulse, but I loved it! Huck and Lorelai were the perfect couple, and they worked so well together. Lorelai was the sweetheart of the country and western scene, but following a spate of shootings, she was angry and needed to do something about it. Singing a political song at one of her concerts, she turns the gun-loving crowd against her, and it forces her career to a standstill. Her lacklustre fiancee drops her immediately, but without the common courtesy of telling her in private. I truly felt for her in these moments, and was glad she went to Huck to help her regain her confidence, and come back fighting. Huck was such a sweetheart, but he had an edge that Lorelai needed. He was by her side always, and had already fallen deeply in love with her, but he shared that love via his private twitter account. Those poems of his were erotic and deep, and he shared his very heart in his words. I loved that they were so honest and open with each other, though there was an incident of miscommunication which I wish wasn't part of the story. I do think that reading book 1 would have been a good idea, as the main characters had secondary roles in this book, and I think I'll try and get a copy of it soon. This book has definitely cemented my love for Erin's works!

Erin Hahn has a way of writing enjoyable books about cute couples. This one revisits some side characters of other books. Lorelai Jones and Craig Boseman are BFFs who are secretly in love with each other. They spend an inordinate amount of time refusing to tell each other. Which because they are in their mid-thirties seems just silly. I think the story could have been even better had they become a couple earlier in the book.

This is definitely on the spicy side so if you don't want explicit scenes don't read the book. Or be prepared to skip some pages.

The writing is engaging as always and I love the world Hahn is building with so many overlapping characters. This is a must if you enjoy her other books - You'd Be Mine and Built to Last.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

As someone who first started reading Hahn’s YA novels, I loved that this book had cameos from some of her YA characters! This is the follow up to her last book, Built to Last, but can definitely be read as a stand alone. Friends Don’t Fall in Love is a dual POV, friends to lovers romance, with a heavy dose of the miscommunication trope. Set in the Nashville country music scene, Lorelai is trying to make a comeback after being canceled nearly half a decade ago for standing up for gun control. I love her writing style, so I think I’d enjoy anything Erin Hahn writes, but I give this a solid 4 stars (I could’ve done without the long, drawn out miscommunication).

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

I liked this. I liked the second chance romance, but I did get annoyed at how long they were longing for each other without just communicating. I wish instead of focusing so much on Lorelai's failed engagement and her fall from country music favor in the past it should have been more tightly focused on her growth, the actual second chance at romance, and instead of just writing poetry and lyrics, actually taking action.

I adored Built to Last so I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of Friends Don't Fall in Love. Unfortunately, this book fell a bit flat for me.

I wish I'd reread Built to Last before reading FDFIL because there were so many repeat characters that it seems like the reader is expected to know about but I unfortunately couldn't remember much about. I also found the jumping timelines to be a bit confusing, especially in the first few chapters.

Once the story got started I was immediately wrapped up in Lorelai and Craig's story. I love how Craig isn't the stereotypical romance hero yet is still so swoony! They have great chemistry and I was rooting for them the whole time. If you want to read this one I recommend (re)reading BTL right before and sticking through the confusing timelines in the beginning!

This book is the best follow up to Built to Last. The best. This series is so low angst, but high tension and filled with connection and steam and longing. It's the friends to lovers story of Lorelei Jones and Craig Boseman. Craig was her ex-fiancee's bandmate. When Lorelei gets cancelled, her fiancee ghosts her. Craig (also known as Huck) is the only friend who sticks with her. As one of the best producers and songwriters in country music, he is on Lorelei's team as she tries to make a comeback.

This is their love story, but also the story of L 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 other Hahn books. It's emotional and fun and I am going to flip through it again really soon.

I loved Built to last, so I jumped at the chance to read this ARC.

This story was entertaining and sweet, but it just didn’t pack the emotional punch that built to last did.

I felt like the relationship between Lorelei and Huck had no build up, it was so instant- I just wasn’t drawn in.

However I love the sweet worlds Erin Hahn creates and I will be reading her next book!

Thank you Netgalley!

This story, set in the world of Nashville, country music, features a previously successful but since disgraced country music singer.. While navigating all the friendship/romantic relationship elements of the plot, we learn about the political and social pressures and issues that come with being part of the country music scene. Lorelei is both a strong, intelligent woman and one who is pretty dang dense when it come to understanding songwriter and longtime friend, Craig. The dialog is smart and witty and there are moments when Lorelei speaks up for herself and others that made we want to cheer. I felt the end was unnecessarily long, but then I think that about many epilogues that seem to exist only to tidy up all the loose ends. We already know it’s an HEA, I don’t need the details filled in. This is a good one!