Friends Don't Fall in Love is a friends to lovers story or perhaps better titled How Not to Choose the Wrong Man. I say this because Lorelai Jones did choose the wrong man to begin with or else, he would have supported her when others blackballed her. By Erin Hahn this serious but cute story has country music singers and musicians all tied up together. Like all walks of life, some are better people than others.

Dual POV so that you have both of the main characters’ thoughts besides their actions, it is an interesting look at the role of social media, the music industry, true friendship and since it is a romance, real love. You will like the characters, the storyline, and the final outcome. Plenty of chemistry, steam and spice to go along with the plot.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After loving Built to Last I was so excited to read this.

Lorelei Jones is a famous country singer who’s career got “canceled”when she sang a song about gun control at a concert. After escaping to Michigan to teach for a few years, she is now back in Nashville producing music with her best friend Craig and ready to make a comeback. Lorelei and Craig always had unspoken feelings for each other, especially after their one night stand years back, so will they ever be ready to openly admit to it?

I love country music and how this story dived into the Nashville world and the many controversies that a big time female star can face. Lorelei was a great FMC who stuck up for her beliefs and wasn’t afraid to speak out. Her relationship with her best friends (and all the text messages) was one of my favorite part, especially because we got so many cameos with Shelby from Built to Last. I also found Craig’s job as a producer/ songwriter extremely interesting.

However, to me, there was something missing with the romance, and I wasn’t truly invested in their relationship until the last 25% or so. I also found the beginning a bit choppy and hard to follow. The miscommunication also had me going crazy at times 😂

Read if you like:
-Friends to lovers
-Country music
-Nashville scene
-Guy falls first
-Found family
-Older main characters

Thank you SMP Romance for the ARC. Pub date 10/17

<i>I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This book is delicious. I DEVOURED it in a day and I have very few complaints.

Huck is wonderful character. I loved seeing how consistently supportive he was of his friend / love of his life. He knew he didn't need to fight Lorelai's battles for her but wanted to fight <i>alongside</i> her. He's her biggest champion. He also knows how to stand up for himself and he's sweet and just so yummy.

Lorelai loses herself a bit and it's heartwarming to watch her find her way back. Country music did her dirty and she didn't take the easy road back into their good graces. I have so much respect for a character who stands by their convictions and uses their platform to affect change.

The secondary characters are fantastically varied but all equally lovely! I want to see more of Annie and Coolidge -- they have an adorable dynamic. The pacing is good and the setting feels grounded and real.

My only complaint is the miscommunication trope. I get it, it happens. But so much of this would've been cleared up if one of them started saying what they mean / feel sooner. It was starting to get tiring by the end.

Still, I highly recommend this book!

I feel like this book is really going to work great for a lot of people, and I'm sure once the formatting is all settled in the final copy, it's going to look great too! But unfortunately, this just wasn't working for me.

My biggest issue is all of the time jumps. I've seen other reviewers comment on this, but honestly, the first 20% of the book is so confusing because of how all over the place things are. I feel like it should have been edited down into a single, solid prologue, and then everything else could have been shown to us. With all of the flashbacks at different time points, it made the pacing really hard to get into, and it also made it feel like there wasn't actually much plot to the actual present-day storyline. It was a bit of a slog to get through, which really shouldn't have been the case, I feel like! I feel bad saying it, but it just felt very mid. Like it was fine. Which sadly isn't the glowing feeling you usually want when reading a book!

Things I did like include the friends-to-lovers and the poetry and music of it all, and the side characters! It felt very contemporary, and I do love Erin Hahn's writing, so there's still some good to it! The Instagram posts and comments were spot on, and I love texting in books! It really just feels like it was a solid draft, and with one more go, it could be amazing. But as I said, I think some people will really vibe with it still, regardless!

This was breath of fresh air. I appreciate how this book was more than just a typical romance book. Loved how the characters were well-developed and weren't primarily focused on their love lives all the time. Their personality was real and relatable!! I had fun reading it

Erin Hahn recently went viral for a tweet about gun violence in our schools and book banning. As a teacher that tweet really resonated with me so imagine my surprise when I picked up her newest book and the sub plot has to do with gun violence in our schools. I was delighted to see the main characters, Lorelai and all of her friends standing up for her doing the right thing and that just made a beautiful story even more important. Lorelai and Huck’s chemistry jumps off the page and this is a perfect friends to lovers romance!

Thank to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I did not read the first in the series, as I didn't know there was one, and you definitely don't have to. This book is definitely able to be read as a stand-alone.

The spice level is there in this book. What happens behind closed doors is written on the pages. I am not one for spice, so I skimmed these areas. Didn't ruin the book in my opinion.

I really enjoyed the characters of Lorelai Jones and Craig "Huck" Boseman, plus all the supporting characters. The storyline pulled me in from the start and kept me reading. Erin Hahn made the characters relatable and you wanted them to succeed and find happiness. I love music so having that as a storyline made it interesting. Going back in time at points was a smooth transition so I give props to the author.

This was a sweet friend's to lovers story that I really enjoyed. As far as them not talking to each other like mature adults, not all of us are talkers. I am not and after almost 2 decades there is still stuff I haven't said to my other half and probably should.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the ARC of this book. This did not affect my rating..

The angst in this friends to lovers was, whoa. 😍🤤😍 I loved the return of some familiar faces from built to last, and the addition of some new to us besties (I mean Arlo? Trina?) Also let's just get it out of the way, drake is an absolute idiot. And Huck is the sweetest. When Lorelai is sick and he's at the store and the cashier makes the first time with a sick wife at home comment 🫠🥰🫠, just a bit of melting. The music industry related tidbits felt like a bit much at times but they were definitely crucial to moving the story along.

Some reviews mention the miscommunication trope, I disagree slightly, they were communicating (music, poetry) just not directly. The resolution/grand gesture/epilogue was perfect for the story and perfect for the FMC/MMC.

Lorelai did make a promise to Maren at one point in the book about asking grilling/possibly inappropriate questions at some point in the future.....soooo does that mean we get a Maren story next?! I'm just not ready to leave this friend group!!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review!

3.75/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book. I read Built to Last by this author and it warmed my heart to see the previous characters make appearances. The slight review of information that happened in Built to Last helped set the scene better for this book. I enjoyed seeing Lorelai and Craig develop their friendship and relationship further. The slight drama in this book was great. This book only wasn't a 5 star for me just because I feel like I didn't relate to/connect to the characters as much as I did in the first novel which is NOT any fault of this author. I will read everything and anything this woman writes. I am looking forward to book 3 already.

This is the first book by this author. This book is set in Nashville, TN with country music at the forefront. Country music star Lorelai Jones, a little naïve, has a bright future ahead of her - she's the rising queen of country music soon to marry the self-absorbed king. She's close friends with his band mate Craig "Huckleberry" Boseman aka "Huck". Then one night it all comes crashing down when she dares to sing a protest song and ends up getting blackballed right out of the music industry. To top it off, her fiancé dumps her on social media to avoid letting her "taint" his career. Her bestie Huck is there to comfort her and a one night stand. The book develops further on the relationship of Lorelai and Huck with some very touching moments and slap your forehead peeps get real moments. I think everyone wishes for a Huck. It is a nice story, steamy in places and a little slow in others but overall a good balance.


Thank you NetGalley, the author and St. Martin's Griffin

Erin Hahn does it again! I loved this book. I love how she has built this world in her books that, even though they are stand-alone books, how characters from her other books show up. This makes me want to read all of her books to find out the story behind those characters as well. I had already read Built to Last and had met Lorelai Jones as a friend of Shelby Springfield in that book, so I was so glad this book was about her and her story. It starts with Lorelai being dropped by her fiance, bandmates, and agent when she sings a protest song at the end of a show. The only one who doesn't abandon her is Craig Boseman. They have one night together before they go their separate ways and don't see or talk to each other for several years. She comes out of hiding in Built to Last to help her friend, Shelby, so we get to see what happens after she does that in this book. She is reconnected with Craig, who has loved her for years but knows she will never love him back. They work together to bring her career back, as he now has a small indie record label. They are long-time friends, though, and even though they both have feelings for each other, they don't want to ruin their friendship. However, that one night together was excellent, and they have both thought about it over the years and have not gotten over how much they both liked it. They decide to be friends with benefits, but can they pull that off when they love each other and want more than that? Or do they have to give that up and remain professionally friendly?

Country star Lorelai Jones' saw her career and her fiancé disappear overnight after she took a stand against gun violence at her concert. Blacklisted from the industry, Lorelai disappears from Nashville, but not before a drunken one-night hook-up with her best friend (and ex-fiance's bandmate) Huck. Now, more than five years late, Lorelai is ready to return to country music with Huck, now an indie music producer, at her side. As Lorelai fights to get her career back, she also fights her growing love for her best friend.

I loved this book from start to finish. I don't know if I've read a lot of friends-to-lovers, second-chance romances, but this one does a great job connecting the pair's past with their growing future. Hahn pairs a compelling and loving friendship with a steamy and supportive relationship. There's also a smart look at the toxic (misogynistic, racist, etc.) underbelly of country music and the way that female artists, in particular, face the worst repercussions for taking a stand (see The Chicks). I'm sure this final point will cause some to leave negative reviews (keep politics out of X is so deeply privileged), but whatever...

I've inadvertently become the queen of reading interconnected standalone series out of order. This book is definitely a follow-up to Built to Last, with characters from that book appearing throughout. I have not read it and did not feel like I was at a disadvantage. Some interconnected standalone series require you to read the previous books to feel connected to the characters, but I didn't feel that way at all. I'll definitely be going back to read the first, as well!

* Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! *

Two musically inclined individuals - one living in the shadows and the other scorned by country music - come together once again in Nashville years after a hookup. They are wonderful friends who harbor unspoken feelings for each other - though the sexual tension is sensed by everyone around them. Lorelei and Huck take friends to lovers on a musical ride & Erin Hahn delivers it beautifully by providing dual POVs!

After reading Built to Last, I was so excited to see another novel from Hahn in my NetGalley. I was even more excited when I began reading and found that characters crossed over!

Country music star Lorelai Jones has a bright future ahead of her - she's the rising queen of country music soon to marry the self-proclaimed king. She's close friends with his band mate Craig Huckleberry Boseman aka "Huck". Then one night it all comes crashing down when she dares to sing a protest song and ends up getting blackballed right out of the music industry. To top it off, her fiancé dumps her on social media to avoid letting her "taint" his career. Needless to say, Lorelai leaves town in a rush to lick her wounds and heal her broken heart but not before a drunken one-night stand with friend Craig - never to be mentioned again. You can't keep a good woman down for long and now she's back and determined to make a comeback in the music industry. The first person she reaches out to is her old friend Craig who's managed to make a good career for himself as a record producer. As they spend more time together, sparks fly, and things heat up between them. Both have hidden feelings that go beyond the fantastic sex to something more, but neither is willing to risk their friendship by voicing their feelings. The story that unfolds is full of miscommunications, missed opportunities and hurt feelings. Even as Lorelai's career takes off again, something's missing. Is it possible for friends to find the forever kind of love? Does she dare take a chance on getting her heart broken yet again?

FRIENDS DON'T FALL IN LOVE is a spicy friend to lovers' story about two people who are in denial about their true feelings, afraid to risk a really good friendship on a "maybe" good romantic relationship. Hahn has a way of delivering characters that are vulnerable and likeable and yet just a wee bit dense about relationships. So much heartache could have been avoided with a little true communication, but the learning process makes them enjoy the end results more. Characters are well fleshed out and while this one starts off a bit slow, it certainly picks up in the second half as things start happening to throw Lorelai and Craig together where things sizzle, crackle and pop! There are some very, very sexy scenes in this book as the one place this couple does not have an issue is the bedroom. I enjoyed the inclusion of some song lyrics as a form of communication and the text messages are funny and sweet. This is a saucy contemporary romance story with great banter that I highly recommend to fans of friends to lovers' stories.

Not for me! I had trouble getting into this one. I didn't expect the sensitive topics that were quickly introduced in the first chapter and it caught me off guard.

*I received an advance copy of this book from Net Galley. Thank you!

For whatever reason, I've been reading a looooot of non-fiction this year, and "Friend's Don't Fall in Love" was the perfect antidote to that. When I need a break from the heavy, cerebral-ness of other books, I try to find a "palette cleanser" (as I lovingly refer to them as), and Erin Hahn's novel about these country music artists is a perfect example. I almost rated it 4 stars for no good reason other than that I was like wellllll it's just a corny romance novel, BUT it's not! It was incredible, and I couldn't put it down. Well deserving of all 5 stars! I loved seeing all sides of this had-to-happen-eventually relationship between Lorelai and Craig (Huckleberry, or Huck, as you'll soon find out) and all the ebbing and flowing for them to get there. What can I say? I love love, and this novel is full of it in the best way.

Thank you NetGallery for the ARC! 3.75 ⭐️. this was such a cute and easy read. friends to lovers, singer/songwriter, roommate trope! I really liked the plot and idea of it but did get bored a third way in!

Hahn is one of my favorite find authors. This one is cute, felt a little lighter in the depth department than some of her others. I also felt like I was dumped into the character and plot deep end without a lot of back story or build up, but I didn't necessarily hate that- it was just like "boom, and we are in the story"

Hahn stays a must read author for me!

I got about halfway through this one and while I like it, i don’t think I’m quite in the mood for it so I’m dnfing for now but I’m definitely gonna pick it back up when I’m able to get the audiobook and I know I’ll enjoy it way more that way!!

First, thanks to NetGalley for an e-ARC from one of my favorite contemporary authors. After loving her YA work, I love the transition Erin Hahn has made to adult romcoms.

That said, this was a total delight. I liked getting to revisit the world of Shelby/Lorelai/Maren's world (and am psyched for Maren's book in the future), as well returning to Annie/Jefferson's world from EH's previous YA. Lorelai and Huck's story is super cute, but not without some annoying tropes (aka, we could have solved this issue had we just had a conversation...not my fave). The steamy parts were delightfully steamy, and the romance parts were very swoony. I'll continue reading Hahn's books as long as she keeps writing them!