Member Reviews
Having enjoyed Erin Hahn's books in the past (particularly "Built to Last"), I was excited to see that she had a new book coming out. Her newest book, "Friends Don't Fall in Love", is centered around Lorelai and Craig, who have been friends for years and years. Lorelai is a country musician who seems to have it all: a successful career and famous fiance. However, once everything falls apart, she turns to her friend Craig, a songwriter and record label owner to help her. Craig has been in love with Lorelai for years, but is surprised when he finds out that she has feelings for him too. Through their easy friendship and hot chemistry, the two find that they work best together.
I really enjoyed this book and thought the two had easy chemistry. This book was fun to read and I look forward to Hahn's next book! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
this was cute, i love a good friends to lover type book. the plot was good (sometimes a little slow, but we still moved.) i loved the country artist aspect of it all, very fun. it was something different which i’m always looking for. also the many mentions to taylor <3
thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!
Another delightful romance by Erin Hahn! I loved this friends-to-lovers stories, especially with the cameos from much-loved characters from her other books and the themes of the cost of fame and putting art/music into the world. I was worried that an ex showing up might mean second-guessing & poor boundaries, but I loved seeing those moments develop our leading lady's strength. There's lots of pining and steamy moments, so if open door romance isn't your favorite this one might not be the best for you. As a gluten free girl, I loved the way the struggle to socialize and enjoy good food with others was shown in the midst of a celiac diagnosis, without it being too much focus. Lots to love in this story for me!
Oh Erin! It’s magical. You break our hearts and then carefully piece them back together. Thank you for sharing Huck and Lore with us as well as bringing back so many dear friends. Sweet, sexy, sensitive…all the feels. I fluffing love this one!
I'll give this book a 3.75. I wanted to be completely in love with this book, but its just not my favorite unfortunately. I felt myself connecting with built to last way more. I feel like this book suffered from establishing a lack of personal connection and i feel like it went straight to sex, which is just not my favorite trope. I dont usually like friends with benefits. I also felt like there was too much focus on the music career and not enough with the couple. In the end its a cute read, I feel like people who love music careers, friends with benefits turned to love and friends to lovers would like it, but it fell flat to me.
Thank you netgalley for this arc.
I was absolutely obsessed with this book from start to finish! I LOVED being able to read about Lorelai's story, after her absolutely badassery rallying her troops in "Built to Last," Erin Hahn's first novel in this universe. Lorelai's storyline continues after we left off in Built to Last, with helpful flashbacks into Lorelai and Craig's history. I really enjoyed the musical themes and how the MCs were stationed in Nashville for most of the story. I feel like I could really hear the songs they were describing so perfectly. 5 stars for this excellent book, I can't wait to read more by Erin Hahn and I hope she focuses on our girl Maren next :)
Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC.
While this was definitely a fun and sweet story and I enjoyed the characters, I found the story to also be a bit boring. It didn't particularly hold my interest.
I thought this was a fantastic follow up to built to last. I adore Hahn’s writing and the way she gives her characters such full, rich lives. This book is sweet and chaotic and fun and emotional and just an altogether fantastic read. Highly recommend!
I didn't realize when I requested this, but this is connected to BUILT TO LAST -leading lady country singer on the come back trail Lorelei was friends with the starring pair from that book:)
This part of the cover blurb sums the story up perfectly "Erin Hahn’s Friends Don’t Fall in Love is about long-time friends, taking chances, and finding out that, sometimes, your perfect person was right there in your corner all along."
Friends to lovers is my catnip, especially when the friends part of the story is well established before the lovers part kicks and even more so when one of the friends has been secretly carrying a torch forever. I loved the leading man Craig who is talented and supportive (and whose torch for Lorelei burns so bright). Lorelei is quite charming in the lead and I loved seeing her stand her ground with some douchey people.
I thought the flavor of the recording industry careers and song lyrics really added to the story as well. With some friends with benefits action going on the steam level is high (I skim these steamy stuff now days, but there wasn't so much that I felt Iost any of the basic story). There's a nice cameo for the past pair from the previous book and bits that look to set up maybe two more stories - can't wait.
All in all FRIENDS DON'T FALL IN LOVE was a total win for me.
ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Expected publication October 17, 2023. This is an unpaid review.
Erin Hahn deserves more credit as one of the best writers in contemporary romance right now. Built to Last was one of my favorite novels of 2022, and three months into 2023, I’m sure this will make my best-of-the-year list.
Lorelai and Craig have such incredible chemistry and banter from the very beginning. If you’re looking for an electric ‘friends (with benefits) to lovers’ story, this is the romance for you.
I love a book set in the music industry, but this is the first country music romance I’ve come across. Would love for this to get an adaptation someday so that I can hear all the beautiful lyrics in this book come to life! The Nashville setting is also really rich, almost as much a character as Lorelai or Craig.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy!
i cant say enough good things about this book it was funny, entertaining and very much what i hoped it would be. You get some character's from the book before and enjoy new ones, and it was fun to watch craig and lorlelei fall in love after being friends
I loved Erin Hahn's follow-up to Built to Last. Lorelai and Craig were amazing together and their friends to lovers story was completely authentic and believable. I loved the glimpses of Shelby and Cameron and can't wait to see my favorite couples again in Maren's story next!
Loralei "Jones" Jones and Craig "Huckleberry" Boseman are two song writers who are really playing the long game in this friends-to-more contemporary romance. They have a special connection and terrible timing. They can collaborate on a song as easy as breathing but seem to be unable to communicate outside of the bubble of music production. They are so hot for each other and yet.... This book is all about trying not to lose the one you want to hold close to you in the most precious ways. It's about being able to see the potential in yourself that others see in you, even though the world has taken you for a rough tumble and has told you in big bold letters "you messed up,' while your conscience is saying "you are right on track.'.
I loved this story just as much as all of Erin Hahn's previous books. She has original song lyrics and poetry scattered through out and it's fun to see these two work out their personal relationship through music. If books where the main conflict is miscommunication bothers you, this might not be your jam, though.
Thank you so much for the ARC!!
Just as sweet and swoony as Built to Last! Lorelei Jones is a feisty country star that I wish I knew in real life, and Craig Boseman is too cute for words. I enjoyed the banter and inside jokes, as well as the musical references and steamy scenes.
From following Erin Hahn i can see her writing is just like her personality and it’s perfect. I’ve been here for it since the beginning and I’ve only seen her writing become more mature - in all the best ways. I love the characters of the past being tied in and learning about the trajectory of their lives after their own stories ended.
Lorelei and Hucks dual pov gives the best sort of mystery - we really are in individual minds and there is mystery in the depth of details.
I loved everything. This is is a one-two sitting kinda read that you lose sleep consuming.
Erin Hahn could write a book about paint drying and I would read it. These characters were so endearingly dumb and believable and real (as is the case for all of Erin Hahn’s characters. I enjoyed reading characters who did not make stupid decisions to further plot, but instead made real decisions.
Huck was absolutely amazing and just the sweetest mmc, however some of the ways he was described (especially at the beginning) had almost a “not like the other boys” vibe to them, which was a bit jarring.
And the absolute cherry on top was getting to spend time with Jefferson and Annie (and Shelby & Cam!) again.