This book has autumn written all over it - starting with the beautiful cover! 🧡🍁🍂

Just Don't Fall is the first book in the Sweater Weather series which takes place in the fictional town of Harvest Hollow - think of Gilmore Girls and apple cider donuts and pumpkin spice lattes with a heavy dose of hockey and wonderful friendships, and add a sweet and quirky heroine and a brooding tenderhearted hero, who were best friends as kids but haven't seen each other in years, to the mix.

In short, this book - written in the wonderful and witty style known to everyone who's read anything by Emma St. Clair - is a perfect feel-good autumn read.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in advance!

Grab your blankets and a cup of cinnamon apple tea because it’s officially fall in Harvest Hollow! I was SO excited when some of the best romcom writers in the indie community teamed up for a fall-themed series set in the same town. Emma St. Clair is an auto-read author for me and I was thrilled to get this ARC! NFL player Logan Barnes gets demoted to his hometown hockey team the Appies-the town where he deserted his best friend and friend’s sister Parker-who is now the team social media manager. When Parker (who’s main character trait is that she’s never been kissed) needs a fake date to appease her father, she and Logan find themselves in a fake dating relationship-as usual for St. Clair’s books, hijinks (and FEELINGS) ensue. St. Clair’s writing is as addictive as ever, with lots of humor, found family friendships, and swoony romantic gestures. (I would love to have Fancy Chair.) The Fall Vibes are immaculate, and we get to meet other characters who will pop up in later books.

The reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 is that the way the never been kissed trope was handled didn’t land for me. I think fiction and movies tend to infantilize these characters-I mean, Drew Barrymore LITERALLY had to pretend she was 16 for Michael Vartan to notice her (do we still like this movie even though it’s hecka problematic? Yes). In this book, we are CONSTANTLY reminded that Parker has never been kissed and that it is SO WEIRD! SO UNUSUAL! SHE’S A UNICORN AMONG WOMEN! She needs the big strong experienced athlete to help her out! And then she finally gets her first kiss and it’s not from her POV. The reality is that I know MANY grown women that have never been kissed, and it’s usually for reasons that are much too boring for fiction. Emma St. Clair did MUCH better than most authors in the genre but it still wasn’t quite there for me personally. I really hope someday we can get a book in fiction where the main character has never been kissed, but it’s not THE absolute defining characteristic of her life. But then it probably wouldn’t be in romance.

Anyways, I would absolutely still recommend this book and ANYTHING by Emma St. Clair. I’ll continue to read literally anything she writes and I look forward to the rest of the series!

I like reading books by authors I never read from. However, this book didn't click with me while reading it I wanted to give this book a chance but after getting to the 25% mark I knew this book wasn't for me. I thought I would enjoy this book because it is a hockey romance and the synopsis caught my attention. This book does have potential but just not for me.

This was such an adorable sweet romance. I’m a huge sucker for hockey boys and I loved that the MMC was kind, caring, and not a playboy- which is not common in hockey romance.

Don’t go into this book expecting any spice. It is sweet as Candy! But there is plenty of romantic tension and physical scenes where the MMC teases the FMC.

The only part I struggled with was the FMCs “never been kissed” trope: it was VERY well done, but it is not generally a trope that I enjoy reading. For me it was hard to connect to a mid-20s character who was afraid to kiss someone. I do think a lot of readers will connect with her anxieties.

There is a bit of instalove - so if that’s your jam, you will eat this book up. I am so used to reading romance books with conflict that it was refreshing to read a low-stress, HEA guaranteed sports romance.

Emma will definitely be a comfort author for me! Her writing style is engaging, easy to follow, very funny, and very well-paced. I can’t wait to read more from her.

Thank you for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

Just Don’t Fall is the adorable start to the Sweater Weather series and is full of romance and fall vibes. It is a brother’s (ex) best friend, workplace romance between a hockey player and the team’s social media manager. Parker has never gotten over her crush on Logan. When Logan returns to Harvest Hollow (the dream town), the two are forced together and find themselves more drawn to one another than ever before.

I need it to be Fall and this seasonal romance fit my mood perfectly. The romance was sweet, the characters lovable, and the town adorable. A great start to a series that I am so excited for. Now onto Emma St. Clair’s backlist.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this sweet romantic comedy set in the world of Harvest Hollow. Even though it is closed door, you feel the passion and desire between Parker and Logan. Their chemistry was perfection. I can’t wait to spend the rest of autumn reading the other books in the Sweater Weather Series. I gave it four stars because the ending felt a little rushed. Thank you to @netgalley and @kikimojo for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Just Don’t Fall is one of my favorite reads of the year so far 💥 ⁣
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Hockey Romance, Fake Dating AND Brothers Best Friend? COUNT. ME. IN. ⁣
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I loved the entire vibe of this book. The characters had some major chemistry (it was closed door, but I mean it was 🥵 that elevator scene?!?!) ⁣
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The little town - Harvest Hollow gave major Gilmore Girl vibes with its seasonal cheer. ⁣
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Honestly I 10/10 recommend this one. I’m so very attached to Logan & Parker. ⁣
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𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘕𝘏𝘓 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳, 𝘓𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘏𝘓 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 - 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝟷𝟶 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳.⁣
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𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘖𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘶𝘱, 𝘎𝘖𝘙𝘎𝘌𝘖𝘜𝘚 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦⁣
𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮.⁣
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𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯 - 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 🫶🏼⁣
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thank you to the author & netgalley for this copy of the book! It’s released on August 31st, so don’t forget to snag your copy! 🫶🏼

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and to the author, for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review!

If you like:
🏒Hockey Romance
🏒Cute + Cheesy Hockey Team Interactions
🏒The FMC Being Spoiled
🏒Autumn in a Small Town Vibe
🏒The Fake Dating Trope
🏒Taylor Swift References
then this book is perfect for you!!

This book combined two of my favorite things: hockey and cute romcoms. This one was perfect for autumn (Hi, I like to get in the spirit early!), and simultaneously made me want to go to a hockey game, and to curl up on the couch with some apple cider donuts. You’re definitely going to want to grab a copy of this book!! And also maybe a donut.

Just Don’t Fall

Super cute, quick & light hockey romance!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 😘 kissing only

Logan is Parker’s brother’s (former) best friend, after leaving their hometown with no communication 10 years prior. He’s back to play for the AHL team (after being demoted from the NHL).

Parker is the team’s social content creator & manager, whose childhood crush has never quite gone away.

While I love a spicy hockey romance, this clean version was a refreshing change.
I loved that Parker had never kissed anyone, and the element that brought to the story. Logan was so kind and patient with her.

If you know me, you know I’m a sucker for brother’s best friend, especially when they knew each other in childhood 😍
I would have liked to have seen them form a bit of a deeper connection in the present, but I guess their past history explained how quickly they got closer.

What you’ll find in Just Don’t Fall:
⭐️ Brother’s (former) best friend
⭐️ Longtime crush
⭐️ Hockey player (hero)
⭐️ Social media manager (heroine)
⭐️ Workplace
⭐️ Forced proximity
⭐️ Protective “brothers” (hockey team)
⭐️ Heroine who’s never been kissed
⭐️ Small town
⭐️ Clean
⭐️ Dual POV/first person

Thank you to NetGalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

I was drawn into this book immediately by two things; firstly it’s a hockey romance where the focus is the plot, not the spice. Now I know some people would normally stop there (historically myself included) but stay with me just a bit longer. The second thing that drew me in is the autumn vibe. Yeah I know the whole pumpkin spice autumn leaves thing can be a bit cliche but let’s face it. We all all love it and we just need to own it.

I fell in love with the characters almost immediately. Parker is fantastic, she’s a queen in the making and I was rooting for her all the way through.

As I’ve said I wouldn’t normally go for a closed door romance but there is something really lovely about getting to know our MCs underneath all that and taking the journey slow along with them. I felt the ending was a touch rushed but maybe that’s because I was enjoying the ride so much.

I’ll definitely look out for more in the series and it’s certainly opened my eyes to joy of cosy jumper rom coms ♥️

i’m not someone who usually reads low spice books - especially when it comes to sports romances, but this was WONDERFUL.

i’ve been seeing so many people on instagram talk about how they were reading this, so i thought i’d apply for an arc, and i’m SO happy i was approved!!

logan and parker were the cutest couple and the way she calls him wolverine & he calls her peter (parker) was EVERYTHING to me💜

4.5 ⭐️s

If you enjoy...

-Hockey Romance
-Fake Dating
-Brother's Best Friend
-Never Been Kissed
-Childhood crush
-Closed door/ kisses only romance

...you absolutely do NOT want to miss Just Don't Fall!

Just Don't Fall is the first book in the Sweater Weather series. This is a 7-author series of standalone novels all set in the same small town of Harvest Hollow. As such, you can read one or all and in any order. This series has been one of my most anticipated as all seven participating authors are some of my absolute favorites. I must admit sometimes that anticipation can end in a little bit of a letdown if it doesn't meet those high expectations, but I have to say...

This one absolutely did NOT disappoint! In fact, it more than exceeded my expectations!

A hockey romance featuring two of my favorite tropes- fake dating and brother's best friend? Yes, please! Logan had a bit of a grump vibe at the beginning so... yeah, even better! Parker was such a fun character that I couldn't help but enjoy right from the beginning and I loved the chemistry between these two. Don't let the 'never been kissed' trope scare you, because it was done so very well. Parker's reasoning for waiting for her first kiss felt very natural for her character and not at all judge-y in the way that unfortunately some stories with this trope can come across, and I loved that about it. Was it a bit of a slow burn? Yes. Did it take a while to finally get that first kiss? Yes. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely yes! The tension and the chemistry between these two was just jumping off the pages in the best way possible. And I could not get enough! And that epilogue!? The best. You'll definitely want to sign up for the newsletter for the bonus epilogue as well. So, so good. If you're looking for a great fall read--- this is it! What a great start to the series!

Just Don't Fall is a closed-door romance with sizzling kisses, but nothing beyond that. (The bonus epilogue IS fade to black, but still the same steam level you can expect to see from Emma St. Clair.)

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.

“I want to break the rules,” Logan murmurs then. “All of them.”

Ummm, HELLO LOGAN BARNES!! Where have you been all my life?

“Are you still with me, Pete?”
“Mm-hm,” I manage.
“I’m glad. Because we’re about to get to the good part.”

The good part? Which good part?!? There are soooo many good parts!!

Shew-wee! What a book! I am using too many exclamation points!! I think not!!! You know why I’m using so many, well let me just tell ya!

Sports Romance ✔️
H-O-C-K-E-Y, need I say more?✔️
Childhood Crush✔️
Fake Dating✔️
Post-It notes✔️
Nicknames✔️
Never been kissed✔️
Kissing 101🔥✔️ (flaming check, if you are curious)
Pink roses✔️
Grand gestures✔️
The Logan Barnes Effect✔️✔️ (yes, this is a thing, I proclaim it to be!)

Let me explain the Logan Barnes Effect (the affects of Kissing 101, as taught by Logan Barnes aka Wolverine). Once this lesson begins there are several simultaneous reactions that a body begins to experience:
1)Jelly legs
2)Loss of all coherent thoughts
3)Temporary amnesia, you won’t remember or care to remember who or where you are
4)Goosebumps, all while feeling like you will spontaneously combust
5)The urge to melt like a Hershey’s bar on a desert highway, and yet trying not to float away in a cloud of fluffy, pink effervescent bliss

This is a life changing course, friends!

Peter Parker, Parker James, you know how to pick ‘em!

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

#emmastclair #justdontfall #sweaterweatherseries #romcom #cleanromance #netgalley #bookstagram

This is the sweetest and cutest hockey romance book❤️ I fell absolutely in love with Parker and Logan!

Parker is a strong independent woman and you know that she is the Boss in a male dominated sport. All the guys in the hockey team respected her and treated her with kindness. You could feel their protectiveness of her when Logan came along. I also really liked that she didn't take any crap from anyone including her dad and brother. She was able to put them in their place when it mattered.

And Logan. Can anyone be anymore perfect than he is? 🥰 Logan was so caring and kind and not pushy when it came to Parker. I loved reading about their relationship and watching them both come to realization that this isn't just "fake dating" and that they do have feelings for each other. I also enjoyed reading about Logan's personal growth with himself as well as becoming a team player with his teammates.

This book had me in happy tears multiple times. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes sweet romcom books. This was a book I could not put down! I can not wait to read the rest of the stories in the Sweater Weather series!

This review is posted on GoodReads and Instagram starting on August 27th.

this book is seriously amazing and addicting that i can't put the book down and able to finished it in less than a day. i don't know where to start because i love EVERYTHING in this book.

this book made me giggling, blushin', smiling, kicking my feet in the air, scream in my pillow BECAUSE IT IS SO DAMN SWOONY AND ADORABLE.

the characters in this book is very very loveable i want to hug them ALL. parker, the girl who never been kissed, omg i lover her so much! she is talented, amazing, selfless and very kind. logan, our hockey player hottie, he is so grumpy but when it comes to parker, he literally will do and give anything to her. the way he respect her so much is very charming.

you know there's a saying "small things matter" well you will get those A LOT. he literally remember every detail of her and will do something for her just to make her happy. the way i sobbed because all of the gestures he did for her. there are small gestures and grand gestures he did for her because he is deeply in love with her. (and yes i said gestures(s), plural, because there A LOT of gestures he did for her). all i can say is Logan will definitely one of my BESTEST BOOK BOYFRIEND EVER.

the relationship between both of them is literally very sweet and pure. the real definition of give and take. they communicate, they are always there for each other and support each other.

honorable mention to the teammates, the appies, i love them so much! they are supportive, protective and funny! i am so glad that logan can finally find his "family" in his hockey world!

GO. RUN. GRAB. THIS. BOOK. NOW.

"she illuminates whatever space she's in. she illuminates me."

I absolutely adored this book! Just Don’t Fall is a sweet, hockey romcom that takes place in a small town. I mean… how perfect is that?!

Parker is a social media manager for a minor league hockey team. She’s the hometown sweetheart and the guys on the team love and respect her as if she’s family. Good thing, because her brother’s ex best friend, who she’s had a crush on since forever, just got sent down to the team and he is not thrilled to be there. Oh, did I mention she’s never been kissed?!

Logan is battling an injury and bad press so he’s been sent down to the minors to prove his worth. He’ll do whatever it takes to get a call back up to the NHL.. including, fake dating his childhood best friend’s little sister. What could go wrong?

This closed door hockey romance is a breath of fresh air. It was so nice to read a book that focused on the emotional connection of a couple, instead of just the physical. And holy hell, respect looks sexy on a man. Especially Logan. 🔥

The chemistry between Parker and Logan can be felt in each page of this. I was rooting for them the entire time and I think you will be too!

Read this one if you’re into:
Hockey Romance
Brother’s ex best friend
Small town
Never been kissed
No spice

Review will be posted to Instagram and Amazon on release day, August 31!
www.instagram.com/spines.and.readwine

"Just Don't Fall" by Emma St. Clair is a captivating romance that will sweep you off your feet with its small-town charm and endearing characters. At the center of this story is Logan Barnes, once known as hockey's hottest bad boy, who returns to Harvest Hollow under less-than-ideal circumstances – recovering from an injury and dealing with some unfavorable press. However, what makes this story truly shine is the unexpected reunion with the social media manager, who also happens to be Logan's first crush.

From the moment Logan and our protagonist cross paths again, the sparks between them ignite, and their witty banter and undeniable chemistry are impossible to resist. St. Clair expertly navigates the complexities of their relationship, as they embark on a fake dating adventure that feels incredibly real. The tension, longing, and emotions between these characters are palpable, making it impossible not to root for their happiness.

One unique aspect of "Just Don't Fall" is its decision to focus on the emotional connection between the characters rather than explicit scenes. This closed-door approach allows readers to delve deeper into the characters' personalities and their intricate journey toward love. It's a refreshing choice for those who enjoy the sizzle of romance without the heat.

In this book, Emma St. Clair crafts a story that's not only heartwarming but also filled with humor and moments that will make you smile. The small-town setting adds a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that envelops the reader. If you're a fan of brother's best friend romance and the fake dating trope, "Just Don't Fall" is a must-read. It offers a delightful escape into a world of rekindled crushes, second chances, and the magic of love. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a feel-good, charming romance. Don't miss out on this gem of a book!

I was definitely in the mood to acquire a warm hockey romance with minimal spice for our younger readers and thus perfectly fit the bill. I love the storyline, the way the characters meet and have to of course fake date and I know after many requests from our readers this will be a very popular title. Emma st. Clair never disappoints