I enjoyed reading Derek & Dylan’s *falling* for one another 🥰

📚 I’m really unsure why these aren’t listed as a series, this one very much comes after Fly with Me, and there’s part of the storyline that’s connected.

⭐️ rating: 4/5
🌶️ rating: 3/5

💭 overall thoughts:
I really struggled in writing this review, and I went back and forth on it a lot.

I think a big part of why I enjoyed this book was that I read and loved Fly with Me (Andie’s debut) so much. We got a lot of Derek in that book, and we see a lot of Olive (Derek’s best friend) in this one.

I did really like Derek & Dylan’s banter, and how their connection developed. I loved the ADHD rep, and how grief was portrayed - how Derek was figuring it out and what to do with confusing feelings for someone who was no longer around.

I also loved the side characters, and would love to see Joni get her own book!

However, I struggled with two things that pulled me out of the story quite a few times. I think if either were changed, it would have improved the book a lot.

The MCs are named Dylan and Derek, and it’s in 3rd person POV.
There were sentences where both names were said TWICE.
I often had no clue whose POV we were in, and would mix up details about the two. While the narrators were great at capturing the characters, they sounded kind of similar as well.

read if you love:
😠 enemies to lovers
🛠 apartment renovation
🏠 neighbours
🛏 only one bed(room)
🙃 opposites attract
🔗 forced proximity
💞 dual 3rd person pov

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for advanced copies. All opinions are my own.

The writing was okay, but I couldn’t get into the book. Both characters seemed like extremes, which I didn’t find believable or relatable.

4.75/5☆
2.5/5🌶

This is my first MM solo romance in a while, and I absolutely devoured the entire book in one night. The banter was so perfect, and the healing from trauma? 🤌 Beautifully written and wonderfully executed, this story needs to jump to the top of your TBR.

This was an enjoyable, end of summer read! It had so many fun tropes: forced proximity, only one bed, and mutual dislike to like. I really enjoyed both the main characters and how they grew and changed throughout the book. Both Dylan and Derek were dealing with some personal struggles at the beginning of the book, and this led them to struggle in their romantic relationships. Dylan lived the majority of his life with undiagnosed ADHD, and although he is now on medication that works for him and has implemented healthy coping mechanisms, he still struggles with feelings of inadequacy and shame. Derek is still experiencing grief for some major losses he has experienced in his life. This makes it difficult for him to commit for fear of losing more people that he loves.

These two men start off really disliking one another, but a giant hole in between their two apartments, some shoddy renovations, and a militant HOA member with a vendetta against big dogs, leads the two men to begin spending a lot more time together. This book made me laugh and smile and it made me ache for the characters and the difficulties they were facing. I really enjoyed my experience reading this story, and I look forward to what Burke writes next!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

There were some bits of this book that I absolutely adored but overall there was something that just didn't quite do it for me.

I loved Dylan and Derek. I loved their banter and their chemistry was next level. I wish we had gotten to spend more time with them trying to coexist with each other during all the apartment repairs.

I also really loved Olive, Felicity and Joni. They were such a great support system for both Dylan and Derek. I think the five of them make a pretty perfect friend group.

I think I maybe would have enjoyed this more if I had read the first novel. I didn't realize this was a second book until partway through. I felt like I needed more backstory of Jake and his accident.

I also had a hard time distinguishing between Derek and Dylan's POVs sometimes. Having a same-sex couple with such similar names make parts of this really hard to follow and I found myself having to reread passages a few times.

3.25 stars, rounded down
——————

It starts with a “Raining Men” joke and keeps going from there. This was a quick, fun romance read.

I enjoyed this book, it just wasn’t quite what I expected. The plot really dragged on, with a lot of filler events and dialogue. There is such an emphasis on this filler that a lot of the important details get lost and when I hit the epilogue, I was confused by why certain people were included, given the lack of detail in the relationship. This one would have benefitted from a nice, central plot. This background idea of the apartment repairs and the growing relationship it sparked was okay, and the events off shooting from it made sense, but there were just too many and not enough detail paid attention to them. I’m also not a big fan of miscommunication and lying by omission, so I was a little frustrated with Derek for a lot of the book. The book does do a really good job dealing with mental health and grief, though.

While I enjoyed the nuance of Derek and Dylan as people and their individual flaws and triumphs, I found their names too close. It made them hard to distinguish across the book and I absolutely mixed them up more than once, confusing myself. Their romance felt a little sudden. It was a quick burn enemies to lovers for sure. I loved Felicity and again, love the cameo by Olive. Even Derek’s subtle relationship with Joni was a good addition to the book. You definitely see growth among the main characters, but I enjoyed the growth in side characters, too.

Overall, I’m pretty disappointed in this one because I really enjoyed Fly With Me. Not sure if I would recommend.

This book couldn't be more perfect. I love Dylan and Derek so much.

Their banter, their chemistry, the way they literally and figuratively fell on each other, the ADHD rep, the forced proximity ; everything was just so good, so well done.

Dylan was my favorite. I love how he cares deeply and how his mind works. He was surprising all along and I fell in love with him as much as Derek.

Derek, the big brother, who has too many responsibilities while growing up, hates Dylan because he hurts someone he loves.
But, with his apartment wrecked, he has no choice but to share space with Dylan. Dylan who's the most kind man he's ever met.

Thank you SMP romance for the digital ARC for an honest review.

Read this if you love :

✨ M/M Romance;
✨ Opposite Attract;
✨ Enemies to Lovers ;
✨ Kill him with kindness ;
✨ Forced Proximity ;
✨ ADHD Rep ;
✨ Grieving character ;
✨ Amazing banter ;
✨ Cute, giant dog ;
✨ Spicy.

3.5/5

Things I loved about this book:
- The ADHD rep was really great, and the discussions on mental health and consent and well being were really well done. It’s something I really loved in Fly With Me by this author, and I’m glad it carried over.
- Felicity was an amazing side character and I REALLY hope we get a story about her. A radical feminist with a big heart? Love that.
- the mini epilogue was SO DAMN CUTE AND AMAZING I loved it so much.

Things I didn’t love about this book:
- it spent too much time on the not-romance. I usually love when there are other storylines and nuances to the characters and side characters, but this went overboard, making the book too long and slightly boring in some places.
- I hate when a love interest in a romance novel is or recently was in love with someone else and those feelings are still there, even if the character isn’t in the picture anymore. It really gives me the ick in a romance novel, and I hate that Jake was such a big part of the story.
- The unresolved storylines at the end. Things with Derek and one character never got solved?? I’m not sure if we will see them in another book but it was disappointing say the least.
- Mini gripe, but having two main characters with very similar names was soooo confusing for the first half. Seriously, Dylan and Derrick??? I kept mixing them up, but maybe that’s just a me thing.

I had super high hopes for this book and ultimately I didn’t hate it, but I felt it could have been better. I loved the idea of the book and the plot and even the dialogue was great most of the time, but for the above reasons, I can’t see myself rereading or considering it a fav. That really sucks because I ADORED Fly With Me by this author. I will pick up anything Burke writes still, because she is an excellent writer, I just had things about this book that didn’t work for me personally. I still recommend it, it just wasn’t for me 100%.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Griffin for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Entrepreneur and handyman Dylan accidentally floods his apartment. The ceiling collapses and he lands in the bed of downstairs neighbor Derek, an overworked ER nurse. Despite the animosity between them, they’re forced to work together to fix the damage. As they navigate their shared space and emotional baggage, they must decide if their clashing personalities can lead to love or just another disaster.

This fun and emotional rom com hooked me from the beginning. It’s a pleasure to read. I also enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

this was cute but not quite my speed. the mental health rep was great, and the conversations were well done in that department. unfortunately some of the other dialogue irked me, like these characters were supposed to be mid thirties but were acting like kids😭also the pov changes were super confusing since they were third person and not labeled, so that often took me out of it. everything was also just kinda slow, like it dragged on longer than needed. also the Michelle and Carol/cop scenes were so random and didn’t even add interest to the plot, they were just kinda weird. the relationship between Dylan and Derek was nice, but also kinda confusing sometimes? like they were fighting one second, getting freaky the next, calling each other babe, then denying feelings?? Idk maybe it was just my arc copy, but it seems like a few things needed to be rearranged or something. overall I didn’t particularly like or dislike this book, it was just alright. Gus is my fav character🤞
thank you NetGalley for the eARC, this is my honest review!

3.75 overall, while I appreciated the ADHD representation I unfortunately couldn't over Derek's extreme brashness, he actually very much ruined the ship for me as a whole that even when the chemistry and steamier scenes were happening it just felt very out of character. The repeated use of Kay as well, I had an inkling it was a moniker for Dylan but it was just so grating.

Fall for Him is a standalone gay romance novel. When Dylan accidentally comes crashing through the ceiling of his hot downstairs neighbor, all he wants to do is fix the house and move on with his life. But being in close proximity to his neighbor Derek is proving to be more of a challenge than he ever expected

This was a super cute read. I really enjoyed the depth of both Derek and Dillon as characters and I loved their growth in this story. This book had some great witty banter and I enjoyed the story overall. It did touch on a lot of heavy topics like grief and mental health and I did appreciate how these topics were handled. I do feel like there were a few pacing issues and some places where things felt a bit rushed for my personal tastes, but it was an enjoyable story

Overall this was a four star read. I enjoyed the characters and the story, just struggled a little with the pacing. This book dealt with some heavier issues, so please check triggers if you’re sensitive. This book was a bit of a slow burn but did have a few spicy scenes, so overall two flames for spice

If you’re a fan of forced proximity, good banter and mental health rep, then absolutely give this one a shot!

Dylan doesn't know why his downstairs neighbor, Derek, hates him. As far as he knows, he has never done anything to him—until he drops through the floor and straight onto Derek after water damage. Dylan offers to do the repairs and lets Derek stay in his apartment. After all, some of the water damage is his fault. There's a nosy neighbor who is always snooping. Derek owns a large breed dog that this neighbor doesn't like, so he's had to lie and say it belongs to a friend. As they grow closer, Dylan and Derek begin to realize that they are not so much different from each other. Derek helps Dylan feel more confident in himself and advocate for his needs, while Dylan helps Derek realize that he must take care of himself and not always put others before him.

A wonderful story about learning that asking for help when you need does not make you weak. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this story.

Thanks to St Martin’s Griffin, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for access to ALC and ARC versions of Fall for Him in exchange for my honest opinion.
While some books start with a bang, literally or figuratively, Fall for Him starts with a literal fall - Dylan falls through the ceiling of his downstairs neighbor’s apartment into his bed! Talk about a unique meet cute moment! I could not get enough of this book and binged it in less than a day. Any book that consistently references 10 Things I Hate About You is a-ok in my opinion!!
If you’re a fan of forced proximity, banter, and enemies to lovers, the slow burn romance of Fall for Him might be perfect for your next read. The main characters work through some past trauma, too, in meaningful, productive, and realistic ways. And I loved getting glimpses of Olive and Stella from Fly With Me (Olive is Derek’s best friend). I mostly listened (great narration!) but followed along in the ebook from time to time. I’m excited for everyone to be able to access this today!

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A sweet m/m romance

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Multiple POV
Romantic comedies
Complicated family relationships
Great chemistry
“Enemies” to lovers
Meet cute diasters
Witty banter
Forced proximity

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Queer and mental health rep
The dog!

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I kept getting Dylan and Derek confused
Miscommunication/ incorrect assumptions

I am a HUGE fan of Andie Burke's Fly With Me from last year, but I am putting Fall For Him aside for the moment, and it hurts every part of my heart. (I hesitate to call this a DNF, as I may pick it up again at a later time.)

I was very confused as to which of the two main character's perspectives I was reading! Dylan and Derek both have similar names, starting with "D," and I hope Burke chose these names for more than the sake of a joke! Somewhere into chapter four, I started the book all over again, only to make it to 55% and once again find myself beyond confused. I want to have a solid understanding of the characters and know exactly what's happening, so I contemplated starting the book all over again for the third time... but I really can't bring myself to do that at this time.

The further into the book, the more confused I became; I thought I had missed something when the characters went from being enemies to one suddenly calling the other "babe." Additionally, that blowjob scene seemed to come out of nowhere. I kept having to remind myself exactly who Olive and Jake were (I read Fly With Me a year ago); the flashbacks only adding to my confusion. (I really hesitate to consider Burke's two romances standalones, as I really think reading Fly With Me first gives necessary background knowledge.)

Audiobook notes: the voices of Kyle Omori and Liam DiCosimo did nothing to help aid my character confusion; if their voices sounded distinct, maybe I wouldn't have struggled so badly!?

What I did enjoy:
Male male romance - check!
Enemies to lovers - check!
Use of the word "stuff" - check!
Use of the word "woof" x3 - check!
Feeling seen by "You morning people are like magical, mysterious unicorns." - check!
Use of the word "doggo" - check!
Construction dust debauchery - check!

My review will reflect my feelings towards Fall For Him as necessary.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

This book just wasn't for me, sadly. The main characters were cute enough but I didn't have any sort of desire to pick it up after I put it down.

Derek hates his neighbor Dylan. Dylan doesn’t know why his neighbor Derek hates him. It certainly doesn’t help that Dylan accidentally left the water running in his kitchen, thereby flooding it and crashing through the floor into Derek’s bedroom. Onto an almost-naked Derek. Hallelujah!

If you’re looking for a romcom that’s sexy and witty, that will make you laugh and cry (sometimes at the same time), gives you ADHD representation, and makes you feel seen as an eldest child, then this book is for you.

I’ve read Fall For Him twice now and both times I absolutely gobbled it up. Seriously, I could not put it down because I enjoyed spending time with Derek and Dylan and seeing their story progress from “enemies” to lovers. The development of their relationship was beautiful to witness and I love that each character came to better understand the other, and really had to work on their pre-conceived ideas from the start of the novel. The development of Derek and Dylan as a couple and as individuals is so rewarding by the end of the book.

If you read Andie Burke’s debut novel Fly With Me and fell in love with Olive’s bestie, then you’ll love seeing him get a swoony, radiant love story of his own. Plus, her beloved Great Dane American Bulldog mix Gus is the third main character of this story, so, what are you waiting for?

4.25⭐️ - I really enjoyed this one! The MCs were great and they both had some good growth through the book. I really enjoyed the side characters as well. My biggest beef with it was the lie, which is one of my least favorite tropes.

There was a lot of charm in this story and the premise was so much fun, but ultimately, it felt like the plot got a little off track and the book that we ended on felt a little disjointed from where we started. The pacing of both Derek + Dylan's relationship development and the forward motion of the plot itself didn't quite feel right and I felt like the heavy undertones around navigating grief didn't match the promise of the premise. There were moments where the chemistry between our main characters was really compelling and I wanted to see more of that!