I've read books by Sophie Sullivan before and was intrigued by the description of this one. Unfortunately it wasn't my favorite. I stuck with it to see where things went, but the couple seems to fall in love too quickly. I struggled with how much Lexi had going on and was dealing with. Will was kind of one dimensional - adoring of Lexi and devoted to his family, but didn't see him doing a lot of work or having interests. I enjoyed Maisie and Ethan, the character's best friends. Otherwise, there were TONS of additional characters in here, from Lexi's past, her various jobs, and all of Will's family.
The book is also totally closed door - and for how much build up there was about the attraction between these two, that felt like a let down. There wasn't even a written or verbal confirmation that anything happened, just an easy assumption on the reader's part.

This was a cute romance that I was able to consume in just two days.
The story flowed nicely and the characters were quite relatable.
There may be some minor spoilers ahead as I navigate the story to get my thoughts out in a few paragraphs.

I enjoyed the dual point of view. Will is a delightful book boyfriend and his sisters (shout out to Kyra) were fun.
The story follows Lexi as she navigates life three years after the death of her father. She has been able to get her and her mother out of much of the aftermath. However, her mother is still rather grief stricken and the impact that this has on Lexi’s outlook on love is quite unfortunate. Quite simply, she is quite adamant that she not fall in love because it leads to debilitating grief. While she’s goes into this fake engagement, with real dating, she hopes to keep things no-strings attached.
Will is hoping to put an end to his mother’s attempts at matching and enters the arrangement with Lexi already quite intrigued by her. His point of view tempers some of the repetitive nature of Lexi’s POV with respect to her refusal to fall in love. He is patient, sweet and kind. He definitely falls first and it may feel a little insta-love, but the chemistry is there.
The reader gets a close look at the grief of a loved one through Lexi and her mother. Lexi became her mother’s caregiver and never let herself live her life. The relationship between the two of them mends throughout the story.
Lexi also struggles with the idea of where her life would have been if her father hadn’t passed away. This leads her to compare her life with some of her old friends from high school. This puts additional obstacles in her path that she must learn to overcome. “Keep moving forward. When it gets hard, dig deeper.”
There are some good reflections in the book and I enjoyed leaving little tabs throughout so that I may refer to them later on.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a lighter read dealing with grief. Also to those looking for a romantic autmnn read with a swing book boyfriend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital arc. Also, thanks to the publisher for a physical copy of the book. All of the opinions expressed are honest and my own.

A bit of a different twist on the fake dating tropes where the couple have just started dating but are in a fake engagement. It may sound a bit far fetched but author Sophie Sullivan makes it work and not only does she make it work, she has written it into a wonderful book that will leave you with a warm heart and a smile on your face!
Lexi and Will are from different world but take an instant liking to each other when she is his unreliable waitress at a local restaurant. Lexi is struggling to find happiness in her life because after her dad passed away her plans were put on hold to take care of her grieving mom. While Will is not at the place in his life that he would like to be either, especially with his mother trying to play matchmaker any chance she gets. But Will isn't interested in the type of women his mother is picking out but as he spends time with Lexi he thinks he may have finally found someone worth his time. Then, there is a miscommunication that announces Lexi as his fiancee when they hardly even know each other! Can they fake their engagement while dating or will Lexi's baggage and Will's unstable family life derail what might have been an amazing relationship?
I enjoyed this book so much! The characters of Lexi and Will had so much depth and I was immersed into their world hoping they could work things out between them. Overall, this lighthearted book was very well written and I found it very entertaining.
All of the opinions in this review are my own and I am very grateful to St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this fun and sweet book through Netgalley.

Can’t Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Plot: A struggling waitress and the heir to a major Seattle company stumble into a high-profile fake engagement. 

Review: She had me with the meet-cute. I was laughing, smiling and cringing right out of the gate. I kept thinking I knew what to expect out of each of the characters, but was pleasantly surprised by each of them and where this story went. I won’t give any huge details away, but Will and Lexi actually start to date under the guise of the fake engagement and it was a sweet twist on the trope. I’ve read a couple novels recently where the chemistry was just completely absent between the MCs, so to read one where it’s right there from the first pages is nice and refreshing.

It’s just very sweet and swoony and heartfelt, and I loved it.

Read if you like:
💜 Accurate depictions of what it’s like to work in a restaurant
💜 Closed door romances that don’t feel like closed door romances. Does that make sense?
💜 Women who are nice to each other lol

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. Can’t Help Falling In Love is out tomorrow!!

When I read a book by Sophie Sulivan, I know I’m about to get something that is written with passion and by someone who takes a lot of care in what they’re writing. This book was nothing less than exactly what I expected.

Lexi is a struggling waitress who’s had a bit of a hard time. She’s just recently lost her father and has now been forced to work whatever she can to make ends meet for herself and her grieving mother. From the very first chapter, I knew that I would love her. Her resilience and confidence were one of those reasons, but how she tried her best to do whatever she could to survive made her quickly one of my favorite fictional characters. It became so easy to root for her, and after being introduced to Will, the heir to a major Seattle company who’s being pressured to find a wife and settle down, I knew I was going to want their relationship to work.

The concept of accidentally becoming engaged to a stranger is one of my favorite tropes to read, along with fake dating which this includes, and this book hit it right out of the park. I loved how the two were in completely different parts of their lives but still managed to relate to each other. It gave off princess and the pauper, cinderella vibes for sure!

My reasoning for a four-star rating only comes from the fact that I would have liked to have seen more into Will’s character and his development. He seemed to be lacking in a few parts but that’s just my personal opinion. Highly recommend!

This book was a cute, easy read. My only issue with it was that everything seemed too easy. There was not enough character development or conflict to make you truly love or hate any of the characters. I enjoyed the book while reading it, but I am not sure it is one I will remember a year from now.

Heartwarming, funny, sweet, heartbreaking, and full of hope, this story will grab you in all the feels. Will and Lexi are such fantastic characters and I was completely invested in their journey. Lexi and her mother really hit home for me and it helped ease a few things in my heart and mind. I really loved this story and I would love more of the characters we meet here.

3.25/5 stars, rounded down

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reading copy!

This was a super cute, fall romance with some very heartfelt moments. Will and Lexi were both great MC's, with depth and development throughout the book that I enjoyed reading! It was hard to read the moments when Lexi was super down on herself, and these started to feel a little bit frustrating as the book went on. Will was an absolute sweetie and handled both his family and Lexi with ease. I'm used to books with more conflict and, though I was glad there wasn't more, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. There were a few loose ends that I don't feel were well-explained (like Dad's debt, for example), but these didn't take away from the story as a whole for me.

My biggest issue with this one is the insta-love vibe... despite the fact that they deny their feelings for each other, this book starts with them meeting and essentially falling in love immediately, which just doesn't always fly with me. If you have the ability to suspend belief for things like this, then you will enjoy this one!

Overall this one was pretty cute and well set up for a sequel that, if it exists, I will definitely look forward to!

SYNOPSIS - Lexi Danby, a former track star, has been struggling since her Dad passed away a few years ago. After dropping out of college to pay off her Dad's debts and take care of her grieving mother, she feels her life is totally stagnant. Stuck being a (terrible) waitress, Lexi is shocked when her former high school friends show up to her job, and desperate not to let them find out what a failure she has been. When a sweet and handsome stranger, Will, steps in to save the day, Lexi is taken down a surprising path of fake engagements that she would never have expected. Can she heal from the loss of her father and open herself up to love?

I fell in love with Can’t Help Falling in Love!!! This is the perfect cozy romance for going into fall!

I’m not usually a fan of insta-love, and while the timeline did seem kind of fast, I didn’t mind with Lexi and Will. The couple just really seemed to work well together. They complimented one another very well. I love that Will and Lexi both pushed one another to be better every day and they were always stepping out of their comfort zones for one another.

One of my only complaints about this book was the third act breakup. However, it’s just my personal preference and it 100% was not a deal breaker because I enjoyed the rest of the book.

Thank you SMP Romance for my #gifted copy of Can’t Help Falling In Love! #SophieSullivan #CantHelpFallingInLove #smpromance #fallreads

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐂𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

𝟰.𝟱★

Sophie Sullivan, you have once again written an absolutely charming rom-com! I loved everything about Lexi and Will’s story! This book was perfect from start to finish. Fake engagement tropes are usually hit or miss for me, but this one was done so well and I just fell in love with Will and Lexi. I felt like the character development was just so spot on and I just really enjoyed how there was so much background to each of the main characters. Speaking of characters, this one had some amazing side characters! Sophie Sullivan is such a talented author and this book was so much fun. I loved the fall vibes and I would highly recommend this one! It was the perfect fall read!

🍎Meet Cute
🍎Opposites Attract
🍎Found Family
🍎Fall Vibes
🍎Fake Engagement
🍎The Best Side Characters
🍎Seattle Setting
🍎Grief & Healing

Posted on Goodreads on September 16, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around September 17, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on September 17, 2024
**-will post on designated date

4.25 stars

There was a lot about this book I really loved. I felt the characters were easy to connect with and felt like real people. Their struggles and fears were mostly well communicated and their instant connection didn’t feel obnoxiously insta-love. I enjoyed the fake engagement aspect while real dating so they were honest from the get about their actual feelings rather than the whole “am I fooling myself because we are faking” feeling that comes from many fake dating romances. I do think the third act breakup could’ve been avoided and could’ve gone a different and unexpected way while still being true to the characters and their feelings.

There were a couple things besides the third act breakup that felt off, fairly small things but probably should’ve been caught in editing: her favorite color in the beginning is amaranth but then later it’s pale blue (very inconsequential but the amaranth conversation kinda stood out), and the paragraph about her mothers minatures and specific romance books was the same nearly word for word in two separate chapters.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.


This is my first book by this author and it is perfect for fall. Once I got into the book I had a hard time setting it down.

This is a meet cute, sweeter romance story and it was an excellent read.

Lexi and Will’s story reads like pulling on your favorite cozy sweater. They come from opposite worlds, but when a misunderstanding turns a hilarious meet-cute into a fake engagement, leaves aren’t the only thing that start to fall. I enjoyed the progression of their relationship, and how Will supported Lexi in truly seeing her full potential. Amid apple picking, cozy flannels, and October moons an adorable love story blooms, but my favorite part of this story occurs between Lexi and her mom. Their relationship is handled with such care in the wake of a great loss, and Sophie Sullivan does a beautiful job acknowledging the moment an adult child realizes her parents are just people, too. A thoughtful, close-door romance with lots of heart.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. This book is about fake dating/engagement, friends - to -lovers, and a meet -cute that pulled at your heart. Just a sweet read that had me crying a couple of times.
I really enjoyed the characters, Lexi and Will, and how their chemistry just made the book so good. Lexi is such a mess and has no confidence and Will just helps build her confidence level up and gives her a new perspective on life and love. He is so patient and kind and helps Lexi in more ways than she knows. I love how Will's sisters just embraced Lexi from the beginning and how they help bring Will and Lexi together in a way. Ethan, Will's friend, is so funny and accepts Lexi as well and even helps by offering Lexi a job that also enhances Lexi's confidence. Gwen, Lexi's mom, tugged at my heart and how the grief from losing her husband just pushed her away and hide herself and her emotions and with Lexi and Will's relationship, it helped bring her out of the rut she was in.
Over all, this book was so good and I will definitely recommend it! Thank you NetGalley, Sophie Sullivan, and St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin for my advanced copy!

Thank you to St. Martin’s for the early copy of Can’t Help Falling in Love.

4.56 stars rounded to 5

It’s no secret around here that I am a huge fan of Sophie Sullivan books (and Jody in general!!), but this book exceeded even my high expectations!! There’s so much to love about it, but here are a few of my favorites:

- It’s filled to the brim with fall fun!! There’s apple picking, pie baking, Halloween parties. The air is crisp (and damp — it’s Seattle in the fall after all) and everything felt so vivid, like I was right there in the scene with them. This is really a testament to the power of the author’s writing — it never feels overly expository but still manages to paint a vivid portrait of the scene and setting.
- There’s an adorable meet cute followed by a fake engagement. The author puts her own spin on these well worn tropes and keeps it feeling fresh and fun.
- The love story between Will and Lexi is so sweet. THIS is why Sophie’s book are my comfort reads!
- Lexi’s journey really sets the story apart. She’s in a tough spot, dealing with her own grief, her mother’s grief, anticipatory grief, and some serious imposter syndrome. Lexi must learn and internalize the notion that grief is a part of life. If/when bad things happen, we might change, but we’ll ultimately be ok. She also learns that her value doesn’t come from what she does or where she is in life, but from who she is. The lessons she learns are lessons that I’m trying to internalize too, and the message was one that I really needed to hear. The whole book just felt like the author giving me a pep talk and I loved it.
- There’s a pivotal scene in which Lexi finally turns a corner and feels like herself again for the first time. While her relationship with Will certainly softened her heart a bit, the conversation that cements her healing is with two of her girl friends from high school. In the world of romcoms, the male leads are usually given all the credit, so I loved to see the power of female friendship on full display here.

Overall ratings
Exact star rating: 4.56
5-pt star rating: 5

Attribute ratings
Characters: 4
Atmosphere/Setting: 5
Writing Style: 4.5
Plot/Pacing: 4.5
Intrigue: 5
Logic: 3.5
Enjoyment: 5

So cute! I absolutely adored this one. Lexi is an absolute mess, utterly failing at life, and she manages to stumble into the life of her perfect match. Will is adorable and I love that he doesn't cave to his family's demands. They are so cute together! I highly recommend adding this to your autumnal TBR!

I really enjoyed the themes of healing and rediscovery in this story, was not what I expected going in but it was really beautiful! Will and Lexi have such an instant connection but there is still a good amount of tension throughout, which I thought added to my enjoyment of this story.

Watching Lexi grow into herself and find the confidence to believe in herself is something I think everyone can relate to and was the best part of this book. It is so scary to feel like you aren’t where you wanted to be, but finding a way to move on anyways. Lexi’s story really emulated this and I enjoyed it so much.

I also enjoyed how relational this book was outside the main romantic couple. Lexi’s relationship with her mom, maisie, and her high school friends along with Will, Ethan, and his sisters added so much depth to this story!

Overall such an amazing story of finding oneself and finding the love that you deserve. A sweet and steamy, not spicy, fake engagement that has the cutest text threads. The loss of a parent and grief are topics of the story.

Lexi and Will are couple’s goals. Their ability to make each other laugh and how they support each other is something that is truly special. Their banter is top notch right from the beginning. The way their relationship grows is brilliant and they have such a strong bond. The way Will makes sure Lexi knows she is beautiful and amazing and everything to him is definitely swoon worthy! And then in the other side of the same coin, Lexi is right there letting Will know that what he’s doing is right for his family and their company and even helps him figure out what else he wants from life.

Will’s sisters are great examples of supportive family members, not to mention they are pretty funny. Same goes for Maisie. The journey or grief that Lexie sees her mom, Gwen, is inspiring and graceful and breathtaking.

Overall I really enjoyed this and it was so close to a five star, but I’m just over little third act breakups. I definitely recommend this one to anyone who loves a good romance.

I usually enjoy a fake dating romance however this one didn't  seem to do it for me. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it didn't suck me in the way I would have liked. I liked the main characters, Will and Lexi, however, everything between them just felt very rushed. I loved the meet and the random "this is my fiancé" introduction that sparked their relationship, but everything after that felt fake, and not because it was, but because it happened so fast. Will fell in love with Lexi in less than a month, within days he knew she was the one.. it was very, unreal. I also despised Lexi's mother. I understand grief can be difficult to deal with, but she just seemed immature and unwilling to progress and move on. Also, the cover is a bit misleading. I thought it would've been more seasonal and fall-like, but it wasn't. I did love the family dynamic - Will's sisters were wonderful, and I loved how open and accepting they were.
Overall, I'd say this is an alright read and will do great when presented to its targeted audience, but unfortunately, it wasn't my favorite.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sophie Sullivan for this ARC.

🩷 Can’t Help Falling In Love ARC Review 🩷

Thank you so much to Sophie Sullivan and St Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read and review this book

Can’t Help Falling in Love is a standalone contemporary romance. Alexandria is trying to juggle everything - college classes, life, and a waitress job that she’s honestly not very good at. But when one of her customers is a charming man named Will, they both unexpectedly end up in a fake relationship

Overall this was a fun read. I enjoyed Will as a character and liked him a lot in this story. I felt like Lexi was kind of shallow and fixated too much on how others viewed her. She lacked confidence and only got herself together after meeting a man, which isn’t my personal favorite because I like characters to be strong on their own. But this is absolutely a “me” issue and not a book issue

Overall this was a three star read for me. I liked the general story but the female MC just wasn’t my favorite. This book did have a few potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. While this book did have a romantic plot, it was a bit of a slow burn and there wasn’t any on page spice so one flame for spice

If you’re a fan of contemporary romance with fake dating and fun banter, then absolutely pick this one up!