📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @stmartinspress for an early copy of Can’t Help Falling In Love by @authorsophiesullivan. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Release date: September 17th, 2024

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Can’t Help Falling In Love is a fake-engagement-turned-real romance between Lexi and Will, who met in the most awkward yet cute way possible. Despite how different their lives are in terms of the economic spectrum, they found themselves in a fake relationship/engagement, though they were already falling for each other despite their fake relationship status.

Lexi is a strong, independent, and determined woman, who chose to face her family’s struggles head-on. She cares and thinks of other people first before herself, most especially her mom and her needs as she handles the grief and loss of her husband, Lexi’s father, but despite that, Lexi is also very insecure about herself and thinks a lot about what people think and perceive of her. Her life changed overnight when she met Will, Seattle’s most eligible bachelor, and they found themselves pretending to be engaged at one of Lexi’s high school friend’s engagement party. They both insist that whilst they were pretending to be engaged, their developing feelings for each other are real. I felt wary about this portion of the story, because while some love-at-first-sight stories feel so real and intimate, I’m not sure about Lexi and Will’s, though as their relationship progressed, I was rooting for them – their romance (although a bit frustrating due to Lexi’s POV about her insecurities) was adorable and sweet.

What shined for me the most in this book though was Lexi’s mom, Gwen’s growth. She was initially described as closed off, sad, and almost always asleep, only accompanied by her romance novels and the figures she creates depicting scenes from those novels. She was still grieving the death of her husband after several years and refused to leave her house, but after seeing Lexi putting herself out there once more and socializing, I was happy for her when she found her strength to live again rather than just keep on existing.

Can’t Help Falling In Love is a swoony, fall-themed, fake relationship romance. Pick it up when it releases on the 17th!

4 ⭐️ 1 🌶️

Read As An Arc

🍂 Awkward Meet Cute
🍂 Fake Engagement
🍂 Opposites Attract
🍂 He Falls First
🍂 Found Family
🍂 Open Communication
🍂 FMC Has Commitment Issues


I really enjoyed this book despite some of the quirkiness, but that is something that can be easily overseen!

Their meet cute is at a restaurant and awkward.. but so damn cute! It’s how their whole story begins being publicly engaged (fake engagement) while then deciding to actually date. Lexi and Will are great together! They literally can’t help falling in love with each other!

This book felt like a more genuine read than most with this kind of plot, and well written with realistic and relatable characters and their worries/stresses. Lexi has way too much on her plate — kind of reminds me of 2 broke girls vibes and then entering Will, a rich bachelor.

One thing that could have been better and a bit more was the spice. There is little to no spice. Don’t get me wrong, this book is great without it already but with it, and some tweaks, this could have been a 5 star for me.

Overall, this is a cute, fun and cozy read, especially if you want that PSL, sitting on the couch vibe in the fall. A great read, and totally worth your reading time!




* Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

As soon as I got through the first two chapters of this book, I knew it would be a 5 star read! I absolutely loved both of these main characters. Lexi is a smart, hard-working, loyal daughter who has made her mom a priority for the last three years. She loves fiercely, though still deals with her own grief, both for her father and for the life she thought she'd be living. Will was the kindest man, a good brother, son and grandson who just wants to work hard and do what's best for his family's company while also trying to make his own life a priority for once. The chemistry and sweet feelings between the two of them made me smile all throughout the book. And the Fall/Autumn ambiance was top-knotch! Apple picking, crisp weather, Halloween party. It had it all! I highly recommend this one if you're looking for a sweet, cozy romance that has depth, emotion and amazing character growth.

Can’t Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
🔥 - kissing only

[ thank you @smpromance for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own! ]

PUB DATE: September 17, 2024 (out soon!)

THOUGHTS:

I immediately fell in love with book because of that cover! I mean, look at it! It’s perfection! 😍

This was such a charming romance book. I savored it every time I picked it up. I got lost in the story. Will & Lexi were the cutest!

Will was so swoon worthy and kind. Lexi was fiercely independent and strong. I loved both their characters and their journeys.

This book was full of heart warming moments, grief, healing and hope. It has all the emotions but still is uplifting and charming!

Overall, the perfect fall book. I can’t wait to tackle Sullivan’s backlist titles now. ❤️

The leaves are falling and so are Will and Lexi 🍂🥰 This was the perfect, heartfelt love story to read this time of year. It will seriously get you in all the fall feels!

While they come from different backgrounds, Will and Lexi end up in the same predicament: a fake engagement 💍 I’m a big fan of the fake dating trope, and thought Sullivan did it in a very unique way! From their meet-cute to the misunderstanding surrounding their relationship status to how and when they develop real feelings… it all just flowed seamlessly to me.

Will is an easy book boyfriend to fall in love with 😍 He’s so supportive and down to earth despite his billionaire (with a b) status. He’s showing up for Lexi in all the right ways and pushes her to see herself through his eyes and a new lense… although she’s admittedly stubborn (and a bit dramatic) as she works towards that point 😂

I loved the character depth to both our love interests as they navigated family relationships too. At a deeper level, I got a lot out of the theme of learning to let go and to accept that things and people change. It’s not what you’ve done or accomplished but who you are now and the person you’re trying to be that matters most. Such a good message that resonated with me as I’m finding who I am in this season of life as a mom compared to the version of myself I used to be 🥹

Taking a look at the atmosphere, I thought the fall details made this book even better. It’s like a holiday Hallmark movie but make it fall (and not as cheesy!) 🍁 From crisp weather, sweaters and seasonal beer flights to apple picking and Halloween parties/candy, this book brought out all the tricks and treats that make this season special 🎃🍎

Absolutely going to be picking up a physical, finished copy of this after pub day because I loved it so much! Will have to also get some of Sophie Sullivan’s backlist to read more of her work ❤️ 4.5 shining stars!

This was cute. Will and Lexie have undeniable chemistry. I was surprised at the end that her friends Jackie and Becca ended up having some depth, though, because they seemed quite shallow the rest of the book. But maybe that was intentional based on how Lexie saw them. I also thought Will's mother's change of heart was a bit easy and sudden. I loved Gwen and Maisie and the other side characters, though. The third act break up was super extra predictable and I skimmed that part. But over all, a good read.

Can't Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan

Lexi Danbyis doing her best to keep herself from drowning, she's finally seeing a little light at the end of the tunnel. The last thing she wants is to admit she's failing. When she's faced with whether to admit she's a waitress or pretend to know the random guy at one of her tables, yep she goes for the lie. And what would hopefully be a shortlived fib snowballs, of course.

Will Grand is surprised, but not put off by the unfolding events. He's willing to keep up the farce if it means he actually has a chance to get to know Lexi better. He sees her strength, even though she sees only the cracks and the delays. Now he has to see if he can open her eyes to the person she is, rather than her only seeing herself through the lens of all the losses and hiccups she's had to go through.

This is an opposites attract and fake relationship trope.
So if that's not your cup of tea, you probably won't fall in love with the book.

I also could not help falling in love with these adorable MCs. Stayed up until I finished reading in less than a day. Adorable meet cute and one of the best fake dating/fiancé books I’ve read.

Well this was just the cutest fall rom com!

Lexi and Will have a hilariously adorable meet cute, end up in a fake dating situation, and quickly decide to actually date, all while dealing with their own family and work woes. The whole thing is set in the fall months in Seattle, with apple picking and Halloween costumes and even Thanksgiving dinner involved, making this a perfect seasonal read.

Lexi’s character development from the start to the end of the book is fantastic, as she goes from a young woman feeling like she can’t do anything right to a woman who feels pride and joy in the family and life she is building. It is aspirational for anyone who has ever felt stuck in place, wishing things could change, until they one day realize they can make those changes themself. Her relationship with Will is pretty insta lovey, and it is adorable. A closed door romance, but one with plenty of chemistry between the lead characters.

I’m hoping this is book one in a series and maybe the best friends are up next? The cast of side characters is incredible and Sullivan could tell us so many more stories about this clan!

Thank you St Martins Press for the arc. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book!! I had such a good time reading it and seeing Lexi and Will fall in love🥹 they were so cute together and seeing her fall no matter how hard she wanted to avoid it was adorable!

Will was such a cinnamon roll! Where can I find someone like him😭 He was Lexi’s biggest supporter and always made sure she knew how much she was worth and I loved that so much! He wouldn’t let her pull herself down and always celebrated her achievements, no matter how small!

And Lexi was such a strong woman! She had to deal with so much, not only with her dad’s death and the events that ensued, but also with her mom’s subsequent depression. She was so hardworking and though these events definitely changed the timeline she had in mind back in high school, she never gave up and continued fighting for what she wanted. Seeing her understand herself and those around her better as she healed and fell in love with Will was heartwarming and heartbreaking at times but seeing her ultimately get her happy ending was amazing!

I also loved the conversations about all the different versions of ourselves and how we deal with events such as loss and just growing up in general! Similarly, the discussions about how we only let people see what we want them to see which might sometimes paint a not very accurate picture of our lives was really interesting and important.

Overall, an amazing read! Definitely worth checking out.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely adored this book. A fall must read for sure! From the start I connected to these characters. Their awkward yet sweet meet cute had me giggling.

Lexi is kinda dabbling in all the things while also going to school and trying to care for her mom. She quickly realizes her weakness at work but they land her right into the presence of Will. He is the sweetest man. Not seeing her hiccups as flaws but instead as determination and grit. The way he supports Lexi and connects with her just melted me. Their banter seriously kept me cackling.

There's lots of things going on with these two. Death of a parent and trying to move forward in life and cope. Dealing with family that you work with and their criticism. I got teary eyed so many times. Sometimes because it really was such a sad situation. Others because the resolution was so beautiful.

On top of absolutely loving these two this book encompasses so many other characters in their lives. The circle of people that they each have at their side is the best. I could touch on so many people but I have to mention Maisie. She is Lexi's best friend and let me tell you this girl is utterly amazing. She is a best friend that so many people long to have. She's supportive, hilarious, but also will check you and put you in your place. I just loved her!

An all-around fantastic story. I was not ready for it to be over but the ending did wrap up in the perfect way.

📚ARC Review📚

Can’t Help Falling In Love ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Struggling at her waitressing job, Lexi notices a cute guy setting at one of her tables. When her old high school friends show up, Will helps Lexi by pretending to be her finance, since she’s embarrassed to have them see her. She was a track star in high school and got a full college scholarship but life had other plans and now she’s working two jobs trying to pay for her last college semester. While she’s thankful that Will helped out then, it has now escalated into a much bigger problem. As they navigate the fake engagement, they realize their feelings are real.

This was such a cute story! It was a dual point of view and told in third person. It’s also is a closed door romance but with tons of swoon worthy moments. I loved Will and Lexi’s characters and their relationship. The side characters were also great and hoping we get to have a story about Ethan and Maisie. A perfect fall read.


This book will be available on September 17, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

I have loved every Sophie Sullivan book I've read, and this one was no different! I was a little nervous in the beginning because I got hung up on the fact that Lexi was working a job she was so incredibly bad at. It seemed a little too ridiculous and far fetched, but I was really sold when she met Will. I absolutely adored Will from the beginning. He was so funny, sweet, and caring. Watching their relationship grown was my favorite thing and the banter was just *chef's kiss.* I ate this one up!

This a perfect fall read and great for fans of witty banter, double POV, fake dating, and friends to lovers.

Can't Help Falling in Love is yet another sweet love story from Sophie Sullivan. Featuring two wonderful characters in Lexi and Will, I really enjoyed their very unexpected romance and how they maneuvered the roadblocks thrown in their way. With Will Grand being successful, rich and very handsome (of course!), Lexi had every insecurity come to the surface as the struggling waitress/student never felt good enough for the world around her.

Their meet-cute was adorable as Will helps Lexi while she's waitressing, pretending to be her fiance in front of old high school friends. From there, both feel more than they should considering they know nothing about the other but with persistence from good friends and from their own hearts, things get serious and fast!

The book is a great respite from heavier reads and it was super easy to get engaged with the story and the characters. Will and Lexi just have that rare connection that is hard to resist and it was lovely to see both of them find something special when they had to pretend to be engaged, of all things, for both the public and their closest friends and family.

As both fall in love for real, Sullivan doesn't make it too hard for Lexi to realize her worth as she is forever questioning why a man like Will would want to be with her. There is no real steam...more like fade to black yet there are plenty of small yet very romantic moments that can still make a reader sigh. Although for me, I would've liked at least one scene that really showed their passion for one another.

A few missteps with regard to editing (i.e. Lexi was wearing jeans and yet then was wiping her hands on her dress?) didn't take away from the story and since I read an early version, I'll assume everything will be fixed for publishing. I'm happy to have gotten the chance to read this author's work once again and look forward to more.

3.5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful book. I enjoyed it a lot!

This is the perfect book to snuggle up with on a rainy day. It's set in Seattle and we all know how rainy they say it is there. :)

Cute and happy, that's how I'd describe the story. Sure, there are elements that aren't cute and happy, but the overall theme is adorable.

The two main characters are just about perfect together, and apart. Aside from their families, that is. :)

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Can’t Help Falling In Love- 4.5 Stars:
This is such a sweet and feel-good book. Lexi and Will’s meet cute is to die for and I like the mix of a fake engagement and a real relationship. It creates a different trajectory for the story than the other fake dating books I’ve read. Lexi and Will are perfect not only together but as characters. Lexi is funny, nice, helpful, and smart, which is everything I want to be, and Will is observant, kind, can hold a joke, and patient, which makes him the perfect boyfriend. It’s clear he is interested in Lexi from the get-go and it’s attractive that he knows how he feels for her. The plot is fun, but also has its fair share of serious real-life issues like both the main characters’ relationships with their parents. However, the pacing did feel a little slow. This book is a most read for any fluffy romance lovers.

This review is posted on my Instagram on September 8, 2024

I enjoyed Can't Help Falling in Love. Lexi is holding on by a thread. She's working two jobs and stinks at the second job, being a waitress. The job is only temporary while she works to pay for her last college class before getting her degree. Life has thrown her some curve balls and derailed the plans she set out for her life. She gets a glimpse of old friends from high school and is embarrassed to let them see how little she's accomplished. A fake engagement is the outcome of her embarrassment, and things quickly get out of hand from there.

I enjoyed the story, but the pacing was slower than necessary, imo. The pacing is the only thing that didn't work for me and is the only thing that kept it from being five stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This book is super cute. I love every minute of reading it. This is second chance academic kind of rivals. There are some plot conveniences that track well for the rom com style story, but I devoured this book.

I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a fun fall read that doesn't require much thinking.

I love that they were forced to work in the same space and that their close proximity relationship grew into love. They really make such an adorable couple. They navigated the mishaps and just the messiness of life and turned all that around into something really beautiful.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

I was provided the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel by the publisher, author and NetGalley.

This novel was such a cute and fun fall read. In this novel Lexi is a hard working determined woman who isn’t afraid to chase what she wants. Will is a handsome, sweet and very charming man whom most girls dream of meeting. This was a fun fake engagement/dating novel. Highly recommend this one for anyone looking for a light read.

This was my first Sophia Sullivan novel as well and it was very well written.