I ADORED this book. Read it in two sittings and cried at the end. I loved that it didn’t shy away from messy emotions. I related to so many of Lexi’s fears along with her mom’s grief, and was so proud of all her growth. Lexi is a hot mess in the best way and Will was a DOLL. I enjoy some spice but I’m always impressed when authors can build such a deep connection between the characters with all the spice off page. The romance was a whirlwind and I was here for all of it.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5⭐️

Meet Cute
Fake Engagement
He Falls first and harder
Closed Doors

Thank you to St Martins Press, Sophie Sullivan & Netgalley for the eARC!

I adored this book from the first chapter witch such a sweet meet-cute. This is a perfect light, fun fall rom-com. It does have themes of grief in the book. Our MC Lexi has lost her father in the past and struggles with how her mom is coping from the lost. Lexi had put her college life on hold to help fix business/money issues from her father's passing and feels like she is stuck in life and has been left behind. Cue her working a couple jobs including one as a waitress where she meets MMC Will. Will is just perfect. I swooned over how quickly he knew she was the one and how he saw Lexi for more than she saw herself. The side character is this book are great and I am hoping that we get to see a few of them in their own books!

This is a very heartwarming book and I highly recommend for anyone looking for a sweet romance.

Ugh....this came off as promising and I really wanted to like it. I felt the FMC was unbearable - she annoyed me the whole book. I did think the book had some Hallmark vibes but it was just too cheesy for my taste.

This was cute, but I found the book a little slow.

The main characters were cute, but I found the FMC to be very frustrating. She has a lot of emotional issues and family-driven trauma, and it definitely seems like she’s not in a place to be in a relationship.

I liked the side characters, and the story did a good job balancing the different sides. There’s also a great first chapter that gets you hooked right from the start of the book.

This book had my least favorite version of a third act breakup, because you’re scared of loving someone “too much and they could die on you”, which personally I find hard to read - but it didn’t last long.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 Stars for Can’t Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan

Lexi is in survival mode since her dad passed away 3 years ago. He left her and her mom unknowingly with a mountain of debt and a lot of pieces to put back together. While trying to make ends meet at her second job, she unexpectedly meets Will who steps in as the white knight in an awkward, unexpected, high school reunion. Then it’s her turn to return the favor when news breaks of they’re unknowingly fake engagement!

A classic trope, with a twist! Sophie writes a compelling love story- both with falling in love as well as loving the versions of yourself. I wanted some more character development and background, and an explanation of how Lexi’s dad passed away. Overall this book is a good, fun read with heart.

My first Sophie Sullivan, and definitely not my last!

Fall weather + fake dating = perfection

The characters were so real and raw, and I went on a complete emotional journey with them. Definitely recommend this fall rom com!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for my ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted so much to like this book. It had all the makings to be one of my favourites - fall weather tropes and the fake dating trope, I was like sign me up! However, this, unfortunately, fell very flat for me. The book started off very well but then veered too much towards having Hallmark movie vibes (nothing against them - they're just not for me!). It ended up being too saccharine, too insta-lovey and too unrealistic for me. I did appreciate the author's attempt at exploring grief and family dynamics of those that are left behind. All in all, I had a bit of a difficult time with the pacing and feeling a connection with the characters. If you enjoy a quicker progression in the romance aspect and tend to enjoy something with less of a "true" conflict, this could be an enjoyable read.

A sweet fake engagement to lovers romance with good characters in Lexi and Will. Lexi and Will meet cute and an impulsive invite leads to a bigger issue when it's assumed they are engaged. Lexi's dealing with grief, which deepens the story. Will is almost too good to be true- he's rich, he's nice, he's helpful. It's got nice atmospherics (Sullivan leans in hard on autumn) and while there isn't really any spice, that's ok. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. An easy positive read.

This book felt like a warm hug. It was funny, but sad. The characters felt so human, so real. I related so much to Lexi and I loved how she found her perfect match in Will. He was also such a sweetie. The last chapter had me sobbing. A beautiful heartwarming MUST read for fall.

**Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!**

2.5 stars rounded up!

This book started out really fun and interesting, especially since I can be a sucker for a good fake dating plot but it fell off pretty much after the first third of the book. The characterization was focused so much on Lexi's issues with her dad and his death that it didn't really allow for anything else (don't get me started on Lexi's mom - it was very clear she was depressed but I guess not???). There was also very little characterization for Will even in his own POV chapters. Otherwise it was a cute read, I liked their relationship even if it was the definition of instalove lol

This book was simple and sweet! It was enjoyable but pretty basic. The characters were sweet but simple. I enjoyed the read but was not very invested. It is also a fade-to-black romance like Sophie Sullivan's other books (which is neither good nor bad, just neutral). I liked the other book I read by her so I am still looking forward to her next novel, but this one was just fine.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Great chemistry, if a little too insta-love for me. I liked that Lexi was hard working and resilient, even if she wasn't great at her job. The friendships between Lexi and Maissie, and Lexi and Drew's sisters add a lot to the story. I would have liked to better understand what happened with her dad and the financial fallout, I also found the emphasis on her as a track star needed a bit more backstory if it was so much a part of her identity.

Thank you so much NetGalley for sending me an arc of this book! I loved this so much and I need the world to know it 🗣️🗣️🗣️

Tropes:
-fake dating
-meet cute
-found family

Lexi is the world’s worst waitress. (Sorry, but it’s true 🤣🤣) She needs this job due to some financial issues that came up after her father passed away. While she was at work a few of her friends from high school came in and she freaked out because she didn’t want them to know she was a waitress. That’s when our MMC, Will, swoops in to save the day saying they’re together.

I really enjoyed this book because it was so cute! Will and his sisters are so sweet, loving, and wholesome. I love how they accept Lexi with open arms. Also, I love how friendly her highschool friends were. I was expecting them to be catty, but they were also so kind!
Will is ultimate “book boyfriend” material. The way he constantly reassures Lexi throughout the book is EVERYTHING!!!

If you need a light hearted book that will make you laugh and then cry happy tears because of how sweet it is, this is the book for you! This is everything a contemporary romance should be!

I really hope this is book one in an interconnected series. I would love to see a book following Gwen’s potential relationship and maybe Maisie’s relationship as well!

Thank you again for the opportunity to read this delightful story!!!!

Such a fun cute read. Fall in the PNW really had me missing me seasons!
Lexi and Will end up in a fake dating/fake engagement situation. I loved their banter, their chemistry, their easy friendship. As always Sophie does strong female friendships so well. I can’t wait to see where this series goes!

DNF @57%✨
Okay I truly loved everything about the first 15%. Was such a fun meet cute, but then it got BEYONDDD cheesy for me and I am wondering what is keeping them in this fake engagement, like why not tell the people around you you’re just dating…. Idk I am not down for cheesy lines every page. Overall cute and well written just not my fav!

When reading the summary for <i>Can't Help Falling in Love</i>, I was really excited to see where it would go, but unfortunately this one fell a bit flat for me. The fake dating and/or fake engagement trope is usually one I enjoy in romance, but I was unable to truly get into this book and had a bit of a difficult time with the pacing and feeling a connection with the characters. I do however appreciate the fresh take on the fake dating trope and the fall vibes. If you enjoy a quicker progression in the romance aspect and tend to enjoy raw characters that are a bit more messy than others this could be an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the eARC!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the E-ARC. I may or may not have stayed up too late to read this but guess what I have No Ragrets. This is not my first book and I loved the other book as well. I loved Will and Lexie. I enjoyed reading the complexity of Lexie because grief can do that to you there we so many steps and just seeing her growth from the start to the end was just precious. I loved so much about the MMC he was just perfection. This book was such a fast and easy read you just get caught up and want to keep reading. I gave myself 1 hour to read and I ended up reading for 3 until I finished.

This book held so much promise, but just missed the mark for me. I see what the author was trying to do, but it just didn’t work. Will was too perfect (his only flaws are past things that are casually referenced to remind us that he’s a human. Lexi is sweet and lovable, but her constant “juggling” of responsibilities, yet always being able to fit more in doesn’t seem plausible to me. There were also a few inconsistencies (minor details) that just brought me out of the story. Overall, a decent read, I just don’t think it lived up to its potential.

4⭐️ 0.5🌶️
This is a cozy story about Lexi a former track star struggling to make ends meet as a waitress. She is strong, and independent maybe to fault. Who meets a handsome stranger named Will who turns out to be a major bachelor who inherited a company. Will is so sweet and charming. This story gave major hallmark movie vibes, and has some grief representation. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and thought it was a great read to start the almost fall season.

3⭐️

A billionaire/fake dating romance.
This story follows Lexi and Will. Lexi works two jobs, goes to school and takes care of her grieving mother. Will if the CFO of his families company and is being hounded by his mother to find a wife.

After meeting Will at one of Lexi’s jobs, friends from Lexi’s past show up and mistake Will as Lexi’s fiancé. They agree to keep us the ruse so that Lexi can save face with her friends and Will can get his mom off his back.

This was really cute and I LOVED the fall vibes. I also really liked Wills friends and sisters.

I just wish it went deeper and there was more substance. This felt very surface level and very much insta love.

*Thank you St. Martins Press for giving me this ARC in exchange for and honest review*

Will be posting on TikTok, Instagram, and Goodreads ASAP
Will