I absolutely loved this book! I could picture Side Tap, the beautiful PNW. I loved that Lexi was stuck & trying to find herself. That her friends and family backed her up & helped her get through it. Can’t wait to recommend to my friends!

Can’t Help Falling in Love promises all the ingredients for a perfect fall rom-com: a charming meet-cute, a fake engagement, and a whirlwind romance set against the backdrop of pumpkin patches and cozy flannels. It’s the kind of book you want to curl up with on a crisp autumn day, maybe with a pumpkin spice latte in hand—if you can overlook a few quirks.

Let’s talk about Lexi and Will, our leads. Lexi is juggling way too much for any one person—grieving mom, college, and a job that sounds like it’s straight out of a slapstick comedy. Enter Will, who’s not just any guy but Seattle’s most eligible bachelor with a family business to run. Their first date? A rom-com disaster waiting to happen, and of course, it does. One party later, and suddenly they’re in a fake engagement that’s somehow more believable than most of the real ones on reality TV.

Now, while the plot hits all the right rom-com notes, the writing sometimes hits...well, a few wrong ones. The pronoun shifts can be jarring. One minute we’re getting a third-person view of Lexi’s thoughts, and the next, it’s like the narrator is talking directly to her. It’s the literary equivalent of a record scratch—just when you’re getting into the flow, you’re pulled out by a sudden “you” where a “she” should be. It’s the kind of thing that makes you do a double-take, and not in a good way. Hopefully, someone with a red pen will come along and smooth out those transitions.

Despite the occasional narrative whiplash, there’s a lot to like here. The chemistry between Lexi and Will is believable, and the fake engagement trope is used in a way that’s both fun and full of tension. Watching Lexi navigate Will’s glamorous world while trying to keep her feet on the ground adds a nice layer of conflict. And let’s not forget the fall vibes—the setting is like a Pinterest board come to life, with just the right amount of seasonal charm.

Can’t Help Falling in Love is a fun, flirty read, despite the awkward pronoun shifts. It’s the literary equivalent of stepping on a rake in the middle of a charming pumpkin patch—distracting, but not enough to ruin the whole experience. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted romance with a side of autumnal aesthetic, this one’s worth a read—just be prepared for a few bumps along the way.

Can’t Help Falling in Love is a dual POV fake engagement romance. Lexi and Will meet at her waitressing job and a series of small miscommunications snowballs until people believe they’re engaged. Rather than correct the story Will convinces Lexi to play along, and go out with him for real. But Lexi is determined to guard her heart and avoid falling in love at all costs!

What a fun fall-themed book! This was a closed-door romance so no real spice but a lot of heart. I really enjoyed Lexi and Will’s story.


Read dates: 08/08/2024 - 08/10/2024
Goodreads review: 08/10/2024
Instagram review: 08/10/2024
Blog review: 09/17/2024

3.5 ⭐️
One fade to black/non explicit scene, a little bit of swearing
Pub date: September 17th

The last 25-30% of this really sold for me. Everything comes together in a really nice way and I enjoyed the themes and lessons that are explored. Some of it was really relatable to me. It did feel a tad rushed but honestly the deeper/emotional parts were still probably the best part(s) of the book. It touches on grief, loss, moving on/letting go, coping with change, and what happens when life doesn’t turn out how you expect it too.

Everything else was just kind of okay. The characters and general vibes feel very similar to Sophie Sullivan’s other books. Some scenes felt kind of dragged out and I wish we had gotten more of an explanation about what happened with her dad. It feels like she isn’t grieving for him at all, though she feels the weight of his choices while he was alive and the impact of his death on her mom. The romance was okay. Writing was okay.

An ARC copy of this book was provided to me by St.Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own

A very cute and fun romance. I enjoyed this and plan to read Sophie’s other books as well. Thank you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lexi Danby was a high school track star with her whole future ahead of her. Since her father passed away, she has been struggling to pay back his debt and trying to help her grieving mother get back to a new normal. She is attending classes to finish her degree and working two jobs, one as a waitress and failing spectacularly. When her high school friends show up at the diner flaunting their perfect," have it all together" lives, she lands herself in a fake relationship with one of her customers. A miscommunication on their first fake date leads to a fake engagement neither of them can talk their way out of.

Will Grand is one of Seattle’s most eligible bachelors. When he comes to Lexi’s rescue at the diner, he sees it as an opportunity to get his matchmaking mother to butt out of his personal life. Between trying his best to deal with a rocky company merger and trying to convince Lexi that they should turn their fake relationship into a real one, he has his work cut out for him.

This fake engagement, dual POV romance had me absolutely hooked from the beginning and I devoured it in one day.

Sophie Sullivan has a way with words that just makes you fall in love with every single one of her characters and this book is no exception. The overarching theme was great, and I loved to see Lexi and Will work through the ups and downs together.

Came for the cozy fall vibes and that's definitely what I got! The romance itself wasn't the most exciting, but I still had a great time with this characters!

Such a fun read! When Lexi sits down at Will's table (instead of doing what should as his waitress) their lives change forever. From strangers to mistaken fiancés, all of a sudden Lexi and Will are thrust into a relationship.

The story fun to read, and filled with dialogue - love that! Will is an all around great guy and I loved that he fell first. Lexi was independent and strong, used to handling everything. The story was cute and kept me entertained the entire time. Definitely a must read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very quick read and it was definitely a mindless read. You didn't need to really pay attention to read it.

I could see where the author was taking the story but I feel like it wasn't done to it's full potential.
I did really enjoy the tension and banter between the two characters. Also, fake dating and he falls first are some of my favorite tropes.

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press for the arc for an honest review.

I will read anything Sophie writes! I love her writing style, and this one did not disappoint. In fact, it might be my favorite so far. Lexi is juggling work, school, and family. Will appears to have his life together, but he’s missing one thing. A committed relationship. They fall into a fake engagement, and then decide to see where it goes. These two opposites discover feelings they never expected, and have to decide if a life together is worth it. With real-life dilemmas, supportive friends, and family drama, this love story is one I’ll not soon forget. I can’t wait for more from Sophie Sullivan!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This is a cute, closed door romance story that was the perfect weekend read for me. I loved the slow burn romance as well as the slow reawakening of the female MC's confidence. This 2 POV story left me smiling. Sullivan has now become one of my must-read romance authors.

What a cute read!

Lexi Danby's life is a juggling act. After dropping out of college to take care of her mom, she's trying to make ends meet and finish school.

She meets Will Grand, a handsome stranger who just might be the distraction she needs. But their first date turns into a fake engagement.

This book was a super cute and easy read! I loved the fake dating trope and the slow-burn romance between Lexi and Will.

Their relationship was sweet and fun to watch unfold!

If you love fake dating and slow-burn romance, this book is for you!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author Sophie Sullivan for letting me read along with reviewing this advanced readers copy. This was a three star heartfelt romance read that releases Tuesday September 17th 2024. This was the first book I have read by the author Sophie Sullivan and really enjoyed this novel Can't Help Falling In Love. The chemistry between Lexi and Will was great, with these two coming from growing up opposite then the other it's interesting how different they are; along with how it's shaped the two main characters.

📖 3.5 ⭐️ All-around this book is really sweet and easy to get wrapped up in. I really enjoyed Will and Lexi’s story. I enjoyed the depth of the characters and their backstories and felt the author did a great job seamlessly intertwining their stories together.

I took a half star off for the overuse of the word “bestie.” Had Sullivan used it with such vigor for the entirety of the book like she did in the first 20% I truly would not have finished it. We get it, they are best friends! After the first 7 times it is said, it just becomes cringy.

My only other critique is the sped in which they fixed their issues. I feel like the drama was a little unnecessary, but I understand why it was written the way it was.

Despite my issues with the writing, it really would make for a fun, cozy Fall read!

Thank you to St. Martin Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story felt so wholesome! I loved the fall PNW vibes and the main character Lexi was a track and field athlete! I was surprised by how quick and into the story I became, although fake dating is always a favorite trope of mine! I really enjoyed the friendships and family relationships in the story as well. But the best part is how fantastic Will is. Definitely looking into other Sophie Sullivan books now!

Pros: The characters, the trope, the banter, the plot.
Cons: Lack of tension, flimsy ending, horribly placed F-bombs.
Bottom line: This could have been SO much better! But it wasn't.

You can’t help falling in love with this book! There’s nothing that makes me smile more than a love story with engaging writing, amazing characters, and a beautiful plot.

Lexi is trying to make ends meet while working two jobs and going to college, and Will is dealing with the pressures of the family business. When Lexi and Will make a deal to concoct a fake relationship to help each other out, in no time their attraction becomes much more than they bargained for.

Will and Lexi are an unlikely couple who are easy to like and root for. From the start, they have a comfortable companionship making each other laugh and championing their strengths through life’s ups and downs. Will is kind, charming, and intoxicating with his amazing compliments and breathless intimate moments that made my knees weak. Lexi’s imperfections and struggles add depth to her character, making her journey all the more compelling. Overall, their strengths and weaknesses complement each other, creating a balance that is a joy to witness.

Ms. Sullivan’s writing is superb from the adorable meet-cute to the slow-burn fake relationship where they actually take the time to get to know each other. Sullivan is also a master at creating engaging supporting characters who complemented the protagonists and connected with this reader.

I highly recommend this memorable heartwarming romantic story with an adorable couple, a beautiful setting in Seattle, and a delightful happy ever after.

Thank you to Ms. Sullivan for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

i really liked wills characters he was rally a sweet heart.the story it's self was just heart warming.the chemistry between them is so good .

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

3.5 stars
The meet cute was perfect! Great way to begin the story. I loved Will immediately and could picture him like I was watching him on film. There was a lot of humor and I loved Maisie and the sisters. I wish Lexi's mom, Gwen, hadn't been such a big part of the story. Her character really brought things down, and I get why she was the way she was, but it went on for too long. Also, and this is a pet peeve in any book, a child is not responsible for a parent's debts when the parent dies. Yet this is such a big part of Lexi's back story, and sure, it's fiction, but again, that dragged down the emotions and took me right out of the story. I wish that time had been spent on Lexi and Will. And for two people who are such hard workers (which is mentioned numerous times), they sure don't seem to work all that much. The part about Lexi taking classes could be removed from the story altogether - she talks about having to interview someone and having a paper due, but we don't see any of that. The two of them seem to manage a lot of time together, which is great for the story, but opposite of how they're described. I would recommend this but I was a little disappointed.

Can't Help Falling in Love is the story of Lexi and Will and has a fake dating trope. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy. Lexi and Will meet by chance when she is waiting tables at a Seattle restaurants, and he ends up at her table. They hit it off and end up in a fake dating then fake engagement situation. Their feelings grow and they end up wanting to be in an actual relationship. I liked this book due to the character's chemistry. Sullivan develops both characters well, and the story is really touching. There are some serious themes in the book, such as family conflict, grief and mental health issues. I really loved Lexi's character and her independence. The book took me a while to get through, but I enjoyed it overall.