Member Reviews
I have tried Sophie Sullivan’s work before and wasn’t super impressed, but I was hoping this would be better. I was wrong. The characters were very bland and unbelievable. The instant attraction was cringey, especially from Will’s pov and the conflict seemed just plain silly. This was just not the book for me. I don’t think I will be reading any more of Sullivan’s work. Sorry.
Thank you to the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and St. Martin's Press for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.
Read this book if you like: Dual pov, fake dating, closed door
This was so good. It was a bit too on the perfect side at times. The MMC needed some flaws. It was very sweet and funny. I highly recommend this!
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.
Sophie Sullivan has a way of creating such endearing characters that you truly cheer for! In "Can't Help Falling in Love" we have Lexi who has selflessly given so much after her life has totally derailed to take care of her grieving mother. From giving up her track career and education, to working two jobs to make ends meet. Will is a rich, eligible bachelor and his family owns a major company he is part of. His mother is constantly trying to fix him up with debutants she deems worthy of the family's standards. Throw in a meet-cute, strangers with an instant connection, fake engagement that turns real! Both Lexi and Will have a deep emotional depth beyond the cuteness of their relationship. I enjoyed how supportive the two are to each other and ironically, how "real" they could be given they were faking the engagement. Their relationship felt easy and real even if it was a little too quick.
Another hit romance from Sophie Sullivan! She never disappoints!!
4 stars
After reading two chapters, I made sure to buy the book because I already knew I wanted it part of my collection. That’s how much I loved it.
Sophie Sullivan’s writing is as familiar and cozy as ever in this fall rom-com. Like her other novels, you get the same fade-to-black scenes, while still being able to feel the passion between the characters on the pages.
Life hasn’t turned out the way that Lexi had always pictured. She is 25 and still finishing her degree, trying to help her mom stay afloat, and working a job as a waitress that she isn’t good at. This theme of being in a different place in life than you thought you’d be continues throughout and I thought it was such a good message that I, and many others need to hear. The people who care about us don’t care about our accolades or how successful we are, they just care about us.
Will was a dream love interest. While I wish some of his flaws were highlighted and explored more, I loved getting his point of view and seeing him take care of Lexi, when she has had to take care of things herself for so long. Witnessing him falling first, and hard, was delightful and entertaining.
As someone who is from Seattle, reading this book with the city during autumn in the background allowed me to feel like I was back in the city with beautiful foliage all around me. It made me miss the autumn season, pumpkin spice, and the cool, rainy weather of Washington State.
This was my first book by Sophie Sullivan and I'm so excited to read more. I really liked this one. Will was the perfect MMS and I love a fake engagement trope. I liked the growth that Lexi made throughout the book. I was rooting for her the whole time! The chemistry between Will and Lexi was so believable and written so well for closed door. Can't wait to read more from this author!
3.75! Enjoyed it, it didn't really stand out to me like crazy like nothing jaw dropping happened so I wasn't obsessed but i did enjoy it still!
This is a cute story about Lexi who is stuck in her life and feels like she is a failure. Will is working for his families company and trying to dodge his mothers attempts at setting him up. Will and Lexi meet when she was his waitress. Some of her successful high school friends come in the restaurant and to avoid serving them and them finding out that she works there she sits down with Will. Things escalate and somehow they are perceived as engaged. They continue to see each other playing along with the lie, eventually falling for each other.
Can’t Help Falling in Love is such a heartwarming, cozy fall read that had me laughing and tearing up within the same chapter. This books main aspect is the FMC overcoming her grief of losing her father. The grief storyline was very well written & so poignant that it made me cry many of times. Lexi and Will were perfect for each other, I couldn’t get enough of them. This was my first Sophie Sullivan book I’ve read & I’m looking forward to reading more of her work!
I couldn’t put down Can't Help Falling in Love! Sophie Sullivan’s heartwarming storytelling and charming characters make this novel an absolute joy to read. Set in the captivating world of family, friendship, and unexpected romance, this book beautifully balances humor with emotional depth.
Our heroine, Juliet, is a relatable and strong-willed character, determined to avoid love after being hurt before. But when she crosses paths with Noah, her plans get turned upside down in the most delightful way. Their chemistry is undeniable from the start, and watching their relationship evolve felt genuine and swoon-worthy.
What I loved most about this book is how the romance unfolds naturally, without feeling rushed. The side characters are just as engaging, adding layers of warmth and humor to the story. Sullivan’s writing is fresh and witty, making the novel a perfect escape for romance lovers.
Overall, Can't Help Falling in Love is an uplifting, feel-good romance that will leave you smiling long after you’ve finished the last page. Highly recommend for fans of sweet and smart love stories!
Thank you to Sophie Sullivan, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Many thanks to the publisher for an advanced review copy.
Where to begin? The opening of this book was so good-I was immediately pulled in to the story. But the book went downhill with every chapter after the characters meet.
There was zero chemistry between these characters. They felt very one dimensional and the same conversations and inner monologues happened for most of the book. It was a bit of a drag to finish and the entire plot became super unbelievable.
If you like an insta-love Hallmark movie, you’ll probably love this. Unfortunately I was rolling my eyes through most of the ending. 2.5 stars rounded up.
While there were some parts towards the end of the book that I didn’t love, I found the rest of it to be super cute. As a fake engagement/dual pov storyline, I found that it was still enjoyable to read about both the FMC and MMC. Thank you so much to Netgalley for this advanced copy!
Sophie Sullivan writes the most adorable & charming rom-coms ever! The belief in “love at first sight” is conveyed through out the entire book. Plus, this book is great for any reader who adores Hallmark movies and the warm vibes of the Fall season.
Will instantly falls for Lexi & he somehow manages to be patient with her and he has the ability to handle situations that Lexi never feels she has much control over. Lexi suffers from a lot of doubt about herself, her life & even Will. As she develops new friendships & revisits old ones she slowly begins to bring about changes for herself.
The book is simply a warm, enjoyable rom-com. Just grab a blanket, snuggle in & enjoy!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was an enjoyable fall romance and since I have read other books by Sophie Sullivan, I think this is my favorite book of hers to date. I absolutely adored the romance in this book. If you love fall and are a sucker for romance, I definitely recommend that you pick up this book at your local bookstore or library this season.
Many thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
Connect with me for more reviews and content:
https://linktr.ee/bookreviewsbyjules
(includes links to my Instagram, Goodreads, TikTok, Storygraph, blog, and Substack newsletter)
If you're an author or publisher with questions about my reviews, stats, reach, or engagement, feel free to email me. I'm also open to book review requests. Thank you for taking the time to read my review, and I hope you have a wonderful day!
The writing is very...amature. This reads like a debut even though it's the author's 5+ release. I feel the author has not penned great chemistry with her characters since the first book. I think this is where Sophie Sullivan and I part ways. I have not enjoyed the last few releases; the characters are flat and the chemistry is very forced.
This was such a cute rom com to get into the fall spirit! I am usually not an insta-love fan but this story sucked me in right away. The meet cute between Will and Lexi was perfect and had me laughing out loud! This was such a feel-good hallmark book and I wouldn't mind seeing more books from side characters!!
Thank you to NetGalley for an Advance Readers Copy of this book.
This was a cute romcom that took a new spin on the fake dating trope. I’m a fan of this trope, so to see it set up with a real couple with real feelings was a fun twist. And those feelings were real, Lexi and Will were so in love and are meant for each other. They had a great meet cute which led to a great romance. I also really enjoyed Lexi’s character growth. She’s able to accept herself and her life, even if it wasn’t what she planned and fall in love even as someone who never planned for that.
Can't Help Falling in Love is a heartwarming and utterly charming tale of love, friendship, and finding your way in the world. With her signature wit and emotional depth, Sullivan has crafted a story that will leave you swooning and reaching for tissues!
The book follows Olive, who is struggling to find her place in the world. When she accepts a job as a personal assistant to the charming and enigmatic Leo, her life takes an unexpected turn. As their friendship blossoms into something more, Olive must confront her fears and insecurities while navigating the complexities of a budding relationship.
Sullivan's writing is simply enchanting. Her prose is both lyrical and accessible, drawing readers into the world of her characters and making them feel as if they are experiencing their journey alongside them. The chemistry between Olive and Leo is palpable, and their interactions are filled with both humor and tenderness.
In addition to its romantic elements, Can't Help Falling in Love also offers a heartwarming exploration of friendship, family, and self-discovery. Sullivan's characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to root for their happiness.
If you're looking for a feel-good romance that will stay with you long after you finish the last page, Can't Help Falling in Love is a must-read. It is a truly delightful and heartwarming story that will leave you smiling and reaching for your next Sullivan novel.
Thank you so much SMP for my ARC!
Oh, I loved this one!
Lexi is working multiple jobs to pay her way through school and take care of her widowed mother. Life has not turned out the way she had hoped. She meets a charming man when he's placed in her section one day and he goes along with her plan to pretend to be her boyfriend/fiance when she unexpectedly runs into old high school friends. Will is the heir to a large fortune and baby-furniture empire but immediately falls for Lexi and wants to spend time with her. Even with their differences, they feel an immense pull towards each other to make things very, very real.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!
Thank you netgalley and griffin for the arc. Sorry it took me so long to read it! Classes were kicking my butt. I was invested from the beginning and needed to know what happens next. I absolutely adore a rich mmc who fights being rich but in the process finds a girl who has no idea who he is. The instalove did bother me at some points but I think the story as a whole made up for it. This was my first by the author and she didn’t disappoint. Alex was a determined character who wanted the most out of life and she didn’t want people to think she failed. But the more we find out the more that she comes to terms with not everyone will accept you but lying about it does not help. In addition, not everything is sunshine and rainbows all the time. People go through deep stuff all the time. Will. He was so fun to me. He has a complicated relationship with the business but he is willing to give it all up to Alex even if their relationship is fake. He never stops fighting for her which I love too. Overall, a solid read and would recommend!
4/5⭐️
I’m going to be honest: if a waitress spilled something on me I would not be happy about it. I would acknowledge it was *hopefully* an accident but I would never be as nice as Will.
Lexie right from the start needed a lot from Will and even though Will had something to gain from a fake relationship it was a little too far for me. They just met when Will sat at Lexie’s table she was waitressing. I really tried to buy into this but it wasn’t easy. Their real relationship also moved a lightning pace. I get the interest and waiting to try to have a real relationship while having a fake one. I think I like the idea but the execution was too fast for me.
It’s still a cute story. More on the gushy side- especially from Will. Didn’t hate it but didn’t love it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of Can’t Help Falling in Love to read and review.