Such a cute, quick romcom read! Fake dating is always such a fun trope and I loved how Sophie approached it with Lexi and Will's relationship. I'll definitely be picking up more of her books in the future!

This book is a cute love story from the start. Lexi is relatable and funny from the start - a waitress with no experience just trying to do what she can for a few extra bucks to take care of her mother ends up in a bit of a pickle when her high school friends show up at her job. Will, a knight who happens to be there to help Lexi in any way, saves the day with his smooth talking and general goodness. He fell for her right from the jump, and it was cute to watch him grow into these feelings. They were exactly what the other person needed. Between the funny and endearing moments, it was as if a few walls were broken down in this book. I enjoyed watching these characters grow through their fake engagement and develop into true love.

Thank you to Sophie Sullivan, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This cute fall romance was perfect for fall! This was a cute fake dating closed door romance. I’d recommend!

The way that a little mistake turns into night of pretend only to become a huge lie that our two characters play out is so fun! Lexi comes from basically nothing working her butt off for her mother while Will is CFO of a company his family owns. Their worlds couldn't be different and yet they find each other in a restaurant where Lexi is waitering. Cute, cozy story for a cozy season.

Personally I thought this was going to be a cozy romance to get me excited for those pumpkin spice lattes. However, I tried to pick up the book again after about 20% and could not get into it. There’s nothing about this book that’s up to the part from any other romance book and I feel like I’ve read this plot over and over and over again. I wish there was something that made the main characters special. Also did not give heavy ball vibes like advertised.

Good character development but the author concentrated too much on the heroines insecurities. The chemistry was there but this book was too vanilla. Reading this you expect some love scenes but there are just glossed over moments. This is a good one for those that want a cozy romance with very little spice. I was a bigger fan of the authors previous book "Love, Naturally."

The quintessential fall read. loved the writing, characters, and story. Can't wait to read more by Sophie.

I’ve loved every book I’ve read from Sophie Sullivan and this is no different! The way she’s able to give each character an emotional depth within the story is amazing!!

Sophie Sullivan has delivered another heartwarming romance with Can't Help Falling in Love!! The story follows Juliet, a hardworking woman focused on running her family business, and Noah, a charming firefighter with a heart of gold. Their paths cross unexpectedly, sparking a romance filled with both sweet and tender moments as they navigate the obstacles of balancing love and their personal responsibilities.

As a longtime fan of Sophie Sullivan, I was excited to dive into this book. The chemistry between Juliet and Noah is genuine and heartwarming, and their journey to love felt refreshingly real. That being said, the only drawback for me was the writing style. At times, it felt a bit stilted, which made the dialogue less natural than I would have liked. While the plot and characters were engaging, the style occasionally pulled me out of the story. However, this is a minor issue in an otherwise delightful read.

The book was very feel-good, though I don't know if it stands out to me. I would definitely pick it up for a re-read sometime, though. Overall, Can't Help Falling in Love is another charming book from Sophie Sullivan, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

What starts as Lexi and Will pretending to date to avoid Lexi's former friends finding out she hasn't lived up to everyone's expectations, quickly turns into a fake engagement as the situation gets out of their control.

I had a lot of trouble getting into this story. I felt like the story was too slow and the romance was too fast, and it just didn't work for me.

I thought I was diving into a cozy fall romance with this one, but I quickly realized that wasn’t the case. The story didn’t have the cozy fall vibes I was expecting at all, and as I kept reading, I began to wonder if maybe I’m just not the type who enjoys a straightforward romance without much else going on. I need more than just romance to hold my attention, and this book fell short.

The main character’s immaturity was frustrating, and there was little to no chemistry between her and the male lead. Their entire fake dating setup was shaky from the beginning—there was no strong reason to keep up the ruse, yet somehow, the plot insisted on dragging it out.

One thing I couldn’t overlook was how often the book harped on her being “just a waitress.” It felt unnecessarily repetitive and almost insulting, as if her job was a huge source of shame. And her obsession with her high school years? It made no sense for someone in her mid-20s to still be so hung up on being popular and athletic back then. Not to mention her attitude towards her mom felt overly dramatic, considering her mom was grieving the loss of her husband.

There were also several plot threads that seemed to go nowhere. Her best friend’s relationship with Ethan? Barely touched on. Her running hobby, which she started again and then… crickets. And the situation with her father’s debt felt like it was going to be significant but never really came together. It all made the story feel disjointed, with too many loose ends left dangling.

And then there’s the lack of chemistry. The romance felt flat, dry, and unconvincing, which made it hard to care about their relationship at all. Unfortunately, this one didn’t live up to the cozy fall romance I had hoped for—it was a slog to finish, and if it weren’t for my Bookstagram bingo boards, I might not have.

I thought this book was real cute! Continuously making me smile. A bit too instalovey and unbelievable but kinda had to suspend my beliefs. I enjoyed the heartfelt moments between Lexi and her mom the most. I wrote a review post on my Bookstagram which I have linked down below.

I received a complimentary e-galley on NetGalley from St Martins Press.

This was a sweet little fall romance with enough autumn vibes to be perfect for October. Will and Lexi were fun together, and<spoiler>I really wanted more of the romance subplot with Gwen.</spoiler> The overall flow seemed a little muddled though, with some weird continuity errors and pacing issues in certain scenes, more so than even expected for an advance copy.

This book had be from the beginning! I loved the way the story started and how it fully had me locked in from the start to the ending. I truly dont know how I lived my life before reading this book. If you love a good story, you will love this book!

The way I loved Will though! Oh my gosh he was the absolutely perfect cinnamon roll!!! I loved this book so much and it was a perfect cozy fall romance

⭐️⭐️.5/5

• fall romance
• fake engagement
• cool PNW setting

This had the potential to be a cute fall rom-com. It fell short for me - there were parts that were unrealistic as well as immature. I'm also not a huge fan of "instalove" so this was a miss.

🗣 Thank you to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC and ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

First- thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the honor to read this!

First- omg, this is such a cute read, and it truly has everything!

❤️ meet cute
❤️ cinnamon roll MMC
❤️ tough independent FMC learning to love herself
❤️ fake dating trope
❤️ they both fall, but he falls first and harder
❤️ slow burn
❤️ opposites attract

This book is so fun. Will and Lexi’s connection is everything! He sees her for who she truly is and loves her regardless of her flaws or where she comes from. Their story is obviously front and center, but this book has such great subplots too. Lexi learning to cope with grief, change, and how to love herself. Lexi’s mom overcoming her own grief, and learning to move on after losing the love of her life, and prove to Lexi she is capable of caring for herself! Will learning to stand up for himself and what he wants and not succumb to his parents wishes. Ugh it’s truly just a cute, sweet read. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a cute, sweet, fall read!

Can’t Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan is another absolute gem that I couldn’t put down! Sullivan’s latest novel has all the warmth, charm, and heart that I’ve come to expect from her. Following Juliet and Mick’s sweet, slow-burn romance was such a joy, with their relatable struggles and undeniable chemistry making the story feel so authentic.

Having loved her previous novels like Ten Rules for Faking It and How to Love Your Neighbor, this one exceeded my expectations yet again. If you’re a fan of Sullivan’s heartwarming style, Can’t Help Falling in Love is a must-read! It’s full of tender moments and the perfect reminder that love often finds us when we least expect it.

“Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Sophie Sullivan was an enjoyable read for a sweet romcom! I loved getting to know Lexi and Will, as well as all the other characters. I could not put the book the down as it kept my attention and wanting to know more on where the story was going. I would mind reading a follow up book of Ethan or Gwen. 😉

** Thank you NetGalley, Sophie Sullivan, and Griffin Publishing for an eARC of “Can’t Help Falling in Love”.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. this is the third fake engagement book i've read this year so far and this was unfortunately not my favorite one. i don't understand how a grown adult can be this much of a mess. how was she not fired from her waitress job already?! it was a poor choice for a character, aging her up with some responsibility would have been better overall. the pace was also slow at times but bearable.