Falling in line is a romance novel set in a small town in Texas. The main character, June, leaves town without telling anyone, including her fiancé Tucker and her father who is depressed. When she returns five years later, she expects to be forgiven without fully apologizing for her actions. This frustrated me a lot. I also found June to be problematic and unlikeable.

While I appreciated the character development and small-town charm throughout the story, I found it unrealistic that June and Tucker were unable to communicate about their problems, especially given their long history together. I wish the author had taken more time exploring the characters' development and communication further.

Also, Tucker's character could benefit from further development beyond his relationship with June. He would be a much better character if there was more emphasis on Tucker's own goals and aspirations outside of his relationship with June, it could provide a more well-rounded portrayal of his character.

I found June's casual apology to Tucker to be frustrating as it did not convey the gravity of her actions; June's self-centered attitude and tendency to get upset with other characters, such as Maddie, who had only been kind to her, made her unlikeable.

Despite these issues, I appreciate the positive aspects of the story and hope the author can further explore character development and communication in future books.

As far as the audiobook goes, the narration of the story lacked a Texan accent which may detract from the story experience for some readers. Other than that I think it was good.

A very cute Second Chance Romance!
Loved both June and Tucker!
A small town feel with fun side characters....and June made me laugh many times!
Loved getting both June and Tucker's dual POVs....couldn't wait for them to rekindle!
Also, it's a clean, wholesome love story if you're not in the mood for smut.
Really enjoyed it!

The Narrators for this book did an amazing job!!! I think they made this book even better then if I were to read it in my head. They truly knocked it out of the park! The book itself was really great as well! If I was reading it on paper form I would have struggled a little bit with the writing style. however the I really enjoyed the story! It kept me entertained and wanting to know what happened next. over all I really enjoyed this book!

June stayed away from Arcadia Creek for 5 years after breaking Tucker’s heart. Now she has returned to help her dad recover from surgery. She’s unsure if the town and Tucker will welcome her back. June realizes that leaving the way she did may not have been the best plan. She makes it her mission to earn the town’s trust and win Tucker back. Tucker is not as keen on letting June back into his life, but old feelings keep creeping back in.

This was a sweet romance of second chances. Narrated by Cara Swingline and Evan Sibley. The dual voicing brings this story to life. The two capture the angst and longing of the characters.

Everything about this book felt like a comforting hug. It's lighthearted, relatable, cozy, and it's got that familiarity and nostalgia that comes with second chance romance! I've been reading tons of second chance romance lately, but nothing beats the magnetic pull and homey vibes of small towns.

The banter and conversations in this book were so meaningful and stayed with me long after I put it down. I mean, who doesn't love a bunch of nosy, well-meaning neighbors? When it comes to second chance, I sometimes get frustrated when there's no reason for the MCs first break up, but this one just makes sense. I love how beautifully their vulnerability and insecurities were expressed on paper. The guilt, the heartache, self-doubt, the attraction and the acceptance all made this such a wholesome read.

I haven't read anything by this author before, but I'm definitely intrigued by this world she's created and these mesmerizing characters, so I'm going to read more of her works for sure!

Sweet story of forgiveness and second chances and going back home. I enjoyed the small town vibe, the colorful characters, and the love story. I hope to see more from this town!

This book was so cute. I love a good romance. And this one really hits. Highly recommend. A perfect vacation read.

*thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a copy of this audio ARC in exchange for my review*

June and Tucker. Second chance, slow burn, small town romance. This one is for all the girlies who have felt like outsiders.

When June returns home to help her dad recover from his surgery, she finds herself oddly unwelcome. And though at some level she feels that she deserves it, it hurts her deeply to feel alienated in her home town. It doesn’t help at all that her ex now lives next door, and seems to be willing to do anything to keep her out of his life for good. This sweet, dual POV romance follows June and Tucker as they navigate old feelings, new experiences, and plenty of small town gossip on the way to their happily ever after. (Featuring exactly two scraped knees, a fireman vs lineman rivalry, and one quilting bee… 👀)

Honestly, everything about this book was cozy. As a second chance romance, it’s unsurprising that forgiveness is one of the themes, but I felt really moved by how Kasey Stockton deftly navigated the sticky and uncomfortable parts of learning to ask for and extend forgiveness. I really enjoyed it, even though some parts really hit a little too close to home for me. 😅

Overall, this was a really sweet story. And if you love second chance romance, you’ll want to make sure you read this one!

I'm so glad I can actually enjoy audiobooks now, otherwise I would have missed out on this great book!

I loved this story. I already know listening to it through an audiobook will not be enough, and that I'll have to own a physical copy.

Some books just stay with you, regardless of when you read them. That's how this book is for me. I enjoyed it so much.

Audiobooks are a hit or miss because even if you love the story, the way it's narrated can alter your feelings for it.

Thankfully I didn't have any issues. The audio was great, and I can't wait to own the physical copy so I can annotate it to my hearts content while listening to the audiobook.

I would absolutely recommend not only the audio, but the story in general.

RATING: 2/5
GENRE: Romance, Small Town
TROPE: Second Chance Romance
SPICE: NA

"Falling in Line" by Kasey Stockton delves into the intricacies of small-town romance, capturing the essence of southern charm and the complexities of familial bonds. At the heart of the narrative is June, a character grappling with her past and the fear of repeating it.

June's decision to leave Arcardia Creek, stemmed from a deep-seated fear of abandonment, mirroring her mother's departure years earlier. Ironically, her departure echoed the very act she sought to avoid, leaving her father and fiancé, Tucker, behind. As June's father undergoes knee surgery, she finds herself compelled to return to her hometown after four years away.

Back in the familiar embrace of her town, June's journey unfolds as she confronts her past and reconciles with her loved ones. Her return not only reignites her relationship with her father but also sparks a rekindling of feelings with Tucker, her ex-fiancé. As June navigates the intricacies of love and forgiveness, she rediscovers the profound connection she shares with her hometown, ultimately finding solace and a sense of belonging in the place she once feared to call home.

While "Falling in Line" captures the small-town romance essence, I found the narrator for Tucker's to be quite awful. His voice felt forced and dry, making it hard to connect with his character. Additionally, while the novel portrays the charm of a small southern town, I felt the innocence portrayed was overly saccharine. I wished for more depth in character interactions and dialogue befitting adults, as the novel fell short in this aspect for me.

*** I received this book as a gift from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Tropes:
Second chance
Small town
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity

Fun and light-hearted listen!

0🌶️

this is the first book ive read by kasey and i definitely need to go read more by her! i loved the writing and pacing, this was such an easy listen! i didnt want to stop! it was so fun, i loved the characters and the town was so cute! definitely an easy feel good book with the sweetest characters that was so easy to get lost in!

I had a great time listening to this audio book! The narration was done by dual narrators and was so enjoyable. This is the first time that I have read this author, but definitely not the last. And although this book is the second novel in the Arcadia Creek series, I had no trouble jumping in and reading this story without having read the first in the series.

I love reunion romance stories. Seeing two people who were separated for some reason find their way back to each other within the story is so fun. This book captured it really well. There was the initial hurt and even some anger, followed by awkwardness and wanting the other person to know that you have done well for yourself and moved on. Scenes where the main characters acknowledge (usually silently to themselves) that their hearts still want that other person, but they feel that it is most likely hopeless, leave me excited to see how things will finally work out for them.

It was interesting to find out why June initially left and broke Tucker’s heart. It was, honestly, a frustrating thing that she did and she truly messed up. What made it easier for me to accept was that she acknowledged, first to herself and eventually to Tucker, that she made a huge mistake. She also had some other things to share about her heart and the entire situation. And I loved the way Tucker responded to her throughout the novel. He was a strong and caring man throughout the entire book. I enjoyed seeing him realize what he needed to fight for if he wanted to be with June. I’m happy to see that there is another book coming out after this one to follow Tucker’s friend, Dusty (even if he is a Longhorn fan).

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book, however, I also own a copy of the ebook. All opinions are my own.

I love second chance and I really enjoyed this one. I like the main couple but something was off for me... Maybe the father? I reallty don't know.

But the audiobook was PERFECT and I loved every second of it. So enjoyable!!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for early access to the ALC of this book. These are my honest thoughts!

Another first time author for me this month, and I enjoyed Kasey's story immensely.

This is a second chance romance between former high school sweethearts. The FMC escapes to California because she fears she'll leave eventually anyways (her grandma and mom both did), leaving behind her sweetheart in their small Texas town, with her dad and his bookstore/cafe as well.

Returning because her dad "needs" her assistance with his surgery, our FMC is forced to face the decision that left her small community reeling. She ghosted an entire town and now she's back to face the consequences.

There are a lot of fun side characters, as the MMC is part of a big family and our FMC is besties with all of his cousin's and sister's and the wives of his best friends, etc. etc. etc. When the town isn't as welcoming to the FMC's homecoming, the MMC steps in for a "truce," while he actively starts dating someone else, possibly to prove he doesn't have feelings for her.

Uhm. We all know where this leads, right?

This story was super sweet and is a clean romance. I never felt like I needed to turn off the audiobook because it was inappropriate for any reasons. I liked the female narrator, and really liked the male narrator a lot. I loved the story arc of family and community and apologies. June and Tucker were a great pair, which makes me rooting for them to reconnect, the tension, the drama, and finally leaning into the tension so worth while!

The most hilarious rom-com I've read this year! I literally laughed out loud throughout this gem and I didn't want to put it down! June returns to small town after leaving 5 years earlier, to care for her father for a few months. Tucker her exi-high-school boyfriend is now her neighbor and she just wants the air clear between them, but he's not so willing since she abandoned him with only a note not too long ago. The town has split camps of few welcoming her back, most tolerating or weary of her return, and a few rude ones wanting her to leave. Full of small town vibes, second chance love, and few blooming relationships, these characters will win your heartover and have you smiling days after you've read the last page. I hope this is a series. I got a free audiobook by netgalley and dream scape for review. The narrators were Ah-mazing! I was not obligated to to give a good review. These thoughts are my honest opinions.

I have reviewed the audiobook "Falling in Line" by Kasey Stockton which is narrated by Cara Swingline and Evan Sibley. The story revolves around Tucker, who had his heart broken by his high school sweetheart, June, when she left him five years ago. After healing his heart and accepting the fact that she left him behind, Tucker is not ready to trust June again when she returns to town to take care of her father after his surgery. June has a lot on her plate, including her father's failing bookstore, but she is happy to be back in Arcadia Creek. However, she is confronted with more than just Tucker's anger and pain; the whole town is upset with her for leaving. Despite this, she wants to mend fences during her stay, even if it's only for a month or two.

If you're looking for a sweet rom-com, this is the book or audiobook for you. The storyline, while predictable, is adorable, and the characters are lovable. The narrators, Cara Swingline and Evan Sibley did a great job of effectively communicating the story, making it easy to connect with the tension and emotions, adding a deeper depth to the story.

Umm yes. I loved this book so much. Give me more, please. The characters, the story, the everything.

Unfortunately, I forgot to download this audiobook before it was achieved which I’m SO sad about. I will update this review when i am able to get my hands on the book as I was SO excited for it!!

I’m giving this book a generous 4 stars because that’s how excited I am to read it (and sorry I didn’t download it😭). I hope you all loved it!

3.5/3.75 ⭐️

this is a textbook second chance, small town, enemies to friends to lovers romance. It was cute fluffy and fun to read.

I enjoyed it and had fun. It was a cute palate cleanser after some heavier reads, but i didn’t feel it was anything special or memorable.

I would definitely read more from this author.

the narrators in the audiobook did an excellent job! they kept me engaged the whole time and did a great job at projecting the emotions the MCs were feeling.