Short synopsis: Logan Barnes is a bad boy, playing temporarily on the Appies, he also happens to be Parker’s childhood crush.

My thoughts: Every Appie book I’ve read, I’ve absolutely adored, and this one is no exception. I love the wit and charm packed into this adorable series. I love revisiting characters from previous stories, and falling for them all over again. This is technically book #1, but these can definitely be read in any order.

I loved this brothers best friend/childhood crush. Logan had such a tough exterior but was such a softie at heart. I liked seeing Parker’s social media aspect of the book, and how her hard work helped the team grow!

I listened to the audio on this and it was so well done! the dual narrators really complimented each other!

Read if you love:
* Brothers best friend
* Childhood crush
* Never been kissed
* Hockey romance
* Closed door romance

Brother best friend fake dating.
Logan is now playing for the minor team the Appies and is needing to turn his bad boy image around. Happy to step in is Parker, little sister of his best friend and social media manager for the Appies.
Parker always had a crush on Logan since forever, they get pushed into a fake relationship. Parker just hopes she can keep her real feelings in check.
Logan has always had feelings for Parker but always hid it because of his friendship with her brother.
Closed door romance, a lot of banter back and forth, and they eventually let their true feelings out so they can both have that HEA.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book

This was such a sweet hockey romantic comedy! I loved the chemistry between Logan and Parker! Their fake dating story to cover for each other at an event was so sweet! I also would have swooned if someone brought me to a bookstore for a date!

This book is a clean romance but there is still lots of chemistry between the two characters. It was nice to have both Logan and Parker's POVs of their reconnected years later during this book.

I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed the dual narration.

Emma St. Clair delivers a heartfelt, funny, and swoon-worthy small-town romance in *Just Don’t Fall*. The story revolves around Logan Barnes, a hockey star nursing an injury, and his return to Harvest Hollow, where he must face both his professional challenges and the unresolved feelings between him and his childhood friend, Kelsey.

Kelsey, now the social media manager for the local hockey team, is a relatable and endearing protagonist. Her determination to keep things professional with Logan, despite her lingering feelings, makes her journey emotionally engaging. The fake dating trope is executed with charm and plenty of humor, especially as Kelsey ropes the reluctant Logan into quirky TikTok trends for her job. Their chemistry feels genuine, with a delicious slow-burn quality that keeps readers invested.

Logan’s growth from the bad boy with a complicated past to someone grappling with his vulnerabilities adds depth to his character. His connection with Kelsey—full of tension, teasing, and heartfelt moments—is the heart of the story. St. Clair does a great job balancing the humor and emotional weight, making the characters’ struggles feel authentic.

The small-town setting of Harvest Hollow is vividly described, adding warmth and charm to the narrative. The secondary characters, including the hilarious hockey team and Kelsey’s family, enhance the story without overshadowing the central romance.

While the book is a delightful read, there are a few predictable moments typical of the genre. Additionally, the resolution, while satisfying, wraps up a bit too neatly, leaving some minor threads unexplored.

Overall, *Just Don’t Fall* is a fun, cozy romance that perfectly blends humor, heartache, and happily ever after. Fans of the fake dating and second-chance romance tropes will thoroughly enjoy this book. Emma St. Clair continues to excel at crafting stories with humor and heart, making this a solid addition to her repertoire.

Just Don't Fall is a great brother's best hockey romance. When Logan is recovering from an injury and playing on the minor league team, he ends up working with his best friend's sister, Kelsey, the team's social media manager. Things get heated when they end up fake dating, and it becomes harder to decipher what's real. It's a sweet, entertaining, closed-door hockey romance.

This book was cute and swoony! This is my first from this author and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work soon!!

I’m all about the “clean” hockey phase!

This one was fun, swoony, and the narrators were on point. (An important thing in my opinion when it comes to audiobooks!)

Well done, and I will definitely consider the audio for the rest in this series!

This book was really cute, I loved the forced proximity even with a lackluster miscommunication trope. It was all very sweet and cinnamon roll-y

Tropes: dual pov, childhood crush, forced proximity, fake dating, miscommunication, slow burn, grumpy/sunshine, workplace romance… kind of?

Content: kisses only, no language, childhood parental neglect

This was my 2ndtime reading this book but my first time listening to the audiobook! It was such a great production and the narrators were perfect for the characters! Great production!

I. am. obsessed! With the Appies. With Logan. With Logan AND Parker.

Just Don't Fall by Emma St. Clair was narrated by Emily Ellet & Jay Myers and they did a phenomenal job. I loved them. Emily did an amazing job at conveying Parker's emotions. There were moments when I almost forgot I was listening to a book and not watching a movie. It was so good.

And the story was just ... the best. Definitely recommend giving this one a listen to over and over. You won't be sad about it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Emma St. Clair for this ALC. It was a pleasure to listen.

Emma St. Clair’s Just Don't Fall is a charming and heartfelt romantic comedy that explores the ups and downs of love in unexpected places. The story follows a relatable protagonist who finds herself at a crossroads, navigating the challenges of relationships, personal aspirations, and the complexities of family dynamics.

St. Clair's writing is infused with warmth and humor, creating a delightful atmosphere that draws readers in from the start. The characters are well-developed and endearing, each with their own quirks and motivations that make them feel genuine and relatable. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and their journey toward self-discovery and love is both entertaining and heartwarming.

The pacing of the narrative is well-balanced, with a mix of laugh-out-loud moments and poignant reflections. Themes of resilience, friendship, and the importance of following one’s heart resonate throughout the story, making it not just a romance but a celebration of personal growth.

Overall, Just Don't Fall is a delightful read that will leave readers smiling. It’s perfect for fans of lighthearted romances that explore the intricacies of love and life.

Thanks to @netgalley @victoryeditingngc and @kikimojo for the #gifted copy of this audiobook.

“Did you wear my jersey?” I ask. I can’t not ask. And yeah, maybe it makes me a brute or an egomaniac or whatever. But I have to know. Parker’s smile is soft. “Of course. I’ve only ever worn your jersey, Logan.”

Summary: After a devastating injury, Logan Barnes is back in his hometown playing for the minor league hockey team, the Appies. He is less than thrilled with this turn of events. Parker, Logan's best friend's sister, happens to be the social media manager for the Appies, and responsible for putting them on the map. She had an unrequited crush on him when they were younger, but Logan left for the NHL and never looked back. Even though Parker has sworn off her crush on Logan, he becomes her accidental fake boyfriend. Will things grow more serious between them while they fake it?

Thoughts: Ahhh I always love a brother's best friend romance, and this one was simply amazing!! I loved the banter between Parker and Logan especially with history between them. Throw in fake dating with a hockey player and I was sold. It was so nice to see Logan opening up to Parker about how things were left when Logan went away. I also loved that Logan cheered Parker on in her own endeavors and though all the social media was not his thing, he made sure to give it his all. This was such a wonderful way to kick off the Appies series, but could honestly be read as a standalone as well.

Narrators Emily Ellet and Jay Myers did a great job bringing Logan and Parker to life. I was so enthralled with their performance that I never really wanted to stop listening to this one.

Read if you like:
💗Brother's Best Friend
🏒Hockey Romance
😊Closed Door, Swoony Kisses

I recieved this as an ALC and I have to say it felt ooo good to be back in Harvest Hollow and with the appies! I read the Sweater Weather series last Fall and it was my favorite series of the year! It was also the first series that introduced me to multi author series. Parker and Logan have my whole heart. First off, it's a hockey series which is a huge love of mine, brothers best friend and never been kissed! It's totally swoony and the naraters we're absolutely perfect.

This was my first book by Emma St. Clair and I loved it, If you’re looking for a clean romance, this is for you. Great read!

Super cute romance, the characters chemistry was on point, but I do have to admit I’m not a fan of miscommunication trope, or where she keeps having thought that he doesn’t like her. The narrator dos a great job bring the character to life in the story

Just Don’t Fall is the sweetest hockey romance with all of the small town Fall vibes! There was tension 🔥, swoon worthy moments, and excellent banter. I loved listening to this one (free with Spotify Premium!) and thought the narrators did an excellent job bringing the characters to life.

✨things to love✨
Small town
Hockey romance
Brother’s ex best friend
Workplace romance
Grumpy x sunshine
Fake dating
Closed door romance with 🔥 chemistry

This was such a fun fall read. Just Don't Fall is a sweet fake dating, brother's best friend, childhood crush, small town hockey romance. This was such a nice change of pace with it being closed door, giving it all the fall hallmark vibes! Logan and Parker we're such a sweet couple and I can't wait to read more of Emma St. Clair's work!

This story is cute. I love how well Logan & Parker knew each other and their nicknames for eachother. It is refreshing to have a 25 year old character who hasn't had their first kiss yet. It was funny too which is nice. I feel like more scenes with Parker's brother Brandon was needed though. I love the friendship between the main characters and the hockey players it was lovely. I would have also liked a few more scenes about the game and a little more back story for the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley & Victory Editing for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my opinions on it.

Parker and Logan are childhood best friends, Logan ends up leaving without saying goodbye but Parker and her brother have no idea why.
When Logan gets called down from the NHL to play for the Appies Parker finds herself needed a “date” to please her father and stop him from setting her up with other guys. She then finds herself swooning over Logan but what will happen if he goes back to the pros and what if Logan doesn’t feel the same way? Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

This book just wasn't for me. I had a hard time connecting to the main female character. The narrator was ok.