⭐️ 3/5
🩷 2/5
🎧 4/5

📚 Autumn season romance - yes. However the romance side of this story was quick to start, and the pacing throughout the entire book made it feel like romance had developed over a year, instead of 6 weeks.
The story was comfy, cosy, and sweet. I did love that Matt stood his ground from day 1 - saying he wanted the relationship to be public. I think that was quite romantic. Their conversations, and the story itself was entertaining and intriguing. The ending was one of the few pregnancy tropes I was ok with. Overall, not a bad romance, and I would read again if in the right mood.

🍁 Brother's Best Friend
🍂 Doctor MMC
🍁 Studying FMC
🍂 All the fall things
🍁 Italian Found Family 🤌
🍂 Forbidden Romance
🍁 Secret Relationship
🍂 Pregnancy Trope
🍁 Past Trauma

🎧 I have been on an audiobook binge this month, and Dreamscape Media are killing it every single time 👏 I love the audio, love the cast.

🎙 Narrators - Both narrators did an excellent job 👏

I’m a sucker for all things FALL and the cover alone had me excited to read this cute, brother’s best friend, Autumn read.
If you are a fall girlie too, you’ll love that this story includes all the fall goodness: a pumpkin patch, Halloween party and tons of Thanksgiving food!

I enjoyed the chemistry and banter between Liza and Matt. However, I did find Liza’s obsession with the secrecy of their relationship to be a bit exhausting and last way longer than necessary. Also, to me, Liza’s brother Vinny’s reaction to finding out they are dating was quite immature. If the dude is your BEST friend, surely you are aware he is no longer the woman-chasing frat boy he was in college?

Overall, I enjoyed this heartwarming read. I appreciated the real-life representation of a grief journey, I thought the ending was adorable and the family dynamic was so sweet. I’m excited to read the next book in the Seasons of Love series!

I really thought this was going to be cute, and I think that it had good bones.

It definitely came up with some real world situations that were authentic to how many people would handle them, but I've never met a bigger bunch of characters that all needed to go to therapy. I think the author was really good at explaining why people were the way they were, but I think it would have done better to show us those things than telling us.

The narrators were a good choice and did a great job.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for an audio copy.

Updating for audiobook: I read this a few years ago & I’m pretty sure it’s the book that turned me on to the brother’s best friend trope. But, I also think I read it before I got picky about the lusty feels—I need more! I definitely felt lots of love and longing and some laughs. I would have loved to hear these narrators do more steamy or at least lusty scenes. The narrators did a fantastic job on inner monologues & dialogues throughout. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎧🎧🎧🎧🔥🔥

Read if you like cute, flirty romcoms set during the fall and holiday season. Liza and Matt’s relationship is everything you’d want it to be, unless you’re Matt’s best friend/Liza’s brother. You will want to devour this in one or two sittings.

A cute fall romance! The romance feels a little rushed at first but it does grow nicely. The narrators were good (aside from one or two pronunciation issues in “mature” etc) and I loved hearing about the family dynamic in Liza’s Italian family.

If you love slow burns and miscommunication then you’ll probably like this book. May even love it.
For me, there were way too many conflicts in just a short amount of time. They burned so fast I didn’t have time to crave the anticipation or wonder what they’d be like. The book basically starts with them in a relationship.
It felt like every other chapter he was getting upset or she was getting upset because of the secret. Which of course would lead to a whole thing.
I liked Danielle and the mom.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the ALC. I really loved the concept of this one as it starts to become fall. Who wouldn't love a fall romance with all of the fun fall activities, treats, etc? Unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me. Parts of the story were cute but the characters didn't feel developed enough. Also, the brother being so disapproving felt very "high school" which was odd since they are adults. That being said, I felt the audio narration really enhanced the story. I read portions of this and listened to portions and the listening I enjoyed dramatically more. Thanks for the opportunity to review it!

This book had all of the fa vibes, and one of my favorite tropes, brothers best friend. It was a bit open door for me, it I enjoyed it.

This was such a lovely audiobook, I'm glad I had the chance to listen. Both narrators did a wonderful job capturing the characters. What I enjoyed about this book was the ease of listening and following the plot. Also, it was perfect timing to listen to getting closer to Fall.

Liza was just dumped by her cheating, pretentious professor fiancé of three years. But she's not that broken up about it. In fact, she's sort of relieved. And what do we have here? Her brother Vinny's old med-school, roommate she had once crushed on hard! He just happened to have gotten even better over the last few years.

A generous 3 stars. I really wanted to fall into this book, pun intended, but it was difficult to buy the insta-love, alpha-hole, bro-code b.s. Matt, a cardiologist and recovering-player falls hard and fast for Liza. Liza, a student working towards her psychology master's program falls right back. But her brother and his blossoming best friend Vinny is adamant about them not dating.

It's for you if you like insta-love, they both fall fast and hard, and the romance book community's least favorite trope (iykyk), and a HEA.

Here's where it missed the mark for me: there was no build up for their romance. Some toxic masculinity from both the love interest and her brother that really was off-putting for me. She was studying psychology, there was no inclusion of her education where this is exactly where that education should have been addressed. TW: including a physical altercation that was kind of brutal and not really addressed, parental loss on both sides of book, and cheating. Her cultural background felt like a reason to include food dishes and not really an integral part of the story. Her education didn't play any part in the healing journey that was an afterthought.. An after thought really, when it could have given the story more layers. Instead the story focuses on the two of them getting caught, her constant insistence that they keep it a secret, and that tension it brings. Which just made me feel anxious and not warm and cozy.

This one was not for me. Audio ARC received through NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.

This one drug out far more feels than I was ready for. Was there a cute original meet cute and another re-meet cute? Yes. Were there there sweetness and spice? Absolutely. Do I love a comeback from who they once were story? Of course. But also, Matt makes some seriously toxic moves.... and Liza jumping from one awful relationship into one she feels she has to keep hidden feels icky.

It's not bad, but it's not amazing. I wish they spent more time talking like adults for how much they talked about how excited they were to be in a real adult relationship together...

The audio narration was solid and portrayed the emotions of both MCs well!

On the surface I should have loved this book. Fall coded, brother's best friend, Italian family. It's got all of the things I love and, yet, it didn't work for me.

I dislike when a book starts with a breakup. TBH I don't care about the FMC's past relationships; I picked the book up because I want to know about how their love story forms, not how they were dumped in a restaurant. And then to segue into a kid throwing up was just not my bag. AND THEN for the parents to continue doing things with the sick child instead of making sure she was OK was a no-no for me.

Moving on--I am Italian-American and am learning the language so, to have a family that speaks Italian but not have any of the actual language on the page, was a huge disappointment. I would have much preferred having the mother speak in Italian then provide an English translation through the FMC's internal dialogue. I think that would have felt more authentic. If the author does not speak Italian then maybe that should have been omitted altogether.

I also disliked the instant attraction/need to date and the over-use of the "bro code." I listened to the audiobook and I did, however, enjoy the narration. That was nice.

All in all, it wasn't the book for me. I think other readers who have less hang-ups would enjoy this fall read especially if they like nosey brothers, family get togethers, and reformed playboys.

This book was sweet.

I really enjoyed the main characters and their story. I liked their personalities a lot.

I wish we’d gotten more tension between them though. The fact that the only conflict was with her brother got annoying and old really quick. The brother kept harping on and on about Matt but he was being the most problematic and immature one. I get that seeing your best friend with your sister can be tough but to make it your mission to ruin someone’s potential happiness? I really just hate toxic family members and toxic masculinity.

Don’t get me started on Liza never really standing up for herself or Matt? I really needed that scene but instead she just leaves(to be with Matt sure) and just doesn’t speak to her brother until (spoiler) surprise she’s in the hospital because she’s dehydrated(she’s pregnant) and that was that.

Overall I think this book had so much potential but it just fell flat for me.

The narration was done spectacularly though! I really loved the narrators and how well they brought the story to life.

this was such an easy book to listen to! i loved all the fall vibes and this was such a sweet story! brothers best friend is definitely one of my favorite tropes and i loved this one! They may have had a couple issues along the way with hiding their relationship but i love how it all worked out in the end. definitely recommend giving this one a chance!

Omg stoppp this book is too cute. It gave lifetime holiday movie but with good acting. I love brothers best friends style romances and it has fall as well it’s like my favorites all put together. I didn’t like how the brother became a problem like let’s just accept this and let your sis and friend be happy but boys will be boys. I think the moments thinking about her dad really got to me because I lost my father and it just never gets easier. This book was beautiful with a lot of funny sweet moments and a lot of baby throw up lol.

‼️ warning- idk why I’m not seeing people say this but this has one of THE most polarizing trope endings in romance sooooooo if you know what I’m talking about and that’s not for you- be warned.

Beyond that, the insta-love that I’ve seen others mentioned, I feel like is warranted considering Liza actually has crushed on him since she was like a preteen?! Now on his end- absolutely. But you’re reading romance, soooooo 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s a pretty quick read, almost feels like a novella. It has a lot of cheesy fall stuff, hay rides, pumpkin patches, puking kids. Covid. You know, all the fun. 🤩 But seriously, I love some good dark humor so move along if you don’t get it.
The audio is especially easy to listen to, and thankfully the characters didn’t have the obnoxious (yet endearing) MA Italian accents that definitely could hear in my head. 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻 3 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC, in exchange for my unbiased review!

3⭐️ 1🌶️
This was a cute story. Brother’s best friend. Matt the MMC was super sweet. Lizzy the FMC was a bit annoying. She made a big deal out of things that weren’t really a big deal. There was some grief representation which I thought was great. Overall this was an okay story. It lacked something that made it great, but not a bad book

i listened to this one on audio and it was so cute!

it was your typical brothers best friend with lots of sneaking around! liza is really close with her family so it was definitely hard for her to keep a secret from them. matt was so thoughtful and caring and i loved getting to see him welcomed into liza’s family first as her brother vinny’s friend and then as liza’s boyfriend.

this one is fall themed and i loved all the subtle hints to the best season! i thought this book was well paced and really enjoyed the end. the only thing i disliked was how liza made matt feel while they were keeping their relationship a secret. i feel like she could have been more understanding of how he was feeling and didn’t want to be kept a secret but overall they worked on things and made it out stronger in the end!

This was a cute rom-com. I listened to the audio book and it was a quick listen. I loved the Fall cozy vibes. And the two MCs are super adorable together. They do fall for each other almost immediately in the book, so the book centers around how they keep their dating a secret from their extremely overbearing but loving family members. If you are looking for a fun, quick, and sweet rom-com to get you in the mood for Fall, this is a great option.

Highlights:
Insta-Love
Secret Dating
Overbearing Family
Cozy Fall Vibes

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for this advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

I started this audiobook after finishing a high fantasy and while the fantasy was amazing, I needed this cleanser. Was it predictable? Yes but so is Hallmark Christmas movies and those are my favorite things ever!
The narration was spotty in some points but picked back up.
I will be recommending this one to my daughter, for sure!