While I would never say contemporary romance is my favourite genre, every once in a while one comes along that absolutely knocks my socks off. Fall for Him is a funny, emotionally charged, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity goldmine that moves from a series of unfortunate events, complete with misgivings and misunderstandings, towards an adorably apropos and well earned happily ever after between two characters who will have wanting to smoosh their heads together all the while muttering “now kiss…”
Honestly, while the plot of Fall for Him was fun, the characters are what absolutely made it. Derek and Dylan are probably some of my favourite protagonists I have seen this year (so far). The way each one had their own personal trauma, hang ups, and assumptions about the other felt so real for two people who only really knew each other through brief but bad encounters and being “a friend of a friend.” I also greatly appreciated the commentary on mental health; both by way of Derek’s desire to take on too much when it came to his family, and Dylan’s relationship PTSD and embarrassment and anxiety over his intense ADHD. In addition to the two main characters, all of the side characters were also a delight! Everyone from Dylan’s slew of siblings, to Derek’s two best friends Olive and Joni—they were all hilarious.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t recommend it enough. If you’re in the mood for a mostly romantic comedy, with a bit of something heavier sprinkled in, then I’d pick this up asap.

Super emotional and angsty but also SO Adorable!

I cannot tell you how much I just wanted to hug Dylan. Both Dylan and Derek but especially Dylan. There was something from the first glimpse we get of him that made me instantly love him and want everything and more for him. Rejection is something we all go through but can be hard with other neurodivergence.

Derek is...haha typical MAN this one, but still enjoyed the banter between them too even the awkward moments because they get you to want them to be together through everything..

Classic Queer romance goodness. Excellent representation without being typecast or cliche, and I loved the evolution of these characters and their path to peace with themselves and each other.

I’m also a super fan of the microtrope where a partner rushes to the defense of their relationship/person against family members. Because 9/10 the jokes aren’t funny. Iykyk.

Also loved the individual issues Derek & Dylan (cue the “D” jokes with mlm romance 🤣) had to face in order to grow. They were incredibly realistic and entirely relatable. A true human interest story. 10/10 recommend

Queer enemies to lovers
TBH two D names were hard to follow at first
Love the characters struggles and development!

Thank you St. Martin's Press for providing me with the eARC!

Rating: 4/5 🌟

I thought this was a cozy funny story! I really enjoyed this story. It was an easy read that kept me reading.

I really enjoyed the banter and the chemistry between Dylan and Derek. I do wish there would have been a little more spice!

This was a great follow-up to Fly With Me with great writing and banter, important representation, and a delicious romance!

The only reason I’d say this book doesn’t open in a meet disaster is because, even though not friends, the two had already met. Dylan literally falls into Derek’s bed after a hole breaks open between their floors due to water damage.
During the repair/reno process the two get to actually know each other better - their core issue stemming from a partial story that had led to some assumptions and animosity towards Dylan from Derek - and attraction and feelings follow.

The two MCs having such similar names did make things somewhat confusing for me, especially at the start. Starting with the same letter shouldn’t be a big deal, but here we are. I felt like I repeatedly had to stop and remind myself which character was which.
I didn’t realize this was a sequel, and haven’t read the first book, so maybe that background would have helped me settle in better.

On the whole, the story was fine and I was interested enough to want to see where things went, but it’s not an instant new fav. I never fully moved past the character confusion. Also, I felt like something was missing emotion-wise. There’s a lot of talk about losses and struggles, but most of time I didn’t feel it? At least not until the very end. I *did* feel a lot of rage towards the majority of Dylan’s family after the bbq fiasco however.

I will say - Dylan’s late adhd diagnosis and subsequent issues felt real, and calling attention to the safety risks for people like Derek working in the hospital ER was eye opening.

Thanks to NetGalley and SMP for the arc

If you’re a fan of forced proximity and classic romcoms, this is a must. Burke’s writing is so heartwarming and authentic and Dylan and Derek’s characters with their anxieties, struggles, loss, familial expectations, and desires were so relatable and my heart ached for these two from start to finish. I was rooting for them as individuals as they processed past pain and hurt and as they grew together and fought for their happily ever after.

While there were many lighthearted moments that had me giggling, I was incredibly touched by the depth of emotional intimacy and trust that flourished between Dylan and Derek. Bearing witness to their hearts healing, while advocating for themselves and protecting their peace, was so brave and empowering.

The ADHD rep is so authentically written and I personally felt so seen by Dylan’s character and how he interacted with the world. I appreciated how Derek came alongside Dylan, offered support, and fiercely protected and defended Dylan’s heart.

Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a heartwarming story with relatable characters who love classic romcoms and grand gestures, a cast of characters that include meddling family members and a lovable dog, and an abundance of forced proximity!

I didn't love this, but it was a solid read, and it was my first from andie burke. I personally think this works well as a standalone. you can read her other book, but you do not have to. the characters had a lot of depth and are very flawed. there were times I thought each of them were in the wrong, and there were also times when I thought other characters were in the wrong. it was satisfyingly spicy, especially for a traditionally published book. some of the writing did have millennial cringe, though. the book as a whole was not poorly written. the exploration of grief was interesting. it did sometimes feel like too much was going on, which happens in real life, but in a book with a limited number of pages, it did not feel like every single thread was completed.

dnf 15%. I can't tell Dylan and Derek apart and I'm tired of rereading passages because I thought we were in the other's POV. Their names are too similar and they have the same "voice." I dnf'd Andie's last book too. I guess their writing just doesn't work for me.

Fall for Him was as cute as it sounds. After reading Andie Burke's debut, I was very excited to be offered a chance to review this one as well, and I was not disappointed. This book revisits characters from Burke's first novel and delves further into the loss from that story; this time, we get to see the grief process from the view of Olive's best friend, Derek.

This book explores the idea of dealing with traumas while starting a new relationship and how fragile that can be. Derek's story also shows how each person's story of trauma is different, and those experiences can be felt in every level of a relationship, whether it be friends, family, lover, or even acquaintance.

The story of enemies to lovers from this book touches on first impressions and the hurt that can come from assumptions and stereotyping. As someone who has had incorrect assumptions made about them based on the symptoms of a mental health disorder, it was lovely to see this addressed in such a vulnerable way. Seeing an outside symptom does not mean you automatically know what caused that reaction; Dylan's story stands as a perfect example of this.

All in all, I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to review this book and will continue to recommend Andie Burke to friends and followers.

I'm so bummed to not have liked Fall for Him after really enjoying Andie Burke's previous novel. A few things didn't work for me. First, the pacing of the romance felt off to me. The transition from enemies to lovers wasn't as satisfying as it could have been because it happened so quickly. Second, and this is such a personal preference thing, but I don't love when couples call each other "babe" and the whole "kay" becoming an inside joke just wasn't funny to me. Both of these things took me out of the story when they were used...which was a lot. Lastly, Derek yelling at Dylan's family for how they treat him when Dylan made it pretty clear he preferred it not be addressed was frustrating. I get how having a partner stick up for you can be romantic, and Dylan's family totally needed a talking to, but the circumstances made it feel icky to me.

While this book was a miss for me, I enjoy Burke's banter and will definitely check out whatever she writes next. Hoping it features Joni :)

Fall for Him by Andie Burke
Narrators: Kyle Omori; Liam DiCosimo
Rating: 3.5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 9/3

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Griffin for my advanced copy and to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

Dylan Gallagher is a software engineer with a knack for causing trouble, and Derek Chang is an exhausted ER nurse. Their relationship starts with a bang—literally—when Dylan crashes through Derek’s ceiling and lands on his bed. From there, it’s a wild ride of banter, mishaps, and growing chemistry.

This is a slightly chaotic rom-com that’s full of humor and heart. Burke does a great job with the witty back-and-forth between Dylan and Derek, making their awkward but sweet interactions fun to read. The story moves quickly, and you’ll find yourself laughing out loud at some of the absurd situations they get into. The representation of ADHD and mental health issues make the characters feel real and relatable.

That said, the book has its hiccups. The plot can feel jumpy at times, and there are moments where you might wonder how you got from point A to point B. Some of the side characters can be a bit much, but overall, they add to the chaotic charm of the story. Also, the MC’s names are Derek and Dylan, which is very confusing at first. Their voices are also very similar, making it difficult to distinguish who is talking. I thought listening to the audio would help, but even with the amazing narrators, trying to figure out which POV we were in was still confusing.

Overall, this is worth a read if you like M/M, forced proximity, and enemies-to-lovers romance.

Fall for Him is cute and charming enemies to lovers story about two neighbors. Dylan and Derek do not get along. Dylan does not make a good impression when he accidentally floods Derek's apartment. Dylan begs Derek to let him fix it for him but that doesn't go well because the two couldn't be more different. There's lots of cute moments and witty banter in this story.

Okay this book was adorable. There were a few parts in the beginning where the pacing was confusing and things got a bit jumbled, but the book really hit its stride at the halfway point and Derek and Dylan grew into such wonderful characters. Their chemistry was great from the beginning— from annoyances to lovers. The side characters all held their own and were well developed. This might just be my brain but having the two main characters with names that were so similar in length and start with the same latter, Dylan and Derek, made it hard to follow who’s perspective I was reading at times. But overall, Fall for Him was adorable and I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Andie Burke for the opportunity to receive an eArc in exchange for an honest review!

If you’ve ever owned a home, condo, or an apartment you know that maintenance and unexpected adventure is literally behind every unpoked wall and behind every flake of paint- it’s not “oh that was nothing” it is always “what next?” and so we begin Fall For Him where Dylan literally falls through the ceiling of his neighbor Derek- falling in love, falling into fate!


Getting to know Dylan and Derek and their storied past and their invisible string- they were bound to be together but it doesn’t come without complexities and nuances.

Dylan is staying at his Uncle's condo, trying to help him get ready to sell it, knowing there’s deferred maintenance and Dylan is the only one in his family with the time to be able to make the changes that need to be done.

Derek bought his condo from his sister when she was in a rocky financial situation and Derek thought buying it from her would at least temporarily help her get back on her feet-he could handle whatever problems came with the apartment.

For both Dyland and Derek though their good intentions give them each a significant project resulting in a near full demo and rebuild in a part of each of their apartments.

Through this demo and rebuild Derek and Dylan uncover the soiled background of their condos, and also the murky overlaps of their romantic past.

In addition to navigating their demolition, personal romance, and families, Dylan is also navigating his ADHD diagnosis and I absolutely appreciated the ADHD representation and exploration of medication.

This is a fun read and I enjoyed it!

4 gooses
3 honkin’ peppers

I absolutely loved Fall for Him! Once I started, I could not put this book down. It’s funny, charming, and deeply relatable. The opening scene is one of the most creative meet-cutes that I’ve read; I love how Dylan fell quite literally. After an apartment flood accidentally caused by Dylan, he seems unlikely to get along with the neighbor below him. Derek is an ER nurse who is trying to hide his friend’s dog at his apartment. Dylan and Derek come to a reluctant truce. Derek will move into Dylan’s apartment while Dylan fixes the damage and keeps quiet about the dog. Comedic shenanigans and sweet romance ensue!

Andie Burke writes characters with such excellent motivations, depths, and fears. Her characters feel like people that you’d like to be friends with. I appreciate how Burke uses her background as a nurse to educate about the abuse and injustices that nurses deal with. Dylan’s experience with ADHD seemed very genuine and authentic. The sense of humor in this book is very much my type, it almost feels like Gilmore Girls humor. The scene where Dylan’s sister Felicity unexpectedly comes to the house and has the cops called on her by an overzealous neighbor is comedic genius. I hope we get Felicity’s love story! Plus, Gus the dog is adorable.

Readers who enjoy hilarious dialogue, queer love stories, forced proximity, and lovable characters should check out Fall for Him. I can’t wait for more stories from Andie Burke!

Thank you to Andie Burke, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

This is a MM rom-com about Dylan and Derek. Dylan falls through the ceiling of Derek’s apartment, while he is renovating upstairs. Of course, his downstairs neighbour had to be the ultra-hot, unapproachable Derek. When they find out the problem stems from his apartment, and it will be expensive to fix, he doesn’t know what to do. Dylan wants to keep the problem quiet from his family, he offers to fix the damage himself. Add in some ADHD hyperfixation, a whole lot of family drama, and plenty of misunderstanding and these two can’t possibly fall for each other, can they?

This book delves into many things including grief and loss, anxiety and ADHD. There are tough topics and they can be painful. I did find Dylan’s ADHD difficult to read, as I felt like I was on a chaotic journey of neurodivergence. It, however, allowed me to see ADHD through the perspective of an adult and one of the ways it works in their life. I thought it was good to see mental health represented in not trying to fix it, but learning to live life with ADHD. Derek has his struggles dealing with family dynamics and knowing how to care for his family, while also letting them make mistakes. His desire to protect his family is beautiful, but I did understand his siblings’ feelings too.

The banter between Dylan and Derek is great and they seemed to work together with similar senses of humour. They were the perfect opposites, and I loved that Derek didn’t try to change some of Dylan’s ADHD tendencies, but rather worked with it.

The book is dual POV and written in third person. I did find myself struggling at times with whose perspective I was reading. I also felt that though this isn’t dubbed as a sequel if I had not read Burke’s first book, I may have been lost on some of the things that had happened in the past, especially Derek.

Though this story is written as a love story, and it is that, it is also so much more. It is about figuring out who you are, caring for yourself and learning to cope with grief, loss and mental illness. I loved the story and the messages in it. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

Read if you like: hate to love, forced proximity, neighbours, mental health rep

This was entertaining. The author wove in characters from her previous novel, which I always appreciate! Dylan and Derek get stuck together due to some needed renovations in their apartments, and it continues to get chaotic and less chaotic as the story progresses. I appreciate that stories are shifting towards healthy dialogue between the characters versus perpetuating less-than-ideal communication patterns in relationships. While I think I liked Olive and Stella *just* a bit better, Dylan and Derek are a really solid second place!

I ended up loving Fall for Him by Andie Burke. Despite their issues, Dylan and Derek were such sweethearts. The dual POV writing with Derek and Dylan could be a bit confusing, but I didn’t feel it was enough to detract from the story. I thought the depiction of grief and mental health were handled with care. I expect there is a bit more backstory if you read Fly with Me first, but it doesn’t seem necessary to enjoy this one.