3.5 stars ⭐️
Thank you, netgalley, and St Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dylan crashed through Derek's ceiling, landing on his bed when Dylan's kitchen flooded. Dylan noticed that there were a lot of structural issues in Derek's apartment and promised to fix it up for him at cost. Dylan also let Derek stay in his apartment until the construction is completed.
First of all, I want to mention how gorgeous the cover is! I'm so obsessed! So I enjoyed this book overall, but I felt like the middle dragged a bit, while the end was rushed. I really liked the ADHD representation in the book. I also think the theme of grief was done well. The relationship between Dyaln and Derek was very sweet, but the third act breakup wasn't my favorite. I think it needed to happen, but not so late in the book.

Was excited for this one because the cover is beautiful and the synopsis grabbed my interest, but unfortunately the writing didn’t work for me.

It was pretty unstructured, and with it being third person and two male main characters names Dylan and Derek, I was completely lost on whose pov I was in on almost every page leaving me to struggle through the messy plot and character building.

Read as much as I could, but I was not enjoying the read, so this was sadly a DNF.

Thank you to SMP and Macmillan audio for the review copies. I really enjoyed Andie Burke's debut last year and was excited to read this next book. For me though the sexy slow burn mood in her earlier book was missing in this one, I found I just could not quite get into the rhythm of this book, perhaps because the characters were not 100% likable, and I felt as a reader I landed in the middle of a story with the immediate "crash into each other" start to the story, and I didn't have a good sense as to who was who, esp with similar names and some lack of clarity about which voice was which character, though the audiobook handled this better and the voice actors did a good job even if I didn't like the book as much as I hoped I would.

I was confused from the first few paragraphs of this book and unfortunately, I was still getting confused near the end of the book. The biggest issue is that the two main characters both have D- names and we are never actually properly introduced to them; literally it’s a crash introduction. I needed some pause in the story to say this is Derek and what he looks like and this is Dylan and what he looks like. Their families also being thrown in and them having a mutual connection to Jake - even more confusion! AND they were both dealing with grief (I think so - I’m still confused). The author really needed to reorganize this story. Additionally, it was just way too long! There were so many unimportant things that occurred and made the storyline more convoluted. I’m also convinced neither main character was actually ready for a relationship. They both had some work to do and one really needed some maturity. Their chemistry was fine, the neighbor was too much and too weird, and the ending was forced. Honestly, this would’ve been so much better with more serious editing. 3⭐️, 2🌶

Daryl falls through the ceiling and lands on Derek’s bed on page one. Love a book that gets to the point right away more room for the couple to, in this case, get to know each other because they have a different perspective of the other. They are forced to spend time together in Daryl’s apartment while Dereks’ is being fixed.
My only negative would be giving the two MCs a D-name, my brain had a confusing time trying to place who was who in the beginning.

[arc review]
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Fall for Him releases September 3, 2024

In all honesty, I was ready to DNF this after reading the first page. Meet-cute disaster aside, I find it very hard to believe that an apartment building would have a kitchen directly above a bedroom instead of mirroring the same layout of the unit below with the same square footage.

I really did not like Burke’s debut novel, but wanted to give them a second chance, mostly because my interest was piqued when I saw this included an Asian lead.
Turns out, Burke is just not for me!
It probably didn’t help that her sophomore novel was pretty much a companion novel instead of a true standalone, given how extensive a role Olive and her brother played in Derek and Dylan’s lives.

With a dual pov MM romance, featuring two characters with <I>very</I> similar names, it would have been extremely helpful to have labelled the chapters accordingly in order to minimize confusion as there was little distinction between their two voices.

I found that the tone of their dialogue and interactions were laced with a lot of judgment and hostility rather than it being a feel-good, swoon-worthy romance. For that reason, it was hard to become invested or find enjoyment in a relationship between two people that appeared to have little to no compatibility or chemistry.

Much like Burke’s debut, the plot was so cluttered with multiple components that none had the time to really shine. Not only was there the development of a romantic relationship, but also familial drama with Derek’s sister’s debt, his mother’s elopement, Dylan’s siblings and his ADHD, the busy-body HOA “Karen” and her hyperfixation with the dog, home renovations, and Derek’s unresolved issues with Jake who ended up feeling like a third wheel from beyond the grave.

If I have to read the word “kay” one more time, I might actually bleach my eyes.

𝐌𝐂𝐬: Derek + Dylan
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
🌻 Neighbor Shenanigans
🌻 Badly Timed Jokes
🌻 ADHD Rep
🌻 Wrong First Impressions
🌻 Grief & Acceptance
🌻 3rd Act Youknowwhat

Call me surprised…

I’m not usually one to enjoy traditionally published books compared to indie books, but I really ended up enjoying this one.

The negative: like others have mentioned, the first third or so of the book (and periodically) I would confuse the POV because the names are Dylan and Derek and it got jumbled sometimes. I also thought the 3rd act youknowwhat was a bit forced and not necessarily needed. Not for the length of time. I also felt like a few scenes jumped around or were a bit abrupt, like maybe the author had a thought but couldn’t quite pen it in time before a new scene was written.

The positive: the ADHD rep was handled so well as was the grief. I adored the romance. Dylan was a bit scatterbrained and Derek was a bit of a stiff, but when they started letting down their guards, they were just perfect for each other.

𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦: September 3, 2024
𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣.

Fall for Him was a cute dislike-to-friends-to-lovers story with a dash of something deeper. The premise pulled me in; however, the writing style made it difficult to stay. This story is written in third person and it’s difficult to tell who’s talking. Having both MMCs names start with D put my squishy mind to work trying to remember who was who. The Dylan/Derek confusion lasted for longer than I’d like, and it made it more difficult to be invested in them as individuals.

The standout to me in this book was how Dylan’s life looked with ADHD. Without spoiling anything I appreciated the insight and representation that the author included. The third act doesn’t feel forced and, for me, that deserves a whole star on its own. I would’ve loved more time spent with some of the supporting characters. The renovations don’t take up nearly as much time as the synopsis makes it seem, I think that time could’ve been better spent on Derek or Dylan’s relationships with their families. Although I did have higher hopes for this book, I’m grateful for the opportunity to read it.

I absolutely loved Fall for Him! The banter between the characters was sharp, witty, and had me grinning from ear to ear. The chemistry between them was palpable, making their connection feel genuine and deeply engaging.

I also found myself relating strongly to Derek and his dad. Like them, I love to travel and explore, but there’s something special about the quiet moments—just sitting back with a good book or listening to music, soaking in the serenity. People often tell me to live life more actively, but I find true joy in those peaceful, reflective times.

Overall, Fall for Him struck the perfect balance between humor, romance, and heartfelt moments. It’s a story that will stay with me, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read!

I don't really know how to rate this one. I had high hopes for it as it sounds like such a cute story but at first I was just so confused as to who was who. Both MC names started with D and the beginning of the chapters didn't say which character it was. This could be just me but it was hard to connect with them at first. I also felt like they went from fighting to loving so quickly that it felt like I missed something.

I did like the Main Characters but I just wish it was executed a little better

This MM romance begins with a quirky meet-cute: Dylan literally falls into his neighbor Derek’s bed. Though they start as enemies, their relationship quickly shifts, diving into deeper themes. I appreciated the ADHD representation, but the pacing felt off, with some chapters seemingly missing. Overall, a decent read, but not particularly memorable.

Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the
E-ARC! Loved this so much! Loved both characters and the chemistry. Excited to read more from this author!

I was such a fan of Andie Burke’s first book, so was really excited to get ahold of her follow up- and loved this one too! Dylan and Derek are both complicated, imperfect characters who are dealing with a lot- family, past relationships, work. When a housing disaster forces them to become roomies, they also have to deal with their growing attraction to each other- and the realization that they’ve maybe misjudged each other.

I love a romance that has the romcom banter and cuteness, but also deals with more serious issues like grief and loss. And Andie Burke does this so well. She gives you characters you really care about, and then puts your emotions through the ringer. Can’t wait for whatever she writes next.

A hot guy dropping into your bed literally should be a good thing, unless it’s due to a flood and water is everywhere. Oh, and did I mention that you hate him for dissing the love of your life who didn’t see you romantically? Oh boy, complicated.

I love, simply love, Derek and Dylan together. Andie Burke gives us a funny enemies-to-lovers romance with klutzy incidents that make you smile, chuckle, and laugh-out-loud. Dylan handles it all with humor and awesome one-liners. Amidst the humor, we experience bits of Dylan’s life as a result of living with undiagnosed ADHD. I will say that there is familial dysfunction in the form of bullying which is uncomfortable if you have suffered from this form of harassment.

On the flip side there is Derek, whose best friend’s brother died (Fly With Me). We get to see what happens with unrequited love and the journey to adulthood. Both of these roads combine and Burke does an amazing job of giving each of these characters the floor to share their story. You would think that this would drag the story, but it doesn’t. The pace is just right. Everything fits together like a puzzle.

The secondary cast brings humor, pain, and growth. There are people from Fly and of course new people added to the cast. I don’t think I have a favorite because my complete focus was on Derek and Dylan.

Let’s talk about sex. Derek and Dylan are hot. Like bookmark the pages steamy which I did (chuckle).

Fall for Him made me laugh. It also made my heart hurt in empathy and shared experience. Fall pulls on the heartstrings and the funny bone. It’s a sweet romance to while away an evening with.

A leaking roof and faulty apartment forces the two neighbors Dylan and Derek to at least try to long for the time being. For some reason Derek seemed to loathe Dylan ever since he moved in and that probably won’t change now that he literally fell trough the roof and almost landed on his dog. Dylan wants to keep this disaster under wraps and offers to fix the damage himself as fast as possible. Meanwhile they will cohabitate in the upstairs apartment. Squeezing all their emotional baggage into a tiny one bedroom apartment probably isn’t a wise choice. It’ll likely be a major disaster but just maybe they’ll be able to sort out their differences, only time will tell.

There are so many things I really enjoyed in this one. Starting off with the characters, the mcs are well developed, have a compelling backstory and bring a lot of representation to the book. It mentions ADHD quite heavily as well as mental health. And if you didn’t get it from the blurb and cover its a MM romance. I really enjoyed them together, they’re so different yet fit perfectly together in so many ways.

The reason its not 5 stars is mainly the third act breakup. It’s so unnecessary when the book is nearly over and there is already other drama going on. And did the mcs have to have such similar names? The audiobook narration made it easier to follow but if if only had the ebook I think it could’ve caused unnecessary confusion.

I would sum this up as a really sweet read with tons of representation and unique characters. Derek and Dylans story stands out among the sea of romcoms and thats what makes it such a good read.

Read this of you like
🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ rep
🧡Opposites attract
💫ADHD rep
🫶🏼Forced proximity
🐶Dogs

I absolutely ADORED this book. The banter was peak and I appreciated the well-portrated ADHD rep. I really enjoyed Fly With Me and I am so happy to have this wonderful continuation of that world.

🛠️Fall for Him🛠️

Fall for Him is Andie Burke’s second novel. After reading and loving her debut last year I was so excited to see what she would come up with next.

Fall for Him was such a delightful M/M romance to read from start to finish. Andie builds such quirky and well developed characters you cannot help but root for them. Not only that but she builds in important discussions surrounding mental health, grief and the realities of working in health care. The balance between character banter and their very real and important issues is perfect. If you read Andie’s debut, Fly with Me, then you’ll already know one of our main characters, Derek, and will enjoy some fun cameos! I was excited that we got Derek’s story but also got to meet Dylan as well!

I really enjoyed the pacing and read this in nearly one sitting (unfortunately I did have to sleep). Once I started I really didn’t want to put it down. Setting a plot around an unexpected home renovation between two neighbours who aren’t overly fond of each other set a really interesting course for the story to take. I also really enjoyed the side characters, they were so well developed and so entertaining (shout out to Parakeet Karen, iykyk).

Overall, I really enjoyed his one and can’t wait to see what Andie writes next!

Thank you to @stmartinspress & @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! Fall for Him is out September 3rd!

⭐4/5 stars⭐

I absolutely loved Fly With Me so I was super excited for this book but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me. I had a hard time keeping up with whose chapter I was reading from. I even listened to the audio and was still confused. The narrators were great but the way this is written made it difficult to remember who was who. I’m happy I got to see Olive for a bit and this cover is gorgeous though.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffith for this advanced copy. You can pick up Fall For Him on September 3, 2024.

I did not expect to get so emotional while reading this book, but it really surprised me in the best way! I love the forced proximity with these two neighbors forced to live together, and the tension between them played out really nicely. Both characters experienced SO MUCH growth throughout the trials of their relationships, and Andie Burke seemed to approach living with ADHD or a partner with ADHD really well. A bunch of the side characters really leaped off the page, and overall I just really enjoyed myself while reading this one!

Definitely pick it up if you're looking for an MLM romance with hate-to-love, forced proximity, and ADHD rep!

Consider me FALLEN in love with Fall for Him!

Andie Burke did it again with Fall for Him. She went above and beyond and delivered a deliciously spicy and sickeningly sweet romantic comedy that I devoured. This story follows fan favorite character Derek from Fly with Me her previous novel. Derek in that story delivered witty exchanges that had me cackling so getting a full story with his perspective was exactly what I wanted and needed!

Then we are blessed and introduced to Dylan Gallagher, who has all the right connections to characters from our previous story as well. There’s secrets to be revealed and angst to keep the pace moving forward. I think this book also had me unable to look away. We get the POV of both characters and getting the deeper glance into their lives made me desperate to know how these two would interact.

This book takes the spice to the next level!! Derek & Dylan are devious and the writing that Andie put into their scenes was delightful. It’s definitely more spicy here and I enjoyed that! Another component with the writing here is that we get a couple ongoing conflicts that get resolved. (This could count as a minor spoiler, but) the conflicts were resolved in a much more fulfilling way in this story. I think it’s based on the characterizations built and in this case, the conflicts needed much more complete closure as opposed to Olive and her family issues.

There are also some really heavy themes dealt with in this story too. Grief is explored and can be somewhat triggering for those going through difficult loss. Also, medical diagnosis of ADHD was given a very nice spotlight here and as a later in life diagnosis person myself, I loved getting to see that representation.

I loved this next story by Andie Burke and I know that you will too! Grab your copy today and prepare to FALL in love with these characters and much as I have!