I unfortunately did not like this book. The plot was a bit too slow=paced and I wasn't a huge fan of the characters as I couldn't connect with them personally. Loved the concept of the novel, there were parts of the storyline that I enjoyed, but wasn't particularly for me. Would recommend for those that enjoy more lighthearted, cozy romances.

Can't Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan is a sweet romance centered around a fake engagement. This is a closed door romance, which I personally appreciate.

Synopisis (from goodreads): Lexi Danby is looking for some no-strings, fall fun. Once a college track star, she was forced to drop out when her father passed away. Now she is trying to make ends meet while putting herself through school and caring for her grieving mother. When her comically bad waitressing lands her directly in the path of a handsome, charming stranger named Will, Lexi may just have found the distraction she’s been looking for. Their first date looks promising until a misunderstanding at a party thrusts Lexi and Will into a fake engagement they can’t talk themselves out of. And Will turns out to be a member of Seattle royalty. Will Grand is heir to a major company, and Seattle’s most eligible bachelor. But he has been placed in charge of an important merger with a company that values family above all else, and needs to show them that he has settled down. While a fake engagement is advantageous from a business standpoint, it is not so great for a budding relationship with a woman who is wary of commitment. With a woman who Will is beginning to care about much more than he could have anticipated. As Lexi gets a taste of Will’s glamorous world and the pair keeps up the pretense of their fake engagement for the press, they decide to see where a more casual relationship takes them out of the spotlight. And amid apple picking in comfy flannels, outdoor breweries in the crisp air, and fun Halloween preparations, Lexi starts to realize the scariest part of the season might just be taking a chance on love.

My Thoughts: This was a sweet romance that also dealt with grief and heartbreak in a few different forms. Lexi was on a personal growth journey throughout the book, having had her father recently pass away, leaving her promising track career and taking on two jobs to be with her grieving mother all while handling her own personal grief. Will was there to support her 100% - he was so kind and understanding. I appreciate a fake dating/engagement trope and this one was well done. I loved how the two met and how they decided to see where the fake relationship took them in their real lives.

I do recommend Can't Help Falling in Love to anyone who likes a feel good, fall-centric, sweet romance that is high on family and low on drama.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

At the time I received this book I struggled with reading it, I kind of still did even now. I am not a fan of contemporary romances written in third-person, but it was cute, I was already in the mood for autumn romances and just everything autumn related. Overall, it was a cute, silly book that obviously had miscommunication, but still managed being fun at times.

What you’ll find in this book:
🍂 Fake dating
🍂 Friends to lovers
🍂 Rags to riches -ish
🍂 Billionaire romance
🍂 Witty and fun banter

DNF'd at 36% -- gave it a try, but this one just really was not for me. I think it's a combination of a number of things, but the number of tropes that came up even just in the first few chapters felt aggressive, and the characters' internal monologues were almost TOO straightforward. There's no tension pushing the story forward.

This was a sweet, slow burn romance. It wasn’t my favorite, I felt like the characters weren’t fully fleshed out.

What an adorable read! I found myself craving more & more of this one.

Both main characters were so likeable, and the friendships in this book were truly top tier.

I simply adored it from start to finish!

I really enjoyed the side characters in this book (the siblings, parents, friends, etc.). Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of the main character who constantly thought she wasn't good enough, who felt being a waitress was demeaning, and who is saved by the rich, but ever thoughtful man. This one just irked me from the beginning, and I couldn't get out of that headspace.

Can’t Help Falling in Love 🍂
— fake dating, real feelings, autumn vibes !

★★★★½ (4.5/5)

Okay, I’m low-key obsessed with this one. Lexi is juggling college, a waitressing gig, and grief—one literal hot mess in the best way—and when a silly misunderstanding leads her to pretend she’s engaged to Will Grand (Seattle royalty!?), it all snowballs into the cutest fake-engagement setup.

The way their relationship evolves is chef’s kiss. A slow burn without unnecessary drama—I could feel every awkward laugh, every flicker of attraction, every moment they “accidentally” turned real. The writing is smooth, funny, warm, and the stakes feel low but emotionally resonant. Seattle autumn vibes, flannel apple-picking scenes, cozy breweries—it hit every fall-romance sweet spot.

Lexi’s resilience—and Will’s gentle calmness—balanced each other perfectly. I rooted for them hard. The pacing is breezy (though the middle slows just a bit), and some misunderstandings might feel a touch cliché—but honestly, I didn’t mind. The swoony moments, their quiet conversations, and how they navigate grief and family pressure? So satisfying.

I laughed, my heart warmed, and I didn’t want it to end.

Would I reread? Probably not, but I’d reread favorite scenes.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely—especially if fake engagements and fall coziness are your jam.
Would I read more from Sophie Sullivan? Without a doubt. This was just the beginning of a feel-good obsession.

This was my first Sophie Sullivan book that I read--about halfway through I immediately purchased every book she has written that was published and she jumped to the top of my instant buy author list.

Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes and I absolutely LOVED this one!

I’m a fan of this author for sure! I really loved this sweet fall vibes romance! It was so good! I enjoyed the characters and their dynamic! I can’t say enough good things! I highly recommend giving this one a read.

Thank you NetGalley and Griffin for the arc. What a fun read! Sophie Sullivan's story was humorous and sweet. I'll definitely be reading more of her books in the future.

You can't help but root for these two to fall in love. A fake relationship is always so fun to watch develop into real feelings.

Overall, I enjoyed this!
It was a very fun but also emotional fake dating romance!
The main character was a little annoying at times, but I'm glad she got it together!
I liked that this book was meant to be a lighthearted book about love but also contained some deeper messages.
It showed that people aren't always who they present, and everyone goes through struggles. It also showed that love is beautiful no matter how hard. I would definitely reccoment this!

Can’t Help Falling in Love is the kind of cozy, flirty fall rom-com that feels like slipping into your favorite sweater—warm, sweet, and impossible not to enjoy.

Lexi is a relatable heroine—gritty, determined, and doing her best to juggle school, work, and family. Will is charming and kind, with just the right amount of swoony billionaire energy. Their meet-cute is chaotic in the best way, and the fake engagement trope is executed with humor and heart. Add in cozy fall vibes (apple picking! flannel! Halloween prep!) and you've got a setting that practically begs for a PSL in hand.

What made this story shine was the emotional balance—there’s substance beneath the fluff. Lexi’s guarded heart, Will’s unexpected vulnerability, and their slow-burn chemistry made me root for them hard. The miscommunication trope pops up once or twice, but the payoff is worth it.

If you love books with fake relationships, fall aesthetics, and characters who earn their HEA, this one belongs on your TBR.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This is the first Sophie Sullivan book that I've read. I enjoyed it, but it didn't stick out as something outstanding. I may read another book by this author, but only if the plot sounds particularly good.

This is a good read for the fall mood, but nothing really stood out to me compared to other romances.

I picked this book up because of the description and it did not disappoint. I wanted to read this book for the cozy vibes, and it did bring that, but it also brough all the major rom com vibes. I was all about Will and Lexi's banter and watching their romance blossom through their dates and interactions. I also loved Lexi as an MC because she was tackling feelings to failure and showing readers that life doesn't have a one-way path to success. I was pleasantly surprised and had a wonderful reading experience!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this title in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was an overall nice, lighthearted read. The characters were fairly likable and I thought that the fake engagement shenanigans were fun. There were some moments that felt pretty slow, but thankfully they were brief. I think this is a nice and easy late summer/fall read.

One of my favorite reads! This adorable romance stole my heart. Will was so sweet and Lexi was so fun to follow throughout her story. Loved this book so much.

This was a cozy fall read! Recommend reading if you love books with all the feelings. Sophie Sullivan always writes books that make me think, laugh and feel.