I wanted to love this one because it sounded like a fall rom com, and I loved how craft breweries played a part. But while I'll loved the hero I hated the heroine and the romance. I was rooting for the hero to end up with anyone else.

I want to start by saying, fake dating/relationships are my favorite tropes! Sophie Sulivan's newest story centers on the captivating pair of Lexi and Will, who hail from completely different worlds, giving the plot an almost Cinderella-like tale. Fortunately, Lexi is no helpless damsel. She's a strong, determined heroine with a heart of gold, always prioritizing others and fiercely standing on her own two feet, never one to ask for help easily.

Lexi Danby's journey begins when she reluctantly leaves college, where she was poised to become a star athlete, after her father’s sudden death leaves her with a mountain of debt and financial ruin. As the sole provider for her grieving mother, Lexi takes on two jobs, putting her own dreams on hold just to make ends meet.

One of those jobs is waitressing—something she’s not exactly great at, but she puts in her best effort. Her life takes a twist when she waits on a charming stranger named Will, who keeps smiling even after she spills soda on his book and messes up his order. She has no idea that Will will soon reappear to save her from an uncomfortable run-in with her high school friends at the restaurant. With his help, Lexi pretends he’s her boyfriend, leading to an unexpected invitation to an engagement party—a fun, carefree evening that Lexi desperately needs.

But what starts as a harmless ruse quickly snowballs into a town-wide rumor after a gossip column misinterprets their relationship, reporting them as engaged. To her surprise, Lexi learns that her "fake boyfriend" is actually a member of Seattle's upper crust—a wealthy, eligible bachelor whose mother is relentless in trying to pair him with high-society women. Now, Lexi is caught in a whirlwind of pretending to date Will, helping him dodge his mother’s matchmaking schemes while preserving her own reputation. Yet, as sparks begin to fly, their fake relationship starts to feel all too real, and even Will’s family starts rooting for them.

Can Lexi and Will break through the social barriers and turn their charade into true love, despite its rocky start? This story was just so heart-warming and lovely.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Can't Help Falling in Love is a delightful, heartfelt romance that artfully blends the tropes of fake dating, meet-cute, and friends-to-lovers against the vibrant backdrop of Seattle. The story centers on Lexi Danby, a determined heroine whose dreams as a track star are derailed by her father's sudden death and the ensuing responsibilities that come with it. As the sole breadwinner caring for her grieving mother, Lexi juggles two jobs, putting her ambitions on hold.

Her life takes a turn when she meets Will, a charming stranger who becomes her unexpected ally after a mishap at the restaurant where she waitresses. Their playful pretense of being in a relationship spirals into town-wide gossip when a newspaper mistakenly labels them as engaged. Unbeknownst to Lexi, Will is a member of Seattle’s elite, caught in the crosshairs of his mother’s matchmaking attempts.

As they navigate this ruse, what begins as a charade slowly evolves into something deeper. Their relationship, rooted in genuine affection and mutual respect, beautifully illustrates the nuances of love and personal growth. The dynamics with Will’s supportive sisters and Lexi’s friendships add richness to the narrative.

This sweet and refreshing story not only showcases romance but also addresses themes of grief and healing, making it a poignant read. Lexi and Will’s journey is a joy to follow, leaving readers rooting for their happiness. Perfect for a cozy fall read, this book promises laughter, tears, and a warm heart—just like Sullivan’s previous works.

Thank you to everyone for this early gifted copy of Can’t Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan.

This was a sweet book, that was fairly clean and would be considered an easy read. Characters were likable for the most part. I just found that I felt like it needed something more. I felt bored through most of it, and the fake dating turned real dating very quickly was almost unbelievable at times.

I think this would be the right book for some people, but it wasn’t all there for me.

This was a cute, feel good romance. The author made me laugh at the main characters awkwardness, but I did enjoy this book overall.

I really enjoy Sophie Sullivan, she has the cutest heart felt stories. This book has some great tropes and they were well written. From fake dating, and friends to lovers this delightful read will give you all the feels. As always I enjoy the dual POV. Following along their sides of the story and witnessing their chemistry grow made my heart melt. I don't always enjoy closed door romance but the genuine storyline makes it worth the read.

This is your typical rich guy/poor girl modern Cinderellaesque romance, but it's not without its charm. The disapproving MMCs family is a little bit cliché, but the FMCs character does make up for a lot of it.

Overall, it's a good book and I would pick up another title from this author--I just wouldn't rush to pre-order it.

I ate this up in a matter of hours. So cute! I loved the supporting characters. I would love to read a book on Maisie and/or Gwen. I feel like we just scratched the surface of their characters and I enjoyed them so much.

My only wishes for this book were
1. MORE SPICE PLZZZZZZ
2. It felt too easy. I was hoping for some sort of trial / tribulation that the couple would have to go through but it seemed the only things that went wrong were quickly and painlessly resolved in like 4 pages

Oh man, I loved this one! I was invested from the beginning. There were so many layers to this one, and each one added to another. I loved the authenticity of the characters and found their “flaws” to be relatable. This was delightful!

This book started our very good but then sort of slows down and I lost my initial interest. It was a little far fetched but I guess when you are in love you know it?

After her father passed away Sophie finds herself trying to finish school, be there for her mother and keep them from being financially destitute by working multiple jobs. While working as a waitress she gives Will less than stellar service but rather than being deterred he comes to her rescue and invites her to a night out.

Will’s lifestyle could not be more different from Sophie’s as he tries to prove himself worthy of his place in the family business. He is intrigued by Sophie, so he invites her to an event that he is attending however the evening did not unfold as expected when public perception is that they are a couple. It seems like a win-win for them both but what happens when their hearts get involved?

As Sophie tries to handle all of life’s challenges Will allows her to take a step back and see all that she has accomplished. The romance between them was heartfelt and the story brings both humor and heat.

The perfect and adorable fall read! Apple picking, crisp air, and dress up fun!

I’ve been a huge fan of Sophie Sullivans books, and this one was no exception! I really enjoyed the meet cute between the two main characters, and the hilarity that ensued with their fake engagement. The book also held a fun cast of side characters that I hope we get to see in future books.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

There were a lot of cute things about Can't Help Falling in Love in theory- and I'm always a sucker for a fake dating, or fake engagement plot line. However, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural at times (especially with the secondary characters).

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this lovely ARC!

Lexi is doing her best of finishing up school, working two jobs, and trying to get her mom back into the world after the loss of her husband. While Lexi is working her waitressing job, she sees a handsome man, Will, sitting at one of her tables. You can say there were some sparks of attraction from both. 🙂‍↕️ During this time, she happens to see some old friends from high school walk in and she has to help them. But she doesn’t want them to know she works at this establishment, so she sits with Will. Her friends happen to see her and they catch up and they end up being invited to an engagement party.

During this party, there may or may not have been a mix up and everyone thought they were engaged as well. They just kinda go with the flow, and the aftermath… she finds out he is basically Seattle’s royalty. And his parents do not approve. How will they get out of this mess? Do they even want this “mess” to end? 🤫

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the rom-commy feel, the fall vibes, and it was just a sweet read and perfect for this time of year. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone who’s in the mood for a cute fall read. I was even thinking of getting the physical book because I enjoyed it so much. 🥰

Thank you again NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the early read!

Lexi Danby’s story hooked me from the start. A struggling waitress juggling her dreams and caring for her grieving mother? I felt every bit of her determination and heart. Plus, her disastrous waitressing moments had me laughing out loud!

Then enters Will Grand, the charming heir to a Seattle dynasty. Their initial chemistry is electric, but when a misunderstanding at a party lands them in a fake engagement, things take a hilariously complicated turn. I loved how their relationship developed amid the chaos—watching them navigate the ups and downs of their charade was pure delight.

The backdrop of fall with cozy flannels, apple picking, and outdoor breweries made the story even more enchanting. Sullivan’s descriptions made me want to dive right into those autumn vibes! The way Lexi grapples with her fears of commitment while trying to keep up with Will’s glamorous world was relatable and heartfelt. Their evolving dynamic is a perfect blend of sweetness and tension.

If you’re looking for a rom-com that captures the magic of fall and the unpredictability of love, this one is a must-read! I finished it with a smile on my face and can’t wait to see what Sophie Sullivan has in store next!

I wanted to love this but it was just very meh. There were moments I was really bought in, and others I wasn't. The story and romance felt rushed and I absolutely hate the "he deserves a better woman" narrative from a FMC so that just did not work for me.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: N/A, closed door
Tropes: instalove, fake dating/engagement, recovering from grief

When the story begins, Lexi is down on her luck and dropped out of college after her father passed away. However, as a former college athlete she is persistent and works multiple jobs to accomplish her goals. Her job as a waitress at a popular restaurant in Seattle provides the perfect backdrop for her “meet cute” with Will when she repeatedly gets his meal wrong. Not only does he eat the wrong sandwich, but saves her reputation when Lexi runs into her very successful friends from high school by pretending to be her boyfriend. In another easily avoidable mishap, Lexi and Will are accidentally introduced to people as newly engaged. Turns out, this is the turning point for both Lexi and Will.

Will has been identified as “Seattle’s Most Eligible Bachelor” and he’s now able to avoid his mother’s matchmaking attempts. Additionally, Lexi’s life is turned around professionally when she’s introduced to Will’s best friend for a marketing role. Personally, she realizes the need for difficult discussions with her mother surrounding her grief.

Overall, it was a perfectly pleasant read, but not necessarily exciting or riveting. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Once I got past the ridiculousness of our main character's waiteressing abilities - I realized that I actually really liked her!! In any sweet story like this with two genuinely nice characters - it's easy to cheer them on even when they don't know they need cheering on yet!!

I also highly like the nuances of a relationship where one person has their life together and the other is still figuring things out. That style of relationship has the potential to quickly become a power struggle, but I really felt like they loved each other in the end and respected each other for their respective strengths!!

**Thank you St. Martin’s Griffin for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts are my own. - SLR

4.5/5


This is literally if someone rewrote Cinderella for the modern day? Will was a sweetheart and def too good to be true. Though it was a closed door book, I really enjoyed it! Their relationship was cute. Hoping to see a book 2 for Ethan! 👀

This is a cute book with the vibes I was looking for. Lexi is making ends meet but not in exactly the way that she wants. She's been working at a local dress shop forever and has recently started waitressing. Lexi will be the first to admit that she's never been good at that job; however, her worst day might be the time she ends up providing terrible service to her cute customer, Will, only to have him rescue her for an embarrassing scene by pretending to be her boyfriend in front of some old school friends of Lexi's.

This fake-dating trope very quickly turns into fake engagement as Will is a beloved bachelor of a prominent family business. When news gets out about their supposed engagement, Will and Lexi decide to just go with it for now. The easy writing in this book makes the story flow. The romance was really sweet while each supported the other as they dealt with their families - Lexi with her grieving, widowed mother and Will with his overbearing parents. There are some found family aspects with Will's sisters and Lexi's newly reunited high school friends. There are discussions around making decisions for yourself instead of your family and what they need. The dual POV really works for this one. I enjoyed getting to know them both inside and out.

If you're looking for a fun, light-hearted romance this is a great one to pick up. I think any lover of the genre would enjoy this book.