Thanks to Netgalley and Griffin for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Can’t Help Falling in Love, is the second book I’ve read by author, Sophie Sullivan.

I’ve been reading a lot of fake dating books lately and this one starts a little slow with a lot of info dumps. It does get better as the pace gets going.

I enjoyed the character growth and the secondary characters as well. There was some insta love between the MC’s, Will and Lexi, but it worked for this story.

If you want a sweet fake dating story with two people who fall in love at first table…er, sight, this one is for you.

In Can’t Help Falling in Love firefighter Jake and cautious, recently burned-by-love Meghan are instantly drawn to each other, despite their best efforts to keep things strictly friendly. Meghan is guarded and determined not to fall again, while Jake is patient, kind, and slowly chips away at her walls with his steady presence and quiet charm. Their connection builds through heartfelt conversations, shared vulnerabilities, and undeniable chemistry, making their journey from friendship to love both believable and deeply satisfying.

CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE by Sophie Sullivan is the perfect short and sweet rom com, with two characters who meet organically but opt for an engagement of convenience (lol) to help them both through sticky situations while they date and get to know each other at a normal pace. CW for loss of a parent and a loved one with severe depression. I enjoyed reading it! Thanks to the publisher for a copy via NetGalley.

This book was the cute and fun I really have come to expect from Sophie Sullivan. I loved these characters so much.

Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes and when it’s mixed with friends-to-lovers - sign me up! I really loved Lexi and Will’s chemistry and repeatedly caught myself smiling at my kindle while reading.

Easy read and beautiful writing. Very cute and love romances that feel like they come out of nothing so simply.

Rating: 5 stars!

I personally loved this! Lexi is the bad ass business wanna be. Will is the golden retriever business heir. Together, they are flirty & fun. This closed door romance was so much fun to read. The flirty banter, the parental dynamic from both sides, and the over the top sisters were all components in this perfect read!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have tried to read this several times and for some reason I just can’t get into it. It was a DNF about half way through.

This is a very sweet story, but does read a bit on the young side considering the characters' ages. Still, the main characters and their friends were charming, and their family issues lent nice depth.

This was my first book from this author. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I loved this book so much! Such a great read for the fall season if you are looking for something to give you all those fall-ish vibes.

This was my very first Sophie Sullivan novel and it did not disappoint! Can’t Help Falling in Love is the ultimate cozy meet cute for your fall reading list. In this sweet, friends to lovers romance we meet Lexi, a young and grieving waitress who is clumsy and terrible at her job. Will is her handsome customer who finds Lexi’s clumsiness adorable and takes pity on her when her shallow high school friends invite her to one of their swanky parties. One thing leads to another and somehow they find themselves caught in a fake engagement. However, it isn’t long until they discover that there is nothing fake about their feelings for one another.

I loved the characters and found Lexi to be relatable which only made me love her even more. I feel Will’s character could have used a little more depth to avoid him falling flat on the page but all in all the two characters worked well and made for a great love story.. I also appreciated that this story wasn't just your typical romcom but also added tones of grief giving more depth and dimension to my reading experience. If you love the fake dating/marriage of convenience, friends to lovers tropes then you will eat this book up.

Can’t Help Falling in Love is a fun rom-com with two of my favorite tropes, fake engagement and opposites attract. As Lexi is working to finish her degree while working retail and waitressing, she isn’t where she thought she would be at this point in life. When girls from her high school track team are seated in her section, she panics. Will, an attractive, young finance professional, seated at one of her other tables comes to her rescue before her former classmates recognize her. One thing leads to another and Lexi’s peers assume Will is Lexi’s fiancé. For multiple reasons, benefitting both Lexi and Will, they don’t correct them. While continuing to play along with the lie, Will and Lexi can’t help the attract growing between them.

This was a quick, cute rom-com set in the fall, making the perfect cozy read for the season. At times, it felt a little cheesier than I prefer but overall I enjoyed it. The book really highlights the importance of personal growth and love who we are at each stage of life.

Can't Help Falling in Love is a delightful, flirty fall rom-com that blends humor, heart, and a bit of chaos into a fun read. Lexi and Will are an adorable pair, thrown together into a fake engagement that quickly becomes anything but fake. The chemistry between the two is undeniable, and their banter keeps the story light and engaging.

Lexi is a relatable, grounded character juggling family responsibilities and personal aspirations, while Will is the charming, slightly out-of-touch heir to a fortune. Their fake engagement adds the perfect amount of tension and humor, with both trying to keep up the act while navigating their growing feelings for each other.

The setting, filled with cozy autumn vibes, apple picking, and Halloween fun, creates a warm atmosphere perfect for the rom-com genre. The pacing is great, keeping the story moving without feeling rushed, and the character development is well done, especially as Lexi and Will's connection deepens beyond the surface.

While the premise is familiar, the charming leads and sweet, feel-good moments make Can't Help Falling in Love an enjoyable read that will leave you smiling. A solid 4-star romance.

A fake dating book that does not start the way most of them do. Lexi a waitress is still struggling with her life and Will is heir to a successful Seattle corporation. What starts as just a fake date to one of his corporate functions turns into something so much more once they are there. Really though that is how things go for Lexi, this is a really good read with excellent characters.

What a charming lighthearted read!

I love a book that has a fun and flirty meet cute between the two MC’s. Lexi meets Will during an embarrassingly comical attempt at waitressing. The two agree to go out on a date and a misunderstanding has everyone thinking they are engaged.

Lexi and Will decide to continue the ruse and their relationship begins to evolve. I loved the Fall vibes and the apple picking date was just adorable.

It was refreshing to read a book where the love felt like it grew naturally. Will and Lexi really got to know one another and respected each other.

Sullivan was able to weave a beautiful story of romance with heartbreak, grief and ultimately growth. You 𝑐𝑎𝑛’𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 with Lexi, Will and all the side characters.

I love Sophie’s books and this one is another win that I highly suggest picking up!!


Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

* I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I LOVED it!

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕚𝕤𝕥:
Lexi Danby is seeking a carefree, no-strings-attached romance while juggling her responsibilities of school and caring for her grieving mother after her father's death. When a waitressing mishap leads her to charming stranger Will, she finds the distraction she craves. However, a misunderstanding at a party forces them into a fake engagement, and Lexi soon discovers Will is not just any man, but the heir to a prominent Seattle company. While the fake engagement serves Will’s business needs during a crucial merger, it complicates his growing feelings for Lexi, who is hesitant about commitment. As they navigate the press and the glamorous world around them, Lexi begins to enjoy their time together through cozy autumn activities, ultimately realizing that the biggest risk might be opening her heart to love.

𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤:
🍂 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
💍 𝘍𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵
🧲 𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵
❤️‍🩹 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨

𝕊𝕚𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕒𝕣 𝕍𝕚𝕓𝕖𝕤
📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 ʙʏ ᴋᴊ ᴍɪᴄᴄɪᴄʜᴇ

𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
𝗖𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 is a sugary sweet and charming fall romance. I love a good fake dating trope, and really enjoyed watching Will and Lexi inevitably fall for one another despite their differences.

Lexi and Will certainly have a whirlwind romance that starts with quite the meet-cute and quickly escalates to a fake engagement. I felt like Lexi was still very much stuck in high school and felt like she, overall, acted a little young for her age. However, I feel like her and Will ultimately balanced each other out really well.

This wasn’t perfect; some of the pacing felt off and there were definitely elements that were quite unbelievable, but this was an enjoyable romcom and will leave you with a smile on your face!

𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘:
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (𝟹.𝟻/𝟻)

𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘:
🚪 (𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛)

I enjoyed this a lot! Faking engagements always get me excited!

Lexi is STRUGGLING through life. She used to have it all and be it all. Now, her father has died, her mother is in deep mourning, and Lexi is financially responsible for A LOT more than anyone realizes. She's struggling to pay some debt found after her father's passing and finishing school. She's working two jobs, including one as a waitress which she is HORRIBLE at. One particularly bad day a couple of her high school best friends turn up, she's so embarrassed. Enter Will. He's sitting in her section watching her struggle and ends up being her accomplice in her wild story. Even adding to it. The ride takes off and it's a coaster right until the end.

I absolutely recommend this book.

Can’t Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan is a cozy and heartwarming romance that’s perfect for a fall read. The story follows Lexi, a hardworking waitress and college student, who ends up in a fake engagement with Will Grand, the heir to a big Seattle company. What starts as a misunderstanding quickly turns into a sweet, funny journey with lots of banter, personal growth, and real connection. Sullivan does a great job setting the scene with the fall vibe—apple picking, cozy flannels, and outdoor breweries—all of which make the evolving romance feel even more charming. Lexi and Will have amazing chemistry, and watching their fake engagement turn into real love feels totally believable. While some parts are a little predictable, it’s still a really enjoyable and uplifting read.

4/5 Stars

What a cute Rom-Com! I absolutely love Sophie Sullivan's style of writing, character development, and mix of humor and heart. This is one of those kick-your-feet books where you just love reading about the characters falling in love. This was one of the best meet-cutes I have read in a LONG time - funny and believable!! Like Lexi, I also think I would make a terrible waitress and I just thought it was so fun that Will was her customer who really rolled with the punches (and willingly ate the wrong sandwich!). I really enjoyed the cast of characters as well and the depth they added to the story (Lexi's mom and best friend, Will's family business). Overall, a swoony and perfect romance that will brighten your day.

Thank you to St. Martin's, Sophie Sullivan and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.