Can't Help Falling in Love was simply delightful and original. Sullivan manages to write the perfect fake dating story where the characters and honest with each other about how attracted they are to each other from the get go! None of the "but I know it is just an act" "He can't possibly be feeling what I am feeling" etc. you usually find with this trope. The main character's honesty with each other is so refreshing and it made for a super hot slow burn I am still not over (even with a closed door). Lexi and Will are simply adorable. And did I mention that Will is also quite rich and a member of one of the most well known families in Seattle? The beginning and initial meet cute is so well written I was hooked within the first few pages.

Of course there are still some issues to overcome when after their first date all of Seattle believes they are engaged due to a social media post, and both Lexi and Will have family issues to sort out, but their relationship carries this story even if Will's parents and Lexi's mom are both a underdeveloped as characters. Lexi is dealing with the death of her father while also dealing with how it has left her mother broken and depressed. I appreciated including this struggle in the story, but I felt her mother's recovery was too simplified. Will's parents and just rich assholes and the come across fairly flat, but I guess someone had to be the bad guys in the story.

Add to the romance, Seattle in the fall, apple picking, fall beer flights and Will's supportive sisters who are ready to accept Lexi (only child) as one of their own, this book will have you grinning and kicking your feet all the way through.

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for access to an e ARC of this book. All opinions shared are my own.

I absolutely adored this sweet read! It wrecked me in the best possible way! I will definitely need to add this one to my bookshelf when it comes out! A must-read!

"Can’t Help Falling in Love with You" is a novel about Lexie, a former track star who, after dropping out of school following her father's death, now struggles as a waitress. When she meets Will, she’s too embarrassed to reveal her situation to her old friends. They decide to attend a party together, pretending to be a couple, which leads to their photo being featured in the newspaper. It turns out Will is an heir to a major Seattle company, and now they must continue the charade of being engaged.

This book is a classic Cinderella-type story. Will's mother keeps trying to set him up with girls from their social circle, but she’s unhappy when she learns about Lexi. Will, however, doesn’t care about his parents' opinions. Lexi feels they are too different and won't meet his parents' expectations for a wife, but they may not be as different as she thinks. Will they overcome social class barriers and end up together?

While the premise was cute, and I liked the PNW setting, this book felt too much like high school age characters. Specially because she seemed so obsessed with high school. i just couldn't get into the book and ended up DNFing at 40%.

This story was absolutely adorable and I loved it. Lexi and Will’s relationship from beginning to end was beautiful. The touch on serious worries of many people (death and change) was SO real and the way the characters worked through everything was amazing. I love how Lexi was able to get back in touch with her old friends and I honestly think her long time BFF, Maisie, was my favorite character - even with the small role she had. I’d definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for something fast paced and sweet.

Can't Help Falling in Love" is a cozy, friends to lovers with one of the most adorable meet cutes. The characters are lovable and I liked fake engagement vibes. Love Sophie Sullivan's Books

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Can't Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan is a heartfelt, friends to lovers romance, taking place in Seattle, with a fake dating/fake engagement trope, that begins with the most hysterical awkward meet cute. Meeting at the restaurant where Lexi was waitressing, Will was supportive; helping her by pretending to be her boyfriend when her former close friends show up at the restaurant. Attending a party together for one of those friends, things begin to spiral out of control starting with a misunderstanding that results in them being engaged; that is publicized in the press. Lexi and Will share a connection that sparks, despite their different situations and backgrounds. With all this against them, they decide to date while remaining publicly engaged. Their romance might have started with a fake engagement, but the more time these two spend together, the more real their relationship feels; so they decide to try and make one. They were perfect for each other, complementing one another, and their chemistry was electric.

Ms. Sullivan wrote a wonderful and beautiful story filled with themes of grief, healing, love, and second chances. Lexi's journey from heartbreak to hope is depicted with depth and genuineness, making her grow, and the romance that blooms feel believable and deserving. It was wonderful that Will’s sisters were amazing, provided a strong support system for him, loved him, and wanted the best for him.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #HarlequinTrade

This book is so cute and fun and swoony and perfect for a light palette cleanser between heavier books. I couldn’t get enough of the characters. It’s written in dual POV, which I love. I felt like the FMC was very relatable and the MMC is just perfect for my imagination. I was just happier after finishing this book.

This was adorable and is perfect for autumn! This was so sweet and charming and has me wishing I lived somewhere where the trees turn vibrant colors in autumn. So grab a beverage and curl up with this sweet read.

Rating: 2.75 (rounded up)

This book had so much potential! I adored the beginning and loved Lexi and Will's meet-cute! I also really liked the twist on the fake engagement trope.

However, there were a few things that brought my rating down. The main issue I found is that there were several inconsistencies with both details and character behavior. Lexi would constantly flip between pulling away from Will and embracing their relationship. It came across less as indecisiveness and more as two different personalities. Also, it was hinted that Eathan and Maisie meeting could result in some romantic interest, but we never got to even see them interact.

It was also jarring how some chapters would start after the last one ended. Sometimes I would actually check to make sure I didn't miss something. This leads me into my next point. I feel like there was too much relationship talk/thoughts in the book and not enough of other parts of the story. I wanted to see Lexi at work more and interact with her friends more. I loved her relationship with her mom and I wish the side characters had been more involved in the story as well.

Overall, I loved the concept of this book, but it fell short in execution for me.

This book has an utterly refreshing and adorably cozy romance. This was the first book by Sophie that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. I love the fake dating trope. It's always an amazing time and this one was no different.

Sophie nailed this sweet romance interlaced with grief and the impact losing someone has on a person. The way she carefully crafted that layer in this book was meticulous. It brought a levity to the overall storyline intermixing with the humor laced throughout keeping you engaged.

This book was definitely unexpected in the best ways. I love Will and Lexi and the side character’s were delightful. Overall, a fun read.

Can't Help Falling in Love is the ideal fall rom-com. From the start, this book was irresistibly charming. Lexi and Will's meet-cute was adorable, and the way their story developed kept me hooked the entire time. I especially loved following Lexi’s personal growth—watching her come to terms with her flaws while learning to celebrate her achievements was really satisfying. Will was wonderfully supportive throughout, though he did seem a little too perfect for my taste. I love the fake dating trope, so I had lots of fun with this one!

This is a cute, emotional, closed door romance that is a perfect addition to a fall tbr. It is such a heartwarming story. There were so many quotes throughout the book that spoke to me so deeply. I truly enjoyed this book. I rated it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

This follows Lexi and Will and their fake engagement fiasco. Lexi is going through a hard time and life and has been dealt a pretty crappy hand the last few years. She’s had to put her entire life on hold since her father passed away several years ago. Her mother has been severely depressed since his passing and Lexi feels responsible to take care of her and the house to keep things together.

She’s currently working as a waitress, a job that she is absolutely terrible at, when Will is a customer one day. He sees her spill hot soup on herself and they start chatting. Then, a group of girls she was friends with in high school show up and Lexi doesn’t want them to know she is a waitress. Will steps in and says he and Lexi are actually there on a date. The friends invite them to a party as a couple. Lexi decides to finally go out for an evening with Will. They unknowingly tell a reporter they are engaged.

The next day it is all over the papers that Seattle’s most eligible bachelor is off the market. Little did Lexi know, Will is an heir to a multimillion dollar company. So they have to decide to stay together and ride the engagement out or call it off. Along the way, they get to know each other better and realize they want to actually date each other. Will slowly starts breaking Lexi’s walls down and makes her wonder if love is worth it after all?

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an arc copy of this book. All these opinions are my own.

rating: 3.5 ⭐️

this was positively delightful!! honestly, the perfect lil fall romance read palate cleanser. Will & Lexi had great chemistry from the get-go. I really appreciated how even though this is a “fake engagement” trope, they aren’t faking anything because they’re actually dating one another the whole time. And by “the whole time” I mean like 1 month so if you don’t believe in the whole “I saw her and just knew” type jazz then this might be a tad annoying for you.

I LOVED the side story of Lexi’s mom (can she get her own book??) I felt like there was really great emotional depth there, but also in the book overall.

I recommend this one! I read it under 24 hours. 🍂✨💖

A sweet, feel good fake engagement, opposites attract romcom that sees Lexi, a struggling waitress falling in insta love with Will, the heir to a wealthy Seattle family business.

This was fun, with a lot of emotional depth and whimsy as Lexi is trying to help her mom find away out of her depression over losing her dad as well as trying to figure out her own life after her competitive cross country running dreams got dashed.

I loved the family and friend side characters in this book and how irresistible Will and Lexi were as a couple, with Will consistently trying to build Lexi up and get her to see what a great person she really is. Good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Sarah Adams. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I loved it!! The first chapter alone grabbed me right in. I found Lexi to be so easy to relate to as a mid-20s woman trying to provide while building a life for herself. She was incredibly inspirational. Spoiler! Will was somehow the embodiment of a superhero with the power to help everyone he came in contact with. I loved that he was able to bring out the best in Lexi. The story itself was so cute, so fall!

Thank you to Sophie Sullivan and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this!

Just the fall book i was hoping and looking for. I'm a sucker for anything fall when it's almost fall or during fall and I loved it. Fake dating is one of my favorite troupes. Sullivan's writing style is fun and easy to digest. If you are looking for a fall romance give this one a go.

Can't Help Falling in Love is a delightful fall rom-com that strikes a perfect balance between heartwarming romance and laugh-out-loud moments. The author gives us a charming story with Lexi Danby, a former college track star turned struggling waitress, and Will Grand, Seattle’s most eligible—and unexpectedly down-to-earth—bachelor.
The premise is irresistibly fun: a fake engagement that starts by accident but turns out to be exactly what both characters need in different ways. Lexi’s no-strings-attached approach to life collides hilariously with Will’s world of high-profile business, setting up plenty of witty banter and swoon-worthy chemistry. Their chemistry is immediate, but what really makes the story shine is how the author takes the time to develop their deeper connection. Lexi, with all her insecurities and struggles, feels authentic, and Will’s growing affection for her—beyond the facade of their fake engagement—makes for a satisfying slow-burn romance.
The Seattle autumn setting adds cozy charm, with adorable seasonal moments like apple picking and Halloween festivities giving the story a warm, inviting backdrop. The fake engagement trope is well-executed, and while predictable, it hits all the right emotional beats, making you root for the couple as they figure out their feelings in the midst of a media storm.
If there’s a slight drawback, it’s that some of the secondary characters and subplots, like the business merger, don’t get as much depth as they could. But the undeniable chemistry between Lexi and Will, paired with the fun and flirty fake engagement scenario, more than makes up for it.
Can't Help Falling in Love is the perfect cozy, feel-good rom-com for fall, full of heart, humor, and the courage to take a leap of faith in love.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of Can't Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan.

I'm a Sophie Sullivan fan and have enjoyed all of her previous books but I really struggled with this one. I didn't like Lexi from the beginning meet-cute scene, so I never really felt this fake relationship (and I love fake dating/engagement storylines).

Let me start by saying a HUGE thank you to netgalley for sending me and ARC copy of this book! I absolutely LOOOOVE books that have a fake dating trope so this book hit alll the right categories for me personally! This was such a fun and fast paced read.