- Meet cute
- Fake relationship
- Friends to lovers

I read a lot of romances and it's not always easy to find one that really grabs my attention. This book, right from the start, had me hanging on every word. I adored the dynamic between Will and Lexi. Their chemistry was a palpable thing and I rooted for them the whole book.

Lexi is struggling to put herself through college and pay off debts left to her by her late father. At her second job, as a waitress, she met Will, who was one of her customers. When she sees some former high school friends, she lets them think she is with Will instead of working there. This little untruth snowballs when she is invited to their party...and is introduced as Will's fiancee! When Will's high powered family sees this tidbit in the local paper, Will and Lexi decide to go along with the ruse..for now.

However, Will would like this to be a real relationship. Now he has to convince Lexi to give him a chance!

CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE – Sophie Sullivan
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN: 978-1250910608
September 17, 2024
Contemporary Romance

Seattle, Washington – Present Day

Lexi Danby’s life is in a rut as she tries to keep her head above water working two jobs and attending online college to get her business degree. One day, she is working her job at a restaurant, which she isn’t good at when three women from her high school years walk in—and sit in her section. She doesn’t want them to know how far she’s fallen. Lexi was once a college track star but after her father died, she had to quit and since then has dealt with her mother who is still in grief and paying off the debts her father left behind. As she’s waiting on a male customer, her old friends spot her. She sits down and pretends that she is with the guy. He goes along with the ruse despite not knowing her.

Will Grand is amused by the antics of the not-very-good server, but he is happy to help get her out of whatever jam she has gotten herself in. Unfortunately, Lexi’s friends are so happy for her that they invite her and Will to a party. What can they do? Will accepts the invite and plans to see how it goes with the woman he finds himself intrigued about. However, at the party, Will and Lexi are mistakenly introduced as being engaged. Now they are in hot water, especially when the local newspaper picks up their engagement announcement. Turns out Will Grand belongs to a prominent family in Seattle.

It started as a temporary make-believe relationship in CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE, but Lexi and Will are soon dating for real. Except, they're pretending they are engaged as they get to know each other. For Will, having Lexi by his side at social events works because his society-conscious mother kept setting him up with women who had nothing in common with him. At least Lexi is fun, smart, and not the least bit pretentious. A few people do know they aren’t really engaged but these same people keep encouraging them to continue to date. They get along and their relationship feels right. What could go wrong for Lexi and Will if they got the cart ahead of the horse by getting engaged before they fell in love?

Lexi once thought her life had been mapped out, but the sudden death of her father had her changing course. Her mother rarely goes out and hasn’t accepted her husband’s death. Lexi has little personal life, so the entrance of Will into her life is a pleasant surprise, though she’s embarrassed as to how it happened. They thought the engagement lie wouldn’t go beyond the party but unfortunately, now his parents know—and they want to meet Lexi. Will is in the middle of negotiating with another company about a merger so he has to tread lightly to not cause bad publicity. Having Lexi in his life allows him to fend off the questions about the merger while enjoying being with her. As they spend more time together, Lexi and Will grow closer. Are they headed for a real romantic relationship?

Lexi and Will are cute together in CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE and readers will be rooting for them to find love together. He may not have been looking for his forever girl, but it soon turns out she marks all his boxes. This tale is funny and enjoyable. Don’t miss the fun in CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

I love a fake dating trope and this was an adorable fake dating novel. Filled with fun characters, prickly parents and a bit of heartache, I enjoyed this read! Thank you nergalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

It was a fun quick meet cute with some fall vibes sprinkled throughout. I enjoyed how unique the storyline was with the mother and daughter dynamic and how to navigate through hard times. I wish we got to see more of the development of Wills mom and dads personality but at the same time I think it shows well from his point of view since we don't normally get to see why people are the way they are other than the experiences we had.

Will is a golden retriever main character, and Lexi is more timid but not a black cat personality, she's had hardships and it shows throughout the book as to why she is cautious. The two meet at coffee shop and that's where the chaos ensues. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a city vibe, fall, meet cute story :)

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the the ARC -opinions are my own

Sophie Sullivan never disappoints. Her latest book, Can't Help Falling in Love, is a wonderful, delightful Rom-Com with main characters Lexi and Will who are magical and leave you wanting more.

Lexi is a struggling waitress and retail store worker who is returning to college to finish her degree after the death of her father. She lives with her mother who has coped with her husband's death by isolating herself and not dealing with her grief --all making Lexi avoid relationships and love so as not to lose someone the way her mother did. That is until her Meet Cute with Will Grand -- member of a wealthy, influential Seattle family -- at the restaurant where she works. The Meet Cute leads to a fake relationship and fake engagement but what happens when it all becomes too real for both Lexi and Will ? Can the they both move past insecurities and family dynamics and drama to make their relationship real ? Can Lexie get past her own grief and begin living again?

I've read all of Sullivan's books and this is by far one of her best. The writing is crisp, funny and endearing. This book has all the feels. I absolutely love Lexi and Will and the secondary characters are terrific too. I look forward to Sullivan exploring their lives in future books. And I hope we learn more about Lexi and Will's life together in those stories too.

Cozy, Autumn read.

I am a sucker for the fake dating trope and this one did not disappoint.
I liked that the drama was kept to a minimum, without all the angst romances sometimes have.

The chemistry between Lexi and will was good.
They were both refreshing main characters and I enjoyed their story.
This was well written and and overall not to read.

Thank you!

Lexi and Will’s meet cute is funny and sweet, with a clear chemistry between the two. I was definitely hooked into the beginning of the book.

The dialogue between the two characters is good throughout. My favorite part of the book is the conversations between these two. There’s something very endearing about the obvious affection and attraction between them that comes through in the dialogue. It felt appropriately full circle for me that both their first conversation, and the conversation where they finally confessed their feelings had me grinning.

This book is definitely for Seattle lovers! The affection the author has for the city really came through in this book. Would also recommend for those who enjoy the fake engagement trope.

While I did clearly enjoy certain aspects of the book, the rest felt like a bit of a slog. Maybe just a little too long without enough in it for me to feel the length was necessary? I’m not sure. The other aspects of the story just did not draw me in. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, so I think I’ll probably seek out some of her others to see if maybe this particular one just wasn’t a hit for me.

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

I felt like I was in an arc slump this month and this REVIVED ME. I could not put this book DOWN.

Thank you NetGalley, Sophie Sullivan and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.

I was an emotional mess while I read this book because honestly, it felt very relatable. Lexi’s feelings and what she was going through with her family life and just grief in general I completely understood all of it. And then Will. Oh. My. God. That man is my new book boyfriend because he was green flag after green flag.

I am a big lover of the fake dating/marriage trope and I did not at all see where this book was going with it, but I loved every minute of it. I laughed. I cried. I had all the emotions. So thank you.

*I will be purchasing a physical once the book releases that’s how much I enjoyed this story.

3.5 ⭐️; 🌶️

Overall, this was a cozy and lighthearted romance that was perfect for the start of fall. Lexi is endearing at times and I definitely related to her. Will was a sweetheart who saw she deserved attention and to be treated better. I enjoyed the depth of the relationship between Lexi and her mom, as well.

I was hoping to enjoy this one a little more, as I love a good fake dating trope, especially one derived out of convenience, but it fell a little short. I was so intrigued until about 50% of the way in, then the narrative continued to be repetitive. It was also hard for me to fathom that many of the people closest to Lexi and Will would believe their engagement was real. Plus it teetered too far on the side of insta-love for me.

Generally a decent read that I thought was cute and would recommend readers give a try for an easy read. I appreciate St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for a chance to read an early copy for review.

This was the perfect book to read to get me in the mood for fall and my first Sophie Sullivan book! I loved the writing made by her and it really emphasized the story — a story of personal journeys, family grief and finding yourself. The chemistry between the main characters was felt off the pages, making their story of fake engagement turned real (falling hard fast) felt off the pages.
Lexi was the perfect heroine, with her self doubt but bubbly personality, and Will’s supportive golden retriever vibes, they’re a match made in heaven. With Seattle being the backdrop for the story, Sullivan painted a beautiful picture of fall in the city, with some cool spots highlighting all the fall vibes.
This is the book to read if you’re needing to get in the fall mood and kick off those autumn reads!

Got gifted this advanced copy through NetGalley, thank you!!

This book really had me for the first 30-50% and then was on and off after. The fake engagement trope gets me every time, but I felt like their communication and chemistry was almost too good/easy? Idk I’m a sucker for tension. But if you are looking for a cozy fall romance, this’ll do it folks.

This book was such a joy to read. There was so much chemistry between the two characters. From their meeting to the end, I was enraptured. I enjoy fake dating/relationship every once in a while and Can’t Help Falling in Love had such a fresh spin on it. The couple’s relationship was real underneath the fake engagement so the ‘engagement’ never felt forced or performative. I was smiling like an idiot the whole time. My one gripe is that I didn’t really get that sense of classic fall even though it is marketed as a cozy fall romance.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin Press and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy.

Can’t Help Falling in Love is the first book I’ve read by Sophie Sullivan, but I doubt it will be the last. The writing is easy to follow, and the descriptions of the settings are wonderfully descriptive but not so over the top that they’re unbelievable. The cast of characters is a varied group.

A romance is not a book one often expects to find character growth. Okay, maybe there is some character growth in romances. But in Can’t Help Falling in Love, there is quite a bit of growth and maturing from several characters. Lexi is stuck in her feelings of failure because her life wasn’t where she wanted it to be after hitting several bumps. Gwen is grieving and isolating herself from the world. Even Will is afraid to stand up to his family and tell them how he feels. As the book progresses, those three start having their moments of growth and clarity.

Can’t Help Falling in Love is a breath of fresh air in the world of romance novels. It’s a compelling read, proving a romance can be steam-free and still captivate readers. While the book does feature some passionate kissing, it’s the emotional connections and personal development that take center stage. The scene where Will and Lexi share a bathtub perfectly shows how the book adds a touch of romance without crossing any boundaries.

Can’t Help Falling in Love is a book that will make you want to cheer for the characters. Who doesn’t want to see a twentysomething struggling with self-confidence and constantly feeling like they don’t have their life in order? Who doesn’t want to see that person gain that self-confidence? I know I’ve felt like the world is out to get me, and everyone else is doing better. Trust me, you’ll root for the characters and their relationship.

I just love Sophie Sullivan’s characters. I love how well she can write relationships. I’ve read all of her novels, and I think this one is my favorite. I love how well she talks about grief and figuring out how to move on, while still mourning. I will definitely recommend this to others.

Can’t Help Falling in Love is a lighthearted romance that follows strangers Lexi and Will. Will steps in to save Lexi from an awkward encounter and the two form a connection. As they stumble into a fake engagement, what will they do when they start to form real feelings?

Sophie Sullivan writes a lighthearted and accessible romance in Can’t Help Falling In Love. I didn’t enjoy this as much as I hoped to, but I do think other readers will love it. I liked reading about Lexi’s relationship with her mom and their bittersweet shared grief over her father’s passing.

The writing style felt simplistic at times, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just not what I was looking for. There is very low spice. Can’t Help Falling in Love is perfect for readers who love Hallmark movies and guaranteed happily ever afters.

Readers who love fake engagements and lighthearted romances will enjoy Can’t Help Falling in Love.

Thank you to Sophie Sullivan, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book it felt cozy, wholesome, and like a perfect fall read. I loved the meet cute and felt like the fake engagement trope was super enjoyable and different than others I have read. Lexi’s insecurities are very relatable, and I loved seeing her character development throughout the book. Aside from loving Lexi and Will together, I loved the supporting characters and community.


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a pleasant novel and did the trick for what I expected of my romance. After a week since I completed the book, the names of the characters have little staying power but I am able to give the plot and the central issue which often has little staying power. I am still confused why the family's empire is a baby products store and that fed into the "hallmark quality" of it all.
I thought the fake dating trop was deployed cleverly and appreciated that the dynamic with her mother was most of the reason for her inability to accept love. However, the idea that she just might "fall too hard" is a bit more difficult to believe. I did think it was an interesting take though.
Overall, the romance filled the niche I wanted it to fill!

Rating: 3.75/5
Can't Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan is a cute fake engagement, meet cute, friends to lovers story. Will is sweet, sexy, patient, and kind. Lexi is cautious, overwhelmed with life and responsibility.  Their story development is cute. The supporting characters are just as entertaining as Will and Lexi. Definite Hallmark vibes.  This is an adorable fall read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Sophie Sullivan, for the ARC of this enjoyable book.

This book was so sweet and perfect for the fall time!! Lexi and Will’s dynamic was so wholesome and I loved the way they met. I always enjoy when the two MCs come from very different (in this case social class) difficult backgrounds but connect so deeply because they see the best in each other. Lexi’s struggles felt so realistic and relatable to me. As someone who struggles with self-doubt, and sometimes feeling like life is ending when something unexpected happens that changes your original path, this story was such an uplifting story of someone overcoming those struggles. I really enjoyed watching Lexi get her self confidence back. The way Will believed in her and uplifted her was so so sweet to read about!! I also liked how we got to see Lex’s difficult relationship with her mom and watch it grow and get better by the end of the book. This is the perfect quick, sweet, read with a fun fall background!!

Lexi and Will have such an adorable meet cute. Lexi's working as a server (and she's not really great at her job!) when Will sits in her section. Even though they don't know each other, he goes along with her and pretends to be her boyfriend. This leads to their first date where they are mistakenly thought to be an engaged couple! To keep up appearances, they agree to be fake engaged.

As they get to know each other, Will falls hard for Lexi, and he does everything he can to show her how much he cares for her. Lexi has struggled for the past few years because her father passed away, and she was left to pick up the pieces and help her grieving her mother. Lexi's mom has become reclusive, and Lexi is left to work 2 jobs and go to college too.

Lexi and her mom, Gwen's, relationship was so heartwarming and real. They grieved in different ways, but they were able to come together and find their way back to who they were before. I loved their dynamic, and it felt so real.

Will is the CFO of his grandfather's company, and his mother has expects him to marry one of the socialites that she sets him up with. Once he meets Lexi, he knows that she is the one for him.

This is a closed door romance, but it's filled with steamy kisses, forehead kisses, and even a bath for two.

This book is perfect for fall. You'll want to curl up with a blanket and a pumpkin spice latte and dive into this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.