loved this romance about a waitress and rich gentlemen from PNW who end up fake dating and then having a fake engagement. She doesn't want to tell the truth to her high school friends . She is late in life college student and he is helping in the company business. Loved the family and his sisters. Loved her mom and that she reads romance books and does mini scenes from it. Overall another great book by this author.

Cute Cute Cute! This is my second book by Sophie Sullivan and it won't be my last. If you are looking for a lighter easy read, she is a good author for that. I blew through this one in a day and I enjoyed it so much. The book follows a common romance trope: fake dating/engagement. This is actually not my favorite trope but in this case I felt like it was well. done. Lexi is mid twenties and working 2 jobs and going to college to make ends meet for her and her mom. Her dad passed away unexpectedly a few years prior and she has been picking up the pieces for both her an her mom ever since. While taking on a lot of the burden of her father's passing, both emotionally and financially, her self worth and purpose has taken a huge hit. When she is at her waitressing job, she sees a few former high school classmates and in her attempt to not be seen working at the restaurant, she sits down and pretends to be with a friendly make customer. Will is the heir to a huge successful business and he goes along with it. He pretends to be her fiance at a party and the tabloids pick up the story, forcing them into a fake engagement that is heavily covered by the press. In the process, they fall in love for real. I I loved reading about how Lexi finds herself and realizes how much she has has done for her family. While falling in love she realizes her own self worth and I just loved that. It is a lighthearted read over all but not too silly to be interesting. Very sweet and I would say that fans of authors such as Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Erin Hahn and similar would enjoy it.


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

This was soooo good!! I read it in pretty much one day.
Read this if you enjoy….
-mother daughter relationships
-90s romcoms (several scenes or comments made me think of the classics-Sabrina (the 90s one), and While You Were Sleeping)
-main characters that are awesome but still not perfect

Content:
-closed door, with steamy kisses
-explicit language, not a ton but sprinkled in

3 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️

In the authors acknowledgement section she states this book was hard for her to write. I felt the same way about reading it. Don’t get me wrong, the story was very nice, but I just couldn’t fall into it like I usually do. I kept putting the book down and telling myself the next time I picked it up I would be sucked in…that never happened.

I did really enjoy the plot. This is the fake dating/engagement trope, and I felt it worked with the chemistry between Lexi and Will. The storyline was easy to follow and was filled with lovable characters.

I did however feel like there was too much going on while not many things were explained in detail enough. We know Lexi is living at home to take care of her mother. She is taking business classes online, but we don’t see much of that. For a girl who is supposed to always be working and studying, we see very little of both. I almost wanted the author to take out the part about her mother’s issue leaving the house. It felt like too much to add to the mix (on top of all the other issues Lexi has to work through).

Will was the perfect book boyfriend. However, he is also supposed to be someone who is always working - to the point where he hasn’t had time to date anyone in years. But he is never at work. He attend a couple meetings that he abruptly leaves. He actually hangs out at his friend Ethan’s job more than his own work. I wanted to see more office time with him.

I did enjoy this book, I just wish I was as drawn into it as I have been with other books by this author.

*An ARC was received from the Publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I do believe this is my first Sophie Sullivan book and I need to remedy that immediately. I was blown away by the joy this story pulled from the deep dark recesses of my black heart. Her commitment to spinning the much beloved fake dating/engagement trope was admirable and quite effective.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Once again, Sophie Sullivan has crafted another delightful, heartfelt romance, blending the tropes of fake dating, meet-cute, and friends-to-lovers, all set against the backdrop of Seattle. The story revolves around the endearing duo of Lexi and Will, who come from vastly different backgrounds, lending the narrative a touch of Cinderella-esque charm. But fear not, for Lexi is no damsel in distress; she's a tough, determined heroine with a heart of gold, always putting others' needs before her own and doing her utmost to stand her ground and survive without seeking help.

Lexi Danby's journey begins when she reluctantly drops out of college, her promising future as a track star eclipsed by the sudden loss of her father and the mountain of debt and bankruptcies he leaves behind. As the sole breadwinner, Lexi juggles two jobs while also caring for her grieving mother, putting her dreams on hold to keep their heads above water.

One of Lexi's jobs is waitressing, a role she may not excel at, but she gives it her all nonetheless. Fate intervenes when she serves a charming stranger—Will—who maintains his smile even after she spills soda on his book and botches his order. Little does she know, Will reappears to rescue her from an awkward encounter with her high school friends dining at the restaurant. With Will's help, Lexi pretends he's her boyfriend, leading to an invitation to an engagement party—a night of mischievous fun that Lexi sorely needs.

However, a minor misunderstanding during the party spirals into town-wide gossip when a newspaper column misinterprets Will and Lexi's relationship as an engagement. Lexi discovers that her fake date is none other than a member of Seattle's elite, a sought-after bachelor whose mother incessantly tries to set him up with socialite candidates. Now, Lexi must navigate the charade of dating Will to save face for both of them, shielding him from his mother's matchmaking while preserving her own reputation among her friends. But what begins as a pretense soon blossoms into something real, as sparks fly and Will's family begins to endorse their relationship. Can they defy social barriers and find their happily ever after, despite their relationship starting as a lie? Dive into this charming tale to find out—it's guaranteed to leave a big smile on your face and warm your heart, much like Sullivan's previous works.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with a digital review copy of this sweet, swoon-worthy romance in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book was super adorable!

I love how this book was a bit different than typical fake engagement/fake dating stories, where they had a fake relationship publicly but also a real one privately. A lot of books with this trope have some push and pull before they get to that point, but I loved watching their relationship blossom throughout the entire book. It had a lot of themes around love, family, grief, and friendship that I really enjoyed. Definitely would recommend to a friend!

Lovely book! I really enjoyed this one. I liked both main characters and found them both very kind. The pace was slow, but I think there are a lot of readers that would find this book romantic.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was perfect. Meet cute, fake engagement, real feelings, and so many swoon worthy moments. Will is my newest book boyfriend.

Read this one.

Rating : 3.75/5
Lexi is not where she thought should be at this point in her life. While struggling with rebuilding her and her mother's life after her fathers passing, Lexi meets Will where he helps her out of a stressful situation. One thing leads to another when one of my favorite tropes comes in: fake engagement.

Can't help falling in love follows the classic rom com formula with love, heartache and lots of overthinking. I enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone that wants a classic easy love story.

If you are one that despises insta love, I would caution you against this book. However, it doesn't bother me! I loved that this book showed grief through her mother and how long it can take to heal and come back.

Will is a corporate man who is up in the ranks of his family business. So we love some good business drama with mommy and daddy who are more focused on the business than the family.

However, I will warn that everything conflict wise, wraps up in a nice little bow very easy and there is not much depth to the characters. However with a short rom com, there's not much time for that.

Tropes: fake dating, insta-love, rich man/poor girl.

I am a huge Sophie Sullivan fan, and this book provided exactly what I needed. Fabulous meet cute, excellent supporting characters, and amazing chemistry. All the things I've come to love from this author.

This will be a perfect book for fall. I could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

When Lexi sees her old friends while waitressing at a restaurant, she decides to tell them the guy she was serving is really her fiancé and he luckily goes along with it. The man at the restaurant is no other than Will Grand, one of Seattles most eligible bachelors, whom also agrees to go to said friend’s engagement party. While the two are there, word gets out of the engagement and it becomes a media frenzy — one which his parents will not like. However, the two decide they want to real date even if the engagement is fake … but afraid of feeling a loss like the one her mother had when her father died, Lexi is afraid to take a step past casual even if Will wants more.


If you need a feel good fall romcom — this is it. The characters are great. The angst is low (very much needed and appreciated) and the overall plot was just very much cute.

This is the second book I’ve read by Sophie and definitely isn’t my last.

I cant say enough good things about this book. It was so good and if you love a fake engagement this is your book. The family dynamics are great and I love that the guy just kinda went with the girl said he didn't even hesitate is was like at first sight for him and you get that from his pov and she was hesitant but went with it to look good in front of her friends she used to have. thanks so much for letting me read this book it was totally worth reading

I would love to support your authors, but unfortunately it seems as though St. Martin's Press and Wednesday books would prefer to stay quiet about the vile posts made by your employee. These statements were anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, Queerphobic, and made even more vile by the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. Your influencers want to know that St. Martin’s Press is committed to the safety and well being of ALL of their influencers, employees, and authors.

This is not a reflection on the author or the story in any way, shape, or form. I love Sophie Sullivan and wish I could shout about this book.

That simple kiss reminded her it’d been a hell of a long time—too long—since she’d gotten lost in a man, felt the pressure of his mouth on hers, his body against hers, skin to skin. The gentle press of Will’s lips to Lexi’s skin felt like fireworks dancing in little bursts of light up and down her arms.

Cute, easy read romcom with fake dating! If you are looking for a simple and fun romcom this is it! Not spicy like I normally read but cute all the same!

Arc provided by the publisher and netgalley!

This has the making of a good story but unfortunately i had to DNF. If you want a cute hallmark story with fake dating, this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC.

I love Sophie Sullivan books! Her writing is so enjoyable to read and I love her characters. It was a really fun read!

Thank you NetGalley and Sophie Sullivan!

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this!
I genuinely loved this. Lexi is so many women: not quite where she wants to be in life, jaded by the death of her father, and full of jealousy and shame when it comes to the people from her past who come off as having all these achievements. Will is a wealthy business man with a family that is far too involved in his love life. Their meet cute is adorable and this cooks up a very PG-13 fake dating / fake engagement trope in dual POV.
I just loved how adorable this entire story was. Will and Lexi's romance is just fun, his true adoration for her and belief in her is tangible, I loved all the B story lines with her friends, career, and mom, and while I thought the inciting incident to drive them apart was really silly, it was resolved quickly and cutely.
This is just a very fun read all around!

Oh my goodness, this book is highly recommended by myself for fans of contemporary romance! “Can't Help Falling in Love" by Sophie Sullivan is a delightful rom-com that sweeps readers off their feet with its charming blend of humour, heart, and unexpected love. At least it did with this reader!

Meet Lexi Danby. She’s a former college track star turned struggling waitress, seeking some no-strings fun. Meet Noah McAllister. He’s the heir to a major Seattle company and is navigating the complexities of his own love life. When circumstances throw them together in a high-profile fake engagement, sparks fly, and their hearts become entangled in a delightful dance of attraction and vulnerability.

Sullivan's writing is, as always, as warm and comforting as a chai latte on a crisp fall day. The banter is witty, the chemistry palpable, and the journey is utterly endearing. The Seattle backdrop adds an extra layer of charm, making the city feel like a character in its own right. Seattle’s Pike Place Market is also where Starbucks was born!

What sets this rom-com apart is its balance of humour and emotional depth. While the fake engagement trope provides plenty of laughs, Sullivan also delves into themes of grief, family, and personal growth. Lexi and Noah's vulnerabilities make them relatable, and readers will root for their happily-ever-after.

"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a heartwarming and fun read, perfect for cozying up with a cup of tea and a pair of sherpa socks. Sullivan has crafted a delightful escape into love, laughter, and the magic of unexpected connections.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.