This was an interesting journey into the lives of Meli and Aaron.

Their initial spontaneous fun encounter really connected them. I’m not sure how they walked away.
I loved them together and really felt chemistry. I would have loved a little more time with them on the page.

Where I really struggled was the lack of communication and assumption throughout. Not just between them but during the whole book. The secrecy in Meli’s family was especially wild to me. It’s one thing to not tell a child things they won’t understand but as an adult it’s ridiculous.

Overall, despite these things I was really rooting for this couple and their HEA.

Falling For You Again by Kerry Lonsdale is a delightful and emotionally satisfying read that deftly blends humor, heart, and the irresistible charm of second chances. Filled with witty dialogue, touching moments, and a cast of vibrant secondary characters, Falling For You Again beautifully captures the complexities of balancing personal ambition with matters of the heart. Lonsdale's sharp, engaging prose makes this a quick and enjoyable read, perfect for fans of heartwarming stories about family and love rediscovered.

Meli Hynes is a talented furniture maker who has dedicated her life to her family’s business, believing she will one day inherit it. When she walks away from an unsupportive fiancé on their wedding day and impulsively marries Aaron—a charming stranger she meets on a plane who also happens to work for a rival company—her life takes an unexpected turn. Five years later, she is faced with an even greater challenge: her family is selling the business she has poured her heart into. In a desperate attempt to stop the sale, she enters into a marriage of convenience with Aaron, setting the stage for a complex and heartfelt journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and love.

The novel masterfully explores family expectations, personal ambition, and the weight of past wounds. Meli’s growth as she navigates difficult family dynamics, lingering trauma, and the tangled emotions surrounding her relationships is both compelling and deeply relatable.

I was invested in the story until the very last page.

This story is about love lost and found. At least that's what the main couple would have you believe but was there ever a time that they weren't in love with each after that first fateful meeting on an airplane going to Vegas?

Meli Hynes is an artist who creates beautiful furniture. She works with her uncle at a shop that has been in their family for several generations. Over the years, he has assured her that when he quit working, the shop would be hers. She believed him until she found paperwork on his desk that he was in the process of selling to a competitor. She wants to stop the deal and buy the business herself but her uncle refuses to even give her a chance. It turns out that the CEO of the competitor is Aaron, a man that she was secretly married to for a week after she left her almost groom at the altar. They decide to get married again - a marriage of convenience - because that will stop the sale due to company rules. Even though they hadn't seen each other in years, they had never forgotten about each other. Will they be able to have a marriage of convenience when the sparks are flying hot and heavy between them? Can their fake marriage even survive with his controlling mother, her uncaring parents and angry uncle? They go into their fake marriage agreeing that they will not develop feelings for each other but have they already had real feelings for each other that can't be ignored again?

I loved Aaron. He was so patient with Meli as she worked through her issues of combining work and marriage. I also really liked Meli's best friend Emi who was a real voice of reason in Meli's life. I liked Meli but there were several times that I just wanted to shake her and tell her to open her eyes to love. This delightful story is about love, family, forgiveness and taking a chance on second chances.

I enjoyed this novel and read it pretty quickly. Both the female and male main characters were extremely likable. I love the marriage of convenience trope. I loved her friends as well those characters added a lot do the plot. I personally did not love her family, but I think that was the point. They had all made mistake but I feel the character was a bit passive when forgiving them. Overall a good read I would recommend to friends!

The book had a cute idea but I could not get into it. I didn’t connect with the characters and it felt a little jumbled n

Did not love this story. There were too many coincidences that it started to become a little tedious and trite. I wanted to put the book down a few times since I thought I could figure out the ending by page 30, but I kept reading. I did however love the premise and thought there were so many directions the story could be taken, but I felt fell flat

📚Falling for you again- Kerry Lonsdale
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fate reunites a young woman with her ex-husband in a delightful and inspiring novel about family, old loves, and marriage on a dare by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Kerry Lonsdale.
This book follows our female main character Meli and her love interest Aaron as they reunite to accomplish a shared goal, with high-tension and some unresolved feelings for each other, the decide to enter a marriage of convenience, is that the most mature way to deal with your family drama? May not, but we love to read about it.
These characters were very realistically written, they were vulnerable and flawed and hopeful. Meli and Aaron’s relationship was very entertaining to follow and I’m so great full I got to read about their struggles and their love.

Tropes:
💕second chances
🏡marriage of convenience
💕complicated families
🏡1st person POV

OUT: Jul 08 2025

Quote:
“Then he smiles, and I’m reminded of a sunflower unfurling in the sunlight. It brightens his disarmingly handsome face that has just a touch of wildness.”

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

🏷️

#FallingforYouAgain #NetGalley

I always enjoy Kerry's books, I really love her writing style. Falling For You Again by Kerry Lonsdale was an adorable book! It was sweet and loving without being too sappy. I adored Meli & Aaron as a couple and was their biggest fan. I just was hoping they could get their act together. Meli is a runaway bride. Literally. She was in her wedding dress about to walk down the aisle when she ran away. Hoped on a plane to Vegas. This is where she meets Aaron a complete stranger but the two have an instant connection. I loved their how they met story… the two spend 24 hours together in Vegas and end up married and spend Meli’s honeymoon in Maui together. They agree to a divorce and they never see each other again. 5 years later the two run into each other and the connection is still there. I loved that all the characters had depth to them and the story wasn’t simply about a romance. It was Meli feeling worthy of love not just by Aaron but her parents too. This will definitely not be my last book by her, I will wait ever so patiently for her next read!

Thank you NetGalley and Kerry Lonsdale for granting me an ARC of this book! I thoroughly enjoyed this second chance x marriage of convenience romance. The descriptions were perfect and I was able to imagine exactly what was happening. I also loved all the clever cafe names and chapter titles!!

I’m a sucker for an FMC overcoming her trauma with the never ending support of the MMC and this book delivered. Check out the cute scene where they pick out books for each other!

The one thing I struggled with a little bit was following along with the flashbacks - it took me a few lines for me to reorient to the time frame.

Overall this was an inspiring story of second chances…for everyone!

Loved this story, everyone deserves second and sometimes third chances in love and in life. Meli sure did give those out in this story. A whirlwind marriage after walking away from not the one, and a business decision that shakes her whole world the one she has only known due to her parents failing her again, she learns to love not once, not twice but three times to her parents and the heir to her families business rival in a round about way. This isn't an enemies to lovers by any means, and your heart strings will be pulled.

Falling for You Again is a compelling contemporary romance by Kerry Lonsdale. It's equal parts second-chance romance and women's fiction about family dynamics. It's the first book I've read by the author, but I would read her work again!

Summary: Meli is a twenty-something woodworker whose family business is making furniture in Boston. She realizes at the last minute that she shouldn't marry her fiancé, and runs away from her wedding. During her flight out of Boston, she meets Aaron and the the two instantly hit it off. They decide to get married for just a day on a whim, just for fun. Fast forward five years, and the two are brought together again when they are working for competing furniture businesses. Both businesses have drama ensuing, so Aaron and Meli realize marrying each other again could prove mutually beneficial. Will their marriage of convenience end up being the vehicle for truly falling in love? Or will it be the means to more familial disappointment?

Impressions: Fans of the insta-love, marriage of convenience, and found family tropes will love this book. The pacing of this book was great, and it didn't feel too long or short. I loved the healthy relationship demonstrated between Aaron and Meli, even though both of them came from dysfunctional families. The writing style reminded me of Annabel Monaghan or Rececca Serle. The Boston setting included lots of fun facts and locations within the city that made me want to visit there again. I enjoyed the way the author added flashback scenes scattered throughout the book. It kept me interested and they all felt perfectly placed to reveal different things from the past. The titles on each chapter were also a fun touch. I didn't love the plot twist that occurred about 70% in the book, and the family drama got a little heavy for me in the last 1/4th of the book. That being said, I think both Aaron and Meli's families need therapy. Overall it was a good read that I'd recommend to fans of this genre!

Content Considerations: Infrequent use of strong language (includes multiple instances of f-- word), minor side couple that are lesbians and share a kiss, one mild and mostly vague open door scene and one fade to black scene, dysfunctional family dynamics, and some heavier issues that would be spoilers if listed here.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review is my own opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Falling For You Again by Kerry Lonsdale was an adorable book! It was sweet and loving without being too sappy. I adored Meli & Aaron as a couple and was their biggest fan. I just was hoping they could get their act together.

Meli is a runaway bride. Literally. She was in her wedding dress about to walk down the aisle when she ran away. Hoped on a plane to Vegas. This is where she meets Aaron a complete stranger but the two have an instant connection. I loved their how they met story… the two spend 24 hours together in Vegas and end up married and spend Meli’s honeymoon in Maui together. They agree to a divorce and they never see each other again. 5 years later the two run into each other and the connection is still there.

Meli has hard life. With drug addicted parents who seem to ignore her as an adult she has her own set of issues. And that causes a lot of tension between her and her relationships, specifically with Aaron. Aaron is just perfect. He has his own story but he gives his all to Meli and I love him for it.

This was my first novel by Kerry Lonsdale and certainly won’t be my last. I loved that all the characters had depth to them and the story wasn’t simply about a romance. It was Meli feeling worthy of love not just by Aaron but her parents too. I also loved that Meli made furniture with her own hands out of wood. You don’t typically see woman in that career. It was refreshing having a female lead in such a role. She was guarded and strong but also weak in many ways.

This is a great adult romance read. It’s not heavy on spice at all but I loved the mature characters and enjoyed it wasn’t cheesy romance either.

I give Falling For You Again by Kerry Lonsdale 4 stars.

Kerry Lonsdale, the Author of “Falling for You Again” has written a charming, delightful, pleasurable and engaging novel. The Genres for this story are: Family Life Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Romantic-Comedy, Women’s Domestic Fiction. I loved everything about this well-written story, and highly recommend this. Kerry Lonsdale vividly describes the scenery and the colorful and dramatic characters. The characters are complex, complicated, quirky, flawed, toxic, and some are so likable. I couldn’t put down this feel-good book, and wanted more.

The female protagonist, Meli Hynes designs and builds artisan furniture, and hopes to inherit her Uncle’s wood-crafting shop. Her Uncle has been her legal guardian, and has imparted words of wisdom that is it better to concentrate on one’s career, rather than marriage. After Melli realizes her mistake in almost getting married, she becomes a runaway bride and heads for Las Vegas, wearing her wedding dress. There she meets a young man Aaron, and the two it it off. For the fun of it, they both agree on a 24 hour marriage,*that lasts a few days longer) and then they will get it annulled.

In present time, Meli’s Uncle decides to sell the company to a big competitor. This breaks Meli’s heart, and she seeks out the competitor’s son, who happens to be Aaron. Both Meli and Aaron have complicated family dynamics. When the two meet again, they have an adorable rapport and amazing chemistry. How can this save Meli’s dream?

The author discusses the importance of forgiveness, second chances, family, friends, trust, honesty, communication, respect, love and hope. I promise you will love this memorable and heart-felt novel.

What an incredible book! I knew I'd love it from the moment Kerry described the cat's feet as "toebeans" in chapter 1.
The characters in this book were 10/10. I genuinely feel like I've had to say goodbye to a friend now I've finished it; I have a Meli shaped hole in my life that I was not ready for!
This was such a refreshing take on the marriage for convenience trope and I love that we also saw family relationships develop as well as the main character's romantic relationship.
Definitely going to read the rest of Kerry's books now, and Falling for You Again will be hard to beat!

this book is pretty short at 270+ pages, but it absolutely packs an emotional punch. i found myself laughing and tearing up and was pleasantly surprised by the whole read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this novel. I found myself laughing, and crying along with Meli (Melissa, but no one calls her that), and Aaron. I would love to hear more about them in future books.

Kerry Lonsdale delivers an emotional, heartfelt, and swoon-worthy second-chance romance in The Second Time Around. This novel is more than just a love story—it’s about family legacies, self-discovery, and the courage to let love in, even when it feels impossible.

Meli Hynes has always believed that her true love story is with her craft. As a furniture artisan, her life revolves around the woodworking business she’s always been promised. But when her uncle decides to sell the company to a competitor, Meli’s future is ripped out from under her. Desperate to stop the deal, she hatches a plan that involves a marriage of convenience—except the groom is none other than her ex-husband, Aaron.

Aaron is everything Meli isn’t. He’s practical, steady, and just happens to be the son of the very company threatening to take her family’s legacy. Their first marriage was a whirlwind—a Vegas wedding gone too soon—but the feelings they once shared never really disappeared. As they navigate their fake marriage, old wounds resurface, new feelings deepen, and suddenly, their “business arrangement” doesn’t feel so simple anymore.

Lonsdale has crafted a beautifully layered romance, filled with humor, sizzling chemistry, and a deep emotional core. Meli’s stubbornness and fierce independence contrast perfectly with Aaron’s unwavering patience and quiet devotion. Their banter, their tension, and their undeniable pull toward each other made every page a delight.

Beyond the romance, this book is a love letter to craftsmanship, family, and the unexpected ways life forces us to grow. The family drama, the emotional weight of past wounds, and the journey toward forgiveness are just as compelling as the romance itself. And let’s not forget the friendships—Meli and Emi’s bond was one of my favorite parts of the story, adding warmth and humor in all the right places.

This book made me laugh, made me cry, and most importantly, made me believe in love again. If you’re a fan of second-chance romances with deep emotional stakes, lovable characters, and just the right amount of tension, The Second Time Around is a must-read.

3.75 ⭐️

considering this book is only 271 pages, i wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as i did! this is so much more than a romance; there’s complex family dynamics, addiction, forgiveness and healing.

i went through a rollercoaster of emotions reading this and i was rooting for Meli and Aaron the whole way. they had me kicking my feet and giggling!!!! 🥰🥰

it could have been a 5 ⭐️ read, but it felt slightly off due to a lot of people being “in” on the fact that Meli and Aaron were in a marriage of convenience? i’ve never come across that before. i also wished we could have seen more of Meli and Aaron together, the romance is definitely a sub-plot to all the other stuff going on rather than the romance being the main focus.

thank you to the publisher, the author & NetGalley, for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

loved this romance about a 2nd chance at a love. They ended up getting married on a whim and got divorced and they decide to get married to save her business. loved that they tried the romance the 2nd time and found balance.