Falling For You Again is a fun rom-com with a lot of family drama. Runaway bride, Meli, runs to Las Vegas to get married to a handsome stranger she met on the plane on the way there! Swearing she’d never get married (even though she just had two weddings within a short time), the two quickly and amicably divorced. Fast forward to the present (5 years later) when Meli and Aaron’s paths cross again due to their family businesses overlapping.

In a complicated scheme, they team up again to help their own family and work issues, while figuring out their relationship. It’s a fun romance with some spice and a lot of heart. Meli is desperately wanting to be a bigger part of her family’s life professionally and personally. Aaron is adorable and fun MMC while fighting his personal demons.

I loved Amanda Leigh Cobb’s narration, which made this an easy and enjoyable read/listen.

In this book:
*Second chance romance
*marriage of convenience
*forced proximity
*family drama

(4.25 stars)
This was my first book by Kerry Lonsdale and I loved it. Falling For You Again tells the story of Meli (short for Melissa) and Aaron, who have a meet-cute on an airplane after Meli ran away from her wedding. The description of her getting on the plane in her wedding dress had me laughing.

The story is told by Meli and goes back and forth between memories of when she met Aaron and some years later when they meet again, under very different circumstances. I love a second chance romance and this one really delivered.

I enjoyed Meli as a main character. She’s an artist/artisan who works in wood furniture. She grew up in her family business and learned everything from her uncle “Bear” who became her guardian because her parents couldn’t care for her. (You eventually get their backstory.) Uncle Bear, in addition to teaching Meli about working with wood, also teaches her that love isn’t worth it, that your art comes first. She expects to inherit the family business when Bear is ready to retire, but her plans are thrown into chaos when Bear tells her he’s selling the business, to a large corporate competitor.

Aaron was also a great character. He has his own family issues and emotional baggage. I would have loved some chapters from Aaron’s POV, instead of it all being Meli’s.

You get:
- Second chance romance
- Fake dating
- Found family
- Marriage of convenience
- Dysfunctional families
- Addiction problems/neglectful parents
- Family legacy vs personal ambition

I bounced between the ebook and the audiobook for this title, and Amanda Leigh Cobb did a great job with all the voices.

Thank you to Booked With The Emilys, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Brilliance Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

FALLING FOR YOU AGAIN is a heartfelt romance about rediscovered love. I really liked Meli and Aaron. They overcame some difficult family challenges together which made them the perfect couple. I thought the story was cute and I had a hard time putting down. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a sweet romance.

Thank you, Partner, @bookedwiththeemilys @kerrylonsdale @amazonpublishing for the copy of Falling for You Again and the audiobook.

Meli Hynes is a dedicated furniture artisan who’s sworn off lasting love—unless it’s between an artist and their craft. But when her uncle unexpectedly decides to sell the family business to a competitor, Meli hatches a plan to stop the deal by faking a marriage with Aaron, the competitor’s son… who just so happens to be her impulsive, once-before-in-Vegas husband. The plan? Act like newlyweds, live together, and keep it strictly professional...easy, right? This book was absolutely adorable! I loved the second chance romance twist, and it felt refreshingly different from others in the same genre. The narrator, Amanda Leigh Cobb, did a great job bringing the story to life. I really enjoyed the complex blend of romance, family drama, and friendship. Such a fun, feel-good read and perfect for summer!

What You’ll Find:
Second chance romance
Fake dating
Marriage of convenience
Forced proximity
Family legacy vs personal ambition
Found family
First Person, FMC POV

Pub date is July 8, 2025

Thank you, Partner, @bookedwiththeemilys @kerrylonsdale @amazonpublishing for the copy of Falling for You Again and the audiobook.

Looking for a sweet summer read perfect for the lake or beach? Grab a copy of Falling for You Again and drop it in your tote.

This emotional romance pairs a happily ever after with some heavier themes. Kerry Lonsdale writes beautifully and with great care for her characters who have each endured trauma.

I loved the added layers of family drama and complex relationships. The audiobook is narrated by Amanda Lee Cobb who always is a hit for me.

Read if you enjoy:
💗 second chance romance
💗 fake dating / marriage of convenience
💗 family legacy vs personal ambition
💗 emotional romance
💗 cats

My rating: 4.25⭐️

This was a quick, enjoyable listen. However, there could have been more character development. For example, I would have liked more interactions between Meli and her parents and would have liked more insight into her parents' thinking. I also found Meli's character to be aggravating because she could not make up her mind about wanting to stay married or get divorced.

Meli has been living with her uncle since she was 10-years-old. Her father had been incarcerated for selling drugs and her mother had gone to rehab. She did not have a relationship with them for 6 years until her father was released from prison. As adults, the entire family lives in the same apartment building and work together at Artisan, Meli's uncle's business. Meli and her family do not talk outside of work. When she finds out that her uncle is selling his business, she is distraught because not only will lose her job, but she will lose her family. Without the workshop to hold them together, they will be strangers. Meli desperately wants to keep her family together.

Meli visits her ex-husband, Aaron, because his family will be acquiring Artisan. They decide to get remarried - it will be a marriage of convenience - because the Board of Directors will view the sale as a conflict of interest. Meli and Aaron elope, just as they did the first time. They navigate work and family together.

I was completely drawn in by the way this story mixed sweet moments with that instant spark between the characters. Their connection felt real to me — electric but also tender — and I found myself wanting to know everything about how they’d come together. The way their emotions unfolded made me believe in their journey.

The second chance angle really hit home. I could feel the weight of their past mistakes and the effort it took for them to trust each other again. That gave the story a depth that made their romance feel honest and earned, not rushed or superficial.

I appreciated how slowly their relationship grew. It didn’t jump to the finish line but took its time, letting me experience all the little moments and emotions along the way. That slow build made their eventual coming together feel truly meaningful to me.

I am a fan of Lonsdale books and excited about her latest romance with marriage of convenience mixed with dysfunctional family dynamics.

The story was entertaining but I had a hard time buying Meli and Aaron's meeting on the plane and the first fake marriage.

I didn't get how they didn't keep in touch despite having such a great connection. I really enjoyed Aaron and his quiet and attentive ways. Meli for we was a bit hard to like. She was wavering so much with Aaron. I didn't feel bad for how her family treated her and wished she spoke up more.

Amanda Leigh Cobb did a good job with the narration. I do wished we had Aaron's POV in the story.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Audio and Kerry Lonsdale for this arc. The following review are my honest thoughts.
★★☆☆☆ | Falling For You Again by Kerry Lonsdale
I really wanted to like this one — it has some great ingredients that will certainly appeal to readers who enjoy a marriage of convenience, family dynamics, and a cat named Blueberry (though I’ll admit, I’m more of a dog person).
For me, the biggest struggle was connecting with Meli. Her character came across as whiny, making it hard to stay in her POV. The initial Vegas wedding felt too contrived, especially when they weren’t drunk — just suddenly married? (Certainly must be an enneagram 7) It didn’t quite land for me. The random time jumps also felt jarring and could have been blended more seamlessly into the story.
I also found myself wishing for more depth and pining between the couple, as so many of their issues came down to miscommunication that resolved too quickly. The family subplot had potential but felt flat, and certain moments — like hair sniffing and crying during vows — felt a bit awkward to me.
That said, readers who like a low-angst second chance at marriage, cats and intervening family members might have a lot of fun with this one. It just didn’t quite work for me this time around.

Falling for you again is a second chance marriage of convenience romance. Melli and Aaron had an undeniable and easy chemistry from day one. After meeting on a flight, they decide to get married in Vegas on a dare with the intent to divorce. Fast forward years later and they are divorced and run into each other again. The chemistry is just as present as it always was. She is heartbroken at her family’s intent to sell their company and upon discovering the connection between her and Aaron’s family businesses, they make a plan to get married, again, to help them both out.

I enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters. I found myself angry at Melli’s family and how they withheld so much information from her as if it didn’t affect her future. She was a 29 year old woman , not a child. Her parents saddened me at the way they treated her. Melli’s impulsiveness irritated me at times, but thankfully Aaron was a kind and patient man. She would often run away with half the narrative without hearing the full story and details. Perhaps it was to protect herself as she had grown used to being kept out of the loop by people who were supposed to love her

I enjoyed seeing how the end came together, her fierce independence helped her to not give up and forge forward with a plan to not only continue her passion but have love as well. In the end, you shouldn’t have to choose. The right person, will fit into your life.

This was my first read from this author and I’d be interested to now read more of her other titles!

Perfect for fans of:
Low spice
Marriage of convenience
Second Chance romance
Family drama

I read this 100% audio and it was great! Although I prefer dual narration, I thought the narrator did a great job with all the voices!

Thank you so much to Kerry Longsdale and Bookedwiththeemilys for the gifted ARC copy and the ALC!

Oh my heart 🩷
Meli has been raised to believe that in order to have a great work ethic love should not play apart in your life. The first time she was to marry she ran away, got on a plane and literally flew to Vegas and spent the night with her seat mate, Aaron. They made a pact, made a list, got married, got divorced, met again, made a plan, got married.. again
Meli was running hot and cold throughout the whole book; for Aaron, for the business, for her family. Truly a character that is faced with a lot of growth from start to finish. When you really get deep and find out who Meli is you really understand why she is this way.
There was a lot of miscommunication for how much communication there was, but it REALLY worked because the bond between husband and wife.

The narrator; Amanda Leigh Cobb was a fantastic choice! She really brought the book to light!
I listen at 2x speed, which sometimes doesn't sound right but it was perfect.

I cannot wait for the novella and to find out what happened in Maui!

Meli is a skilled furniture maker whose relationship with her parents have left an impact on her. You can’t be in a personal and business relationship at the same time. When she finds out her uncle plans to sell the family business (a business she was promised), she vowed to do anything to stop the sale.

I listened to the audiobook and it was excellent. I think this might be Kerry Lonsdale’s best book ever. Diving deep into how the people around you can shape your views, Lonsdale creates a woman who is strong but is damaged by her family history and her parents rejection of her. I was so invested in Meli and her relationship struggles I had a hard time putting the book down. This is an excellent read!

This book had so much potential but fell flat for me. I usually love marriage of convenience and second chance. However, it would have benefited from a slower burn. The decisions and sequence of events just didn’t make any sense - rearranged, it might have worked for me. The third act drama was also just a trope that drives me nuts. I won’t spoil it and it may work for some readers but it just didn’t for me. There was also just a lot going on here with the sale of the business, plus issues with both families and then the drama at the end. Simplicity may have made for a better story.

The narrator did a good job and was a good choice. I always appreciate a good voice actor that can do male and female voicing well during dialogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted audiobook. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Content Notes: Fade to black/brief vague open door romance; some strong language

This second chance romance was the perfect palette cleanser I needed between all the thrillers I have been devouring. It was sweet and heartfelt with Meli fighting for her family's shop. When she meets the competitor's son, Aaron, she is shocked to find he is her very brief ex-husband.

I'm not telling you anymore except that if you enjoy romances that make you go aww in a big way. then you need to pick this one up. I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook which was done so sensationally, that I found myself speeding through the book - I didn't want to stop!

Kerry Lonsdale is known for blending genres with emotional depth and sharp storytelling, and in Falling for You Again, she shifts gears into a more classic romance—with her signature emotional complexity still fully intact. This story centers on Meli and Aaron, two characters with painful pasts and emotional baggage, who find themselves entangled in a marriage of convenience that quickly turns into something more. With tropes like fake dating and second chances layered in, it’s an irresistible setup, but what sets this book apart is how authentic and layered the characters feel, especially Meli.

The family dynamics bring an added layer of tension and depth. Meli’s relationship with her parents is nothing short of disastrous, and the messiness of those ties adds realism and emotional weight to her romantic journey. Lonsdale doesn’t shy away from hard truths about grief, expectations, and trying to rewrite your story when the past keeps holding you back. Still, for all the heaviness, the tone never gets too bleak, there’s a hopeful thread running through it all.

The audiobook narration by Amanda Leigh Cobb is a perfect match. Her voice has that comforting, familiar quality that feels like a friend recounting a deeply personal story. She brings Meli to life with warmth and emotional nuance, enhancing both the lighthearted and heavier moments in the story. Listening felt intimate, like I was being let in on something private and real.

Overall, Falling for You Again is an emotional and flirty read that strikes a great balance between fun and heartfelt. Whether you’re drawn to complicated family stories, emotional romance, or second chances that make your heart ache just a little before it soars, this one delivers. The audiobook especially makes for an engaging, binge worthy listen.

“Did you just smell my hair?!” #swoon

“You were my choice.”

Thanks to Kerry for my #gifted copy of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was so invested in the story from start to finish. You’ll root for Meli & Aaron to get the HEA they so deserve.

What you can except…

✅Subpar parental units
✅Found family
✅Marriage of convenience
✅Swoonworthy moments
✅Second chance romance
✅Addiction
✅Dysfunctional family dynamics
✅HEA
✅Personal growth

Kerry does such a great job with incorporating the huge spectrum of types of humans into the pages of this book, from good to bad and everything in between. In life there is a huge gray area, that’s where most of us fall and she does it so well.

Moments that I loved or stuck with me…

❤️Omg when Aaron’s mother has the meeting with her in the car it has my jaw on the floor and I was so pleased with how it went.

❤️When 💩 hits the fan and Aaron shows Meli what he’s been up to and tries to fix their relationship I thought it was the most kind and thoughtful thing.

I just adored these characters so much. Meli and Aaron were so good about communication despite the communication issues they had. I know that sounds weird but their bond was just so solid even in the hard times.

I loved how they called each other wife & husband. It worked so well with this storyline and wasn’t cheesy at all, it was endearing.

It was a trope overload in the best possible way. A story that really shows how very important it is to been 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 by those you love the most.

#fallingforyouagain #kerrylonsdale
#lovedit #lakeunion #lakeunionpublishing #brillianceaudio #topbook #romance #romancenovel #secondchanceromance #booksilove #summerreads #beachread #endlesstbr #WhatAreYouReading

I picked this up on a whim, and wow— what a treat. This book had my heart aching. The emotion, the fun and surprisingly twisty plot, the chemistryyyyyy, and the perfectly imperfect characters. All of it made for such an engaging and enjoyable reading experience. I really enjoyed the structure and plotting of the story— flashbacks placed in strategic places, revelations revealed at the perfect moments. I just had such a good time with this book.

The audiobook narration was well done and the performance elevated the story and kept me truly engaged.

I’ll be checking out more from Kerry Lonsdale, that’s for sure!

4.5 Stars! I loved it! The story captivated me, and I fell in love with the FMC and MMC.

Meli is a Furniture Artisan, and Aaron struggles with what he wants for his life versus the family expectations that are set before him. They enter into a marriage of convenience to reach their individual goals.

The relationship is fun and tender, and for the first time, Meli has someone who sees and supports her. Sometimes it's difficult to watch the effects that Childhood trauma has on people and their ability to believe in healthy relationships for themselves. This one had some emotionally bumpy moments, but was worth the crazy ride. Aaron was so patient while Meli figured out what she wanted.

I loved her circle of friends and wanted to strangle her family and his mom!

"Let me be your family!"

He built her table from the video!! (iykyk)

The story was entertaining, funny, tender, sexy, surprisingly emotional ... with a runaway bride moment!

Romance Content: Partial open-door without explicit details, focusing on emotions, and then fade-to-black.

FALLING FOR YOU AGAIN was a second chance romance that I really enjoyed the premise of. What kept it from feeling perfect was the limited backstory - we were TOLD a lot, but I wanted to be shown more of the beginnings of their romance in Vegas. This book could benefit from an additional 100 or so pages.

What a delightful read Kerry Lonsdale has beautifully crafted. I loved Meli and thought her to be charming with endearing quirks. She is surrounded by a cadre of characters who add color and depth to the story.

Meli thought her future was set and confirmed. She will take inherit and expand her uncle’s wood working furniture business. This was the one constant and driving force in her mind and heart until she met Aaron.

Leaving her fiancé at the altar, unable to commit to his confining relationship, Millie decides to take her honeymoon minus the groom. On the plane to Las Vegas, she meets Aaron and on a whim proposes a 24 hour marriage with a divorce once they return home. Upon their return Meli receives a tremendous shock and confronts Aaron of his involvement.

Both Meli and Aaron are complicated characters whose lives reflect the trauma which each has experienced. Meli is determined, tenacious, and perseverance. Aaron is even tempered, sweet and supportive. The witty banter between the two endears them and adds levity. What began as a dare has taken on a life of its own and developed into a mutual trust until that trust is threatened.

This spoke to me as a Rom-Com but touched on sobering subjects. The story is uplifting and offers an unusual second chance theme.

The audiobook was well performed and held my interest.

Thank you to Kerry Lonsdale, Netgally and Lake Union Publishing for the honor of advance listening to this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars.