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Friends Don't Fall in Love
Erin Hahn’s Friends Don’t Fall in Love is about long-time friends, taking chances, and finding out that, sometimes, your perfect person was right there in your corner all along.
Lorelai Jones had it all: a thriving country music career and a superstar fiancé. Then she played one teenie tiny protest song at a concert and ruined her entire future, including her impending celebrity marriage. But five years later, she refuses to be done with her dreams and calls up the one person who stuck by her, her dear friend and her former fiancé’s co-writer and bandmate, Craig.
Craig Boseman’s held a torch for Lorelai for years, but even he knows the backup bass player never gets the girl. Things are different now, though. Craig owns his own indie record label and his songwriting career is taking off. If he can confront his past and embrace his gifts, he might just be able to help Lorelai earn the comeback she deserves―and maybe win her heart in the process.
But when the two reunite to rebuild her career and finally scratch that itch that’s been building between them for years, Lorelai realizes a lot about what friends don’t do. For one, friends don’t have scratch-that-itch sex. They also don’t almost-kiss on street corners, publish secret erotic poetry about each other, have counter-top sex, write songs for each other, have no-strings motorcycle sex, or go on dates. And they sure as heck don't fall in love... right?
Lorelai Jones had it all: a thriving country music career and a superstar fiancé. Then she played one teenie tiny protest song at a concert and ruined her entire future, including her impending celebrity marriage. But five years later, she refuses to be done with her dreams and calls up the one person who stuck by her, her dear friend and her former fiancé’s co-writer and bandmate, Craig.
Craig Boseman’s held a torch for Lorelai for years, but even he knows the backup bass player never gets the girl. Things are different now, though. Craig owns his own indie record label and his songwriting career is taking off. If he can confront his past and embrace his gifts, he might just be able to help Lorelai earn the comeback she deserves―and maybe win her heart in the process.
But when the two reunite to rebuild her career and finally scratch that itch that’s been building between them for years, Lorelai realizes a lot about what friends don’t do. For one, friends don’t have scratch-that-itch sex. They also don’t almost-kiss on street corners, publish secret erotic poetry about each other, have counter-top sex, write songs for each other, have no-strings motorcycle sex, or go on dates. And they sure as heck don't fall in love... right?
336 pages, Paperback
First published October 17, 2023
99 people are currently reading
22206 people want to read
About the author
Erin Hahn
8 books1,388 followersERIN HAHN is the author of the young adult novels You'd Be Mine, More Than Maybe, and Never Saw You Coming as well as the adult romance Built to Last. Romance is her vibe, grunge is her soundtrack and fall is her signature color. She fell for her flannel-clad college sweetheart the very first day of school and together, they have two hilarious kids who keep her humble. She lives outside Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has a cat named Gus who plays fetch and a dog named June who doesn't.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 946 reviews
October 18, 2023
Friends Don't Fall in Love is an endearing and steamy romance set in the country music scene with tropes including he falls first, friends to lovers, found family, and second chance. The story follows Lorelai, a former school teacher turned country musician who after performing a protest song in favor of gun control, is barred from the music industry. After returning to teach for a few years, Lorelai moves back to Nashville and decides to pick back up on her music. Helping her through it all is her best friend Huck, who happens to be a music producer willing to do anything to get Lorelai back into the music scene. With a past between them and a burning connection, the two get closer than ever before while Lorelai attempts to jumpstart her career with the help of Huck producing and writing for her new album.
This is an absolutely charming romance, I loved getting to step into the country music industry, something I'm not too familiar with, and immerse myself in Lorelai and Huck's history. They're whole relationship is built on trust and love through years of friendship and I loved how they slowly fell for each other even further throughout the story. Huck was so lovable and sweet, taking care of Lorelai in any way he knew how, the man had been hopelessly in love with her for years and it was definitely noticeable in the ways he treated her. Beyond the romance, the writing and story were very easy to follow yet steeped in layers of emotion and history between Lorelai and Huck that added a nice depth. The flashbacks were a nice addition to giving context to their past relationship and how they felt about each other all along, though I was a little lost in the beginning with all the time skips. This is my first ever read from Erin Hanh and I am so excited to explore more from her in the future!
~Many thanks to NetGalley and SMPRomance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
This is an absolutely charming romance, I loved getting to step into the country music industry, something I'm not too familiar with, and immerse myself in Lorelai and Huck's history. They're whole relationship is built on trust and love through years of friendship and I loved how they slowly fell for each other even further throughout the story. Huck was so lovable and sweet, taking care of Lorelai in any way he knew how, the man had been hopelessly in love with her for years and it was definitely noticeable in the ways he treated her. Beyond the romance, the writing and story were very easy to follow yet steeped in layers of emotion and history between Lorelai and Huck that added a nice depth. The flashbacks were a nice addition to giving context to their past relationship and how they felt about each other all along, though I was a little lost in the beginning with all the time skips. This is my first ever read from Erin Hanh and I am so excited to explore more from her in the future!
~Many thanks to NetGalley and SMPRomance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
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May 20, 2023A couple of notes for readers re: FDFIL
1. Some of the thematic content in Friends Don't Fall in Love contains discussions of school shootings and gun violence, neither event occurs on the page. Lorelai Jones and I have both spent time in the classroom and this subject is very close to our hearts. Please take care when reading.
2. There was a mistake made when printing the early ARC covers and the wrong copy was sent to the printer. It will be rectified on the final copies but those readers who win GR giveaways will be receiving the *special mistake editions*. I guess we’ll call them collector’s editions! Enjoy!
3. Despite the adorable cover, FDFIL is a very spicy romance with explicit descriptions. Be advised of steamy content! ❤️
1. Some of the thematic content in Friends Don't Fall in Love contains discussions of school shootings and gun violence, neither event occurs on the page. Lorelai Jones and I have both spent time in the classroom and this subject is very close to our hearts. Please take care when reading.
2. There was a mistake made when printing the early ARC covers and the wrong copy was sent to the printer. It will be rectified on the final copies but those readers who win GR giveaways will be receiving the *special mistake editions*. I guess we’ll call them collector’s editions! Enjoy!
3. Despite the adorable cover, FDFIL is a very spicy romance with explicit descriptions. Be advised of steamy content! ❤️
October 29, 2023
Friends Don’t Fall in Love by Erin Hahn
Contemporary romance. Friends to lovers troupe and Second Chance.
Lorelai Jones had a thriving country music career until she included a protest song at a concert that killed her career. After teaching for several years, she decides to relaunch her singing career and reaches out to her former band mate and co-writer Craig.
Craig Boseman has been in love with Lorelai for years. Their one night of passion together destroyed their friendship so he left the band and created his own record label. When Lorelai calls on Craig with a request to re-start her career and asking that they work together again to write new songs, he can’t resist her.
Second chance and falling in love after a long friendship. Craig is skittish and doesn’t believe he can have the love of his life so there are ups and downs in the story as they move together and he then steps back. More than once. Additional story elements include her ex finance and assumptions.
🎧 Special addition is an actual recoding at the end of the book, of the song that Craig writes for Lorelai. The female narration on the audiobook has quite the southern twang.
I appreciate a friends to lovers story as long as there is communication and openness. This was lacking a bit of that but eventually came together in the end.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Contemporary romance. Friends to lovers troupe and Second Chance.
Lorelai Jones had a thriving country music career until she included a protest song at a concert that killed her career. After teaching for several years, she decides to relaunch her singing career and reaches out to her former band mate and co-writer Craig.
Craig Boseman has been in love with Lorelai for years. Their one night of passion together destroyed their friendship so he left the band and created his own record label. When Lorelai calls on Craig with a request to re-start her career and asking that they work together again to write new songs, he can’t resist her.
Second chance and falling in love after a long friendship. Craig is skittish and doesn’t believe he can have the love of his life so there are ups and downs in the story as they move together and he then steps back. More than once. Additional story elements include her ex finance and assumptions.
🎧 Special addition is an actual recoding at the end of the book, of the song that Craig writes for Lorelai. The female narration on the audiobook has quite the southern twang.
I appreciate a friends to lovers story as long as there is communication and openness. This was lacking a bit of that but eventually came together in the end.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
December 19, 2023
Lorelai Jones has a strong country music career when she stands up for what she believes in, plays a "protest song," and is blacklisted by the country music community. Her career crashes, and her fiancé, another country star, dumps her (online). Five years later, Lorelai is looking to get back into country music, and she turns to her friend, Craig "Huck" Boseman, who runs a small label. Craig has always had a thing for Lorelai, but he was a backup player in her fiancé's band back in the day. Can Craig help reunite Lorelai's career--and get the girl?
This book had everything I love... friends to lovers, country music, tough heroines, cute lyricists, ties to other favorite books... it was so, so good. The relationship between Lorelai and Craig smolders off the pages; their chemistry is amazing. It's sexy and full of banter and romance through songwriting and poetry. There are some really fun ties to Hahn's other country music story (YOU'D BE MINE) and her book featuring Lorelai's friend, Shelby Springfield (BUILT TO LAST), but it easily stands alone (I love everything Hahn writes, though, so definitely recommend them). The way music weaves into the story is really fun. Lorelai has a great group of friends, and it's interesting to hear about Craig's job running his label and writing songs.
Overall, this is a really great romance with fun, real characters (loved them both) and a wonderful story rooted in music. This one was a hit for me. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin in return for an unbiased review.
This book had everything I love... friends to lovers, country music, tough heroines, cute lyricists, ties to other favorite books... it was so, so good. The relationship between Lorelai and Craig smolders off the pages; their chemistry is amazing. It's sexy and full of banter and romance through songwriting and poetry. There are some really fun ties to Hahn's other country music story (YOU'D BE MINE) and her book featuring Lorelai's friend, Shelby Springfield (BUILT TO LAST), but it easily stands alone (I love everything Hahn writes, though, so definitely recommend them). The way music weaves into the story is really fun. Lorelai has a great group of friends, and it's interesting to hear about Craig's job running his label and writing songs.
Overall, this is a really great romance with fun, real characters (loved them both) and a wonderful story rooted in music. This one was a hit for me. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin in return for an unbiased review.
October 4, 2023
This book was as sweet as pie 🥧 If you’re looking for a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance, look no further.
This book has:
•Friends to lovers and the one-night-stand trope
•A sunshine country star heroine and a cinnamon roll producer/lyricist hero
•He falls first and harder!!! The hero has a secret IG account where he writes poetry about the heroine 💌
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars
This book has:
•Friends to lovers and the one-night-stand trope
•A sunshine country star heroine and a cinnamon roll producer/lyricist hero
•He falls first and harder!!! The hero has a secret IG account where he writes poetry about the heroine 💌
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars
September 25, 2023
Review coming soon.
October 19, 2023
Initial Thoughts
I loved this book! I have read everything that Erin Hahn has written so far and have really liked every single book. If you are a romance reader and have not tried this author yet, do yourself a favor and give her work a try. I ended up listening to the audiobook of this one (because I am perpetually behind) and am so glad that I did. The narrators were able to take this story to the next level. Huck and Lorelei belonged together. They had so much in common and the chemistry between them was palpable. I couldn't wait to see them work things out to find their happily ever after.
Review copy provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon.
I loved this book! I have read everything that Erin Hahn has written so far and have really liked every single book. If you are a romance reader and have not tried this author yet, do yourself a favor and give her work a try. I ended up listening to the audiobook of this one (because I am perpetually behind) and am so glad that I did. The narrators were able to take this story to the next level. Huck and Lorelei belonged together. They had so much in common and the chemistry between them was palpable. I couldn't wait to see them work things out to find their happily ever after.
Review copy provided by the publisher. Full review to be posted soon.
September 10, 2023
Erin Hahn is such a consistently solid author.
When you read as much as I do, it can take a bit to hook me sometimes and I'll meander through a book until it grabs me. This had me paragraph one, page one. Craig wasn't even pretending to do anything but bask in the glow of her if friendship was as good as it ever got for him and he would be grateful for it. I appreciate when a character has absolutely no chill even in his own mental dialogue from the beginning. I thought Lorelai was a dream in Built to Last so I was thrilled to see it.
Lorelai was an elementary school teacher turned country superstar and sang a song condemning the second amendment because her heart was broken after yet another school shooting. Her star blinked out immediately in the backlash from everyone. Her fiancé broke up with her via public Instagram reel and everyone let her flounder. Except Craig.
I can't say enough good things about this book. She was a woman who accidentally falls in love with her best friend and both of them think they're the lucky one in the relationship. They're both right and it was glorious.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
When you read as much as I do, it can take a bit to hook me sometimes and I'll meander through a book until it grabs me. This had me paragraph one, page one. Craig wasn't even pretending to do anything but bask in the glow of her if friendship was as good as it ever got for him and he would be grateful for it. I appreciate when a character has absolutely no chill even in his own mental dialogue from the beginning. I thought Lorelai was a dream in Built to Last so I was thrilled to see it.
Lorelai was an elementary school teacher turned country superstar and sang a song condemning the second amendment because her heart was broken after yet another school shooting. Her star blinked out immediately in the backlash from everyone. Her fiancé broke up with her via public Instagram reel and everyone let her flounder. Except Craig.
I can't say enough good things about this book. She was a woman who accidentally falls in love with her best friend and both of them think they're the lucky one in the relationship. They're both right and it was glorious.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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April 4, 2023I really loved the author's previous story set in this series. This one engaged with a trope that is a hard sell for me--and despite the wonderful way the author wrote about music, I found myself putting it down often. But I always picked it up again, because of that wonderful love of the creation of music, and because I wanted to see Lore get her happy ending, even if it was with a guy who was jonesing for her for years without saying anything--for no reason that any adult would accept. There was a story only because these two didn't talk to each other in spite of the fact that they were totally into each other and had been for several years. Frustration!
So my suggestion is to read it as a very low-key romance between musician/writers, who express themselves through melody and oblique lyrics, not face to face like a couple of grownups.
I'll still read the next!
So my suggestion is to read it as a very low-key romance between musician/writers, who express themselves through melody and oblique lyrics, not face to face like a couple of grownups.
I'll still read the next!
August 12, 2023
Country music star Lorelai Jones has a bright future ahead of her - she's the rising queen of country music soon to marry the self-proclaimed king. She's close friends with his band mate Craig Huckleberry Boseman aka "Huck". Then one night it all comes crashing down when she dares to sing a protest song and ends up getting blackballed right out of the music industry. To top it off, her fiancé dumps her on social media to avoid letting her "taint" his career. Needless to say, Lorelai leaves town in a rush to lick her wounds and heal her broken heart but not before a drunken one-night stand with friend Craig - never to be mentioned again. You can't keep a good woman down for long and now she's back and determined to make a comeback in the music industry. The first person she reaches out to is her old friend Craig who's managed to make a good career for himself as a record producer. As they spend more time together, sparks fly, and things heat up between them. Both have hidden feelings that go beyond the fantastic sex to something more, but neither is willing to risk their friendship by voicing their feelings. The story that unfolds is full of miscommunications, missed opportunities and hurt feelings. Even as Lorelai's career takes off again, something's missing. Is it possible for friends to find the forever kind of love? Does she dare take a chance on getting her heart broken yet again?
FRIENDS DON'T FALL IN LOVE is a spicy friend to lovers' story about two people who are in denial about their true feelings, afraid to risk a really good friendship on a "maybe" good romantic relationship. Hahn has a way of delivering characters that are vulnerable and likeable and yet just a wee bit dense about relationships. So much heartache could have been avoided with a little true communication, but the learning process makes them enjoy the end results more. Characters are well fleshed out and while this one starts off a bit slow, it certainly picks up in the second half as things start happening to throw Lorelai and Craig together where things sizzle, crackle and pop! There are some very, very sexy scenes in this book as the one place this couple does not have an issue is the bedroom. I enjoyed the inclusion of some song lyrics as a form of communication and the text messages are funny and sweet. This is a saucy contemporary romance story with great banter that I highly recommend to fans of friends to lovers' stories.
Special thanks to St. Martins Griffin for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own. This review is available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
FRIENDS DON'T FALL IN LOVE is a spicy friend to lovers' story about two people who are in denial about their true feelings, afraid to risk a really good friendship on a "maybe" good romantic relationship. Hahn has a way of delivering characters that are vulnerable and likeable and yet just a wee bit dense about relationships. So much heartache could have been avoided with a little true communication, but the learning process makes them enjoy the end results more. Characters are well fleshed out and while this one starts off a bit slow, it certainly picks up in the second half as things start happening to throw Lorelai and Craig together where things sizzle, crackle and pop! There are some very, very sexy scenes in this book as the one place this couple does not have an issue is the bedroom. I enjoyed the inclusion of some song lyrics as a form of communication and the text messages are funny and sweet. This is a saucy contemporary romance story with great banter that I highly recommend to fans of friends to lovers' stories.
Special thanks to St. Martins Griffin for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own. This review is available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
December 21, 2023
Friends Don't Fall In Love by Erin Hahn 🎤
Lorelai had it all as a thriving country music star and a superstar fiancé. She plays a protest song at a concert that ends up ruining her career and her impending marriage. After five years, she isn't ready to give up her music dreams and reaches out to the only person who stuck by her, her fiancé's former co-writer and bandmate, Craig. He knew he would never get the girl, but he's always had some feelings for Lorelai. Things have changed though, he's now a indie record label owner and doing well with his songwriting career. He's in the position to help Lorelai chase her dream again. As they continue to reunite though Craig's feelings come back to the surface and Lorelai realizes there might have always been something there between them. Cause friends don't do what they do.
This was so good! The way that the friends to lovers was done in this is one of my favorites. There are a couple time jumps in the first few chapters giving some background to how Lorelai and Craig became such close friends then the rest of the book is from the present timeline sprinkled with some flashbacks. I loved how Craig had always been battling with his feeling for Lorelai but he doesn't want to risk his friendship with her so he pushes them back. He was such a sweetie.
The characters felt very real and I liked the balance between focusing on their character growth and the romance between them. They have a one night stand years in the past that is mentioned in the first chapters. The present is them reconnecting 5 years later with hints back to how good that night was and them wondering if it was a fluke or they could be just as good now. They end up spending a lot of time together, especially given they are neighbors. The things they end up doing together are entirely friendly (wink) but they were too afraid to just come out and say it.
If you liked The Roughest Draft I think you’ll really like this too.
Tropes:
🎤 celebrity romance
❤️ he falls first
😊 friends to lovers
👥 close proximity / neighbors
🔥 a little bit of friends with benefits
🥹 he takes care of her when she’s not feeling well
dual POV
5/5 stars ⭐️
1.5/5 spice level 🌶️
Lorelai had it all as a thriving country music star and a superstar fiancé. She plays a protest song at a concert that ends up ruining her career and her impending marriage. After five years, she isn't ready to give up her music dreams and reaches out to the only person who stuck by her, her fiancé's former co-writer and bandmate, Craig. He knew he would never get the girl, but he's always had some feelings for Lorelai. Things have changed though, he's now a indie record label owner and doing well with his songwriting career. He's in the position to help Lorelai chase her dream again. As they continue to reunite though Craig's feelings come back to the surface and Lorelai realizes there might have always been something there between them. Cause friends don't do what they do.
This was so good! The way that the friends to lovers was done in this is one of my favorites. There are a couple time jumps in the first few chapters giving some background to how Lorelai and Craig became such close friends then the rest of the book is from the present timeline sprinkled with some flashbacks. I loved how Craig had always been battling with his feeling for Lorelai but he doesn't want to risk his friendship with her so he pushes them back. He was such a sweetie.
The characters felt very real and I liked the balance between focusing on their character growth and the romance between them. They have a one night stand years in the past that is mentioned in the first chapters. The present is them reconnecting 5 years later with hints back to how good that night was and them wondering if it was a fluke or they could be just as good now. They end up spending a lot of time together, especially given they are neighbors. The things they end up doing together are entirely friendly (wink) but they were too afraid to just come out and say it.
If you liked The Roughest Draft I think you’ll really like this too.
Tropes:
🎤 celebrity romance
❤️ he falls first
😊 friends to lovers
👥 close proximity / neighbors
🔥 a little bit of friends with benefits
🥹 he takes care of her when she’s not feeling well
dual POV
5/5 stars ⭐️
1.5/5 spice level 🌶️
September 20, 2023
This was my first Erin Hahn book, and I'm left with some mixed feelings. There were a lot of things I absolutely loved about this book, most importantly the romance. I adore the friends to lovers trope and I love a celebrity romance, and I thought especially the friends to lovers aspect was done really well here. I just felt like the book was so slow, especially in the first half. There was so much backstory being explained that it almost felt like a chore to read at times, and this left me wondering if the book was structured optimally. I did enjoy this overall though, and I would happily read from this author again.
April 29, 2024
Okay so 1 please be mindful of triggers but afterwards let’s get into the fun. This is a stand alone adult romance however I highly recommend reading the young adult romance You’d Be Mine first as some characters overlap and it’s great to have the backstory. This is a friends to lovers romance with some spice. Country music industry and standing up for what you believe in is throughout this story. Also the FMC has Celiac disease and her living with this disease is included.
March 6, 2024
3.5⭐️
This was a fun and easy read! I liked the friends to lovers trope and I love books about fame/celebrity, especially musicians, so this was right up my alley. It was easy to get into the story and the plot was really light. There were a few references to much heavier topics but they really weren’t delved into much and I do think I was missing some emotional depth from this story. It was a fast read but I didn’t feel super connected to the characters or the romance because it was a bit of a second chance romance too so you don’t get to see the characters develop their initial relationship on page. I definitely enjoyed this overall, I was just hoping for a little something more from it.
This was a fun and easy read! I liked the friends to lovers trope and I love books about fame/celebrity, especially musicians, so this was right up my alley. It was easy to get into the story and the plot was really light. There were a few references to much heavier topics but they really weren’t delved into much and I do think I was missing some emotional depth from this story. It was a fast read but I didn’t feel super connected to the characters or the romance because it was a bit of a second chance romance too so you don’t get to see the characters develop their initial relationship on page. I definitely enjoyed this overall, I was just hoping for a little something more from it.
March 29, 2023
DNF around 20%.
I really wanted to like this book but the beginning was so confusing and choppy. I had to make sure I wasn’t reading a sequel I was so confused. Maybe it gets better, but I wasn’t willing to stick around longer.
I really wanted to like this book but the beginning was so confusing and choppy. I had to make sure I wasn’t reading a sequel I was so confused. Maybe it gets better, but I wasn’t willing to stick around longer.
March 27, 2023
Hi, Erin, it’s me, your biggest fan. Don’t mind me as I devour your latest book while I ignore all of reality. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, I love more than a guy who falls first and who is thoroughly friend-zones. I am Superman and Erin just wrote my kryptonite.
Craig is the epitome of a sexy cinnamon roll book boyfriend, who drinks only the dirtiest of cabs and has the sexiest hips. He’s kind, but also feisty. He fights when needed, but knows that Lorelei is strong enough to fight her own battles. He’s her biggest supporter and never stopped believing in her talent. He’s one of the ultimate book boyfriends out there and is the heart of this story.
My only issue with this story is the way Loreli was treated in her situation. I think in today's world, she would have been critiqued, but I also truly believe she would have had more public support than the book depicted. I do like how this author wrote about Lorelai’s journey and growth throughout the story and how it complemented the romance aspect of this book.
This book is the perfect example of why the author is phenomenal. She cultivated an emotional, heartfelt romance with characters that are multifaceted. Her books are complex and are so much more than a surface level romance. This author continued to surprise me with each book she released.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC
Craig is the epitome of a sexy cinnamon roll book boyfriend, who drinks only the dirtiest of cabs and has the sexiest hips. He’s kind, but also feisty. He fights when needed, but knows that Lorelei is strong enough to fight her own battles. He’s her biggest supporter and never stopped believing in her talent. He’s one of the ultimate book boyfriends out there and is the heart of this story.
My only issue with this story is the way Loreli was treated in her situation. I think in today's world, she would have been critiqued, but I also truly believe she would have had more public support than the book depicted. I do like how this author wrote about Lorelai’s journey and growth throughout the story and how it complemented the romance aspect of this book.
This book is the perfect example of why the author is phenomenal. She cultivated an emotional, heartfelt romance with characters that are multifaceted. Her books are complex and are so much more than a surface level romance. This author continued to surprise me with each book she released.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC
August 12, 2023
Two musically inclined individuals - one living in the shadows and the other scorned by country music - come together once again in Nashville years after a hookup. They are wonderful friends who harbor unspoken feelings for each other - though the sexual tension is sensed by everyone around them. Lorelei and Huck take friends to lovers on a musical ride & Erin Hahn delivers it beautifully by providing dual POVs!
After reading Built to Last, I was so excited to see another novel from Hahn in my NetGalley. I was even more excited when I began reading and found that characters crossed over!
After reading Built to Last, I was so excited to see another novel from Hahn in my NetGalley. I was even more excited when I began reading and found that characters crossed over!
October 17, 2023
This was an utterly delightful friends to lovers, dual POV romance between a singer and songwriter who finally take a chance on love when their mutual friend stands one of them up at the alter after her career blows up when she sings a controversial song in support of stricter gun control.
Amazing on audio with original songs, and great for anyone who enjoys Rockstar romances and the complications of starting over and working together with your best friend turned lover. I really enjoyed this one, especially the disability rep (celiac's disease, her) and the anonymous erotic poetry IG account (him)!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This is by far my new favorite from Erin Hahn and perfect for fans of books like When in Rome or Just another love song.
Steam level: open door (some super spicy scenes!)
Amazing on audio with original songs, and great for anyone who enjoys Rockstar romances and the complications of starting over and working together with your best friend turned lover. I really enjoyed this one, especially the disability rep (celiac's disease, her) and the anonymous erotic poetry IG account (him)!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This is by far my new favorite from Erin Hahn and perfect for fans of books like When in Rome or Just another love song.
Steam level: open door (some super spicy scenes!)
February 18, 2024
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved all the humor in this book! I knew I was getting a country romance but was surprised by how spicy and funny it was! I’m from California and honestly know little to nothing about the Nashville music scene so it was fun to get an insiders glimpse into a different life. It was a little predictable but oh so sweet with characters that are easy to care about and an HEA that will make you swoon! Definitely check this book out if you like southern romantic comedies!
I really loved all the humor in this book! I knew I was getting a country romance but was surprised by how spicy and funny it was! I’m from California and honestly know little to nothing about the Nashville music scene so it was fun to get an insiders glimpse into a different life. It was a little predictable but oh so sweet with characters that are easy to care about and an HEA that will make you swoon! Definitely check this book out if you like southern romantic comedies!
October 17, 2023
✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨
🎸🎶🍻 If you love country music and the Nashville scene, 'Friends Don't Fall in Love' by Erin Hahn is your next romance read! 🎸🎶🍻
📝 Lorelai Jones was America's country music star. She was young, talented and engaged to one of the hottest country music singers. But it was all good to be true, and one moment changed everything. Everyone and everything fell apart, except for her friend Craig Boseman---her ex-fiancé's bandmate. Lorelei isn't ready to quit and she's ready for a comeback. Craig may just be the person she needs to get her life back on track, and in more ways than one. 💕
What I 🤍:
🎼 Nashville Music Scene
💕 Friends to Lovers
🏔️ Underdog Story
🎵 Song Chapter Titles
🧬 Duel POV
💥 Flashback Scenes
Once I picked up this book, I couldn't stop. Right away I was hooked into the mystery of why Lorelei was shunned from country music execs. Then, throw in flashbacks of two friends, with one harboring a secret crush on his bandmate's girl...sign me up! The whole time I was rooting for Lorelei's comeback story, and I loved how her relationship progressed with Craig.
Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Passion: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (Several Mild Open Door Scenes)
Read if ➡️: You love Country Music or The CHICKS
Read 📅: Anytime of Year
CW ⚠️: Reference to Gun Violence, Swearing
One of my favorite parts of this book was the chapter titles! Each was a song, and it specifically related to each chapter. I'm convinced Hahn is a creative genius. One thing I wish had been done a bit differently was the communication style between these two. They are in their mid-thirties, so even if they are communicating through song, it should have been a bit easier for them. But, I adored this story and that epilogue will forever go down as one of my favorites of all time.
⭐️ Friends Don't Fall in Love is Book 2 in the "Built to Last" series. Yet, this book can be read as a standalone.
🙏 Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Erin Hahn for an ARC of this book. FDFIL comes out October 17!
🎸🎶🍻 If you love country music and the Nashville scene, 'Friends Don't Fall in Love' by Erin Hahn is your next romance read! 🎸🎶🍻
📝 Lorelai Jones was America's country music star. She was young, talented and engaged to one of the hottest country music singers. But it was all good to be true, and one moment changed everything. Everyone and everything fell apart, except for her friend Craig Boseman---her ex-fiancé's bandmate. Lorelei isn't ready to quit and she's ready for a comeback. Craig may just be the person she needs to get her life back on track, and in more ways than one. 💕
What I 🤍:
🎼 Nashville Music Scene
💕 Friends to Lovers
🏔️ Underdog Story
🎵 Song Chapter Titles
🧬 Duel POV
💥 Flashback Scenes
Once I picked up this book, I couldn't stop. Right away I was hooked into the mystery of why Lorelei was shunned from country music execs. Then, throw in flashbacks of two friends, with one harboring a secret crush on his bandmate's girl...sign me up! The whole time I was rooting for Lorelei's comeback story, and I loved how her relationship progressed with Craig.
Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Passion: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (Several Mild Open Door Scenes)
Read if ➡️: You love Country Music or The CHICKS
Read 📅: Anytime of Year
CW ⚠️: Reference to Gun Violence, Swearing
One of my favorite parts of this book was the chapter titles! Each was a song, and it specifically related to each chapter. I'm convinced Hahn is a creative genius. One thing I wish had been done a bit differently was the communication style between these two. They are in their mid-thirties, so even if they are communicating through song, it should have been a bit easier for them. But, I adored this story and that epilogue will forever go down as one of my favorites of all time.
⭐️ Friends Don't Fall in Love is Book 2 in the "Built to Last" series. Yet, this book can be read as a standalone.
🙏 Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Erin Hahn for an ARC of this book. FDFIL comes out October 17!
October 8, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
I read out of order- and YES THIS IS A SERIES. why is that not mentioned anywhere? I read book 3 first- Catch and Keep, then book 1- Built to Last and then this one. I was committed to these characters and loved seeing all the cameos. This cover though makes zero sense to the plot- it’s set in downtown nashville, they’re musicians, and they never went on a picnic.
While reading I was thinking this sounds like a retelling of The Dixie Chicks incident. In the epilogue she relays it was inspired by them. one thing I’ve learned in my reading journey is I oddly just don’t care for a music / musician trope. I’ve not found one I’ve really connected with and this is no different. I did really want to read Craig aka Huckleberry and Lorelei’s story and focus on them rather their careers. I liked it, but didn’t love it.
Long time friends, a one time romp they never spoke of again for years, a friendship that stood the test of times even after not talking for years and Lorelei moving to a different state. But Huck alsways showed up. He fell first and harder and he wasn’t portrayed as a playboy. Craig was an all around stand up guy! Lorelei needed to stop talking about her ex though. Geesh it’s been years- just stop.
The first half was so slow and a lot of backtrack into the past. The fact is they both had feelings for each other and went years without sharing them for nonsensical reasons. A simple talk would’ve cleared things up a long time ago.
I am glad I read it and can confidently say the next book in the series is written so much better. She just needed a couple practice adult romance novels under her belt.
I read out of order- and YES THIS IS A SERIES. why is that not mentioned anywhere? I read book 3 first- Catch and Keep, then book 1- Built to Last and then this one. I was committed to these characters and loved seeing all the cameos. This cover though makes zero sense to the plot- it’s set in downtown nashville, they’re musicians, and they never went on a picnic.
While reading I was thinking this sounds like a retelling of The Dixie Chicks incident. In the epilogue she relays it was inspired by them. one thing I’ve learned in my reading journey is I oddly just don’t care for a music / musician trope. I’ve not found one I’ve really connected with and this is no different. I did really want to read Craig aka Huckleberry and Lorelei’s story and focus on them rather their careers. I liked it, but didn’t love it.
Long time friends, a one time romp they never spoke of again for years, a friendship that stood the test of times even after not talking for years and Lorelei moving to a different state. But Huck alsways showed up. He fell first and harder and he wasn’t portrayed as a playboy. Craig was an all around stand up guy! Lorelei needed to stop talking about her ex though. Geesh it’s been years- just stop.
The first half was so slow and a lot of backtrack into the past. The fact is they both had feelings for each other and went years without sharing them for nonsensical reasons. A simple talk would’ve cleared things up a long time ago.
I am glad I read it and can confidently say the next book in the series is written so much better. She just needed a couple practice adult romance novels under her belt.
October 17, 2023
A fantastic read, this book focuses on rekindling past friendships, the power of staying true to your values. I adored Lorelei in Built to Last, was so excited to hear her story.
Lorelei, a former country music starlet, and Huck, a up and coming country music producer, share a history of friendship and a strong connection that is hard to ignore. They are both driven to prove themselves in the industry, and their chemistry is palpable. While the flashbacks provided insight into their long-term friendship, they did not significantly impact the plot.
This book shows what teachers face in regard to gun violence in America. You should be aware that it is central to plot. No gun violence is depicted on the page.
In this book there is an element of vague booking. Where you post something online hoping that one person you care about reads it. In this book steamy poetry was shared. It was a delightful aspect! I really enjoyed this book & hope you have a chance to check it out.
I’m so grateful to @stmartinspress @smpromance for the advance reading copy!
Lorelei, a former country music starlet, and Huck, a up and coming country music producer, share a history of friendship and a strong connection that is hard to ignore. They are both driven to prove themselves in the industry, and their chemistry is palpable. While the flashbacks provided insight into their long-term friendship, they did not significantly impact the plot.
This book shows what teachers face in regard to gun violence in America. You should be aware that it is central to plot. No gun violence is depicted on the page.
In this book there is an element of vague booking. Where you post something online hoping that one person you care about reads it. In this book steamy poetry was shared. It was a delightful aspect! I really enjoyed this book & hope you have a chance to check it out.
I’m so grateful to @stmartinspress @smpromance for the advance reading copy!
March 26, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book. Below is my honest review.
Note: content warnings are listed at the end of this review.
This takes place in the same world as “You’d Be Mine” and “Built to Last”. You can read “Friends Don’t Fall In Love” without reading either of those but I recommend catching up with those two books afterwards, if you didn’t read them beforehand. For greatest enjoyment, I’d read the others first.
This books starts off six years ago with brief snippets of country star Lorelai’s life before her country music career imploded and she went back to Michigan to teach elementary school. The flashbacks focus on her life with her ex-fiancé Drake Colter and his bandmate/her best friend Craig “Huck” Huckleberry Boseman.
Present time, Lorelai is back in Nashville after writing a song for her friends Shelby and Cameron. She lives in the other half of Craig’s duplex while working with him, at his studio, on some new music.
This book centers on these two best friends who are oblivious to the others feelings. Will they figure things out? Will Lorelai make it back in country music after her big faux pas? Will we get any cameos from previous books?
I really liked this one. The two leads were sweet, smart, funny, and had good heads in their shoulders. I very much enjoyed watching them bumble through their feelings and relationship, all while being incredibly supportive of each other and their own friends.
I was delighted to see former MC’s return. This is one of my all time favorite things…if you like that too, you will not be disappointed. I’m just hoping we get one more book in this “series” … please? It’s RIGHT THERE. Cough, Wisconsin, cough.
The new supporting characters were well developed … Arlo and Dr. Josh were hilarious and super fun additions.
I was thrilled to see a main character in a romance who has celiac. We need more representation all around, and imho, this was well done and appreciated. (I do not have celiac, though.)
There were several scenes that made me laugh out loud, scenes that made me cheer, and more. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a friends to lovers romance with a country star twist.
CW: discussion of preparing for school shootings at an elementary school and gun violence general.
Note: content warnings are listed at the end of this review.
This takes place in the same world as “You’d Be Mine” and “Built to Last”. You can read “Friends Don’t Fall In Love” without reading either of those but I recommend catching up with those two books afterwards, if you didn’t read them beforehand. For greatest enjoyment, I’d read the others first.
This books starts off six years ago with brief snippets of country star Lorelai’s life before her country music career imploded and she went back to Michigan to teach elementary school. The flashbacks focus on her life with her ex-fiancé Drake Colter and his bandmate/her best friend Craig “Huck” Huckleberry Boseman.
Present time, Lorelai is back in Nashville after writing a song for her friends Shelby and Cameron. She lives in the other half of Craig’s duplex while working with him, at his studio, on some new music.
This book centers on these two best friends who are oblivious to the others feelings. Will they figure things out? Will Lorelai make it back in country music after her big faux pas? Will we get any cameos from previous books?
I really liked this one. The two leads were sweet, smart, funny, and had good heads in their shoulders. I very much enjoyed watching them bumble through their feelings and relationship, all while being incredibly supportive of each other and their own friends.
I was delighted to see former MC’s return. This is one of my all time favorite things…if you like that too, you will not be disappointed. I’m just hoping we get one more book in this “series” … please? It’s RIGHT THERE. Cough, Wisconsin, cough.
The new supporting characters were well developed … Arlo and Dr. Josh were hilarious and super fun additions.
I was thrilled to see a main character in a romance who has celiac. We need more representation all around, and imho, this was well done and appreciated. (I do not have celiac, though.)
There were several scenes that made me laugh out loud, scenes that made me cheer, and more. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a friends to lovers romance with a country star twist.
CW: discussion of preparing for school shootings at an elementary school and gun violence general.
April 2, 2023
Singer Lorelei Jones and songwriter Craig Huckleberry Boseman were friends for years as she dated and then got engaged to his band mate—and then said band mate broke up with her super publicly. So they had a one night stand and now it’s six years later. Lorelei wants to get back to the country music scene and Craig has started his own record company and writes erotic poetry on the side. They’re still good friends—but can friends fall in love?
Yes. The answer is yes.
This book was a low-stakes, low-angst romance centered around the Nashville country music scene and featuring cameos of country stars from Hahn’s YA book You’d Be Mine. There was nothing wrong with this book. But I’m going to say something maybe controversial: this book (and maybe the previous) might’ve worked better as novellas. Because the romance is so low stakes, I was left asking myself from about 20% on, why aren’t they getting together now? I didn’t see what was stopping them. It would be one thing if they hadn’t ever thought of each other beyond friends. But they had a one night stand. They had seen each other romantically. I didn’t understand what was keeping them apart. And I didn’t find the plot of Lorelei’s annoying ex and Huck’s stealing lyrics band mate much of a stumbling block.
This is no slight to Hahn’s writing which I have very much loved in the past; it may be just me, and YMMV. Having low stakes romance is fine. I am sure there will be plenty of people who love this very much. But I found myself wishing that if it was so low stakes, why didn’t they get together earlier and have a good portion of the book be cute relationship things?
3 stars. Heat level: 4🌶️
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc copy. This is my honest review. Friends Don’t Fall in Love comes out October 17.
Yes. The answer is yes.
This book was a low-stakes, low-angst romance centered around the Nashville country music scene and featuring cameos of country stars from Hahn’s YA book You’d Be Mine. There was nothing wrong with this book. But I’m going to say something maybe controversial: this book (and maybe the previous) might’ve worked better as novellas. Because the romance is so low stakes, I was left asking myself from about 20% on, why aren’t they getting together now? I didn’t see what was stopping them. It would be one thing if they hadn’t ever thought of each other beyond friends. But they had a one night stand. They had seen each other romantically. I didn’t understand what was keeping them apart. And I didn’t find the plot of Lorelei’s annoying ex and Huck’s stealing lyrics band mate much of a stumbling block.
This is no slight to Hahn’s writing which I have very much loved in the past; it may be just me, and YMMV. Having low stakes romance is fine. I am sure there will be plenty of people who love this very much. But I found myself wishing that if it was so low stakes, why didn’t they get together earlier and have a good portion of the book be cute relationship things?
3 stars. Heat level: 4🌶️
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc copy. This is my honest review. Friends Don’t Fall in Love comes out October 17.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2024
I wasn't able to connect with this book and its characters.
The plot was a bit messy, and had a lot of back a and forth that was quite annoying. It had miscommunication, and I feel like the characters weren't as well developed.
It took me a long time to understand how singing a song trying to raise awareness to the danger of weapons (because of mass shootings) would get her cancelled. It wasn't really explained; only later on, they mention that pro-guns weren't happy with it. Bu like..... I'm sure a lot of people would sympathize(?)
I don't know, could've been a cute romance but I wasn't into it.
The plot was a bit messy, and had a lot of back a and forth that was quite annoying. It had miscommunication, and I feel like the characters weren't as well developed.
It took me a long time to understand how singing a song trying to raise awareness to the danger of weapons (because of mass shootings) would get her cancelled. It wasn't really explained; only later on, they mention that pro-guns weren't happy with it. Bu like..... I'm sure a lot of people would sympathize(?)
I don't know, could've been a cute romance but I wasn't into it.
September 10, 2023
I had never read anything by this author before reading this. And after reading this I don’t want to read anything else by her. This book did not make since at all. It was all over the place and so hard to get into. I didn’t feel a connection between the characters at all. This book left me more confused than anything else.
December 24, 2023
Friends Don’t Fall in Love
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Erin Hahn
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Lorelai Jones had it a thriving country music career and a superstar fiancé. Then she played one teenie tiny protest song at a concert and ruined her entire future, including her impending celebrity marriage. But five years later, she refuses to be done with her dreams and calls up the one person who stuck by her, her dear friend and her former fiancé’s co-writer and bandmate, Craig.
Craig Boseman’s held a torch for Lorelai for years, but even he knows the backup bass player never gets the girl. Things are different now, though. Craig owns his own indie record label and his songwriting career is taking off. If he can confront his past and embrace his gifts, he might just be able to help Lorelai earn the comeback she deserves―and maybe win her heart in the process.
But when the two reunite to rebuild her career and finally scratch that itch that’s been building between them for years, Lorelai realizes a lot about what friends don’t do. For one, friends don’t have scratch-that-itch sex. They also don’t almost-kiss on street corners, publish secret erotic poetry about each other, have counter-top sex, write songs for each other, have no-strings motorcycle sex, or go on dates. And they sure as heck don't fall in love... right?
My Thoughts: This was a cute listen. I have read a prior book by Hahn and fell in love. This is full of sweetness, angst, tension, lovely witty banter and so much chemistry. Lorelai Jones and Craig Boseman to back decades. Craig was the songwriter for Lorelai’s then fiancé. When her relationship crumbles because Lorelai stands in her truth, she moves out to the mountains and starts teaching. When Lorelai decides to give her dreams another go, she goes straight to Craig as she knows he will help her. This follows the tropes of friends to lovers, miscommunication, the guy falls first, second chance, and country music setting.
This story is narrated in a dual narration by Lorelai and Craig with some past flashes. Lorelai is a caring, kind, compassionate woman who by standing in her truth, causing a ripple to her career. Craig decided to stop song writing for other artists and opened his own producing company. He is kind and loyal to a fault. The flashbacks really help the storyline and fills in the gaps. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and were creatively developed. The supporting characters were fantastically designed and uplifted our MCs. The author’s writing style was complex, creative, funny, spicy, thought-provoking, and kept me engaged from cover to cover. This story was spicy and delivers the steam in explicit details. The story flowed well with the pacing and tone set wonderfully, the plot was delivered through our MCs with a Happily Ever After.
Trigger warnings include gun violence, school shootings, and relationship toxicity. This was the perfect light-hearted romance novel. The story has some spice and steam and just warms the heart. Typically I do not like miscommunication tropes, however the author does it so well that the characters grow from this miscommunication. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good romance that warms the soul.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Erin Hahn
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Lorelai Jones had it a thriving country music career and a superstar fiancé. Then she played one teenie tiny protest song at a concert and ruined her entire future, including her impending celebrity marriage. But five years later, she refuses to be done with her dreams and calls up the one person who stuck by her, her dear friend and her former fiancé’s co-writer and bandmate, Craig.
Craig Boseman’s held a torch for Lorelai for years, but even he knows the backup bass player never gets the girl. Things are different now, though. Craig owns his own indie record label and his songwriting career is taking off. If he can confront his past and embrace his gifts, he might just be able to help Lorelai earn the comeback she deserves―and maybe win her heart in the process.
But when the two reunite to rebuild her career and finally scratch that itch that’s been building between them for years, Lorelai realizes a lot about what friends don’t do. For one, friends don’t have scratch-that-itch sex. They also don’t almost-kiss on street corners, publish secret erotic poetry about each other, have counter-top sex, write songs for each other, have no-strings motorcycle sex, or go on dates. And they sure as heck don't fall in love... right?
My Thoughts: This was a cute listen. I have read a prior book by Hahn and fell in love. This is full of sweetness, angst, tension, lovely witty banter and so much chemistry. Lorelai Jones and Craig Boseman to back decades. Craig was the songwriter for Lorelai’s then fiancé. When her relationship crumbles because Lorelai stands in her truth, she moves out to the mountains and starts teaching. When Lorelai decides to give her dreams another go, she goes straight to Craig as she knows he will help her. This follows the tropes of friends to lovers, miscommunication, the guy falls first, second chance, and country music setting.
This story is narrated in a dual narration by Lorelai and Craig with some past flashes. Lorelai is a caring, kind, compassionate woman who by standing in her truth, causing a ripple to her career. Craig decided to stop song writing for other artists and opened his own producing company. He is kind and loyal to a fault. The flashbacks really help the storyline and fills in the gaps. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and were creatively developed. The supporting characters were fantastically designed and uplifted our MCs. The author’s writing style was complex, creative, funny, spicy, thought-provoking, and kept me engaged from cover to cover. This story was spicy and delivers the steam in explicit details. The story flowed well with the pacing and tone set wonderfully, the plot was delivered through our MCs with a Happily Ever After.
Trigger warnings include gun violence, school shootings, and relationship toxicity. This was the perfect light-hearted romance novel. The story has some spice and steam and just warms the heart. Typically I do not like miscommunication tropes, however the author does it so well that the characters grow from this miscommunication. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good romance that warms the soul.
September 23, 2023
Friends to lovers is one of my very favorite tropes and I thought it was done really well in Friends Don't Fall in Love. Spoiler alert - they do ;) Lorelai and Craig's second chance-ish romance had all the banter, pining, and sweet moments that I love about Erin Hahn's writing. It also had some very steamy scenes that left me fanning myself and a bit envious of Lorelai. LOL Craig was such an ooey gooey cinnamon roll and so it will surprise absolutely no one that I fell head over heels in love with him <3
The book started a little rough since there were several rapid fire time jumps, but I did enjoy getting the flashbacks later on. Some serious topics are discussed in the book too, so please check CW's. You can clearly tell that this is an issue that is very close to the author's heart. The story itself is relatively low angst, but it did bother me that the conflict that kept these two apart for so long was a lack of communication. I could understand their hesitation given their histories, but this definitely shifted from a case of friends to idiots to lovers. I liked that the secondary characters all called them out on it though (loved Arlo and Maren!), and how supportive they all were as these two *finally* figured things out. The level of detail about the music industry was intense at times, but it was interesting to get that behind the scenes. The epilogue was the sweetest and I loved how it brought our characters full circle. I'm hoping a book for Maren is already in the works!
Note: The book can be read as a standalone, but it does feature characters from Built to Last and You'd Be Mine pretty heavily. I haven't had a chance to read You'd Be Mine yet and I feel like it would have enhanced my enjoyment if I did, since it's a great update on those characters (Clay and Annie) and a wonderful look into their future.
CW: mentions of school shootings and gun violence, public backlash/loss of career, public break up with ex-fiancé, arguments and possible legal battles regarding uncredited/unpaid work on songs and lyrics, Celiac disease and reaction to accidentally eating gluten (on page), some OM/ex drama
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
The book started a little rough since there were several rapid fire time jumps, but I did enjoy getting the flashbacks later on. Some serious topics are discussed in the book too, so please check CW's. You can clearly tell that this is an issue that is very close to the author's heart. The story itself is relatively low angst, but it did bother me that the conflict that kept these two apart for so long was a lack of communication. I could understand their hesitation given their histories, but this definitely shifted from a case of friends to idiots to lovers. I liked that the secondary characters all called them out on it though (loved Arlo and Maren!), and how supportive they all were as these two *finally* figured things out. The level of detail about the music industry was intense at times, but it was interesting to get that behind the scenes. The epilogue was the sweetest and I loved how it brought our characters full circle. I'm hoping a book for Maren is already in the works!
Note: The book can be read as a standalone, but it does feature characters from Built to Last and You'd Be Mine pretty heavily. I haven't had a chance to read You'd Be Mine yet and I feel like it would have enhanced my enjoyment if I did, since it's a great update on those characters (Clay and Annie) and a wonderful look into their future.
CW: mentions of school shootings and gun violence, public backlash/loss of career, public break up with ex-fiancé, arguments and possible legal battles regarding uncredited/unpaid work on songs and lyrics, Celiac disease and reaction to accidentally eating gluten (on page), some OM/ex drama
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
October 16, 2023
4.5🌟s! I loved this book and the romance between Huck and Lorelai was a slow burn with the most terrific payoff!
I loved how Huck and Lorelai were friends first and foremost, they had the kind of bond that soulmates have. Even when her life imploded and everyone abandoned her, he didn’t. I love that no matter what happened, he stood by her and up for her.
And while this books is definitely a slow burn for these two to admit feelings for each other, the spice is still very much there. And the poetry that Huck writes is not as explicit, but steamy as well.
This book is written with a lot of back and forth timelines, and I struggled a bit with all the changes in the beginning, but I read an early copy, so they might have ironed that out. The flashbacks were definitely important, but it was hard to keep track initially.
Two things I would have liked to have more closure on: his erotic poetry instagram and what happened with the songs he wrote for Drake.
But mostly, this is just great romance with low angst and a lot of emotion. If you like country music, you’ll like it even more! This is the follow up to Built to Last, but can totally be read as a standalone.
I loved how Huck and Lorelai were friends first and foremost, they had the kind of bond that soulmates have. Even when her life imploded and everyone abandoned her, he didn’t. I love that no matter what happened, he stood by her and up for her.
And while this books is definitely a slow burn for these two to admit feelings for each other, the spice is still very much there. And the poetry that Huck writes is not as explicit, but steamy as well.
This book is written with a lot of back and forth timelines, and I struggled a bit with all the changes in the beginning, but I read an early copy, so they might have ironed that out. The flashbacks were definitely important, but it was hard to keep track initially.
Two things I would have liked to have more closure on: his erotic poetry instagram and what happened with the songs he wrote for Drake.
But mostly, this is just great romance with low angst and a lot of emotion. If you like country music, you’ll like it even more! This is the follow up to Built to Last, but can totally be read as a standalone.
October 16, 2023
This wasn't my favorite Hahn book ever, but I did really enjoy it. Also, it's recommended that you read both her YA novel You'd Be Mine and her adult Built to Last before reading this one, but it's not necessary. It would just make for a better experience since the characters from both of those books are in this one.
I really liked the first half of this book. The tension and pining were out of this world. We lost a little bit of it about halfway through when it kinda felt like the same thing was happening over and over. But also, they were so cute together. I really couldn't be that mad about it.
If you're more of a plot-driven book, this is not the book for you. There's really no plot other than trying to help Lorelei's career not tank more than it already has. But it was still nice getting to know Lorelei and Craig so fully.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read that has solidified my love for Hahn's books. Hopefully, Maren's book is next on the list because I wanna know what's going on with her!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I really liked the first half of this book. The tension and pining were out of this world. We lost a little bit of it about halfway through when it kinda felt like the same thing was happening over and over. But also, they were so cute together. I really couldn't be that mad about it.
If you're more of a plot-driven book, this is not the book for you. There's really no plot other than trying to help Lorelei's career not tank more than it already has. But it was still nice getting to know Lorelei and Craig so fully.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read that has solidified my love for Hahn's books. Hopefully, Maren's book is next on the list because I wanna know what's going on with her!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Blog • Instagram • TikTok
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