Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Friends Don't Fall in Love

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Friends Don't Fall in Love by Erin Hahn

7 reviews

theespressoedition's review against another edition

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4.0

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what_karla_reads's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

4.25/5 stars
2/5 spice

Friends to lovers with maaaaad pining coming from the MMC... yessss

Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Country singer FMC
Producer MMC
Close proximity/neighbors
One night stand turned more
Songwriting with love messages
Erotic poetry
Banter & tension
He fell first and hard
Dual timeline
Dual POV

I only have a few things that irked me about this book, and that was the length and the miscommunication. Other than that, I really enjoyed both MCs. They have so much ground to cover in this book, so I understand the length, but it did feel like a few things could have been edited out. I loved both MCs, but I could relate to Lorelai and her inner dialogue so much. The pep talks and arguments she had with herself were funny and real. As for Craig/Huck... goodness me, that man was just amazing. The bestest friend and supporter a girl could ask for... which is why I was so mad Lorelai was so blind to his love for her. Just the way he takes care of her... uuuugh swoon 🫠

Everything wrapped up really nice and sweet in the end. I highly recommend this book for fans of friends to lovers or secret pining. This is an open door romance with some nice tension via songwriting and poetry 🥵

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Trigger/Content warnings:
Mentions school shöötings, misogyny, sexual harassment, sexual content

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theoceanrose's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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dianaschmidty's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I feel like this book was designed for me. I knew from the first chapter that I would likely be giving this book five stars because like my favorite songs in a book form. Anybody who knows me knows how much I love music. Music and books are basically my life and country music is one of my top genres. The fact that each chapter begins with a country song, many of which were already my favorite songs, is basically what convinced me to read this book. I love how the book pointed out the hypocrisies and wrongdoings of the country music industry, something I’m personally invested in.

I should also talk about the real center of the book: the romance. OMG I ABSOLUTELY LOVED CRAIG (aka Huck) AND LORELAI’S RELATIONSHIP!!!! I’m a sucker for friends to lovers, but then add in the years of pining, the miscommunications, and the fact that they are the definition of “right person, wrong time” and this book was perfect for me! I wish we hadn’t skipped over so much of their fwb stage, but beyond that, it was amazing!

I should also talk about how this book literally inspired me to write a song. The book is full of poems and song lyrics and it just got me in a super creative mood, so yesterday, I sat down and wrote a song for the first time in like four or five years, so I have to thank Erin Hahn for her magical writing, because this book feels like it was infused with some sort of creative energy!

I also loved the side characters! I read Built to Last in July of 2022 and didn’t even realize that this was a continuation of that story until chapter two! It was great to see Shelby and Cameron again, and I hope that Maren gets a book! I actually went back and reread some of that book (specifically the mentions of Craig), which made my enjoyment of this book even better. I also found out that Clay/Jefferson and Annie, who are featured in this book, have a book of their own, which I definitely want to check out in the future.

Overall, Erin Hahn has created this lovely universe full of country music and HGTV references (two things that I highly value) and I’ve basically decided that I’ll read anything she writes!

I have only one question though: Why wasn’t “Friends Don’t” by Maddie & Tae included in this book? Between the fact that it’s practically the title of this book and it’s a great country song, I’m confuzzled…

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Erin Hahn for providing me access to this book.

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theofficialzhang's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
REVIEW IS SPOILER FREE

Themes: Political issues in the country industry

Representation: Celiac, LGBT side characters

Content Warnings: Sex, mentions of gun violence

Spice Level: 4/5

Premise: After playing a song in a concert, Lorelai‘s superstar career crashes and she must learn to rebuild it. However, with the help of Craig (her friend and maybe more) she is able to get it back on track, the way she wants it.

Characters

I loved both Lorelai and Greg and thought they complimented each other pretty well. You can literally see their chemistry rippling off their page from their thoughts about each other and their interactions.

For Lorelai, I loved how she maintains that fire in her even if circumstances and other people try to drag her down. She stands for what she stands for and fights for rights in her music in an industry that isn’t forgiving and I love that for her.

For Craig, I love how he takes a stand and builds a life for himself the way that he wants it to be. And I especially love how kindly he treats everyone, Lorelai, his friends, and his family.

And for their chemistry, if what they think about each other isn’t obvious, you should see it in the songs they write about each other (this is a country book after all)!

Now Drake, I do hate him. I do hate how he treats Lorelai and Craig. I do hate what he does. However, I feel like I wanted a bit more say in his hate rather than him just being greedy and narcissistic. I know this occurs to a lot of people. But I want to know what changed and how he gradually changed. I wanted a bit more depth into his character too.

Finally, the side characters. While I love what they each added to the story, friendship, support, community, and a listening ear, I felt like some of the side characters were unnecessary as certain characters share similar roles. And I feel like by having too many side characters, it takes away from the story’s message.

Rating: 3.7/5

Plot

Since this book is more character-based, it isn’t plot-heavy so you can expect the plot to be a bit weaker.

However, although I loved both the prologue and epilogue, the pacing of most of the middle of the book felt kind of slow.

Let’s talk about the prologue and epilogue first. First, I am a sucker for a prologue and epilogue. A prologue allows a glimpse at the past events that occurred to the character, which can add more depth and understanding to the story. And this prologue does just that! And the epilogue can be used as a way to tie off loose ends and give that satisfying ending, giving a view of what happens after the “happily ever after” and I have to say, the epilogue is fairly satisfying.

However, the rising action of the book was slow and fairly flat. I mean, it was okay. And I guess considering this story was meant to feel more realistic, it hits the realism pretty accurately. It just felt like things weren’t really happening in the story.

And the climax? It had its dramatic aspects for sure, and I appreciate the author trying to deviate from some of the traditional romance writing norms by having a less dramatic climax. However, I cannot fully feel the energy that I usually feel with a normal climax.

But overall, a decently solid plot.

Rating: 3.2/5

Style

Now… the style, formatting, and diction of the book is my favourite part of it!

Let’s talk about style and formatting first. It’s written in first-person present tense with dual POVs. I especially love romance novels that are written in first-person with dual-POVs. It makes you feel more connected to both characters, it makes you appreciate their love story even more since you can see it from both sides, and it furthers the chemistry that they both have.

This book is also sprinkled with the perfect amount of pop culture references as well. And as a fan of country music, I approve! If you don’t listen to country or are only vaguely familiar with it, then this might turn you off as you don't understand the references. But for me, it makes me love the book more because it makes the character more human and it helps me better visualize what is going on in the book.

Speaking of country music, each chapter is titled as well! And each of the titles corresponds to a specific country song. I can’t say exactly what songs are featured as it will spoil the book. However, I can say that you get a mix of old and new roots, more mainstream country and hidden gems, Miranda Lambert, The Chicks, and Luke Combs.

Finally, in terms of style and formatting, I loved the mix of media featured in this book: texts, social media, and flashbacks as well as the good ol’ story. It not only helps to break up the flow of the book but also shines a new light on the character, helping to connect them to us as well as see how they text and interact with others on Instagram.

Now, for the themes of the book, I loved how the author didn’t shy away from speaking about sexism and conservatism in country music. Lorelai herself is a character that is affected by that. And I loved how the author didn’t make her ignore these problems, but speak up for them. Because it’s true, most songs on country radio are played by male artists. Most country singers are White. And most of them are straight and cisgender. But that does not mean that Black or Asian or gay or nonbinary country singers don’t exist. It’s just… they don’t get the same recognition and I love the author for recognizing that. However, it would be wonderful if it was explored just a bit more.

Finally, the diction of the book is… I don’t know how to describe it, interesting? You can definitely tell Lorelai’s part from Craig’s part just by the way the author writes it which is great. However, some of the lines felt awkwardly phrased and I had to reread them a few times.

But overall, solid themes and stylistic choices.

Rating: 4.8/5

Final Rating

Characters: 3.7/5

Plot: 3.2/5

Formatting: 4.8/5

Final Rating: 3.9/5 (round to 4 stars)

Personal Rating: 3.2/5

Date Read: June 9th, 2023

Date Reviewed: June 9th, 2023

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anovelglimpse's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Friends Don't Fall in Love was one of my most anticipated book releases for the fall of 2023. I have been waiting for it ever since I finished Built to Last. Fallen country star Lorelai was a side character who intrigued me, and I couldn't wait to get her story. Plus, I love Erin Hahn's writing and want to read everything she releases. Anyways. What I'm trying to say here is that I was excited for this release, and it did not disappoint me. I loved it.

Friends Don't Fall in Love is like if You'd Be Mine and Built to Last had a baby. It's got the adult characters, humor, and steam of Built to Last and the emotional ups and downs of the country music scene of You'd Be Mine. That being said, it's a well written and crafted story all of its own. Lorelai and Craig have new and different struggles and experiences in life and country music.

Don't let the illustrated cover fool you. A closed-door romance this is not. It's probably the steamiest book Hahn has written yet. Lorelai and Craig have a passionate and emotional connection. They get each other in the best of ways and that transfers to all areas of their lives. I loved the big moments with them, but also the small moments. Neither wanted to rock the friendship boat with a romance. It was frustratingly fun for them to work through it all, and I loved where their journeys took them solo and together. The lyrics, poems, and words Hahn used for them were perfection. Lorelai and Craig were a swoon worthy couple I could have read a hundred more chapters about.

This is also Hahn's most provocative book when it comes to speaking her mind or including some of her own experiences. She made her thoughts on religion known in Never Saw You Coming and she's gone a step further with this release. Hahn doesn't shy away from giving Lorelai a voice when it comes to social or political issues. If you can't handle reading about a character wanting stronger gun control laws, etc. this book probably isn't for you. There are topics sprinkled throughout. It's not preachy, but it's there and it is timely.

Oh! Earlier I mentioned that this book was like two books having a baby... I should mention there are some big cameos from those two previous books that fans won't want to miss out on. These characters show up to help out our MCs and I loved every minute of that.

There is so much to say about Friends Don't Fall in Love and I don't know that I'm capable of getting it all out in this review. I had a wonderful time reading this book. I was in a hurry to get to the end of Lorelai and Craig's romance, while at the same time wishing it would go on longer. Hahn's writing shines brightest when it is set in the country music world, and I wouldn't be sad if Hahn wrote every book within it. I'm super excited to read whatever she releases next.

You can find this review and others like it at A Novel Glimpse .

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vicwaltz's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Erin Hahn is an easy auto-read for me, no matter if it's YA or adult. There is something so wonderful about how she crafts her stories. They're sweet and romantic and whimsical but also deal with real problems and real feelings. Having followed her books since the first, it's SO cool to see her come into her own as an adult romance author with a very real stance on very real issues.

Friends Don't has all the Hahn charm. The base idea is very similar to Built to Last - once upon a time best friends who always were kind of more reuniting as adults to do something cool in entertainment - but the nuances and details are different enough that it doesn't feel at all like a repeat. It *is* one of those romances where if the characters had an honest conversation with each other and their feelings then the book would be way shorter, but, that's the nature of the friends-to-lovers slow-burn trope and Hahn handles it really well. The building tension is sooo strong and both characters have things to work through before they can have that conversation. Plus, both Lorelai and Craig are full humans with stories that are interesting on their own. I have no idea if this is an accurate portrayal of country music, but I'm here for it!

Also I will never say no to a Jefferson Coolidge or Annie Mathers cameo. Or Trina. Give me all of the Trina content.

Extreme thanks to St. Martins press for reaching out with an ARC!

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