Friends Don’t Fall In Love

Friends Don’t Fall In Love by Erin Hahn

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Friends Don’t Fall In Love is the newest adult romance novel by Erin Hahn, and is what I refer to as ‘a sequel that’s not exactly a sequel.’ If you’ve read Hahn’s Built to Last, then you’ve been waiting for this book: the story of Lorelai Jones. The book starts with a bang, giving us the lyrics to Jonesin’ (as sung by Drake Colter). And if you read Built to Last, you know the song I’m referencing: A song sung by Lorelei’s ex-fiancé, in what everyone assumes is an attempt to woo her back. That’s not to say you have to read Built to Last first – they’re both excellent books that flow from one to the next, but they’re also stand-alone novels. Everything you need to know about Lorelai’s past is sprinkled throughout the book.

Friends Don’t Fall In Love takes us back six years to when Lorelai is dropped by her record label, her agent, and her fiancé for using her position to speak out against school shootings and gun violence. It’s very dramatic. Lorelai is devastated and prepared to leave Nashville behind. The only person who comes looking for her is her friend Craig. They say goodbye with a drunk hookup, and Lorelai moves to Michigan to teach elementary kids.

The book begins with Craig’s point of view, moving forward from that incident six years ago, showing us just how in love this man has been with Lorelai. He’s written songs about her – songs his ex-bandmate Drake Colter used without crediting him. Lorelai knows who wrote Jonesin’ – she knows his lyrics when she hears them – but doesn’t see them as the declaration of love they were written as. A declaration Craig never intended to see the light of day.

Lorelai is a talented lyricist and singer, but having been to the top of the charts and dropped by everyone that mattered, she’s timid and doubting her chances at a comeback. “Do you realize how impossible it is to become a famous country starlet one time, let alone twice? I’d have better odds inhabiting Mars on some billionaire’s dick rocket.” That lack of confidence isn’t just about her career; she is also oblivious to her friend’s love, all while quietly pining for him. Classic romance. And Hahn knows how to be tongue-in-cheek: Craig even says, “Best-friend trope in the flesh.” It’s delightful.

As any romance reader knows, knowing the trope doesn’t mean readers have a clue how the story will unfold, and, as always, Hahn’s readers will be sucked in. Built to Last fans will love the tidbits we get of Shelby and Cameron. You’d Be Mine fans will be head over heels to see Annie and Clay. Hahn knows how to please her readers, and we love getting to see old characters hop into new books. She deftly melds the old and the new together. She also knows how to bring the heat to these adult romances. I don’t want to spoil anything for readers, but the poetry in the book is swoon-worthy and so, so hot. Readers are going to love it;)

Friends Don’t Fall In Love is everything readers want.

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Visit the author’s website and follow her on Instagram.

Friends Don’t Fall In Love cover design credit: Kerri Resnick.

Friends Don’t Fall In Love cover illustration credit: Maja Tomljanovic.

Advance Reading Copy provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley at my request.

I purchased the audiobook version for my collection via Audible.

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