Carly is an accountant by day, trying to move into her dream career as a personal stylist. Brooks is a doctor with a playboy past, dealing with an immense amount of grief. Brooks is roped into a “dating around OKC” scheme by his sisters, where he reconnects with Carly, his sister’s best friend.
What I liked:
- given the stakes of falling for each other (ruining the dating scheme and putting Carly’s job at risk), this story was filled with opportunity for miscommunication. But they openly share their feelings for each other.
- mature main characters ready to put in the work and learn from their experiences
- friends who moved the story along and supported the main characters in a real way. The relationships didn’t feel fake or forced.

Solid story. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Allison Ashley does it again with another heartfelt rom-com!
I was pleased to get a story about Carly's HEA after If Tomorrow Never Comes but was surprised that none of that plot was mentioned during the story. That being said, Falling Into Place was a great (mostly) lighthearted romance between Carly and Brooks. Allison Ashley has perfected folding in heavier plot points and deeper topics that tug at your heart strings without being overwhelming. All I wanted to do while reading this one was hang out with Carly and Brooks and their cats, head to trivia with the friend group, and see what else Brooks was growing in his garden.... I'll admit that I found the beginning to be heavy handed in foreshadowing and I felt like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop the whole time, luckily Carly and Brooks had enough banter and cuteness to make me focus on their connection instead!
I definitely recommend if you like:- Best Friend's Brother- Friends to Lovers- Forced Proximity
Thanks, Montlake and Allison Ashley for an ARC in exchange for a review!

Allison Ashley is just an instant read for me! She knows how to suck the reader in from the very beginning. Falling Into Place is no different. Brooks and Carley are characters that aren’t perfect, but are both hilarious in their own ways. Carley is the stylist you’d love to have for yourself and the kind of friend you’d love too! Brooks is a doctor who has a past that troubles his him a bit and has shaped him into this current state of being. The other characters are well-developed also! Sasha and Macy are great sisters for Brooks. Over the course of the book, you get to see a Bachelor like scheme play out, but there’s some twists to how the book proceeds. It was predictable, but I loved it. It’s what I’ve come to adore and expect from my Allison Ashley books. I’m glad this one didn’t disappoint. It’s my new favorite! Pick it up and be ready to devour it!

Really enjoyed this book, loved the tropes. This is a slow burn, best friend’s brother, grumpy/sunshine, cinnamon roll MMC romance. The development of Carly and Brooks’s relationship was great. I loved their chemistry and the way they both grew as individuals and as a couple throughout the story. I really enjoyed Brooks as a MMC, he really tugs at your heartstrings and I appreciated how he represented an emotional man. I really enjoy Allison Ashley’s writing and highly recommend this book when it releases on August 19!

I loved how the story didn’t lean into the best friend’s brother trope in the usual way. It felt more like a friends-to-lovers story, since Carly and Brooks hadn’t seen each other in 15 years and were never really in the same circles back in high school. It was fun watching them get to know each other while working together. Their chemistry felt really natural, and their connection came across as genuine. The tension had me kicking my feet and giggling. The banter and texts between them actually made me laugh out loud. Overall, it felt very wholesome and lighthearted.

I appreciate that Allison Ashley isn’t afraid to explore deeper topics like grief and emotional healing in her romances. The characters aren’t perfect, which made them feel more real and relatable. Some of the side characters felt a bit immature to me, and the conflict was a little frustrating, but overall this was a really enjoyable read. If you’re into emotional romances with lovable, flawed characters and a journey of growth and healing, this one is definitely worth checking out.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Montlake for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Great banter, especially the texts between Carly and Brooks which were really funny. There was more heartbreak than I was expecting (mostly from Brooks's past) but it was so well written, I didn't mind. Some sad parts brought tears to my eyes. The relationship between Brooks and Coach was fantastic. Wonderful epilogue! This could have been a 5 star read for me except for the third act breakup which just felt so off to me, and how Sasha treated Carly then, which didn't seem authentic for best friends. Sasha's reactions were a bit over the top.

I absolutely loved Falling Into Place by Allison Ashley! This book had everything—heart-melting romance, lovable characters, and so much emotional depth. I was completely hooked from the start and didn’t want it to end. The chemistry, the banter, the tenderness—it all just worked perfectly. It’s the kind of story that stays with you long after the last page. Total comfort-read vibes and an instant favorite!

She can do no wrong 😭 Allison Ashley is a forever favorite, queen of swoon and butterflies. The absolute spiciest of Closed Doors you can get, that door had a peep hole this round 🤣 and I'm here for it!!!

Falling Into Place
4.25 ⭐️

Allison Ashley writes such good characters that you can’t help falling in love right along with them!

Carly is a stylist set to help out her best friend’s brother as he tries to date bachelor-style.

These two were so fun together, but I also loved the growth they had as they figured out their lives. Dual perspective with good side characters too—what’s not to like?!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC!

Falling into Place by Allison Ashley completely blew me away — and it did it fast. This was the first book I’ve read by this author, and now I’m absolutely hooked. From the very first page, I couldn’t put it down.

The characters were everything. Giddy, relatable, and refreshingly human — flawed in the best, most realistic ways. I felt like I knew them, like they could’ve been people in my own life, and that emotional connection made the story all the more powerful.

The friends-to-lovers arc was done so well. It was clear they were friends first — that comfort, familiarity, and deep understanding were woven into every interaction before anything romantic even happened. Watching that relationship shift and deepen felt natural, warm, and completely swoon-worthy.

I also adored the writing style. Allison Ashley knows exactly how to balance emotion and humor — one moment I had tears running down my face, and the next I was laughing through them because a character said something hilariously perfect. That kind of emotional whiplash, in the best way, is rare and magical.

And the plot? So fun and original. A Bachelor-style setup, but through a newspaper? Genius. It added such a unique twist to the story without overshadowing the emotional core.

This was such a joyful, emotional, heartwarming ride — and definitely a five-star read for me. I can’t wait to dive into more of Allison Ashley’s books!

NOT THE JEANS!?! haha
Carly is finally willing and excited to embrace her dream of being a personal shopper full-time rather than her 9-5 accountant job. Given the opportunity to work as one full-time only has one thing - or person - standing in her way. She needs to get her best friend's all-work-and-no-play brother, Brooks, looking good for his OKC Bachelor-esque season. He's changed from his previous party boy ways and prying him away from the hospital is harder than avoiding discounted margaritas.
Allison's way with words always works for me. She deep dives into character flaws and back story with the perfect amount of funny to balance out the sad. Even though it was more difficult for me to relate to Carly than Allison's previous FMC's, she's really quite lovable and it's hard not to appreciate her good person energy. The constant tug of "I want you but I can't have you" makes the pining jump off the page. This might be the first time Allison hasn't made me at least choke up with tears if not have a good cry. This reads as more of a happ(ier) journey to love with forbidden feels, brother's best friend, and opposites attract.
Thank you to the author, Montlake, and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

An increfibky cute book that I couldn’t put down! Carly and Brooks back and forth banter was amazing and nothing felt forced between them. Do I usually hate third act breakups…yes but I’m still really glad with how the story ended!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

4 🌟

Can someone please hire me a personal stylist?!

I absolutely LOVED the relationship between Carley and Brooks in this book. It felt super authentic and you could feel their growth throughout the book. The only thing I didn't love was the sexual harassment claims in the book - I would hope they would be handled better/differently than this.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

OKAY Allison! This was my first book from Allison Ashley. This was such a fun read, I loved the dating profile, magazine angle, I loved the personal stylist angle (this was new in a book for me). Also a kink unlocked? watching a man put on a suit 😮‍💨

"I've never had so much fun and felt so much in the same moment. You made me happy again, Carly."

I connected with both MCs and could feel their connection through the pages. The banter felt authentic and I loved Brooks shock with the way that Carly was so forward. The conflicts in the story felt real given both of their pasts and goals for the future.

This book surprised me in the best way! Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for an ARC. Pick this one up on August 19th

This book was a low-stakes, gentle romance. I really liked Carly and Brooks as characters. Carly had a chaotic childhood stemming from her mother’s gambling addiction, while Brooks (and his sisters) lost his mother when he was in his late teens, then dealt with their father checking out from his broken heart before dying a few years later.

However, as lovely as they were, I think the plot developments would’ve been better contained into a novella as it felt a bit repetitive. The major conflict didn’t really feel like real stakes, and as such I found myself skimming through. The backstory with workplace sexual harassment was never quite dealt with and it felt like Carly was ignoring the red flags of her bosses. While I can buy that Brooks evolved into an anti-social workaholic, him needing Carly’s help on how to act with women on a date required a huge suspension of disbelief given he was a massive player when he was younger. Also, Carly was Jamie’s stem cell donor (as depicted in ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes’) and yet she never discussed this with Brooks who is a doctor?

Overall this was a sweet romance, but it was missing a bit of bite.

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC.

After reading If Tomorrow Never Comes, I was so eager to get Carly’s happily ever after story. This did not disappointment me in the slightest.

Carly’s calling is fashion. She specializes in second hand / bargain clothing finds. Brooks is a doctor who has avoided social life for the last several years due to a heavily work load and schooling. The two get roped together to help a local magazine: Brooks serves as an eligible bachelor. He goes on dates and hypes up local businesses as date night spots. Carly serves as the fashion expert for Brooks. They knew each other a little bit while growing up, since Brooks’ younger sister is Carly’s best friend.

Allison Ashley has become such an auto-buy author for me. Her writing style is comforting and real. I’ve cared deeply for her main characters.

Check it out if your looking for:
💙 best friend’s older brother
💜 doctor x fashion
💙 grumpy x sunshine
💜 cinnamon roll MMC

Pub day is in August! Reading If Tomorrow Never Comes first is not necessary, but I recommend both books 💓

Short Synopsis:
Carly Porter may be an accountant by day, but her heart is set on a future in fashion. So when she gets the chance to style her best friend’s brother, who just happens to be Oklahoma City’s most eligible bachelor, for a local magazine feature, she knows it could be her big break. What she doesn’t expect? To start falling for the guy she’s supposed to keep things strictly professional with. (We first met Carly in IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES, and I loved getting to see her shine in her own love story!)

My Thoughts:
I will always read anything Allison Ashley writes. Her books never miss. And seriously, she nails those opening lines every single time. 👏

FALLING INTO YOU is charming, heartfelt, and full of laugh-out-loud moments. The character development is top-tier, the romance is perfectly slow burn and swoony, and the text exchanges? Utterly adorable.

Bonus: I happened to be visiting family in Oklahoma while reading this, and it was such a fun extra layer to see the setting come to life!

What You’ll Find:
💞 Best friend’s brother
🧁 Cinnamon roll hero
🔥 Slow burn
👫 Friends to lovers
🏡 Forced proximity

More than anything, Falling Into Place is a love letter to Oklahoma City. Sisters Sasha and Macy run a local magazine touting all the cool places to go and things to eat. They rope their brother Brooks (who is a doctor) into doing a dating series where he takes out all these different women he meets on an OKC dating app, and the magazine publishes updates about his adventures in dating. Partnering with them is fashion stylist Carly, who has been Sasha's best friend since high school. From there, the romance book does the romance book things, and Carly and Brooks fall for each other.

As someone who has lived in OKC for the last ten years, it gave me a real thrill to see Brooks going to Fassler Hall, Pie Junkie, Hall's Pizza Kitchen, Myriad Gardens, and more, because YEAH, those places are excellent. Brooks is also a big fan of the Thunder. So I was pretty much guaranteed to enjoy this book.

That aside, Brooks and Carly have great chemistry together. They knew each other as kids, but not that well. As they get to know each other as adults, they are both funny, but in a very realistic way. Also Brooks and his sisters together are very entertaining.

One thing I didn't love is that it's very clear from the beginning that it will not be ok with Carly's bosses if she gets involved with Brooks while he is her client, and yet...... I just really hate when a woman risks her career she's passionate about for a man. But since it's a romance book, you know that everyone ends up happy in the end, with their partner and their life circumstances. (Just, like, ladies... do not do this in real life.)

Altogether, I did really enjoy the book, and only partly because it's about my city. :)

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: August 19, 2025

Brooks is an ICU doctor who dedicates all of his time to work until his sisters recruit him to help save their family run magazine. They’ve cooked up a scheme to document Brooks as he navigates the local dating scene and hire Carly as a stylist to help dress him for dates and photo shoots. They pretty quickly become friends in the process and then feelings progress, and there’s a struggle to keep it professional. A cure quick friends to lovers read!

I have adored all of Allison Ashley's previous books and was so excited for another incredible romance. This one might even take my top spot in her author rankings!

Carly is a personal stylist, and she never expects to find love when she partners with her best friend on the makeover of a local bachelor that her friend expects to help boost sales of her magazine. Oh, and the bachelor? Carly's BFF Sasha's older brother Brooks.

The book has plenty of lighthearted moments and fun banter, and the conversations between Carly and Brooks as they went about the business of the makeover had me laughing multiple times. Their connection is clear to everyone but them early on, but there are definitely obstacles to overcome.

Ashley doesn't shy away from deeper topics, from the death of a parent to the fear of feeling strong emotions and opening up to someone new. She handles these topics beautifully, and the conflicts in the book absolutely make sense and feel authentic.

I remain a huge fan of Ashley's work and can't wait to see what she dreams up next!