Allison Ashley never disappoints with her sweet romances! I loved Carly and her passion for her career. She is tasked with styling local bachelor Brooks and of course sparks fly! I really liked how much Brooks evolved in this story. He has a lot of layers to him! I recommend this one!

Carly is a stylist who is hired by her best friend to style her brother. Brock has agreed to this to help his sisters magazine gain some traction. He also has to get on a dating app and go on dates. Carly and Brock get to know each other through this process and secretly begin seeing each other. There is alot more to the story but don't want to ruin it for anyone. Good read

A beautiful love story that goes far beyond best friends brother to deal with grief, trauma, rebuilding parental relationships, employment issues etc. Both characters were so well written and so engaging. This book is connected to a previous book by the author but absolutely can be read as a stand alone as there is almost no mentions of the previous books.

I loved this first book in this series and had to slow myself down to not read this immediately. I almost wished I HAD because maybe the high I was riding on book one maybe would have put me into the mood for this one. I sadly didn't really love this one- I felt the MMC was too flat and too perfect that it didn't seem realistic at all.

Such a bummer. I did enjoy it enough to finish and it was a cute and easy read!

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an advanced copy of Falling Into Place.

Carly has a passion for the fashion world but she needs to make a big play for her boss to notice her. Her best friend works at a magazine and gets her brother Brooks to be “the bachelor” to help the magazine and Carly. Carly and Brooks start spending a lot of time together and end up falling for each other.

I wanted to love this book but the writing threw me off because it kept changing from first to third person. I also feel like nothing really stood out to me in this one.

I have enjoyed previous titles by Allison Ashley, but "Falling into Place" didn't work for me at all. The POV was odd: third person, but also speaks directly to the reader. More importantly, the characters didn't work for me.

I was very put off by Carly's desire to invest further with an employer that doesn't have her back, but instead defers to creepy clients because of their money. I also didn't think she was a good professional: she wasn't respectful to Brooks, and her makeover method was mean. Carly reminded me a lot of the TV show "What Not to Wear" from the early 2000s, and not in a good way.

I was further confused by Brooks' self-doubt. He seemed like a catch, and I couldn't appreciate what he was attracted to in Carly.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

I don’t watch The Bachelor so I had zero clue as to what to expect, but dating women for a story on a newspaper and falling for the stylist was a much better outcome. Brooks and Carly were cute together even when they were not “together”. It was low drama and quick banter with the sister’s best friend or best friend’s older brother trope it was pretty good.

Everyone loves a win win situation. But a win win win situation is even better. The winners? Personal stylist / shopper Carly, magazine editor Sasha Martin, and single doctor plus Sasha's brother Brooks Martin. The situation: Brooks participates in sort of a dating journey around Oklahoma City, which will be reported on exclusively by Sasha's magazine LiveOKC, with Carly collaborating as Brooks' much-needed personal stylist via her job at Mode.

Win for Carly: after being (falsely) accused by a client of inappropriate behavior, she needs to get back in her boss's good graces if she ever hopes to land a full-time position with Mode. Taking the initiative for a collab of this magnitude with this amount of coverage could do that. 
Win for Sasha: the project, inspired by reality television, will bring much-needed new readership and social media attention to LiveOKC, the Martin siblings' deceased mother's legacy. It'll also showcase Oklahoma City, a place authentically beloved by the Martins. Having her best friend Carly style the project will also help Brooks be more comfortable. 
Win for Brooks: he gets to help keep his mom's struggling legacy alive and well... while he isn't looking for true love (rather, he's been avoiding it), he has been kind of lonely, his life having revolved around med school and his job up until this point.

The premise - the bachelor project - immediately appeals to me, because it's neatly reasoned, for one. It makes sense as something that could legit be a success for all characters involved. But it's something that I would find very entertaining to read about in a real life lifestyle magazine, with the project showcasing local hot spots around (in this case) Oklahoma City while we root for a handsome bachelor finding love... it sounds like the most fun visitor's guide. So we get a fun, cute and believable premise. (I love that our MMC is pretty much perfect, but he dresses horribly, so our FMC gets her "I can fix him!" moment without the toxicity.) 

Another plot choice that works like a dream: having our romantic leads Carly and Brooks know each other vaguely "back then", 15 years ago. Brooks is a bit older than Carly, and Carly mostly hung out with Sasha, so they did pass each other often enough but it was never really anything close, let alone romantic in nature. Carly noticed him - Brooks was noticed by all the girls - but he never noticed her like that. It's not a second chance romance but it does have the elements of it that I adore: both of them being older now, having grown into themselves as adults and individuals, re-meeting, and seeing each other in a different light... leading to them really seeing the other properly. Brooks notices her now, for sure. (A favorite part for me really sets up the romance: as he meets her again for the first time, he wonders how he hadn't remembered Carly's eyes, and had he ever even noticed? Almost chiding himself for not seeing her, then. His immediate "what if?" understanding. That. Is. The. Stuff.)

What's executed well, is how different they actually are from how they REMEMBER the other: Carly was always quiet, Brooks thought she was shy. The Carly of today shows she is confident, funny, direct and competent, which surprises and intrigues Brooks, and helps him trust her while he's in this vulnerable position. And Brooks has been through hardship (spiraling after having lost his parents), which has changed him; Carly admires his intelligence and follow-through to help people as a doctor; she hopes his brightness from their youth is still there, just dimmed. She is passionate about her career and her desire to bring out the Brooks she remembers (consolidate him with who he is today) comes from a place of genuinely wanting to help him.

Their romance builds up from a place of true friendship and it's refreshing to yes, get a lot of witty banter, but to see them develop trust and honest communication very EARLY on. So by the time conflicts do come in (yeah, they do), these conflicts are dealt with promptly and clearly enough to not be annoying or unnecessarily drawn out. There are hiccups, but we are definitely reading about adults here. Their individual conflicts (i.e. why they are holding back... Carly re: her job, Brooks re: his past) are well-developed and are understandable to us, which makes them credibly understandable to our romantic leads. It's all well plotted and written. The angst and serous subject matter don't feel constricting.

That's helped by the aforementioned banter, plus the writing style itself is so easy-going. This book is a fun, funny, cute and warm read. I smiled so much during this, so the harder parts are worth it. This relationship is so cute, and upping the stakes only adds to how good they are, because it all feels earned in the end. So earned. This is the kind of love you'd want for your bestie. It's real, it's emotional, but there are accidental innuendos and bashful realisations of said innuendos, there's good-natured mockery, they lift each other up... The sexual tension is 100% there and it's fluttery, delicious. We readers know from their PoV's they are attracted to each other in these moments, and they don't hesitate to let each other know that, too. Directly. Playfully. Chef's freaking kiss. Mixed with conflicts of interest and GoodYearnTM. When their feelings come to a head, it's searing, it's powerful, and there's no way back.

Bonus points for the strong relationships our MC's have with various side characters. For Carly I kind of hoped she'd have more of what Brooks has with his sisters (his older sister is Macy), but her lacking childhood has shaped her career and sense of self. She is so loveable and deserves the world. Brooks' father figure, Coach, immediately comes across as a strong, vibrant character. I love how he was written, and how influential he is. I also like how side characters aren't ALL quick to judge our MC's and the choices they make, but aren't afraid to throw in some tough love either. (I was annoyed with Carly's boss for choosing her client over her employee re: false sexual harassment claims, but that happens in real life, therefor I'm annoyed at real life.) 

Honorable mentions to The Jeans (and how they are a running gag for Carly and Brooks from start to finish) and to Brooks' veggie garden mirroring Brooks' own development: as he grows more confident, so grow his cucumbers.

He's got big cucumbers.

(A side note: Carly features in one of Allison Ashley's earlier books: If Tomorrow Never Comes, which doesn't need to be read first. But I will read it anyway. If it's even half as lovely as Falling Into Place, it'll be time well and happily spent.)

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for generously providing me with a copy of this book; all opinions expressed are honest, voluntary and 100% my own.

I loved this book! The fashion/stylist FMC + doctor MMC + best friend's brother + dating chronicles in the local news was a fresh, fun combination that made for a great story. The humour in this was great, I laughed out loud throughout the book. The third act drama felt realistic and appropriately resolved - this kept me reading right to the end. I also LOVED the character and storyline with Coach.

My only criticism of this book was the italicized snippets at the start of each chapter. It had 1 or 2 related to the dating articles, but most were random flashbacks ("come to the principal's office NOW") that really didn't add to the story. It was a missed opportunity to have all of these related to the dating storyline, and the "community connection" that they kept mentioning. This storyline felt like it slipped to the background a bit as the story progressed, and this would have been an easy way to keep it in the forefront.

Honestly, loved this! The writing was good, the chemistry between Carly and Brooks was top tier, and the subplots surrounding both of their lives individually were fleshed out in ways that tied their stories together and didn’t feel like an after thought.

I enjoyed the relationship development in this book! It felt so natural and easy, and even though there was drama it didn’t feel forced on them for the sake of the plot moving forward. I have read several books by this author and am looking forward to her next one! Read when you want a romance that doesn’t feel like a collection of tropes.

The story of Carly and Brooks. He is her best friends brother, and has agreed to a series of dates in an attempt to save the magazine his sister runs. Carly is roped in to provide stylist advice, but the more time they spend together will he find that who he wanted has been there all along? Both have reasons for keeping apart, but what will happen? I liked that it was told from both points of view.

Carly Porter, an accountant and a personal stylist on the side, teams up with her best friend Sasha to give Sasha's brother, Brooks (a reclusive doctor trying to get back into the dating field) a makeover to save Sasha’s struggling magazine. As Carly helps transform Brooks, unexpected sparks fly between them, threatening Carly’s professional goals. To find happiness, both must confront their painful histories and take a risk on love.

I loved this story! It started out light and breezy, which immediately pulled me in, but then it took a deeper turn and explored some heavier topics. The author handled those moments with a lot of care and respect, but I would still recommend checking the trigger warnings beforehand.

The characters were all so lovable, I was rooting for both of them from the very beginning. I loved their banter, and the way they were so oblivious at first was adorable. Watching both of them grow individually throughout the story made their connection even more rewarding.
Overall, this was such a touching and well-balanced read.

This book is also available on KU.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC!

Very cute! I like this author a lot and was excited to read this. Was pretty predictable but overall a nice romance!

“But with love, it’s not as much about what you win if you hedge your bets just right. It’s about what you stand to lose if you don’t. Instead of thinking about what you could live with in order to simply get by and stick with the status quo, make sure you’re not trading that by letting go of something you can’t live without.”

Every time a new Allison Ashley book somehow it upends the others for my #1 favourite in her catalogue and this one was no different. Falling Into Place was sweet, cozy and heartwarming in the best way possible. Brooks and Carly are two people who make place in your hearts individually before their love story sweeps you off your feet as a reader and you can't help but root for them.

Brooks hit too close to home for me personally and it kind of scared me and gave me a reality check at the same time. but also, eventually there was hope and the perfect closure I needed. I don't relate to Carly's eye for fashion but her fear of financial security was on spot. i think I would have liked more of Carly in general - her doubts, her past and how it shapes her present in more ways than one. loved her nonetheless.

10/10 recommend for people who love -

- best friend's brother
- forced proximity ( kinda)
- fade to black scenes
- emotional intimacy
- sweet, cozy moments
- cat dad × cat mom
- TW for grief and loss of a parent

As for me, Allison is an auto read author for a reason. I come back to her books so often that they feel like a security blanket of sorts for my emotional high craving romantic heart and she always makes me feel seen. Can't wait for more from her..

4.25 stars rounded down here

Thank you so much to Brilliance Audio for the ALC / Montlake for the ARC! This one is out now!

I enjoyed this book via audio. It was narrated by Ann Marie Gideon, and I can't off the top of my head remember every listening to an audiobook narrated by her. I enjoyed her performance. As with most books read in this POV, I often got confused at which "side" we were hearing about, but this complaint is strictly a "me" problem. I prefer dual POV the most, and always in first person POV. When it's not those, my brain struggles to stay engaged. This has nothing to do with the overall performance, which was fantastic; it just impacted my overall enjoyment of the story.

With that aside, this story of Carly (who I believe we met in If Tomorrow Never Comes?) coming into her own and chasing after her dreams was inspiring. I think we've all taken on a passion project after hours, and I especially related to her sticking with her dreadful 9-5 job while she chased her dreams. I just loved her passion for fashion, but also her passion for helping other people find clothes that helped them feel more like themselves.

And then, enter Brooks. The hot guy from high school and Carly's best friend's brother. Since both his parents passed away, Brooks has carried some of that trauma with him every day. He went on to become a ICU doctor, and while he can show up in the professional environment, he struggles to show up emotionally (or physically) in his personal life. There comes a time when sisters meddle, and lucky for him, it's meddling with Carly and to save something he cares about a lot, his mother's legacy, her magazine that both his sisters now run.

But when Carly and Brooks start working together, and Carly sort of becomes Brooks' dating coach, feelings ignite. These two have so much fun together, it's hard for Carly to prep Brooks to date other women, and it's hard from Brooks to pick women to date that aren't Carly.

Read if you love:
- Best friend's brother
- Forced proximity
- He gets a glow-up
- Trauma bonding
- Dating coach
- Secret relationship
- Doctor x Accountant/Fashion Consultant

I’m a big fan of Allison’s writing.
Her previous titles especially Would You Rather is a favorite of mine! So I was pretty excited for a new story.
Falling into Place by Allison Ashley was absolutely delightful.
Her medical contemporary romances are emotional, swoon worthy and beyond amazing.
Ashley writes the best characters who you wish could be your real-life best friends.
This new novel by Allison Ashley hooked me from the beginning with the deeply romantic and life-changing story.

Thank You NetGalley and Montlake for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I loved getting to read Carly’s story.

Carly is so fun and sure of herself and she’s helping her childhood best friend’s broody brother, Brooks. Brooks is a doctor who really has been neglecting any kind of social life, especially dating. When his sisters need him to be the bachelor for a dating column in their magazine, he reluctantly agrees. Carly is a personal shopper and is tasked with helping Brooks get his wardrobe updated. Brooks was everyone’s crush in high school, especially Carly. Then they realize they have more fun hanging out with each other than any of his bachelor dates.

Fun, easy read !

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is definitely over 3 stars, but not quite 4, so I have to rate it this way. But it’s more like 3.5-3.75!

I liked the characters. I liked the plot. I liked that this book was set somewhere other than LA or NYC. So why didn’t I love this book? I’m not sure. The pacing felt off to me - to quick in most cases, which didn’t give me enough time to care about things so I could really feel the emotional impact of them (except one HUGE plot point). There’s so much emotional heaviness, but I don’t think anything was really given its due. I think this could have been a book that made me ugly sob, but everything felt rushed and so I didn’t care as much.

The romance aspect was nice though. I did think the main characters had chemistry and were good for each other.

This book right here, I can’t express how much I adore it and the characters. There was tension and so much heat in this simply perfect slow burn. The connections, gardening euphemisms and banter had me hooked. I laughed, teared up and fell in love with the characters throughout the book. Carly and Brooks have my heart and I’m 100% ok with it.

I instantly fell in love with our FMC Carly’s good natured and humorous personality. Her love of fashion, finding it at good prices and having the ability to see the beauty in things and people that others may look over, won me over so fast. Her quick wittedness and kindness really helped set her apart from others. Her life wasn’t an easy one but instead of whining and being petulant about it she worked through it and became such a force of nature in the best ways possible.

I may have shook my head and rolled my eyes at some of the things that Brooks our emotionally and socially stunted doctor MMC, said/thought about himself throughout the book, but, I truly love him too. With this said he was still very much aware of his short comings but didn’t know how to work through them. After what he went through at a young age he turned off so much of himself he was merely existing in life. Unless he was helping his patients, he would do everything he could to help them recover and heal.

Their love for the cats Pepper and Oreo are just icing on the cake. It made for so many wonderful moments between the 2 of them that had me laughing and saying awe.

I highly suggest that everyone pick up and read this book. As soon as possible.

Thank you to Montlake who through NetGalley gave me an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own and given freely and honestly.