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!

Thank you Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for the ALC!

Allison Ashley is the perfect author for us girlies who love the 00’s romcom vibe. Every one of her books so far has been full of heart, emotion and adorably relatable quirky characters. Falling into Place was no different in that sense! This story kept my heart squeezing and a smile on my face. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing this story and the characters to life!

This was another perfect example of why Allison Ashley has quickly become one of my most favorite authors

Narration:
The female narrator did a great job voicing both characters making for easy listening- I listened to the entire book in one night!

Description;
Carly loves being a freelance personal stylist, so when her friend Sasha enlists her to help style a bachelor for her magazine feature Carly is all in.

Brooks might've been the jock who got around in high school but that guy is long gone. He keeps his head down and keeps busy as a physician. His sisters are practically the only ones he keeps close. When his sister's magazine is in trouble she comes up with the idea to feature Brooks, as a single bachelor, going on dates. If it were for anyone else he never would've agreed to this but maybe it won't be such a bad thing to open up socially.

Brooks hardly recognizes Sasha's best friend Carly, he can't believe that quiet girl is the one standing before him here to style him for his date. There's an ease with Carly he can't explain and then she offers to go on a test date with him to ease his anxiety and it just might be the best date he ever went on. Carly can absolutely not date a client, especially not one who's dating publicly and documenting it, and especially not one who's her best friend's brother. But what do you do when a magnetic pull has other plans?

Review:
I love love love Allison's novels, each one is better than the last. I loved how she built a genuine relationship between Carly and Brooks, how it started as a friendship and blossomed from there. The banter was top notch and the chemistry was so thick with tension you could cut it with a knife. I loved how realistic it felt, how naturally she progressed the relationship, all the layers she built into her nuanced characters. I loved that it didn't need a big sad thing to resonate deeply. All in all, I loved her wit and humor and how feel-good a read it was.

I’m an Allison Ashley fan, so when I was given the opportunity to review her latest release, Falling into Place, I jumped at the chance. Especially when it was pitched as “Bachelor-style matchmaking” with the best friend’s brother trope. Both are like candy to me! And this story was so, so sweet. I loved Carly and Brooks together. Their chemistry is out of this world, and the entire premise of the story is so charming and wholesome. Carly is working two jobs, but her real passion is the side hustle, aka personal shopper and fashion stylist, that she wants to turn into a full-time career. Her best friend, Sasha, wants to breathe new life into her struggling fashion magazine and reaches out to Carly with an opportunity that will help them both further their careers. Sasha wants Carly to give her brother, Brooks, a makeover so the magazine can do a little matchmaking and find him the love of his life. Brooks is a lonely doctor who loves his cat and his garden. He’s not really interested in finding love, but the magazine’s success is just as important to him as it is to his sister. Their mother built it from the ground up, and now that she has passed on Brooks and Sasha want to further her legacy. So this antisocial workaholic says yes to a highly publicized journey of dating to find his person. He and Carly begin working together to get him looking snazzy for all these dates. I’m sure you know where this is going, because this is a romance novel after all!

Like I said, this was such a sweet story. I loved watching Carly and Brooks become friends and confidants. They knew of each other in high school, but weren’t in the same social circles. Carly had a crush on him, but he didn’t really notice her. He was super popular and sounded like a player, but he’s changed and now he’s noticing Carly for who she is. So you’ve got a little bit of a friends to lovers thing going on with some history, and they have such fun flirtatious banter that I really enjoyed. Neither of them is looking for love, especially Carly who is fresh out of a relationship that ended due to proximity issues and not a falling out of love, so they’re reluctant to let those sparks fly. Their romance is also sort of forbidden. Carly isn’t allowed to get involved with a client and Brooks has to keep dating other women for the magazine, so this adds a very interesting layer of complication to the mix. There’s some heavier issues that come up, which they share with one another, and I love how Allison Ashley is able to juxtapose the heavy with the light. I was never depressed or sad, just hopeful right along with these two cinnamon rolls. I loved their slow burn romance. Some people complain about a slow burn, but I just love it. It feels so realistic to me because I am a very slow burner myself. It also made so much sense for Carly and Brooks for various reasons. I also really appreciated the fade-to-black romance because sometimes I’m not really in the mood to read the spice and want to focus more on the emotional connection. It was all just so much fun!

I really liked that this book focused on platonic relationships as well. I loved Brooks’s sisters and their relationship with Brooks. What a sweet family trio. Brooks’s relationship with his high school coach was also really nice. But, of course, Brooks and Carly stole the show for me. And that epilogue. Everything was tied up into a swoony little package that I adored. It was lovely watching these two work through their personal issues together and fall for one another in such a deep and meaningful way. I loved how everything shook out, and I’m definitely an Allison Ashley fangirl now. I can’t believe I haven’t read If Tomorrow Never Comes (I’ve seen the cover and heard the title, but for some reason never realized who the author is!), which is set in the same world as this book, so I need to go back and do that! Bottom line, Falling into Place was adorable and wholesome and very, very sweet. Highly recommended.

Allison Ashley is an auto-read author and I loved this one as much as her others. The main character in this one is a side character in If Tomorrow Never Comes, but I’d consider them interconnected standalones.

This one has romcom tropes and deep, heavy themes as the MMC grieves the loss of a loved one weaved into comedy, and a Bachelor-style dating experience for a magazine article.
I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the performance! Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy.

Perfect for you if you like:
High School flashbacks
Friends older brother
He’s a doctor
Secret relationship
Reformed bad boy
Healing from loss

Absolutely adorable story that starts off strong and you’ll instantly be invested!

Brooks is a doctor with three meddling sisters that want to use him to save their family’s magazine by starting a bachelor column with him being the bachelor! Brooks gives in and the sisters hook him up with a friend, Carly, who is a stylist. Brooks turns to Carly for more than style tips as he struggles to be confident in the dating world. There is definitely something buzzing between the two, but it's definitely the worst time as Carly is building her career and doesn’t want to jeopardize her job and Brooks wants to be genuine in the bachelor column for the magazine.

This is a sweet story of friendship, family, and crushes mixed with some high school memories will have you giddy and excited about love again. I just love the sweet moments with Brooks and his sisters as they are making his dating profile, raw moments of honesty and vulnerabilty between Brooks and Carly, and of course watching them fall for one another not knowing what to do.

AUDIOBOOK:
I was easily able to listen to this in a day! Perfect little romance to entertain you! I wish this was a dual narration because it would’ve added more to the story and helped readers/listeners differentiate between whose chapter it was. Plus, I would’ve just loved having a male voice for Brooks. He is the sweetest yet shy MC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Brilliance Audio for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

After reading If Tomorrow Never Comes, I was so excited that Carly was getting her own love story and happy ending. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my hopes and I was left disappointed.

While I listened to the entire audiobook and felt entertained as a whole, I had a hard time connecting with the characters or the plot. To me, this book felt formulaic and like a checklist of expected booktok tropes, rather than a heartfelt and gripping romance. I also felt like Carly deserved better treatment from her friends and employers overall. After being completely messed over in If Tomorrow Never Comes, I was hoping things would be better for Carly in Oklahoma and was disappointed by the lack of vindication for this character.

Thank you to Brilliance Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Such a good audio production! I loved the performance.

I enjoyed that the main character Brooks is a new attending, because my husband is too! It's fun to see the parallels in Allison's books between the characters' medical education experience and his (I believe the characters were in residency in her last book, which I read while he was too).

Brooks is ready to get his personal life back in order now that he has finished residency and has a little more time to himself. The FMC, Carly, is working a boring accounting job by day and working towards her fashion passion at night--trying to prove herself to her part-time boss and get hired full time. Brooks' sister is Carly's best friend, and encourages Carly to style Brooks to impress her boss. Some drama ensues when Brooks and Carly start to fall for each other.

I really loved these two main characters as a couple. Brooks especially was very sweet and caring towards Carly.

There's a little bit of miscommunication when Brooks suffers a loss in his personal life and doesn't speak to Carly at all, but after some time he apologizes and they work through it like adults.

It's a fun, lighthearted romance and was the perfect summer read. It's out now, so enjoy it on one of your last few pool days before fall gets here!

Oh, this book was sweet.

Low angst with lots of chemistry and a tender romance, Falling into Place was a fun, sweet read with good characters and excellent writing.

Brooks and Carly were excellent main characters, and I loved the forced proximity/forbidden romance element that heightened the tension whenever the two were on the page together. Their romance was cute and their chemistry was excellent. The slow build-up was done well.

I loved Carly's mom as well as the other side characters who helped round the story out.

I struggled with the lack of accountability/consequences for the lady who falsely accused Carly of hitting on her husband, and there were a few moments where I was frustrated with the choices of the characters, which isn't necessarily a detriment, just made me frustrated while reading. It was also hard to believe that Brooks struggled so much with women after being a total player. Is flirting a skill that you really lose? I'm not sure, but I wasn't sold on it.

Overall, this was a gentle romance with a lot of sweet moments that I enjoyed. I liked the characters and their story, and the depth of emotion that the author was able to convey was impressive. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

General Notes:
Romance: Fade-to-black (but on the more explicit side of that)
Language: Mild
Violence: Low
Content: Death of loved ones (on page and remembered), grief, gambling addiction (past of a side character)

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

Part-time personal stylist Carly would LOVE to make fashion her full-time job, but needs to wow the company leaders with some fresh ideas. She teams up with her friend Sasha, whose family magazine needs a shot in the arm and whose busy doctor brother, Brooks, could use some dates. They hatch a plan for Carly to help Brooks reinvent his wardrobe and style, and for him to go on dates that the magazine will cover and drive up readership. Carly and Brooks hit it off and become fast friends, finding it so easy and fun to be in each other’s company. And then they start feeling more….

Carly and Brooks were such a fun opposites-attract duo! I loved their personalities, the banter, the way they played off each other. I also loved their communication with each other, love the texts, loved how the book explored different themes and relationships, like ways of dealing with grief and Brooks’ resistance to love. Even with some of those themes, it’s a warm and lighthearted read. I can’t wait to read more of them.

Also, Ann Marie Gideon did a fantastic job with the audio. Loved her inflection and the way she managed the different voices.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for an advanced listening copy of Falling Into Place in exchange for my honest opinion. Falling into place will be released to retailers on August 19, 2025.

I started Falling Into Place at 8am and finished at 2pm. I just wish it was a 2 person audio, that’s what kept me from giving it 5 ⭐️. The female narrator was good, but since it was from 2 points of view in the story; I felt a duet narration would have definitely helped the audiobook.

I love the best friend’s brother trope, and this book delivers! Carly works as an accountant as her full time job, but her passion is working in fashion. She works part time for a stylist company in Oklahoma City. Her high school best friend, Sophie, asks for her help in styling her brother for a bachelor feature in Sophie’s family’s OKC magazine. As Carley helps brooks with his style for his many dates, they both realize that they don’t want him to find love on these dates. They want to be with each other. However; Carley can’t date a client for ethics reasons. They try to fight it but…..

Falling Into Place has SO much good going for it and now I want to read everything the author has written!

I really enjoyed this friends to lovers, forbidden romance that saw a social media saavy stylist helping an introverted doctor try to find love. This had great banter, lots of emotional depth and was great on audio. While I don't think it was my favorite by the author it was still very enjoyable. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.25⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Setting ~ Oklahoma
Publication date ~ August 19, 2025
Publisher ~ Montlake & Brilliance Audio
Est Page Count ~ 312 (33 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 18 minutes
Narrator ~ Ann Marie Gideon
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ best friends brother, sisters best friend, forced proximity, slow burn, no steamage

Carly & Brooks
Carly is a full time accountant, but her passion is personal styling, which she does on the side. In order to make that a full time gig she needs to come up with an awesome proposal that will wow her boss. It just so happens that her bff, Sasha's, fashion magazine needs a boost, too, so they team up to get more exposure for both of them.

Brooks is not too keen on being the new face of his sister's magazine by way of going out of date after date after date that will be broadcasted for all readers, but he'd do anything for his sister's so he's reluctantly in. He was so sweet and I especially loved his relationship with his old HS coach.

I don't love when there are other women/men drama in my romance, but it's the whole point of the plot, so I guess it's okay.

Overall, this was caauuutttteeee, then not so much for a hot minute, then caauuutttteeee again. Both characters were relatable, they had good banter and chemistry. And how adorable was that epilogue??

Narration notes:
One female narrator 😐, sounded fine, though

Have you ever wondered about specific cross over in beloved shows? Well falling into place by Allison Ashley, feels like the perfect crossover of a young Carrie Bradshaw from sex in the city, meets young McDreamy from Greys Anatomy.

Brooks is a first year resident. Recluse and antisocial. Till his sisters bring to him a pitch. A written series about a bachelor looking for love, to save their mom’s magazine.

With brooks being the hermit he is, and spending most his time in scrubs. He’s sister line up a professional stylist… who also happens to be his little sister’s best friends since high school, Carly.

Carly, is blunt, open and straightforward. Someone who loves a good night out, mix with a few cozy nights in.

The ying and yang opposite dynamic these two brought to the store was brilliant! I loved every single second of it. Especially the honest moments where the characters could find trust and open up to the other from the past. It is a true tale of right person, right time.
.
The narrators of this one were amazingly captivating for the story being told. I loved Carly voice actor, her tones and pitch were spot on for the character. Everything I would’ve chosen, myself!
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Troupes include;
- Witty banter
- Sisters Best Friend
- Forbidden Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Cute cats in sweaters
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Thank you NetGalley and Brilliant Publishing for the chance to read and review this Audio Book.

Carly Porter has spent her life playing it safe. Growing up as the daughter of a compulsive gambler taught her the personal cost of risky bets, so she’s built a life of security and careful choices. But when her best friend Sasha—publisher of a struggling fashion magazine—offers her a chance to step into her dream career as a full-time personal stylist, Carly is tempted. The catch? The high-profile makeover project is Sasha’s older brother, Brooks, a reclusive, work-focused physician still carrying the weight of a devastating loss.

Carly remembers Brooks from high school—first as the boy who had it all together, then as the one who lost his way in the wake of tragedy. Now, her job is to coax him out of his well-worn scrubs and into the spotlight, giving him not only a fresh wardrobe but maybe a fresh start. As the project unfolds, their connection deepens, blurring the lines between professional and personal. But taking a chance on love might be the biggest risk either of them has ever faced.

This was my first book by Allison Ashley, and it turned out to be a lovely friends-to-lovers romance. I really enjoyed the banter between Carly and Brooks, especially the playful debates over a certain well-loved pair of jeans. Their relationship growth felt natural and heartfelt, and I appreciated how both characters handled adversity—not as perfect people, but as ones willing to work through it together. I also liked how the story didn’t shy away from the realities of long-distance relationships, showing how they navigated it while still supporting Carly’s career goals.

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Ann Marie Gideon, whose warm tone and expressive delivery were a perfect match for the story. Her narration added an extra layer of charm, making the listening experience even more engaging. If you enjoy audiobooks, I’d happily recommend this format.

Final Thoughts:

Falling Into Place is a story about second chances, personal growth, and the courage it takes to gamble on love—and in this case, the risk pays off beautifully.

I received an ARC of this audiobook from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

This one was so cute. I enjoyed the characters. The multiple POV were done very well, the book flowed smoothly. The banter and chemistry was really well done - it felt authentic, like reading a friend's diary, not like watching my favorite rom com. I liked the growth that the characters made separately and together. The middle of the book was a little slower than I would have liked, but I loved the beginning and the end. I thought it was just a really cute story. There were some difficult parts and pasts to get through, but I thought that they were handled well. Not too much focus on the dark spots, but also gave them enough attention to address the seriousness. Carly finds herself working with her best friend, Sasha, doing a makeover for Oklahoma City bachelor Brooks, Sasha's older brother. Brooks is an overworked doctor, hiding his own demons, but for his sister he will accept the makeover and start dating again. But from their first time meeting in years, the sparks fly between Carly and Brooks. Will they be able to move past their chemistry and pasts? I loved the audiobook of this, the narrator was great. I truly got lost in the story and would recommend it for any fans of contemporary romance.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced audio copy.

I absolutely loved this book. From page one, I was hooked—not just by the chemistry between Carly and Brooks, but by the heart of the story. What really stood out to me were the quiet, powerful choices the author made to show us who these characters were before we even saw who they could be together. These two overcame so much individually, which was necessary to see how powerful they could come together as a duo.

One of my favorite touches was how every chapter began with a brief snippet of past conversations or mini flashbacks. These little memories added so much emotional depth and made me feel like I truly knew these characters. The pacing of their romance felt beautifully natural—rooted in mutual growth, hard truths, and unexpected tenderness. I also appreciated that Brooks' sisters were supportive without being overly meddlesome, which is a difficult line to walk with a story like this (that hinges on the meddlesome nature of family).

I also really appreciated the semi-epistolary elements woven throughout the story—especially the text message exchanges. That style of storytelling is one of my favorites, and it worked so well here. The messages felt authentic, added levity and intimacy, and gave us a deeper glimpse into the characters’ personalities in a way traditional dialogue sometimes can’t. It made the connection between Carly and Brooks feel even more personal and real.

And I have to say: as much as I enjoyed Carly and Brooks’ evolving relationship, the most moving bond in this story was the one between Brooks and Coach. Their connection was honest, raw, and quietly devastating in all the right ways. It gave Brooks’s character a kind of emotional center that made every scene he was in feel deeply grounded. Their relationship took me through every emotion known to mankind. Every young man would be so lucky to have this kind of mentor/father figure in their life. Just... unbelievably well done.

This is a romance, yes—but it’s also a story about grief, forgiveness, friendship, and rebuilding trust in yourself and others. Excellent slow burn. Just... brilliant.

Also, a man who loves/owns a cat is always a winner in my book. Brooks for the win!

Cover: Super cute! I love a cutesy cartoon romance cover.

Audio: Perfectly narrated and paced.
I will be purchasing this book to add to my personal collection upon release.
Goodreads review posted. Social media reveiws to follow.

Thank you to Netgalley and Brillance Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this one from Allison Ashley! The plot was so good and entertaining! I loved that she was the MMC’s fashion guide-it was such a unique storyline! There were many deep and heartbreaking moments, but there were also so many swoony and romantic ones as well! I loved this one!

I enjoyed the narration very much. She definitely brought the characters and the story to life beautifully.

The story was beautifully written and I enjoyed the banter and the romance between the MCs. I loved Brooks, I think he is a great MMC.
The character growth for Carly & Brooks was beautiful as a couple but also individually.
I loved how Brooks’s struggles were so realistic it made me root for him and I really wanted his happy ending.
Carly is sweet and her chemistry with Brooks is immediate and their interactions were fun to listen to.
Carly has childhood trauma and I think her mother being the one who gave it to her but also letting her help cope with it, makes her so compassionate and mature.

I hope to read more from this author