What do you think?
Rate this book
Calamity Falls #15
Can't Get Over You
She’s got it all—but none of it’s real.
Finlay O'Neill is about to marry the man who’ll make her dreams come true. There’s just one problem… He’s the wrong man. The runaway bride finds herself with an unexpected getaway driver: her bad-boy high school crush.
Jude McKenna’s come home to win custody of his late best friend’s son, but who’s going to let a single, tattooed bartender adopt a little boy? Fortunately, fate drops the town’s good girl right into his lap—or at least on the back of his bike.
A fake engagement seems like the perfect solution—as long as Finlay doesn’t start believing the lie. Because Jude’s all about the open road, and she’ll never let go of her white picket fence dreams.
But, just maybe, he can show her how to break the rules while she teaches him what a real home feels like.
Finlay O'Neill is about to marry the man who’ll make her dreams come true. There’s just one problem… He’s the wrong man. The runaway bride finds herself with an unexpected getaway driver: her bad-boy high school crush.
Jude McKenna’s come home to win custody of his late best friend’s son, but who’s going to let a single, tattooed bartender adopt a little boy? Fortunately, fate drops the town’s good girl right into his lap—or at least on the back of his bike.
A fake engagement seems like the perfect solution—as long as Finlay doesn’t start believing the lie. Because Jude’s all about the open road, and she’ll never let go of her white picket fence dreams.
But, just maybe, he can show her how to break the rules while she teaches him what a real home feels like.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2025
124 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Erika Kelly
45 books1,858 followersAward-winning author Erika Kelly writes sexy, passionate, and emotional contemporary romance. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she lives in the southwest, drinks a lot of tea, and is always waiting for her cats to get off her keyboard.
GET A FREE SHORT STORY:
https://erikakellybooks.com/pages/new...
SUBSCRIBE:
https://erikakellybooks.com/pages/new...
FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/erikakellya...
FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
JOIN MY PRIVATE READER GROUP:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Erika...
FIND ME ON TIKTOK:
https://www.tiktok.com/@erikakellyrom...
GET A FREE SHORT STORY:
https://erikakellybooks.com/pages/new...
SUBSCRIBE:
https://erikakellybooks.com/pages/new...
FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/erikakellya...
FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
JOIN MY PRIVATE READER GROUP:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Erika...
FIND ME ON TIKTOK:
https://www.tiktok.com/@erikakellyrom...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
October 22, 2025
My rating: 4 1/2 stars
What I loved: I loved how close Jude(H)’s family was. The way they were there for each other was great. I also loved how Finlay(h) stood up to help Jude get custody of Cody. Lastly, I’m glad Finlay talked to her parents and their relationship improved.
What I didn’t like: I thought the judge was an idiot. Also, I would have liked to have had a scene with them visiting the grandpa at the end.
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: In the past, H and h went to high school together. h has a crush on the H and the H also has a crush on the h but stays away because he has a bad reputation. When H helps out the h, she asks him to prom. H says yes and goes to get ready. When H is on his way to pick up the h for prom, he gets a call from his best friend who needs him to be his get away driver. The H never comes and misses prom. In the present the h is about to get married when she finds out that her soon to be husband is keeping a secret. h runs and sees the H. H takes her with him. H is back home to help out a little boy. The boy is his best friend son. The best friend passed away and the grandpa is now raising him. The grandpa needs hip surgery and wants the H to take the boy until he gets better. H agrees and h is willing to help. When the H goes to get temporary custody, the judge remembers the H being a trouble maker and is weary of granting custody until the h intervenes by telling a lie (that her and the H are engaged). The judge grants the temporary custody. H and h become a family to make a Christmas the boy will never forget. During this time, the H and h start a relationship. When h’s dad questions the h’s reasoning for stepping up with helping the H, the h is worried she is making the wrong choice. In the end, the H and h get their HEA with them adopting the boy and them getting married.
Final thoughts: This was a really sweet, feel good story. The chemistry and love they had for each other had me swooning and smiling the whole time I was reading. Can’t wait to read about the rest of the brothers, especially Boone.
What I loved: I loved how close Jude(H)’s family was. The way they were there for each other was great. I also loved how Finlay(h) stood up to help Jude get custody of Cody. Lastly, I’m glad Finlay talked to her parents and their relationship improved.
What I didn’t like: I thought the judge was an idiot. Also, I would have liked to have had a scene with them visiting the grandpa at the end.
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: In the past, H and h went to high school together. h has a crush on the H and the H also has a crush on the h but stays away because he has a bad reputation. When H helps out the h, she asks him to prom. H says yes and goes to get ready. When H is on his way to pick up the h for prom, he gets a call from his best friend who needs him to be his get away driver. The H never comes and misses prom. In the present the h is about to get married when she finds out that her soon to be husband is keeping a secret. h runs and sees the H. H takes her with him. H is back home to help out a little boy. The boy is his best friend son. The best friend passed away and the grandpa is now raising him. The grandpa needs hip surgery and wants the H to take the boy until he gets better. H agrees and h is willing to help. When the H goes to get temporary custody, the judge remembers the H being a trouble maker and is weary of granting custody until the h intervenes by telling a lie (that her and the H are engaged). The judge grants the temporary custody. H and h become a family to make a Christmas the boy will never forget. During this time, the H and h start a relationship. When h’s dad questions the h’s reasoning for stepping up with helping the H, the h is worried she is making the wrong choice. In the end, the H and h get their HEA with them adopting the boy and them getting married.
Final thoughts: This was a really sweet, feel good story. The chemistry and love they had for each other had me swooning and smiling the whole time I was reading. Can’t wait to read about the rest of the brothers, especially Boone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2025
Erica Kelly has done it again! I absolutely loved Can’t Get Over You, it is an incredible small town second chance fake fiancé love story. Can’t Get Over You is the first book in her new McKenna Brothers series. It is part of her Calamity Falls series. This book held my interest from the start, and I fell in love. Erika Kelly showed that she is an amazing storyteller and is a must-read author for me. I was hooked from the first few pages, it was impossible to put Can’t Get Over You down, and I loved every moment on every page. Can’t Get Over You is the story of Finlay O’Neill, kindergarten teacher, and her former bad-boy high school crush, Jude McKenna, former Marine who currently flips bars. Finlay had a crush on Jude, who stood her up for their high school prom. They have not seen one another since that day, and Jude has not been back. Cody, the four-year-old son of Jude’s former best friend, Marco Rossi reaches out to Jude about returning to Calamity Falls to take care of him while Marco’s grandfather, Carlo, has surgery. They are currently living in a bike club, and he wants to assign temporary guardianship to Jude while he recovers. Because of her upbringing, Finlay has her future all planned out, with her vision board and it is all about to come true as she is about to get married to the perfect man, Matt Jones and live on Bloom Lane. Right before Finlay is about walk down the aisle to marry Matt, she discovers that he has a daughter that he learned about her existence several months ago. As Finlay runs out of the church a motorcycle stops, driven by Jude and helps her run away. Finlay run from the town’s golden boy and jumped on the back of the bad boy’s bike. Jude and Finlay meet with Carlo and Cody recognizes her from school. Jude was a troubled teen and has already been in the Judge Adams courtroom prior to the custody. Conversation between Finlay and Jude flows so easily, I love how Finlay and Jude share secrets with one another about their upbringing. Jude does not believe he is the right man for Finlay and her white picket fence dreams. As Finlay and Jude spend time together things change between them, and they begin a romantic relationship. I love the descriptions of Jude’s tattoo. A surprise plot twist changes things between Finlay and Jude, putting their relationship at risk and has Finlay putting her Bloom Lane house on the market. I love how Jude calls Finlay, “Fee.” I loved that Can’t Get Over You is more than just a romance; there are dilemmas that both Finlay and Jude are facing that need to be resolved. I love how the storylines get so beautifully resolved. I love the heart-to-heart conversations that Finlay and Jude have with each other, the ones that Jude has with her father and brothers, and Finlay with her parents. I love Cody and his love for cocoa and how he always calls Jude, “Mister.” I love Jude and Finlay's relationship with Cody. I love the changes that both Finlay and Jude make in their lives to have a life together and with Cody. I love the ending of their love story and how both Finlay and Jude change because of their love for one another and how they admit their feelings for one another. I loved Jude’s proposal to Finlay, the location, and I loved the significance of her unique engagement ring. My favorite part is the epilogue and the surprise, and how it beautifully wraps up their love story. I love the bonus download and all the surprises that are revealed. I love Finlay and Jude’s love story, and the descriptions of the Calamity Falls settings. Who does not love hot sexy men, strong females, loving families, and friends, who always support one another? I love how Erika develops her characters in such a way that you fall in love with them and care about them much like a good friend. I love how Erika Kelly managed to create the "perfect" heroine, who is a strong, sassy woman on her own, to balance out the sexy, swoon worthy man. I really enjoy how the book is told from the perspective of the main characters. I love getting the insight and feelings from the different characters. Can’t Get Over You is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. It is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in an Erika Kelly love story, especially with the poignant and bittersweet moments, plot twists, and surprises that filled this page turner. I love the characters and the family dynamic in Can’t Get Over You, the characters feel like family and friends. I enjoyed meeting Jude’s brothers and all the interactions among them; it feels like real family love and makes me laugh at their teasing. I love Finlay friendship with Willa. Who does not love family and friends that always have each other’s backs? I thoroughly enjoyed Can’t Get Over You, who does not love a second chance/fake fiancé love story. Highly recommend this incredible love story. I love how Erika Kelly hinted about whose story is next in series and am so looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Received an advanced copy from the author.
October 7, 2025
Wow! Loved every minute of this book! Finlay and Cody have both been enamored with one another since before high school. Circumstances kept them apart when they were younger but they both still wonder about one another. In a crazily timed runaway bride-prodigal son returns they are pulled into a situation together. This opportunity not only gives them time to learn about one another on a deeper level. But also the chance to heal some family feelings as well. Beautiful story about love and found family!
October 14, 2025
4 Star Review Can't Get Over You (Calamity Falls #15) Erika Kelly
I enjoy my visits to Calamity Falls, and this is Finlay (Fee) O'Neill and Jude McKenna’s story.
Well written, I quickly became invested in their story. The characters are easy to relate to and you cannot help but fall for them.
I enjoyed the push and pull dynamic as their relationship progressed. This slow burn story ticked all the boxes for me and left me with a smile on my face.
I enjoy my visits to Calamity Falls, and this is Finlay (Fee) O'Neill and Jude McKenna’s story.
Well written, I quickly became invested in their story. The characters are easy to relate to and you cannot help but fall for them.
I enjoyed the push and pull dynamic as their relationship progressed. This slow burn story ticked all the boxes for me and left me with a smile on my face.
October 23, 2025
Can't Get Over You is latest in the Calamity Falls series. I have read a few of the first ones, but somehow missed several in the middle. This one worked well as a stand alone book. I love when a romance sucks me right in and I cant put the book down. I thought the romance between Jude and Finlay was intense, raw and strong. It's a fake engagement story, but really, this couple was destined to be together for years. I loved their history. I also really enjoyed Jude's family and how they showed up for him when it counted. Little Cody was adorable and was the perfect glue to bring this little family together. I highly recommend this one!
October 16, 2025
4.25stars-CAN’T GET OVER YOU is the fifteenth instalment in Erika Kelly’s contemporary, adult CALAMITY FALLS erotic romance series, and the first in the interconnected McKenna Brothers series. This is former Marine, bartender and owner Jude McKenna, and thirty year old preschool teacher and soap maker Finlay O’Neill’s story line.
Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Finlay and Jude) CAN’T GET OVER YOU follows in the wake of the wedding that never happened. Just minutes before saying ‘I Do’ Finlay O’Neill discovered her fiancé had a secret, and struggled with the possibility of more. As a runaway bride, Finlay never expected to find herself on the back of her high school crush’s motorcycle, the man who had starred in all of her teenaged dreams. Jude McKenna was only in Calamity Falls for a few weeks but getting reacquainted with the woman who owned his heart meant a second chance at happiness. Life was about to throw a proverbial curveball when Jude was asked to be the guardian of a five year old boy who had lost everyone he had ever loved but the only way Jude was able to accept was if he could prove he was no longer the trouble boy who was forced out of town years before. A fake engagement but a real love affair begins to blossom between Jude and Finlay until Finlay has a heart to heart with her father, a man whose own place in Finlay’s life was less than attentive or loving.
The world building is inspiring and inviting, and focuses on familial relationships including loss and love, struggles and moving forward, rejection and forgiveness. Finlay is struggling with what was, and what may never be; Jude is determined to prove he is the kind of man Finlay is able to trust and love. As Finlay and Jude begin their fake relationship, everything becomes all too real when the McKenna clan rally to support our couple welcoming both Finlay and five year old Cody into the clan. Jude is determined to prove he is worthy of love and his own happily ever after but the small town of Calamity Falls, and their like-minded people, have no use for a man whose childhood reputation has never been forgotten
The relationship between Finlay and Jude is one of second chances, of a sorts. Jude and Finlay danced around one another for years but when Jude was forced out of town, Finlay moved on with her life, and into the arms of someone else. As Finlay and Jude’s relationship quickly turns into something more, Finlay’s reflections about the recent past push our heroine to rethink the future with the man she loves. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is another large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and strong secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Jude’s family including brothers Decker, Boone, Wyatt, and their father Gunner McKenna; Finlay’s best friend Willa; Jude’s former nanny Ava, five year old Cody, and Finlay’s ex Matt Jones. Not everyone in town is welcoming of our story line hero.
CAN’T GET OVER YOU is a story of secrets and lies, family, friendships and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is thought provoking, honest and real; the romance is fated and flirty; the characters are sassy, lively and charismatic.
copy supplied for review
Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Finlay and Jude) CAN’T GET OVER YOU follows in the wake of the wedding that never happened. Just minutes before saying ‘I Do’ Finlay O’Neill discovered her fiancé had a secret, and struggled with the possibility of more. As a runaway bride, Finlay never expected to find herself on the back of her high school crush’s motorcycle, the man who had starred in all of her teenaged dreams. Jude McKenna was only in Calamity Falls for a few weeks but getting reacquainted with the woman who owned his heart meant a second chance at happiness. Life was about to throw a proverbial curveball when Jude was asked to be the guardian of a five year old boy who had lost everyone he had ever loved but the only way Jude was able to accept was if he could prove he was no longer the trouble boy who was forced out of town years before. A fake engagement but a real love affair begins to blossom between Jude and Finlay until Finlay has a heart to heart with her father, a man whose own place in Finlay’s life was less than attentive or loving.
The world building is inspiring and inviting, and focuses on familial relationships including loss and love, struggles and moving forward, rejection and forgiveness. Finlay is struggling with what was, and what may never be; Jude is determined to prove he is the kind of man Finlay is able to trust and love. As Finlay and Jude begin their fake relationship, everything becomes all too real when the McKenna clan rally to support our couple welcoming both Finlay and five year old Cody into the clan. Jude is determined to prove he is worthy of love and his own happily ever after but the small town of Calamity Falls, and their like-minded people, have no use for a man whose childhood reputation has never been forgotten
The relationship between Finlay and Jude is one of second chances, of a sorts. Jude and Finlay danced around one another for years but when Jude was forced out of town, Finlay moved on with her life, and into the arms of someone else. As Finlay and Jude’s relationship quickly turns into something more, Finlay’s reflections about the recent past push our heroine to rethink the future with the man she loves. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is another large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and strong secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Jude’s family including brothers Decker, Boone, Wyatt, and their father Gunner McKenna; Finlay’s best friend Willa; Jude’s former nanny Ava, five year old Cody, and Finlay’s ex Matt Jones. Not everyone in town is welcoming of our story line hero.
CAN’T GET OVER YOU is a story of secrets and lies, family, friendships and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is thought provoking, honest and real; the romance is fated and flirty; the characters are sassy, lively and charismatic.
copy supplied for review
October 11, 2025
Let me start with this review by stating that I’ve been reading Erika Kelly since she released her first book. I love her writing and I love some books more than others, but Can’t Get Over You was absolutely one of her very best. This book was a romance, it was a spicy romance, but it was so, so much more. This couple had known each other since they were kids and they’d had feelings for each other that they never really discussed or acted upon and then there was an incident that sent them on differing paths, but on her wedding day when she discovered something about her groom and pulled a runner, guess who shows up in front of the church on his bike when he hasn’t been in town in years? Ahhhhh…it was perfection!
Finlay despite having both her parents in her life felt neglected, often overlooked, and not a priority. She thought her parents blamed her for the way their lives turned out because she was “an accident.” So she made herself small because she didn’t want to be more than a burden. When her friends dropped her as a pre-teen because she didn’t have the money they did, she eventually found one best friend and continue to make herself small so as not to draw notice to herself. Then there was Jude, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks that she loved from afar. Jude was labeled a troublemaker, yet girls wanted him and boys wanted to have his confidence, throughout this book we see there are many layers to Jude including being the man that steps up for the orphaned boy of his once best friend whose grandfather is too sick to care for him much longer.
I loved everything about the way this book played out and yes, Finlay and Jude come together quickly after she leaves her groom at the altar but they have this shared history that was so deep that even they were surprised by it. Then there was Cody, vulnerable, scared little boy that grabbed both their hearts and the one that made Jude realize just how much his past had influenced the way he looked at life. I also must mention Jude’s father, brothers, and Ava the woman who was a surrogate mother to them who jumped in to help with Cody and welcome Finlay into their fold. The way Finlay and Jude were there to champion each other and give support when the other needed it was beautiful to see. It gave them both the strength to grow and fight for the lives they wanted to live without the chains of their childhoods holding them back.
Everything about this book made me feel happy and satisfied and honestly with everything going on in the world right now, it was something I needed desperately and didn’t even know it. Thank you Erika for giving me the escape into a world where everything might not always be perfect, but dreams do come true.
Finlay despite having both her parents in her life felt neglected, often overlooked, and not a priority. She thought her parents blamed her for the way their lives turned out because she was “an accident.” So she made herself small because she didn’t want to be more than a burden. When her friends dropped her as a pre-teen because she didn’t have the money they did, she eventually found one best friend and continue to make herself small so as not to draw notice to herself. Then there was Jude, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks that she loved from afar. Jude was labeled a troublemaker, yet girls wanted him and boys wanted to have his confidence, throughout this book we see there are many layers to Jude including being the man that steps up for the orphaned boy of his once best friend whose grandfather is too sick to care for him much longer.
I loved everything about the way this book played out and yes, Finlay and Jude come together quickly after she leaves her groom at the altar but they have this shared history that was so deep that even they were surprised by it. Then there was Cody, vulnerable, scared little boy that grabbed both their hearts and the one that made Jude realize just how much his past had influenced the way he looked at life. I also must mention Jude’s father, brothers, and Ava the woman who was a surrogate mother to them who jumped in to help with Cody and welcome Finlay into their fold. The way Finlay and Jude were there to champion each other and give support when the other needed it was beautiful to see. It gave them both the strength to grow and fight for the lives they wanted to live without the chains of their childhoods holding them back.
Everything about this book made me feel happy and satisfied and honestly with everything going on in the world right now, it was something I needed desperately and didn’t even know it. Thank you Erika for giving me the escape into a world where everything might not always be perfect, but dreams do come true.
October 16, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ 2 🌶️
This is the first book in this series that I have read but this can definitely be read as a standalone. While this is technically the 15th book set in Calamity Falls, it is the first in the McKenna Brothers series. Finlay has had her future mapped out on a vision board since she was a teenager. And when she is moments away from achieving that future, everything comes crashing down. Running into the town bad boy who she had a massive crush on in high school, while literally fleeing in her wedding dress, just might be the craziest thing to ever happen to her. Despite being away for 13 years, Jude has never forgot about Finlay. She had no idea that he was just as infatuated with her when they were younger, but he did not want to drag down her reputation. Now with a little boys future on the line, Finlay and Jude have to figure out if the risk is worth the reward.
Read this if you love:
💕 Runaway Bride
💕 Second Chance Romance
💕 Small Town
💕 Found Family
💕 Fake Engagement
I absolutely loved Jude's family and their entire dynamic. His mother passed away when he was 6 years old and as the oldest of four - one of whom was a newborn - he took on a lot of responsibility at a young age. It could have made him resentful of his siblings or his dad, but the bonds remained close. A stupid mistake as a teenager has kept him away from his hometown for 13 years. When his late best friend's son needs a guardian, Jude returns home but isn't sure how long he will be around. Reconnecting with his family and Finlay, and the bond he is building with a parentless little boy, he begins to wonder what kept him away for so long.
Finlay has lived her life making herself small to make her parents happy. It's not that they don't love her in their own way, but they are just not great parents. As she prepares to walk down the aisle, she has convinced herself that marking the items off her vision board are the key to happiness. It isn't until her wedding blows up in her face that she sees that she wasn't actually happy. Spending time with Jude's family, reconnecting with Jude and bonding with his new little boy - now those things make her happy. As much as she tries to protect her heart from the pain she knows is coming, Jude has always been the one for her.
I loved how supportive Jude and Finlay were for each other, but they also didn't hesitate to call the other out when needed. While this may have been my first book in the series, it certainly won't be the last. The set up for the next story had me instantly pre-ordering.
Thank you so much to Erika Kelly and Grey's Promo for the ARC of this story!
This is the first book in this series that I have read but this can definitely be read as a standalone. While this is technically the 15th book set in Calamity Falls, it is the first in the McKenna Brothers series. Finlay has had her future mapped out on a vision board since she was a teenager. And when she is moments away from achieving that future, everything comes crashing down. Running into the town bad boy who she had a massive crush on in high school, while literally fleeing in her wedding dress, just might be the craziest thing to ever happen to her. Despite being away for 13 years, Jude has never forgot about Finlay. She had no idea that he was just as infatuated with her when they were younger, but he did not want to drag down her reputation. Now with a little boys future on the line, Finlay and Jude have to figure out if the risk is worth the reward.
Read this if you love:
💕 Runaway Bride
💕 Second Chance Romance
💕 Small Town
💕 Found Family
💕 Fake Engagement
I absolutely loved Jude's family and their entire dynamic. His mother passed away when he was 6 years old and as the oldest of four - one of whom was a newborn - he took on a lot of responsibility at a young age. It could have made him resentful of his siblings or his dad, but the bonds remained close. A stupid mistake as a teenager has kept him away from his hometown for 13 years. When his late best friend's son needs a guardian, Jude returns home but isn't sure how long he will be around. Reconnecting with his family and Finlay, and the bond he is building with a parentless little boy, he begins to wonder what kept him away for so long.
Finlay has lived her life making herself small to make her parents happy. It's not that they don't love her in their own way, but they are just not great parents. As she prepares to walk down the aisle, she has convinced herself that marking the items off her vision board are the key to happiness. It isn't until her wedding blows up in her face that she sees that she wasn't actually happy. Spending time with Jude's family, reconnecting with Jude and bonding with his new little boy - now those things make her happy. As much as she tries to protect her heart from the pain she knows is coming, Jude has always been the one for her.
I loved how supportive Jude and Finlay were for each other, but they also didn't hesitate to call the other out when needed. While this may have been my first book in the series, it certainly won't be the last. The set up for the next story had me instantly pre-ordering.
Thank you so much to Erika Kelly and Grey's Promo for the ARC of this story!
November 18, 2025
Erika Kelly launches her Calamity Falls series with a warm, emotional, small-town romance full of second chances, childhood crushes, and the kind of healing only a tight-knit community can bring. Can’t Get Over You is tender, festive, and deeply satisfying—a love story about rewriting your past and choosing the life that truly fits.
Jude and Finlay grew up side-by-side in Calamity Falls—he, the misunderstood bad boy raised by the local biker club; she, the sweet and optimistic girl-next-door determined to follow the dreams on her carefully crafted vision board. They secretly adored each other as teens, but fear and circumstance kept them apart. When a misunderstanding—and a brush with the law—forced Jude out of town on prom night, their almost-love story ended before it ever had a chance to begin.
Twelve years later, their worlds collide at the exact moment everything in their lives is falling apart. Finlay walks out of her wedding after learning her fiancé has kept a massive secret from her. Jude is back in town to help Cody, the young son of his late friend, who’s suddenly in need of a guardian. When Finlay impulsively hops onto the back of Jude’s motorcycle, the two embark on a journey neither could have predicted.
What unfolds is a beautifully layered story about family, redemption, and the courage to start over. Jude, still carrying the weight of his past, is reluctant to take on guardianship of Cody—especially under the watchful eye of the same judge who once sentenced him to the Marines. But when Finlay boldly steps in and claims to be his fiancée to help their case, everything shifts. Their fake engagement becomes a fragile, hopeful bridge between who they once were and who they might become.
As they build a temporary home together—decorating for Christmas, navigating Cody’s fears, and reconnecting with Jude’s incredible family—the boundaries between “pretend” and “real” blur fast. Their chemistry is electric, their banter heart-melting, and their emotional growth so genuine that by the time they fall in love, it feels inevitable. Watching Jude embrace fatherhood and Finlay rediscover joy is as sweet as holiday magic.
Kelly weaves strong themes throughout:
✨ letting go of old shame
✨ rewriting childhood beliefs
✨ choosing the life you want—not the one you planned at 17
✨ finding family in unexpected places
Can’t Get Over You is a cozy, heartfelt romance with depth, charm, and a gorgeous sense of community. It’s a story about love, yes—but more importantly, about belonging, bravery, and the beauty of starting fresh. A perfect warm-and-fuzzy read for anyone who loves found family, holiday sparkle, and second chances that feel truly earned.
Jude and Finlay grew up side-by-side in Calamity Falls—he, the misunderstood bad boy raised by the local biker club; she, the sweet and optimistic girl-next-door determined to follow the dreams on her carefully crafted vision board. They secretly adored each other as teens, but fear and circumstance kept them apart. When a misunderstanding—and a brush with the law—forced Jude out of town on prom night, their almost-love story ended before it ever had a chance to begin.
Twelve years later, their worlds collide at the exact moment everything in their lives is falling apart. Finlay walks out of her wedding after learning her fiancé has kept a massive secret from her. Jude is back in town to help Cody, the young son of his late friend, who’s suddenly in need of a guardian. When Finlay impulsively hops onto the back of Jude’s motorcycle, the two embark on a journey neither could have predicted.
What unfolds is a beautifully layered story about family, redemption, and the courage to start over. Jude, still carrying the weight of his past, is reluctant to take on guardianship of Cody—especially under the watchful eye of the same judge who once sentenced him to the Marines. But when Finlay boldly steps in and claims to be his fiancée to help their case, everything shifts. Their fake engagement becomes a fragile, hopeful bridge between who they once were and who they might become.
As they build a temporary home together—decorating for Christmas, navigating Cody’s fears, and reconnecting with Jude’s incredible family—the boundaries between “pretend” and “real” blur fast. Their chemistry is electric, their banter heart-melting, and their emotional growth so genuine that by the time they fall in love, it feels inevitable. Watching Jude embrace fatherhood and Finlay rediscover joy is as sweet as holiday magic.
Kelly weaves strong themes throughout:
✨ letting go of old shame
✨ rewriting childhood beliefs
✨ choosing the life you want—not the one you planned at 17
✨ finding family in unexpected places
Can’t Get Over You is a cozy, heartfelt romance with depth, charm, and a gorgeous sense of community. It’s a story about love, yes—but more importantly, about belonging, bravery, and the beauty of starting fresh. A perfect warm-and-fuzzy read for anyone who loves found family, holiday sparkle, and second chances that feel truly earned.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2025
Wow, I was not expecting how much I enjoyed this series. This is my first book by this author and I think I’m hooked already, as these McKenna boys are amazing! I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Grey´s promotions for my honest opinion. All thoughts about the book are my own.
Jude grew up with a rough group of friends, in a small town. The quintessential bad boy, he was forced out of town and into the military, eventually getting a new lease on life, being around people who weren’t always expecting the worst of him. A surprise call forces him home, to the last place he ever thought he’d be again, trying to get custody of his late friend´s little boy. Finlay thought she was finally getting everything that she had manifested her life to be, until she found out the truth right before marrying the wrong man. Sometimes, what we think is supposed to be ¨right¨ is actually wrong for us. On her escape from the church Finlay bumps into the original ¨man of her dreams,¨ who rides a steel horse, instead of a living one (just picture Bon Jovi ¨Wanted Dead or Alive¨ vibes, because I am). Now I know, a fake engagement, days after walking out of her wedding seems a little bit (okay a large bit) crazy, but the chemistry between Finlay and Jude is undeniable, especially given their history. It’s more of a second chance than anything.
I’m honestly going to say that I was not prepared for all the emotions that this book brought out in me. The made family of Finlay, Jude and little Cody was too precious for words, but the found family of the McKenna’s as a whole for Finlay is really what is amazing. These ¨bad boys¨are so much more they’ve been getting credit for. Jude, especially, is just the perfect amount of emotional mixed with strong alpha vibes. The way he supports Finlay and Cody is amazing, helping Finley ¨unfurl¨ from the tightly wound up person she had become. Finlay is also a strong female main character, accepting Jude and all his faults, seemingly balancing him perfectly. The way they support each other is truly amazing.
This is part of a small town collection from the author, but it the first in the McKenna brothers series. There is a whole slew of amazing characters, including the brothers, their dad, Finlay´s friend Willa, but most especially little Cody. This cocoa loving little boy is truly adorable.
The book has a good blend of humor, spice, and emotions, making it a quick read that has me hoping the next book comes out soon. 5 stars.
Jude grew up with a rough group of friends, in a small town. The quintessential bad boy, he was forced out of town and into the military, eventually getting a new lease on life, being around people who weren’t always expecting the worst of him. A surprise call forces him home, to the last place he ever thought he’d be again, trying to get custody of his late friend´s little boy. Finlay thought she was finally getting everything that she had manifested her life to be, until she found out the truth right before marrying the wrong man. Sometimes, what we think is supposed to be ¨right¨ is actually wrong for us. On her escape from the church Finlay bumps into the original ¨man of her dreams,¨ who rides a steel horse, instead of a living one (just picture Bon Jovi ¨Wanted Dead or Alive¨ vibes, because I am). Now I know, a fake engagement, days after walking out of her wedding seems a little bit (okay a large bit) crazy, but the chemistry between Finlay and Jude is undeniable, especially given their history. It’s more of a second chance than anything.
I’m honestly going to say that I was not prepared for all the emotions that this book brought out in me. The made family of Finlay, Jude and little Cody was too precious for words, but the found family of the McKenna’s as a whole for Finlay is really what is amazing. These ¨bad boys¨are so much more they’ve been getting credit for. Jude, especially, is just the perfect amount of emotional mixed with strong alpha vibes. The way he supports Finlay and Cody is amazing, helping Finley ¨unfurl¨ from the tightly wound up person she had become. Finlay is also a strong female main character, accepting Jude and all his faults, seemingly balancing him perfectly. The way they support each other is truly amazing.
This is part of a small town collection from the author, but it the first in the McKenna brothers series. There is a whole slew of amazing characters, including the brothers, their dad, Finlay´s friend Willa, but most especially little Cody. This cocoa loving little boy is truly adorable.
The book has a good blend of humor, spice, and emotions, making it a quick read that has me hoping the next book comes out soon. 5 stars.
October 10, 2025
A runaway bride, a reformed rebel, and a love that feels unshakeably real
4.5 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️
Can’t Get Over You by Erika Kelly is the kind of book that sneaks up on you: warm, emotional, and quietly devastating in all the best ways. It’s the first in her new McKenna Brothers series, and if this installment is any indication, readers are in for a heartfelt, slow-burn ride packed with chemistry, vulnerability, and second chances.
The story kicks off with Finlay O’Neill, a picture-perfect bride who realises, just moments before saying “I do”, that she’s about to marry the wrong man. Enter Jude McKenna, her former high school crush and the town’s reformed bad boy, who just happens to be in the right (or wrong) place at the right time. What starts as a runaway getaway turns into a beautifully tangled fake engagement that forces both characters to face what they truly want out of life, and who they want beside them.
Erika Kelly’s writing is immaculate: cinematic, emotional, and brimming with heart. Even though it’s told in third-person POV, it still feels intimate and deeply personal. Every page pulses with longing, hope, and redemption. The chemistry between Finlay and Jude? Off the charts. But what makes this story special isn’t just the steam; it’s the tenderness, the quiet understanding between two people who’ve been circling each other for years without ever finding the right moment to collide.
The emotional beats hit hard, especially as both characters navigate loss, identity, and the idea of what “home” really means. I found myself laughing, tearing up, and swooning sometimes all within the same chapter.
As my first Erika Kelly book, I can safely say it won’t be my last. If her previous novels carry even a fraction of the heart this one does, I’m all in.
A heartfelt, beautifully written romance full of emotional depth, sizzling chemistry, and genuine character growth. Can’t Get Over You is more than a love story: it’s a story about belonging, healing, and finding the courage to choose happiness on your own terms.
Thank you to Grey’s Promotions for the e-ARC, and huge congratulations to Erika Kelly on the upcoming release (October 16th). This book deserves every bit of the success that’s coming its way. 💕
4.5 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️
Can’t Get Over You by Erika Kelly is the kind of book that sneaks up on you: warm, emotional, and quietly devastating in all the best ways. It’s the first in her new McKenna Brothers series, and if this installment is any indication, readers are in for a heartfelt, slow-burn ride packed with chemistry, vulnerability, and second chances.
The story kicks off with Finlay O’Neill, a picture-perfect bride who realises, just moments before saying “I do”, that she’s about to marry the wrong man. Enter Jude McKenna, her former high school crush and the town’s reformed bad boy, who just happens to be in the right (or wrong) place at the right time. What starts as a runaway getaway turns into a beautifully tangled fake engagement that forces both characters to face what they truly want out of life, and who they want beside them.
Erika Kelly’s writing is immaculate: cinematic, emotional, and brimming with heart. Even though it’s told in third-person POV, it still feels intimate and deeply personal. Every page pulses with longing, hope, and redemption. The chemistry between Finlay and Jude? Off the charts. But what makes this story special isn’t just the steam; it’s the tenderness, the quiet understanding between two people who’ve been circling each other for years without ever finding the right moment to collide.
The emotional beats hit hard, especially as both characters navigate loss, identity, and the idea of what “home” really means. I found myself laughing, tearing up, and swooning sometimes all within the same chapter.
As my first Erika Kelly book, I can safely say it won’t be my last. If her previous novels carry even a fraction of the heart this one does, I’m all in.
A heartfelt, beautifully written romance full of emotional depth, sizzling chemistry, and genuine character growth. Can’t Get Over You is more than a love story: it’s a story about belonging, healing, and finding the courage to choose happiness on your own terms.
Thank you to Grey’s Promotions for the e-ARC, and huge congratulations to Erika Kelly on the upcoming release (October 16th). This book deserves every bit of the success that’s coming its way. 💕
October 13, 2025
“It was you twelve years ago, and it’s you today.”
Can’t Get Over You is a breathtakingly beautiful, emotionally resonant story that completely swept me off my feet. From the very first page, I was hooked—devouring every word, every moment, every heartbeat of this unforgettable journey. Finley, Jude, and little Cody aren’t just characters on a page; they feel like real people whose lives I was lucky enough to step into. Their story is messy, complicated, and achingly human—and I loved every second of it.
“I don’t shrivel when I’m with you. I unfurl.”
Jude and Finley stole my heart. Jude sees himself as damaged, unworthy, and haunted by his past—but beneath that tough exterior is a man with a heart of gold. He’s fiercely protective, endlessly kind, and he sees Finley in a way no one else ever has. He encourages her, believes in her, and gives her the space to be fully herself. And Finley? She’s strong, compassionate, and brave enough to walk away from a life that didn’t feel right. She stands by Jude when others only see the boy he used to be, not the man he’s become. Together, they bring out the best in each other—and their love story is as swoony as it is soul-stirring.
“You were my peace. My quiet place.”
And then there’s Cody—sweet, lovable Cody—who adds so much heart and warmth to the story. Watching the three of them slowly become a family was pure magic. Their dynamic is tender, funny, and deeply moving.
“She quieted him. With her, he knew he could get through anything.”
Can’t Get Over You is packed with angst, heartache, healing, and hope. It’s a story about second chances, found family, and the kind of love that makes you believe in forever. The emotional depth, the chemistry, the slow-burn romance—it all comes together in a way that lingers long after the final page.
“There’s nothing better in this world than being with someone who loves me for who I am and encourages me to be my whole self.”
I’m completely in love with the McKenna brothers, and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the series. If you’re looking for a romance that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you smiling through tears, this one’s a must-read.
Can’t Get Over You is a breathtakingly beautiful, emotionally resonant story that completely swept me off my feet. From the very first page, I was hooked—devouring every word, every moment, every heartbeat of this unforgettable journey. Finley, Jude, and little Cody aren’t just characters on a page; they feel like real people whose lives I was lucky enough to step into. Their story is messy, complicated, and achingly human—and I loved every second of it.
“I don’t shrivel when I’m with you. I unfurl.”
Jude and Finley stole my heart. Jude sees himself as damaged, unworthy, and haunted by his past—but beneath that tough exterior is a man with a heart of gold. He’s fiercely protective, endlessly kind, and he sees Finley in a way no one else ever has. He encourages her, believes in her, and gives her the space to be fully herself. And Finley? She’s strong, compassionate, and brave enough to walk away from a life that didn’t feel right. She stands by Jude when others only see the boy he used to be, not the man he’s become. Together, they bring out the best in each other—and their love story is as swoony as it is soul-stirring.
“You were my peace. My quiet place.”
And then there’s Cody—sweet, lovable Cody—who adds so much heart and warmth to the story. Watching the three of them slowly become a family was pure magic. Their dynamic is tender, funny, and deeply moving.
“She quieted him. With her, he knew he could get through anything.”
Can’t Get Over You is packed with angst, heartache, healing, and hope. It’s a story about second chances, found family, and the kind of love that makes you believe in forever. The emotional depth, the chemistry, the slow-burn romance—it all comes together in a way that lingers long after the final page.
“There’s nothing better in this world than being with someone who loves me for who I am and encourages me to be my whole self.”
I’m completely in love with the McKenna brothers, and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the series. If you’re looking for a romance that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you smiling through tears, this one’s a must-read.
October 16, 2025
Finlay, Jude and little Cody have stolen my heart and refuse to give it back! He is the bad boy with a sweet and vulnerable side that few people get to see. From the age of six, he has learned to be tough, to hide his emotions and to step up to protect the people he cares about. As a teenager, he had a fierce crush on Finlay. He blew his chance to become more than friends with her when he let his loyalty to a friend derail his plans with her. He left town soon afterwards and hasn’t been back in the twelve years since. Now, Jude has returned to town to help the young son of his late friend, but also manages to help runaway bride Finlay escape her groom and her wedding. She later surprises him by announcing they are engaged when the judge he has faced in his past seems set on denying his request for temporary custody of young Cody.
The fake engagement may only be for the six weeks he has custody of Cody, but the feelings they have for each other are very real. Neither Finlay nor Jude has ever been able to get over their crush on the other that started when they were teenagers. Strangely enough, both Finlay and Jude don’t think they’re good enough for the other. He believes his bad boy reputation will taint her. In Finlay’s experience, no one has ever put her first or loved her as she is. She believes that romantic love is not meant for her. Can these two let go of the fears, doubts and pain of the past to find a way forward together?
I loved the banter, the heated tension between Finlay and Jude and the way they truly see each other. They encourage and support each other, and don’t try to hide behind the facades they wear in public when they are together. She brings out his sweet and vulnerable side, while he sets her wild and naughty side free. I loved Jude’s loud, boisterousness and very competitive siblings. His whole family eagerly enfolds both Cody and Finlay, showing them the unconditional love and support they have had very little of in the past. Young Cody melts my heart with his sweetness and eagerness to belong and to be loved. He is so easy to love, as are Finlay and Jude.
I wholeheartedly recommend this poignant and thoughtful book.
The fake engagement may only be for the six weeks he has custody of Cody, but the feelings they have for each other are very real. Neither Finlay nor Jude has ever been able to get over their crush on the other that started when they were teenagers. Strangely enough, both Finlay and Jude don’t think they’re good enough for the other. He believes his bad boy reputation will taint her. In Finlay’s experience, no one has ever put her first or loved her as she is. She believes that romantic love is not meant for her. Can these two let go of the fears, doubts and pain of the past to find a way forward together?
I loved the banter, the heated tension between Finlay and Jude and the way they truly see each other. They encourage and support each other, and don’t try to hide behind the facades they wear in public when they are together. She brings out his sweet and vulnerable side, while he sets her wild and naughty side free. I loved Jude’s loud, boisterousness and very competitive siblings. His whole family eagerly enfolds both Cody and Finlay, showing them the unconditional love and support they have had very little of in the past. Young Cody melts my heart with his sweetness and eagerness to belong and to be loved. He is so easy to love, as are Finlay and Jude.
I wholeheartedly recommend this poignant and thoughtful book.
October 23, 2025
Well we'll the prodigal son returned to Calamity Falls Jude McKenna left long ago and never wanted to look back or return he joined the Marines started over away from his troubled past and everyone who ever judged him but when he left the military he decided to do something different rehab bars make them come alive again then he gets a call his friends son needs him his bestfriend Marco is gone and for six weeks while the grandfather is in the hospital he needs a guardian so Jude returns home but it isn't going to be easy when everyone remembers who he was not who he is. Finley had a sad cold childhood with parents that were more concerned with themselves and less with her she decided to be perfect at everything except for that one time in Highschool but after that dissasterous event she's learned to imagine the perfect life and made it happen she wants the family she never had with the perfect husband and the perfect white picket fence until her wedding day arrives and her fiance turns into a liar so Finley has her own Julia Robert's moment and becomes a Runnaway Bride and who gives her the escape she so desperately needs Jude her long time crush and the very guy who stood her up for prom but he needs her and she needs escape from everything she thought she needed or new. Jude has always wanted Finley but never felt good enough he was raised in a biker club with his brothers and he always managed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time he didn't exactly make the best decisions or mix with the best people and 18 year old boys can always find trouble and now that he's back the local judge just sees that 18 year old bad boy with no stability until Finley steps in and says there engaged. This book is funny a little sad but the way Finley and Jude grow and find away to be together finally after so many years isn't easy but it's worth it and the spicy scenes the tattoos didn't hurt the plot much either so I'm wondering what's next for the McKenna family Calamity Falls has no shortage of swoon worth bad boys. I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via GreysPromotion and this is my honest review.
October 24, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book 1 in the new McKenna brothers series in Calamity Fall.
After meeting the family I am so invested in this series already.
Finlay O’Neill and Jude McKenna were opposite. He was the biker that got in trouble and she was the quite girl that had her life all planned out. She wanted the white picket fence and a big family. It makes sense, seeing how she grew up. But both of them have crushed on each other since their teen years. However he leaves at 18 and never came back,until now. For a man who didn't think he deserved or cut out to be a family man, finds himself with a insecure and sweet 4 Yr old and a fake fiancée.
Finlay and Jude were destined to be together and fate had put them together just at the right time. He is back for a little boy and on the way a runaway bride asked for a lift.
Character growth for both of them was beautiful to see. Both working through their own insecurities and life goals. I also like how honest they both were about their past and present. It's refreshing to see. However doubt and insecurities do creep up.
I loved his family, his dad, brothers and Ava their lifelong nanny. The way they have each others back and just turn up made me cry a few times. So heartwarming. Now they have a battle to prove he is worthy to adopt Cody and he wants to show Finlay how much he loves her. Wow, the things he does to make up for past is super duper sweet. I enjoyed the Christmassy events and overall festive feeling.
Will Finlay see that it's OK to not follow a plan? Accept how true Jude's love is for her? Can they win the case, knowing the judge isn't a fan of Jude?
A lot of issues but the love that family radiates is hard to fight.
I did hope Ava and Gunner would have got together in the later years. They both deserve it. Now I can't wait for Willa's (Finlay's bestie) story.
This is told in Dual 3rd POV, but the way Erika writes it I don't mind and enjoy her books.
"There will always be an us. There’s no world where Jude and Finlay aren’t living in it as one."
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book 1 in the new McKenna brothers series in Calamity Fall.
After meeting the family I am so invested in this series already.
Finlay O’Neill and Jude McKenna were opposite. He was the biker that got in trouble and she was the quite girl that had her life all planned out. She wanted the white picket fence and a big family. It makes sense, seeing how she grew up. But both of them have crushed on each other since their teen years. However he leaves at 18 and never came back,until now. For a man who didn't think he deserved or cut out to be a family man, finds himself with a insecure and sweet 4 Yr old and a fake fiancée.
Finlay and Jude were destined to be together and fate had put them together just at the right time. He is back for a little boy and on the way a runaway bride asked for a lift.
Character growth for both of them was beautiful to see. Both working through their own insecurities and life goals. I also like how honest they both were about their past and present. It's refreshing to see. However doubt and insecurities do creep up.
I loved his family, his dad, brothers and Ava their lifelong nanny. The way they have each others back and just turn up made me cry a few times. So heartwarming. Now they have a battle to prove he is worthy to adopt Cody and he wants to show Finlay how much he loves her. Wow, the things he does to make up for past is super duper sweet. I enjoyed the Christmassy events and overall festive feeling.
Will Finlay see that it's OK to not follow a plan? Accept how true Jude's love is for her? Can they win the case, knowing the judge isn't a fan of Jude?
A lot of issues but the love that family radiates is hard to fight.
I did hope Ava and Gunner would have got together in the later years. They both deserve it. Now I can't wait for Willa's (Finlay's bestie) story.
This is told in Dual 3rd POV, but the way Erika writes it I don't mind and enjoy her books.
"There will always be an us. There’s no world where Jude and Finlay aren’t living in it as one."
October 19, 2025
Small town romance
I loved returning to Calamity Falls for book#1 in Erika Kelly's new series, The McKenna Brothers . CAN'T GET OVER YOU is a single dad, fake engagement, forced proximity, small town romance which was beautifully written and heartwarming.
Finley O'Neill began a vision board for her life when she was a teenager, slowly everything on that board was realized. The last step was marrying the perfect man, what she didn't expect was for a simple birthday card to change everything and shatter all her illusions. Running from her wedding the last person she expects to run into is Jude McKenna. Jude, once given the title of Calamity's "bad boy", has returned home after receiving a phone from Cody, a four-year-old little boy who needs his help.
Finley and Jude both had a crush on each other when they were teenagers but neither knew the other's feelings. Life separated them, and now life had brought them back together. Will they see second chance they have been given a way to bring the happiness and love they both deserve into their lives? I loved their banter, the chemistry which sizzled between them and the constant support and encouragement they gave each other. It was the love and care they gave to little Cody which really had me sighing, they welcomed him into their lives as if he was always meant to be there. Would the three of them be able to become the family they always desired?
CAN'T GET OVER YOU focused on family, and what a family the McKenna's are! The McKenna men certainly have each other's backs and definitely enjoy constantly teasing each other. Their relationships were certainly centered around looking out for and loving each other. Finley's best friend Willa was a riot; she's the best friend every girl should have in her life. I can't wait for more stories in this series.
Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction
✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE STARS
I loved returning to Calamity Falls for book#1 in Erika Kelly's new series, The McKenna Brothers . CAN'T GET OVER YOU is a single dad, fake engagement, forced proximity, small town romance which was beautifully written and heartwarming.
Finley O'Neill began a vision board for her life when she was a teenager, slowly everything on that board was realized. The last step was marrying the perfect man, what she didn't expect was for a simple birthday card to change everything and shatter all her illusions. Running from her wedding the last person she expects to run into is Jude McKenna. Jude, once given the title of Calamity's "bad boy", has returned home after receiving a phone from Cody, a four-year-old little boy who needs his help.
Finley and Jude both had a crush on each other when they were teenagers but neither knew the other's feelings. Life separated them, and now life had brought them back together. Will they see second chance they have been given a way to bring the happiness and love they both deserve into their lives? I loved their banter, the chemistry which sizzled between them and the constant support and encouragement they gave each other. It was the love and care they gave to little Cody which really had me sighing, they welcomed him into their lives as if he was always meant to be there. Would the three of them be able to become the family they always desired?
CAN'T GET OVER YOU focused on family, and what a family the McKenna's are! The McKenna men certainly have each other's backs and definitely enjoy constantly teasing each other. Their relationships were certainly centered around looking out for and loving each other. Finley's best friend Willa was a riot; she's the best friend every girl should have in her life. I can't wait for more stories in this series.
Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction
✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE STARS
October 24, 2025
I loved everything about this book. Erica Kelly brought together two people who couldn’t be more different. Finley grew up without feeling the love she longed for from a two-parent household, and that missing piece gave her a warped idea of what she wanted her life to look like. The lack of attention in her childhood made her determined to plan every detail of her future. She had vision boards from a young age, carefully mapping out the life she thought she should have.
Jude, on the other hand, grew up in an MC and was labeled a troublemaker early on. He ran with the wrong crowd, got into trouble, and eventually had to leave town. Over the years, Jude worked hard to leave his past behind and become the man he wanted to be. In many ways, it felt like he was trying to become someone worthy of Finley, even though he never truly believed he could have a life with her.
When Finley’s perfectly planned world falls apart and she crosses paths with her old high school crush, everything changes. Her future takes a completely different turn, forcing her to face what she really wants out of life.
Jude, Finley, and Cody embark on a new journey that shows how even the best-laid plans can fall apart, and that life rarely goes the way we expect.
Although it seemed like Finley and Jude fell in love quickly, when you’ve loved someone since high school, and those feelings finally come to light, maybe your soulmate really is your soulmate. I loved how they healed each other. Each of them carried childhood wounds, and while their pain was different, it created a bond that helped them grow and heal together.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.
Jude, on the other hand, grew up in an MC and was labeled a troublemaker early on. He ran with the wrong crowd, got into trouble, and eventually had to leave town. Over the years, Jude worked hard to leave his past behind and become the man he wanted to be. In many ways, it felt like he was trying to become someone worthy of Finley, even though he never truly believed he could have a life with her.
When Finley’s perfectly planned world falls apart and she crosses paths with her old high school crush, everything changes. Her future takes a completely different turn, forcing her to face what she really wants out of life.
Jude, Finley, and Cody embark on a new journey that shows how even the best-laid plans can fall apart, and that life rarely goes the way we expect.
Although it seemed like Finley and Jude fell in love quickly, when you’ve loved someone since high school, and those feelings finally come to light, maybe your soulmate really is your soulmate. I loved how they healed each other. Each of them carried childhood wounds, and while their pain was different, it created a bond that helped them grow and heal together.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.
October 12, 2025
Thank you to greys promotions and Erika Kelly for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest and non-spoiler review!
First off, I feel like I have to say that this is my first ever Erika Kelly book and I am kind of kicking myself, wondering why I haven’t read any of her other books before. Can’t Get Over You follows the story of Finlay and Jude McKenna. When I think of Finlay and Jude, I think of “right person, wrong time” especially when they were friends early on in their lives. At the time, Finlay had her whole life planned out while Jude never once envisioned a typical cozy future. As time goes by and they find themselves meeting up once again, only this time with Finlay being a runaway bride, the two of them are thrust into a situation of having to work together in order to win custody of Cody, who is the son of Jude’s late friend Marco.
Their impromptu reunion soon turns into a fake engagement where both Jude and Finlay have to come together and work out what they truly wish their lives to be like, especially now that Cody is involved. Jude and Finlay are some of the strongest characters I’ve met, especially with the way they handle things such as loss and figuring out what they truly want in life. I also really loved how Jude and Finlay truly understood one another. Even if they didn’t quite know what to say, they still were each other’s comfort and safety net. The message I got from this book and from Jude and Finlay is to always choose my own happiness and that is something I will never forget.
First off, I feel like I have to say that this is my first ever Erika Kelly book and I am kind of kicking myself, wondering why I haven’t read any of her other books before. Can’t Get Over You follows the story of Finlay and Jude McKenna. When I think of Finlay and Jude, I think of “right person, wrong time” especially when they were friends early on in their lives. At the time, Finlay had her whole life planned out while Jude never once envisioned a typical cozy future. As time goes by and they find themselves meeting up once again, only this time with Finlay being a runaway bride, the two of them are thrust into a situation of having to work together in order to win custody of Cody, who is the son of Jude’s late friend Marco.
Their impromptu reunion soon turns into a fake engagement where both Jude and Finlay have to come together and work out what they truly wish their lives to be like, especially now that Cody is involved. Jude and Finlay are some of the strongest characters I’ve met, especially with the way they handle things such as loss and figuring out what they truly want in life. I also really loved how Jude and Finlay truly understood one another. Even if they didn’t quite know what to say, they still were each other’s comfort and safety net. The message I got from this book and from Jude and Finlay is to always choose my own happiness and that is something I will never forget.
October 16, 2025
Welcome back to Calamity! When Finlay O'Neill was in high school she had a crush on Jude McKenna, the 'bad boy' of Calamity. What Finlay doesn't realize is that Jude has felt the same way about her too. Wherever there was trouble, Jude and his friend Marco and their crew were probably close by. Finlay was brought up by her parents in two separate households, each equally as lonely as the other; her mother worked all shifts and her father was always socializing and partying. This left Finlay wishing for a stable life, and planning her future on her vision boards. When Finlay gets to the alter she realizes she can't marry her 'vision board' man and runs from her wedding, right onto the back of Jude McKenna's motorbike. Jude is back in Calamity after twelve years of "running" from the towns people after his friend's son needs a guardian for six weeks, but the judge remembers Jude from his earlier shenanigans and only Finlay stepping in and proclaiming that she is Jude's fiancee ensures that the little boy, Cody, has a place to live. How can Finlay and Jude survive six weeks in the same house, with chemistry sizzling and the whole McKenna clan embracing her as theirs.
This is another winner from Ms. Kelly. The writing is amazing, the banter with his brothers, the love that shines from the pages and the chemistry that sizzles really bring this story to life. And of course, Cody steals the show, his emotions tug at your heartstrings and make you want to wrap him in a big hug. Calamity Falls is back!
This is another winner from Ms. Kelly. The writing is amazing, the banter with his brothers, the love that shines from the pages and the chemistry that sizzles really bring this story to life. And of course, Cody steals the show, his emotions tug at your heartstrings and make you want to wrap him in a big hug. Calamity Falls is back!
October 20, 2025
4
Finlay and Jude are from the same small town and grew up together. However, Jude longed to get away from the town’s view of him, and Finlay wanted to stay to have the family she missed out on growing up. Jude knew how Finlay felt about him, but what if he felt the same too? Finlay asked Jude to prom, but he stood her up. The story starts years later, when Finlay is getting ready to have the life she always wanted with the dream husband and house. However, the vision has gone awry. Leaving her wedding, she runs into Jude who has just returned to town. Needing an escape, she hops on his bike and is ready for a change. Jude is returning home with no plans of staying. That changes when he meets Cody, his old best friends son. He needs someone to care for him, but can Jude step up to the task? He knows his family will have his back, but what about the rest of the town? Will they still view him as the lost teen? Finlay is a teacher at Cody’s school, and she is determined to make his life easier. So much so, that she says she is engaged to Jude at a hearing for Cody. She has to move in with Jude and Cody: has she just made a substitution on her dream, especially as the 3 of them form a bond over the holidays? They have all experienced a large amount of life changes in a very short period of time, and that is bound to blow up. Will the reality be better than the dream? I love how Jude’s family was so welcoming to Cody, with the hot chocolate and snow games. This isn’t the last time we’ll be seeing this family.
ARC Review 🩵
Finlay and Jude are from the same small town and grew up together. However, Jude longed to get away from the town’s view of him, and Finlay wanted to stay to have the family she missed out on growing up. Jude knew how Finlay felt about him, but what if he felt the same too? Finlay asked Jude to prom, but he stood her up. The story starts years later, when Finlay is getting ready to have the life she always wanted with the dream husband and house. However, the vision has gone awry. Leaving her wedding, she runs into Jude who has just returned to town. Needing an escape, she hops on his bike and is ready for a change. Jude is returning home with no plans of staying. That changes when he meets Cody, his old best friends son. He needs someone to care for him, but can Jude step up to the task? He knows his family will have his back, but what about the rest of the town? Will they still view him as the lost teen? Finlay is a teacher at Cody’s school, and she is determined to make his life easier. So much so, that she says she is engaged to Jude at a hearing for Cody. She has to move in with Jude and Cody: has she just made a substitution on her dream, especially as the 3 of them form a bond over the holidays? They have all experienced a large amount of life changes in a very short period of time, and that is bound to blow up. Will the reality be better than the dream? I love how Jude’s family was so welcoming to Cody, with the hot chocolate and snow games. This isn’t the last time we’ll be seeing this family.
ARC Review 🩵
October 23, 2025
Easy, Cozy and Romance with character’s you can’t help but adore!!
Can’t get over you is a second chance romance between Finlay and Jude, who are attracted towards each other since high school but due to certain circumstances, are unable to be with each other because of some things that happens creating certain misunderstanding between them.
Finlay, after gathering courage asked his high school crush Jude to go to prom with her, Jude who unknown to Finlay is equally attracted towards her agrees. On the day, he prepares himself for a romantic night ahead, was on his way to pick Finlay for prom suddenly receives call from one of his best friends, Marco who pleads Jude to come and save them from some issue, between his friend and Finlay, Jude chooses to save his friend. But for some reason, cuts off every contact with his friends and moves-on with his life.
But after 12 years he gets a call from Marco’s son, who tells him that his dad who has died has asked him to call Jude if he needs anything, decides to come back to his hometown where he again meets Finlay, who is getting married to someone else and then starts an old romance and feelings which both had buried deep inside them.
The book overall, is very adorable, simple and relatable. Both Jude’s and Finlay character doesn’t feel too much fictious and feels very relatable and intriguing. Their romance is hot and sweet, both at same time. It forms very sweet equilibrium between steamy moments to moments that leaves you giggling.
Can’t get over you is a second chance romance between Finlay and Jude, who are attracted towards each other since high school but due to certain circumstances, are unable to be with each other because of some things that happens creating certain misunderstanding between them.
Finlay, after gathering courage asked his high school crush Jude to go to prom with her, Jude who unknown to Finlay is equally attracted towards her agrees. On the day, he prepares himself for a romantic night ahead, was on his way to pick Finlay for prom suddenly receives call from one of his best friends, Marco who pleads Jude to come and save them from some issue, between his friend and Finlay, Jude chooses to save his friend. But for some reason, cuts off every contact with his friends and moves-on with his life.
But after 12 years he gets a call from Marco’s son, who tells him that his dad who has died has asked him to call Jude if he needs anything, decides to come back to his hometown where he again meets Finlay, who is getting married to someone else and then starts an old romance and feelings which both had buried deep inside them.
The book overall, is very adorable, simple and relatable. Both Jude’s and Finlay character doesn’t feel too much fictious and feels very relatable and intriguing. Their romance is hot and sweet, both at same time. It forms very sweet equilibrium between steamy moments to moments that leaves you giggling.
October 24, 2025
ARC Review
I went into this book blind! I guessed it was a second chance trope from the title but that's not quite the story.
Finlay and Jude grew up together and were friends as kids. Each harbored a crush for the other but had their own reasons for not pursuing the other.
The day of prom, Jude "rescues" Finlay from a raccoon and she impulsively asks him to take her to the prom. He reluctantly agrees, goes home and gets ready. On his way to pick her up he gets a call from a friend saying that they need a ride and the cops are after them. Jude goes to get them and leaves Finlay waiting on the sidewalk.
Twelve years later Finlay is dressed and walking down the aisle toward the man who is going to give her her dream house and 2.5 kids. Only...he's been keeping a secret. Before she takes her vows she calls him on it.
Now a runaway bride who just happens to pull up at the red light? That's right....Jude. Finally in the right place at the right time, he picks her up.
Jude is home because a childhood friend's 5 year old calls and asks for help.
Now this story is about a little boy who needs a guardian, a burly, bearded, bad-boy biker who can't walk away from him and the girl next door teacher he's always loved and can't imagine his life without.
I read this book in a day! I literally could not put it down. So now I have a stack of dirty dishes and laundry piling up and it's all Erika Kelly's fault!
I guess once my house is cleaned I'll be going back to Calamity Falls to read up on the rest of the town!!
I went into this book blind! I guessed it was a second chance trope from the title but that's not quite the story.
Finlay and Jude grew up together and were friends as kids. Each harbored a crush for the other but had their own reasons for not pursuing the other.
The day of prom, Jude "rescues" Finlay from a raccoon and she impulsively asks him to take her to the prom. He reluctantly agrees, goes home and gets ready. On his way to pick her up he gets a call from a friend saying that they need a ride and the cops are after them. Jude goes to get them and leaves Finlay waiting on the sidewalk.
Twelve years later Finlay is dressed and walking down the aisle toward the man who is going to give her her dream house and 2.5 kids. Only...he's been keeping a secret. Before she takes her vows she calls him on it.
Now a runaway bride who just happens to pull up at the red light? That's right....Jude. Finally in the right place at the right time, he picks her up.
Jude is home because a childhood friend's 5 year old calls and asks for help.
Now this story is about a little boy who needs a guardian, a burly, bearded, bad-boy biker who can't walk away from him and the girl next door teacher he's always loved and can't imagine his life without.
I read this book in a day! I literally could not put it down. So now I have a stack of dirty dishes and laundry piling up and it's all Erika Kelly's fault!
I guess once my house is cleaned I'll be going back to Calamity Falls to read up on the rest of the town!!
October 10, 2025
📚: Can’t Get Over You by Erika Kelly
Tropes:
👉 Fake Engagement
👉 Small Town
👉 Single Dad
TWs 😟: Runaway Bride, fiance has a secret child
Main Takeaway 🏹: Erika is rapidly becoming my favorite author
Synopsis 📜: She’s got it all—but none of it’s real.
Finlay O'Neill is about to marry the man who’ll make her dreams come true. There’s just one problem… He’s the wrong man. The runaway bride finds herself with an unexpected getaway driver: her bad-boy high school crush.
Jude McKenna’s come home to win custody of his late best friend’s son, but who’s going to let a single, tattooed bartender adopt a little boy? Fortunately, fate drops the town’s good girl right into his lap—or at least on the back of his bike.
A fake engagement seems like the perfect solution—as long as Finlay doesn’t start believing the lie. Because Jude’s all about the open road, and she’ll never let go of her white picket fence dreams.
But, just maybe, he can show her how to break the rules while she teaches him what a real home feels like.
Personal Thoughts 🤔: This is my second Erika Kelly book and, just like her last book, I could NOT put my Kindle down! Jude and Finley were a dream to read! Their chemistry was insane and Cody couldn’t have been cuter! I wish Jude’s inner monologue hadn’t referred to Cody as “the boy” every time he was referenced but I can look past that because the story is so damn good!!
Tropes:
👉 Fake Engagement
👉 Small Town
👉 Single Dad
TWs 😟: Runaway Bride, fiance has a secret child
Main Takeaway 🏹: Erika is rapidly becoming my favorite author
Synopsis 📜: She’s got it all—but none of it’s real.
Finlay O'Neill is about to marry the man who’ll make her dreams come true. There’s just one problem… He’s the wrong man. The runaway bride finds herself with an unexpected getaway driver: her bad-boy high school crush.
Jude McKenna’s come home to win custody of his late best friend’s son, but who’s going to let a single, tattooed bartender adopt a little boy? Fortunately, fate drops the town’s good girl right into his lap—or at least on the back of his bike.
A fake engagement seems like the perfect solution—as long as Finlay doesn’t start believing the lie. Because Jude’s all about the open road, and she’ll never let go of her white picket fence dreams.
But, just maybe, he can show her how to break the rules while she teaches him what a real home feels like.
Personal Thoughts 🤔: This is my second Erika Kelly book and, just like her last book, I could NOT put my Kindle down! Jude and Finley were a dream to read! Their chemistry was insane and Cody couldn’t have been cuter! I wish Jude’s inner monologue hadn’t referred to Cody as “the boy” every time he was referenced but I can look past that because the story is so damn good!!
October 12, 2025
This story will grab you by your heart strings. Not just by Jude and Finlay but the little boy Cody who has had his life turned upside down. The emotions, being scared, happy and sad but also laughing out loud especially at the McKenna brothers. This book has it all.
Finlay O'Neill and Jude McKenna have known each other since they were 11 and 14 and each has crushed on the other without them knowing. "You've owned my heart since I was eleven. It doesn't feel new at all. It's inevitable."
Finlay has always had a vision board of what she wants in life. She's getting ready to walk down the aisle and get married until she learns some information about her soon to be groom that has her running from the church, grabbing a ride on the back of a motorcycle that's being driven by Jude McKenna, her high school crush.
Jude is back in Calamity Falls to help out an old friend that died to take care of his five year old son. It's been twelve years since he left town after an incident happened. He's always been looked at as one of the group of boys that got in trouble all the time even though it wasn't necessarily true.
But what chance does he have in getting custody with that kind of reputation? Enter Finlay who tells the judge they are engaged.
"In a thousand lifetimes, I would only ever choose you."
5 stars
You will fall in love with the whole McKenna family along with Ava and Willa.
The epilogue and bonus scene was great! Now bring on Decker!
Finlay O'Neill and Jude McKenna have known each other since they were 11 and 14 and each has crushed on the other without them knowing. "You've owned my heart since I was eleven. It doesn't feel new at all. It's inevitable."
Finlay has always had a vision board of what she wants in life. She's getting ready to walk down the aisle and get married until she learns some information about her soon to be groom that has her running from the church, grabbing a ride on the back of a motorcycle that's being driven by Jude McKenna, her high school crush.
Jude is back in Calamity Falls to help out an old friend that died to take care of his five year old son. It's been twelve years since he left town after an incident happened. He's always been looked at as one of the group of boys that got in trouble all the time even though it wasn't necessarily true.
But what chance does he have in getting custody with that kind of reputation? Enter Finlay who tells the judge they are engaged.
"In a thousand lifetimes, I would only ever choose you."
5 stars
You will fall in love with the whole McKenna family along with Ava and Willa.
The epilogue and bonus scene was great! Now bring on Decker!
October 13, 2025
Can’t Get Over You is kindergarten teacher Finlay O’Neill and Jude McKenna’s small town romance set in Calamity Falls and it’s the first book in the new McKenna Brothers Series. I loved everything about this book from the busybodies of Calamity Falls to the love and loyalty the McKenna family share and it wasn’t long before I became invested in Finlay and Jude’s entertaining and engaging journey.
Jude had no intention of ever returning to Calamity Falls until he got a phone call from his best friend’s Marco Rossi’s four year little boy Cody asking for help while his grandfather has surgery. Imagine his surprise to have a runaway bride still in her wedding dress asking for a lift not long after his return and even more of a surprise was it was Finlay the girl he had crushed on in high school.
Jude and Finlay hid their feelings as teenagers but it seems fate has pushed them together and given them another chance but will they take a leap of faith and give love a go and what happens when insecurities put a wedge between them. Will they find away to make a future together and will Cody get the family he truly deserves……….
This is a well written, entertaining read that captivated me from the first chapter to the last page. I fell hard and fast for Jude and I want the kind and sensitive Finlay as my new bestie but what took this story to another level was what this couple and their families were prepared to do for a little boy who only needed to be loved.
Jude had no intention of ever returning to Calamity Falls until he got a phone call from his best friend’s Marco Rossi’s four year little boy Cody asking for help while his grandfather has surgery. Imagine his surprise to have a runaway bride still in her wedding dress asking for a lift not long after his return and even more of a surprise was it was Finlay the girl he had crushed on in high school.
Jude and Finlay hid their feelings as teenagers but it seems fate has pushed them together and given them another chance but will they take a leap of faith and give love a go and what happens when insecurities put a wedge between them. Will they find away to make a future together and will Cody get the family he truly deserves……….
This is a well written, entertaining read that captivated me from the first chapter to the last page. I fell hard and fast for Jude and I want the kind and sensitive Finlay as my new bestie but what took this story to another level was what this couple and their families were prepared to do for a little boy who only needed to be loved.
October 15, 2025
More reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder
Finley and Jude were sweet on each other as kids, but the town bad boy didn’t want to sully Finley O’Neill’s good name. Jude thought she deserved a better man than the town bad boy, so he walked away. For years, she’s believed that he blew her off or made a joke of her when nothing could be further from the truth. As fate would have it, when Finley realizes she’s about to make a huge mistake and leaves her lying groom at the altar, Jude McKenna is the first person she sees.
In typical Jude fashion, he insists on taking care of Finley, but he’s got other responsibilities too, as the newly appointed guardian of an orphaned five-year-old. Finley wants to help Jude’s cause and invents a phony engagement to help his custody case. I’m a sucker for a fake relationship and these two delivered. I loved the characters from the first page, especially Cody. Their story is sweet and funny with a little angst and a lot of steam, and I highly recommend it. This is an amazing start to a new series, and I can’t wait for more McKenna Brothers.
October 7, 2025
I LOVED this story because I loved Jude and Finlay and little Cody! This is a second chance romance that gripped me with emotion from the start. Their connection, even though they hadn’t been in each other’s lives for 12 years, was deep. Their relationship and chemistry are strong even while dealing with their own personal demons. They are true partners in all aspects of their relationship – and how they parent Cody is just beautiful!
This story is about finding your people and healing your hurts. The story is full of amazing side characters that steal scenes with their funny banter and engaging personalities. The main characters show amazing emotional growth by working hard on themselves and relying on the support of the family and friends that surround them. I love how these two learn to communicate with each other. Their ability to do so is what draws them closer and helps them heal.
I honestly cannot wait for more McKenna brothers stories because they are awesome and full of so much love! How the whole family came together to support not only Cody but Jude, like they’ve been in his life always, just touched my heart. These rough and rugged biker guys are playing games, drinking hot chocolate and tucking the little guy in, like he had always been around. (sigh!) Bring on Decker and then I wouldn’t mind seeing dad get a HEA too!
This story is about finding your people and healing your hurts. The story is full of amazing side characters that steal scenes with their funny banter and engaging personalities. The main characters show amazing emotional growth by working hard on themselves and relying on the support of the family and friends that surround them. I love how these two learn to communicate with each other. Their ability to do so is what draws them closer and helps them heal.
I honestly cannot wait for more McKenna brothers stories because they are awesome and full of so much love! How the whole family came together to support not only Cody but Jude, like they’ve been in his life always, just touched my heart. These rough and rugged biker guys are playing games, drinking hot chocolate and tucking the little guy in, like he had always been around. (sigh!) Bring on Decker and then I wouldn’t mind seeing dad get a HEA too!
October 16, 2025
I was so excited to go back to Calamity Falls, and this book did NOT disappoint. I was hooked from the start.
Finlay has had her future planned out since she was a teenager—every detail neatly pinned to her vision board. But just when she’s on the verge of finally having it all, her perfect life unravels in spectacular fashion.
Fleeing her own wedding wasn’t part of the plan, and neither was running straight into Jude, the town’s former bad boy—and the guy she once had a hopeless crush on.
Thirteen years have passed, but Jude has never forgotten Finlay. What she doesn’t know is that his feelings back then were anything but one-sided—he just refused to ruin her spotless reputation.
Now, with a little boy’s future hanging in the balance, Finlay and Jude are forced to decide if taking a second chance on each other is worth the risk… or if some dreams are better left on the vision board.
The way Finlay and Jude constantly showed up for each other—championing, supporting, and believing when the other couldn’t—was truly beautiful. Their connection gave them the courage to grow, to fight for the lives they wanted, and to finally break free from the weight of their pasts.
This book left me feeling warm, hopeful, and completely content. Thank you, Erika, for continuing to create stories where life isn’t perfect, but love and dreams still find a way to shine through.
Finlay has had her future planned out since she was a teenager—every detail neatly pinned to her vision board. But just when she’s on the verge of finally having it all, her perfect life unravels in spectacular fashion.
Fleeing her own wedding wasn’t part of the plan, and neither was running straight into Jude, the town’s former bad boy—and the guy she once had a hopeless crush on.
Thirteen years have passed, but Jude has never forgotten Finlay. What she doesn’t know is that his feelings back then were anything but one-sided—he just refused to ruin her spotless reputation.
Now, with a little boy’s future hanging in the balance, Finlay and Jude are forced to decide if taking a second chance on each other is worth the risk… or if some dreams are better left on the vision board.
The way Finlay and Jude constantly showed up for each other—championing, supporting, and believing when the other couldn’t—was truly beautiful. Their connection gave them the courage to grow, to fight for the lives they wanted, and to finally break free from the weight of their pasts.
This book left me feeling warm, hopeful, and completely content. Thank you, Erika, for continuing to create stories where life isn’t perfect, but love and dreams still find a way to shine through.
October 27, 2025
Finlay and Jude are giving me everything I need in a second-chance, good-girl/bad-boy mashup!
We’ve got Finlay, the quintessential runaway bride, realizing at the last possible minute that her life plan is a bust because she’s marrying the wrong dude. Standard trope, but it works. Then, cue the delicious twist: her getaway driver is none other than her bad-boy high school crush, Jude McKenna, complete with tattoos and a motorcycle. That's an immediate, major upgrade from the fiancé!
The real fun starts with the fake engagement trope. Jude needs a stable fiancée to help him win custody of his best friend's son, and Finlay needs... well, a temporary life raft and a good distraction. The stakes are instantly high and beautifully messy, just how we like it.
I'm completely obsessed with their central conflict. Finlay is the poster child for a safe, white picket fence life, while Jude is all about the open road and no strings attached. You just know the entire journey is going to be about them realizing that home isn't a place, it's a person. Watching her learn to break the rules and him learn how to settle down? Sign me up!
If you love books with tons of tension, the opposites attract dynamic, and a little bit of emotional angst mixed in with your spice, this sounds like a must-read. It’s hitting all the best tropes!
We’ve got Finlay, the quintessential runaway bride, realizing at the last possible minute that her life plan is a bust because she’s marrying the wrong dude. Standard trope, but it works. Then, cue the delicious twist: her getaway driver is none other than her bad-boy high school crush, Jude McKenna, complete with tattoos and a motorcycle. That's an immediate, major upgrade from the fiancé!
The real fun starts with the fake engagement trope. Jude needs a stable fiancée to help him win custody of his best friend's son, and Finlay needs... well, a temporary life raft and a good distraction. The stakes are instantly high and beautifully messy, just how we like it.
I'm completely obsessed with their central conflict. Finlay is the poster child for a safe, white picket fence life, while Jude is all about the open road and no strings attached. You just know the entire journey is going to be about them realizing that home isn't a place, it's a person. Watching her learn to break the rules and him learn how to settle down? Sign me up!
If you love books with tons of tension, the opposites attract dynamic, and a little bit of emotional angst mixed in with your spice, this sounds like a must-read. It’s hitting all the best tropes!
October 11, 2025
Can’t Get Over You was my first Erika Kelly book but it will not be my last! This book was bloody brilliant. I felt every single emotion whilst reading this book- i felt the happiness, the sadness and had laugh out loud moments. I adored Finlay, Jude and Cody as well as all of the secondary characters. Finlay was such a likeable heroine theres no other way to put it. She had such a huge heart and went all in when she loved and i loved seeing her adapt and her ideals change with her characters progress. Getting to know her in depth was such a turning point for her characters progress and i really enjoyed seeing her know her worth thanks to Jude and his family. I adored how much she loved Cody and how she advocated for him. Jude was a dreamy hero. Getting to know him in depth and the way his past had shaped him and left scars was an integral part of the story and made me love him even more. He was so devoted to his family and seeing that expand to Finlay and Cody was such a joy. He so obviously loved Finlay but had trouble believing in his worth. He also loved Cody so much and the way he stepped into the father role and threw himself into being such an amazing man was a sight to see. I adored the scenes with the McKenna family. Seriously so excited for book 2!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews