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Don't Fall in Love With Me
What if the person you love the most is the one you can’t have?
Grace has loved Jackson since she was fifteen – when they spent every childhood summer exploring France's breathtaking Ardèche region together. They were best friends, until life took its course and Jackson married someone else.
Years later, Jackson re-enters Grace’s life with an irresistible her dream job in the very town where their story began. And he’s newly single.
As memories from those idyllic summers flood back, Grace encounters an old friend Étienne, who proposes a plan to help make Jackson jealous. But as their scheme unfolds, Grace finds herself questioning if the sparks between them might not be so pretend after all…
Unbeknownst to Grace, Étienne is harbouring a secret that could shatter her world.
Will learning the truth finally set her heart free?
Or is this the beginning of a love story bigger than she ever imagined?
Grace has loved Jackson since she was fifteen – when they spent every childhood summer exploring France's breathtaking Ardèche region together. They were best friends, until life took its course and Jackson married someone else.
Years later, Jackson re-enters Grace’s life with an irresistible her dream job in the very town where their story began. And he’s newly single.
As memories from those idyllic summers flood back, Grace encounters an old friend Étienne, who proposes a plan to help make Jackson jealous. But as their scheme unfolds, Grace finds herself questioning if the sparks between them might not be so pretend after all…
Unbeknownst to Grace, Étienne is harbouring a secret that could shatter her world.
Will learning the truth finally set her heart free?
Or is this the beginning of a love story bigger than she ever imagined?
368 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2026
About the author
Paige Toon
40 books5,841 followersPaige Toon grew up between England, Australia and America and has been writing books set in sun-drenched locations around the world since 2007. She has written fifteen novels, a three-part spin-off for young adults and a collection of short stories. Her books have sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide. She loves hearing from her readers so get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @PaigeToonAuthor or visit her website and sign up to her free newsletter The Hidden Paige.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 4 ⭐️ There is nothing like the beauty of a fleeting summer, which is exactly what I thought of when I was reading Don’t Fall in Love With Me. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be: melancholic. It carried a deeply emotional sensitivity and moodiness that of a summertime sadness. It had a very picturesque exterior with its gorgeous backdrop of French countryside, dream like sequences of lake swims and daily passing of time. Interiorly, it’s a contemporary romance that puts you into an emotional, deep thought about a love that is full of hunger, emotional tension and redemption.
The story follows Grace, who has loved Jackson since she was 15 years old. They spent every summer together in Ardèche, France swimming in lakes, enjoying picnics and soaking in the sun. They were friends first and foremost, never taking a chance into exploring the potential of becoming more than that. Jackson ends up marrying another woman, leaving Grace heartbroken. Grace takes a step back and pushes their friendship away. Few years later, Jackson divorces and offers Grace a marketing job that she can't refuse. But when Grace returns back to France, she comes across Etienne, a boy that she's met when she was 17 years old & was self-exploring the countryside. Now 30 years old, Etienne and Grace rekindle their 'friendship' but their lines get blurred when Grace becomes conflicted about her feelings. As she spends more time with Etienne she learns that everything she knew about him changes, and that includes what her heart really wants.
What really stood out to me in this contemporary romance was how deep and nuanced the relationship between Etienne and Grace was explored. Most contemporary romance books nowadays focus a lot on physical attraction and sexual chemistry. Paige Toon took a modern love story and focused a lot on emotional closeness, shared values, a connection. She utilized that French hunger, as I like to call it, and used it as a plot tool to create a sense of French allure--the openness, the curiosity, the tension to draw two people together. Their dialogue and interaction drove the plot forward, while revealing who they are as individuals and what they could and would be if that bridge was ever crossed.
I must admit that in the beginning, I wasn't enjoying the story. It started extremely slow for me and it was a little boring. I felt it was just like any other modern contemporary romance with more YA tone and I was really looking for a more adult/mature content. I am glad I kept on reading because the story then engulfed me. I think the use of flashbacks and memories added depth to characters stories and motivations. I loved Etienne's story and how Toon tenderly wrote about ALS disease. I loved Graces' sensitivity towards Etienne and his story.
Give this a try because it might surprise you! This story had similar atmospheric feels of a fleeting summer and summertime sadness like 'Call Me By Your Name'.
Many thanks to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons and the author, Paige Toon for an early copy.
Publication date: April 14, 2026
The story follows Grace, who has loved Jackson since she was 15 years old. They spent every summer together in Ardèche, France swimming in lakes, enjoying picnics and soaking in the sun. They were friends first and foremost, never taking a chance into exploring the potential of becoming more than that. Jackson ends up marrying another woman, leaving Grace heartbroken. Grace takes a step back and pushes their friendship away. Few years later, Jackson divorces and offers Grace a marketing job that she can't refuse. But when Grace returns back to France, she comes across Etienne, a boy that she's met when she was 17 years old & was self-exploring the countryside. Now 30 years old, Etienne and Grace rekindle their 'friendship' but their lines get blurred when Grace becomes conflicted about her feelings. As she spends more time with Etienne she learns that everything she knew about him changes, and that includes what her heart really wants.
What really stood out to me in this contemporary romance was how deep and nuanced the relationship between Etienne and Grace was explored. Most contemporary romance books nowadays focus a lot on physical attraction and sexual chemistry. Paige Toon took a modern love story and focused a lot on emotional closeness, shared values, a connection. She utilized that French hunger, as I like to call it, and used it as a plot tool to create a sense of French allure--the openness, the curiosity, the tension to draw two people together. Their dialogue and interaction drove the plot forward, while revealing who they are as individuals and what they could and would be if that bridge was ever crossed.
I must admit that in the beginning, I wasn't enjoying the story. It started extremely slow for me and it was a little boring. I felt it was just like any other modern contemporary romance with more YA tone and I was really looking for a more adult/mature content. I am glad I kept on reading because the story then engulfed me. I think the use of flashbacks and memories added depth to characters stories and motivations. I loved Etienne's story and how Toon tenderly wrote about ALS disease. I loved Graces' sensitivity towards Etienne and his story.
Give this a try because it might surprise you! This story had similar atmospheric feels of a fleeting summer and summertime sadness like 'Call Me By Your Name'.
Many thanks to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons and the author, Paige Toon for an early copy.
Publication date: April 14, 2026
March 6, 2026
What do you do when the boy who holds your heart is getting married… but you’re not the one walking down the aisle… someone else is.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
Grace has spent her summers in France since she was a little girl, where she grew up side by side with Jackson—the boy who became her best friend and the one she secretly fell in love with. But while her feelings deepened over the years, his never seemed to match hers, and when he chose someone else, it broke Grace’s heart and forced her to push him away. 💔💔
Years later, Grace has built a life of her own when Jackson, newly single, suddenly reaches out, asking for her help over the summer. She agrees, though it means reopening old wounds. Just when it seems like the timing might finally be right between them, someone else from her past unexpectedly reappears: Étienne, a boy she once shared a fleeting but meaningful connection with. What begins as playful jealousy soon turns into something Grace never saw coming.
From there, everything unravels. Old emotions collide with new desires, tempers flare, and the fight between the two men for Grace’s heart reaches a breaking point. (i LOVE a good alpha male showdown with attitude ngl 😝 like YES be jealous) In the middle of it all, long-buried family secrets come to light, forcing Grace to confront not just who she loves, but what she believes about the people closest to her. Her journey is messy, raw, and impossible to look away from. And as the lines blur, one question burns through it all: after everything, who will she truly end up with?
I’ll be so honest… I had SUCH mixed feelings in the beginning, but eventually, I realized I was 100% Team Étienne. (idc what anyone says i liked him more 🙄) The tension between them all had me on edge, my heart pounding with every interaction. The teasing, the slow burn, the back-and-forth… it was pure torture in the best way. And then that plot twist near the end? I wanted to scream, cry, and throw my book across the room because why.
Paige Toon delivered an emotional rollercoaster that had me anxious, swooning, and aching all at once. Don’t Fall in Love With Me is angsty, heartfelt, and completely addictive.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
"Je t'aimais aussi." I liked you also. "Je te voulais aussi." My scalp prickles. I wanted you too. He leans in close. "Je te veux," he says into my ear. I want you. Present tense.
─────
"Mon coeur bat pour toi,” he whispers. My heart beats for you.”
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🩷 childhood friends-to-lovers
🩷 love triangle
🩷 second chance
🩷 single pov (hers)
🩷 slow burn
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Putnam, and Paige Toon for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
spice rating:【 🌶️🌶️ 】
language: yes
──────────
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
Kinda anticipating that this one will make me cry… I love Paige Toon 🤞🏼❤️🩹
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
Grace has spent her summers in France since she was a little girl, where she grew up side by side with Jackson—the boy who became her best friend and the one she secretly fell in love with. But while her feelings deepened over the years, his never seemed to match hers, and when he chose someone else, it broke Grace’s heart and forced her to push him away. 💔💔
Years later, Grace has built a life of her own when Jackson, newly single, suddenly reaches out, asking for her help over the summer. She agrees, though it means reopening old wounds. Just when it seems like the timing might finally be right between them, someone else from her past unexpectedly reappears: Étienne, a boy she once shared a fleeting but meaningful connection with. What begins as playful jealousy soon turns into something Grace never saw coming.
From there, everything unravels. Old emotions collide with new desires, tempers flare, and the fight between the two men for Grace’s heart reaches a breaking point. (i LOVE a good alpha male showdown with attitude ngl 😝 like YES be jealous) In the middle of it all, long-buried family secrets come to light, forcing Grace to confront not just who she loves, but what she believes about the people closest to her. Her journey is messy, raw, and impossible to look away from. And as the lines blur, one question burns through it all: after everything, who will she truly end up with?
I’ll be so honest… I had SUCH mixed feelings in the beginning, but eventually, I realized I was 100% Team Étienne. (idc what anyone says i liked him more 🙄) The tension between them all had me on edge, my heart pounding with every interaction. The teasing, the slow burn, the back-and-forth… it was pure torture in the best way. And then that plot twist near the end? I wanted to scream, cry, and throw my book across the room because why.
Paige Toon delivered an emotional rollercoaster that had me anxious, swooning, and aching all at once. Don’t Fall in Love With Me is angsty, heartfelt, and completely addictive.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
"Je t'aimais aussi." I liked you also. "Je te voulais aussi." My scalp prickles. I wanted you too. He leans in close. "Je te veux," he says into my ear. I want you. Present tense.
─────
"Mon coeur bat pour toi,” he whispers. My heart beats for you.”
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🩷 childhood friends-to-lovers
🩷 love triangle
🩷 second chance
🩷 single pov (hers)
🩷 slow burn
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Putnam, and Paige Toon for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
spice rating:【 🌶️🌶️ 】
language: yes
──────────
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
Kinda anticipating that this one will make me cry… I love Paige Toon 🤞🏼❤️🩹
March 31, 2026
My reviews of Paige Toon’s books are never very original, because she has been one of my favorite authors for years. Each time I see she has a new release coming, I wait impatiently for the ARC to request. So when I got the ARC of Don’t Fall in Love With Me, my heart jumped.
Paige Toon is a master at writing beautiful scenery, and this time the story takes place in France, in the Ardèche, a gorgeous region I have visited multiple times.
Don’t Fall in Love With Me is not, in my opinion, Paige Toon’s best book. It is more or less a fairly basic love story, with a love triangle and one big twist at the end. A twist I had already guessed long before.
That said, Paige’s way of describing the setting is fantastic, and I really loved Grace, Jackson, and Etienne. In those dark days before Christmas I enjoy reading a positive and romantic story, and when this book comes out in May I can imagine it will also be perfect to read outside in the sun or under a tree in the shade.
So now I am ready for Paige’s next story, though I will probably have to wait another year.
Thank you, Putnam Books and NetGalley for this lovely ARC.
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Paige Toon is a master at writing beautiful scenery, and this time the story takes place in France, in the Ardèche, a gorgeous region I have visited multiple times.
Don’t Fall in Love With Me is not, in my opinion, Paige Toon’s best book. It is more or less a fairly basic love story, with a love triangle and one big twist at the end. A twist I had already guessed long before.
That said, Paige’s way of describing the setting is fantastic, and I really loved Grace, Jackson, and Etienne. In those dark days before Christmas I enjoy reading a positive and romantic story, and when this book comes out in May I can imagine it will also be perfect to read outside in the sun or under a tree in the shade.
So now I am ready for Paige’s next story, though I will probably have to wait another year.
Thank you, Putnam Books and NetGalley for this lovely ARC.
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January 18, 2026
-> Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.
Paige Toon is one of my favourite authors, and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her twice. I adored her last two releases, so, in all honesty, I had relatively high hopes of loving this just as much.
It’s a slow-burn, touching story about childhood friends, a love triangle, and a heavy focus on family. Set in a cute town in France, the location and storyline are interesting, and the characters have great personalities. However, it was too slow for me. I felt it didn’t really go anywhere until 80% in. Sadly, the ‘twist’ didn't have enough jeopardy either; I wanted a bit more drama or interest to unfold after investing so much time building up.
Toon’s writing is beautiful; there is no denying that she knows how to transport you right into the setting and really feel for the characters, but this just fell a bit flat for me in comparison to Seven Summers and What If I Never Get Over You, which were both 5* for me.
Paige Toon is one of my favourite authors, and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her twice. I adored her last two releases, so, in all honesty, I had relatively high hopes of loving this just as much.
It’s a slow-burn, touching story about childhood friends, a love triangle, and a heavy focus on family. Set in a cute town in France, the location and storyline are interesting, and the characters have great personalities. However, it was too slow for me. I felt it didn’t really go anywhere until 80% in. Sadly, the ‘twist’ didn't have enough jeopardy either; I wanted a bit more drama or interest to unfold after investing so much time building up.
Toon’s writing is beautiful; there is no denying that she knows how to transport you right into the setting and really feel for the characters, but this just fell a bit flat for me in comparison to Seven Summers and What If I Never Get Over You, which were both 5* for me.
November 29, 2025
Release Date: 4/14/2026
Read this if you like..
- childhood friends to lovers
- love triangles
- slow burn
- second chances
This was my first Paige Toon book and it won't be my last! She describes the setting so beautifully and it was hard to put down. It is a slow burn and did take me a bit to connect to the characters!
Read this if you like..
- childhood friends to lovers
- love triangles
- slow burn
- second chances
This was my first Paige Toon book and it won't be my last! She describes the setting so beautifully and it was hard to put down. It is a slow burn and did take me a bit to connect to the characters!
December 10, 2025
Rated 3.5 Stars My first book by Paige Toon, I enjoyed the slow build up of Don’t Fall in Love With Me,I just wish the pacing was a tad bit faster, I felt like we got lost sometimes in all the details, though if I’m gonna get lost I wouldn’t mind it being lost in France where our story takes place. In the Prologue we meet our Narrator, Grace as she watches her childhood crush, Jackson, get married to another woman. Fast forward 3 years and Jackson convinces her to come work for him in France at his Grand father’s Chateaux, revealing he is divorcing, giving Gracie another shot possibly. As we move along in the present, we are peppered throughout with memories of Gracie and Jackson during their summers growing up, and of a 16 year old Gracie meeting and being ghosted by a young Etienne, who she again runs across in the present after 10 years. The back and forth wasn’t told in a confusing manner where it felt like the past was overused. It was all timely revealed, and was needed for how the story unfolds, and there is a lot unfolding all at once. Etienne and Grace still have a spark, and they use that spark to make Jackson jealous. Of course feelings get warped…bingo bango we have the start of a love triangle. I had a clear lead most of the way but then there is a loop thrown in that changes everything, giving us a satisfying HEA! There were a lot of plot lines being revealed with a lot of information at a slower pace than i like, but I finished fairly quickly so that says something.
Thanks to the author, publisher and BookSirens for this ARC. As always these opinions are my own.
Thanks to the author, publisher and BookSirens for this ARC. As always these opinions are my own.
April 10, 2026
3 1/2 🌟 Rounded Up
Don’t Fall in Live With Me is a second chance romance twice over thanks to a love triangle tangled up in a complicated past for all of the parties. While the plot and characters are not altogether new, this book is all about setting! Location, location, location! Set in the Ardeche region of France and oozing with the ambience of a French locale, the setting for this book steals every scene. The descriptions of the river, the small town, the cafes and the homes are wonderful and pull you right into the place and hold you there. Even the hot summer weather becomes tangible. It had me dreaming of a trip to France and the writing on this alone makes the reading of the book worthwhile!
While the plot and the characters are solid but not out of the ordinary, it’s still a very nice story of unrequited love in one place replaced by rediscovered love in another. The FMC, Grace, arrives in France with the hopes of finally connecting with her childhood best friend and “love-of-her-life”, Jackson, after he broke her heart by marrying (and divorcing) another woman.
The problem is that there is zero chemistry between Grace and Jackson, despite years of history, so I never had any inkling that they would be a couple that would work. It made for a very lopsided love triangle since her connection to her other (secret) childhood friend, Etienne, is so sweet and emotional that it’s unmistakable that they are meant for each other. Unfortunately, that relationship doesn’t get intense until about 75% in. Before that is a lot of background story and rebuilding of their friendship. It was nice but would have liked to see more tension between those two earlier.
There is a lot of lovely angst and pining along with an unsurprising but solid twist at the end. Overall this was a wonderfully set French romance with scenery galore! The plot and characters were solid and enjoyable. This book didn’t have the emotional tension of the last Paige Toon book I read but I still really enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam and the author for the opportunity to read this sweet book and share my opinions.
Don’t Fall in Live With Me is a second chance romance twice over thanks to a love triangle tangled up in a complicated past for all of the parties. While the plot and characters are not altogether new, this book is all about setting! Location, location, location! Set in the Ardeche region of France and oozing with the ambience of a French locale, the setting for this book steals every scene. The descriptions of the river, the small town, the cafes and the homes are wonderful and pull you right into the place and hold you there. Even the hot summer weather becomes tangible. It had me dreaming of a trip to France and the writing on this alone makes the reading of the book worthwhile!
While the plot and the characters are solid but not out of the ordinary, it’s still a very nice story of unrequited love in one place replaced by rediscovered love in another. The FMC, Grace, arrives in France with the hopes of finally connecting with her childhood best friend and “love-of-her-life”, Jackson, after he broke her heart by marrying (and divorcing) another woman.
The problem is that there is zero chemistry between Grace and Jackson, despite years of history, so I never had any inkling that they would be a couple that would work. It made for a very lopsided love triangle since her connection to her other (secret) childhood friend, Etienne, is so sweet and emotional that it’s unmistakable that they are meant for each other. Unfortunately, that relationship doesn’t get intense until about 75% in. Before that is a lot of background story and rebuilding of their friendship. It was nice but would have liked to see more tension between those two earlier.
There is a lot of lovely angst and pining along with an unsurprising but solid twist at the end. Overall this was a wonderfully set French romance with scenery galore! The plot and characters were solid and enjoyable. This book didn’t have the emotional tension of the last Paige Toon book I read but I still really enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam and the author for the opportunity to read this sweet book and share my opinions.
October 5, 2025
I will read anything Paige Toon writes; I love the way she builds her characters and tells love stories.
Overall, I'd give this book 4 stars. Grace was such a relatable character for me, not in the pining for her best friend kind of way, but in the way she felt lost in life. I liked the way things unfolded between Grace, Jackson, and Étienne, it was full of missed moments and unspoken feelings. The part that I loved most about this book was how Grace found herself and her own path forward. I really liked the different types of friendships within this story too; it was really sweet and heartfelt.
*Friends to lovers
*Found family
*Family secrets
Format: ebook
Thank you NetGalley, Paige Toon, and Putnam for the ARC!
Overall, I'd give this book 4 stars. Grace was such a relatable character for me, not in the pining for her best friend kind of way, but in the way she felt lost in life. I liked the way things unfolded between Grace, Jackson, and Étienne, it was full of missed moments and unspoken feelings. The part that I loved most about this book was how Grace found herself and her own path forward. I really liked the different types of friendships within this story too; it was really sweet and heartfelt.
*Friends to lovers
*Found family
*Family secrets
Format: ebook
Thank you NetGalley, Paige Toon, and Putnam for the ARC!
February 20, 2026
This book broke my heart and put it back together and then broke it and put it back together again.
The angst was so well done in this book. If you’ve ever read The Ravenhood series. Etienne is very much Dom coded. I think that’s why I loved it so much. My heart broke for everything he went through to get to where he is now.
I absolutely adored Mellie. The relationship Grace has with her grandmother is so heartwarming. I lost my grandmother when I was 23 years old and we were very close so it made my heart happy seeing that relationship in this book between her and Grace.
The ending surprised me a little bit. It felt a little rushed. I wanted to see more before the epilogue. But it wasn’t enough to make me take off a star. I couldn’t put this book down. This was my first Paige Toon book, but it won’t be my last. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for allowing me to read this ARC. I loved every second of it.
The angst was so well done in this book. If you’ve ever read The Ravenhood series. Etienne is very much Dom coded. I think that’s why I loved it so much. My heart broke for everything he went through to get to where he is now.
I absolutely adored Mellie. The relationship Grace has with her grandmother is so heartwarming. I lost my grandmother when I was 23 years old and we were very close so it made my heart happy seeing that relationship in this book between her and Grace.
The ending surprised me a little bit. It felt a little rushed. I wanted to see more before the epilogue. But it wasn’t enough to make me take off a star. I couldn’t put this book down. This was my first Paige Toon book, but it won’t be my last. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for allowing me to read this ARC. I loved every second of it.
October 24, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC
3 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Don’t Fall in Love With Me by Paige Toon was just okay for me. I usually enjoy Toon’s writing, but this one didn’t hold my attention the way I hoped. I found myself getting bored throughout the story, and the love triangle between Jackson, Grace, and Etienne honestly drove me crazy. Instead of feeling invested, I was just frustrated watching it play out. There were a few sweet or emotional moments that reminded me why I like Toon’s books, but overall this one just didn’t click for me.
3 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Don’t Fall in Love With Me by Paige Toon was just okay for me. I usually enjoy Toon’s writing, but this one didn’t hold my attention the way I hoped. I found myself getting bored throughout the story, and the love triangle between Jackson, Grace, and Etienne honestly drove me crazy. Instead of feeling invested, I was just frustrated watching it play out. There were a few sweet or emotional moments that reminded me why I like Toon’s books, but overall this one just didn’t click for me.
October 19, 2025
Heartbreaking, emotionally heavy and a satisfying end. From the very beginning, I had my hopes for the ending. Was I disappointed? Well... no, but I guess your feelings will be determined by who you want Grace to find love with.
Will it be Jackson? The best friend who broke her heart when he fell in love and married someone else.
What about Etienne? The boy who gave her a perfect summer then ghosted her, never telling her goodbye.
Staying with her grandmother Mellie, Grace is trying to find her place in the world, a job that makes her happy and a balanced life.
I loved the revelations, the bonds that grew, and the realisations that Grace comes to as she gets to know the people in her life.
A great read and not at all what I was expecting.
Will it be Jackson? The best friend who broke her heart when he fell in love and married someone else.
What about Etienne? The boy who gave her a perfect summer then ghosted her, never telling her goodbye.
Staying with her grandmother Mellie, Grace is trying to find her place in the world, a job that makes her happy and a balanced life.
I loved the revelations, the bonds that grew, and the realisations that Grace comes to as she gets to know the people in her life.
A great read and not at all what I was expecting.
October 3, 2025
I loved this book and couldn’t put it down.
Grace heads back to a beautiful town in France to work with her old crush Jackson. She also surprisingly reconnects with her long lost friend Étienne. This story of love, family, and secrets hooked me immediately and kept me wondering what would happen next. The ending was perfect!
I highly recommend this book and thank NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced reader copy.
Grace heads back to a beautiful town in France to work with her old crush Jackson. She also surprisingly reconnects with her long lost friend Étienne. This story of love, family, and secrets hooked me immediately and kept me wondering what would happen next. The ending was perfect!
I highly recommend this book and thank NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced reader copy.
November 29, 2025
I find this one really tricky to review- I certainly enjoyed it - even though by about 40% in I was struggling to see if it had any particular plot other than the traditional will they/won’t they love triangle. What does come in to play is the childhoods of all three main characters & their historical hurts - all of which then drive the present day narrative. I thought the scenes depicting Etienne’s interactions with his mother -and his subsequent grief - particularly well written. So yes; a tricky one. It’s not a page turner in the traditional sense & the ending is predictable from early on, but it’s definitely one which kept me hooked. I’m going with 3.5 rounded up to 4* as I finished it over 12 hours ago and am still thinking about it. Paige Toon totally nails emotions!
Many thanks to Net Galley for the ARC
Many thanks to Net Galley for the ARC
September 30, 2025
I truly enjoyed the plot of this romance book. The story between Grace and Jackson is so relatable and the story of their past is a tale as old as time. I love the way they were put back in each other’s lives. The career drama, old feelings, and newly single situation are the perfect catalyst for where the story goes next. Grace is a great character and I was rooting for her the whole time. There were so many ups and downs in this book, it was so hard to put down. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 10, 2025
So while I didn’t feel too connected in the beginning of the story, it all makes sense now. the middle/ending really got me, and I will probably be thinking about this story for a while. Étienne was everything to me. while the storytelling felt a little disjointed in the beginning, the rest of it played out beautifully and the chemistry & tension were off the charts between the main characters. That is all I will say for now to avoid giving too much away.🩷
thank you netgalley & putnam books <3
thank you netgalley & putnam books <3
April 10, 2026
Rating - 3.5⭐️
What a rollercoaster of emotions.
“The happiest day of his life was actually my worst. Neither of us like remembering it, but for vastly different reasons.”
Grace has always loved Jackson, he broke her heart when he married someone else and Grace tried to cut all ties. She avoided going to France when he was there and dodged all communications. Now she misses her Grandmother, is sick of her job - so when Jackson offers her to come to France to wok for him, she takes the plunge. But it turns out he is getting a divorce, she thinks is it finally their time? Until she spots a familiar face, “Don’t fall in love with me”.
This felt a bit slower compared to Paige’s other books, I felt it dragging up to around the 50-60% mark but from there I loved it. This isn’t a big spoiler as it’s quite obvious from the get go, but a big trope in this book is love triangle - which I’m never usually the biggest fan of, but Paige wrote it so beautifully. The story of love, loss and family really hit home and I appreciated the raw honesty of our FMC Grace.
Have your tissues ready for that epilogue!
What a rollercoaster of emotions.
“The happiest day of his life was actually my worst. Neither of us like remembering it, but for vastly different reasons.”
Grace has always loved Jackson, he broke her heart when he married someone else and Grace tried to cut all ties. She avoided going to France when he was there and dodged all communications. Now she misses her Grandmother, is sick of her job - so when Jackson offers her to come to France to wok for him, she takes the plunge. But it turns out he is getting a divorce, she thinks is it finally their time? Until she spots a familiar face, “Don’t fall in love with me”.
This felt a bit slower compared to Paige’s other books, I felt it dragging up to around the 50-60% mark but from there I loved it. This isn’t a big spoiler as it’s quite obvious from the get go, but a big trope in this book is love triangle - which I’m never usually the biggest fan of, but Paige wrote it so beautifully. The story of love, loss and family really hit home and I appreciated the raw honesty of our FMC Grace.
Have your tissues ready for that epilogue!
February 28, 2026
This was a beautiful love story with Paige Toon’s typical sad development within. It wasn’t as crazy as some of her other books, but it was still very good and beautiful. Jackson and Etienne were both just cinnamon rolls and i love how they all are in the end.
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for a copy of this eARC.
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for a copy of this eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed the story overall and loved the setting
February 8, 2026
Paige Toon has quickly risen to the top of my list of favorite romance writers. She writes with real passion and authenticity, and after reading four of her novels, I can confidently say I’ve loved every one.
Gracie has been in love with Jackson since her teenage years, but their timing has never been right. Her heart was broken when Jackson married his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Chloe, leaving Gracie to move on—or at least try.
Three years later, Gracie quits her marketing job and leaves the London rat race behind, heading to France for the summer to work with Jackson on a marketing campaign for his family’s natural spring water company. Their families have always been closely connected, which makes their reunion both inevitable and complicated. Recently divorced from Chloe, Jackson reenters Gracie’s life, forcing her to confront whether she’s willing to risk her heart again.
While in France, Gracie reconnects with an old friend, Etienne, who agrees to help her make Jackson jealous. What starts as a harmless plan becomes far more complicated when genuine feelings begin to surface, leaving Gracie torn between two very different men.
This novel is filled with emotion and beautifully drawn moments. At times, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Jackson—he occasionally seems to toy with Gracie’s emotions—but by the end, Toon reassures us of his goodness in a way that feels earned.
This is a Paige Toon romance not to be missed. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Gracie has been in love with Jackson since her teenage years, but their timing has never been right. Her heart was broken when Jackson married his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Chloe, leaving Gracie to move on—or at least try.
Three years later, Gracie quits her marketing job and leaves the London rat race behind, heading to France for the summer to work with Jackson on a marketing campaign for his family’s natural spring water company. Their families have always been closely connected, which makes their reunion both inevitable and complicated. Recently divorced from Chloe, Jackson reenters Gracie’s life, forcing her to confront whether she’s willing to risk her heart again.
While in France, Gracie reconnects with an old friend, Etienne, who agrees to help her make Jackson jealous. What starts as a harmless plan becomes far more complicated when genuine feelings begin to surface, leaving Gracie torn between two very different men.
This novel is filled with emotion and beautifully drawn moments. At times, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Jackson—he occasionally seems to toy with Gracie’s emotions—but by the end, Toon reassures us of his goodness in a way that feels earned.
This is a Paige Toon romance not to be missed. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
October 8, 2025
4.5 🌟
Grace is overworked and exhausted. She eagerly takes a dream job offer that happens to be in the south of France marketing mineral water. It also happens to be Jackson, the man she loves but who married someone else, who has offered her the job. But now he is divorced, and she is hopeful he might see her as something more than just a friend. She also bumps into Etienne, whom she met during a summer in France. Etienne knows she likes Jackson and wants to help her out by flirting with her in order to make Jackson jealous. However, will this flirtation turn into something more, or will Jackson finally see her as more than a friend...
This is my first read from Paige Toon and won't be my last. I couldn't put this book down. The plot, pacing & vibes were amazing and this book was so immersive that partway through, I was ready to hop on a plane, go market some mineral water, and have a summer romance in France. This book explores so many dynamics: family, friendship, grief, and romance. I don't want to give too much away as I feel this is best going into without knowing too much more than the blurb. I feel like many times love triangles can be difficult to handle, but I really liked the direction it took and who Grace ended up with in the end. The tension, angst, and slow burn were so good. Some of the lines at the end had me swooning.
Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam Books for the ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Grace is overworked and exhausted. She eagerly takes a dream job offer that happens to be in the south of France marketing mineral water. It also happens to be Jackson, the man she loves but who married someone else, who has offered her the job. But now he is divorced, and she is hopeful he might see her as something more than just a friend. She also bumps into Etienne, whom she met during a summer in France. Etienne knows she likes Jackson and wants to help her out by flirting with her in order to make Jackson jealous. However, will this flirtation turn into something more, or will Jackson finally see her as more than a friend...
This is my first read from Paige Toon and won't be my last. I couldn't put this book down. The plot, pacing & vibes were amazing and this book was so immersive that partway through, I was ready to hop on a plane, go market some mineral water, and have a summer romance in France. This book explores so many dynamics: family, friendship, grief, and romance. I don't want to give too much away as I feel this is best going into without knowing too much more than the blurb. I feel like many times love triangles can be difficult to handle, but I really liked the direction it took and who Grace ended up with in the end. The tension, angst, and slow burn were so good. Some of the lines at the end had me swooning.
Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam Books for the ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 3, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Putnam books for the early copy of this book.
This book was so beautiful. I loved the entire story from start to finish. I love a childhood friends to romance story and this one was so unique and beautifully written.
I was hooked from the first few pages and was giddy throughout the early scenes with Etienne. The chemistry and angst between them was on another level.
Once the story of Etienne’s history progressed, it was really sad but it all made sense and the ending really wrapped everything together really well.
I would’ve liked a better ending for sand time, seems like she didn’t get any repercussions for her actions.
Aside from that, I loved the everything else. This is my second book by Paige Toon and I’ve loved them both. There easy to read and follow and tv stories are gripping
This book was so beautiful. I loved the entire story from start to finish. I love a childhood friends to romance story and this one was so unique and beautifully written.
I was hooked from the first few pages and was giddy throughout the early scenes with Etienne. The chemistry and angst between them was on another level.
Once the story of Etienne’s history progressed, it was really sad but it all made sense and the ending really wrapped everything together really well.
I would’ve liked a better ending for sand time, seems like she didn’t get any repercussions for her actions.
Aside from that, I loved the everything else. This is my second book by Paige Toon and I’ve loved them both. There easy to read and follow and tv stories are gripping
March 30, 2026
A Paige Toon release is always the highlight of my reading year, so thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-arc.
As always Paige delivers an emotional punch with this one. I love her romance writing, the emotional tension and I’m very glad to see she stays true to herself and doesn’t make it smutty. No hate there, but her books really don’t need it.
Our characters are beautifully flawed and make painful mistakes. The only truly golden person is Mellie and I love her. That being said I am a bit let down on this book, mainly because I feel like I am missing something. For the last 5 years all Paige’s books got better and better and this one didn’t rise up to it. Don’t get me wrong. I loved it. But I apparently had high stakes haha.
Nevertheless, a romance to cry for and to yearn for.
As always Paige delivers an emotional punch with this one. I love her romance writing, the emotional tension and I’m very glad to see she stays true to herself and doesn’t make it smutty. No hate there, but her books really don’t need it.
Our characters are beautifully flawed and make painful mistakes. The only truly golden person is Mellie and I love her. That being said I am a bit let down on this book, mainly because I feel like I am missing something. For the last 5 years all Paige’s books got better and better and this one didn’t rise up to it. Don’t get me wrong. I loved it. But I apparently had high stakes haha.
Nevertheless, a romance to cry for and to yearn for.
October 2, 2025
-One of my most anticipated arcs of the year! After LOVING Seven Summers and What If I Never Get Over You I was chomping at the bit to get this!
And I really liked it! It’s a love triangle set in France, and it reads VERY European: rich descriptions and atmospheric. The plot was interesting and I was invested in the outcome.
The romance was not as all consuming as her last book, but I was satisfied with the ending.
I will always recommend Paige Toon books.
Thank you NetGalley!
And I really liked it! It’s a love triangle set in France, and it reads VERY European: rich descriptions and atmospheric. The plot was interesting and I was invested in the outcome.
The romance was not as all consuming as her last book, but I was satisfied with the ending.
I will always recommend Paige Toon books.
Thank you NetGalley!
April 15, 2026
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released called, Don't Fall in Love With Me. This is about Grace and she has been in love with Jackson for most of her life but Jackson always just saw Grace as a best friend. They would spend every summer hanging out together in France while each of them were visiting their grandparents since their grandparents were neighbors. When Jackson got married Grace finally gave up hope, but later when she receives a phone call from a newly single Jackson with a job opportunity back in France helping his family's sparking water business and it's too perfect to pass up, Grace begins to wonder if the stars are finally aligning for them to be more than friends. But while she's back in France, Grace runs into her friend Étienne. He suggests some flirting to help make Jackson jealous and so he will finally see Grace as more than a childhood friend. But when Grace gets so caught up in the plan with Etienne she starts to wonder if their flirting is all still fake, she realizes Jackson might not be the only one she has feelings for.
This was such an enjoyable read! I felt like I stepped into France, I could easily picture this story in my mind as it was unfolding. This book was so entertaining, such a fun and easy read! I loved these characters, the story's summertime french setting, the twists I wasn't expecting, and the beautiful ending this book had! This was my second book by this author, and I will definitely be reading more of her work because I really enjoy her writing and storytelling! This was such a beautiful love story about following your heart, I loved every minute of it! 🩷📚
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC of Don't Fall in Love With Me, in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an enjoyable read! I felt like I stepped into France, I could easily picture this story in my mind as it was unfolding. This book was so entertaining, such a fun and easy read! I loved these characters, the story's summertime french setting, the twists I wasn't expecting, and the beautiful ending this book had! This was my second book by this author, and I will definitely be reading more of her work because I really enjoy her writing and storytelling! This was such a beautiful love story about following your heart, I loved every minute of it! 🩷📚
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC of Don't Fall in Love With Me, in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2026
Oh so if you didn’t know - Paige is one of my top romance authors out there. I love her writing so much and it always feel like a warm hug while also touching on so much vulnerability. I couldn’t put this one down and finished it in 24 hours. Grace has loved Jackson since she was 15 and they spent summers together at their grandparents, but he ended up marrying someone else in the process. She finds out he will be single and newly divorced, taking a job at his family business and traveling back to the region. We also meet another friend of hers along the way and you’ll love him. I was truly obsessed with Grace + Étienne. Grace’s journey was so incredibly relatable and touching, realizing that maybe the man she thought she wanted all along only wanted what the heart cannot have. There’s ALS representation in this book which does include parental loss. I felt it was handled beautifully and really depicted what this horrible illness looks like and how it affects loved ones. The setting of this book (France) really captures you and is easily felt. My emotions were unstable with this book but in the BEST way.
If you’re looking for a bingeable romance book this is it 👏🏻
Thank you NetGalley, Putnam Books and the author for this gifted arc copy!
If you’re looking for a bingeable romance book this is it 👏🏻
Thank you NetGalley, Putnam Books and the author for this gifted arc copy!
October 9, 2025
Rating 4.5 stars (rounded up for GR)
I absolutely loved this!! Grace has been in love with Jackson since she was 15. Now she has the opportunity to work for his company, and possible win over his heart? That’s all before she catches sight of an old friend Étienne.
At first I thought, hmmm this may be a love triangle, and to some it may be, but I knew whose side I was on from the start. Étienne is a mystery in the best way possible. He is kinda grumpy and tells Grace he is not looking for a relationship… that’s what they all say! But as the story goes on he gains depth as a character.
There is some miscommunication between all of the characters which can be frustrating at times, but knowing the reason why there was miscommunication helped me to understand a little more.
I absolutely loved this and recommend to any who like an emotional romance. The ending was bittersweet and that’s all I’ll say.
Thank you NetGalley for the free advanced reader copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily and with my own opinions.
I absolutely loved this!! Grace has been in love with Jackson since she was 15. Now she has the opportunity to work for his company, and possible win over his heart? That’s all before she catches sight of an old friend Étienne.
At first I thought, hmmm this may be a love triangle, and to some it may be, but I knew whose side I was on from the start. Étienne is a mystery in the best way possible. He is kinda grumpy and tells Grace he is not looking for a relationship… that’s what they all say! But as the story goes on he gains depth as a character.
There is some miscommunication between all of the characters which can be frustrating at times, but knowing the reason why there was miscommunication helped me to understand a little more.
I absolutely loved this and recommend to any who like an emotional romance. The ending was bittersweet and that’s all I’ll say.
Thank you NetGalley for the free advanced reader copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily and with my own opinions.
April 7, 2026
What started out as a little slow and dragged for me at first ended up being SUCH a great story about sabotage, romance, friendship, family and wanting what you can’t have. Heartfelt and shocking moments had me finishing the second half of the book in one sitting!
April 2, 2026
This is the first Paige Toon book I’ve ever read and I’m definitely going to have to read more. This one had me hooked from the very beginning and was so full of emotions. I absolutely loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you very much for the opportunity to read and review this gifted e-arc early.
I really enjoyed this. The French setting was wonderful, I felt myself completely drawn in to the descriptions of the small French town, the art work, the buildings. I want to go and live there, immediately.
Especially if Etienne is there. I love him a lot. In true Paige Toon style though, we’re given more than one guy to love, and more than one decision for FMC Gracie, to make.
Gracie has been in love with her best friend Jackson for a long time. Her best friend who she watched get married and then not talk to for years. In a bid to find work and redirect her career somewhat, she takes a job helping to launch a new brand & marketing strategy for him, in France, where they spent many summers as family friends.
I read this so quickly and was completely absorbed in their story. I loved the use of “let’s make him jealous” with fake flirting, I loved how much Etienne and Jackson evolved in this.
The only reason it lost the star for me is because it didn’t hurt my heart or throw me off kilter the way I was expecting (hoping) it to. The end, whilst enjoyable felt a little predictable, and thought the storyline would give me a bit more. I very much enjoyed what happened, it was more down to my hopes rather than the reality!
I would definitely recommend this to fans of Paige Toon, and for anyone who wants to escape to a beautiful French setting.
I really enjoyed this. The French setting was wonderful, I felt myself completely drawn in to the descriptions of the small French town, the art work, the buildings. I want to go and live there, immediately.
Especially if Etienne is there. I love him a lot. In true Paige Toon style though, we’re given more than one guy to love, and more than one decision for FMC Gracie, to make.
Gracie has been in love with her best friend Jackson for a long time. Her best friend who she watched get married and then not talk to for years. In a bid to find work and redirect her career somewhat, she takes a job helping to launch a new brand & marketing strategy for him, in France, where they spent many summers as family friends.
I read this so quickly and was completely absorbed in their story. I loved the use of “let’s make him jealous” with fake flirting, I loved how much Etienne and Jackson evolved in this.
The only reason it lost the star for me is because it didn’t hurt my heart or throw me off kilter the way I was expecting (hoping) it to. The end, whilst enjoyable felt a little predictable, and thought the storyline would give me a bit more. I very much enjoyed what happened, it was more down to my hopes rather than the reality!
I would definitely recommend this to fans of Paige Toon, and for anyone who wants to escape to a beautiful French setting.
February 27, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Putnam and Paige Toon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of those books that you enjoy reading but also…the characters drive you crazy!
Grace has loved Jackson since she was 15. It seems like the timing is never right for them. After Jackson married someone else and broke Grace’s heart, she avoided him for years. Now that he’s divorced and asking for help with the family business Grace is jumping at the chance to have her happily ever after.
Grace was so frustrating in that she was so infatuated with Jackson and overlooked the red flags (him only wanting what he couldn’t have).
Etienne seemed too good to be true so it was a bummer and yet refreshing to see him have flaws too.
Overall this was a quick, easy read. The characters drove me crazy but I was happy they seemed to figure things out eventually.
This is one of those books that you enjoy reading but also…the characters drive you crazy!
Grace has loved Jackson since she was 15. It seems like the timing is never right for them. After Jackson married someone else and broke Grace’s heart, she avoided him for years. Now that he’s divorced and asking for help with the family business Grace is jumping at the chance to have her happily ever after.
Grace was so frustrating in that she was so infatuated with Jackson and overlooked the red flags (him only wanting what he couldn’t have).
Etienne seemed too good to be true so it was a bummer and yet refreshing to see him have flaws too.
Overall this was a quick, easy read. The characters drove me crazy but I was happy they seemed to figure things out eventually.
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