Don't Fall in Love With Me

by Paige Toon

“Paige Toon warms your heart, shatters it in pieces, then puts it back together again and again.” —Abby Jimenez

Sometimes the heart wants what the heart can’t have.

Grace has loved Jackson since she was fifteen. Spending every summer together exploring his grandfather’s chateau and the tumbling rivers of the gorgeous Ardèche region of France, they were best friends. Until he married someone else.

Three years later, a newly single Jackson re-enters Grace’s life with an irresistible her dream job in the very town where their story began. As memories from those idyllic summers flood back, Grace encounters another old friend Étienne, who proposes a plan to make Jackson jealous. Their scheme begins to work just as Grace finds herself questioning if the sparks between them might not be so pretend after all.

But games can be dangerous, and Étienne is harboring a secret that could shatter Grace’s heart.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Friends To Lovers, Adult Fiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 9, 2026

About the author

Paige 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.

Reviews

[cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 🤞🏼❤️‍🩹

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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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[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Amee · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Brogan Tate · Rating 3 out of 5]

-> 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.

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[mads · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Gianna Guido · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Olivia R · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Mamawattto4 Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Lauren Kotrys · Rating 4 out of 5]

-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!

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotionally tangled, heartbreakingly real, and beautifully written. This is Paige Toon at her best.

This book wrecked me in the best possible way. It’s a deeply emotional exploration of love, loss, and the messiness that exists between the two. I didn’t expect to feel so seen by a love triangle, but here we are.

At its core is Grace, a woman caught in a complicated tangle of feelings that spans a decade and two continents. Torn between Jackson, her lifelong best friend, and Etienne, the boy from a sun-drenched French summer (cue the nostalgia), Grace returns to France hoping for clarity… and instead walks straight into emotional chaos. Honestly, same.

What I loved most was how raw and real this story felt. Grace’s longing, her hope, her heartbreak. I felt every bit of it. She’s a character you just want to hug even while knowing exactly why she keeps holding on. There were moments where I found myself nodding along, thinking, yep, been there, and others where I wanted to shake her gently and say, girl, please don’t do this to yourself.

Neither Jackson nor Etienne are perfect, far from it actually, but that’s what made the dynamic so engrossing. Each chapter had me flipping back and forth between who I was rooting for (a dangerous game, honestly), and the emotion was addictive. I went from swooning to side-eyeing in a span of a few pages…
more than once.

Yes, there were moments that made me want to scream into a pillow, miscommunications, secrets, and betrayals that cut deep, but that’s part of what made the payoff so satisfying. This story doesn’t shy away from the gray areas of love. It leans in, pulls you close, and dares you to sit with the discomfort.

And when the truth finally came out? I felt like the characters personally PUNCH my heart. I gasped. I cried. I definitely muttered, “You’ve got to be kidding me,” out loud, alone, to no one.

The technical details around Grace’s job and the house renovations were a bit slower for me, if I never read about drainage issues again, it’ll be too soon, but even those parts gave the story weight and realism. They were the calm before (and during) the emotional storm.

As always, Paige Toon’s writing is heartfelt, vivid, and emotionally intelligent. Her ability to capture the ache of wanting someone and the bravery it takes to walk away when it isn’t right is unmatched. Definitely some advice I will be taking for myself.

This is a story about knowing your worth, choosing yourself, and realising that love, real love, doesn’t require you to lose yourself or settle just because you think you have to.

Thank you to Cornerstone and NetGalley for the ARC. I’m still thinking about this one and not over everything that went down.

[Mohammed omran]

الشخصية اللي هقول لك "متقعش في حبي"، لا علشان أنا وحش، لا علشان أنا "ملك/ملكة جمال العالم"، لأ. السبب أبسط من كده: أنا كتالوج مشاكل ممشي على رجلين.

المشهد الأول: التحذير الرسمي
أنا هقف قدامك وأقولك بأدب وحزم:

"لو سمحت، خد الكلام مني: متحبنيش. أنا مش مشروع استثماري آمن، أنا زلط في الشارع ممكن تزلّق بسببه. حياتي فيها:

كومة ذكريات قديمة أكتر من عدد حلقات مسلسل 'ونيس'.

مزاجي بيتغير أسرع من حالة الطقس في مصر (دلوقتي شمس، بعد 5 دقائق رمل وأتربة وعواصف!).

عندي عبّارة مشاعر مُعلّقة، وبشتغل عليها دلوقتي. يعني ممكن أفاجئك بإيه؟ لا ندري!"

المشهد الثاني: ليه يعني؟
عايز أسباب عملية؟

لو اتأخرت عليّ ساعة، هفتكر كل الدراما اللي حصلت في حياتي من سنة 2005 لـ2024، وهبدأ أتوتر وأفكر: "مات ولا اتخطف ولا اتأخر علشان يشترى لي شوكولاتة؟".

لو قولت لي "بحبك"، مش هعرف أرد بإيه غير: "طب ما تشرب شاي؟".

صحباتي بتتريق عليّ وتقول: "مش كل يوم يجيلك ضيف، خلي بالك منه!".

أحب أكون لوحدي أكتر من ما أحب أخرج، فأنت هتبقى زي "ضيف شرف في عزومة مش عايزاهال".

المشهد الثالث: العرض البديل
أنا ممكن أبقى:

صاحب/صاحبة لطيف، نسولف ونقهوى ونروح السينما.

رفيق/رفيقة أزمات، خصوصًا لو عايز تعيط على أي حاجة تخلص في دقيقتين.

مستشار/ة غير شرعي لأمور حياتك المعقدة (مش هقولك نصيحة مفيدة، لكن هقعد أقول معاك: "آه، صح، فعلاً!").

بس الرومانسية؟ لأ. دي مش على القايمة.

المشهد الرابع: اللي هيحصل لو رفضت الإنذار؟
هقولك:

هتلف وتمشي حوليني زي دبة حول الحوض، وأنا هرّوح وأجي في مشاعري.

هتستنى إشارة واضحة مني، وأنا هعطيك إشارات مرور متقاطعة!

في الآخر، هتنفجر وتقول لي: "طيب أنت عايز إيه؟!"

وهأنا برد: "أنا قلت لك من الأول!"

الختام:
فكرتها زي اللافتة على برميل متفجرات في أفلام الكرتون: "لا تلمس، لا تقترب، لا تفكر حتى".

يبقى خلاصة القصة:

"أنا حلو/حلوة في الخيال، لكن في الواقع...
مصر ليها نظام، وأنا ليَّا نظام تاني!
فخليك في دائرتك الآمنة، وأنا هفضل أحترمك أكتر من ما أقدر أؤذيك."

[Malaury · Rating 4 out of 5]

That’s a tough one, because I adore the author, but I have to admit ‘real’ love triangle are usually not my favourite trope. And even if Paige does them in the most natural and heartwarming and heartbreaking way, that one didn’t hit the spot as much as I expected.
First of Grace is a bit all over the place, felt like the typical girl that chase love and man over trying to grow and evolve. She felt a bit flat and without any depth which is usually not the case for Paige’s FMCs. And Jackson let’s talk about him please what a red flag, I mean girl he didn’t pick you over and over because he fell ‘in love’ with an image and a ‘sexy’ woman so why will he does now, specially that let’s be honest he knew well enough that you loved him.
I’m thorn about Etienne because the guy was my first choice but damn the cold and hot actions and the emotionally unavailable put me off. Let’s not forget he used Grace to get back at Jackson and she actually forgave him very very quickly. I don’t know if I’m too petty but damn you do that to me you will have a lot to prove and a lot of grovelling to do before I give you the time of the day.
But I loved the found family, because god Grace didn’t have an easy life and the poor one doesn’t get much love from her mother.
The plot was great I guessed it but it was brilliant to go in that direction. And if I have to be honest I cried over Albert I felt so sorry for that poor old man. He just had a hard life in terms of emotional rollercoaster. Losing so many people but finally being able to meet his other grandson was very sweet. I love Paige so it wasn’t my favourite but I still really liked it. And I’m glad they got all their happy ending.

[Britt Foister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige Toon just delivered the ultimate “follow your heart… even when it’s complicated” story, and I am still not okay.

Don’t Fall in Love With Me follows a woman caught between the life she thought she wanted and the love she never saw coming.

She fell in love with Jackson, her best friend years ago, then he got married and so she put distance between them. Years later, he reconnects to let her know they got a divorce and has a project he needs her help on in Paris where they both have family.

When she flies to Paris for a project with her best, she also ends up reconnecting with someone from her childhood. Someone who eventually tells her one thing: don’t fall in love with me.

Naturally… she does.

What starts as a nostalgic slow burn spark turns into a full emotional spiral with some hidden family drama and history. Then Paige Toon drops the reveal of something I didn’t see coming, but that’s something you’ll just have to wait and find out about when you get the chance to read it!

This isn’t just a love triangle. It’s a story about finally choosing the relationships that choose you whether that be family or romantically. There is definitely some romance here but also a lot of heart!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher Putman for the ARC. Publication date : 4/14/2026

[Alex Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Putnam Books for the ARC of this one! I have always been a huge fan of Paige Toon and I was so excited to read this one! I saved it for my vacation and read it cover to cover on the plane. It had me captivated from the very beginning. This book was a second chance romance but it definitely surprised me with the direction it took! The book follows Grace as she returns to the Ardeche Region of France, where she spent many of her childhood summers with Jackson, who she has loved her wh0le life. She has taken a job helping to market the product that Jackson's family owns. It is an opportunity for her to take a break and also spend time with Jackson , who she hasn't seen since he married someone else. He is newly single and plans to make her move. What she doesn't expect is to run into Etienne, and old friend from her teenage years. I loved the push and pull of this one and the wondering who Grace would end up with and what type of life she would carve out for herself. The love story was beautiful, the setting was incredible and the emotions that tied it all together were exactly what makes me a fan of Paige Toon's writing for life. This one was five stars and I loved it so much! If you love emoti0nal romance, definitely pick this one up!

[Julissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge childhood-friends-to-lovers fan, I was excited to dig into this one! I know the love triangle trope isn’t everyone’s cup-of-tea, but I think Toon put a unique twist on this trope through the intertwining past events and family secrets. I have to admit that both male love interests frustrated me at one point or another, and I wanted the FMC to snap out of it and stop playing their games. That said, their choices certainly created tension and angst, and kept me hooked. One thing I wasn’t particularly invested in was the business project, and the first half felt overly focused on that plotline. But once it picked back up, I was invested through the end.

I think of Paige Toon as the queen of character-driven stories with so much yearning. She’s also great at describing picturesque settings and this French setting is no exception. This story absolutely hits these characteristics. Overall, I enjoyed it and definitely recommend this and her last few years’ publications. There’s a reason she’s been an auto-read author for me since I discovered her a few years ago!

Thanks to Putnam Books & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy! All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 4/14/26

[Lupita_333 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a sweet romance but the characters were mostly dull and not much happens other than romantic feelings between characters. I hated how immature all the characters were. They were way too old to be treating each other that way and having a lack of communication.

I loved Etienne for the most part. I loved his storyline especially the ending. He was the most detailed. I stoped liking him towards the end when one of his secrets was revealed.

Jackson’s character is very bland and there’s almost no information about who he is other than Grace was in love with him. I didn’t like his character. He claimed to want Grace but he didn’t do anything to prove it. It felt like he only wanted to be with her when he was jealous of Etienne.

Grace was kind of a plain character. We only get to know about her love interest and her emotions towards the 2 love interest. I would have loved to get to know more about her and who she is.

I loved the setting being in France.

I didn’t like how it ending and I didn’t like the epilogue. It felt unnecessary. The story was predictable.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[natalie torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge Thank you to Putnam Books and Net Galley for introducing me to my new favorite author.

I adored Don't Fall in Love With Me in a way I didn't expect. My experience reading this felt so all-encompassing and I adored how every piece of information was like climbing to the peak of a mountain. I was unable to put this book down, every chapter I passed I had to keep going because my eyes genuinely could not stray to leave this story for longer than I needed too.

Grace is an avoidant person who has struggled with the feelings she's harbored from the summer boy and her childhood best friend Jackson who's she's had this will they or won't they type of relationship with for years.

An opportunity to see him and her summer home in France again presents itself and she takes the offer in stride. She protects her heart but keeps an open mind to a new possibility between her and Jackson again. But.. in comes Etienne, a boy she met years ago when she was seventeen and someone who she had no clue she'd see again, there right in front of her.

As her and Etienne get to know each other again and her and Jackson navigate their feelings for one another she finally finds a home, truth and a new love in this little small town in France.

One of my favorite reads of 2025, but hopefully everyone's favorite romance in 2026!

[Alexandra Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always know a Paige Toon is book is going to break my heart and make me cry (and I love it every time!) and this one did just that.

I was living for the love triangle and rooting for my favorite the entire time of course!!

I loved the France setting and having a variety of characters from different backgrounds, it made the book so interesting.

As per usual in a Paige Toon novel, there are a variety of emotional topics so please be aware if you plan to read that your heart will probably be shattered in many different ways 😭 (but in the best way possible ofc)

This books probably slides into #2 on my ranking of her books from what I've read so far - I just love the writing and all the complexities that go into her stories.

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! 💖

[marelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

after reading this, i have a strong urge to move to a town in southern France. the imagery and setting were so pretty. i had to look up pictures of Ardèche because my imagination couldn’t conjure up something that beautiful. the story itself was engaging, and the characters felt real. Grace was very relatable in a sad way—she is always the one chasing the person she loves, and the people she cares about have not always treated her fairly. that was difficult to read at times, because Grace had a pattern of accepting less than she deserved. this story was more than just a love triangle though. the lore of the town and the families in it spanned generations, which added depth. the overall message was to appreciate and cherish time with your loved ones, however limited that time may be.

thank you NetGalley and Putnam for providing this arc!

[Sara Livoti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good! I enjoyed the chemistry between Etienne and Grace. The unrequited love between her and Jackson was well written. I felt I was missing something from the love scenes and the chapters. These momentous things would happen and then the chapter would end and I wanted to know more! Or it was a fade to black with just a bit more detail. Jackson says I love you and then cut to the next day?! What no-tell me more! There were so many details on the setting or the marketing job that felt unnecessary, but not enough in pivotal plot points. Anyway, not a bad read though-it was emotional and intriguing.

[Raye · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jillian Wentworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always love a deep, complicated love story and Paige Toon knows how to write them!
I enjoyed this story of Grace, Jackson and Etienne. Beautiful French mountain setting and a long friendship with a slow burn + fake dating wrapped into this layered story.
Thank you you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Jeanniehay64 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect love triangle storyline, with a touch of friendship, family, secrets and romance all tied up in a book which leaves you with a warm glow.

This was an easy read for me. I was swept away to the beautiful setting, I was invested in the characters and hoped they would find their happy ending. If you love a feel good romantic novels then I’m sure you will love this one .

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy to have access to this ARC! Paige has done it again. Dont Fall in love with me is an emotional rollercoaster. I have read Paige's books since the first and cannot wait to see what she comes up with next