Reasons to Be Loved by You

by Hannah Brown

From New York Times bestselling author and Bachelorette fan-favorite Hannah Brown, a rom-com beach read full of witty banter, emotional authenticity, and female friendship—perfect for fans of Emily Henry’s Funny Story and Carley Fortune’s One Golden Summer.

Perfectionist and former pageant girl Nikki Bennet is looking forward to relaxing at her family’s lake house in Georgia for the Fourth of July. Even though it’s been two years since she was on the reality dating show LovedBy, she still hasn’t recovered from finding out on national TV that her fiancé, Aaron, had been dating another woman all along.

But when she arrives home, her little brother makes a surprise announcement: he’s engaged to his girlfriend, Cara—the “other woman” Aaron had been seeing behind Nikki’s back. And what’s worse? They intend to have the wedding this summer, right here at the lake.

Hoping to stop her brother from making the biggest mistake of his life, Nikki discovers an unlikely ally in Cara’s brother, Nate. While their bond begins as shared shock over their siblings’ rushed nuptials, it quickly deepens into something more. Nikki knows Nate is completely wrong for her—he’s a laidback country boy, she’s a driven LA influencer—and yet he’s a welcome distraction from the mess of her love life… as well as the growing sense that her family’s been hiding something from her, something she may not be ready to hear.

But as fireworks light up the water, can Nikki and Nate really stay focused on preventing this wedding? Or will all the reasons they’re wrong for each other lead to an even more unlikely love story—their own?

Genres: Romance, Summer Reads, Summer, Summer Romance

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

Hannah Brown is a television personality, lifestyle expert, podcast host and New York Times bestselling author of God Bless This Mess. After winning Miss Alabama USA in 2018, she went on to star on season 15 of ABC’s hit reality series The Bachelorette, win season 28 of Dancing with the Stars, and compete on FOX’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, where she ended up being one of two women who completed the course and outlasted the other 16 contestants, most of whom were professional athletes.

Brown’s authenticity and charismatic personality have captivated her millions of followers, and she continues to inspire and empower others by instilling beauty goes beyond just what’s on the surface, advocating for mental health awareness, and emphasizing the importance of self-love.

Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Brown currently resides in Nashville.

Reviews

[Sarah Medeiros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phewwwww even though I saw it coming, that ending!? I think I read the last 10% of the book through tears. Devastating and beautiful.

This book was such an interesting look at growing up and growing out of the constraints and expectations that life and our family/friends have of us when we were younger.

This book really felt like a 2000s romcom. Not only do we get some amazing Parent Trap love, but I also got some Bride Wars vibes as well.

You’re getting:
-an FMC who was a former pageant queen who was the lead on a reality love show
-an MMC who is the antithesis of the LA lifestyle
-a large family with hysterical dynamics and of course, some secrets
-a story set at a beautiful lake house

It was sweet and funny, heartbreaking and gut-wrenching. It really brings up a lot of thoughts I think many women in their late 20s and early 30s have had and will have. I had trouble putting it down!

4.5/5

Thank you to Dell for the early copy!

[Taylor Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah’s best book yet. It truly delivered with everything you want from a romance novel and gave much more as well. I’ll be thinking about that ending for a long time - everything about it was so beautiful and well done.

[Riniya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a free copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I absolutely love this story and I can't be surprised because Hannah Brown knocked it out of the park with The Four Engagement Rings. That book put this author on the map for me and I was so excited to be offered a widget for the next in the series.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns that this book gave us. I was on the edge of my seat going "Oh my god, what?" pretty much the entire time! It was punch after punch in the absolute best way and I can not wait for the final book of the bunch! The small town setting was almost idyllic, I do wish that our characters spent a bit more time outside of the house and out in the town, but that's such a small complaint.

I loved the character development and the way that the core four were there to support each other even from afar. I really loved that aspect of the story from Four Rings and was excited to see it carried over yet again to this one, especially considering that Nikki was technically the outsider of the friend group from the beginning. Once again, I felt like this book was more of a "love yourself first" type of romance story which I am here for!

There was a lot going on and it was a wild ride but I feel like this book could be a viral summer read!

[Anika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Estelle (director of marketing and publicity at Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of “Reasons to be Loved by You”.

Overview:
Reasons to be Loved by You follows Nikki, a former reality tv star who returns to her childhood home a while after having her heartbreak splashed across the tabloids, only to learn that her younger brother is engaged to the woman who broke up Nikki’s relationship. Hannah Brown’s third book continues on with “the core four” friends, with Emma, Sybil, and Willow all making appearances throughout, while also introducing us to Nikki’s family, childhood hometown crew, and adorkable MMC who gives Nikki the space to truly be herself. While Nikki navigates tumultuous feelings about her brother marrying her “enemy”, she gets close with the brother of said “enemy”, leading Nikki down a path of self reflection, all the feelings, and the complications adulthood throws at you so easily.

My thoughts:
I loved the small town, family centred feel and elements that supported this story. There were true moments of heartache and joy for the characters who all brought their own complexities to the table. The MMC was the real star of this one for me. He so perfectly provides Nikki space to simply be herself, something that years in the spotlight have trained out of her, and he does this so naturally. The FMC definitely has her complexities, and something I found myself really disliking was the cattiness she emanated. I get it, she’s pissed/heartbroken/angry/lost/scared/betrayed, but it felt juvenile at times and honestly made me kinda hate her on and off. Throughout the story, Nikki and Nate had the whole “will they, won’t they” situationship that took a variety of twists and turns to ultimately (lowkey spoiler but it’s a romance book, this is expected) find their happiness! And I’m a total sucker for the book titles being worked into the novel so bonus points for that!

Overall this was a good read, definitely giving summer vibes! While there were elements I didn’t love, there were also parts I devoured. Overall I’d say this rates at a 3.75/5 stars for me, and 1.5/5 spice!

Thank you again to NetGalley, the publisher, Hannah Brown, and Estelle (director of marketing and publicity at Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC! Can’t wait to see what Willow’s story will hold in 2027!

[Kate Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely summer read filled with hometown nostalgia, sun-drenched lake days, reality television melodrama, and a hastily planned wedding. I found myself caught up in the atmosphere of the hot Georgia summer. The tension between Nikki and Cara, her brother’s fiancée and the woman who wrecked her own TV wedding and happily-ever-after years earlier, is palpable and funny and surprising. The connection Nikki forges with Cara’s hot brother Nate develops more quickly than the love she thought she’d found on TV and been horribly wrong about—but is it possible it could be the real thing this time?

I loved this novel that explores not only a steamy summer romance, but the complicated relationships we can have with our siblings and parents, the ways we choose to show up for the people we love most, and the ways we can hide from our true hopes and desires. It’s a feel-good story that also managed to make me cry. Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC.

[Tyre 🍒 · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a beautiful story!!! 🥹🥹🥹

I read this book so fast because it was so good and I just couldn’t put it down. it was raw and real and messy and you can truly feel all of the emotions from the characters. nikki and nate’s chemistry was off the charts, undeniable. I loved all of their cutie flirty moments but also all of their tender more vulnerable ones too. they are definitely opposites but they fit so well together and truly balance each other out in the best way.

honestly I loved all of the side characters in this story! all of the siblings, the parents, even cara! it just all felt so real and the way everyone navigated all the drama and craziness wasn’t perfect but that’s what makes it real.

I thought the setting was beautiful and all of the imagery makes this the perfect summer read! 🩷

thank you to forever for the arc!

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you netgalley for the ARC

Reasons to Be Loved by You by Hannah Brown

📖 Sunshine, secrets, and messy family drama collide in this emotional summer rom com. After a very public heartbreak, Nikki heads home for a reset only to find her brother engaged to the girl who helped ruin her last relationship. What makes this one stand out is the mix of humor, healing, and complicated relationships with a romance that sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

Tropes & Vibes
🌊 Summer lake house setting
💔 Public heartbreak recovery
😬 Ex’s “other woman” drama
🔥 Opposites attract
👨‍👩‍👧 Family secrets
💞 Unexpected romance

Read this if you like
Beachy rom coms with emotional depth, messy family dynamics, witty banter, and love stories that grow out of chaos.

#SummerRomanceReads #HannahBrownBooks #BeachReadVibes #ForeverPublisher #OppositesAttract

[Maria Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a solid 4-star read!

This was my first time reading a Hannah Brown novel, and it definitely will not be my last. I went into this not fully knowing what to expect, and ended up finishing it in one sitting because I simply could not put it down.

I laughed, I cried, and I connected with Nikki in a way that made the story feel so heartfelt and real. There was something so comforting and emotional about watching her journey, and I loved how easy it was to get invested in her.

This was such a good read, and now, naturally, I need to go read all of Hannah Brown’s other books immediately.

[Rebecca Draper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the advanced copy!!

This is more of a 3.5 because I did enjoy Nate immensely.. he really did save the book for me because honestly Nikki is 29/30 years old and is so petty and catty to Cara. Like I get that she was hurt but she also knows how social media warps things. I rolled my eyes so many times at the way the situation was being handled.
Now the last 10% was great! I really loved how the story ended but I just didn’t like the execution to get there as much.
But it’s definitely a quick summer read!!

[Andy Krahling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Booktrovert for giving me the e-copy of this book.

I didn't look up the author or know her background before reading this, and I'm glad I didn't. It wouldn't have made any difference, really, as I quite enjoyed this tale. It was charming. No, there were no huge twists and surprises. Didn't matter. The people were real, the dialogue felt realistic and the issues were identifiable.

I liked this a lot, and yes, I'd read more from the author.

[Kristen McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely my favorite in this interconnected series! I loved getting to see some familiar characters again, but it can absolutely still be read and enjoyed as a standalone.
It was honestly hard not to picture Hannah Brown as Nikki while reading, especially knowing she put so much of herself into this character. I think that’s exactly why Nikki ended up being my favorite of the core four!
If you loved Hannah on The Bachelorette..you’re definitely going to love this one too!

[Addie Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy so much how much of herself Hannah B puts into her books. They all feel very personal to her and that heart helps me to sink deeper into these stories. This was fast and light but also with some surprising depth. There were definitely times when I was frustrated by their lack of communication and honesty, but the pay off was sweet and satisfying. A good summer read for an easy pool day.

[Lindsay Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My least favorite of her romance novels… The main character felt very Pollyanna to me. Some details that were constantly being repeated were annoying — like her FitGirl collaboration. It had a sweet ending, but I couldn’t really connect with her as a character.

[Viviana]

I received a Kindle ARC from the Booktrovert Library.

[Corina Blas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg now this is what I needed I finish this i loved it! This was easy palette cleaners. This story wasn't what I expected Nikkie was a true girl! Fun read for spring & summer time!

[Lisa Battistone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between a 3 and 3.5 on this one! I loved knowing that it was basically Hannah’s story (as a fan of the franchise I liked that background), but it dragged on a little for me!