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Love in Fairwick Falls #5
Falling at the Barre: A Single Dad x Nanny Small Town Spicy Romcom
Luca Bishop has one no dating until his first-grader graduates high school. Period.
Between running a growing auto body shop and solo-parenting, romance isn’t just off the table—it’s somewhere in the garage under a tarp.
And with his schedule, it's time to hire a nanny.
Enter his daughter's gorgeous new dance teacher, who's also their next-door-neighbor. The one who smells like cinnamon. Who makes his kid beam and who laughs like sunshine.
Who already feels like his—if only she weren’t leaving.
Ballet didn’t dump Olivia Maroo—it just stopped calling.
At 33, Olivia knows pliés won't pay the bills forever, but she’s not ready to hang up her pointe shoes just yet.
She just needs a few months to train for auditions, regroup, and totally not fall apart. So she returns to her hometown for the fall—where the maple syrup flows, the apple pie pancake breakfasts are elite, and the existential dread is pumpkin spice–flavored.
In exchange for ballet studio space, she agrees to teach at the local dance studio. It’s temporary. Chill. Fine.
...Until she accidentally volunteers to nanny for her most adorably chaotic student—who just so happens to live next door with her extremely hot, extremely off-limits single dad. It has to be temporary.
But with cozy movie nights, cider-fueled slow dances, and a life she’s already half in love with, she’s not prepared for the kind of fall that changes everything.
Single dad x nanny
No third act breakup
He falls first
Hurt/Comfort
Mutual pining
Neighors-to-lovers
Spicy scenes!
Between running a growing auto body shop and solo-parenting, romance isn’t just off the table—it’s somewhere in the garage under a tarp.
And with his schedule, it's time to hire a nanny.
Enter his daughter's gorgeous new dance teacher, who's also their next-door-neighbor. The one who smells like cinnamon. Who makes his kid beam and who laughs like sunshine.
Who already feels like his—if only she weren’t leaving.
Ballet didn’t dump Olivia Maroo—it just stopped calling.
At 33, Olivia knows pliés won't pay the bills forever, but she’s not ready to hang up her pointe shoes just yet.
She just needs a few months to train for auditions, regroup, and totally not fall apart. So she returns to her hometown for the fall—where the maple syrup flows, the apple pie pancake breakfasts are elite, and the existential dread is pumpkin spice–flavored.
In exchange for ballet studio space, she agrees to teach at the local dance studio. It’s temporary. Chill. Fine.
...Until she accidentally volunteers to nanny for her most adorably chaotic student—who just so happens to live next door with her extremely hot, extremely off-limits single dad. It has to be temporary.
But with cozy movie nights, cider-fueled slow dances, and a life she’s already half in love with, she’s not prepared for the kind of fall that changes everything.
Single dad x nanny
No third act breakup
He falls first
Hurt/Comfort
Mutual pining
Neighors-to-lovers
Spicy scenes!
Audible Audio
Published September 16, 2026
About the author
Elise Kennedy
16 books328 followersI write cozy, steamy, contemporary romances.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
October 4, 2026
Falling at the Barre by Elise Kennedy
Love in Fairwick Falls series #5. Contemporary small town romance. Single dad. Alternating 1st person POV. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Olivia Maroo always hoped to be more than just in the corps of a ballet company, but fate so far hasn’t been kind. The directors and other dancers can be very unkind. She lost her current contract and goes home to Fairwick Falls to regroup. At 31, she might still have a chance if she can keep in shape and skills. She accepts a temporary job to teach ballet classes and then also agrees to be a nanny for one of the young dancers. The father, Luca Bishop just happens to single dad next door and nanny becomes friend with benefits.
Olivia has decisions to make.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated by Aileen Bishop and Ryan Stone in alternating POV chapters. Both do a really great job of entertaining and ramping up the heat! It’s a dual format which means each does multiple voices in their chapter including both MC’s. They have similar speed and tone so switches from chapter to chapter easily flow.
The audiobook is engaging and a great way to experience this romance.
Steamy, adorable child, hot single dad, steamy, and a romance that dances across your heart in joy and love.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.
Love in Fairwick Falls series #5. Contemporary small town romance. Single dad. Alternating 1st person POV. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Olivia Maroo always hoped to be more than just in the corps of a ballet company, but fate so far hasn’t been kind. The directors and other dancers can be very unkind. She lost her current contract and goes home to Fairwick Falls to regroup. At 31, she might still have a chance if she can keep in shape and skills. She accepts a temporary job to teach ballet classes and then also agrees to be a nanny for one of the young dancers. The father, Luca Bishop just happens to single dad next door and nanny becomes friend with benefits.
Olivia has decisions to make.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated by Aileen Bishop and Ryan Stone in alternating POV chapters. Both do a really great job of entertaining and ramping up the heat! It’s a dual format which means each does multiple voices in their chapter including both MC’s. They have similar speed and tone so switches from chapter to chapter easily flow.
The audiobook is engaging and a great way to experience this romance.
Steamy, adorable child, hot single dad, steamy, and a romance that dances across your heart in joy and love.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.
September 27, 2026
I have to admit, it was the fall vibes🍁🍂 that made me request this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 2.75⭐️
Tropes: Single dad x nanny/teacher, small town, he falls first, forced proximity, insta-love, mutual pinning, found family
Spice🌶: 4.5/5! ( a LOT for me)
Pacing: medium to fast-paced
Narrator🗣: Dual—not duet | Female + Male (POVs separated)
Duration: 11h 9m
Chapter style: mid/descriptive
Chemistry⚛️: 6/10
Vibes⋆꙳⋆⁺₊: cozy, leaves falling, apple trees, pumpkin, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, kids, ballet classes, small-town, quirky characters.
It all starts with Olivia returning to Fairwick Falls. Olivia, who is a ballerina at the local dance studio, meets a cute and chaotic girl (Annabel), who likes to get into ballet classes; that's how Luca meets Olivia for the first time, and his rule of no dating until his daughter graduates high school is basically out the window! They are forced to spend more time together, and with Annabel's request, Olivia becomes her nanny. Sparks fly, and the instant attraction they had for one another grows stronger!
Even though this is from a series (of standalone books), Love in Fairwick Falls #5, it was the first book I picked up by this author. The cozy small-town setting and atmosphere described in the book were also just right for fall. The first half was more interesting and emotional for me. I liked the more vulnerable issues of the characters and the representation of those issues, and what was discussed in the book. Not to mention, it was nice to read about characters in their 30s, instead of couples in their early 20s. However, I liked that there was still room for character development, and how each main character had to deal with their own issues and come a long way before they could start a relationship together.
🎧 Audio: Both narrators, Aileen Bishop and Ryan Stone, did a great job narrating the book. I especially enjoyed A. Bishop's style of narration and voice acting. I do recommend listening to this book. I believe they both did a great job of enacting the other characters in the town, too. This helped with bringing so much more cozy vibes and life to the cast of characters; I think reading it on paper or screen could've been a different experience. That being said, it could've been better if all of Olivia's parts were narrated by the female voice, and all of Luca's by the male. This kind of took me out of the flow, and I prefer a fully duet style, rather than POV specific voices.
I did enjoy my time reading this book. It was cozy and cute. However, the spice was a bit too much for my taste, and sometimes I felt like having two or three chapters of spice back-to-back kind of made me lose interest in the main issues and even their love story. I personally like books that rely on emotional connection and bonds, rather than a lot of physical touch and spice. Especially with stories like this, where there is so much room for the characters to have emotional connection, scenes that are intimate but not sexy per se. Other than that, I think this book was at least 100 pages too long for no good reason. Some parts, like the first 20%, were super fast-paced, and everything happened so quickly. Luca and Olivia's attraction, their inner monologues about one another, their interactions, then Olivia becoming AB's teacher and nanny, being their next-door neighbor... a lot was happening! Then there is nothing new introduced in the story, and it's just their constant thoughts and attraction, etc., plus their personal struggles with their careers and other issues. This is purely my opinion, and I am sure others might've actually enjoyed the pacing.
The bonus section: I think the bonus chapters were just too long, nearly 35minutes. I think the author could have extended the book's epilogue a bit, and cut the bonus to a single chapter. Especially because the story was just dragging on too long. However, I liked how Annabel and Olivia's relationship wrapped up.
Overall, I think this is a cute but super spicy book! That will definitely be someone's favorite with all of its charm. But sadly, a bit too much for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Elise Kennedy for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 2.75⭐️
Tropes: Single dad x nanny/teacher, small town, he falls first, forced proximity, insta-love, mutual pinning, found family
Spice🌶: 4.5/5! ( a LOT for me)
Pacing: medium to fast-paced
Narrator🗣: Dual—not duet | Female + Male (POVs separated)
Duration: 11h 9m
Chapter style: mid/descriptive
Chemistry⚛️: 6/10
Vibes⋆꙳⋆⁺₊: cozy, leaves falling, apple trees, pumpkin, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, kids, ballet classes, small-town, quirky characters.
It all starts with Olivia returning to Fairwick Falls. Olivia, who is a ballerina at the local dance studio, meets a cute and chaotic girl (Annabel), who likes to get into ballet classes; that's how Luca meets Olivia for the first time, and his rule of no dating until his daughter graduates high school is basically out the window! They are forced to spend more time together, and with Annabel's request, Olivia becomes her nanny. Sparks fly, and the instant attraction they had for one another grows stronger!
Even though this is from a series (of standalone books), Love in Fairwick Falls #5, it was the first book I picked up by this author. The cozy small-town setting and atmosphere described in the book were also just right for fall. The first half was more interesting and emotional for me. I liked the more vulnerable issues of the characters and the representation of those issues, and what was discussed in the book. Not to mention, it was nice to read about characters in their 30s, instead of couples in their early 20s. However, I liked that there was still room for character development, and how each main character had to deal with their own issues and come a long way before they could start a relationship together.
🎧 Audio: Both narrators, Aileen Bishop and Ryan Stone, did a great job narrating the book. I especially enjoyed A. Bishop's style of narration and voice acting. I do recommend listening to this book. I believe they both did a great job of enacting the other characters in the town, too. This helped with bringing so much more cozy vibes and life to the cast of characters; I think reading it on paper or screen could've been a different experience. That being said, it could've been better if all of Olivia's parts were narrated by the female voice, and all of Luca's by the male. This kind of took me out of the flow, and I prefer a fully duet style, rather than POV specific voices.
I did enjoy my time reading this book. It was cozy and cute. However, the spice was a bit too much for my taste, and sometimes I felt like having two or three chapters of spice back-to-back kind of made me lose interest in the main issues and even their love story. I personally like books that rely on emotional connection and bonds, rather than a lot of physical touch and spice. Especially with stories like this, where there is so much room for the characters to have emotional connection, scenes that are intimate but not sexy per se. Other than that, I think this book was at least 100 pages too long for no good reason. Some parts, like the first 20%, were super fast-paced, and everything happened so quickly. Luca and Olivia's attraction, their inner monologues about one another, their interactions, then Olivia becoming AB's teacher and nanny, being their next-door neighbor... a lot was happening! Then there is nothing new introduced in the story, and it's just their constant thoughts and attraction, etc., plus their personal struggles with their careers and other issues. This is purely my opinion, and I am sure others might've actually enjoyed the pacing.
The bonus section: I think the bonus chapters were just too long, nearly 35minutes. I think the author could have extended the book's epilogue a bit, and cut the bonus to a single chapter. Especially because the story was just dragging on too long. However, I liked how Annabel and Olivia's relationship wrapped up.
Overall, I think this is a cute but super spicy book! That will definitely be someone's favorite with all of its charm. But sadly, a bit too much for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Elise Kennedy for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ALC 🥹🫶🏻
🎧 Audiobook narrated by Aileen Bishop & Ryan Stone
🩷 Single dad x nanny
🩷 No third act breakup
🩷 He falls first
🩷 Hurt/comfort
🩷 Mutual pining
🩷 Neighbors to lovers
🩷 SPICYYYYY scenes!
Luca Bishop is a single dad with a first-grader, and he’s struggling to manage everything. Enter Olivia Lucas, his daughter’s dance teacher, who happens to become her nanny 🫶🏻
I did the audiobook and both narrators did an amazing job! I felt the tension, and the spicy scenes?! Excuse me?? 🤭🔥
Overall it was spicy + funny + adorable, the perfect combo! I really recommend the audiobook 🫶🏻
🎧 Audiobook narrated by Aileen Bishop & Ryan Stone
🩷 Single dad x nanny
🩷 No third act breakup
🩷 He falls first
🩷 Hurt/comfort
🩷 Mutual pining
🩷 Neighbors to lovers
🩷 SPICYYYYY scenes!
Luca Bishop is a single dad with a first-grader, and he’s struggling to manage everything. Enter Olivia Lucas, his daughter’s dance teacher, who happens to become her nanny 🫶🏻
I did the audiobook and both narrators did an amazing job! I felt the tension, and the spicy scenes?! Excuse me?? 🤭🔥
Overall it was spicy + funny + adorable, the perfect combo! I really recommend the audiobook 🫶🏻
September 22, 2026
3.75 stars rounded up
Falling at the Barre by Elise Kennedy is a charming forced proximity, single dad, next-door neighbors, he-falls-first, small town romance. The story follows Luca and Olivia after they officially meet when Olivia who happens to be a ballerina charms his daughter into getting ballet classes. They are forced to spend more time together when Luca's daughter requests that Olivia be her nanny. Together, they have an instalove attraction that they try to fight but then they fall in love for reals!!!
I liked this book. I thought it had good character development and a really sweet setting. I did think that it was very heavy on the instalove so if you aren't a fan of that, you might not enjoy this book. Falling at the Barre is the first in the series that I've gotten to enjoy, and I plan on reading more. I am already excited for the book about the brother which might be an enemies to lovers!
I got to listen to the audiobook and I thought the female narrator was absolutely phenomenal. Sadly, while I would recommend the book, I felt the male narrator sounded really old which took me out every time I listened to his voice as I don't think the author meant for him to sound elderly. Additionally, while I do like duets, I didn't like that the voices wouldn't carry through to the narration from the other POV, that's why I didn't rate this book higher. Even if the male narrator was not my cup of tea, I think that having the voices be consistent would have helped me feel more immersed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Elise Kennedy for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 3.75 stars rounded up
Falling at the Barre by Elise Kennedy is a charming forced proximity, single dad, next-door neighbors, he-falls-first, small town romance. The story follows Luca and Olivia after they officially meet when Olivia who happens to be a ballerina charms his daughter into getting ballet classes. They are forced to spend more time together when Luca's daughter requests that Olivia be her nanny. Together, they have an instalove attraction that they try to fight but then they fall in love for reals!!!
I liked this book. I thought it had good character development and a really sweet setting. I did think that it was very heavy on the instalove so if you aren't a fan of that, you might not enjoy this book. Falling at the Barre is the first in the series that I've gotten to enjoy, and I plan on reading more. I am already excited for the book about the brother which might be an enemies to lovers!
I got to listen to the audiobook and I thought the female narrator was absolutely phenomenal. Sadly, while I would recommend the book, I felt the male narrator sounded really old which took me out every time I listened to his voice as I don't think the author meant for him to sound elderly. Additionally, while I do like duets, I didn't like that the voices wouldn't carry through to the narration from the other POV, that's why I didn't rate this book higher. Even if the male narrator was not my cup of tea, I think that having the voices be consistent would have helped me feel more immersed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Elise Kennedy for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Falling at the Barre by Elise Kennedy is a charming forced proximity, single dad, next-door neighbors, he-falls-first, small town romance. The story follows Luca and Olivia after they officially meet when Olivia who happens to be a ballerina charms his daughter into getting ballet classes. They are forced to spend more time together when Luca's daughter requests that Olivia be her nanny. Together, they have an instalove attraction that they try to fight but then they fall in love for reals!!!
I liked this book. I thought it had good character development and a really sweet setting. I did think that it was very heavy on the instalove so if you aren't a fan of that, you might not enjoy this book. Falling at the Barre is the first in the series that I've gotten to enjoy, and I plan on reading more. I am already excited for the book about the brother which might be an enemies to lovers!
I got to listen to the audiobook and I thought the female narrator was absolutely phenomenal. Sadly, while I would recommend the book, I felt the male narrator sounded really old which took me out every time I listened to his voice as I don't think the author meant for him to sound elderly. Additionally, while I do like duets, I didn't like that the voices wouldn't carry through to the narration from the other POV, that's why I didn't rate this book higher. Even if the male narrator was not my cup of tea, I think that having the voices be consistent would have helped me feel more immersed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Elise Kennedy for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 3.75 stars rounded up
Falling at the Barre by Elise Kennedy is a charming forced proximity, single dad, next-door neighbors, he-falls-first, small town romance. The story follows Luca and Olivia after they officially meet when Olivia who happens to be a ballerina charms his daughter into getting ballet classes. They are forced to spend more time together when Luca's daughter requests that Olivia be her nanny. Together, they have an instalove attraction that they try to fight but then they fall in love for reals!!!
I liked this book. I thought it had good character development and a really sweet setting. I did think that it was very heavy on the instalove so if you aren't a fan of that, you might not enjoy this book. Falling at the Barre is the first in the series that I've gotten to enjoy, and I plan on reading more. I am already excited for the book about the brother which might be an enemies to lovers!
I got to listen to the audiobook and I thought the female narrator was absolutely phenomenal. Sadly, while I would recommend the book, I felt the male narrator sounded really old which took me out every time I listened to his voice as I don't think the author meant for him to sound elderly. Additionally, while I do like duets, I didn't like that the voices wouldn't carry through to the narration from the other POV, that's why I didn't rate this book higher. Even if the male narrator was not my cup of tea, I think that having the voices be consistent would have helped me feel more immersed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Elise Kennedy for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 14, 2026
ALC review thanks to the author ☆
Absolutely yes !
This is the epitome of EVERYTHING I like in a single dad spicy but cozy romance!
I already liked Luca when he appeared in past tomes but his story was really a cherry on top like treat !
Him being overwhelmed, overly tired yet still the absolute best dad to his little terror of a daughter was the sweetest thing ever !
Olivia is another really dear character to me now! Her struggle with finding her place in a career that does not spark joy anymore yet her strong will to be successful and make her loved ones proud got me choked up multiple times.
When both the MMC and FMC deserves the world and end up with an adorable and sweet love story, you can only cheer for their live to be everlasting.
Absolutely yes !
This is the epitome of EVERYTHING I like in a single dad spicy but cozy romance!
I already liked Luca when he appeared in past tomes but his story was really a cherry on top like treat !
Him being overwhelmed, overly tired yet still the absolute best dad to his little terror of a daughter was the sweetest thing ever !
Olivia is another really dear character to me now! Her struggle with finding her place in a career that does not spark joy anymore yet her strong will to be successful and make her loved ones proud got me choked up multiple times.
When both the MMC and FMC deserves the world and end up with an adorable and sweet love story, you can only cheer for their live to be everlasting.
December 30, 2025
*ARC REVIEW* Awwww, this book felt like a giant hug 🥰 A warm, cozy small-town romance between a ballerina who returns to her hometown and a single dad still trying to juggle life after losing his significant other years ago. From the moment he sees her, his reaction told me immediately that I was going to love this story. She swoops into his life and completely brightens his world, and I was here for every second of it! There were laugh-out-loud moments mixed with scenes that really tugged at my heartstrings 🤧. The bond between her and his daughter was absolutely adorable, and don’t even get me started on the fall festival...OMG 🥰. At that point, the butterflies were floating.
There’s just something about small-town romances that will always have a special place in my heart ❤️. And listen, DON'T let the cover fool you, because this one is spicy! I’d rate it around 🌶🌶🌶. I’ll definitely be exploring more of this author’s catalog.
There’s just something about small-town romances that will always have a special place in my heart ❤️. And listen, DON'T let the cover fool you, because this one is spicy! I’d rate it around 🌶🌶🌶. I’ll definitely be exploring more of this author’s catalog.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2026
A lovely storyline and strong supporting cast, but unfortunately, the main characters just didn’t work for me.
After how much I loved "Unexpectedly Bookish," I went into "Falling at the Barre" expecting that same connection. While I enjoyed the overall story and was happy with the HEA, Olivia and Luca weren’t nearly as relatable or likable to me as Reed and Pearl.
Olivia returns to her hometown after being cut from her ballet company and plans to audition again next season. I understood where her insecurities came from, especially in an industry that puts enormous pressure on dancers’ bodies and careers, but her constant self-deprecation became exhausting. She seemed almost surprised that years spent as a backup or ensemble dancer hadn’t translated into lead roles, without really examining why. I was SO happy when Luca finally challenged her on it. And the "we’re the hot girls!" moment in the bar? CRINGE. 😂
Then there’s Luca, who has sworn off dating after Annabelle’s mom's death but is immediately obsessed with Olivia. THAT part? Loved. Give me a man completely gone for his woman. Unfortunately, some of his behavior crossed into controlling territory for me. My least favorite moment was him "grimacing" at Olivia after she’d been drinking. A grimace reads as disgust, and that’s not a reaction I want from the romantic lead toward the woman he loves.
Aileen Bishop and Ryan Stone delivered an enjoyable narration that kept the story moving, and I especially enjoyed the larger Fairwick Falls cast. Their performances helped bring warmth to a romance where I struggled to connect with the leads.
Ultimately, I loved the premise, the supporting characters, and the story's direction. I just wish I’d loved Olivia and Luca as much as I loved the world around them.
📖 Falling at the Barre
✍️ Elise Kennedy
📚 Love in Fairwick Falls, Book 5
🎙️ Aileen Bishop & Ryan Stone
🎁 Provided by NetGalley
📅 10/01/26
⭐️⭐️⭐️
After how much I loved "Unexpectedly Bookish," I went into "Falling at the Barre" expecting that same connection. While I enjoyed the overall story and was happy with the HEA, Olivia and Luca weren’t nearly as relatable or likable to me as Reed and Pearl.
Olivia returns to her hometown after being cut from her ballet company and plans to audition again next season. I understood where her insecurities came from, especially in an industry that puts enormous pressure on dancers’ bodies and careers, but her constant self-deprecation became exhausting. She seemed almost surprised that years spent as a backup or ensemble dancer hadn’t translated into lead roles, without really examining why. I was SO happy when Luca finally challenged her on it. And the "we’re the hot girls!" moment in the bar? CRINGE. 😂
Then there’s Luca, who has sworn off dating after Annabelle’s mom's death but is immediately obsessed with Olivia. THAT part? Loved. Give me a man completely gone for his woman. Unfortunately, some of his behavior crossed into controlling territory for me. My least favorite moment was him "grimacing" at Olivia after she’d been drinking. A grimace reads as disgust, and that’s not a reaction I want from the romantic lead toward the woman he loves.
Aileen Bishop and Ryan Stone delivered an enjoyable narration that kept the story moving, and I especially enjoyed the larger Fairwick Falls cast. Their performances helped bring warmth to a romance where I struggled to connect with the leads.
Ultimately, I loved the premise, the supporting characters, and the story's direction. I just wish I’d loved Olivia and Luca as much as I loved the world around them.
📖 Falling at the Barre
✍️ Elise Kennedy
📚 Love in Fairwick Falls, Book 5
🎙️ Aileen Bishop & Ryan Stone
🎁 Provided by NetGalley
📅 10/01/26
⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 14, 2026
5✨
This is the easiest 5 stars I have given in a WHILE! We all know how obsessed I am with Fairwick Falls, but this book?! I can’t get over it actually. I was kicking my feet and giggling the entire time.
I am so in love with Luca and Olivia. Their relationship felt like a breath of fresh air. This was such an inspiring story about two people who needed someone to ground them and show them what more there was to life. Olivia struggled with finding her purpose after years in the ballet world that was constantly tearing her down. Luca was desperately trying to be the best father to an incredible little girl and give her the childhood he never had. But in his haste to be perfect he forgot about the little things.
That’s what made this relationship so special to me. Olivia made Luca slow down and see that everything he ever wanted was right there in front of him, and instead of worrying all the time he should just be. And Luca showed Olivia that she was good enough as herself, not just as a ballerina. He showed her what it is to be seen and accepted exactly as you are, where you are and the thought of that brings tears to my eyes 🥹.
And AB!!! Best kid ever, I will take no objections to this. That little girl is so loved and cared for. She has an entire community rejecting wheat just to make sure she feels normal and never left out. I can’t get over the thoughtfulness of it all.
These books are so inspiring. They make me want to be better and bring so much light and laughter into a world that can be really grey and dreary right now. They show what life COULD be like and I would give anything to live in this magical little town where everyone feels like family!
This is the easiest 5 stars I have given in a WHILE! We all know how obsessed I am with Fairwick Falls, but this book?! I can’t get over it actually. I was kicking my feet and giggling the entire time.
I am so in love with Luca and Olivia. Their relationship felt like a breath of fresh air. This was such an inspiring story about two people who needed someone to ground them and show them what more there was to life. Olivia struggled with finding her purpose after years in the ballet world that was constantly tearing her down. Luca was desperately trying to be the best father to an incredible little girl and give her the childhood he never had. But in his haste to be perfect he forgot about the little things.
That’s what made this relationship so special to me. Olivia made Luca slow down and see that everything he ever wanted was right there in front of him, and instead of worrying all the time he should just be. And Luca showed Olivia that she was good enough as herself, not just as a ballerina. He showed her what it is to be seen and accepted exactly as you are, where you are and the thought of that brings tears to my eyes 🥹.
And AB!!! Best kid ever, I will take no objections to this. That little girl is so loved and cared for. She has an entire community rejecting wheat just to make sure she feels normal and never left out. I can’t get over the thoughtfulness of it all.
These books are so inspiring. They make me want to be better and bring so much light and laughter into a world that can be really grey and dreary right now. They show what life COULD be like and I would give anything to live in this magical little town where everyone feels like family!
December 12, 2025
Falling at the Barre by @smalltown.romance
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
OUT NOW!
I’ll try and keep this short and sweet because I’m an emotional wreck after finishing this lovely lovely book.
It was lovely to be back in Fairwick falls, I love the world the author has created, the community puts stars hollow to shame with its enthusiasm for town events and the people are so inherently warm and interesting. I have a soft spot for Pearl and Reed so seeing more of them was like bumping into an old friend! Loved it.
Olivia and Luca are both emotionally intelligent, kind and honest people and I absolutely loved reading their story. AB is the cutest kid known to mankind and I cried my eyes out during a particularly emotional scene for her towards the end of the book (so much so my dog came over concerned 😢🤣).
The slow burn has all the yearning and tension you could ever want, the romance is chock full of sweetness and sincerity and the spice burns off the page. You have to read this book!
I particularly loved Luca’s internal battle to accepting that his sh*tty childhood had impacted how he let others care for him and the interactions with his mum broke my heart a little. I don’t think I’ve ever related to a sentiment in a book more than “in my house there’s no yelling” 🥺, thank you to the author for how you handled this part. It was beautiful.
Such a good read! I cannot wait for the next one, love Allison already!
Thank you so much for the ARC @smalltown.romance 💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
OUT NOW!
I’ll try and keep this short and sweet because I’m an emotional wreck after finishing this lovely lovely book.
It was lovely to be back in Fairwick falls, I love the world the author has created, the community puts stars hollow to shame with its enthusiasm for town events and the people are so inherently warm and interesting. I have a soft spot for Pearl and Reed so seeing more of them was like bumping into an old friend! Loved it.
Olivia and Luca are both emotionally intelligent, kind and honest people and I absolutely loved reading their story. AB is the cutest kid known to mankind and I cried my eyes out during a particularly emotional scene for her towards the end of the book (so much so my dog came over concerned 😢🤣).
The slow burn has all the yearning and tension you could ever want, the romance is chock full of sweetness and sincerity and the spice burns off the page. You have to read this book!
I particularly loved Luca’s internal battle to accepting that his sh*tty childhood had impacted how he let others care for him and the interactions with his mum broke my heart a little. I don’t think I’ve ever related to a sentiment in a book more than “in my house there’s no yelling” 🥺, thank you to the author for how you handled this part. It was beautiful.
Such a good read! I cannot wait for the next one, love Allison already!
Thank you so much for the ARC @smalltown.romance 💕
September 28, 2026
I received this as an ALC and thank the author and Netgalley for this book! Narrators Aileen Bishop and Ryan Stone did a great job with this story!
One thing that I wish would have been covered more was how Luca was going to handle his mother in the future, she really intruded on his life and expected way too much from him still giving guilt trips and threats and I would have liked to have seen him put up some additional boundaries.
This book was also a bit more insta lust/love, I'm not a big fan of "insta" but do appreciate that they were able to get to know each other a bit better before anything really happened between them.
This was another enjoyable read for this series and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
If you enjoy a sweet and cozy small town romance with a single dad and found family vibes add this one to your list!
Book Blog: https://elbyslibrary.blogspot.com/202...
*Netgalley ALC *Small town Romance *Single Dad *Mechanic MMC *Green flag MMC
*Balerina FMC *State Challenge Pennsylvania (repeat) *Spice *Nanny *Cozy read
*Slow Burn *Neighbors --> more *Forced Proximity *Found Family *Banter *insta lust/love
*He falls first
One thing that I wish would have been covered more was how Luca was going to handle his mother in the future, she really intruded on his life and expected way too much from him still giving guilt trips and threats and I would have liked to have seen him put up some additional boundaries.
This book was also a bit more insta lust/love, I'm not a big fan of "insta" but do appreciate that they were able to get to know each other a bit better before anything really happened between them.
This was another enjoyable read for this series and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
If you enjoy a sweet and cozy small town romance with a single dad and found family vibes add this one to your list!
Book Blog: https://elbyslibrary.blogspot.com/202...
*Netgalley ALC *Small town Romance *Single Dad *Mechanic MMC *Green flag MMC
*Balerina FMC *State Challenge Pennsylvania (repeat) *Spice *Nanny *Cozy read
*Slow Burn *Neighbors --> more *Forced Proximity *Found Family *Banter *insta lust/love
*He falls first
March 24, 2026
this was honestly such a comfort read and i didn’t expect to love it this much. Buttt i did 🫶🏻
luca and olivia ughhh i love them! he’s a single dad trying so hard to do everything right and she’s figuring out her life after ballet stopped being what she thought it would be. Watching them come together felt so grounding.
Their relationship felt like a breath of fresh air. She slows him down and reminds him that what he wants is already right in front of him, and he makes her feel seen for who she is, not just who she thought she had to be.
and ab is fully best kid ever.. She’s so loved and cared for and surrounded by people making sure she never feels left out was EVERYTHING.
the small town feel added so much. everything just felt warm and close and full of people who care about each other. it made the whole story feel even more special.
i genuinely didn’t want it to end 🤍
tropes
single dad 🧸
nanny 👶
neighbours to lovers 🏡
forced proximity ✨
slow burn 🔥
found family 🤍
🫶🏻🫶🏻
small town romance single dad nanny slow burn emotional romance found family neighbours to lovers wholesome romance ballet theme character growth cozy romance
luca and olivia ughhh i love them! he’s a single dad trying so hard to do everything right and she’s figuring out her life after ballet stopped being what she thought it would be. Watching them come together felt so grounding.
Their relationship felt like a breath of fresh air. She slows him down and reminds him that what he wants is already right in front of him, and he makes her feel seen for who she is, not just who she thought she had to be.
and ab is fully best kid ever.. She’s so loved and cared for and surrounded by people making sure she never feels left out was EVERYTHING.
the small town feel added so much. everything just felt warm and close and full of people who care about each other. it made the whole story feel even more special.
i genuinely didn’t want it to end 🤍
tropes
single dad 🧸
nanny 👶
neighbours to lovers 🏡
forced proximity ✨
slow burn 🔥
found family 🤍
🫶🏻🫶🏻
small town romance single dad nanny slow burn emotional romance found family neighbours to lovers wholesome romance ballet theme character growth cozy romance
September 17, 2026
Falling at the Barre is book 5 of the Love in Fairwick Falls series, but just like the fourth book Unexpectedly Bookish (which I just listened to yesterday), it works perfectly as a standalone.
Falling at the Barre is spicy, but not in the same way as Unexpectedly Bookish, which had a pretty consistent amount of spice from the beginning and throughout. Falling at the Barre is insta-love but it has no spice until maybe around the 50% mark, and then there's a lot of it! If you're good with insta-love, you'll enjoy this one. For me it really worked, because while they fell quickly, they didn't give into it too quickly so the tension didn't disappear.
The audiobook of Falling at the Barre is great - the dual narrators work really well. I particularly loved the voice of the male narrator, Ryan Stone. I've listened to books 4 and 5 in this series over two days, so I'm obviously loving them!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
Falling at the Barre is spicy, but not in the same way as Unexpectedly Bookish, which had a pretty consistent amount of spice from the beginning and throughout. Falling at the Barre is insta-love but it has no spice until maybe around the 50% mark, and then there's a lot of it! If you're good with insta-love, you'll enjoy this one. For me it really worked, because while they fell quickly, they didn't give into it too quickly so the tension didn't disappear.
The audiobook of Falling at the Barre is great - the dual narrators work really well. I particularly loved the voice of the male narrator, Ryan Stone. I've listened to books 4 and 5 in this series over two days, so I'm obviously loving them!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
December 7, 2025
✨Single dad
✨Nanny
✨Found family
✨Forced proximity
✨Insta-love
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️
I loved this book! It was so incredibly sweet and wholesome (with plenty of spice 😉)! Olivia & Luca had such a great relationship with electric chemistry. AB was such a cute little girl & I loved how much she loved Olivia. The small town fund family vibes were beautiful & I want to know more about all the couples so I'm definitely going to check out more from this author! :)
Huge thanks to NetGalley & Elise Kennedy for an ARC 🫶🏼
✨Nanny
✨Found family
✨Forced proximity
✨Insta-love
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️
I loved this book! It was so incredibly sweet and wholesome (with plenty of spice 😉)! Olivia & Luca had such a great relationship with electric chemistry. AB was such a cute little girl & I loved how much she loved Olivia. The small town fund family vibes were beautiful & I want to know more about all the couples so I'm definitely going to check out more from this author! :)
Huge thanks to NetGalley & Elise Kennedy for an ARC 🫶🏼
October 7, 2026
3.75/5 ☆
4/5🌶️
I received this as an ALC from NetGalley in exchange for review.
This is book 5 in the Love in Fairwick Falls series, however this is the first one I have read and it was good as a standalone. To be completely honest, I think it would have enjoyed this as an ebook more than as an audio. There were some redeeming qualities to this story, but I just didn’t like Luca, Olivia was okay. I really like how she connected to Luca’s daughter, Annabelle, right away it was very sweet.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!
4/5🌶️
I received this as an ALC from NetGalley in exchange for review.
This is book 5 in the Love in Fairwick Falls series, however this is the first one I have read and it was good as a standalone. To be completely honest, I think it would have enjoyed this as an ebook more than as an audio. There were some redeeming qualities to this story, but I just didn’t like Luca, Olivia was okay. I really like how she connected to Luca’s daughter, Annabelle, right away it was very sweet.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!
December 7, 2025
Falling at the Barre is everything I hoped for and more!
Elise is kind to both her readers and characters in a way that makes for an incredibly comforting read while still maintaining a plot and pace that keeps the pages turning! The slow burn in this book was to die for and the characters unbelievably lovable.
Additionally, as a former ballerina, the research that went into the ballet portion of the book was obvious and really kept me in the story rather than being distracted at all.
This is a beautiful book in every facet. Thank you to Elise Kennedy for the ARC to review! I cannot wait to read what comes next in Fairwick Falls!
Elise is kind to both her readers and characters in a way that makes for an incredibly comforting read while still maintaining a plot and pace that keeps the pages turning! The slow burn in this book was to die for and the characters unbelievably lovable.
Additionally, as a former ballerina, the research that went into the ballet portion of the book was obvious and really kept me in the story rather than being distracted at all.
This is a beautiful book in every facet. Thank you to Elise Kennedy for the ARC to review! I cannot wait to read what comes next in Fairwick Falls!
September 30, 2026
3.75⭐️
The author leaves us a quick warning at the beginning, and she was definitely right. This was a pretty spicy read 🤭.
I’m not the biggest fan of insta-love or third-person POV, but I do love me a good nanny romance. Setting aside my personal likes and dislikes, this was a pretty solid read. It had me feeling all the feels. It was light and funny at times, but it also touched on some deep and heavy topics.
It did feel a little long at times, but for the most part, it kept me invested and turning the pages..
The author leaves us a quick warning at the beginning, and she was definitely right. This was a pretty spicy read 🤭.
I’m not the biggest fan of insta-love or third-person POV, but I do love me a good nanny romance. Setting aside my personal likes and dislikes, this was a pretty solid read. It had me feeling all the feels. It was light and funny at times, but it also touched on some deep and heavy topics.
It did feel a little long at times, but for the most part, it kept me invested and turning the pages..
November 28, 2025
Awesome small town romance! Pining and possibilities.. Love, love, loved it! Seriously mushy love at first sight vibes. Heartfelt and steamy-sweet..
December 14, 2025
I adored this book - Elise Kennedy is one of my favourite authors when it comes to small town romances and this was no exception - the spice was also fantastic! One of my favourite tropes - a must read!
September 21, 2026
Thank you to Elise Kennedy and Victory Editing for the advanced listener copy of this audio book!
This series, has my heart, each one takes you in and gives all the cosy, good feels that a romance book is meant to.
If you love small town romance, single dad, forced proximity, you are sure to love this story!
After listening to Unexpectedly Bookish, I was so excited to hear more from the gorgeous little cutie that is AB and her wonderful Daddy who’s just the epitome of what a dad should be. When you add in Olivia as AB’s new nanny, just watch the sparks fly 😍
The relationship between Olivia and Luca is 🔥 but her relationship with AB is truly inspirational 🥰
The narrators Aileen Bishop and Ryan Stone bring these character to life in such an incredible way. You truly feel like you are immersed in this small town with Luca and Olivia 🥰
This series, has my heart, each one takes you in and gives all the cosy, good feels that a romance book is meant to.
If you love small town romance, single dad, forced proximity, you are sure to love this story!
After listening to Unexpectedly Bookish, I was so excited to hear more from the gorgeous little cutie that is AB and her wonderful Daddy who’s just the epitome of what a dad should be. When you add in Olivia as AB’s new nanny, just watch the sparks fly 😍
The relationship between Olivia and Luca is 🔥 but her relationship with AB is truly inspirational 🥰
The narrators Aileen Bishop and Ryan Stone bring these character to life in such an incredible way. You truly feel like you are immersed in this small town with Luca and Olivia 🥰
September 23, 2026
5⭐️ 3🌶 5🎧
Dual narration
Favorite of the series
Dual narration
Favorite of the series
October 3, 2026
really cute book, it did bother me in the beggining cause i hate insta love but the couple is really enjoyable and it made the book good. also ab is awesome i love books with kids so much.
October 14, 2026
Oh my goodness, Luca Bishop!! 😍🔥 I absolutely LOVED this book! Give me a gorgeous, tattooed, tough-looking man who could intimidate just about anyone but turns into the biggest softie for his little girl, and I am DONE. My heart has officially melted!
Luca is everything I love in a male lead. On the outside, he has that rugged, broody, handsome-as-sin look, but underneath all those tattoos and that tough exterior is a man with the biggest heart. After losing his wife in a car accident, his six-year-old daughter, Annabelle (AB), became his entire world and the one light in his life. He worked incredibly hard to provide for her, gave her everything she needs, and, most importantly, created the safe, peaceful home he never had growing up. He wants her to feel loved, protected, and secure in a way he never got to experience himself.
And let me tell you, the way Luca is with his daughter absolutely DESTROYED me in the best possible way! 🥹❤️ Every time he talked about her, my heart melted a little more. This big, tattooed man patiently playing her silly little girly games, making time for her despite running a business, and doing everything in his power to make her happy? I couldn't get enough! He doesn't just love his daughter; he shows up for her in all those little everyday moments that matter. He listens, he protects, and he makes sure she knows she is his priority. He even plays princess and unicorn games with her! This little girl has a huge imagination. There is something so incredibly attractive about a man who can be tough with the world but gentle and patient with the little girl who means everything to him.
Then we have Olivia Maroo! Olivia is a strong, fearless, talented ballerina who has spent so much of her life trying to make her family proud and prove herself in a world that can be pretty unforgiving. She's at a point where she's trying to figure out her next step, but she hasn't given up on her dreams. I loved that she had her own struggles and insecurities while still having that warmth, courage, and determination that made her so easy to root for.
Olivia becomes AB's nanny, and of course, she immediately finds herself crushing on her ridiculously hot, tattooed single boss. 😂🔥 Honestly, can you blame her?! The attraction between these two was SO good, but what made their relationship special was that it became about so much more than physical chemistry.
I absolutely loved watching Olivia and Luca slowly fall for each other while trying to convince themselves that their little arrangement was temporary. The cozy nights, the family moments, the playing house, and all those little glimpses of what their lives could look like together warmed my heart. They weren't just falling for each other; they were building something that felt real. Olivia naturally became part of their little world, and seeing how comfortably she fit into Luca and AB's lives was just ADORABLE.
And the relationship between Olivia and AB? STOP IT. 🥹 These two were the sweetest! I loved how their bond developed and how Olivia made AB feel loved and understood. It wasn't just about Olivia falling for Luca; she was falling for his little girl, too. Their connection made the romance feel even more meaningful because you could see how much Olivia genuinely cared about both of them. She wasn't trying to replace AB's mom. She was simply showing up with love, patience, and affection, and watching that little family grow closer was one of my favorite parts of the entire book.
Now, let's talk about Luca and Olivia together! The slow burn, the longing, the tension, the little moments when you could tell they wanted so much more but were trying to hold back... I LOVED IT. 🔥 There is something so satisfying about watching two people gradually let their walls down and realize that what they're building together is worth taking a chance on. Luca has spent so long protecting his heart and focusing entirely on his daughter that letting someone else in isn't easy for him. And Olivia has her own dreams and future to consider. Watching them navigate those feelings while growing closer made me root for them even harder.
And when things finally heat up? HOT, HOT, HOT! 🌶️🥵 The steamy scenes definitely delivered! The chemistry was intense, the passion was there, and I loved that their physical connection felt like an extension of all the feelings building between them. What really got me was that Luca didn't just want Olivia to be happy in the bedroom. He wanted her to be happy in life, every aspect of it. He cared about her dreams, her future, her feelings, and what she wanted out of life. He wanted to be someone who supported her and made her feel cherished, not someone who expected her to give up pieces of herself for him. That combination of a protective, devoted man with a softer side who genuinely wants the woman he loves to thrive is best.
I also loved how these characters brought out the best in one another. Olivia brought warmth, light, and a little bit of magic into Luca and AB's everyday lives, while Luca gave Olivia a sense of being cared for and valued beyond what she could accomplish as a ballerina. Their relationship felt like a reminder that sometimes love isn't about grand gestures or dramatic declarations. Sometimes it's about the quiet evenings, the laughter around the house, the little girl who wants you to play one more game, and the realization that the life you thought was temporary has started to feel like home.
And can we appreciate that this story gives us a COMPLETE, satisfying happily-ever-after?! ❤️ I love when a romance lets me enjoy the characters getting together and then gives me that sense of emotional fulfillment at the end. After investing in Luca, Olivia, and AB, I wanted to see them get their happiness, and I was so happy with how their story came together.
Overall, Falling at the Barre was such a heartwarming, funny, and steamy romance. It gave me the rugged, gorgeous single dad, the protective man with a soft heart, the sweet little girl who steals every scene, a heroine with dreams of her own, a delicious slow burn, and plenty of spice. But beneath all the flirting and heat was a beautiful story about healing, family, trust, and learning that you can build a different kind of life from the one you grew up with.
As for the audiobook, I’ll admit I was a little nervous at first when I realized the book wasn’t in first person POV and had dual narrators. I usually love that personal connection of being inside the characters’ heads, so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it. BUT these narrators absolutely won me over! They worked so well together, and their voices complemented each other beautifully. They were able to switch between characters so smoothly, giving each one their own personality without making it feel forced or confusing. From AB’s sweet little-girl moments to Luca’s sister and Olivia’s friends, they brought the entire cast to life! And the EMOTION in their voices? SO good! 😘❤️ They captured the tenderness, the playful banter, the longing, the vulnerability, and, of course, all that delicious tension between Luca and Olivia. I could genuinely feel the characters’ emotions through their performances, which made the sweeter family moments even more heartwarming and the steamy scenes even HOTTER! 🔥 Honestly, once I settled into the narration, I was completely hooked. This was one of those audiobooks where the narrators didn’t just read me a story; they helped me FEEL it!
Luca is everything I love in a male lead. On the outside, he has that rugged, broody, handsome-as-sin look, but underneath all those tattoos and that tough exterior is a man with the biggest heart. After losing his wife in a car accident, his six-year-old daughter, Annabelle (AB), became his entire world and the one light in his life. He worked incredibly hard to provide for her, gave her everything she needs, and, most importantly, created the safe, peaceful home he never had growing up. He wants her to feel loved, protected, and secure in a way he never got to experience himself.
And let me tell you, the way Luca is with his daughter absolutely DESTROYED me in the best possible way! 🥹❤️ Every time he talked about her, my heart melted a little more. This big, tattooed man patiently playing her silly little girly games, making time for her despite running a business, and doing everything in his power to make her happy? I couldn't get enough! He doesn't just love his daughter; he shows up for her in all those little everyday moments that matter. He listens, he protects, and he makes sure she knows she is his priority. He even plays princess and unicorn games with her! This little girl has a huge imagination. There is something so incredibly attractive about a man who can be tough with the world but gentle and patient with the little girl who means everything to him.
Then we have Olivia Maroo! Olivia is a strong, fearless, talented ballerina who has spent so much of her life trying to make her family proud and prove herself in a world that can be pretty unforgiving. She's at a point where she's trying to figure out her next step, but she hasn't given up on her dreams. I loved that she had her own struggles and insecurities while still having that warmth, courage, and determination that made her so easy to root for.
Olivia becomes AB's nanny, and of course, she immediately finds herself crushing on her ridiculously hot, tattooed single boss. 😂🔥 Honestly, can you blame her?! The attraction between these two was SO good, but what made their relationship special was that it became about so much more than physical chemistry.
I absolutely loved watching Olivia and Luca slowly fall for each other while trying to convince themselves that their little arrangement was temporary. The cozy nights, the family moments, the playing house, and all those little glimpses of what their lives could look like together warmed my heart. They weren't just falling for each other; they were building something that felt real. Olivia naturally became part of their little world, and seeing how comfortably she fit into Luca and AB's lives was just ADORABLE.
And the relationship between Olivia and AB? STOP IT. 🥹 These two were the sweetest! I loved how their bond developed and how Olivia made AB feel loved and understood. It wasn't just about Olivia falling for Luca; she was falling for his little girl, too. Their connection made the romance feel even more meaningful because you could see how much Olivia genuinely cared about both of them. She wasn't trying to replace AB's mom. She was simply showing up with love, patience, and affection, and watching that little family grow closer was one of my favorite parts of the entire book.
Now, let's talk about Luca and Olivia together! The slow burn, the longing, the tension, the little moments when you could tell they wanted so much more but were trying to hold back... I LOVED IT. 🔥 There is something so satisfying about watching two people gradually let their walls down and realize that what they're building together is worth taking a chance on. Luca has spent so long protecting his heart and focusing entirely on his daughter that letting someone else in isn't easy for him. And Olivia has her own dreams and future to consider. Watching them navigate those feelings while growing closer made me root for them even harder.
And when things finally heat up? HOT, HOT, HOT! 🌶️🥵 The steamy scenes definitely delivered! The chemistry was intense, the passion was there, and I loved that their physical connection felt like an extension of all the feelings building between them. What really got me was that Luca didn't just want Olivia to be happy in the bedroom. He wanted her to be happy in life, every aspect of it. He cared about her dreams, her future, her feelings, and what she wanted out of life. He wanted to be someone who supported her and made her feel cherished, not someone who expected her to give up pieces of herself for him. That combination of a protective, devoted man with a softer side who genuinely wants the woman he loves to thrive is best.
I also loved how these characters brought out the best in one another. Olivia brought warmth, light, and a little bit of magic into Luca and AB's everyday lives, while Luca gave Olivia a sense of being cared for and valued beyond what she could accomplish as a ballerina. Their relationship felt like a reminder that sometimes love isn't about grand gestures or dramatic declarations. Sometimes it's about the quiet evenings, the laughter around the house, the little girl who wants you to play one more game, and the realization that the life you thought was temporary has started to feel like home.
And can we appreciate that this story gives us a COMPLETE, satisfying happily-ever-after?! ❤️ I love when a romance lets me enjoy the characters getting together and then gives me that sense of emotional fulfillment at the end. After investing in Luca, Olivia, and AB, I wanted to see them get their happiness, and I was so happy with how their story came together.
Overall, Falling at the Barre was such a heartwarming, funny, and steamy romance. It gave me the rugged, gorgeous single dad, the protective man with a soft heart, the sweet little girl who steals every scene, a heroine with dreams of her own, a delicious slow burn, and plenty of spice. But beneath all the flirting and heat was a beautiful story about healing, family, trust, and learning that you can build a different kind of life from the one you grew up with.
As for the audiobook, I’ll admit I was a little nervous at first when I realized the book wasn’t in first person POV and had dual narrators. I usually love that personal connection of being inside the characters’ heads, so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it. BUT these narrators absolutely won me over! They worked so well together, and their voices complemented each other beautifully. They were able to switch between characters so smoothly, giving each one their own personality without making it feel forced or confusing. From AB’s sweet little-girl moments to Luca’s sister and Olivia’s friends, they brought the entire cast to life! And the EMOTION in their voices? SO good! 😘❤️ They captured the tenderness, the playful banter, the longing, the vulnerability, and, of course, all that delicious tension between Luca and Olivia. I could genuinely feel the characters’ emotions through their performances, which made the sweeter family moments even more heartwarming and the steamy scenes even HOTTER! 🔥 Honestly, once I settled into the narration, I was completely hooked. This was one of those audiobooks where the narrators didn’t just read me a story; they helped me FEEL it!
September 28, 2026
Thank You, NetGalley for ALC., This was such a cute Single dad (Luca Bishop) & Nanny (Olivia Maroo) ballerina & dance teacher storyline in Fairwick Falls. I absolutely enjoyed all the banter and sweet moments with his adorable 6-year-old daughter Anabel (AB). Luca lost Anabel’s mom from a drunk driver’s car accident & Luca swore he would not date until (AB) got out of high school. But little does Luca know, he will fall hard fast for Olivia – 33-year-old & Olivia as well is swooning for Luca, who owns an auto body shop. Also, I love that they mentioned Pearl Bishop & Reed from Book (4) from Unexpectedly Bookish.
Luca is an absolutely amazing single dad to (AB) who dotes & will do anything for his little girl Anabel. Luca makes sure that his little girl eats healthily, since she is deathly allergic to wheat. Luca also calls (AB) goober.
Both Luca & Olivia are growing closer the more time they spend together, with her cooking pancakes with (AB), cozy movie nights, her smell of cinnamon & nutmeg, Olivia puts on his flannel shirt & they cuddling on the couch, Luca rubbing Olivia's calves & them fighting the pull that they have between them, since Olivia thinks she is moving back & away from Fairwick Falls. Luca wants to kiss Olivia, but she kisses him first outside his back porch, Luca says to himself that Olivia is his, with a lustful and tasteful need to overtake him!!!!!!!!!!!!! Luca tells himself that Olivia feels like his home. Olivia says that Luca is his happy place.
Lily is Olivia’s best childhood friend, Pearl also loves Fairwick Falls, they all grew up there, but Olivia missed out when she left Fairwick Falls to chase a career as a professional dancer. Olivia gets closer with Pearl & Allison (Hot Girl Group Chat) in a drinking competition & now Olivia is drunk with Luca helping her back in the cottage, Olivia calls Luca a sexy house.
The chemistry between Luca & Olivia was over the charts due to their love for each other & Luca telling Olivia that she is perfect. Luca & Olivia try to fight off the need & urgency for each other. But from the first kiss, they can't keep their hands off each other. Luca is now calling her Liv, the name that she likes. Olivia has lots of past doubts from relationships & men that did not really like her intimacy. But Luca is obsessed with Olivia & loves everything about her, he tells her that she is perfect & that they are both (mine & yours). They have fallen in love with each other.
Warm & tender fall vibes were such a great element as well to this super cute, angsty, close town filled community, roasting marshmallows, warm bonfires, warm drinks between Luca, Olivia & (AB). Decorating for the fall festival & all the fun things that take place in Fairwick. I love that they keep mentioning Bookish Bookstore, that Peal Bishop & Reed own from book 4, that I also loved so much.
This was such a great storyline of healing, acceptance, second-chance romances for both Olivia & Luca. Plus, making Anabel (AB) happy again with a mom figure again, after losing her mom Marcy at such a young age. Plus, Luca loves Olivia's parents (Martha & Pops) !!!!!!!!!!!!
Georgia offers Olivia a permanent dance teacher position, but Olivia still wants to prove to herself that she has potential.
Why is Olivia still recording videos of herself as a dancer & sending it to people & Auri asked Olivia to fill in the Sugar Plum Fairy in Pittsburg to substitute for Marie. But as she starts practicing with Auri & the director, they make her feel that she is a little too heavy. Olivia starts to think & wonder why she is still looking for scraps from other people's approval, this uptight production, where no one really appreciates the dancers & calls her too old, very fast-paced & very different from life back home in Fairwick Falls. This dancer life has always made Olivia feel empty & alone, she needs to work on herself & her self-love.
Olivia agreed to teach another semester at the Barre Ballet Studio, Georgia will let Olivia will let her stay in the cottage, until Olivia & Luca decide to move in with each other. Luca and Olivia have been together for 7 months & Luca proposes to Olivia. Then 2.5 years later, Olivia is expecting a baby boy with Luca, Olivia now has a sewing shop around the corner from Peal & is still attending classes at the university in fashion.
I adore this HEA for all three of them, almost 4 of them to be. Anable asks Olivia if she can now call her mom, instead of Livy. Oliva told Anable that she already thought of her as her daugther for the past three years. Married & so in love all of them. Also Luca ask Olivia if she can adopt Anabel too & she says yes.
The narrators Aileen Bishop & Ryan Stone did such an amazing job, they really brought this story to life.
Luca is an absolutely amazing single dad to (AB) who dotes & will do anything for his little girl Anabel. Luca makes sure that his little girl eats healthily, since she is deathly allergic to wheat. Luca also calls (AB) goober.
Both Luca & Olivia are growing closer the more time they spend together, with her cooking pancakes with (AB), cozy movie nights, her smell of cinnamon & nutmeg, Olivia puts on his flannel shirt & they cuddling on the couch, Luca rubbing Olivia's calves & them fighting the pull that they have between them, since Olivia thinks she is moving back & away from Fairwick Falls. Luca wants to kiss Olivia, but she kisses him first outside his back porch, Luca says to himself that Olivia is his, with a lustful and tasteful need to overtake him!!!!!!!!!!!!! Luca tells himself that Olivia feels like his home. Olivia says that Luca is his happy place.
Lily is Olivia’s best childhood friend, Pearl also loves Fairwick Falls, they all grew up there, but Olivia missed out when she left Fairwick Falls to chase a career as a professional dancer. Olivia gets closer with Pearl & Allison (Hot Girl Group Chat) in a drinking competition & now Olivia is drunk with Luca helping her back in the cottage, Olivia calls Luca a sexy house.
The chemistry between Luca & Olivia was over the charts due to their love for each other & Luca telling Olivia that she is perfect. Luca & Olivia try to fight off the need & urgency for each other. But from the first kiss, they can't keep their hands off each other. Luca is now calling her Liv, the name that she likes. Olivia has lots of past doubts from relationships & men that did not really like her intimacy. But Luca is obsessed with Olivia & loves everything about her, he tells her that she is perfect & that they are both (mine & yours). They have fallen in love with each other.
Warm & tender fall vibes were such a great element as well to this super cute, angsty, close town filled community, roasting marshmallows, warm bonfires, warm drinks between Luca, Olivia & (AB). Decorating for the fall festival & all the fun things that take place in Fairwick. I love that they keep mentioning Bookish Bookstore, that Peal Bishop & Reed own from book 4, that I also loved so much.
This was such a great storyline of healing, acceptance, second-chance romances for both Olivia & Luca. Plus, making Anabel (AB) happy again with a mom figure again, after losing her mom Marcy at such a young age. Plus, Luca loves Olivia's parents (Martha & Pops) !!!!!!!!!!!!
Georgia offers Olivia a permanent dance teacher position, but Olivia still wants to prove to herself that she has potential.
Why is Olivia still recording videos of herself as a dancer & sending it to people & Auri asked Olivia to fill in the Sugar Plum Fairy in Pittsburg to substitute for Marie. But as she starts practicing with Auri & the director, they make her feel that she is a little too heavy. Olivia starts to think & wonder why she is still looking for scraps from other people's approval, this uptight production, where no one really appreciates the dancers & calls her too old, very fast-paced & very different from life back home in Fairwick Falls. This dancer life has always made Olivia feel empty & alone, she needs to work on herself & her self-love.
Olivia agreed to teach another semester at the Barre Ballet Studio, Georgia will let Olivia will let her stay in the cottage, until Olivia & Luca decide to move in with each other. Luca and Olivia have been together for 7 months & Luca proposes to Olivia. Then 2.5 years later, Olivia is expecting a baby boy with Luca, Olivia now has a sewing shop around the corner from Peal & is still attending classes at the university in fashion.
I adore this HEA for all three of them, almost 4 of them to be. Anable asks Olivia if she can now call her mom, instead of Livy. Oliva told Anable that she already thought of her as her daugther for the past three years. Married & so in love all of them. Also Luca ask Olivia if she can adopt Anabel too & she says yes.
The narrators Aileen Bishop & Ryan Stone did such an amazing job, they really brought this story to life.
September 23, 2026
Sweet, Spicy, and Much More Emotionally Substantial Than the Cozy Cover Suggests
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing an advance listening copy.
⭐️ 4.5/5 — rounded to 5★ on NetGalley | 🌶️ Experienced Pepper Reader: 3/5 | 🌶️ If You’re New Here: 5/5 | 🎧 4/5
Falling at the Barre gave me the warm, funny, autumn small-town romance I expected, but there was considerably more emotional substance underneath it than the cozy packaging initially suggested.
The romance worked for me, but what really elevated this book was how much care went into Olivia and Luca as people outside the relationship.
Olivia’s relationship with ballet became much more nuanced than a simple “career versus love” conflict. Her arc is about identity, burnout, approval, and figuring out whether something she has built her entire sense of worth around still brings her joy. I especially appreciated that becoming part of Luca and A.B.’s life did not automatically require Olivia to stop being a whole person with ambitions and choices of her own.
The dyslexia representation was another major strength. Olivia’s experience with being identified later in life—and the emotional weight of struggling quietly without understanding why—felt thoughtfully integrated rather than added as a character label. Her history also meaningfully shapes the empathy she brings to the people around her.
A.B.’s food allergies were also handled incredibly well. They affected ordinary decisions, routines, and family life rather than appearing only when the story needed a dramatic emergency. That constant background awareness felt much more realistic to me than allergy representation often does.
Luca is also a genuinely good dad. His choices consistently show that A.B.’s safety and childhood come before convenience, work, or anyone else’s approval.
There is heavier family material here than I expected, particularly around unhealthy parent-child roles and the long-term effects of being made responsible for adults too young. I appreciated that the romance itself was not positioned as the magical cure for that history. Recognition and love can matter while some work still belongs to the person carrying the trauma.
And then there is the spice. 😂
The overall ratio of spicy scenes to story is not enormous, which is why I land around 3/5 as an experienced spicy-romance reader. But the scenes that are here are HOT. Someone newer to explicit romance could very reasonably experience this as a 5/5. The book builds a surprising amount of heat before even reaching its most explicit scenes, and Luca is extremely enthusiastic about Olivia. Sir. We noticed. 😂
The humor also grew on me as the book went along. Between Luca realizing he may have simply been a jerk for approximately thirty years and A.B.’s brutally efficient child logic, there were several moments that genuinely made me laugh.
The audiobook is dual narration, performed by Aileen Bishop and Ryan Stone. Both grew on me over time. I did not initially think either was an especially strong casting match, but the performances settled considerably as the story progressed, and I finished at a comfortable 2.5x. I’d give the overall audio production 4/5.
The one story element that felt less complete to me was a significant family-boundary arc. The book provides strong recognition of the underlying pattern and an encouraging direction for future healing, but I wanted slightly more concrete payoff around what those boundaries would look like going forward.
For my fellow cover judgers… the cozy autumn romance is absolutely here, but there is also considerably more family trauma and emotional weight underneath those fall colors than the packaging alone might suggest.
Content notes: parental substance misuse, childhood parentification, emotionally manipulative/enmeshed family dynamics, difficult family boundaries, dyslexia, and significant food allergies.
Who Should Listen?
Readers who want a warm small-town single-dad romance with genuine family integration, strong ND representation, thoughtful food-allergy representation, autumn atmosphere, emotional substance beneath the coziness, and spice that is relatively selective in quantity but very enthusiastic when it arrives. It also works well as an interconnected standalone; returning readers will recognize Fairwick Falls threads without newcomers being lost.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing an advance listening copy.
⭐️ 4.5/5 — rounded to 5★ on NetGalley | 🌶️ Experienced Pepper Reader: 3/5 | 🌶️ If You’re New Here: 5/5 | 🎧 4/5
Falling at the Barre gave me the warm, funny, autumn small-town romance I expected, but there was considerably more emotional substance underneath it than the cozy packaging initially suggested.
The romance worked for me, but what really elevated this book was how much care went into Olivia and Luca as people outside the relationship.
Olivia’s relationship with ballet became much more nuanced than a simple “career versus love” conflict. Her arc is about identity, burnout, approval, and figuring out whether something she has built her entire sense of worth around still brings her joy. I especially appreciated that becoming part of Luca and A.B.’s life did not automatically require Olivia to stop being a whole person with ambitions and choices of her own.
The dyslexia representation was another major strength. Olivia’s experience with being identified later in life—and the emotional weight of struggling quietly without understanding why—felt thoughtfully integrated rather than added as a character label. Her history also meaningfully shapes the empathy she brings to the people around her.
A.B.’s food allergies were also handled incredibly well. They affected ordinary decisions, routines, and family life rather than appearing only when the story needed a dramatic emergency. That constant background awareness felt much more realistic to me than allergy representation often does.
Luca is also a genuinely good dad. His choices consistently show that A.B.’s safety and childhood come before convenience, work, or anyone else’s approval.
There is heavier family material here than I expected, particularly around unhealthy parent-child roles and the long-term effects of being made responsible for adults too young. I appreciated that the romance itself was not positioned as the magical cure for that history. Recognition and love can matter while some work still belongs to the person carrying the trauma.
And then there is the spice. 😂
The overall ratio of spicy scenes to story is not enormous, which is why I land around 3/5 as an experienced spicy-romance reader. But the scenes that are here are HOT. Someone newer to explicit romance could very reasonably experience this as a 5/5. The book builds a surprising amount of heat before even reaching its most explicit scenes, and Luca is extremely enthusiastic about Olivia. Sir. We noticed. 😂
The humor also grew on me as the book went along. Between Luca realizing he may have simply been a jerk for approximately thirty years and A.B.’s brutally efficient child logic, there were several moments that genuinely made me laugh.
The audiobook is dual narration, performed by Aileen Bishop and Ryan Stone. Both grew on me over time. I did not initially think either was an especially strong casting match, but the performances settled considerably as the story progressed, and I finished at a comfortable 2.5x. I’d give the overall audio production 4/5.
The one story element that felt less complete to me was a significant family-boundary arc. The book provides strong recognition of the underlying pattern and an encouraging direction for future healing, but I wanted slightly more concrete payoff around what those boundaries would look like going forward.
For my fellow cover judgers… the cozy autumn romance is absolutely here, but there is also considerably more family trauma and emotional weight underneath those fall colors than the packaging alone might suggest.
Content notes: parental substance misuse, childhood parentification, emotionally manipulative/enmeshed family dynamics, difficult family boundaries, dyslexia, and significant food allergies.
Who Should Listen?
Readers who want a warm small-town single-dad romance with genuine family integration, strong ND representation, thoughtful food-allergy representation, autumn atmosphere, emotional substance beneath the coziness, and spice that is relatively selective in quantity but very enthusiastic when it arrives. It also works well as an interconnected standalone; returning readers will recognize Fairwick Falls threads without newcomers being lost.
December 1, 2025
Quick Summary: A nanny +single dad, finding home romance
My Review: Falling at the Barre by Elise Kennedy is book #5 in the Love in Fairwick Falls series. It is scheduled for release on 12/11/25.
About the Book: "Luca Bishop has one rule: no dating until his first-grader graduates high school.
Enter his daughter's gorgeous new dance teacher, who's also their next-door-neighbor."
In My Own Words: A tatted dad with a heart of gold falls in love at first sight with a ballet dancer who is on a temporary hiatus. When she becomes his daughter's nanny, his interest changes, even as he tries to keep things strictly professional.
What I Liked/Loved:
🍁 I love a great single daddy story. When a girl dad situation comes into play, I love it even more. This story was all about that.
🍁 AB was the cutest! Her sweet unicorn energy was a total vibe. I didn't sleep on her feminist-in-the-making voice or her"chaotic" playfulness. She sure kept things interesting.
🍁 I loved that the author addressed food allergies and learning differences.
🍁 I loved the found family theme. All of the introduced characters played a supportive role, in some way, in AB, AP, and Luca's lives. That stood out to me.
🍁 I loved that Liv was in a transitional phase of her life. Her do I/don't I dilemma was easy to relate to, making it all the more real. I liked seeing how she wrestled with her choices. I liked that she could still see the possibilities of what could be, even if it differed from her original dream.
🍁 I liked the diverse relationships that were featured. Sibling dynamics, parent/child connections, dysfunctional familial relationships, etc. were highlighted.
🍁 I really liked the romantic elements in the story. This had nothing to do with spice. It had more to do with the heart and emotion. There were a few special snapshot moments that stood out.
🍁 I loved that the leads were so easy to like. They were good people with good hearts. They both cared about Goob. I appreciated that they thoughtfully considered her feelings and mental/emotional health over what might have been easiest for them.
🍁 The slow burn/fiery chemistry angle was sparks and fireworks, to be sure.
🍁 The supportive cast was very colorful and quite memorable, for that matter. Liv's mom, Georgia, Wells & Allison, and Reed & Pearl stood out.
🍁 The HGGC was hilarious. I loved it!
🍁 I loved the cuteness overload via the dancing leaves.
My Favorite Scenes (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):
✨ Speechless
✨ Memories in Purple
✨ The HG Experience
✨ Mama Bear
✨ Talks & Tears
✨ The Gathering
Honorable Mention - > Accidents Happen!
My Final Say: I genuinely liked this story. It was simple and sweet. Conflict and drama were low. Love and laughter were high. It was cozy, with small town domesticity as a featured angle. I believe that is what made it so charming.
*** I cannot wait to read about Wells and Allison. That final scene between them was insane. All I have to say is...yes and please. ***
Other: Readers who enjoy small town settings, close proximity working scenarios, found family connections, and insta-love relationships should like this novel.
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character Chemistry: 💥
Heat Factor/Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tension/Angst: 🫶
HEA: 💕
Series: Yes
Appreciation is extended to the author/publisher and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review. I look forward to becoming better acquainted with this series of books.
My Review: Falling at the Barre by Elise Kennedy is book #5 in the Love in Fairwick Falls series. It is scheduled for release on 12/11/25.
About the Book: "Luca Bishop has one rule: no dating until his first-grader graduates high school.
Enter his daughter's gorgeous new dance teacher, who's also their next-door-neighbor."
In My Own Words: A tatted dad with a heart of gold falls in love at first sight with a ballet dancer who is on a temporary hiatus. When she becomes his daughter's nanny, his interest changes, even as he tries to keep things strictly professional.
What I Liked/Loved:
🍁 I love a great single daddy story. When a girl dad situation comes into play, I love it even more. This story was all about that.
🍁 AB was the cutest! Her sweet unicorn energy was a total vibe. I didn't sleep on her feminist-in-the-making voice or her"chaotic" playfulness. She sure kept things interesting.
🍁 I loved that the author addressed food allergies and learning differences.
🍁 I loved the found family theme. All of the introduced characters played a supportive role, in some way, in AB, AP, and Luca's lives. That stood out to me.
🍁 I loved that Liv was in a transitional phase of her life. Her do I/don't I dilemma was easy to relate to, making it all the more real. I liked seeing how she wrestled with her choices. I liked that she could still see the possibilities of what could be, even if it differed from her original dream.
🍁 I liked the diverse relationships that were featured. Sibling dynamics, parent/child connections, dysfunctional familial relationships, etc. were highlighted.
🍁 I really liked the romantic elements in the story. This had nothing to do with spice. It had more to do with the heart and emotion. There were a few special snapshot moments that stood out.
🍁 I loved that the leads were so easy to like. They were good people with good hearts. They both cared about Goob. I appreciated that they thoughtfully considered her feelings and mental/emotional health over what might have been easiest for them.
🍁 The slow burn/fiery chemistry angle was sparks and fireworks, to be sure.
🍁 The supportive cast was very colorful and quite memorable, for that matter. Liv's mom, Georgia, Wells & Allison, and Reed & Pearl stood out.
🍁 The HGGC was hilarious. I loved it!
🍁 I loved the cuteness overload via the dancing leaves.
My Favorite Scenes (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):
✨ Speechless
✨ Memories in Purple
✨ The HG Experience
✨ Mama Bear
✨ Talks & Tears
✨ The Gathering
Honorable Mention - > Accidents Happen!
My Final Say: I genuinely liked this story. It was simple and sweet. Conflict and drama were low. Love and laughter were high. It was cozy, with small town domesticity as a featured angle. I believe that is what made it so charming.
*** I cannot wait to read about Wells and Allison. That final scene between them was insane. All I have to say is...yes and please. ***
Other: Readers who enjoy small town settings, close proximity working scenarios, found family connections, and insta-love relationships should like this novel.
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character Chemistry: 💥
Heat Factor/Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tension/Angst: 🫶
HEA: 💕
Series: Yes
Appreciation is extended to the author/publisher and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review. I look forward to becoming better acquainted with this series of books.
September 21, 2026
⭐⭐⭐.5
Falling at the Barre is the fifth book in Elise Kennedy’s Love in Fairwick Falls series. I haven’t read any of the previous books, but I never felt confused or like I was missing important information. The only thing I wish I had read beforehand was Pearl and Reed’s story. Since Pearl plays an important role in AB’s life, I would have liked to have more background on her relationship with Reed and how they got together.
There are also references to Pearl throughout the story, particularly because Luca’s mother makes appearances. Their family history and Luca’s relationship with his mother added another layer to the story.
SPOILERS BELOW
I really enjoyed this story! It was a fun, quick listen, and I especially liked Olivia and Luca’s dynamic. My biggest issue was that their romance leaned heavily into insta-love/insta-lust. The first time Luca meets Olivia, he basically decides immediately that she’s his future wife, and I’m not usually a fan of that trope.
That said, I think the story did a good job of developing their relationship beyond that initial attraction. Olivia ends up nannying for AB, which gives her and Luca plenty of time to actually get to know each other. Luca gets to see firsthand how caring and wonderful Olivia is with his daughter, and watching that relationship develop helps make his feelings for Olivia feel more grounded as the story progresses.
Olivia is also at a crossroads in her own life. She’s struggling with getting older in the ballet world and trying to figure out what comes next for her. Luca, meanwhile, is a single father whose wife passed away when AB was young. He has a business that requires him to commute, which is what leads him to hire Olivia as AB’s nanny.
I really liked Luca as a father. He is incredibly protective of AB and determined to make sure she always feels loved and cared for. That becomes especially meaningful because of his own childhood.
Luca and Pearl basically had to raise themselves because their mother was never really there for them. Luca’s mother still shows up occasionally, usually when she wants money, and Luca is very aware of the kind of childhood he doesn’t want his daughter to have. Pearl was there for Luca during the darkest period after his wife’s death and also helped care for AB, so I can definitely understand why she was such an important figure in both of their lives.
Honestly, Luca’s relationship with his mother was probably the most impactful part of the story for me. There was so much potential there, and I wish it had been explored more. His childhood trauma and his determination to give AB a better life were referenced throughout the book, but I felt like the story only scratched the surface. I would have loved to see more of Luca working through that history because I think it could have added even more depth to his character and strengthened his emotional development.
Despite my issues with the insta-love aspect, Olivia and Luca had amazing chemistry. Once they got past that initial attraction, I really enjoyed watching them fall for each other and seeing how well they fit together.
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book. It was an enjoyable, quick listen with great chemistry between the main characters, and I liked seeing Olivia and Luca’s relationship develop alongside their relationship with AB. Even though I would have liked a little more depth in some areas, I definitely enjoyed my time with this story.
Thank you NetGalley, Elise Kennedy, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the audio ARC!
Falling at the Barre is the fifth book in Elise Kennedy’s Love in Fairwick Falls series. I haven’t read any of the previous books, but I never felt confused or like I was missing important information. The only thing I wish I had read beforehand was Pearl and Reed’s story. Since Pearl plays an important role in AB’s life, I would have liked to have more background on her relationship with Reed and how they got together.
There are also references to Pearl throughout the story, particularly because Luca’s mother makes appearances. Their family history and Luca’s relationship with his mother added another layer to the story.
SPOILERS BELOW
I really enjoyed this story! It was a fun, quick listen, and I especially liked Olivia and Luca’s dynamic. My biggest issue was that their romance leaned heavily into insta-love/insta-lust. The first time Luca meets Olivia, he basically decides immediately that she’s his future wife, and I’m not usually a fan of that trope.
That said, I think the story did a good job of developing their relationship beyond that initial attraction. Olivia ends up nannying for AB, which gives her and Luca plenty of time to actually get to know each other. Luca gets to see firsthand how caring and wonderful Olivia is with his daughter, and watching that relationship develop helps make his feelings for Olivia feel more grounded as the story progresses.
Olivia is also at a crossroads in her own life. She’s struggling with getting older in the ballet world and trying to figure out what comes next for her. Luca, meanwhile, is a single father whose wife passed away when AB was young. He has a business that requires him to commute, which is what leads him to hire Olivia as AB’s nanny.
I really liked Luca as a father. He is incredibly protective of AB and determined to make sure she always feels loved and cared for. That becomes especially meaningful because of his own childhood.
Luca and Pearl basically had to raise themselves because their mother was never really there for them. Luca’s mother still shows up occasionally, usually when she wants money, and Luca is very aware of the kind of childhood he doesn’t want his daughter to have. Pearl was there for Luca during the darkest period after his wife’s death and also helped care for AB, so I can definitely understand why she was such an important figure in both of their lives.
Honestly, Luca’s relationship with his mother was probably the most impactful part of the story for me. There was so much potential there, and I wish it had been explored more. His childhood trauma and his determination to give AB a better life were referenced throughout the book, but I felt like the story only scratched the surface. I would have loved to see more of Luca working through that history because I think it could have added even more depth to his character and strengthened his emotional development.
Despite my issues with the insta-love aspect, Olivia and Luca had amazing chemistry. Once they got past that initial attraction, I really enjoyed watching them fall for each other and seeing how well they fit together.
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book. It was an enjoyable, quick listen with great chemistry between the main characters, and I liked seeing Olivia and Luca’s relationship develop alongside their relationship with AB. Even though I would have liked a little more depth in some areas, I definitely enjoyed my time with this story.
Thank you NetGalley, Elise Kennedy, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the audio ARC!
December 12, 2025
Falling in Love, One Plié at a Time
Dedication: For those who made a home where no one yells
Olivia (FMC): Professional Ballerina • New Ballet Instructor • AB’s Nanny • Kinda Lost and Looking for Direction • Sunshine •
Luca (MMC): Autobody Repair Shop Owner & Mechanic • Single Dad • Tattooed Green Flag • German Shepherd Energy • Grumpy Giver •
Tropes:
🧰 Single Dad MMC x Nanny FMC
🩰 Cozy Fall Small Town
🧰 Love at First Sight
🩰 Adorable Agent of Chaos Sidekick (👧🏻)
🧰 Hurt/Comfort
🩰 Fall Festival
🧰 Crazy Townspeople Shenanigans
🩰 Forced Proximity
🧰 Neighbors
🩰 Whimpering & So.Much.Yearning
🧰 Slow Burn
🩰 Found Family
🧰 BFF Girl Group Chat
🩰 Nicknames
🧰 Text Conversations
🩰 No 3rd Act Breakup
Rating: 🥞🥞🥞🥞.🍧(4.5⭐️)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (praise, dirty talk, 👅, public play, begging, br33ding, 💧play)
T/W: child neglect (referenced), parental abandonment (referenced), car accident (referenced), death of a loved one (referenced), body shaming (on page), alcohol consumption (on page)
Falling at the Barre glides onto the page like a perfectly controlled pirouette—soft, graceful, and unassuming—until the yearning hits and suddenly you’re flat on your back, heart racing, wondering when exactly you fell so hard. It’s cozy small town magic with a ballet-core heartbeat: maple syrup air, apple pie pancake mornings, and a dance studio that feels warm, lived in, and deeply personal rather than performative. Elise Kennedy writes with such gentleness and care that even the heavier emotional moments land like a steady hand at the barre—supportive, grounding, and quietly healing.
What truly elevates this story is how alive the characters feel. Luca Bishop is single dad perfection—quietly strong, acts-of-service coded, and so devoted to his daughter that every choice he makes carries real emotional weight. His internal struggle between responsibility, grief, and the terrifying hope of wanting more is handled with remarkable tenderness, and his growth feels earned and deeply human. Olivia is just as beautifully realized: a ballerina at a crossroads, grieving the slow fade of a dream while still moving through the world with grace, warmth, and hope. Watching her rediscover herself—both at the barre and in a life she never planned—feels intimate, like being trusted with something soft and sacred.
And somehow, without you noticing, Elise makes you fall too. The slow burn never drags; it hums with yearning, stolen glances, cozy routines, and the kind of emotional safety that makes love feel inevitable rather than rushed. You feel the crush build—the hesitation, the quiet moments that mean everything—that giddy, slightly unhinged, can’t-stop-smiling “oh no, I have a crush” feeling? It’s threaded through every page. Add in the low angst comfort, a genuinely lovable found family cast, and AB—the most delightful scene stealer imaginable—and this book becomes more than just a read. The story unfolds with the kind of intimacy that makes you feel less like a reader and more like someone living next door in Fairwick Falls, watching everything bloom in real time.
Fairwick Falls itself feels like Stars Hollow and Bluebell joined forces and decided to outdo everyone with town events, meddling warmth, and pure charm. By the final page, it honestly felt like saying goodbye to people I’d fallen in love with and I was genuinely sad to leave. Also… the Wells and Allison setup? I need their story immediately.
Swoony Line:
“You can’t ask for anything better than someone shining love in all the places you need it.”
I received an ARC copy and wanted to leave an honest review.
Dedication: For those who made a home where no one yells
Olivia (FMC): Professional Ballerina • New Ballet Instructor • AB’s Nanny • Kinda Lost and Looking for Direction • Sunshine •
Luca (MMC): Autobody Repair Shop Owner & Mechanic • Single Dad • Tattooed Green Flag • German Shepherd Energy • Grumpy Giver •
Tropes:
🧰 Single Dad MMC x Nanny FMC
🩰 Cozy Fall Small Town
🧰 Love at First Sight
🩰 Adorable Agent of Chaos Sidekick (👧🏻)
🧰 Hurt/Comfort
🩰 Fall Festival
🧰 Crazy Townspeople Shenanigans
🩰 Forced Proximity
🧰 Neighbors
🩰 Whimpering & So.Much.Yearning
🧰 Slow Burn
🩰 Found Family
🧰 BFF Girl Group Chat
🩰 Nicknames
🧰 Text Conversations
🩰 No 3rd Act Breakup
Rating: 🥞🥞🥞🥞.🍧(4.5⭐️)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (praise, dirty talk, 👅, public play, begging, br33ding, 💧play)
T/W: child neglect (referenced), parental abandonment (referenced), car accident (referenced), death of a loved one (referenced), body shaming (on page), alcohol consumption (on page)
Falling at the Barre glides onto the page like a perfectly controlled pirouette—soft, graceful, and unassuming—until the yearning hits and suddenly you’re flat on your back, heart racing, wondering when exactly you fell so hard. It’s cozy small town magic with a ballet-core heartbeat: maple syrup air, apple pie pancake mornings, and a dance studio that feels warm, lived in, and deeply personal rather than performative. Elise Kennedy writes with such gentleness and care that even the heavier emotional moments land like a steady hand at the barre—supportive, grounding, and quietly healing.
What truly elevates this story is how alive the characters feel. Luca Bishop is single dad perfection—quietly strong, acts-of-service coded, and so devoted to his daughter that every choice he makes carries real emotional weight. His internal struggle between responsibility, grief, and the terrifying hope of wanting more is handled with remarkable tenderness, and his growth feels earned and deeply human. Olivia is just as beautifully realized: a ballerina at a crossroads, grieving the slow fade of a dream while still moving through the world with grace, warmth, and hope. Watching her rediscover herself—both at the barre and in a life she never planned—feels intimate, like being trusted with something soft and sacred.
And somehow, without you noticing, Elise makes you fall too. The slow burn never drags; it hums with yearning, stolen glances, cozy routines, and the kind of emotional safety that makes love feel inevitable rather than rushed. You feel the crush build—the hesitation, the quiet moments that mean everything—that giddy, slightly unhinged, can’t-stop-smiling “oh no, I have a crush” feeling? It’s threaded through every page. Add in the low angst comfort, a genuinely lovable found family cast, and AB—the most delightful scene stealer imaginable—and this book becomes more than just a read. The story unfolds with the kind of intimacy that makes you feel less like a reader and more like someone living next door in Fairwick Falls, watching everything bloom in real time.
Fairwick Falls itself feels like Stars Hollow and Bluebell joined forces and decided to outdo everyone with town events, meddling warmth, and pure charm. By the final page, it honestly felt like saying goodbye to people I’d fallen in love with and I was genuinely sad to leave. Also… the Wells and Allison setup? I need their story immediately.
Swoony Line:
“You can’t ask for anything better than someone shining love in all the places you need it.”
I received an ARC copy and wanted to leave an honest review.
December 11, 2025
📜Quick Summary: Olivia worked her whole life to become a ballerina. And after a long career doing just so, she finds herself jobless and back home in Fairwick Falls. She knows she’s “aging” out of her career, but that doesn’t take away the sting. While she’s home, she makes a deal with her old dance instructor to teach a class of first graders ballet, in exchange to house sit. But the problem…is that Luca Bishop is next door and although handsome, he seems to scrunch his face every time he sees her. What she doesn’t know is that Luca is a single dad, whose wife passed away five years ago and he’s raising their daughter by himself. On top of that, he’s trying to run a business and swear off dating, so he’s not the friendliest man in town. When she accidentally volunteers to be his nanny…she wonders how much could go wrong?
❣️Initial Feels: Oh my goshhhhh, this yearning is not helping me get to my other duties. I am so excited to be back in Fairwick Falls, and am just eating up Olivia and Luca right now!
👀Trigger Warnings: loss of spouse
🌶️Spice Level: a slow burn that turns into a 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️hot one!!!
📖Read if you want: slow burn, single dad love story, small town feels, finding yourself
🙋🏼♀️Moving Character: This story will touch people in different ways, and make you question how to truly find your happiness. For Luca, I loved that he fell fast and hard, and also respected the boundaries for his daughter. He knew what came first, and whose heart he had to protect. The strength and the compassion he has for others, while trying to juggle it all, also stood out. But when he started to ask for help, that’s when his character started to grow. And Olivia, she lost the career of her dreams. And it took stepping away to truly find what makes her happy. Not everyone in life gets that chance, and to see her embrace it and fully give in, was heart warming.
🗨️Touching Words: “Wherever you lose time, that’s what you’re meant to do.”
💡Final Sentiments: I loved returning home to these characters in Fairwick Falls!! I could have binge read their story in a day, but I really didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters again! If you haven’t stepped in Fairwick Falls yet, this is your sign to cozy up this winter with a great series filled with fall vibes, small town feels, a great cast of characters that feel like your friends, and slow burn romances! And the romances get SPICY once they get moving!! You can feel the yearning in the pages. As an arc reader and fellow Fairwick Falls fan, I love seeing the progression and growth in Elise as a writer, and truly can’t wait to hear about Wells’s story next! A great read for the winter ahead!
🌟Overall Rating: 5 stars
🔉Special thanks to Elise Kennedy for this arc of Falling at the Barre!
📘Grab yourself a copy on December 11, 2025!
❣️Initial Feels: Oh my goshhhhh, this yearning is not helping me get to my other duties. I am so excited to be back in Fairwick Falls, and am just eating up Olivia and Luca right now!
👀Trigger Warnings: loss of spouse
🌶️Spice Level: a slow burn that turns into a 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️hot one!!!
📖Read if you want: slow burn, single dad love story, small town feels, finding yourself
🙋🏼♀️Moving Character: This story will touch people in different ways, and make you question how to truly find your happiness. For Luca, I loved that he fell fast and hard, and also respected the boundaries for his daughter. He knew what came first, and whose heart he had to protect. The strength and the compassion he has for others, while trying to juggle it all, also stood out. But when he started to ask for help, that’s when his character started to grow. And Olivia, she lost the career of her dreams. And it took stepping away to truly find what makes her happy. Not everyone in life gets that chance, and to see her embrace it and fully give in, was heart warming.
🗨️Touching Words: “Wherever you lose time, that’s what you’re meant to do.”
💡Final Sentiments: I loved returning home to these characters in Fairwick Falls!! I could have binge read their story in a day, but I really didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters again! If you haven’t stepped in Fairwick Falls yet, this is your sign to cozy up this winter with a great series filled with fall vibes, small town feels, a great cast of characters that feel like your friends, and slow burn romances! And the romances get SPICY once they get moving!! You can feel the yearning in the pages. As an arc reader and fellow Fairwick Falls fan, I love seeing the progression and growth in Elise as a writer, and truly can’t wait to hear about Wells’s story next! A great read for the winter ahead!
🌟Overall Rating: 5 stars
🔉Special thanks to Elise Kennedy for this arc of Falling at the Barre!
📘Grab yourself a copy on December 11, 2025!
October 1, 2026
Well, Elise smashed another book out of the park! I swear this series is now one of my faves and I will now read anything she writes.
This is book 5 of the Love in Fairwick Falls series and it’s just as good as its predecessors.
You get a snippet of Luca and Annabelle in the previous book. Luca is the brother if the MFC in that book. I actually loved Luca and little Annabelle so I was thrilled the next book was about them. Luca is a broody and tattooed single dad who has vowed to not take a girlfriend. And his daughter is a spunky 6 year old who tells it like she sees it. She’s adorable.
Olivia, our main character, is a ballet dancer and moves ro Fairwick falls to teach a children’s dance class while she is on ‘hiatus’ from dance auditions. There she meets the dashing Luca and his daughter. He needs a babysitter; she agrees. The rest is history.
What I loved is seeing Luca try to resist his feelings. It was sort of a love at first sight, but man did he try to resist! But it wasn’t just him. Annabelle (AB) fell for Olivia too (and she for her). I loved not only seeing Olivia and Lucas, but AB and Olivia together. They were adorable and it was completely heartwarming seeing how much AB loved her.
I really love that Elisa brings real situations into her stories. This one being a single dad. It’s refreshing seeing a story that has a child in the storyline and it’s so well written. Seeing Olivia accept this child and love her made my heart swell. It’s def a tear jerker….in a good way.
The ending. It’s so satisfying seeing them finally accept what they had been feeling and having Luca let go, throw down the walls, and trust his feelings. So far he may be one of my fave lead males in the series
The epilogue is gold! This has to be a lead up into book 6! Or at least I hope so. If it is I am already sat and ready to go!
Like the others in the series, this book is so refreshing and wonderful. So incredibly well written, inspiring, heartwarming ,, and entertaining. Pacing is fast. Plot clear and well thought out.
Narration is great. This series has had some of the best selections of narrators.
Tropes/themes: slight grumpy x sunshine, single dad, tattooed male x ballet dancer, ballet, second chance, step-mother, father x babysitter, mutual pining, love at first sight, comfort
Thank you to Elise Kenned for gifting me the ALC, Victory Editing, and NetGalley
This is book 5 of the Love in Fairwick Falls series and it’s just as good as its predecessors.
You get a snippet of Luca and Annabelle in the previous book. Luca is the brother if the MFC in that book. I actually loved Luca and little Annabelle so I was thrilled the next book was about them. Luca is a broody and tattooed single dad who has vowed to not take a girlfriend. And his daughter is a spunky 6 year old who tells it like she sees it. She’s adorable.
Olivia, our main character, is a ballet dancer and moves ro Fairwick falls to teach a children’s dance class while she is on ‘hiatus’ from dance auditions. There she meets the dashing Luca and his daughter. He needs a babysitter; she agrees. The rest is history.
What I loved is seeing Luca try to resist his feelings. It was sort of a love at first sight, but man did he try to resist! But it wasn’t just him. Annabelle (AB) fell for Olivia too (and she for her). I loved not only seeing Olivia and Lucas, but AB and Olivia together. They were adorable and it was completely heartwarming seeing how much AB loved her.
I really love that Elisa brings real situations into her stories. This one being a single dad. It’s refreshing seeing a story that has a child in the storyline and it’s so well written. Seeing Olivia accept this child and love her made my heart swell. It’s def a tear jerker….in a good way.
The ending. It’s so satisfying seeing them finally accept what they had been feeling and having Luca let go, throw down the walls, and trust his feelings. So far he may be one of my fave lead males in the series
The epilogue is gold! This has to be a lead up into book 6! Or at least I hope so. If it is I am already sat and ready to go!
Like the others in the series, this book is so refreshing and wonderful. So incredibly well written, inspiring, heartwarming ,, and entertaining. Pacing is fast. Plot clear and well thought out.
Narration is great. This series has had some of the best selections of narrators.
Tropes/themes: slight grumpy x sunshine, single dad, tattooed male x ballet dancer, ballet, second chance, step-mother, father x babysitter, mutual pining, love at first sight, comfort
Thank you to Elise Kenned for gifting me the ALC, Victory Editing, and NetGalley
December 2, 2025
❤️ Blurb -
Luca Bishop has one no dating until his first-grader graduates high school. Period.
Between running a growing auto body shop and solo-parenting, romance isn’t just off the table—it’s somewhere in the garage under a tarp. And with his schedule, it's time to hire a nanny.
Enter his daughter's gorgeous new dance teacher, who's also their next-door-neighbor. The one who smells like cinnamon.
Who makes his kid beam and who laughs like sunshine.
And who already feels like his—if only she weren’t leaving.
Ballet didn’t dump Olivia Maroo—it just stopped calling.
At 33, Olivia knows pliés won't pay the bills forever, but she’s not ready to hang up her pointe shoes just yet.
She just needs a few months to train for auditions, regroup, and totally not fall apart. So she returns to her hometown for the fall—where the maple syrup flows, the apple pie pancake breakfasts are elite, and the existential dread is pumpkin spice–flavored.
In exchange for ballet studio space, she agrees to teach at the local dance studio. It’s temporary. Chill. Fine.
...Until she accidentally volunteers to nanny for her most adorably chaotic student—who just so happens to live next door with her extremely hot, extremely off-limits single dad.
It has to be temporary.
But with cozy movie nights, cider-fueled slow dances, and a life she’s already half in love with, she’s not prepared for the kind of fall that changes everything.
💜 Review -
I have enjoyed the other books in the series and Falling At The Barre certainly didn't disappoint. This was such a cute and cosy, easy to follow read. I was hooked from the very first page and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved Luca and Olivia's steamy chemistry and I wanted them to have their happy ending. Plus the small town place setting in the story sounded cute. Overall a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💖 Release date - 11th December.
💝 Thank you to the author Elise Kennedy for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Luca Bishop has one no dating until his first-grader graduates high school. Period.
Between running a growing auto body shop and solo-parenting, romance isn’t just off the table—it’s somewhere in the garage under a tarp. And with his schedule, it's time to hire a nanny.
Enter his daughter's gorgeous new dance teacher, who's also their next-door-neighbor. The one who smells like cinnamon.
Who makes his kid beam and who laughs like sunshine.
And who already feels like his—if only she weren’t leaving.
Ballet didn’t dump Olivia Maroo—it just stopped calling.
At 33, Olivia knows pliés won't pay the bills forever, but she’s not ready to hang up her pointe shoes just yet.
She just needs a few months to train for auditions, regroup, and totally not fall apart. So she returns to her hometown for the fall—where the maple syrup flows, the apple pie pancake breakfasts are elite, and the existential dread is pumpkin spice–flavored.
In exchange for ballet studio space, she agrees to teach at the local dance studio. It’s temporary. Chill. Fine.
...Until she accidentally volunteers to nanny for her most adorably chaotic student—who just so happens to live next door with her extremely hot, extremely off-limits single dad.
It has to be temporary.
But with cozy movie nights, cider-fueled slow dances, and a life she’s already half in love with, she’s not prepared for the kind of fall that changes everything.
💜 Review -
I have enjoyed the other books in the series and Falling At The Barre certainly didn't disappoint. This was such a cute and cosy, easy to follow read. I was hooked from the very first page and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved Luca and Olivia's steamy chemistry and I wanted them to have their happy ending. Plus the small town place setting in the story sounded cute. Overall a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💖 Release date - 11th December.
💝 Thank you to the author Elise Kennedy for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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