One Old, One New features two books – one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today I am featuring two books by Sophie Sullivan.
Get Lost with You by Sophie Sullivan
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on February 11, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
A second chance at love, small-town romance that’s all sweet with just a hint of heat from the “queen of sweet romance” (Falon Ballard) Sophie Sullivan.
Jillian Keller took the long route to her best life, but is now happily settled in her hometown of Smile, raising her little girl alone while helping her brother run Get Lost Lodge. A lover of structure and routine, she doesn’t need anything, or anyone, disrupting her carefully curated life.
After chasing and achieving his culinary dreams, Levi Bright realizes he’s still missing something. Something he can’t find in a big city. Returning home to Smile, he intends to build a different future for himself that includes mending fences with his dad, reconnecting with friends, and creating elevated comfort food for a town he loves.
When Levi and Jilly run into each other one day in Smile, once requited feelings that never had a chance to bloom as teens flare between them immediately. Jaded from her past, Jilly is cautious and convinced that she can handle being just friends, as the two have to work closely together to prepare for Get Lost’s official summer opening, spending time together, camping, laughing, kayaking, and reminiscing. But when her brother hires sweet, funny, ridiculously hot Levi as the new chef at the lodge, and she and Ollie are getting more attached, things are moving more quickly than she anticipated--and Jilly has been hurt before. If she wants to be head over heels in love, she'll have to learn that the past doesn’t always repeat itself. Sometimes, it just leads you where you’re meant to be.
Jillian had returned to Smile to rebuild her life following her divorce. She had established herself as an important member of the community and a worthy business partner at the Get Lost Lodge. Everything was going according to her very well thought out plan until Levi returned to town reawakening old feelings. Now she must decide if she will follow her head or her heart.
It was great to return to Smile and the world of the Kellers. This time, the focus was on Jillian. She was a single mom who had been betrayed by her ex-husband. She was not ready to face Levi and her past feelings for him.
Levi returned home following many grueling years establishing himself in the culinary world. He enjoyed that success but was looking to find a position that allowed him to create amazing food and have work-life balance, and he wanted to do it in Smile. He also came home to help his father as he recuperated from surgery. It was his opportunity to try and mend the rift between them and reestablish his relationship with his father.
Levi also seemed excited to reestablish something with Jilly. She was his best friend's little sister and therefore off limits, but now they are older, and Levi still found that spark between them when they were reunited. I love second chances and although they never had their full romance back in their teens, this was their chance to finally act on their feelings.
Levi was such a wonderful love interest for Jilly. Her husband was toxic and cruel. Levi adored every part of he, just the way she was. He also adored that little spit-fire of a kid of hers, Ollie. There were some super sweet moments between Ollie and Levi that melted my heart, and even more moments between him and Jilly that showed what an incredible partner he would be.
I know I am in the minority, but I like my books low drama/angst, so Sullivan's books work well for me. She grabbed me with the setting, characters, and warm-fuzzy family focus. I adore the community of the Get Lost Lodge and all the outdoor fun that took place. I was not a fan of the third act breakup but it led to a great makeup. So, it was easy to forgive.
Overall, this was another fun and sweet romance. I am eager to return to Smile to see who Sullivan pairs with the eldest brother.
*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
Can't Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on September 17, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
A struggling waitress and the heir to a major Seattle company stumble into a high-profile fake engagement while simultaneously trying to keep up with their own love lives in this flirty fall rom-com!
Lexi Danby is looking for some no-strings, fall fun. Once a college track star, she was forced to drop out when her father passed away. Now she’s trying to make ends meet while putting herself through school and caring for her grieving mother. When her comically bad waitressing lands her directly in the path of a handsome, charming stranger named Will, Lexi may just have found the distraction she’s been looking for. Their first date looks promising until a misunderstanding at a party thrusts Lexi and Will into a fake engagement they can’t talk themselves out of. And Will turns out to be a member of Seattle royalty.
Will Grand is heir to a major company, and Seattle’s most eligible bachelor. But he’s been placed in charge of an important merger with a company that values family above all else, and needs to show them that he’s settled down. While a fake engagement is advantageous from a business standpoint, it’s not so great for a budding relationship with a woman who’s wary of commitment. With a woman who Will is beginning to care about much more than he could have anticipated.
As Lexi gets a taste of Will’s glamorous world and the pair keeps up the pretense of their fake engagement for the press, they decide to see where a more casual relationship takes them out of the spotlight. And amid apple picking in comfy flannels, outdoor breweries in the crisp air, and fun Halloween preparations, Lexi starts to realize the scariest part of the season might just be taking a chance on love.
Lexi's world fell apart following her father's death, and she had spent the last three years trying to recover. When she accidentally falls into a fake relationship and engagement, she finds the line between fiction and reality becoming blurry as she tries to fight losing herself to love.
This was what I expect from Sophie Sullivan, fun and sweet with some emotional depth and a family focus. I loved Will from scene one. I could tell how amused he was with Lexi and how smitten with her he quickly grew. He was able to see all her best qualities while seeing her at her (almost) worst.
Will was a bright spot for Lexi who had spent the last three years just trying to keep her head above water. After abandoning her own wants and dreams to help her mother following her father's death, Lexi was a bit lost. She struggled with what she could have been and lost sight of working towards who she wanted to be. I loved that being with Will helped her figure stuff out as she recovered a pieces of her life while picking up new ones.
For as much joy as Will brought to Lexi's life, she did the same for him. Will had a mother who meant well but never stopped meddling in his love life. Though he was labeled "a catch", Will found it difficult to know who really wanted him and not just his family name and wealth. He found that in Lexi. He found someone who saw him, just him. She never made any demands of him and simply enjoyed his company.
I was definitely onboard with this coupling, and there were lots of other characters that brought a lot to this story as well. Lexi's best friend was a hoot as well as a pillar of support, and Will's sisters brought so much happiness and humor to the tale. I totally got some warm fuzzies during the family business meetings. And let's not forget Will's bestie who top notch as well.
It was fun attending parties and events with these two, but the best part was watching them fall in love. Overall, this was another charming romance from Sullivan with some great messaging.
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