A Delightful Autumn Escape Filled With Heart, Humor & Small-Town Charm!

There’s something irresistibly cozy about a story that captures the magic of autumn—crisp air, golden leaves, and the promise of new beginnings—and Falling Like Leaves does exactly that, wrapping readers in the warm, inviting atmosphere of Bramble Falls. When Ellis’s carefully constructed New York City life is upended by her parents’ separation, she finds herself reluctantly transplanted to the quaint Connecticut town she once visited during summers past. But what was once a temporary escape now feels like a roadblock to her future—until the town’s quirky charm (and a certain brooding barista) start to make her question everything.

Ellis is the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for—driven, witty, and just vulnerable enough to make her journey feel real. Her struggle between chasing the prestigious future she’s always planned and embracing the unexpected joys of Bramble Falls is beautifully written, full of relatable growing pains and moments of self-discovery. And then there’s Cooper Barnett, her childhood best friend turned first kiss turned distant stranger, whose lingering glances and reluctant smiles had me utterly hooked. Their slow-burn reunion is packed with delicious tension, playful banter, and just the right amount of teenage stubbornness to keep things delightfully messy.

But what truly makes this book shine is its setting. Bramble Falls isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a living, breathing world of pumpkin patches, harvest festivals, and gossipy locals who feel like family. Ellis’s aunt’s Falling Leaves Festival brings the town to life in vivid detail, making every page feel like a stroll through Stars Hollow (with all the Gilmore Girls-esque charm that implies). The side characters—from Ellis’s sweet cousin to the town’s nosy but well-meaning residents—add layers of warmth and humor, making it impossible not to wish you could visit for real.

While I would’ve loved a deeper exploration of Ellis’s relationship with her father (their strained dynamic had so much potential!), the heart of this story lies in Ellis’s personal growth and her slow realization that sometimes the best plans are the ones you never saw coming. By the end, I was fully invested in her happiness—both in love and in life—and the satisfying, heartfelt conclusion left me grinning.

Perfect for fans of small-town romances, enemies-to-lovers tension, and all things autumn, Falling Like Leaves is the kind of book you’ll want to read in one sitting, preferably with a pumpkin spice latte in hand and a cozy blanket nearby. Sweet, funny, and full of heart, it’s a story that lingers like the last golden rays of fall sunlight.

An enormous thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing me with an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I’m so grateful to have experienced this enchanting story—it was an absolute joy from start to finish!

Even though it is the middle of summer this book had me craving a pumpkin spice latte! Ellis has a very relatable plot and has many common flaws among people her age especially being a perfectionist. The cozy setting of Bramble Falls helped add the warm vibe to the storyline! I enjoyed this book very much will be recommending once released!

This was such a cute little romance that is perfect for fall. I loved the city girl moves to small town trope and I adored watching Ellis figure out her dreams and passions. I do think she can make some dumb decisions at times, but that’s just what teenagers do.

I also really loved Ellis and Cooper together. I liked seeing them work through their miscommunication and get to know one another again against the backdrop of Bramble Falls.

This book was full of autumnal imagery and cozy vibes. It made me want a PSL (or a harvest spice latte) so bad!!! I will definitely be rereading it this fall!

So stinking cute! I loved the setting and the characters, and immediately felt the comfort of fall in a small town. This was marketed SO well, as it truly is perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls!

I just moved from NY to CT, so I had a lot to connect with the main character about. This was a very cute romance, though the main character trying to find her future passion was really frustrating me, especially the way it impacted the other elements of her life. However, I could see this being a thing teenagers might struggle with even if I didn't as a teen.

An autumn romance between a baker and a fashion designer? SIGN ME UP. As the daughter of an influential journalist, Ellis has never really had a say for herself in terms of her future. When her parents separate and her mom drags her back to the idyllic town of Bramble Falls, Ellis feels like her life is ending— except for her reunion with her first kiss, Cooper Barnett. But he hates her? It’s too bad they keep bumping into each other as Ellis is dragged around planning and attending cozy fall activities… right?
I am addicted to the childhood friends to enemies to lovers trope. Even better when he’s been obsessed with her this whole time. Bramble Falls is the cutest town and I loved living out Ellis’ designer dreams along with her and her friends. I was rooting for them so hard the whole book, especially Ellis, though she did some questionable things sometimes while searching for her true desires. The romance is just too cute, and the character development was so satisfying. I would love to return to Bramble Falls— perhaps for Sloane???

Thank you Simon teen and netgalley for the arc. All thoughts are my own. This was such a cozy fun read. Definitely wishing fall vibes to come faster and that I could experience bramble falls

This YA romance follows Ellis as she reluctantly moves with her mom from New York City to the small cozy town of Bramble Falls where she’s spent her past summers. Ellis experiences a mixture of feelings and confusion from this due to her parent’s separation. Cue a loving aunt and cousin, new friends, wonderful residents and a sweet love story, ‘Falling like Leaves’ is a delightful story with the right amount of heart, warmth and humor that makes you not want to put it down!
P.S. a Harvest Spice Latte sounds delightful!

Thank you to Netgalley and SimonTeen for this arc!

Thank you Simon Teen and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 transports you to Bramble Falls, where the harvest spice lattes are bottomless and the air is crisp with the scent of fall. It's a charming small town escape from New York City, one that high school senior Ellis is reluctant to immerse herself in. She's abruptly torn from her friends, competitive school, and college prep as her parents separate, leaving her temporarily moving into her aunt's house with her mom. She's more alone than ever, and she longs to return to the city. Her dad is suddenly too busy to pick up the phone, and she's not sure why her friend, Cooper, from years ago is now giving her the cold shoulder.

This story is 𝘎𝘪𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 in book form! From the sweet, but gossiping, residents to the silly yet endearing events, I felt like I was strolling through Stars Hollow. It's such a comforting, quick read, and I loved the autumnal imagery. It feels like a warm hug!

Ellis and Cooper made for a great couple, and while there's some teenage miscommunication occurring, I still enjoyed their story. Coop was so sweet (pun intended), and I adored his cookie sharing with Ellis.

I would have liked to see more development for Ellis and her relationship with her father, as it seemed we were told about the impact it had on her yet she didn't discuss it with her friends through most of the book.

𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 hits shelves this September, and it's the ideal cozy read to binge in one sitting (with a PSL in hand, of course!).