This is the perfect fall romance! I love the town so much, it really does feel like Gilmore Girls and I love that the author was inspired by Hart of Dixie as well!! It was so cute!

I really enjoyed Ellis’s character development. While this is definitely a romance, it’s also about growth and finding yourself. I really enjoyed seeing her realize her dreams and discover what she really wants. That being said, Cooper and Ellis are sooo cute. They have so many sweet moments and you can tell that they genuinely know and love each other. I also really liked Jake and I would love to see a book centering him (and Fern, maybe?).

I absolutely loved all of the town events and I’ve never read a book that feels like fall nearly as much as this one. I can’t wait for this book to come out so I can buy a physical copy!

I liked the idea of this. The small town, the Gilmore girls and fall vibes. I loves how similar it was to Gilmore girls in the right moments.

The execution however wasn't what I had hoped.
I understand that this is YA and I also believe that it is age appropriate and something, that young people will appreciate a lot. I liked how this book talked about existential questions and included family problems, since a lot of young kids are able to relate to that. The subtle mention of a queer character was fantastic.
I felt like pace was off. It was a bit quick in important moments, but slow in others. A lot of filler chapters. I also felt like that, with exception of the FMC, we didn't had a very deep description of the characters. The same issue happens with the relationship between the FMC and the other ones. It was a lot of miscommunication and drama, which again, fits the age range but was getting annoying after a while.
The whole back and forth also seemed unnecessary.

The idea is super cute and the deeper meaning of the question "Who am I and what do I want?" is very important, I just hoped for a better use of that idea.

For a book to bring the autumn feelings when I'm amidst 100 degree temperatures as a reader, you know they're good. I'm far from a young adult (as evidenced by my reaction to Free Willy being part of a "classic" movie night), but thought of the younger version of me as I read, and she would've dug this - the older adult version of me did, too. I loved the way the story was built and the people and places of Bramble Falls. The autumn setting was perfectly done, and it was a wonderful story as Ellis tried to find her way. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this September 2025 release!

Falling Like Leaves is a must read for your fall TBR. This book follows Ellis, a teen living in Manhattan as her life is turned upside down when she finds out she has to move to Bramble Falls, a small town in Connecticut with her mom to live with her aunt and cousin to start her senior year of high school. Ellis fears that this move is going to put her dreams of following her father’s footsteps in being a journalist out of reach. Upon arrival Ellis realizes Bramble Falls and Cooper Barnett might just be exactly what she needs.

This was honestly such a cute, cozy read perfect for the fall! It had me soooo ready ready to ditch this Summer heat and just skip right ahead to fall. I loved the characters and the all the cozy vibes. Misty did a fantastic job at depicting fall in a small town.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson is the PERFECT romcom to get you in the mood for fall! I swear, becuase of this book, I am craving pumpkin (harvest 😉) spiced lattes in the middle of summer. Like I literally want to snuggle up with a fluffy blanket and watch Gilmore Girls with a cup of cider RIGHT NOW. The writing in this book was PERFECT! It was easy to read, and not repetitive. The characters were amazing and well thought out, and I loved the plot. The main character, Ellis Newman, visits her Aunt Naomi and cousin Sloane’s house in a small town called Bramble Falls where her old friend, Cooper lives. And obviously, they start to fall for each other. The chemistry between Cooper and Ellis is INSANELY GOOD! Cooper is actually SO DREAMY and him and Ellis are perfect together. I would also like to make an honorable mention to the biggest Swiftie of the book, Jake, Coopers bestie, who provides us with so many perfect Taylor references, and he is MINE (nobody take him). Besides the amazingly written romance parts of the book, there is also the issue of Ellis’ future that she is planning and working super hard for, and the fact that her father is still in NYC while she is in Bramble Falls. Overall, I am OBSESSED with this book, and you need to read it the SECOND it comes out September 2nd this year!
spice: none
language: a couple bad words

This was a sweet YA rom-com, perfect (imo) for fans of the Red album (complete with plenty of Taylor Swift references lol). Ellis suddenly moves to small-town Connecticut with her mom and sees friends and family she hasn't in years as she helps out with the weeks-long fall festivities the town is known for (and manages to fall in love). Dealing with all the things typical of a YA rom-com--first love, college applications, family drama and pressures, and discovering what's important to her--it's predictable but fun and I'd recommend it:)

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
High 4 Stars!!!!
Make sure to check this out if you love heartwarming ya romances, with a it-girl fmc and the sweetest mmc. The friendships and family dynamics in this book are so sweet. The fall vibes are immaculate and I will definitely be rereading in the fall with my PSL and Taylor Swift blasting in the background! Perfect for readers who love Lynn Painter, Autumn Vibes Books, Small Town, and obviously Girlmore Girls
> Also the cover is breathtaking!

I’ve fallen in love with everything about this book. I related so so so much with the main character and her struggles with school and family. I loved the way our FMC finds herself eventually and that the MMC pushes her to do the things she wants not for his own gain but for her.

If you need something to fill your Gilmore girls void, go pick this up right now. Genuinely a hallmark movie needs to be made. Perfect for fans of Lynn painter too!

I throughly enjoyed this. I’m sad I didn’t get to read it in the fall and read it during the dead heat of summer haha. Loved the characters and the plot

I'm currently in a K-5, but if I make the move to a high school library, I will totally be adding this to that collection!

Falling Like Leaves is sweet and cozy with all the small town autumn feels you'd want in a book! It doesn't stray too far from real life to be unrealistic though as the characters experience relatable problems, and to be honest, ones I hope many readers can learn from by living vicariously. It's easy at that age to fall into the trap of taking a path that feels like the one you're "supposed" to be on and this books navigates that beautifully. The character makes relatable mistakes, but the kind where an adult reader is like "oh no, don't do that." I enjoyed her relationship with Sloane, Cooper Jake and Fern, I think they each offered something uniquely special. Cooper is a love interest that treats a character the way you'd want to be treated as well.

Overall, an enjoyable read!

This is THE YA book to pick up during fall. Bramble Falls is GIVING Stars Hollow and the events make you feel like you're celebrating the season. The romance and friendships were so likeable and there is also a hearty dose of drama (the friend and family kind) messiness and teenage angst too.

Thank you so much to Simon Teen for my ARC, I truly appreciate it!

4/5

This might be the most adorable book I have ever read!! This book is described as Gilmore Girls meets Jenny Han, and it definitely feels like that! The whole story gives cozy teen drama!!

The romance was sweet and wholesome and refreshing! I loved how Ellis focused more on rebuilding a friendship with Cooper first. Even though she was attracted to him and wanted more than a friendship, her main goal for most of the story was to mend their friendship. I feel like I don’t see that often in books, and I think it made the story feel more real.

I loved Ellis’ character development throughout this! She starts out focused solely on her future and pleasing her dad. By the end, she truly finds herself and chases her dreams!!

Cooper was a great book boyfriend!! He deserves the hype for constantly bringing Ellis cookies and coffee! I love how he challenged Ellis and pushed her chase her dreams and not her father’s!

I want to give a moment of appreciation for Jake who gives golden retriever vibes!! He was such a green flag! He was the first to befriend Ellis and constantly tried to include her in their friend group. Even when Ellis didn’t return his affection, he still remained friends with her!

The setting in this was EVERYTHING!! I want to pack my bags and move to Bramble Falls, CT! I loved the quaint small town vibes where everyone knows everyone and their business. The setting really does feel like Gilmore Girls!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the eARC!

Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson was such a cute cozy fall read!

I really enjoyed this cozy autumn novel. It was so cute and sweet and def screams fall vibes. This is a medium paced read, that I found to be lighthearted, funny, emotional and relaxing. I found this book to be a perfect blend of relaxation and emotional tension. It was filled with lovable characters, and great FMC & MMC. It came with a diverse cast of characters, all of which were strongly developed. It is heartfelt, charming and engaging! This is definitely a memorable and thought provoking novel!

“Falling Like Leaves” centers around the FMC named Ellis. Ellis’s parents separate, so her and her Mom go live with Ellis’s aunt and cousin, in Bramble Falls, Connecticut. Ellis then reconnects with Cooper, her childhood best friend. A local tradition called the “Falling Leaves Festival” which is hosted by Ellis’s aunt happens and Ellis and Cooper keep bumping into each other, while doing their fun festivities! Ellis starts falling for Cooper and ultimately has to make a big decision about her location and future. You will not want to miss out on what happens in this second chance romance novel!

I think fans of Gilmore Girls will definitely enjoy reading this cozy novel! Content warnings are extremely minor, separation of parents, young romance (PG 13 - no explicit scenes), emotional tension and miscommunication.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Misty Wilson and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books for this electronic arc of this book in exchange for my honest review and feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on September 2, 2025!

I love this book so much!! it’s the perfect fall read! 💕
Bramble Falls is a fun small town with the sweetest people, and fall festivities, I love how she wrote the town! If you’re reading this i would 100% recommend reading this book!!

Thank you so much Simon Teen for this e-arc!! This book was like a warm pumpkin spice latte in a book. I love reading books in the middle of July that get me excited for fall. This had small town vibes and high school fun. I love that the characters truly act like teenagers and the biggest things they have to worry about is the big dance and college. It does touch on some family issues that are very real as well. I think this is going to be perfect for anyone who loves fall, small town vibes, high school fun and some minor romance.

This book hooked me right from the beginning! Absolutely loved it! The flow waa perfect, Thank you for the ARC!

At first, I was apprehensive of reading an autumnal book in the summer, but that thought was quickly tampered down after I started Falling Like Leaves. The fall setting was quaint, charming, and reminiscent of Stars Hallow in the best of ways. Ellis is city girl at heart, until she returns to her Aunt in Bramble Falls after her parents split. I loved how Ellis got to spend time around the small town and see what makes the place so special. Her childhood friend turned stranger, Cooper, is a barista at a local coffee shop. He was one of the absolute best male main characters I’ve read about it a while. He was incredibly caring and sweet to Ellis and loyal to all of his friends. The fact that he bakes was the cherry on top. I love how Cooper and Ellis reconnected with each other through all of the fall activities that the town has to offer. The love they have for each other is adorable to read about. There are two side couples that I hope get their own stories. I would love to return back to this world.

If you are a fan of Gilmore Girls, pumpkin spice lattes, fall festivals, and cozy nights at home, this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books for providing an e-ARC.

WHEN I TELL YOU. THIS BOOK BLEW MY EXPECTATIONS OUT OF THE WATER. I’m not usually a romance girly but I am an AUTUMN romance girly, and this is absolutely the best book of anything I’ve read in this BY FAR. I fell in love with this book before even 20% in and do you know how rare that is for me? I didn’t want this book to end. I savored! SAVORED every page. I have not fallen in love with a book like this in months. This was above and beyond anything I was expecting.

I cannot stress this enough when I say Falling Like Leaves is what The Pumpkin Spice Cafe WISHES it was. It pulled off what that TikTok viral book tried to do but missed the mark. This book actually promises EXACTLY what it advertises. And does it better than most books you’ll find in the autumnal cozy romance niche. And yes, it’s actually A LOT like Gilmore Girls. Probably more than any other book I’ve read that has made that claim.

I am in my romance girl™️ era right now (it comes and goes 🤷🏻‍♀️) and I DIE for books with settings like these. First off? Autumn is my favorite season and I crave it all year round. The crunchy leaves, maple coffees, the small towns, it’s one of my favorite things to romanticize all year round. Second, girl in a quaint small town that’s preparing for a fall festival? And her love interest in this is a BARISTA? Also the town has the cutesiest name ever, Bramble Falls? Crying because this autumn energy is everything I want right now as I’m currently suffering through the summer heat.

I not exaggerating when I say this book had everything I ever wanted. With apple picking, fall festivals, pumpkin carving, events like an APPLE CIDER TEA PARTY, harvest spice lattes, coffee shop romance, this book is an autumn lover’s dream. It’s cozy, it’s wholesome, it’s ROMANTIC. I cannot begin to express how much joy this book brought me. I was practically kicking my feet. It may be July but I ran my ass to go make a maple spice cold brew before starting this (for the vibes).

Lots of books compare themselves to Gilmore Girls but this comparison is probably the most valid. Bramble Falls is not only a lot like Stars Hollow, Ellis is a wannabe journalist. She’s smart and studious just like Rory. Basically has Rory’s personality. Also, she listens to Gracie Abrams and you cannot tell that isn’t Rory Gilmore coded. There’s even a Logan type character in this. And their dynamic together is JUST like Rory and Logan it’s actually mindbogglingly similar. Ellis isn’t perfect but she’s extremely relatable for me personally, which made her likable.

I cannot stress this enough. If you’re obsessed with autumn like I am. If you like Gilmore Girls. If you love reading about coffee shop romances in small towns during fall. You must read this or you are SEVERELY MISSING OUT. There are plenty of books in this genre that you can skip out on and not miss anything. This is not one of them.

I will leave off this review with the author’s intro dedication:

To all my PSL-drinking, sweater-wearing, apple-picking, Gilmore Girls–watching, pumpkin patch–going, candy corn–eating, fall-loving readers.
This one’s for you.
May we all find our Coopers.

(Yes, may we all).

This book was a 100000/10. No notes. Misty Wilson I am your biggest fan and I am begging for a companion novel because I miss Cooper and Ellis already.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Falling Like Leaves was the sweetest little hug in book form 🍁

Ellis’s journey from Manhattan to Bramble Falls felt like stepping into a cozy sweater. The town, the festival, the romance—it was all so charming!

I adored Ellis and Cooper’s second-chance connection, and the Falling Leaves Festival gave me total pumpkin spice daydreams. Every character felt like someone you’d want to be friends with, and I honestly didn’t want to leave this world.

If you’re looking for a feel-good YA romance, this is it. 💛🍂✨

Expected Release Date: 09/02/2025

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I am so excited to read this again with a apple cider or pumpkin spice flavored drink while the leaves change and wearing a flannel. This book is for those who wished they could visit Stars Hollow and meet Luke, Taylor and Kirk while spending the week with Loreli, Rory and Sukie.
I loved how youthful and light this was while also being so completely enchanting. Ellis deals with some real emotional turmoil over the move and divorce of her parents. The early romance between her and Cooper is so wholesome and sweet.