This is the perfect book for fall! I loved the small town vibes with the fall activities happening in the town. It was so sweet and cozy.I really enjoyed to found family aspect of the book. The book was so good that I was not able to put it down. Copper is the sweetest MMC, I love him so much. I really enjoyed seeing Copper and Elis’s connection grow over the book. These two characters have my heart! I am hoping for book 2 to follow Sloan and Asher. I definitely see a friends to lovers book about them.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and the author for a chance to read an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Ahh! This book was the perfect dose of Fall and adorable romance, and I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. This is quite the coming of age type story with romance, friendship, parental relationships, and all the sweet lessons and emotions that come with it. I loved every character, every challenge and bad decision made, and every learned lesson in this book. I don’t think anyone could come up with a more perfect adorable story that makes you squeal at how lovely it is. The whip cream and cherry on top are the fall vibes which were perfectly executed. Will be buying the physical copy!!!

The perfect cozy autumn read to kickoff fall!! It’s a quick read, easily digestible and found it to be the good palette cleanser.
The story is YA, and is great for a younger audience and fans of Gilmore Girls.
I’m a sucker for small town plots. But this story takes place in CT, and as a Nutmegger, there’s always a Dunkin within 15 minutes and we’re not waving to strangers… the best you’ll get is a curt nod/smile.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books for the eARC. Release date is September 2.

really cozy and fun autumn vibes romance with some cool feelings and some interesting characters. would recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I really enjoyed this book. Even being YA and I’m out of that age it was entertaining. Had the right fall vibes you want to read in the fall.

This was UNREAL. I feel like I was reading a Lynn Painter x Gilmore Girls book. This just made me want to go buy a pumpkin spice latte in a sweater and Ugg boots and read by the fireplace.

I had the pleasure of meeting Misty Wilson at the Lynn Painter signing in Louisville where she talked about her new book coming out. I was lucky enough to get approved for an ARC and I am so glad I got to read this early so I can tell everyone how amazing this was.

Cooper and Ellis were everything and I hope we get more of them in the second book. I loved the maturity of the characters and the fall atmosphere. If you haven’t preordered this yet what are you doing!!!!

JUST RIGHT.

I haven't read a young adult contemporary romance in a hot minute because I often feel like I've just aged out of enjoying these stories but then I get sucked in by a super cute cover that screams FALL and I had to read it. And I genuinely enjoyed it!!

I liked that this was a true YA book. The language was low and it stayed at kisses only. And as I mentioned earlier, there were so many fall things and I loved them all. The small town atmosphere surrounded by apple picking, horse carriages, pumpkins and more, set such a beautiful scene. I could not get enough.

The romance was great. Relatable and full of growth and learning after mistakes. Ellis has been sitting in a blind spot for so long it took her a bit to come to terms about the box she'd been sitting in. I appreciated her willingness to apologize and try to do better next time attitude. It gave Ellis a sense of realism that I think is what's needed for a younger audience too. Cooper was just super cute too which made their interactions very endearing.

I would absolutely read another book from Misty Wilson.

Overall audience notes:
- Young adult contemporary romance
- Language: mild
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: none
- Content warnings: parents who are separating (with infidelity as part of the reason)

I really enjoyed this! This is the epitome of YA. The romance was great, and felt like age appropriate drama for teens their age. The family drama also felt fresh and I enjoyed seeing Ellis' character grow in terms of her father's relationship with her and her future, and how that affected her own perception of herself and her future, as well as her relationship with her mother.

Did not finish. The story had so much potential and sounded so cute, but I was not vibing with how it was written. I know lots of people will like it though for the Gilmore Girls vibes.

I’m not a huge YA fan but I loved this little book. It was centered in a small town that was expanded onto to include more than just what happens during their fall festivals and the two main characters felt like real, cringe teenagers making real teen choices

This was an absolute delight to read!!!

In Falling Like Leaves, we follow Ellis, a thoughtful and resilient young woman navigating the emotional fallout of her parents’ separation. Seeking a fresh start, Ellis and her mother relocate to the quaint town of Bramble Falls, Connecticut, where Autumn seems to linger a little longer and memories run deep. Living with her aunt and cousin, Ellis soon finds herself face-to-face with Cooper—her childhood best friend—just as the town’s beloved Falling Leaves Festival begins.
As the golden season unfolds, so does their connection. Through cozy traditions, unexpected reunions, and the gentle rhythm of small-town life, Ellis and Cooper rediscover the bond they once shared. But with her future hanging in the balance, Ellis must decide whether love is enough to anchor her in Bramble Falls or if she’s meant to chase something beyond its borders.
This is a tender, second-chance romance wrapped in the charm of falling leaves and heartfelt moments.
Fans of Gilmore Girls will feel right at home in its cozy setting and emotionally rich storytelling.

This was a perfect Fall, cozy read & it superseded all of my expectations!!

Falling Like Leaves follows Ellis who's just moved from Manhattan to small-town Bramble Falls ahead of her Senior year. When life doesn’t go as planned, she finds herself back in her hometown just as autumn sets in, and what unfolds is a tender story of love, loss, and finding strength in unexpected places. 🍂

This book feels like the literary version of fall—warm, cozy, and a little bittersweet. Misty Wilson’s writing captures small moments so beautifully, and the emotional core of the story really stuck with me. I adored how real and relatable the characters felt—messy, flawed, and very human.

It did slow down a little in the middle (which is why I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5), but the ending was such a satisfying wrap-up that I closed the book with a smile. 💛

Thanks to Net Galley and Simon and Schuster Childern's Publsihing for the arc.

Ellis has her whole life figured out: straight A’s in high school, Columbia for college, and eventually a spot at her father’s media company. But she wasn’t expecting her parents to separate and her mom to take to her Bramble Falls, CT for the fall. Bramble Falls is home of everything fall, and also Cooper Barnett, the boy she hasn’t talked to since their perfect summer together.

This book is everything fall you could possibly want. It’s cozy and dreamy and whimsical. There’s a scavenger hunt, a drive in movie, a pumpkin prom, a corn maze, a parade, and all the harvest lattes you could ask for (from the cat cafe of course).

Aside from all the autumn bliss, Ellis and Cooper and all their friends are the absolute best. Ellis is trying to figure out what she wants in life and she makes a lot of mistakes along the way but Cooper is the perfect boy to help her through it all.

Read this for
-all the fall vibes
-sweet and cozy
-YA couple goals
-kissing only, appropriate for young teens

If you’re looking for sweet, fall, YA romance, this is definitely for you!

At first, I really did not think this book would be for me. However, the further I read the more I started falling for the town and the characters. Total pun intended.

The dialogue in the beginning felt out of sorts. I kept getting pulled out of the story because the conversations between characters felt unrealistic and awkward.

In the begging, I also did not care for the main character. She was so selfish and rude to honestly everyone that showed kindness to her. I didn’t like how she has this sense of entitlement. It made the story hard to read at times. Also, her dad is actually the worst!

With all that being said, I think after the first half, these issues tend to fall off. The dialogue becomes smoother and the main character really starts to shine. But, the side characters steal the show. Cooper and Sloane were great and fun additions to the story. I really enjoyed their characters.

What really brings this whole story together, is the town and the fall atmosphere. It was cozy and so fun to read. It was what I looked forward to the most because all of the fall activities were so cute to read. This would be such a fun town to live in!

All in all, this was a cute read. It takes a little bit to get into the story, but it’s a cute fall book.

***Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ***

Ellis Mitchell planned to spend her senior year perfecting her application to Columbia until her parents announced their “temporary” separation. Suddenly, Ellis and her mom are moving to Bramble Falls, a small Connecticut town, to live with her aunt and cousin. Her mother insists everything will work out, but Ellis feels like her carefully constructed plans are all falling apart.

Ellis can’t deny the small town charm of Bramble Falls and all its cozy Fall festivities. However, there are also distractions in town, including Cooper Barnett, her one time bff and first kiss - even if he’s initially a bit standoffish.

Ellis has to deal with conflicting feelings of desperately wanting to make her father proud and finding freedom and happiness unlike she’s ever felt before in her new surroundings. With the help of her family, her new friends, and her rekindled relationship with Cooper, Ellis learns life doesn't always have to be perfect and predictable.

Falling Like Leaves was a delightful YA romance that made me long for the type of Fall I have never personally experienced. A great read in anticipation of the "ber" months - for those who celebrate.

4.5/5
Thank you, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and Misty Wilson, for giving me the arc to review this book!

Ellis abruptly moves from New York City to small town Bramblefalls at the beginning of her senior year. Her parents are in a rough patch, and all Ellis has done for her whole life is vie for her dad's attention and appreciation. Ellis has big ambitions... or maybe it's her dad's, but she fears all her work to get into Columbia is going down the drain, being stuck in this small autumnal town. Ellis has a passion for sewing and fashion design, but that spark of creativity blew out long ago until Bramblefalls. This town brings out her true self, and she starts to fall in love with this cozy autumnal town and maybe even the people within it....


The cozy fall atmosphere is here! Bramblefalls is such a nice setting and definitely took inspiration from Gilmore Girls. When the leaves start to fall and a breeze blows throughout the town, it transforms into a fall festival. Every weekend for two months, this town puts on fall-themed activities. I got fomo and wish my town did something like this. If you want a good cozy autumn book with a smidge of drama, this book is for you.

The romance is a second-chance relationship. They met a few summers ago and became really close friends, for Ellis to leave and go back to the city. Cooper is a very cute, loyal love interest who helps Ellis come into her own. Their interactions and watching their relationship grow throughout the story were really cute. I was rooting for these two from the second they were in their first scene together. It is also PG, so the YA rating is accurate.

The side characters in this story are lovable. Everyone has distinct personalities and thought-out characteristics and arcs. The only characters I would nitpick would be Ellis's parents. At the beginning of this book, the parents' reasoning for Ellis moving to Bramblefalls was silly to me. It felt sort of like a plot point of how am I going to get my character to this town. I had a feeling that there was going to be a bigger reason revealed later on, but that scene still felt off. Pulling your kid, who is a senior, who has an internship lined up, to move hours away for only three months seems silly.

I read this book in the course of a few days and basically binged it all in one. It was a really quick read, and I did not want to put this book down. It put me in the fall vibe, and I am ready to hit up a small town like Bramblefalls. I will be recommending this book to anyone who wants an autumnal read.

very cute and perfect for an easy fall read! i was hoping for a bit more personal growth and a bit less romantic drama, but still enjoyed the story. give this to the reader who loves gilmore girls and taylor swift!

This is the perfect cozy, low-stakes fall read to add to your tbr. Loved all the cute, fun fall activities that the characters planned and attended. I enjoyed watching Ellis make the transition from New York City life into the slowed-down and cozy vibe of Bramble Falls. I don't typically gravitate towards stories with High school-aged main characters because I can't relate, but I found myself relating a lot to the struggles Ellis faced as well as her mom.

🍁Vibes🍁
YA Romance
City girl in a small town
Harvest Spiced Lattes
Cute friend group
Fall activities

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a quick read that was a little to Young for me.

There are definitely some cute moments in this book, and there are some great fall vibes for those looking for it this time of year.

But this definitely leaned too much to the Young side of Young Adult. Ellis, the FMC, had little to no growth and only pivoted when she got slapped in the face with reality at the very end. And Cooper, the MMC, was super cute but also was hot and cold for most of the book so got some whiplash from that.

But would recommend if you're looking for high school vibes in the fall 🧡

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced e-copy.

The summer is coming to a close for me and I am fully ready for cozy hoodies and crunchy leaves and all the cute romances and spooky ghost stories. The cover on this one is ADORABLE.

We follow Ellis as she's navigating an axis-tilting shift in her reality. Her parents are taking some time apart and she is moving from NYC to tiny Bramble Falls with her mother while things smooth out. She has aspirations of becoming a big-time journalist like her father and going to Columbia at the end of her senior year. Bramble Falls is not what she wants at this point in time. Especially when she sees her former friend, Cooper, w0rking at the coffee shop. Bro has some obvious disdain for her and it takes some time for her to crack through his walls and find out why he is so upset with her.

Along her emotional journey of falling back into love with Cooper, she makes a core group of friends and has the coziest time doing some very small-town Gilmore Girls-esque festivities.

This was cozy and a pleasant reading experience. My only complaints are Ellis's absolutely irrational snap decisions. Come on, girl! Think before doing the things! And then the fact that it wasn't revolutionary. Nothing unique happened. It was just pleasant and cute.