A cozy, warm, cute read perfect for the autumn season! This was so much fun to get into, and honestly it’s what I needed the most. Even though the story is simple, it’s exactly the reason why this book was good. I loved the characters, writting and direction it took. Would highly recommend it for those who are looking for a cozy book.

*2.5
It was a good thing the fall vibes in this book were absolutely stunning, because other than that I had quite a few issues with it. For one, I didn’t love Ellis as a main character. She was very selfish and never thought about how her actions would impact the people around her. There also wasn’t much chemistry between the main couple imo — we were just told that they had this amazing connection a couple summers ago and that’s it. Plus, Cooper was VERY mad at Ellis during the third act breakup, and after some of the things he said about her I don’t see how they realistically would’ve gotten back together.

The main thing that bothered me was how everyone kept saying that Ellis was better off in Bramble Falls, but we were never shown that we were just told it. Like how Cooper kept telling Ellis that it wasn’t her dream to work at her dad’s company but all we got from Ellis is how much she did want to work there, and how her mom said she started becoming her own person in Bramble Falls but we never actually saw that. I get what the message was trying to say — do what you want with your life, not what other people want you to do — but that’s literally what Ellis ends up doing. There’s a line where she says “what I want is to go to school for fashion, not journalism. I want to be in Bramble Falls until college”. But she says that AFTER her mom and Cooper tell her she wants those things when she has never thought about wanting them before. So she basically ends up doing the exact thing that they told her not to do! Ugh.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the ARC!

I liked this one a lot, cute small town fall vibes, really loved how the fmc grew throughout this story and learned to see things from a different perspective. Cooper was such a sweetie and I loved Jake and Slone, just really well written story and characters, I highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and Misty Wilson for the eARC!

this romance was so sweet, so many fall vibes » originally gonna give this book a 3.5
• but i literally CANNOT
stop thinking abt it, so im giving it 4!! my only issue with the book was that i feel like it had too many pop culture references, those js aren't my fav in books in general, but other then that, i ATE this book up!!

This YA book is near perfect as it hits all the right notes of angst, clean content, and a HEA. Mix in a New England backdrop in autumn time and some coming of age type events and it hits sweet notes from beginning to end.

This was cute and totally gave me Gilmore girls vibes! I fell hard for the town and couldn't wait to find out what actually happened between the two of them to cause the divide. Also, fall festivals!

This was such a cute coming of age YA story. I really liked the characters - Ellis and Cooper are the best of friends, have a falling out, and this is basically the story of them trying to come back together. Also for Ellis to realize she doesn’t have to be a mini version of her dad to be happy. A perfect fall book!!!

This was, hands down, one of my favorite reads of 2025 and the best young adult book I’ve read this year. I don’t know if I can recommend this book highly enough as your next perfect fall read!

Ellis Mitchell has her entire future mapped out. She’s going to finish high school at the top of her class, be admitted into Columbia University to study journalism, and intern at her dad’s media company. It’s exactly what her dad expects of her. What she doesn’t expect is her parents sitting her down and announcing their separation. Soon, Ellis’ life is turned upside down as she and her mom pack up and move (“temporarily”) to Bramble Falls, Connecticut to stay with her aunt and cousin days before the start of her senior year. As Ellis gets to know the town, she quickly discovers that not everyone is as friendly as they might seem, specifically Cooper Barnett. Cooper, fellow high school senior and former childhood friend of Ellis, wants nothing to do with her. As the town prepares for a slew of fall-themed events leading up to the Falling Leaves Festival, Cooper is there at every turn (and at every event) sending a disdainful expression her way. But the more time Ellis spends with Cooper and participates in each event, the more she slowly begins to fall in love with the town and discovers that her future (and her love life) may look a little different than she had planned all along.

This book was perfection! I don’t know if there was a single moment while reading this that I did not have a huge smile on my face. The town Misty created, Bramble Falls, was straight out of a Hallmark movie. While reading about Ellis falling in love with the town, I, too, was falling in love with it (and wish it were a real place). I loved all of the fall activities that were mentioned throughout the book. It felt very immersive and, despite reading this in the heat of the summer, made me crave the cooler weather of fall.

And the characters! I was so invested in each of these characters! It was so refreshing to read a young adult book where the main characters (gasp) actually acted like young adults. Ellis’ growth throughout the book was so wonderful to watch, and I particularly enjoyed the evolution of her relationship with her mother. The entire cast of characters were so fully formed, they felt completely real, and reading this book quickly felt like watching a movie. There are so many side characters who I would love to see find their happy ending in Bramble Falls and I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The cover is beautiful! The story inside is good, but I neglected to read it was YA so it felt a little removed from me. So worth a read if you're into YA!

Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson
A gentle and heartfelt story that captures the quiet moments of growth and change. The writing feels intimate and honest, with characters who linger in your thoughts. A lovely, emotionally resonant read.

Thank you to Net Galley and Misty Wilson for giving me access to this arc. I was very excited to read this because I’m starting to switch into my fall reads and this book was just what I needed! It was very much a comfy cozy fall esq books. If you enjoyed Gilmore Girls, then you’ll definitely enjoy this book. This book is YA! At most it’s PG-13 and there are no explicit scenes or anything of that nature.

This book follows Ellis as she navigates her parents’ separation. In the midst of this decision,she and her mom move to Bramble Falls to live with her aunt and cousin. Ellis is going into her senior year which means she has to navigate what she wants to do/where she wants to go. This proves to be difficult especially given her recent reconnection with her childhood best friend, Cooper.

I really loved Ellis’ character. The way she was written was great and to see her development from beginning to end was monumental. I loved being able to see her navigate choices such as “what comes next” while simultaneously watching her fall in love with Bramble Falls. The connection you see her develop with Cooper was well executed (and this is coming from someone who doesn’t like slow burn). I love their friendship/romance but best of all, I loved seeing her be able to learn to go with the flow and find her true happiness. My only real “critique” would be I wish we were able to get more information about the relationship with her dad. It felt like there was so much potential but it never came back around to it.

Overall, a cute cozy fall read!

Ellis moves from New York to Bramble Falls, Connecticut for her senior year, to live with her aunt and cousin. she is not happy about the move. this is a sweet fall read.

Such a cute book I loved the characters and the story line it made me have a major fall craving. I will definitely pick up more books by this author.

Falling Like Leaves is a charming, small-town romance that follows a high school senior uprooted from New York City to a cozy town full of fall festivals and familiar faces. As she reconnects with her cousin and a boy from her past, she begins to question whether the fast-paced life she once craved was ever really hers. With heartwarming Taylor Swift references and a Gilmore Girls-esque vibe, the book delivers all the cozy, nostalgic feels. It’s a perfect read for junior high and high school students who enjoy light romance and finding your true path. This sweet story leaves readers hoping for a second book to continue the journey.

Out September 2nd, 2025
Falling Like Leaves is a tender, atmospheric story about grief, growth, and the quiet magic of second chances. When a reclusive artist returns to her hometown after a decade away, she’s forced to confront the memories she buried—and the man she never stopped loving.

Set against the backdrop of a sleepy autumn town, Misty Wilson weaves a tale that’s equal parts introspective and romantic, with lyrical prose and characters that feel achingly real. It’s about learning to let go, and daring to fall again.

Perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Sarah Addison Allen, this one’s a cozy, emotional read for sweater weather season.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC and for another series to get into! ;)

4⭐️ this was a perfectly cute, cozy, small-town autumn vibes, coming-of-age story. At times, the teenage egocentrism and resulting misunderstandings/miscommunications were incredibly frustrating, but I often feel like that’s actually a positive in YA stories (when the characters feel age-appropriate and realistic, which they absolutely did here).

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books for the advanced copy !

An endearing coming-of-age story, with a cute and cozy autumnal twist!
3.5 stars, rounded to 4 stars.

Ellis has her whole life planned out. A high school senior who is always focused on school, has a great internship and is has her heart set on getting into Columbia University.
That is, until her world comes crashing down when her parents tell her that she will be going to live with her mom in the small town she hasn’t been back to in years.
When she arrives, she runs into Cooper- a boy from her past. When she last left, they were friends, but now he hates her, and she can’t seem to figure out why.
Her time in Bramble falls turns out to be quite unexpected, as Ellis must navigate family hardships, friendships and love- all while discovering who she really wants to be after graduation.

This was a fun read- with some unexpected depth.

I spent a lot of this story feeling bad for Ellis.
She was clearly overworked, had way too many expectations put on her and was very eager to please a parent who really did not deserve it.
I was truly rooting for her by the end. I really wanted to see her choose her own path.

While this does classify as a romance, I would not say that it is the main focus. I think there is a bigger emphasis on Ellis and her personal life/self-discover.
With that being said, the romantic elements were still good. It sort of reminded me of “The Summer I Turned Pretty”, but make it cozy fall vibes!
This is a young-adult story- so the romance is completely clean.

I liked the writing style of this book. It reads very easily and is not over-complicated, which I think is fantastic for this kind of book.
Perfect when you are looking for something quick and easy, that doesn’t require too much concentration.

Overall, This is quite enjoyable if you’re into a fall themed read!
The messages here are great for younger audiences, and I think it could be really beneficial.
Even if you are older, you still might like it for it’s cute and cozy theme!

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster Childrens Books | Margaret K. Elderderry Books and author Misty Wilson for providing me with the eARC of “Falling Like Leaves”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 2nd, 2025
Reviewed on Goodreads: August 3rd, 2025

I felt like I was instantly transported into the set of Gilmore Girls with this book. Even in the midst of summer heat, I found myself craving all the best things about fall and what make it so dreamy. This was an adorable read, perfectly YA, and will absolutely be recommending as a sweet fall read.

I really enjoyed this book! I agree that it’s Gilmore Girls meets Jenny Han, which I love! Ellis had a lot of
Character growth which I was happy about. I loooved reading about the falling leaves festival. I’m a big fan of festival planning in books because it just feels so fun and small town.

Falling Like Leaves is a sweet, cozy, autumnal YA romance in which Ellis finds out her entire live is about to change. She needs to find out what these changes mean for her future and her ambitions, and whether changes in her personal live are fitting. It gave such good autumnal vibes, perfect for cozying up on a cold, rainy day when you know you can spend a couple of hours immersed in this beautiful small town.