I’llm not a YA type of person and I went into this blind.
I loved every second of it there were times I thought maybe the author could have been more descriptive with the character descriptions. Overall 4/5

My goodness this was such a cozy read! The setting, the characters, the storyline - I couldn't get enough of it!!

While the story itself of this one was sweet and engaging, Wilson's writing style is truly the star of the show in this novel. She really knows what she's doing in creating an effective atmosphere, making me feel like I'm in a really homey Stars Hollow-eqsue small town. The characters and events felt so familiar and relatable, teaching us important lessons about change and overcoming hardships.

This is the perfect small-town romance to scratch that itch while hitting on much deeper themes - this story is so much more than meets the eye. Thanks so much for the ARC!

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨/5
Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson

Reading *Falling Like Leaves* felt like slipping into autumn itself—warm, cozy, and a little bittersweet. Misty Wilson has such a gentle way of writing that it almost felt like she was telling me a secret meant only for me. The characters didn’t feel like characters at all; they felt like people I could sit with over coffee, people carrying quiet heartbreaks and fragile hopes.

What really struck me was the way Wilson captures the *in-between moments*—the hesitations, the lingering looks, the ache of things unsaid. I found myself rereading certain passages because they just *hit*. There’s a soft melancholy in the story, but also a thread of resilience that left me hopeful.

For me, *Falling Like Leaves* wasn’t just about romance or loss—it was about change, about how we let go and still find beauty in what comes after. It reminded me that even in endings, there’s something tender and worth holding on to.

If you’re someone who craves stories that make you feel seen in your quietest emotions, this book is for you. It’s the kind of read that lingers, like the last golden leaf clinging to a branch. 🍂

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC

This cozy fall read follows Ellis, a high school senior with dreams of attending Columbia University. Her hopes are shattered when her mother moves them to a small town, leaving Ellis to adapt. With the help of her cousin and a rekindled romance, she begins to soften. The story takes us on a journey through a small town fall festival, exploring friendship and young love. Ellis’s character reminded me of Rory Gilmore, with better character growth. This perfect YA autumnal read is a must-read.

I loved this one so much that I pre-ordered the physical copy from a romance bookstore in Louisville KY! I hope we get more Bramble Falls books.

Falling Like Leaves had a YA Hallmark movie quality to it. The small town setting was picturesque and the author did a wonderful job setting the scene.

While the plot and resolution were good, I personally would have been fine without the third act break-up. I was also disappointed that there was language in the book because I was hoping to share it with my daughter. I was pleased, however, that there was no spice just cute and sweet romance.

I would definitely recommend this book to any readers especially those who love light, holiday themed romances.

I was given this book as an ARC from NetGalley, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Falling Like Leaves was SUCH a cute and good read. The vibes were definitely really cute and cozy, with the perfect fall touch. I adored the whole childhood friends to strangers to lovers plotline, even though I didn’t like some of the choices the characters (mostly Ellis) made. However, I can see where she’s coming from, especially since she’s so young and was raised to act/feel a certain way. Oh the other hand, that left me feeling bad for Cooper at times, who truly didn’t deserve to be treated that way. But beyond just the romance, there was actually a lot of other ideas going on in the book, which I appreciated. I don’t want to say too much and spoil the book, but overall I’d HIGHLY recommend checking it out and giving it a read. This was beyond excellent for a debut novel. I look forward to any more releases this author may come out with.

The perfect cozy teen fall romance!!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

After only few chapters into this book, I was in love with it! Misty Wilson has done a phenomenal job writing this story from beginning to end. Ellis is a senior in high school. Her parents are separating and she has to move with her mom to Bramble Falls, Connecticut. This book displays fun fall events that bring this quaint town to life. Whether is picking up a harvest spiced latte from the Caffinated Cat Coffee Shop or spending an afternoon in an orchard apple picking, you will feel the autumnal vibes of this book. I will admit that I do not typically read YA romance, but when I read the blurb, it made me want to read it. If you are looking for a cozy wholesome book, this is it right here! You will fall in love with it. 4.5⭐️

Bramble Falls #1 - Pub date Sept 2, 2025

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Rating: 4/5

Spice: 0/5

Plot: 4/5

Primary Genre: YA Romance

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Blurb:

Gilmore Girls meets Jenny Han in this autumnal teen rom-com about a city girl stuck in a quaint small town who must confront her future and her old flame while the town prepares for an annual fall festival. Ellis has a lot of expectations for her senior year, but moving from Manhattan to Bramble Falls, Connecticut is not one of them. Yet in the wake of her parents' separation, that's exactly where she and her mother are headed. Bramble Falls might be charming, but it's also full of distractions. Like local barista Cooper Barnett, Ellis's one-time best friend—and first kiss—who has not only majorly glowed up but wants nothing to do with Ellis. Then there's the Falling Leaves Festival, a month-long tourist attraction run by Ellis's aunt—celebrating everything autumn. The festival seems nice and all, but Ellis doesn't have time to be roped into her aunt's enthusiastic planning. Dragged to each event, she can't stop bumping into Cooper, the one person she's hoping to avoid. But the longer she stays in Bramble Falls, the harder it is to pretend she's not falling for this town and the people in it. As her return to Manhattan gets pushed further and further out, Ellis is forced to confront exactly what she wants for her future—and what that means for her present.

My Thoughts:

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This is a very charming little fall-themed YA romance that captures the coziness of the season. Bramble Falls very much feels like Stars Hollow so if you’re jonesing for a visit to a quaint, small-town setting filled with the warmth of the autumn season, this book is perfect. There is some of that mother/daughter dynamic reminiscent of GG as well. This story incorporates elements of second chance romance, although with a time gap of four years (14 years old to 18 years old) it’s a unique take on the trope. Additionally, it explores an enemies-to-lovers storyline, as Cooper is not happy to see Ellis return to Bramble Falls after all this time. I don’t usually read YA romance but I found myself really enjoying this one. It’s very sweet and heartfelt. Wilson has the ability to create the ability to create romantic tension that keeps you turning the page. The parents’ struggling marriage subplot added an extra layer of depth and emotional complexity to the story. Misty Wilson does an excellent job of capturing the fluctuating emotions of being a teenager. Most importantly, our FMC undergoes meaningful character development throughout the plot which is great to see—especially since she initially comes off as a bit of a brat. also learned a few things about myself while reading this, primarily that I know very little about current fashion trends and that if I were ever faced with a bobbing for apples challenge, I would definitely be at a loss. I highly recommend this book for your fall reading list or anytime you’re in the mood for a well-written, heartfelt YA romance.

Are you looking for a cute and cozy read for the fall? Look no further than Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson!

In this Gilmore Girls-esque young adult rom-com, protagonist Ellis is dead set on getting into the journalism program at Columbia. Just as she is about to get settled into an internship at her father's company, her parents inform her that they are going to be living separately for a while. Before she knows it, Ellis' mom is whisking her away to the small town of Bramble Falls, Connecticut to live with her aunt and cousin.

Although she tries her best to stay on course, Ellis is soon falling for the charming little town and bumping into her former friend, Cooper. With two enticing, yet opposing futures beginning to unfold in front of her, she has no choice but to choose which dream to follow.

Although I read this during the tail end of summer, I have never felt more ready for fall! The setting is perfectly cozy and makes you want to join in on the festivities of the small town. With just over 350 pages, I still managed to be fully immersed in the drama of Ellis' life and there were plenty of moments that had me kicking my feet.

Unfortunately, even with all the fun moments, Ellis still felt like she needed a bit more learning to do. While she was a very well-written character, there are more than enough moments where her selfishness was just a bit too much. It was to the point that the twist at the end was predictable and did not punch as much as I hoped. Other than that, the side characters are lovable and I will definitely consider reading again!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

*A special thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this book so much more than I anticipated. I love fall and the vibes in this book were so autumnal without being too overbearing. I ate up this book in less than 24 hours and fell so in love with Cooper and Ellis.

Now, this book was a little predictable. You kind of knew where the book was going from the beginning and the upcoming conflicts. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my time reading it. The reason it wasn't a four star was purely because I wanted more. I wanted a more concrete ending with the epilogue. Where do Ellis and Cooper end up? And how does the conflict of the story push them as characters? I just wanted to know more about them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would most definitely recommend it. I really hope that we get a friends to lovers book between Sloane and Asher. I would die for it and them.

This is a good book to start off the fall season too! Quick read it says YA but the writing style seems like it could be even younger. Premise of the story and girls family is getting divorced and she must now move to New York in her senior year.

5 stars. Happy Release day! Cute and sweet with fall vibes, and a fun read. Emotional but lighthearted and not too slow or fast paced, just right.

I very much enjoyed reading about Ellis and Cooper’s story, and can’t wait to read other reviews. A nice second chance romance novel with love, reconnection, and a sweet romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First let me say, I wish Bramble Falls was a real place because I would be moving there immediately and getting a Harvest Spice Latte every day! Who wouldn’t want to live in a town that has fall events literally every weekend!

This story was so cute and it had the perfect fall vibes! It was exactly what I wanted to be reading at the beginning of September. Ellis was a great main character. She had her flaws, but she learned from them in the end. Cooper was adorable and their back and forth was great. I also loved the side characters in this books. They were so well developed.

If you’re looking for a fun fall contemporary romance then this book is for you!

3.5 stars.

Such a cute fall romance. Listen, I really REALLY had a hard time with Ellis in the very beginning of this book. It was bad enough that I was debating whether or not to DNF the book but I'm so glad that I made the choice to continue on because I ended up having so much fun with this. Ellis is, in the beginning, an unbearable ass to literally everyone that she interacts with but she quickly comes back to reality and starts treating people with basic human decency again. Cooper, on the other hand, was such a sweetheart character right from the very get go. I loved how he didn't just let Ellis off the hook when she hurt him or the people around her. He was quick to call her out but just as quick to hear her out which felt really mature and healthy especially in a young adult novel.

Speaking of maturity and compassion - let's give a round of applause for the absence of toxic masculinity in this book even though it was rife with opportunities to have it. I mean Jake, our stereotypical meathead jock, went above and beyond to be a well rounded and well adjusted young man. There were plenty of situations that Ellis and even Cooper put him in where he could have reverted to being an absolute prick or being toxic as hell but instead he always took time to reflect on his feelings, talk out the situations, and respect people's choices and boundaries. I loved that.

This is the perfect little read to pick up to get you in the fall feeling. I wish that I could have been instantly transported to this little wholesome town because every aspect of it felt like a warm hug. It was all the best parts of Stars Hollow but from a teen perspective.

I'm also here to say that the key to wooing someone (I'm someone...) is definitely to bring them cookies on the regular. I see why Ellis fell so hard because same, girl, same.

I enjoyed this book as a quick, fall themed read but the writing felt a little juvenile even for a YA book, and the plot/characters didn't feel very fleshed out. I loved the vibes of this one though!

Misty Wilson absolutely nailed the small-town fall vibes here. From cozy cafés to festival shenanigans, every page is full of crisp fall energy that made me want to grab a pumpkin spice latte and go leaf-peeping.

Ellis is such a relatable heroine. Ambitious, conflicted, and deeply human. Watching her navigate the tension betwee]n her big-city goals and her small-town roots made her character arc so satisfying.

And let’s talk about Cooper! His sweet, small gestures (the kind that feel huge when you’re seventeen) had me hooked! Their slow-burn romance was swoony in the best way. The family drama, particularly around Ellis’s parents’ separation, added a realness that grounded the story beautifully.

My only gripe? I wanted a little more resolution with Cooper at the end, but maybe that’s just me not wanting to leave Bramble Falls yet!

Overall, this is the perfect fall read for anyone who loves Gilmore Girls, small-town romance, or YA coming-of-age stories with all the cozy feels.

I was so happy to be able to read one of my most anticipated YA romances early! Something that I love in a YA romance is a main character who makes mistakes and Ellis fit that bill for sure. I loved how she was laser-focused on her plans with a healthy amount of (normal) fear for her future. I love how she prioritized the wrong things at first and how she grew to understand she was prioritizing the wrong things. I loved the romance and how Ellis and Cooper came back to each other!

The fall vibes in this book were immaculate and I would love to live in a place like Bramble Falls. I could picture everything so perfectly and it captured fall perfectly!

The ending threw me for a loop with some unexpected events and kept me intrigued! I put off responsibilities to finish this book and it was totally worth it!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for this e-arc!! I can’t wait to pick up a copy today and will definitely be reading more Misty Wilson books in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson

If youre looking for a super cozy, super sweet autumn read, this is the book for you. I cant recommend it enough!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It was the ultimate cozy read—perfect for fans of Taylor Swift, Gilmore Girls, and pumpkin spice lattes. The story swept me up from the very first page: I swooned, I laughed, and I almost cried. Misty Wilson has a way of creating warmth and comfort through her writing, making this book a true autumnal treat.

If you’re looking for something heartfelt and charming, this is the book for you. I can’t wait to see what Misty writes next!

I really enjoyed this book. It was the perfect fall read. I felt like I was there in Bramble Falls right alongside our characters. It felt like a warm hug and very homey. I grew up in Denver and moved to a small town. I thought I would hate it, but I've never felt more belonging than I do here. It will most likely be a seasonal re-read for me.