First I'd like to thank the publisher for a digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. Is "Falling Like Leaves" a perfect book? No. Is it a perfect fall read? Maybe? It's got that cozy Hallmark autumn movie vibe where the small town is somehow ridiculously perfect where everyone is nice, it somehow has a bookstore, a craft store and a coffee shop that also doubles as a cat café? What kind of magical completely unrealistic small down is this and can I live there? It has just about every fall activity you can think of crammed into what is actually one of the shortest seasons (if this had taken place where I live it probably would have snowed halfway through the book, also I'm from a small town and not everyone knows everyone especially us introverts who avoid all human contact) The book is pretty wholesome but about 1/3 of the way in it started using a few f-bombs here and there and other expletives that I kind of thought retracted from the story. There was also a couple of minor serial references but no sex for anyone wondering. Our MC is an aloof city girl who doggedly pursues her academics and goals however I still found her WAY more tolerable than the small town MC of "Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice". Not hard to believe if you read that book. It was a bit annoying how many times the MC of this book name drops brand of clothes she's wearing or puts on, but I guess it sort of fits her city girl, budding fashionista personality. I thought her clothes were described a little too often with some of her creations sounding a bit like clothes in the way she pairs them together. The romance was cute but the back and forth that happens a couple of times towards the end did get on my nerves a little. I'm not usually a fan of second chance romances but I didnt mind this one. One of the surprises that happens toward the end I called from the very beginning and I was rolling my eyes that our MC is somehow shocked by it. Another complaint I have how many times her cousins jokes about how she will help her "hide the body". It's not really funny the first time she says it but then she goes on to mention it about 3 more times. Just stop. You sound like a creep. And how is our MC letting the lazy jock copy her papers a point in her favor? They say it like it's a good things that shows how kind she is. It's not. It's cheating. I have a hard time believing that someone who is such a stickler for her grades would just let someone else copy her hard work. Made no sense. And then her cousin describes said jock as just being like a loveable golden retriever and how can he not be any straight person's type? Um... me, that type of guy is 100% not my type, not now not even when I was in high school. My final complaint is that with the exception of the lemon cookie all the other "amazing" cookies described sounded nasty to me. Like something a five year old would come up with and think sounded good. Yuck. Overall I'd still recommend this book (despite my complaining quite a bit about it) because it is better than other fall reads I've picked up. It was still any enjoyable story for the most part.

Ellis is not happy when she finds herself spending her senior year, not in New York City, but due to a separation of her parents, in Bramble Falls, CT where her mom grew up. She used to visit her aunt and cousin during summers, but with her very planned life that would hopefully get her into Columbia, living with her aunt and cousin was not among her plans. The last summer a few years earlier that she’d spent in Bramble Falls she became very close to Cooper though their friendship waned after she left to go back to NYC. When the town wide celebration of fall activities begins throwing Cooper back into her life, Ellis is concerned it will waylay her plans. A nice clean teen read perfectly timed to read as the leaves turn and Pumpkin Spice becomes the coffee of choice.

Wishing I was in Bramble Falls drinking a harvest spice latte right now.

This was such a cute and cozy fall YA romance read. It’s also second chance which I adore. The small town setting and fall festival events gave the book a bit of Gilmore girl vibes which I loved. I really liked how the author described Bramble Falls. It made me feel as if I was there.

I was rooting for Ellis throughout the book. She was conflicted on what she wanted to do with her future and felt pressure from her dad’s expectations. I liked seeing her growth and figuring out her own path on what she felt was right for her.

Ellis and Cooper were cute together. I loved seeing them find their way back to each other and reconnect. The small gestures Cooper did for Ellis were so sweet.

I also liked the side characters in the book. Their friend group was fun and wholesome.

Add to your fall tbr!

Thank you Simon and Schuster, McElderry Books, and Netgalley for the physical arc.

Absolute pumpkin spice scented Autumn Festival perfection! A serious must read for anyone looking for a feel-good dose of fall comfort 🍁

In Falling Like Leaves we follow Ellis, a straight A type A senior, who’s prefect New York City life is suddenly up rooted when her parents tell her that she and her mom are moving to Bramble Falls. Ellis is none to pleased to be forced to leave NYC her senior year and give up her high profile internship that will lead directly to Columbia in the fall but her peppy cousin Salone and town Mayor Aunt Naomi convince her to help out at the towns fall festival events, a great college resume booster they say!

While strolling around town with her cousin, doing her absolute best not to have fun, Ellis runs into Cooper, a long lost friend and, unbeknownst to her, former love interest, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her. Or does he?

While working through the most epic fall bucket list over the few months she’s is forced to be in Bramble Falls, Ellis manages to not only find a new love but also a passion and a future plan that is truly her own.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this eARC. This book was the definition of perfect fall vibes. And the town was absolutely so sweet. It felt like I was in Bramble Falls. Ellis and Cooper were the perfect main characters despite the flaws. It was a great way to start my fall reads. It’s one you’ll want to add to your fall TBR!

4.5 ⭐️

This was such an ooey-gooey fall cozy romance guys.
Did Ellis and Cooper have me lowkey crying multiple times? Yes but ugh this is probably one of my favorite fall romances now with how adorable this was.

Ellis truly is a complex character as a whole, with her struggling to figure out what she truly wants or what she thinks she wants in life during her senior year of high school. All came to a hault though when her life uprooted to her moms hometown she occasionally spent summers with at her cousins. Come to find out, that summer best friend of hers never truly got over her after those 3 years apart.

My only thing I'd wish happened differently was I wish Cooper made her work harder for his trust back. That seemed pretty rushed considering what happened in the last 18% of the books but regardless, I enjoyed the ending results & book as a whole.

Falling Like Leaves is the perfect book to read to get ready for FALL! This is one of the cutest young adult books I’ve read and I’m a huge fan already! I loved all the characters and the fall setting and festivities sounded so fun and perfect! It really makes you feel like you’re in the story and experiencing everything first hand! This story is about Ellis and her mom who have to move to a small town called Bramble Falls because her parents need some time away from each other. Reluctant to move from New York and leave everything she’s worked for she has no choice but to follow her mom. While in Bramble Falls she has to find a way to rebuild her relationship with a boy named Cooper who was her first kiss. Along with starting a new school she meets new friends and has at least her cousin Sloan to show her around and be a familiar face. While discovering the towns charms she discovers new things about herself. This was an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read Sloan’s story next! Thank You NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for this early copy in exchange for my honest review! Publishing date of September 2, 2025.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy of the book! This book was everything for a fall vibe, fall loving Gilmore girls fans! I loved this book and the storyline. The second chance love to mending family relationships to finding yourself. I would recommended this book to all my friends and followers. I picked up an early copy of the copy and bought one for my friend. This is the perfect fall book to read that is wholesome and gives all the fall that someone could love. I love that Ellis not only starts to enjoy her high school life but finds that she does have her own path to follow and dreams. The messages in this book were heartwarming and relatable.

An autumnal romance featuring a second chance romance, a touch of Gilmore Girls, and a sweet cozy town! Ellie has her future planned out: get the perfect internship for her father's company, study and ace her classes to get into Columbia, and finally pursue her dream career as a journalist... just like her father, yet when her parents decide to go on a break and her mother decides to move back to her hometown.... Ellie is forced to come with her throwing all of her plans out the door. Ellie wants no part of her mom's move but now she is starting school again in Connecticut and partaking in all the autumnal festivities in Bramble Fallls, but she is also facing her one-time best friend/first boy who kissed her... and he wants nothing to do with her. Ellie can't seem to figure out why Cooper Barnett hates her guts now but she is determined to figure it out. Try as she might to not fall in love with the town and Cooper the more she begins to realize that she might have never really chased her dreams and her idealized version of her father might not be as great as she thought. Ellie will have to figure out where her heart lies: the city or the small town, and what she truly wants for her future and what home means to her. This was such a charming autumnal teen romance read and I did love the emphasis on Ellie's relationship with her mother and her father. I love that you get to see Ellie grow and you can understand why she does what she does. This was just a lovely read and I adored it.

Release Date: September 2, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I didn’t expect to feel so seen by this story. From the very first page, I was rooting for Ellis—her ambition, her plan, her drive to build something solid for herself. I loved how the book didn’t shy away from the messiness of change. The town of Bramble Falls, with its over-the-top fall festivities and quirky charm, started to win me over just like it did her. I found myself smiling at the pumpkin carving scenes and imagining the scent of cider in the air. This book is like a warm hug on a crisp day. I loved the characters even though they weren’t perfect, thy just worked. This book reminded me that sometimes the most unexpected places.

This was such a cute coming of age story filled woth fall vibes and a second chance at young love.

Falling like Leaves follows Ellis as she navigates a new life in Bramble Falls following her parents separation. We see her struggle initially with her new normal, fearing all the work she's done to get into her "dream" school will be for nothing if she's not in New York. But while volunteering for the fall festival over the following months, we get to see Ellis grow and thrive being among new friends, her cousin, and the boy she fell for her last summer before high school.

Misty does a great job of really showcasing the emotions and thought process every teen girl on the cusp of adulthood goes through, and this is the perfectly cute fall read you want this time of year.

Such a cute read! I really enjoyed the relationship between Ellis and Cooper, but especially the journey Ellis goes on throughout this book. It stays very grounded throughout with a clear purpose of where her journey is going. I also love the little town she lives in! It definitely gives the Gilmore Girls vibe with the fall festival and random festivities that happen throughout the story. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

Unfortunately, I did not love this book. It was super cute & an easy read, but I wasn’t super invested in the characters or story. I’d still recommend this for a fall read though!

Thank you to NetGalley + Simon an Schuster Children’s Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was absolutely the perfect young adult fall romance! It is described as Jenny Han meets Gilmore Girls, and I feel like that is 100% accurate. The author also mentioned in the author’s note being inspired by the small town of Bluebell in Hart of Dixie which is another show I love! There were also tons of Taylor Swift song references throughout.

I felt like I saw a lot of my high school self in Ellis and really enjoyed seeing her come alive throughout the book. Cooper was also so sweet - the scene at the apple orchard where he finally cracked was my favorite! I also loved the small town of Bramble Falls and all of the fall festivities they put on. Add to that the scenes in New York City, and you have the best mixture for an autumn read! The themes of taking the more risky option that you are passionate about versus the safe option you aren’t really resonated with me as well. Some of the conflict towards the end of the book did have me throwing my hands up, but I felt like it stayed true to the characters, their age, and their circumstances.

If TSITP is the young adult show of the summer, I think this is the young adult book of the fall! I highly recommend!

Content Notes: No spice but does reference condoms, rare strong language

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC of this title.

I will admit that while not typically my genre, I was intrigued because of the comparison to Gilmore Girls. That said, I didn't fall in love with it like I did Gilmore Girls and the only real connection I could glean was that both are set in a small town. The writing is good for a YA, however; the language and some of the interactions seem very immature even for a YA. If the goal is to read a low-spice, fall cozy romance (think hallmark-esq style story) then this will fit the bill.

This was a really cute and sweet young adult romance. There’s the typical teenage/high school drama and angst, but it was balanced well with some very honest and heartfelt moments. I really appreciated the message of being true to yourself and doing what makes you happy. I think everyone can benefit from that reminder of youthful optimism and “come what may” attitude. The ending leaves things in a hopeful place and perhaps we’ll see more Bramble Falls stories in the future. I’d love to see Jake and also Chloe find their own slices of happiness. After reading this one, I’m definitely ready for Fall!

I both read and listened to the audiobook of Falling Like Leaves and Rebekkah Ross gave such a fantastic performance. Her narration captured all the excitement, vulnerability, and wonder of young love so well. Definitely a great listening experience!

Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4 stars

CW: parental infidelity

*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*

Falling Like Leaves was such a cute, cozy, and fun fall read that had the best fall vibes!! Bramble Falls sounded exactly like a small time I’d love to live in! From the description of the town, the people, and the fall festival, you really grow to love everything about it.

Ellis and Cooper were a really sweet couple and I loved seeing both of their characters grow throughout the course of the book! A lot of things in this book felt relatable and you really feel for the characters. Ellis tried so hard to please her dad and do what he thought was best for her future, even if deep down she knew that wasn’t what she truly wanted. Navigating high school and choosing what to do with your future can be really scary and overwhelming, and wanting to live up to your parents expectations can definitely add more stress on top. There were so many times I felt myself getting frustrated with her because she was letting her dad control her future, but she had to make the mistakes and choices she did to realize what path she really wanted to take. She did a lot of growing by the end of the book and I was really proud of her!

Despite all of the drama that happened between Ellis and Cooper and Ellis and Jake (plus the family tension), their entire friend group still stayed supportive of everyone and never let any situation keep them apart from each other for too long and that was really sweet to read about. I loved how they did almost everything together and it just felt like one big family. From the fall dance, ghost in the graveyard, drive in movies, and all the other fall themed events, my high school self would’ve loved to be part of that friend group.

I would give this book a 3.5-4 ⭐️. The only thing keeping this from being a for sure 4 ⭐️ is the immaturity at times and not communicating with each other or just communicating poorly. Besides that, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy fall read 🧡

Thank you so much NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Publishing for the opportunity to read Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson.

3.5 stars

This book was cute and messy and screamed all things fall. Basically it felt like a season of Gilmore Girls.

While the characters were far from perfect, I actually enjoyed seeing them make mistakes and grow from them. There were definitely times when I wanted to scream because of Ellis’s lack of awareness. I HATED that she and Cooper weren’t up front with Jake. Jake was my favorite character, and I felt so bad for him. But I appreciate her growth towards the end of the book. Her character was very Rory Gilmore coded, academic-wise and in many other ways too.

Somehow this book just felt so real? I could actually imagine these characters as real life people. I loved the cozy small town vibes and the people in it. There were definitely some moments that weren’t my favorite, and I also wish there weren’t quite so many Taylor Swift references. (I’m fine with a couple, but it just felt like too many haha.) But it was a cute fun read that was perfect for fall.

This one was unfortunately not for me. I loved the cover art and the premise - both gave me all the cozy vibes! The main sticking point for me was FMC Ellis. I didn’t find myself rooting for her throughout the story and mostly felt bad for the friends and family around her.

The chemistry between her and Cooper didn’t sell me on their romance. Ellis’ feelings toward him didn’t seem age-accurate or feel swoony. I understand she has her walls up, but I think I would have preferred her to be less stoic.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 ⭐. Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the e-arc! This was such a cozy and fun read for autumn. If you love Gilmore Girls, small town romance, all the fall vibes, and second chance romances. I just thought of Stars Hollow the entire time I read this book, which is the perfect way to start my rewatch of Gilmore Girls this year. I loved all the characters and the sweet cousin friendship. I'm a big fan of rekindling chemistry between two people who are just meant to be. Ellis' Dad... what a jerk. That's all I am going to say. There were a couple of things that I didn't love. I do think there were a lot of pop culture references, it just gets a little old in my opinion. It was also very vague in the beginning of why Ellis' parents were separating, I think as a teen I would be wanting more answers. Overall a fun read and I am READY for fall. 🍂