Ellie Lawson has been living the big city dream up until she lost both her boyfriend and her dream job in twenty-four hours. Heading back to her parents cozy inn on Long Island she plans out her short rebound. She’ll help them plan their fall festival and then be on her way back to the big apple, hopefully with a new job waiting for her. What she doesn’t anticipate is having to plan the fall festival with stubborn, grumpy Aiden, the son of her parent’s best friends who own the orchard. While they were inseparable as kids they have a lot of differences to plow through in order to pull off this event. The stakes are high, both the orchard as well as the inn are depending on it for financial survival. As the nights get cooler things get hot between these two. But will they be able to last or will they get caught up in the cool fall breeze…

This is such a sweet and fun read perfect for the fall! Ellie and Aiden are both stubborn and determined to get their way (while being obsessed with each other) and the cozy inn/orchard setting adds the perfect touch to the story!

This is my first book by Valerie Bowman, and I can tell you it won't be the last. I am craving fall and this book put me smack dab in the middle of it. Ellis is having a rough time in life and escapes home to help her family, when she's thrust into a living situation with her childhood friend Aiden. As they work together, their passion for each other slowly starts to explode off the pages! Great Read!

When I say I want a cozy, fun fall read, this is exactly the book I am talking about! Just from the title I had a feeling it would be just that but it was even more than I expected! This author is new to me and I will definitely be going to binge her books now. I loved every second of this book.

From the start I was hooked in with the drama unfolding. Poor Ellie has her dream drop in the city when it is all suddenly pulled out from under her. She's given the perfect opportunity to go back home to her small home town and help at her parent's picture perfect inn and help put on a fall festival. She loves planning events and this gives her time to regroup so it's perfect. She's met with her old friend Aiden, who is now the smoke show farmer of the Inn and they are put together to plan this festival.

While I was hooked in on this story with the initial drama, the author did great at keeping me invested throughout. The fall setting of this inn couldn't have been more perfect. The fall colors, the fire pits, the farm, the fall festival, the drive in with Gilmore Girls, everything was just what you are looking for in a fall read. The building romance between Aiden and Ellie was so much fun. They both secretly are crushing but are afraid to move forward. I loved their back and forth banter. Ellie had me cracking up with her goofy personality and fun quips. This small town was so much fun and I loved the nosy townsfolks. Ellie's journey to finding what she was truly meant to do in life was so heartwarming and I loved Aiden for being so understanding with her.

This is a definite must read this fall. I need everyone to get their copy as soon as it comes out so I can have friends to enjoy this with! Thank you so much Netgalley and Valerie Bowman for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This story was so cute and gave all the fall vibes. It has adorable characters, rekindled friendships, and of course LOTS of fun references (like Gilmore Girls and even Belle from Beauty & the Beast)!
I had a good time with this cozy book and I'll definitely read from this author again!

Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you to the author for kindly providing me this ARC! ✨

Apple orchards, Harvest Festival chaos, and a slow-burn romance that sneaks up on you in the best way.
“It’s not easy to say no to your ideal of success. But… sometimes your definition of success changes.”
This book felt like curling up in a favorite sweater with a mug of cider, realizing maybe home isn’t a place. It’s the people.

I picked this one up because I was in the mood for something cozy and romantic, and it turned out to be exactly that.
Ellie Lawson’s having the worst kind of day—you know, the “dumped AND fired” kind. She heads back to her family’s inn, thinking she’ll regroup, maybe lick her wounds in peace… except she ends up sharing an attic room with Aiden Parker, the orchard owner’s son, who has about as much patience as she does (read: not much). Cue lots of sarcastic banter, bickering, and that kind of stubborn attraction you just know is going to explode eventually.

This book hits so many of my favorite romance tropes:
🍎Small-town setting where everybody knows your business.
🍎 Forced proximity that makes it impossible to ignore feelings.
🍎 Opposites attract—Ellie’s a planner, Aiden’s more “go with the flow.”
🍎 Found family moments that make you want to be part of the town.
🍎 A second chance at happiness (not a rekindled ex situation, but a new life path).
🍎 Slow burn romance, which means you have to wait for the payoff… and it’s worth it.
What I liked most is how real it felt. Ellie’s not perfect—she’s prickly and defensive sometimes—but she grows. Aiden’s the steady, quietly caring type, but not without his own edges. And the town itself feels alive, from the smell of fresh apples to the sound of leaves crunching underfoot.
If you’re into Gilmore Girls, Hallmark fall movies, or just want a story that’ll make you smile while also giving you those “ugh, just kiss already” moments, this one’s worth picking up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is the quintessential fall book. After Ellie gets dumped by her lame boyfriend and fired from her job as an event planner, she finally heads home to Long Island. Her parents own the inn with their best friends, and their kids were all basically raised together. So imagine Ellie’s surprise when Aiden, her childhood best friend, is all grown up and totally hot! She’s only in town to help out with the Harvest Festival, but soon realizes how much she’s missed Autumn, her family, the business, and…Aiden. I really enjoyed this book, especially how the theme was on point the entire time. I prefer closed door romances, and this was open door, but only for a few pages toward the end, so it was fine with me. I also didn’t like Sera and the whole tarot plot. But overall it was a sweet read, and I can’t wait for more!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

5/5⭐️ oh this book is IT. From page 1, I just knew this was going to be the most perfect fall romance book. The story, the characters, the setting..absolute perfection 🍎🍂🧡

Eleanor is an event planner who has recently lost her job and been dumped by her boyfriend in the city; so she goes back home to help her family plan a fall festival to save their inn and orchard. When she arrives back home, she reconnects with Aiden, a sexy farmer and son of the orchard owner. The tension between these two was soooo much fun to read. I loved the forced proximity and the flirting throughout. My only beef with this book is that it was too short!! I was so sad when it was over.

This is the cozy, fall, small town romance that I’ve been searching for. Iconic ❤️‍🔥 I highly recommend this one!! Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

I just read this in 2 days I couldn't put it down! I was hooked instantly and obsessed.
The way the author described everything was amazing. When she started talking about Apple Cider Donuts I swear to you my mouth was watering.

I loved how Ellie and Aidens relationship evolved throughout this story. Their chemistry was perfect and the spice so good! And our side characters were so fun! Miss Guin was the literal 🐐

This is the coziest of fall reads that made me more than ready for fall now! Ugh I want to visit The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn and Harvest Hollow 🍁

Rating 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 2/5 🔥🔥

This book was such a cozy, cute read to get you in the mood for fall! There were many nods to Gilmore Girls and I enjoyed the small town setting and the different characters that contributed to the plot. I wish there was a bit more development in the story pertaining to Ellie’s relationship with her parents and childhood with Aidan. There were also quite a few references to dementia that I thought would maybe tie back into the story somehow, but turns out it didn’t necessarily which left me feeling like it was a bit insensitive toward the end. Overall, it was a cute read with a good storyline, lovable characters (human and animal) that I’d recommend for a light, cozy, fall romance escape! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This HAS to be the Fall Romance book of 2025!!! I typically am not a frilly romance book girlie but this was so cute and fun. A quick read and a feel good but entertaining story line! I immediately wanted to to book a fall vacation to New England and find mom and pop run Inn. Spice is a 1/5. But the book is a 10/10!

Super cute and sweet read. Had to force myself to stop reading and go to bed. Will be purchasing this when it comes out.

This is the book version of a hallmark movie!

Thank you Valerie Bowman and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this sweet book and share my thoughts.

There’s something about a big city girl returning to her small town roots that just does it. Ellie runs from the mess of her city life the minute her mother offers her the chance to plan a festival in her hometown. The catch is her old childhood friend Aiden is her temporary roommate and someone she can’t stop thinking about despite the fact she insists her stay is only temporary. I would’ve loved for a bit more that shows us how good of friends these two once were but all in all a fall story you can’t miss.

First, thank you Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Secondly, this book was PERFECT for all the fall vibes!🥰🍁🎃🧡

I absolutely agree that if you love the Lovelight Farm series or Dream Harbor Series, this book is for you! It gives all the same cozy, small town vibes, but the characters are unique in their own way.

I loved the characters and romance between Ellie and Aiden. It was sweet to see their growth as individuals and a couple. This book really felt like I cozied up on the inn’s front porch with some apple cider and donuts, and watched the story unfold.

The only reasons I took away one star is because 1) I would have liked a little more depth on some of the characters, 2) at times Ellie felt just a tad bit childish in her reactions, and 3) I wasn’t the biggest fan of the modern day references, but that’s just my personal preference.😊

I really hope Valerie continues this series because I have to know what happened between Charlotte and Sawyer, and if anything romantically where to happen Maria and Jesse😏 Also, we totally need some HOI swag. How can all that swag be mentioned and we not be able to get any?!

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn was such a wonderful book to read! I'm all for cozy autumn vibes, and this story has all the elements of the season that I enjoy!
It was so lovely reading about Ellie and Aidan's relationship! The banter was fun, layered with the life history both characters held as Ellie helps out with the festival. I also enjoyed the side characters in this tale, they have their own unique qualities that enhance the story. They were forced together through circumstance, yet that added on to the spark that drives their mission in getting the festival together.

This is the first book in the Honeycrisp Orchard series, and I'm looking forward to reading whatever comes next. Definitely turn to this book if you want a slow burn, autumn vibes romance!

Thank you Avon Books for the gifted copy.

Ellie decides to come stay at her parents Orchard Inn after her life gets turned upside down by her ex boyfriend and ex boss. I am a Libra just like Ellie, so it was fun noticing similarities I had to her. I'm a little biased since the first dog I ever had was a pug, BUT Pumpkin is the perfect name for a pug and I thought he was absolutely adorable.

As she returns home, she meets all of the new people in her home town and notices how things have changed. The desserts that Sera makes sounds delightful and I can't wait for fall now! Pumpkin flavored anything is my absolute favorite. I'm a little jealous that Argos the Lab got to taste the donuts! The knitted chicken that Ellie got made me think about all of the art booths that are out selling crochet animals at festivals. I don't have a knitted chicken yet, but I do have a parakeet and its the cutest thing ever.

I liked that Ellie's ex didn't play a huge part in the book and that Ellie was able to realize what she wanted out of life. It was wonderful that there was no huge third act breakup, just some minor confusions. The story was sweet from the desserts to the romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyage, and Valerie Bowman for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion.

🍎Cozy Fall vibes
🍏Opposites attract
🍎Forced proximity
🍏Found family
🍎Small town romance
🍏🌶️🌶️

This was so cute & had such wonderful fall vibes! Ellie & Aiden's romance was absolutely a slow burn but wow what a payoff when we got there 😍🥵🔥 The writing was very enjoyable and it felt like the perfect book to read while curled up in a blanket & drinking apple cider! I really enjoyed all of the side characters & I will definitely be reading the next book in the series when it comes out!

Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager Publishing, NetGalley, & Valerie Bowman for an ARC 🫶🏼

I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy, slow-burn romance! Ellie’s life takes an unexpected turn when she loses her job and boyfriend, leading her back to her family’s apple orchard inn. There, she meets Aiden, the grumpy yet charming orchard owner’s son, and their chemistry is delightful. The small-town setting, warm community, and autumn vibes made this a comforting read perfect for sweater weather.

This story beautifully shows how setbacks can lead to fresh starts, and how patience and openness can bring unexpected joy. Highly recommend for fans of slow-burn, small-town romances!

Thank you to @valeriegbowman, @netgalley, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy for an honest review.

This book is a perfect read for a cozy Fall! It gives Gilmore Girls vibes and definitely mimics the vibes found in Pumpkin Spice Cafe. I liked the book overall. Ellie and Aidan were cute, and the forced proximity between the two was swoonworthy. The setting of the book provided the nod to Fall that I have been looking for, and the story/plot overall was good. I wish this provided some insight into their childhood/teenage years to better understand Aidan's pining after Ellie, even if it was by way of a bonus chapter or flashbacks. My biggest complaint about the book was how repetitive the author mentions dementia at the beginning of the book. At 20%, I think she mentioned dementia at least eight times. I know it was done in a somewhat joking manner, but I didn't find that it added anything to the story and came off a bit insensitive at times.

Overall, I would recommend this book to audiences looking for a small-town romance with Fall vibes.

This was overall a fun autumn romance! I liked the fall vibes, and the writing was very atmospheric. I didn't find either of the main characters to be particularly interesting, but the story was a fun, quick read with a great autumnal setting.

This book calls for a cozy afghan, a warm drink in your favorite mug, and a comfy sweater! Such a perfect book to kick off fall, hitting all the marks for a great seasonal read. Truly a hallmark move style hug.

Ellie has what she thought was a great life in the city until it is all torn away. She is left with no choice but to go back to her hometown and figure out the broken pieces. There she finds herself unexpectedly reconnecting with the small town life she thought she didnt want, and rediscovering relationships she took for granted. This includes her old classmate and friend Aiden, now a grumpy and set in his way farmer.

If you love Hallmark movies, the Gilmore Girls, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe or a good seasonal book this is the perfect book for you!