Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC! All thoughts are my own.

Cozy fall town, magic donuts and bookcase ladders, oh my! This book felt like jumping into the set of Gilmore Girls with all of the small town charms. The author did a fantastic job of describing Harvest Hollow as the perfect fall destination. I was ready to book my reservation!

As an event planner in real life, this book was so much fun to read. I found myself rooting for Ellie and all of her fabulous ideas to implement a fall festival at the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn. The imagery was vivid and the vibes were cozy.

This book also had me laughing out loud at several parts. I loved the knitted Murdaugh-trial chicken and the goat that likes to tackle people.

The quote I will take away from this book: “Real success is living a life surrounded by the people you love and who love you back…”

This book was absolute, utter perfection! I have zero notes. None.

I absolutely loved everything about this book. It was fun, easy to read, cute, and had all the fall vibes. I could not put it down! The perfect book for getting into the fall spirit. It felt like it could be a Hallmark movie.

If I were to give any complaint, it would be that the book was not long enough! If it were twice or even three times as long, I would still read it and love every second of it.

if cutesy autumn hallmark movie vibes were a book, this would be it! when ellie's personal and professional lives implode all in one fell swoop, she takes refuge at her parents' cozy bed and breakfast, the honeycrisp orchard inn, located on an idyllic apple orchard. fate (and some burst pipes) force ellie to share an attic apartment with her (now really hot) childhood friend aiden, where they learn to share space and responsibilities for the upcoming autumn harvest festival in an attempt to save the bed and breakfast.

Aiden and ellie relearn each other while she tries to figure out what she wants her life to look like. lots of tension (a true slow burn!) and the classic story of "big city girl cant decide whether she wants her career in the city or a slow, small town life with love" that you see play out in hallmark movies comes to the honeycrisp orchard inn.

this was cute and perfect for these million degree summer days as i'm looking forward to fall, and bonus points for giving the inn's resident pug, Pumpkin, a fun and fabulous starring role!

what to expect:
* cozy fall vibes
* small town (think gilmore girls' stars hollow!)
* childhood friends
* forced proximity
* second chance at love
* loving family
* cute animals!

thanks to Avon and the author for the advance copy!

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn by Valerie Bowman

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is the perfect read to get ready for the autumn season! Full of heart, hope, and warmth, The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn wonderfully encapsulates the magic of autumn in a small town, while also beautifully portraying a journey of self-discovery and love!

Ellie’s boyfriend breaks up with her and she’s fired from her event planning job all in one day, so she has return to her parents’ inn on Long Island. When she arrives, she’s met with Aiden, the son of the orchard owner, who is living in the place she’s staying. They decide to be roommates due to the circumstances. But they also end up being coworkers since they’re put in charge of the orchard’s Harvest Festival. Ellie soon discovers that the future of the orchard and the inn depends on the festival and their collaboration. Ellie and Aiden find that they’ll have to navigate their differences, developing feelings, and obvious chemistry.

The romance between Ellie and Aiden is very well written and feels authentic. Ellie is navigating a lot of different things and seeing how she discovers what she’s truly passionate about is absolutely amazing. They both have their own dreams and their journey to love while also staying true to who they are was so sweet! The town is so lovely and all of the supporting characters are super interesting! The witty banter, emotional depth, and the romance are all really wonderful.

Overall, The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is an uplifting and lighthearted autumnal read focusing on new beginnings, connection, and the power of community.

Looking for a new cozy fall romance? This has everything you could want: a small town with nosy inhabitants, plenty of pumpkin spice goodies, and a hot apple farmer!

Ellie is forced to move back home after losing both her job and boyfriend in NYC, and decides to take over the annual Harvest Festival. She and Aiden initially have drastically different ideas of how the festival should go, but work together to save the inn run by their families.

The romance between Ellie and Aiden was perfectly paced! Ellie was trying to keep boundaries after being done wrong mixing business and pleasure before, but couldn’t help her feelings for Aiden. And Aiden was such a good romantic interest! He knew what he wanted but followed Ellie’s lead when it came to the pace of their relationship.

I adored the town and characters in this book! There is room to explore more in future books, which I will 100% be checking out! Overall, this was a fantastic read for a lighthearted, autumnal read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is perfect for anyone looking for a cute, cozy, and spicy romance full of fall vibes!

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- cozy fall romance
- small town
- forced proximity
- opposites atteact
- instant attraction
- found family
- second chance at love
- slow burn

⭐️⭐️⭐️ SMALL TOWN FALL ROMANCE

This was a cozy, small-town romance perfect for fall. I loved that it was a second-chance story and the charming orchard setting made me want to curl up with a warm cup of cider right alongside the characters. While it had all the ingredients for a comforting read, it didn’t fully sweep me away, but it was still an enjoyable seasonal escape.

Loved it! Super cozy, fun, fall vibes. Loved the pug named Pumpkin, the “Belle” ladder scene, and the greenhouse tree trunk scene (ikyk).
Perfect autumn read with the perfect ending.

4.5 stars
Thank you Netgalley!
Ellie gets dumped and loses her job all in one day. Her mom calls her back home to help with a festival at the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn..
This was absolutely adorable. Fall vibes, small town, Pumpkin the pj wearing pug.

It was such a cute story it gave me Gilmore girl vibes!! It was such a fun read and I can’t wait for what to come

This had me kicking my feet and grinning at the screen. I am so privileged to be an ARC reader for this book.

It's augtober so I had to read a fall themed book. This was everything I needed. I could hear the leaves crunching and smell the cider with every page turn. I HAVE to buy a copy when it comes out!!!!

I would do anything for a photo of P-dog. Especially one in his apple costume.

Also I absolutely need a sequel that tells Maria's story and then another one that tells Charlottes. And, since I'm already being demanding, a prequel that shows how the Inn was started.

This was everything my fall loving heart needed during this brutal 100° heat wave.

Some Spoilers:
First: I almost threw my phone when she got into that black SUV. I saw how many pages were left and was TERRIFIED. I was so upset that I had to reread her apology to Aiden at least 4 times before I felt better LOL.

Second: Geoff coming back to admit he lied? I wanted to see him GROVEL. I wouldn't have forgiven him but at least it would have been satisfying.

A round of applause for “And I get to ride the bookcase ladder (and its owner) whenever I want.” 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 yes you do girl!!!!

Had so much fun with this eARC. While it was on the shorter side (270ish pages according to Goodreads), it had a lot of depth.

I enjoyed the story and would have loved to spend more time with these two but short quick reads can be so fun too!! The writing was well done and I’m definitely looking forward to future books in this series.

I have been in the ultimate fall mood lately, so when I saw the cover and description of The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn, I knew I would be hooked!

Ellie Lawson is not doing well. She was dumped by her ex boyfriend (after he stole her work project idea) and unjustly fired from her job as an event coordinator. Down on her luck with no where to go, she heads home to Harvest Hollow, New York, where her parents own the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn. To bide her time while she figures out her next steps and to help her parents help save the inn and orchard, Ellie decides to help plan the Autumn Harvest Festival. The only problem? Her co-organizer is Aiden Parker, her (handsomely) broody childhood friend whose parents own the Honeycrisp Orchard. As the two work together to make the event a success, Ellie learns that sometimes life leads you in a direction you never could have imagined and love may be closer than it seems.

I will be honest, it took me about a third of the way through the book to truly get in to it. Once I was invested, I couldn’t help but enjoy reading about Harvest Hollow and all the cute fall activities Ellie and Aiden were planning. The entire setting felt like it came straight out of a Hallmark movie.

Pumpkin the pug was probably my favorite character in the entire book, and I loved that he became a social media influencer! I, personally, would have loved a little more growth from Ellie’s character throughout the book, but overall I found this to be a fun read.

I am not sure if more books are planned in this world, but I would love to see Maria and Charlotte get their own happily ever afters!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

Ellie is an event planner who is fired from her job because her now ex-boyfriend stole her ideas. She returns home to the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn and finds her old life and friends very different than how she left them. This includes an old friend Aiden who she now has to run a harvest festival with and of course they butt heads the entire time.

I loved the fall vibes of this book. Pumpkin the Pug sounded absolutely adorable. I couldn't help but fall in love with the town and vibes. I am patiently waiting for more in this series now. Would love to see a book for either Charlotte or Maria.
The biggest complaint I have for this book is that it was heavy in pop culture references and it took me out of the books at times.

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is a warm, feel good romance filled with charm, chemistry, and cozy small town vibes. Valerie Bowman delivers a story that’s both heartwarming and playful, with a setting that practically begs to be read with a cup of cider in hand.

Fans of autumn themed love stories will enjoy the mix of witty banter, emotional growth, and just the right amount of romantic tension. With a focus on fresh starts, unexpected connections, and the magic of community, this novel is perfect for readers who enjoy the sweet simplicity of falling in love in a picturesque place.

It’s an uplifting, easy to enjoy read that blends romance and seasonal charm beautifully without giving too much away

A beautiful.orchard and cozy inn become the background for lifelong friends to fall in love. This story is a journey in finding yourself and love in a place you longed to escape. You can't help but root for the characters from page 1. A true feel good story of coming home and finding everything was right there under your nose.

What a cute and cozy fall read! The story had a similar feel to Gilmore Girls and a classic Hallmark movie, making it feel like a big hug. I enjoyed Ellie’s growth throughout the book and I felt that there were some components of the story that were new and fresh while still making me feel nostalgic.

4.5 Stars

The most important sign of a great cozy book, is wanting to live in it, and I definitely could see myself living in a small town like Harvest Hollow! The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is filled with all of the Fall vibes I love in this type of cozy romance read. I am all in for a coming home, rethinking your priorities, figuring out what's important, childhood friends to lovers story, and this one definitely delivers it all!!

The characters and pets are all so lovable, and the romance between the FMC and MMC is slow burn perfection. The small town vibes, and Ellie's work on the town's festival made my HGTV loving heart all smiley. 😊 And Aiden delivers all of the perfect book boyfriend vibes, and I can't resist a he falls first storyline. The only thing I found a bit off-putting was the continued joking reference to dementia and it's the reason I didn't give the book a full five stars.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Cozy Fall Read
* Small Town
* Coming Home
* Childhood Friends
* Opposites Attract
* Forced Proximity
* Cute Animals!! 🐐

𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲?
😉💋 (Mild-ish)

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is the perfect swoony romance, to cozy up with on a cool Fall day, while enjoying a Pumpkin Spice Latte! If you love Laurie Gilmore's Dream Harbor books, you will definitely enjoy The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn. I can't wait for more in this series!!

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn: A Novel by Valerie Bowman
Published by Avon and Harper Voyager. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

There’s cozy, and then there’s Valerie Bowman cozy. The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn reads like the literary version of a flannel blanket fresh from the dryer, a slice of warm apple pie, and a rerun of Gilmore Girls—but with a slow burn romance that brings just enough heat to keep things interesting. I started this book thinking I’d read a chapter or two before bed. I ended up reading until 2 a.m. with a stupid grin on my face and a desperate craving for cider donuts.

We meet Ellie Lawson at the exact moment when everything in her meticulously planned city life falls apart. She’s dumped and fired within 24 hours—an impressive combo even by rom-com standards. With nowhere to go but home, she heads back to her parents’ inn on Long Island, expecting a quiet crash pad in the attic to lick her wounds. Instead, she finds Aiden Parker—a grumpy, flannel-wearing apple farmer already occupying her hideout, and also the son of the orchard’s owners next door. Aiden is stubborn, serious, and allergic to her color-coded event binders. Ellie is a planner, a fixer, and allergic to being ignored. Sparks fly immediately.

When their parents decide to team them up to save the Harvest Festival—a Hail Mary to financially rescue both the inn and the orchard—the forced proximity turns into a full-blown battle of wills. But underneath the snark and sarcasm, there’s chemistry. Real chemistry. Not the insta-love fluff you forget five pages later. No, this is slow-burn, mutual-respect-building, enemies-to-something-much-hotter energy. It’s the kind of relationship that grows in fits and starts, with late-night confessions, accidental touches, and shared history that keeps creeping back in.

The town of Harvest Hollow is a delightful chaos machine. There’s a crime-obsessed chicken, a gossip sheet called the Hot Sheet, and townspeople who treat your love life like a community project. If Stars Hollow and Schitt’s Creek had a cinnamon-scented baby, it would be this town. Bowman doesn’t just create a setting—she builds a world you want to walk around in. You can almost smell the apple trees, hear the crunch of leaves underfoot, and feel the breeze through open barn doors as Ellie and Aiden argue about hayrides and cider booths.

One thing I appreciated was how real Ellie felt. Yes, she’s a little dramatic, and yes, she has a tendency to spiral, but she’s human. Her anxiety about failure, her need to prove herself after the way she left things in her career, and her discomfort with asking for help all ring true. Aiden, meanwhile, isn’t just the standard gruff love interest. He’s layered—someone who carries the pressure of saving a family legacy while quietly nursing the kind of feelings he’s too guarded to admit. Watching them both stumble through personal growth, often against each other’s stubbornness, is where the emotional meat of the book lives.

The writing is quick and conversational, often witty, and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny. Bowman has a knack for inner monologue, especially Ellie’s. Her thoughts read like a best friend texting you mid-breakdown—chaotic, self-aware, and oddly comforting. While a few plot points resolve a little too neatly (I wouldn’t have minded a bit more mess before the inevitable happy ending), the overall pacing works. It’s the kind of book that makes you forget you’re reading because you’re too busy feeling—smiling when they flirt, sighing when they fight, and holding your breath when something vulnerable slips out.

And then there’s Pumpkin the pug. In pajamas. That alone deserves a bonus half-star.

Bowman slips in some real insights about identity and success, especially for women who’ve had to hustle their way through male-dominated careers. Ellie’s realization that success doesn’t have to look the way it used to is subtle but powerful. One quote in particular hit me in the gut:
“It’s not easy to say no to your ideal of success. But… sometimes your definition of success changes.”

This is not just a story about romance. It’s about roots—where you plant them, how deep they go, and whether you’re brave enough to dig them up when they no longer serve you. And that message, wrapped in a cozy fall love story, is exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

Four out of five stars. A must-read for anyone craving autumn vibes, small-town chaos, and a love story with real heart.

🎃Cozy Fall Romance
🍂Small Town Seasonal Charm
🎃(Childhood) Friends To Lovers
🍂Spice
🎃Gilmore Girls / Hallmark Vibes
🍂Forced Proximity
🎃Slow Burn

This book made my heart happy, I loved reading it! It's sweet, cozy and made me long for all things Fall!

The author's writing style is incredibly atmospheric and immersive, I felt like I was stepping onto the set of a Hallmark movie. I ended up binging this book cover to cover in one session.

The characters are both loveable and memorable. I really enjoyed watching Ellie and Aiden's relationship develop and slowly grow. I really hope that this becomes an interconnected standalone series so that we can see some of the side characters find their HEA.

Honestly everything in this story just worked for me and I can't wait to read more from the author in the future as well as do a re-read this Fall.

Thank you Valerie Bowman, Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.