First Fall book of the season and it didn’t disappoint! This was a cute and cozy rom-com where you fall in love with the characters and the small town. I wish Harvest Hollow was real because I would love to visit it haha! Love the forced proximity trope and this nailed that! Overall would definitely recommend!

ARC review
The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn by Valerie Bowman
Pub date: September 9, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Avon Books, Harper Voyager US, Netgalley and Valerie Bowman for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“When you find the person who’ll save you from what you’re afraid of, don’t let go.”

This book was so good! It is just what I needed for this time of year. It reminded me of a Hallmark movie with a touch of spice. It was comforting like a warm blanket 🥰 I loved Ellie our FMC and Aiden our MMC.

Elllie was fired from her event planning job and broken up with by her boyfriend, so she went home to her family’s inn. There she comes in contact with her childhood friend and farmer, Aiden. Who is also the son of the orchard owners. They start planning the fall festival, and they learn more about their past. She is faced with either going back to work, or staying in town with her family and the man that she loves, where she is loved and accepted. What I loved most about this book, is that they both figure out their insecurities together and realize that there is nothing to be afraid about, when it comes to life.

I can’t wait for future books in the series and more small town romance from this author! I also loved Pumpkin the dog!! So cute how he always wanted his orange clothes. And Argos who loved his apple toy. Everything was so well done in this book! I highly recommend! ☺️🍎🍂

Read if you like:
Small town romance
Forced proximity
Opposites attract
Insta attraction
Found family
2nd chance at happiness
Slow burn romance
Cozy/seasonal

Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager for the eArc through NetGalley!

This book was fun! I picked it up wanting a lighter read after a long week, and I found that it perfectly fit the bill. This book made me want to run out to my local apple orchard for cider & donuts. Because of that, I gave this book five stars because I felt like it perfectly fit the bill of what I wanted—a lighthearted, cozy, and fun romance.

I was pleasantly surprised by the character growth. Yes, it's a little Hallmark-y (city girl returns home to the country to rediscover her priorities), but I felt like it was handled well; it didn't feel inauthentic or forced. I also liked that the growth happened from characters on both sides of the equation, and the overarching theme was more focused on finding your own definition of happiness.

Now, to the romance. Aiden, our MMC, is the perfect book boyfriend. He clearly cares for Ellie (the FMC) and wants her to make the best decision for her. They were childhood friends, but grew apart as they grew older. Now, they're forced to work together to plan a festival to try to save their families' orchard/inn, but things are... tense. Personally, I thought the tension at the beginning gave it just right sprinkle of dislike while not making it too overt—watching their relationship grow felt very natural. I also thought the spicy scenes fit in well and didn't disrupt the story (I'd give this book a 2.5/5 on the spice scale, I think).

Overall, I would recommend this book if you're looking for a cozy fall read! There are really strong Gilmore Girls vibes and I wanted to find myself a hayride afterwards. Personally I hope we get more books set in this universe, as I think some of the potential couples introduced in this book would make a compelling romance.

This book was like the best warm hug on the perfect fall day. The autumn vibes were immaculate. I don't often expect much from these cozy romances, but this one pleasantly surprised me! The characters had history and depth and character development. Seeing Ellie fall back in love with the place she grew up made me feel so nostalgic for the small things in life we take for granted. And Aiden was like a grumpy golden retriever, if that was actually a thing. The descriptions of the scenery were so clear I could practically smell the cinnamon and apples in the air. The chemistry between the characters was so adorable to watch unfold too and the nosy townspeople were so funny! Loved it, can't wait to see who gets the next story.

This was pretty cute and fun, but overall felt pretty formulaic and surface level. There wasn’t anything unique or especially memorable about the story. I thought Ellie and Aiden were cute, but they didn’t have a ton of chemistry or individual character growth. The writing was also a bit clunky at times and although I know it was made in jest, the main character mentions dementia so many times it made me side eye the whole book. It feels like something really serious that shouldn’t be the butt of a joke and made the MC seem insensitive.

Having said that though, the fall cozy vibes are definitely there, and the author really created a fleshed out and atmospheric setting. The small town was really fun with their weekly Gilmore girl nights and gossip blog. Ultimately, I was just let down by the lack of emotional depth and originality, but if you’re just looking for vibes with a Hallmark-style ending, this is a good one!

4.5 stars!!

WOW, this was so good!!
The vibes were IMMACULATE!! I love a small town setting and it just hits every single time! This delivered the fall feels!! The cutest little inn, the apple orchard, and the main characters planning an autumn harvest festival literally gave me everything I needed! Just cozy, fun, fall vibes! I loved all of the characters so much too. It was a joy to read!

Set at her family's inn on an apple orchard on Long Island, Ellie Lawson is back home to help with the annual Harvest Festival. She left New York City after a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Expecting to focus on the event, she finds Aiden in the attic apartment. His family owns the orchard, so they have known each other their whole lives. But Ellie hasn't seen Aiden in years (and now he's hot?!). As they work together on the event, they find themselves roommates and coworkers, learning about each other after years apart. Can they find a way together when Ellie is searching for a new job back in the city?

This was a great palate cleanser after a heavy fantasy book that left me down. This book was bright and easy, with a great fall vibe. Was it over the top fall at times? Sure, but that's the draw here. There were a couple of times the comedy didn't land for me (dementia references), but overall, this delivers a super fun read.

🍎 Big city event planner x farmer from back home
🍂 The one that got away
🍎 Makes you want to eat a honeycrisp apple
🍂 Cute dogs in costumes
🍎 Leans into Gilmore Girl inspiration (on overdrive)
🍂 Forced proximity
🍎 Sets up future stories in the same setting

Open door / spicy

3.75 / 5 stars

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC!

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had the opportunity to read this as an ARC, and I have to say—I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is a charming, fall-themed romance that delivers exactly what you’d hope for in a cozy seasonal read. From crisp autumn orchard scenes to warm family moments, it truly captures that small-town charm that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and a mug of apple cider while you turn the pages.

At its heart, this story is about Ellie and Aiden, two characters whose journey from friends to something more feels both natural and heartfelt. What I really appreciated was that their connection wasn’t built on endless bickering or forced drama. Instead, they genuinely rebuilt their friendship, creating a solid foundation of trust and care that made their eventual romance feel authentic. Their relationship grows with a splash of tension, sweetness, and sincerity, which kept me rooting for them from beginning to end.

Of course, I can’t forget to mention one of my absolute favorite parts of the book—Pumpkin, the adorable little pug. As someone who loves when authors include pets as part of the story, Pumpkin stole my heart.

With just the right sprinkle of spice (🌶), this romance leans more on the cozy and sweet side, making it a perfect pick for readers who enjoy small-town love stories filled with charm, friendship, and the magic of autumn.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Recommended for: Fans of cozy, small-town romances; readers who love fall settings; and anyone who enjoys the witty, heartwarming vibes of Gilmore Girls.

3.5 ⭐️

Talented event planner Eleanor Lawson is not having a good day. First, she gets dumped by her boyfriend and coworker. Then, she gets fired from her job. Now, with nowhere else to go and nothing to do, a phone call from her mom sends Eleanor back to her hometown in Long Island, where she will be staying at the picturesque inn her parents own and helping with an event they planned.

Unfortunately, her parents forget to mention that grumpy, stubborn, and very attractive Aiden, her childhood friend, is also staying in Eleanor’s place of refuge. Forced to be roommates and coworkers, Eleanor and Aiden grapple with past conflict, present circumstances, and an undeniable attraction as they work on the Harvest Festival. Can they set aside their differences and work together to save the inn and orchard that has charmed its way into Eleanor’s heart?

The name screams fall vibes. The cover promises crisp breezes, falling leaves, and delicious autumn treats that make my mouth water. The description convinced me there would be forced proximity, an electrifying attraction, and an epic plan to save the inn. And, I’m very happy to say, it delivered. 🍂🍁🎃

Now, did I love everything about the book? Unfortunately, no. I didn’t like Eleanor very much. I thought she was kinda selfish, exasperating, and rude to think her parents had dementia because they forgot a lot of things. I get it. She watched a documentary about it, and once you watch one of those things about a certain subject, you cannot stop thinking about it or seeing it everywhere. But people forget things. All. The. Time. Heck, I forget stuff every single day, but that doesn’t mean I have dementia. I think there could have been discretion and care when talking/joking about it because it’s not a joke for some people. But that’s just me. 🤷‍♀ Actually, that was one thing Eleanor lacked: discretion. Aiden had his flaws, but he was tolerable, along with everyone else in the story. So, no other complaints there.

But the fall vibes!! 😍 It was so cozy and lovely! And the Harvest Festival sounded so fun! I want it to be autumn already so I can wear thick sweaters, eat pumpkin treats, and decorate the house with oranges and reds. This book made me impatient, lol! 😂

I definitely recommend this book if you, too, are looking for something sweet and fun with a hint of conflict that adds meaning and growth to the characters. I think this might be the first book in a series, so I’m excited to see who the next lucky person is to fall in love. 🧡

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for inviting me to read the arc via NetGalley! All opinions and statements are my own.

❗Content Warnings❗
Swearing: Yes
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶/5

#TheHoneycrispOrchardInn #NetGalley

Such a cozy and sexy read! I did find it mimicking the pumpkin spice cafe vibes but I still enjoyed it.

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is perfect for anyone looking for a cozy small town romance to read this fall! It gives off Gilmore Girls and Lovelight Farms vibes. Our protagonists, Ellie and Aiden, are so lovable which made it so easy to root for them to be together. I loved that everyone around them was rooting for them to end up together too.

Overall, this was a fun fall romance. I loved that it served as an introduction to this cute small town. I’m excited to read more books in this series!

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy.

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins publishing, and Valerie Bowman for the opportunity to read an ARC copy. All opinons expressed in my review are my own.

I really enjoyed The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn. It was my first read of Valerie Bowman's books. This was a perfect time to read this book as we are about to go into September and the season of Fall. The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn gave all of the cozy, warm, autumn vibes I have been wishing for. I felt like I was in the town Stars Hollow and in a Hallmark movie. Bowman does a good job with her setting descriptions. The story had all of the right elements for a good romance story and it turned out to be a great story! I found the book to be a fast read. The overall pacing was good. I read the book over the course of a couple of hours. I felt the chemistry between Ellie and Aiden. I enjoyed reading the story through Ellie's point of view. Ellie is a likeable and relatable character. The story had well developed support characters who are interesting enough to have their own stories if Bowman decides to build onto the town she has created. I personally would like to read Charlotte and Sawyer's story. If you are looking for an easy going, amusing, light, and seasonal read, I highly recommend The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn as your next read.

If a PSL was a book it would be this one. It was hallmark in book form. You got exactly what you expected and needed. The high powered career woman? Check. Forced to head home to her cozy sleep small town? Check. Hunky hometown hero? Check. Family business that needs to be saved? Check. I’m sure you can figure out exactly where this book is headed from the first chapter. And when you know what you want and you get just that? Chefs kiss. Perfect. This book didn’t pretend to be anything except exactly what it was, a cheesy seasonal romcom with a HEA.

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn was super cute! It hooked me from the first page. I loved the cozy fall in a small town vibes and the chemistry between Ellie and Aiden was great. There was just a touch of drama and some fun spicy bits!
Fun & quick fall read!

Fall lovers its' time for a book that ticks all the boxes in this autum filled with plenty of spice.

Childhood friends will discover what happens when they have a chance to figure out what they want.

It's time to find those who lift you up, support you and are willing to risk everything to help you figure it all out.

I can't wait to go back to Harvest Hollow and enjoy a donut and apple cider!

4.25/5
Light your favorite fall scented candle, grab an apple cider donut and curl up with your favorite blanket and mark your calendars for September 9, 2025. The "Honeycrisp Orchard Inn" by Valerie Bowman is basically the perfect book to kick off fall. Think "Lovelight Farms" mixed with Stars Hollow vibes, sprinkled with all the best fall things: apple orchards, cozy inns, parades, and just enough small-town drama. Honestly, it felt like reading a Hallmark movie in book form, and it totally put me in the mood for autumn.

So here’s the setup: Ellie Lawson is living her best NYC event planner life… until it all comes crashing down in 24 hours. Her boyfriend dumps her and steals her big proposal at work, which gets her fired. With nothing left in the city, she heads back home to her parents’ inn, which happens to sit on an apple orchard to help with the Harvest Festival parade float. She hasn’t been back in years, so she’s bracing for awkward family time.

Except her cozy attic escape isn’t empty. It’s already occupied by Aiden, the son of the orchard owner (and Ellie’s old childhood friend). And yeah, he’s hot now. Like, really hot.

Of course, because this is peak romcom setup, they both have been asked to run the orchard’s big Harvest Festival, the one thing keeping both the inn and orchard afloat. Cue the forced proximity, roommate banter, and all the slow-burn tension.

It’s got all the small-town charm, fall magic, and a romance that builds in the sweetest way. By the end, you’re rooting just as much for the orchard and inn as you are for Ellie and Aiden.

I hope there will be a second book because I definitely have a few couples I would love to see happen!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Valerie Bowman and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon a for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Shoutout to Pumpkin the dog because what a true icon!

Themes/Tropes:
Friends to Strangers to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn
Small Town Romance

This book reads just like a Hallmark movie. It’s full of all the cozy fall vibes that make the season so comforting. Ellie reluctantly heads home to her small town and parents inn and despite her determination that she won’t be staying for long—just to help her parents plan a Harvest Festival her small town has never seen—she’s soon lured by the comfort of familiarity that her home is. Her former childhood best friend, Aiden—whom she’s forced to temporarily room with—is a mysterious character, as Ellie hasn’t seen him for many years, but she soon learns they’re suffering from similar burdens, and find comfort in each other and the strength to overcome their long-held fears and figure out what’s most important to them. I love both Ellie and Aiden’s character development and how they build off each other. He eventually shows Ellie how much she’s missed being away in the city, and encouraged her to rethink what she wants her future to look like—as she does for him. This was a beautifully written and wonderfully comfy fall read.

This book was so cute! It’s a fast paced, cozy romance that I couldn’t put down. The story follows Ellie, an event planner who not only loses her job after her ex steals her big presentation idea, but she also loses her place to live after their breakup. With nowhere else to go, she moves back home to her family’s inn, the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn.

Back home, she reconnects with her old friend Aiden. Their reunion starts off a bit rocky, but as they spend more time together planning the Autumn Harvest Festival, old feelings resurface, but Ellie is faced with a big decision.

I really enjoyed this story! It had the perfect book to read as summer is coming to an end. I’ll definitely be reading more books by Valerie Bowman! Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! This book will be released 9/5/25.

I could smell the crisp fall air and all of the fall baked goods. This reminded me of Gilmore Girls and Sweet Home Alabama kind of. I need more of this book for all of my fall reading, thanks! I was glad their communication was pretty good from the start because I seriously hate the miscommunication/or secret thing in books.

The writing in this book was so simple that it didn't allow for any sort of emotional connection with any of the characters. Everything was just "vibes" and while that might be fine for some, I personally didn't care for it.

I was also really thrown off by the fact that the main character uses the term "dementia" to describe someone who has forgotten the tiniest amount or detail. She uses "dementia" 18 times throughout the book and it's frankly insensitive.

"Maybe I've got dementia. I've got a test for that." 🙃

Aside from that, the insta-lust and relationship felt very surface level and for how much the book relied on vibes, I wasn't vibing with it.