The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is such a fun read! It’s a light cozy romance with some sexy scenes and great fall vibes. This book is low drama and low stakes, but has enough activity to keep it interesting and moving forward.

The book is perfect for anyone who enjoys hallmark movies, and I’ll definitely look forward to more books in this series.

4.5 ⭐️. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for this arc for an honest review. Sometimes seasonal books like this can be too corny but this one was just right. A perfect cute, fall book for people who like hallmark with a mix of Gilmore girls. Just what you need to get you into the fall feels. I enjoyed this so much and recommend to anyone looking for a cute cozy fall romance.

If you’re looking for the perfect fall, small town romance, this one’s for you. I’m not a big romance reader but this story was too cute and had the right amount of spice! Ellie finds herself going back home to her small town after her life in the city goes completely south. Reconnecting with her old friends and family and reconnecting with her roots new opportunities open up for her and she sees the real meaning of success. Loved the story! ✨

Cozy with a capital C. It was like a cheesy Hallmark TV movie in the best way. Only this was for autumn instead of winter. Very predictable, but sometimes these are the books you need if you are a mood reader.

This was such a fun book! It’s a fast paced story set in a gorgeous sounding location. I wanted to go to the fall festival! I liked Ellie and Aiden, they’re so cute and hot together! Definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a light breezy romance with a little bit of heat story! I couldn’t put it down!

I loved this one!! It has the perfect fall vibes. If you like If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia, you’ll definitely like this one!! The small town setting was so charming and I loved getting to know all of the characters in town. If you like childhood friends to lovers, check this one out!!

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.

What a perfectly cozy read!! Fall in New England will always have my heart. When we first meet Ellie (or Eleanor as she’s called at the time) she’s just been dumped and then promptly fired from her job as an event planner in NYC. While I could tell she had some fire to her, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy her as a character. She seemed so stiff- but that all changed once she made her way back home to Long Island and the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn.
We’re quickly introduced to Aiden, Ellie’s childhood friend and a total smoke show. He’s also who will be planning the Fall Festival with Ellie…if they can manage to agree on anything.
I’m always a sucker for friends who have fallen out turned lovers. I really enjoyed their romance, though I felt like all of the spice was condensed into one chapter. While it was a VERY GOOD chapter, I wish it had been spread out a bit more. I feel like that happened a few times in this book- some things were rushed (like the few conflicts we run into) while other things dragged (like the description of Aiden’s house).
Overall this book had a wonderful cast of small town side characters and charm to boot! I really wish I could stay at the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn and attend the Fall Festival myself.

A cute and cozy fall read 🍂🍁

This book was so stinkin cute, and now I want to go to a cute little inn and pick apples. Ellie was an adorable FMC. She was cute, quirky, and a downright baddie when it came to her work ethic. Aiden was so sweet, and surprisingly spicy, I loved him! I enjoyed the cozy setting, the side characters and the adorable pets. The festival reminded me of the Harvest Festival from Parks and Rec, I hate comparing to a tv show but that’s all I have to go off of. I’d be interested in another book featuring Charlotte. Her crush and mystery man peaked my interest every time they were discussed.

This book is perfect if you are looking for a quick, cozy read this fall!

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute, fun, cozy read to get into fall mode!

Ellie is a quirky FMC with a great sense of humor. I kept rooting for her to have a satisfying “tell-off those jerks” moment. Aiden (“Professor Apple”) is a dreamy plant-nerd with a sweet pup. What could be better?! I have a (secret) love for fictional men who appreciate The Odyssey as much as I do, apparently.

I loved the Gilmore Girls vibes and references. The dogs! Dogs in costumes are not usually my thing, but it totally works here. I REALLY wish we could have read some of Mrs. L’s blog posts. Like so bad.

It’s still so hot out, but this made me want some fuzzy socks, a cozy blanket, and a mug of hot cider! If you want a cozy, fall, feel-good romance, this will hit the spot.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon a, HarperCollins Publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I needed this after my last read. This was fun, cozy, charming and incredibly relatable. The slow burn was absolutely delicious and I was absolutely dying over the tension. This is perfect for fans of the Dream Harbor series!

This was such a cute, cozy, hallmark feeling romance read and perfect for the upcoming fall season! I couldn’t get enough of Ellie and Aiden and their love story.

Big on the slice of life vibes- which I adore. The spice wasn’t overt but definitely could use some help in making the scenes a bit less like a “insert sex scene here in romance” over all not a bad read.

4 stars.
This was the perfect fall read. It has all of the cozy factors that bring you into the ambience of the fall season.
I love that the FMC is the one coming home from the big city, even though the reason that she is leaving the city is very annoying but she tackles that later in the book in a very satisfying way.
I love the idea of the fall festival. And all of the cute offerings that were described in the book. It makes you want to find a small town to go stay at for a week so you can experience it yourself. I cannot wait for more books in the series!

I loved this book! Such a sweet, cozy fall read! I thought overall it was great, maybe it was a little slow in some parts. This book reminded me of watching a cozy Hallmark film during fall, and it was the perfect vibes for a cozy weekend in!

For those Fall lovers this a good one to get you in the mood! A Hallmark movie but with spice between these pages! I can already tell who we are going to see in future installments of this series. I really look forward to it!!

This is such a cute read. It gets you angry right at the start. Ellie Lawson has a pretty great life, top of her game when her boyfriend does her wrong which causes a series of events making her run to the one place she hasn’t been in a long time. Once Ellie gets home she is surprised by her old friend being in her apartment she is to stay in due to a burst pipe. You might think possibly tampering or scheming by some parents. I enjoyed every bit of this book. Cozy, warm, hilarious and sexy. I love all the characters and I just want more. Love the writing style too. First time reading a book by this author (Valerie Bowman)
Got this one from NetGalley in advance with permission from Avon and Harper Voyager Publishing to give a truthful review!
Publish date: Sept 9, 2025

Review
I had the pleasure of getting to read The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn by Valerie Bowman. This book was wonderful and fun to read, and I definitely recommend it.

I know many romance novels (and movies) can be rather formulaic - big city exec goes back to small hometown, finds love, goes back to big city and regrets it so they need to choose to stay in the city or go back to be with love in hometown - and this book was no exception, but in all the right ways!!

After losing her job and her boyfriend (first chapter of the book so I’m really not giving spoilers here), Ellie was called by her mom to come help their small town inn to help with the Harvest Festival. Reading how Ellie was able to come into herself, and be empowered by what she was able to achieve when she went back home, felt real and I wanted to be a part of it. As she saw her little hometown again through new eyes, it made me wish it really existed so I could go visit. And of course, I ate up the romance with her childhood friend, Aiden.

Strange as it may sound, one of my favorite parts was the epilogue! Not only did it wrap up Ellie’s story, but it also included some of the side characters and their roles in everything in a way I’ve never really seen before. Valerie Bowman did a beautiful job of giving enough detail to each of those side characters to make me want more, so I loved seeing their storylines conclude, as well.

This book is due to come out September 9, 2025, published by Avon and Harper Voyager.

3.5 stars rounded up honayyy 🙂‍↕️✨🍂

Just a cozy little Autumn inspired romance. Very fluffy and sweet for those that want a simple orchard based romance this season.

It was a bit slow for me which is why it’s 3.5 but that’s all I’ve got for youuu. Enjoy!

Thank you NetGalley & Valerie Bowman for the ARC!

I read this one as an eBook, but it felt like curling up in a warm blanket with a mug of apple cider. (This is certainly a read I would want as a physical book!!) The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is a sweet, apple-spice-scented escape into small-town charm, full of all the tropes I love: childhood friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, and the classic city girl returns home setup. Ellie and Aiden’s chemistry is soft, steady, and totally heart-melting. If you're craving a feel-good, low-drama romance that reads like a crisp fall day, this one hits the spot.

Tropes: Childhood Friends-to-Lovers, Forced Proximity, Small Town Romance, City Girl x Small Town Guy

Spice Level: 🍏 Mild (sweet kisses, cozy tension)

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for access to this ARC!

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is the perfect Fall romance book. It has all the cozy, fall vibes including an apple orchard, fall festival and a pug named Pumpkin. I loved all the characters including the FMC, Ellie, who comes back to her small, hometown to help her parents run the inn and plan the yearly fall festival. While she is in town she runs into all of her old friends including the MMC, Aiden, who is the son of the apple orchard’s owners. Ellie and Aiden are forced to work together to make this year’s fall festival the best one yet to help save the inn. Spending time in her small hometown, Ellie rediscovers her love for the town while also falling in love with her childhood best friend. Pick this one up if you are looking for cozy, fall vibes and a sweet second chance romance.