An adorable YA romance overflowing with small town charm, autumn activities, and cozy fall vibes.

Goodreads | Falling Like Leaves

Release date: September 2, 2025

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Genre: YA Romance

Synopsis:

Gilmore Girls meets Jenny Han in this autumnal teen rom-com about a city girl stuck in a quaint small town who must confront her future and her old flame while the town prepares for an annual fall festival.

Ellis has a lot of expectations for her senior year, but moving from Manhattan to Bramble Falls, Connecticut is not one of them. Yet in the wake of her parents’ separation, that’s exactly where she and her mother are headed. 

Bramble Falls might be charming, but it’s also full of distractions. Like local barista Cooper Barnett, Ellis’s one-time best friend—and first kiss—who has not only majorly glowed up but wants nothing to do with Ellis. 

Then there’s the Falling Leaves Festival, a month-long tourist attraction run by Ellis’s aunt—celebrating everything autumn. The festival seems nice and all, but Ellis doesn’t have time to be roped into her aunt’s enthusiastic planning. Dragged to each event, she can’t stop bumping into Cooper, the one person she’s hoping to avoid. 

But the longer she stays in Bramble Falls, the harder it is to pretend she’s not falling for this town and the people in it. As her return to Manhattan gets pushed further and further out, Ellis is forced to confront exactly what she wants for her future—and what that means for her present.

Review:

If you’re looking for a book that truly feels like fall, Falling Like Leaves absolutely delivers! This was such an adorable YA romance packed with everything I love about the season. From the charming small town setting to all the festive autumn activities, the atmosphere was easily one of my favorite things about this book. Bramble Falls is the kind of fictional town that makes you wish you could pack your bags and visit, especially when the Falling Leaves Festival is in full swing.

I really liked Ellis as a main character. She’s fun, driven, and passionate about her future, and I appreciated that she had goals and ambitions that mattered to her. Watching her navigate an unexpected move, reconnect with her past, and figure out what she really wants was such a sweet part of the story. Her growth felt meaningful, and I enjoyed seeing her gradually open herself up to possibilities she hadn’t originally considered.

The romance was equally adorable, and I loved the history between Ellis and Cooper. There’s something so charming about childhood friends reconnecting, especially when there’s a little romantic tension involved. Add in all the peak fall activities, the cozy atmosphere, and the small town charm, and this was just a delightful reading experience. The seasonal details really made the story shine for me, and I loved how much autumn was woven into the entire book.

Overall, Falling Like Leaves was a cozy, sweet, and thoroughly charming YA romance that completely embraced its fall setting. If you love books that capture the feeling of a particular season, this is such a fun option for autumn reading. I’m already excited to return to Bramble Falls for the next book, especially since it’s set during Christmas! If the holiday atmosphere is anything like the fall vibes here, I have a feeling I’m going to love it.

Perfect for readers who love:

• Cozy YA romances with plenty of heart
• Charming small towns and seasonal festivals
• Childhood friends reconnecting and second chance crushes
• Gilmore Girls vibes and all things autumn

Overall rating: 4/5

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