Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Havenwood

Rate this book
After an eye-opening breakup and a union strike, Courtney Berrycloth finds herself alone, unemployed, and desperate for a change from her fast-paced Los Angeles life. Fueled by her loss of direction and her broken heart, Courtney gives in to mysterious emails that lead her to the small, picturesque town of Havenwood, Massachusetts. Upon moving to the sleepy New England town, she gives herself one no romance.
However, Courtney’s plan quickly crumbles when she meets Havenwood’s reserved heartthrob, Mayor Finn Abernathy. With icy blue eyes, raven black hair, and a gentleman’s flair, the mayor and his attention are temptations that Courtney is failing to ignore. But as she uncovers more of Havenwood’s dark secrets, Courtney is left to determine whether Finn’s interest in her is genuine or if he’s doing his duty to save the dying town.
Prepare to be bewitched in this cozy, fall-inspired, slow-burn romance full of found family, self-discovery, and secrets!

308 pages, Paperback

Published July 7, 2024

22 people are currently reading
187 people want to read

About the author

Katherine Belle

2 books22 followers
Katherine Fae Belle is a romance novelist passionate about happily ever afters. When she's not writing, Katherine can often be found at a theme park, drinking an energy drink, petting any random animal she sees or all three at once.
You can follow her on social media @authorkatherinebelle on most platforms.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
33 (31%)
4 stars
34 (32%)
3 stars
19 (18%)
2 stars
14 (13%)
1 star
5 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for Charly Reads.
184 reviews19 followers
July 7, 2024
This book gives all the cozy small town vibes of Gilmore girls but throw in a little mystery, make it a town over from Salem Massachusetts and add in a hot mayor with a filthy mouth🤭 it was such an enjoyable cozy read that was so different from anything I’ve read before! Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Devan Rustia.
379 reviews3 followers
August 25, 2024
DNF’d at 48%

Am I the only one that thought this book was absolutely cringe?! Finn gave me the biggest ick and I don’t understand where all of this so-called “chemistry” between him and Courtney came from.

There were so many parts where Courtney mentions being really mean or rude to Finn and how he must hate her, but nothing she did or said even implied that. I was very confused. She’s very contradictory and seems that she can’t make up her mind or hold any convictions.

I just don’t understand it.
1 review1 follower
September 27, 2024
Amazing story

Loved this book!! Looking forward to more books from this Author. Written well, easy to read, little bit of romance and mystery.
Profile Image for zoemadisonreviews.
148 reviews
July 7, 2024
eARC Review 📚
Rating 4/5 ⭐️
Spice 2/5 🌶️
Pages 310📄
Pub date 7/7/24
Tropes 🤍
- Small town
- Slow burn
- Cozy, Fall vibes
- Secrets and Banter
- Found family
If you’re looking for a cozy, insta love romance with spice and secrets 👀 I have the perfect book for you!
I promise you will fall in love with this book and with Havenwood (even if some of the characters are questionable lol) because even with its faults it is breathtaking 🤍
The chemistry between Finn and Courtney will have you blushing and while the slow burn is painful 😣 trust me it is worth the wait 🤭
I was never bored while reading and I couldn’t wait to figure out what was going to happen next!
I want to say more but you’ll have to read for yourself 😉 (please take a chance on this debut!)
Order here - Havenwood https://a.co/d/08cRBR1A
Thank you for the advanced copy!
Profile Image for L. Reagan.
Author 4 books24 followers
September 3, 2024
Looking for all the fall vibes? Then this book is just what you need for your fall reading TBR
Profile Image for Kylie Snow.
Author 3 books2,057 followers
July 16, 2024
Right away I was impressed with Katherine’s writing. It sucked me in, kept me interested, and totally gave all the fall vibes! 🍂🍁🥧🦇I could easily picture the town and all it’s residents.
Now, I am not a girl for insta-love AT ALL. That being said, I felt like this book did it perfectly. I’ve read some books where the character is claiming to be in love after 3 days (like really 😑) But this book was not like that. The timing to me felt realistic, especially considering how small the town is!
The SPICE 🤌🏻 Miss Katherine knows what she’s doing writing spice, let me tell you 🥵 There isn’t a ton of it, but what is in it is soooo dang good. I’m all for the composed, sweet man in the streets & a freak in the sheets 🤣 So I loved that.
Without spoiling anything, I was pleased with how it ended & the epilogue left me satisfied.
Overall this is a fun, cozy, unique, quick read. I don’t read a lot of contemporary romance, but the bonus spooky elements and fall aesthetic made it thoroughly enjoyable for me.
I’m so excited to read future books by this author 🖤
1 review
July 31, 2025
This book is very well written. The town of Havenwood feels very lived in. Once you start reading you feel like you have been thrown in a town that is already settled. Author Katherine Belle took all walks of life into consideration when writing the book and I have a deep appreciation for that. I came to love and hate some characters in the book and feel a variety of emotions for the main characters. You know a book is well written when you are immersed into the world and feel like you are walking the streets of the town with the characters. The book is all autumn vibes. Definitely a cozy read with some coffee and autumn sounds on the background.
Profile Image for Brooklyn.
29 reviews3 followers
July 11, 2024
Summary: Havenwood by Katherine Belle is a perfect fit for readers who adore romances, cozy small-town settings, and stories of self-discovery, as this enchanting tale of found family and secrets will transport them to a picturesque New England town, where you'll be swept away by the gentle charm of the characters and the autumn atmosphere.
___________________________

Thoughts: This book was so cozy. It made me want to curl up with a blanket and coffee. It was short and sweet, with a bit of spice. I loved the spooky small town vibes. Perfect for the fall!☕️🍂

___________________________

Genre: Romance

Pacing: Fast
Profile Image for jennifer langdon.
658 reviews18 followers
June 29, 2024
This book was absolutely fantastic.
Once I started reading, I couldn't stop, I didn't want it to end.

It's books like this that make me realise why I love reading so much!

It was a small town romance filled with lies, secrets, lust, lots of tension, and banter.
I think it was the tension that got me with this one. It was nail bitingly good.

The author writing definitely drew me into the pages. It was vivid and very visual.
Did i want to stay? Yes!. Hopefully, I would find myself a hunky major like Finn 🥵
Profile Image for Taryn Fedel.
142 reviews7 followers
August 31, 2024
What a cute fall romcom! I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did.
And the spice was…. 😮‍💨🤌🏼🤤
Perfect book to get you in the mood for chilly weather and all things spooky!
Profile Image for Han.
129 reviews17 followers
July 10, 2024
🍂 Small Town
🍂 Insta Love
🍂 Betrayal & Lies

*~*~*~*~*

"Havenwood might hold my past but you are my future and I promise to prioritize you, like I should have from the beginning, until forever."

When I saw the cover of this book and read the blurb, I was desperate to read it, I thought it was going to be a book that I was going to love from the get go - unfortunately, it wasn't.

Don't get me wrong, Katherine Belle is an incredible writer and certainly has a talent, but this book did nothing for me, and as much as I hate to admit it, I went to DNF it just because I was struggling to get through it, but I powered through because I wanted to know more about Martha's story.

You meet Courtney when she's in a situationship with a complete idiot who should've treated her better. She goes through the motions of not feeling good enough and comes across an email that showcases a cheap place to rent in Havenwood, obviously her breakup partly pays homage to why she makes the move.

As soon as Courtney and Finn meet, an insta love trope is presented, but I struggled to find the chemistry between them, I couldn't understand where any of the attraction to one another spanned from, and if anything, it felt forced. I can honestly say that I feel as though Courtney and Elsie had more chemistry with their friendship than Finn and Courtney with their relationship.

More often than not, I felt as though Courtney threw herself a pity party that actually did my head'in. I understand she's upset over some idiot (I've been there, I know it hurts), and I understand that he said some things that really sucked, but girl... STOP WITH THE PITY PARTY! She spoke about how she had moved on, gained strong feelings for Finn, but then would constantly have Carter in the back of her mind, almost as if she were comparing Finn to Carter at times?

Also, can we just talk about the fact that Finn isn't even a green flag? Within the first chapter, you see Finn talking about how he wants to break his situationship off with Starr, BUT THEN, he goes and sleeps with her KNOWING she's drunk? Like I'm sorry, BUT WOULDN'T A GOOD GUY BE RESPECTFUL ENOUGH TO SAY NO AND JUST WALK HER HOME? That was just gross to me, why are you taking advantage of someone when they're drunk and you've even said to yourself that they're drunk?

THEN you have the whole process of how while Finn and Courtney are getting to know one another (I honestly can't even remember anything Finn told her about himself), but he's failing to come clean about how her being in Havenwood isn't a coincidence which means their relationship is just going to continue to struggle. I don't understand how the mayor could continue to lie / put off telling the truth when he had so many chances to come clean; and even when the truth, came to light... he couldn't even man up! There's just not one single green flag about him. Courtney deserved better when she found out, and when she forgave him. I don't think she got a decent enough apology or amount of grovelling for her to warrant forgiveness and a clean slate.

The smut also put me off to a degree because Finn wasn't respectful in those situations, and while Courtney claimed it "turned her on", it just gave me the ick. I really just wanted to skip past the smutty parts. While some may enjoy this, I don't want to read about a man who pushes himself in without any warning and doesn't care about whether the other person is okay in that moment or not. YUCK.

Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I even bothered to give this story two stars if all I've done so far is complain... Despite the above complaints, I did enjoy the little story about Martha and the element that she was burned at the stake. I liked the way she was involved within the story and how Courtney's findings allowed Martha's story to come to light and in some ways, receive closure. I think Martha was reincarnated into the bat that was known as Olive. Those little moments had my heart, and I feel like Martha got to have peace in the end.

All in all, this book did not live up to my expectations. I think plenty of people will enjoy it, but I personally think the characters lacked chemistry, and that too much was repeated consistently via the main character and her issues. We never got to see Courtney improve as a person, we never got to see the town truly hit rock bottom before things improved, and we never truly got to know Finn behind his mayor persona.

Thank you to Katherine Belle for allowing me this ARC, I'm truly sorry for my negative review, you're a lovely person, and I wish you nothing but the best for the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lucinda Wicked.
Author 27 books78 followers
February 7, 2025
Absolutely obsessed with this book. Havenwood is the kind of story that sneaks up on you and refuses to let go. The writing is so immersive that you can practically smell the autumn air and feel the cobblestone streets beneath your feet. Courtney, our sharp and slightly jaded screenwriter, lands in this sleepy little New England town for what’s supposed to be a temporary escape—but nothing about Havenwood is ordinary. Between the town’s eerie history, a mysterious rental listing that practically summoned her, and the undeniably magnetic (and broody) Mayor Finn Abernathy, her quiet retreat quickly turns into something much more intriguing.

The romance? Slow-burn perfection. Finn is one of those heroes who carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, and watching him soften for Courtney is everything. There’s humor, tension, and the perfect sprinkle of supernatural intrigue—because what’s a haunted New England town without a few ghost stories, right?

If you love small-town romance, hidden secrets, and a dash of witchy history, you need this book in your life. Katherine Belle has crafted something special here, and I’ll be thinking about Havenwood (and Finn’s unfairly good looks) for a long, long time.
Profile Image for Shelby Miller.
46 reviews
August 22, 2024
🍁🦇I loved the setting of this book, the perfect cozy fall town. I so desperately crave to spend fall in New England and this only made we want to pack up my life and go! I loved the bit of history with the discussion of the witch trials.🦇🍁

I understand that this is the author’s debut novel and i would like to commend her for all the work she put into this book. I saw on instagram that she even designed the cover herself, which i think is really cool. I will keep an eye out for future works published by this author!

Now for some things i did not love as much:
-i felt that the relationship progression between Finn and Courtney was from 0-100 and i would have at least liked for them to have more tension/build up
-i wanted more background and depth from Finn (like hello are we just going to ignore that his whole family died in a fire??)
-this felt very hallmark movie to me, the “plot” was very predictable
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kimmy Cervantes.
102 reviews
July 16, 2025
Finn is the book boyfriend I didn’t know I was holding out for and yes, I will absolutely die on that hill.

Havenwood has everything: small-town charm, a touch of magic, swoony romance, heartfelt drama, and blushing moments that will leave you wanting more. Katherine Belle masterfully brings this town to life, making each character feel like someone you’ve known forever.

What truly sets this story apart is its ability to blend grounded, emotional storytelling with just the right amount of wonder. It’s raw and real, yet filled with a quiet, enchanting mystery that keeps the pages turning. If you’re drawn to stories about women reclaiming their sense of self, rediscovering love in all its forms, and finding home in unexpected places, Havenwood is calling your name.
Profile Image for Christina.
205 reviews
June 22, 2025
Someone must have once told the author that always using "me" was incorrect, so now she uses "I" all the time when it is wrong. It's starting to seriously annoy me.

Examples:
"[...] was too drunk to remember eavesdropping on Milo and I's plan [...]"

"[...] there will never be a future between Starr and I."

"[...] their absence soaking Finn and I into an awkward silence."

There also some words missing here and there.

The book seriously needs to be professionally proofread.



Final review: the errors are horrendous, girl, get an editor!

Story - 4 stars
Errors - minus 1 star
Epilogue engagement - minus 1 star

Two stars remain.
Profile Image for Pien Veld.
226 reviews5 followers
July 1, 2024

ARC read. 2.5 stars. I was a little disappointed with this book. It felt like the main characters fell in love so quick, I wish there was more tension and some more conversations between them. Also I felt like so many things could’ve been avoided if they just had an honest conversation right from the start.

I liked seeing the grow from Courtney personally, but wish we had some more background from Finn besides hearing that his parents died.

Besides that it was still pretty cute and a quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Shakira.
302 reviews5 followers
December 3, 2024
I read this book twice (once because I sped read while I was grieving and the second time to make sure my feelings were not influenced by life events). It’s a cute cozy fall read with a little spice. The FMC is really relatable,which was nice, and the MMC was dedicated and stoic, a weird combination but it worked for Finn. The combination of events was ok but it wasn’t really cohesive for the timing of it. Overall it was a cute read.
Profile Image for Heather Catherine.
105 reviews1 follower
September 27, 2025
This book was such a pleasant surprise! It’s the perfect kick-off to fall reading—small town charm with just the right touch of spooky vibes. I loved the cozy, seasonal atmosphere and the way the romance added warmth to the story. It kept me hooked from start to finish, and I just really enjoyed every moment of reading it. Definitely a great pick if you’re looking for a fall romance with a little something extra.
Profile Image for Jasmine Agron.
111 reviews7 followers
July 7, 2024
I’m usually not one for contemporary romance, but this one intrigued me with it’s fall vibes 🍂 taking place in a town close to Salem & talks of the witch trials, it gives multiple spooky & paranormal elements that made me want to dive right in. 🖤

Courtney is a screenwriter & when she finds herself unemployed due to the strike & freshly broken up with, she moves from LA to the small town of Havenwood. She has instant attraction to the town mayor, as well as the dying town itself. There is something that can be done to save the town, but first secrets need to be uncovered.

I absolutely loved & throughly enjoyed this small town romance story with tropes of insta love, miscommunication & found family. It was so cute & the spice was spicy 🥵🔥
22 reviews
February 7, 2025
This was such a cute RomCom! I loved the fall vibes, and it made me wish summer was over! I really enjoyed the mix of 2 of my favorite genres, romance and mystery. If you enjoyed Gilmore Girls I really think you'll enjoy this book. I wish I could visit Havenwood. I can't wait to see what else this author has for us in the future!
Profile Image for Haven Gwynn.
Author 4 books11 followers
March 6, 2025
This book had all of the cozy vibes and a great cast of characters. The main thing that bothered me was the use of not-quite-right words (like qualms instead of quirks). That didn't take me out of the story though. I loved the supernatural element and I'd love for Havenwood to be a real place! I hope to read more from this author soon!
2 reviews
July 2, 2024
Read this book as an ARC and absolutely loved it! Total fall vibes and fun tropes such as: instalove, small town, found family. HOT TAKE. I like the miscommunication trope and I loved it in this story. The spice was a bit heavy for me but that’s person preference. Overall 10/10.
Profile Image for Sam.
127 reviews
July 22, 2024
I'll be buying this soon for sure. Perfect if you need a book to get you in the mood for autumn 🍂 10/10
Also something sweet to read if you need a break from dark romance but don't want something boring 🤎
Profile Image for Priscilla Erkelens.
49 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2024
ARC reader. This was a wonderful book. I really loved it from the beginning.
Profile Image for J.A. A. Keeton.
Author 3 books78 followers
July 7, 2024
Love the writing style! Highly recommend if you are looking for a smalltown, fall themed romance with some spice added ❤️
28 reviews
October 9, 2024
Small town romantic vibes perfect for a two day read with your choice of coffee or cider…this cute little story reminds us that there are happy endings…
Great writing Katherine Belle!
Profile Image for Evelyn Morales.
26 reviews
November 15, 2024
The whole book felt rushed. The first kiss came out of nowhere. there was no buildup. You dont really get to know the characters much.
Profile Image for Amanda_X.
42 reviews9 followers
July 7, 2024
Havenwood has me wishing for fall in the middle of summer! This was a super cute small town romance with all the autumn vibes. It’s giving spicy Gilmore Girls with a side of paranormal. Overall, I felt the book was well done especially for a debut novel. My only wish is that we would have seen more of the relationship development played out between the main characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.