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Maplewood Falls #1

Falling for Finn

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Falling for Finn isn’t part of my plan.
He’s older, moody, and complains about everything I do.

His family flies me three thousand miles out to their orchard farm in Vermont to do a painting for their centennial celebration. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime to do a piece for the Bennetts, but I don’t expect my clients’ grandson to rope me into a fake dating scheme.

When his ex-girlfriend shows up expecting to sleep in the cottage I’m currently in, I volunteer to stay with Finn to keep up appearances that we’re together.

Except there’s only one bed, and I refuse to sleep on his small couch.

As my reluctant tour guide, he’s forced to show me around while pretending we’re in love. Painting is my life and this job will bring me even more in the future, so I suck it up and deal with Mr. Grumpy.

And since he’s hell-bent on being insufferable, I won’t make this easy on him either.
But then he goes and falls for me, too.


Falling for Finn was previously published as “The Fall of Us” by Kennedy Fox. It’s been re-edited and includes bonus content. This is a full length novel.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2024

570 people are currently reading
14944 people want to read

About the author

Brooke Fox

6 books224 followers
Brooke Fox is the alternate pen name for Brooke Montgomery. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, teenage daughter, and four dogs. She survives on iced coffee and afternoon naps.

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5 stars
550 (28%)
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798 (40%)
3 stars
465 (23%)
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116 (5%)
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31 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
Profile Image for Bec.
301 reviews
October 9, 2024
DNF
The MMC was awful. He was rude, hypocritical, and just a jerk. Grumpy/sunshine isn’t an excuse for the guy to treat the woman horribly.
Profile Image for Jenn (The Book Refuge).
2,667 reviews4,489 followers
October 2, 2024
If you're looking for the fall vibes, this book has them in spades. Set in an orchard in Vermont, I was living my best cozy life. I mean the heroine's name is even Oakley! Too perfect.

Oakley gets hired to do a painting by the family that owns the orchard and Finn is made her reluctant tour guide. He thinks she's a city slicker and wants nothing to with her. Until... his ex-girlfriend sticks her nose into his business and he impulsively ropes Oakley into being his fake girlfriend.

They have great banter and chemistry for days. Finn maybe a grump but he can't stay like that for long around Oakley. It's just a matter of time until they explode.

This was a quick, fall read with just the right amount of... apple spice!

4 Stars
3 on the spice scale

*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*
Profile Image for Mackenzie.
427 reviews1,137 followers
October 7, 2024
4/5⭐️
2/5🌶️

Brooke said age gap, I said SOLD. This was such a cute, quick, & spicy read! The perfect read for fall. I loved the banter & chemistry with these two.

Thank you to Brooke & her team for the ARC!

Tropes:
- Small Town
- Age Gap (11 yrs)
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Fake Dating
- Forced Proximity
- One Bed
- Country Boy x City Girl
Profile Image for TheBookPlatypus.
1,239 reviews263 followers
September 26, 2024
This is the perfect book for small town Fall vibes!
Brooke Fox created such a beautiful Autumn setting, I sat on my front porch watching all my leaves fall on my own little farm and pretended I was in Maplewood Falls, Vermont while reading this.

Oakley is a talented artist and was commissioned to take some time to paint some art of a successful farm in Vermont. Getting off the plane from California, she’s met with her driver.. the rudest man she’s ever met. Finn. Grandson to the owners of the Bennett Orchard Farms and the do all kinda guy around the place. But he’s pissed to be this city girls chauffeur for a week.

The banter is hilarious. Oakley gives it good as well as takes Finn smartass remarks. I found these two chemistry together off the charts immediately.

🍁 Small Town
🍎 Apple Tree Farm/Fall Vibes
🍁Frenemies to Lovers
🍎 Ex girlfriend causing chaos
🍁 Spice is spicin’!!
🍎 Found Family and amazing side characters
🍁Grumpy/Sunshine
🍎 Fake Dating with benefits
🍁Forced Proximity

When Finn’s ex arrives, he makes a rash decision to announce Oakley is his girl and they’re in love. When the pretending turns into no longer pretending, city girl must get back home to her job and life…

I loved the HEA. I loved the setting. I love the characters. I find Brooke Fox’s writing style utterly addicting. I can’t wait for the next story!
Profile Image for Father Lib.
435 reviews65 followers
October 10, 2024
5 BOBBING FOR SOULMATES STARS !!!

Finn Bennett + Oakley Benson are the perfect definition of ‘opposites attract’ . Well with Finn being a 3rd generation apple orchard farmer + Oakley being the most gifted painter .. those are just the basic differences lol . The number one thing that they have in common is their undying passion for their careers . And mix in all of the scorching hot chemistry between them and it’s a match made in bobbing for apples heaven ! I am beyond excited to see the women who bring down the rest of the Bennett crew .

This is book one in the Maple Falls series and it can be read as a complete stand alone .

This audiobook was given to me for honest review by the author .
Profile Image for Amy.
2,642 reviews2,022 followers
September 28, 2024
I’m deep into my seasonal reading and this might be the most perfectly fall book I’ve read so far, I loved it!! While I really liked every single aspect here the best part for me was the banter, it was SO good. Oakley and Finn really don’t like each other for a good portion of the book and the author gave us so many great one liners and hilarious bickering. The tension translated to some serious heat in the bedroom, these two 🥵 🫠 but you also get so many really sweet and cozy moments too. It’s also age gap, grump and sunshine, and small town plus fall in Vermont at an apple orchard. It doesn’t get more fall vibes than that.
Profile Image for Sarah.
584 reviews26 followers
November 22, 2024
I love a grumpy x sunshine romance, I love an age gap and I love fake dating so this was a winner for me!
⊹ perfect dislike to lovers vibes with amazing banter and verbal sparring.
⊹ The initial animosity between these two, then the addition of the fake dating arrangement had me hooked from the start.
⊹ obsessed with a man who doesn’t want to like her but is down baaaaad.
⊹ oakley had my kinda humour and I loved her. She was sassy and not afraid to stand up to this grumpy country boy.
⊹ finn was the grumpiest grump and I loved how he softened for her.
⊹ great cozy fall (or autumn in my side of the world) vibes.
⊹ brooke writes amazing spice… these two were explosive together.
⊹ I loved the breadcrumbs we got for Levi and I am so keen for his story next!
Profile Image for Nadine Bookaholic.
3,727 reviews526 followers
October 2, 2024
I was so engrossed in reading this that I didn’t even realize I was waiting five hours (not the 2.5 hours as promised) for my car to be serviced. I was instantly drawn to Oakley's sunshiney attitude. Usually, I'm drawn to the grumpy one, but she radiated off the pages.

Finn isn't happy that he has to take time out of his busy schedule to "Play Tour Guide" and show Oakley around the Apple Orchard that has been in his family for one hundred years; in fact, that is the very reason why she is there. Oakley is a brilliant artist, and Finn's grandmother commissioned her to do a painting to celebrate the Orchard's Centennial at a Celebration that will be held a little over a week after she arrives.

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewFfF

falling for finn by brooke fox

Nadine's Obsessed with Books **I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
You can find me here: Nadine Bookaholic's Links
Profile Image for Jawa Kween Reads.
283 reviews24 followers
October 7, 2024
Tropes
🍎 Grumpy x Sunshine
🎨 Age Gap (she's 23 and he's 34)
🍎 Dislike to Lovers
🎨 Country Boy x City Girl
🍎 Fake Dating
🎨 Forced Prox / one bed
🍎 Fall Vibes

This was such a cute fall vibes book! I loved that it was set around an apple orchard I feel apples are very under rated in the fall!

Oakley comes to Vermont to paint a landscape piece for Bennett Orchard Farms. However, Finn didn't want to be bothered showing her around so she can get a feel for the land as his grandmother wants. Finn is downright rude to her but Oakley is from sunny California and can hold her own and gives him shit right back.

From the moment they met you can feel the dislike between them, but it's more like chemistry brewing between them.

Finn's ex-fiancé shows up and a slip up has Finn and Oakley in a sticky situation of a fake relationship and one bed. No matter how much they try to deny their feelings and them knowing this will all come to an end they still decided to give it a go while for whatever amount of time they could.
Profile Image for ella.
411 reviews21 followers
October 2, 2024
i love a good seasonal read, and this gave me the best fall vibes! it was such a quick and cozy read with the perfect mix of banter, steam and swoonworthy moments - everything i love about a small town romance.

highly recommend this if you’re looking for a short and sweet romance to get you cozied up and ready for fall.

- small town
- grumpy x sunshine
- fake dating
- age gap
- country boy x city girl

4.5 ⭐️
3 🌶️
Profile Image for Sam.
345 reviews31 followers
September 26, 2024
Rating: 3.5

This was a quick, lighthearted small town romance with the perfect dash of humor. It was fun to meet Oakley and Finn and see the small town of Maplewood Falls.

Oakley is an artist hired by the Bennett family to create a special painting for their centennial celebration. She isn’t expecting to come face-to-face with Finn Bennett, the grumpy orchard worker who doesn’t want her there. Oakley and Finn are constantly at each other's throats until Finn’s ex shows up and Finn ropes Oakley into a fake dating scheme! Unfortunately, Finn’s ex needs to stay at the farm and there are no rooms at the local inn–which means Oakley is forced to share a cabin with Finn during her time there. As they spend more time together, Oakley and Finn find themselves getting to know each other, and suddenly things don’t feel so fake between them anymore. They both know Oakley has to leave soon, so they make the most of the time they have. What will happen when it’s time for Oakley to leave, but she and Finn realize that they just might be falling for each other?

This was a fun story and a quick read. I love a grumpy/sunshine story and this story embodied that well. Since this is a shorter story, things did happen quickly between them–their relationship went from enemies to lovers in about a week. It was a little too insta-love/insta-lust for my tastes, but if you like that trope, you’ll like this story. I also felt like, because the romance storyline happened so quickly, a good portion of the end of the story didn’t need to be included. I felt like it was dragging a bit at the end because they were already together, so the ending came across as kind of redundant. If you don’t mind some extra fluff after the romance storyline is wrapped up (even before the epilogue), you’ll like this story.

All in all, this was a good story. If you’re looking for a lighthearted, quick read, this might be the story for you. It has the grumpy/sunshine trope done well, and the characters were fun and well-written. If you want a Hallmark movie-esque story, check this one out because you’ll enjoy Maplewood Falls and all the people in town!


Thank you, Brooke, for providing me with an ARC!
Profile Image for Carlota.
118 reviews
October 12, 2024
This book promised everything and, in my opinion, delivered almost nothing. I have a hard time believing that it is written by the same author as the Sugarland Creek series because I felt that the writing was very different. It all happened very quickly and a lot of things were left without context. In 20 days the characters were completely in love and I'm not the biggest fan of insta love. However, the plot isn't bad and the book is a quick autumn read.
Profile Image for Rebecca Shaw.
12 reviews1 follower
September 22, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (2/5)

This is SUCH a fun and sweet Autumn/Fall vibes, perfect for the season 😍

I absolutely smashed through this in about a day which, if you know me and know I’m a slower reader, shows I basically did nothing all day and could not put it down! The dynamic between Finn and Oakley was everything, you could see Oakley bringing Finn out of his Mr. Grumpy phase and in that ‘fuck it’ moment, UGH it was SO good 😍 you see the love gradually be accepted by both of them when they realise they don’t ACTUALLY hate each other and are meant to be 💕

It had all the tropes you could ask for! Grumpy/sunshine, one bed, age gap, small town vibes, fake dating and the family is just perfection. One thing (of many) Brooke knows how to do is write a wholesome family and she’s gone and done it again!! I adore the ‘grandma that knows everything that’s going on’ theme from the Sugarland Creek series, and it’s again in this and Grandma Willa was wonderful ❤️ I’d do anything to visit the farm and have some of their caramel apples 😍

Overall, this is an absolutely gorgeous autumn story you should definitely pick up! The vibes are immaculate, the love story is wonderful and I will definitely be waiting to read about Levi and Fallon in the next one 😍
Profile Image for Emily Johnston (Booked.Up.With.Emily).
1,574 reviews114 followers
October 1, 2024
Falling for Finn is every Hallmark lovers dream plus spice! Brooke gives us all of the comfy and cozy fall vibes.

🧡Small town romance
🧡Age gap
🧡Grumpy x sunshine
🧡Fake dating
🧡One bed

When Oakley arrives in town temporarily, she expects to be in and out and move on with getting a full time job back in California. When the Oakley arrives at Finn’s family farm, the moody older grump is instantly entranced, even when he doesn’t want to admit it.

He goes from staying away from Oakley to somehow bring in a fake relationship with her. And that fake relationship quickly turns into so much more.

If you are looking for an adorably cozy book to read in front of the fire at night wrapped in a blanket, this is the book for you! Finn and Oakley will steal your hearts and make you fall in love with them and Finn’s family.

Andi Arndt and Aiden Snow were the perfect duo to bring these characters to life! I loved the tenacity that Andi brought to Oakley and how Aiden’s gruff voice completely embodied Finn’s grumpiness.
Profile Image for Erin Lewis.
6,192 reviews220 followers
October 2, 2024
5 Star Review Falling For Finn (Maplewood Falls Book 1) by Brooke Fox

AUDIO REVIEW:

I really enjoyed this story from Brooke Fox. The narration by Andi Arndt and Aiden Snow really brought this story to life for me. They were both well suited to the characters and were so easy to listen to. Their narration expressed the passion and the ups and downs that the characters went through and made for an entertaining listen.

From the moment they met the sparks flew between Finn and Oakley and I really enjoyed the push and pull dynamic of their relationship as the story progressed. Although to be honest I wanted to smack some sense into Finn, he was such an arrogant jerk. However Brooke Fox soon had him redeeming himself.

It was also entertaining to see the growth of both Finn and Oakley as the story unfolded.

The secondary characters were engaging and I hope to see some of them in future stories. What happens when Oakley finishes her commissions? Will they go their separate ways or take a chance on the happiness they deserve?

One click and find out.
Profile Image for Kristina.
162 reviews1 follower
October 15, 2024
♡ 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ♡

𝙼𝚊𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝙵𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜

𝙵𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝙵𝚒𝚗𝚗

Rating:
⭐️ 4/5 🌶 3/5

Trope:
• Grumpy/Sunshine •
• Age Gap •
• Fake Dating •
• Small Town •

This is book one in the Maplewood Falls series. This book follows Oakley & Finn. Oakley is hired to paint the Bennett family apple orchard. She gets there and meets Finn who happens to not only be grumpy but very nice to look at. When Finns ex girlfriend shows up he makes the decision to pretend that he and Oakley are now dating. All of a sudden they are spending more time together the lines between fake & real start to blur! Want to find out what happens? Read Falling For Finn to find out!

I originally read this book when it was under the ‘Kennedy Fox’ I loved watching Brooke put her own spin on the book now that it’s her own! I cannot wait for Levi’s book!!
Profile Image for Kate Powers.
249 reviews3 followers
October 23, 2024
3.8/5 stars- Cute!

This was an easy read that was suggested to me by a friend. Loved the characters and the home town. I cannot wait for the next book!

Finn and Oakley

Oakley was asked to paint for a 100 year anniversary of an orchard and Finn was in charge of showing her around. They get on each others nerves more than anything else and they bicker like an old married couple. After giving into their undeniable chemistry together, they learn that life is better being together but Oakley cannot unroot her life and neither can Finn. Two week is all it takes for them to come back together.
Profile Image for Nia Schofield.
73 reviews3 followers
September 25, 2024
Well, this book was fantastic.
A fan of brooke montgomery? This is her other pen name, brooke Fox.

This book is the perfect mix of love and lust. If you like grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, and fake dating to name but a few, you will love this book.

This is the story of Finn and Oakley, Finn is a small town farm worker whose family employed Oakley to commission a painting for them. They are pushed together, hate each other and then a series of events unfolds a story that had me kicking my feet.
Profile Image for Madison_renee2415.
408 reviews5 followers
September 29, 2024
Oh how I loved this story so much!
Finn is forced to show Oakley around his family’s Orchard Farm so she can paint a portrait for his grandma. Then his ex girlfriend pops up and he lies about Oakley being his girlfriend, after bickering with Oakley for the past few days.
I loved the chemistry between these two characters and I just loved how they brought out the real version of themselves.
This book makes me want to visit an Orchard Farm!
Profile Image for Eva ✨.
222 reviews5 followers
September 6, 2025
Hallmark, but make it spicier. I love when the grump meets his sunshine and makes it seem like he’s not obsessed with her, when in reality he is 100% obsessed with her.

I loved their banter and chemistry. The shower scenes - yes, multiple. Phew. The kitchen scene? Yes, please.

Suddenly I have a desire to take up painting and move to a small Vermont town to try and find a grumpy man on an Apple orchard, who I hope has a crazy ex and we can pretend to be in a relationship to make her jealous.
Profile Image for Haley Ashe.
377 reviews6 followers
September 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)
Falling for Finn by Brooke Fox

I was hoping for a fun fall rom-com, but that’s not what this was. This read more cozy and smutty than funny—and while that’s fine, it just wasn’t what I was in the mood for. Finn was kind of an ass, and I didn’t really feel their connection outside the bedroom. Cheesy age-gap romance? Sure. Light and fluffy? Yep. But not the laugh-out-loud autumn romance I was hoping for.
Profile Image for Candace P..
1,083 reviews9 followers
October 2, 2024
This book was so sweet and was a great cozy fall read!

Grumpy x sunshine is one of my favorite tropes and Finn is the definition of a grump! I loved that Oakley being at his family orchard makes him even more of a grump because of how much he wants her.

My favorite part of the book was definitely the big family feel with all of the supporting characters! Aside from the characters we weren't supposed to like, I loved all of the characters we met!

I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Jessreads3.
539 reviews10 followers
October 3, 2024
* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
What a great read to start off FALL! Can I go to Maplewood Falls? I loved Finn and Oakley so much. I loved the Fall vibes really felt like I was there myself. I thought their chemistry was amazing. The spice was HOT and I loved the side characters.
Profile Image for Notyourmomsshelf.
569 reviews7 followers
September 27, 2024
I love a Brooke MMC no matter what his profession is. Finn as an apple farmer in Vermont was *chefs kiss* for my Autumn deprived soul. I really enjoyed that Oakley was able to give back the sass that Finn dished. She didn’t take any of his attitude and I was giggling the whole time.
I love that fake dating scheme came so naturally and that everything fell into place as easily as it did. The 3rd act was more heart wrenching than maddening and I was rooting so hard for the conclusion. A perfect read to get you into the fall spirit!
Profile Image for Amanda Lantz.
217 reviews45 followers
October 13, 2024
This was such a cute and fun book to read! It definitely had spice and smut in it. I was also pleasantly surprised with the random character art I came across 🤣🥵.

I love the age gap, grumpy/sunshine tropes. And all the autumn vibes.
Profile Image for Zenia Primrose.
85 reviews3 followers
October 14, 2024
This is a very cute romance novel. It was your average cutesy novel of love in small town. It literally can’t be bad. However I feel like the author made the age of 23 present much more immature than the usual 23 year old. Also, hate the word impale. Please..find a different word 😭
Profile Image for Hayley.
58 reviews
September 29, 2025
I decided to go with the audiobook because it's narrated by Andi Arndt and Aiden Snow, who are beyond incredible (and the reason I'm giving this four stars). The story is sweet, not super heavy with drama, and the narration performance is fantastic.
Profile Image for Nikki.
215 reviews29 followers
October 2, 2024
brooke truly never misses. the way that maplewood falls has been described makes me wish it was a real place i could visit. i desperately want to experience a fall festival at the apple orchard with finn's family or cut down a tree griswold style at levi's christmas tree farm! falling for finn is hallmark but make it spicy, and i've loved every second of it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews

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