🍂✨Can she rekindle the love she left behind? A spicy second-chance romance that's like a hug in book form - if you love The Pumpkin Spice Cafe series and Gilmore Girls, this is the perfect book to curl up with this autumn!✨🍂
When Penny returns to Magnolia Springs after ten years in San Francisco, she tells herself it's only for the fall. She's there to help her parents with the harvest season on their orchard, surrounded by golden leaves and baskets of red apples, and she swears she'll be back to her city life by December. But Penny didn’t expect to find her childhood sweetheart, Ethan, working at the orchard, too.
She can't quite believe that the boy she left behind to chase her dreams has grown into a man who is even more handsome than she remembers. His broad shoulders, dirty blonde hair, and deep brown eyes still set her heart racing, and his steady presence soon stirs up feelings that Penny thought she'd left in the past.
As the golden leaves start to fall and long days of harvesting side-by-side turn into cozy evenings with Ethan, Penny finds herself drawn to him all over again. Now, Penny is facing a choice: return to the life she built for herself in the city or stay with the man who still feels like home. Because this time, leaving Magnolia Springs might mean losing Ethan for good…
🍎 ✨ 🍂 🤎 🍁
Tropes 🌟 Second chance 🌟 Small town 🌟 The one that got away 🌟 Childhood sweethearts 🌟 Forced proximity 🌟 Seasonal romance
Curling up under a blanket with a hot drink. The smell of autumn air after it's been raining. Pumpkin spice everything. These are the exact vibes that this book embodied.
Tropes 🍂 Small town 🍂 Second chance romance 🍂 It's always been you 🍂 Forced proximity
The story did feel a tad bit rushed, and in my opinion the third act disagreement/miscommunication was totally unnecessary (I'm not keen on a third act breakup in general tbh), but it was cute how everything came together at the end and I did still really enjoy this book.
This was a quick and easy read, and although cheesy in some places, Cozy Girl Fall was the exact type of book I needed. It was the perfect palate cleanser and a sweet story to celebrate the change in seasons. — These months are the 👏🏻 best 👏🏻 time of year and I will NOT be hearing otherwise.
Exactly as the title promised, this was the cozy fall book of the SEASON. 🍎
The book cover is so pretty and I love fall themed books but this wasn’t for me. I got second hand cringe for the characters, it felt rushed and like everything happened in about 20 pages and the rest was just meh.
Oh, this was such a cute and cosy read. I went in with no expectations having not seen any reviews, and I absolutely loved it! Truly the definition of a warm, comforting hug in book form. It really has those Hallmark movie vibes and was just what I needed right now. It’s a quick and easy read, set in a cute small town with a steamy second chance romance. Highly recommend picking up a copy for autumn! Thank you so much to the publisher for my arc.
Cozy Fall Girl is, indeed, a cozy fall book. For all those who love the Dream Harbour series: this is your next read to devour on the couch with a blanket.
Be warned though, the plot is very predictable, but this doesn’t make it any less fun to read. After all, Hallmark movies are still a thing because of a reason.
Cozy Girl Fall е точно това, което подсказва заглавието й - уютна романтична история за студените есенни дни. Тя е кратка, представя малък град, в който всички се познават, има частни малки бизнеси, които развиват мястото и едно момиче, завръщащо се след 10 годишно отсъствие. А елементите, създаващи желание да сме сгушени на топло, с чаша горещ чай или шоколад, или лате с типичните за сезона подправки, засилват цялата емоция от четенето й! Сякаш четях продължение на Pumpkin Spice Cafe на Laurie Gilmore. В добрия смисъл. Усещанията от тази нашумялата есенна книга оформяха и Cozy Girl Fall. Естествено тук си имаше собствени елементи - Пени работеше в ябълковата градина на родителите си. Самата тя искаше да стане готвач в голям град, но, съвсем реалистично, тя не беше от хората, рисуващи да загубят всяка минута от живота си в кухнята и да бъде навиквана и обиждане от главния готвач, въпреки старанието си. Искаше да разграничи работата си от удоволствието да готви за удоволствие и едновременно да има живот за живеене. Итън си беше младият мъж, който би направил шастлива всяка жена само с няколко думи и с постоянството на отдадеността си. Да очакваш гаджето си да се завърне в родния град десет години, без да имаш доказателство, че това ще стане, не е малък жест! Друг е въпросът защо не я е последвал в търсенето й на поприще навън? Но не всеки е роден да лъкатуши из непознатото и да живее с проба - грешка. Изтъркано или не, но някои хора си тежат на мястото! И постоянството им е най - силната им страна - и в отношенията и в чувствата! Харесах Cozy Girl Fall ! Цялата книга си беше чудесна плетеница от реалистични характери и постъпки сред, вече по - често , нереални ( но прекрасни ) жестове на привързаност, на упорит семеен труд и привързаност към атмосферата на мястото, в което сме родени! Историята на Пени и Итън се развиваше в романтичния отрязък от времето между ярко оцветената есен, през ноемврийските семейни, празници до приказните коледни базари и светлини. Така, когато и да бъде четена, Cozy Girl Fall ще носи топлото и уютно чувство, че искаме да преживеем тези месеци по най - добрия за нас начин!
Nothing mindblowing, just a standard small town romance. However the fall vibes were vibing, everything got ticked off and I love that. Now I want pie.
I enjoyed this soo much! It’s a beautifully heartfelt, second chance romance with cosy autumnal vibes you’ll want to curl up under a blanket and savour.
From the small town setting (that wouldn’t be out of place in a hallmark movie) to the warm autumnal imagery and endearingly relatable cast of characters. Willow Hurst weaves a compellingly low stakes, Gilmore Girl-esque read that I didn’t want to put down.
I really liked our protagonist, Penny an ambitious yet restless chef who makes an emotional journey back to her hometown (ten years after leaving without a backward glance.) And reunites with her bestie Tasha and childhood sweetheart, Ethan, both of whom she ghosted without even a goodbye.
I loved exploring Penny’s memories of her town, her dynamics with her parents (who were adorably entertaining) and how her opinions have slowly but surely changed after soo long away. Along with a rather nuanced depiction of her struggles with her own ambitions and success.
But it was the warmth and comforting support of Ethan, (as Penny faces that conflicted feeling of uncertainty) that really made this such an enjoyable read for me.
He was an absolute cinnamon-roll of a character, who wasn’t afraid to share his vulnerability with Penny. But also never pressured Penny or tried to sway her decisions, making the chemistry (and rekindled romance that grows between them) feel all the more satisfyingly authentic.
We do get some tension with the introduction of Ethan’s ex, but her arrival opened up discussions that Penny and Ethan really needed to have. And led to some pretty steamy scenes I was not mad about!
Overall, this was a satisfyingly cosy read full of small town charm, that fans of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe or Lovelight Farms should definitely consider checking out.
Also, a huge thank you to Emma Fairey & Penguin UK for this beautiful PB copy.
I enjoyed this even more than i thought I would. A small town, former lovers, best friends, farm and super cozy story. It is a quick and easy read which was very pleasant.
Oh and yes, the spice was actually quite good, better than expected. So yes please treat yourself to this book next to a pumpkin spice latte or hot chocolate.
Looking forward to spring 2026 to the next book in the series! (Yes we love comfort series) 🍎🍂🐴🕯️🥧
maarr.. - ik voelde de liefde niet - het was heel kinderachtig geschreven - het ging over dat ze vroeger kinderliefde hadden, like hoe ging dat? meer daarover? - het koppel voelt echt 17, maar is 28
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
You know what it was cute and fluffy and full of pumpkin spice
The epilogue though… fmc wishing for her restaurant to be a success whilst the mmc wished for their relationship to be a success… yeah we all know how that pie is going to bake in the oven 🥧
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Cozy Girl Fall felt a lot like a hallmark movie with a fall theme; so if that’s your vibe, you’ll love this!
Though, if I compare this to my expectations I had for a book, it was a bit of a miss. This had a cute romance story, though predictable and I was missing some depth. The potential was definitely there but I think that was just not what the author was going for and that’s fine! I liked the second chance for Penny and Ethan, just wished there was more there as it was a bit shallow and rushed. There’s this mention of children (the typical stuff) from their parents and it was never followed up on. The epilogue, whilst cute, was very short and didn’t really deliver an ending that matched the vibes of the story itself; it was cute but i expected a bit more. The side characters were very stereotypical and mostly unlikeable. Very movie small town-ish ex-girlfriend that was one of the popular mean girls in school, overbearing parents etc. Generally, I’d say where hallmark movies come up short for me are the same issues this book had for me. Though I would say I’d watch this as a movie and have a fabulous time, but maybe the book format isn’t the best medium (for me!). That being said, I totally see why others have loved this.
*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a finished copy in exchange for my honest thoughts*
a cute autumn themed read, very hallmark coded! as someone who loves autumn, i really enjoyed how cosy this book was — i could practically feel the weather and the vibes through the pages. the romance between ethan and penny could have been developed a little more, there was a tad reliance on the fact they loved each other years ago without a lot of build up when they met again years later. nevertheless, i had a fun time with this one!
thank you to the publisher for the sending me an arc <3
4.5 stars - Penny left her small town of Magnolia Springs 10 years ago to pursue her dream of becoming a chef. Leaving her parents, best friend and boyfriend behind without a goodbye. Returning when things don’t go according to plan in San Francisco, she’s anxious to see everyone again, especially Tasha (her old best friend) and Ethan (Penny’s childhood sweetheart).
Working at her family’s apple orchard during their harvesting season is a good excuse for why she is back in town without having to admit that she quit her job. It turns out that she’s not the only one working in the orchard to help out.
Ethan is a lot like she remembered at 18, but he’s a lot more than she had anticipated after 10 years. But he’s still the cocky and charming Ethan she remembered. Trying to find any excuse not to bump into him again and keep her promise to Tasha, she stays busy and away at any opportunity despite his persistence of catching up.
It’s a cute and cozy read as well as romantic and the best second-chance romance I’ve read in a long time. Plus there’s lots of food and the best autumn small town vibes.
A cute, seasonal, feel-good romance centred around Penny and Ethan who are childhood sweethearts. Penny returns to her hometown Magnolia Springs after 10 years away and rekindles her relationship with Ethan; tall, strong, handsome and very loyal.
There are apple pies, pumpkin spiced lattes, small town drama, apple orchards, (very!) steamy scenes, and plenty of charm. A very easy autumnal romance read.
It did stay very surface level and I would have liked more character depth, sometimes more detail and backstory, and maybe a little more thrill. The only thing that didn’t meander along was the sex scenes which actually were lots and very intense.
So, if you’re in the mood for easy, gentle but spicy romance then definitely one to pick up!
I was really enjoying this one up until about a third of the way in, and then it just did a complete 180. I know it was a second chance romance and there’s already a connection there, but I just didn’t really feel it from Penny and she was the only pov we had. It just seemed that Ethan was wayyyyy more into her than she was into him. The ending was also very abrupt and the third act conflict was solved immediately without any real kind of resolution. It’s getting 3 stars purely for the fact that I’ve read far worse books, and most of it was fast paced and enjoyable.
As a mostly thriller reader, this was a great palette cleanser and something lighter to read. The storyline and writing style were easy to follow, and there was a little bit of spice but not loads. I loved the descriptions of all the autumnal settings.
It's a second chance, small town romance book with main characters Penny and Ethan, who were together 10 years ago. Penny quits her job and moves home to help her parents on their apple orchard, and you can kind of guess where the plots gonna go from there!
I did find the third act breakup and the ending really fast, all seemed to resolve itself quite quickly
Spoilers below!! . . . . . . The minute Penny saw the vacant restaurant I knew she was gonna buy it and stay in Magnolia Springs!
Thank you to @netgalley for approving me to read this book.
This book was gorgeous!! Simply gorgeous.
It is like a hug in book form. I love small town romance novels and throw in some cozy autumn vibes and you’re on to a winner.
I think for me, I adored the relationship between Penny and Ethan. It was clear from the start that they had something special and I really enjoyed seeing their story play out!
I’d love a second book in the series as I’m desperate to visit Magnolia Springs again!!
Second Chance Romance. Cosy Read. Small Town Romance.
This is just the perfect little Autumn read to get you ready for the cosy season. A quick and lighthearted read that will warm you heart like hot cocoa.
Ethan is just a dream guy, sweet, understanding, mature and kind. And the patience he has with Penny whilst she is working through everything and making her decisions is amazing.
My only wish, is that Shelby should have gotten her comeuppance and I would love to read Tasha's story.
Cozy Girl Fall delivers a heartfelt and emotionally resonant journey of self-discovery, wrapped in the warmth of autumn vibes and complex relationships. The characters are beautifully drawn, flawed, relatable, and full of quiet strength. I especially connected with the central theme of escaping your childhood home: the fear, the grief, and ultimately the liberation that comes with choosing your own path. It’s a powerful message, and the author handles it with sensitivity and insight. However, the ending left me frustrated. After such a rich build-up, the final chapters felt rushed and abrupt, as if the story was cut short just when it needed space to breathe. I was hoping for a sequel to continue the journey, but it seems the next book shifts focus to a different couple entirely. That pivot was disappointing, especially after becoming so invested in these characters.
Overall, Cozy Girl Fall is a moving and memorable read, but the ending undermines its emotional payoff. Still, it’s worth picking up for the journey, even if the destination doesn’t quite satisfy. But still… I’m mad about it 🤣
I would say more of a 4.5 star. I really enjoyed this, it was so heart warming and such a comfy, cosy read. I loved the characters, the story just everything. The only reason it isn't a full 5 stars is just that I felt at the start of the book Ethan's full name was too over used. But I would recommend this book :)
This was a cute little Autumnal romance read, it felt a bit similar to a few other books I have read but it did have a little bit of spice in too. I wouldn’t say I was hooked on this one and it took me a while to read but it would definitely be the perfect book for anyone who loved the PSC and anyone who loves a cute little Autumnal read.
2.5 ⭐️ ik wilde dit boek lezen als tussenboek met niet te veel inhoud. Dat was het wel echt. Ik vond alleen alle karakters irritant zo'n beetje uit dit boek. Het plot vond ik ook totaal niet geloofwaardig. Het is opzich wel een heel cosy schattig boek, maar ik voelde hier niks voor haha