After The Leaves Fell

by Ella Justice

For Oakley Tennen, change is harder than fishing with a broken pole.

With a job that drains her, a family held together by scars, and a reputation for being “unfeeling” at the best of times, Oakley’s only comfort is in the peace of Tennessee’s steadfast trees. But when her long-lost brother finally comes home with the same diagnosis that ruined their family once before, he brings chaos - and his closest friend, a cocky, annoyingly handsome hockey player - into her well-controlled life.

At first, Jason Westerman seems like Oakley's opposite in every way. He’s happy, she’s cold. He’s outgoing, she’s guarded. He’s defensive, she’s right. The only thing connecting them is their shared loyalty to her brother. Yet, when they’re pushed together time and again, Oakley realizes there might be more between them than their differences. They might even be alike. But when Jason becomes her anchor as they navigate family issues, friendships, fears, and dark circumstances that threaten to take away what she loves most, will Oakley find a way to embrace everything life brings to her - even after the leaves fall?

Genres: Hockey

331 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2025

Reviews

[hazel (taylor’s version)🎀💗 · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfection in a book

[Tatum - nuggetybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jason & Oakley
- single POV
- Fall & hockey contemporary romance with drama & some suspense
- Meetcute turned unfortunate
- L&D nurse FMC
- Hockey player MMC
- Strong village & found family
- Loving people well despite traumatic past & present circumstances
- Brother’s best friend
- One bed trope
- Built in playlist
- Moving quoting throughout book


✨ what I loved:
- the dedication 🥹
- THE ATTITUDE
- The teasing and banter
- Jason not giving up easily
- Oakley’s fierce love & loyalty to her people
- The nicknames
- Oakley’s growth and showing up for Jason even when she’s scared cause he deserves it
- The family bonding & healing
- THE DRAMA, THE SUSPENSE, THE MAKING OUT

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book 1 of the As The Seasons Change Series - Oh my gosh. My fall loving, hockey loving, romance loving, and drama loving heart actually exploded reading this book. I laughed. I cried. I freaking out. I sang the songs at the top of my lungs (because Ella included some AMAZING songs through out the book, I’m looking at you “What hurts the most”😉).

This book as so much heart. We all need to find the people in our lives who take care of us even when we are the most difficult stubborn people alive. I loved Oakley so much because that girl and I are too stubborn for our own good. I adored the village that rallied around her while thing after thing went wrong and Oakley felt helpless against any of it. The book shows the importance of community, of loving people fiercely, and embracing change.

I loved Oakley & Jason for many different reasons and I’m obsessed with them together. They balance one another so well and pick up the slack when the other is struggling. When one is weak, the other comes in and cares for their person completely. I LOVE that Jason doesn’t let Oakley self sabotage and he sees past it. But I love even more that Oakley apologizes and owns up to the hurt she caused and actively tries to change.

Every side character was *chef’s kiss* and made the story 100x better. The whole community felt real as they dealt with some of the hardships we have to deal with in real life. Some aspects of the story felt rushed but overall the characters and heart of the story spoke to me.

This is a closed door contemporary romance which includes suspense, The author has left a detailed note at the beginning with content warnings and over arching themes.

**Thank you so much to Ella for letting me read this ARC via NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy. No positive review was required. All thoughts are my own.**

Songs:
Everything I wanted by Billie Eilish
Greedy by Tate McRae
Like that by Bea Miller
Where’d that girl go by Morgan Wallen
Under my skin by Nate Smith
Name storms after by Nate Smith
Strangers by Ella Langley & Kameron Marlowe
Hell of man by Ella Langley
Excuse the mess by Ella Langley
My greatest fear by Benson Boone
Stuck with u by Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber
Piece of my heart by ROSIE
I was wrong by ROSIE
I’m fakin by Sabrina Carpenter
What are you afraid of? By Jessica Baio
Everything by Alex Warren
Loved you better by Dean Lewis & Jonas Brothers
Let me be the one by Lily Williams
Princess peach by Ruth B

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Because I can’t go on pretending I don’t feel on fire when I look at those beautiful brown eyes.”

Happy Release Day! Finished this one yesterday and what a cute fall romance! Perfect to ring in the autumn season! This is a closed door romance that was done so well! Oakley is a labor and delivery nurse who dreams of doing more with her medical career but is scared of change. Jason Westerman fell in love with hockey when it was the only consistent thing in his life, but when a run in with Oakley at the airport has them both on cloud 9, they both realize they may be in over their heads.

*check trigger warnings

Brothers Best Friend
One Bed
Hockey Player x Nurse
Found Family
Cozy Fall/Autumn Setting
Dislike to Lovers

Rating:4⭐️

[Madison Allshouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet love story🥰

This book was simultaneously cheesy and heavy - a sweet romance mingled with dealing with and working through trauma. I love a good hockey romance and the flipped grumpy x sunshine trope worked so well for Oakley and Jason🧡

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oakley is a nurse with a sharp edge and zero patience for nonsense—and honestly, I loved her for it. Her no-nonsense attitude fits perfectly against the stunning Tennessee backdrop the author paints. The autumn scenery, the small-town charm, and the quick “blast from the past” moment pulled me straight in, even as the deeper details unfolded slowly.

Jack, Oakley’s estranged brother, brings some heavy, very real-life issues into the story, and some readers may need to tread carefully. Still, I appreciated how fate—and a little karma—played into the way their paths collided. And then there’s Jason: the hotshot NFL star with a reputation and an attitude that could absolutely use a timeout. Of course, he’s connected to Jack through an old college friendship, which only makes things messier.

While Oakley and Jason take center stage, the family trauma and past wounds sit heavily in the background. Oakley carries unresolved issues—commitment, stress, avoidance, and that heartbreaking tendency to run from anything real. Jason may act tough, but underneath the swagger is a man shaped by his own trauma, soft and gooey where it counts. Their forced proximity gives him every chance to chip at Oakley’s walls, and watching her defenses crumble (slowly, stubbornly) is addictive.

Behind Oakley’s snark and grumpy exterior is a bleeding heart she tries desperately to hide. This book hits so many tropes I love—sports romance, brother’s best friend, emotional realism—with themes like anxiety, isolation, grief, and cancer woven in thoughtfully.
Oakley is surviving more than living, and the story never lets you forget it. Jason genuinely cares, but nothing between them is easy. The book references and movie quotes sprinkled throughout? Absolute chef’s kiss.

This is full-on enemies to lovers, complete with banter, tension, and just the right amount of “I can’t stand you… but also I can’t stop thinking about you.” Jason and Oakley connect deeply because of their shared damage, and it makes their bond feel earned.

Overall, I really enjoyed their push-and-pull dynamic and the charm of the Tennessee setting. The family involvement adds heart without overshadowing the romance, and the friend group is the perfect complement to all the internal emotional work happening. It’s a story built on pain, healing, and slow rebuilding—and it lands beautifully.

Omg just as tho story starts to get swoony and maybe more then just kissing the author surprises you in the worst way. Yup getting teary eyed.
This ends as expected happy for now but not that romantic swoony bit I was hoping for . It is more introspective with our female mc staying true to her nature and analyzing everything and how it has changed.

I love the playlist at the end of the book.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the Leaves Fell is a closed-door contemporary romance that focuses on the FMC's emotional journey of working to get past her abandonment issues after finding out about her older brother's recent diagnosis that threatens to tear her family apart again. As Oakley's family had been affected by the same diagnosis in the past, she is now struggling to process this new information and let down her guard. The MMC, Jason, is Oakley's brother's best friend from college. A professional hockey player who has felt alone most of his life and has been mistreated in the past due to his fame, and after a disastrous first meeting with her, he is determined to break past Oakley's self-constructed walls to show her that people can stay. In addition to all of this, there was an added element of suspense when Oakley began to receive threatening messages related to Jason.

A big part of Oakley and her family's life is music, and the power that it has. Throughout this book there seemed to be a theme song for every scene, feeling, memory, or significant moment. As someone who also has a playlist for every occasion, music definitely has the ability to describe what words sometimes are unable to. This made it easier for me to connect with the characters, especially with all the self-growth, family trauma, and themes of grief. Besides the impactful music, there was banter that had me giggling, swoon-worthy moments that made me smile like an idiot while alone in my own house, and meaningful quotes that made me tear up.

Oakley's emotional growth in this book was incredible. I was able to see when she was struggling to communicate or cope, or starting to spiral in addition to when she was actively trying to change and take responsibility for her actions and treatment of others. The side characters were all relatable and memorable, and stood out to me in different ways. Although I adored every second of this book, I would have liked more moments related to Jason's personal life such as his life in Canada, his grandmother, etc. However, because this book was written from only Oakley's POV, the story featured mostly her journey and how Jason affected it instead of his background.

In summary, this is the perfect book for those who are looking for a closed door romance that gives fall vibes, emotional depth, and is well written. I look forward to the rest of this series, and any future work that Ella Justice writes.

Thank you to Ella, Netgalley, and Azala Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Johneice · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me FOREVER to finish this book but oh did I have such an amazing time reading it! 🥰 I knew that I had to read this book before this month was over (I was still in a fall mood), and omg I LOVED THIS! Oakley and Jason forever!! 🫶🏾 This book was so real, deep, and though-provoking. I really felt for Oakley and all she had been through. Having to resort to closing off how you truly feel honestly sucks. Yet she met Jason, or Westerman, as she likes to call him, and he turned her world around and made it bright again. I felt so many emotions while reading and it kept me hooked! This story exceeded my expectations, just as Ella's first release did. I love her writing style and how her characters are so real and relatable. And plus, this book was closed door! I can't type out how much more I adored this book. It's a story that will make you FEEL things.

THINGS I LOVED
- labor/delivery nurse x hockey player
- brother's best friend
- their nicknames 🥰
- the banter
- found family
- OT's friend group
- fall setting
- SO many great quotes
- he takes care of her
- reverse grumpy/sunshine

[☆Laura☆]

Oakley Tennen es una enfermera que ha aprendido a sobrevivir manteniendo la distancia emocional con todo el mundo. Entre turnos en la sala de partos, compañeras entrometidas y una vida que parece exigirle más de lo que puede dar, Oakley cree que lo tiene todo bajo control. Pero la llamada inesperada de su hermano Jack, quien regresa después de años de ausencia y con un diagnóstico de cáncer; sacude sus cimientos, obligándola a enfrentarse a un pasado de abandono y a un presente lleno de responsabilidades.

Mientras lidia con la fragilidad de su familia y con la reaparición de viejas heridas, Oakley cruza caminos con Jason Westerman, un jugador de hockey que irrumpe en su vida de manera caótica y que parece ser lo último que ella necesita… o tal vez lo que le hacía falta.


___

Por momentos me desesperó Oakley,

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Veeka · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I wasn't prepared for the emotional ride this book took me on but I loved every minute of it. This story explores some heavier topics like grief, trauma, family, and healing in a way that was both raw but also super comforting to read. The emotional growth of the FMC Oakley was sooo beautiful to read. She went through so much and carried a lot of it by herself and was just trying to keep things together. Then there’s her brother’s best friend Jason who was so patient and kind with her. I absolutely loved their banter and chemistry and how they just felt so real with how they made sure to be there for one another and their overall growth. This book did take me a little bit to get into in the beginning but after a few chapters in, I absolutely devoured this. This is an absolutely beautiful story about second chances, love, and learning to open your heart again.

Thank you NetGalley and the Author for this eARC!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I … I need a minute. I’ll be back with words after I recover.

Okay I’m back. Lord help me. I am absolutely “right as rain” right now Ella 🙄🙄 This book is a masterpiece. Holy shit. I laughed. I cried. I threw my kindle. I disassociated. I verbally swooned. The drama is thicker than Jason’s geared up shoulders and I’m telling ya what … it was so good - so well so written, so raw, so real. There were a few corny moments that will have you rolling your eyes in a good way. I am so wholly invested in more of Oaks x Jase.

Tropes: Tension x banter. He yearns. Mental health rep. He falls first. One bed/forced proximity. Zero spice. Nurse x NHL. Grumpy x sunshine. Brother’s best friend.

TW: Stalker. Threats. Familial death (parents, sibling). Cancer. Held at gunpoint. Abandonment.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful love story. I loved the characters’ growth, the way they fought for, and with!, each other, the side characters, the family dynamics, the honesty of the characters. I loved how Jason called Oakley out when she got in her head and how he pursued her. Every time I had to put the book down, I couldn’t wait to come back to it.

As always, I love seeing Canada, Canadian characters or Canadian-isms (except the ham at Thanksgiving! Who has ham instead of turkey at Thanksgiving?!)

Content: kisses only, mild swearing

[tonicha Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

gosh, this book had all the emotional feelings in it, I was laughing, I was crying, heartbroken, and enjoyful.
love hockey romance and love a book that makes you have a good cry. this is definitely one you need to read!

I did take a while to get into this book at the start, but as we started to get through it, it was way more addictive and emotional.
perfect book to start the autumn season off with

[Lisa Crandall · Rating 4 out of 5]

this isn't the genre of book I typically read, However I really enjoyed this read. I felt transformed into a Nashville fall day seeing the leaves fall. while enjoying the hockey games and the feeling of a Nashville night out. I fell in love with Oaksley and her family. watching a family member fight cancer is one of the most horrifying experiences 💔. the lovestory between Oaks and her beloved brothers best friend made this read well worth it. Thank you, @netgalley for the ARC copy.

[she.readsromantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, and heartwarming, but also suspenseful, and exciting. Truly a wonderful book full of growth and plot twists. I absolutely LOVE the way Ella writes her characters flawed, but realistic. I really appreciated that it wasn’t dual POV and we really got to see the internal growth with the fmc. I really loved this book & cannot wait to see all the characters as the series evolves! I would highly recommend this to all readers!

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that this book didn't wait until the last act for the romance to begin. I also like how it showed the FMC's progress, which was sometimes one step forward and then two steps backwards. The family aspect was also interesting. This book had a lot going on, but it all tied together.

[K. Sinko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ella has done it once again!! This book is the perfect mix of light hearted and deeply emotional, with a jaw dropping ending that had me in tears. So well done. I cannot wait for the rest of the series! 😍

[Ruba Abu Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘After the Leaves Fell’ by Ella Justice is sweet and heartfelt.

I particularly appreciated the character growth throughout the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the e-ARC.

[Summer Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I CRIED. Like ugly cried. This book was so emotional! Oh my word I'm gonna need therapy. This isn't a bad 'need therapy' book, this is a 'changed my life' book! I literally want to scream it was so good! detinitely need to get a physical copy immediately as a trophy and to reread whenever I want 🤭

[emma mcguinness · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartwarming book following the characters going through a difficult time and not being able to trust or to fall in love , learning to heal their pasts and present and coming together very strong it was an emotional rollercoaster for me

[Kaytea Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book via NetGalley ! And I’m so glad I did ! The story line was adorable , the characters just got to me ! It was cool to see a mini grumpy /sunshine and it being opposite. The twist I was not expecting at all !!! And near the end broke my heart and put it back again !! Amazing read

[Abs · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS FOR ELLA JUSTICE!!! the PERFECT hockey romance for the hockey girlies!!!!!😍🥰🥳✨

[Ciara Rooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️4.5