What do you think?
Rate this book
Cozy Creek Collection #3
Fall at Once
Fall at Once is a steamy, small-town, romantic comedy with a swoony single-dad firefighter who may just be too hot to handle...
I’m in Cozy Creek for two reasons: To get over my breakup and help my grandmother run her bakery.
I am absolutely not here to fall in love.
But my grandma’s smoking hot firefighter neighbor keeps rescuing me—from the side of the road, from a tree (don’t ask), and then finally from my ex with a steamy kiss in a bar.
So when he needs my help, how can I say no?
As a party planner, I’m the perfect person to step in and work with him on preparations for Cozy Creek Fire Brigade’s Fall Fundraiser. Sparks fly as we spend more time together, but we’ve both been burned by love before.
I do my best to beat the heat, but then he kissed me for real, and (f)all at once, I realize we might just be perfect for each other.
I’m in Cozy Creek for two reasons: To get over my breakup and help my grandmother run her bakery.
I am absolutely not here to fall in love.
But my grandma’s smoking hot firefighter neighbor keeps rescuing me—from the side of the road, from a tree (don’t ask), and then finally from my ex with a steamy kiss in a bar.
So when he needs my help, how can I say no?
As a party planner, I’m the perfect person to step in and work with him on preparations for Cozy Creek Fire Brigade’s Fall Fundraiser. Sparks fly as we spend more time together, but we’ve both been burned by love before.
I do my best to beat the heat, but then he kissed me for real, and (f)all at once, I realize we might just be perfect for each other.
ebook
Published May 20, 2025
1968 people are currently reading
12876 people want to read
About the author
Nora Everly
28 books1,194 followersSign up for my newsletter: https://www.noraeverly.com/newsletter
Nora Everly is a lifelong bookworm. She started reading the good stuff once she was tall enough to sneak the romance novels off the top of her mother’s bookshelf and it has been non-stop ever since.
Once upon a time she was a substitute teacher and an educational assistant. Now, she’s a writer and stay at home mom to two small humans and one fat cat.
Nora lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and her overactive imagination.
Follow Nora!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authornoraev...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nora.everly/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoraEverly
Nora Everly is a lifelong bookworm. She started reading the good stuff once she was tall enough to sneak the romance novels off the top of her mother’s bookshelf and it has been non-stop ever since.
Once upon a time she was a substitute teacher and an educational assistant. Now, she’s a writer and stay at home mom to two small humans and one fat cat.
Nora lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and her overactive imagination.
Follow Nora!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authornoraev...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nora.everly/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoraEverly
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,182 reviews
October 17, 2025
It’s been a while since Madison Winslow has been back to Cozy Creek, Colorado. But after breaking up with her boyfriend and her grandmother, Gigi, being injured, she sets out to the picturesque small town for distraction to help out her grandmother. But when her car breaks down by the side of the road, Gigi sends out a very attractive firefighter with whom Madi has instant chemistry. But Madi has given up on love and men, so why doesn’t her heart get with the memo that the fire chief is not an option…or is he?
Divorced and wary of love, Cole Sutter has three priorities in his life: his family, his friends, and his job as Cozy Creek’s fire chief. So when his neighbor and good friend, Gigi, asks him to pick up her granddaughter, Cole is not ready for the instant attraction he feels for Madison. No matter how much he tries to stay away from her, it seems as if they keep getting thrown into each other’s paths for a reason, especially when Cole seems to be constantly rescuing her from not only trees but ex-boyfriends at bars. And when a kiss that was supposed to be fake feels very, very real, Cole’s uncertain whether he is going to let his insecurities take the reins of his life or his heart.
For about 50% of the book, I was enjoying the story (even though it’s kinda an insta-love story which I don’t like 😅). Madi was so sweet and seemed perfect for Cole, who was a good dad to his kids and a good person overall. But as the story progressed, it just fell flat for me. There was hardly any character development, only romantic development, and even that lacked any feeling or depth. And, honestly, it has something to do with the writing. 🫣
This felt like a short story, not a full-length novel, since there was hardly any growth or depth in all aspects of the story. Not only that, but there was so much dialogue! Look, I love dialogue as much as the next person; you can tell what a character is like by the way they talk and what they say. But when there is so much of it that is flat, forced, and cheesy/choppy, it does nothing for the story. There was literally line after line of dialogue without a nice break to add some prose, an inner monologue, or an observation, or something by the characters. Heck, there weren't even enough descriptions about the cute town they were living in or the wonder of autumn in the air! It felt like the author was in a rush to get to the spice. Honey, I’m not here for the spice, I’m here for the story! Thank God there wasn’t much of it like the last novel in this series, but if I had to pick which was better writing-wise, it would have to be Fall I Want. This book was just so underwhelming and even a little disappointing.
And that’s what I’ve been seeing and thinking about lately concerning stories that are being published left and right. Don’t get me wrong. I’m so, so happy that reading is “a cool thing to do” nowadays, and I’m so glad it’s so popular, but at what cost? Some people say that BookTok is ruining the publishing industry, and you know what, they’re not wrong. Every now and again, you pick up a book that makes your heart wrench and your soul fly on cloud nine, and you realize how much you love reading stories that make you feel something and even lead you to be a better person. But most of the books that are being published are all for the hype, tropes, and TikTok, not the writing, the story, or the themes. And, believe me, I want to read what is popular on TikTok because of fomo, but I’ll forget about those books in a matter of weeks. I’d say that out of all of the books I’ve read this year, I can’t remember what half of them were about (but that might be due to my memory, because it’s not what it used to be). 😂 And this book will be one of them. Sure, it was sweet at times, and the characters were okay, but it just did nothing for me. It was an okay read.
But don’t let my cynicism stop you from reading this. I’ve always been a little wary of romance novels because I’m not a romantic person by nature, and it’s not till recently that I’ve even been a consumer of romance books/movies, so this is probably just a me thing (it usually is 😉). So if you do decide to read this, I hope you enjoy it! 🧡🍂🎃☕
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
There is a scene where a child gets slapped by their angry mother.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
#FallatOnce #NetGalley
Divorced and wary of love, Cole Sutter has three priorities in his life: his family, his friends, and his job as Cozy Creek’s fire chief. So when his neighbor and good friend, Gigi, asks him to pick up her granddaughter, Cole is not ready for the instant attraction he feels for Madison. No matter how much he tries to stay away from her, it seems as if they keep getting thrown into each other’s paths for a reason, especially when Cole seems to be constantly rescuing her from not only trees but ex-boyfriends at bars. And when a kiss that was supposed to be fake feels very, very real, Cole’s uncertain whether he is going to let his insecurities take the reins of his life or his heart.
For about 50% of the book, I was enjoying the story (even though it’s kinda an insta-love story which I don’t like 😅). Madi was so sweet and seemed perfect for Cole, who was a good dad to his kids and a good person overall. But as the story progressed, it just fell flat for me. There was hardly any character development, only romantic development, and even that lacked any feeling or depth. And, honestly, it has something to do with the writing. 🫣
This felt like a short story, not a full-length novel, since there was hardly any growth or depth in all aspects of the story. Not only that, but there was so much dialogue! Look, I love dialogue as much as the next person; you can tell what a character is like by the way they talk and what they say. But when there is so much of it that is flat, forced, and cheesy/choppy, it does nothing for the story. There was literally line after line of dialogue without a nice break to add some prose, an inner monologue, or an observation, or something by the characters. Heck, there weren't even enough descriptions about the cute town they were living in or the wonder of autumn in the air! It felt like the author was in a rush to get to the spice. Honey, I’m not here for the spice, I’m here for the story! Thank God there wasn’t much of it like the last novel in this series, but if I had to pick which was better writing-wise, it would have to be Fall I Want. This book was just so underwhelming and even a little disappointing.
And that’s what I’ve been seeing and thinking about lately concerning stories that are being published left and right. Don’t get me wrong. I’m so, so happy that reading is “a cool thing to do” nowadays, and I’m so glad it’s so popular, but at what cost? Some people say that BookTok is ruining the publishing industry, and you know what, they’re not wrong. Every now and again, you pick up a book that makes your heart wrench and your soul fly on cloud nine, and you realize how much you love reading stories that make you feel something and even lead you to be a better person. But most of the books that are being published are all for the hype, tropes, and TikTok, not the writing, the story, or the themes. And, believe me, I want to read what is popular on TikTok because of fomo, but I’ll forget about those books in a matter of weeks. I’d say that out of all of the books I’ve read this year, I can’t remember what half of them were about (but that might be due to my memory, because it’s not what it used to be). 😂 And this book will be one of them. Sure, it was sweet at times, and the characters were okay, but it just did nothing for me. It was an okay read.
But don’t let my cynicism stop you from reading this. I’ve always been a little wary of romance novels because I’m not a romantic person by nature, and it’s not till recently that I’ve even been a consumer of romance books/movies, so this is probably just a me thing (it usually is 😉). So if you do decide to read this, I hope you enjoy it! 🧡🍂🎃☕
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
There is a scene where a child gets slapped by their angry mother.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
#FallatOnce #NetGalley
September 17, 2025
Set in a cozy small town that is reminiscent of “Gilmore Girls” in the middle of fall, a single father firefighter (who is freshly divorced from his HS sweetheart) and a newly single 30 year old event planner (obsessed with starting a family) meet and fall into insta-love.
I picked up this book because the cover was so cute and I loved the premise of a single dad firefighter - something I’ve never read before. I usually love the single dad trope especially in a small town setting. I also was excited for all of the cozy fall vibes (& this novel definitely delivered on that part). There is also some open door spice.
At the end of the day, this book just wasn’t for me. Fall At Once reads like a Hallmark movie script. If that is your vibe then you will adore this book. I, however, didn’t really feel any chemistry or connection with any of the characters at all. I stopped caring about the dilemmas the characters were going through pretty early on. Most of the character interactions were just them giving eachother paragraphs of advice over and over. None of it felt natural or real. Overall this book has fun ideas but it just missed the mark for me.
My biggest issues were
(potential vague spoilers below):
- one of the biggest taboo subjects for multiple characters (no seriously, this comes up every other chapter) is the fact there is an age gap. Yes, it is an 8 year age gap…but she is 30 and he is 38…
- there is a complete and noticeable lack of diversity of any kind in this entire world
- this truly reads like trad wife propaganda even though the character literally makes that into a joke in the book! Like where were any of these characters on January 6…makes you think!
- the fact (and I really can’t get passed this at all) that a teenager gets physically abused by her mother and it gets excused (“she’s going through a phase” “she didn’t mean it” etc) and brushed under the rug multiple times by multiple people
Thanks to NetGalley & Avon & Harper Voyager for the arc!
I picked up this book because the cover was so cute and I loved the premise of a single dad firefighter - something I’ve never read before. I usually love the single dad trope especially in a small town setting. I also was excited for all of the cozy fall vibes (& this novel definitely delivered on that part). There is also some open door spice.
At the end of the day, this book just wasn’t for me. Fall At Once reads like a Hallmark movie script. If that is your vibe then you will adore this book. I, however, didn’t really feel any chemistry or connection with any of the characters at all. I stopped caring about the dilemmas the characters were going through pretty early on. Most of the character interactions were just them giving eachother paragraphs of advice over and over. None of it felt natural or real. Overall this book has fun ideas but it just missed the mark for me.
My biggest issues were
(potential vague spoilers below):
- one of the biggest taboo subjects for multiple characters (no seriously, this comes up every other chapter) is the fact there is an age gap. Yes, it is an 8 year age gap…but she is 30 and he is 38…
- there is a complete and noticeable lack of diversity of any kind in this entire world
- this truly reads like trad wife propaganda even though the character literally makes that into a joke in the book! Like where were any of these characters on January 6…makes you think!
- the fact (and I really can’t get passed this at all) that a teenager gets physically abused by her mother and it gets excused (“she’s going through a phase” “she didn’t mean it” etc) and brushed under the rug multiple times by multiple people
Thanks to NetGalley & Avon & Harper Voyager for the arc!
August 23, 2024
Looong rambling 😂
Madi (30) had just ended her five-year relationship and decided to stay in her grandma's small town in the meantime. When she got into town, her car broke down, and her grandma called Cole (38), the firefighter chief, to assist her. These two have known each other for years because she used to spend her vacation in this place, and the visits only lessen since she started dating her ex.
Anyway, present time, when they saw each other, instant attraction kicked in, and they were hooked right from the very start. The tension, chemistry, and mutual pining are sooo obvious, and in every interaction, they just fall even harder for each other. 🤭🥰 However, they did try their best to fight it off because they both just got out of relationships.
See, Cole is divorced, but it's only been a rough few months. Unfortunately, he caught his ex-wife and his ex-best friend on their bed, so he decided to end their marriage. Go him! And like I said in the beginning, Madi just got out of her relationship after realizing that her ex was only stringing her along and didn't have any plans to commit to her. 🥺
Despite coming from long-term relationships, these two felt more relieved than sad that it had ended for them. Even though they had moved on from their exes, the harm that was done to them still remains. ☹️
This is why this falls into the slow burn pace because, while they're very much attracted to one another, they were both hesitant to start something as they're unsure whether they're ready or not or if they're finally over their failed relationships. I didn't mind the pace because these two never fail to make me giddy with every interaction. It's so obvious how they both got it so bad. 🤭 They're just so adorable and sweet together. And I love how they're so affectionate and never shy away from showing it. 🥹
I did love this for the most part, but then that problem thrown at the last 20% kind of ruined the mood I was having. Cole has been worried since the beginning about their age gap, his divorce status, his teenagers (15&13), and his ex-wife. He felt he wasn't ready for a more serious relationship, and the insecurities brought about by his ex's infidelity run deeply in him. He does want Madi, and he said he never felt the emotions he's having for anyone else.
Yet, despite this, he still doesn't know what he actually wants; all he knew was that he wants her in his life, but hopefully with no strings atm. He had it in his mind that if she stayed with him, he'd only hold her back and stop her from achieving her full potential and goals in life. Idk, what brought this on, but I'm assuming his ex did really a number on him. He wants them to be casual and exclusive in the meantime and just see where it goes.
So he offered his idiotic plan that they would be together whenever she's in town. He basically asked her to be a booty call whenever she visits. This sounds stupid to the nth degree, but the reason he only offered this was because he's afraid to face his fears and the possibility of getting hurt if he ever puts his heart on the line. And while I do understand his hang-ups, it still doesn't mean I have to like his dumbass plan. 🤷♀️🤦♀️
But Madi's not having any of it. She made a vow not to let anyone string her along again and not to settle for crumbs of affection. She knows her worth and was not willing to be casual. She's not asking for a marriage proposal, just something steady with him. She didn't want to be a FB because she deserved more than that. She told him what she wanted, laid it all in front of him, and put up her boundaries. Totally proud of her at that moment! 👏
They were separated, I think, for two days. By then, Cole and Madi realized what they really wanted and decided to be honest with each other about how they really felt. They finally admitted that they're in love with one another and became on the same page. He apologized for his idiotic idea, and Madi accepted it. She also told him that she's willing to go slowly and at his pace. 🫶
Anyway, I really had fun with the story. 🤭 It made me giggle while I was kicking my feet, and I flipped through the pages so quickly. I enjoyed the writing style and everything in this book. I loved the MCs, Madi's family (grandma, sisters, and mother), Cole's family (kids and siblings), other side characters, and her cats. It's really sweet that almost everyone in this small town is kind-hearted and seemingly genuinely nice. It's just adorable and very much a light read. 💖
I'm not sure if the side characters will have their own books, but I'm really interested in reading them, especially Kenzie and Drew 🤭
Overall, it was a solid read, and now I'm looking forward to the rest of the books in this series. 😍
Book info:
- Small town romance
- Age gap (8)
- Single dad
- Cat mom
- Instant attraction
- Meddling family members 😂
- Slowburn
- No cheating, actual OPD
- No V (both months for them, and H's not a hoe 🥳)
- Separation (two days)
- HFN (in a relationship)
- Bonus epilogue (1 yr later, engaged)
Notes:
- There's no OPD, but Madi's ex appeared for them to have "closure", the audacity, and to tell her that he's engaged to another local. He has been emotionally cheating on her for the last 10 months, but the jerk keeps saying he's not a cheater because he never slept with the OW and has only been texting her. He didn't want to commit to Madi for the last five years, but it only took him less than a year to propose to his now fiancee. 🙄 Stupid, what a freaking twat.
- Cole's ex-wife appeared as well, but she's already married to his ex-best friend. They have a co-parenting setup; that's why she goes to his house to drop off their teenagers. And although she doesn't have any rights, she still gave her unsolicited comments about how Madi is too young for Cole. Seriously, idk, where their exes got their audacity. 30 isn't young anymore, so I don't understand why Cole and his ex-wife were so obsessed with the 8 year age gap.
- Cole has only ever been with his ex-wife; and as he said, "a player he is not". 🫶 It made me happy that the MMC isn't a hoe, because they're so freaking rare. 💖
- This is me being greedy, but Madi's dream was to get married and have kids. And as a reader, I really wanted to see her have that. It's all she's ever wanted since she was a kid. So in my mind, I expected the epilogue or bonus epilogue to be years later, with her finally having her dreams come true and Cole making it happen. But that didn't happen at all. 🤷♀️
Madi (30) had just ended her five-year relationship and decided to stay in her grandma's small town in the meantime. When she got into town, her car broke down, and her grandma called Cole (38), the firefighter chief, to assist her. These two have known each other for years because she used to spend her vacation in this place, and the visits only lessen since she started dating her ex.
Anyway, present time, when they saw each other, instant attraction kicked in, and they were hooked right from the very start. The tension, chemistry, and mutual pining are sooo obvious, and in every interaction, they just fall even harder for each other. 🤭🥰 However, they did try their best to fight it off because they both just got out of relationships.
See, Cole is divorced, but it's only been a rough few months. Unfortunately, he caught his ex-wife and his ex-best friend on their bed, so he decided to end their marriage. Go him! And like I said in the beginning, Madi just got out of her relationship after realizing that her ex was only stringing her along and didn't have any plans to commit to her. 🥺
Despite coming from long-term relationships, these two felt more relieved than sad that it had ended for them. Even though they had moved on from their exes, the harm that was done to them still remains. ☹️
This is why this falls into the slow burn pace because, while they're very much attracted to one another, they were both hesitant to start something as they're unsure whether they're ready or not or if they're finally over their failed relationships. I didn't mind the pace because these two never fail to make me giddy with every interaction. It's so obvious how they both got it so bad. 🤭 They're just so adorable and sweet together. And I love how they're so affectionate and never shy away from showing it. 🥹
I did love this for the most part, but then that problem thrown at the last 20% kind of ruined the mood I was having. Cole has been worried since the beginning about their age gap, his divorce status, his teenagers (15&13), and his ex-wife. He felt he wasn't ready for a more serious relationship, and the insecurities brought about by his ex's infidelity run deeply in him. He does want Madi, and he said he never felt the emotions he's having for anyone else.
Yet, despite this, he still doesn't know what he actually wants; all he knew was that he wants her in his life, but hopefully with no strings atm. He had it in his mind that if she stayed with him, he'd only hold her back and stop her from achieving her full potential and goals in life. Idk, what brought this on, but I'm assuming his ex did really a number on him. He wants them to be casual and exclusive in the meantime and just see where it goes.
So he offered his idiotic plan that they would be together whenever she's in town. He basically asked her to be a booty call whenever she visits. This sounds stupid to the nth degree, but the reason he only offered this was because he's afraid to face his fears and the possibility of getting hurt if he ever puts his heart on the line. And while I do understand his hang-ups, it still doesn't mean I have to like his dumbass plan. 🤷♀️🤦♀️
But Madi's not having any of it. She made a vow not to let anyone string her along again and not to settle for crumbs of affection. She knows her worth and was not willing to be casual. She's not asking for a marriage proposal, just something steady with him. She didn't want to be a FB because she deserved more than that. She told him what she wanted, laid it all in front of him, and put up her boundaries. Totally proud of her at that moment! 👏
They were separated, I think, for two days. By then, Cole and Madi realized what they really wanted and decided to be honest with each other about how they really felt. They finally admitted that they're in love with one another and became on the same page. He apologized for his idiotic idea, and Madi accepted it. She also told him that she's willing to go slowly and at his pace. 🫶
Anyway, I really had fun with the story. 🤭 It made me giggle while I was kicking my feet, and I flipped through the pages so quickly. I enjoyed the writing style and everything in this book. I loved the MCs, Madi's family (grandma, sisters, and mother), Cole's family (kids and siblings), other side characters, and her cats. It's really sweet that almost everyone in this small town is kind-hearted and seemingly genuinely nice. It's just adorable and very much a light read. 💖
I'm not sure if the side characters will have their own books, but I'm really interested in reading them, especially Kenzie and Drew 🤭
Overall, it was a solid read, and now I'm looking forward to the rest of the books in this series. 😍
Book info:
- Small town romance
- Age gap (8)
- Single dad
- Cat mom
- Instant attraction
- Meddling family members 😂
- Slowburn
- No cheating, actual OPD
- No V (both months for them, and H's not a hoe 🥳)
- Separation (two days)
- HFN (in a relationship)
- Bonus epilogue (1 yr later, engaged)
Notes:
- There's no OPD, but Madi's ex appeared for them to have "closure", the audacity, and to tell her that he's engaged to another local. He has been emotionally cheating on her for the last 10 months, but the jerk keeps saying he's not a cheater because he never slept with the OW and has only been texting her. He didn't want to commit to Madi for the last five years, but it only took him less than a year to propose to his now fiancee. 🙄 Stupid, what a freaking twat.
- Cole's ex-wife appeared as well, but she's already married to his ex-best friend. They have a co-parenting setup; that's why she goes to his house to drop off their teenagers. And although she doesn't have any rights, she still gave her unsolicited comments about how Madi is too young for Cole. Seriously, idk, where their exes got their audacity. 30 isn't young anymore, so I don't understand why Cole and his ex-wife were so obsessed with the 8 year age gap.
- Cole has only ever been with his ex-wife; and as he said, "a player he is not". 🫶 It made me happy that the MMC isn't a hoe, because they're so freaking rare. 💖
- This is me being greedy, but Madi's dream was to get married and have kids. And as a reader, I really wanted to see her have that. It's all she's ever wanted since she was a kid. So in my mind, I expected the epilogue or bonus epilogue to be years later, with her finally having her dreams come true and Cole making it happen. But that didn't happen at all. 🤷♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2025
Newly single firefighter and single dad Cole is reunited with his neighbors granddaughter Madi. Madi is fresh off of a long term relationship and coming back to Cozy Creek to help her grandmother run her bakery.
For a 250 page book, this really managed to not only have a million plot points and also an insane amount of dialogue. Got some real chatterboxes over here. Hallmark lovers will love this cutesy little fall themed romance. It’s quick, it’s fun, it’s fine. You’ve probably read this book before and will probably like this one too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced copy!
For a 250 page book, this really managed to not only have a million plot points and also an insane amount of dialogue. Got some real chatterboxes over here. Hallmark lovers will love this cutesy little fall themed romance. It’s quick, it’s fun, it’s fine. You’ve probably read this book before and will probably like this one too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced copy!
October 27, 2025
Absolutely adorable for fall!
- Small town romance
- age gap / he’s got 2 kids & a nasty ex
- firefighter
- fall festival / hallmark vibes
- 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️/5
***the one thing about this book is that I’ve seen some people market it as a tall girl romance and the heroine is 5’6” or 7”… I don’t consider that tall. It’s just average really? Idk I’m 5’9” and that’s usually the cut off fo tall pants 😂😂
- Small town romance
- age gap / he’s got 2 kids & a nasty ex
- firefighter
- fall festival / hallmark vibes
- 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️/5
***the one thing about this book is that I’ve seen some people market it as a tall girl romance and the heroine is 5’6” or 7”… I don’t consider that tall. It’s just average really? Idk I’m 5’9” and that’s usually the cut off fo tall pants 😂😂
September 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Nora Everly, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC. The following is my honest review.
So here’s the thing: Fall at Once was just not it for me. And that’s a bummer, because I love fall books—cozy vibes, autumn atmospheres I’m into it. But this one? It felt less like curling up with a blanket and more like wrestling with one that won’t stop static-clinging to you.
The writing style was my biggest hurdle. The dialogue read way too juvenile for characters in their 30s, and instead of letting the romance breathe through those deliciously small, human moments, the narrative leaned hard on telling rather than showing. That shortcutting flattened the emotional beats and made the central relationship feel more like a construct than a connection.
The insta-attraction between the leads didn’t feel earned, and the obstacles keeping them apart were more contrived than compelling. And the spice scenes…bestie, I was peeking through my fingers like it was a horror movie. Not the intended effect.
At the end of the day, the prose landed more cheesy than charming, which undercut both the characters and the romance. I can see this working for readers who want a lighter, campier rom-com tone, but if you’re looking for layered character work and tension that builds organically? This one’s probably going to feel as flat for you as it did for me. One star, and I’m standing by it.
So here’s the thing: Fall at Once was just not it for me. And that’s a bummer, because I love fall books—cozy vibes, autumn atmospheres I’m into it. But this one? It felt less like curling up with a blanket and more like wrestling with one that won’t stop static-clinging to you.
The writing style was my biggest hurdle. The dialogue read way too juvenile for characters in their 30s, and instead of letting the romance breathe through those deliciously small, human moments, the narrative leaned hard on telling rather than showing. That shortcutting flattened the emotional beats and made the central relationship feel more like a construct than a connection.
The insta-attraction between the leads didn’t feel earned, and the obstacles keeping them apart were more contrived than compelling. And the spice scenes…bestie, I was peeking through my fingers like it was a horror movie. Not the intended effect.
At the end of the day, the prose landed more cheesy than charming, which undercut both the characters and the romance. I can see this working for readers who want a lighter, campier rom-com tone, but if you’re looking for layered character work and tension that builds organically? This one’s probably going to feel as flat for you as it did for me. One star, and I’m standing by it.
September 30, 2025
✨🍂Fall at Once - four stars🍂✨
“I feel like I was in love with someone that didn’t exist and that my life for the last five years was a lie. How do you get over something like that?”
Finally a book I like outta of this series (I’ve only read 3 but still…). I think some fall books purely exist for fall “vibes” and the plot gets thrown out the window because who wants to read a book with plot anyways!! So a little side note for some authors, I DO! This one has plot and great characters, along with character development.
”There is no place I’d rather be than here with you.”
Tropes
🧡firefighter
🍂small town
🧡single dad
🍂healing each others hearts
🧡grumpy x sunshine
”She fits me to perfection. Like she was made to be with me.”
Madi is fresh out of a five-year long relationship, (which ended in him cheating). In hopes to get her life back on track and to help her grandmother run her bakery she goes to Cozy Creek. As she’s driving her mother’s ancient pink bug, it breaks down. Thankfully, she’s able to pull over and wait for assistance, said assistant is in the form of the chief of Cozy Creek. Also known has her grandmother’s neighborhood and her childhood crush, Cole. But he doesn’t stop rescuing her from there…a tree climbing disaster and ex at the bar. So when she’s sees an opportunity to help him, she can’t say no. But can they contain the sparks flying that can potentially turn into a wildfire?
”Gigi was always what I wanted to be when I grew up.“
“I feel like I was in love with someone that didn’t exist and that my life for the last five years was a lie. How do you get over something like that?”
Finally a book I like outta of this series (I’ve only read 3 but still…). I think some fall books purely exist for fall “vibes” and the plot gets thrown out the window because who wants to read a book with plot anyways!! So a little side note for some authors, I DO! This one has plot and great characters, along with character development.
”There is no place I’d rather be than here with you.”
Tropes
🧡firefighter
🍂small town
🧡single dad
🍂healing each others hearts
🧡grumpy x sunshine
”She fits me to perfection. Like she was made to be with me.”
Madi is fresh out of a five-year long relationship, (which ended in him cheating). In hopes to get her life back on track and to help her grandmother run her bakery she goes to Cozy Creek. As she’s driving her mother’s ancient pink bug, it breaks down. Thankfully, she’s able to pull over and wait for assistance, said assistant is in the form of the chief of Cozy Creek. Also known has her grandmother’s neighborhood and her childhood crush, Cole. But he doesn’t stop rescuing her from there…a tree climbing disaster and ex at the bar. So when she’s sees an opportunity to help him, she can’t say no. But can they contain the sparks flying that can potentially turn into a wildfire?
”Gigi was always what I wanted to be when I grew up.“
October 26, 2025
🔥🚒❤️🥰
🧑🚒 Bookish Thoughts
This was a sweet and cheesy romcom that felt like it was straight out of a Hallmark movie. I was smiling through most of it because it was just so sweet and so cozy. My favorite part of the entire book was Gigi. She was hilarious and absolutely stole every scene she was in 🤣
This is the perfect fall read! I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
🔥 What to Expect
• Firefighter romance
• Single dad MMC
• Sunshine FMC
• Fake dating
• Small town
_ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3.75 stars
📅 Pub Date: October 28, 2025
📝 Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
🧑🚒 Bookish Thoughts
This was a sweet and cheesy romcom that felt like it was straight out of a Hallmark movie. I was smiling through most of it because it was just so sweet and so cozy. My favorite part of the entire book was Gigi. She was hilarious and absolutely stole every scene she was in 🤣
This is the perfect fall read! I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
🔥 What to Expect
• Firefighter romance
• Single dad MMC
• Sunshine FMC
• Fake dating
• Small town
_ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3.75 stars
📅 Pub Date: October 28, 2025
📝 Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
September 18, 2025
Summary
When a newly single woman moves back to her hometown, she doesn’t plan on falling for the charming firefighter next door. But between small-town fall festivals, late-night rescues, and his adorable daughter, she starts to wonder if love is worth the risk—especially when it shows up all at once.
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
Tropes & Themes
Small Town Romance
Age Gap Romance
FireFighter
Single Dad Romance
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
My Thoughts
I loved the premise of this book. Small town, single dad, who is also a firefighter??? Yes please. I wasn’t completely obsessed with the dialogue between the characters. I felt like the conversations weren’t realistic? Just word vomiting all over the place But that being said I do love the ambiance of the book, which is what kept me reading.
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
🤍 I want to give a huuugeee thank you Netgalley, Nora Everly, Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 🤍
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
Follow me on my socials ↓
Instagram
When a newly single woman moves back to her hometown, she doesn’t plan on falling for the charming firefighter next door. But between small-town fall festivals, late-night rescues, and his adorable daughter, she starts to wonder if love is worth the risk—especially when it shows up all at once.
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
Tropes & Themes
Small Town Romance
Age Gap Romance
FireFighter
Single Dad Romance
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
My Thoughts
I loved the premise of this book. Small town, single dad, who is also a firefighter??? Yes please. I wasn’t completely obsessed with the dialogue between the characters. I felt like the conversations weren’t realistic? Just word vomiting all over the place But that being said I do love the ambiance of the book, which is what kept me reading.
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
🤍 I want to give a huuugeee thank you Netgalley, Nora Everly, Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 🤍
﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒﹒⟡﹒
Follow me on my socials ↓
October 25, 2025
Boy meets girl except boy and girl have in fact met- many years ago and in a twist of fate (or a kindly Grandmother and her orthopaedic accident) are brought together again. Maddie freshly single and in need of a life change is presented with the opportunity to help her Grandma Gigi in her bakery while Gigi’s ankle injury heals. Maddie jumps at the chance to change up her scenery and gain some much needed distance and perspective. Did she know this perspective would involve a handsome newly divorced firefighter chief dad? Heck no but here he is and is as sweet as a pastry from Gigi’s Cozy Creek Confectionary. Beyond their obvious differences (the age gap that both he and others question plus their respective previous-current personal lives and their responsibilities) they’re gaga over each other. Will these sweet feelings be enough to bring them both the happily ever after they so desperately want or will it be what drives them apart? This is a cute fall read with references to Gilmore Girls which I loved and Cozy Creek could definitely give Stars Hallow a run for its money in the charm, quirky and warm towns people and small town vibes department. Both Maddie and Cole have had it rough but have a chance to have it all if they just have faith in each other but mostly in themselves. Best Grandma ever goes to Gigi- we could all be so fortunate to have someone like her in our lives guiding us and catching us when we fall.🍁
November 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for providing an ARC of Fall At Once by Nora Everly in exchange for honest feedback.
What a cute and cozy fall read! This story pertly captures the feeling of falling in love when you least expect it. The characters felt a bit more real and relatable than in the first book of the series. They were genuine and mature with real-life struggles that made their connection feel earned rather than rushed and over the top. The writing style was emotional and raw with just the right amount of spice.
I just adore the small town holiday romance vibe - it always gives the story an extra layer of charm. If you like emotional slow burns with heart and depth, this is an excellent pick! I’m excited to continue this series.
What a cute and cozy fall read! This story pertly captures the feeling of falling in love when you least expect it. The characters felt a bit more real and relatable than in the first book of the series. They were genuine and mature with real-life struggles that made their connection feel earned rather than rushed and over the top. The writing style was emotional and raw with just the right amount of spice.
I just adore the small town holiday romance vibe - it always gives the story an extra layer of charm. If you like emotional slow burns with heart and depth, this is an excellent pick! I’m excited to continue this series.
October 2, 2025
The cringe was too much.
September 18, 2025
I received a free copy of, Fall at Once, by Nora Everly, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book three in the, Cozy Creek collection. Madi has come to town to help her grandmother. Madi is so immature, I could not with her at all.
Read
September 25, 2025DNF @ 30 pages in.... I have no words.
"The cozy creek fire brigade" might be the worst most cheesy thing I've ever read... the writing in this was so basic and almost childish? Idkkk. I don't dnf quick often but I could tell from the first 15 pages the writing was toooo immature for me.
"The cozy creek fire brigade" might be the worst most cheesy thing I've ever read... the writing in this was so basic and almost childish? Idkkk. I don't dnf quick often but I could tell from the first 15 pages the writing was toooo immature for me.
September 18, 2025
Fall At Once had the fall vibes, but sadly the character development wasn't there.
Cole is a single dad, a firefighter, and an all-around good guy. He enjoys taking care of others. I felt like his relationship with Madi was rushed, almost like insta-love. I wish we could have seen their relationship develop more.
I did enjoy how Cole's kids were like wingmen. However, I feel like a lot of the dialogue was unrealistic and cheesy.
Fall At Once was a quick read and definitely had some cute moments, but I probably wouldn't read it again.
Cole is a single dad, a firefighter, and an all-around good guy. He enjoys taking care of others. I felt like his relationship with Madi was rushed, almost like insta-love. I wish we could have seen their relationship develop more.
I did enjoy how Cole's kids were like wingmen. However, I feel like a lot of the dialogue was unrealistic and cheesy.
Fall At Once was a quick read and definitely had some cute moments, but I probably wouldn't read it again.
Read
November 2, 2025Thank you Netgalley, Avon Books and Harper Voyager for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately, I ended up dnf’ing this book at 32%.
I found it hard to feel any kind of connection to our characters and the small town atmosphere. There is also the case of it being too insta-love for me where the characters have only had a handful of conversations and don’t really know each other.
I also struggled with the writing and found it to be very heavy at the information dumping at times. I think spacing out that information bit by bit within the story could have been more beneficial than all at once. The dialogue also felt off at times and juvenile for the ages that our characters are meant to be.
This could be someone’s perfect read but unfortunately for me it was not something that I could become fully invested in.
Unfortunately, I ended up dnf’ing this book at 32%.
I found it hard to feel any kind of connection to our characters and the small town atmosphere. There is also the case of it being too insta-love for me where the characters have only had a handful of conversations and don’t really know each other.
I also struggled with the writing and found it to be very heavy at the information dumping at times. I think spacing out that information bit by bit within the story could have been more beneficial than all at once. The dialogue also felt off at times and juvenile for the ages that our characters are meant to be.
This could be someone’s perfect read but unfortunately for me it was not something that I could become fully invested in.
October 27, 2025
Playful and cozy, Fall at Once is a sweet, small town love story, with a smidge of heat. Wouldn’t necessarily label as instalove…more insta attraction then within 3 months feelings of love. There was some ex drama on both ends, though Cole comes with major baby mama drama too. Madison is a sweetheart who is going through a breakup. We meet her ex, briefly thankfully, he was a jerk. Cole and Madi become friends, yet feelings start building as they spend more time together. The small town stuff is cute, just wish we met more quirky townies, but didn’t make me want to move there asap any less.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, my thoughts are mine only in this review
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, my thoughts are mine only in this review
November 1, 2025
DNF at 22% 😝
November 13, 2025
It was so cozy and perfect...I'm not sure exactly what happened near the end, but the ending was rushed and somewhat underwhelming.
October 19, 2025
i'm gonna punch a wall 🤺🤺🤺
January 12, 2025
Fall at Once
5 ✨
5 ✨
October 3, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Nora Everly for the ARC!
Took me a while to get through to ARC but I will say, I adore Gigi! She was my fav. This was a cute read but I found it hard to connect with their story.
Their texts felt too high school haha. Also, Cole & Madi are in their 30s but their dialogue just felt a little too immature for me.
Felt like their relationship was a bit rushed but at that age, you should already know what you want right? It was insta-love x100. Honestly I wasn’t too invested in their relationship. I will ALWAYS be a sucker for single dad romances but this just lacked some things.
He’s thirty-eight and she’s thirty. It was a bit annoying how he commented on their age gap stating that she was “too young” like no Cole, she’s a grown woman! His ex wife and ex best friend really took a toll on his self esteem which led to him self sabotaging and that sucked to read. They both crashed out and didn’t handle any of it. The ending just felt super rushed.
Took me a while to get through to ARC but I will say, I adore Gigi! She was my fav. This was a cute read but I found it hard to connect with their story.
Their texts felt too high school haha. Also, Cole & Madi are in their 30s but their dialogue just felt a little too immature for me.
Felt like their relationship was a bit rushed but at that age, you should already know what you want right? It was insta-love x100. Honestly I wasn’t too invested in their relationship. I will ALWAYS be a sucker for single dad romances but this just lacked some things.
He’s thirty-eight and she’s thirty. It was a bit annoying how he commented on their age gap stating that she was “too young” like no Cole, she’s a grown woman! His ex wife and ex best friend really took a toll on his self esteem which led to him self sabotaging and that sucked to read. They both crashed out and didn’t handle any of it. The ending just felt super rushed.
October 29, 2025
I finished this so quickly!! The cutest small town romance ever. I loved Madi and Cole’s immediate connection! Cole was such a great dad and I love how he was ALWAYS complimenting Madi. Their first kiss/make out moment was my favorite!! I loved how Cole was a fireman, made the story so much better and always having to rescue her. 🥹 They definitely deserved each other, this may be my favorite fall read!!!!
“My bed felt empty without him, even though he’d never been in it”
“My bed felt empty without him, even though he’d never been in it”
September 19, 2025
5 freakin' stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you, Negalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this ARC!
i will accept absolutely no criticism on this book please & thank youuu. it pulled me straight out of my slump👏🏼
I cannot begin to express how much I loved this book. Fall At Once gave off all the 'Hallmark Movie in book form' vibes in the best way possible. It was sweet, wholesome, spicy, and just all around a great time. Don't even get me started on the grumpy, single dad firefighter, Cole. 🔥
I loved how both Madi and Cole each had their own flawed journeys that are realistic. They both had to take into consideration what the other has been through in order to come together. All around, this book was such a fun time and perfect for this time of year! 🍂🤎
Thank you, Negalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this ARC!
i will accept absolutely no criticism on this book please & thank youuu. it pulled me straight out of my slump👏🏼
I cannot begin to express how much I loved this book. Fall At Once gave off all the 'Hallmark Movie in book form' vibes in the best way possible. It was sweet, wholesome, spicy, and just all around a great time. Don't even get me started on the grumpy, single dad firefighter, Cole. 🔥
I loved how both Madi and Cole each had their own flawed journeys that are realistic. They both had to take into consideration what the other has been through in order to come together. All around, this book was such a fun time and perfect for this time of year! 🍂🤎
October 30, 2025
This is a Cozy Small Town Romance, and this is the second book in the Cozy Creek Collection series. I have not read the first book in this series. I found this a cute and sweet romance, and I loved getting to know the characters in this book. I really enjoyed reading this book. I really loved the ending of this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
November 10, 2025
For heavens sake. How many times am I going to buy a book simply because of the beautiful fall cover? Fell for it again.
October 19, 2025
2.5 rounded up to 3.
This cozy fall romance with a firefighter single dad sounded like it would be right up my alley but unfortunately I think this one fell just a little short of the mark for me.
I liked the vibes at the beginning and Cozy Creek is a great setting for the story. It felt magical and as I’ve seen stated elsewhere, it definitely had a similar feel to Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls.
I started to have trouble staying in the story when it came to the age gap trope and later, miscommunication. These characters are in their 30s so to me, the age difference really wasn’t a big deal and I found myself getting a little annoyed that it was being discussed so frequently as though it was this huge issue. I also had a hard time with the conflict of the story at the climax, it just felt a little unbelievable to me and a little forced.
The book has a fun vibe about it and the fall feeling is present in a really great way, I’m just not sure the build up and resolution worked for me personally.
If you are a fan of cozy romance, strong family bonds, and lighthearted humor (some involving cats), you will probably love this! The author does a nice job bringing in the flirty banter and humor between the characters and really did a great job building a setting that I would like to spend time in.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
This cozy fall romance with a firefighter single dad sounded like it would be right up my alley but unfortunately I think this one fell just a little short of the mark for me.
I liked the vibes at the beginning and Cozy Creek is a great setting for the story. It felt magical and as I’ve seen stated elsewhere, it definitely had a similar feel to Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls.
I started to have trouble staying in the story when it came to the age gap trope and later, miscommunication. These characters are in their 30s so to me, the age difference really wasn’t a big deal and I found myself getting a little annoyed that it was being discussed so frequently as though it was this huge issue. I also had a hard time with the conflict of the story at the climax, it just felt a little unbelievable to me and a little forced.
The book has a fun vibe about it and the fall feeling is present in a really great way, I’m just not sure the build up and resolution worked for me personally.
If you are a fan of cozy romance, strong family bonds, and lighthearted humor (some involving cats), you will probably love this! The author does a nice job bringing in the flirty banter and humor between the characters and really did a great job building a setting that I would like to spend time in.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
October 29, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
🍂🧯🎃🍪🐈🍁
This was a really sweet fall romance read! It had all the necessary small town vibes and autumn descriptions, without going into excess. The characters were all really funny and had big personalities, they were all distinctive (the cat Kenny being one of the key players haha). The romance and story of both Madi and Cole getting over their exes was sweet, they had chemistry. Unfortunately the book did a lot of telling rather than showing, I think the goal was to make it seem like the characters were self reflecting? But it just felt like i was getting expositioned all their history and emotions, so tha took me out of the story a bit.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this eARC
October 10, 2025
Fall at Once by Nora Everly
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️
Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Fall At Once is the third book in the Cozy Creek Collection, though it can be read as a stand alone. It’s a cozy, sweet, and fun read with loads of small-town charm and memorable characters. The autumnal setting exudes warmth and is perfect for embracing fall!
Madi, the FMC, is in Cozy Creek to get over her breakup and help her grandmother run her bakery. Cole, the MMC, is a divorced father of two kids and a firefighter in town. When he assists Madi who is stuck on the side of the road, there is an immediate spark between them. He then keeps rescuing her - from a tree and also from her ex. As a party planner, Madi ends up working with Cole for Cozy Creek Fire Brigade’s Fall Fundraiser. While they both had negative experiences with previous romantic relationships and are trying to find a way to overcome their past, it becomes difficult for them to deny their feelings towards each other.
Overall, Fall at Once is a lighthearted, feel-good fall romance with all of the coziness. From pumpkin spice to leaves to a sweet romance, this insta-love romance read is delightful and so much fun! From two main characters that are easy to root for to absolutely amazing supporting characters to a charming town, this is a wonderful fall read!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️
Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Fall At Once is the third book in the Cozy Creek Collection, though it can be read as a stand alone. It’s a cozy, sweet, and fun read with loads of small-town charm and memorable characters. The autumnal setting exudes warmth and is perfect for embracing fall!
Madi, the FMC, is in Cozy Creek to get over her breakup and help her grandmother run her bakery. Cole, the MMC, is a divorced father of two kids and a firefighter in town. When he assists Madi who is stuck on the side of the road, there is an immediate spark between them. He then keeps rescuing her - from a tree and also from her ex. As a party planner, Madi ends up working with Cole for Cozy Creek Fire Brigade’s Fall Fundraiser. While they both had negative experiences with previous romantic relationships and are trying to find a way to overcome their past, it becomes difficult for them to deny their feelings towards each other.
Overall, Fall at Once is a lighthearted, feel-good fall romance with all of the coziness. From pumpkin spice to leaves to a sweet romance, this insta-love romance read is delightful and so much fun! From two main characters that are easy to root for to absolutely amazing supporting characters to a charming town, this is a wonderful fall read!
August 15, 2024
Full review to come at LitBuzz!
Who needs Hallmark when you have Nora Everly penning swoony romances between a hunky fire chief and the woman that everyone knows is perfect for him? I could not get enough of Cole and Madi’s story. I love the meddling family and the meddling town, the cats, and Kenzie the BFF. I adore Nora and this new romance to boot!
Who needs Hallmark when you have Nora Everly penning swoony romances between a hunky fire chief and the woman that everyone knows is perfect for him? I could not get enough of Cole and Madi’s story. I love the meddling family and the meddling town, the cats, and Kenzie the BFF. I adore Nora and this new romance to boot!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,182 reviews