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Ebondale #2
In Search of Autumn
Fractured by loss, haunted by guilt. Returning home means facing everything she left behind.
After a devastating divorce and career setback, marketing professional Autumn Gardener makes the last move she ever returning to Ebondale, the Chicago neighborhood she spent years trying to forget.
Back in the place where everything fell apart, Autumn can no longer outrun the ghosts waiting for her. The friend she lost too young. The guilt that's shaped every choice since. And Amir, her best friend, whose unspoken feelings have simmered beneath the surface of their friendship for far too long.
Healing doesn't come with a roadmap. It comes in raw conversations with her sister, in the familiar rhythms of her old community, and in finally facing the question she's been What does it mean to be loyal to others when you've abandoned yourself?
In Search of Autumn is a deeply moving tale of friends to lovers, second chances, and emotional healing. Perfect for fans of women’s fiction, contemporary romance, and soulful Chicago stories, this novel reminds us that even after heartbreak, love still has the power to rebuild what was broken.
After a devastating divorce and career setback, marketing professional Autumn Gardener makes the last move she ever returning to Ebondale, the Chicago neighborhood she spent years trying to forget.
Back in the place where everything fell apart, Autumn can no longer outrun the ghosts waiting for her. The friend she lost too young. The guilt that's shaped every choice since. And Amir, her best friend, whose unspoken feelings have simmered beneath the surface of their friendship for far too long.
Healing doesn't come with a roadmap. It comes in raw conversations with her sister, in the familiar rhythms of her old community, and in finally facing the question she's been What does it mean to be loyal to others when you've abandoned yourself?
In Search of Autumn is a deeply moving tale of friends to lovers, second chances, and emotional healing. Perfect for fans of women’s fiction, contemporary romance, and soulful Chicago stories, this novel reminds us that even after heartbreak, love still has the power to rebuild what was broken.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2025
48 people are currently reading
952 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Davis-Newell
6 books50 followersAward-winning author Michelle Davis-Newell was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. As a child, she was shy and withdrawn due to relentless bullying that impacted her self-esteem. This isolation nurtured her creative side, leading her to a love for reading and writing. In 1980, at just ten years old, she submitted a hand-written thirty-page novel to Harlequin Romance, along with a heartfelt letter expressing her dream of becoming an author to lift her family out of poverty. Although she received a rejection letter, Michelle was ecstatic to get a response.
Despite excelling academically, Michelle's home life became tumultuous, and by 21, she was a single mother of three on welfare. Refusing to succumb to her circumstances, she challenged any complacency, eventually achieving economic self-sufficiency. In 2016, she fulfilled a promise to her late mother by returning to school and earning a bachelor’s degree in education.
Michelle's passion for writing never waned. She independently published her first novel, "Ain’t Understandin Mellow?" in 2006, and contributed to the anthology "The Shattered Glass Effect'' in 2007. Her memoir, "Ruby Slippers: Fairy Tales My Mother Told Me, Real Life Truths I Never Told Her," was released in 2013. After a hiatus following the tragic loss of her younger brother in 2018, Michelle is set to release her latest novel, "The Bag Ladies of Ebondale," in fall 2024.
Together with her husband, Michelle founded Scribe-Rite Publishing LLC, continuing her commitment to storytelling and inspiring others through her words.
Despite excelling academically, Michelle's home life became tumultuous, and by 21, she was a single mother of three on welfare. Refusing to succumb to her circumstances, she challenged any complacency, eventually achieving economic self-sufficiency. In 2016, she fulfilled a promise to her late mother by returning to school and earning a bachelor’s degree in education.
Michelle's passion for writing never waned. She independently published her first novel, "Ain’t Understandin Mellow?" in 2006, and contributed to the anthology "The Shattered Glass Effect'' in 2007. Her memoir, "Ruby Slippers: Fairy Tales My Mother Told Me, Real Life Truths I Never Told Her," was released in 2013. After a hiatus following the tragic loss of her younger brother in 2018, Michelle is set to release her latest novel, "The Bag Ladies of Ebondale," in fall 2024.
Together with her husband, Michelle founded Scribe-Rite Publishing LLC, continuing her commitment to storytelling and inspiring others through her words.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 27, 2025
How long do you grieve for someone. This is one of the main questions in Autumn’s mind. When you are in love with your best friend is there a line you don’t cross. Autumn is divorced, unemployed and lonely. She moves back home for a fresh start, but finds herself discovering in order to be happy, she must first confront her feelings for her best friend. Amir is sure about his feelings, but he will not force Autumn to confront hers. The story is thought provoking about when or should we put ourselves first. I am still walking the line about is the girl code more important than love. Before you jump to conclusion read this book, feel this book. The author made me think and feel. It is as good as the first book. The bag ladies each have an opinion, but sometimes we have to search for what will be best for us. Autumn and Amir both have different opinions about how long you should grieve and when is it time to live.
December 2, 2025
Arc Review
This is a heartfelt read about healing, second chances, and finding your way back home. I enjoyed all the characters. Each character had a unique part in helping Autumn find self forgiveness, redemption, and rebuilding & rediscovering her purpose. I definitely recommend this book!
This is a heartfelt read about healing, second chances, and finding your way back home. I enjoyed all the characters. Each character had a unique part in helping Autumn find self forgiveness, redemption, and rebuilding & rediscovering her purpose. I definitely recommend this book!
February 11, 2026
I love this book! I had all the emotions! Laughing out loud, crying, getting angry, hopeless, desperation, the spice, all the feels! I enjoyed the first one but this one, this one was surpassed the first one. It was real. Definitely recommend!
December 5, 2025
🥃 ARC Review: In Search of Autumn by Michelle Davis-Newell
By The Bourbon Sipping Bibliophile
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25/5)
Spice Level: 🌶️ (Low/Implied - Focus on Emotional Intimacy)
Genre: Women's Fiction • Contemporary Fiction • Community Focus • Emotional Journey
Pour Style: Deeply Rooted, Smooth, Rich with Notes of Resilience, and a Warm, Lingering Finish
🥃 The Pour: A Story Built on Strong Foundations
In Search of Autumn, Book Two in The Ebondale Collection, is the kind of novel that feels less like a quick sip and more like a deeply satisfying, restorative glass. It’s a beautifully written exploration of personal resilience and the unbreakable bonds of community. This is a story that doesn't rely on flashy plot twists, but on the quiet, profound honesty of its characters and their journey.
The novel centers on the pursuit of finding peace and personal meaning—the "Autumn" in the title—after life's storms. It is clearly rooted in the author's passion for community and uplifting voices, giving the setting and the minor characters a palpable authenticity that makes the world of Ebondale feel real and lived-in.
💕 What Hit the Palate Nicely
✔ Profound Emotional Depth: The story tackles themes of resilience, self-discovery, and finding one's place after loss or challenge. The emotional arcs are layered, showing characters processing pain and intentionally rebuilding their lives.
✔ Authentic Community Portrait: The supporting cast and the setting (Ebondale) are the heart of this book. The interactions feel grounded and genuine, reflecting the kind of neighborhood where people truly support and champion one another.
✔ Reflective, Uplifting Tone: The writing is smooth and reflective, carrying an inherently optimistic tone without shying away from difficult topics. It leaves the reader feeling inspired and hopeful.
✔ Focus on Personal Journey: The book excels at prioritizing the internal growth of the protagonist(s). Their individual strength and evolving sense of self are the primary reward for the reader.
✔ The character depth is rich and layered: Autumn is flawed, relatable, and very human. Her grief for her best friend Asia, the fear she carries around love, and the avoidance patterns she hides behind are all portrayed with tenderness and realism. Therapy sessions with Jasmine deliver some of the most impactful emotions.
✔ The relationships are the heartbeat: Whether it’s sisterhood banter in the salon (“put some gloss on those crusty lips!”) or her evolving bond with Amir, the interpersonal dynamics feel warm, lived-in, and Black in the most beautiful way.
🥃 Where the Pour Lost a Little Proof
– A Slower Pace: Given the deeply character-driven nature, the plot moves at a deliberate, almost gentle pace. Readers seeking high-stakes drama or rapid plot movement might find the middle section too contemplative.
– Subplots Needed More Integration: While the minor characters are rich and authentic, a few of the subplots felt slightly disconnected from the main emotional search, perhaps lingering a bit too long on setup before connecting back to the core theme.
🌶️ Spice Notes
Low heat; rooted primarily in emotional connection and intimacy.
Expect:
Relationship development built on communication and emotional support.
Physical intimacy is implied or described in soft, non-explicit terms.
Focus is entirely on the tenderness and depth of the bond, not explicit detail.
⚠️ Content Warnings
Themes of emotional challenge/trauma
Family dynamics and conflict
Grief and recovery
🥃 Final Sip
In Search of Autumn is a rich, satisfying pour that reminds you of the comfort found in strong community and the beauty of resilience. It is a heartfelt narrative that leaves a lasting warmth. This is an excellent choice for readers who appreciate women's fiction focused on emotional growth and real-world connection.
Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25/5)
A comforting, smooth, and deeply human pour—highly recommended.
🥃 Drink Pairing: A Spiced Pear Martini
This drink is refined, smooth, and showcases a warmth of flavor without heat, reflecting the sophisticated yet emotionally deep nature of the story. The pear provides the fruitiness, while the spice reflects the resilience required for the journey.
Spiced Pear Martini - The Resilience Edition
Ingredients
2 oz Vodka (or Gin, for a touch more complexity)
0.75 oz Spiced Pear Liqueur (representing the hidden sweetness and warmth of community)
0.25 oz Lemon Juice (for the slight tang of life's challenges)
Garnish with a cinnamon stick or a thin pear slice.
Tasting Notes
🍸 Aroma: Clean spirit with notes of gentle spice and pear.
🍹 Palate: Smooth and sophisticated, with a warm, comforting blend of fruit and spice—a true reflection of finding beauty and peace after struggle.
✨ Finish: Clean, polished, and quietly satisfying.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
By The Bourbon Sipping Bibliophile
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25/5)
Spice Level: 🌶️ (Low/Implied - Focus on Emotional Intimacy)
Genre: Women's Fiction • Contemporary Fiction • Community Focus • Emotional Journey
Pour Style: Deeply Rooted, Smooth, Rich with Notes of Resilience, and a Warm, Lingering Finish
🥃 The Pour: A Story Built on Strong Foundations
In Search of Autumn, Book Two in The Ebondale Collection, is the kind of novel that feels less like a quick sip and more like a deeply satisfying, restorative glass. It’s a beautifully written exploration of personal resilience and the unbreakable bonds of community. This is a story that doesn't rely on flashy plot twists, but on the quiet, profound honesty of its characters and their journey.
The novel centers on the pursuit of finding peace and personal meaning—the "Autumn" in the title—after life's storms. It is clearly rooted in the author's passion for community and uplifting voices, giving the setting and the minor characters a palpable authenticity that makes the world of Ebondale feel real and lived-in.
💕 What Hit the Palate Nicely
✔ Profound Emotional Depth: The story tackles themes of resilience, self-discovery, and finding one's place after loss or challenge. The emotional arcs are layered, showing characters processing pain and intentionally rebuilding their lives.
✔ Authentic Community Portrait: The supporting cast and the setting (Ebondale) are the heart of this book. The interactions feel grounded and genuine, reflecting the kind of neighborhood where people truly support and champion one another.
✔ Reflective, Uplifting Tone: The writing is smooth and reflective, carrying an inherently optimistic tone without shying away from difficult topics. It leaves the reader feeling inspired and hopeful.
✔ Focus on Personal Journey: The book excels at prioritizing the internal growth of the protagonist(s). Their individual strength and evolving sense of self are the primary reward for the reader.
✔ The character depth is rich and layered: Autumn is flawed, relatable, and very human. Her grief for her best friend Asia, the fear she carries around love, and the avoidance patterns she hides behind are all portrayed with tenderness and realism. Therapy sessions with Jasmine deliver some of the most impactful emotions.
✔ The relationships are the heartbeat: Whether it’s sisterhood banter in the salon (“put some gloss on those crusty lips!”) or her evolving bond with Amir, the interpersonal dynamics feel warm, lived-in, and Black in the most beautiful way.
🥃 Where the Pour Lost a Little Proof
– A Slower Pace: Given the deeply character-driven nature, the plot moves at a deliberate, almost gentle pace. Readers seeking high-stakes drama or rapid plot movement might find the middle section too contemplative.
– Subplots Needed More Integration: While the minor characters are rich and authentic, a few of the subplots felt slightly disconnected from the main emotional search, perhaps lingering a bit too long on setup before connecting back to the core theme.
🌶️ Spice Notes
Low heat; rooted primarily in emotional connection and intimacy.
Expect:
Relationship development built on communication and emotional support.
Physical intimacy is implied or described in soft, non-explicit terms.
Focus is entirely on the tenderness and depth of the bond, not explicit detail.
⚠️ Content Warnings
Themes of emotional challenge/trauma
Family dynamics and conflict
Grief and recovery
🥃 Final Sip
In Search of Autumn is a rich, satisfying pour that reminds you of the comfort found in strong community and the beauty of resilience. It is a heartfelt narrative that leaves a lasting warmth. This is an excellent choice for readers who appreciate women's fiction focused on emotional growth and real-world connection.
Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25/5)
A comforting, smooth, and deeply human pour—highly recommended.
🥃 Drink Pairing: A Spiced Pear Martini
This drink is refined, smooth, and showcases a warmth of flavor without heat, reflecting the sophisticated yet emotionally deep nature of the story. The pear provides the fruitiness, while the spice reflects the resilience required for the journey.
Spiced Pear Martini - The Resilience Edition
Ingredients
2 oz Vodka (or Gin, for a touch more complexity)
0.75 oz Spiced Pear Liqueur (representing the hidden sweetness and warmth of community)
0.25 oz Lemon Juice (for the slight tang of life's challenges)
Garnish with a cinnamon stick or a thin pear slice.
Tasting Notes
🍸 Aroma: Clean spirit with notes of gentle spice and pear.
🍹 Palate: Smooth and sophisticated, with a warm, comforting blend of fruit and spice—a true reflection of finding beauty and peace after struggle.
✨ Finish: Clean, polished, and quietly satisfying.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 15, 2025
This was a new author for me, and I loved this book! I’m from the south side of Chicago, and this felt like home. The characters were all so familiar and relatable. The conversations at the beauty shop with the women was so entertaining and spoke of true sisterhood. Amir and Autumn were best friends that were destined to be together. It was obvious from the beginning, but she continued to get in the way. Her character was a bit frustrating, but it all went with the theme of her finding herself after a bad marriage and a lost job. I loved Amir! I wish every woman could have one of him. He was well written. You couldn’t help but love him. This book dealt with real life issues while offering insights, entertainment, grief, humor, love, romance, steam and intimacy, career choices, and the HEA that the reader longed for all along.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 3, 2025
Although this book is a work of fiction, Autumn is on paper what so many women are in real life. We find ourselves trying to pick up. the pieces, mend our broken heart, while raising little ones and looking for our northern star in the eye of a hurricane. This book is about healing. It’s about being real with yourself and allowing tough conversations to happen. Allowing the tears to fall, allowing the wails to come out so that you can grow on the other side of pain instead of wallowing in it and festering. Autumn thought that life had to be a constant hustle, she thought that the happy ending was not her story. But often the happy ending is right in front of your face and it’s been there all along. Hands-down one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, trust me you will not want to put this down.
February 18, 2026
Author Davis-Newell, An Exemplary Author... The Ebondale Collection Among The Best Reads in 2025
Just when I thought that nothing could surpass "The Bag Ladies" (Book 1), "In Search of Autumn" has done just that. I appreciated how there was the continuation of the circle of women that we met in Book 1, with the introduction of Autumn to the friendship circle. Both books remind us of the power of a trusted circle of women and the willingness to engage in therapy. Davis-Newell style of writing kept the reader engaged in such a way that we felt present with Autumn as she navigated
Her nameher endings and new beginnings, and evolved from brokenness to wholeness, from grief to joy. The book was a great read that though a work of fiction provided so many life lessons for women as they "do life". Maybe we may see a Book Three in the Ebondale Collection!
Just when I thought that nothing could surpass "The Bag Ladies" (Book 1), "In Search of Autumn" has done just that. I appreciated how there was the continuation of the circle of women that we met in Book 1, with the introduction of Autumn to the friendship circle. Both books remind us of the power of a trusted circle of women and the willingness to engage in therapy. Davis-Newell style of writing kept the reader engaged in such a way that we felt present with Autumn as she navigated
Her nameher endings and new beginnings, and evolved from brokenness to wholeness, from grief to joy. The book was a great read that though a work of fiction provided so many life lessons for women as they "do life". Maybe we may see a Book Three in the Ebondale Collection!
February 20, 2026
Fantastic
Autumn felt so familiar. I really enjoyed the scenes with the bag ladies and the salon. Amir… 🥰🥰🥰
I was so scared Autumn was going to cheat herself out of something amazing but she locked in at the end. This was such a beautiful, real, raw look at love, grief and friendship.
Autumn felt so familiar. I really enjoyed the scenes with the bag ladies and the salon. Amir… 🥰🥰🥰
I was so scared Autumn was going to cheat herself out of something amazing but she locked in at the end. This was such a beautiful, real, raw look at love, grief and friendship.
March 14, 2026
Fabulous!
This book was awesome to say the least. The writing, prose, is top notch. The emotions it causes one to feel are deeply felt. It has a great blend of humor, heart break, love, joy, failures, redemption. Victory of overcoming failures, lessons learned and so much more. I wish it could go on and on. Bravo Michelle Davis Newell!
This book was awesome to say the least. The writing, prose, is top notch. The emotions it causes one to feel are deeply felt. It has a great blend of humor, heart break, love, joy, failures, redemption. Victory of overcoming failures, lessons learned and so much more. I wish it could go on and on. Bravo Michelle Davis Newell!
December 16, 2025
A great read, definitely a page turner. A true representation of love, friendship, and sisterhood. Finding the balance of family and career. Navigating emotional challenges…Discovering self-worth and finally choosing you!!!
December 26, 2025
Such an excellent story
Heartbreak and repair all wrapped in a ebony coated care package! I want to move to Ebondale and get my life too!!!
Heartbreak and repair all wrapped in a ebony coated care package! I want to move to Ebondale and get my life too!!!
March 11, 2026
Great book..
I read book one in the Ebondale collection and couldn’t wait to read book two. Read them back to back and they were both great. Couldn’t put them down..
I read book one in the Ebondale collection and couldn’t wait to read book two. Read them back to back and they were both great. Couldn’t put them down..
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews