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Falling Into You: A Cozy Young Adult Opposites Attract Romance about Cheerleading

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Gilmore Girls meets America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in this cozy fall paperback original.

Rory Graham is determined to lead her squad to victory at the big cheer competition this fall, but her dreams deflate when one of her bases gets injured. Enter Jacob Reilly, a star soccer player and the most annoying boy Rory's ever known, who has just lost a bet and been forced to join the cheer squad. Can Rory whip her new teammate into perfect alignment, like everything else in her life? Or is it possible that Jacob is something else—something better than perfection?

Cozy fall romance: Get into the autumnal spirit with chilly football games and bake sale fundraisers overflowing with pumpkin spice.

Feed your cheerleader obsession: We loved the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders show, too. Re-experience the thrill as Rory leads her squad to victory and Jacob realizes how fun—and hard—cheer really is.

Opposites attract: Type-A Rory can't stand Jacob's shenanigans, but she has to learn to trust him; it's literally his job to catch her when she falls. Can he surprise her by stepping up to the task?

288 pages, Paperback

Published August 4, 2026

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About the author

Emma Harrison

78 books137 followers
Emma Harrison is a pseudonym of Kieran Scott.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Beth.
184 reviews2 followers
August 19, 2026
SIGH

Okay this is exactly why I only read YA for awhile hahaha immediately brought back to being in HS and wow can I just say that the pressure of making sure you are doing everything during these four years like as a freshman you're like oooh I'm in high school now but at the bottom of the totem pole and then sophomore year comes and you kinda just want to keep on coasting but then ACT practice etc., is creeping up then junior year you're taking those exams if not already and then bam senior year you want to enjoy it but then you're stressing out about last minute scholarships, college acceptance and okay yes this book was mainly about cheerleading and soccer BUT Jacob did have to take math more seriously and worrying about scouts so yeah it all comes back to the book

Also, I'm a sucker for cheerleading like okay yes I only did it one year but da*n one of the things I regret not continuing but there would've been no way to balance that and marching band I'm sorry but nope haha like this book was really cute and instantly transported me back to Norton
Profile Image for livblovesbooks.
322 reviews16 followers
August 17, 2026
This book was adorable! I really enjoyed our main characters, Rory and Jacob. Their story was a super cute and lighthearted young adult romance. Even with how lighthearted it was, it still touched on very important life scenarios and did so very well.

The narrators did an amazing job with this book, and they each portrayed their character amazingly. You could feel the emotion throughout the book as well as the dramatic moments that gave me a laugh. Stephanie Rose and Alex Knox were perfect for this book.

If you're looking for a fun, young adult romance to get you ready for the fall vibes, you should definitely check this book out.

Thank you NetGalley, Emma Harrision and HarperAudio Children’s for the ALC!
Profile Image for Explauren .
121 reviews
August 22, 2026
I read this a couple weeks ago, and forgot to log it, so we will see what I remember. I liked the fact that the MMC had the crush and not the girl. Her ex was so mean. It was not the cutest book I've read. Its not really memorable.
Profile Image for January.
3,294 reviews134 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 25, 2026
Falling Into You by Emma Harrison (2026)
6h 10m narrated by Stephanie Rose and Alex Knox, 288
ALC courtesy of HarperAudio Children’s, Avon a, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Genre: Young Adult Romance, Cozy Romance, Seasonal > Autumn & Fall

Movie Rating Equivalent: PG-13 for Adult Language, Sensuality, and Innuendos

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️½🍂​🏫🧁📣🏆⚽️🛻💖

Featuring: High School, Teens, Cheerleaders, Soccer, Events, Juniors & Seniors, Bake Sale, Homecoming, Gilmore Girls Namesake, Family Dynamics, Profanity, Dual POVs, Male Cheerleaders, Unrequited Love, Pranks, Bets, Boston Suburb, Varsity Sports, Forbidden Romance - Friend/Teammate's Girlfriend, September, Class Clown, Cheer Competition, Annoyance to Lover, Drama, October, Type-A, Opposites Attract, Pseudonym of Kieran Scott

Falling Into You lured me in with its awesome cover. I don't usually read book blurbs, but I did catch a little bit of this one and saw it compared to Gilmore Girls. Since I’ve never watched the show, I assumed they meant the mother-daughter relationship (since that’s usually what books reference), but now that I've read it, I think they actually meant the town!
​The story definitely had a sitcom-like vibe, though there were a few minor details that didn't quite make sense to me. For instance, if Jacob has been in the same class as Rory since kindergarten, why is he acting like he's a senior with his last chance for college recruitment while she's a junior? Some of the drama and situations also felt a bit forced for the sake of the plot.
​Other than that, I mostly enjoyed the story! I wasn't expecting the profanity and sensual references—this is definitely targeted toward older teenagers rather than the younger YA crowd—though I still think it's fine for a 12-year-old. Young adult fiction is a tricky genre to navigate because some books are straight-up R-rated, but this one ultimately delivers the cozy, family-friendly romance it promised, despite a couple of swear words and references.
​I was actually expecting this to be Book 1 in a series, but it's a standalone. I discovered that the author has written several other books, which I’ll happily be adding to my TBR—and since this is a pseudonym, I’ll definitely be checking out the books she has published under her government name too!

​Recommend to others: Yes! This definitely gives you all of the cozy fall vibes you'd expect from a Hallmark-style movie airing on a channel like TeenNick or Disney.

Songs for the Soundtrack: "If Rain Is What You Want" by Slipknot, Wicked: The Soundtrack, "Looking at Me" by Sabrina Carpenter, "Let Me Move You" by Sabrina Carpenter, "Thriller" by Michael Jackson

Books and Authors Mentioned: Gilmore Girls by Amy Sherman-Palladino, Guys and Dolls by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, Wicked (known in full as Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz) by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman [based on] Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, with illustrations by Douglas Smith [based on] The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum [and based on] The Wizard of Oz by Noel Langley; Dead Poets Society by Tom Schulman, Chicago by Maurine Dallas Watkins, Mythology of Medusa - Theogony by Hesiod, Encanto by Charise Castro Smith and Jared Bush, West Side Story by Arthur Laurents [based on] Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare; Stranger Things by the Duffer Brothers
290 reviews2 followers
August 17, 2026
Emma Harrison is back and my teenaged heart is so happy!! And she has TWO new ones!!

I read Better Than You first, but I like this one much more. Both are 3rd person dual POV, which again, I just find so fascinating as a writing choice for YA Romance these days. And again, I don't think the comparisons to Lynn Painter are accurate. Sorry. More like Kasie West, maybe.

Emma Harrison's writing style is straight out of the late-aughts and because of that, I will forever wish there was more romance. Lynn Painter, for example, has never left me wanting more romance. YA Romance has evolved significantly since the Teen Romance days, and this isn't good or bad, it just is.

It's also funny that this one is billed as Dallas Cowboys meets Gilmore Girls because it's also neither of those. It's just a cheerleading FMC (which Kierran Scott, the author's real name, loooooovessss) and a fall setting.

Rory is a doll and very different than who she's ultimately described to be: a junior who's the captain of the varsity cheer squad, uber popular, dating the most popular guy, on Homecoming court, probably going to win Queen despite being a junior. But she's not conceited. She's not a mean girl. She doesn't even really carry herself with the confidence of someone who is a junior about to be Homecoming Queen, which typically goes to a senior. It was a pleasant surprise, but it also kind of didn't make sense to me. I loved her though.

She has a boyfriend throughout almost the entire book.

Jacob was cute and endearing and he matched Rory so well. They were cute together and I wish there had been more there. Jacob likes her the whole time, and Rory's fall in love was slow and sweet but again, I wish there was more focus on the romance.

The pacing is great. The plot is cute and sweet. The writing style and author voice will keep you turning the pages. The kisses and romance will leave you wanting much more (which is why the YA Romance genre has developed as it has.) but I did appreciate how wholesome and sweet it was when I think about junior high girls looking for reading but not quite ready for Adult yet.

This is such a cute read. Perfect for all ages but especially for younger YA audiences, which are oft forgotten.

A really solid 4 star read that will get you in the mood for fall or is perfect to read curled up under your fave blanket on a chilly November day with the windows open wide and chili in the crockpot.
Profile Image for Sam.
428 reviews25 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 15, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ALC.

This was exactly the kind of cozy YA romance I was hoping for. Between the fall atmosphere, opposites-attract romance, and cheerleading backdrop, it delivered on its promises while being easier to stay engaged with than I expected. The dual narration was fantastic and made the listening experience even more enjoyable, giving each character their own distinct voice without feeling overdone.

I especially appreciated Jacob’s emotional growth throughout the story. Watching him mature and show up for Rory was one of my favorite parts of the book. While Rory carried a lot of responsibility at home, I appreciated that the story also allowed room for healing within her family. The message that sometimes the person who seems to like you the least is actually paying the closest attention added a sweet layer to the romance, and the overall story left me with all the cozy fall feelings.

If you’re looking for a comforting, low-drama romance filled with soccer, cheerleading, autumn vibes, and lovable characters, this is an easy recommendation. I would note, however, that while this is marketed as YA, it includes references to underage partying and characters being hungover. It never felt like the book was encouraging those behaviors, but it did make the content feel a little older than I expected for younger teen readers. Because of that, I’d recommend it more for older YA readers.

Who Should Read This?
Older teens and adults who enjoy cozy fall romances, opposites attract, dual narration, soccer and cheerleading stories, and character-driven books with just enough emotional depth to leave you smiling.
1,346 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 16, 2026
Thank you to HarperAudio Children's books and NetGalley for the ARC.
Rory Graham, our sixteen-year-old main character, is head cheerleader for her high school team. She is very competitive and is hoping that her team will win a big competition in the fall. Her hopes are dashed though, when one of the males on the team gets hurt falling off Jacob Reilly's roof.
Jacob is a fantastic soccer player and is hoping to be recruited by colleges this season. He and Rory have known each other since elementary school, and Rory is constantly annoyed with him because he is always playing practical jokes, making silly bets, and is never serious.
Jacob loses a bet and tries out for the new position on the cheer squad, which he makes; but he has another problem: he has been temporarily benched by his soccer coach, thus ruining his chances of being recruited. Will Jacob take cheer seriously so that the cheer team can win the competition? Will Jacob get to play soccer this season? Will these two finally realize they are made for each other? Read to find out.

This was a fun, cozy read--right in time for fall sports season. The audiobook was well-done with different narrators for each character. I know my cheerleaders will enjoy reading a book where the main character is a cheerleader, and my romance readers will enjoy the opposites attract romance.
This romance will circulate well in both middle and high schools, so I recommend buying more than one copy. As a Gilmore Girl fan, I love Rory's name. The cover is also cute!
Profile Image for Janette.
156 reviews1 follower
August 6, 2026
📣✨ Book Review✨📣

💖 Falling Into You by Emma Harrison was such a fun and adorable YA romance! 💖

Rory is determined to lead her cheer squad to a regional championship and earn the title of Homecoming Queen. Jacob is the school's star soccer player, notorious prankster, and unbeknownst to Rory, he's been secretly in love with her since fifth grade. ❤️

The only problem? Rory can't stand his prank-filled antics...and she's dating Jacob's best friend, Tucker. 😬

When one of Rory's male cheerleaders is injured, she suddenly needs to find a replacement before regionals. Even though Jacob wasn't responsible for the injury, Rory is convinced he's nothing but trouble. As they're forced to spend more time together, Jacob gets the chance to show Rory that there's a lot more to him than his reputation.

Can Jacob finally convince Rory to see the real him, or will the girl he's loved for years remain just out of reach?

This was such a sweet, heartwarming read filled with laughs, chemistry, and all the adorable YA romance vibes. I had so much fun reading it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Emma Harrison, and HarperCollins for the adorable ALC! 💕📚

Profile Image for Samantha.
540 reviews
August 15, 2026
⭐️4

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Audio for the ALC, in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I loved the audiobook. It was so god and I really liked how both of narrators fit Rory and Jacob so perfectly, and I love how their voices really captured both of their personalities. If you’re planning on reading this book, I would definitely recommend the audiobook because I genuinely think it made my reading experience even better.

I also just really loved Rory and Jacob together. I love any sort of romance, where the guy falls first, and it worked so perfectly in this book. Even though this is a pretty short book, you can really tell how much these two characters genuinely like each other.

And Rory and Jacob were just cute. I loved all the moments where they were together, and I love them from the beginning. My only small complaint is that I would’ve wished this book was longer because I just didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters.

Overall, this was such a good book and the perfect fall read. I would totally recommend it to people who enjoy short, fast-paced romance with just a man who’s so utterly obsessed with his girl.
Profile Image for tessreads.
65 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 28, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for sending me an arc. I received a copy of the audiobook from the publisher and all opinions are my own.

I didn’t read much of the synopsis before going into this book. I usually like to go in blind, but I did read the Gilmore Girls comparison! I was excited to see how that would tie in, and it was interesting for sure. Since the book is marketed as YA, I have to set different expectations, and for what it is, it was good. There was dual narration, which is always so nice to see, between the male and female characters!

In the book, we follow Rory, who is a high school cheerleader preparing for a big cheer competition. When plans go south and, after losing a bet, Jacob, a star soccer player, has to join the squad at the last minute. We follow the two as Rory gets Jacob as prepped as she can before the big competition.

Overall, it was a pretty cute YA. I think it would be perfect for high schoolers. The characters can be a little dramatic and immature at times, which makes sense considering their age.
Profile Image for Meagan McGee.
77 reviews
August 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook for an honest review!

First off, the narrators Stephanie Rose and Alex Knox fit Rory and Jacob so well!!!

I enjoyed this book. It was such a short read, and it was PERFECT for fall! I was craving apple cider and caramel apples during this read omg!

This was exactly the kind of cozy YA romance I was hoping for!! It's a sports romance with cheerleading and soccer. I have been obsessed with that genre lately but this book I absolutely devoured so fast! I honestly need more of these main characters IMMEDIATELY!

I love how loyal and routine oriented Rory was throughout the story and Jacob is just the class clown that she couldn't stand for the longest time, but I rooted for them from the BEGINNING!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
Profile Image for Jamie.
49 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 30, 2026
I was given this ALC from Netgalley.
📚🍁🍂🍁🍂🛻⚽️🏆🍁🍂🍁🍂📚

I was gifted a copy of this audiobook from Net Galley. I wanted to preview it to see if it would be a good fit for our high school library. The narrators did a fantastic job giving a voice to Rory and Jacob. They kept me engaged even though cheerleading is not something I know a lot about. I loved Rory's enthusiasm and her ability to organize and rally her cheer squad even though things were not always going the way that they had planned. Jacob is a funny and endearing character. I enjoyed his personality and his love for his family, it really showed his true heart. I think this would be a great fit for high school libraries, and I will look into buying a copy for ours this fall.
#netgalley
Profile Image for Amanda.
45 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 30, 2026
Falling into You is about Rory Graham she is 16, She’s the head cheerleader and someone from her squad gets in an accident and she now has to have try outs to replace him and that is when Jacob Riley, comes in to play who makes this bet with his friends and he loses this bet and he has to then try out for the cheerleading squad. This was such a cute fall story and I love a good fall story too and it makes you just wanna have a pumpkin spice latte while reading this. It gets you in the fall mood.
I really did enjoy this book and I’ll definitely check out the other books that this author has written.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper audio children’s books for giving me an ARC copy.
Profile Image for brandidxwn.
37 reviews5 followers
July 31, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Audio for this Advanced Listener Copy of “Falling into You” by Emma Harrison!

This was such a sweet romantic fall listen. Its a sports romance with cheerleading and soccer. I’m usually not one for sports romances but this i absolutely devoured and need more of these main characters IMMEDIATELY!!!! I love young adult books. They hit me in all the right places and honestly I prefer them to adult romances…I say that as I’m a 26 year old woman 🤣

This book gave me Gilmore Girls vibes so if you’re a fan of that tv show, you’ll definitely enjoy this!!
Profile Image for Shannon.
9,375 reviews456 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 29, 2026
A cute and cozy enemies to lovers Fall YA opposites attract romance that has a cheerleader and a soccer player forced to work together when he gets dared to tryout for the cheer team and she has no choice but to let him join. Tons of Gilmore Girls and Lynn Painter vibes. This was a new to me author but I enjoyed the story from start to finish even if it was a bit predictable at times. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Arleigh Salerno.
510 reviews15 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 3, 2026
A quicker cute young adult romance. I can admit ive never been fond of cheer leaders nor those who are almost steamrolling things... but I can get wanting order. Organized and wanting something so badly. The way the romance aspect worked out is something one dreams of, something even I missed out on, because i gave that up unknowingly. The cutest thing, with support, laughs, and miscommunication because of those who truly didnt care. A must read if you want cute and cozy.
Profile Image for Christine.
140 reviews3 followers
July 30, 2026
This is a really sweet, wholesome story. Rory and Jacob are adorable. It’s got cozy vibes, swoony moments, and it’s the perfect book to help usher in fall!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews