Cozy up with your pumpkin spiced latte and a slice of apple pie, because it's time to fall in love in Bramley Hollow...
A fall-inspired second-chance romance about a woman who returns home after inheriting her grandmother’s diner, only to discover the contractor she must hire was her high school crush.
Sweater weather is better together.
Rebecca Macintosh has always felt that there’s just something about September—nostalgia, crisp mornings, and possibility. But not this year. Rebecca has thirty days to return home to fix up her late grandmother’s diner or face the consequences. And the only contractor in town? Cort Adams. The man who rejected her one year ago. He’s somehow even better looking as a single dad than when he was the high school football star she once tutored. She’d been hoping to avoid him forever.
As the golden leaves start to fall, Rebecca may find that there’s more to her hometown—and to Cort—than she’d realized, and that the dreams she’s been chasing might have been the wrong ones. Could a spark kindle hot enough in the cool autumn air to call Rebecca home for good?
Something About September written by Julia McKay was such a cute fall themed book full of sweet moments, fall festivities, tender moments, emotional moments, and angst. This book made me miss fall, the cool weather, cute fall clothes, leaves crunching under your shoes, and anything apple related. I'm so beyond ready for fall to get here, I'm so tired of this summer heat and humidity, but this book gave me all the fall vibes I was looking for. Reading this book felt like I was being wrapped in the most comforting hug. Let me start off by saying this book wasn't horrible by any means, but I did have a few issues hence the three star rating- let's jump right into what bugged me, the third-act break-up, the communication skills which weren't there (if you are an adult, you need to communicate like one, TALK), and there was just something missing that I can't exactly put my finger on- I feel like some parts were a bit rushed in my honest opinion. Julia's writing style was so immersive, I flew through this book, but at times I forgot that I was reading a book because it felt like I was watching everything unfold in real time instead of turning pages of a book. If you are looking for something sweet, angsty, and fall themed then you need to mark your calendars for August 18th, 2026, so you don't miss out on Something About September. I have never read anything by this author before, so reading this book felt like a breath of fresh air. Grab yourself a mug of hot tea, your favorite fall sweet treats, and a warm fluffy blanket and buckle down for this sweet read.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND PUTNAM FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
🎧☕ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : Autumn Leaves by Nat King Cole🎧☕ 0:49 ───|──────2:40
💘🧸🍁🎀First and foremost, I would like to thank my favorite girl Cat for buddy reading this sweet fall themed book with me💘🧸🍁🎀. I had the absolute best time sharing our thoughts together and screaming how much we miss fall. This was actually our first ever buddy read we did together, but I'm a bit late on writing the review as per usual. Anyway, I love you so much, my sweet girl💘🍭. I'm so happy and thankful we got to experience this journey together.
"💝😭I don't feel like I have enough people in my life that I can afford to lose any of them💝😭".
"💗🌱Avoiding something doesn't make it smaller. It just gives it more time to grow💗🌱".
"💞🍂You can live in a place that has so many people, so many places to go, unique things to do, and just get stuck in the same patterns💞🍂".
Rebecca Macintosh is a twenty-nine year old Literature professor at the University of Toronto, but she's taking a leave of absence to go back to her hometown of Bramley Hollow. Bramley Hollow's Business Improvement Association has given Rebecca a thirty day timeline to figure out what she wants to do with her Grannie Lenore's long closed diner with an apartment above. Macintosh's Diner is family owned and ran by Lenore until she couldn't keep up anymore. Inside the diner, there was this table called Macintosh's Table which held many memories, but I guess that's not a good enough reason for Rebecca to hold onto this beloved diner, instead she returns to Bramley Hollow a year later after Lenore's funeral to fix up the diner so she can sell it. Grannie Lenore passed away at the age of eighty-nine. I absolutely adored Grannie Lenore- getting glimpses of the woman that she was truly made it so wholesome. Rebecca's mom died when she was an infant and she doesn't know who her father is, so her grandma Lenore raised her alone after losing her own daughter and her husband. I had sympathy for Rebecca, but her and I got off on a rocky start. I actually had second hand embarrassment for Rebecca, her communication skills were so bad, she had a habit of running from the truth, and placing blame on others but herself- I mean it takes two to tango, I understand there was history and emotions were high, but this woman would always run away. What I loved most about Rebecca was her best friend Sabrina Calloway. Their friendship felt so real and supportive without any unnecessary drama, they were just two girlies who always showed up for each other, ugh I just love being a girls girl.
Cortland "Cort" Adams is the best and only contractor in the small town of Bramley Hollow. Now, I absolutely loved and adored this man, the kindness he showed to other, the patience he had, he was just so admirable, I loved him from the very beginning. Cort is a single dad to his eight year old son Pip that he shares custody with his ex-wife Melanie. Cort was going through a divorce the last time Rebecca came home for the funeral of her grandma. Melanie and Cort are better off as friends, they have no regrets and Cort feels at peace with the divorce. Can we just take a minute and all take advice from Cort Adams? Because this man truly was so wise, "what if realizing you're stuck is the first step to getting unstuck?" "what if it's okay to feel like this?". This man truly had me swooning, it was so nice to see a grown man actually act like an adult instead of being so childish. "I think we sometimes choose the relationships that feel safest". Cort was truly so wise beyond his years. I absolutely adored the co-parenting aspect between Cort and Melanie, there were no hard feelings, it was just two parents who wanted the best for their child which was such a breath of fresh air. If you are looking for a man that will make you swoon and sweep you off of your feet, then you better read Something About September so you can meet the one and only sweetheart, Cort Adams.
Rebecca and Cort have known each other since high school when Rebecca was his English tutor. Rebecca and Cort were really good friends, but things went south after Rebecca saw Cort and Melanie at a school dance when they were in high school, Rebecca was in love with Cort but she never said anything, again here's where I had issues with Rebecca's communication skills because instead of letting Cort know how she felt, she just ran from her feelings after seeing them dancing together. Rebecca felt like this was a one sided crush, but honestly she never knew how Cort felt because she DIDN'T COMMUNICATE her feelings for him. According to Rebecca Cort is part of the reason why she stayed away from Bramley Hollow for an entire year because Rebecca tried to kiss Cort right after her grandma's funeral but Cort pushed her away. I mean I could see why Cort did what he did because they just got out of a funeral and Rebecca was trying to smooch up on him like nothing happened, I guess Cort just wanted her to have a clear head instead of acting on emotional impulses. Now that Rebecca's back in Bramley Hollow to fix up the diner, she's acting all stubborn and doesn't want to hire Cort as the contractor all because he rejected her kiss that night, well Rebecca I hate to tell you, but Cort Adams is the one and only contractor in the small town of Bramley Hollow. Despite how stubborn and childish Rebecca is acting right now, the patience Cort had was truly remarkable because I can't deal with an adult acting so childish after a rejected kiss that literally happened a year ago.
I feel like I need to start this by saying: this book wraps around you in the coziest way possible… like stepping into crisp air, leaves crunching under your boots, and something warm in your hands. The writing? Genuinely so immersive. There were moments I forgot I was reading because it felt like I was just… there. Sitting in that diner, watching everything unfold in real time. 😌
But ALSO… *deep sigh* this was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me… and not in the way I adore 😭😭
Rebecca and I had a rocky start. Like… I was trying, I really was. But the miscommunication?? The assumptions??? Girl 😭😭😭 I get that emotions were high and history was involved, but some of the heartache felt so avoidable that I found myself lowkey frustrated instead of fully invested at first 🤦🏼♀️ It took me a while to settle into her perspective without wanting to shake her just a little 💀
Now Cort??? Completely different story😝 I loved him. The patience? The kindness? The fact that after everything—after she left, after the distance—he still showed up with so much care??? And then you add in the single dad element (which if yk me you know that’s my weakness)… yeahhhhh he had me. fully🙂↕️🙂↕️
And something I don’t want to gloss over because it really stood out to me!! the friendship between Rebecca and Sabrina. 🫶🏼🤞🏼From the very beginning, it felt solid, supportive, and real. No weird tension, no unnecessary drama. Just two girlies who genuinely love and show up for each other. I ate that up. We need more of that energy😌👏🏼
The story itself had this soft thread of mystery woven through it that kept me curious, and the emotional core very much leaned into that “right person, wrong time” ache. There’s a lot of pining & Longing that stretches across time.
BUT (and this is where my feelings wobble again)… The third act breakup🧍🏼♀️ it just didn’t land for me. 🤷🏼♀️ I’m picky with those to begin with, and this one didn’t feel strong enough to justify the emotional fallout it created. It pulled me out of the story a bit right when I wanted to be the most locked in🫠🫠
And yet… despite my frustrations, I can’t deny that this was such a soft, comforting, feel-good fall read. 😌 The kind you pick up when you want something warm, a little angsty, a little sweet, and easy to sink into💛🧡
things to know about the book ↓
🍂 second chance 🍂 high school crush 🍂 single dad 🍂 cozy fall vibes 🍂 slow-burn pining 🍂 miscommunication 🍂 third act breakup 🍂 single POV (hers in 3rd person)
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️ swearing: yes
The biggest thank you to NetGalley, Putnam & Julia McKay for allowing me to read this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
-•-I had the bestest time reading with my beautiful bestie girl Cara 😍😘 Can’t wait for our next buddy read cutie!!-•-
───────── ・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
so excited to start this one! the cover is so pretty!!
Oh my god, what a sweet and cute little book! It was so cozy and heartfelt, but super deep in its own right.
I really liked the romance. I thought it was very sweet and slowburn, years in the making, kind of thing. I needed a refresh on the dramatic romance and just picked up something I knew wouldn’t be too much.
I didn’t think, at first, that this would have much substance (not in a bad way, of course), but it ended up being kind of deep, and I appreciated that!
Cort, though I hated his name, was so sweet. So kind and gentle and I appreciated a hardworking and intelligent man! Pip was so cute and I loved him so much!
I also never read single dad or single mom romances. Nothing at all against them, of course, but they usually aren’t my cup of tea. This one though, I actually enjoyed! It convinced me to now start reading a single mom romance!
“Staying in one place did not have to mean standing still.”
this was literally so cute!!! the perfect binge able fall read that felt like stepping into Star’s Hollow. 10/10 recommend listening to a fall playlist.
also now I want to own a bookstore / bakery in a cozy small town with my best friend !!!!! 🍁☕️✨🥧
OMG THIS WAS SO CUTE!! And we officially open the season for autumn reads, Idc that technically it's still summer I'm ready for autumn maybe because I was born just at the very start of the autumn so I'm so excited for this season 🍁
And then I say this book, which absolutely involves autumn and September I had to read it right away. The probabilities of me forgetting and reading it in November were too high 😶
I feel like when the topic is seasonal books there are usually two types, the cringey one or the cozy and comforting read that will have you absolutely hooked. This is the second one obviously
I loved getting to know Becca's and Cort's story and their romance was so cute full of those typical tropes, like friends to lovers, highschool crush. But also I loved the whole setting of the book, the town, the renovation of the dinner, and how the author handled Becca's grief and the memory of her grandmother who was a huge piece in this book without even speaking a word.
I would love to be back in this setting maybe with her friend's book?
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released called, Something About September. This is about Rebecca, she has to go back to her hometown to fix up and sell her grandmother's diner after she passed. And the only contractor in town is Cort, who was her childhood friend turned teenage crush. Now they're adults and he's the last person she wants to see because when she finally took a chance and tried to be more than friends with him a year ago but he turned her down. But as they're stuck spending time together while fixing up the diner Cort starts to open up, the town welcomes her back, and she starts to wonder if this is exactly where she's meant to be. This was a sweet, small town, second chance romance! I loved how after some resistance Rebecca and Cort finally got everything out in the open which cleared up misunderstandings, healed their hearts, and gave them a second chance at love. This story was full of fall vibes, delivers on the small town charm, and even had a little mystery tied in! I really enjoyed this book! Also I LOVED that Cort and his son had a sourdough starter, and that Cort had a fresh loaf of sourdough bread when he made Rebecca dinner. I was absolutely thrilled when I read that, and I was so excited to include my sourdough starter and a fresh loaf of sourdough bread with my book review pic! 💛📚
Thank you to Julia McKay, Putnam, and Netgalley for this ARC of Something About September, in exchange for an honest review.
📖 Bookish Thoughts I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🧡 What to Expect • Second chance romance • Small town return • High school crush • Single dad MMC • Family inheritance • Homecoming story _ _ _ 📅 Pub Date: August 18, 2026 📝 Thank you to Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook copy! I used this book as my kick off into fall reading, and it was perfect! I loved the small town of Bramley Hollow and I lived watched Rebecca and Cort make their way back to each other. We get to see them reconnect as friends, who turn into lovers and it was so sweet. Especially all the scenes with Cort’s son! This little town was the perfect town to escape to for some fall reading, and I hope we get to take a trip back here in the future with another book, for Sabrina!
The narrator did a fantastic job narrating and I definitely recommend the audiobook, I didn’t want to stop listening while I worked on a fall puzzle!!
🍂🎃💕 Hallelujah! A FMC who recognizes her mistake in her behavior from the get-go, corrects it, and actually makes amends. That is incredibly refreshing.
Rebecca is such a breath of fresh air. Her feelings are completely valid, but she handles them with so much maturity and thoughtfulness. I loved watching her navigate everything without unnecessary drama or poor communication.
This book is just so comfy. I eat up small-town books, especially when they have older characters who remind the main character of their past and cheer them on for who they are today—with no judgment about their decisions or how they handle grief. Those characters added so much warmth to the story.
And Sabrina? A+ best friend. Hardworking, innovative, loyal, and always present. You can tell she desperately wants Rebecca to stay, but she never pressures her. She loves her BFF so well, and I absolutely adored their friendship. 💕
The pumpkin watch, s’mores, shared sleeping bag, and shooting star scene were magical. It was peak cozy romance and exactly the kind of scene I want to curl up inside.
Even the conflict worked for me because it was actually reasonable: she’s leaving, he’s staying. Simple, but completely logical given who they are and what they want. No manufactured drama necessary.
I even enjoyed the maturity and growth from Heather and Melanie. Their character arcs felt genuine and satisfying.
All in all, this was warm, cozy, comforting, and the absolute epitome of a happily-ever-after. I ate it UP.
And honestly? I need a film adaptation of this pronto. 🎬🍂
Sweet, cozy fall romance! We’re talking apple orchards, a small town diner, a giant pumpkin lol - you know the drill 🎃 Easy read with heart, and nice if you need a palette cleanser after something darker or heavier, but maybe not one I’d find super memorable after time!
Total hallmark movie of a book. Everything was so darn cozy. And yeah, there were difficult emotions. Old hurts (and new ones!) had to be resolved. But the setting of the book was settled over everything like a warm blanket. No matter the difficult emotions happening, the book still snuggled you close and kept you safe. I love the security of knowing a happy ending will be coming - you just need that sometimes, you know?
Thank you Putnam for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I wanted to love this book. The cover was so perfectly Fall and the synopsis felt so cozy and cute. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. It felt a littleeee too cheesy for my taste. Sometimes I want a Hallmark movie in a book, but most times I want a little bit more substance when it comes to my Romance.
Synopsis:
“Sweater weather is better together.Rebecca Macintosh has always felt that there’s just something about September—nostalgia, crisp mornings, and possibility. But not this year. Rebecca has thirty days to return home to fix up her late grandmother’s diner or face the consequences. And the only contractor in town? Cort Adams. The man who rejected her one year ago. He’s somehow even better looking as a single dad than when he was the high school football star she once tutored. She’d been hoping to avoid him forever.As the golden leaves start to fall, Rebecca may find that there’s more to her hometown—and to Cort—than she’d realized, and that the dreams she’s been chasing might have been the wrong ones. Could a spark kindle hot enough in the cool autumn air to call Rebecca home for good?” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Fall Vibes—They’re definitely there! It’s cozy and sweet. I just prefer a bit more grit.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Tropes—The Second Chance felt really forced and their reasoning for not getting together previously didn’t seem strong enough to me.
The Writing—It all just felt really forced and not natural to me.
The Chemistry—Missed the mark for me with our main couple.
Character Authenticity: 2/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 2/5
I could relate to Rebecca so much when she feels dissatisfied with her career in the city and how much she misses her mom.
I love Rebecca and Sabrina's friendship and how Sabrina accepts Rebecca staying away for a year because she thought it was too painful to return to her hometown when her grandmother passed. The real reason she stayed away was because she was embarrassed by the rejection of her high school crush, Cort.
Cort always knew she was going to leave Bramley Hollow when she tutored him in high school. After her return to their hometown, the line between friendship and something blurs as Cort takes her to his favorite places and they fall asleep under the stars.
Rebecca is the reason why they're together as she made the first move on Cort in the past, Cort ended things so easily after a convo with his ex, and Rebecca sent the first text to fix things. Cort should've taken more risks to be with her, as Becca was the only one fighting for their relationship.
Rebecca feels lonely after losing Lenore, but she has a family with Sabrina's parents and with Cort and Pip. A slow trickle of tears fell down my face as I read the ending. Rebecca avoided home but dreams and people change. This is a beautiful story of grief, friendship, found family, and first love.
Thank you, Putnam and NetGalley, for my digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Something About September is such a lovely, light-hearted read. It has that cozy, easy-going feeling that makes you want to curl up somewhere comfortable and simply let the story unfold. At its heart is a sweet romantic love story, filled with warmth, charm and those little moments that make you smile.
What I especially enjoyed was how effortless the book felt. It doesn’t try to be overly dramatic or complicated — it simply tells a romantic story and lets you enjoy the journey. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need: a book that feels like a pleasant escape, without asking too much of you emotionally.
It’s warm, romantic and wonderfully easy to read — the perfect kind of book for when you want something cozy and uncomplicated.
If you’re looking for a cute, cozy fall palate cleanser, this is definitely the book for you! This was such a quick and easy read that I flew through it in one day.
We follow Rebecca (Becca) and Cortland (Cort). Becca used to tutor Cort in high school, while Cort was the hot football captain she knew she had no shot with, so she followed her dreams and left her small hometown. Now living in Toronto, Becca has to return home to sort through her late grandmother’s diner a year after her passing. Of course, coming back brings up old memories and old feelings, especially when Cort ends up being the only person in town who can restore the diner.
I liked Becca and Cort’s chemistry, especially when they are both acting shy to one another; it just felt so cute. I really enjoyed the little flashbacks that gave us glimpses into their history and showed that their connection was always there.
Overall, this was such a sweet, low-stress read with small-town vibes, second-chance feelings, and a cozy fall atmosphere. Exactly the kind of book I’d recommend when you want something cute and easy to get lost in! 🍂🤎
Thank you to Julia, Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for an advance copy to provide my honest review.
I’m a summer lover and it still made me nostalgic for fall. This book is absolutely packed with fall vibes. I could almost smell the smell of the turning leaves in the air (yes, for those who don’t live in an area with fall, the leaves have a scent as they change color).
There were so many delicious sounding apple recipes, and I loved all of the fall-themed events at Rebecca’s best friend Sabrina’s family farm. Even the descriptions of the clothes they were wearing (chunky sweaters, fair isle patterns, boots) made me crave some cooler weather (and this is coming from someone who loves the heat of summer).
This reminded me of a Carley Fortune book in that it takes place in Canada and will 100 percent make you want to visit Canada by the end of it.
I enjoyed the writing style and found the book to be an easy read. I’ve previously read Christmas books by this author and enjoyed them so that’s no surprise.
The story was cute and fun. I liked Rebecca as a character and found her easy to root for. It was a little sad with Rebecca mourning her beloved grandmother who raised her and the mother she never knew. I liked the love interest Court as well. I liked what a good dad he was to his son and he and Rebecca had a good connection and were open and honest with each other.
Definitely pick this one up if you are a lover of fall. It was really cute.
Thank you to the publisher, G P Putnam’s Sons, for thinking of me and sending me this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This was such a cute and cozy read. I absolutely loved the setting! I really enjoyed the small town fall vibes, and the Hallmark feel. The writing was very descriptive, and made feel like I was there. I could almost feel the crisp air and hear the crunching leaves. I was really craving some homemade apple pie and apple cider by the end.
The romance overall was good. I loved the angst and the pining. The two main characters definitely had chemistry. They were so sweet together, and it was clear how they’ve always been right for each other. However, the miscommunication was really frustrating at times. Also, the conflict towards the end seemed a little abrupt and weak.
The friendship between Rebecca and Sabrina also deserves an honorable mention. It was beautiful and I’m glad bow everything turned out for them both!
This will definitely be a great seasonal fall read with it coming out in August. I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a cute and cozy seasonal read this coming fall.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Something About September gave me all the Hallmark movie vibes, but in book form. The pacing was definitely slow, but I actually really enjoyed that aspect of the story. It gave the characters and their relationship time to develop without feeling rushed.
I loved the little bit of backstory we got between Becca and Colt, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship progress throughout the book. Their love story had a sweetness to it that worked well with the overall feel of the story.
I also really liked learning more about Becca’s mom. We got just the right amount of that storyline, and I thought it was handled beautifully. The closure we got felt natural and satisfying without taking over the main story.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. It touched on drama, heartache, and longing without going too deep into any one of them, and sometimes that is exactly what a story needs. When those elements are done well, they don't have to be overwhelming to be effective.
This was such a cozy, fall-feeling read and one I would definitely recommend if you're looking for something to put you in the mood for the season.
This made me tear up, and let me tell you- I was not expecting to cry this morning! Honestly, I need to stop reading books about characters who never got to meet their mothers- they have me bawling like a baby every single time.
Something About September is such a cozy, fun fall romance. It has everything you could ask for and more- a rundown diner in need of repair, a small town, second chance romance, a fall festival coming up- basically everything one needs to read in the fall for survival. I personally live off of a steady diet of pumpkin spice lattes and romance novels in September and October, and this is the perfect example.
I love when characters return to their hometowns feeling lost and unsure, because it means that in the end, they’re going to find themselves. And for Rebecca McIntosh, this is precisely what happens. Feeling burnt out and confused, she returns home to her small town just for a month. Just enough time to repair her grandmother’s diner and sell it. But she ends up finding so much more.
Thank you to Netgalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for the e-arc! Something About September releases on August 18!
Not my favorite fall read, but still so cute! Gilmore girls, practical magic, cozy hallmark style lovers will enjoy this book.
A second chance romance for a girl who returns to her hometown Bramley Holllow after inheriting her grandmother’s diner. And of course, the only contractor she can hire was her high school crush!
I actually really enjoyed the characters in this book. It was such a breath of fresh air.
This book had a lottttt of quotes that tugged at my heart strings. And Rebecca’s mom’s letter?! I SOBBED.
“Laugh at the wrong moments and cry at the right ones (or vice versa).”
“I don't feel like I have enough people in my life that I can afford to lose any of them.”
“Avoiding something doesn't make it smaller. It just gives it more time to grow.”
“You can live in a place that has so many people, so many places to go, unique things to do, and just get stuck in the same patterns”
While I’m still desperately holding onto summer, this book was the perfect little preview of fall. The idyllic autumn setting and cozy atmosphere made me want to curl up under a blanket with a warm drink and dive right in. The whole vibe felt straight out of a Hallmark movie!
I’ll admit, I absolutely loathe miscommunication and third act breakups, and those elements definitely left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. But the abundance of fall festivities, cozy moments, and overall autumnal atmosphere were enough to keep me invested and ultimately enjoy the ride.
Read this if you like: 🍂Fall 🏘️Small Town Romance ✌️Second Chance Romance 🧍♂️Single Dad 🎬Hallmark Vibes 🇨🇦Canadian Setting
I really enjoyed this book! It honestly felt like a warm, cozy hug in book form. The author did an amazing job writing about heavy topics like grief and heartbreak without making the story feel too depressing or heavy. The family relationships felt so real, and I loved the town community. They felt like people you’d actually want to be friends with in real life.
The only reason I’m giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is the romance conflict near the end. The 3rd act breakup felt a bit forced to me, like the characters broke up just to add extra drama rather than it making sense for their story. Even with that minor detail, it was a really sweet, comforting read. I definitely recommend picking it up if you want a hearty story with a lot of warmth!
Such a perfect cozy fall read! Rebecca goes back to Bramley Hollow to fix up her grandma’s diner to sale. She lives the big city life now in Toronto but there’s something about going back to a small town. Something like the one who got away, Cort. Who just happens to be the only one available to help fix up the diner. Will these two be able to resist or fall back into where they left off back in high school? This book checked all my fall cozy reads boxes: small town, second chance romance, and gigantic pumpkins. Add this to your list for a quick and feel good read! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
First of all, IMMACULATE FALL VIBES which was exactly what I was hoping for. The food, the decorations, the fall festival and gala all made me wish I could be wearing my coziest of sweaters, eating an apple cider donut on a brisk October day immediately. Like many of the romances I love, this book had so much more going on than just a love story. There was such a beautiful friendship, a look at grief and that feeling of not being sure where you belong or fit anymore. I really loved Rebecca so much, especially her friendship with Sabrina. Cort was wonderful and I loved how much he cared for Rebecca, his son and their town. The miscommunication was a little frustrating at times, but that’s more of a personal thing. This book is VERY sweet. Like Hallmark level cutesy-ness which I didn’t mind at all, but just throwing it out there for other readers. I think it’s a pretty solid fall read for the atmosphere alone and CERTAINLY for the food descriptions and as I always say with a book like this, don’t read on an empty stomach!
Thank you to Putnam Books for the digital reader’s copy!