A Season for Falling

by Kate O'Shaughnessy

A swoony, heartfelt, and evocative standalone paperback original romance about first love, second chances, and finding yourself in the season of change—perfect for fans of Misty Wilson’s FALLING LIKE LEAVES and anyone looking for their next Gilmore Girls-esque fall read. Some seasons change everything.... Five years ago, Claire was a child star, the goofy punchline of one of America’s favorite sitcoms. Until a series of devastating betrayals by her manager-father left her broke, humiliated, and desperate to disappear.

Now she’s just another high school senior in postcard-perfect Glenridge, Connecticut, determined to leave her past behind. Not even her best friend knows who she used to be—or that she’s scraping together every spare dollar to hopefully attend NYU.

When a movie shoot lands in Glenridge—and with it, her former co-star and ex–best friend, Luke Cordova—it threatens to stir up not only Claire's past, but also the dizzying crush she once had on him. Luke offers Claire a deal she can’t let him shadow her to research his role, and he’ll pay enough to make her college dreams possible.

As pumpkins are carved and the woodsmoke-tinged October air grows colder, and she falls for Luke (again), Claire must confront what really drove her to hide—and whether she can step back into herself without being consumed by everything she’s tried to forget.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Autumn, Audiobook, Contemporary, Young Adult Romance, Second Chance Romance

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 22, 2026

Reviews

[Katelyn Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

🤬Language Rating: 2.5/5
🌶️Spicy Rating: 2.5/5
📖Plot Rating: 2/5
⚔️Violence Rating: 0/5
😎Christian Worldview: 0/5
⭐️Final Rating: 1.5/5

✨this is NOT a spoiler-free review✨

Please know before I start this review that I hate giving a low rating to books. Especially to ARC books. My family always makes fun of me for ranking books too high.

So when I give this a 1 ⭐️, please know that this is not the norm for me. I just really couldn’t stand this book.

I received a complimentary copy of A Season for Falling from HarperCollins Children’s Books. Thank you to HarperCollins and Kate O’Shaughnessy. All opinions are my own.

I’m not going to pick a song for this book, I am just going to jump right into the review this time…

The book follows Claire, an ex-child movie star, trying to start a new life in a quiet town away from LA. But when a movie shoot lands in her small Connecticut town, Luke Cordova, her old co-star and ex-best friend, comes with it. Luke offers Clara deal, to let him shadow her to research his role as a high school student, and he’ll pay enough to enable her to go to her dream school, Tisch.

It’s a tempting offer and one she can’t refuse. So she accepts it. But the close proximity begins to stir old feelings, and it gets harder and harder to hide her old life.

I think the premise of this book was excellent. There was a real potential for an engaging story, and for a cute fall second chance romance. Unfortunately, the agenda of the author kept this from coming to fruition.

For starters, I can’t believe that this is being published by a children’s publishing house. I know YA can mean all sorts of things nowadays, but having a book center around teenagers does not automatically make it YA. Especially if the content is anything but.

Throughout the course of the book, teens are encouraged by the narrative to drink, smoke, lie to their parents, attend parties, and lose their virginity. None of this is presented as disgusting or bad in the course of the story, but rather it is encouraged. Claire’s own mother does not care that she is going to a party with alcohol and even offers to drive her. Underage drinking is encouraged, and there are multiple characters who either don’t ID teenagers or help teenagers buy alcohol. Additionally, the movie that is being filmed is about a student who had a relationship with a teacher and then murdered her. We nowhere once in the novel hear that it is wrong for a teacher and a student to be together romantically and everyone in the town is rather excited to see this movie. Content wise, this is not even CLOSE to being clean. There might not be any closed or open door scenes, but content is heavily implied. The main character even HELPS her best friend plan how and when she should lose her virginity.

I know that as a Christian reading this book, I have a different worldview than some of the readers of this book. However, I did want to make a brief statement about sex from a Christian perspective. Sex is something that God designed to be between a husband and a wife. It is an intimate act of love, of dedication to your spouse, and it is not meant to be for every romantic relationship. The fact that books like this normalize teenagers losing virginity to random boyfriends is sad. Waiting for marriage is a beautiful thing. Especially in a culture that rushes intimacy. Please do not think that sex is something you should do as part of growing up. It is not a milestone for you to check off, but a beautiful moment to share with your future husband, the man God has prepared for you.

Another topic I wanted to address was the obvious woke agenda. Honestly, the tension between Luke and Claire was put on the back burner due to the author’s desire to present LGBTQ content. The brother dates a trans person, there are multiple same-sex relationships, there’s talk of an LGBTQ alliance in the school, one character has pronouns of they/them, and there’s even talk of Sesame Street characters being gay. Additionally, there is a reference to a teacher who is a Trump lover, who cheats on his wife.

I don’t wanna get into politics debate, mostly because marriage and gender are from God, not the government, but I do just wanna reference Romans 1. God does not endorse or condone same-sex relationships or switching genders. In fact, it is a sin to do such things. I say this in love. I do not hate members of the LGBTQ community as a Christian. God calls me to love others, whether that’s my sister, my neighbor, or a trans person I meet at my local Walmart. I am a sinner too, and not “above” you in any way. I merely want to point you to Jesus, the Savior of ALL sinners.

The Gospel is this:
We are all sinners, living in rebellion to God. We are all deserving of judgment, save the mercy of God. We could never pay the debt that we owed, nor did we want to turn from evil. However, in His love, God sent His own son, Jesus, to pay our debt. He died on the cross, taking our sins upon His shoulders, and He rose again from the grave, conquering death. All those who confess their sins, repent of evil, and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. This life on earth will be a constant battle of sanctification, which is a fancy word for being made more like Jesus, being made more perfect as we draw closer to heaven. And one day when we die, all those who believe will go to heaven to live with Jesus, where they will be made whole and perfect, and will sin no more.

If you want to talk more about Jesus, what it means to believe in Him, or if you have anything I can pray about for you, please comment! Jesus loves you ❤️

When it comes to this book, I think there was real potential. The storyline was interesting., And for the first third of the book, the plot was the main focus. However, the author lost herself in agenda, which unfortunately ruined the story for me. I would not recommend this to a teen audience, nor to an audience who is trying to read clean books. If you were looking for a cute actors romance book to read, I would highly recommend How to Plot a Payback by Melissa Ferguson. The storyline is sweet, there is no underlining agenda, and the author does not promote sex outside of marriage, drinking, or drugs.

Thank you for taking the time to read my review, and again thank you to HarperCollins for an ARC copy of this book. I hope you have a blessed day! 🫶🏻

[chi ౨ৎ (semi-ia)]

⸝⸝ 🍂 ━ pre-read .˖

⌗┆08.28.26 𐦯
taking up this arc again! fall is my favorite season and we're approaching it, so i'm hoping that this book doesn't disappoint! 🤞

𑣲⋆ thank you so much to netgalley for the arc!
⤷ prediction :: ★★★★☆ ˎˊ˗

[jo ❣︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

originally this was going to be a four stars. because i had a hehehaha time. and then i felt a wave of deja vu. almost like i had read this book before, and then i realized it was a mashup of two books i had read before and i just felt like whoah, crazy, where am i the twilight zone? hoa hoa hoa who? that's my third hoa hoa joke and it wont be my last of the season.

the romance was cute. i mean it was obvious that he was in love with her and vice versa. every day i am reminded that i am incredibly single which is a great way to live life. like im never going to have a childhood friends to strangers to lovers trope and-- "alexa play the cut that always bleeds" it just hits you know? fictionally.

the plot was fine, very cookie cutter, if you've read "love canter action" then it reads a little similar to this book just..set in fall and without horses. i thought the side characters were pretty good tbh, considering the fmc kindaaaa got on my nerves.

other than that, a cozy fall read but nothing to write home about.

pre review
wow i am very single. stay tuned for the full review where i am still single

[BookishKB]

🍂🍁 A Season for Falling 🍁🍂

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• YA Romance
• Second Chance Romance
• Former Child Star
• Small Town
• Autumn Vibes
• Friends to Lovers
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: September 22, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this clean, cozy romance! However, I will say that it doesn’t necessarily read like a YA book. Yes, it has all the common YA tropes and is set in high school, but the actual situations and emotions it explores feel very much New Adult. That’s not necessarily a negative thing, but there is a slight disconnect between the storyline and the characters’ ages. That being said, the FMC is an 18-year-old high school senior, which is already such a turning point in life. And because of her background in Hollywood, the more mature nature of some of her experiences doesn’t necessarily feel completely out of place.

One nitty-gritty thing that I absolutely loved? The descriptions of senior year were SPOT ON. So many times, I feel like authors either forget or never actually experienced the college application process and get their information from Hollywood. Suddenly, you have kids in June just starting to apply to colleges and somehow expecting to be heading off to school in December. 😂 But this book? Spot on. From early decision to regular acceptance timelines, everything felt natural and authentic, and I really appreciated that attention to detail.

It even had a present parent! And the mother was written appropriately and realistically. She was involved without taking over the story or hovering unrealistically, while still giving the FMC the space she needed for the plot to unfold. As a parent, I appreciated this SO much because apparently having parents who actually parent is a rare occurrence in YA fiction. 😂

I was grateful to receive complimentary access to the audiobook ALC from HarperAudio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to read ahead of publication and share my voluntary thoughts.

Admittedly, it took me a while to get used to narrator Rebecca Mozo’s presentation. Her vocals were often flat, almost monotone at times, punctuated by a deeper tone that took some getting used to. Her pacing was also a little atypical, with parts of her sentences delivered very quickly while other words were drawn out. At times, it almost felt like she wasn’t breathing, and some sentences sounded like they ran together because the natural pauses suggested by the punctuation weren’t always consistent. It wasn’t like any audio performance I’ve heard before.

That said, I did appreciate that she gave each character a distinct voice, and I was able to comfortably speed the narration up to 1.75x. Eventually, I got used to her style and found myself focusing more on the actual prose and story rather than the narration.

In the end, I really enjoyed this story and found myself rooting for both the FMC and MMC, both individually and as a potential couple. While this is a standalone, I honestly think a follow-up could be wonderful because I would LOVE to continue Claire’s journey as she heads off to college. There’s definitely more story to be told there!

[Tinaj Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW OF ADVANCED COPY FROM NETGALLEY

Written in First Person
Single Point of View
YA Second Chance Romance

I loved this story so much I struggled to put it down when real life got in the way! Claire was a child actor managed by her father. Her career ended, her parents divorced and she moved to Connecticut with her Mom and brother. She is now a Senior in high school and no one - not even her best friend - knows she was once a child star. Luke, the co-star of her childhood sitcom, arrives in town to film a new movie. Now Claire is faced with her secret being exposed.

I rated four stars instead of five because I would have liked to know the results on Claire’s lawsuit against her father and what Luke decides to do with his future.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author of this book for giving me an arc!! I absolutely adored it!!!! Claire and Luke were adorable!!! Luke was giving Conrad Fisher vibes hehe!! I loved all the fall vibes and Christmas vibes!!
I highly recommend everyone read this when it comes out when September 22nd!!

[Constance · Rating 5 out of 5]

As much as I love rivals to lovers and enemies to lovers, I have to admit I have such a sweet spot for the childhood friends to lovers dynamic. And A Season For Falling hit that perfectly.

Claire Hopper, a senior in highschool, has a secret. No one in Connecticut knows that she’s CeCe Lafayette, actress on a big sitcom, and she’d like to keep it that way. Her past is one she left behind in LA, along with the fact that her father stole all of the earnings she made. She wants to keep her head down and focus on getting into college, and leave CeCe for good.

But all of that changes when Lucas Cordova, Hollywood Heartthrob as well as her childhood best friend and longtime crush, arrives in her small town for the new movie he’s filming. And when he asks to shadow her for his role as a highschool student, how can she say no? He’s paying her for her time- and that’s a lot of college tuition easily gained.

The past has a way of catching up to you, however, and Claire soon has to balance past and present as her secret begins to spill over, and her feelings for Luke return. While this is a cute, clean YA romance, it does briefly touch on the damage child stars suffer. Claire suffered under a cruel director, was forced into plastic surgery early by her father, and had every penny she made snatched away. These are things no child should ever have to face, and they were written incredibly well.

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the e-arc! A Season For Falling releases on September 22!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute YA contemporary, perfect to read in the fall.

The FMC, Claire, was a child star on a TV sitcom who left acting and moved across the country to a small town in Connecticut to live a quiet life away from show business. She is content and happy that no one knows who she really is. However, a movie starring her former costar (and first crush) is being filmed in her town and she is worried her two worlds will collide.


First off, I will say that I loved the small state rep! The town in Connecticut is fictional, but Claire’s brother attends UConn and Claire always says she has to get to Storrs which made the fictional town feel like a real place. I also liked the feel of the small town. I will say for the cover and title, there weren’t as many fall vibes as I was expecting but I really enjoyed what was there.

I did also enjoy Claire’s character growth. She wasn’t really comfortable standing up for herself at first and I liked seeing her become more confident. I also liked her relationship with her brother. They had a close sibling bond and it was sweet.

The romance was okay. I honestly preferred the other guy she kind of liked over Luke, her former costar. He was kind of hot and cold and I didn’t like the way he treated her at times. There’s also a third act breakup that I didn’t like at all. Overall the other guy seemed to have less drama so maybe that’s why I liked him more?


Thank you HarperCollins/Storytide for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Ashley LaVallee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed A Season for Falling, especially the growth and development of the characters throughout the story. I liked both of the main characters a lot and enjoyed the storyline overall. I definitely preferred the second half of the book, as the first half felt a little slow for me.

My biggest issue was with the writing itself. There were so many dashes throughout this book. Maybe AI helped with the writing or editing, or maybe the author just really loves using dashes, but once I noticed them, I couldn’t stop noticing them. It became distracting enough that it took me out of the story at times because I kept wondering how much AI may have been involved in the writing or editing process.

Not suggested or recommended for younger teens!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, Harper Audio, and Kate O’Shaughnessy for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinion. I questioned the narration at first, but it grew on me. This is a pretty easy read. It was a bit predictable, or maybe not a very new storyline. It was enjoyable enough and would make a great movie.

[Jess Svajgert · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: September 22, 2026

Cute YA second chance, secret identity, celeb/normie romance. Closed door but thematically definitely elder-YA. Enjoyed the MCs connection and journey…two former child actors trying to figure out who they want to be as they grow into adults.

[Paige Vaughn]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this ended up being a DNF for me at 32%.

I was really looking forward to a cozy fall romance, but this one ultimately wasn't the right fit for me. The biggest issue was the writing style, which felt very simplistic and didn't flow naturally. I also found the dialogue and overall pacing to be choppy and awkward, making it difficult for me to become immersed in the story or stay engaged.

I also struggled to connect with the characters. Claire and Luke both felt underdeveloped, and because of that I never became invested in their relationship. Their first reunion was especially disappointing. Given their history, I expected a more emotional or tension-filled moment, but instead it felt surprisingly flat. Rather than feeling excited to watch them reconnect, I was left wondering if I had missed something because there was so little chemistry or emotional payoff.

Another disappointment was the lack of the cozy autumn atmosphere that initially drew me to this book. At 32%, there were only a few brief mentions of cooler weather and things like a pumpkin muffin, but I never truly felt immersed in the season. I had hoped the setting would play a much larger role in creating that cozy fall feeling.

While I can appreciate that this story may work for readers who enjoy lighter, straightforward YA contemporaries, it ultimately wasn't a good match for my personal reading preferences. Rather than forcing myself through the rest of the book, I decided it was best to DNF.

[tessreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️.5

Swearing: Yes
Spice: 🌶️/5

*slight spoilers* read with caution.

This one was a roller coaster.

Claire was once a childhood star with all the fame and fortune until her dad swept in, took the money, and left them. After dealing with that humiliation, she changed her name and moved away, ready for a new beginning. But when whispers of a movie set moving into town reach her, she comes face-to-face with Luke Cordova, her ex-best friend and former costar. Claire has to confront her past life while navigating her new one and make decisions about who she really is.

I will preface this by saying that I am doing this review from a Christian perspective. I don’t tell people what they should or shouldn’t read, but instead, I explain the content that is in the book so that you can decide based on your own experiences and convictions whether you think you should read it.

I have been reading for more than half my life, and most of that reading has been in the young adult genre. It’s still hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that the books I grew up reading and the ones being published today can both be considered young adult. I personally would not recommend this specific book to a YA audience based solely on the content in the book.

Where do I even begin? 😭

Firstly, the writing overall wasn’t the worst. I thought the pacing of the book was good. It flowed well, which made it a quick read. The story is told in first person from Claire’s perspective.

Claire is a high school senior, and I believe the book references her as being eighteen, although I could be remembering that incorrectly. Five years prior, she had been cast on a very popular sitcom where she was made to be the “goofy punchline.” She has since changed her name and moved to a new town, where she has built a new life where no one knows the real her—not even her best friend.

Which, granted, I understand the fear of having people know who you really are, especially with the scandal surrounding her father stealing all of her income. But I just don’t know how realistic it would be to not tell your best friend about your life?

Besides that, Claire was confusing and a bit frustrating at times. In the first half of the book, Claire has a crush on another classmate named Ben and even makes plans to meet up with him. But when Luke enters the story, Ben is kind of thrown out the window. She then later gets upset at Luke for doing the same thing? No one has said they’re in a relationship, but when another girl is staying over at Luke’s place, she gets upset about it.

Thankfully, Ben does call her out in the story for leading him on, but girl…you got upset about someone doing the exact same thing to you? 😭

Overall, I thought the relationship between Claire and Luke was just unrealistic. Luke is a famous actor, and Claire has plans to go to college after she graduates. Realistically, I just don’t think the two would be able to make the relationship work, and this even becomes a point in the book.

Not one adult in this book was responsible. Even the adults in the background, whether it was the one who didn’t check an ID for alcohol or the other adult who buys alcohol for underage children. The worst was Claire’s mother. She got on my nerves a lot throughout this book. It is so important to actually be raising your kids.

Proverbs 22:6

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn away from it.”

I had a hard time with the excuse Claire’s dad gave her mom—that Claire would be embarrassed, so she never set foot on set. Even though her dad was there, Claire was on a VERY popular TV show, and it just doesn’t make sense to me that her mom would never once be there.

Besides that, if you are willingly letting your child drink underage and even driving them to places where they will have access to these things, then you’re already not showing up as you should.

Another point I want to mention is the brother’s girlfriend. We got to a point in the story where I felt like we were finally starting to see Claire and Luke’s relationship grow when it was interrupted by the brother’s storyline.

Claire’s older brother, Nicky, calls her to let her know that he is dating a trans woman. For the next few chapters, we are visiting with her brother, and it just felt like such an unnecessary addition to the plot. I personally didn’t understand adding it into the story in this way when it felt like the author was just checking off a representation box. Claire and Luke’s relationship didn’t feel the same after we went on this excursion. I felt like the author got off topic too much and didn’t know how to steer the story back.

I would probably give the spice rating a 1/5. It’s all closed-door scenes, but they are discussed frequently throughout the book. One scene also describes Claire helping her best friend make plans for how to lose her virginity.

Content Warnings:

• Underage drinking
• Drugs
• Discussions of sex
• Swearing, including taking the Lord’s name in vain
• Past child abuse

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Season for Falling by Kate O'Shaughnessy (2026)
8h 7m narrated by Rebecca Mozo, 400 pages

Genre: Young Adult Romance, Seasonal > Fall & Autumn

Movie Rating Equivalent: PG-15 for mature language and themes

Rating: ⭐️⭐️¾🍁🏫🎬

Beautiful Cover and Great Premise, But the Execution Missed the Mark

A Season for Falling lured me in with an absolutely beautiful cover and a fantastic premise. I enjoy seasonal romances, and the concept of the main character being a secret former child star had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, this is one of those books where the cover completely outshines the actual story.

​While the story takes place in October, includes a mention of Thanksgiving, and features a Halloween party, the "fall vibes" essentially stop there. There are barely any atmospheric descriptions to actually set the mood. The core plot had a lot of potential, but the storyline's focus was all over the place, keeping it from ever really taking off. There were so many side stories introduced that were never fully explored. For example, the book opens with the main character dumping her therapist because she's getting too close to the truth—a secret she keeps from her mother, who already knows about past dumped therapists. Yet, this compelling thread is entirely abandoned and never addressed again.

​The characterization also suffers. The author drops in a lot of characters seemingly purely for diverse representation without giving them strong characterization or solid storylines, which was disappointing—sexual orientation isn't a substitute for a personality. The main character's background felt spotty, and the author blatantly disregarded law and medical ethics for one unnecessary storyline intended to show how abusive her former situation was. The sheer lack of plausibility made it more annoying than shocking to me.

​My biggest issue is the handling of the YA elements. Marketed toward 13- to 17-year-olds (though the characters are 17 and 18), it normalizes and encourages underage drinking with parental approval. The mother knowingly sends her daughter to an unchaperoned high school party with alcohol, while also allowing her own boyfriend to talk down to her kid. While passive parents certainly exist, the "good parents approve of sex and drugs" trope in domestic YA is a huge turn-off for me. It wasn't quite Cool For the Summer levels of bad—where parents provided an empty house for 16-year-olds to drink and have sex—but it’s in the same ballpark. My daughter believes everything on TikTok, so we have enough problems without books making it seem like I should offer rides to and from teen drinking parties to be considered a "good mom."

​Ultimately, the characters felt like caricatures, and the excessive use of the miscommunication trope by every family member—even when dealing with proven liars—was exhausting. The moderate amount of F-bombs alone would cost a film adaptation its PG-13 rating. Finally, the ending was incredibly rushed and lacked a proper conclusion; it desperately needed an epilogue, or at least an additional chapter. The coming-of-age journey failed to land, and the main character's self-actualization was abruptly wrapped up in just two sentences. The story was okay overall, but all these little things added up to a frustrating read. I definitely wouldn't give this book to a 13- or 16-year-old, and I probably wouldn't even want an 18-year-old reading it because these negative situations are never properly explored or discussed.

I also have to mention the audiobook production, because the narrator did an absolutely fantastic job. They flawlessly managed a good dozen different character voices, bringing distinct personalities and genuine emotion to every single one. It really elevated the material and made the listening experience that much better.

​Recommend to others: Not likely. However, I know this will be a 4-star read for others. If you enjoy "sweet bad behavior" in high school, YA contemporary books that realistically include teen drinking and party scenes while maintaining a heartwarming or comforting core, or if you like movies like Can't Hardly Wait and books like Along for the Ride, Mia and the Bad Boy, or Her Name in the Sky, this might be exactly what you're looking for.

Featuring: High School Senior, Therapy, Connecticut, Secrets, Los Angeles, California; Secret Identity - Child Star, Second Chance - First Crush, Childhood Best Friend; Divorce, Entertainment Industry, Actor, October, Underage Drinking, Sleepovers, Sex - Off-Camera/Discussed, Medical Child Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Diversity, Siblings, College Discussions, Friendships, Family Dynamics, Media Relations, New York City, New York; Bullying, Social Assimilation, Celebrity

[Always Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚-5 🌶️-2 🤬-3

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Childhood friends, former child actors, and second chances are the heart of this story, and I loved every minute of it.

Lucas and Claire (formerly known as CeCe) became close while starring together on a TV show as kids. After the show ends, life takes them in very different directions, and years go by before their paths cross again.

Claire has worked hard to leave her childhood acting career behind and build a normal life. So when Lucas comes to town to film a new show, neither of them expects to reconnect the way they do. I loved watching them rebuild their friendship and figure out what it means now that they’re older and their lives are so different.

One thing I really appreciated was how relatable the characters and their struggles felt. They weren’t dealing with over-the-top teenage drama just for the sake of the plot. Instead, they faced real situations—trying to decide what the future looks like, learning to stand up for themselves, dealing with expectations, and figuring out who they want to be. It all felt authentic and fit the story really well.

There were definitely some emotional moments, and my heart hurt for both Lucas and Claire at times, but I was rooting for them from beginning to end. Their friendship was easily my favorite part of the book.

This is such a cozy fall read. If you’re looking for a sweet YA romance with friendship, second chances, and characters you can’t help but cheer for, I’d definitely recommend adding A Season for Falling to your fall TBR.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Spicy Chapter: None

Closed door. There is only kissing between the main characters. However, there is a brief conversation between a main character and a supporting character about the supporting character losing her virginity to her longtime boyfriend. A few details are mentioned, but the discussion is short and nothing is graphic or explicit.

Language 🤬🤬🤬
F Word Count: 13

Mild swearing with occasional F-words but no explicit sexual language. Typical F-word count: 1–29

———————————————————————
My Rating Scales

1/5 Spice
Very clean romance with little to no sexual content. Expect mostly kissing, emotional tension, and sweet romantic moments.

2/5 Spice
Some sexual content and chemistry, but nothing overly explicit. Expect fade-to-black scenes or lightly detailed intimate moments rather than graphic descriptions.

3/5 Spice
Open-door romance with moderate detail, but the scenes aren’t excessive or overly graphic. Expect a few moderately descriptive scenes that support the story rather than dominate it.

4/5 Spice
Definitely a spicy read with multiple open-door scenes and explicit detail. (🌶️) The intimate scenes are longer, more descriptive, and play a larger role in the overall story. (🫑)You’ll also find frequent sexual tension and references, including attraction, arousal, fantasies, dreams, and suggestive thoughts throughout the book.

5/5 Spice
Heavy spice with frequent, highly explicit scenes and graphic detail throughout the book. Expect lengthy intimate scenes, strong sexual content, and a story where the spice is a major focus of the reading experience. For me, these books fall into the “smut” category rather than simply being “spicy.”

0/5 Language
No profanity or crude language. F-word count: 0

1/5 Language
Occasional mild profanity. No F-words or explicit sexual language. F-word count: 0

2/5 Language
Frequent mild to moderate profanity, but still no F-words. F-word count: 0

3/5 Language
Mild swearing with occasional F-words but no explicit sexual language. Typical F-word count: 1–29

4/5 Language
Heavy profanity with frequent F-words and may also include minimal use of explicit sexual language. Typical F-word count: 30+

5/5 Language
Very heavy profanity with constant strong language, frequent F-words, and extensive explicit sexual language throughout the book. Typical F-word count: 50+

[ryliekate_reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Reader Copy Provided by NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Publication Date: September 22, 2026 🍂✨🍁

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
A Season for Falling by Kate O'Shaughnessy is a heartfelt read amidst the lovely scenery of fall, and dives into the no-so-glittering secrets of a child star’s past. A swoony childhood-best-friends-to-lovers is met with a whole lot of miscommunication and lies. The premise was cute, and the characters were unique and interesting, all having raw struggles and confusion of emotions. Claire’s story broke my heart, and gave a very honest reason for why she chose to guard herself so tightly as well as her struggles of standing up for herself. Luke was a kind and caring guy, who also struggled immensely with standing up for himself, but some of the things he did because someone said it was “the right thing” definitely made it feel like the two of them needed more time to work on themselves before committing to a relationship (Claire does seek out therapy—yay!— which was a really nice thing it see in a novel).
Now, there was a lot of content in it that was uncomfortable and/or went against my beliefs. For the story and heart within this book, it would have been nearer a 4, but the content greatly impacted my overall rating. Others may be totally fine with the content in this book, which is okay and I mean no hate or ill-will, the content just was not for me. Firstly, there was a ton of sex talk in this. For example, the FMC helps her best friend plan when the friend and her boyfriend are doing it for the first time, then proceeds to ask how it was afterwards. Or, in a heated kiss, narrating how that’s what she wants to do. Also, in every other chapter it felt as though they were at a party and there was drinking and drugs (a character gets their legal aged cousin to buy liquor for an underaged high school party, and in another situation, a waitress does not card them). There’s also a couple instances of characters smoking an illegal (depending on your state) substance. I know all of this does occur in real life, but it felt very uncomfortable, personally. Side note: there are several LGBTQ characters in this book as well as talk of celestial/star/zodiac signs.
I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a “clean” book, however there is no on-page spice.
What is present: heated kisses/almost more, talk of sex, mildly frequent swearing (practically all including the f-word, and the Lord’s name is taken in vain), and innuendo.
Other content considerations: past child abuse (mostly verbal), past trauma, underaged drinking/drug participations, manipulation, lying, secrets, and authority figure’s manipulation of minors. *The movie being filmed within the book is about “true-crime”, involving a physical relationship between a teacher/student, and the murder of a teacher by a student. Nothing is graphically described, just sort of there.*
Overall, this was a really cute read, just not my personal cup of tea!!! I wouldn’t necessarily NOT recommend, however it wouldn’t be a top recommendation. If you enjoy heartfelt, swoony, cozy, YA, and healing themes in a book, think about checking this one out, especially if you are fine with any of the aforementioned content!!!
Happy reading :)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing this ARC in exchange for a free and honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Sherrlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claire is hiding a secret from her high school classmates and best friend, and she's been hiding it for a while. A former child actor, she left Los Angeles and her father, and returned to Connecticut with her mother and brother in an attempt to salvage a "normal" teenager life. Becoming an actor so young has left scars that she hides from everyone, including herself. Suddenly, her past comes right to her front door when her former co-star and supposed best friend Luke Cordova arrives in her home town to shoot a movie based on a true story. Claire spends the rest of the book trying to keep her past and present from colliding with disastrous results. Her mother and older brother have not pressed her about keeping the secret, but the fact that she decided to quit the therapy she desperately needs and tries to tough it out does not work. Because of all the half-truths she spins, she spends a lot of the story trying to remember who she told what to, and every time she's faced with a decision, she analyzes how best to minimize her interaction, to the point where it made me a bit dizzy. She has internalized so much of what happened when she was younger that her own maturity is somewhat stunted, and she tends to withdraw or run whenever anyone gets too close to her.

I understood the author's direction, and the story is fairly accurate when she describes some of the situations that Claire was in when she was an child actor, from the pressure of her father to perform and stay relevant, his financial mismanagement, to the verbal abuse of the director aimed solely at her, to the fear of her aging out of youth roles and into more adult ones. I was a bit saddened that Claire's mother didn't take more of an active role in Claire's life once she returned to Connecticut. Knowing how her husband could be, and seeing how much Claire had changed when she returned, I feel her mother was a bit too hands-off, allowing Claire to handle many of her own decisions when Claire hadn't been old enough to gain enough experience and perspective to have a good grasp on her own mental state. So much of what happened to her occurred during her pre-teen years, and that colored every decision she made afterwards. Her brother would challenge her, but he was away at college so his interactions were limited, but it was clear that he loved his sister. Luke recognizes her and is confused about her attitude towards him, but allows her to take the lead on their rekindled relationship, based on his own memories of the two of them. Overall, not a bad story. It does have a better outcome than many of the former child stars in real life.

I received an ARC in exchange for this review. Three and a half stars.

[📖 Amanda 📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced reader copy!
Just what we need: another sweet romance to make us wish a movie crew would accidentally disrupt our quiet lives.

⭐️ 4/5 ⭐️

A season for falling introduces Claire, a teen living in Connecticut hiding from her childhood fame in a small town. Enjoying her mundane life and not being in the spotlight, her world is turned upside down when an old friend shoots his up and coming movie in HER town. A friend, she may have had a small crush on… and broke her heart.
Because of course, out of all the towns in the world, his blockbuster film crew just had to park their trailers in her backyard and force her to confront her past heartbreak. The nerve.

A season for falling is perfect if you’re looking for a heart warming read that is not only relatable but perfect for that rainy day spent cuddled up in bed!

What I enjoyed:
- Against all odds, this book actually managed to keep my attention from start to finish—a true miracle. I found myself deeply identifying with the main character shockingly early on, mostly because we share the exact same highly specific, incredibly traumatic bonding trait: a father who steals money. Love that for us. 😩
- The vibe is definitely Young Adult, but a slightly matured version so the characters don't actually read like total toddlers. The author surprisingly managed to write characters that act their actual age, which feels like a rare achievement in literature lately. 🫶🏻
- Initially, I fully prepared myself to roll my eyes into the back of my skull at yet another predictable, happily-ever-after love story. But plot twist! It turns out this book isn't even really about the romance. It’s actually about a teenage girl learning to love herself, which was honestly beautiful to see—even through my thick layer of sarcasm. 💕
What didn’t work for me:
- I did find myself occasionally annoyed by the best-friend trope. But honestly, that’s just because I’ve read about twenty of those in a row and my brain is completely fried, so I can’t even blame the book for my bad choices. 🤣
- Honestly, there wasn’t much to complain about here. It was a genuinely enjoyable read. If I’m being incredibly picky, the only reason it didn't get a higher rating is my own toxic preference. Apparently, for a romance to get a top score from me, it needs to be dangerously complex and gut-wrenchingly painful. If I'm not weeping on the floor, it's just a casual read. 😅


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Season for Falling by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Release Date:
September 22, 2026
Read on Kindle 📱
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Read my reviews on:

https://linktr.ee/DeutscheMausi

[McKenzie Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Kate O'Shaughnessy, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the eARC!

A Season for Falling provided me with such a heartwarming coming-of-age story. O'Shaughnessy wrote a novel that shows just how impactful it can be to work through life's hardest lessons when you're surrounded by people who genuinely care about you.

Throughout the story, readers are shown both the highs and lows of being a child star and the lasting effects that industry can have on someone so young. Through Claire, our female main character, we witness the constant inner turmoil of being a people pleaser from an early age, shaped by learned behaviors, the ongoing need to hide parts of herself because of deeply rooted confidence issues, and the ways a parent can take advantage of a child whose career becomes a source of income. All of these experiences play a major role in shaping who Claire has become, and the reader sees the impact they continue to have on her throughout high school. O'Shaughnessy does a wonderful job writing Claire's inner monologue in a way that I think many adolescents and young adults will relate to. You don't just read about her emotions—you feel them right alongside her.

While Claire begins A Season for Falling carrying these complex emotional burdens, we watch her slowly discover who she truly is as the story unfolds. Through her thoughtful and caring friendship with Evie, her close relationship with her older brother, Nicky, and her budding romance with Luke, Claire gradually gains confidence and learns to love herself. Watching her find her voice and stand up for herself and what she believes in was one of my favorite parts of the book. O'Shaughnessy writes character growth unlike any other.

Let's not forget Luke's incredible character development as well. At the beginning of A Season for Falling, Luke struggles to make his own decisions and think independently. Much of this stems from the reality of being a child star, where choices were made for him from an early age and the people around him gradually came to rely on him financially. These experiences led Luke to depend on others to make important decisions on his behalf. As the story progresses, however, we see him begin making more and more choices for himself. As each decision grows in significance and shapes the future he wants, Luke becomes increasingly confident. By the end of the novel, he's making decisions because he wants to—not because someone else expects or pressures him to.

O'Shaughnessy has written a cozy, fall-inspired YA romance that delivers all the warm, fuzzy feelings. It's the perfect book to curl up with as the leaves begin to change.

[chelseabrookelikesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire walked away from her life as a child star five years ago and completely reinvented herself. New town, new name, new life. No one at school knows who she used to be, and that’s exactly how she wants it. Until her former costar, childhood best friend, and first crush Luke shows up in her tiny Connecticut town to film a movie. Because apparently the past has ZERO respect for boundaries. 🤪

What really stuck with me wasn’t necessarily the romance, though. It was watching Claire figure out who she was when she finally had the freedom to decide that for herself.

Claire spent so much of her childhood being told who she needed to be. She was manipulated, controlled, criticized, and treated like her career and the money she made mattered more than she did. And after years of living with other people’s voices in her head, she doesn’t really know which parts of herself are actually hers.

Watching her slowly unpack all of that was easily my favorite part of this book. There’s something so powerful about realizing that the things you’ve believed about yourself for years might not actually be true. That you’re allowed to change. You’re allowed to figure out who you are outside of the expectations other people placed on you.

And I really appreciated that her growth wasn’t magically fixed by falling in love. Luke is part of her story, but he isn’t the person who saves her. Claire has to find her own voice, learn how to stand up for herself, let people in, and decide what she wants her life to look like.

I also loved that Luke had his own version of that journey. They were both shaped by growing up in an industry where adults made decisions for them, just in very different ways. Watching them reconnect as teenagers and start making choices for themselves gave their relationship so much more meaning than simply being childhood friends turned something more.

This one definitely leans more toward character growth, healing, friendship, family, and finding yourself than a romance heavy story, and I actually think that’s what made it work for me.

Thank you so much to HarperCollin’s Children’s Books, NetGalley, and Kate O'Shaughnessy for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Laura B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Previously Claire was a TV star living in LA with all the Hollywood drama and scandals that childhood actors endure. Now, five years later, Claire has reinvented herself, having moved across the country with her mom and brother where she has been living a normal life. Just as senior year is about to begin, Claire’s best friend, Mara has some exciting news. A big box office movie is set to be filmed in their small town starring Claire’s former childhood costar, Luke. Mara, and everyone else in Glenridge, has no idea about Claire’s past, and she wants to keep it that way. When Luke sees Claire in Glenridge, he wants to rekindle their friendship and offers her a deal she can’t refuse. Can Claire keep her past a secret while reuniting with Luke? What follows is an internal struggle as Claire battles between her identity as the “new” Claire vs. the “old” Claire while beginning to fall back in love with her childhood best friend and crush.

I enjoyed this fall, quick read, YA romance by O’Shaughnessy. I appreciated Claire’s struggle with her identity and like how supportive her mother and brother were of her choices and friendships. The flashbacks also helped to fill in the back story and did a good job of showing why Claire would have wanted to escape from fame when she left Hollywood and why she would be reluctant to be back in the spotlight. However, the ever present love triangle felt a bit underdeveloped, as the focus was really on Claire and Luke’s relationship, and the resolution with Claire and her mom seemed a bit unwhelming. Lastly, I would have also liked an added epilogue at the end to update on Claire’s venture back into the world of acting and whether or not her relationship with Luke was able to survive his fame and the cross country distance.

4 stars Ages 15+ Includes LGBTQ+ characters, drugs, underage drinking, and some language

[Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ for a cute, cozy fall YA romance!

I hopped directly on the option to read this book because of the allure of a fall, cozy read featuring a child star who has changed her identity and moved to a small town in New England. It definitely fulfilled all of those things and had interesting, well-developed characters. I was a little frustrated with this being labeled YA, though, when it dealt fairly heavily with and normalized teen drinking and sex, even though none of it was at all explicit. That may just be my religious worldview speaking, but I did find it a little uncomfortable.

The story begins with Claire, whom we learn was a child TV star back in LA and has since changed her identity and moved to small-town Connecticut to get away from the trauma of her past. The plot thickens when her childhood costar, Luke Cordova, now a big Hollywood name, comes to town for a major film project and wants to reconnect. Claire is suddenly facing a lot of her old demons and coming to terms with her feelings while trying to maintain her anonymity in her new life. An old crush suddenly becomes a current reality amidst the lovely backdrop of a New England fall.

The writing was solid, the interest was high, and the tone was appropriately filled with teenage angst mixed with a little bit more grown-up, warm romance. The narration was excellent.

If you’re looking for a swoony fall romance with a story that’s a little bit different from the usual setup, this is for you! I would perhaps approach it cautiously with younger teens and be prepared to have some discussions about the more controversial issues presented.

Thank you to Storytide Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free audio ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of the audiobook, and overall, it was a really feel-good story about friendship, growing up, and figuring out who you are.

I really enjoyed how unique the storyline felt. There was something really wholesome about the friendships and watching the characters navigate growing up and all of the changes that come with it. It was heartfelt without being overly heavy, and I loved the overall cozy feeling of the story.

I also really enjoyed the audiobook performance. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters and their emotions to life, and the narration fit the tone of the story really well. It made for an easy and enjoyable listen, and I think the audiobook added to the overall feel-good experience.

That being said, I do agree with some of the other reviewers that there were certain themes that felt more mature than what I typically expect from a YA book. The scenes involving underage drinking in particular stood out to me and felt like they pushed the story outside what I would personally consider a typical YA read.

I also had some mixed feelings about the LGBTQ+ themes. I appreciated the representation, but at times it felt like it was emphasized so much that it became distracting from the actual story for me. There were moments where it felt a little less natural and more like the author was trying too hard to make the themes a central focus.

Even with those things, I still found this to be a sweet and enjoyable coming-of-age story. The friendships and the overall message about growing up and finding yourself were my favorite parts, and I think readers looking for a unique, feel-good YA story may really enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Yvette Jarrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review
A Season for Falling by Kate O'Shaughnessy

The premise had everything I was looking for: a former child star, a charming small-town setting, an old friend turned love interest, and what sounded like the perfect cozy autumn YA romance. Unfortunately, the story never delivered on that promise.

My biggest issue is that this book feels mismarketed. Although it’s presented as young adult, the content reads much more like an adult novel featuring teenage characters. Underage drinking, smoking, lying to parents, discussions about losing virginity, and other mature situations are treated so casually that they felt out of place for a YA novel.

I also found the political and social commentary distracting. Rather than adding depth to the story, it repeatedly pulled my attention away from the characters and the romance. What could have been a fun, cozy fall read instead felt weighed down by messaging that overshadowed the story itself.

It’s unfortunate because there were aspects I genuinely enjoyed. The small-town atmosphere is charming, Claire and Luke have an appealing history together, and the second-chance romance had plenty of potential. I kept waiting for the cozy autumn romance the synopsis promised, but it never fully materialized.

Ultimately, this wasn’t the lighthearted YA romance I expected. Readers looking for a more mature coming-of-age story may enjoy it more than I did, but for me, it missed the mark.

Available on September 22, 2026. A huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | Storytide for providing this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Erika Schlegel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Season for Falling was such a cute, cozy fall read! While it’s labeled as YA/teen, I would definitely say it leans more toward the younger end of that spectrum. The romance is completely PG and often has an intentionally innocent, sometimes slightly immature feel to it. That said, I actually think that worked well for the characters and the story it was trying to tell.

The story follows a girl who left behind her life as a child actor under unfortunate circumstances and has worked hard to start over. When her former costar—and longtime crush—comes to town to film a new movie, keeping her past and present separate becomes much more complicated. What follows is a sweet rekindling of their friendship and potential romance, complicated by all the secrets she feels she has to keep.

I really enjoyed the way the story balanced the romance with the characters’ personal growth. There were several heavier topics woven throughout, including mental health, divorce, estrangement, and LGBTQ+ representation, but they were approached in a softer, age-appropriate way that made them accessible to a younger audience without feeling overly heavy.

The characters also had plenty of room to grow, and I appreciated watching them navigate friendships, family dynamics, identity, and first love while learning how to be honest about who they are and where they came from.

Overall, this was a sweet, well-rounded, very PG romance with a lovely fall atmosphere. I think younger YA readers will especially appreciate its innocence, relatable character growth, and gentle approach to some more difficult subjects.

[Yolanda | yolandaannmarie.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

[arc review]
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
A Season for Falling releases September 22, 2026

“We don’t always have to live in the boxes other people put us in, or the boxes we put ourselves in. We can all change and grow and become new.”

Claire is a high school senior and former child actor living in Connecticut. Aside from her mom and brother, not a single person knows about her past life as CeCe or the role she played on a popular sitcom.
Having been out of the industry for five years, the last thing Claire expects is for a highly regarded book-to-film adaptation to start shooting at her school, with her former co-star as the lead.

In dire need of money to fund her college tuition since her father gambled away all of her earnings, Claire agrees to work closely with Lucas to bring authenticity to his role of a high school student in exchange for a generous payment.

O’Shaughnessy makes the transition from middle grade fiction to YA with A Season for Falling, and does an exceptional job characterizing teens through the perfect blend of maturity and messy conflict.

Although there were a lot of plot points to juggle, the story felt well-rounded as a result of the seamless integration of friendships, familial support, and after-school extracurriculars.
The clarity and assertiveness that Claire gains in the third act is a rewarding part of her character arc, however I feel really bad that Ben was caught in the crosshairs!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Collins for the gifted eARC and physical copies!

This was a cute story with a really nice Fall atmosphere. I enjoyed the child star aspect of it, it was a little sad but also empowering. Knowing that boundaries and standing up for yourself (however that looks) is good for you and healthy to have/do was nice to read about. This is a YA book, but it does deal with some pretty adult/heavier topics and I really enjoyed the depth. I would give this a 3.5 star rating but I'm rounding up to 4 stars on Goodreads.

Claire is a former child star who left the acting world in Los Angeles to be a "normal" kid in Connecticut. There was a nasty fallout with her manager/father and I really disliked him and his manipulative attitude. Claire's mother however is wonderful and supportive and everyone deserves a parent like her. Lucas is an actor that Claire worked with on the show she was on, I liked him but had to remember that these are young characters (18/19 age range), because I just wanted to tell him to grow up and make up his own mind on some things. He is heavily dependent on the decision making skills of others, even on things that aren't purely about work/acting.

Lucas and Claire reunite in Connecticut for a film that is being made there and all sorts of drama and relationship changing events ensue. I thought this was a fun time, I would totally recommend it for a light and easy Fall vibes book. This releases September 22nd!

*This ARC was given by Harper Collins through NetGalley, all opinions are my own.*

[GrowingInTheValley (Rhiannon) · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Season for Falling has such an atmospheric setup. The small-town autumn backdrop, the reunited former co-stars angle, and the awkward tension between Claire and Luke gave the story a strong start. I especially liked that their reunion wasn’t instantly romantic — it felt uncomfortable, guarded, and a little messy in a believable way.

That said, I struggled with some contradictions in the character writing, particularly with Claire, whose feelings and motivations sometimes felt inconsistent to me. Another thing that didn’t completely land was how often the volunteer/community-service angle was used to reinforce the characters’ likability. After a while, it started to feel repetitive rather than meaningful.

Personally, I read romance for escapism, so the heavier social themes and identity-focused subplots didn’t work for me. I wanted the story to stay more grounded in Claire and Luke’s relationship, but too many side threads pulled my attention away from the romance. Representation without a clear narrative purpose also tends to fall flat for me, and some of the LGBTQ+ subplots felt more peripheral than meaningfully developed within the central story.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad read, and I can see it working well for readers who enjoy contemporary romance with broader social themes woven throughout. For me, though, I was hoping for a more emotionally focused romance with stronger character consistency and a tighter emphasis on the central relationship.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5.

HA! I kept my "I'll read more YAs" promise to myself. If you're reading this review, realizing you've struggled a lot with adult romances recently, I highly suggest getting into YA. I find YAs spend a lot more on the actual feelings part of romance, as they can't rely on the sex portion, which adult romances tend to do (so many leave me feeling like "do y'all actually like each other, or do you just have great sex..?").

Anyways, as for the actual book. I was kinda scared going in that this would be rather boring, as the blurb and cover both give cozy, fall vibes, but while it was both, it definitely still grasped my interest the whole time. Loved both characters, watching Claire grow into who she is and moving on from the past was such a treat. Luke was just ugh, so sweet. I loved them together so much.

I found the writing pretty great too! The pace was good, prose was good. I felt like the ending could've been executed a bit better (it felt so abrupt???), though, which brought the book to a 4 star to me (Is this petty? Eh, maybe. But ending on a strong note is so important to me, especially as someone who rates largely on how books make me feel at the end.)

Overall, pretty good! I loved these two characters, and I'd love a little novella of Claire's time at Tisch or just these two together. I don't feel we got enough of them?

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