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, Ebooks

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 22, 2026

Reviews

[Katelyn (currently writing) · 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! 🫶🏻

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[📖 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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis: Claire Hopper, previously known as child actor Cece Lafayette, has put her past behind. Nobody in her small town knows about her past fame, and she wants to keep it that way. But Luke Cordova, her previous co-star and friend is in town shooting a movie threatens to bring up the past and the crush she had on Luke.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a free eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I think that this book was alright. I had no big problems with any of the characters, mostly, though I didn't necessarily love them either. I would say that the biggest highlight maybe the friendship between Claire and Mara, surprisingly. For me, I think what brought down my enjoyment was the third act conflict and the romantic payoff was not what I would want it to be.

It is not rewarding to see a couple get together just to be hit with a conflict. Also, I genuinely did not know if they were going to get back together because there was a decent amount of time between the breakup and the getting back together. I genuinely wondered if it wouldn't be a happy ending. Also, like they were a couple for maybe a week tops and then they break up and only get back together at the very end which is just a buzz kill.

[Emily Macanowicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a review of an advanced reader copy received from NetGalley.

Overall, I truly enjoyed reading A Season for Falling. I thought the setting was warm and cozy, the characters were down-to-Earth and believable, and the storyline had a good structure. The book was fun to read, had some good emotional depth, and was well-written.

Claire's struggles with her past were revealed in pieces, but not too slowly as to lose interest. The more we learned, the more I felt for her character. The chemistry between Claire and Luke was also well played. The awkward moments at the start were realistic and the progressive rebuilding of their relationship and she showed him different parts of her ordinary life for his "education" was well done.

The ending did feel a bit rushed. I would have loved some additional development and time for Claire and Luke to communicate and work through their issues after finally getting together. I also think the addition of an epilogue looking forward into Claire's time at Tisch and how her new venture back into the world of acting, as well as where Luke is at and where their relationship is, would help to provide some additional closure. It would also just add to the cozy, hopeful mood that the novel ends with.

Overall, though, it was a fun, hopeful story, and I enjoyed reading it!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marketing this as an equal to Falling Like Leaves is not an adequate portrayal of this book. This story was so much deeper than just a cozy Fall romance.

Claire is a former child star who retreats to a cozy Connecticut town after lots of trauma and drama happens in her public life. She begins to start over in this new town under her mother’s maiden name. She soon discovers that her childhood costar and former crush, Luke, is back in town to record a movie and all her old issues begin to bubble up. She has to address her past after avoiding it for several years.

This story was more focused on her character arc, her reckoning with the past and healing her trauma than the actual romancey side of it. And I’m not mad about it!

“…something bad doesn’t have to happen for us to change. That 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.”

Throughout the story, Claire realizes that all the things she was told about herself are not true, and she starts working on discovering who she is without these outside influences.

“Maybe it is possible to spend your whole life believing something about yourself that, in the end, isn’t even true.”

I loved Claire’s journey in this story, and the cute kinda-Fall romance was just an added bonus.


Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!!

[Amy Springer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Season for Falling is a heartfelt and engaging story that blends coming-of-age themes with the emotional complexities of growing up in the spotlight. The novel follows a former child movie star as she attempts to rebuild a normal life in high school, seeking stability and a sense of self after a turbulent childhood marked by betrayal and financial exploitation at the hands of her father.
The author does an excellent job portraying the challenges of navigating adolescence while carrying the weight of fame and past trauma. The protagonist’s journey feels sincere and relatable, especially as she tries to reconcile her desire for an ordinary life with the unexpected arrival of her childhood co‑actor—and longtime crush—who returns to town to film a movie. Their dynamic adds warmth and nostalgia to the story, offering a sweet layer of romance without overshadowing the deeper emotional themes.
The book thoughtfully explores trust, identity, and resilience, showing how one can rise above difficult beginnings to create something better for themselves. It’s an easy, enjoyable read with a strong emotional core and well‑developed characters.
Overall, A Season for Falling is a touching and uplifting story that balances drama, romance, and personal growth. A solid and satisfying read—4 stars.

[BookieCookie12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A season for falling” had me falling!!! This read is perfect for a cozy day, filled with pumpkin spice lattes and warm blankets. Following the main character, Claire, who hides an old secret life like your favorite childhood TV show, and her childhood best friend, Luke, an aspiring actor who knows all about her not-so-secret life. Over time, the two make a deal, Luke can shadow Claire’s life, in secret, to gain knowledge on a normal teenage life for his movie, while Claire earns money for college. But as the two reconnect, old sparks fly and suddenly the fall leaves aren't the only thing falling. The romance between these two characters is absolutely swoon worthy, with funny comedic moments and heartfelt life lessons. Their relationship is sparked across true dedication, something I find very important when reading young adult novels. Some focus on only the positives of your first love, “A season for falling” reveals a glimpse into the true troubles you may face when you find love. Not only that, but how these two overcome their challenges and find a way to be together. In other words, buy the book, put it on your TBR, you won’t regret it!! A huge thank you to Netgalley for this reviewing opportunity, reviews will be posted on Goodreads, Fable, TikTok, and Instagram!

[Sarah Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to get this arc! The description has me hooked instantly so I was eager to read it (though I already have a long tbr so I wasn't sure when I was going to get to it!) I picked up just casually to start during a hair appt...and I ended up changing my plans for the whole evening so I could finish reading it! I was captivated instantly by Katie O'Shaughnessy's writing style. I don't usually like a first person POV, but this one was good! Though the story was good, I didn't think there was as much focus on autumn / fall as anticipated but it did help set a backdrop for the love story. I wish we could have gotten to know a little more about Luke as her love interest! I also thought that the Ben stuff was a little unneeded because he seemed like a sweet dude at the end of the day. I enjoyed the "big city romance" (aka hollywood star) set in a small town as well. I also found myself wanting to know to know more because while I want Luke and Claire to work out, I also want my girl to get justice and win the lawsuit from her father!! I can just picture sweet little instagram posts of Luke and "Cece" at NYU just hanging out together <3 This was a great read and I hope to read more like it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early e-ARC!!!

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! “A Season for Falling” was described as a Gilmore Girls-esque fall read and I was hooked on that description. The only problem was, it only mentioned fall for a brief moment in the book and there was honestly nothing that pertained to the Gilmore Girls. Claire is our FMC who is dealing with a lot of struggles from her past. We learn all about her history as the book progresses and it allows you to have a deeper emotional connection with the character. Her character has a lot of self-growth and I enjoyed watching her learn to stand up for herself. Our MMC, Luke is her childhood friend, co-worker, and first love. I enjoyed their relationship as she showed him around her ordinary life. I do not enjoy a third act break-up and I wish the ending of the book was able to show more of their apology to each other. It seemed to be rushed and did not feel that it related to her character growth of being her own person. An epilogue would have been a nice addition to see their relationship blossom further and where they stand with their goals of schooling.

“I loved you then, and I love you now. And I’ll love whatever version of yourself you decide to be.” “There are no versions anymore, I’m just me.” “Then I love you all the more for it.”

[TReadsWithTea · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded to 3

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy!

A Season for Falling ultimately left me feeling underwhelmed. There was potential here for a cozy, second-chance romance with strong fall vibes - but it just didn’t come together for me.

To be fair, I may not be the right audience for this. The story leans heavily into teen angst and YA-style drama, so if that’s your thing, you may enjoy this a lot more than I did. For me, the emotional payoff just wasn’t there. The character arcs felt underdeveloped, and I never fully bought into the relationship - especially the MMC.

What really didn’t work for me was the ending. It felt incomplete. There’s no epilogue, no real sense of what happens after they get together, and it left me wanting (and not in a good way). Maybe there’s a sequel planned, but as a standalone, it didn’t feel satisfying.

Overall, this just didn’t land for me—but readers who enjoy angsty, younger-feeling romances might still find something to like here.

Spice Level: None
Vibe: YA, fall setting, teen angst, Hallmark-lite
MCs: Lacked depth; arcs felt rushed and underdeveloped - especially MMC. This might have been better with dual POV.

[Brandon Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can child stars ever truly escape their past? That’s what Claire has tried to do. She’s left her stage name and former kid look behind and is a normal high school senior in Connecticut when her former costar Lucas comes to town to shoot a movie. Of course, he recognizes her and hires her to teach him what being a high school student is really like. Claire agrees because he offers her more money than all her other jobs pay combined but will being around her former best friend (and former crush) end up breaking her heart again?

The forced proximity of their tasks puts Claire’s heart back on the line and Claire must grow up and face some truths about her past. The relationship between the two seemed genuine and appropriate for high schoolers. There wasn’t any content that I found to be too much for the high schoolers that I know (as a mom to two). The language and spice were on par with what I heard about. What the characters had to deal with as child actors was heartbreaking. The verbal and financial abuse, plus body image issues Claire had to endure, were so hard to read about. I liked to see that therapy was discussed. I think this was a good YA romance and I would recommend it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claire has very few regrets about leaving behind her life in Hollywood for small town Connecticut. She wishes her father's choices hadn't broken their family, and she wishes that Lucas Cordova hadn't broken her heart. But she's happy with her small town life and the friendships she's made. When Claire's town is chosen as the setting for a big budget new movie starring none other than her former best friend, it's only a matter of time before chance throws them back together again. Claire has grown up over the years, but can all of that growth lead her to trust the ones around her?

I'm a sucker for a holiday/seasonal romance. A Season for Falling had all of the feel good moments of a good teen romance, but didn't feel overly seasonal. I liked the added drama of the celebrity backstory. This one definitely feels more PG-13 than some of the others I've read--lots of teen drinking and an ongoing discussion about having sex for the first time (although most sexual content is off-page). I'm not sure if this is one we'll purchase, but it should do well with upper high school aged teens.

I read an ARC from NetGalley.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable teen romance, which I felt worked very well from start to finish. Were there a few moments where I thought it was a bit over the top? Yes, for sure. But ultimately it worked. And I enjoyed the relationship between the characters, most notably the friendship between Claire and her best friend. This was not an insta love but rather a friends turned romantic interests. The book doesn't really have any surprises, but there were a few chapters where I had to really figure out who the main romantic interest was. No spoilers.

I liked the writing. The characters and their back stories worked. And the drama was, for the most part, minimal or very much the drama of teens in their transition year.

When I picked this book up, I was in a bit of a reading slump or what I thought was one. That made me believe fully that I would be meh on this title and that it probably wouldn't get me out of the slump in any major way. But the minute I picked it up, I was reading and reading it quickly. Finished in record time even though we were on holidays and traveling around a lot to see the sights. That lead me to conclude that the other book I was reading, also a romance, was the problem.

I have never read one of O'Shaughnessy's books before. But if they are all like this one, then they are enjoyable. Not quite Sarah Dessen or Kasie West, but definitely up there for the teen romance genre. It does help that I'm a sucker for a celebrity storyline.

Maybe the only thing I really wanted and felt we never got in terms of plot holes was how her relationship with her dad goes ....

[Hannah]

3.75 stars

Normally I am not a huge fan of YA books, but this was really well done. I always fear that they are going to be written like its a young adult writing it, but the author did well writing a story about teenagers in an adult voice.

I found the plot to be really interesting and I feel like it kept the story going. It was more than just a slice of life, cozy fall read. It had depth to it, and I really liked reading about the FMCs struggles.

I feel like it would have been really interesting to read the MMCs POV because I feel like he was constantly struggling with his own identity and I think that would have added more insight to the choices he made.

I liked the family relationships that the FMC had, and the friend relationships that the FMC had that she was able to bring the MMC into. It gave a found family aspect that we really cool.

Finally, i loved the cozy vibes in this book. From the huge, comfy couch to the fall flavored coffees and cookie, it gave great ambiance.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for an arc to review!

[Mrs. G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire, a child movie star, is about to graduate high school when her childhood co-star, Luke, shows up to film a movie in her town. Claire has hidden her identity but is forced to face her past when Luke realizes who she is. As Luke and Claire begin to reconnect, they both must make decisions that will ultimately affect their futures.

This book made me smile while simultaneously breaking my heart. The abuse and mistreatment that Claire had to endure was devastating. While I was glad that her and Luke were able to reconnect, I was even more proud of Claire for realizing how healthy relationships need to look and not backing down.

I believe this book will be an easy recommendation for students. I enjoyed the character growth and the ability to repair family relationships, while understanding which relationships need to be altered.

Big takeaway from this book - if you are being abused or taken advantage of, seek help. Even the people who should love you can be the problem. Don't be afraid to speak up and speak out.

***NetGalley ARC Review***

[Zach Strassburger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is (just) a sweet young adult hetero romance, but I couldn’t put it down! It has so many elements I haven’t seen in other books of this genre, notably that the main character is a former child tv star, she has a terrible relationship with her dad who stole all her tv money, and there’s a secondary character who is trans and that’s just, like, a fact. That character being trans is helpful in how she understands the main character better in certain ways, but the book isn’t about the trans character coming out or transphobia—it’s just really well handled! I wish other authors would take a lesson from it. Trans people exist and are relevant for more than being trans.
I thought the male lead was immature and I didn’t love the ending of the book, but overall this was just such a fun, mostly light read. High schoolers in Connecticut were very realistic to my knowledge of the state and its schools.

5 stars and congrats to the author.

I received a free e-copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminds me of a hallmark movie where you make yourself a hot beverage, cuddle deep inside a blanket on a couch and have tissues next to you because you just feel like you need exactly that emotionally.
It is full of drama, tension, beautiful moments, realisations and a cute romance.
The friendships in this books are wonderful and I love how strong they are. That even when something has happened, in the end, the other person doesn't run away. That there is someone you can text every hour, every second and they will be there for you.
The family is on the one hand incredible and full of love and then there is also the recognition and realisation that some things are not okay how they happened. That you as a child deserved something different.
The romance is sweet. Even though I am a totally romantic person and I wished some things would have been different, it was such a beautiful story which put me through many emotions.

[Bobbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love fall vibe storylines and books being a mood reader. Small town vibes and that cozy nostalgic feeling.

I liked Claire and the overall idea of her trying to move on from a version of herself everyone else still remembers.

Luke and Claire were sweet together, especially with the history between them already there, but I did wish for just a little more emotional depth and chemistry at times. The relationship worked, I just wanted a bit more from it. Sometimes I felt like a bit detoured from their relationship throughout the story.

The middle dragged a little for me, but overall, it was still a really easy read. Knowing this is Kate O’Shaughnessy’s first YA novel, I honestly think she did a great job creating something that fits this age group emotional without feeling overly heavy, relatable, and easy to connect with.

[Honora · Rating 1 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

i was looking for a cute fall read to recommend to all my friends and i was so badly hoping this would be it!!! it wasn't.

70% of the book gave me the ick, 10% was lowkey relatable??? (paying for college here i come), and the other 20% was "where the heck is my movie star bf"

overall i enjoyed the plot and of course it's a romcom so i love that, but i ended up skimming a good portion of it because i didn't want to be reading about LGBTQ couples and yapping about sex and they/them pronouns.

i was a little confused about the whole money part too??? like girlie is given $30k, and then she's like "oh no how am i gonna pay for college". hun, if i got that money i'd be taking it and running 😭

all that to say, i was really hoping i'd love this book! ...but i didn't 😔

[liv of the hollow &#x1d717;&#x1d71a; ࣪˖ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC FROM NETGALLEY

🍂 "because it's always been luke," ☕️


- fall vibes
- romance
- 2000s romance
- friends to lovers

5/5

claire is a retired child actor running away from her actor life after being humiliated by her childhood best friend and crush, luke. luke needs to shadow a student to see what it's like to be a high schooler, claire needs the money.

this book was genuinely so amazing. lynn painters "nothing like the movies" meets gilmore girls in this cutesy fall romance. this was such a fun read and all of the characters seemed very realistic with their quirks and personality, especially claire. she was an amazing character and i loved the change she showed throughout this book. also luke is 100% book boyfriend material!!

a definite must-read for anyone who enjoys fall reads and 2000s romances!