Sweater Weather

Sapphire Falls Orchard #1

by Shannon O'Connor, Quinn Riley (Narrator), Lindsey Dorcus (Narrator)

The city girl who just inherited an apple orchard, the farmhand who thought it should go to her & their fight to fix it up.



I didn't even know I had an aunt who lived upstate. So when she leaves her apple orchard to me, I assume it's a good way to get my law school loans paid off. As I set to sell the place, the last thing I anticipated was a stubborn farmhand who thought she knew everything about me.



It's bad enough the orchard wasn't left to me, but it was left to a city girl with no experience. She walks onto the orchard in four inch heels and the intention to sell. It burns me inside, but I know how much this place meant to her aunt. So instead of letting her sell, I convince her to let me fix it up and sell it to me at the end of the season.

She's the last person I'd ever pick to spend time with, until the leaves start to change and I do too.

Contains mature themes.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, LGBT, Audiobook, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity

Audible Audio

Published June 9, 2026

About the author

Shannon O’Connor is a twenty something, bisexual, self published poet of several books and counting. O’Connor enjoys life’s simple pleasures: coffee, reading, traveling, and spending time with her new baby. O’Connor is continuously working on new poetry projects, book reviews, and more, while also diving into motherhood. She loves supporting local indie authors & shops as much as possible.

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/shans...

Reviews

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader)]

4 stars. Such a sweet and sexy read! It was also cozy as it’s set on an apple orchard. The romance between Bells and Tilly was SO stinkin’ adorable. Bells is the epitome of sunshine and Tilly is a bit more closed off, especially after Bells inherits the orchard from her recently deceased aunt. Tilly just knew for sure that she would be getting the orchard so even though she and Bells had an amazing one night stand previously, she’s mean to her because she thinks Bells is going to up and sell the orchard.

While I absolutely understood Tilly’s worries I did think she was a bit too rude to Bells. Bells gave her no reason at all to treat her that way and it was definitely one sided and she kind of got on my nerves. She won me over in the end though once she got over her fears. I really liked the two of them together. They had such good chemistry and the spice was really, really good. I’m glad that this is going to be a series because the town is full of interesting characters that I would love to see get their own stories.

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

[Lez_be_readin_ya]

"A sizzling, heartfelt, and unputdownable enemies-to-lovers romance!"

After a one-night stand with a stranger she meets in a local bar the night before her aunt’s funeral, Bells soon discovers that same stranger—Tilly—is the farmhand at the apple orchard she’s just inherited. Talk about awkward!

This enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity femme/butch romance has everything you could want from the tropes. From the undeniable tension between Bells and Tilly, to the fun and supportive friendship group, to the perfectly steamy moments, this book delivers on all fronts and keeps you turning the pages.

I especially loved the chemistry between Bells and Tilly—it absolutely flew off the page. Their relationship development was so well executed, and I found myself rooting for them from start to finish.

Once again, Shannon has written a truly delightful story that’s equal parts tender, sexy, and captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t recommend it enough!

A huge thank you to Shannon for the opportunity to dive into this gem—I can’t wait to see what you bring us next!

Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥

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


TROPES/THEMES
Enemies to Lovers
Country girl/City girl
Spicy Times x4
One Night To Forever
Sapphic Romances
Forced Proximity
Femme/Butch
Apple Orchard Romances
Set in Upstate NY
Found Family

[Stuffl]

This was a sweet, entertaining, and lighthearted story. Bells and Tilly had great chemistry, and sparks flew right away. I liked the plot involving the apple orchard and how the two of them gradually found a way to work together.

The story was on the shorter side, and I thought the pace and length were just right. I listened to the audiobook, which featured two narrators. I liked the variety and thought the voices suited the characters well.

All in all, a story I really enjoyed. Great chemistry, plenty of spice, likable characters, and a lovely plot centered around an apple orchard.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC!

[Erica]

Sweater Weather by Shannon O’Connor
🍂Enemies to lovers
🍎 Small town / Apple orchard
🍂Country girl x City girl
🍎 Grumpy x Sunshine

I’m a little late but I got an ARC of this one and it’s the perfect cozy fall read. A one night stand turns into a grumpy/sunshine work partnership after Bells inherits the orchard and Tilly is not happy about it.The grumpy tension mixed with Bells sweet sunshine vibes was sooo good.

Loved the tension, the chemistry, and the heat when it finally hit. Plus, the friendship between Tilly, Bells, Hattie, and Lina added so much heart. It’s low-angst, spicy, and made me want to move to a small town and pick apples 🍏

Hoping this turns into a series because I need more!

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

[Star]

Content warnings: death of a family member (off-page), alcohol, recreational drug usage, sexual content.

Rep: Bells (MC) is cis, white, plus-sized and lesbian (lesbian not said on page, but I did see the author put something on facebook/their socials). Tilly (MC) is cis, white, and lesbian (again, not said on page, which is a choice tbh).


This was quite good! I was given access to the audio from NetGalley, and I jumped on it because it has two of my favourite narrators (Lindsay Dorcus and Quinn Riley) and they really brought the story, and these characters to life.

The story itself was quite simple, and very enjoyable. I appreciated the representation of finding it hard to orgasm with another person — I thought that was handled really well.
The sex scenes were pretty hot, and descriptive.

I loved the atmosphere of the story, and could easily picture everything going on. And now, I really, really want an apple.

I am also keen to see where this series is going to go next because of epilogue number 2!!

[Heather]

Sweet, cozy sapphic romance. Set on an apple orchard that Bells inherits from her aunt, an aunt she hasn’t seen since she was small, there may be a few stumbling blocks for this city girl to blossom. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

When Bells first gets to town for her aunt's funeral, she is itching for a distraction and finds it in a fun one night stand with a local. That local just so happens to be Tilly. Tilly has been living on the orchard since she was kicked out as a teenager and was there while Benny’s (the aunt) health declined. She thought she was getting the orchard, not some city girl.

After their first fun encounter, can they figure out how to work together to save the orchard? Or should Bells sell and go back to the city?

I recommend reading and finding out if (how) all three can just maybe thrive.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter]

2.5⭐️
I was excited to dive back into a sapphic romance with Pride Month around the corner, hoping to find a recommendation I could enthusiastically pass along. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t the right fit for me.

The story opens with a spicy scene that immediately sets the tone, but rather than feeling sexy, it came across as awkward and a bit cringeworthy, especially in audiobook format. Still, first impressions aren’t everything, so I kept listening and hoped the story would settle into its stride.

The bigger issue was that I never fully bought into the romance. While the characters were clearly meant to be falling for one another, I never felt that connection develop on the page. Their relationship seemed to progress because the plot required it rather than because the story had shown me why they belonged together. More than anything, the book felt underdeveloped. There were interesting ideas and thematic elements at play, but they never seemed fully explored. It often felt like I was reading a detailed outline of a story rather than the finished product. With more development and a stronger editorial hand, I think the characters, romance, and overall narrative could have been much more impactful.

The audiobook was ultimately the strongest part of the experience. Narrators Lindsey Dorcus and Quinn Riley both delivered solid performances, bringing energy and personality to the material. They did everything they could to elevate the story, though even talented narrators can only work with what’s on the page. At just 5.5 hours at normal speed, it’s also a very quick listen and one that easily holds up when sped up to 2x.

In the end, this felt like a great concept that never reached its full potential. The foundation for a fun, engaging sapphic romance is here, but the execution left me wanting more depth, more development, and a stronger emotional connection to the characters and their relationship.

I am thankful for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook before publication through a complimentary copy from Tantor Media via NetGalley.

[Shannon]

Sapphic Fall fun

I really enjoyed this fish out of water, one night stand to more that sees city girl Bells inheriting her Aunt’s orchard, much to the chagrin of the woman she had a hot night with the day before. This has great found family, small town vibes, queer community and an underdog/save the farm kind of story that’s easy to root for.

[Siddie]

Tilly has worked for Benny for several years, managing the orchard and the events they host there. Over time Benny has gathered her found family around her, based around the orchard in the small town. After Tilly’s disastrous coming out to her parents, Benny was the only one who would help her. Now, Benny has died with her found family around her, and she promised she would leave the orchard to Tilly.
Bells arrives at her aunt Benny’s funeral, meeting there with her money minded parents and other family. After the funeral, they attend the will reading. Bells is very surprised to learn that she has been left the orchard in her aunts will, even though it’s many years since she had been there. And Bells didn’t really want it - she wanted to go back to her job in New York and forget all about the orchard. But one of Benny’s stipulations is that if Bells refuses the orchard, it is to be sold and the money donated to charity. Bells’ family are not to get anything from it. This causes consternation and fury from both Bells’ family and also from Tilly.
The other fly in the ointment is that Tilly and Bells had one night together before knowing who the other was. And it was wonderful.
This is a warm story, fun in places, a little angst, especially immediately after the funeral, but after Bells meets Tilly and gets to know the other people at the orchard, slowly the warmth and feeling of family grows on her.
The storyline is good, not complicated, a lovely read but not a great work of literature.

[Marybeth Buskirk]

I don’t have much to say about this book except that you can definitely skip it and read something far better. This book needed an editor, a cast of much less annoying characters, and characters that could communicate with one another!!! This book pissed me off in so many different ways!!!

[-ˋˏ ༻ Persie ༺ ˎˊ- (TheSapphicStorybook)]

A Cozy Romance Straight from the Orchard
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Sweater Weather by Shannon O'Connor was everything I want in a cozy romance. It truly feels like a crisp fall day wrapped up in book form. Warm, comforting, and sweet without being weighed down by unnecessary angst, this was such a delightful, easy read and the perfect way to wind down my 2025 reading year.

Bells and Tilly were both incredibly likable characters, even during their enemies-to-lovers phase. Their dynamic felt natural and engaging, with just the right balance of tension and tenderness as their relationship evolved. One of my absolute favorite aspects of this book was the plus-size representation. Bells is confident in herself, and it was so refreshing to see a main character who genuinely loves her body, and a love interest who very clearly adores her curves. Too often, plus-size characters are sidelined as the best friend or comic relief, so seeing Bells centered in a romance where she is desired, cherished, and celebrated felt genuinely meaningful.

The orchard setting, thanks to Aunt Benny, added so much heart to the story. I loved how it became a safe haven for people without traditional families, creating a beautiful found-family atmosphere that gave the book its cozy emotional core. The supporting cast was charming, and I especially loved Lina! (I’d be thrilled to see her story expanded in a future book.)

My only real critique is that there were a handful of typos that could have benefited from another round of editing. That said, they didn’t take away too much from my overall enjoyment.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Tropes:

Enemies to Lovers
Femme x Butch
City Girl x Country Girl
Grumpy x Sunshine
Plus size representation
Found Family
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Trigger Warnings:

Death of a character (off-page, frequently referenced)
Grief
Strained family relationships
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Spice Level:

🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5 Spice

In terms of spice, this book definitely delivers. There are multiple open-door scenes (I believe four), and they’re well-written, steamy, and never awkward. The dialogue during these moments felt natural, and I especially loved how the first spice scene wrapped up, (IYKYK) it set the tone perfectly for the rest of this charming book. I’d personally rate the spice level a solid 3/5 🌶️
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars!
This was a genuinely cozy, feel-good romance, like a hot mug of apple cider and a hug all in one. I’ll absolutely be checking out more of Shannon O’Connor’s work.

[Morgan]

Sweater Weather was a nice, low-angst romance between city girl Bells and farmhand Tilly. The two have a one-night stand when Bells is in town for her Aunt's funeral, and then, surprise surprise, it turns out that her aunt left everything to her, and Tilly is jealous as all get out because she had been told by the aunt that the farm would be left to her. The main drama was between the two, and really it's mostly one-sided from Tilly. Bells is more concerned with the financial state of the orchard, which only she is aware of (although I'm not sure how no one else knew with how few customers it they had when Bells first arrives).

I did find it odd that Bells was working remotely for her regular job and running the orchard, but then the regular job basically just...disappeared. Like, she didn't seem to be working it at all and it was barely mentioned after she starts living at the orchard, and I don't know where she would have fit it in with everything else she was doing. Suspension of disbelief, I suppose. BUT, I did enjoy the story and the romance, and I liked Bells a lot more than I thought I would at the start—although I liked Tilly less than I expected. Honestly, I liked the other orchard residents better than I liked her for a good part of the book, even if she did come around eventually. I'd say this was a 3.5 star read for me, rounded up.

I received a free ARC from BookSirens, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.

[Tabby]

Not the best romance I’ve ever read but it was decent. The couple just didn’t feel believable. I also wish that the book was longer so we could get a feel of them. It felt rushed and like it was jumping around in time a lot. There were like these huge time skips and I really wish the author showed us everything that was happening with the orchard.

[🌙henny✨]

Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me! It was very short which meant that there wasn’t much going on outside of the main plot, and what plot we did have felt kind of tedious. I didn’t find the writing to be particularly good either, it was basically just listings of a lot of things happening and not much else. I’m disappointed because I wanted to like this, it was my first sapphic romance and I was hoping it would be a hit, but I think it missed every shot for me sadly 🥹

Thank you very much to the publisher for the ALC!

[Caitlin]

Sapphic romance at an apple orchard? What's not to love?

Honestly, this would make an excellent movie.

I liked both main characters, and I thought the were well written as being separate characters throughout their POVs. Also, there were two narrators which is a BLESSING! It adds so much depth to an audiobook.

I also really valued that there were a few slight miscommunication moments (which make me cranky) but these were handled quickly and maturely and with communication to clear up the misunderstanding. It's so appreciated.

There was a strange excess of epilogues which did throw me off a little at the end.

[Fran Sappharc]

Starts with a one night stand..... but of course they rarely are. There is a slightly unusual end to the first night. Parts of that scene I enjoyed but not the dialogue. I liked that we saw pretty much things change and the time passing seemed reasonable for the thawing. The next intimate scene, when chemistry had built up (which is my preference!) the dialogue, and it was heavy on dialogue, pulled me out the scene. This is personal preference not an issue with the writing.
I was uncomfortable with a "friend" suggesting they read through one mains phone..... codes? But also invasion of privacy.
I was also really tense a message would come in that would lead to misunderstanding break up. It didn't but I was surprised how tense I was. Talking of tense, I felt past and present tense went a bit awry at about 65% and I got a bit confused. There is also a plot device that has confused me, well not confused so much it is being ignored. Also working remotely seems to have been dropped from impacting anything?
The third intimate scene initially doesn't have much dialogue but unlike the mains I'm not swept along as I'm distracted by the location. Eventually so is one main! They move. I don't enjoy it more.
I felt a couple of bits of plot needed more fleshing out or explanation. However the non intimate bits I enjoyed so it stays at 3.

[yatziri ౨ৎ ˚⟡ ˖ ࣪]

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

⋆. 𐙚 ˚ 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟑.𝟑 / 𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ☆

୨ৎ 𝘷𝘪𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬: gay romance. apple cider donuts. spicy. one night stands. city girl x farm girl. enemies to lovers. inheritance. family problems. butch x femme. grumpy x sunshine. lots of damn apples.
୨ৎ 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘫𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘵: 🍁👠🧺💋🌈🔥🍎💌
୨ৎ 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘵: autumnal.
✧ 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘪 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥 . . .
— if u seem to enjoy cozy sapphic books but with lots of spice then yea (but it’s mostly for the sake of u wanting to get into the fall spirit or whatever) !

₊˚ ⊹ ♡ 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈:
— (✿´ ꒳ ` ) i’m not a big fan of the whole one night stand trope thing & i usually tend to avoid reading anything like that since i’m not much of a fan but it was pretty fun to read ! i finished this in a day since it’s a fast read & very easy to get through. i loved the butch / femme vibes there and it was nice having one of the main characters be plus size. the plot was fine although very predictable if i’m honest but i was mostly reading it for the vibes & because i have a serious obsession with sapphic rom-com books. the execution was nothing too memorable but i was satisfied and it was cute just like the rest of the book ! it also got me craving apples for some reason while reading which is weird since i don’t even like apples that much but there’s that — 𝒴 . 🎀

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

[Kayleigh]

Sweater Weather was a cute, quick, sapphic read- perfect for pumpkin spice season.
When Bells inherits her late aunts apple orchard, she doesn’t have a single plan except sprucing it up to sell- until she meets the employees left behind, including Tilly, who is furious at not being left the orchard she loves in lieu of a city girl without a clue.
This had a very classic enemy to lovers trope and as the two are forced to spend time together, they can get over the first impressions. Their grumpy behavior towards one another was well balanced by the community members who round out the story and in the end, who doesn’t want to root for both love and the local apple orchard?
Their chemistry is quick and jumps off the page and while I can see a series being pretty repetitive, it’s been done well before.
3 stars, rounded up.
Sweater Weather was originally published September 9, 2025 and the audio version will be released June 9, 2026- I received an advanced audio copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review.

[Ana]

This book has all of the ingredients for a hallmark movie, but that’s not a bad thing! O’Connor did something that many hallmark movies don’t: she let the characters communicate!
This story starts is filled with grief, loss, hurt, but overall healing and found family.
While it took me way too long to read this book; I enjoyed it! I don’t think it’ll be reread for me, but overall I enjoyed it!

[Marya]

Thank you to Tantor Audio for providing me a free copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Oh what a cute (and spicy! 🔥) read!

After Bells and Tilly have an anonymous hookup, things get real awkward when it turns out Bells has inherited Tilly’s beloved apple orchard. 😬

Personally, not sure there’s a more cozy setting than an apple orchard (craving Fall real hard over here. 😍)

These two were equal parts sweet and spicy, and I fell hard for the two of them as they fell for one another while getting to know each other better.

There was also a great group of side characters, and I am so excited to see that there’s more to come in this series! Can’t wait for more of these *vibes* 🥰

Audiobook notes: Quinn Riley and Lindsey Dorcus are a two of my favorite narrators, so it was a dream to have them narrating together (the main reasons I requested this ALC, in fact! 🤩), and oh they were so wonderful together! Great voices that worked amazingly well together. Loved both of their performances. Just a fabulous audio to be consumed by.

What this book is giving:
✅ Sapphic Romance
✅ Dual POV
✅ Apple Orchard
✅ Enemies to Lovers
✅ Couple of Hookups
✅ Country Girl/City Girl

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ / 5
🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5

[Jacqueline Espinoza]

Another great book by Shannon!

What a cute, cozy sapphic read with some spice! Absolutely loved the apple orchard setting and how Bells & Tilly went from enemies to lovers. Exactly the fall, cute, cozy vibe I was looking for this month!

[Katie]

As soon as the lamb nickname from twilight kicked in, it’s a hard no from me

[TasmanianQueen]

3.5 Stars
Short, cozy, yet spicy small town romance. I am a bit frustrated with this book honestly. I love the cover art so I had some huge expectations, but I feel a little let down. The book has an excellent plot but both MCs are a bit much. Tilly acts like an outright child when she doesn't inherit the orchard that she works for and instead of having a conversation with Bells about everything she gives her the cold shoulder... Also, the way Bells let's her family treat her like garbage and the way she thinks she has to give over the orchard to them even though she inherited it is wild. I really wanted to love this story especially because of Bells body type, and while she is proud of her body, and I love that, some of the descriptions used about her were very cringey. The ending absolutely killed me though, talk about a cliffhanger... lol

Thanks to the Author and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.

[Montes]

Arabella is a city girl who, after the passing of her aunt Blake, inherits her apple orchard. Tilly is the farmhand who has been there for many years and expected to inherit it. In honor of her aunt, Bells decided to try to save the orchard in order to sell it and go back home, but can the family she finds along the way make her want to stay?

It was a quick one day read. The plot is pretty easy to follow, it’s quite spicy yet cozy and the main characters had good chemistry. With that cliffhanger ending, I’m sure there's much more to tell.

Thank you to Shannon O’Connor and BookSirens for providing me with an advance review copy for free, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

[Betty]

It was cute

This book was cute but fairly predictable. It is worth it if you want a short comfy read but spoiler it sets up with a cliffhanger for multiple characters. I personally probably will not read another in this series.

[Quinn]

Thanks a bunch to BookSirens and author Shannon O’Connor for this ARC. I am very happy to share my honest review.

I have quickly become a huge fan of Shannon O’Connor and was thrilled to have the opportunity to read another of her books. I love the fall and cooler weather in general so I thought reading Sweater Weather at the end of June sounded like a wonderful way to have a small mental reprieve from the summer heat. I loved this book! I felt like this book was perfectly crafted to capture the beauty of the fall time with all the glory of chilly weather, crunchy leaves and delicious apples…add a smokin hot enemies to lovers' sapphic romance and you've got a real winner.

Bell who has recently inherited an apple orchard from a sort of long lost aunt and is excited about it…but only insofar as she could sell off the orchard to pay for her law school loans. She is a city girl through and through and never considers living in the country, even if the apple orchard is quite idyllic. Upon arrival she is confronted with Tilly, the hot butch farmhand who has devoted her life to the orchard and is devastated it wasn't left to her. What ensues is a wonderfully sweet and deliciously spicy love story that made me chuckle, sweat and swoon.

The book opens with Bell and Tilly meeting and falling into bed together. I love the signature provocative opening by Shannon O’Connor and was incredibly excited for the rest of the book. It was immediately clear that Bell and Tilly have awesome physical chemistry and their romantic tryst made me grin and blush. I truly feel it set the tone for the entire book as we know our girls definitely like each other and certainly have a solid connection. Needless to say, the pair of them are a bit shocked to make each other's official acquaintance. It seems they are both determined not to let their steamy interlude influence their feelings but some things can't be erased from our memory…especially when we don't really want to!

Bell is ambitious, determined and despite her “city girl” exterior is not shallow or uncaring. She is overworked and genuinely had zero emotional attachment to the orchard so naturally she just wants to sell it and move on. She is extremely self sufficient and fiercely independent without a lot of emotional vulnerabily…but I could sort of see that's not all she wants. She seems intrigued by Tilly and the town of Sapphire Falls in general. Tilly is stubborn and hard working. She is deeply tied to the orchard and is struggling with the grief of losing Aunt Benny and the orchard. Things are most definitely uncomfortable and the enemies to lovers aspect is done to perfection. The tension was thick and made me smirk and smile. Their chemistry is electric though and with time all the rough edges begin to soften. Underneath the hostility is admiration, physical attraction and a sort of magnetism that I couldn't get enough of. Shared labor, conversations and sort of being forced together for a common goal creates a sweet and organic journey toward developing real feelings.

The romance is tender and so realistic. I am so impressed with how much emotional depth O’Connor achieves in a relatively short book. Tilly and Bell share a sweet moment of trust and vulnerability which shows a gradual development of very real feelings and deep emotions. The intimate scenes are so incredibly hot and very emotionally charged. They are written so well and truly highlighted the growing bond between Tilly and Bell and helped me to truly believe in them. It didn't come without sacrifice or overcoming some serious obstacles but the happy ending was so satisfying and definitely felt earned.

The writing is great! Shannon O’Connor creates an easy to read, emotionally immersive and character driven romance that I enjoyed immensely. The writing is at once refreshingly direct and also has great depth. I very much enjoyed the dialogue between Tilly and Bell as it made me feel how real their attraction and emotions were. O’Connor created characters with so much complexity and depth with all the flaws and attributes of real women. I cared about the both of them and was so thrilled about the two of them together. They are one of my favorite couples of all time and I loved how they brought out the best in one another. They are just adorable and I loved them together.

Overall, this was such an excellent sapphic romance! Sweater Weather is a cozy, romantic and emotional enemies to lovers romance with a healthy dose of spice and all the fun of the fall season! This book filled me with happy fall time memories which is exactly what I needed to help me sweat out the summer weather in my real life. lol ! It was so good and I highly encourage everyone to read it!

[TheLisaD]

Shannon O’Connor’s Sweater Weather is everything a cozy sapphic romance should be—warm, heartfelt, and deeply engaging. With this story, O’Connor once again proves her talent for capturing the magic of unexpected love and the way it can transform lives in the most ordinary yet extraordinary of moments. On the surface, the novel begins with a simple premise: two women meet, share what they believe will be just a one-night stand, and part ways. But as O’Connor reveals, fate has far more in store for them, and what follows is a romance that unfolds with tenderness, humor, and undeniable chemistry.

What makes Sweater Weather stand out is O’Connor’s gift for creating emotional authenticity. The characters don’t just fall into a convenient relationship; instead, they navigate the messy, vulnerable process of realizing that their connection goes beyond physical attraction. Every interaction feels layered with subtext—small gestures, unspoken thoughts, and lingering glances—that pull the reader deeper into their world. This attention to detail creates a romance that feels not only believable but also intimate in a way that resonates long after the book is closed.

The characters themselves are written with care and complexity. Both women bring with them unique experiences, insecurities, and hopes that shape how they approach love and trust. O’Connor doesn’t shy away from showing their flaws, which only makes them more relatable. Watching them grow individually and together—learning to let go of fear, to embrace vulnerability, and to trust in what they’ve found—adds a richness that elevates the story from a simple romance into a journey of self-discovery.

O’Connor’s writing style is another highlight. Her prose flows effortlessly, balancing lighthearted banter with deeply emotional moments. She captures the warmth of the fall season in her descriptions, wrapping the narrative in an atmosphere of cozy familiarity—the crisp air, the comfort of sweaters, the sense of new beginnings. This seasonal backdrop doesn’t just set the mood; it becomes part of the story itself, a reflection of the warmth and change the characters experience as their relationship deepens.

The romance is, of course, swoon-worthy. O’Connor knows how to write chemistry that leaps off the page, but what makes it truly special is the emotional depth beneath the attraction. It’s not just about passion—it’s about two people finding safety, joy, and belonging in each other. Those moments of quiet connection, where the characters share their fears, dreams, and laughter, are where the story shines brightest. Readers can’t help but feel invested, rooting for them to take the leap and embrace the love that’s right in front of them.

Sweater Weather also succeeds in capturing a universal truth: that sometimes the most meaningful relationships are the ones we don’t plan for. Love arrives unannounced, often when we least expect it, and O’Connor explores this theme with grace and honesty. The narrative celebrates second chances and the courage it takes to open yourself to something new, even when the future feels uncertain.

Ultimately, Sweater Weather is more than just a seasonal romance—it’s a story of love, growth, and the unexpected ways two lives can intertwine. Shannon O’Connor has written a novel that not only satisfies as a romance but also as an exploration of vulnerability, resilience, and the power of human connection. With its tender heart, relatable characters, and beautifully crafted prose, this book is a perfect read for anyone seeking both comfort and passion in their romances.

A must-read for fans of sapphic love stories, Sweater Weather will leave you smiling, swooning, and maybe even reaching for your coziest sweater.

[Bri]

✨ALC Review✨ - 2.5 ⭐️

First of all, HAPPY PRIDE!! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷

I really wanted to love this one, the premise sounded really promising, and I’m always trying to find more sapphic romances to read, but unfortunately this one just didn’t really work for me.

There were definitely some cute moments in this story, but there were also quite a few things that bugged me and didn’t allow me to become fully invested.

My biggest issue was honestly the pacing and character progression. I genuinely feel like a chunk of the middle of the book got deleted or something because Tilly went from barely tolerating Bells to suddenly constantly talking about how much she likes her and how amazing she is for helping the orchard. I was sitting there like… wait, when did this switch happen?? It felt like I missed several chapters of development.

And apparently months had passed at one point??? That completely shocked me because the relationship and overall story progression still felt like maybe a few weeks max. The timeline felt really unclear throughout the book, which made some of the emotional moments harder for me to buy into.

I did appreciate some of the more mature relationship choices though. One thing I loved was when a miscommunication came up and then immediately got resolved because they actually communicated like adults instead of dragging it out for 200 pages. More romances need that energy.

I also really appreciated the inclusion of a woman who struggles to finish with another person. That’s SUCH a common experience for women, and yet romance books constantly act like every character can orgasm in 0.2 seconds just because someone breathed near them 😭 So I genuinely liked seeing something that felt more realistic represented.

That being said… some of the scenes in this book were so bizarre to me 😭

First of all: “little lamb” is not a cute nickname. I understand it’s supposed to be a Twilight reference, but absolutely not.

And the whole vampire conversation/moment Bells has?? I think it was supposed to come across quirky or cute, but it just felt odd and kind of annoying to me, especially because it didn’t really lead anywhere.

Also I’m sorry but the flour scene took me OUT. Aren’t you not supposed to eat raw flour because it can literally make you sick?? And then they specifically mention that having flour on their hands during intimacy would be a terrible idea and basically a recipe for a yeast infection… only for Tilly to immediately put her flour-covered finger inside her anyway 😭 Like??? You JUST talked about why that was a bad idea!!

I also got really frustrated with Bells constantly letting her family, especially her mother, walk all over her. GIRL PLEASE STAND UP 😭 If you believe in something, say something!!

And I honestly could’ve done without the subplot involving Tilly’s friend having feelings for her. It didn’t really go anywhere, didn’t add much to the story, and mostly just made certain interactions feel awkward for no reason.

By the end, I understood what the book was trying to do emotionally with the orchard becoming a “family” for Bells, and it was sweet in theory, but because the timeline felt so rushed and unclear, I never fully bought into it emotionally. It still felt like she had only been there for a week.

Overall, this had some genuinely good moments and relationship dynamics I appreciated, but the pacing, strange scene choices, and inconsistent emotional development made it a pretty uneven read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for letting me listen to this one early.

[Kiani]

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for providing me with an audiobook copy of Sweater Weather by Shannon O'Connor in exchange for an honest review.

Sweater Weather, narrated by Lindsey Dorcus and Quinn Riley, is a heartwarming sapphic romance that follows a city girl who inherits an apple orchard and, along with it, discovers a community, a sense of belonging, and perhaps a place to finally call home. Wrapped in plenty of spice and overflowing with warmth, this story is sure to leave listeners smiling.

From the very beginning, I was completely invested in everything this story had to offer. The characters were an absolute joy to spend time with, and by the end I found myself wishing I could pack up my life and move to this charming little sapphic apple farm. One of my favourite aspects of the book was how refreshing its approach to conflict felt. The fact that the characters' struggles weren't rooted in their queerness was wonderful to see, and it was equally refreshing to read a romance that avoided the traditional third-act breakup. Instead, the characters behaved like adults, communicating openly and honestly with one another, which made their relationship feel all the more genuine.

Shannon O'Connor's writing brought the world vividly to life. The descriptions were so rich and immersive that I could practically see, hear, and smell everything around me. It created an incredibly sensory reading experience that drew me deeper into the story. I also loved how distinct the dual perspectives felt. Bell's chapters were emotional, introspective, and full of feeling, while Tilly's perspective was written with a more pragmatic and grounded tone. These differences made each character's voice feel authentic and helped deepen my connection to both of them.

This story sparked so much joy. It beautifully captures the magic of falling in love while reminding readers that the small, everyday moments can often be more meaningful than the grand gestures so often highlighted in romance novels. There's something incredibly comforting about the way this book celebrates community, connection, and finding happiness in the ordinary.

The audiobook experience elevated an already wonderful story. Lindsey Dorcus and Quinn Riley delivered outstanding performances, perfectly capturing both the tenderness and the heat of the romance. Their narration brought the characters to life and enhanced every emotional moment, making the story feel even more immersive. The pacing was excellent throughout, keeping me engaged from start to finish, and the production quality was flawless. The distinct character voices and emotional nuance they brought to their performances added so much depth to the listening experience that I found myself completely absorbed in the world and its characters.

Even after finishing, I found myself wanting more. The combination of Shannon O'Connor's heartfelt writing and Lindsey Dorcus and Quinn Riley's exceptional narration created a listening experience that was cozy, emotional, and undeniably hot. Sweater Weather is the perfect audiobook for listeners looking for a heartfelt, spicy sapphic romance filled with warmth, joy, and a wonderful sense of place. Whether you're reading during Pride Month, curled up in autumn weather, or simply looking for a romance that will leave you smiling, this book and audio is well worth your time.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[My Fairytale Days]

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿: readers who enjoy cosy sapphic romances, orchard settings and Hallmark-style stories with a lot of steam.

I nearly abandoned this book after the first chapter.

The opening had me briefly convinced I'd picked up a very different sort of book than the one I was looking for. I wanted a cosy orchard romance. The first chapter made me suspect the orchard might only be there as decoration for the smut scenes.

Thankfully, I was wrong. Because somewhere between the orchard, the dead aunt, and a collection of adults making their lives far more complicated than necessary, the book won me over.

The orchard was the first thing to get me. There was something oddly comforting about watching people try to keep it alive, and every time the story wandered back to the orchard I happily followed along. In fact, there were moments where I was so invested in the future of the orchard that I almost forgot I was supposed to be paying attention to the romance.

Which is slightly unfair to the romance, because it worked for me too. A lot of the conflict comes from people refusing to have conversations they desperately need to have. Normally that sort of thing drives me up the wall, but here it mostly made me laugh because it felt so believable. Human beings have a remarkable talent for turning one simple conversation into six complicated problems. By the end, they were genuinely rather sweet together.

Oddly enough, one of my favourite characters was the aunt responsible for the entire situation. The woman is dead before the story even starts and somehow still managed to become one of my favourite characters. That takes dedication.

The frustrating part is that I kept wanting more. More orchard. More family drama. More pie competition chaos. More time to let things unfold before the story hurried off to the next thing. Every now and then I'd catch a glimpse of a version of this book that I suspect I would have absolutely adored.

I kept wanting it to slow down. To linger a little. To let things become messier.

And then, just when I was happily settled in, the bonus epilogue arrived and committed crimes against the perfectly good epilogue that came before it. I am still holding a grudge.

Despite all of that, I finished the book smiling. Not because it was perfect, but because it was charming. Sometimes that's enough.

✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱:
• The orchard and the idea of bringing it back to life
• The wonderfully meddling dead aunt
• The cosy small-town atmosphere surrounding the orchard

🌧️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:
• The story often rushed through its best drama
• The characters occasionally treated honest communication as a hostile act
• The bonus epilogue weakened the stronger ending before it

⭐⭐⭐ / 5

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.