Falling After All

Happily Ever After All #5

by Cece Louise

I came back to write my next book. He thinks he can rewrite our past.

Penny
When I return to my hometown for some peace, inspiration, and cozy fall vibes, the last person I want to see is Camden Clarke. He's the guy who stole my paper in high school and passed it off as his own—derailing my future and destroying the pathetic crush I had on him in one fell swoop.


Unfortunately, it turns out he's my landlord. And my neighbor. Oh, and the town loves him so much they elected him mayor.


He may have the rest of Halften fooled, but I know better. And no matter how many times he shows up with that easy smile and disarming charm, one thing is certain:


I’m not falling for it this time.


Camden
I made a big mistake in high school. One that cost Penelope Crowe more than I ever realized.


Now she's back in Halften, and somehow we keep crossing paths—including a very public “date” at the fall festival neither of us signed up for. She has every reason to hate me. And I have every reason to keep my distance.


But the more time I spend with her, the harder it is to ignore the way she surprises me, challenges me . . . and makes me want things I have no right wanting.


Because I don’t just want a chance to make things right—I want a second chance with her.


But after what I did, that might be the one thing I don’t deserve.


A sweet, swoony fall romance featuring:

✔ Enemies-to-lovers
✔ Former crush
✔ Small-town charm
✔ Dual POVs
✔ All the feels, zero spice


Perfect for fans of Emma St. Clair and Cindy Steel!

Genres: Autumn, Romance

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2026

About the author

Cece Louise writes clean novels filled with adventure, romance, and spirit for teens and adults.

Cece is an avid reader who has been making up stories in her head as long as she can remember. Despite all that daydreaming, she graduated summa cum laude with a BBA from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 2012.

When she's not working on her latest story, Cece spends her time having adventures with her husband and two kids, hiking and biking in her home state of WI, and unfortunately, cleaning her house (which she is convinced is secretly inhabited by mischievous, mess-multiplying pixies).

Get "Saving Vengeance" eBook FREE at CeceLouise.com!

Reviews

[Nic]

Super Cute

This was such a cute story about moving on from one’s past and going after what you want. Penny and Camden were so cute together and I loved their teasing banter. The small town vibe and meddling characters are so fun and add that extra charm. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Recommended reading age (12 yrs+)
No spice (just kisses)
No explicit language use
G rated violence/gore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️super cute

[Carolyn]

Fun, sweet rom-com that reads quickly and easily. I really enjoyed the conflict between Camden, a young mayor who plagiarized his tutor’s essay in high school, and Penny, the aforementioned tutor, now author, who’s trying to overcome writer’s block and avoid Camden. Nothing about their back story seemed contrived, and Camden was appropriately ashamed of his high school behavior. Writing is sharp and the dialogue is natural. A great series all around!

[Karen (BaronessBookTrove)]

Falling After All by Cece Louise takes place during the fall in Wisconsin.

Will Penny write her next book while living next door to her enemy?

Penelope "Penny" Crowe
Penelope "Penny" Crowe used to tutor Camden in English in their last year of high school. She is a bestselling author now and is hard at work writing her next book. Or at least she is supposed to be, but got delayed thanks to her book tour. Penny is now in Halften to get her book written before her deadline. Everything was going according to plan until she learned who her next-door neighbor was. I like Penny because she proved everyone wrong about herself in high school. It also doesn't help that she is a writer, and I love reading about author characters. Penny is an awesome character, and I think we would get along if we met in real life.

Camden Clarke
Camden Clarke needed a good grade to keep playing his sports. He is now the mayor of Halften and doesn't think that he is worthy of Penny Crowe. I like how Ms. Louise shows that he grew into someone who is very different from his high school self in many ways. Camden is a good person who definitely doesn't care just about himself but about the people of Halften. I like this persona that he has grown into.

The Romance
The romance between Penny and Camden is definitely sweet, and I like the two of them together. I think that they are good for each other. The banter between them was hilarious. Ms. Louise has definitely put a lot of cute scenes between the two of them in here, and I loved every single one of them. Camden and Penny are cute together, especially during their tutoring sessions.

Five Stars
My rating for Falling After All by Cece Louise is five stars. I do recommend this whole series as it is sweet and cute. Ms. Louise does end up making me laugh about some of the scenes between these two. The biggest thing that I like is seeing how each of the other couples ends up living their lives.
Ms. Louise does a great job transporting me to Wisconsin, no matter what season they are experiencing. My favorite one would have to be this one since it's autumn time, and I also love autumn. That also kept me cool while I was there in the book, compared to the heat that I am experiencing right now in Texas.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Falling After All by Cece Louise.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

[Chad Barrus]

I received a copy of this book from the author and though a review wasn’t required, I wanted to offer my honest, voluntary impression upon finishing it.

I have read all the books in this series and I believe this one is the best because of the dynamic between these two people! Much like the first book with Melissa and Tucker, feelings change over time and both see the other through eyes no longer in high school.

Penny is a student who is invisible in school to most people but her best friend and her brother. She has a secret crush on the most popular guy in school and is happy when her teacher assigns her to tutor him in her English class on writing and understanding a book to write a report on. However, at the last moment things go south and he plagiarizes her work and passes it off as his own getting his passing grade and leaves her crushed and hurt. He doesn’t realize until they meet again six years later just how much he hurt her and what he did cost her and the fact she knew from the start what he did and said nothing!

Through a set of circumstances they finally start to try and get past what he did back then until it all comes crashing back and she feels she has once again been used and manipulated by him. Then he makes a public statement which turns out much differently than he originally intended!

I really enjoyed this book and the road to forgiveness that both needed to take to enjoy life once again! Deceit and manipulation are never right but sometimes one’s own lack of self worth also plays into the picture clouding one’s judgement even more making an obvious decision suddenly uncertain.

I think everyone should read and enjoy this book and the journey both Penny and Camden take to revisit the past and what happened and the forgiveness it took to go forward!

I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend this book and this series to one and all! Each book will remind you of your own high school experience- you may even see yourself as one of the characters in them or you will remember people who were!

Cece’s writing pulls you in! You get immersed into the stories and are hooked to the very end, disappointed that the book has an end because you want to read more about these people you now know and love and look at as your friends!

I encourage you to check out Cece’s other books for I know you’ll love them as much as I have! I loved them because I understood the characters and you will as well!

I can guarantee that you won’t regret reading her books-in fact I believe you’ll find she will be your next best author you’ll want to keep reading because like me you’ll find she speaks to you as well!

[Julie - One Book More]

Falling After All is the fourth book in the Happily Ever After All series, and it's a great contemporary romance. Every time I read a book in this series, I’m pulled in by the small-town charm, the unique characters, and the lovely romances. This is a town that sounds like somewhere I'd want to live, with quaint stores, quirky and memorable townspeople, and fun seasonal events. It’s the kind of community where everyone knows everything about each other. Sometimes that’s good, but in the case of our two main characters, it’s not. 

Penny and Camden went to high school together, and she tutored him in English when his academic and athletic career were at risk.  Their relationship didn’t end well, and now, six years later, they see each other again when Penny returns home with a strong case of writer's block. Unbeknownst to her, she's rented a house from Camden, who is also her next-door neighbor and the town's beloved mayor.

I liked both Penny and Camden, and love that the story is told from both their perspectives. You really get to understand both of them on a deeper level. And you know how they say there are two sides to every story? It’s definitely the case here. You learn so much about both characters and how this one period of time when they were teenagers, and the choices they both made, changed both of their lives. I really enjoyed their individual stories and their love story. They complement each other well and have great chemistry, and I really liked their heartfelt discussions, which show how much they’ve grown, especially Camden.  

If you’ve read the other books in the series, you’ll be thrilled to know that the MCs from them make appearances in this story. And I loved it! It’s so great to see what they’re all up to and how their lives have changed. The other secondary characters are great too, and I'm eager to see if any of them will be the focus of another book. You don’t have to have read the other books to understand this one, though. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone, and they're sweet and clean contemporary romances with a lot of charm and heart.

This story touches upon some heavier subjects, but it's balanced out well with lighter scenes, fun banter, some community shenanigans, and so much more. It's definitely a story with layers, and I liked them all!

[Sara Lawson]

Cece Louise never disappoints, and this book was exceptional. I thought writing the main female character as an author was particularly lovely.

When Penny rented a house at the edge of her hometown in the hope of curing writers block, she didn't realize she'd be living next door to her high school crush who stabbed her in the back so many years ago. After graduation and a brief pro sports career, Camden had thrown himself back into his hometown, winning a run for mayor and restoring old houses. He'd left his past in the past...or had he?

I hadn't expected this level of depth in a romcom. Writing past wrongs. True forgiveness. Second chances. Earning trust. It was really good. Even the reminder that there is always a cost. I felt like I learned something and was cheering on both main characters (and a few of the more ridiculous side characters). I wish we had seen more of the chickens. But maybe they'll get their own book later. That aside, I thought the story was pretty perfect, and will happily continue to read anything Cece Louise writes.

I recieved a free ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.

[Laura]

Very satisfying read with at least one more book hinted at for the series! Hard to get better than that.

Penny and Camden's story is filled with sweetness and angst, joy and sorrow, forgiveness and deception, redemption and retaliation - a lot like life!

There was a conversation that really struck home for me as the principles apply to more than just writing, so I'm including an excerpt of it here (*may change during final edits):

“Imposter syndrome?”

“It’s when capable, accomplished people become convinced their success was accidental. They fear being exposed as frauds, so they raise the bar impossibly high and call anything less a failure... They stop playing and start proving... You don’t lack creativity... you lack permission. You’ve traded curiosity for comparison.”

“...that’s not writer’s block... That’s performance anxiety... You used to write like someone who had nothing to prove... Now you’re trying to prove you belong.”

"...But frauds don’t lie awake worrying whether their work matters. The very fact that you care this much tells me you belong exactly where you are.”

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.

[Jennifer]

Back in high school Penny is tutoring Camden to get him through English, to keep his grades up and on the team. He was embracing the experience, but a series of events lead him to turning in a paper written by Penny.
This action had consequences for them both which we learn about in the present day where Penny, back in her home town as a successful author, is trying to overcome writer’s block. Turns out not only is Camden now the town’s mayor, he’s the landlord / owner of her rental, and lives next door.
This easy to read, small town story will suck you right in with their enemies to lovers vibe, fun banter, and fall setting. The fact that they just can’t seem to stay away from each other, and all that time together has the tension and chemistry between them escalating as Camden is determined to redeem himself and win Penny over.
There’s some depth to the characters and some harder issues discussed, but primarily this is a sweet, clean romance that’s light in tone and a very enjoyable read.

[Jami Pruitt (My.lovely_readingcorner)]

Favorite parts: 
- The Fall Festival
- Pre-date texts
- In the haunted house
- Delivering coffee and a muffin
- In the hospital room
- Dinner at Camden's
- Reading Great Expectations
- In the batting cage
- Corn maze
- The Epilogue

I really enjoyed this story about Penelope and Camden. It was fun to get back to the town of Halften and see some of the wonderful characters from other books in this series, though it has been a while since reading their stories.

I love how Camden and Penny's relationship starts and how they have history from high school together. Although they start off on rocky footing they are able to move past mistakes made in the past. I love the aspect of owning up to your mistakes and also forgiving those who have wronged you in this story.

This is the 5th book in the Happily Ever After All series. It can be read as a stand-alone.

I was given an advanced copy. All opinions are my own

[Jane litherland]

Oh dear Camden Clarke did a misdeed to Penny back in the day and now she’s back in her hometown and he’s at it again to this hen! He’s no player though he’s only the town’s Mayor! Not to mention her boss of course ! Landlord and neighbour! Could it get any worse?
Camden, though, to give him his dues he knows he did wrong way back when but doesn’t know how to make amends and make friends ….
Halften is their hometown and she’s back ,but she’s not being fooled like the rest of the population and is about improving her situation not making it worse ,though her interaction with a certain nemesis is making her terse. So why have they both been put in a compromising situation again?
The town playing matchmaker ? A very public date they never signed up for at the festival what’s more. It’s uproar and a great storytelling by Cece Louise . It does so please ,it’s fun . Every pun ,good reading for everyone

[Evy]

5 ⭐️
This is the fifth book in the Happily Ever after all series and I really loved it. We follow the love journey between Penny and Camden. Every time I read a book by Cece I’m charmed by the small town vibes, the unique characters and the beautiful romance. Penny and Camden have known each other since high school but that wasn’t a great success. Now they can reconnect and how! We get to know both of them on a deeper lever which makes us understand their background and actions much better. The chickens were a very fun side character and I wished we saw more of them. I received a copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily. It was great to see a lot of the previous main characters again and I secretly hope tiny Tim will get his own story.

[M]

*I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

* This is book 4 in the Happily Ever After All series and can be read as a standalone
* Spice: kisses that don't get heated
*CW: brief mentions of alcoholism and abuse

Having read the previous books in the series, I was eagerly waiting Penny and Camden's story and it didn't disappoint. I liked that Camden and Penny had history, even if it wasn't pretty. The tension between them was good and the banter was fun. I liked that Penny spoke freely when she was with Camden and how he got a second chance to prove himself to her. This was a good addition to the series and I can't wait for the next book.

[Christina]

ARC Review

I finished the completed portion of this series back in April (as well as a reread right before I read this one, obviously) and fell in love with Haften and the people! I knew Penny and Camden's book was going to be a great one. Boy was I wrong... IT WAS FANTASTIC. Probably my favorite of the series. & I loved the other books. I was swooning and kicking my feet the entire time. I am sad to see this series end and look forward to my many, many re-reads of all of them!

Thank you for allowing me to read your book before it was released. I hope you change nothing. I loved it!

[Maria Thomas]

Cute romance! She has every reason to want nothing to do with him. But she also has the realization that his bad actions in their youth may not have made any difference to her future and in the long run, may have forced something for the better. I loved his redemption arc and the way he desires to right his wrongs even though it can't change what he did to her future.
Sweet, romance, fun banter, redemption, forgiveness are among what is awaiting you in this story.

[Tami Willard]

Written in a way that it could be read as a standalone however it has characters that overlap with other books.
She had a crush on him until he betrayed her. Now he's her landlord and next door neighbor.
He doesn't know why she's so hostile towards him but he remembers how she used to be. Now he's desperate to get beyond her walls.
Second chance
Secret crush
Enemies to more
Matchmaking townsfolk
He falls first
Integrity can come with huge risks

[Lucy Jane]

This was such a nice, sweet story! I loved seeing these two come together and work out their past. I also really loved how there are consequences for past actions, instead of just brushing aside those past actions, because there ARE consequences for what we do in real life. Yet this book is amazing in the fact that they have to work through those consequences, yet they still have a happily ever after. Definitely recommended for anyone who is looking for a nice, clean read!

[Lavender Jade]

A delightfully entertaining story with great character development and many laugh-out-loud moments. The names of the chickens and the haunted house scenes are hilarious, and I loved Penny and Camden’s banter. My favourite quote: “I always say, the universe works in mysterious, matchmaking ways.”

A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.

[Vibliophile]

(4.5 stars) - Camden is such a sweet villain ❤️

Very entertaining! Admittedly I'm reading them out of order, but I think this one is my favorite. I'll need to finish the series & reread Christmas After All yet again just to be sure 😉

*Romance level: passionate kisses, but nothing graphic

[Sierra Reyelts]

I've been dying to read this since we got a teaser in the last book.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and I loved it! It was a super cute enemies to lovers with believable character growth. Their chemistry was *chef's kiss.* I think this might be my new favorite Happily Ever After book!

[Stacey]

Love this series! I was happy to read this prior to the publication date and really enjoyed visiting Halften again in my favorite season.

[Lindsay Rankin]

Good book!

I enjoyed reading this sweet story, and it was fun to see characters from the previous books again. I liked it!

[Emily]

This was really cute! Camden showed a lot of growth, and I really enjoyed his banter with Penny.

[Paula]

I love a good rom/com and this one didn't disappoint. It was a little more serious than most I have read. Things in our past often have long lasting consequences. Loved Penny and my heart hurt for her. I could understand how she felt betrayed by Camden in more ways than one. He grew on me. The author did an amazing job of writing how they felt about the situation, each other and themselves. True forgiveness is hard as is righting wrongs. They might be my new favorite couple in this series.

[Nati]

Returning to her hometown with writer's block was not how Penny saw herself six years after leaving. Nor did include renting from her nemesis and town mayor, Camdem. But life has thrown them together to right the wrongs from their past and helo them find their way to each other. Funny, sweet and loving story.

[Isabelle]

This was a cute fall story! I really appreciated the enemies to lovers trope that wasn’t based on a misconception. Additionally, Penny and Camden had such a cute relationship. I can’t say I expected the town mayor/famous writer match-up but it worked well! All in all, another fun addition to the series (though it could stand alone). I would recommend it for readers looking for a light rom-com with fall vibes!

[Sami]

3.75