The Fall I Fell: A cosy Fall love story in the first book in this Second-Chance, Small Town, seasonal YA romance series. The perfect stocking filler, new for 2026!

by Megan Clawson

Autumn colours, hot chocolates, stolen looks and so much yearning – for fans of Trust Fall by Lynn Painter, Misty Wilson’s Falling Like Leaves and from the publisher of Laurie Gilmore's The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. This YA crossover second-chance, city-girl-meets-farm-boy romance is from the bestselling author of Falling Hard for the Royal Guard. A first love. A second chance. A final choice that could change everything.

For Ava Matthews, her grandparents' farm always meant the holidays – long golden days roaming the countryside fields and hills and sharing secrets in the treehouse with her best friend and first love Jacob. It was the place of endless summers and magical winters, far from her life in London where she dreamt of travelling abroad to study fashion. It was never meant to be home.

But when her parents' marriage unravels, Ava finds herself back in the russet-hued Autumn countryside, trying to put her life back together. And Jacob, who broke her heart two years ago, is still the boy next door, but feels further away than ever.

As the leaves fall and the seasons change, old wounds heal and new possibilities arise. And soon, Ava has to decide where her future – and her heart – lies …



Fall and Autumn coziness – falling leaves, hot chocolates and chunky knit sweatersSecond chance romanceFound familySmall town countryside romanceFirst loveDual timelineChildhood friends to loversSlow burnNo spice
Coming soon in the Second Chance Farm

The Summer I Saw Him

The Spring I Let You Go

The Winter I Wished For Us

Readers Love The Fall I Fell:

“Perfect short and cosy autumn read.” ***** reader review

“The autumnal cosy farm vibes were perfect!” ***** reader review

‘This has everything I love about romance and I couldn't eat it up quick enough. It's a cute and cosy story filled with so much emotion, I couldn't stop crying during the last 50 pages!’ @takealookinsideabook

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

304 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 24, 2027

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Så mysig och fin historia om barndomsvänner som växer upp på landet som grannar och hur deras vänskap utvecklas till kärlek🥹🥹 En av mina favorit tropes är friends-to-lovers så jag smälte🥺 och att det var så fina vänskaper mellan familjerna 🙏🏻😫 Dör för sånt
Boken var typ en blandning mellan The summer i turned pretty och Every summer after fast ta bort triangeldramat och byt ut sommarhus mot ett lanthus 😅 (+byt ut Conrad mot en mycket mycket bättre kille😂).
4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟 Rekommenderar för lättsam och mysig höst läsning🤎🧸

[Jess H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Was so easy to read. I wish there was more. I felt like some parts of the book could have more details like their mum and dad’s story, maybe grandad could have had a little more. But i loved that he was super shy and she wasnt, he was always just himself around her and she loved him

[Amna · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh this was SO sweet!! 🍂 I went into The Fall I Fell having never read anything by Megan Clawson before and I can safely say she’s definitely gained a new reader. This was cosy, nostalgic, emotional and felt so incredibly real.

Ava is going through so many changes at once, trying to figure out who she wants to be and where she truly belongs, whether that’s in London or back in the English countryside where so many of her fondest memories lay, all while dealing with the grief of losing her grandma. Her grief felt so earnest and raw and I loved how naturally these themes were woven into her story. You could genuinely feel Ava’s emotions in your gut and there were some moments that absolutely broke my heart. 🥹

I also loved the back and forth timeline. It worked so well in showing Ava and Jacob’s history and made me connect with their relationship so quickly. The past scenes slowly reveal how close they were, how their relationship started to fizzle away and most importantly, why losing that connection hurt Ava so much. It added so many layers to both their characters and made the present day story even more heavy.

Jacob did frustrate me at times, especially when he was being all nonchalant 😭 but I think that made the emotional payoff even better… that once certain scene in the tree house honestly nearly made me throw the book across the room though, I couldn’t believe his audacity. But their story really did wrap up so perfectly by the end.

I couldn’t not also mention the SETTING?! 🍁 I loved seeing an English countryside setting in a cosy autumnal love story. It felt so nostalgic and comforting and was exactly the kind of setting I’ve been craving from an autumn read.

I truly couldn’t put this one down. It’s a childhood best friends to lovers, second chance romance and the perfect easy read to snuggle up with on a cosy autumn evening. <3

[Eden Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This was a gorgeous, cosy and wholesome YA romance! Perfect for fans of:

🍂 friends to lovers
🧡 second chance romance
🍂 farm setting
🧡 coming of age
🍂 green pepper spice

Thank you to Electric Monkey for sending me an early finished copy of this book 🥰

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advertising | Reading copy

Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of second-chance romance, but The Fall I fell is not the classic second chance you usually know, which I personally liked quite well and is also more in the direction of the youth book. Sometimes it's also a lot about topics such as loss and fears for the future and has more of a thing from best friends to lovers, as they've always been a perfect team, which both of them don't quite admit to each other. Something entertaining that can also be read away, very sweet but still quite dramatic and in some places very long.
For those who liked Pumpkin Spice Cafe and The Summer I turned Pretty, definitely recommended.

[Sude · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Çoook güzel bir arkadaşlıktan aşka hikayesiydi. Çocukluktan tanışıp en yakın arkadaş oluyorlar ve zamanla birbirlerine aşık oluyorlar. Her yaz çiftlikte buluşuyorlar ve yıllardır süren yanlış anlaşılmalardan bir türlü kavuşamadılar, son sayfaları soluksuz okudum kavuşsunlar diye çok güzellerdi🥹🤍

[Chlo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Electric Monkey for the physical arc!! 3.5 stars!!!
I loved this so much, it’s the perfect, cute, wholesome romance for the autumn.
The vibes are immaculate and it perfectly encapsulates not only what it’s like to be a teenager but a teenager in the UK. I loved the farming aspect and could tell it was well researched.
This book just felt full to the brim with love and found family and I read it so so fast

[Marta Muñoz Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this. Really.

The romance was EVERYTHING. I loved getting to know Ava and Jacob from the very beginning, seeing them as kids, watching their friendship grow, and slowly seeing that connection turn into something more. There’s something so special about watching a relationship develop over the years instead of just being told that two people are meant for each other.

And maybe I connected with that part of the story a little more than usual because I actually married my best friend, who has been my best friend since we were 14. So yeah… this one got me.

Ava was such a wonderful protagonist. I loved her, I connected with her, and I genuinely cared about what happened to her. I also loved how her summers and holidays at the farm with her grandmother inspired her dream of becoming a clothing designer. It made her passion feel so personal and meaningful.

Jacob was adorable too. I loved his quieter, more reserved personality and his story, although I don’t think I got to know him quite deeply enough to make him one of my ultimate book boyfriends. But I absolutely loved them together. Their chemistry was off the charts, and I could have read so much more of them.

And then there’s the family.

I fell in love with ALL of them. The siblings, Lizzie, the whole dynamic… they made this world feel so warm and alive. I especially loved Callum, Ava’s brother, with his nerdy side and the way he supports and helps his sister. I would absolutely love to read his story with Lizzie, because there is clearly something going on there.
And that hug with Will?! 🥹🥹🥹 One of my favorite moments in the entire book.

I also loved Granny and Grandad’s story. Seeing their love was so beautiful, and it reminded me a little of the moments when my grandmother used to tell me about my grandfather and his love letters. There was something incredibly special about getting to know their relationship too.

The setting was wonderful. I loved the two neighboring farms and the way both families help each other until they become so close that they almost feel like one big family. I loved the farm, the children’s childhood, and even seeing them as teenagers, still wanting to help when a storm hits.

And the treehouse! I loved how it slowly became almost another character in the story. It held so many memories and emotions, and it felt like such an important part of their lives.

Honestly, I think I could have read another 300 pages of just these people living their lives.

The ending was perhaps a little too perfect for me, but I still loved it. They’re young, and somehow I could genuinely see a future for them together.

And that’s probably why I’m giving this five stars even though, if I’m being completely objective, it might be closer to a 4.5 for me.

I just don’t want to leave this world yet.

The more I think about this book, the more my heart fills with happy feelings, and that’s what I love most about reading.

I want more of the siblings. I want Will’s story. I want Lizzie’s story. I want Callum and Lizzie’s story. I want to see more of Ava and Jacob. I basically want to stay with all of them a little longer.

And thankfully, I know I’ll get to.

This book made me want to read every single story connected to this family, and honestly, that says everything.

[Eilidh Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read most of Megan Clawson's adult books and really enjoyed them so when I heard she had a ya romance coming out I knew that I needed to read it and I was not disappointed by it. I had a great time with this romance, I was rooting for the characters from the beginning and I found the story to be so emotional.

Ava went on such an emotional journey in this book which was heightened by the dual timeline element of the story, which featured her summer on her grandparents farm growing up. I found the dual timeline element to work really well in this story as it allowed me as the reader to understand how strong Ava and Jacob's friendship was and the relationship she had with her grandparents, I think without this element I would have struggled to root for Ava and a relationship between her and Jacob.

The relationship between Ava and Jacob itself was one where I was rooting for their friendship before I was rooting for their romantic relationship which I really like as it means that I am invested in the characters too. Seeing what had happened between the two of them over the years really made me want things to improve for them because I could see the impact that it had on both characters. As the book progressed too, I was also able to see the chemistry that they had and thought that they did work well for each other.

One thing about this book that has me excited for the sequel was all of the side characters, I found myself upset on Ava's grandad's behalf and desperate to learn more about Ava and Jacob's brothers (and Lizzie). I was almost just as emotionally invested in the side characters as I was Ava and Jacob which can make or break a story for me so I am really glad it worked out this way for me in this book. It also means that I will be picking up the sequel as soon as it is out, because I cannot wait to see whose story it is and spend more time on this farm.

Overall, this was a ya romance that I had a really good time with and would recommend. I will definitely be picking up a physical copy once it is out and going back and reading the last of Megan Clawson's adult work that I haven't quite got to yet. I can't wait to see what Megan Clawson releases next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Electric Monkey for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect autumn YA read 🍁!
It was a short and very meaningful read. I think more teens should read this book as it honestly raised the bar on how boys should be and girls shouldn't lower theirs 🤎
Ava and Jacob had been friends since they were 8, when the Thorogoods (Jacob's family) moved into the next door farm from Ava's grandparent's one.
Between the 2 farms there's a treehouse where they met and played for years.
There are multiple timelines, one in the present, and the rest are little snippets of their life throughout childhood. It took me a while to connect with the story, but Ava and Jacob are so sweet together and have always been as best friends, and crushes. You can feel their gorgeous connection and at times it made me giggle and kick my feet haha.
Their love story is wobbly, and it's so satisfying to see it mature. There were plenty of misunderstandings, and second guessing, as they used to only see eachother during holidays, so both had other lives during school time. But as they end up spending more time now, their perceptions of eachother become whole.
Also they are such sweet people, and this book also touches on the topic of grief, parent divorce, figuring out one's dreams.
This story is perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty, only with better male characters 😂, and it also reminded me of Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune.
If you're in search of a quick and sweet read, this is for you 🤎

[Abigail Rose · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

this was a super cozy autumn read!!

it was really fun and engaging to jump back and forth between time. I also felt this book was very character driven which I haven’t read before. We didn’t spend too much time on the actual plot compared to Ava’s journey through grief and navigating life and university.

I know not everyone would like that but I really enjoyed it.

The only reason I docked some starts was because I wasn’t a big fan of Jacob and how quickly things were resolved although I could imagine this working better an adaption!
Additionally I just wasn’t obsessed with this. Like i wasn’t actively thinking about it or desperate to pick it back up. Not because I didn’t like it but just because it didn’t stick with me.

So I liked it enough and would recommend for an emotional autumn read that speaks to those who don’t know where to go in life.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute read. I struggled at the beginning as you jump between now and 10 years ago, and as the characters are only 18 in the 'now' reading about 8 year olds was a bit strange as someone in the 30s, but I adjusted after a while and as the characters got older in the flashbacks it was easier for me.

This does read quite young YA, which I don't mind too much, but again, it's probably the age difference makes it a bit harder.

Ava and Jacob are sweet, you are wanting them to be together. The story about Ava's Granny is sad but also heartwarming.

All together a cute read, and good for a quick YA romance.

I was kindly gifted an advanced reader copy, however all thoughts are my own. Thank you to Electric Monkey Books.

[Mrs N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love Megan’s books and was not disappointed with this story.
A lovely tale of Ava and Jacob and how first love gets a second chance.
Ava returns to her grandparents home with her mother and brother after her parents marriage breaks down . She hasn’t been here in 2 years - after her grandmothers funeral.
The story goes between present day and Ava and Jacob’s relationship from young friends to attraction in teen years.
Megan has written this book so beautifully that you feel you are there in this cosy Community.
As a reader you have the build up to why Ava has not been back and there are lots of twists and turns as you read.
I really thought this was a fantastic book and cannot wait for its release to audiobook.

[Siena Divinagracia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly this book was really wholesome
Very short which made pacing a bit iffy
Kept on being confused with the time jumps because each chapter was so slow
Their chemistry is nonexistent but it’s young love so who cares, they are adorable
Very cute light fall read. Like it’s a second chance which doesn’t really work with the length of the book. Like I needed more depth character arcs. Like I needed more character development, I couldn’t connect to the characters themselves, let alone their relationship. But it was cute and whole. I really liked the vibes and concept I just needed more. 3.5 stars (Also this took way longer to read than it should have so I’ll probably have to do a reread to confirm my thoughts)

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fall I Fell was an enjoyable book and perfect for the ‘ber months. I was surprised by the amount of grief and how well that was conveyed to us (as readers) and how relatable it felt - we’ve all lost someone precious to us, as a grandparent is often the first person we lose when we’re younger.

We have these two timelines to try and figure out what happened between Ava and Jacob: their first time meeting and children, them growing up together, their feelings starting to change, them sort of transforming into their own persons and the joys of adolescence; and at the same time, we have heartbreak, the passing of a loved one and all things teenagers feel 10x more.

This was a good second chance YA romance.

[Takealookinsideabook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this authors books on my tbr for ages and after how much I loved this, I'll be making sure to read her other releases too very soon!

This has everything I love about romance and I couldn't eat it up quick enough. It's a cute and cosy story filled with so much emotion, i couldn't stop crying during the last 50 pages!

One of my favourite romance reads of this year and I can't wait to binge her other work too! If you're in the mood for second chance romance, friends to lovers and some super cute animals then you need this book!

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Madison Apodaca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect wholesome fall read!

I struggled a bit with the time jumps and trying to remember which aspects belonged to which timeline but it got a bit easier to remember as I kept reading! I really enjoyed reading about Ava and Jacobs story, filled with cute animals and a wholesome love story.

This was exactly what I needed to get into the upcoming fall season. It was a quick and warm read.

The vibes of this second chance romance set in the British countryside will have you feeling in the fall mood in no time!

Thank you so much to the publisher for the gifted copy!

[Nicki Smithers · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley arc, thank you!

I really enjoyed this one, the Autumnal cosy farm vibes were perfect. Megan’s writing is beautiful, and I loved all of the characters in this story. I laughed at Ava, Jacob and their brothers’ childhood antics, and I cried with how beautifully Megan wrote Granny’s storyline and the grief. I loved Ava and Jacob’s storyline, childhood friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes!

[Margo · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This was such a cosy and gorgeous story. A pleasure to read 🧡✨

I loved the deep connection between Ava and Jacob and how beautifully their love for family was woven into the story. Their love for Ava’s granny and grandad was especially touching 🥰 There were lovely friendships and wonderful family moments too alongside grief, divorce and heartbreak.

I really enjoyed reading about their past and finding out what had happened between them. They’re very young in some of the flashbacks but felt quite mature for their ages. Personally I’d have preferred them to be a little older in those scenes but I still loved their story.

The farm setting and their traditional Halloween parties made this feel perfect for a cosy autumn read 🫶 The book felt just the right length too. And how gorgeous is this cover? 🍂😍

If you enjoy YA stories about growing up, friendship and young love this one is definitely worth a read. I’ll be reading more from Megan Clawson and I can’t wait for the next books in this series 🧡

Thank you Electric Monkey for the gifted review copy 🥰

[Steph (Bookslovereaders) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh this was a really cute coming of age ya romance.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I needed to get into the autumnal mood. A wonderfully cozy, second-chance romance set on a British countryside farm.

The dual timeline jumps beautifully between sweet childhood memories 10 years ago and the present day, where the characters are now 18.

While it reads as younger YA for me, that formatting allowed for some incredibly cute moments and a sense of childish innocence between the characters that I really appreciated.

Ava and Jacob’s story was just incredibly sweet. It makes for a very quick, comforting, and highly enjoyable read!

Thanks to Electric Monkey Books for the proof copy- all thoughts are my own.