Hearts, Leaves & Other Falling Things: A Cozy Autumn Romance

by Zøe Haslie

A single mom. A ridiculously charming distraction. And a small town that desperately needs to mind its own business.

Olivia has enough on her plate.
She’s twenty-three, raising her six-year-old daughter, working at the town’s beloved pâtisserie, and trying to keep her life together one pastry box at a time. Rosetown has all the autumn charm of a Gilmore Girls episode—quirky neighbors, small-town gossip, community events, and far too many people invested in everyone else’s business.
The last thing Olivia is looking for is romance.

Then Riley shows up.
He’s charming. Annoyingly confident. And somehow, despite Olivia’s best efforts to keep her life uncomplicated, he has her heart skipping one too many beats.

There’s just one little problem: Riley remembers Olivia from years ago. Olivia doesn’t remember him.

Between pumpkin festivals, bake-off disasters, runaway decorations, and a town full of people who seem to have nothing better to do than watch her love life unfold, Olivia is finding it increasingly difficult to ignore the feelings Riley brings out in her.

A cozy, funny, closed-door small-town romance filled with autumn vibes, playful banter, family, friendship, and enough chemistry to make your heart race.

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 2, 2026

About the author

Zøe has been immersed in stories for as long as she can remember. Raised in a warm, book-filled home, she grew up surrounded by imagination, adventure, and the kind of literary magic that often kept her reading long after bedtime.
Driven by an innate curiosity and an endless appetite for discovery, Zøe now considers herself a citizen of the world. Over the past several years, she has traveled extensively, exploring new cultures, landscapes, and people—experiences that continue to shape both her worldview and her writing.
She is the author of heartfelt, character-driven fiction featuring resilient teenage heroines who navigate personal challenges and strive to become the best versions of themselves. Beyond her novels, Zøe is passionate about storytelling in all its forms. On her blog, she shares narrative-rich travel pieces, offering readers a glimpse into her favorite places, hidden corners, and memorable encounters around the globe.
When she isn’t writing or traveling, Zøe enjoys watching sunsets, spending quality time with friends, and unwinding with her favorite films and TV series. She is also an avid collector of inspirational quotes, which she often shares with her online community.



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Reviews

[Kimberly Murphy]

This is a cozy closed door romance. It felt like I stepped right into the small town and could easily imagine being a member of the town. I really enjoyed the shenanigans that took place.

Riley’s patience and perseverance endeared him to me.

Olivia’s determination to protect her daughter is something I appreciated.

This is a great book to curl up with a cup of hot apple cider and just get swept away with.

[Nyah Schmitt]

Hearts, Leaves and Other Falling Things

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Olivia Breckenridge ~ We’re assimilating Jake, what a pair of lonesome lovers we are.

Riley Evans ~ Abso-pumpkin-lutely

I’ve been searching for the perfect autumn romance book and I have finally found it.
Hearts, Leaves and Other Falling Leaves is the second book in Zøe Haslie’s Rosetown Romance series. This book follows Olivia, a single mum with a hopeless love life as some would say. We follow her journey of juggling being a mum, working at the local patisserie, false accusations and Mr Gorgeous…
I DEVOURED this book! The humour, writing and character development was so perfect and had me hooked. I was so excited to read Olivia’s story but also see where previous characters from Just For a While ended up. I couldn’t wait to meet Olivia’s daughter!
May I add that the involvement of the Gazette was hilarious and such a fun way to display the craziness the town holds!
My favourite character by far in this book was Jake! His sass and attitude had me cackling. I loved his friendship with Olivia and how he somewhat tries to assist her with her life problems.
A special mention to Ollie too. She is so lucky to have a mum like Olivia! I loved Ollie’s little comments too, she has such a personality!
I also loved Olivia and Riley’s journey. The misconceptions, surprises and realisations made their relationship such a fun one!
This book is fantastic and I highly recommend to anyone! It won’t take you long to fall in love with these characters, Rosetown and Zøe’s amazing writing!

[Melissa Croal]

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for providing me with an advance copy of Hearts, Leaves & Other Falling Things in exchange for an honest review. I was initially drawn to this book because of the cozy small-town setting, the pâtisserie backdrop, and all the fall vibes. While I enjoyed the autumn atmosphere and the sense of community in Rosetown, I found myself wanting more focus on the romance and the relationship between the main characters. I tend to enjoy rom-coms with witty banter, stronger chemistry, and interactions that feel a little more grounded and realistic. I think readers who enjoy whimsical small-town stories, quirky townspeople, and lots of seasonal charm will likely connect with this one much more than I did. In the end, this one just wasn't the best fit for me, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to give it a try.