A Match Made in Autumn

by Jessica Booth

Rhett Hebert has harbored a secret crush on autumn-loving Amelia Murphy since childhood, but one embarrassing incident in high school was enough to make them avoid one another for the last ten years. Now a dying fall festival and a decades-long cold case have inexplicably brought them together once more.
Amelia is tasked to serve as organizer of the annual fall festival by her demanding boss at the local chamber of commerce. She hopes to give it new life and prove she has what it takes to revitalize the small Louisiana town she has always called home. With the help of her best friend and coworker, Beth, and her feisty Aunt Margie, she's well on her way to making the event one like the city has never seen before. At least, she was until a meddling old woman, rumored to be the town witch, tried to sabotage it.
Local newspaper reporter Rhett's work is suffering. On the heels of a broken marriage, he desperately needs a good story to pull him out of his rut. The newspaper archives draw him to the cold case of a boy who went missing twenty years prior-one he feels an inexplicable connection with.
When the missing boy's story leads Rhett to the city's fall festival site, Amelia and Rhett must confront their embarrassing past and help one another. With the assistance of fate (and a meddling one-eyed rescue dog), Rhett and Amelia rediscover hope, humor, and romance. Full of romance, love, heartbreak, mystery, and all kinds of autumnal and pumpkin spicy goodness, A Match Made in Autumn is perfect for fans of found family, self-discovery, and serendipity.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Adult, Fiction

276 pages, Paperback

Published October 18, 2022

About the author

Jessica is a lifelong reader and writer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and professional writing before making a career in journalism and editing. Jessica has always dreamed of writing a book, and her love for novels spurred her into becoming an avid bookstagrammer (@readbelievelove).

Jessica grew up in North Louisiana, but now resides in Southwestern Ohio with her husband, pack of rowdy children, and a couple of hounds. They love to spend their time together visiting independent book stores, outside digging up worms, and transforming piles of sticks into castles.

Reviews

[Jessica Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it, so I think it's pretty dang amazing! ;)

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread 2024:
So I was really worried about listening to this audio.
I love these characters and was scared the narration might not live up.
I should really have more trust in people.
The soft southern cadences were everything I could have hoped for, and this actually elevated the book even more for me!

Original Review 2023:
This was so cute!
The characters are well fleshed out (even Tucker the dog) and the setting is amazing!
A fall fair ground in Louisiana? Yes please!
The mystery investigation felt a little out of place at first, but it all comes together in the end.
I cannot wait to get my signed copy next month!
I am low-key obsessed with Margie & Greta and 100% aspire to be them when I grow up.

[Ellery Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet read with a dash of mystery. Loved the southern setting, complete with pumpkin festival, and the the charming characters.

[Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This romcom follows Amelia who has been tasked with reviving her small town's fall festival. She has a sordid and embarrassing history with former high school baseball player Rhett, so when their paths cross as he covers a news story about the festival, she is less than thrilled. Forced proximity does its thing, though, and they soon learn that if they can put the past behind while also healing from their respective relationship wounds, then true love (and lots of PSLs and pastries!) might be waiting!

Here's what I loved
🍂THE FALL VIBES!!! If you are looking for a book to read this season to get you in the non-spooky spirit, here it is! One of my favorite quotes from the book was, "It looks like the autumn section of Hobby Lobby and Magnolia Magazine made a cocktail, and the blender exploded in here...which means it's perfect!" That pretty much sums up the entire vibe of this book!
🍂The romance was really, really sweet in this one. I loved that both MCs had some baggage that they were able to work through together. Rhett is a total cinnamon roll and will definitely be the book boyfriend you've been waiting for!
🍂There is actually a cold case/mystery element to this book that is done really well. It was given just enough care and attention to make it a viable part of the storyline, and I was just as invested in it as anything else.
🍂So many LOL moments. This book seriously did have me cracking up!
🍂Tucker, the one-eyed dog, and his uncanny ability to ruin every possible steamy moment!

I sincerely enjoyed this one and the warm, cozy, pumpkin spiced feelings it gave me!

[Book Review Collective · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Match Made in Autumn is a well written, heart strings pulling, fall season loving, love swarming book. I'm so glad I read this book. I would recommend to everyone and not just for fall, you can totally love this just as much during any other season. It is cute and funny, their romance is the sweetest! Enemies to lovers, dual POV, overcoming previous traumatic relationships, community gathering, some investigative journalism (yes, I know.. this book really has it all), greatest outcome I could hope for, fall/festival vibes, all around awesome characters, and to top it all off.... there is a DOG - could a book get any better? Let's talk about the spice... Y'all!!!!!! I felt like I was in that closet in the barn with them. That scene had me getting all nervous while relaxing in bed with my pimple patches and my muumuu on. I genuinely felt like I was in the book, if that isn't excellent writing then I don't know what is. Who knew an annual fall festival could bring so much joy and peace to so many people...

I do like to keep my 5 star ratings very close and I try to choose giving 5 star ratings wisely; this novel deserves it all. If a book was a Pumpkin Spice Latte - this would be it. You will not be disappointed in this book. Congratulations Jessica you you wrote a good one!

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is SO cute. Fluffy, Hallmark, sugary sweet to the max. But also, heartfelt, serious and with wonderful discussions of consent, boundaries and forgiveness.

Normally I'm not big on contemporary romance, but this engaged me and allowed me to reflect on some of my less healthy relationships with gratitude for how far I've come.

If you like pumpkin spice, light enemies to lovers with a side of mystery, you might like this read by local Cincinnatian author, Jessica Booth!

[Delaine (NovelReadingNanny) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Jessica gave her readers everything they could want from a small town, second chance romance. This is the kind of book that makes you want to curl up on a nippy fall day with a cup of tea and a cozy blanket. I loved Amelia and Rhett's story. I was rooting for Amelia through it all and really hoped Rhett could figure it out. I feel like enemies is a strong word to describe their relationship at the beginning but I feel like it's up to the reader to decide.

I absolutely loved the little mystery element. It's by no means a main attraction for the book but it did keep me reading. I wanted to know how it got resolved. I actually wished Jessica had given a little more. Hopefully with her second book, we get a little more conversation about it.

Speaking of second book, I cannot wait to see what happens! I will be poised and ready to support Jessica!!!

[Dallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is SUCH a sweet book! I was hooked from the first page. Autumn is my favorite season and it was simply magical to read a romance that captures the magic of the season. I loved the chemistry between the two main characters and was rooting for them the whole way through! Can't wait to read more by Jessica Booth. ❤️

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Hallmark autumn movie in a book. 🍂🧡🍁

[Heather Button · Rating 5 out of 5]

#QOTD Have you ever had a book come along at just the right time?

That's me and A Match Made in Autumn. Picture this: I just finished a super cringeworthy book that I received in a surprise book box. I was desperate to be done. (My toxic book trait is not being able to just stop and call it when a book isn't working for me.) Anyway, the book was nasty and made me question what on earth I was reading. After, I knew I needed something happy to cleanse my palette. Enter Jessica Booth and her beautiful, pumping filled story.

Amelia (aka Lia) has a bit of bad luck. Accidents seem to seek her out and bad luck has gotten to her a few too many times. She's finally planning her small Louisiana town's fall festival and it is gross hot. Can't she catch a break? What's better is she keeps managing to embarrass herself in front of Rhett, her former high school classmate and now local journalist. Her most embarrassing moment happened in high school, courtesy of Rhett and his cruel baseball teammates. On the flip side, Rhett's has a hard few years and is going through a divorce. He has always felt bad for the way things went down with Lia and would give anything for a chance to apologize and clear the air. Pushed together, the two manage to work together to achieve their goals and find something pumpkin spiced and special along the way.

Tropes:
✅ Enemies to friends to lovers
✅ Small town
✅ He falls first

This. Was. So. Good. It made me happy and that was much needed. I sat down, looked up and swear I was at 78% completion. It's just devourable and perfect for fall!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia has been tasked to run the town's fall festival. Pumpkins and cider and hay bales galore are in store for her future. With the festival coming up soon, she's been asked to do an interview for the local paper. The reporter she's been talking to shows up with his coworker, Rhett, who happens to be the high school jock that made her high school years an embarrassing train wreck after one terrible run-in.

Rhett remembers this run-in, but is more aware of his longtime crush on Amelia, formed when she was just the cute girl across the street from his grandparents' house...

I LOVE small towns in books, so a plot centered around event planning an annual fall festival for the town was a DELIGHT. The underlying investigative journalism plot trickled into the story was also such a great touch.

The relationship formed between Amelia and Rhett was super cute! Amelia had her hesitations at first due to her past with men paired with her hatred for Rhett from what happened in high school, but once that trust was placed and that tension was broken, I soaked up every bit!

I also loved reading Rhett get his life back in check after his string of personal/relationship issues. Him diving into his work and breathing new life into the cold case he wanted to report on was exciting and I was rooting for him every step of the way.

Rating: 4 out of 5 🍁🍂

[Jaimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually LOVED this book. It was literal perfection for the fall season. 🧡

The story follows Amelia who is setting up a fall festival for her hometown and Rhett who is a journalist investigating a cold case for a kid who went missing at a previous fall festival in the same location.

I loved the investigation that Rhett was working on. Part of me feels like if that wasn't added in, the book might not have been so good. It gave it that added something and crazy fun interactions with good old Greta.

This book literally has everything I love. Fall feels, enemies to lovers romance, force proximity, a little mystery, found family, amazing characters, and of course some spice. That spice was VERY mild for those who don't really like that kind of thing. :)

Oh oh! And I LOVED the LOTR references. It set my nerdy heart on fire! 😍

Highly recommend this cute rom-com!

[Taylor | Probablyreadingromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is everything a RomCom should be! You have enemies to lovers, a small town during the fall, a cold case, and representation of anxiety. I loved the characters, especially Aunt Margie. The relationship between Amelia and Rhett was written well and showed the nervousness of a first date and if the person had the same feelings was something I enjoyed seeing. I wish I saw more of the nervousness rather than be told the characters were anxious or dealt with anxiety, but still thought the repression of anxiety was well done. Overall, I loved this sweet book mixed with mystery. If you haven’t read this yet, try and squeeze one more book into your fall TBR!

[Vinsci Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

“You’re the pumpkin spice to my latte.”

   If you like fall, pumpkin spice latte, fall festivals, and second chance romance with a touch of mystery, this book is for you. I am not a fan of second-chance romance, but there was something sweet and comforting about Lia and Rhett’s story. Yes, their first few encounters started out wrong, with Lia always falling ON Rhett, but their history both as young kids and hidden love during high school was so sweet. I love the growth of their relationship as they slowly put their walls down, and the LOTR reference was just too cute. You can never go wrong with Second breakfast. I love how the author incorporated self-discovery and self-acceptance without making the book look too serious. All the characters in the book from Lia’s dog Tucker to Greta (rumored to be the town witch) were memorable and lovable (except Chels 😒). The author did a great job taking me to the country and making me experience the magic of fall festivals. I love the mystery part of the book, although I really wanted to read more about the missing boy story. But I think the author did a great job wrapping his story. Overall, this debut novel was a pumpkin spice and everything nice kind of book.

[Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited going into A Match Made in Autumn. The fall vibes, croissant 🥐, festivals, and the perfect dog buddy.

Amelia is in charge of hosting this year's festival in Louisiana and wants to ensure everything goes well — even the old witch lady who won’t let them, no matter how hard they try. Everything changes when she finds out the reporter interviewing her for the local newspaper is none other than the friend of her high school nemesis Rhett.

Rhett is only doing his friend a favor by following him to this interview but never expects to see Amelia, especially after all that transpired in high school. He’s always wanted to explain to her but never got the chance. This time, he’s going to make things right.

Despite the story lead Rhett is chasing down, he will do his best to win Amelia, but is she willing to let her heart open, or is this just one of those feelings that fade away?

If you love mystery, humor, and a delightful romantic flavor, then you should read this.

Thanks, Jess, for sending me an arc copy. I enjoyed it.

[Kriti Dalmia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Match Made in Autumn by Jessica Booth

What a beautiful, heartfelt, perfect read to pick up for fall. If you are like me you don't need season to pick a debut book that shines.

Amelia has to plan the entire event for her towns festival till the end of Halloween. She gets panicked seeing Rhett, the guy who made her highschool experience worse. The moment their path crosses things change.

Rhett is a journalist and gets connected to a story, feeling a pull towards it. A story and twist that will leave you shocked.

Jessica Booth has given us fall vibes that you can't help but love, characters that you will root for and festival that you would want to visit. I definitely do. Her vivid and well crafted decisions made this smooth and easy to read.

The romance was sweet and forced proximity is my favourite. I laughed out so much. The extra element of mystery is well done and the story touches emotionally at all the right places. If you want a cozy, sweet read in a cozy environment get this, your blanket, drink choice and you are in for a treat. Recommended!

Rating ~ 5✨

[Chandler (chapterswithchan) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Match Made in Autumn is the perfect Fall read. Amelia has been assigned to put together the Fall Festival in her small Louisiana town. When Amelia sees two newspaper reports pull up, she is shocked to see Rhett. Rhett, the guy that she has been avoiding for ten years. There is still tension between Amelia and Rhett, but unfortunately she needs his band to play for the festival.

While Rhett isn’t the reporter in charge of the festival, he is working on another story. A young boy who went missing the night of the festival twenty years ago. He is chasing down every loose end trying to figure out what happened to him. His clues lead him to the one person who hates the town's Fall Festival.

This is the the book that has everything you are looking for; mystery, romance and humor! This is seriously the perfect book.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect fall read! I loved the dual POV and the timeline this was set at. Amelia was relatable and likable. Rhett was swoon-worthy and easy to root for. I loved all the spicy tension! We all need an Aunt Margie to have our back with her spunky attitude.
There is a murder mystery element that I thought was amazing! I gasped out loud when it started to all piece together. I recommend to those who like enemies to lovers, small-town romance, and fall vibes.

[tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

очень милый роман с безумным осенним вайбом, прямо как я люблю. фестиваль в маленьком городке, горячий яблочный сидр, Хэллоуин, тыковки, тайна о пропавшем ребёнке, enemies-to-lovers (ну типа) — это все явные атрибуты, которые заставят меня прочитать книгу и полюбить ее. финал такой горько-сладкий. мое сердце болело за миссис Кларк и маленького Джимми, но я рада, что спустя двадцать лет эта женщина обрела покой и нашла новую семью.

[Revati · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You're the pumpkin spice to my latte.”

Jessica has delivered an absolute masterpiece here! AMMIA is full of passion, yearning, sass, spice, and sooo much Fall 🍁🍂 I loved it so deeply for the character development and back stories, the vibes, and how perfectly the story was wrapped up with no loose ends! I was lucky enough to get a digital ARC and I can’t wait to own my physical copy soon. Regardless of the season, I recommend y’all read this book right away! I’m on tenterhooks for Book 2!

[PagesOfRaleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in a subscription box, and I’m so glad I did! This isn’t just about falling in love …it’s about moving on, starting fresh, healing, and surrounding yourself with those you care for! Be prepared to laugh and to cry. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[nia · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Briefly I wonder if I should wrestle my wavy chocolate locks into a bun before I decide it's not worth the time".
skimmed through after a certain point because what. i used to write like this when i was FOURTEEN. and the plot execution is just. disappointing.

[Zelia Gonsalves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it and it’s a perfect Fall read with a sweet romance and a little mystery.

[Katie C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story of Lia and Rhett. Written by a local author, this book is full of fun, romance, heartbreak, mystery, and pumpkin spice lattes. I am excited to read more from Jessica!

[Kristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a sweet Hallmark movie in book form. The audio was narrated really well.

[Amanda Bryk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook had me ready for crisp fall days and pumpkin spice lattes.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was THE perfect book to get lost in during the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving week! With its atmospheric setting in a small Southern town, memorable characters, and a happy ending that may just bring a few tears to your eyes, this book is like a warm, pumpkin-spiced hug. Autumn lovers everywhere can rejoice - we finally have a romance book just for us!!

Amelia is going through a bit of a rough patch when she’s tasked with reviving her town’s fall festival. She’s still healing from an abusive relationship, and with the added stress from her hyper-critical boss, Amelia’s self-esteem has pretty much hit rock bottom. To make matters worse, Rhett, the man she’s been successfully avoiding for 10 years after an embarrassing incident in high school, shows up unexpectedly with a reporter looking to do a feature on the festival. Unbeknownst to Amelia, Rhett has pined for her for as long as he can remember. But in high school he didn’t have the courage to make things right between them, and then they went their separate ways.

Thanks to a pep talk from her indomitable Aunt Margie, Amelia decides to let bygones be bygones and accepts Rhett’s offer to help with the festival. But when an unsolved, decades-old mystery at the festival site comes to light, Amelia and Rhett must work together even more, and soon their chemistry together is undeniable. With so much on the line, will both Amelia and Rhett be able to open their hearts, repair the past, solve a mystery, and save the festival?

This is a book I could so easily see being made into a movie! It’s very descriptive and at times I swear I could smell the cinnamon wafting from the pages. I loved learning about all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes with planning a fall festival. But there is a lot of emotional depth in this book too. It tackles mental health issues like low self-esteem, anxiety, grief, and recovery from trauma, but everything is handled with a light touch so it never overwhelms the story.

The chemistry between Amelia and Rhett is swoon-worthy and their romance kept me on the edge of my seat! Forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes, and it was done so well, with just the right amount of tension and steaminess that leaves you wanting more! I loved Rhett and the lengths he goes to prove himself to Amelia.

This book has a little bit of everything that comes together in a beautiful ending with a focus on community, found family, and second chances. Although this heartfelt romance can be read year-round, it was the perfect way to wrap up my favorite season!

[themothershipp]

A Match Made in Autumn is a cutesy rom-com written in conversational style that will have huge appeal to people familiar with the setting of Ruston, Louisiana. The story has a mystery element, relationship conflicts, and a heavy dose of pumpkin spice with a sweet resolution.
The reader can skip over the sex scenes and not miss out on the story line.

[stevi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not typically a fiction or romance reader, but this book was so sweet, funny and romantic, with a bit of mystery that seriously brought a tear to my eye. I loved all the local Louisiana flair and can’t wait to read more from this author!

[Christine Folan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute and lighthearted story about leaving the past behind and becoming the people we dare to be. Cute banter, likeable characters and an adorable setting. Not typically my go-to genre but I found this story to be entertaining an a great distraction from everyday stress.