Goodreads says, "Ellis has a lot of expectations for her senior year, but moving from Manhattan to Bramble Falls, Connecticut is not one of them. Yet in the wake of her parents' separation, that's exactly where she and her mother are headed.
Bramble Falls might be charming, but it's also full of distractions. Like local barista Cooper Barnett, Ellis's one-time best friend—and first kiss—who has not only majorly glowed up but wants nothing to do with Ellis.
Then there's the Falling Leaves Festival, a month-long tourist attraction run by Ellis's aunt—celebrating everything autumn. The festival seems nice and all, but Ellis doesn't have time to be roped into her aunt's enthusiastic planning. Dragged to each event, she can't stop bumping into Cooper, the one person she's hoping to avoid.
But the longer she stays in Bramble Falls, the harder it is to pretend she's not falling for this town and the people in it. As her return to Manhattan gets pushed further and further out, Ellis is forced to confront exactly what she wants for her future—and what that means for her present."
Ellis seems to have it all figured out. She studies nonstop, earns excellent grades, and has a plan to excel in a journalism internship that her media executive father arranged for her. She is excited to embrace all the opportunities that New York City has to offer. However, her world comes crashing down when her parents announce their separation and her mother decides to move back to Bramble Falls, a small town in Connecticut where her mother's sister lives. Although Ellis has visited Bramble Falls every summer and enjoys spending time with her cousin Sloane and her friends, she is not keen on making a long-term move there. She hopes this situation is just temporary. As Ellis reacquaints herself with small-town life, she unexpectedly runs into Cooper, her former friend and first kiss, who is now behaving coldly toward her. She has no idea why. Despite her initial discomfort, Ellis finds herself helping to prepare for the town's Falling Leaves Festival and begins to wonder how long she will be stuck in Bramble Falls. Maybe life there isn't as bad as she thought. Falling Like Leaves is a smart YA novel by Misty Wilson, filled with autumnal charm, making it the perfect romantic comedy to cozy up with this season.
Wilson did an excellent job of bringing Ellis to life, illustrating her internal struggles and the conflicting desires that many teenagers face. Many teens can relate to Ellis in Falling Like Leaves as she navigates her uncertainties about what she truly wants in her life. Is she pursuing journalism because her father has pushed her in that direction, or is she drawn to something else, like her passion for designing clothes? During her time in Bramble Falls, Ellis can explore different aspects of herself and consider various options, but she finds it challenging to let go of her life in the city. However, once she reconnects with Cooper and becomes more acclimated to the town, she begins to realize that life there isn't so bad after all. She also learns to see her parents as just people who are dealing with their own imperfections and challenges. As you can see, this is a young adult novel filled with thoughtful situations that teens can easily relate to.
But it isn't all seriousness, Wilson brings all the autumnal romance, and I was here for it. There are town festivals, apple orchards, cafes, fall treats, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, fall dances, and so much more. I adored the setting as it was reminiscent of Stars Hollow and filled with so much charm!
Falling Like Leaves is the type of book that reminds me why I still read YA. I really enjoyed it and plan on continuing with the series. Let me know in the comments if this book is on your fall TBR list.
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