This was my first time reading anything by this author, and unfortunately, it was such a disappointing experience. I absolutely loved the cover and had high hopes going into this one, especially since I’ve seen this book everywhere and heard so many rave reviews. I really wanted to love it, but sadly, this was NOT the story for me.
For a young adult romance, I was disappointed by how much profanity was included, especially the use of several f-bombs. I personally prefer cleaner language in YA fiction, so that was a big negative for me. On the positive side, I was happy that there was no spice or explicit sexual content.
The book also includes a nonbinary character who uses they/them pronouns. Personally, I felt this character’s inclusion wasn’t developed in a meaningful way or connected to the larger story. It came across as forced rather than an organic part of the narrative. I would have preferred more attention to developing the characters and their roles in the story instead of including details that didn’t seem to serve the plot.
My biggest complaint, however, was the main female character, Ellis. Oh my goodness, she was SO frustrating! I really struggled with her throughout the entire book. She constantly rubbed me the wrong way, and by the end, I honestly didn’t even care what happened to her. That’s never a good sign when you’re reading a romance and are supposed to be rooting for the main character.
For someone who was supposed to be intelligent, Ellis had very little self-awareness. She seemed completely oblivious to what was happening around her and how her actions affected other people. I found her incredibly selfish and self-centered, and it often felt like she only cared about herself and what she wanted. She came across as childish and immature, even for a teenager in her later years of high school.
To be fair, she did experience some character growth toward the end, but unfortunately, it was too little, too late for me. By that point, I was already so frustrated with her that her development didn’t have much of an impact. I really wish the author had started showing that growth earlier in the story. Maybe then I would have felt more connected to Ellis and actually cared about her journey.
As for the romance, it was cute enough, but there was nothing particularly special or memorable about it. Cooper was a genuinely sweet guy, and honestly, I thought he deserved better than Ellis! I liked him much more than I liked her, but even he wasn’t enough to save the romance for me.
Unfortunately, none of the characters really stood out. They all felt rather bland and one-dimensional, and I never developed a strong connection with any of them. The dialogue also didn’t help. Some of the conversations were incredibly cheesy and cringey, and I found myself rolling my eyes more than once. I thought the writing could have benefited from some additional polishing and editing to make the dialogue feel more natural and the characters more believable.
Overall, the story just felt generic and forgettable. There wasn’t anything particularly unique about the romance or the plot that made it stand out from the many other YA contemporary romances I’ve read.
However, I will give this book credit for one thing: the autumn atmosphere!
If there’s one area where this story delivered, it was the seasonal vibes. I absolutely loved all the cozy fall activities sprinkled throughout the book. There was apple picking, pumpkin carving, a homecoming football game, a glow-in-the-dark game of Ghost in the Graveyard, and even a cornfield maze. It had so many of the classic autumn activities that I love reading about this time of year.
I also enjoyed the charming small-town setting and some of the side characters. Those elements gave the story a cozy, nostalgic feeling that I really appreciated. I just wish the characters and romance had been as enjoyable as the fall atmosphere because this had the potential to be such a fun seasonal read.
I know there’s a companion sequel that follows Ellis’s cousin, Sloane, and takes place around Christmas. I’m actually a little curious about that one because I liked Sloane much more than Ellis. She seemed like a more interesting and likable character, so I may give the author another chance and pick up her story. Hopefully, I’ll have better luck with that one.
Overall, this was a two-star read for me, and unfortunately, I wouldn’t personally recommend it. Between the frustrating main character, forgettable romance, cringey dialogue, and writing that didn’t quite work for me, there were just too many things I didn’t enjoy. The wonderful autumn atmosphere was easily the best part of the book, but it wasn’t enough to make up for everything else.
I’ve read much better YA autumn romances, and I think there are plenty of other books out there that deliver both the cozy seasonal vibes AND a romance with characters you can actually root for.
That being said, I know this book has received a lot of love from other readers, so clearly it has found its audience. If the premise sounds interesting to you, it may be worth giving it a chance. It just wasn’t my cup of tea, and I was really disappointed that a book I was so excited to read ended up falling so flat.
