ARC/ALC Book Review: Falling Like Leaves (Bramble Falls #1) by Misty Wilson

September 2, 2025August 22, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Misty Wilson
Publisher: Simon Teen
Release Date: September 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Gilmore Girls meets Jenny Han in this autumnal teen rom-com about a city girl stuck in a quaint small town who must confront her future and her old flame while the town prepares for an annual fall festival.

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.

Thank you to Simon Teen for the gifted eARC and Simon Audio for the audiobook.

JUST RIGHT.

I haven’t read a young adult contemporary romance in a hot minute because I often feel like I’ve just aged out of enjoying these stories but then I get sucked in by a super cute cover that screams FALL and I had to read it. And I genuinely enjoyed it!!

I liked that this was a true YA book. The language was low and it stayed at kisses only. And as I mentioned earlier, there were so many fall things and I loved them all. The small town atmosphere surrounded by apple picking, horse carriages, pumpkins and more, set such a beautiful scene. I could not get enough.

The romance was great. Relatable and full of growth and learning after mistakes. Ellis has been sitting in a blind spot for so long it took her a bit to come to terms about the box she’d been sitting in. I appreciated her willingness to apologize and try to do better next time attitude. It gave Ellis a sense of realism that I think is what’s needed for a younger audience too. Cooper was just super cute too which made their interactions very endearing.

I would absolutely read another book from Misty Wilson.

Overall audience notes:

Young adult contemporary romance
Language: mild
Romance: kisses
Violence: none
Content warnings: parents who are separating (with infidelity as part of the reason)

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Book Review: Not You Again by Ingrid Pierce

September 1, 2025August 7, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Ingrid Pierce
Publisher: Alcove Press
Release Date: July 9th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Wedding gown designer Andie Dresser is hanging on by a thread. Gaining a following on TikTok for her one-of-a-kind fairytale gowns has earned her a spot at Atlanta’s Fashion Week, but the time and upfront costs to design a full bridal line have stretched her to her limit. When her best friend suggests she sign up for a reality show with a potential $100,000 prize, she realizes the money could allow her to hire some desperately needed help. All she needs to do is marry a stranger—sight unseen—and opt for divorce at the end of filming. No big deal, right?

Architect Kit Watson just returned to Atlanta to help his loving but stubborn mother through a health crisis. However, she’ll only accept his help if he agrees to settle down, insisting he sign up for the matchmaking reality show that’s filming in the area. Willing to do anything for his mom, he finds himself at the altar—on camera—staring at Andie, the woman he abruptly left without explanation seven years ago.

In the blink of an eye, Kit and Andie tie the knot on TV for the world to see. Now, they must live together for eight weeks with cameras following their every move. But as the newlyweds reconnect and sift through their past, old feelings females spark…and old grudges cast a shadow over their “marriage”. With decision day looming, Andie must decide if forgiving Kit for his mistakes—past and present—is worth more than her dreams of success.

MOST FRUSTRATING MMC.

I rarely have any big issues with the MMC/love interest in a romance book. But Kit became increasingly more frustrating as the pages went on and I wanted to shake some sense into him so badly. The third act had me banging my head against a wall and I honestly felt bad for Andie having to jump through so many hoops for him. How are we letting history repeat itself???

I loved the plot set up though. As someone who used to watch Married at First Sight, I thought this was a fun play on that show and I liked that it was a second chance romance without flashback chapters too.

Things started off well, but ultimately fell a part. The spice felt kind of forced too. I don’t know that I’ll pick up another book by this author.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 3+ open door
Content Warnings: loss of a parent (recounted), a mother with breast cancer

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2025

August 31, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON. But also, here are all the books I read in August! I’m still on track to hit 400, just need to stay focused.

[ARC/ALC] For the Record by Emma Lord
[ARC] The Legacy of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #5) by Nicole Platania
The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam (Hart and Mercy #3) by Megan Bannen
In the Veins of Drowning (The Siren Mage #1) by Kalie Cassidy
The Americana Playbook by Cathryn Carter
[Novella] Devotion of the Heart by Nichole Van
Problematic Summer Romance (Not in Love #2) by Ali Hazelwood
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
[ARC] You & Me, For Real by Hayley Elliot
[ARC] A Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores #3.5) by Julie Klassen
The Jasad Crown (The Scorched Throne #2) by Sara Hashem
Isles of the Emberdark (Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson
A Promise So Bold and Broken (Compelling Fates Saga #2) by Sophia St. Germain
Glorious Rivals (The Grandest Game #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
A Summer Without You by Caitlin Moss
Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #3) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Between These Broken Hearts (These Hollow Vows #4) by Lexi Ryan
Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer
Deadwood (Secrets of the Serpentine #1) by Karley Brenna
Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2) by Olivia Rose Darling
A Beguiled Gentleman (The Bradley Brothers #1) by Audra Wells
Immortal Consequences (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #1) by I.V. Marie
One More Made Up Love Song (Midnight Rush #2) by Jenny Proctor
[ARC/ALC] Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson
[ARC/ALC] If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry
The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold (Blonde Identity #2) by Ally Carter
[ARC] Darkness Births the Stars by Sarah Lee Wohn
[ARC/ALC] Wild Reverence (Letters of Enchantment #0) by Rebecca Ross
[ARC] Stuck With You (Cal’s Garage #1) by Stacy Williams
The Dragon Wakes with Thunder (The Night Ends with Fire #2) by K.X. Song
Love is a War Song by Danica Nava
A Love Most Fatal (Morelli Family #1) by Kath Richards
[Novella] A Churn in the Virtual Society (Into the Churn #3.5) by Hayley Reese Chow
[ARC] What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller

ARC Book Review: One More Made Up Love Song (Midnight Rush #2) by Jenny Proctor

August 31, 2025August 22, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 341 pages
Author: Jenny Proctor
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 29th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Rule #1: Do not fall in love with your very famous boss. Rule #2: See Rule #1.

As the personal assistant of rockstar Freddie Ridgefield, Ivy Conway knows most women would love to have her job. It definitely has its perks. She gets to travel, the pay is great, and she’s among the first to hear Freddie’s new music.

The only problem? When she got the job, Ivy promised herself she would never fall in love with her boss. And it’s taking everything in her to stay true to her word.

Then Freddie kisses Ivy—an impulsive move to save himself from a little bit of bad press—and everything changes. Now, the whole world thinks they’re in love.

Even more Ivy could swear Freddie felt the same fireworks she did when he pressed his lips to hers.

What starts as an accidental publicity stunt quickly turns into something more, but fame makes everything more complicated. As Freddie’s spotlight grows to include her—and her family—Ivy starts to wonder if the life Freddie can offer her is worth the life she’ll give up. And how she’ll ever survive without him if it isn’t.

One More Made Up Love Song is a fake-dating rockstar romance with all the crackling chemistry and tension you want in a closed-door romcom. Perfect for fans of romance with a little less heat.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

MY NEWEST OBESSION.

GOSH I LOVED IT SO MUCH. This was exactly what friends to lovers, boss x assistant trope romance that I WAAAAAANT. The subtle moments about took me out because it was beautifully nuanced and left this sense of longing and yearning that I CRAVE. CRAVE Y’ALL. Bring back these kind of romances and I will be a happy camper forever.

I can’t even begin to list all of the scenes I loved. The pining was intense and I could not get enough of the glances and touches and the KISSES THAT LIT MY KINDLE ON FIRE.

And I really appreciated the strong friendships for both Freddie and Ivy. There’s something magical about the side characters adding genuine connection to the story that makes it even better. One of my new favorites from Jenny Proctor.

Overall audience notes: