Tag: juliana smith

ALC Book Review: Fall Into Me (Willow Creek) by Juliana Smith

GoodeyReads1 Comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance Novella
Length: 3 hours
Author: Juliana Smith
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Release Date: September 22nd, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Brimming with Southern charm, Juliana Smith is back with a new adult novella in the same world as her Willow Creek series. When Oak Ridge’s biggest wedding of the year puts Dakota and Elliot face-to-face with their exes—who just happen to be dating each other—the solution is fake date their way through the weekend.

Thank you Sourcebooks for the gifted ALC.

GOOD NOVELLA!

After enjoying Smith’s young adult novel in Willow Creek I jumped at the chance to try out this novella. It is adult!! Just going to declare that again in case you missed it. It’s closed door but there is some light innuendo and overall adult vibe to the story.

I LOVED the duet narration. Gosh it’s just the best way to listen to a book. Both narrators did a fantastic job and it was easy to lock into this romance.

The fake dating to get back at exes isn’t always my favorite because I feel like the exes play too much into the story (and that did happen here to a degree) but I loved all of the moments that Dakota and Elliot had together. There’s a good amount of wedding shenanigans alongside times where they got to be by themselves. I loved the contrasting personalities and the banter. Elliot is such a cinnamon roll and I loved his nature. And I loved that SHE was the professional bull rider.

Things move quickly but without feeling like it’s insta-love. I thought the connection came across genuine and I would love to see these two pop up in a future Willow Creek book to see how they are doing.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance Novella
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses; light innuendo

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC/ALC Book Review: Spur of the Moment (Willow Creek #1) by Juliana Smith

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Juliana Smith
Publisher: Bloom Books
Release Date: May 5th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This beautiful edition of Spur of the Moment will include spot gloss and a gorgeous inside cover design.

“This might just be my favorite summer yet at Willow Creek. Lottie doesn’t know it, but I’m determined to make it her favorite too.”

Seventeen-year-old Lottie Turner was born to ride bulls.

Rodeos, big dreams, dusty boots—bull-riding was her whole life. Until the accident. Until the diagnosis that changed epilepsy. Now her doctor and her family have grounded her for good. No bulls. No danger. No freedom.

Then Walker—her former best friend, first crush, and the boy who once knew every piece of her—returns to town for the summer. Walker’s supposed to be chasing stars with NASA, not mucking stalls, even if he really does want dirt, sweat, and saddles. He wants Lottie Turner and all of her wildness.

When Lottie makes a summer bucket list to find herself again, Walker’s the first to volunteer to do it with her. One item at a time, they tumble back into laughter, heat, and everything they left unsaid.

But as the sparks between them reignite, Lottie has to face the hardest truth of some risks can break you, but others are worth taking anyway.

Thank you Bloom Books for the gifted ARC and audiobook.

ADORABLE.

Alright Juliana Smith officially has my attention. I really liked this book and can’t wait to see what couple is next at Willow Creek! I loved the epilepsy rep and all of the conversations surrounding it. The loss of things you can no longer do, the worry for yourself, the worry from your loved ones, and so much more. It made the book have a real rawness to the emotions and journey a new diagnosis can take.

I loved seeing Lottie push, learn, and grow. Two things can be true, you can be upset and what’s happening and be hopeful for new opportunities on the horizon. I loved where she ended up and the lightness brought in.

The romance with Walker was filled with just the right amount of tension. I loved having his perspective too and seeing where he was coming from on the decisions he had to make as well. I thought Walker and Lottie were a beautifully match pair and the chemistry between them sang towards that young love in the summertime vibe.

🎧 The audiobook is duet narration and is wonderful! Absolutely loved it and recommend that format for a great read.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low, infrequent
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: epilepsy (mentions of seizures and one on page), distant parents, infidelity (FMC’s Dad)

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph