Ellie Lawson’s life takes a nosedive when she gets dumped by her boyfriend and fired from her job all in one day. With nowhere else to turn, she heads back to her parents’ charming inn nestled in a Long Island apple orchard, hoping for some quiet recovery time. Instead, she finds Aiden, the infuriating (and handsome) son of the orchard owners, already occupying her space. When their parents team them up to plan the Harvest Festival, sparks fly in more ways than one, and suddenly the future of the orchard and their budding romance are both on the line.

This book wasn’t bad. It’s definitely a cozy, fall-feel romance perfect for autumn vibes. I just felt a little disconnected from the characters and really wished we had Aiden’s POV to balance things out. The romance happened super-fast for me (maybe just a me problem), and while the spice level was medium, the chemistry didn’t feel fully developed. I personally preferred The Pumpkin Spice Café, but I’d still recommend this one for anyone looking for a light, seasonal romance.

The pacing was a bit uneven at under 300 pages, it somehow felt longer than it needed to, but it’s still a sweet story. Plus, this is the first in a series, and I’d definitely pick up the next one, especially if Charlotte or Ellie’s best friend get their own books. A cute 3-star fall read!

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn comes out September 9th. Huge thanks to Avon Books for my copy in return for my honest review. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books or on Tiktok @speakingof.books