Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
City girl meets small-town boy in sweet fall-themed romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In FALLING LIKE LEAVES, Ellis is forced to move from New York City to the small town of Bramble Falls when her parents decide to separate during her senior year of high school. At first, Ellis is devastated at what the move means to her chances of getting into Columbia. But after reconnecting with Cooper, a boy she met in middle school during a summer spent in Bramble Falls, Ellis wonders if the small town might hold more potential than she first gave it credit for. As she helps her aunt plan autumn events for the town's seasonal celebrations, Ellis finds herself thrown together with Cooper time and again. As she makes friends and relaxes into the small town pace, Ellis starts to feel happier than she can remember. But with New York and Columbia calling, can she figure out a way to merge the big city girl with a small-town life?
Is It Any Good?
Sweet and full of autumn charm, this light romance is a fun, seasonal read. Falling Like Leaves leans into the small-town fall romance genre, with so many mentions of pumpkins, hay bales, and spiced lattes that you'll be running for your sweater, no matter the temperature. But this story is more than just a romance. Ellis's journey as she navigates her parents' separation and her own plans for college makes this more of a coming-of-age tale, with a heaping of clean romance on the side. What really makes this story is the kindness of the characters. Sure, there's drama, but the teenagers are inclusive, communicative, and heartfelt. And while this may not be entirely realistic, it's certainly enjoyable. Also less than realistic is the number of autumnal events the town of Bramble Falls throws each year. While there might be a few too many Taylor Swift references for some, most teens who enjoy clean romance, seasonal reads, and stories with strong female leads are sure to enjoy this light read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Ellis and Cooper's communication in Falling Like Leaves. How would their relationship be different if they hadn't worked so hard to be clear about their feelings and their fears?
Ellis is determined to make her father proud by following in his footsteps. Do you think this is common for High School seniors?
The town of Bramble Falls has a lot of Autumn events. How realistic do you think this is? Does your community celebrate the holiday in this manner? What do you think it adds to the story?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories , Friendship , STEM ( Nature )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Integrity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Margaret K. McElderry
- Publication date : September 2, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 25, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate