If things are a bit ordinary in your world and you’d like to read about warm, kind people enjoying Autumn (Fall) with a Harvest Festival, a pumpkin growing competition, home baking and smalltown sparkle, then A Fall to Remember is a great choice. There is no friction, as the most awful character has a redemption arc, the lovers fall for each other, the business thrives and it’s never too late to fall in love. 

Yes, I’m a bit cynical about this very cheesy dose of wish fulfilment, but there was plenty of momentum for me to read to the end. I imagine this is what a Hallmark movie is like (I don’t know as I’ve never seen one), with all the light and hardly any shadow.

Miranda successfully runs the family grocery/café store, alongside her son Pete and his cousin Elise. Miranda is diligent and friendly, if a little clumsy. When some of her terrible holiday photos go viral, she is approached by an online travel company who want to leverage up her popularity. Colleagues Jim and Shelby come to town for the weekend with very different agendas. Shelby has an unfortunate (and maybe irrelevant) back story, while Jim is actually as nice as he seems. The clock starts ticking as Shelby and Jim create content around the Half Moon Bay annual Harvest Festival with Jim teaming up with Miranda and Shelby working with Pete. It’s charming and funny as Jim does all the right things (more or less), and Shelby is so focused on an upcoming promotion that she loses control of her plans with Pete.

One thing that makes this predictable romance interesting is the four points of view. Main characters Miranda and Jim have alternating PoVs and in between are those of Pete and Shelby. These four distinct viewpoints flesh out the detail of their clashing perspectives and the charming township of Half Moon Bay. There are backstory threads running through the text, especially relating to Pete and Shelby and these are left unresolved. The ending felt sudden, but perhaps there is another book to follow about these two? 

I just wish there was more conflict – and the stakes were a bit higher. That said, this is a charming read and the autumn vibes are terrific. 

Laura Black is a romance editor, reader and reviewer based in Queensland, Australia. You can visit me on Instagram @laura_black_reads