This was a fun weekend read that will leave you smiling and wondering if you could move to Harvest Hollow! Do not be discouraged if you see this is one book in a multi-author series. Each book is part of the shared town Harvest Hollow, but each book can easily be read as a stand alone.

As with everything that this author has written, this book is filled with laugh out loud, flirty banter, a real story that even with all the laughs and giggles reminds you about why love is so important and characters that will just steal your heart. I loved how this book put Lucas front and center and we got to watch him fall for Jolie while being the perfect gentleman and role model for Brooklyn. Exploring grief is always hard as a person, to get that down on paper as both balanced and nuanced without becoming maudlin takes restraint. That is something that this book has. There is just enough tension to drive the story, but not so much that it pulls the reader away from the human comedy that is life.

I loved this book and the slow burn that Jolie and Lucas had and the way that both were so attuned to what Brooklyn needed and felt was simply touching. This is a romantic comedy but one that explores what it means to be friends as well as lovers, especially when that love is shared between a family and another person.

I read this book as an ARC from NetGalley and this review and opinions are my own.

This book was adorable! I have loved Melanie Jacobson’s books, and this one was no exception. This Sweater Weather series is a ton of fun!
I loved Jolie’s character from the beginning. I feel like she was a good mix of prickly while still having a really sweet heart. She had been burned repeatedly in the past, but I didn’t feel like she was a jerk. Plus, it was very satisfying to see her rub her success in some people’s faces. I appreciated too how she and Lucas didn’t have constant miscommunications. While there were some unresolved issues, they worked through them and saw the people they were now instead of who they were in high school.
I loved Lucas from the beginning! He was such a sweetheart, and I liked how he fought for what he believed was right. He wasn’t willing to bend when the powerful people in the town tried to push him around. And his relationship with his niece, Brooklyn, was adorable! I really liked how Jolie and Brooklyn bonded so well together. I thought that Brooklyn’s character was really well done. She wasn’t too angsty, but she also had a ton of emotions as a young girl navigating the teenage years.
This was such a cute read! It had some mystery hints to it which resolved very nicely, but I don’t feel like it overwhelmed the main story of Lucas and Jolie. I would definitely recommend this closed door, cozy, fall read!


I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

Loved this small town romance. It had a great flow and feel. I thought it would be a little too Hallmark -y for me but it was great! This is a sweet clean romance with no religion.

The fall back plan was actually the first book that I read in the series because I got this from Netgalley the day before it came out. It was a cute read and I stayed engaged the entire time I read it.

It was definitely giving off fall vibes. This book was a four star rating, definitely can't wait for the others.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read and review.

This was a fun, sweet, slow burn romance. Jolie is a great character. I really liked Lucas too. There were so many great scenes and the humor is perfect. I got a sense of nostalgia and this small town community felt like it's own character.

This is a series written by different authors in one town in the fall, and I like it so far, this one had good leads and surrounding stories.

Quite an enjoyable read! The storyline was fun, the characters were likable, the chapters were short! All good things!

I'd recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick, cozy read with small town vibes. The Fall Back Plan is a cute albeit cheesy fall romance. The second book in the Sweater Weather series offers some mystery and romance with simple characters and a low-stakes plot. 

Review is live on goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/196722584

I'll also be posting the book as apart of my fall recommendation reels on isntagram on September 13, 2023. Post will go live between 9AM and 10AM CST.

A fun and adorable romantic comedy (with no explicit scenes). Super cute read, perfect for fall! I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series (Sweater Weather).

This series is so fun. I love series that take place with different characters in the same small town. This one is different because each book is by a different author. The story was a clean romance with a good storyline and characters. It was a fantastic fall read.

This was a sweet rom com. It is a clean romance novel. Maybe to clean , for my teast. This book has a hallmark/fall/ mystery vibes.

Cute. 3 stars.
Thsnks for this arc

The Fall Back Plan
Written By Melanie Jacobson
Publisher Four Petal Press
Release Date September 07, 2023

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Pace: 5/5
Romance Level: 3/5
Overall Enjoyment: 4/5


Ah, just the book I needed to let me know that cooler weather is coming. This is the second book in a series of books written by different authors.
Jolie McGraw has moved back to her hometown with a plan and a mission. She is opening her own bar and after her history in the town, she is going to prove that she can make it work. The bars name is the Tequila Mockingbird. Once there however, she learns that the high school bully, Lucius Cole, is now the towns Sheriff. Jolie cannot believe that the one time tormenter could now be an upstanding citizen. Hey, maybe he has changed…
Once she laid her eyes on him she realized he had and for the better obviously. Yet the two do not do much more than banter back and forth. There does not really seem to be much substance at all but the author really wants to push their relationship on the reader. I was not really impressed with the lack of dialogue.
The suspense of the story was really somewhat disappointing As for the romance it was one that seemed forced but as enemies to friends to lovers go, I guess it works in this situation.
The characters were somewhat likable and genuine but again it felt like the reader was not given much substance to enjoy the experience. I did really enjoy Julie’s character and I rooted for her throughout to have what she wanted. The author does a great job of building up the story but as I said before does add a little too much fluff in between. The chapters were perfect lengths and changed very fluidly.

Overall I gave this 3.8 stars rounded to 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Oh how adorable was this book?! I need to read this whole series now, and I can’t wait! If you’re looking for a cute, sweet, and romantic quick read, pick this one up!

I had such high hopes, it was really off to a strong start. But the doll thing was a little weird and having it turn out to be who it was was disappointing. Way too sweet, it was unrealistic.

This book has anything and everything I wanted it to. It's gonna be put into my 'favorite' shelf.

- Well developed characters. I could feel their emotions and connect to them.
- Lots of love to Brooklyn, but it would have been better to know about her parents more.
- I have to say I couldn't solve the mystery but still it felt a little lame. I know it was peaceful and I love that but my detective mind wanted something more interesting to unfold :)
- And my most favorite part was the last chapter and the epilogue. The bar scene in the last chapter has my whole heart. And the epilogue too. I was grinning like an idiot the whole time reading those 2 😂

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me a free eARC of the book in exchange of an honest review.

3 stars

Although I couldn't connect with the main characters and the slow burn was too slow for me, I enjoyed the story overall.
I was expecting fall vibes, but besides that, it was set during the season; the story didn't really have any.
I'm interested in reading more from this author because I liked her style, so I'll definitely read the other book(s?) in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute-ish thriller/suspense romance? Sort of? It was lacking in the tension and actual feelings for me, and it ended up feeling more like a suspenseful fiction book that was trying to be a romance book, but it was missing all the good parts that make romance books romantic. Like, the characters kind of bantered, but then they avoided each other. They didn't really talk. All of the dialogue felt like it had an agenda? I hope this is making sense. The big reveal from the suspenseful storyline was very disappointing. There were mean characters but I felt like the author had direct experience with that type of bullying but it didn't really lead anywhere, and when the main character called out her high school bully, it didn't really feel good? Like I didn't see it as a victory, but rather a professional business woman who let her emotions get the best of her in her place of business, without any build-up? The one and only time we saw the bully interact with the main character was when the MC instigated her "take down." I needed to see the mean girl be mean, and for the MC to *FINALLY* stand up for herself...

I will keep reading the Sweater Weather series because I like the concept and I love the town. I wish there was more overlap from the characters in other books though! I really wanted to like the uncle/niece storyline, but the characters were kind of one dimensional to me.

It's another Sweater Weather book!!! Woot woot!!! I might be just a tad excited about these ones! Several different authors have come together to each write a book set in the fall. And I've read books by most of the authors and love their works! I've read the first book and this one (the second book) and have really enjoyed them both.

Jolie McGraw and Lucas Cole have definitely both grown up and changed from their past selves. They haven't seen each other in years and when Lucas realizes that Jolie is the new owner of the local bar and is the one changing up the look by renovating it (like big time renovations and decor change) and stirring up frustration with the locals, he is pretty surprised!

Oh, I loved these two! That Lucas Cole sure is a sweet talker (not in a womanizer way, just a good guy/gentleman who has lost his heart to a woman)! And boy do they get started off on the right foot and the wrong foot! Hahaha! You'll have to read to understand! Let's just say that the sparks are flying and Jolie sure knows how to take care of herself!

I loved the sweeter side of this story where we learn more about Jolie and Lucas' pasts and their struggles and heartaches. What shaped them into who they are now and just all the good stuff that touches your heart and makes you connect with these characters! And add in a sweet 10 year old girl, who is Lucas' niece who needs some feminine help and you're going to love all the heartwarming moments!

Plus the dolls. Can't forget about the dolls. There's a bit of a mystery there. And I'm going to leave it a mystery for you. Just read it and figure it out!

And don't forgot to read it and enjoy all the banter and chemistry and sweet words between Jolie and Lucas! Very happy and satisfying fall read! Now I'm going to patiently wait for book #3 in this series!!!

Content: Clean. The book does have several scenes that take place in a bar and alcohol is mentioned. But it is very well addressed and there is talk about not drinking excessively as well as talk about Jolie's father being a drunk and the impact that had on her life. Even with some of the topics discussed in the book, the author did a great job being sensitive and keeping it clean.

I received a copy from the publisher, Four Petal Press, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Thank you NetGalley for sending this ARC. I’ve decided on 3.75 stars rounded to 4 since we can’t do partial stars.
This is the 2nd book released in the Sweater Weather author collab. I thought this book was cute. Jolie moves back to her hometown angry, but grows during her journey of opening her bar, realizing she had more support in this town than she once believed. She learns that her high school bully, Lucas, is now the hot sheriff in town, and he has grown into a caring man that may just help her heart to heal.
What made me lower my 4 star rating to 3.75 is what the characters sometimes said. A few lines just felt too immature for who was staying them. For example, the grown sheriff calling someone a turd bucket in his head. Sometimes I didn’t connect with Jolie, but we have very different backgrounds so I can’t really be upset with how she handled some situations compared to how I would have.
I did love how sweet and thoughtful Lucas was, and Jolie was very observant and intuitive, especially when it came to Brooklyn (Lucas’ niece).
All in all, it was a fun quick read and I can’t wait to read the rest in the Sweater Weather series.

The Fall Back Plan is the 2nd book in a multi-author series called Sweater Weather. Jolie and Lucas hated each other in high school. He was a bad boy and a jerk and she was the valedictorian. Little did they know that their lives at home were so similar. Flash forward to now, Jolie is back after going to Duke and moving to the big city, and is now the proud owner of the local bar which she is naming the Tequila Mockingbird. She plans on “giving back to the community” for everything she went through as a child and teen. Lucas has turned his life around and is now the town sheriff. When these two are thrown together again, sparks fly, and they both try to push down their feelings for as long as they can.

I loved that this was so much more than a romance novel. It explored themes of growing up in poverty, alcoholism, abuse, but also of forgiveness, acceptance, and letting go. I loved reading as Jolie faced people from her past and grew stronger with each experience, and how she handled her anxiety. I also loved the moments we get of Lucas being a dad to Brooklyn and trying his best to be the dad he didn’t have for her. Jolie and Lucas were able to conquer their past and move forward as friends first and then admit their love for each in the end! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.