Laurie Ellis has never really put down roots, or felt at home. Given up for adoption at birth she bounced around the system until she aged out, since then she's had an unremarkable job, lived in a pokey New Jersey apartment, and never really made any real friends. However, an unexpected legacy allows her to fulfil her dream of opening a pet shop and bakery (for the animals) and she has chosen the small town of Starr's Fall, not least because her birth mother gave it as her home town. Maybe, just maybe, she might find some clues to her family.

Starr's Fall is off the beaten track, and like most small towns its main street is suffering from the pervasive influence of online shopping so the opening of a new store is a blessed relief, even if the concept of a pet bakery is a bit 'out there'.

Whilst most of the townsfolk are welcoming, if not encroaching, Laurie's nearest neighbour, who owns the bookshop opposite is downright rude and unfriendly. Joshua Reilly escaped Starr's Fall for New York and a life as a composer, until his father's death forced him to return and run the family bookshop. His fiancee broke up with him by text, he hates the small town knowing his business, and he's not overly fond of selling books.

This was super sweet and has Hallmark movie written all over it. Whilst there is some dramatic tension, overall it was too sweet for me. Others will love it.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

So having seen this all over my Facebook page I was excited to read it but I just couldn't get into this small town American book. The writing was okay bit the characters are forgettable.

Laurie and her dog Max move to Starr's Fall to open a pet store/bakery and to try to find her biological mother. Joshua is her neighbor and town grump. They turn out to be kindred spirits. The small town is nosy, but full of caring, loving people. She quickly makes friends, who become family. Through their experiences, she learns how to be a part of a family. She tracks down her bio mom who wants nothing to do with her. She realizes that the found family in Starr's Fall is more than she ever dreamed. Her love story with Joshua was a little bit of a slow burn, but very sweet.

I really enjoyed this book, it got into the story quickly, and whilst it had an emotional undertone to the story, it wasn’t over done. I found the characters very likeable, and the story moved at pace too.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series (hopefully!)

A Cozy read about a small New England town. It was what one would expect from a cozy read, but this one really didn’t go anywhere and I struggled to stay interested. Some nice moments. Great to get into the autumn mood.

If you’re searching for the perfect cozy read this fall, “Coming Home to Starr’s Fall” by Kate Hewitt might be just what you need. This charming story weaves together the warmth of small-town life with the intrigue of a woman on a mission to solve a personal mystery. As the first book in Hewitt’s newest series, it’s already got me eagerly awaiting the next installment.

From the moment I met Laurie Ellis, I felt a connection. Laurie, carrying the weight of a tragic past, bravely leaves the hustle and bustle of the big city for the quiet, half-empty town of Starr’s Fall. Her decision to set up a pet store and bakery—a bakery for dogs, no less—is a testament to her determination to start over, even as she wonders if she’s made the right choice. The town, with its shuttered storefronts and nostalgic charm, feels like the perfect place for Laurie to begin anew, and I loved watching her embrace this new chapter in her life.

The residents of Starr’s Fall quickly become central to the story, particularly Joshua Reilly, the handsome yet grumpy manager of the bookstore across the street. Joshua’s own backstory adds depth to his character, making the development of his friendship and eventual romance with Laurie all the more enjoyable to watch. Hewitt does a wonderful job of highlighting the pros and cons of small-town living, and the community aspect of the story is both heartwarming and realistic.

Laurie’s loyal dog, Max, adds an extra layer of charm to the story, getting up to a few antics of his own as he settles into their new life. His playful nature and obvious devotion to Laurie provide some lighter moments, balancing the more emotional aspects of the story.

One of my favorite parts of the book was observing Laurie as she renovates her business and home. Her hard work and creativity not only bring her closer to achieving her dreams but also give her a sense of well-being that is palpable. Laurie’s kindness and respect for others make her a character you can’t help but root for.

The book is being marketed as perfect for fans of the Gilmore Girls TV show, and while there are some parallels—Starr’s Fall does have a bit of that Stars Hollow vibe, and both Laurie and Lorelai share a fondness for surly men—I found the similarities to be just the right amount. As a fan of Gilmore Girls, these nods were a delightful addition without overshadowing the unique story Hewitt has crafted.

Final Thoughts:

“Coming Home to Starr’s Fall” is a delightful read that combines a cozy small-town setting, a sweet romance, and a compelling mystery. If you’re looking for a book that captures the essence of fall and leaves you with a warm feeling, this one is definitely worth picking up.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

I want to move to Starr Falls today and open a cozy shop of some kind along side Laurie & Joshua!
The story is warm and fuzzy, just like a favorite sweater. I loved the new beginnings, new friends, & the slow-burn romance and lots of endearing characters. Hewitt has a real talent for creating believable and relatable people. The plot was predictable in parts, but the overall atmosphere and the cozy town setting made up for it. It's the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy autumn 🍂 afternoon.
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Thank you Net Galley, Boldwood Books and Kate Hewitt for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a beautifully written, sweet, quick read. Laurie, our female MC moves to a small town called Starr's Fall (which I almost always read as Stars Hollow, due to my avid watching and rewatching of Gilmore Girls). She never had much of a family life growing up, or many friends, so she's in search of a community of friends. She also opens up to the possibility of a romantic relationship with the surly bookstore owner across the street.

I really enjoyed reading about Laurie's journey of finding herself, meeting new friends, and falling in love. This is a great read for anybody who loves the story of someone starting over in a new town, with very chaste romantic undertones. I look forward to reading the next book in this series!

This follows Laurie who decides to pack up and move to a small town called Starr’s Fall. She grew up in and out of foster homes and is looking for a new start, to try to start her own business, and potentially find her birth mom. Enter Starr’s Fall, a quaint small town, teeming with autumn leaves, quirky characters, and one very grumpy bookstore owner next door.

This felt very much like Stars Hollow - so if you’re a Gilmore girls fan looking for a cozy fall read, this might just be for you. It had a depth to the storyline and characters but was also sweet and fun.

🍁small town set in fall
🍂 grumpy MMC (think Luke Danes!)

A heart-warming and heart-breaking story. A sweet romance that keeps the tale from being a complete downer. A variety of characters and back stories. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

4 stars. A cute and sweet read that I read in one day!

Coming Home to Starr's Fall tells the story of Laurie, a former foster child. She has no relatives, no family, and not really any friends, but she moves to Starr's Fall with her dog Max and hopes to settle down in this small town. Laurie sets up a pet store and bakery.

In Starr's Fall, she meets many interesting people and is warmly welcomed. Only Joshua, who runs the antiquarian bookstore across the street, seems grumpy. But little by little Laurie gets Joshua to open up too.

The story made me feel good. What was a little lacking was perhaps Laurie and Joshua's love story - but on the other hand, it was perhaps not meant to be the center of everything, but rather the center of the story was Laurie and how she found her own place and her own found family.

The book had a Hallmark feel in a nice way. This book was full of small-town atmosphere, autumn, apple cider, pumpkins, friendship, love, and support from loved ones when life seems difficult. Definitely the perfect book for autumn, the author had nicely created the autumn atmosphere!

What to expect:
* Difficult past
* Clean romance
* Enemies to lovers
* Grumpy - sunshine
* Family drama
* Small town
* Point of view: dual 3rd person

"Coming Home to Starr's Fall" by Kate Hewitt is a perfect blend of Hallmark and Gilmore Girls! It makes me want all things Autumn. Great story for sure!

An easy ready to get you ready for fall season around the corner. Story of recovering from trauma and finding love where you least expect.

This story follows Laurie, who just moved to Starr’s Fall with her dog, Max, to open a pet store when she runs into her handsome yet grumpy neighbor, Joshua. While Laurie is new to town and eager to meet new people, she’s on the hunt for something deeper in the small town and along the way finds herself learning more about the elusive Joshua.

This was such a sweet story. The setting of Starr’s Fall had a Gilmore Girls Stars Hollow vibe while the characters were reminiscent of a Nicholas Sparks novel. This was a quick and comforting read and a great fall romance choice for my no spice girlies.

I received this ARC from NetGalley. Laurie moves to a small town in Connecticut to start her own pet store and bakery. Her ulterior motive for moving to this small town is to find out more about her biological mother. This was pitched as someone who enjoys Gilmore girls and that is the exact audience for this book. I couldn’t get enough of this story and Starr’s Fall. This was a cozy fall book and I loved every minute of it!

So cute! I had a lot of fun reading this. I love books that have a cool weather vibe to them, that make me want to take a slow walk in crispy cool air with a warm coffee. It was a great palate cleanser after a few thrillers. It was lighthearted, but had great depth. This kicks off my fall reading 🍂

It had everything I love in fall-themed sweet romances. I especially loved the found family aspect and Laurie’s sweet little dog, Max 🐾

Laurie Ellis has been pushed around the foster system pretty much her entire life. When one of the past foster mom’s leaves her a small inheritance she takes that and moves to Starr’s Fall to see if she can locate her birth l

Joshua Riley has grown up Starr’s Fall having returned from New York City three years ago. He lives as the town.”grinch” completely shutting everybody out.

Laurie is looking to be accepted , find her family, and just belong.
Joshua wants to forget everybody and everyone, yet somehow these two are drawn to each other!

This is a great start to a wonderful new series and I cannot wait to return to Starr’s Fall to meet new people and catch up with the ones we have already met!

What a perfect fall read! This cozy story has everything a romance book needs- found family, healing from past trauma, and grumpy sunshine romance. I loved getting to experience Laurie and Joshua’s love story, starting as neighbors and developing into a heartwarming connection. Would highly recommend reading this book!

A comfy, cosy story about new beginnings, friendships and love. Laurie comes to Starr’s Fall to open a pet and bakery shop and to unravel the mystery surrounding her birth mother. A story full of optimism and eventually true love.

This was such a cute heartfelt story about new beginnings, grief and change. I couldn’t put this book down. I feel in love with Joshua’s Antiquarian bookshop and when he decided to make a change I was so excited it felt l was going to be right there with him making that change and all Laurie’s idea seemed wonderful I wanted to be part of it. I also loved Laurie’s idea of a pet shop and bakery and it wasn’t hard picturing it all!
I loved that it was in the Autumn season and we had a peak to the small town festival, Laurie’s description of the beautiful gold and scarlet leaves in autumn and the magic of a small town.

Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys cozy reads and small town romance.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book