The 8 Best New Fall Romance Books, According to Goodreads Readers
From cozy small-town romances to witchy love stories, these novels are guaranteed to excite!
Key Takeaways
- Goodreads readers recommend these eight new rom-coms for your fall reading list.
- These cozy romances feature witches, small towns, second chances and plenty of swoon.
- From ‘Something About September’to ‘Love Felt Like This,’ there’s a fall romance for everyone.
Every year at this time, as the weather begins to cool down, all we feel like doing is curling up on the couch with a swoon-worthy (and sometimes spicy!) romance or rom-com with a bit of heart and humor. The good news? Book publishers release countless such books every fall. And if you don’t know what to read, don’t worry! Goodreads users have shared their favorite new romance and rom-com recommendations that are perfect for fall. Here are our top picks from the list.
‘Something About September’ by Julia McKay
If you love small-town, second-chance romances, you won’t want to miss Julia McKay’s newest novel. When Rebecca Macintosh reluctantly returns to her hometown after her grandmother’s death, she discovers she has just 30 days to renovate her grandmother’s diner—or face serious financial consequences. To make matters worse, the only contractor in town is Cort Adams, her high school crush who rejected her a year ago. But as they work together on the renovation, sparks fly once again and Rebecca realizes that there might be more to her hometown—and to Cort—than she originally thought.
What Goodreads users are saying: “This book is just so comfy. I eat up small-town books, especially when they have older characters who remind the main character of their past and cheer them on for who they are today—with no judgment about their decisions or how they handle grief. The pumpkin watch, s’mores, shared sleeping bag, and shooting star scene were magical. It was peak cozy romance and exactly the kind of scene I want to curl up inside.”
‘Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair’ by Ashley Herring Blake
The third book in Ashley Herring Blake’s Clover Lake series follows Sasha Sinclair, who spends her days trying to live up to her late parents’ legacy. To do that, she heads to Clare Mountain, North Carolina, to uncover the real story of the rumored Rose Witch named Alice Bishop. Alice moved to Clare Mountain in 1901 and opened the Thornrose Apothecary, which is now run by her ancestor Margot and her family—along with an occult-themed amusement park. But neither business is doing well, so Margot’s mother decides to let Sasha film a documentary on the family and the history of the Rose Witch. Margot wants nothing to do with any of it. But as luck would have it, only Margot can help Sasha with the documentary, and as the two begin investigating Alice, they discover something far more dangerous than they could ever imagine:love!
What Goodreads users are saying: “This is a lovely fall romance read. Think sapphic Practical Magic with shared themes of family, romance, witches and a little bit of magic. The Bishop women are unique from each other and full of life, and I adore seeing this matriarchal family interact. It’s also about healing from trauma, identity, found family and home. Sasha Sinclair is a delightful read.”
‘Under the Orchard’s Spell’ by Ann Adams
This Woman’s World Most Anticipated Fall Read follows Ali Reid, who inherited a pear orchard from her late uncle, along with lots of debt and an approaching harvest she can’t handle alone. Desperate, she turns to Logan Wright, a mysterious carpenter who also happens to be her former lover. As Ali and Logan begin to work together, they uncover dark mysteries ruining the orchard farm and must use magic to break the spell.
What Goodreads users are saying: “This book felt like a warm cinnamon hug with a splash of magic and mystery. Ann Adams does an amazing job of making you feel all the magic while reading. I adored how the story focuses on the orchard and how the trees and land feel everything, reacting directly to emotions. I laughed, smiled, and cried! Ann knows exactly how to hit me right in the heart. I was in tears at so many moments because I truly felt everything Ali and Logan were going through, but mostly Ali, she became so strong and brave. It was powerful. It was beautiful to read.”
‘The Magic We Made’ by Meg Cabot
Meg Cabot, best known for writing The Princess Diaries series, delivers a witchy rom-com that is sure to leave readers smiling. Francesca “Frankie” Giovanni is a scientist who knows there is a reasonable explanation for everything. But she lives in West Harbor, Connecticut, a town known for its “witch tourism.” Frankie doesn’t believe any of it, but when teenage witches begin to disappear, she begins to question everything. Ash Merit finds lost things and people for a living, and now his latest mission is to team up with town skeptic Frankie and find the lost teenagers—and when they do, sparks begin to fly.
What Goodreads users are saying: “I really loved the small town cozy feel of this book. I loved that the romance was a slow burn and for characters that aren’t fresh 20-year-olds like most romance books nowadays. The cult and paranormal aspects really bumped this book up and made it something that I wasn’t expecting it to be.”
‘Trust Fall’ by Lynn Painter
If you’re searching for a cozy fall read set in New York City, pick up Lynn Painter’s new young adult novel. When Julia inherits a historic New York City brownstone and a spot at an elite private school from her elderly neighbor, she jumps at the opportunity. Upon her arrival, she is shocked to learn just how hard it is to fit in among the city’s wealthy teenagers. Her only ally is Damien, her puzzling tutor who seems to truly understand her. But Damien has a secret: He’s the great-nephew of Julia’s late neighbor and he’s desperate to uncover why his uncle left everything to a stranger instead of his own family. Despite it all, the two fall in love.
What Goodreads users are saying: “Lynn Painter continues to prove why she’s one of my favorite romance authors writing today. Trust Fall is sweet, heartfelt, funny, and absolutely irresistible. The setting deserves its own standing ovation. New York in the fall feels like a character all by itself. The brownstone, the changing leaves, the private school drama, the cozy moments—it all created the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to book a plane ticket immediately and wander around Manhattan with a coffee in one hand and a romance novel in the other.”
‘The Fall Affair’ by Vi Keeland
Set in dreamy Tuscany, this novel follows Allegra Bianchi, who escapes to the Italian region in an attempt to escape her life in New York. While there, she plans to settle her Italian grandmother’s estate, sell what she can and then leave. What she doesn’t expect is to meet Matteo Lucchese, a handsome winemaker who is her polar opposite. As the two spend time together on the estate, they fight, sight see and somehow—against all odds—fall in love.
What Goodreads users are saying: “If you love opposites attract, breathtaking Italian settings, charming small-town communities, found family, emotional healing and romances that balance laughter with heartfelt moments, don’t let this one pass you by. It’s warm, hopeful, wonderfully romantic and quietly reminds us that success doesn’t always look the way we imagined.”
‘Season for Falling’ by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Gilmore Girls fans will love Kate O’Shaughnessy’s newest novel. Five years ago, Claire was a child star, but now she’s a normal high school student in postcard-perfect Glenridge, Connecticut—adirect result of her manager/father’s betrayal that left her broke. She spends her days trying to save up for NYU so she can escape the small town once and for all. Her luck changes when a film crew descends on Glenridge, shooting a movie starring Luke Cordova, Claire’s former co-star and ex–best friend, who offers her a deal: He shadows her for his role and he’ll pay for her college. As the two spend time together, they begin to bond and old feelings reemerge.
What Goodreads users are saying: “This was such a cozy fall read with small-town charm, old friendships, second chances and just the right amount of swoon! It’s definitely one to add to your fall TBR if you love cozy romances with a little more heart.”
‘Love Felt Like This’ by Julie Olivia
Last fall, Julie Olivia wrote If It Makes You Happy, which took the internet by storm, and now she’s back again with another picture-perfect love story. Famous singer Griffin Harvey is about to begin his second album, but there’s a problem: he just got custody of his 2-year-old daughter Ava and the only songs he can write are about shapes and numbers. Enter Beverly Lark, a children’s television producer who decides that Griffin’s children’s songs are the perfect fit for the show. As the two begin to work together on their new show, sparks fly.
What Goodreads users are saying: “This story has all the elements and more of a five star book. Julie Olivia’s writing is magic and nobody can change my mind. This book is perfect for fans of small town, nostalgic feeling romance. Get ready to fall in love with Bev and Griffin and his daughter Ava. This book was so enjoyable, I honestly don’t have any critiques, which is so rare for me.”
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