Autumn Falls – review (AD)
I was kindly given an advanced electronic copy of Autumn Falls by Taylor Gray in exchange for an honest review.*
Autumn Falls book blurb
Some bonds break. Others never will.The Carter brothers were once inseparable – five boys, one band, and a bond that seemed unbreakable.
But it’s been ten years since the band broke up and even longer since they left the family ranch and the wide-open skies of Autumn Falls.
Fame, secrets and time have left cracks that no one wants to face.
For Bella, the Carters were her first friends and her first heartbreak.
Especially Logan Carter, the boy she loved in the quiet moments between music and long summers spent in the apple orchard.
Now tragedy pulls them all back to Autumn Falls.
The brothers are fractured, the past impossible to escape, and the spark between Bella and Logan burns as dangerously as ever.
My overall thoughts on Autumn Falls
I picked up Autumn Falls expecting a light, cosy, small-town romance—the cover, the playlist, and even the charming map had me convinced I was in for a Pumpkin-Spice-Café-style read.
What I actually got was a far more emotional story about grief, fractured families, lost love, and the sometimes-painful pull of home.
And you know what? I couldn’t put it down. I devoured this in a single day.
This is the first book in Taylor Gray’s new series and it focuses on Carter, the brother who buried himself in business after the boy band he managed (made up of his brothers) fell apart.
When tragedy strikes and the family is forced back together, Carter finds himself face-to-face with Bella—his childhood best friend, first love, and the one who got away.
The fact that Bella later married his late brother only adds more complexity to their reunion.
What follows isn’t your typical romcom.
This is a closed-door book with no on-page steam, and the romance takes a quieter, more reflective path.
It’s layered with grief, difficult truths, and healing—both for Carter and Bella individually, and for the broken bonds within their families.
The small-town ranch backdrop gives it that comforting, autumnal vibe, but the themes run much deeper than I expected.
I really liked Carter and Bella’s dynamic, especially the way their history was explored through difficult conversations and moments of tentative reconnection.
The chemistry was there, but at times I wished we’d spent a little more time with them together—the pacing felt uneven in places, and the ending wrapped up a little quickly for me.
I was left wanting just a bit more emotional payoff.
The supporting cast—the Carter brothers—are intriguing, and it’s clear Taylor Gray is setting the stage for future books in the series.
I’m especially curious to see where their individual stories go, given the glimpses we get of their struggles and personalities here.
Despite a few pacing niggles, this was such a heartfelt read.
It made me feel for the characters, reflect on family ties, and even tear up in places.
I love when a book surprises me, and Autumn Falls definitely did that.
If you’re after a cosy autumn setting but don’t mind tackling heavier themes like grief, family fractures, and second chances, then Autumn Falls is a great choice.
It’s emotional, heartfelt, and a promising start to a new series.
I’ll definitely be picking up the next book to see how the Carter brothers’ stories unfold.
With thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pin this 
*Disclaimer
This review has been written with 100% honesty.
I was not financially compensated for this post. I was given an advance copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are completely my own based on my own experience.
If you would like your company/service featured on rachaelstray.com either in the form of review, sponsored post or an advertising slot, please feel free to contact me at rachaelstray@gmail.com
Please visit my contact/work with me page for more information.
Other related posts
Here’s my thoughts on the very powerful and moving When The Bough Breaks
A gripping thriller – find out what happened to Brittany in The Good Neighbor
I absolutely loved the February Reading In Heels book The Charmed Life of Alex Moore
Here’s my thoughts on BookBub a daily special-offers service for ebooks
Keep up to date
You can also find me on Twitter @rachael_stray
Or follow my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/rachaelstrayblog/
You can see my random pictures on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rachys2011/
And see what I’m pinning on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/rachaelstray/
