I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cozy, heartwarming book. I enjoyed it a lot!

Coming Home to Starr’s Fall was a captivating and touching novel that was written by author Kate Hewitt. It had the cozy feelings of small town living where a strong sense of community existed. Starr’s Fall was not a thriving or popular destination but the people of Starr’s Fall had each other’s backs and supported each other in every way. It was a town that was tucked away in the state of Connecticut. Starr’s Fall was not a popular destination for the average person or tourist. You had to know about its existence to find your way there. Most of the people that lived in Starr’s Fall had lived there for generations. Why then was Laurie Ellis and her small, timid dog Max headed to Starr’s Fall? Why had Laurie Ellis chosen Starr’s Fall as the place she wanted to begin her life in?

Laurie Ellis was abandoned by her biological mother as a baby and she grew up in the foster care program. Her experiences in the foster care system were not happy ones for Laurie. She was finally placed in a group home until she aged out at ahe eighteen. There was a kind woman there who influenced Laurie’s life more than she realized. Upon that woman’s death, the woman left Laurie a sum of money. She also provided Laurie with the name of a town where it was believed that her biological mother came from. Now in early twenties, Laurie made two important decisions. She was going to make Starr’s Fall her new home and she was going to open a doggie bakery and pet shop there. Laurie had decided on the name “Max’s Place” for her new store and had googled all the information she thought she needed to give this venture a go. She arrived during Autumn and immediately had a good feeling about the people in this quaint and sleepy town when one of its locals stopped to help her when her rented car broke down just a few miles away from Starr’s Fall. Laurie felt that for the first time in her life she might be blessed with real friends. Laurie was harboring a secret about her real reason for choosing Starr’s Fall as her new home. She wasn’t ready to divulge or share her secret yet. Laurie wanted to keep it to herself until she felt the time was right to tell others about it.

Laurie soon discovered and made the acquaintance of her neighbor, Joshua Reilly, who owned the Antiquarian bookstore across the street from her new shop. It was Joshua’s aunt’s cat and her dog, Max, who opened the door for their friendship to evolve. Over time, both Laurie and Joshua shared personal information about their pasts that endeared them to each other and a romance blossomed between the two of them. Joshua had earned the reputation of the “grinch of Starr’s Fall” over the years. No one bothered to uncover the reasons why Joshua had become such a grumpy man. He also had not had a very happy life and dealt with it by closing himself off from the people he grew up with. Joshua had been living like this for so long that he knew no other way…until Laurie Ellis came along. She had a way of always looking on the bright side of things and avoiding confrontations. Can these two help each other bury their demons and find the romance they both crave for?

Coming Home to Starr’s Fall was the second book that I had the pleasure of reading by Kate Hewitt. This was the first book in a new series. I look forward to reading more books in this series and discovering more about the people in Starr’s Fall. I really enjoyed getting to know Laurie’s character, her dreams and desires and how she tried to make Starr’s Fall her new home. Kate Hewitt is a gifted storyteller and she managed to create complex but likable characters that touched my heart in this lovely book. I really enjoyed the relationship that Laurie forged with the monarch of Starr’s Fall and whose family the town was named after. Kate Hewitt was able to address the issues of friendship, grief, abandonment, loss, lack of parental guidance and love, community support and the toll the foster care system has on the lives of the children in its grips. There was also the element of romance that was present in the most unexpected moments between two unassuming characters but welcomed by both. I really enjoyed reading Coming Home to Starr’s Fall by Kate Hewitt and recommend it highly.

Thank you to Boldwood Books that allowed me to read Coming Home to Starr’s Fall by Kate Hewitt through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is the first book I’ve read by Kate, and I have to say she’s gotten a fan in me. I loved the story of Laurie moving to Starr’s Fall to start a new life. There’s a lot of firsts that happen to Laurie with this community. Though the main storyline is about Laurie, Kate does an amazing job in describing the lore of the supporting characters too. Kate also does an amazing job with describing events and what the views look like. If you’re looking for a small-town romance, filled with community, found family and the autumnal vibes, then this book is for you.

This was a really cosy and sweet small-town romance surrounding a dreamy town and delightful characters. I really enjoyed our main character, Laurie, she was a gorgeous character with a very complex past, but given all of that she still continued to make a life for herself. I loved her concept of a pet bakery - it was unique and fun and brought excitement to the town! Josh was a great male lead who also had a past of his own and although he was the town grump, he still had a lot of personality to him that developed as the story went on. This was a beautiful story with many woven stories to get invested in throughout, it was a delight to be in Starr's Fall and I can't wait to return!

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. Oh how I fell in love with this small town and its characters. I devoured this book in one day and now I almost regret it because I want more! The only negative thing for me was the abrupt ending, but I still absolutely loved it.

Laurie is about to start a new chapter in her life opening a pet bakery and shop in Starr’s fall with her dog Max. Laurie has always been a loner and was drawn to Starr’s Fall believing she might find out about her birth mother who she thinks was from the area.
As she meets the locals who are mostly lovely she finds her neighbour Joshua who owns the book shop across the road to be a right grumpy so and so until she starts to get to know him better
A lovely read

Starr's Fall in Connecticut sounds like a charming small town especially in Autumn. I've visited Connecticut in the Autum several years ago and it is very beautiful that time of year with the crisp air and lovely scenic trees. There is so many threads going on in the story and I enjoyed it very much. This is the start of a new series, and I greatly look forward to the next in the series as well. Laurie Ellis and her little dog, Max are off to Starr's Fall to open a pet shop/bakery for dogs amongst the dusty shuttered store fronts on the main street. Hoping to breathe some life into this small town with her new shop and have it as a cozy and comfortable meeting place for the town's folks as well. Laurie has a motive for coming to town as well, she is looking to find answers to a few things. An unexpected romance may be in the cards as well. I enjoyed meeting the matriarch of Starr's Falls and though we didn't spend much time with her I hold her amongst one of my favorite characters in this book. Time seems to have forgotten about her, which is a feeling Laurie is all too familiar with. A grumpy- sunshine romance that I enjoyed seeing the character development of. I would have enjoyed seeing more of a development of the doggie bakery though. A warm and emotional read that I'm looking forward to reading more of.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This small town romance is so cozy and perfect for the autumn season. I've not read anything by this author before but I really enjoyed the writing style and characters featured in this book.

I think lots of romance readers will enjoy this sweet romance, that's available to purchase right now.

4.5 upped to 5
I must confess I'm a huge fan of Kate Hewitt's small town romances as they always made me wish I was there, smile, and root for the characters.
This is one was the right read at the right moment: I needed something light, cute, and well written. The book ticked all the boxes and it was a pleasure get to know Lauren and Josuah and travel to Starr's Fall.
It's a perfect autumn place, lovely people and a lot of cosy and fascinating shops. Including a bookshop and future bakery for dog. There's an enemy-to-lover story, there's a secret that could change the life of someone.
Everything flows, it never sounds forced or so far from reality to turn into fantasy. Even if it could be my perfect fantasy town.
If you need some well written and entertaining story go and read this one
As this is the start of a series I can't wait to travel to Starr's Fall again.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Randome Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.

A lovely feel good book. Just right for curling up and savouring on a Sunday afternoon. I loved the developing relationships, the small town ethos and the gradual unravelling of the stoy. As you read you can imagine yourself there.

3.5*

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book.

It took me a while to get into the book but I ended up enjoying the story about Laurie trying to seek out her family history and where she came from.

Very autumnal, Gilmore Girls vibe leaving you wanting to visit the small town and experience it all for yourself and meet the wonderful characters, especially Henrietta Starr.

I am looking forward to the next one in the series and hopefully finding out more about the new family that have just moved in and more from Henrietta's story.

This lovely story wraps around you like a blanket, leaving you feeling fall vibes and content. It was a delight from start to finish. I really liked the writing style of this story. I also liked small town Starr's Falls where everyone knows your business, possibly before you do! The entire cast of characters were charming and very likeable. It was so enjoyable watching/reading the slow burn of Laurie and Joshua as they develop feelings for each other and Laurie finding home. It's full of emotion and keeps your interest so you can't wait to see how it ends. A wonderfully sweet read.

This is a lovely story and I think the start of a new series, I absolutely loved the setting Starr’s Fall, it is autumn and the leaves are turning and Laurie Ellis is making a big change in her life, packing up with her small dog Max and moving to firstly open up a new business, Max’s Place a pet store and pet bakery, but she is also there to see if she can find some answers about her biological mother.

Joshua Reilly grew up in Starr’s Fall and is now running the Antiquarian Bookstore that was started by his grandfather then run by his father, a lot has happened to Joshua and he is known for his grumpiness in the town, and meeting his new neighbour with her ideas for a pet bakery, sounds silly to him, but he can’t help noticing her.

Soon thanks to a cat and Max Joshua and Laurie are spending more time together and opening up about their pasts could this be love growing and with help searching for her mother not only from Joshua but the patriarch of the town Henrietta Starr, Laurie is soon making friends and feeling very at home in Starr’s Fall.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable story a beautiful romance that is slow to start but then moves very nicely, I do recommend this one if you are a romance reader looking for a moving story that will have you feeling like you are in this beautiful town. I do look forward to more stories set in Starr’s Fall.

My thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for my copy to read and review.

I recently read a charming seasonal book that perfectly captured the cozy ambiance of fall in a small town. The story, set in Starr's Fall, was not just your typical small-town romance, which I found refreshing. The main character, Laurie, had a touching backstory, and I appreciated the journey the author took her on. Her developing relationship with Joshua was a slow burn, and the book, while sweet and tender, kept things modest with just a few gentle kisses. If you're looking for a delightful romance with a small-town setting, this book comes highly recommended. I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel thanks to NetGalley and the author.

Laurie Ellis is moving to Starr's Fall with her dog, Max. She is looking for a new start - after being adopted and then fostered, she has never known a sense of community or a real home. After inheriting a small amount of money, she decides to invest it in a new business - a pet shop and pet bakery. She has a family connection to Starr's Fall, so decides to relocate their for her fresh start, and investigate her family history at the same time. Making friends on her very first evening, her hopes are high until she meets grumpy Joshua Reilly, the book store owner from the across the street. Styled the 'Grinch' by the rest of the community, he has never heard of a pet bakery and loses no time in telling Laurie that he thinks her plans are ridiculous. Sparks between them start to fly... Another great cosy story by Kate Hewitt, perfect for fans of Sarah Bennett and Bella Osborne, and hopefully the first in a new series. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for my ARC copy - this has not affected my review.

Coming Home to Starr’s Fall is a touching story of what a small town should be like. Laurie Ellis had been in and out of foster care until she aged out. She had a low level job at a marketing company and a dreary apartment. Then a miracle had happened, the “mother” at the group home she had lived in for her final six years left her some money. Not a lot, but enough to follow her dreams. On her birth certificate is listed Starr’s Fall as her mother’s home and so here she was, preparing to open her pet store and bakery in Starr’s Fall. She had paid the first two months rent so she had that long to make it start paying. The first night did not go well when her little dog, Max took off across the street, chasing a Persian cat that was bigger than he was. By chasing him she met his owner, and the proprietor of the bookstore across the street, Joshua Reilly, who was nothing if not a grump. What a day! First her rented van had broken down and now this. But, she blinked her eyes, smiled, and vowed to move on. So she did. She started cleaning and painting the next day.

Laurie was one to make friends wherever she went. She had a remarkable spirit, one given her by the author. She went to Annie’s for dinner and met people there and then at the fall festival. People seemed excited by her store. Even her grumpy neighbor. It was a simple plot. Almost a slice-of-life. Learning and making friends was working out for her as she worked hard and made another new friend, Miss Henrietta Starr, who was part of the family for which the town was made. They inspired one another. But, as idyllic as this all seems, not everything came up roses. There were disappointments. Things did not always work out, much like real life. So much DID work out that she was happy. This was a fun read by a popular author. Hewitt writes a variety of genres and this is another. It was engaging. The characters were good and the story moved ahead. Enough did change for Laurie that it made it all worth it.

I was invited to read Coming Home to Starr’s Fall by Boldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #KateHewitt #ComingHomeToStarrsFall

- Small town romance
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Found family
- Autumn vibes

I am such a fan of small town romances, especially when they are set during the autumn months. There is something inherently cozy about reading a story and picturing the changing leaves, feeling the crisp air.

Laurie is making a new start - quitting her job, moving to Starr's Fall, opening a small business. She is excited and nervous for the drastic change. She has distant connections to this small New England town and is hopeful her dream of a pet store and bakery brings her a sense of fulfillment that has been missing in her life. She and her dog Max are ready for the next chapter of their lives.

From the first day in town, Laurie meets the quirky Annie, who has a larger than life personality and the grumpy Joshua, who is the bookstore owner across the street. Laurie also has a side project - to find out more about her family. She grew up in foster care and has longed to make a familial connection.

This author transported me to a very happy place with her words. I could clearly picture the town and its residents in my mind and felt very connected with the story.

A gorgeous story, about Laurie and her rescue dog Max making a new beginning in Starr's Fall, a new business, a new home, new friends, new relationships and the possibility of a new family? A Rom Com with lovely characters who all live in and have ties to Starr's Fall, I was devastated when this book came to an end and can't wait to read more about Starr's Fall!

This book put me in the mood for Fall! Laurie is a great character. I really want to move to Starr’s Fall. So cozy. Loved it. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

I loved this book! It has such a great fall, Gilmore Girls type feel. Laurie and Joshua are the perfect example of Sunshine and grumpy. It was a quick, feel good read. Highly recommend!