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Bella Heartwood Romance Book Reviews
💌 Bookish thoughts, cozy vibes, and honest feelings — all in one place. I review romance books, from sweet to steamy (and all the messy feelings in between!). I hope my reviews help you discover your next favorite read! 📚✨
Fall I Want
Author: Lyra Parish
⭐️ 4.5 / 5
Spoiler-Free Review
Fall I Want is set in a small town with two main characters destined to meet and experience a love like no other.
After a messy, very public breakup that’s not good for his image, the male main character, Zane, decides to go back to Cozy Creek for some much-needed alone time, away from the spotlight that surrounds his family. Cozy Creek holds special childhood memories — a place where Zane and his family used to spend time together.
Shortly after arriving, he meets Autumn, the female main character. She works at the town’s café alongside her best friends, Blaire and Julie. Autumn has lost faith in true love after a long and difficult relationship, which has also affected her motivation to write and her dream of becoming a romance author.
What starts as a fake relationship between Zane and Autumn — set to “expire” when Zane has to return to his normal life — quickly turns into something that feels far more real. Their relationship is passionate and full of explicit desire, which at times made me question the “fake” part of the relationship (and the trope itself). Even with that, I really enjoyed reading Fall I Want — especially the small-town setting and the fun interactions between Autumn and her best friends, Blaire and Julie.
Both main characters have flaws and backstories I loved getting to know, and I genuinely liked them together. While the book has a few cliché or predictable moments, I still found myself wanting to keep reading to see how the story would develop. I rooted for both Zane and Autumn — and even the secondary characters, who were really well done.
There are a few over-the-top moments as part of the billionaire trope that might not be for everyone, but I really liked them and I was totally here for them.
Final Thoughts:
Fall I Want is the perfect fall read for anyone who enjoys billionaire, small-town, and fake dating tropes — plus plenty of steamy moments. It’s cozy, romantic, and fun, with just the right amount of heart.
⭐️ 4.5 / 5
Spoiler-Free Review
Fall I Want is set in a small town with two main characters destined to meet and experience a love like no other.
After a messy, very public breakup that’s not good for his image, the male main character, Zane, decides to go back to Cozy Creek for some much-needed alone time, away from the spotlight that surrounds his family. Cozy Creek holds special childhood memories — a place where Zane and his family used to spend time together.
Shortly after arriving, he meets Autumn, the female main character. She works at the town’s café alongside her best friends, Blaire and Julie. Autumn has lost faith in true love after a long and difficult relationship, which has also affected her motivation to write and her dream of becoming a romance author.
What starts as a fake relationship between Zane and Autumn — set to “expire” when Zane has to return to his normal life — quickly turns into something that feels far more real. Their relationship is passionate and full of explicit desire, which at times made me question the “fake” part of the relationship (and the trope itself). Even with that, I really enjoyed reading Fall I Want — especially the small-town setting and the fun interactions between Autumn and her best friends, Blaire and Julie.
Both main characters have flaws and backstories I loved getting to know, and I genuinely liked them together. While the book has a few cliché or predictable moments, I still found myself wanting to keep reading to see how the story would develop. I rooted for both Zane and Autumn — and even the secondary characters, who were really well done.
There are a few over-the-top moments as part of the billionaire trope that might not be for everyone, but I really liked them and I was totally here for them.
Final Thoughts:
Fall I Want is the perfect fall read for anyone who enjoys billionaire, small-town, and fake dating tropes — plus plenty of steamy moments. It’s cozy, romantic, and fun, with just the right amount of heart.
The Midnight Book Club
Author: E. W. Andersen
Spoiler-free review
Aurelia always knew she would one day take over her Aunt Marigold’s bookshop — but she never expected it to happen before she was ready, while still grappling with her own internal struggles. Not long after she moves into the flat above the shop, strange voices begin to appear at night. At first, we don’t know if they’re real or imagined — or why Aurelia is hearing them. Then we discover that the voices belong to characters who could have stepped straight out of the pages of classic novels.
Aurelia is, for me, the perfect main female character for this type of story. Her development and growth are wonderful to experience. I found myself rooting for her from the beginning, hoping she’d find her way to making the shop her own — and rediscover her passion for writing. She’s always loved books and enjoyed helping her aunt, but life doesn’t always wait for us, does it? That’s exactly what happened to Aurelia.
When she inherits the bookshop, we see a young woman struggling to find joy, holding back tears as memories flood in. But as the story progresses — and as Aurelia interacts more and more with the fictional characters who appear at night — she begins to open herself up to a brighter future. Her grief slowly transforms into healing, and she starts to navigate life with a new sense of hope.
The magical premise of this book took me on a journey I didn’t expect at all. Not because there weren’t some familiar, comforting elements, but because Aurelia’s healing and rediscovery of herself felt so genuine and moving. There’s romance here too — beautifully tied to Aurelia’s inner journey in a seamless and heartfelt way that I absolutely loved.
As an aspiring author myself, I found Aurelia’s writing journey especially inspiring.
This is a book that I believe will stay with me for a long time.
⭐ 5/5 stars
🗓️ Release date: November 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and author E. W. Andersen for allowing me to read this wonderful story. I received an advance copy, and all comments are part of my honest review.
Genres: Fantasy | Romance | Women’s Fiction | Cozy Fiction | Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Spoiler-free review
Aurelia always knew she would one day take over her Aunt Marigold’s bookshop — but she never expected it to happen before she was ready, while still grappling with her own internal struggles. Not long after she moves into the flat above the shop, strange voices begin to appear at night. At first, we don’t know if they’re real or imagined — or why Aurelia is hearing them. Then we discover that the voices belong to characters who could have stepped straight out of the pages of classic novels.
Aurelia is, for me, the perfect main female character for this type of story. Her development and growth are wonderful to experience. I found myself rooting for her from the beginning, hoping she’d find her way to making the shop her own — and rediscover her passion for writing. She’s always loved books and enjoyed helping her aunt, but life doesn’t always wait for us, does it? That’s exactly what happened to Aurelia.
When she inherits the bookshop, we see a young woman struggling to find joy, holding back tears as memories flood in. But as the story progresses — and as Aurelia interacts more and more with the fictional characters who appear at night — she begins to open herself up to a brighter future. Her grief slowly transforms into healing, and she starts to navigate life with a new sense of hope.
The magical premise of this book took me on a journey I didn’t expect at all. Not because there weren’t some familiar, comforting elements, but because Aurelia’s healing and rediscovery of herself felt so genuine and moving. There’s romance here too — beautifully tied to Aurelia’s inner journey in a seamless and heartfelt way that I absolutely loved.
As an aspiring author myself, I found Aurelia’s writing journey especially inspiring.
This is a book that I believe will stay with me for a long time.
⭐ 5/5 stars
🗓️ Release date: November 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and author E. W. Andersen for allowing me to read this wonderful story. I received an advance copy, and all comments are part of my honest review.
Genres: Fantasy | Romance | Women’s Fiction | Cozy Fiction | Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Mind Reader
Author: Mimika Cooney
Release date: October 21st, 2025
Mind Reader is a love story with depth, character growth, and lasting messages. It’s a clean romance (no spice, just a few kisses) that follows two main characters, Clio and Dillon — both strong, complex individuals with troubled pasts — as they learn that happiness is possible and that needing someone doesn’t make you weak. On the contrary, it shows real strength, even when things get messy.
I really enjoyed their love story, and the character development is clear and wonderfully done. I also loved them together — their chemistry felt genuine, and their relationship grew in a way that felt both emotional and believable. That said, I didn’t always feel fully connected with them individually, especially Clio. There were also a few moments where the writing felt slightly repetitive to me as a reader. These small things are why Mind Reader is a 4 ⭐️ read for me, though I know that’s more about personal connection than the story itself. Both Clio and Dillon are beautifully written characters that many readers will likely connect with on a deeper level.
Tropes & Themes:
* Enemies to lovers
* Office romance
* Opposites attract
* Emotional walls
* Workplace tension
* Redemption through love
Mind Reader is the first book in the Sensibility Series, and I’m excited for the rest — especially Supernova (book three), where we get to know more about Tia (Clio’s sister)! Each book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading them in order for the best experience.
I received an ARC of this book as part of the author’s review team, and this is my honest opinion.
Release date: October 21st, 2025
Mind Reader is a love story with depth, character growth, and lasting messages. It’s a clean romance (no spice, just a few kisses) that follows two main characters, Clio and Dillon — both strong, complex individuals with troubled pasts — as they learn that happiness is possible and that needing someone doesn’t make you weak. On the contrary, it shows real strength, even when things get messy.
I really enjoyed their love story, and the character development is clear and wonderfully done. I also loved them together — their chemistry felt genuine, and their relationship grew in a way that felt both emotional and believable. That said, I didn’t always feel fully connected with them individually, especially Clio. There were also a few moments where the writing felt slightly repetitive to me as a reader. These small things are why Mind Reader is a 4 ⭐️ read for me, though I know that’s more about personal connection than the story itself. Both Clio and Dillon are beautifully written characters that many readers will likely connect with on a deeper level.
Tropes & Themes:
* Enemies to lovers
* Office romance
* Opposites attract
* Emotional walls
* Workplace tension
* Redemption through love
Mind Reader is the first book in the Sensibility Series, and I’m excited for the rest — especially Supernova (book three), where we get to know more about Tia (Clio’s sister)! Each book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading them in order for the best experience.
I received an ARC of this book as part of the author’s review team, and this is my honest opinion.
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