Apple of My Eye is a charming and heartwarming romance that captures the beauty of small-town life, family ties and second chances. Eloise returns home with determination and love for her family’s apple farm, hoping to keep it alive and thriving. Nick, ambitious and career-focused, sees success in finishing his MBA project which involves helping a rival farm. Their goals put them at odds, yet their paths intertwine in a way neither of them expected.

The book is filled with cosy seasonal settings, from crisp fall festivals to apple pie baking contests, which create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Eloise is a strong and relatable character who embodies resilience, while Nick’s drive and vulnerability make him an engaging counterpart. Their rivalry gradually softens into a sweet and believable connection, adding depth and warmth to the romance.

Claire Kershaw balances humour, heartfelt moments and gentle tension, making this book a perfect pick for readers who enjoy small-town romance with plenty of heart. It is uplifting, wholesome and leaves you with a smile.

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This was a great Autumnal read. It gave out cosy vibes, and was a page turner.

We meet Eloise who wants to try and save her family farm, and rival Nick from the farm next door. Although they start off disliking each other that soon changes and romance starts to blossom (as well as the apples!).

This was one of those easy read books, with descriptions that make you envision the surroundings so you get the beauty of the farm.

There was a fair bit of predictability in this, but it got your mind thinking in other parts too.

All in all a nice cosy read ready for the Autumn/Fall months.

Autumn is my absolute favourite season, so I’m always on the look out for a book that gives me this vibe and Apple of eye gives you the full on cosy autumn vibe with just the right amount of romance to make you swoon.

This is the perfect book for when autumn starts to hit, it made me want to apple and cinnamon cake and light candles whilst snuggling under a fluffy blanket and visit as many farmers markets as I can find.

I love the feel of the characters and Eloise and Nick were just perfect, they hooked you in and took you along on a journey of self discovery of who and what they wanted to become.

The Parker’s have old school grandparent feels, like they’d wrap you up in a warm hug whilst making you dinner. The recipes in the back of the book were a wonderful touch as well.

Finally my favourite season is just around the corner and, being a mood reader, I was desperate for a cosy autumnal romance. Apple Of My Eye brought the vibes.

Against a backdrop of fall festivals, apple pie baking contests and county fairs, the two rivals slowly form an attachment that could end up changing more than their careers.

It definitely put me in the mood to grab a blanket, a pumpkin spiced latte, a slice of warm apple pie and binge watch The Gilmore Girls (something I will be doing soon as I haven't seen all seasons).

The epilogue was a little too short for me, I just wasn't ready to let the characters go.

Thank you to @netgalley @clairekershawauthor and @zaffrebooks for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

It was the first book by the author that I’ve read, and I LOVED LOVED LOVED it. Since I never get tired of reading books set in my favorite seasons (winter & autumn), I happily and quickly finished this one too. Normally, I start reading this kind of book in September, but this one is so timeless and full of hope that it can be enjoyed in any season. I really liked the author’s writing style, it is both funny and professional. Take a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and fall in love with this book!

If you enjoy cosy small town romances, farm/village life, fair spirit; then this one is definitely for you!

This is an ARC review. I appreciate receiving this copy from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

Thank you to @netgalley @clairekershawauthor and @zaffrebooks for the advanced reading copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

As we move into cosy season, Apple of My Eye fits the bill. We follow Eloise who is highly educated but has an absolute love for her family farm, especially when she finds out it is in real trouble. Turns out though, one of the only ways to save it would be to buy the farm next door, problem, they brought in a gorgeous business student called Nick.

This novel follows a blossoming romance between two unlikely people, who then turn to enemies and then to possible lovers.

The twists and turns were what I needed for a cosy autumn or summer read (it releases 28 August in time for late summer holidays!).

Also you do not want to miss Joe Jonas 🐴

This was a very enjoyable read and I devoured it in a day! The chemistry between the main characters Nick and Eloise was perfect and it had a wonderful storyline.

Also guys there are recipes in the back for items made in the book! I am 💯 going to have to have a go at some of them 🥧

4⭐️

Tropes:
🍎 friends to lovers to enemies to lovers
🍎 Close proximity
🍎 Saving the farm
🍎 He will do anything for her

Pros:
✅ changeable moods between the characters- made them relatable.
✅ Novel with a good storyline about duty for the family and everything you would do for them
✅Loveable main and side characters- Betsey and Joe 🫶🏻 (not the horse)

Cons:
⭕️ I understand where Eloise was coming from but some actions became vindictive. Also the plot with her brother seemed quite predictable and I didn’t enjoy reading it

oh, i saw the cover of this book, and then saw more in the details of this book and thought yes please! im so glad i got to read it. after Claire and her last book delighted me i new i was anxious to get to read what was next. and it seems we ave a new and definitely coming author on our hands.
this is another lovely book that i wanted to settle in and completely let it soak through me. i wanted and i indeed got all the feels it promised going in.
you know when you are having those times, or those days and you really, genuinely get ready to read a book, or smile a little with relief that you get to go and settle in to one. this was that book. it came at just the right time and allowed me some much needed time and love in book form.
this is a small town romance in the best ways, and in all the ways and reasons we love them.
Eloise and Nick needed to not write a book and have me anxious over how they would be together. because their chemistry was rockin, so all i needed was for the book to be one sentence after that saying "Eloise and nick happy ever after the end forever". i jest, i jest but i new these two had me rooting for them and also nervous for them. and thats when i truly know im into a book. when i do care about how it will turn out. yes i do get over invested in books. hand up proud member of that gang.
i loved the tiny but significant twist on the autumn vibes including apples not the norm pumpkins to its main story.
Eloise and Nick are rivals who both come to the table needing it to work out as much as the other does. she wants to help her parents farm thrive. and hes is here to make her neighbours do the same. but their relationship starts growing and their feelings too. a stronger friendship blossoms ad something so much more is on its ways.
this book was wonderful. i love a author who just writes these books well and it appears Claire is fast becoming one of them! they include a balance and just enough themes and topics without either become tooooo convenient or overwhelming.
a lovely book and a lovely read.

Apple of My Eye - Claire Kershaw ✨️

I was so happy to get approved for this arc. I knew just from the cute autumnal cover that I would love this book and it didn't disappoint.

A small-town romance with rivalry, passion, spice, JJ the horse, autumn festivals, apple pie baking contents and the chemistry Eloise and Nick had, had me finishing this book in less than a day.

A really cosy, autumn romance book 🍂

Thank you Bonnier Books UK for the ARC ❤️🍎

A great addition to the Fall-Vibes-Romance genre, and honestly I might have been more invested in the apple farm businesses working out than I was in the relationship! That said, the romance was a fun rivals-to-lovers and the attraction between the two was palpable and felt real. A few rather convenient coincidences and events throughout meant I found it hard to be too drawn into the issues as they might just be magically fixed by something out of left field, but who needs Big Drama when you've got cosy sweaters and cute pigs anyway?

4.5 ⭐️
This was a lovely, cute fall read! I really liked how it was based on Apple farms rather than pumpkins for a change (not that there’s anything wrong with pumpkins- I’m a big fan!)
Eloise and Nick are initially rivals who can’t deny their connection and build a strong friendship whilst she is back home helping her parents on their farm and he is helping their neighbours.
There were lots of fall vibes as well as the romance between Eloise and Nick. I really enjoyed this one and would definitely add it to your fall TBR!

Big thanks to the author and NetGalley for this ARC, a great read.

Apple of My Eye was an entertaining read with a mix of family drama, emotional tension, and a few twists along the way. I liked the way it touched on themes of trust, loyalty, and how well we really know the people closest to us. The pacing kept me engaged for the most part, and there were moments where I genuinely wanted to know what would happen next.

That said, I didn’t feel as consistently gripped as I had hoped to be. The first half set things up well, but somewhere in the middle the momentum dipped and I found myself less invested in certain parts of the story. Some of the character decisions felt a little too convenient or predictable, and I didn’t fully connect with a couple of the key characters, which meant some of the emotional beats didn’t land as strongly as intended.

On the plus side, the writing style is accessible and easy to follow, and I appreciated the way Claire Kershaw layered in secrets and revelations without over complicating the plot. It’s not a heavy or overly complex read, which makes it good for when you want something you can dip in and out of without losing track.

Overall, if you’re after a cosy domestic drama, this could be worth picking up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed this small town/city exec, enemies to lovers, rivalries romance. Nick and Eloise's romance is funny, engaging, sweet and ultimately exactly what you need. The small town community setting was adorable and easy to imagine immersing myself in.

Wow wow wow, what a great story! Makes a change from the autumnal pumpkin related romance novels, I really enjoyed the setting of the apple farm in this story! Pure autumn vibes, amazing!