Summer Skies Over Starr's Fall: The BRAND NEW small town romance full of sunshine from million-copy bestseller Kate Hewitt for 2026

by Kate Hewitt

A totally gorgeous, age-gap, rural romance, perfect for fans of Virgin River, Rachel Hanna and Debbie Macomber, BRAND NEW from million-copy bestselling author, Kate Hewitt 🍦❤️☀️ **Every book in the Starr's Fall series can be read as a standalone*. *

As the weather warms up, everyone in Starr’s Fall has one thing on their minds… ice cream. And Zoe Wilkinson is the person to help them out. Running the town’s only ice cream shop—The Latest Scoop—she should be the most popular person in town, at least every day that the sun’s shining.

But, in spite of growing up in Starr’s Fall, Zoe has reached the age of twenty-eight without letting anyone deeply into her life. Her wild teenage years seem to be all anyone remembers, perhaps not helped by her spiky pink hair, and sometimes even spikier attitude.

That is, until fourteen-year-old Sophie comes into her store, and tries to steal something. Zoe calls her out, only to attract the ire of Sophie’s furious father, Dan Bryant –a surprisingly sexy middle-aged dad who Zoe would probably develop a huge crush on, if he wasn’t busy defending his daughter.

When she gets home to realise Sophie and Dan are in fact also her new neighbors, she knows she has to make nice. Besides, she can’t help but see a bit of her own teenage tearaway self in sulky Sophie.

But, as the summer sun blazes overhead, will letting a lost teenage girl and a man who gives her butterflies into her life be enough to warm up Zoe’s frozen, frightened heart?

Don’t miss the latest installment in Kate’s bestselling Starr’s Fall series! Available now!

Readers love Kate Hewitt’s Starr’s Fall “Loving the Gilmore Girls vibes of this gorgeous series. Starr’s Fall has stolen my heart! Beautiful setting, fabulous community and a grumpy-sunshine combination. What more could you want?” Bestselling author, Jessica Redland

“The most gorgeous escapist romance!{::}Don’t miss it!” Bestselling author, Amy Andrews

“You know when a book hits the spot at the right time? Well this book was that for me… I just had a smile on my face while I was reading it… I can’t wait for the next book set in this beautiful town.” Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I couldn’t get enough of this story and Starr’s Fall…. I loved every minute of it!” Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This book really transported me to Starr’s Fall. I could smell the fall air and feel the leaves crunch under my feet. I love how sweet this story is. Also, I love the journey that we go on with our main character. Packing my bags to move here immediately!” Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I loved this book so much!!! … Perfect… Emotional and heartwarming.” Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Okay, this book was adorable! It made me wish I could call Starr’s Fall home… If you love small towns, slow burns, closed doors/clea

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 17, 2026

About the author

Kate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of many books of both historical and contemporary fiction. Under the name Katharine Swartz, she is the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell.

She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.

Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.

Reviews

[Melissa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this cute romance. It had Gilmore Girls vibes as far as the town and was just so wholesome and made me smile and tear up!

We see themes of stepping out of our comfort zone and putting ourselves out there when our fear wants to get in the way. Loved this story so much! A very quick read as well.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zoe Wilkinson is the punk/goth looking woman with pink hair who runs the ice cream parlour in Starr's Fall. Her wild childhood/teenage years have given her a bit of a reputation, one she cultivates to stop people realising how lonely she is. At home, both her parents have medical problems that mean she is their primary carer, although she does have agency help during the day. Zoe refuses to have people pitying her so over the years she has discouraged people from visiting an/or inviting her out. Dating is non-existent but everyone in Starr's Fall thinks she has a wild social life.

Dan Bryant has just moved to Starr's Fall with his teenage daughter Sophie. His ex-wife decided to take a job in Dubai and Sophie was acting out in New York so he thought a fresh start in a small town would be a clean break for everyone, also his newly discovered grandmother lives in Starr Falls. Dan has spent his entire marriage kow-towing to his ex-wife's choices, she returned to work shortly after giving birth, forcing Dan to give up his burgeoning practice to look after the baby, now even after divorce she is calling the shots initially taking custody of Sophie then callously dumping her on Dan when the new job opportunity arose. No wonder Sophie is misbehaving.

Their first meeting isn't good, Sophie tries to steal a trinket from Zoe's shop and when called out deliberately breaks it. Although business is difficult Zoe doesn't want to get Sophie in trouble in front of her future school-mates so when confronted by Dan she doesn't rate her out. Besides, she has some sympathy with Sophie having been badly behaved as a teenager as well. Dan knows Sophie probably did steal the trinket and then destroy it in a fit of pique and he is intrigued as to why this woman would cover it up.

Later, Zoe discovers that Dan and Sophie have moved into the house next door to her and her parents' home, and Dan asks Zoe to give Sophie a job.

I enjoyed this, but I didn't love it. I didn't really understand Zoe's motivation for effectively turning away her parents' friends and pretending to her own friends that she had some amazing social life. Also Dan's ex-wife was just such a caricature with no redeeming features and Dan was such a paragon. I feel we may have reached that point in the series where I am less and less invested in the main characters.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Skies Over Starr’s Fall is exactly the kind of feel‑good rural romance that makes you want to curl up with a bowl of ice cream and stay in Starr’s Fall all afternoon. Kate Hewitt delivers another beautifully heartfelt installment in the series — and, as promised, it works perfectly as a standalone.

Zoe Wilkinson is such a refreshing heroine. Running The Latest Scoop should make her the town darling, but her spiky pink hair and even spikier walls keep most people at arm’s length. Hewitt writes her with a lovely mix of vulnerability and grit, and it’s impossible not to warm to her as the story unfolds.

The turning point — a teenage shoplifting attempt and the arrival of Sophie’s fiercely protective (and unexpectedly handsome) dad, Dan — sets the stage for a slow‑burn, age‑gap romance that feels both grounded and deeply charming. The dynamic between Zoe and Sophie is especially touching, full of prickly edges and surprising tenderness, and it gives the story emotional depth beyond the romantic thread.

Hewitt captures small‑town life with her usual ease: the gossip, the sunshine, the sense of community, and the quiet ache of past mistakes that linger longer than they should. Watching Zoe navigate new neighbours, old reputations, and the possibility of letting someone in — really in — is both uplifting and quietly moving.

Fans of Virgin River, Rachel Hanna, and Debbie Macomber will find plenty to love here: a gentle romance, a strong sense of place, and characters who feel wonderfully real.

A sweet, heartfelt summer read that leaves you smiling long after the final page.

My thanks to Kate Hewitt, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Claire Coan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Starr’s Fall series, and as it heads into summer, the town has one thing on their minds: ice cream. The Latest Scoop is the town’s one and only ice cream shop, run by Zoe. Despite growing up in Starr’s Fall, Zoe somehow maintains a distance from the locals.
Her world shifts when fourteen-year-old Sophie attempts to steal from her shop. In the midst of confronting her, Sophie’s dad Dan intervenes, causing Zoe to back down. She sees so much of her younger self in Sophie that when Sophie apologises and asks for a job, Zoe agrees.
Turns out Dan and Sophie are also her new neighbours. The one thing she hadn’t banked on this summer was having a sexy new neighbour. Can she go from sharing the odd glass of wine to sharing more of her life? She’s not used to opening herself up, feeling vulnerable, but maybe he’s worth the risk?
I thoroughly enjoyed Zoe’s story. Kate Hewitt brought her character to life with such authenticity. Her interactions with Sophie felt raw and real. Dan was a sweetheart, deeply hurt by his ex-wife and desperately trying to do what’s right for his daughter. He didn’t want a relationship, that is, until he met Zoe.
The story sensitively explores the struggles of living with a chronic illness. As someone who has a chronic illness myself, I resonated deeply with Zoe and her parents. The book left me feeling hopeful. I love how a story can connect with a reader so powerfully.
Thank you NetGalley, Kate Hewitt, and Boldwood Books for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Natalie Intihar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Skies Over Starr’s Fall was the gentle, sweet romance between Dan and Zoe that we all needed. Starr’s Fall is the most idyllic small town setting to fall in love. Dan and Zoe’s worlds collide all at once in Zoe’s ice cream shop, and from there, their story was a journey of healing, patience, and of course, love.

Much of this story is centered around Dan’s teenage daughter, Sophie, and her lived experiences. You can really see all of these characters grow together, which truly is beautiful. I loved seeing Sophie have individual relationships with both Zoe and Dan and watching them go through ups and downs together was so meaningful.

This book was tender and warm, with very low spice for those readers who prefer it that way! Kate Hewitt’s stories are small town romance at its best, full of found family and beautiful romances. Summer Skies Over Starr’s Fall was emotional and heartfelt and I enjoyed every moment!

Thank you to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Marie Yarwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic storyline, I really enjoyed this book from start to finish.

Zoe is the owner of The Last Scoop, an ice cream parlour set in Starr’s Fall. She also looks after her parents who are in their late 50’s both with illnesses - her mum has MS and her dad has the very early stages of Leukaemia, neither of them can work anymore so rely on her completely.
When newly divorced Dan Bryant and his daughter Sophie move in next door the fun begins - Sophie makes an entrance into the small town by stealing from Zoe’s parlour then denies it when her dad walks in. Dan has recently found out his biological Grandmother lives in Starrs Fall so after his adoptive mother passes away he chooses to move there to meet his Grandmother and try to build a relationship with her.
Then Dan’s ex wife Lyndsey turns up promising her daughter the world and announces she has asked Sophie to move to Dubai with her instead of staying in Starr’s Fall with her dad and Grandmother.
Unfortunately Lyndsey is known for not keeping her promises but will this be different to every other time or will Lyndsey let her daughter down yet again?

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 4, the finale in the Stars Fall series.

Can be read as a standalone but you’ll get so much more out of it if if read in sequence as we catch up with other characters and get their progress which tied everything up nicely.

So, I enjoyed this story, not my favourite in the series as I really struggled with Zoe. I feel she pigeon holed her parents, although they did allow it and her friends! She was a broken soul and hid alot from the town and herself really. She blooms in the end but it was a slog, i felt she made life harder than it needed to be.

Dan was cute, a people pleaser who grew a set, he'd got it coming from all angles. His ex wife was vile.

As always I loved Henrietta Star, the voice of reason and wisdom. There's alot going on in this story, illness, broken relationships, struggles of parenting, managing work, home, pleasure and life in general. But the friendships and the town comes together to make things brighter. The descriptions of the ice creams were delicious and I wanted some.

Thank you Netgally for the ARC!

[Pam Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the small town setting of Starr's Fall with its strong community and lively characters. This story centres on Zoe who is a young woman in her twenties who has had some difficult situations to face. The well being of her parents is everything to her but she is fearful of what the future may look like. Zoe turns out to be quite a complex character and the facade she presents to the town hides what her life is actually like. Zoe recognises in teenage Sophie a lot of the troubles and rebellion she felt at that age and she becomes drawn into the lives of these newcomers, Sophie and her Dad, Dan.
You have to admire Zoe's drive and independent spirit and her determination to carry on, no matter what. With familiar faces from previous Starr's Fall stories, it gives you a chance to catch up on others' lives. There is plenty of romance throughout with undeniable chemistry between Zoe and Dan.
Thanks to the publisher

[bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a fan of Gilmore Girls, I always look forward to a visit to Starr's Fall and I was so excited to have a new adventure to read.

This time the story centres around Zoe, who owns The Last Scoop Ice Cream Shop, and Dan, single dad and newcomer to Starr's Fall. They both have complications in their lives, with Zoe's ailing parents, and Dan's moody teenage daughter, but can they find love together?

I say every book in this series is my favourite because they are all so good!!!! This one was really emotional for me as I lost my father three months ago, and reading what Zoe has to deal with really sent me running for the tissues, but in a good way!

This story was such a delight to read, and one I will treasure for a long time. If you are a fan of Gilmore Girls and beautifully crafted love story this series is for you.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 4 of the series. The story follows Zoe, the punky/emo looking ice cream shop owner from previous books and Dan, her new next door neighbor. Dan recently moved to Starr’s Hollow with his teen daughter Sophie after a nasty divorce. Dan is looking to get integrated into the town while Zoe is slowly branching out to become social after living a pretty limited life. I would recommend reading the other books first to learn about side characters and the town. While this wasn’t my favorite story of the set, it touched on some interesting heavier topics. The story is chaste (just some kissing). It reads like the final bool of the series so check it out.

Thank you, Boldwood Books, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Barb Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe runs The Latest Scoop, the town's only ice cream shop. When she sees a young girl shoplift something from her store, she confronts her. Turns out that Sophie and her dad Dan recently moved to Starrs Fall. Sophie reminds Zoe of herself at that age and when Dan comes to the shop defending his daughter, she feels a spark, but she pushes people away out of fear. She learns that they are next door neighbors and they become friendly. They both have a lot on their plates and personal struggles. This was a sweet book. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

[Sue Sykes · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good to catch up with everyone in Starr’s Fall. This is Zoe’s story, the life she leads taking care of her parents and running The Latest Scoop ice cream parlour. Newbies Dan and Sophie arrive in Starr’s Falls and Zoe’s life will never be the same.
Such a lovely story, great characters and a good catch-up with the lives and loves of the Residents of Starr’s Falls. A lovely series of books and fingers crossed for more to come with Kate Hewitt’s new series of books when released.
As always my thanks to NetGalley and Publisher Boldwood Books for the early read, it’s always appreciated.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was invited to read a pre-approved copy by Boldwood Books on Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 stars.
A different type of romance, coexisting with life’s realities and hardships, happens in “Summer Skies Over Starr’s Fall”, by Kate Hewitt, when Zoe and Dan form an unexpected yet spontaneous couple.
I liked how naturally Zoe and Dan were attracted to each other and gave in to the chemistry and love despite the obstacles.
Both leads are compelling: Zoe and her hidden and very demanding family life and Dan with his bashful charm. Watching his pain as a father when faced with a separation was poignant.
Zoe’s life and sacrifice is immense and the situation will resonate among many people. Doing these things alone for so many years takes its toll on one’s mental and physical health.
I liked how the author dealt with the theme of ageing and illness and the role it plays in the story.
I felt it was a bit weird that the situation went unnoticed for so long in Starr’s Fall.
I liked the setting and the secondary characters.

[Emma H · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like an Gilmore Girls town type romance - this series is definitely for you. Another great book in this heartwarming series. Who wouldn’t want to live in Starr’s Fall, with its tight knit community and quaint high street. The descriptions so vivid you feel like you’re there. This time it is Zoe's story, who we have met briefly before. A strong, feisty woman who is anything but under her facade. Through all her struggles can she let anyone in past her heartbreak and loneliness? Great characters you fall in love with, lots of familiar faces, set in a beautiful, quaint community.

[Dawn Probert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely series of a really gorgeous romantic read. Full of scenery, friendships, love, ice cream and board games. Starrs fall is a gorgeous place to live, a scenic picture perfect place with twinkly fairy lights, lakes and leaves.
This book is perfect for any occasion to sink into like a big cup of cocoa. Perfect as a holiday read or tucked up in bed with blankets to snuggle under. A joyride sequel in the series.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[KDRBCK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Skies Over Starr's Fall by Kate Hewitt is book three in Starr's Fall Series published by Boldwood Books. The previous books are Coming Home to Starr's Fall and Snowflakes over Starr's Fall.
This is Zoe's story. Zoe meets Sophie, a teenager with some issues and her dad Dan. She's drawn to him, but there's a neat age gap.
A cutesy sweet small town romance that gives all the feels. 4,5 beautiful stars.

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely feel good read that will leave a smile your face. I love this series, but easily readable as a stand-alone. This book is about Zoe who runs the ice cream shop and lives with her parents, both are sick so it works for now. When a new dad and girl moves into the town she thinks he’s good looking, but can’t decide if she wants to be involved. It’s happy and sad with a touch of laughter. 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

[Emily West · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be just ok, I’ve read the others in the series and thought they were better than this one. I don’t really know what it was that wasn’t quite right. I didn’t connect with the main characters and frankly found them to be quite annoying and I felt like they were making their life circumstances something to pity them for, I just wasn’t feeling this one.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful installment to life in Starrs Fall. I have loved meeting more new characters and sharing their lives and adventures. I hope this is a continuing series as I feel there are lots more stories still to come.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice addition to this series. It was full of some family drama and new romance. It was fun to catch up with the characters from the previous books too. It’s an easy to read book that you won’t want to miss. It’s a great series!

[Clairelettersandmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Skies Over Starr’s Fall is a warm, comforting small-town romance that feels like a deep breath of fresh summer air. The setting is charming and full of community spirit, which is where this book really shines.
The romance is gentle and heartfelt rather than dramatic, and I enjoyed settling into the slower pace and emotional ease of the story. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to linger a little longer in its world.
A lovely, feel-good read that delivers exactly what it promises. Perfect if you’re in the mood for something cozy, hopeful, and quietly romantic.