After The Leaves Fell by Ella Justice

For Oakley Tennen, change is harder than fishing with a broken pole.

With a job that drains her, a family held together by scars, and a reputation for being “unfeeling” at the best of times, Oakley’s only comfort is in the peace of Tennessee’s steadfast trees. But when her long-lost brother finally comes home with the same diagnosis that ruined their family once before, he brings chaos – and his closest friend, a cocky, annoyingly handsome hockey player – into her well-controlled life.

At first, Jason Westerman seems like Oakley’s opposite in every way. He’s happy, she’s cold. He’s outgoing, she’s guarded. He’s defensive, she’s right. The only thing connecting them is their shared loyalty to her brother. Yet, when they’re pushed together time and again, Oakley realizes there might be more between them than their differences. They might even be alike. But when Jason becomes her anchor as they navigate family issues, friendships, fears, and dark circumstances that threaten to take away what she loves most, will Oakley find a way to embrace everything life brings to her – even after the leaves fall?

After The Leaves Fell is an emotional contemporary romance that provides a swoon-filled love story with healing from family trauma, fun friendships, and a black cat nurse finding her happily ever after with a golden retriever hockey player all while staying closed door. This means no explicit scenes on-page. 

Trigger warnings: Moderate swearing, a cancer diagnosis (past and present), abandonment issues, brief moments of suspense throughout and a full scene of suspense with guns present, brief mention of deaths within the healthcare world specifically in the labor and delivery specialty and explores themes of grief and family trauma

My Review

Oakley is a nurse with a sharp edge and zero patience for nonsense, and honestly, I loved her for it. Her no-nonsense attitude fits perfectly against the stunning Tennessee backdrop the author paints. The autumn scenery, the small-town charm, and the quick “blast from the past” moment pulled me straight in, even as the deeper details unfolded slowly.

Jack, Oakley’s estranged brother, brings some heavy, very real-life issues into the story, and some readers may need to tread carefully. Still, I appreciated how fate and a little karma played into the way their paths collided. And then there’s Jason: the hotshot NFL star with a reputation and an attitude that could absolutely use a timeout. Of course, he’s connected to Jack through an old college friendship, which only makes things messier.

While Oakley and Jason take center stage, the family trauma and past wounds sit heavily in the background. Oakley carries unresolved issues, commitment, stress, avoidance, and that heartbreaking tendency to run from anything real. Jason may act tough, but underneath the swagger is a man shaped by his own trauma, soft and gooey where it counts. Their forced proximity gives him every chance to chip at Oakley’s walls, and watching her defenses crumble (slowly, stubbornly) is addictive.

Behind Oakley’s snark and grumpy exterior is a bleeding heart she tries desperately to hide. This book hits so many tropes I love, sports romance, brother’s best friend, emotional realism, with themes like anxiety, isolation, grief, and cancer woven in thoughtfully.

Oakley is surviving more than living, and the story never lets you forget it. Jason genuinely cares, but nothing between them is easy. The book references and movie quotes sprinkled throughout? Absolute chef’s kiss.

This is full-on enemies-to-lovers, complete with banter, tension, and just the right amount of “I can’t stand you… But also, I can’t stop thinking about you.” Jason and Oakley connect deeply because of their shared damage, and it makes their bond feel earned.

Overall, I really enjoyed their push-and-pull dynamic and the charm of the Tennessee setting. The family involvement adds heart without overshadowing the romance, and the friend group is the perfect complement to all the internal emotional work happening. It’s a story built on pain, healing, and slow rebuilding—and it lands beautifully.

Omg, just as the story starts to get swoony and maybe more than just kissing, the author surprises you in the worst way. Yup, getting teary-eyed. 

This ends as expected, happy for now, but not that romantic, swoony bit I was hoping for. It is more introspective with our female MC staying true to her nature and analyzing everything and how it has changed.

I love the playlist at the end of the book. 

If you would like to read After the Leaves Fell by Ella Justice, you can grab this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This book is also available on the Azala Press Website. I am an Azala Press Influencer at the time I am posting this review.

If you like this book, you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Sports, Forced Proximity, and Real Life Issues.