Publication Date: September 9, 2025
For fans of Elyssa Friedland comes a rollicking fall novel from beloved author Shauna Robinson, where the friend who left and the friend who stayed must reunite to save their hometown through the fall festival that once brought them together.Â
Lauryn Harper had a plan. A high achieving, perfectly constructed, eight-year plan. But after a (totally blown out of proportion) mishap at work that plan is put to the test.
As punishment for her mistake she is transferred to the Ryser charity department, a branch that just so happens to be located in the hometown she abandoned long ago – and that her powerful corporate employer is responsible for running into the ground. Horrified at the thought of returning and facing those she left behind (one in particular keeps coming to mind), Lauryn quickly comes up with a new plan: impress her boss enough that she’s briskly whisked back to her big city life.
However, it soon becomes clear that sticking to plans isn’t that simple, especially when her ex-best friend enters the charity department demanding they help revitalize the town by bringing back the once-famous Greenstead Apple Festival. Confronted by her past wrongs, Lauryn immediately agrees to host the festival on Ryser’s dime, but soon enough Lauryn is swept away in town hijinks, chaotic planning sessions, and a second chance with a childhood f
Lauryn Harper Falls Apart by Shauna Robinson is a book that evokes a range of emotions and feelings. What happens when Lauryn’s life gets upended and all her plans for how her life is to unfold fly out the window? The story alternates between the present and the past, offering different perspectives on events and life in general.
Lauryn is good at her job in public relations as long as she toes the corporate line her bosses have laid out. When a misunderstanding occurs between her and a superior, she’s immediately demoted and sent back to her hometown, which has suffered at the hands of the company where she works. They have a remote office there called Ryser Cares, but everyone knows they don’t, and the town and its residents and business owners have suffered as a result. So has the environment!
There are other employees relegated to the same barren existence whom she eventually bonds with, and they become a team that works well together on bringing back the apple festival of her youth. They are an eclectic group and all have different strengths, and by working together toward a goal, they start to feel better about themselves.
Lauryn also reconnects with her former best friend, which was an unexpected bonus. Lauryn often holds herself apart and tends to hold back, keeping secrets that always hurt her in the end. There are plenty of misunderstandings throughout, and Lauryn tries to stay one step ahead of any opposition and negativity.
Ultimately, the festival is successful, but all of them are impacted in ways none of them foresaw. Is Lauryn holding back information once again? The ending was bittersweet and had glimpses of what could be. I wish it had gone on a little longer.
Lauryn Harper Falls Apart is a story of self-reflection, unexpected friendships, and expectations. Positive things can happen if an open mind is kept and your strengths are highlighted.
SHAUNA ROBINSON writes contemporary fiction with humor and heart. Originally from San Diego, she now lives in Virginia with her husband and their sleepy greyhound. Shauna is an introvert at heart—she spends most of her time reading, baking, and figuring out the politest way to avoid social interaction.
