3.5

Jeanie's aunt gifts her the Pumpkin Spice Cafe in the small town of Dream Harbour, and she jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from the very dull desk job she use to have.
Logan is a the local farmer who avoids Dream Harbour gossip. But Jeanie's arrival disrupts Logans routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, expect he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

I finished this within a day it was such a cute, fun and easy read. Definitely gave me the autumn vibes and got me wanting to have a pumpkin spice latte!!
I really did love all the side characters in this too and I hope we get another book;)

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins one more chapter for this ARC.

DNF
Unfortunately this one wasn't for me. I am not a fan of mystery type things and didn't realise the book had that aspect in it. So I have DNFed but can't judge the book so have put the medium score of 3 stars.

How cute was this book? This was exactly what I’d want from a small town romance - it had all the cosy autumn vibes, a small town opportunity with that “will she stay?” storyline, a grumpy x sunshine dynamic. Like an autumn hallmark movie.

What I will say though is that this book looks way more cosy and innocent on the cover than it is! This couple gave us quite the spicy storyline when the romance kicked in! Definitely a little catfish here with that cute and cosy cover!

Overall it was exactly what I’d want out of a romance, it was a super quick read, I liked the characters, it’s nicely set up to check back in later as other characters go on to develop romances. I really liked the dynamics of the small town and how protective they were of Logan, but also how nosy they all were, it brought a fun element to the setting and side characters. Definitely one I’d recommend to romance fans for their autumn tbrs.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for my earc of this book.

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

thank you netgalley & harpercollins UK for the arc of this book in return for an honest review!

this book definitely gives the whole Hallmark movie vibe, which i love. although i normally prefer first person, i do think the third person voice did the book justice. i think the plot had holes in it at some points and just didn’t mesh together well. i did. enjoy the characters individually more than them as a couple, i feel like their relationship lacked depth and was just very superficial.

this book does give off the fall, cozy vibes, which is what i needed when i read it. it also gives the small town romance aura, which is comparable to gilmore girls, (which i’ve seen a lot of people compare this book to).

overall, it was cute and fun.

A cozy, small-town, romance like a hot apple cider on a chilly autumn day. This book delivers everything you hope for in a cozy romance, and everything you would expect based on the cover and title. It will have you itching to book a trip to New England as soon as the leaves start to change colours. An element of mystery in the story line keeps everything interesting. The Pumpkin Spice Cafe is the perfect romance book to curl up with this autumn.

Thank you to One More Chapter Book, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Such a cute read
It was what I needed
I jus my want to hug the book and the character
Can I have a pumpkin spice latte now?

Unfortunately this was a very lackluster book for me. I was really excited to read it, especially as it has been very fall like where I am and this seemed perfect for the weather. Plus fall is my favorite time of year and I was ready to snuggle up and read a good romance. Only...I feel like I kept being told things, but not shown. I didn't feel a connection between the main characters, but I was told it was there from the first. It was...not awful, but not great either. Really it just left me feeling meh. I didn't care about the characters, it didn't really feel like grumpy/sunshine which is one of my favorites. I love big silent guys, but this guy was quiet, but it didn't work for me. He really just had way too much pride and a lot of issues from his last relationship to work on.

The lady was very insecure and wanted to change herself completely for not a very good reason. I really did not enjoy reading about someone who thinks she has to change the way she dresses to fit in and change the way she acts and change everything about herself. So she wasn't very sunshiney. She also bought into all the society's bs about women which I don't love - at one point she hears someone breaking the glass downstairs at her cafe in the middle of the night and she doesn't call the cops, or anyone, because she doesn't want to be seen as hysterical. Because caring about your safety makes one a hysterical women. Really if the town thought she was hysterical for that well...maybe this is not the place you should want to be. Cause that is some bs.

So yeah. This wasn't my favorite read. I didn't feel it.

This was an enjoyable, small town, cosy romance set in a picturesque little town that reminded me a lot of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls! If you’re a fan of the TV show… give this book a go!

I read this one over a couple of hours as it’s quite a short read, but it’s engaging and made me feel good! It gave me alllll the autumn vibes and whilst writing this review I’m absolutely roasting so it’s definitely made me ready for cosy season to start!

Whilst I saw a lot of the story unfolding before it happened, that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment and I got pretty much what I expected from the story. I’d have liked it to be longer though to really build up more of a slow burn between Jeanie and Logan.

I see pumpkin spice and I dive on it! This was just plain adorable!! Grumpy/sunshine romance, new girl in town, cosy cafe , just a cosy wholesome read & i loved it! Was so easy to immerse myself into this book & i found myself flying through the pages. Will definitely re read this toward autumn time as it’s full on autumnal cosy crunchy leaves & of course pumpkin spiced goodness vibes!!

Jeanie has decided to leave her old life behind when her aunt retires and leaves her cafe to her. She moves to this small town where she knows no one and is determined to find a new version of herself. In finding herself she hope to find friends and fun. She doesn’t plan on the hot farmer she almost takes out. Cute easy fall read with a little mystery thrown in.

Initially, my reading experience was quite enjoyable, but he narrative eventually seemed to fall into a repetitive pattern and it was a real struggle for me to power through. I guess it just wasn't my style, though, and I can see how other people would enjoy it.

Look, the promise of autumn-themed drinks and cosy vibes is my kryptonite, what can I say? Of course I read this. But it did fall a little flat. It sits firmly at 2.5/5 stars for me, but I recognize that maybe I'm not the best audience for small-town romance. I don't have a problem with the genre itself, but it's usually very lacking in depth, and living in a small town myself does of course influence my perception.

This story is about Jeanie. After having a bit of a scare at her corporate job, she revaluates her priorities and decides to accept her aunt Dot's offer to run The Pumpkin Spice Café at Dream Harbour. Enter Logan, a local farmer who's recently had his heart broken by an outsider, but self-preservation instincts be damned, he can't deny his attraction towards Jeanie. And besides fighting her own heart, Jeanie has a mystery to solve, because someone or something has definitely been haunting her café.

Besides all that, my biggest problem was that I didn't care. The characters caught too many feelings too fast, and I didn't get attached to neither from the get-go to offset that. The conflict felt fabricated purely for the third act nonsense, and I could well be reading tropes with legs frolicking around. The mystery is hardly mysterious, and Jeanie's reactions to what's happening are frankly odd. No matter how laid back you are, you don't ignore certain things or signs. No woman in her right mind would.

Regardless, this is meant to be a light, cosy read, and it delivered on its promise. So, if you're into that, you'll find it here. The scene with the chickens was pretty funny and endearing. Plus, the story is told in dual POV, so you get Logan's thoughts and issues alongside Jeanie's. I'm always a fan of that.

This is for you if you enjoy:
- small-town romance;
- cosy autumn/fall vibes;
- grumpy/sunshine.

This one is such a perfect book for fall, it’s so cozy, warmth and lovely.

I loved the relationship between them, the cozy small town romance and the grumpy • sunshine trope. I’ve never read this trope but I am so into it and I can recommend this book so much!

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for giving me this ARC 😍

Do you want a cozy read? Do you like contemporary romance, small town, cafés, good guy meets the new girl type of stories? Then, I'm pretty sure you will like it, as you will find all that in here and more.

Our protagonist is running away from her stressful job and from city life. Her aunt retires and now she is the owner of a beautiful and adorable café, which is next to a bakery and a bookstore, THE dream.
But not everything is perfect, something suspicious is happening at night, weird noises... steps... what's wrong? And one morning, she meets the male protagonist while he is delivering the usual produce for the shop, but she mistakes him for a murderer or a thief. With this unusual encounter, they will start to know each other. Her new life starts now!

I needed a cozy, autumnal, easy read in this hell of a weather in Spain. Contemporary is not my favorite type of romance but I enjoyed quite a bit. Coffee, lattes, pastry, a book club, lots of friendship, a mystery and of course lots of romance. If you like all this, you will love this book.

Thank you for the advanced copy.

This was a sweet and cozy read that came straight out of a Hallmark movie. I loved how the timeline of their relationship wasn't rushed and how relatable both characters were. While there were some steamy/spicy moments sprinkled within this book, I think I would have loved to see more moments of them getting to know each other.

This book is a great read for someone looking for Grumpy x Sunshine, Small Town Romances and Autumn Vibes.

Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. This is quite a fast paced read & certainly a page turner. The style of writing reminded me a little of the author Cindy Kirk (in a good way)A warning to those that aren't happy to read "saucy" material, towards the end of the book, the story gets a bit spicy & steamy. Overall a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Harper Collins UK - One More Chapter for the ARC of The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore, in exchange for my honest review.

This book got me thinking of Hallmark movies and fall scented candles and 100%, Pumpkin Spice Lattes (which I happen to love).
The ingredients are all there: cozy atmosphere, small town, grumpy x sunshine MCs, found family, all happening during fall season - it was so easy to picture it.

You're tossed right into the story, where our main girl, just out of the big city is trying to figure out how to run the café her aunt left her, and happens to almost kill a local farmer suspecting him of burglary. Girl meets boy and boom - instant connection.

I don't particularly enjoy insta love in general so this might just be personal preference, but because we're served the 'love' and 'in love' aspect (more than just physical attraction) I would have really liked to explore more of our MCs relationship and see them truly get to know each other, and really fall in love.

Overall, a cozy read with major fall vibes, recommended to all small town romance lovers.

Thank you for netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read.

This is the cosiest, sweetest little autumnal romance book. Set in Dream Harbour Jeanie is taking over the Pumpkin Spice Cafe where she meets Logan the sexy farmer. The book deals with lots of issues in a sensitive manner from fitting in, relationship trauma and new beginnings.

It's grumpy x sunshine, small town romance and somewhat forced proximity.

The characters are all adorable, the setting is beautifully described and gives all the fall pumpkin vibes and makes me immediately want to live here.

Super easy and enjoyable read.

4 stars.

Maybe it's just the author's last name, but this novel had so many Gilmore Girls vibes. The neurotic female lead and her curmudgeonly flannel-wearing love interest; the New England small town with quirky residents and endless festivals... I was definitely feeling this aspect of it.

The blurb text bills the novel as a "romantic mystery" but I would call it "romance with a minor mysterious element," if that.

The romance is predictable but satisfying. Logan's character is well-developed and relatable. Jeanie's character, however, is a bit of a mishmash, seeming to encompass whatever personality traits are convenient to the plot. I would have appreciated more time spent on her backstory, or her trials as she gets settled into the new town, or her relationships with friends and family. Instead, her side of the story was totally focused on the romance - which I think could have been developed more meaningfully, in fewer pages, with a deeper understanding of the main character.

A pleasant read. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Das Buch wird als eine cozy mystery beworben, daher habe ich zu ihm gegrifffen. Beim Lesen war ich dann doch etwas überrascht, denn es handelt sich nicht um eine klassische cozy mystery.

Die Spannungsmomente spielen eine eher untergeordnete Rolle und werden primär dazu benutzt, um die beiden Hauptcharaktere in Kontakt zu bringen. Die mystery selbst fand ich übrigens etwas absurd, vor allem den Umgang mit ihr nach der Auflösung.

Die ruhige Liebesgeschichte war nett zu lesen, konnte mich aber nur oberflächlich berühren. Das hat unter anderem daran gelegen, das ich mir die Charaktere nicht als echte Personen vorstellen konnte.

Um mit dem Buch eine gute Zeit haben zu können, sollte man unbedingt Liebesromane mögen, die in einem Ort spielen, in dem jeder jeden kennt und sich auch gerne in das Leben des anderen einmischt.

Als kurzweilige Unterhaltung hat das Buch für mich funktioniert, großes Interesse am nächsten Teil in der Buchreihe verspüre ich allerdings nicht.

🖤🖤🖤

Für wen?

Wer ruhige Liebesromane mit etwas mystery und Kleinstadtgefühl mag, für den könnte das Buch einen Versuch wert sein.