I tend to be picky when it comes to contemporary romance so I was a little nervous about reading this one. It only took a chapter for me to realize that Pumpkin Spice is the perfect book to curl up with in a thick sweater with a cup of coffee on a fall night. The romance between Nicki and Carter was so natural and it felt so real. It was the kind of love you would want in real life. And this book was laugh out loud funny! I loved the character development Nicki showed throughout the story. This is definitely a must read for fans of fall romance!

Thank you @boldstrokesbooks and @netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC of this seasonally appropriate romance!

I liked this so much, it was the perfect vibes to get into the fall spirit. The focus on the pumpkin farm and the main character’s niece was so fun. There was a little more drama at the end than I expected from the beginning, but overall I enjoyed it! Now I need a pumpkin spice drink too…

I appreciate NetGalley providing the advanced reader copy. This novella is quite adorable and a great, short read for the fall. This book is for you if you appreciate reading LBGTQ-related literature. Overall, this book was good and quick to read, but it wasn't my cup of tea because I don't typically read books with LBGTQ relationships in them.

3.5⭐ Nicki Russell turns into a bumbling idiot around hot women. So when super hottie lumberjane Carter moves to town, Nicki trips over her tongue every time she runs into her. When Nicki gets roped into helping with the Halloween festival by her favorite niece, she doesn't realize she's signing up to spend so much alone time with the woman she can't even string words together around!

The first part of this book really annoyed me. The bumbling idiot shtick went on for too long, but I'm glad I stuck it out. I really enjoyed the second half of this one. I enjoyed the slow burn between Nicki and Carter. Sweet story, and perfect as the fall season descends on us!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Pumpkin Spice is a slow burning, warming holiday romance. This is my favourite season of the year, so books based around it give me warm fuzzy feelings.

It was easy to connect to the characters of Nicki and Carter, learning their history and watching them grow together into something else was really enjoyable.

I do wish we had a touch more of the spice but totally love the book how it is. I would love to check out more from this author!

4 stars!!!

If you want a wholesome, cozy, small-town, sapphic fall romance, this is the move! The characters are all so sweet and the relationships are so healthy. I loved the dynamic between the main characters and watching their relationship develop over time. I appreciated that we got to see an older age for our main characters since you don't get to see that very often in contemporary romance, especially queer romance. It is a little bit insta-lovey but they're lesbians so by normal standards they actually moved really slowly (iykyk).
I love Appalachia so the small town setting was super cute and just had me daydreaming about living there. I for one would love a cottage in the mountains *wistful sigh*. This was such a fun read and I literally finished it in a day! Perfect fall read:)!!!

*There is a little bit of smut towards the end

Mini Playlist:
We Fell in Love in October - girl in red
Next to You - John Vincent III
All Your'n - Tyler Childers

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC!

Pumpkin Spice is absolutely fitting for a fall read. It has all the fun fall feels. I really enjoyed how descriptive the scenery was - I could easily picture everything happening as I read it! I loved the idea of the romance taking place and I was rooting for the couple so hard at the beginning. But they lost me a little bit towards the end. I eventually found both main characters annoying at times and kind of not great people. I would give this book 3/5 stars

I set out looking for an adorable fall romance novel and Pumpkin Spice filled my heart with more warmth than a mug of hot apple cider. I rooted for Carter and Nicki the entire time and absolutely loved the cheesy, good-vibes they feel they both gave. I wanted more of the meet-cute gushy love between them and would have loved more spicy scenes.

I also enjoyed the more serious, introspective moments that Carter and Nicki had. They pushed each other to be better, more open and to trust. I enjoyed that while they had bumps that were incredibly realistic to any relationship. It helped me connect with both characters because I've experienced similar things even though I've never been in a lesbian relationship. I appreciated that it was a relationship that reflected experiences that many (if not all!) of us have had in life. Carter and Nicki fought for each other, and I loved that while they accepted they were apprehensive and scared to commit/open up, they did so for the betterment of their relationship.

Top all of that off with the healthy, hearty dosages of fall love (I'm now CRAVING warm cider and cinnamon doughnuts at a pumpkin patch!) this novel was absolutely perfect for a cozy fall read.

This book, ugh. So sweet and romantic, with a hint of corny that I loved. Something about these types of books pulls at my own heartstrings and they get me EVERYTIME. A classic telling of a lesbian love story but make it fall and CHEFS kiss. I truly enjoyed this cozy little fall novel and am so thankful I got the opportunity to read the ARC.

“Never giving love a chance is an act of fear, and the only thing stronger than fear is love.”

“How had I gotten so lucky to find a woman like this? A woman who laughed and cried with the same abandon.”

Pumpkin Spice by Tagan Shepard
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Ahhh I loved this book so much!! Carter is the sweetest😩 definitely a book girlfriend. I mean who doesn’t love a masc female in flannels and carrhart that cuts wood and shows off her muscles?😮‍💨 I absolutely didn’t want to put this down!! Not a spicy book but such a cute lesbian romance! This book definitely put me in a fall mood! I was so scared it was going to end bad🫣 But it turned out to be such a happy ending and I loved it so much! I absolutely recommend this book if you want a cutesy fall FF romance🥰 definitely a book I want to reread every fall!!

This sweet romance had me hooked from the start and I stayed up until 4:30 in the morning to finish it in one sitting.
I loved that the story is told from one main character's perspective so we don't get to know all that is going on. While I was able to foresee some of the misunderstandings, there was still enough surprise to keep the story fresh.
I enjoyed the gentle romance without much graphic sexual description.
Although not specifically stated in the book, I believe that Nicki has social anxiety disorder and displays some neurodivergent traits, which I support. This book is a wonderful balance of baggage and banter.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC!

I really loved Nicki, I had a weird feeling about Carter the whole time and when nicki came to the realization she did, I was like yep that’s IT! it was really hard to get into and I struggled to continue. But it was a cute story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the ARC of Pumpkin Spice by Tagan Shepard, slotted for publication on October 10, 2023.
Nicki Russell has never had luck on her side when it comes to love. When she takes her niece and nephew to Carter Farms for pumpkins and meets butch Carter in the pumpkin patch, she doesn’t see any reason for her luck to change. Fate and humans have other plans in store, and Nicki and Carter soon find themselves on a crash course with destiny and all things pumpkin spice.
Protagonist Nicki Russell is a klutz and a half and I loved every minute of her sweet awkwardness. I, too, would be a helpless lost cause if I had to chop firewood for myself.
Carter sounded like the kind of hero we all want to meet and fall in love with, and the person who embodies the best of what we want to believe we have deep in ourselves: kindness, compassion, strength, understanding, and come on, sexiness!
The chapter in the haunted house between Nicki and Carter was chef’s kiss perfection and really set in motion their relationship. I found so much relatability in the characters. There was a real sense of their personalities that came alive from the page and allowed me to easily sink into their world in return.
I loved the town of Bucks Mill and always wanted more of that. As a resident of a small town myself it’s always nice to see idyllic places come to life. I think it’s great to see all members of a community embraced for who they are and who they can be.
I loved the guessing game as Nicki attempted to see if she could figure out what Carter’s first name was. And the familial interactions between both families was absolutely endearing, particularly with them both being “nerds” that had been taken advantage of in the past by outsiders.
A decidedly cozy sweet-burn, Pumpkin Spice is a perfect read for getting into a Fall state of mind.

I very much don't like Pumpkin Spice, but, how often does a book have a truly butch MC. So, I gave it a try.

I was not disappointed. Nicki is a hero aunt when she volunteers to help out with a Harvest Festival at Carter's family's farm. They get closer, but, they both have issues that are buried deep, so, the question is, can they help each other with those issues, not push each other away because of them.

I loved both main characters, and even the secondary characters were interesting too. The one little thing that niggled at me was that the other Moms subplot was sorta just, left to float away in the wind. Other than that it was such a freaking awesome read.

Put on a warm sweater, throw an extra log on the fire, get yourself a Pumpkin Spice Latte and settle in for this deliciously funny romance story.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Nikki is as awkward as they come. She’ll literally trip over air and stumbles her way through social interactions. Not to speak of her romance history because that’s another area where she can’t seem to conquer her fears or snatch a woman to build a forever. That is until her eye gets stuck on the gorgeous new butch in town. Can she let go of her fears and really connect for once?

Carter has ended a relationship that wasn’t working anymore and with her head hung low takes a job at the families pumpkin farm in small town in order to get her life back on track. She is immediately drawn to the bumbling mess that is Nicki. Will this be the woman she has been waiting for?

I truly loved that Nicki is an awkward mess and gets herself into an amazing amount of embarrassing situations. As the story moves along she gains confidence. I for one recognize myself in both of these versions of her. The connection that slowly builds between Nicki and Carter is solid and honest. It’s the kind of relationship most people dream about.

Shepard moves the story along in a steady pace. It never drags or beats around the bush. And it’s laugh out loud funny. I guffawed on many occasions.

Pumpkin Spice is the perfect romance for fall. It’s real, it’s warm and it’s hot in all the right places!

In this sapphic seasoned Halloween themed romcom, Nicki is closed off to love when she meets Carter at the local pumpkin patch.

You would think being 40 that Nicki would be more adult but she’s trapped in a juvenile cycle of ghosting dates and negging women. The third act conflict also is juvenile. Ladies. You’re forty. You’re overdue for therapy. When I read a seasoned romance I expect a mature character. None were to be found here.

This whole book was generic and too low stakes to keep me engaged. It was a slog to get through and it’s only 220 pages.

Still searching for the perfect sapphic romance. It definitely isn’t this one.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
POV: Solo 1st

In this sapphic romance, klutzy Nicki has always fallen short of her dreams. Now her plan is to avoid people, especially newcomer Carter. But organizing a Halloween festival at Carter's family farm forces them together. Nicki is sure she'll humiliate herself, yet Carter seeks out her company. Can Nicki get over her insecurities and embrace this unexpected romance?

This rom com has engaging characters and a cute storyline. If you enjoy anxious, awkward heroines, this book is for you.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

DNF at 64%

When I saw this was a Sapphic cozy fall read I was so excited to read it. This book just wasn't doing it for me. The main character Nicki was not likeable. It was like a "not like other girls" trope but more of a "not like other lesbians" trope. I am not a fan of the "not like other girls" and this book is a good example of why. I also was just in a constant state of secondhand embarrassment for Nicki. I am a very clumsy person, but this book was like a string of clumsiness to the point where I would just roll my eyes when it happened.

The one thing I liked about this book was the love interest, Carter. Carter is the reason I was about to get as far as I did in this book.

Also I made it to the 60% mark and there was no plot. Cozy doesn't mean no plot and 10 pages talking about how to pick a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch. The final straw for me was the forced jealousy. The tiny bit of plot that was there felt forced and unnecessary and it is the reason I decided to put this book down. I just wanted more from this book. I wanted more character development, I wanted more plot, and I wanted something to root for.

Thank you to Netgalley and author Tagan Shepard for letting me read Pumpkin Spice in exchange for an honest review.

Pumpkin Spice is exactly its title: nice, warm, cosy, and autumnal. I definitely recommend it if you want a cute story to read in front of the fireplace with a pumpkin spice latte from Maccies!
Although this was a cute, lovely plot, personally, it was not my cup of tea, but if you enjoy books like Heartstopper, I would definitely recommend it.

Not only does this book get you in the mood for Halloween, but it's like a live-action movie in your head.

This was like reading a Hallmark movie! After a series of awful breakups, Nicki has basically given up on love. Her Halloween obsessed niece recruits Nicki to go to the local pumpkin farm and there Nicki's eye catches on Carter - one of the farm employees and new to town. Nicki and Carter keep having embarrassing run-ins (at least on Nicki's part) and eventually go on a date. This small town romance was so sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The banter between the two was cute and funny. I also really loved Nicki's relationship with her sister and niblings.