A perfect romance to kickstart those cosy autumn feelings!

Told in a dual POV narrative between the female protagonist Jeanie (a big city executive assistant who has inherited an adorable cafe from her Aunt and is looking to start over, or more rightly truly find herself) and Logan (the seemingly grumpy small town farmer who keeps himself hidden away ever since he had his heart broken in front of the whole town), we follow their story as they work together to find out who or what is out to sabotage Jeanie and her cafe. All the while both falling head over heels for the other, even with the minor setbacks and hesitancies from both characters about being together.

Laurie’s writing perfectly encapsulates the necessities of a small town Hallmark style story. The gossiping book club and the town meetings immediately gave me Gilmore girl vibes and I am here for it!

The close knit community really do look out for each other as they all band around both Jeanie and Logan to help them. I especially liked the slap to the face wake up call scene with Hazel and Annie at Logan’s house. It was nice to see that even though Logan was beloved by the town, how quickly they also warmed up to Jeanie and helped her to succeed with running her cafe. I loved how supporting Hazel and Annie were, and the small peeks we got of their potential romances. I know this is titled Dream Harbour #1 so I hope the next book focuses on their stories.

I loved that it wasn’t just Jeanie and Logan who got their happy ending but that we also got to see the potentially happy ending for her Auntie and Norman (the long running cafe manager who was behind the sabotage, but only because he had been upset that she hadn’t sold him the cafe) as they both declared their love for each other, both oblivious to how they’d felt for years.

A special mention for the pop star named animals, I now want chickens called Lizzo and Britney!

An amazing grumpy x sunshine romance that made me feel so cosy whilst reading and had me reaching to light an autumn scented candle whilst endlessly sipping on pumpkin spice lattes.

I can’t wait to read the next instalment!

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe was the most enjoyable, sunshine vs. grumpy, cosy wonder that I have resd this summer. It is full of autumnal vibes, will-they-won't-they vibes.

I loved the whole theme, plot, and story of the book and the unexpected spicy bits. It's such a wonderfully written book:)

The best way to describe this one is cozy but with spice 🔥 This gave off such great autumn vibes! Jeanie takes over her quirky aunts little Cafe in a small town, hoping to reinvent herself from her fast paced big city life. Logan was publicly crushed by his last girlfriend in front of the entire town and has decided its safer to hide away at his farm. When this grumpy and sunshiney pair collide for the first time they both begin to wonder, if what their aiming for is really what they want in life and can starting a relationship together be what they both really need?

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter and author Laurie Gilmore for providing me with this eARC

If you are looking for the perfect fall themed grumpy x sunshine romance with small town vibes, loveable side characters a bit of mystery and lots of spice - look no further!

I really enjoyed Jeanie & Logans story. Loved the cozy, small town setting that felt so much like Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls and the amazing fall vibes - the fall festival, cozy coffee shop, Halloween and much more!

The only thing I didn’t really enjoy was the conflict between our two main characters. A lot of the times it was just miscommunication or simply a lack of any communication - a character assumes something and acts off of that assumption without further questions or thought.

A quick & easy autumn read worth your time!
3.75 stars

This started off well and I was interested in the romance between Jeanie and Logan, but something felt amiss when it came to their connection. The narration was repetitive at times and the passionate scenes were clichéd. This might interest others but unfortunately it wasn't for me and I DNF.

A super lovely romance that made me feel like I was in that cosy little cafe! Who doesn’t love a grumpy/sunshine story! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for early access to this title.

You got me at pumpkin spice, not gonna lie. I am an autumn girlie (gender neutral) through and through and the idea of a coffee shop romance set in autumn with pumpkin spice? Tailor-made for me, or so it seemed.

Unfortunately, I don't feel like the book fully uses its setting. I could feel it was autumn a few times but most of the time the expected atmosphere just wasn't there. Every time something autumny was mentioned I was like oh right, that's it, that's the season we are in.

That, however, absolutely doesn't make or break a book so let's talk about the stuff that does.

The plot wasn't anything new or special. A big-town girl moves to a small town after a hard-hitting realization that she doesn't know where did her life go, even though she thought she had it all figured out. She meets a local hottie and they fall in love in the midst of small-town shenanigans. It's a common formula but it works. Especially since this small town was full of quirky characters who added a lot to its personality. Between them, we even have a few queer characters, which, while they were minor, was nice to see anyway. You have probably read or seen a movie with a similar plot but it's familiar and comforting and therefore it works. The mystery part of the book was just there to bring the two of the main characters together and it wasn't the main point so I didn't feel disappointed by the resolution but it probably may bother people who came here for something exciting.

The characters, which in my opinion, are the very foundation of the romance novel were nice. I really liked Jeanie, who was fun and loud with a lot of anxiety stacked upon her. I liked the way she grew to care and prioritize herself and surrounded herself with a group of people ready to help her. It's far too easy to lose meaningful connection with people when you start to work and function as an adult so her journey was very relatable.

When it comes to Logan, he was also a very well-developed character and while I didn't like him as much as Jeanie, I could appreciate the way his actions were based on his previous experiences. Most of the time he was a cool, while a little gruff guy but there were moments when I wanted to kick him. Luckily he had a group of friends always ready to steer him right and he was rather self-aware about his faults.

The rest of the characters (and there are a few of them) were quirky and fun but not very well-developed. I didn't mind, because they served their purpose in the story and some of them seemed to be set up for future romances set in this city. I don't need my side characters to be super deep but I appreciate when I can tell them apart and here it definitely worked.

Now the romance. It felt a little insta-lovey but the characters' issues stopped from jumping each other bones 5% into the book. The progression of the romance, despite the immediate attraction, seemed natural for a book like this so I didn't mind it that much. There were some moments of miscommunication where characters just assumed they knew what the other was thinking. There were also a lot of moments where they were interrupted before things got heated and while it can happen once or twice, it was too much at some point. When it comes to the third-act breakup, I feel it was a logical conclusion to Logan's issues and I don't think it was forced.

All in all, it's a fun cozy romance that reads quickly and serves as a great palate cleanser. I recommend picking it up later in the summer to get all the autumn experience.

A beautiful well written love story that will remain in my heart/head for a long time. There is SO MUCH happening here!…

3.5 stars rounded up.

Laurie moves to Dream Harbour to take over Pumpkin Spice Café. In steps Logan the local produce farmer and supplier to PS café in all his flannel-y goodness.

We follow them as they fall in love with small town life & each other. It's definitely a book to snuggle up with as the weather cools and the leaves start to fall. Logan & Jeanie will definitely warm you up!

This was absolutely my favourite, coziest read of 2023. I now kind of regret having read it in July, but I’ll be sure to pick it up again when the temperatures start dropping and I’ll start my seasonal rewatch of Gilmore Girls.

The story is set in Stars Hollo-I mean… in Dream Harbor, a small town where the people care and look out for each other, hold bimonthly assemblies to discuss the Mayor’s latest dreams, and just go aggressively crazy for Halloween.

The MC, Jeanie, is such an interesting character: she starts as the average sweet girl looking for a change of pace in her life, but the more we read, the more we have a chance to see all her many facets and her development into her own person.

Logan is presented as the typical small-town-romance grumpy hero, but is in fact what the kids call a soft boi: he has (understandably) strong abandonment issues that make us just want to hug him and comfort him and kiss it all better. Jeanie does- lucky her- and the steamy scenes were to live for!

The side characters, who would not be happy to be called “side”, are always ready to snoop in on the action and add something to the plot: we can see the attention to detail that the author put into creating each of them, and there’s a very interesting foundation for future books starring Logan and Joanie’s friends. (can’t wait for Annie’s!)

The little bit of mystery was a very nice touch, being a good expedient for keeping the story going but also creating a nice break when necessary.

The only side note I can think of is the immediate attraction between the MCs, since I’m not a fan of insta-love, but their relationship was well developed and paced so can’t complain too much. Also, I maybe would have liked the steamy to be more spaced out instead of having most of them in the last chapters.

A big thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC, can’t wait for the next books in the series!

#ThePumpkinSpiceCafé #LaurieGilmore #SmallTownRomance #GrumpyxSunshine #CozyRead

This was absolutely delightful! I finished it in less than a day. It's everything I could want from a romance book: likeable characters that you root for, the perfect amount of spice, and the miscommunication/conflict doesn't go on too long. The fall vibes were also immaculate. Very much giving Gilmore Girls. I can't wait for the next in this series!!

First off, I wish there were more cozy autumn romances out there! The romance genre could use some more pumpkin spice lattes, fall foliage, and apple pies.

The romance of this book fell flat for me though. The two main characters, Jeanie and Logan, became literally obsessed with each other way too fast - it was almost random. It all felt too rushed and incredibly cheesy. I really wanted more tension and depth between Jeanie and Logan. My favorite part of this story was definitely the setting of Dream Harbour and the small-town ensemble of characters.

This was overall a fast and easy read, but I will call out that I think the cover of this book fits more of a cozy mystery story than a steamy romance.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not a huge reader of cozies but this one captured my interest. I'm obsessed with fall so naturally The Pumpkin Spice Cafe drew my attention. The story was well written and kept my attention. I enjoyed our quirky main character. The grumpy and sunshine trope is one if my favorites. I'll definitely be recommending this!

The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore is a heartwarming and cozy contemporary romance that immerses readers in the delightful world of small-town charm and autumnal bliss. With its warm atmosphere, lovable characters, and enchanting storyline, this book earns a solid 4-star rating.

Laurie Gilmore invites readers into the Pumpkin Spice Café, a quaint establishment that serves up more than just delicious beverages. The cozy setting and vivid descriptions create a comforting backdrop that makes you want to curl up with a warm drink and a good book.

The characters in The Pumpkin Spice Café are endearing and relatable, with their hopes, dreams, and struggles that resonate with the reader. The romance that unfolds within the pages of the book is sweet and tender, capturing the magic of unexpected connections and second chances.

Gilmore's writing style is engaging and evocative, transporting readers into the heart of the small town and immersing them in the sights, sounds, and aromas of the café. The dialogue flows naturally, adding depth and authenticity to the interactions between the characters.

What sets this book apart is its ability to evoke the spirit of autumn and the sense of community that comes with it. The Pumpkin Spice Café serves as a gathering place where friendships are forged, dreams are shared, and love finds its way. The book embraces the cozy and nostalgic atmosphere of the season, making it a perfect read for autumn lovers.

While The Pumpkin Spice Café offers a delightful reading experience, there were moments when certain plot points felt a bit predictable, and the pacing could have been slightly tighter. However, these minor flaws do not detract from the overall enjoyment and charm of the story.

In conclusion, The Pumpkin Spice Café is a heartwarming and cozy contemporary romance that will warm your heart and leave you craving autumn delights. Laurie Gilmore's ability to capture the essence of small-town charm and the magic of seasonal moments is commendable. Fans of feel-good romances and those seeking a dose of autumnal joy will find themselves enchanted by this delightful book.

#ThePumpkinSpiceCafe #LaurieGilmore #ContemporaryRomance #CozyRead #SmallTownCharm #BookReview

Jeanie inherits her aunts café, after she decides to retire. Moving to Dream Harbour gives Jeanie the chance to restart. While dropping off some pumpkins and grouds, Logan the local farmer meets Jeanie, Soon sparks begin to fly and they soon end up in a spot of need to go on a ghost hunt.

I loved the autumn theme throughout, it made everything feel warm and cosy. I really wanted a pumpkin spice latte after reading. This is a perfect read for the autumn months. I loved the the book club scenes and I want more - it's the type of group, I wish I had in my own village.

I felt that some of the background characters could have been fleshed out more, I felt it especially in the town meeting scenes. They were there to make it seem more like a town but it felt they were there just to show that the main focus was between Jeanie and Logan. It would have been nice to learn more about the other businesses and owners- see more interaction. I also didn't like the miscommunicating scenes, I didn't think it was needed or it should have been done in another way as it felt like it was there for the sake of being there. It would have also been nice for the pair to have a couple more dates together- I loved the ghost hunting scenes.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the book for an honest review

I have not read this author but I really enjoyed this story about Jeanie, Logan and the town of Dream Harbor. The problem that everyone knows your business and they are very protective of their own, Some have a hard time about the past but must be positive about putting in the past instead of being scared of it and and always assuming the worst. A GOOD READ.

I am obsessed with this book! Thankyou so much NetGalley and one more chapter for the chance to read this book! I am in love with all the characters they’re so captivating, and I love the different personalities portrayed between them all! This was a perfect grumpy sunshine romance, it was a slow burn with a few spicy scenes which were amazing! I’m so happy with how the story ended and it was the perfect romance journey!

I received a free copy of, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, by Laurie Gilmore, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Jeanie is gifted The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, by her lovely aunt. Logan lives in town where Jeanie's cafe is, sparks fly when they are looking for a ghost. This is a nice read, I love autumn time and pumpkin everything, this in a nice book to cozy up with in the fall.

Grumpy/Sunshine meets cozy romantic mystery? 100% yes! This was absolutely adorable and I loved every single page!

We follow Jeanie who has recently moved to town and taken over her Aunt’s beloved Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Things are brewing up nicely until some strange occurrences start giving Jeanie the willies. Lights are malfunctioning, strange noises are keeping her up at night and items are going missing - and there is no explanation in sight! Logan (local farmer and town grump) notices Jeanie’s distress while making his produce delivery to the cafe and breaks his cardinal rule of not getting involved to help her catch the culprit! As they sleuth out the perpetrator - friendships blossom, feelings bloom and they discover that they just might be what the other has been searching for all along.

Full of friendship, small town vibes, quirky characters, swoon worthy romance, delicious coffee, an adorable feline, all the grumpy/sunshine goodness, mystery and a guaranteed HEA - Pumpkin Spice Café is a charmingly fantastic read!

Thank you to One More Chapter for the advanced copy!

Book Review 📚
The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore - 4/5 ⭐

A small town, cozy cafe romance with a beautifully written plot and even some laugh-out-loud moments! I get this HUGE 'Stars Hollow' vibe from the setting (maybe the author planned that?) But Gilmore really set the scene.

I won't lie, I absolutely adored the characters. Jeanie and Logan stole my heart. She's peppy, happy-go-lucky and strong! The kind of strong that hears a noise and doesn't run the opposite way screaming! Whereas Logan is grumpy on the outside but adorable on the inside. The fact he rehomes pets and names them after celebs is AMAZING. A really awesome touch to his character that made him feel very real life.

I love the route Gilmore went down with the characters and I enjoyed the mains and the side characters equally. But I wasn't expecting the story to go down such a different kind of route! That really caught me off guard but I still LOVED it. If anything I think it made the story much more interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.