The Pumpkin Spice Cafe is the first book in the Dream Harbor series written by Laurie Gilmore. I initially wanted to read this book because of that gorgeous fall cover, but mainly because I don't have the best of luck with cozy mysteries, but let me tell you, <b>THE PUMPKIN SPICE CAFE WAS THE BEST AND MOST PERFECT COZY MYSTERY I HAVE EVER READ.</b> I absolutely loved and adored this book so much. The characters were the cutest, the setting of this book was just beyond perfect, it gave me all the fall vibes. <b>The Pumpkin Spice Cafe is the perfect book to read on a chilly fall morning, with pajamas, a messy bun, an over sized sweatshirt, a warm fuzzy blanket, and a mug of an iced pumpkin spice latte.</b> This book has a big main focus on self discovery, loving yourself, and finding where you belong, but that wasn't the sole main purpose, which I liked what the author did with this story. This book deserves all the five stars and more it can possibly get, there's absolutely <b>NOTHING</b> I would change about this book. If you are looking for a fall cozy mystery before October ends, then look no further than The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore. Honestly, this book was like a warm hug for my heart.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND HARPERCOLLINS UK AND ONE MORE CHAPTER FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!

"Somewhere along the way, she'd forgotten to figure out who she was or what she wanted to be when she grew up. She graduated college all shiny and optimistic about her future with her nose ring intact, and then spent the next seven years having her soul sucked out one ten hour day at a time."

"Chickens didn't pretend they loved you until you proposed in front of the whole damn town at the annual Christmas tree lighting and then suddenly changed their mind."

"I promise, the next time you puke you can call me, okay? I'll clean it up. I deal with all sorts of gross farm emergencies everyday. You haven't seen anything until you've had an alpaca spit on you."

When Jeanie's aunt Dot (Dorthy) gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Cafe in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie instantly jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job. Jeanie needs a fresh start after finding her old boss dead and bent over his desk from a heart attack from working himself too much, too hard. Jeanie felt like that would be her one day since she would always work ten hour days, but when her aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Cafe, Jeanie instantly jumped for a chance at a fresh start. Jeanie was adorable and so sweet, she would always ramble on with her thoughts when she was nervous. Jeanie struggles with finding herself and who she really is as a person, so she's hoping this fresh start in Dream Harbor will actually help her. Jeanie also gets the little apartment above The Pumpkin Spice Cafe and that's where she meets Logan. Logan and Jeanie start off on the wrong foot. Y'all when I tell you Jeanie was adorable, she was so hilarious, the thoughts she shared when she was nervous was just everything. Logan saw Jeanie when she was at her worst, but also when she was at her best and so happy to be in charge of running The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. I just wanted to reach into my kindle and give Jeanie and Logan the biggest hug ever.

Logan is the local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor's gossips at all costs. When Logan is delivering little pumpkins and fruit for Dot's smoothies, he runs into Jeanie. Jeanie hears weird noises at night, so when someone knocks at her door she has a baseball bat and that's how Jeanie and Logan met, honestly that was such a cute moment. Jeanie's arrival disrupts Logan's routine, but he wants nothing to do with Jeanie and her sunshine-y personality, but for some reason Logan finds himself drawn to Jeanie. Logan has baggage of his own that he keeps bottled up. He proposed to this one girl at the annual Dream Harbor Christmas tree lighting in front of the entire town, when this girl literally turned Logan down and ran away because she didn't want to settle down in Dream Harbor. Logan was such a cinnamon roll, he was so sweet. Logan tries to stay away from Jeanie, but they keep finding themselves in the same exact place every time they run into each other. Logan has an alpaca named Harry Styles, tell me that's not the cutest thing ever? I loved and adored watching Jeanie and Logan navigate their feelings for each other, at times it was hard because Logan's inner monologue kept telling him not to get too close to Jeanie in fear of breaking his heart.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a free ecopy of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe in exchange for an honest review. This book is a cosy romance with a hit of spice. On the whole this book was an enjoyable light read perfect for the autumn season, however, it was a little repetitive and predictable at times.

This book was such a quick and easy read! I enjoyed the story, and it was a nice and cozy fall read. The characters were great, and the setting was so immersive for this time of year!

This was a cute and cozy story.. I liked the writing and enjoyed that the story was a quick and easy read

I really enjoyed The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. It was a cute combo of small town in autumn and all the shenanigans that go on with all the neighbours and the main street, and a sweet romance with the new-to-town girl and the town's quiet, gruff, bachelor. It was a fun read, and I've given it 3.5 stars. Looking forward to the next in the Dream Harbour series.

I really loved this little New England town autumnal theme and all the characters it brought into my life. Logan and Jeanie were adorable characters, a great build up of the steam but possibly the build up was a bit too long in my eyes! We want more!

Book Review: The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

4 out of 5 stars

If you're looking for a heartwarming and delightful romance novel to curl up with this holiday season, look no further than "The Pumpkin Spice Café" by Laurie Gilmore. This charming tale follows the story of Jeanie, a young woman seeking a fresh start, and Logan, a local farmer with a grumpy exterior. Set in the picturesque town of Dream Harbor, this book is sure to capture your heart and leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Jeanie's life takes an unexpected turn when her aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café, giving her the chance to escape her monotonous desk job. Eager for a fresh start, Jeanie embraces her new role as a café owner and immerses herself in the small-town charm of Dream Harbor. However, her arrival disrupts Logan's routine, and he initially wants nothing to do with the cheerful and optimistic Jeanie. Yet, despite his resistance, Logan finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

The author, Laurie Gilmore, skillfully weaves together a delightful story full of love, friendship, and personal growth. The writing is engaging and flows effortlessly, making it easy to get lost in the pages of this book. Gilmore's ability to create vivid descriptions of Dream Harbor brings the setting to life, allowing readers to feel like they are right there alongside the characters.

One of the highlights of "The Pumpkin Spice Café" is the likable and relatable characters. Jeanie's happy-go-lucky attitude is infectious, and readers will find themselves rooting for her throughout the story. Logan's grumpy demeanor provides an interesting contrast, and witnessing his transformation is both heartwarming and satisfying. The chemistry between Jeanie and Logan is palpable, and their relationship develops in a natural and believable way.

As someone who typically avoids romance novels, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed "The Pumpkin Spice Café." There is just something irresistible about holiday-themed romances that draws me in, and this book did not disappoint. From the adorable cover that perfectly captures the essence of the story to the captivating writing and lovable characters, I was hooked from beginning to end.

Overall, "The Pumpkin Spice Café" is a delightful and charming romance novel that will warm your heart and leave you with a smile. Laurie Gilmore's writing is engaging, the setting is enchanting, and the characters are endearing. Whether you're a fan of romance novels or not, this book is worth picking up for a cozy read during the holiday season. So grab a pumpkin spice latte, curl up in your favorite blanket, and let Jeanie and Logan's heartwarming journey sweep you away. You won't be disappointed.

Note: This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary.

I absolutely loved this. The atmosphere was perfect for Autumn/Halloween season. The characters were so loveable, as was the town, despite the nosiness. The story was wonderful and so wholesome, and I really loved Laurie's writing style. I'm super excited for her next book.

3.5 out of 5 stars

This book is a cute little autumnal read perfect for the current weather (at least in the Northern Hemisphere). Was it entirely what I expected? No, it fell slightly short in that it was very very fast paced and felt very short. But that's not a bad thing, at all. It gave off quite the Hallmark movie vibes and I do love those movies during the Christmas season. Maybe it would've worked slightly better if the book had been a bit less fast paced, added another 100 pages or so, but overall, I'm still quite happy.
I would definitely read the sequels if I'm in the right mood - for fast-paced romance.

I received an e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

✨My Thoughts✨

Jeanie now lives in the quaint seaside town of Dream Harbor and owns The Pumpkin Spice Café after her Aunt Dot retires and heads off to the Caribbean for a holiday.

Can the handsome broody farmer Logan help Jeanie navigate her new life?.

Oh my this was absolutely amazing, it’s the perfect autumn cosy read.

The town of Dream Harbor is full of such good characters and they have amazing stories to be told in the future I think, if I could move to this delightful small town myself I would.

The romance element was as little slow going but when it heated up it heated up big style 🌶️.

This was so sweet! The most Gilmore GIrls-esque book I've ever read for sure. Really loved the characters, the town, the autumnal vibes. Hallmarky with some spice, my favorite.

I requested to read this due to my love for autumn and pumpkin spiced lattes.
Oh my gosh!!! What a saucy book I certainly did not expect that one bit but I loved it.
I have already pre ordered the next book as I’m obsessed with this town and the people in this town.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for this ecopy.

The Pumpkin spice cafe is such a cosy read. I loved how it felt like I was reading a cosy hallmark movie.
This is written superbly and I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters.

This book screams Gilmore Girls, it screams Stars Hollow, so I really recommend it to anyone who likes this series!!! 😍

In this book we have a sexy farmer and a girl, newly arrived in town. Obviously they're going to hook up and don't be fooled by the cute cover because this book has a lot of spicy scenes 😂
We've got grumpy x sunshine, we've got small town and we've got descriptions that scream autumn and transport us to Dream Harbor. I can't wait for the second in the series to come out 🤭

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for the copy 🫶🏼

This little story was absolutely adorable. Sometimes you want a cozy read that doesn’t require a lot of thinking and cute moments. Although I do wish we had more of his grandparents (maybe we can get a flashback novella of their story?). This is a perfect book to take on a weekend getaway, especially in the fall. I anticipate the next installment and will certainly need this on my bookshelf

This was such a warm and cozy read!! Whenever there is talk of a small town romance, one is always reminded of either Stars Hollow or Bluebell, and here, the author being a Gilmore only goes all that better with the theme!!

Having said so, gosh, okay, Logan's description is so perfectly done that he gets entry onto everyone's list of book boyfriends by default! There is not even a debate over it, whatsoever!! And Jeanie? She is certainly the exact brand of sunshine this somewhat grumpy farmer needed in his life.

His struggle coming to terms with his past is very realistic and so is the effect it has on his present. On the other hand, establishing that Jeanie isn't just running from life but is willing to stay is portrayed very well too.

Reading this book has been a long time coming for me, but now that I have finally finished it, I am reminded why I wanted to read it and why I requested it in the first place. This is totally my brand of spice! Not totally closed-door either and not very extremely explicitly just that chapter after chapter either. Just a perfect sprinkling to get those pages turning..!

If there is a sequel planned for this, it would be lovely to get into the stories of the other potential couples hinted at in this one!! Forever on the lookout here in that case!

This was a cute fall read but I felt a little disconnected from the MC. The miscommunication trope was beat to death but it was a cute easy read.

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe served up THE cosiest vibes and a hallmark worthy romance - fun and flirty, sweet yet 🔥spicy🔥 and quintessentially autumnal, it's an easy-to-devour-in-one-sitting, under a cosy blanket, hot drink in hand, type of read. I really enjoyed it! 🧡🍃

The Pumpkin Spice Cafè was the most perfect, easy-read for the start of October. No, it’s not the most amazing, mind-blowing book I’ve ever read, but a solid 3 star cozy romance for this time of the year! It goes between autumnal descriptions that made me feel warm inside, to hot & heavy steamy moments 😅

A light and breezy romance perfect for cosy nights in under a blanket with a nice hot chocolate.
Jeanie moves to Dream Harbour when she inherits her aunts cafe, leaving her old life behind for this quaint small town. Things don't seem to be quote right though, when she starts hearing noises at night. Logan, the local farmer offers to help her with a stake out, but maybe it ends up being more.
This was a really easy read, it felt warm and comforting and I just enjoyed spending time in Dream Harbour with the gang. The side characters were fun and I thought the banter between them all was amusing.
Hopefully there is a book 2, so I get to spend some more time with them all.