What do you think?
Rate this book
Pumpkin Spice
Nicki Russell has never been smooth. More like a bumbling, awkward mess always falling short of her dreams. Good college? She never had the money. Post-grad? She’ll get around to it someday. Happy ever after with the perfect woman? One major heartbreak is enough to have her swearing off love forever. Current life plan? Avoid all unnecessary human contact. That goes double for Carter, the hot new butch in town.
Unfortunately, Carter works at the town’s pick-your-own pumpkin patch and Nicki’s niece is obsessed with Halloween. So obsessed she ropes her favorite aunt into organizing the school Halloween festival, hosted by Carter Farms. Volunteer weekends are scary enough, but Carter seems to be everywhere Nicki goes, and it’s just a matter of time before she discovers Nicki’s more likely to trip over a chair than successfully flirt.
But Carter can’t seem to get enough of her company, and as their accidental encounters slowly simmer into romance, Nicki begins to believe she’s not a complete disaster after all. The date of the festival is fast approaching, and this pumpkin spice season is turning out sweeter than expected.
Unfortunately, Carter works at the town’s pick-your-own pumpkin patch and Nicki’s niece is obsessed with Halloween. So obsessed she ropes her favorite aunt into organizing the school Halloween festival, hosted by Carter Farms. Volunteer weekends are scary enough, but Carter seems to be everywhere Nicki goes, and it’s just a matter of time before she discovers Nicki’s more likely to trip over a chair than successfully flirt.
But Carter can’t seem to get enough of her company, and as their accidental encounters slowly simmer into romance, Nicki begins to believe she’s not a complete disaster after all. The date of the festival is fast approaching, and this pumpkin spice season is turning out sweeter than expected.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2023
12 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Tagan Shepard
18 books81 followersTagan Shepard has always spent quiet moments weaving stories in her head. It didn't occur to her until recently to take the time to write them down. Now that she's started, she can't seem to stop. When not writing, she makes her living in a hospital laboratory.
She is a cardio junkie, history buff, and unrepentant nerd, happily wasting countless hours of her life on video games and science fiction/fantasy of every stripe. She lives in Richmond, Virginia with her very patient wife and two rather surly cats.
She is a cardio junkie, history buff, and unrepentant nerd, happily wasting countless hours of her life on video games and science fiction/fantasy of every stripe. She lives in Richmond, Virginia with her very patient wife and two rather surly cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
September 27, 2023
Pumpkin Spice is a feel-good Holiday romance set in a small town in Virginia. The protagonist, Nicki Russel, is a thirty-something woman working in the financial department of the University of Virginia. She lives in a cottage alone, but her sister Rachel lives right next door. Rachel is divorced, with two lovely and funny children – Lilly and Blake. Nicki and Rachel have a close relationship and can always lean on each other. Visiting the local pumpkin event with Rachel and her nephews, Nicki meets the hot new butch in town – Carter. Carter's parents own Carter Farms, where they will be hosting this year's Halloween festival. Being the clumsy, awkward woman she is, Nicki volunteers to help with the preparations for the festival, earning herself a chance to befriend Carter. Despite her crippling fear of rejection, Nicki gathers the courage to ask Carter on a date. Will the two women find a shared love language, or will their past experiences in love get in the way?
I don't typically read romance novels, but this one blew me away. Reading Pumpkin Spice melted my cold heart and made me believe someone would love me in all my damaged glory. Nicki is a relatable protagonist. Before she met Carter, she hadn't dated in a while, and her last relationship was a disaster. Whenever Nicki is with Carter, she either trips or drops something, but Carter does not look down on her. During one scene at a Haunted house at Carter's Farms, Nicki attempts to fake being scared and fling herself into Carter's arms only to fall and hit her head against a chest. She almost suffers a concussion. At first, I was apprehensive about the author overusing Nicki's clumsiness, but that was not the case. As a clumsy girl myself, I had to laugh and nod emphatically.
I loved Nicki and Carter's dynamic. It felt raw and realistic, and I desperately wanted them to remain together. Carter seems like she will be the braver one in their relationship, but her stoic appearance is flimsy. While spending more time with Carter, Nicki realizes that Carter is more reserved than she initially appeared. Carter never tells Nicki her first name and only vaguely tells Nicki about her ex-girlfriend. Nicki is so head over heels that she does not register Carter's hesitation about completely opening up to her. I liked how Nicki and Carter had internal struggles, which eventually became a problem in their relationship. The third act conflict of the novel was believable and expected. The two women knew that to preserve their relationship, they would have to have a serious conversation and lay all their cards on the table.
I would classify Pumpkin Spice as a slow-burn romance. There is only one spicy scene, for anyone wondering. It is such a wholesome, funny, and sweet book. It made me laugh out loud and giggle so many times. It is now one of my favorite romance novels.
Thank you Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the free review copy!
I don't typically read romance novels, but this one blew me away. Reading Pumpkin Spice melted my cold heart and made me believe someone would love me in all my damaged glory. Nicki is a relatable protagonist. Before she met Carter, she hadn't dated in a while, and her last relationship was a disaster. Whenever Nicki is with Carter, she either trips or drops something, but Carter does not look down on her. During one scene at a Haunted house at Carter's Farms, Nicki attempts to fake being scared and fling herself into Carter's arms only to fall and hit her head against a chest. She almost suffers a concussion. At first, I was apprehensive about the author overusing Nicki's clumsiness, but that was not the case. As a clumsy girl myself, I had to laugh and nod emphatically.
I loved Nicki and Carter's dynamic. It felt raw and realistic, and I desperately wanted them to remain together. Carter seems like she will be the braver one in their relationship, but her stoic appearance is flimsy. While spending more time with Carter, Nicki realizes that Carter is more reserved than she initially appeared. Carter never tells Nicki her first name and only vaguely tells Nicki about her ex-girlfriend. Nicki is so head over heels that she does not register Carter's hesitation about completely opening up to her. I liked how Nicki and Carter had internal struggles, which eventually became a problem in their relationship. The third act conflict of the novel was believable and expected. The two women knew that to preserve their relationship, they would have to have a serious conversation and lay all their cards on the table.
I would classify Pumpkin Spice as a slow-burn romance. There is only one spicy scene, for anyone wondering. It is such a wholesome, funny, and sweet book. It made me laugh out loud and giggle so many times. It is now one of my favorite romance novels.
Thank you Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the free review copy!
November 14, 2023
When you sit down to read any of Tagan Shepard’s books, it’s safe to say you’re going to be left feeling content and left feeling warm inside. I did enjoy pumpkin spice, I love a seasonal story, that always ‘picks’ you up at the start of the colder months to come. The characters, as usual, are liable and relatable. The story itself is lovely, set in a small town, which in my case is always a bonus to read about.
I’ve given a pumpkin spice a 3.9 out of 5.
I’ve given a pumpkin spice a 3.9 out of 5.
September 25, 2023
This story can be considered seasonal, specifically about autumn and its traditions, more specifically pumpkins. And it's definitely small town related. That doesn't mean it's simple or cheesy, although it is quite humorous. Especially the awkwardness of one of her protagonists, Nicki. She's so clumsy that she's adorable.
Nicki has not been lucky in love, she is now in her forties and her stable relationships have been few and not very stable. She has always trusted and expected a lot from her relationships and in return she has always received disappointments. So when she meets Carter, she doesn't want to get her hopes up, but her sister Rachel pushes her to take risks.
Carter is a bit of a mystery throughout the book, although she is so polite and kind and willing to everyone that she is almost perfect, it is not necessary to know much more about her and her past. Until that can be problematic.
With two very likeable protagonists, an autumnal and festive setting, the story has been pleasant and enjoyable. Also with children and cats, I almost forgot to mention it. Perhaps a little more depth into the protagonists' past experiences would have been appreciated. But if you are looking for a happy and positive read, without further pretensions, this story is it.
Publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via NetGalley for an honest review
Nicki has not been lucky in love, she is now in her forties and her stable relationships have been few and not very stable. She has always trusted and expected a lot from her relationships and in return she has always received disappointments. So when she meets Carter, she doesn't want to get her hopes up, but her sister Rachel pushes her to take risks.
Carter is a bit of a mystery throughout the book, although she is so polite and kind and willing to everyone that she is almost perfect, it is not necessary to know much more about her and her past. Until that can be problematic.
With two very likeable protagonists, an autumnal and festive setting, the story has been pleasant and enjoyable. Also with children and cats, I almost forgot to mention it. Perhaps a little more depth into the protagonists' past experiences would have been appreciated. But if you are looking for a happy and positive read, without further pretensions, this story is it.
Publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via NetGalley for an honest review
September 22, 2023
This was a sweet read to get you in the mood for Fall and Halloween. Nikki Russell is an accountant who is shy and full of self doubt. Carter had recently moved back to Virginia to help out on the family pumpkin farm.
There is a lot of fun teasing between these two main characters and with Nikki’’s sister snd niece. The romance was a slow burn and had a HEA ending.
ARC received from Neg Galley for an honest and voluntary review.
There is a lot of fun teasing between these two main characters and with Nikki’’s sister snd niece. The romance was a slow burn and had a HEA ending.
ARC received from Neg Galley for an honest and voluntary review.
October 28, 2024
3,25 stars
Decent, Hallmark-y, uncomplicated. Characters were walking rom-com stereotypes, setting too, but it was exactly what the blurb advertised, so no need to complain.
Sidenote: I understand Lily was supposed to be written as a precocious child, but damn, her temper tantrums would have her in time out in the blink of an eye if she was my niece. Nine year old children should know better.
Decent, Hallmark-y, uncomplicated. Characters were walking rom-com stereotypes, setting too, but it was exactly what the blurb advertised, so no need to complain.
Sidenote: I understand Lily was supposed to be written as a precocious child, but damn, her temper tantrums would have her in time out in the blink of an eye if she was my niece. Nine year old children should know better.
October 26, 2024
This was such a cozy, feel-good book! Exactly what I needed for this season. I adored Carter being a sexy, pumpkin-selling butch, and Nicki as her chronically overthinking self. Their romance was slow and so sweet, it instantly drew me in. If I could read a book like this every day for the rest of my life, I would die happy.
5 stars!
Rep: lesbian mc/ butch lesbian love interest
5 stars!
Rep: lesbian mc/ butch lesbian love interest
November 3, 2023
A very, very sweet romance between a hot butch and a clumsy introvert. This book packed in the autumn, halloween-y feels, which was a novelty for me as I'm based in the southern hemisphere. This book is purely a romance and I really enjoyed the first 80% but then struggled with the last part of the novel.
Regardless, Pumpkin Spice is still a cute read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Regardless, Pumpkin Spice is still a cute read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2023
Perfectly named, this is a sweet romance with a smidge of spice. It is a feel good story, with two characters that don’t fit a specific mold. Nicki Russell loves her small town and being her niece Lily’s hero. Yet she has big insecurities and lacks confidence in herself. She’s never sure if she’s enough. As Halloween approaches Lily insists on going to the pumpkin patch and there Nicki meets Carter.
Carter seems like a confident, strong butch, but her past has made her leery. When Nicki volunteers to help with the school fall carnival being held at the pumpkin patch their paths are going to cross often. This is a cozy read that made me care. I love that Nicki’s sister is always ready with a glass of wine and to share real feelings. And her aunt relationship to Lily is adorable and so real.
I enjoyed this book very much. It helped to have a pumpkin spice muffin while I read. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.. (4.5 Stars)
Carter seems like a confident, strong butch, but her past has made her leery. When Nicki volunteers to help with the school fall carnival being held at the pumpkin patch their paths are going to cross often. This is a cozy read that made me care. I love that Nicki’s sister is always ready with a glass of wine and to share real feelings. And her aunt relationship to Lily is adorable and so real.
I enjoyed this book very much. It helped to have a pumpkin spice muffin while I read. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.. (4.5 Stars)
October 2, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Nicki dating has never been great when she thought it’s was heading somewhere she gets blindsided and her heart is broken. Nicki loves her family and will do anything for them when her niece needs help she volunteer to plan the Halloween festival and she basically does it’s on her own without any help from the other’s parents. Nicki meets Carter who family owns pumpkin patch where the festival being held at. Carter is there to help her family out while trying to figure her life as they get closer they let their insecurities almost ruin them before they have a chance. I enjoy this read love the family bonds throughout the book and Nicki being cute trying to guest Carter first name.
Nicki dating has never been great when she thought it’s was heading somewhere she gets blindsided and her heart is broken. Nicki loves her family and will do anything for them when her niece needs help she volunteer to plan the Halloween festival and she basically does it’s on her own without any help from the other’s parents. Nicki meets Carter who family owns pumpkin patch where the festival being held at. Carter is there to help her family out while trying to figure her life as they get closer they let their insecurities almost ruin them before they have a chance. I enjoy this read love the family bonds throughout the book and Nicki being cute trying to guest Carter first name.
October 10, 2023
Pumpkin Spice is a cute romance for when you are feeling the need for some fall vibes in your day. I enjoyed Nicki and Carter's story. They were both adorably awkward and nervous. There were some moments when I wanted to get both of them therapy but as they didn't have any external obstacles, their emotional baggage was the only thing creating conflict. Nicki's niece was actually my favorite character. Her love of Halloween and take charge attitude was completely adorable. I recommend this one for when you feel the need for a cozy low conflict read!
Thanks to netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me a copy of this title early so I could review it! All opinions are my own.
Thanks to netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me a copy of this title early so I could review it! All opinions are my own.
September 30, 2023
I got to read an advance copy of this thanks to NetGalley. The premise is super cute and is a perfect, quick read for fall! But towards the end of the book I found myself disliking both of the main characters which took away from the story a bit.
April 20, 2024
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this quaint book Nicki Russell has always been clumsy, she would fall over her shoe lace and as for her love life well that was just as disastrous but she is a very good auntie and would anything for her niece and nephew and if that meant going to get pumpkins and carry as many as she could then that is what she would do carter works at her parents pumpkin farm....and is in charge of decorating one of the barns for Halloween with nicki who had only volunteered because her niece pleaded with her a fun read in time for Halloween, i did enjoy getting to know the characters and i loved how the author wrote that i fell into this book and couldnt put it down
October 4, 2023
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
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
October 5, 2023
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!
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!
September 19, 2025
I was expecting a cozy read, all fluffy and stuff. Did not anticipate being bombarded with one trope after another to the extent of knowing basically everything that’s going to happen after having read only a few pages of the book. Also, these tropes are so worn out and annoying, seriously does anyone really still want to read them? The cover is really nice though…
October 23, 2023
A written version of a cup of PSL. Thoroughly enjoyed this autumn romance that once again is two Sapphic leads away from being a Hallmark movie.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.
August 28, 2024
A small town romance giving all the fall vibes. I love seasonal books and this one did not disappoint. The characters in the book were likable and loved the banter. The story flowed well and kept me interested in the book. Would definitely recommend to others.
November 1, 2023
Cute!
Nicki keeps bumping into Carter when her Halloween obsessed niece volunteers her to help with the festival that is held at the farm where Carter works. Unable to avoid Carter and commitment as she seems quite taken with spending time with Nicki, feelings develop between them until they just can’t help falling for one another.
Everything about this was sweet and fall ready to be the cutest Halloween based romance ever. From the title, to the story, to the relationship between Nicki and Carter, everything was perfect. My heart melted the second they interacted because Carter was totally charismatic, and I knew no matter how much Nicki wanted to try and stay clear of the path of love after having her heart broken. There were so many opportunities for them to get closer and Carter didn’t miss a one of them, so it was a good job she wasn’t afraid to indulge in all the activities and fun happening around them.
Cater was completely endeared with Nicki, which just made every interaction they shared so much cuter. With Nicki thinking she was a mess, she actually pulled it off really well and it was the sweetest thing as she panicked about doing the right thing and avoided meddling from family members. The unexpected moments really made this story, Carter had an unpredictability that made her spontaneous and fun, daring Nicki to try things or giving her no choice, which in turn gave her confidence and brought her out of her shell just a little for us to really get to know her too.
Loved the story and really enjoyed it! A perfect fall romance for Halloween if you want to avoid spooky and dark things.
Nicki keeps bumping into Carter when her Halloween obsessed niece volunteers her to help with the festival that is held at the farm where Carter works. Unable to avoid Carter and commitment as she seems quite taken with spending time with Nicki, feelings develop between them until they just can’t help falling for one another.
Everything about this was sweet and fall ready to be the cutest Halloween based romance ever. From the title, to the story, to the relationship between Nicki and Carter, everything was perfect. My heart melted the second they interacted because Carter was totally charismatic, and I knew no matter how much Nicki wanted to try and stay clear of the path of love after having her heart broken. There were so many opportunities for them to get closer and Carter didn’t miss a one of them, so it was a good job she wasn’t afraid to indulge in all the activities and fun happening around them.
Cater was completely endeared with Nicki, which just made every interaction they shared so much cuter. With Nicki thinking she was a mess, she actually pulled it off really well and it was the sweetest thing as she panicked about doing the right thing and avoided meddling from family members. The unexpected moments really made this story, Carter had an unpredictability that made her spontaneous and fun, daring Nicki to try things or giving her no choice, which in turn gave her confidence and brought her out of her shell just a little for us to really get to know her too.
Loved the story and really enjoyed it! A perfect fall romance for Halloween if you want to avoid spooky and dark things.
November 3, 2023
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.
January 14, 2026
This is my review of Pumpkin Spice, by Tagan Shepard. Please pardon the over-the-top language.
Oh my goodness was this an amazing book. For clarity, I met and bought signed copies of two of her books at Charlottesville Pride. When I saw them (this is one of two), I thought it would be fun to support a queer Virginia author and, worst case, they are just okay. Was I ever underestimating....
Pumpkin Spice did something only one other writer has ever done: it placed me squarely inside BOTH central characters and, until the last sentence, kept me firmly ensconced in them. Nikki and Carter are better than I could have imagined, and their movement through the story was both organic and gorgeous.
There is no reason to give any plot away. I really want people to read this as unaware as I was. What I will offer is: this book does not follow the five act romance model. The "crisis" comes late, is a fundamental part of both core characters, and is resolved by an honesty that breaks your heart into fragments.
The Rubric:
Spice Factor: 10/10, on the same level as Cleat Cute or Late Bloomer. I use those clarifying references to make the point that the spice comes later, it's highly appropriate, and it's in the context of a really beautiful relationship. My Spice scale has gotten a little more defined lately and I've found I enjoy the "fun stuff" much more when it feels like a part of the story as opposed to an insertion.
Relatability Score: 10/10 but this one broke the scale. Nikki is me. Self-critical, unable to believe anyone actually wants her, perfectly okay helping her family and throwing herself into her job so much that her boss practically orders her to take time for herself, and absolutely in love with Carter. Except Carter is also me. Driven to prove herself, broken by a past she did not see coming, told she is strong while she feels weak, self-destructive in her desire to never depend on anyone, and absolutely in love with Nikki. The author creates characters that love each other more than themselves. I can't stress enough that I cried as the story unfolded.
Emma Recommends: 10/10, as if that is not obvious. This is a gorgeous story about two middle age women who find their own joy in letting another person into their lives. It's about the power of taking a chance on someone who really doesn't see how amazing they are. It's a story where queer people in a small town are accepted, and where the family table is a place of love. So fix some fall favorites, brew some chai or coffee and spice it up nicely. This book warms the spirit.
Oh my goodness was this an amazing book. For clarity, I met and bought signed copies of two of her books at Charlottesville Pride. When I saw them (this is one of two), I thought it would be fun to support a queer Virginia author and, worst case, they are just okay. Was I ever underestimating....
Pumpkin Spice did something only one other writer has ever done: it placed me squarely inside BOTH central characters and, until the last sentence, kept me firmly ensconced in them. Nikki and Carter are better than I could have imagined, and their movement through the story was both organic and gorgeous.
There is no reason to give any plot away. I really want people to read this as unaware as I was. What I will offer is: this book does not follow the five act romance model. The "crisis" comes late, is a fundamental part of both core characters, and is resolved by an honesty that breaks your heart into fragments.
The Rubric:
Spice Factor: 10/10, on the same level as Cleat Cute or Late Bloomer. I use those clarifying references to make the point that the spice comes later, it's highly appropriate, and it's in the context of a really beautiful relationship. My Spice scale has gotten a little more defined lately and I've found I enjoy the "fun stuff" much more when it feels like a part of the story as opposed to an insertion.
Relatability Score: 10/10 but this one broke the scale. Nikki is me. Self-critical, unable to believe anyone actually wants her, perfectly okay helping her family and throwing herself into her job so much that her boss practically orders her to take time for herself, and absolutely in love with Carter. Except Carter is also me. Driven to prove herself, broken by a past she did not see coming, told she is strong while she feels weak, self-destructive in her desire to never depend on anyone, and absolutely in love with Nikki. The author creates characters that love each other more than themselves. I can't stress enough that I cried as the story unfolded.
Emma Recommends: 10/10, as if that is not obvious. This is a gorgeous story about two middle age women who find their own joy in letting another person into their lives. It's about the power of taking a chance on someone who really doesn't see how amazing they are. It's a story where queer people in a small town are accepted, and where the family table is a place of love. So fix some fall favorites, brew some chai or coffee and spice it up nicely. This book warms the spirit.
September 13, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, publisher Bold Strokes Books, Inc, and author Tagan Shepard for providing an ARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
.
.
.
One thing to know about me: I freakin' love pumpkin spice. The last week of August each year will find me perusing the grocery store aisles, searching for the early appearances of my favorite seasonal treat. Apple cider is great, peppermint is good too, but nothing compares to pumpkin spice. So when I found this book that's titled after every white girl's weakness, and is a sapphic romance, and is a small town romance, and is a country-girl romance, and is a slow burn romance... I was freakin' sold.
This was a cute, easy, and fun read. At times, the main character, Nicki, got on my nerves. She's very quirky and clumsy and even ends up cracking her head open and possibly concussing herself at one point. It felt very Bella Swan and 50% of her accidents could have been removed from the novel and the story wouldn't have suffered for it. I do appreciate, and maybe this is just me reading too far into things, that she seemed to be possibly ADHD-coded. Clumsiness, forgetful, having a strong need for routine but a difficulty adhering to routine, being impulsive at the worst possible times... all felt very ADHD to me, and I liked seeing that in a character. I just wish she'd been less of a walking danger zone. The number of trips, falls, dropping of items, spilling of beverages felt like overkill.
Carter, the love interest, was positively dreamy. That's it, no notes. She's not perfect or a Mary Sue, but she does her best while wearing her Carhartt jacket and chopping wood and selling pumpkins. It was sweet how she showed patience and grace to Nicki, even while Nicki was trying to self-sabotage the relationship before it even started. We could all be so lucky to have someone be that gentle with us.
This one was a 3.5 star rounded up. The prevented this from being a four star book for me, because I'm not a fan of that trope at all; I expect that trick out of my heterosexual romances, I have higher hopes for the LGBTQ ones.
.
.
.
One thing to know about me: I freakin' love pumpkin spice. The last week of August each year will find me perusing the grocery store aisles, searching for the early appearances of my favorite seasonal treat. Apple cider is great, peppermint is good too, but nothing compares to pumpkin spice. So when I found this book that's titled after every white girl's weakness, and is a sapphic romance, and is a small town romance, and is a country-girl romance, and is a slow burn romance... I was freakin' sold.
This was a cute, easy, and fun read. At times, the main character, Nicki, got on my nerves. She's very quirky and clumsy and even ends up cracking her head open and possibly concussing herself at one point. It felt very Bella Swan and 50% of her accidents could have been removed from the novel and the story wouldn't have suffered for it. I do appreciate, and maybe this is just me reading too far into things, that she seemed to be possibly ADHD-coded. Clumsiness, forgetful, having a strong need for routine but a difficulty adhering to routine, being impulsive at the worst possible times... all felt very ADHD to me, and I liked seeing that in a character. I just wish she'd been less of a walking danger zone. The number of trips, falls, dropping of items, spilling of beverages felt like overkill.
Carter, the love interest, was positively dreamy. That's it, no notes. She's not perfect or a Mary Sue, but she does her best while wearing her Carhartt jacket and chopping wood and selling pumpkins. It was sweet how she showed patience and grace to Nicki, even while Nicki was trying to self-sabotage the relationship before it even started. We could all be so lucky to have someone be that gentle with us.
This one was a 3.5 star rounded up. The prevented this from being a four star book for me, because I'm not a fan of that trope at all; I expect that trick out of my heterosexual romances, I have higher hopes for the LGBTQ ones.
September 12, 2023
"Pumpkin Spice" is an absolute hilarious story that had me captivated from the very first chapter. It's a heartwarming and uproarious tale that flawlessly captures the essence of cozy fall and the enchantment of pumpkin spice season.
Nicki is a character you can't help but root for bless her heart. Her endearing clumsiness and relatable imperfections make her incredibly endearing. From the moment she stumbles into the story, it's clear that she's going to take us on an extraordinary journey.
What pleasantly surprised me was the plethora of laugh-out-loud moments throughout the book. Nicki's witty and humorous dialogue kept me in stitches, and her interactions with her family, especially her sister Rachel and niece Lily, were a delightful blend of funny, warm, and loving. It's a testament to the author's skill that they could infuse so much humor into the story while also touching on deeper themes.
The chemistry between Nicki and Carter is simply beautiful. Their relationship feels organic and genuine, and it's impossible not to root for them as they navigate the ups of falling in love. They truly are the perfect match for one another, and their budding romance is a joy to witness.
As the story unfolds, you'll find yourself immersed in the charming world of pumpkin patches, Halloween festivals, and the irresistible allure of pumpkin spice. It's a delightful reminder of the beauty of the autumn season and the power of unexpected love.
"Pumpkin Spice" is a must-read for anyone looking to dive into a, laugh-out-loud, and thoroughly enjoyable story. Nicki and Carter's journey will warm your heart and leave you with a smile on your face. This book is the perfect companion for a cozy fall evening, a pumpkin spice latte in hand, and a heart ready to be enchanted. Don't miss out on this delightful seasonal read! Seriously, I am not sure if the author was going for a story with so much fun dialogue (think Gilmore Girls wit) but I loved everything about it.
Nicki is a character you can't help but root for bless her heart. Her endearing clumsiness and relatable imperfections make her incredibly endearing. From the moment she stumbles into the story, it's clear that she's going to take us on an extraordinary journey.
What pleasantly surprised me was the plethora of laugh-out-loud moments throughout the book. Nicki's witty and humorous dialogue kept me in stitches, and her interactions with her family, especially her sister Rachel and niece Lily, were a delightful blend of funny, warm, and loving. It's a testament to the author's skill that they could infuse so much humor into the story while also touching on deeper themes.
The chemistry between Nicki and Carter is simply beautiful. Their relationship feels organic and genuine, and it's impossible not to root for them as they navigate the ups of falling in love. They truly are the perfect match for one another, and their budding romance is a joy to witness.
As the story unfolds, you'll find yourself immersed in the charming world of pumpkin patches, Halloween festivals, and the irresistible allure of pumpkin spice. It's a delightful reminder of the beauty of the autumn season and the power of unexpected love.
"Pumpkin Spice" is a must-read for anyone looking to dive into a, laugh-out-loud, and thoroughly enjoyable story. Nicki and Carter's journey will warm your heart and leave you with a smile on your face. This book is the perfect companion for a cozy fall evening, a pumpkin spice latte in hand, and a heart ready to be enchanted. Don't miss out on this delightful seasonal read! Seriously, I am not sure if the author was going for a story with so much fun dialogue (think Gilmore Girls wit) but I loved everything about it.
October 14, 2023
Lots of thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review (I thought I would never say this thank you so much)!
Lots of pumpkin spice lattes, wood chopping, pumpkins and autumn coziness… I love it!
I give “Pumpkin Spice” 4 out of 5 stars! I can't believe that Tagan Shepard is so underrated because I devoured this book!
Once I got into it properly I finished it in my second sitting and it was such a light and fun romance read. It was my first LBGTQ related book and it didn’t disappoint at all.
To give you a brief introduction:
Pumpkin Spice is about Nicki who is the biggest homebody and even almost a hermit. Because of a disastrous breakup she stopped believing in a happily ever after and avoids any unnecessary contact with the outside world. For Carter, the love interest and who works at her family’s pumpkin farm goes the same. Nicki’s Halloween obsessed niece, Lily, makes her go pick pumpkins at the same farm and when Nicki pumps into Carter it’s love at first sight. That’s not all, Lily also asks her hero aunt to help out with the Halloween Festival which will be held out at Carter’s Farm and that’s where the romance starts to bloom between the two… Maybe a happily ever after is possible after all?
Specific Rating
The cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters development: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Average: 3,9
Tropes
- Small town romance
- Halloween and autumn ofcourse!
- Introverted x Extraverted
- Love at first sight
The book is set in Bucks Mill, Virginia. As I said in the tropes section that it’s a small town romance which was my first time reading it. It was simple and realistic which I found really nice and the book started off powerfully giving a good introduction to the protagonist. I really liked how the author connected one event to another to make sure Nicki can see Carter again in a natural way. It wasn’t too obvious and over the top. Ofcourse they met pretty often in the month the book progressed in but from a small town romance it’s expected and it wasn’t weird. The interactions were nice, subtle and not too long. It was at a length that there was enough room for another interaction next time it happened. The first thing I saw was how good the writing style was which was really easy to adjust to and I can really appreciate that.
It wasn’t repetitive nor amateur at all so that’s a big plus point to the author!
Plot and World building
I don’t have much to say about this in a good sense because it was a predictable plot for a short book, it delivered a good story and stayed true to its synopsis!
There was a good balance between dialogue and description.
Characters
I adored the relationship Nicki had with her niece Lily. She was really seen as the hero aunt by Lily who she could tell everything to and did fun things with. I really liked their interactions.
The same goes for Nicki with her sister, Rachel. They often had wine nights where Nicki would spill all the tea about her interactions with Carter and it made me really warm from the inside to see such a good bond between the sisters. I do wanna say that I wish that there were maybe 2 more characters who Nicki could interact with because it seemed like her social circle was really really small. Ofcourse it was a short book but she interacted with only a handful people which I found too little. Besides that I also wanna say that I didn’t expect Nicki and Carter to be almost 40? They didn’t behave like that, in the sense of that they were behaving more like begin / mid 30s and I thought 40 was a little too much… The same goes for the moms of Lily’s friends, they weren’t acting that age at all, there is one like a typical popular / arrogant type mom and she seemed more like mid 20 than near 40 so that was a bit confusing. I understand that the author wants to give the readers a realistic view of an adult working, introverted protagonist and that true love is still possible at a later age but I think if they were a little younger it would make more sense with their behaviour. Maybe I’m just too used to 20-30 year old protagonists haha!
Romance
What can I say, the romance was great! I loved the chemistry and dialogues between Nicki and Carter, they had their inside jokes and Carter really put Nicki’s awkwardness at ease.
They bonded really well and it wasn’t insta-lovey thankfully. I wouldn’t say that there’s smut because it wasn’t explicit at all but more that there were intimate moments so that’s really ideal for readers that prefer that over smut!
Conclusion
To wrap it up, I really recommend this book for anyone who wants a cozy Halloween autumn filled book with an absolutely adorable romance story! It was really enjoyable, there was a nice story flow and again I’m super happy I got an eARC to review this book, thank you so so much for that!
I hope this review gave you a proper idea about this book and convinces you to read it, enjoy! (:
Copy paste the link to see the whole review I made: https://carbonated-amethyst-e15.notio...
Lots of pumpkin spice lattes, wood chopping, pumpkins and autumn coziness… I love it!
I give “Pumpkin Spice” 4 out of 5 stars! I can't believe that Tagan Shepard is so underrated because I devoured this book!
Once I got into it properly I finished it in my second sitting and it was such a light and fun romance read. It was my first LBGTQ related book and it didn’t disappoint at all.
To give you a brief introduction:
Pumpkin Spice is about Nicki who is the biggest homebody and even almost a hermit. Because of a disastrous breakup she stopped believing in a happily ever after and avoids any unnecessary contact with the outside world. For Carter, the love interest and who works at her family’s pumpkin farm goes the same. Nicki’s Halloween obsessed niece, Lily, makes her go pick pumpkins at the same farm and when Nicki pumps into Carter it’s love at first sight. That’s not all, Lily also asks her hero aunt to help out with the Halloween Festival which will be held out at Carter’s Farm and that’s where the romance starts to bloom between the two… Maybe a happily ever after is possible after all?
Specific Rating
The cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters development: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Average: 3,9
Tropes
- Small town romance
- Halloween and autumn ofcourse!
- Introverted x Extraverted
- Love at first sight
The book is set in Bucks Mill, Virginia. As I said in the tropes section that it’s a small town romance which was my first time reading it. It was simple and realistic which I found really nice and the book started off powerfully giving a good introduction to the protagonist. I really liked how the author connected one event to another to make sure Nicki can see Carter again in a natural way. It wasn’t too obvious and over the top. Ofcourse they met pretty often in the month the book progressed in but from a small town romance it’s expected and it wasn’t weird. The interactions were nice, subtle and not too long. It was at a length that there was enough room for another interaction next time it happened. The first thing I saw was how good the writing style was which was really easy to adjust to and I can really appreciate that.
It wasn’t repetitive nor amateur at all so that’s a big plus point to the author!
Plot and World building
I don’t have much to say about this in a good sense because it was a predictable plot for a short book, it delivered a good story and stayed true to its synopsis!
There was a good balance between dialogue and description.
Characters
I adored the relationship Nicki had with her niece Lily. She was really seen as the hero aunt by Lily who she could tell everything to and did fun things with. I really liked their interactions.
The same goes for Nicki with her sister, Rachel. They often had wine nights where Nicki would spill all the tea about her interactions with Carter and it made me really warm from the inside to see such a good bond between the sisters. I do wanna say that I wish that there were maybe 2 more characters who Nicki could interact with because it seemed like her social circle was really really small. Ofcourse it was a short book but she interacted with only a handful people which I found too little. Besides that I also wanna say that I didn’t expect Nicki and Carter to be almost 40? They didn’t behave like that, in the sense of that they were behaving more like begin / mid 30s and I thought 40 was a little too much… The same goes for the moms of Lily’s friends, they weren’t acting that age at all, there is one like a typical popular / arrogant type mom and she seemed more like mid 20 than near 40 so that was a bit confusing. I understand that the author wants to give the readers a realistic view of an adult working, introverted protagonist and that true love is still possible at a later age but I think if they were a little younger it would make more sense with their behaviour. Maybe I’m just too used to 20-30 year old protagonists haha!
Romance
What can I say, the romance was great! I loved the chemistry and dialogues between Nicki and Carter, they had their inside jokes and Carter really put Nicki’s awkwardness at ease.
They bonded really well and it wasn’t insta-lovey thankfully. I wouldn’t say that there’s smut because it wasn’t explicit at all but more that there were intimate moments so that’s really ideal for readers that prefer that over smut!
Conclusion
To wrap it up, I really recommend this book for anyone who wants a cozy Halloween autumn filled book with an absolutely adorable romance story! It was really enjoyable, there was a nice story flow and again I’m super happy I got an eARC to review this book, thank you so so much for that!
I hope this review gave you a proper idea about this book and convinces you to read it, enjoy! (:
Copy paste the link to see the whole review I made: https://carbonated-amethyst-e15.notio...
September 21, 2023
I love fall so much. It’s my favorite season and I’m so ready for it to cool off where I am. So, in order to prepare for that comfy feeling, I decided to read a cute sapphic romance.
Saying that, I wish it was better than it was. It was okay, but I didn’t quite like how the characters and ending were handled.
The book is about a small-town lesbian who doesn’t date and a new hot butch that rolled into town after moving from California to help her parents with their pumpkin patch. After a few run ins, Nicki has a crush and is oblivious about how Carter, clearly, feels the same way.
It was okay. It was very much Hallmark for the gays, which I appreciate. We need more of this. However, I was bored most of the time. I really think the story just needed some rearranging and deeper dives into the characters, especially the main character.
I think that Nicki is supposed to be a stand in name for a y/n, but it leaves her feeling…plain. Yeah, she has a job and likes pumpkin spice lattes, but what else does she really like? Her family, sure, but that’s a lot of people. She had a couple of bad relationships, but so what? That’s supposed to be one of the main issues that she’s perpetually single, but we barely see why. (I have a feeling the author MAY make another book centered around Christmas time as Nate’s brother opens a Christmas Tree farm near the end, but maybe not. Hopefully this would answer this issue.)
For carter, I think she’s mostly well rounded, but I wish we would’ve seen some of her stubbornness throughout the book.
As for the ending…the turning point or issue happened too late. There was absolutely no conflict until the very end and I really think it needed to be moved forward some. It left the resolution feeling a bit rushed.
All in all, it was fine. Not great. I thought the ending was cute, though.
Saying that, I wish it was better than it was. It was okay, but I didn’t quite like how the characters and ending were handled.
The book is about a small-town lesbian who doesn’t date and a new hot butch that rolled into town after moving from California to help her parents with their pumpkin patch. After a few run ins, Nicki has a crush and is oblivious about how Carter, clearly, feels the same way.
It was okay. It was very much Hallmark for the gays, which I appreciate. We need more of this. However, I was bored most of the time. I really think the story just needed some rearranging and deeper dives into the characters, especially the main character.
I think that Nicki is supposed to be a stand in name for a y/n, but it leaves her feeling…plain. Yeah, she has a job and likes pumpkin spice lattes, but what else does she really like? Her family, sure, but that’s a lot of people. She had a couple of bad relationships, but so what? That’s supposed to be one of the main issues that she’s perpetually single, but we barely see why. (I have a feeling the author MAY make another book centered around Christmas time as Nate’s brother opens a Christmas Tree farm near the end, but maybe not. Hopefully this would answer this issue.)
For carter, I think she’s mostly well rounded, but I wish we would’ve seen some of her stubbornness throughout the book.
As for the ending…the turning point or issue happened too late. There was absolutely no conflict until the very end and I really think it needed to be moved forward some. It left the resolution feeling a bit rushed.
All in all, it was fine. Not great. I thought the ending was cute, though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2023
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.
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.
December 1, 2024
Nicki has a good, uneventful life. She lives next door to her sister, helping to raise her niece and nephew, while working a stable office job in the finance department for the local university. She’s been unlucky in love and hasn’t been on a date in years, but that’s okay. She’s happy keeping to herself.
But then her niece insists on picking pumpkins and when they arrive at the local pumpkin patch Nicki meets Carter – a hot, muscley butch who makes Nicki blush and trip over herself.
She thinks that’ll be the end of it and she’ll spend the rest of the season avoiding the new and attractive lesbian in town, but then her niece talks her into volunteering with the Halloween Festival – which so happens to be at the pumpkin patch Carter works at.
When the other volunteers drop out, Nicki takes on the lead of the project and ends up spending a lot more time with Carter, who is sweet and flirty and everything Nicki could ever want.
This was a really fun romance! I absolutely loved the first 3 / 4 of this, with Nicki being so relatable in her anxiety and relationship jitters. Carter starts off as a dreamy, hot butch and as the story continues reveals more depth and complexity. Nicki develops and grows throughout the book as well, gaining confidence in herself and understanding in Carter. The last fourth of the book was a little more disappointing, with a lull that felt like the romance had been concluded and this was added one. However, the ending was very sweet and worth every page that got me there!
I recommend this book! I know we’re done with the fall season, I wish I had gotten this done sooner, but I still think this is a great read anytime of the year!
But then her niece insists on picking pumpkins and when they arrive at the local pumpkin patch Nicki meets Carter – a hot, muscley butch who makes Nicki blush and trip over herself.
She thinks that’ll be the end of it and she’ll spend the rest of the season avoiding the new and attractive lesbian in town, but then her niece talks her into volunteering with the Halloween Festival – which so happens to be at the pumpkin patch Carter works at.
When the other volunteers drop out, Nicki takes on the lead of the project and ends up spending a lot more time with Carter, who is sweet and flirty and everything Nicki could ever want.
This was a really fun romance! I absolutely loved the first 3 / 4 of this, with Nicki being so relatable in her anxiety and relationship jitters. Carter starts off as a dreamy, hot butch and as the story continues reveals more depth and complexity. Nicki develops and grows throughout the book as well, gaining confidence in herself and understanding in Carter. The last fourth of the book was a little more disappointing, with a lull that felt like the romance had been concluded and this was added one. However, the ending was very sweet and worth every page that got me there!
I recommend this book! I know we’re done with the fall season, I wish I had gotten this done sooner, but I still think this is a great read anytime of the year!
September 13, 2023
This story follows Nicki, a financial accountant for UVA who finds herself roped in by her niece to help with running the Fall Festival with several of the other moms. Naturally, Nicki ends up being the only school representative to work with the local vendor, who happens to be gorgeous flannel wearing farmer, Carter, that Nicki may have a crush on. Lucky for her, the feelings seem mutual.
This was a fun, cozy fall read. A large part of the book is set during the month of October and has all of the fall feels. Leaves changing colors, pumpkin patches and haunted houses, and of course pumpkin spice everything. I really enjoyed that this was a low angst book, despite Nicki being anxious and insecure. Both characters were endearing and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow, and Nicki trying to "accidentally" fall into Carter's arms.
What I really like about this story is that a good chunk of it takes place after they get together and focuses on how to build a healthy relationship together. Too many books for my liking stop right after the "I love you" and doesn't explore the characters navigating the changing dynamics or discovering new pet peeves or disagreements. I like that this story went beyond the "I love you" and left the romance feeling really solid and resilient, for me to believe the HEA.
All in all, this was a cute and fun fall read. I recommend it for fans of romances and those looking for cozy fall reads.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
This was a fun, cozy fall read. A large part of the book is set during the month of October and has all of the fall feels. Leaves changing colors, pumpkin patches and haunted houses, and of course pumpkin spice everything. I really enjoyed that this was a low angst book, despite Nicki being anxious and insecure. Both characters were endearing and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow, and Nicki trying to "accidentally" fall into Carter's arms.
What I really like about this story is that a good chunk of it takes place after they get together and focuses on how to build a healthy relationship together. Too many books for my liking stop right after the "I love you" and doesn't explore the characters navigating the changing dynamics or discovering new pet peeves or disagreements. I like that this story went beyond the "I love you" and left the romance feeling really solid and resilient, for me to believe the HEA.
All in all, this was a cute and fun fall read. I recommend it for fans of romances and those looking for cozy fall reads.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
October 22, 2023
Pumpkin Spice by Tagan Shepard is a holiday-centric, feel good story that is both charming and sweet. The two main characters have each sworn off romantic entanglements for their own reasons, but they keep running into each other. Eventually they discover an attraction has blossomed.
If you enjoy reading stories with a butch/femme pairing, you’ll enjoy this one.
Nikki is a woman carrying a nearly crippling fear of rejection. She’s sweet, if unfortunately bumbling and awkward. Carter has returned to the family pumpkin farm after ending a stalled relationship. She’s not looking for love, she just wants to heal and get her life back on track.
Both characters need to get over their own fears and barriers in order to learn to trust again. Trust is an ongoing theme throughout this novel. I appreciated that because it’s realistic. The character’s struggles, and the slow burn of their attraction to each other, really clicked for me. As they grew past who they had been, I liked them even more.
The tale is set in a small-town environment, always a winner for me, but Nikki and Carter were what kept me reading. There is an element of each of them in all of us, I think. And that’s why they were so relatable. I found the beginning of the novel was a little slow, but thankfully not for long. This is absolutely a character-driven story. Full of hope, pumpkins and potential.
I very much enjoyed it. My thanks to Tagan Shepard for writing it, and publisher Bold Strokes Books & NetGalley for a review copy of this 5 star tale.
If you enjoy reading stories with a butch/femme pairing, you’ll enjoy this one.
Nikki is a woman carrying a nearly crippling fear of rejection. She’s sweet, if unfortunately bumbling and awkward. Carter has returned to the family pumpkin farm after ending a stalled relationship. She’s not looking for love, she just wants to heal and get her life back on track.
Both characters need to get over their own fears and barriers in order to learn to trust again. Trust is an ongoing theme throughout this novel. I appreciated that because it’s realistic. The character’s struggles, and the slow burn of their attraction to each other, really clicked for me. As they grew past who they had been, I liked them even more.
The tale is set in a small-town environment, always a winner for me, but Nikki and Carter were what kept me reading. There is an element of each of them in all of us, I think. And that’s why they were so relatable. I found the beginning of the novel was a little slow, but thankfully not for long. This is absolutely a character-driven story. Full of hope, pumpkins and potential.
I very much enjoyed it. My thanks to Tagan Shepard for writing it, and publisher Bold Strokes Books & NetGalley for a review copy of this 5 star tale.
November 2, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Possible Spoilers!
Pumpkin Spice… am I right in saying that the word just makes Autumn feel slightly more cosy! I’m obsessed with Pumpkin Spice so to have a book that surrounds itself with the word just made me feel warm inside.
Nicki… now there was something about her character that though annoyed me, I could actually understand why they did what they did . Being the only representative to turn up to set up for the Halloween festival just screamed something will happen! Though the clumsiness and the obsession to know Carters real name was what made me notice her character for sure. Have to say “accidentally” falling in someone’s arms is genius 😂
Carter was definitely written in the correct way and I don’t think I would’ve changed her one bit. She’s family oriented and works in a Pumpkin Farm and isn’t there to look for love due to heartbreak. Yet somehow just by being with Nicki, it seemed to make everything a little better.
Their relationship went from a slow burn (for like a day 😂) to very fast paced and everything happened all at once. Which I actually thought was cute because it shows you that you should follow how you feel and there’s no shame to anything.
The small town vibe around Autumn time is what made this book for me. I feel it’s nice to read and feel cosy at the same time. That being said, this book in paperback form is not only short, but faced paced as well. So if you’re still feeling Autumnal, then this is for you 🫶🏻
Thank you netgalley for sending me this Arc. All opinions are my own.
Pumpkin Spice… am I right in saying that the word just makes Autumn feel slightly more cosy! I’m obsessed with Pumpkin Spice so to have a book that surrounds itself with the word just made me feel warm inside.
Nicki… now there was something about her character that though annoyed me, I could actually understand why they did what they did . Being the only representative to turn up to set up for the Halloween festival just screamed something will happen! Though the clumsiness and the obsession to know Carters real name was what made me notice her character for sure. Have to say “accidentally” falling in someone’s arms is genius 😂
Carter was definitely written in the correct way and I don’t think I would’ve changed her one bit. She’s family oriented and works in a Pumpkin Farm and isn’t there to look for love due to heartbreak. Yet somehow just by being with Nicki, it seemed to make everything a little better.
Their relationship went from a slow burn (for like a day 😂) to very fast paced and everything happened all at once. Which I actually thought was cute because it shows you that you should follow how you feel and there’s no shame to anything.
The small town vibe around Autumn time is what made this book for me. I feel it’s nice to read and feel cosy at the same time. That being said, this book in paperback form is not only short, but faced paced as well. So if you’re still feeling Autumnal, then this is for you 🫶🏻
Thank you netgalley for sending me this Arc. All opinions are my own.
November 12, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC! The title caught my eye, as an autumn girlie who loves a pumpkin spice latte in October, it immediately had me interested.
Nicki is a self-conscious overthinker, who I could very much see myself in! She hasn't dated anyone in a long time since her last relationship ended really badly. She thinks she's happy - and then she meets Carter, the daughter of the local pumpkin farmer, who's come to Virginia from California to help out for the season, and Nicki is immediately smitten.
I really enjoyed seeing them becoming friends and their relationship evolve - even though I find autumn to be a magical time of year, the juxtaposition of the season where everything is dying or going dormant and their relationship blooming was lovely. I loved how they respected each other, they way they talked about their thoughts and feelings, the worry that they'd overstepped each others' boundaries.
It's Sunday, in writing moment, and I started this book on Monday, on the bus on my way to work. During the work week, I made it 35% into the book. Saturday night, I picked it back up and got to 75% by the early hour of Sunday morning - I couldn't put it down!! Read the final 25% after breakfast today, and absolutely loved it! This book made me giddy and I could completely understand Nicki and Carter falling for each other - I was falling for them as well!!
Without a doubt, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 from me!!
Nicki is a self-conscious overthinker, who I could very much see myself in! She hasn't dated anyone in a long time since her last relationship ended really badly. She thinks she's happy - and then she meets Carter, the daughter of the local pumpkin farmer, who's come to Virginia from California to help out for the season, and Nicki is immediately smitten.
I really enjoyed seeing them becoming friends and their relationship evolve - even though I find autumn to be a magical time of year, the juxtaposition of the season where everything is dying or going dormant and their relationship blooming was lovely. I loved how they respected each other, they way they talked about their thoughts and feelings, the worry that they'd overstepped each others' boundaries.
It's Sunday, in writing moment, and I started this book on Monday, on the bus on my way to work. During the work week, I made it 35% into the book. Saturday night, I picked it back up and got to 75% by the early hour of Sunday morning - I couldn't put it down!! Read the final 25% after breakfast today, and absolutely loved it! This book made me giddy and I could completely understand Nicki and Carter falling for each other - I was falling for them as well!!
Without a doubt, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 from me!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews