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Pumpkins in the Forest
Welcome to the Autumn Forest
Peace is at home here among the tall trees and fall colors. Journey into stories of local bookshops, coffee with friends, thrifting, camping, and even ghost hunting! Oliver, Bailey, Blake, and Lucy will share their stories along with many others, and slowly Fall will bring them together as they confront the difficulties of change in life. As each one finds their way through the chaos, Autumn will give them the chance to settle while they experience their own cozy rituals with the people that mean the most to them.
As you wander into the Forest, you will discover how these stories come together in beautiful harmony. Joined with cozy poetry and soft, hand drawn illustrations, these tales will bring you into Autumn, regardless of the season.
Peace is at home here among the tall trees and fall colors. Journey into stories of local bookshops, coffee with friends, thrifting, camping, and even ghost hunting! Oliver, Bailey, Blake, and Lucy will share their stories along with many others, and slowly Fall will bring them together as they confront the difficulties of change in life. As each one finds their way through the chaos, Autumn will give them the chance to settle while they experience their own cozy rituals with the people that mean the most to them.
As you wander into the Forest, you will discover how these stories come together in beautiful harmony. Joined with cozy poetry and soft, hand drawn illustrations, these tales will bring you into Autumn, regardless of the season.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2025
2 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 14, 2025
This book had me feeling all the good and cozy feelings! This is a book that can be enjoyed by all ages. The descriptions of scenery were vivid and captured the spirit of autumn so well. The characters were charming and felt like friends. I love a short story collection and the way all the stories intertwined was so good! A great autumn read! Way to go Josh!
Whenever I read a short story collection I always like to share my top four favorites (in no particular order)
1. Autumn Storm
2. Tricks or Treats By Any Other Name
3. Rest and Fruit Trees
4. The Secret Library
Whenever I read a short story collection I always like to share my top four favorites (in no particular order)
1. Autumn Storm
2. Tricks or Treats By Any Other Name
3. Rest and Fruit Trees
4. The Secret Library
November 24, 2025
What a joy to read autumn tales that awaken nostalgia- reconnecting familiar feelings of friendship, family, and home. All of us have to go through changes in life and “growing older,” yet this book captures the importance of the small, present moments with those we love.
November 4, 2025
A cozy read full of descriptive nature scenes, dynamic relationships, and fantastical elements to create the perfect blend of adventure and nostalgia.
November 24, 2025
Great cozy, slice of life read to settle in to fall! I really enjoyed the short story format and the subtle connections between the characters in the stories. The poetry was lovely and added a level of depth to the stories. Very easy to connect with and reflect on my own fall adventures.
Favorite short stories:
September: The Secret Library
October: Tricks or Treats by Any Other Name
November: Rest and Fruit Trees
Favorite short stories:
September: The Secret Library
October: Tricks or Treats by Any Other Name
November: Rest and Fruit Trees
October 19, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up! 🎃✨ I haven’t read many independent authors, so I was very excited to read this one, especially because I enjoy the author’s Substack publication! This is a cozy, lighthearted, wholesome autumn read! This book contains lots of beautiful, descriptive imagery related to autumn and nature. It evokes warmth and whimsy even in those of us who don’t necessarily have good memories of autumn (or of our childhood in general). I especially loved the poetry.
Areas for improvement:
When focusing on creating vivid images through detailed descriptions, it’s easy to fall into the trap of providing unnecessary detail. This can make the story repetitive and drawn-out. The nature imagery is wonderful, but there was also a good deal of redundant, technical detail that didn’t contribute to the story and instead made it feel sluggish at times.
There were also parts of the book that felt clunky. Some of the stories could benefit from further editing to fix typos and improve grammar and cohesiveness.
Overall, it was a wonderfully cozy book and a good addition to any autumnal bookshelf. It’s the type of book you’ll want to cozy up with by the fireplace or enjoy at an overlook. I really hope the author writes a poetry book because the poems were truly beautiful!
Areas for improvement:
When focusing on creating vivid images through detailed descriptions, it’s easy to fall into the trap of providing unnecessary detail. This can make the story repetitive and drawn-out. The nature imagery is wonderful, but there was also a good deal of redundant, technical detail that didn’t contribute to the story and instead made it feel sluggish at times.
There were also parts of the book that felt clunky. Some of the stories could benefit from further editing to fix typos and improve grammar and cohesiveness.
Overall, it was a wonderfully cozy book and a good addition to any autumnal bookshelf. It’s the type of book you’ll want to cozy up with by the fireplace or enjoy at an overlook. I really hope the author writes a poetry book because the poems were truly beautiful!
November 9, 2025
"In Autumn, we seem to be able to settle into a new season of life through our relationships and the cozy rituals that ground us."
Pumpkins in the Forest is a heartwarming read, a reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty of nature and the peace this time of year brings.
Told through a series of short stories that weave together perfectly by the end, this book captures the magic of fall and the relatable life events that happen to us all. I felt nostalgic as I read through the stories, a reminder of how beautiful each season of my own autumn has been.
Shockley does an incredible job immersing the reader in the setting; I could almost feel the crisp autumn air and hear the rustle of leaves. In fact, I ended up taking the book outside just to soak in the atmosphere even more.
I highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a cozy read and needs a reminder to appreciate the magic this season brings.
Pumpkins in the Forest is a heartwarming read, a reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty of nature and the peace this time of year brings.
Told through a series of short stories that weave together perfectly by the end, this book captures the magic of fall and the relatable life events that happen to us all. I felt nostalgic as I read through the stories, a reminder of how beautiful each season of my own autumn has been.
Shockley does an incredible job immersing the reader in the setting; I could almost feel the crisp autumn air and hear the rustle of leaves. In fact, I ended up taking the book outside just to soak in the atmosphere even more.
I highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a cozy read and needs a reminder to appreciate the magic this season brings.
November 24, 2025
Pumpkins in the Forest presents a series of autumn tales with a “perfectly sweet” blend of imaginative experiences and true-to-life emotions. One of the best parts is the lovable cast of characters, which is diverse and delightfully intertwined. My favorite stories are “The Secret Library” and “Coffee and Vines” but each tale gets richer with meaning as it joins with the others toward the heart-warming ending. One more thing about the book: LET’S GO, JOSH!!!! That is all.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews