The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore
Goodreads blurb: A spicy small-town romance and TikTok phenomenon, perfect for fans of Hannah Grace and Stephanie Archer. When Jeanie’s aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job. Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor’s gossip at all costs. But Jeanie’s arrival disrupts Logan’s routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her. Will Jeanie’s happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won’t fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes… The Pumpkin Spice Café is a cozy romantic mystery for fans of Gx`ilmore Girls, with a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!
my take: 3.25 out of 5. It is as predictable as it comes, but it has some very cute fall vibes for a sweet fall read. Some of the best parts are the cast of characters around them, and that’s why it actually being a series and continuing with them made total sense to me. Also i really enjoyed how the cafe was almost a character as well.
The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie Gilmore
goodreads blurb: From the author of the Sunday Times bestseller and viral TikTok phenomenon, The Pumpkin Spice Café, comes a brand new spicy romance set in Dream Harbor! When a secret message turns up hidden in a book in the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, Hazel can’t understand it. As more secret codes appear between the pages, she decides to follow the trail of clues… she just need someone to help her out. Gorgeous and outgoing fisherman, Noah, is always up for an adventure. And a scavenger hunt sounds like a lot of fun. Even better that the cute bookseller he’s been crushing on for months is the one who wants his help! Hazel didn’t go looking for romance, but as the treasure hunt leads her and Noah around Dream Harbor, their undeniable chemistry might be just as hot as the fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns the bookstore sells… The Cinnamon Bun Book Store is a cozy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed!
My take: 3.5 out of 5. I actually liked this one more than pumpkin spice cafe. It is still basic and predictable, a hallmark movie in book form, but it had some things that pushed it above. First, The will they or wont they vibe was awesome. I absolutely adored the book scavenger hunt, it was super cute and I kind of wish someone did that for me.
The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore
goodreads blurb: From the author of the viral TikTok sensation, The Pumpkin Spice Café, comes the only spicy grumpy x sunshine Christmas romcom you need this year! Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that’s too cute for its own good. Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor taking a break from his life in California. And most importantly, taking a break from his latest run of disastrous dates. After a run in with Kira in her fields, Ben has no intention of offering to help the grumpy owner set up her tree farm, despite the fact she’s clearly got no idea what she’s doing. Kira knows she should stop being so stubborn, but her farm is not all cute and cozy like people always show on social media, it’s borderline dangerous with no heating, and she’d rather no one saw it. But somehow fate finds Ben at Kira’s farm once more, and as Kira watches him swing an ax at the first tree, she finds herself appreciating his strength and questioning why she refused help in the first place.. The Christmas Tree Farm is a spicy romantic mystery for fans of Gilmore Girls with a HEA guaranteed!
My take: 3 out of 5. This is the weakest of the three. A very predictable but cute end to the series, with the added bonus of Christmas, with the downside that the MC is a tad annoying.
Betting on You by Lynn Painter
Goodreads blurb: When seventeen-year-old Bailey starts a new job at a hotel waterpark, she is less than thrilled to see an old acquaintance is one of her coworkers. Bailey met Charlie a year ago on the long flight to Omaha, where she moved after her parents’ divorce. Charlie’s cynicism didn’t mix well with Bailey’s carefully well-behaved temperament, and his endless commentary was the irritating cherry on top of an already emotionally fraught trip. Now, Bailey and Charlie are still polar opposites, but instead of everything about him rubbing Bailey the wrong way, she starts to look forward to hanging out and gossiping about the waterpark guests and their coworkers—particularly two who keep flirting with each other. Bailey and Charlie make a bet on whether or not the cozy pair will actually get together. Charlie insists that members of the opposite sex can’t just be friends, and Bailey is determined to prove him wrong. Bailey and Charlie keep close track of the romantic progress of others while Charlie works to deflect the growing feelings he’s developed for Bailey. Terrified to lose her if his crush becomes known, what doesn’t help his agenda is Bailey and Charlie “fake dating” in order to disrupt the annoying pleasantries between Bailey’s mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. Soon, what Charlie was hoping to avoid becomes a reality as Bailey starts to see him as not only a friend she can rely on in the midst of family drama—but someone who makes her hands shake and heart race. But Charlie has a secret—a secret that involves Bailey and another bet Charlie may have made. Can the two make a real go of things…or has Charlie’s secret doomed them before they could start?
My take: 3.75 out of 5. I enjoyed all the tropes thrown in there and it had a 10 things I hate about you vibe. It is a cute YA but in the end it felt a bit to YA for me (too many annoying teenagers). Charlie was a great MC though.
Never Planned on You by Lindsay Hameroff
goodreads blurb: A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on. Ali Rubin has a reputation for spontaneity. Like that time she made a drunken bet in London that led to matching tattoos with a stranger. Her joie de vivre is one of her best qualities; she lives every day to the fullest and follows her dreams wherever they take her. And now, they’re taking her from her career as a chef in New York City back home to Baltimore, where she’s interning as a wedding planner. Despite the occasional fantasy about her British tattoo twin, Ali never expected to see Graham again. So no one is more surprised than she is when he turns up in Baltimore, ordering a latte at her favorite cafe. When they reconnect during an enchanting evening together, Ali can’t help but wonder if Graham might be someone special. At the same time, she’s desperate to succeed in her new career and prove that she isn’t the family flake. When she gets a job planning a high profile wedding at a historic hotel, it seems like things are finally falling into place. That is, until Graham turns out to be the groom. Graham’s family owns the once-grand, now struggling Black-Eyed Susan, and he’s returned to Baltimore to help his grandmother get it back on its feet. He’s certain that hosting a wedding at the hotel is just the publicity boost it needs. Ali’s boss agrees, and promises Ali a full-time gig if the affair goes off without a hitch. Unfortunately, Ali and Graham can’t seem to ignore their rekindled chemistry, especially when it’s revealed that Graham and his fiancée are planning a marriage of convenience. Still, staying away from each other is the best thing they can do, since giving in to their growing feelings might cost them everything. Because when it comes to love, all bets are off.
This is an ARC review thanks to a gift from the publisher.
my take: 4 out of 5. I really enjoyed this book! First of all the meet cute is everything, the whole tattoo situation was too good. I also love how it has such a strong fate element but it doesn’t seem preachy or overbearing, it just feels right and adorable. The tension was just right, enough real obstacles that you felt the issues and it didn’t seem as easy to overcome. I love how their relationship developed and a lovely romance to loose yourself with. It is also a very easy one day read.
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