Julie Murphy can do no wrong! I loved Waylon and his friends. It's so nice to see a positive representation of drag in YA.

This was adorable. I loved Dumplin', Puddin' was a bit of a miss for me, but Pumpkin has my heart. Julie Murphy is amazing!

I'm a huge fan of the first two books in this series, and this one didn't disappoint. I loved Waylon as a character, and I love that in the book we were watching him build his relationship with drag. I dream of more of a glance into Hannah's inner life. Overall, this book was a ton of fun and I can see some of my 8th grade and older students getting really into it. Thanks, Netgalley!

What a wonderfully queer book! LGBTQ+ representation in books for young people is so so important, and I just love putting books like Pumpkin into the hands of those that need them!

Simply amazing! Julie Murphy creates a wonderfully crafted character that is just as funny and relatable as those in Dumplin and Puddin!

This book was good, but had many similarities to Dumplin. Overall, it was a good addition to the trilogy. I like how the characters are developed and are relatable to many readers.

This book is my favorite release for 2021. It was so sweet and heartwarming and a true gem in the YA community. I've been a fan of Julie Murphy for years and I feel this is her best novel yet. Every chance I get, I talk about this book to readers and customers, Everyone should read it.

Julie Murphy writes such celebrations of bodies and differences, and I wish that high school could have been more like it is in the world of Dumplin' (and now Pumpkin). I hope that it is that way for some kids, but I'm afraid it's not and this book is more of a fantasy <sigh>.

Waylon is a fat boy. A fat, gay boy. In West Texas. He's had crushes and clandestine meetings (not really relationships, but...), but he's also been bullied. When he goes to his first drag show, he recognizes that this is what he wants to do. And then he's nominated for Prom Queen as a mean joke. And his twin sister's girlfriend is nominated for Prom King.

They are going all in.

If you can get past, or even embrace (!) the magical sparkle, this is a fun and enjoyable book.

My thanks to Harper Collins Children's/Balzer & Bray and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been an avid reader of Julie Murphy and was excited to read the 3rd book in this series. I felt that this book was on trend and would be relatable to the YA audience. I love the characters and the descriptive storytelling.

Biggest thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books/Balzer + Bray and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this fun and empowering book.

I've read all 3 books in the Dumplin' series and have loved them all. Julie Murphy creates the best characters, filled with the insecurities that seem to plague us all at some level. This book is no exception. Our main character, Waylon, is an overweight, gay high school senior just hoping to make it to graduation so he can leave town with his twin sister/best friend and start being who he truly is. When Waylon's secret drag queen show audition tape gets viewed by the entire school, they nominate him as prom queen as a joke. The joke's on them because Waylon is tired of laying low. He decides this is finally his time to shine.

I loved Waylon's supportive family and wish every gay, overweight, and marginalized kid were as lucky as him. I also adored the love story woven throughout. I am now on a mission to read everything Julie Murphy has written.

The pacing, dialogue, and characters support one another to create a solid addition to the world and lives created by Murphy.
3.5 stars

I am a fan of Julie Murphy's YA series of books. I loved Dumplin and Puddin and initially was curious about Pumpkin but unsure how it would fit in. i was wrong. Pumpkin is a heartfelt and has the same joy of the previous two reads. I wish there were more pages to wrap up the other character arcs but one can wish.

I appreciated that the character Pumpkin was surrounded by love and acceptance from his family and enjoyed reading about his journey to self confidence and self acceptance. I highly recommend it.

Julie Murphy at her finest! Gay and quirky characters, small town life, drama and humor! You'll enjoy every minute of getting to know Waylon and his sister.

Waylon loves watching is favorite reality show featuring drag queens, but after his favorite queen gets passed up for the crown, he decides to try his own hand at drag to channel his frustration. After his twin sister overshares the video recording of his late-night drag performance, Waylon gets nominated for Prom Queen, along with his sister's girlfriend, Hannah, who is nominated for Prom King. This then starts a whole exploration for Waylon of who he wants to be for these last few weeks of school: the Waylon he's always been or "full Waylon" (out and loud with not only his attitude but his dress, too.

Pumpkin was a great culmination of this series in Clover City. There's great character development through this book, and looking at the characters through the 3 books. It was also really fun to see the cameos of the other characters and talk of their post-graduation plans in this book. This was a fun read for all, even if you haven't read the Dumplin' or Puddin'. Highly recommended.

A very light, easy read. There isn't much substance here. However, I felt like this was written for an older, cishet white woman audience than it was for young adults. The characters didn't act like teens in my opinion, save for how Waylon felt entitled to his sister's space and time and felt personally rejected when she was looking at other schools--a sign of emotional immaturity. This isn't an own voices book. This felt written for middle-aged, cishet white women, not queer youth. I don't know. This just wasn't for me. No one felt like an actualized character, and CONSTANT descriptions of race and sexuality made me uncomfortable--it felt forced, not natural like I've read in own voices works. I like knowing. I want diverse reads--I'm a femme lesbian marrying a butch. We're in a visibly, openly queer relationship. I want queer reads. But this felt more like a white author trying to prove that she's capable of writing diverse fiction; it felt like a shallow injection of diversity so the white audience she's catering to can feel good about itself. It felt... tokenizing. I don't know. I'd be curious to see what reviewers of color say about this.

I loved both of Murphy's previous books in this series (Dumplin' and Puddin') and so was incredibly excited for the release of Pumpkin'. But something about this one just didn't work for me as well as the rest. Perhaps it's more general (I'm just older and I don't read nearly as much YA as I used to, and so it takes a lot more to grip me when it comes to stories skewed to a younger audience) or it's specifically that I didn't feel the characters and plot were as well developed this time around. I think if you like authors like Becky Albertalli you might enjoy this a lot more than if you are, say, a fan of Murphy's earlier books in this series.

Overall I thought this was a great book! I was surprised by the twists in the plot, and happy with the ending.

Cute YA book, with great characters and story. I enjoyed the relationship between Clem and Waylon and loved how the parents were accepting of both kids. I also loved how eccentric their Grammy was.

After having read Dumplin' a few years ago and loving it, I knew I had to give Pumpkin a try (and will need to check out Puddin' now too!) Our protagonist is Waylon Brewer, age 17, obsessed with drag, fabulous, not closeted but still just trying to get by so he can survive high school and evolve into his "true self" after graduation. Physically he is heavier, and this paired with the fact that he's gay and just... overall different has him on edge. Waylon is getting by with the help of his twin sister Clementine when something happens that causes him to lash out in the best and most Waylon way possible. This lands him in the radar of his classmates; some who are deeply supportive, but more who seem determined to call him out negatively for his differences. It's a ride, but Waylon ends up on top with a satisfying conclusion that seems... maybe a little too easy, but is beautifully earnest and sweet.
Waylon as a character is deeply likable and believably flawed, and watching him grow through his self consciousness into a braver version of himself was so satisfying. I found myself rooting for this sweet, vibrant being, and will certainly be recommending this title to many of my teens (and some adults too).

BOOK REPORT for Pumpkin (Dumplin' #3) by Julie Murphy
Cover Story: Can I Get An Amen Up In Here?
BFF Charm: Yay!
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Southern Comfort
Bonus Factors: Clover City, LGBTQ+, Body Image, Kickass GramRelationship Status: Shantay, You Stay

Cover Story: Can I Get An Amen Up In Here?

All of the books in the Dumplin' series have adorable covers, but this artwork is by far my favorite. From the ginger hair to the rainbow cummerbund to the red heels to that fabulous pose, the illustration of Waylon channels him perfectly, and that pink background!!! We also get the bonus of Waylon in drag on the back, because this jacket has to be as extra as our protagonist.  

The Deal

Waylon Brewer isn't the only openly gay guy in the small town of Clover City, Texas, nor is he the only fat one. But he might just be the only gay and fat guy, and even with supportive parents and a hell of a sister, he often feels isolated and lonely. It doesn't help that his closest connection with a queer community is through a TV drag competition, or that his make-out partner, Lucas, wants to keep their fling a secret. But when Waylon finds out that Clementine, his twin, is heading to college in Georgia and breaking their pact to move to Austin together, it's the final straw, and he breaks down in the most spectacular way: he films a video submission for his favorite show, Fiercest of Them All, and gives birth to Pumpkin Patch, his drag persona. 

But rather than winning him a spot in the competition, the video ends up going viral at school and blowing up Waylon's low-key profile to the point where he gets nominated for Prom Queen. Because asshole teens are soooo funny. Waylon's not the only target--Clementine's girlfriend, Hannah, is up for Prom King, and rather than silently bow out, she wants to win this thing, and she wants Waylon by her side. As the two pursue the crown, Waylon must grapple with his fears, his identity, and his alarming new crush on football hottie Tucker Watson. And as if that wasn't enough, he's gotta learn how to walk in heels. 

BFF Charm: Yay!

GAH, I want to hug Waylon SO HARD but I'd settle for letting him borrow my lipstick. He's funny and vivacious and yeah, a bit melodramatic, but he's also a prickly pear at times, which makes sense given all of the feelings roiling through his system. Being, as he would say, "fat and femme," means that people quickly label him and don't look any further, and because of that, he's not even sure there *is* more to him, more to know and more to love. It was heartbreaking to read passages like this:

"There are times when I feel like I can't be me. I can't simply exist. I have to offer something in exchange. Something that absolves me of being fat and gay and even worse--both of those things at once." 

Thankfully, Waylon isn't alone--bonus charms go to Clementine, who gives the best pep talks, and to Hannah, who is SUCH a badass. But ultimately, this is Waylon's journey, and watching him put himself out there, in spite of his fears, was truly an inspiring thing to behold. (Not to dismiss his Pumpkin Patch routine, which also sounds pretty dazzling to witness!)  

Swoonworthy Scale: 5

As we've noted in previous reviews of the Dumplin' series, there's a flicker of fairy tale underlying these underdog stories, and Waylon's romance with Tucker Watson is a very sweet expression of that theme. You will definitely find yourself wanting to smack Waylon on the arm and ask him why he's so BLIND because it's OBVIOUS that Tucker likes him, even though he's a high school golden boy and Waylon is... not. While I was actually more invested in Waylon's other relationships with friends and family, I can't deny that his connection with Tucker is the stuff that teen dreams are made of. 

Talky Talk: Southern Comfort

Julie Murphy may take you into painful emotional territory, but rest assured, she's always got a supply of sass to help you through the rockiest valleys. Whether you're looking for a frank exploration of self-image or a charming small town romp, you'll get both, and that's the magic of Murphy--the light and dark don't cancel each other out. Instead, both are deepened, and the result is a story that delivers Truvy Jones' favorite emotion: laughter through tears. 

Plus, it wouldn't be a Julie Murphy book without some choice aphorisms, and one of them is a callback to glitter!    
"Glitter is dangerous. You don't wield glitter. Glitter wields you."

Bonus Factor: Clover City

Not gonna lie, I would never want to live in Clover City, but I do love to visit! It was a blast hanging out again at Harpy's and The Hideaway, and reuniting with so many familiar faces (Willowdean! Bo! Millie! Callie!) was a real treat. The highlight of the trip? Will and Ellen drunkenly singing "Two Doors Down." 

Bonus Factor: LGBTQ+

There's a rainbow (hey-o) of queer voices in this book, which adds a rich complexity of perspectives and a compelling backdrop for Waylon, who worries that he might not be "the right kind of gay." I appreciated Julie Murphy delving beyond the anxieties of coming out and focusing more on the challenge of embracing a unique self under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. 

Bonus Factor: Body Image

Murphy has expertly tackled body image in previous novels, but Pumpkin stands out due to the way Waylon's feelings about his weight impact his queer identity. As he puts it: 

"I know it's plenty difficult for other people too, but when you're straight and big, everyone is fine with you as long as you can be the person who lifts heavy stuff or fixes things or protects people. But when you're gay, if you want to be the object of anyone's desire, you better have washboard abs and a phone full of thirst traps."

There's a lot to unpack here, and Murphy does it well thanks to her balance of tenderness and piercing insight.  

Bonus Factor: Kickass Gram

Waylon's grandmother, Grammy, is the shit. She lives with her two besties, Bernadette and Cleo; she sews up a storm and adores Waylon just the way he is; and, as he says: "If it's true what they say and that in our old age, we revert to our youth, Grammy's in her party-girl college years." So yeah, Grammy equals LIFE GOALS.

Relationship Status: Shantay, You Stay

PUMPKIN, it's no contest--you're a winner in my book! I applaud your dynamic spirit, your raw openness, and your big ole heart, and I'm so thankful to see you in the spotlight, because there are a lot of folks out there who need to experience your fabulousness.