4.5 ⭐️
“All her life, Sadie had been tormented by people who made her feel that her natural tendencies were wrong, which only made her dig into them harder.”

I related to Sadie so much and absolutely loved all the representation the author included. That was just a huge bonus to this cute, witty contemporary romance. It was a quick read, but it left a lasting impression. The dual POVs really helped me appreciate both Sadie and Josh’s internal struggles, making their character growth that much sweeter. For a debut, this only makes me more excited to read whatever Isabelle Popp writes next.

This book is perfect for fall. It feels like reading in a little autumn festival. I loved the romance. Highly recommend!

This book was not for me. I didn't like the main character. She's the grumpy of the grumpy/ sunshine and takes it way too far. He felt like an over eager puppy.
It was too spicy for me as well. Not only the actual sex scenes, but how almost every thought they had about each other was rooted in how sex would be. He kissed like he liked to do oral and danced like he knew how to have sex. (In much cruder terms.)
I thought it would be cute.

This book is delightfully cute and gives off major fall vibes! The characters were very unique and I can honestly say I have never read a book about pumpkin farmers, a tech bro turned farmer, or a textile weaver before. Also, pumpkins are involved so what’s not to love? I’d recommend this book for someone who likes reading cozy books but with a heavy dash of spice. Also, if you’re in the mood for a fall read (at any time of the year)- this book with it’s pumpkin growing, state fair trip, and foraging in the woods for foods and fibers is perfect!

Let’s Give ’Em Pumpkin to Talk About is a quirky, cozy fall romance that delivers big on charm, sass, and swoony rivals-to-lovers tension. Grumpy, tattooed textile artist Sadie and sunshiney gourd-obsessed neighbor Josh have electric chemistry, hilarious banter, and a slow-burn connection that blossoms alongside a very large pumpkin. With small-town chaos, autumn vibes, and heartfelt themes of family and self-acceptance, this book is a delightfully spiced treat for fans of grumpy/sunshine and fall romcoms.

Loved this book! It was a little taste of Fall in the Spring! This story brings together Sadie and Josh. Two complete opposites that are more attracted to each other then they ever thought possible. In the mist of growing and taking care of a pumpkin set for the big leagues of Indiana's State Fair pumpkin contest, Josh steps in and helps Sadie and along the way find they have more then just pumpkins growing between them.
Isabelle Popp did a wonderful job bringing her characters to life. I loved how complete opposites Sadie and Josh were, but blended so well together. I would definitely recommend this book!

i really enjoyed this book! it was a fun fall time read, i’ll 100% reread in my cabin in the woods during fall tbh.

overall, this story was a sweet grumpy x sunshine trope. Sadie went through it, left home and came back after 13 years to help with her father’s pumpkin farm. then she meets Josh and you’re just gonna have to read it to find out more!

ya know when you hear grumpy x sunshine and you’re thinking the usual, mmc is grumpy. NOT HERE! no meet cute, just feral yelling and pumpkin throwing followed by intimate times during a tornado.

but overall, these characters were easy to like and easy to relate with.

if you liked Gilmore Girls, i think you’ll love this!

pretty fun and cute romance which generally works fairly well! the characters are logical if occasionally a hair flat and the spark sizzles. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

I honestly loved this book. Was a perfect small town romance, FILLED with spice. Had a silly plot full of multi-faceted characters that I adored. I especially loved the main characters; Sadie was extremely relatable and funny, Josh was so wholesome and I think the man of my dreams? He’s definitely a new cherished book boyfriend. Obsessed with the LGBTQ+ representation. Can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next!!

Cute premise and liked the ending. I loved the relationship with Sadie's sister, especially how they show up for each other. Sadie's growth in the book is great, too. When trauma is involved, it can be difficult for people to open up and let go of control. I loved that representation and how she softened as she opened herself up to Josh and her hometown.

My one question: does this town actually exist in Indiana and where can I find the World's 2nd Largest Ball of Paint?

Very much enjoyed this book. My favorite season is fall so I knew that I had to read this. Not everything of course is perfect. But one this is for sure is that Josh is the one everyone has a crush on. But when Sadie comes back to her small home town to help her dad out but she ends up figuring out what she wants out of life. Sadie and Josh had a typical relationship with ups and downs. But the chemistry between them was full of sparks.

Let’s Give ‘Em Pumpkin to Talk About is a light, quick, seasonal romance that delivers on charm. It was genuinely a cute and fun read. I adored the opposites-attract dynamic between Sadie and Josh, her grumpiness balanced well with his sunshine energy, and their chemistry felt natural. The spicy scenes were a unique and well-written without being over the top. Banter was snappy and fun, which kept the pace lively.

That said, I felt myself wanting more, as not much really happened. The conflict felt low-stakes, which isn't a major deal for a romance story, but could have been fun to have more conflict. Also, the writing got a bit repetitive in places.

Overall, this is a cozy, quick read perfect for autumn vibes, definitely solid for what it is, but not a standout.

I had a good time reading this book! It was sweet and had me wishing it was fall time. I was rooting for Sadie and Josh from the very beginning. They are so different from each other but somehow they just work. Sadie grew so much throughout the story and I just loved her. I’m absolutely obsessed with this book cover. It is so cute!

Premise: Sadie returns to her small, rural hometown in order to take care of her father’s prize-winning giant squashes, and meets the next-door neighbor, a hot man around her age. The writing feels a little weak. I actually consulted with a coworker who is in their twenties who assured me that no, I was not wrong, the writing was weak and the characters’ speech was oddly stilted. No chemistry at all.

Adorable! Sadie and Josh's story is a cozy fall read.
Grump goth artist Sadie comes back to her family farm in Indiana to win a pumpkin growing contest in her father's absence. Despite the trauma of her upbringing, she is determined to do him this one last favor and move back to LA to continue her life as a textile artist. Sunshine people pleasing neighbor Josh is also determined to win the contest...and her heart in the process.
This book was a little predictable, but I liked the writing style and I did enjoy the book overall. The romance was really sweet and some of the one liners had me giggling. Sadie is a plus sized bisexual alternative character in her 30s which is quite different than most FMCs. I wish the plot could have been developed a little more especially with Sadie dealing with her parental trauma. A lot went unresolved there.
Themes included are: reverse grumpy/sunshine, small town, fall vibes, LGBTQ characters, pro abortion, spicy, plus sized FMC, nerdy MMC.
Thank you to Net Gally and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the ARC. I received this book for free in exchange for a review, but all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

From the moment I saw the cover, I was instantly drawn to this novel—and it did not disappoint. A gothic, plus-sized heroine? Pumpkins? It felt like the perfect combination from the start.

The characters are incredibly engaging. I found myself especially connected to Sadie, who felt like a fictional reflection of myself, making it easy to root for her throughout the story. While I initially found Josh a bit irritating, he gradually won me over as the narrative progressed.

This was also the first grumpy/sunshine romance I’ve read where the female lead plays the "grump," and I found that role reversal both refreshing and enjoyable.

I’m already looking forward to reading more from Isabelle Popp. She’s definitely an author to watch!

Favorite Line: “He wanted another tall can of seltzer, and Sadie was something else entirely. A sturdy mug of soup that would burn his mouth.”

This was cute--having a romance set around a pumpkin growing contest was a fun idea. The two MCs were a little OTT with their knee-jerk reactions to things the other one did (him to invent something to "fix" a "problem" like cabinets being left open, her to take offense at his fixes) but overall they were cute together.

I'd probably read more from this author, even without being assigned to ;)

Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This read like a Hallmark movie but not necessarily a good one. The lines were a bit cringey and made me have 2nd hand embarrassment.

This was a cute, seasonal, lightly spicy rom-com that will have you laughing within the first two pages. It was well written and immersive with a colorful batch of characters that read like real people with all their flaws and beauty. It was also pleasantly inclusive for a story that takes place in the rural Midwest, with racial and queer diversity that didn’t feel shoehorned in but read naturally and benefited the story. If you’re looking for a fun, low stakes autumnal read, this could be a good option for you, with one caveat: you must be okay with a FMC that is prickly, selfish and self-loathing.

Here’s where spoilers come in so read at your own risk:
This might be a “me thing” but I am not a fan of FMCs that are as mean and stand-offish as Sadie. I know, I KNOW!, how the romance book community has a I know the romance book community has a reputation for tolerating red flags in men and not in the women we read about (and I’m really trying here!) but this type of character just isn’t for me. It’s a personally failing of mine but mean FMCs that stay mean and Eeyore-like throughout the book just give me major ick. If you like or relate to female main characters that are incredibly flawed and not very happy - like a very angry street cat - I think you’ll like how Sadie is written. For me? I wish I could but I just can’t.

Everything in the story moves at her pace and she receives constant grace for her bad habits but the one time Josh needs something (a tv on to sleep during their first overnight), Sadie requests it be turned off or she’ll be too invested and Josh willingly goes without sleep for her. She’s also an awful roommate who leaves drawers and cabinets open (who does that?!) and then gets mad at Josh when he tries to make a work-around. But don’t worry, she immediately spirals into a self-pitying “I’m broken and no one can ever love me, not even my own family!” nosedive when she realizes how these things impact Josh and how she’s unable (unwilling?) to change a single thing about her behavior. She’s also mean when she doesn’t need to be and I get frustrated by how quickly she tramples on Josh’s feelings. And if all that wasn’t enough, she’s a very selfish lover who prioritizes her own control and satisfaction in the bedroom, a fact that’s glossed over by Josh being into that mean mommy domme energy.

By about the 95% mark, Sadie learns to let go and Let Josh (if you will) but I struggle throughout the book to see just what it is that keeps drawing him in.

Ultimately, the book isn’t my preference due to who Sadie is as a character, but it’s well-written and I can see it being enjoyed by people who don’t mind these tropes and characterizations.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Harlequin Books for the chance to read early in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

Sadie Fox escaped her small town of Pea Blossom, Indiana, years ago and has been working as a textile artist in Los Angeles. When a family situation arises, Sadie's dad asks her to come back home to care for his beloved pumpkin patch and win the State Fair's pumpkin contest. But Sadie gets more than she bargained for when she comes home to find the pumpkin patch destroyed and the annoyingly nice, handsome next door neighbor, Josh. Sadie forms a reluctant alliance with Josh to repair the damage done to the patch, but the more time they spend together they can't deny the attraction growing between them.

Let's Give Em Pumpkin to Talk About is a cute, cozy seasonal read. The story has a fun opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine romance that I really enjoyed. Sadie brings the stand-offish goth vibes, while Josh is the nice guy, who's out to try and fix everyone's problems. There is also a deeper storyline that deals with parent/child relationships and having confidence in yourself, with both Sadie and Josh's characters.

I loved the small town setting of Pea Blossom, and the excitement of the yearly pumpkin contest, and having the appeal of the Farmer's Market. The small town charm works its magic on Sadie (and the reader), as she slowly starts to question her life in LA and what it would mean to return home, and invest in relationships and continue to find inspiration for her textile art.

The book is definitely similar to the Dream Harbor series, but I felt like some parts of the story just didn't come together as well as Gilmore's books. The pacing felt a little rushed at times. There are also 3-4 spicy scenes (which could easily be skipped over, if you don't enjoy spice in your books), but I personally felt like they became a little to racy and just didn't fit in with the overall vibe of the rest of the book.

If you love cozy, hometown reads, with a seasonal setting, then I think Let's Give Em Pumpkin to Talk About would be a great addition to your Fall/Autumn TBR.