Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun romance novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

It's too bad I didn't save this for later in the year so I could fully appreciate the fall vibes. But crisp autumn air and pumpkins are just a state of mind, right? This was a cute and quick read. I think if you enjoyed the Dream Harbor series, you'll like this.
It's set in the small Midwestern town of Pea Blossom, Indiana. Our FMC, Sadie, is back in town to watch over her dad's house and precious pumpkin patch while he goes to help take care of his brother. She's going to try and mend some old heartache between her and her dad by growing the biggest pumpkin the State Fair has ever seen. Only, on arrival, Sadie finds the pumpkin patch has been decimated by hogs from a nearby neighbor. Enter Josh, the Silicon Valley transplant turned squash/gourd enthusiast who just so happens to live next door, to the rescue! He offers up one of his pumpkins for her to grow and enter in the fair instead.

I am but a simple girl. When I read Sadie's description, my heart was chanting "Thick goth girlfriend! Thick goth girlfriend! Thick got girlfriend!!" Sadie is prickly and defensive, quick to hold people at arms length because she's scared of being too hard to love. And Josh, all he wants is to love. Also, I am always going to have a soft spot for a love interest that quotes Hitchhikers as their senior quote. One guess what my senior quote was, eh?

Grumpy black cat type X sunshine golden retriever type (a classic!!) and a small hometown were the major tropes hit. But there was also generational trauma, or at the very least narcissistic behavior in Sadie's mom. Thank goodness Sadie never has to directly interact with her estranged mother, because she sounds like an awful woman.

But let's talk about microtropes! This book has my all time favorite one. I LOVE the dirty little thoughts the love interests have about each other before the romance even starts. I'm not talking about "he can't help but notice her perfect breasts" or "she can't wait to get a load of his rippling pectorals". No No. I am talking about how she can't help but notice the way his hips sway in the saddle as he rides his horse through town. The way he wonders what her skilled artist's hands would look like gripping his sheets. I EAT THAT SHIT UP BABY!! And while I love when the guy takes control, we don't get enough FMCs who run the show in the bedroom. Thank god for Sadie! That first time where she wordlessly gives him permission to finish...hooooooot!

This book focuses a lot on Sadie's fear of being too hard. Too hard to be around, too hard to coexist with, too hard to love. It drives a lot of her actions in the book, constantly trying to put or keep distance between herself and everyone, especially Josh. Sadie was relatable to me and I can see other's who struggle with feeling like they're too much to handle might like her as well. On the other side, Josh is very much an open book, ready to full send on anything and everything. I think they balance each other out well.

My one complaint is that Go Hog Wild, the source of the pumpkin slaying hogs, felt like an after thought a lot of the time. It kept coming up but it always felt like the author remembered it was something that was meant to be a plot point. For being the main reason Sadie was in the mess she was in, there wasn't a ton done with it. Especially with the wife of the guy being Sadie's childhood nemesis, who was mentioned multiple times. I was expecting a showdown or something.

Thanks again to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Afterglow Books for giving me the chance to read this book! It's publishing 8/26/2025.

Rating: 2.5 stars (rounded up)

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me, but I can absolutely see why/how so many love it! It delivers on being a quick, fun, seasonal (fall) romance. Sadie returns to Indiana to compete in a pumpkin weigh-off contest, only to find herself attracted to her neighbor and frustratingly sincere/generous competitor, Josh. As they prepare for the contest and get closer to each other, Josh is infatuated and Sadie is fighting with her self-perception and boundaries, grappling with how her struggles with her parents has translated to her own romantic relationships (or lack thereof, at least successful ones). There is banter, some fun fall competition, and some spice!

There were multiple things I did enjoy about the book! I admire how much depth the characters had; there's a lot of detail/history about both Sadie and Josh as individuals that adds to our understanding of them and makes it easier to understand what they're thinking and how they're acting with regard to each other/their romance. I also enjoyed the banter, humor, representation (body size, LGBTQ+, etc.), and quick pacing! There were a lot of meaningful themes, as well, that went beyond the romance itself, which I really appreciated. I think my favorite part of the book was actually the 'subplot' of Sadie's relationship with her dad, Stu (especially the 'twist' that came at the end - I loved it; it was so wholesome).

Unfortunately, the writing style wasn't for me. Aside from the adult scenes/content itself, the writing felt 'young.' It lacked complexity for me (for being an adult novel), and I felt that things were often overstated too much (particularly the themes it was conveying). The plot premise was super interesting and intriguing to me, but it didn't keep me engaged. I found myself more captivated by the pumpkin contest and subplot of Sadie and Stu more than the romance. I didn't find myself attached to the characters or romance; they seemed a bit superficial. The romance almost seemed out of place, to me, especially the adult scenes, as they seemed to come out of nowhere and not fit with everything else the characters were thinking, saying, and doing.

This is definitely a quick romance read for the fall, and it will definitely be a win for many people, but it just wasn't for me, and that's okay!

*I thank Harlequin and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Let’s Give ‘Em Pumpkin to Talk About
By Isabelle Popp
📅 Pub Date: August 26, 2025

This cozy, small-town romance is full of fall charm, quirky characters, and slow-burn chemistry. Sadie Fox returns to Pea Blossom, Indiana, to revive her father’s pumpkin patch—and hopefully his approval—only to find the whole thing destroyed by wild hogs. Enter Josh Thatcher: her sunshiney, tech-millionaire-turned-gourd-grower neighbor with a secret of his own… and possibly a growing crush.

I really enjoyed this story! While it wasn’t fast-paced, the vibe was perfectly cozy and gave me all the autumn feels. The town was delightfully eccentric, and the chemistry between Sadie and Josh was warm and sweet. I grow pumpkins myself, so I loved how the author captured the (very real!) ups and downs of squash season. Sadie’s edge and Josh’s charm balanced so well, and their growth throughout the story made this a really satisfying read. If you’re looking for something fall-ready and heartfelt with a touch of humor and romance—this one’s for you.

This adorable small town grumpy and sunshine book is packed full with autumn vibes setting the perfect mood for the season and it's a quick read.

It's always fun when you have the "grumpy" character the FMC and the sunshine the MMC. I loved the banter between the two characters and the characters are all likeable and realistic. I really loved the characters growth we saw with Sadie.

I'm not typically fond of third person narrative for contemporary romances, and I think had this been first person we would have been able to connect with the characters more and we could have experienced better details through the characters eyes.

Sadie Fox comes back to her small hometown to help with her father's pumpkin farm. When things get a bit hog wild, she decides to accept help from the next-door neighbor. He is also a competitor in the yealry pumpkom competition. Spice is such a clever acronym for a pumpkin competition. I like how diverse the guild was, and I'm sure they come up with some many fun ideas. Pumpkin mole sounds delicious.

Josh's horse being named Shadowfax was so fitting for someone who loves playing video games. I can definitely imagine why people would love to watch him ride into town. The game Josh created called Pinchy Boi sounds like something I would have enjoyed playing. Crabs and romance? How cute!

The smut wasn't my particular preference, but everyone likes different things. It was nice that they got to experiment with things they might not have done before, but it all just felt a bit juvenile for me in a way. I enjoyed the way the story ended, and watching the characters grow was a blast. Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin - Romance, and Isabelle Popp for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion.

The idea of this book was cute and fun and the writing was good, but it wasn’t one of my favorites. The female main character just wasn’t super likable for most of the book and maybe it was more that she just wasn’t very relatable. The romance felt underdeveloped and was too much too fast. Towards the end it got better and I liked how their relationship developed as the characters changed but it felt rushed.

Overall, I do think there will be people who will like this book, it was an easy seasonal read. It just wasn’t quite what I was hoping it would be.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an electronic ARC copy of this book.

This was a charming and funny, light fall story. Great voice for the main character. I absolutely will re-read this when it's autumn, so I can get the full effect of pumpkins and leaves etc.

I think some people will love this book, but it was unfortunately not for me.

Sadie returns to her hometown to care for her estranged father's pumpkin farm while he's away. Right when she gets there, she sees that all the pumpkins have been destroyed by wild hogs from a neighboring farm. Sadie teams up with her neighbor and fellow pumpkin grower Josh to take down the wild hog farmer while they also compete against each other to grow the largest pumpkin.

This book is very black cat x golden retriever coded, which I think went too far when the FMC literally hissed at people and animals several times. I also felt that there was too much going on and too many different conflicts that each wrapped up very abruptly.

This book was also much higher on the spice scale than I prefer, with much more focus on the physical relationship than an emotional one.

If you like high-spice quirky fall vibes, you might like this book.

Thank you Harlequin and NetGalley for the free ebook in exchange for my honest review!

Unfortunately this was not for me. I was not a fan of the writing style and felt disconnected from the story and the characters. I tried this in audio and kindle as I was lucky enough to get both formats from netgalley and the publishers, but neither was for me. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this.

Sadie Fox had to move home to take of her aging dad and put her life on hold to help care for him. She didn't expect to run into any old friends from her childhood. When Sadie runs into Josh she isn't sure what to except then they mix in the pumpkin patch and things get spicy.

I did enjoy the book .. the FMC was sassy and funny witty at times and H@orny 😇 the MMC was the opposite and both made a fun pair and easy read… slightly cozy and yet funny and with lots of pumpkin very spicy scenes as you’d might expect and overall is a 3/5 for me

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin & Harlequin Audio for providing me with ARCs of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is Isabelle Popp's first novel and I was into it! Like many others, I love all things fall so the cover and title caught my eye. Even though it's only the start of summer, the autumn vibes were easy to slip into. It made me want to tend my own garden and stroll a farmer's market with an iced coffee.

Sadie and Josh give off big black cat/golden retriever energy. She grew up in the small town of Pea Blossom, took off after high school and barely looked back. She's a textile artist in CA, but comes home to help her dad when he has to leave the farm to help her uncle in FL. Josh is a tech bro who left Silicon Valley behind for a slower and more fulfilling life. They end up as neighbors and competitors in the SPICE Pumpkin Weigh-Off.

A series of entertaining and seriously unlucky events throw them together again and again. Josh falls hard and fast. He's so endearingly adorable that Sadie can't help but fall too. They both have stuff to work through and I really liked the way it felt real. These are two people in their 30s who have lived lives and are trying to find their joy, individually and together.

This is dual POV, which I always love. It is full of lots of subtle, diverse representation that is done really well. And I felt weirdly invested in the pumpkin contest.

I had both the ebook and audio. This was narrated by Adelaide Fernport. I liked her style and would listen to her again. I listen at 1.5x and it felt like a comfortable speed to still get the emotion and nuances of the story. I mostly listened, but read the last 25% on my kindle because I was impatient to get to the end and find out what would happen.

I'm hoping Isabelle's next book is Grace's story, Sadie's sister. Because there is definitely a story there!

This book was cute and quirky and everything you could ask for in a small town fall romance. Sadie was a compelling female lead who’s family issues and experiences were handled with care by the author and written in a way that felt relatable and allowed for the character to grow from it without feeling forced or faked. I really enjoyed this book and my brief time in the fictional(?) town of Pea Blossom.

Never thought id be interested in a book about pumpkins and squash but here I am absolutely loving it. This story did not disappoint. Loved the characters and the family drama. Felt like you could feel their emotions. The fun little stories of their dating experiences had you giggling.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc.

🎃✨ ARC Review: Let’s Give ‘Em Pumpkin to Talk About by Isabelle Popp ✨🎃

Get ready to fall head over gourd for this adorable small-town rom-com! 🍁💛

Sadie Fox is everything I LOVE in a heroine—tattooed, sweary, edgy, and totally not here for anyone’s nonsense…except maybe her sunshiney, pumpkin-obsessed next-door neighbor, Josh Thatcher. ☀️🖤

What starts as a mission to win her dad’s approval (and the Indiana State Fair pumpkin contest 🏆🎃) turns into a hilarious disaster thanks to a herd of wild hogs 🐗💥—I mean, you can’t make this stuff up! Enter Josh: ex-tech millionaire turned squash-growing golden retriever boy who can’t resist helping Sadie…even if they’re supposed to be rivals. 👨‍🌾💻🌱

The tension? Chef’s kiss. 👏 That stormy, unexpected kiss?? Swoon. 🌧️💋 And the secret Josh is hiding? Well… you’ll have to read to find out! 😉

I laughed, I swooned, I craved pumpkin pie the whole time 🥧😂. Isabelle Popp nailed the grumpy x sunshine trope with heart, humor, and a dash of autumn magic. 🍂✨

Sadie returns to Pea Blossom,Indiana to take care of her father’s pumpkin patch while he is out of town. The goal is grow the largest pumpkins for the contest. Unfortunately, the patch is destroyed by wild hogs. Her father’s neighbor, Josh steps in to help, and there is certainly chemistry between the two of them.
This was short, fun read. I liked the small town feel of Pea Blossom, and the banter between the characters.

If you like cute and cozy vibes this is the book for you. This was my first time reading a Grumpy x Sunshine where the FMC was the Grumpy one. I really enjoyed it. This book had some spice. I really loved Josh he was an absolute sweety and 100% cinnamon roll energy. This is a small town romance with Fall vibes and the ultimate palette cleanser.

This cozy, fall themed rom-com is the perfect mix of humor, heart, and pumpkin patch chaos. Sadie Fox returns to her small hometown to grow a prize-winning pumpkin and maybe win her dad’s approval, only to have wild hogs destroy the whole patch. Just when things couldn’t get worse, in strolls Josh Thatcher: her sunshiney, annoyingly attractive neighbor who just happens to be her biggest competition… and maybe something more.
Sadie’s grumpy, Josh is pure golden retriever, and their chemistry? Off the charts. With flirty banter, a stormy kiss, and all the autumn vibes, this is a charming, feel-good romance about second chances, unexpected connections, and finding love where you least expect it.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publishing house for the chance to read this book in advance, in exchange of my honest review.

He paints her body!!😮‍💨
This small-town romance was such a charming read. Sadie is your classic black cat personality, guarded, independent and feisty; while Josh is a total golden retriever, loyal, warm, and a bit of a people pleaser.
Sadie may know everything there is to know about pumpkins, but when it comes to love and growth, she still has a lot to learn and that journey is full of emotion, self-discovery, and just the right amount of spice.
These two are complete opposites, but somehow, they just work.