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.

This book was such a fun grumpy sunshine book. I can't wait until fall to re-read with a PSL in my hand. its kind of your standard seasonal rom-com but who doesn't love a hallmark read? Very fun vibes. Not a ton of character development but most rom roms are that way. I love that the grump is the woman and the sunshine is the man because it is usually the other way around.

Josh is a soft soul, quick to want to solve other peoples issues and deeply caring about them regardless if they feel the same way for him. To find Sadie (screaming and throwing pumpkins at the time) who had never experienced such softness in her life. Naturally pessimistic, and unfavourably nicknamed “sad-face” by her Mom, Sadie has no patience for the facade she assumes Josh is portraying. They learnt each other bumbling but with genuine interest in their hearts.
Their story takes place over 2 months. Sadie(grudgingly) and Josh submit to the scariness of falling in love and learn to trust each other. Stu is Sadie’s father. A cankerous man who can be difficult to get along with, and stuck in his ways. So when Sadie comes back to Pea Blossom and meets Josh who Stu has grown close with, her curiosity is peaked. Just how much has changed in the 13 years since she’s been in this town?
Even with some west coast living Sadie hasn’t, still pale as a ghost and dedicated to all clothing items that are black. She found her aesthetic at a young age and has stuck to it since.
Sadie and Josh’s chemistry was hot, even when they were learning each other they clicked immediately in the bedroom. Everything bloomed in a server room of the library, down in the basement waiting for the tornado to pass. As much as this is a small town romance, there were so many interesting ways Josh and Sadie bench marked their relationship. Meet cute? Sadie feral screaming while throwing pumpkins. Start of their sexual relationship? During a tornado in the basement of a library in the server room. First activity together? Painting the second largest paint ball. They were a really cool couple to read about.

3.5
Sadie returns to Pea Blossom, Indiana to help care for her father’s pumpkin farm while he is away taking care of his brother. When she arrives the entire crop has been destroyed. The neighbor,Josh hears her and comes over to help her. She was planning on entering the giant pumpkin contest but every pumpkin has been destroyed by hogs. Josh offers to let her take over one of his plants in order to compete in the contest. He is hoping the goodwill will help him convince her father, Stu to sell him the farm so he can expand. Soon after there is a tornado and it knocks a tree into the roof of her father’s house so she moves in with Josh. They begin a sexual relationship.

Grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity
Refreshing change with Sadie being the grump and Josh being the sunshine. Overall, i enjoyed this book but i had a few issues. I loved that Sadie was plus sized. I really loved all the Spice (fair) and market day scenes. I really would have liked more of them. I love the setting of the small town and the community.
I thought it was odd that when Grace (Sadie’s stepsister) finds out her husband is having an affair Grace has a minimal reaction. She throws him out and we never see her sad or upset. It’s just over. I feel like Sadie’s relationship with her father, Stu is not resolved. It’s one of the main issues of the book but we never really have them work it out. It just ends.
This is a quick, cozy read that happens to have spice. I would consider reading more in the series. But I wouldnt be a must read

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review

A short and sweet seasonal read! The romance is fun, the spice is good, the father/daughter dynamic is unique but very relatable to a lot of people. I liked Sadie’s inner monologue. I loved that Josh was obsessed with her. I did hate how many times it referred to her “hissing” because whether thats like a cat or a snake, it’s foul.

I had a good time reading it, It didn’t have me like obsessively engaged but I was invested in them! I do wish the end was a little longer, I kept going back to the app only to remember that the book was over.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-Arc! Overall, this read was short and sweet with a little bit of spice. This read gave me the perfect satisfaction for fall that I’ve been craving! Fans of a grumpy/sunshine romance will enjoy this for sure.

This was such a fun, cozy little read—perfect for autumn! With its small-town charm, pumpkin patches, and a sweet romance at the heart of it, I can see this one becoming a seasonal favorite.

The story had a nice mix of humor, heartache, and a dash of spice. I especially enjoyed the twist on the usual Grumpy x Sunshine trope—Sadie is the grump here, which made for a refreshing change. The pumpkin-growing plotline was super charming, and honestly, I wish there’d been even more of it!

While I flew through the book (it’s a fast-paced read), I did end up skimming a lot of the spicier scenes—they felt a little out of place with the otherwise cozy vibe. There’s also a subplot involving Sadie’s strained relationship with her dad that felt like it had potential to add some real emotional depth, but it never quite landed. The book hints at tackling deeper family wounds, but then sort of sidesteps them.

Still, it was an enjoyable read with a great setting and some lovely moments. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the eARC!

Thank you Harlequin Books and NetGalley for this ARC, in exchange this is my honest review.

Let’s Give ‘Em Pumpkin to Talk About by Isabelle Popp is a cute, cozy, spicy read that left me giggling aloud and excited for more!

Popp creates two uniquely fun characters Sadie, a sassy, curvy, confident, burnt out textile artist ready to redeem herself to herself and her father, and Josh, her father’s neighbor, a charismatic man excited to grow gords and share what he can with the world.

Set in the small town of Pea Blossom, Indiana, Sadie returns home to help take care of her father’s prize winning pumpkin patch, after an unfortunate event with hogs decimating the patch she meets Josh who offers his assistance. Sadie is initially resistant to the idea that Josh being as rich as he is could possibly just be that nice, while Josh is just that nice and always wants to help. Both discovering each other and themselves on a journey of growth and pumpkins.

I enjoyed the characters: Sadie an edgy can do it herself goth with a heart of gold deep down, and Josh as once nerdy boy who blossomed later in life and becoming a textbook people pleaser; they were fun to get to know and watch grow. However, I felt there were missing scenes in the time skips of days or weeks, and while romance novels are typically fast it still feels like their love story was fast and gave me a bit of whiplash trying to figure out if I had missed anything. Also Sadie tended to drone about her desires a bit do nothing to fix it and then suddenly make growth as a character, without much context.

However, Popp did still a wonderful job making me laugh and swoon for Sadie and Josh. Overall a 4/5 star read, but I would come back to Pea Blossom to learn more about their small town life. Buy or Pre-order Let’s Give ‘Em Pumpkin to Talk About by August 26, 2025.

THis was a cute and sweet fall romance! Perfect for the upcoming spooky season. I adored this quick romance and the author did a great job!

Let Give Em Pumpkin to Talk about is a small town romance, that I think would be enjoyed by fans of Laurie Gilmore’s Dream Harbor series.

I’ve been struggling to put into words how I feel about this book. I think my thoughts all boil down to the fact that I didn’t like the writing style. The book was descriptive, but things felt written as if they were matter of fact and that was hard for me to digest.

I don’t have specific issues with the plot or anything, the writing style just made me not want to read & made me not like the characters.

All in all, this book isn’t for me but it could be for others. 2 stars.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for honest feedback.

I won’t give any spoilers but this gives all the cozy vibes. I loved this book and want to add it to my yearly reread list! It’s perfect for fall and especially if you’re a mood reader. Please give this book a try. You might love it as much as I do!!!