ARC - 2.5/5⭐️ I was really vibing with the fall themes and the setting of this book 🍂🎃😎 however, I just didn’t love this one. It was good, but I wish there was more romance and I wish it picked up faster. The disappointment is partly my fault though because I was really hoping for it to be like The Pumpkin Spice Cafe book 😬

Some of the interactions between characters just seemed disingenuous to me. I found myself cringing at some of these interactions. I couldn’t really put my finger on it but something was missing. I liked Wren as a main character; she had a spunky personality. I really liked how she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and say how she felt; I think Gus needed someone like that.

It really seemed like the author did her research about ASD when incorporating characters with this; I just can’t really speak on how accurate the representation was though but the effort seemed to be there.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy 🧡

There’s pumpkin about you by Athena Carstairs

This book was warm, you could feel it like it’s warm fall day. It’s located in a pumpkin farm at the small town.
The MMC is the grumpiest of the grumpies and it’s just works! The MFC was (ofc) sunshine and I just love the trope, so it worked nicely.
This is cozy fall read, I was so hooked for the story so read it fast!
3,5/5

solid and interesting book that would have been a 5 star read if not for the FMC, who at points I find wildly vacillating within her own character. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

DNF – While I didn’t personally connect with the storytelling style, there’s a lot in the heart of this book that others might really appreciate. The premise has promise, and I can see it resonating with readers who enjoy a more unconventional narrative approach. This one just wasn’t the right fit for me.

A wonderful, autumnal read. I loved seeing autism represented by the MMC Gus. It was so lovely to see his relationship develop with Wren. Such a fun plot with the pumpkin patch too!!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ya I did not care about anything in this book. I didn’t like the writing, and did not care for wren and her attitude at times to be honest.. the only good part is the soft, warm atmosphere. Cozy vibes is what it gave. That’s about it.

It's a sweet story with a fairly well-rounded cast of characters and a believable, easy-to-follow plot. The writer definitely overuses "whilst" and the way the love interest uses "sweetheart" starts to feel like you're being hit over the head with what should be a sweet nickname ... but it is a quick read and a nice palate cleanser.

I was quite skeptical going into this book having read the reviews (worst mistake ever).

However, this book is something special. It felt like a love letter to my own relationship, I'm married to a man who has a very similar style of autism to August, and their conflict, although it seems minor on the page to anyone who hasn't experienced this type of relationship, for some of us it's a reality.

How the author portrays August's 'shut down' reactions and 'dismissive' behaviours, this is quite literally how my husband behaves, he often struggles to understand my emotional reactions, and gets exhausted with my ADHD tendencies, but when it works, it works so well.

The pacing of this book was beautiful, I dived in at 8pm and couldn't stop reading, it was past midnight when I finally finished and I went to sleep with a smile.

I'm excited to see if the author decides to continue this book into a series, I'd love to see what happens to Bash and Raven, Jamie and Sam, and Oakleigh and Finn too!

A solid 4-4.5 star read. Big thanks to the author and publishers for this advanced reader copy for an honest review.

DNF

This one didn’t work for me. Wren calling her friend “biach” was the first red flag, but I kept going… then she and Gus have one super antagonistic convo and suddenly we’re supposed to buy into this enemies-to-lovers thing? Gus’s brother says he likes her out of nowhere, Gus indirectly calls her a bitch, and Wren keeps trying to control everything around her. That’s when I fully checked out.

I was a little curious about Gus as an autistic MMC, but honestly, the writing wasn’t strong enough to keep me interested. Felt like it needed more editing and polish. My TBR is too long to stick with a book I’m not enjoying. Pass.

DNF

Not for me. The characters were annoying, the romance made no sense (they had one super hostile convo and suddenly he likes her??), and the writing felt super rough. Wren was bossy in a not-cute way, Gus was kinda interesting as an autistic MMC but not enough to keep me reading. Also, the setting details made zero sense — five towns around one lake? A 3-acre farm that takes 3 minutes to drive through? I checked out when she called her friend “biach.” Hard pass.

DNF

I picked this book up out of season, hoping for a cozy fall romance, but unfortunately, There’s Pumpkin About You completely missed the mark for me — and I genuinely don’t think reading it during autumn would’ve changed my opinion.

From the start, the chemistry between the leads felt forced and unconvincing. After sharing just one antagonistic conversation, Gus’s brother jumps to “oh you like her,” which felt completely unearned. Then Gus indirectly calls Wren a bitch, and Wren herself comes off as controlling and abrasive — not quirky or endearing. Her calling her friend “biach” was when I mentally checked out.

I was mildly intrigued by Gus as an autistic male main character, since I haven’t read many romances with that representation. But the writing just didn’t hold me — I didn’t care enough to continue. The book felt undercooked. It needed at least three more rounds of revisions before going to print.

There were also several logistical inconsistencies that kept yanking me out of the story. The setting is supposed to be a small American town on the East Coast, surrounded by five other small towns around a lake. That geography doesn’t really make sense — how big is this lake supposed to be? Then Wren drives just two towns over and no one knows her? That doesn’t feel believable in a rural setting.

And don’t even get me started on the farm. It's supposed to be 3 acres, yet it takes three minutes to drive down the dirt road to it? A 3-acre pumpkin patch would be tiny — more of a backyard than a destination farm.

In the end, I just didn’t enjoy this. The characters didn’t work for me, the dialogue felt cringey, and the setting lacked believability. My TBR pile is too long to waste time on a book this poorly written. Definitely a “nope” from me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m honestly torn on how I feel about this one. While I was intrigued by the premise, the romance didn’t land for me — it felt more rushed than slow-burn, and the emotional development between the characters seemed undercooked.

I especially struggled with Wren’s behavior toward Gus. Her reactions, particularly in moments of frustration, came across as unnecessarily harsh and at times downright mean. It made it difficult to root for the romance or feel fully invested in their dynamic.

There were some enjoyable elements, but overall, it didn’t quite meet my expectations.

I enjoyed this cozy little RomCom. A lot of other reviewers complained about the main characters, but I felt like they were realistic. I love that these characters were written with their flaws and insecurities on full display. It made it more relatable. I enjoyed the banter and tension as well. Definitely a cute read and I look forward to reading more stories by this author in the future 🖤

Just finished this book it's absolutely the sweetest! If your looking for a light spicy nerodivergent fall romance you've found it! I look forward to seeing if Sam and Jamie have a book and if bash has a story to tell. Oh and can't forget Finn and lee! This lil town is going to be the series I won't want to put down.

I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley on behalf of the publisher, thank you!
A party planner scraping to get her business up and going, and a farm owner struggling during harvest due to his broken arm, fall for each other in this small town romance during the fall! While I loved the concept, I was less than thrilled about the execution. For me, the connection between the characters felt surface level and I didn't feel the connection. While autism certainly presents itself in a spectrum and the author did acknowledge this, I personally felt that it wasn't incorporated well in the story, in terms of how the character might feel aside from the misunderstandings from the town. I did really enjoy the side characters, I felt that their personalities shone through and they really added to the small town feel of the book. I could see this becoming and interconnected stand alone series, especially with it's cozy and autumnal feel.

There’s Pumpkin About You by Athena Carstairs is the second book I have read by this author; her first book is a cute marriage of convenience story entitled Mr. and Mrs. Fate. In There’s Pumpkin About You, Ms. Carstairs uses the tropes of enemies to lovers, small town, workplace romance (farm), he falls first, and a Grumpy/Sunshine dynamic. After a failed romance and an almost failing business, Wren Southwick is looking to succeed at making her friend’s birthday party a stellar event. Her quest takes her to Goldleaf Pumpkin Farm and into the grumpy orbit of August Finch. August expends a lot of energy navigating the world as a person with neurodivergence and keeping his family’s farm afloat. He really does not have the time to entertain the annoyingly sunny Beauty hellbent on using his farm for her event, even if she is maddeningly attractive!! I felt that August, for all his grumpiness, was a very sympathetic character, grappling with intolerant townspeople and an unsupportive father. I did think that the father angle left a bit of his story untold, there was no additional contact after his phone call. It left me curious. Wren was both annoying and cute at the same time, she had to grow on me😊. Overall, I enjoyed this fun story, and the interesting secondary characters gave flavor and complexity to the narrative.
Thank you Netgalley and the author for this opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

I almost passed on this book because of the title. I can’t say I’m a fan of it just because I feel like it doesn’t really make sense. However, I did enjoy the relationship between the main characters. Wren’s bubbly energy sparks a delightful contrast with August’s reserved demeanor, promising plenty of witty banter. It’s a typical small town romance with some factors that set it apart. For example, the MMC has neurodivergent traits and that is explored a bit more. I enjoyed it and I think it will be a great fall read for romance lovers

made it out alive, but i think i lost it.

i am very, very disappointed. i know i was reading this out of season, but i don't think reading it in the fall would've changed my opinion on it. between them sharing one (1) conversation, which just so happened to be antagonistic as heck, and gus' brother telling him "oh you like her", gus indirectly calling wren a bitch, and wren's determination to make everyone do her bidding, i did not have fun.

the setting was my favorite part. the side characters weren't particularly memorable and had little going on for them besides their role in the story (the bff! the brother! the GRUMPY brother! the side couple!) and they were just there to serve the main characters' purpose.

overall, i think the author is dedicated. i can't speak on behalf of the ASD representation, but she claims to have done her research and wanted to come from a place of empathy.

First of all, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC granted to me. It was a quick and compelling reading, cozy and lighthearted story that was super cute( spicy too) to read.

What a super cute fall romance. I really enjoyed the story as well as the characters. It made me want to curl up with a cozy throw blanket and a hot tea and enjoy the fall vibes. We will definitely be purchasing for our romance book club.