Please take my review with a grain of salt. Third person is not for me. This is a cute book especially those who love Halloween. I am one of those girls and had this been done in first person it would have been rated higher.
The characters are likable but just a tad tame for my tastes.

I received an arc copy for this book and wanted to offer my thanks as I quite enjoyed this book!!

As an avid “spicy” audiobook consumer, I find I am getting kind of bored with the same ol “tropes” grumpy guy and sunshine woman etc. this story approached some of the same kinds of tropes but with a spin I appreciated. It was inclusive without hammering you over the head with HOW inclusive the story is being.

What caught my interest initially was the cover and clever book title, and thankfully the story did not disappoint!!

Kudos to the author, the spice level was great for me! It was enough so it wasn’t a traditional hallmark made for TV movie without it seeming like there was a quota they were trying to fill.

Thank you @harlequinbooks @hqn_shamelessromantics #partner for the gifted copies of this book!

Don’t let that cutesy cover fool you — Let’s Give ‘Em Pumpkin to Talk About by Isabelle Popp is as spicy as a spiked apple cider! Yes, I realize it’s June and here I am already daydreaming about crisp leaves, Halloween décor, and pumpkin-flavored everything… which is exactly why I grabbed this one.

I went in expecting a sweet little rom-com and badaboom — open door scenes galore! 😂 I was not mad about it. The setup? A small-town pumpkin growing competition (which is hilarious in itself) where our prickly, quick-to-snap main character Sadie comes home to help her dad grow a prize-winning pumpkin… only for the entire patch to be destroyed by wild hogs. I repeat: WILD HOGS. Oink oink, y’all.

Enter Josh — the hunky, surprisingly wholesome neighbor also in the gourd-growing business — who steps in to help. What follows is a spicy relationship, genuine character growth, and some seriously swoony moments. I loved how their relationship unfolded with honesty and humor, and how Sadie mended more than just her love life while she was home.

If you’re a fall fanatic like me, don’t mind a little… ahem… extracurricular activity in your romances, and love a good competition trope, this book is for you. Highly recommend adding it to your autumn TBR — or read it now and pretend it’s sweater weather. 🍂🎃🔥

OK. So, this was… cute! ✅
Relatively short. ✅
Relatively Spicy! ✅
And…sweet at times! ✅
And had a pretty good underlying story… ✅

So, why am I not totally loving it???
Hard to say… But, Sadie is definitely a handful! She’s prickly, tough, curses like a truck driver (and I’m not quiet or shy in any way….and she was WAAAYYY over the top…) I mean…every other word is a curse for a good part of the book.

And, talk about SPICY 🌶️ 🌶️ love scenes?? This one’s got it in spades… and I am not a prude…but WOW!! Maybe times have changed?? Or maybe I’ve been living under a rock?? Not sure…but let me know your thoughts if you read this one! 😮😮

So, Sadie returns home to her Dad’s farm to try to help save the day when her Dad gets called to help his ailing brother. She does not expect things to turn out the way they do once she gets there though… and she has to try really hard to try to get things ‘kind-of’ back to normal…but, luckily, she notes that her Dad now has a really HOT new neighbor…even though he seems like the biggest prude she’s ever met!

In any case, her main goal is to try to grow the biggest, best pumpkin in the area…in order to maintain their long-standing title, and hopefully prove to her Dad that she CAN do the right thing… 😫😉

She does not expect to get any help, or even be noticed by the neighbor, Josh… but things don’t always turn out as planned….

#LetsGiveEmPumpkinToTalkAbout by #IsabellePopp and narrated by #AdelaideFernport.

3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 4!

*** RELEASE DATE IS TODAY, JULY 1, 2025 !! *** SO LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES NOW!!!!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HarperAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

Soft DNF
may come back to it later on but right now im uninterested in the story the characters and the pumpkins and honest just how cheesy it is.

Thanks NetGalley for this audio arc in exchange for my thoughts.

Thank you to Harlequin Romance and HTP Audio for the advance ebook and listening copy.

What a charming, fall romance. It gave me the perfect small-town fall vibes I was looking for to beat the summer heat. I enjoyed the story of Sadie and Josh. He falls first. In the words of Isabelle Popp: "He was an overeager puppy and she was an aloof cat, and he was bound to get his nose swiped at once or twice." I loved the black cat FMC / golden retriever MMC combo and this book delivered on that. As someone who fled her hometown at 18 and took a really long time to come back, I completely identified with Sadie's story. I also appreciated that Sadie was plus-sized and both main characters were in their thirties. I loved the side characters and really felt drawn to the community. I wouldn't mind a spin-off of Grace's story or Noah's for that matter!

This sweet pumpkin romance also had plenty of spice. However, I do not think that the spice overwhelmed the plot. I think they blended well together to make a sweet and spicy pumpkiny treat.

As for the audio - I thought the narrator was fantastic for this story! It was dual POV but a single narrator. Sometimes, a female narrator trying to do a male voice can completely throw off the story for me, but I did not think that was the case here. I thought the pacing was excellent and the production made the story really enjoyable. There were no sound issues and I never had to turn the audio way up in some parts and then down in others.

All-in-all, I think this should be on your fall TBR if you want a sweet and spicy hometown romance with fall fair vibes and an adorable community of characters.

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

This is a fun fast read to get that serotonin boost of fall vibes. If you like opposites attract this ones for you. I loved seeing a quirky, artistic, plus size girlie: Sadie brought all the black cat vibes. While Josh brought the cinnamon roll, nerdy techy, secret millionaire, who would do anything for her energy. The best part is they are kind of rivals in the town’s pumpkin growing contest and neighbors! So there is a lot of layers of fun in this one.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Sadie and her dad have a rocky relationship built around pumpkins. She escaped Indiana for California and works as a successful textile artist. But when her dad asks for help tending to his prize pumpkins, she finds herself heading back home. This time to prove she can grow the biggest pumpkin and win: SPICE Pumpkin Weigh-off and maybe get some closure.

But when she gets home Sadie finds the pumpkin patch destroyed by hogs! She also finds her hot new neighbor Josh, who’s more than ready to dive in and help her. They strike up an alliance so she can still enter the pumpkin contest. She will use one of his pumpkin starters and tend to it as her own.

As the clock ticks down to the completion Sadie and Josh spend more and more time together. Josh quickly realizes this is the girl, but he can’t scare her off. He will have to take things slow and at her pace. If not when this completion ends she’ll be on the first flight back to CA.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

“I’m afraid, too,” he said. “Of me?” “Much more than the storm.” “I could destroy you,” she said. “You might,” he said, smiling sheepishly.

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Rival Pumpkin Growers- SPICE Pumpkin Weigh-off
* Edgy Artist FMC x Techy Cinnamon Roll MMC
* Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
* Forced Proximity: Neighbors
* Small Town: Pea Blossom, Indiana
* Fall Hallmark Vibes w/ Path to Healing
* Dual POV w/ Spice

🧡🍁💛🍁🧡🍁💛🍁🧡🍁💛🍁🧡

There's definitely "pumpkin to talk about" with this romance! It gives such cozy, fall vibes which will make this a hit during the autumn season for all our readers wanting a cozy story! I had such a great time listening to this and was very surprised with how spicy the chemistry scenes were (but I am here for it)! Definitely add this to your TBR!

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read/listen this early What a cute cozy romance perfect for fall and full of pumpkins. I liked that both main characters had some family and relationship trauma they were working through. The narrators did a great job protesting these characters. And the back setting of a small town and a growing pumpkin competition is the perfect back drop.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Romance, and author Isabelle Popp for the advanced listener copy of this audiobook!

Let’s Give ‘Em Pumpkin to Talk About is a sweet “golden retriever meets black cat” romance, set against a backdrop of complicated family dynamics and meaningful character growth for both the FMC and MMC. There’s also a fair amount of graphic spice all between two consenting adults.

Narrator Adelaide Fernport did a fantastic job, giving each character a distinct and memorable voice.

Overall, this was an enjoyable listen. While it didn’t quite hit “great” for me, it’s a solid palate cleanser between heavier reads. A 3.5/5⭐️ for me — rounded up to 4⭐️ on whole-star rating platforms.

This book was WAY HOTTER than I thought it'd be, and I was all for it. 🥵🥵🥵 I need more from Isabelle Popp, especially if she's a Hoosier!

I was delighted to read and listen to a romance book set in Indiana that focused on the positive aspects of my state, rather than the negatives that can often be portrayed if a character in a book is from Indiana. Popp did a great job showing that many Indiana communities are inclusive, diverse, and welcoming, while still embracing the agricultural heritage and hospitality for which the state is known. Sometimes it's hard to be from Indiana, especially when it comes to finding love, but Popp provides some hope that it might be right where we least expect it —in our home state.

Sadie is a textile artist who returns to her hometown for the pumpkin contest. There she meet Josh, a squash farmer and tech whizz, who is next door neighbors with her dad’s farm. They started to slowly get to know each other. But Sadie was apprehensive every step of the way. I wish she was open to their relationship.

Let’s Give ‘Em Pumpkin to Talk About sounded super adorable, and I was 100% for the black cat + golden retriever relationship. I just could not get over how Josh talked and DNF’ed early af. Petty? Probably.

This cozy little contemporary romance is just as heartwarming as The Pumpkin Spice Café and every Hallmark Christmas movie you ever watch. It is fast-paced and easy to follow. The banter between the FMC and MMC is so fun and adorable. I love that we have a grumpy-sunshine couple where SHE is the grumpy, and HE is the sunshine. The MMC has the most adorable sense of humor. And honestly, who doesn’t love a sweet yet supportive next-door neighbor who you also think is sexy?

I love that we have a goth plus size FMC as opposed to a typical skinny Mary Sue. I love that she isn’t traditionally beautiful. (There is even an adorable moment when he makes a comment about the small gap in her teeth and how it is cute.)

If you are looking for a cozy, light autumnal read, this one is for you.

The narrator does very well with this one, and is very emotive in her tone, but I am not sure she was the right one for this. She wasn't "edgy" sounding as the FMC. She (I think) would be more like your more vanilla FMC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Romance, Harlequin Audio and Isabelle Popp for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Black cat and golden retriever, small town, neuro spiciness, fun lead up to fall, atypical family dynamics, and spice! It's giving VERY much midwestern life- tornados that lead to forced proximity, farming competitions, fried corn nuggets- you'll get it all.

Narration was well done.

Text-
This leans REAL hard into the pumpkin growing. It almost felt like fiction with a subplot of romance (with spice).

Both MCs felt pretty awkward to me. I mean they seem kinda realistic but they’re a bit quirky.

Overall it just left like something was missing for me. I wasn’t really feeling the chemistry and it seemed more like telling than showing.

Audiobook-
Single narrator, which makes sense for the book. I guess it’s what you’d call an “unvoiced” narration. Which is fine, it’s just not my preference. Her voice was nice and easy to listen to.

Steamy romance between pumpkin growers? I did not know I needed this book in my life! Sadie is the grumpy to Josh's sunshine and it was a constant joy to listen to! The narration was fabulous, and all of the lead up to the pumpkin weigh-off was an adventure!

Pumpkin Spice Perfection 🎃🍂

Let’s Give ’Em Pumpkin to Talk About by Isabelle Popp is serving us more than just pumpkin spice in this witty and heartfelt romcom.

This book is the epitome of the black cat/golden retriever dynamic: a brainy (and, of course, sexy) engineer-turned-farmer who pines after our grumpy big-city girl returning home. “He was an overeager puppy and she was an aloof cat.” Perfection.

There’s seasonal charm in spades—pumpkin farms, small-town quirks, and fierce competition—all layered with an emotional thread of healing tense family relationships and rediscovering where (and with whom) you belong.

At its heart, this is a story about healing: self-love, forgiveness, and learning to open up again after heartbreak. Even if we don’t have the green thumbs to grow thousand-pound pumpkins, that ache of returning home and feeling like a stranger hits close to home.

It’s a lighthearted, fast-paced read—in the best way. I flew through it, catching major Ali Hazelwood vibes (which always work on me!). The spice is spicy, the pining is top-tier, and the yearning? Immaculate. We love a man who supports without condition:
“She’s going to destroy me, and I’m going to beg for more.”

🎧 Audiobook note: The narration added so much charm and depth to the story. The narrator brought both Sadie and Jacob to life with such warmth and emotional nuance—I was completely hooked from the first chapter. The performance nailed the humor, tension, and heart of the book, making it an even more immersive experience.

If you’re building out your cozy Fall TBR, this one absolutely belongs on it. 🍂🎃

Some favorite quotes:
🧡 “He wanted another tall can of seltzer, and Sadie was something else entirely. A sturdy mug of soup that would burn his mouth.”
🧡 “Kissing a man as delicious as a sun-warmed strawberry — was asking for trouble.”
🧡 “You think you’re some feral beast, but in fact you’re a sweet house cat who likes being petted.”

I felt like this tried too hard to check off too many boxes. Things felt forced at times, which gave it a very fake affect. Grumpy, cynical, bisexual, potty mouthed, horny, goth looking girl who fled to LA (and DOESN'T DRIVE- IN LA). Sweet, doormat, puppy dog, shy around girls, coder dude. Multiple non-binary characters in rural Indiana. All so cliched.

Adelaide Fernport narrates the audiobook. Not having dual narrators hurt this one more than usual.


I received an advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Harlequin Audio for the gifted early copy of Let's Give 'Em Pumpkin to Talk About ALC.

The narrator for the ALC did an amazing job narrating the story. This was a single narration, which still worked even though the book was written with dual POVs. The narration was done well, and she did a great job of telling the story. The pacing of the ALC was great, and it helped me become more immersed in the story. Overall, I enjoyed this story and thought it was a very cute/low-stakes romance book. This book was sweet and spicy, and had a good balance between the plot and the spice. The plot was low-stakes, focusing on Sadie, a textile artist, as she returns to her hometown. An unfortunate situation with her dad's pumpkin crop leads to a meet-cute with her neighbor, Josh, a tech millionaire, and the story takes off from there. I liked the dynamic between Sadie's black cat personality and Josh, the golden retriever. Josh was deeply invested in Sadie from the start, so there was an instant-love connection on Josh's part, which I'm not always a huge fan of, but it worked well in this storyline. I loved how reliable Josh was and gave Sadie all the time and space she needed as she processed what she wanted with her life and career. I wish there had been more depth explored with Sadie's parents, as I felt that issue was still unresolved. Overall, this was a fun read and would be perfect for the fall season. You'll love this if you enjoy small-town romance, black cat and golden retriever tropes, and fall vibes.