This is a cute fall Hallmark-style story about a woman who comes back to town to raise her dad’s pumpkin for the annual competition. When she finds out hers is ruined, her neighbor—and main competition—offers to let her raise one of his. Sparks fly..

It’s a sweet story that dragged a bit in parts, but overall it left me satisfied.

Thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the advance listener copy of Give 'Em Pumpkin to Talk About by Isabelle Popp! This was such a cute, cozy read—perfect for fall or anytime you need a warm, feel-good story. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life and really added to the charm of the story.

I loved the dynamic between Sadie and Josh. Their relationship was playful, heartfelt, and filled with great chemistry. Josh is an absolute cinnamon roll/golden retriever type—so sweet and thoughtful—and I appreciated how the book explored his love language of giving. That said, I did feel Sadie could have shown him a bit more patience, especially after learning about his past struggles with feeling “too much” when he cares deeply.

Sadie’s journey to reconnect with her father was a nice emotional thread, and I was happy to see it resolved, though I wish more of those key moments had happened face to face rather than over the phone. Still, I loved seeing her open up, come to terms with her past, and let herself love and be loved.

A lovely mix of humor, heart, and autumn vibes—I’d definitely read more from Isabelle Popp!

I honestly wish this book were releasing on September 1st instead of June 30th, it’s bursting with cozy fall vibes! If I had read it in autumn, I’d be heading straight to a pumpkin patch afterward. The characters do curse like sailors, but it felt true to life, so it didn’t bother me. The writing was solid, and the characters were super charming, the male lead has total golden retriever energy, while the female lead gives off major black cat vibes. Such a cute read, perfect for getting into that autumn spirit!

This book was SOOO GOOD. I went in with low expectations, assuming that it was just another light and fluffy fall romance. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. While it did provide those cozy small town fall vibes, the characters were incredibly well developed and real, and it was easy to become invested in their story. Even the spice was written in a way that felt real, without all the superfluous language that sometimes accompanies spice in romance novels. I very rarely give a book five stars, but this book was definitely worth the rating.

This audiobook is pure autumn magic.

From the very first chapter, Let’s Give Them Pumpkin to Talk About wraps you in a cozy, small town world that feels both timeless and refreshingly modern. Isabelle Popp’s storytelling is vibrant, witty, and full of heart but it’s the audiobook experience that truly makes this story come alive.

The narration is nothing short of perfection. The voice acting is warm, expressive, and effortless pulling you into each moment with personality and charm. Every character has depth, and the narrator captures their quirks and emotions with such nuance that it feels like you’re right there beside them, living out the story.

Whether you’re driving through falling leaves, folding laundry, or just lying on the couch soaking it all in, this audiobook delivers a feel good experience that’s funny, romantic, and full of that irresistible fall flavor. It’s more than just a cozy listen it’s a mood, a vibe, a full on autumn escape.

If you love seasonal romances, charming banter, or just need something to lift your spirits, Let’s Give Them Pumpkin to Talk About is a five star listen that you’ll want to replay every year. Truly, this is the kind of audiobook that reminds you why you fell in love with listening in the first place.

Listening to Let’s Give ’Em Pumpkin to Talk About was like wrapping myself in a cozy blanket and stepping into a small town autumn festival. Isabelle Popp’s storytelling shines in audio format, and the narrator brings the characters to life with warmth, charm, and just the right touch of sass and humor.

The narration was smooth and expressive, making it easy to connect with the emotions in each scene from laugh out loud moments to the sweet, swoony ones. The pacing felt perfect for an audiobook, never dragging and always keeping me engaged.

This is the kind of audiobook that makes you want to take the long way home just to keep listening. A perfect pick for fall, or anytime you want a story that feels like pumpkin pie for the soul.

If you’re a fan of contemporary romantic comedies with a small-town charm and opposites-attract vibes, Let's Give 'Em Pumpkin to Talk About might be a fun pick for you. Personally, it wasn’t really my cup of tea, but I can see how it might appeal to readers who enjoy lighter romance reads with quirky setups and a bit of spice thrown in.

The premise is definitely cute—Sadie, a rough-around-the-edges textile artist, returns home for the summer with one goal: to grow a giant pumpkin to earn her father’s respect finally. Enter Josh, her annoyingly handsome and overly optimistic neighbor who left a tech career to grow vegetables. It’s got all the ingredients for a feel-good romance, and I appreciated that the author tried to do something unique with the setup.

That said, I found the pacing a bit slow, and the plot didn’t fully hold my attention. While the characters were well-developed on paper, I struggled to feel any real connection to them, which made it hard for me to get truly invested. I liked that Sadie wasn’t your typical rom-com heroine—she’s edgy, flawed, and refreshingly real—but I just didn’t find myself rooting for her or Josh as much as I wanted to.

The spice level was kind of all over the place. Most of the book is pretty tame, then suddenly we’re thrown into full-on steamy scenes that felt a bit out of place with the tone of the rest of the story. Some of those moments actually made me cringe a little because of the context, and also because they felt rushed or unearned, like we skipped a few steps in the emotional buildup.

One thing I will say: it’s a short, easy read. If you’re coming off an emotionally heavy book and need a quick palate cleanser with a bit of romance and humor, this could work for you. While it wasn’t a personal favorite, I know there are readers out there who love a sunshine-and-grump dynamic and a cozy small-town setting. Just be prepared for a few unexpected spicy surprises in between the pumpkin-growing and pig-related chaos.

I liked the author's writing style, and the audiobook version was very easy to listen to. The narrator uses different voices for the girl and boy parts, and it was very easy to listen to which kept my interest.

This one’s for the pumpkin spice girlies! Pumpkin talk galore and so so spicy!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️
This will be a great read come autumn. Youve got a pumpkin growing competition in a small town. And lots of spice! She’s an artist, he’s a tech nerd. Mutual pining and close proximity.
Lots of steamy spice that’s piping hot! That post tornado, watching scene had me kicking my feet and squealing it was so hot! I love that both our main characters have their own struggles that they’re working on, yet they each give each other the safe space to grow without any pressure. I wasn’t sold on Josh and Sadie’s chemistry at first, but opposites can attract and these two grew together really well. The romance could have dove a little deeper because it felt more like insta lust rather than love. But also, the emotional journey these two took, both individually and together, did sell me on their love by the end. Also, a moment for our dark and broody curvy girl Sadie, because she’s a boss bitch and I LOVED her. Theres nothing wrong with an assertive woman and I loved that she maintained her boundaries the whole way through. Josh met Sadie at her pace and let her take the lead, and that was so so hot of him. But also, cute non cursing Josh got me with his tender heart, doing the most when he’s being affectionate, and not me cackling at the sex toy emporium in his closet cause he’s a secret freak and that man deserves to be protected at all costs. This was more centered on their connection and I do wish we would have gotten a bit more of the pumpkin weigh off or at the least some more fall festivities leading up to this competition to set the ambiance a little more. But overall, a fun, pumpkin filled spicy read!

This was such an easy, sweet, and surprisingly spicy read. Self proclaimed black cat Sadie Fox returns to her hometown to care for her estranged father’s pumpkin patch. Unsurprisingly, chaos ensues. I really enjoyed the MMC- he was nerdy, surprisingly endearing, and working in therapy (claps) on his people pleasing nature. I really enjoyed this fall themed read! 3.5 stars rounded to 4

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook Let’s Give Em Pumpkin to Talk About.

Sadie’s got bite, Josh is all heart, and together they bring plenty of heat to this fun and spicy small-town fall romance. Let’s Give ’Em Pumpkin to Talk About is the kind of story that makes you want to pull on a cozy sweater, grab a latte, and fully commit to the chaos of second chances and full-blown lust. It’s quirky without being cringey, and the emotional layers—grief, vulnerability, forgiveness—gave the steam a little more substance. The audiobook narrator absolutely nailed the delivery, adding depth and charm to both leads. If you’re into unapologetically spicy reads with heart, humor, and a splash of cinnamon, this one’s for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (3.5 stars)
Rated R for strong language and explicit sexual content.

3.75⭐️ rounded up

A small town/fall vibes rom com with banter, sass and a lot of (cough pumpkin) spice.

Releases: August 26, 2025

Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 8 hours 8 minutes
🎤: Adelaide Fernport
The narrator does a good job of the different voices needed and had great tempo. The narration was clear and concise. I was able to listen to this audiobook at the lower end of my preferred speed and I was able to understand everything clearly and follow along well. While the audiobook narrator didn't stand out as a top favorite to me I didn't have any big complaints about the narration in general.

Themes:
🎃: Generational family trauma
🎃: Redeeming yourself from your past
🎃: Fill others cups with abundance
🎃: Learning to love yourself and let others love you

Representation:
🐗: Alternative/Edgy FMC
🐗: Artist FMC
🐗: Plus Size FMC
🐗: Light BDSM

Tropes:
💗: Alternative FMC/Golden Retriever MMC
💗: Tattooed FMC
💗: Billionaire MMC
💗: Philanthropist MMC

🥵: Spice: 🌶️🌶️
🧟‍♂️: Gore: 🚫
Potential Triggers: Generational trauma, Abortion discussions **check authors website/social media

Short Synopsis:
Sadie is called back to Pea Blossom to tend to her father's award winning pumpkin patch. A short term hiatus during which she intends to fix her artists block, see her sister and win the spice pumpkin weighing contest. She didn't plan on her pumpkins being destroyed or falling for her dad's tech millionaire neighbor. But Sadie can't wait to go back to LA where there's decent tacos and no one snarks are her edgy bob and black clothing. Will Sadie uproot her entire life for love?

General Thoughts:
This audiobook was pretty adorable. This is going to be a great read for the fall months as the leaves turn and pumpkin spice reigns supreme again. With lots of spice and an adorable plot line, it's a quick and satisfying read.

I feel like the characters were pretty realistic and made decisions that made sense to their personality. Sadie was a fun character and I loved her alternative style and grumpy demeanor. I felt the character growth was most prominent with Sadie. Josh was a ball of sunshine and generous to a fault. It was fun watching these characters play off of each other.

One of the subplots was a little silly to me. The retaliation for the destroyed pumpkins seemed like it could have been totally eliminated with zero repercussions to the overall plot. It just felt out of place to me with everything else going on. However, I did enjoy the talks of art and the various cultural elements involved in textiles. I wish there had been more of that. I would have liked to see more resolution between Sadie and her father. But it also didn't seem lacking within the text. Just a personal preference.

Overall, I really enjoyed the novel and I won't be opposed to reading more by the author in the future.

Disclaimer: I read this book as a free audiobook through the Harlequin Audio and NetGalley . All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Sadie is a little edgy. Josh is a lot of sunshine.
Love’s about to catch them completely off gourd. This was a fun and quirky small town fall romance that makes you almost smell the pumpkin spice. This was a well written story about second chances, being vulnerable, and finding meaning in the small things. The narrator did an excellent job bringing the characters and story to life… I enjoyed listening to the way she performed her magic while voicing the different characters. Highly recommend!

I AM OBSESSED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS GONNA BE CUTESY FUN AND IT ABSOLUTELY WAS BUT I ALSO TEARED UP A LITTLE BIT AND I JUST. I LOVED THIS BOOK SO INCREDIBLY MUCH WOW.

It's sweet, it's fun, the narrator does a great job (the accents weren't always super consistent but it wasn't enough to be an issue), and I just. I really really loved this and am really looking forward to reading more by Isabelle Popp.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ARC!

3 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

🎧 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 🎧

I enjoyed this book as a whole! The audio was good. It flowed nicely and the narrator did a good job representing the characters in the book.

Did I ever think I would be reading a book about pumpkins and also smut? Nope but I am here for it. I enjoyed it. It’s a sweet fall romance. Also a short book which is always nice. It has spicy but also a plot which I love! Sadie and Josh were super cute and loved listening to their story.

This was a cute, fall ish love story between a girl trying to gain her father’s love and the farm neighbor looking for a sense of belonging. There was nothing remarkable about it the story but it was sweet and cute and would be a great fall time palette cleanser!

I enjoyed the narrator but as always, a duet narration would be preferred.