Sadly a DNF for me

I enjoyed the set up of this story with a mysterious letter bringing Madison back to a family owned inn to help restore it to the charming place it once was before falling into disrepair.
The cosy names such “Maple Falls”, “Cinnamon Spice Inn” are so cute and set me up for the Gilmore Girls, Stars Hollow, autumn vibes I crave in a book. The arrival of an ex who I’m sure the FMC hasn’t got over brings excitement to the story too but for me, that’s where the excitement ends.
I’m sure the story will develop nicely later on but with a long TBR to get through, I just couldn’t push through to the end of this one.
Being full swing into reading romance novels at the moment, I found the sudden smutty scenes to feel oddly placed and seemingly rushed without much context behind the people who were in them. I prefer there to be more build up to the characters and story line before throwing intimate scenes in, perhaps just my preference?
The overuse (in my opinion) of the characters names, rather than using pronouns, was also very distracting to me. All I could think about is how many times the name “Zach” was used over two pages rather than actually reading what “Zach” was doing.
Overall, I couldn’t pursue with reading this book due the way it was written but I’m sure another reader might think very differently.

This book has everything I love enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and I do have a weakness for a small town romance. It was a very cozy read and perfect for fall. I am such a sucker for covers and this one hooked me in. The dual pov is especially helpful with all the miscommunication within the book! I definitely recommend if you love a cozy fall romance read! Thank you so much to Harper Graham and Bookouture for the ARC.

This book feels like a Hallmark movie in the best way—overflowing with fall coziness, pumpkin spice, crisp leaves, and charming small-town vibes. The included map and playlist really help set the scene. I read the ebook, but I can easily imagine the audiobook being a lot of fun if done right.

Madison returns home to help renovate the family inn, only to face her past with her ex, Zach. I wish their tension had been dialed up more, and that the “second chance” felt harder to earn. Zach, with his golden-retriever energy, is instantly rootable, while Madison’s indecisiveness can get a little frustrating.

The small-town atmosphere shines, and the author does a great job making you feel like you’re right there. While the story is somewhat predictable, it delivers such strong autumn vibes that it makes for a quick, enjoyable read. A bit more depth could have elevated it, but it’s still a sweet, cozy romance perfect for the season.
3.25 stars

Book Title: The Cinnamon Spice Inn

Author: Harper Graham

Series: Maple Falls #1

Narrator: Andi Eloise & Brandon Francis

Genre: Cozy Romance, Second Chance Romance

Publication Date: 28 August 2025

Rating: ★★★☆

I received a free copy from Bookouture and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Introduction

🍁 The Cinnamon Spice Inn is the perfect book to prepare you for the Autumn/fall mood. It's a sweet and spicy second-chance romance that feels like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket. It gave me all those tiny cozy vibes I didn't know I needed, making me want to grab a big cup of spiced latte and curl up while I watch nature prepare itself for Autumn. This story is an easy, fun listen/read (I did both) that’s all about finding your way home—both to a place and to a person you thought you’d lost forever. As a fun bonus, the written version includes a cozy map of the town and a playlist to help you get into the autumn mood!

Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)

🍂 The story follows Madison, a city food writer who returns to her charming small town, Maple Falls, to help her family save their struggling inn. She quickly runs into is Zach, her high school ex and the town's ridiculously handsome handyman. It's clear from the start that the spark between them never died. As they work together to restore the inn, they have to confront their past and figure out if they can have a second chance at love, or if history is doomed to repeat itself. The plot is full of small-town charm, cozy autumnal descriptions, and just the right amount of steamy tension.

Overall Thoughts

🤔 My first impression was that the story moves a bit too fast in the beginning, and as a reader/listener, it took me a while to get into the narrative. But once settled in, the dual-POV really helped connect with the characters.

✨ Madison's journey felt so relatable. She’s stuck in a loop of repeating past mistakes and has to learn to stop running from her past. Her internal struggles and indecisiveness, especially in her relationship with Zach, were frustrating at times, but they also made her feel very human. You just want to yell at her to "just talk already!" and stop letting miscommunication get in the way. On the other hand, Zach is the ultimate sweetheart. He's so unaware of his own appeal but is completely and madly in love with Madison. His quiet devotion and pining were so swoon-worthy and made it easy to root for him the entire time.

👻The "miscommunication trope" was a bit overused and felt more like a crutch for the plot than a genuine character flaw, but the chemistry between the two main characters made up for it. The book also does an amazing job of making you feel like you're right there in Maple Falls. The descriptions of cinnamon pastries, crisp autumn air, and cozy inns made me want to move there immediately.

🍂 All in all, listening to / reading the story was as if I was watching a Hallmark movie with a little extra spice. While the romance could have had more depth, it’s a feel-good, easy read that’s perfect for the season.

Conclusion & Final Rating

💌 If you’re looking for a cozy, lighthearted, and heartwarming romance to get you into the fall spirit, look no further. This book is like a warm cinnamon latte for your soul—sweet, spicy, and utterly delightful. It’s perfect for fans of small-town settings, second-chance romances, and Gilmore Girls-style banter. While it might not be a deep, emotionally complex story, it’s a fun and relaxing listen that leaves you with a smile. I’m already hoping the author writes more about the side characters, especially Gram and Hank!

Final Rating: ★★★☆

Book Tropes:

Enemies to lovers

Forced proximity

Small-town vs. city life

Opposites attract

Second chance romance

Miscommunication

Childhood sweethearts

Work romance

Spicy


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Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

The vibes of this book were immaculate. The Cinnamon Spice Inn just seemed so cozy and all the other buildings in the town. The descriptions of the small town of Maple Falls made me want to travel there immediately. Plus it just made me want fall to begin even more. So I absolutely loved it for the vibes alone.

The romance was the thing that fell flat to me. I felt like the romance between Zach and Madison had no depth to it, and we barely saw anything of their "past" with one another, besides reminiscing on their past in the honeymoon cabin and then talking about why they broke up. And then their relationship didn't exactly develop besides still being attracted to one another. So it kinda irritated me and I just wish it was developed slightly more.

With all that being said, I liked the plot, and trying to revamp Madison's family business. It was cute, fun, and so cozy. So if you're looking for something to get you into the fall mood that's easy to read, then you've stumbled across the right book!

3.5/5.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn is a cozy, small-town romance with likable characters and dual-POV storytelling.
Madison and Zach’s relationship is engaging, full of miscommunication but also love–and sexual tension.
The setting makes you want to visit Maple Falls yourself, and eat loooots of cinamon rolls!
The miscommunications and some underused side characters slow the pacing at times, but this story is an enjoyable debut.

This book was everything I want in a fall romance! I loved all of the fall vibes- pumpkin, apple, farms, hay rides. Perfection! I loved the magnetic pull Zach & Madison had toward each other. My only “criticism”, which I give loosely- is that they were not really “enemies to lovers” . They were more like soulmates who made mistakes in their youth but found their way back to each other. Never really enemies!

I loved this book. Reading it in a heat wave just made me long for the autumn days!

We love an enemies to lovers, with sassiness and tension! I couldn't put it down, and I'm looking forward to more from the Maple Falls series.

Firstly thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book as an eARC. I am incredibly grateful!

Rating: 2.5 ⭐️
Spice: 2 🌶️

This book is the perfect cosy autumnal read. A small town romance, in the lead up to Halloween, with cinnamon and pumpkins and all things sweet.

I would be curious to see the series develop though if any other characters had their stories told. (Gram and Hank, I’m looking at you two especially… I need details of their cuteness. Oh and Kit too!).

So why the low rating?

The big reason is this was marketed as Enemies to Lovers. It’s not. Not even close. Nothing about this even hints towards the trope in my opinion and so anyone hoping to read such a trope (like I was) will find themselves disappointed. Had this book not promised such a thing, I probably wouldn’t have rated it quite so low because my expectations would have been different. It’s just a second chance romance, small town, with miscommunication.

I knew going in about the miscommunication trope (a controversial trope for romance readers!), I don’t mind the occasional miscommunication read, so I was curious. Unfortunately, I thought this an example of how to not do the trope. It was just one thing after another after another. The fully grown adults never learning. It became tedious. I almost DNF-ed the book but it’s just shy of 300 pages and wanted to keep giving it a chance.

Ultimately, I think the book has really great potential as a small town autumnal romance. But it was let down by issues such as its marketing of tropes and that put me, as a reader, on the back foot immediately.

There were aspects of the book I loved. (Anything small town is great! The FMC’s family, her backstory, the additions of the storms, everything I adored). It just fell flat and isn’t a book I could really get into despite so much of it having so much potential.

Let start off by saying I’m privileged to receive another arc. This is book 1 in the maple fall series. We have our main characters Madison and Zach. I felt like these two were a let down.

The book feels very cozy and has autumn vibe. It’s like a warm hug.

4 stars - a cute, cosy and predictable read, it is a wonderfully autumnic read that should be enjoyed with a hot chocolate and under a cosy blanket.

The most perfect autumnal cozy book! Gilmore girls with spice, enemies to lovers, feisty female lead-what more could you ask for? Madison and Zach work so well together (eventually) and the fiery lead up to their romance is hysterical! I love that Madison takes no nonsense with her ex and Zach love to push her buttons which is great for us to read!!

3.75/5 stars

This is a cozy, cute autumn read. This absolutely gives Gilmore girls vibes. Maple falls reminds me of Stars hollow with a close knit community that feels like a family. The family takes in and care for animals and treats their guest like an addition to their household. The story does touch on the characters grief and finding comfort in each other.

The story has dual-pov to give a real sense of the yearning and tension between the FMC and MMC. The story has some swoony movie moments that are romance clichés, but doesn’t feel cheesy.
The FMC and MMC are fighting between what their heart wants and what their brain is telling them.

Story does have some open door spice, but is not the main point. I would say it’s on the lighter end of the spice level.

The internal yearning of the main characters does feel repetitive at times. There is a miscommunication trope in the story. I won’t say much more, as to not spoil anything. The book markets the mystery as a major point, but it does feel like it gets put on the back burner and left to the end. Honestly though I think what the author did with resolution/answer to the mystery was a nice addition to the story.

This is a book about finding your home, fighting for what and who you love.

I did really enjoy this read, but I haven’t read any romance in some time.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC for this and I was EXCITED. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture!

Reading The Cinnamon Spice Inn is like wrapping yourself in your coziest flannel, sipping a pumpkin spice latte, and falling headfirst into a pile of crunchy autumn leaves, with a hot handyman right behind you.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn made me want to book a weekend getaway and never leave (can someone open this place IRL, please?). There’s laughter, tension, swoony kisses in crisp October air, and enough fall flavor to turn your heart into a pumpkin.

The second Madison struts back into Maple Falls, coffee in hand and big-city attitude in full force, I was all in. She's bold, determined, and brings just the right amount of chaos to keep things delightfully unpredictable. And Zach? Swoon. A tool-belt-wearing heartthrob with hazel eyes and just the right amount of grump to her sunshine.

I relate to Madison and Zach, who were young and impulsive and didn’t really communicate well; because I’ve been there too. Sometimes acting without thinking and struggling to get my point across, causing poor choices.

It’s pure Stars Hollow magic—full of quirky, lovable townspeople who feel like old friends and make the whole place feel like home.

Whether you're a sucker for second chances, small-town coziness, or enemies-to-lovers sparks that light up like jack-o’-lanterns, this book DELIVERS.

This book has officially earned a permanent spot on my yearly fall reading list, right alongside cozy sweaters and cinnamon rolls with apple butter. I’ll be revisiting Maple Falls every autumn for that perfect blend of warmth, wit, and swoony romance.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn follows Madison, a coffee-loving food writer who’s called back to her hometown of Maple Falls to save her family’s inn. The last thing she expects is to work side-by-side with Zach — the handsome handyman who also happens to be the ex who got away. With the inn’s big Halloween relaunch looming, the two must navigate shared history, unspoken feelings, and plenty of forced proximity tension.

One of the highlights of this book for me was the cozy atmosphere. The town, with its autumn festivals and welcoming sense of community, made me want to pack my bags and move there. The way the food was described was an absolutely perfect — I could practically taste the cinnamon, spices, and pastries coming off the page. Harper Graham’s writing really captures the sensory experience of each scene, making it easy to sink into the setting.

The side characters really shined for me. They were funny, supportive, and memorable in their own right. I loved how much they contributed to the small-town charm, and I caught myself wishing they were my real-life friends. Their presence made the world of the book feel so full and authentic.

While Madison and Zach had some truly beautiful and heartfelt moments together, I did find the constant miscommunication between them a bit frustrating. And for clarity: I wouldn’t call this an “enemies to lovers” story; it primarily just miscommunications stacked on top of each other. Still, the heartfelt resolution and the overall cozy, uplifting vibe made this a perfect read. The Cinnamon Spice Inn is the perfect book to curl up with on a crisp fall day — warm, sweet, and full of charm.

Thank you to the publisher for the arc through NetGalley! All opinions are my own honest opinions.

I was given a free copy of this book by the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a cute and cozy fall romance! You’ll fall in love with the small town and all its residents!

Oh my goodness, this book is absolutely adorable! Zack and Madison make the perfect couple. The banter, the chemistry, the denial, and the yearning each character brings to the story is spot-on. It feels like an everyday love story unfolding right before your eyes. No wealthy exes—just a small-town guy and girl, with her leaving for college and never looking back. Two stubborn souls who didn't fight for each other until six years later. Then, a mysterious letter shows up, bringing Madison back to the Cinnamon Spice Inn, with the hope that she’ll restore her family's inn. That is when the fun begins to unfold. A must read.

This book had so many ideas I love from small town romance, autumnal vibes and a family inn in need of saving. It was also dual POV!! This was a cosy and easy read that I read In a day. It was nice to see Maddison reconnecting with old friends and them all helping each other out. The small town was portrayed well where you get the feel for how friendly everyone is, nothing is ever too much to ask and the friendships were strong. Kitt was my favourite character and would love to see a book from her perspective.

However, I felt the start of the book was very rushed where it started with telling us how Maddison is a food journalist living in New York who hasn’t been back to maple falls since her mother’s funeral. She received a letter that her father needed help with their family Inn and we saw her go straight home. If there was a chapter or two of Maddison living in New York I think it would’ve helped build a deeper connection to her. Sometimes books can drag at the start when they are like this so it did make it quick paced however a little insight into her life in New York would’ve been nice. Her and Zach had broken up 6 years prior due to miscommunication and hadn’t spoke since. It started by hearing a lot about their previous connection however throughout the book there wasn’t enough communication between them to see a real emotional connection.

Thank you to net galley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

The fall story I was craving. I loved how cozy this book was. I felt as though I lived in the small town of Maple Falls. I could almost smell the Cinnamon rolls and apple butter while reading. I loved Kit. Her food sounded so good. I was instantly hungry every time she was in the story. The constant miscommunication was annoying and the only thing keeping it from a 5 star read.

I really enjoyed this book!!
Harper Graham write in a way that makes it so easy to picture stand in Maple Falls and how desperately I want to live in a small town!! llove the little mystery of the letters that gave the story a cute plot especially when we find out why she's got the letter.
I read this book in one sitting that's how much I enjoyed it, it was fast paced and easy to understand.
Highly recommend if you love these
Tropes
Second chance romance
Small town
Little bit of Mystery
Mmc definitely green flag kind of guy
After receiving a mystery letter tell Madison her father needs help with the family Inn, Madison flys back home the first chance she's gets, while there she's bumps into her ex Zach the guy she's left behind to follow her dream job in New York.
Zach you guys when something needs fixing in this small town of Maple Falls he's there for everyone without a second thought. Still heartbroken from Madison leaving him all the years ago without an expiration he's doesn't know how he will be able to stand being around her while help her father to fix the Inn.
Tension is brewing between everyone around can sense it as well.