**🍂 Book Review: Cozy Autumn Romance + a Dash of Mystery**
⭐ 4 | 🌶️ 3.5

Thanks to Bookouture & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Is this the perfect book for curling up on a chilly autumn porch with a scarf and a PSL? Absolutely. Did I cry? Yep. Did I yell “just [expletive] talk already!” at my Kindle? Also yes.

Billed as enemies-to-lovers, this is really a *second chance romance* with a believable (if occasionally frustrating) miscommunication arc. Both MCs have avoidant tendencies, and the trope fits their history — but I still wished some late-book conflicts resolved faster.

**What you’ll love:**
* Cozy vibes, a surprising twist, and 7+ spicy scenes
* A small-town mystery — an anonymous letter warns Madison her family’s inn is in trouble.
* Zach — a cinnamon roll carpenter with a heart of gold and a devastating backstory, for example , *“Zach had never chased anyone… because somewhere deep down, Zach didn’t believe he was the kind of guy people stayed for.”*
* Madison — a competitive, list-loving food critic who moved to NYC years ago trying to outrun the guilt of leaving Maple Falls...and Zach.
* Lovable side characters: Kit, Liam, Madison's dad and Gram, Zach's mom Anita and sister Emily, and the delightfully nosy townsfolk all found a place in my heart -- especially Gram.

If you can handle some “why won’t they just talk?” moments, this is a swoony, warm hug of a fall read with plenty of mystery, romance, and loveable characters to keep the pages turning.

This was a really cute fall book. Definitely some predictable parts and I think the main character could have been portrayed a little stronger but it was a nice book.

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

*First of all, thank you to Netgalley and to Bookouture for the ARC*

The autumn vibes in this book were immaculate but I just couldn't look past them being labeled as enemies to lovers. Zach and Madison were too into each other and should've cleared the air as soon as they reconnected.

The miscommunication factor was just too much for me so overrall this book wasn't my cup of tea but you should give it a chance if you're a fall girlie.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham is a cosy, heartwarming story that really draws you in. The inn setting is charming and inviting, and the characters are easy to care about, each with their own quirks and secrets. I loved the mix of romance, friendship, and small-town life—it feels like a perfect escape into a comforting, feel-good world. A lovely, uplifting read that’s hard to put down.

Madison, now a city girl, receives a anonymous letter compelling her to return to his hometown where her family, and their inn, are in desperate need for help. There is someone she's been avoiding for years though, her ex Zach. And now, they're forced to spend time together while he helps with the repairs at the inn. Madison is there temporarily, but it's evident their connection and the spark between them never died. Are they willing to give themselves a second chance, even after what happened last time?

I'm glad the book has short chapters, the story flew by that way, a thing we all always appreciate, I'm sure. The fall cover and fall vibes were amazing, I'm sure reading this in the middle of fall fever would feel incredible.
I would have loved to LOVE this, but alas, i did not.

I honestly was hoping to love it, the description looked incredible, so I was more than a little let down when I ended the mess of a lustful first chapter almost hating the mfc.
Until the last third of the book I felt as if it all hold too much physical description of the other, and remembrance of how "they made them feel" for me to feel connected to them. This was not trying to build something new, trying for them to reconnect and know each other anew after so many years, it was just trying for them to get together based on what they already had. There just wasn’t a building process of a connection between me and them for me to be moved by their incessant and constant physical lust for each other.

The plot would have been wonderful. A bit of background story, a shared past, fall vibes and a small town... but I couldn't immerse myself into the story and especially in the characters' relationship. All this "tension in the air" being proclaimed before a single scene between the two had finished (the first chapter) felt to forced. Their interactions during the book get reduced to exchanging a couple of phrases each time, getting physical and - end of chapter. By the 220 point I got sick of it. Of not having proper scenes of them talking and just spending time together, ACTUAL time together, where we see them interact normally.

And I loved the fall aspect and ambience, but after a couple of chapters it got tiring too —so so many moments of just describing scents, colours, vibes, some random bake, cupcake, cookies... There's a full chapter of her just doing this when going to a bakery for coffee- And it just kept happening. Like, don't get me wrong, I'm DYING for summer to end, I love fall and I love baking myself, but I don't need that many paragraphs and pages full of just food descriptions. There are a couple of moments when the plot picks up but, in general the whole book, for the plot it should have had, feels like it drags a bit and nothing is happening.

I couldn't fully enjoy the writing either, the narrative was filled with all these types of famously romantic scenes or phrase constructions every other romance written before also has. Their scenes together felt scripted moments and the connection felt pressured. There were so many repetitive forms and feelings descriptions too.
‘My surroundings disappeared. It was just me and him’.
‘the people disappeared. It was just us’.
‘the storm disappeared. It was just them’.
STOP.

Another point of my problem with the narrative was the amount of nonsensical moments that left me questioning how the plot was supposed to work in the author's mind.
Like Zack going to her inn in the middle of a storm where THEIR ROOF FELL DOWN BY A TREE GOING THROUGH THE INN, and him just casually leaning against the doorframe going "your dad called me, said it was an emergency." like huhh???
Or her just casually going under the storm, but in a scene later in the book there's not even droplets falling from the incoming storm when she starts panicking (because she's supposed to fear storms with all her being) like, what's with that?
Just a bunch of things that don't make sense, for me at least, of she was contradicting herself in her thoughts from one chapter to another, or when she was passed on the fault for something to Zack when it was clearly her doing.

In general, it all was a bit underdeveloped.
A major part of the plot I sensed was gonna be the mystery letters, but instead they were not addressed ONCE by her. That plot-line is just nonexistent. At the halfway point the letters had only been addressed thrice, and none by her, all the clues about them basically got to her by other people (and out of my two guesses for the person sending the letter, it was one of them).

I had a problem with them as a couple too. They basically had no communication skills.
In three instances during the book they were gonna "talk things out" and basically the scenes ended with them not having talked long about anything. In both of them they cleared up a little thing and then immediately got physical, and in the last one she went to his house to "talk things out" and left without saying anything at all! It frustrated me so bad.
The resolution suffered by this. All of it was resolved in two phrases with no drama and tension (a problem that got them apart for DAYS and that related to the breakup they had years prior, mind you).

I’m sure some people will like this, overall I think I felt more disappointed than anything. (the synopsis being a major cause. And labeling this an ‘enemies-to-lovers' is a sacrilege.)

3.75⭐️

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc, my very first one 🥰

I’ve rated this a solid 3.75 stars, and really enjoyed it! It is a cosy, autumnal read with a dash of mystery — I loved the intrigue around the letter and the warm, seasonal vibes. The dedication was so lovely, and Harper Graham’s writing really sets the scene. However, I felt there was a lot of miscommunication between the characters which wore a little thin, and I struggled to fully connect with them. Overall, it was a cosy and enjoyable autumn read with just the right amount of suspense to keep me interested!

I really enjoyed the cozy small-town atmosphere in this book, and the author’s writing definitely captured the feel of an autumn read. The way she describe the setting felt warm and inviting. However, the romance didn’t quite work for me. I struggled to connect with the relationship between the main characters, and the miscommunication felt a bit over the top. While it had some lovely seasonal charm, the romantic side just wasn’t it for me.

3.5/4 stars - I received a Netgalley ARC ebook and this is my honest review.

This is my kind of romance, small town, second chance romance. She left town for the big city, he never left, she comes back and well 'second chance' is clearly in the cards..

I enjoyed the dynamic of the MMC & FMC and the side characters played a good role where it was easy to see who would be the next couple to get their story. It was a cosy and enjoyable read. My only 1 slight annoyance was the miscommunication/ assumptions made as it was a lot from both sides in this story but it worked out in the end.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham ★★★★½

First of all the dedication melted my heart, and omg, I adore romance books with maps (more authors need to do this). The playlist? Absolutely perfect.

I’m usually not a fan of the miscommunication trope, but honestly, everything else about this book was perfection.

The story follows a small town girl who moves to the city, leaving her small town boy behind. Years later, she returns to save her family’s business and finds that he’s still there.

I was instantly hooked by the mystery of who sent her the letter that brought her back home. One part of the reveal completely shocked me, while the other part I had my suspicions about 👀.

This book is pure fall cozy small town vibes with just the right touch of mystery. The characters were so well written, the town itself felt alive, and the descriptions were beautiful.

“Back to Maple Falls. Back to the small lakeside town surrounded by forest-covered mountains and filled with quirky locals. Back to the place she had planned to never call home again.”

Loved this quote and honestly, loved this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this eARC!
This is a wonderful, cozy, romantic fall read. Our FMC comes home to help restore her family’s inn and has to deal with her ex boyfriend.
This is the perfect book to get you in the fall mood which is easy as you follow Maple Falls’ locals preparing for all of the fall festivities. Between the spice, fall food, and coffee, I am already ready sweater weather.
I will be continuing this series to see what happens in Maple Falls.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn is autumn in a book—warm, cozy, and just the right amount of spicy. Harper Graham’s small-town romance made me want to move to Maple Falls, bake cinnamon rolls, and watch the leaves fall with a certain hazel-eyed contractor. The authors descriptions painted every scene so vividly, it felt like stepping into a Hallmark movie with a bit more heat! Perfect for anyone craving a cozy, feel-good escape. Guys I literally made my husband pumpkin muffins while reading this book. I’m not kidding it is THEE PERFECT fall book so don’t miss out!

First of all I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for sending me this book in exchange of an honest review.

Rating: 2,5

I loved the small town and teh found family aspects of this book. They were really cozy and amazing. Loved how the whole town was roting for them. I also really liked the writing, it was cozy and it was very easy to read (proof of that is the fact that I read the book almost in one day).
What I didn't enjoy about this story was that it had a lot of telling and not showing, for example in the first chapter it feels like we were just dropped in the middle of the story and missed so chapters, but this is something that could easily be worked one. And my other issue, which is more personal, I didn't connect with the main characters, I liked them, but they didn't do anything for me and I cared about them as much as I liked the side characters.

But at the end of the day I really want to read other books by this author and see what she brings us next.

Cozy fall vibes and seriously delicious food descriptions that honestly made me want to bake something immediately. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and how much the story leaned into the sensory pleasures of the fall season — cinnamon, apples, warm drinks... yes, please.

The FMC, Madison, was lovely and emotionally grounded — she did a lot of the emotional heavy lifting, though. I wish the MMC, Zach, had a bit more growth.
Still, if you're craving a comforting, low-stakes fall read with foodie love and small-town charm, this one's worth curling up with.

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝. “𝐍𝐨𝐰, 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐲-𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐲."

Bye summer 👋🏽👋🏽

I am so beyond ready for cosy season and when this ARC landed in my inbox, I grabbed it with both hands!

Firstly, let me tell you, this book will make you SALIVATE. I'm pretty sure food is mentioned in every darn chapter, and not just normal food - cosy season, sweet tooth, belly warming food. I want to go to Maple Falls and just eat until it's my time to leave this earth 🤤

Madison & Zach are childhood sweethearts, the absolute cutest romance reignited here and I loved every moment. Their relationship was full of sarcasm, softness, frustration and adorable moments all at the same time.

The small town vibes were VIBING. The nosey old ladies, the Pumpkinfest event, the traditions. I loved it all so so much! It's such an incredibly descriptive book, you really feel like you've stepped into another world with this one! Best cosy season read I've ever had the pleasure of reading 🥹☕️

I can't wait to read The Spiced Cocoa Cafe!

This book has strong Autumn vibes! And If you, like me, love fall this book should maybe be on your radar. It's a second change romance in a smalltown with a cozy story and a bit of spice ;)

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. All opinions are my own :)

The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham is the perfect book to curl up with on a crisp autumn day. The cozy vibes are immaculate. Between the pumpkin-scented air, the warmth of a close-knit small town and the charm of a historic inn being brought back to life, it was like stepping into the book’s setting. Maple Falls truly came alive and I loved how the townspeople were always ready to help one another.

One of my favorite parts was the small mystery element. The anonymous letters sent to some of the residents added just the right amount of intrigue. The restoration of the inn was also a highlight. Watching the project bring Madison and Zach closer together was sweet and satisfying. Their chemistry was fantastic and the second-chance romance element really delivered. And that ending? So sweet and heartwarming that I literally teared up.

That said, there were a few things that didn’t work as well for me. The book jumped in a bit too quickly; I would’ve loved a slightly slower pace at the start. Also, Madison could be a bit much at times, expecting things from Zach that she wasn’t necessarily willing to give in return. And the miscommunication? Not my favorite trope (which is a personal thing, not the author’s fault), but it did cause some frustration. Ironically, the MMC’s best friend had the best advice for the couple — if only they’d listened sooner!

I gave The Cinnamon Spice Inn 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4). Despite the things I didn’t love, I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style, the cozy setting, and the heart of the story. I’m definitely looking forward to book two and more time spent in Maple Falls.

Spice level: 3/5

I really enjoyed the characters in this book and as I was reading I knew this could easily become a series with all of the side characters introduced. Not too much but just enough to make us like them too. There was a definite Stars Hollow vibe here which I love in my romance novels. This is a nice, easy read. Although it started out slowly for me, I really got into the characters and the vibe of this book quickly. I prefer it to others I’ve read in the same genre.

Like many romance novels, it follows specific tropes, a little communication could solve everything but then there would be no story. I expect this when I read romance novels so it doesn’t really bother me. I did think the romantic rival part felt a bit forced but it was a very small part of the book. I liked the addition of the mystery element. Not to overpowering but enough to keep me interested.

I really liked the warm, homey feel to the book and how quickly Madison was able to pick up where she left off with old friends. I can’t wait to read more from Harper Graham!

I loved this book! It was so intriguing and attention attentive. The banter, angst, and the past emotions coming to back was perfect. Who knew that fall could be so fun, loving, and spicy. This gives the feels of Gilmore Girls, and that is what sold it to me. The cover is absolutely gorgeous and helps you immerse yourself into the town and feelings of fall. I will reread this over and over again!!!!

I received this book from NetGalley with the intention of providing an honest review.

This book is wonderfully suited for the atmosphere of autumn! It centres on Madison, who has been enjoying a vibrant life in New York City. However, one morning, she receives a message indicating her family's inn is facing difficulties and requires her assistance. Consequently, Maddie returns to her small hometown and encounters her former boyfriend, who is coincidentally involved in renovating the inn.
With lingering emotional scars from the end of their relationship, can Maddie disregard the undeniable attraction?
Furthermore, can Maddie assist her father in restoring the inn?


Really enjoyed this book. It has everything you want a second chance, small town romance!!