This is the book equivalent of an okay but very atmospheric Hallmark movie with bad acting that you put on in the background to make your home feel seasonal and cozy. It’s sweet and definitely brings the fall vibes, but not much else. The writing is quite basic and surface-level, and there’s a lot of telling instead of showing. Considering how simple the writing, plot, and characters are, when things get ramped up to 100 with the spice, it feels somewhat out of place. Speaking of spice, it starts at the 6% mark in the story. That has so be some kind of record. The author really put the uh…spice…in pumpkin spice *groans* I’m sORRY, I had to! The only reason I’m not rating this lower is because the autumn vibes are in fact immaculate!

I don't normally love 3rd person narration, but the writing was so descriptive, I felt like I could smell the cinnamon spice and see the small town shops!

The "world-building" may have been a lot for some, but I truly loved envisioning what Maple Falls looked and smelled like. Between the fall decorations, the shops, and the people, this was gloriously descriptive!

There is a double miscommunication trope in this book, and while some might not like that, I enjoyed seeing them both struggle to find their voices. Well, Madison, at least, Zach didn't find his voice much until the end!

Now for the spice. That was the most soothing, closed-door like open-door spice I have ever read! It wasn't graphic, but oh so satisfying!

I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of the letters all the way through and LOVED the final outcome of them!

1 star removed because as a contractor's daughter myself, I couldn't believe that Zach was fixing a roof, ceiling and cabin all by himself! Would have loved to see him have a spunky sidekick!

I am so excited to read Liam and Cassidy's book next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC copy!

If you’re a Laurie Gilmore fan (PS Cafe), you’ll fall hard for The Cinnamon Spice Inn, and appreciate all the wonderful autumn details and characters. We’ve got a hot contractor, a bed and breakfast in need of tlc, a Halloween fest, pumpkin chunkin’, some great bar and pool table scenes, and a mysterious letter writer. 🤨😝

Trust me on this one, you’ll fall in love with Zach and Madison and the town of Maple Falls. This book totally transported me, which has been welcome relief in this Florida heat. I really loved their second chance, childhood sweethearts romance. Zach was totally swoon worthy and Madison so fiery! The side characters were so much fun too. It reminds me of why I love small town romances.

I absolutely can not wait for book 2 now!

The Cinnamon Spice Inn* is basically the embodiment of fall coziness and small-town romance clichés, pumpkin festivals, saving the family business, and of course, a second chance at love. The autumn vibes were definitely there with all the decorations and seasonal charm.

Sadly, the story itself didn’t really work for me. The romance between Madison and Zach felt flat and relied too much on miscommunication. I couldn’t feel their connection, and while the book was called enemies-to-lovers, it was really just instant pining and a lot of inner thoughts about each other. I love the enemies-to-lovers trope, but calling it that here just didn’t fit. (Also, I kind of hated Madison’s character a little bit.)

The plot was interesting enough that I wanted to see what happened, but honestly, I had to push myself to keep reading. That made it lose some of the cozy spark I was hoping for. Maybe it was the writing, there was so much details added to this book that felt a bit too much, and without actually adding anything to the story. There was even a whole chapter about nothing that could have easily been edited out.

Even though it wasn’t my favorite, I think readers who don’t mind a lot of miscommunication and want something light with strong autumn vibes will definetelly enjoy it. It’s the kind of book you’d want to read curled up under a cozy blanket with a hot chocolate.

Tropes:
🍂 Second chance romance
🍂Childhood Sweethearts
🍂Small Town
🍂Forced Proximity
🍂Miscommunication
🍂Spice level 2/5

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Bookouture, and the author for a copy of this book.

3.5 🌟
Spice: open door
Format: ARC

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc & alc in exchange for an honest review.

I started this one with the ebook, but switched to audio die to 3rd person. Sadly even the audio confused me with the POV. We only get one narrator for both the male & female pov and it leaves something to be desired. That being said they story is cute. Very Hallmark after dark. It's not however very original in my opinion. It feels like something I've read or watched before. The conflict at the end made everything drag out to a point I was losing interest.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham is an absolutely adorable story that radiates fall vibes from start to finish. The author does such a lovely job of creating a small-town setting that feels like the perfect autumn escape—complete with cozy atmospheres, heartfelt connections, and just the right touch of sweetness. I loved how the story blended romance and comfort, making it feel like a hug in book form. The characters were charming and easy to root for, and I found myself invested in their journey. While I would have loved a little more depth in certain places, overall this was such a fun, heartwarming read. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to grab a blanket, sip a pumpkin spice latte, and get lost in the pages. Solid 4 stars from me!

If you like an easy read romance in a small town, with autumn vibes and some spice, this book is for you. I read it in one day, as chapters are short and the writing easy going.
Reading this book makes me realise that second chances romance are not really for me. Especially here, the second they see each other again, they imagine or dream about the other kissing. I don’t find it believable. Or because it is driven with a lot of miscommunication and I can easily be annoyed by that, in books and real life.

Although it's a cozy read, the book is filled with autumnal vibes and a small town romance. This makes the book an excellent choice for a rainy or creepy afternoon with a warm cup of tea or coffee.
I found that Harper Graham is good at writing descriptions. The way she brought the setting to life was something I enjoyed. I felt like I was right there. I was there for the vibes.

I had an enjoyable time reading this book. It was what I was in the mood for. I will try another book from Harper Graham in the future. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy of this book.

Madison left Maple Falls six years ago to build her dream life and career in New York.
Zack, her long time boyfriend stayed in the litle town.
I wouldn´t call this enemies-to-lovers because they never hated each other, to begin with.
Maple Falls has all the witchy, fall, cozy apple cider, cinnamon roll vibes ready to snatch you to a kind of Stars Hollow, the small town featured on the tv series Gilmore Girls.
I love the way Madison connected to her old life and how Zach were expecting her to realize what he´d seen all along: that this was her place, despite all the sucess she´d achieve in the big city.
A really good fall read,

The autumn vibes were really good. All the festivities, the decorations, the food, etc. made you really feel it. If it were that aspect alone, it would easily be the best autumn small town romance book I read, but...
While I did really love some if the characters ( like grandma, dad and even some if the animals), the two main characters felt kind of flat to me. Their actions were very predictable, dumb and they kind of lacked character.
That's why I kind of didn't feel the sparks between those two and found some of the scenes very cringe. And while I am someone who does enjoy the miscommunication trope to some degree, I felt like it was to much and to predictable here.
Spoiler ( maybe) !!!
If it where only the past miscommunication that lead to their first break up, that would have been cheesy, but fine, but like the second time that was too much.

I’ve always been obsessed with second chance romance. It have this special relationship and moments between the past and present which are so powerful and heartwarming. And Maddison & Zack have been the perfect match together !

From the very beginning, I fell in love with this place. The small town, the people, the perfect autumn vibe — it felt so good, like taking an unknown road you instantly enjoy and will never forget.

I have been so frustrating by Maddison and Zack. They have their moments to don’t being on the same page and have miscommunication but at the same time it was perfectly understandable.
I feel so many emotions. It was cute, warm and heartbreaking at the same time. I have been so devastated for Zack and his feelings to never being enough and chose by Maddison. He is such a tender heart and green flag. I mean the house, god how I’m supposed to stop thinking about it ??? 🥹
I have been too so sad for Maddison and her loss.

I like so much too the anonymous letters and all the mystery surrounding them. The Cinnamon Spice Inn is so much more than a place — it feels like a real home, not just four walls. I love all of this family and well I needed more moments between Zack and Maddison in the future !

Everything was honestly perfect except for some of Maddison’s behaviors. I felt like she didn’t always grow, and sometimes repeated the same mistakes, as if she hadn’t learned anything. But that’s just my personal opinion! And of course, Zack — this perfect man — forgives her, so I do too.

If you’re an autumn, cozy-small-town, and food lover, you need to read this warm story of Zack and Maddison. You’ll fall for it too!

4/5 ⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley for the arc !

Unfortunately this was a dnf for me for a few reasons, the main one being to do with the writing. At first this seemed really good and the premise was interesting, but after the first few chapters there was a lot of repitition. There were phrases that were repeated multiple times by both characters and we were given the same information form both characters multiple times as well. For example on t the inns land they have smaller cabin detached from the main house, and there were at least 4 refernces, that I remember, of both Madison and Zach mentioning how they used to sneak away there in their early 20s.

Similarly we were introducted to characters mutliples times. We were first given a rather large paragraph where about 8 characters were mentioned and how they related to each of the MCs and it felt very info dumpy so this had me worried that we were expected to remeber the information from this paragrpah for the rest of the book incase it was our only introudciton. Thankfully it wasn't, but when we were reintroduced to these characters they were mentioned in a way as if we had never met them before (despite being mentioned only a few pages ago). I am not a writer so I am not an expert in this, however as a reader this made it feel quick clunky and did draw me out of the book a bit.

I was also confused about how Zach was able to be a full time contractor as well as run the orchard (and not only sell fresh produce, but also manufacture it into different products) while seemingly not having any employees in either business, or at least none that we met in the first 40(ish) percent of the book.

All that being said I don't think this book is bad, I really think it just wasn't for me. I did deliver on the fun cozy vibes it promised and the atmosphere was really fun. If you like cozy romances, second chance, or just a quick easy read I would give this a go.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc

1.5 stars ✨

I really wanted to like this one. I’m honestly so disappointed, I was looking forward to a cute autumn read to get me into the cosy mood but honestly this book infuriated me more than anything.

[slight spoilers]

This book tried so hard to do way too much and ended up actually doing nothing at all. It tried to attempt a mystery, enemies to lovers, second chance romance and honestly none of it worked for me. It felt too similar to the other Gilmore Girls type of books and I was just expecting something different and better.

Madison comes back because of an anonymous note, which basically doesn’t even come into the play wayyy later in the book so forget that random attempt at a mystery. This is not an enemies to lovers in the slightest omg this book is just miscommunication over the stupidest things. Realistically this couple will not last a day in the real world if they can’t communicate. It was actually so annoying how much miscommunication happens. Like sure okay it happens once and maybe they’d try to be more honest and upfront with their thoughts and emotions right ? Wrong.

I also got the ick from Zack because he clearly knew of Jo at least enough to assume they were a boyfriend back in the city but he still made out with Madison before clearing it up? Yuck.

The smut in this book was so unnecessary especially with the timing on which it happened like it didn’t feel organic or natural at all. There’s no chemistry between the characters at all, they just seem like they miss hooking up at times.

This wasn’t for me, it just felt extremely flat.

Madison got out of her small town roots and on her way to make it big in the food critic scene in New York City. New York City! You know how many food writers wanted to be there and have a piece of that action? She's there, she's going to get that job from the most revered food magazine in the country. So close she can taste it.

Until one day, she got a letter that said the Inn that belongs to her family needs her. No name, no signature, no return address, but must be someone from the town, right? Since her mom passed 3 yrs ago, Madison avoided the town, the people, the memories, and her first love all far far behind. How dreadful would it be to come back?

Meanwhile, good-hearted Zach is just trying to move on with his life after having it shattered by Madison. It's a small town, he's just going to grin and bear it. Shaking Madison like a bad memory, except... when he saw her, she took his breath away. But wait, stay calm, stay calm.

Though the weeks, you see how Madison.& Zach are both stubborn and trying to be cordial, but the heat is still there. When they do get together, it's not just spice, it's on fire. But they both still have so much insecurities, so much to get thru, get vulnerable, and get honest.

I will note these couple of things: when she ate her first cinnamon roll since her mom passed and cried, it brought tears to my eyes too. You feel all the feels for Mads. The coming and splitting were starting to give me a whiplash, so thank you for finally have them both working things out. This is a second chance romance for two very stubborn people to grow up. The side characters are interesting, definitely nosy to add to the mix.

Thank you for NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

This was a great autumn read for romance lovers!

The Cinnamon Spice Inn will definitely go on my list of cozy but spicy fall romance reads. This book was exactly what you want of the genre. Madison and Zach have a ton of chemistry, and the spicy scenes are very good, not too mild, and not too gratuitous.

The supporting characters, including but definitely not limited to Madison’s meddling grandmother, made the entire book a really enjoyable read.

Nothing in the book really felt particularly original. It was a well done use of typical tropes, and I really enjoyed reading it, it just didn’t differ all that much from other books like it. This is why I took 1.5 stars off.

I would definitely be open to reading more, hopefully also seasonal or holiday themed books by this author.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

*Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effects my opinion*

What happens when your family inns in trouble? Go back home to save it! Just don't expect yourself not to run into your first love and ex-boyfriend. It is a small-town after all. While Madison tries to save The Cinnamon Spice Inn, she also has the potential at having a second chance at love. Will she take it?

One solid thing about this book was the autumn vibes. I could smell the cinnamon spice and feel the brisk autumn air. The side characters were pretty nice too. Liam and Kit were my favorites. I'm sad we didn't get more of them. With that being said, I had a lot of issues with it.

The blurb in the synopsis states "Find out in this totally cozy and unputdownable enemies-to-lovers romance in the small town of your dreams! Gilmore Girls + spice + everything autumn = 🔥". Nothing about this book screamed enemies to lovers. I wouldn't really consider it dislike to lovers either. As someone who is a huge fan of the enemies to lovers, I found this advertising to be a huge let down.

There is also WAY too much lack in communication between the characters. I know we have it in the real world but the lack of communication didn't make me feel like the characters were end game cause they still have SO much growing to do. It was also extremely repetitive. Each character kept going on and on about their thoughts about how their relationship ended the first time. All I wanted to do was scream and shout "JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER LIKE ADULTS!"

A note to readers: the blub also says it's a steamy romance with plenty of spice. As someone who loves their spice in books, the spicy scenes in this felt like vague descriptions. Because of that, I don't really consider it spicy but it maybe be spicy for other readers.

With that being said, I think the story has a lot of potential. It was just a cozy small-town. I wanted to move there and live in the coffee shop/bakery. I just wish the characters grew in terms of the communication issue. By the end it was still really lacking so I didn't personally feel like the characters developed much.

I think this is perfect for readers that love a cozy small-town romance, second chances, and are okay with the miscommunication trope.

I want to thank Netgalley for this arc copy.

This book gave me the cosy autumn feels that I'm looking for, to sit with a blankie and a hot chocolate.

Second chance romance are sometimes the best things because I'm sure most people have their "what if" person. Madison and Zach just needed to learn to communicate, the amount of times I just wanted to shout "just talk to them".

Such a cosy little book, and I will definitely be reading the next book to get all of the feels

This is a perfect book to cozy up to during the fall season. It’s a quick read that makes you wish and hope for the happily ever after ending. The story also has a slight mystery storyline that keeps you wondering how it will be solved. This is a great book to recommend to a young adult interested in Hallmark type of holiday romance with a touch of spice to it.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn is a warm and cozy small-town romance. Madison, a food writer reluctantly returning to help save her family’s inn, finds herself working alongside Zach—her brooding ex and the inn’s new handyman. The enemies-to-lovers tension simmers nicely, with moments of sharp banter and genuine vulnerability.

The atmosphere is the star: cinnamon-laced air, crisp leaves, and the hum of a close-knit community. While the opening moves a bit slowly and Madison’s character could use more depth, the story blooms into a satisfying, heart-warming second-chance romance.

If you love cozy settings with just enough spice, this one’s worth curling up with on a chilly evening. I have enjoyed reading all the books in this wonderful series!

This book has such an inviting premise, a cozy inn, autumn vibes, and the promise of a sweet second-chance romance. Unfortunately, the story didn’t manage to live up to that potential for me. While the setting is atmospheric, the execution felt flat and the narrative style leaned more on telling rather than showing. The result was a slower pace that made it difficult to stay engaged.

The romance is where I struggled the most. Madison’s tendency to avoid direct conversations makes her hard to connect with, while Zach is written as almost too forgiving, which weakens the emotional tension between them. Their connection often reads as surface-level attraction rather than a relationship built on believable growth. A storm scene did stand out as a glimpse of what the story could have been, but it wasn’t enough to carry the whole book.

I also found that too much space was dedicated to inner thoughts and repeated miscommunications, while many side characters, who could have added charm and depth, remained underdeveloped. Only Liam and Kit left any lasting impression, but they weren’t on the page enough to balance things out.

Overall, while the concept was appealing and the seasonal charm is there, the lack of strong character development and overreliance on avoidance and inner monologues made this a frustrating read. A sweet idea that, sadly, just didn’t come together in the execution.

ARC REVIEW thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture ❤️

COZY FALL VIBES ROMANCE 🍁🍂☕
4🌟

I love fall and the descriptions get me in the mood from the start. If you are an autumn girl, this is for you.

I want to try a cozy reading for the first time and I really enjoyed the story, the ambiance, the romance. I feel like I was there, really immersed.

It's not an enemies to lovers, more like a second chance for me, and the miscommunication just feels a bit off, like something they could solve easily just talking a bit more. But definitely it has me reading until I finished the book, I literally can't put the ebook down!

I'll wait for the Liam and Cassidy book ❤️