This was exactly the kind of feelgood, no thinking-required read I needed. The kind you curl up with in fuzzy socks, candle lit, bra off, brain on standby. It’s charming, cozy, and full of pumpkin-scented small-town vibes that hit like a warm hug and a PSL.

Willow is determined, Dylan is deliciously stubborn, and their opposites attract banter kept things cute and low-stress. I breezed through this in a day it’s the perfect palate cleanser after a darker or heavier read.

I’m taking one star off because it felt a little too perfect. Like, Hallmark Channel levels of cookie-cutter cute. Everything tied up just a little too neatly, and I kept waiting for one tiny bit of mess or surprise that never really came.

But if you’re in the mood for something sweet, cozy, and drama lite, this one absolutely delivers. Add to cart, light a candle, and enjoy the pumpkin-fueled fluff.

Autumn is a big thing for Birchbrook so when Willow and her dad are in danger of losing their farm willow decides a pumpkin patch will save the day.
Dylan is the hot shot property developer who is tasked with buying the ailing farm for new builds, but he dosnt factor in the feisty willow.
Sparks will fly.
Brilliant book loved it.

3.5 ⭐️

Love and Lattes in Pumpkin Hollow is 1000000% a Hallmark movie in book form. Seriously such a cute and cozy read!

This book is like a pumpkin spice latte in paperback form—warm, cozy, and totally satisfying! I absolutely adored Willow. She’s determined to save her family’s farm and turn it into a dreamy pumpkin patch, even though she has zero experience and… no actual pumpkins. 😂 Her grit and passion are so admirable, and you can’t help but root for her every step of the way.

Enter Dylan—the big city property consultant who’s supposed to convince her to sell. Instead, he gets roped into helping her pull off the impossible. Their banter? Chef’s kiss. Their chemistry? Slow-burn perfection. I loved watching them learn from each other and slowly (and a little stubbornly) fall in love.

The small-town setting, autumn vibes, and community feel made this the perfect seasonal read. It’s sweet without being sugary, emotional without being heavy, and full of heart. If you love fall romances with strong characters and a splash of charm, this one’s for you!

If you’re craving cozy pumpkin‑spiced vibes and small‑town romance, this one is for you! Set in Birchbrook, the story follows Willow, who’s determined to save her family’s struggling farm by turning it into the ultimate autumn destination. Enter Dylan, a big‑city property consultant, who’s skeptical but agrees to stay and watch her plan unfold… and you can guess what happens when opposites attract.

What I loved:
The autumn atmosphere is perfection – pumpkin patches, cozy lattes, and all the small‑town feels.
A sweet, slow‑burn enemies‑to‑lovers romance that had me smiling.
Willow’s underdog journey to save her farm

What didn’t fully click:
I felt that the story missed a bit of the emotional depth from Victoria Walters’ earlier books. It’s lighter, with a more modern romance vibe – think flirty and fun, less angsty.

Overall: This is the perfect autumn comfort read – small town setting, light, sweet, and over flowing with pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters.

I would rate this book a 3.5 if I could.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

I loved the characters, the setting, where you wish you were there in between the characters, enjoying coffee and all those delicious pastries.

The story had me hooked from the beginning and I loved seeing the friendship begin between Willow and Dylan and it turn to a romantic relationship.

I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Poor writing.

Book Title: Love & Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow

Series: Birchbrook Bay, Book 1

Author: Victoria Walters

✨ Genre: Cozy Romance, Small-Town Romance, Autumnal Romance

📅 Publication Date:

Rating: ★★★☆☆

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

Introduction

🍁 Get ready to snuggle up with a warm drink because Love & Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow is here to whisk you away to a charming small town bursting with autumn vibes! This book, the start of Victoria Walters’ brand-new Birchbrook Bay series, promises all the cozy comfort you could wish for, perfect for fans of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. As soon as I started, I was dreaming of crisp air, changing leaves, and, of course, a delicious pumpkin spice latte!

Source: GoodReads

Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)

🍂 Willow Connor is on a mission to save her family's beloved farm, and her grand plan? To transform it into Birchbrook's very first pumpkin patch! The catch? She has zero pumpkins and only six short weeks to make her dream a reality. Most of the close-knit town thinks she's a little bit crazy, but Willow is determined to prove them all wrong.

🧡 Enter Dylan Henderson, a slick property consultant who thinks selling the farm is the only sensible option. But Willow, with her fiery spirit, makes him an unexpected offer: stay for six weeks, watch her work her magic, and if she can turn the farm around, she and her dad won't sell! Surprisingly, Dylan agrees, and as they work side-by-side, sourcing pumpkins and navigating the challenges of farm life, Willow finds herself learning much more than just business from Dylan. Could it be that she's also learning about ambition... and maybe even a little bit about love? The big question remains: will she save the farm, and will Dylan walk away when their deal is up, or has he found something worth staying for?

Overall Thoughts

🎃 Reading this novel felt like a warm hug on a cool autumn day, absolutely brimming with those delightful fall feelings! While I read it during the peak of July’s heatwave, it still managed to transport me straight into a world of cozy charm, making me feel warm and relaxed. The small-town setting, the abundance of pumpkins, and the hint of coffee all blended together wonderfully.

🧡 I especially enjoyed following the interaction between Willow and Dylan. Their initial meeting was quite funny, full of that classic opposites-attract energy. Willow is a force of nature, fiercely passionate about saving her family's legacy, while also childish at times. On the other hand, Dylan starts off as the pragmatic city boy, eager to show his worth and staying true to his cause, all while helping Willow. It was so sweet to see him slowly shed his polished demeanor and genuinely start to fall for Willow and her dream. Their pact to spend six weeks working together on the farm was the moment I was truly hooked, knowing it would inevitably lead to some wonderful feelings.

🍂 I loved the quiet moments they shared, like going over spreadsheets in a cozy cottage or their dinner at the hotel – these interactions really highlighted their growing connection. While some might find the romance a little predictable, I appreciated its sweet and simple progression. It felt genuine, and I enjoyed the "enemies-to-lovers" aspect that stemmed from Dylan wanting to buy the farm. The way they slowly understood each other, even with their differing initial goals, was charming.

🐶 The community of Birchbrook truly shines in this story. It's the kind of small town where everyone supports each other, which was incredibly heartwarming to see, especially when the town rallied around Willow to help with the pumpkin patch. And let's not forget Maple the dog – she was an absolute delight and just as important to the story as the human characters!

📖 When it comes to the writing style, some parts felt a little clunky at times, and I wished for a bit more spark in the "spicier" scenes, yet the overall vibe of the book made up for it! It's a sweet, easy read that's perfect if you're looking for something light, predictable, and utterly cozy. It’s definitely not a book for deep conflict or surprising twists, but if you're in the mood for a comforting, Hallmark-esque romance with a pumpkin-spiced heart, this one hits the spot.

Conclusion & Final Rating

✅ Love & Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow is a lovely, cozy autumn read that's perfect for curling up with a hot chocolate. It genuinely made me look forward to fall, with all its beautiful colors and traditions. While it might not be the most unique romance out there, its warmth, charming characters, and strong community feel make it a delightful escape. If you're craving that comforting, seasonal experience, this book is worth checking out!

Final Rating: ★★★☆☆

Book Tropes:

Opposites Attract

Small Town Romance

Forced Proximity

Save the Farm

Autumnal Vibes

Guaranteed HEA (Happily Ever After)

Enemies-to-Lovers (Light)

Dog Companion

Follow me on Substack for more reviews: https://cristinaciteste.substack.com

Willow Connor’s family farm is in financial trouble. They can either sell to the Henderson Brothers OR work in a last ditch effort Pumpkin Patch to save the farm! (Big city guy comes to take small town girl’s farm, but ends up striking a deal to help her and her dad). Will they be able to save the farm in 6 weeks?

The most surprising part of the book: The farm operates as a “pick-your-own-vegetable” farm during the spring and summer so it really surprised me that a pumpkin patch was not already an option for the fall.

Overall, the book was fine. It felt very Hallmark-y but not in the ways I enjoy. I, unfortunately, felt no tension or spark in the budding relationship and it made me a little indifferent whether or not to they ended up together. I found the writing to be a little repetitive with rehashing of conversations every couple of pages. The 3rd act break up situation just felt forced and I didn’t like how that went down.

If you’re looking for a simple, fall vibes romance, then this is the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I know it feels like summer only just started but bring on the fall vibes!!! This book has me ready for a rerun of Gilmore Girls and all things pumpkin spice! Willow and Dylan🥺 I love love! Something about this story had me hooked from the beginning. Then as their relationship started to develop, I simply couldn't put the book down! I also love the small town setting in this book. I really felt like I was there, following alongside Willow and Dylan. I cant wait for Autumn!!!!

Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow: ★★★★☆ (4)

Pub date: August 4 - preorder now!

Tropes:
- small town
- opposites attract
- rom com

Thank you Boldwood Books & netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

a gorgeous new book from an author that knows how to write gorgeous books for us. snuggle down for this one, you wont want to leave.
Willow wants to save her family farm by turning it into a pumpkin patch.she has no other options left to her. and she cant say goodbye to her home, she just cant. city boy Dylan the property consultant wants her to sell, thinks she should sell. she makes him a deal to give her time to turn it around and hes got to watch and help her do so. if she fails she will agree to his sale.
can she prove him wrong?
and what will he do when its time to leave as he seems alot more "here" then he ought to be.
a pumpkin patch.
small town charm and cosy moments were the sparkle to this book.
and our two opposites soon find meaning for the age old line,lol. i loved how determined Willow was she's one fierce gal. and then Dylan, he was never a bad guy but he soon warms to the place and Willow and we of course soon warm to him even more too.
a lovely read. a lovely set of characters. just what i wanted from this book going in.

Oh wow this book gave all the Autumn vibes, fair warning you will neeeeeeeeedd a pumpkin spice latte to go with this book. I adored the farm setting and Maple was the cutest side kick.
The romance was sweet and swoony with a sprinkle of spice I found easy to skip over.
Enjoyed reading the side characters and I'm hoping there are going to be more books in the series because I have now read and loved all of Victoria's books.

This book was a surprise. I don’t really know why but I didn’t expect to like it, However I was totally wrong.. I really enjoy the writers patient, slow building style, she gave a real depth to all the characters. It flows great and is well balanced. I love a quirky character that brings enthusiasm, hope and a way of viewing things differently than the norm and this book delivers that in the strong, driven female lead character..

It was heavily Autumn themed but it worked and despite reading it during a warm Summer it brought a real cosy vibe., It made me view Autumn, a season I never really look forward to a little differently. I really hope we get a follow up book focusing on some of the other characters that were introduced like her father and the influencer.

Looking for a cozy, easy, breezy, cheesy fall read? Pick this one up! This is about Willow and she’s trying to save her farm. Dylan is a developer who is offering her money to buy the property. She makes a pact with him to give her six weeks to put on a fall festival and pumpkin patch to see if it’s profitable. Dylan agrees to stay and help, but if it doesn’t turn a profit, he buys the farm. Problem? Willow doesn’t grow pumpkins. It’s the end of September and she wants to create a pumpkin patch ready to open October 1. Was this book realistic at all? No. Was it cute? Absolutely. I’d love to see this turned into a series because it mentions all the activities they do at the farm during the high season. The one thing I had issue with was the constant use of the word “autumnal”. It was used 500 times and it wasn’t needed.

This was an autumnal cozy read even with the pumpkin spice lattes. It was really interesting to see the growth of Willow and Dylan’s relationship throughout the book. This was a decently charming book with a bit of enemies to lovers. I found it hard to get into but the vibes were nice overall.

Having read & loved Long Story Short by Victoria Walters, I wanted to read her latest book. Sadly, I have to confess I was a little disappointed with Love & Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow. I thought it was a good story, but some of the characterisation was a bit weak. Still, I’ve learnt something new - I’d never heard of a pumpkin patch before, but now I know thanks to this book & google!

Both of the main characters, Willow & Dylan, lost their mothers at a young age; the story relates muc( about how each of them come to terms with this & how it affects their life choices & expectations. When Willow’s father tells her that the family farm is struggling & in debt, & that he’s considering selling the farm to a developer Willow is shocked. She is determined to try to save the farm & her mother’s legacy, & has the idea of setting up a pumpkin patch, which is conveniently seasonal. Her father is doubtful but agrees to let her try. He arranges a meeting with the developer (Dylan) to find out what they will offer. Dylan, on the other hand, is trying to prove himself to his brother, that he has a place in his brother’s property development business. Willow has six weeks to set up the pumpkin patch & test it out. Somehow Dylan is convinced to stay at the farm & help with this.

I liked the way the author dealt with some of the issues around the loss of a parent; how the experience of grief can affect each individual & family life differently. I was less convinced by the relationship between Dylan & Willow; to me much of it felt flat at times & I didn’t feel much heat between them. That’s just my opinion & others may feel differently. However, it’s a decent story, well written; it’s a light & easy read, great for the summer holidays.

Thanks to Netgalley & Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read an arc of this book.

A cute and cosy autumn read.
Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow read like a Hallmark movie - perfect for whiling away a rainy afternoon with a hot chocolate (or in this case, a pumpkin spiced latte!). It was a touch repetitive in language, noticable, but not enough to be annoying. The plot was predictable, perhaps even formulaic, but an enjoyable, easy read, and, honestly, that's what I crave from these books - a chance to switch off and just relax into a new place with my blanket.
I loved the reference to Gilmore Girls, and this is exactly the right fit for those fans - anyone who loves the vibes of Gilmore Girls is going to enjoy their trip to Pumpkin Hollow. I just wish it was a real place I could visit in October, as the small town was wonderfully described and sounded like a beautiful community!

A cozy autumn read on your list?
Here’s how it holds up:
Small town? Check!
Coffee shop with seasonal drinks and pastries? Check!
Autumn fest? Check!
Small town farm in trouble? Check!
Single farmer helping her dad make a pumping patch? Check!
Hot single real estate agent wanting to buy the farm? Check!
Instagram worthy pumpkin patch? Check!
Steamy drinks? Check!
Steamy bedroom scene? Check!

All the parts are there for a cozy, autumn read around a struggling small farm (daughter and father owners) looking to create a pumpkin patch to stay afloat to save them from selling. Along comes a hot real estate agent (Dylan) wanting to buy the farm, but agrees to stay for several weeks to see if Willow, the farmer’s daughter, can create an off season pumpkin patch to save the farm from financial ruin.

Willow is suspicious of Dylan since she thinks he wants her to fail on her pumpkin patch and wants to cash in on her farm.

I wanted to love this story, but it felt all too clean and easy. Storyline seemed too simple and didn’t really get the depth of characters. Also the Pinterest and Instagram worthy pumpkin patch just didn’t seem believable-not sure how she got by with 3 employees (her, her dad, a tractor driver, and then Dylan on ticket sales/web design), but she also had face painting and other activities. Just felt all unreal and I couldn’t let that go.

If you like fall and cozy and can get over some things that likely are not realistic and just want an easy and lovable story-then this is your cup of pumpkin spiced latte.

Book club recommendations-pumpkin lattes with lots for whipped cream.

Thank you @Netgalley and @BoldwoodBooks for the advanced copy

This is an irresistibly cozy, feel-good romance that captures the essence of autumn and small-town charm. Set against the golden glow of falling leaves, pumpkin patches, and warm lattes, Victoria Walters creates a heartwarming seasonal escape that feels like a big hug in book form.

The story follows Willow, a fiercely independent woman with deep roots in her hometown, who’s determined to save her family’s beloved farm from being sold. Enter Dylan, a polished, pragmatic city consultant tasked with convincing her to let go of it. From the start, Willow and Dylan are clear opposites — she’s driven by emotion, tradition, and love for the land, while he’s focused on logic, business, and results. But what begins as tension and conflict quickly evolves into a slow, endearing build of understanding and affection.

Their dynamic is one of the book’s strongest points. Willow is easy to root for — loyal, passionate, and grounded. Dylan, though initially set up as the “enemy,” gradually reveals layers of kindness and vulnerability that make his transformation and eventual connection with Willow believable and satisfying. As he begins to see the value in what Pumpkin Hollow represents — not just to Willow but to the entire community — his character arc adds emotional weight to what could have been a predictable storyline.

The romance, while sweet and heartfelt, doesn’t always fully sizzle when it aims for steam. The more intimate moments between Willow and Dylan feel slightly rushed and lack the emotional depth or buildup that would make them feel organic. Still, the emotional journey they share — from adversaries to partners — carries enough warmth and chemistry to keep readers invested.

Overall, it is a delightful autumnal read perfect for fans of small-town romances with a strong female lead and a redemptive love interest. It offers cozy vibes, a satisfying love story, and a celebration of community, resilience, and the beauty of holding onto what matters most.

Willow is in for a wake up call. Her family farm (aka, her whole life) is in jeopardy. She finds this out when hot shot property consultant Dylan, makes an offer from his family’s company that her dad almost can’t refuse. Determined to keep her dream of living her life on this farm, she makes a spontaneous pact with Dylan - give her 6 weeks to figure it out & stick around to see it happen. Tension between the two build as Willow sets up a fall festival /pumpkin patch at the farm as a last ditch effort to raise the funds needed to keep the farm afloat over the winter. Will this pumpkin spice dream be enough to save the farm?

Victoria Walters comes in clutch again with another enemies to lovers story in the form of a cozy, autumn themed romance. It was a cute story, but lacked the intense chemistry of her last novel, Long Story Short. That being said, Love & Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow has the perfect Hallmark movie vibes for a fun fall read.