Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I wanted a book to get me in the mood for Fall and this did it! This was a cute and cozy small town read.
I loved the grumpy/sunshine and enjoyed the interactions between Gus and Wren. I did like most of the side characters, but didn’t like how the people of the town treated Gus.

Thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review..

This was my first experience with an Athena Carstairs novel, and what a wonderful introduction it turned out to be. The story radiates cozy autumnal charm, blending an enemies-to-lovers romance with a warm sense of community. Goldleaf Pumpkin Farm felt so vivid and inviting, I could easily picture myself living there.

One of the novel’s strengths lies in its sensitive portrayal of a male lead on the autism spectrum, capturing both his challenges in understanding others’ perceptions and the deep support he receives from his brothers, as well as from Nigel and Simone. The dynamic between Gus and Wren is especially compelling—their simmering attraction paired with playful, good-natured arguments makes for a romance that feels both authentic and engaging.

I finished the book feeling so warm and content.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’ꜱ ᴘᴜᴍᴘᴋɪɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ

⊹ arc review

A small town romance with all the autumn vibes and coziness you need for a good fall read 🍂
Also the MMC of this book has Autism what you notice a lot in this book. The author did her best to portray everything as good as possible and as someone myself who is diagnosed with autism i loved every part of how she portrayed it in the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

thank you for the arc

There’s Pumpkin About You

The cover of the book had me feeling so many feelings. A fall romance with pumpkins on the cover is going to peak my interest every time, but the particular cringe I felt with the title raised my nerves ever-so-slightly heading into this story.

I ATE THIS UP. No, I’m going to say it was anywhere close to a perfect romance book. There were a few major flaws. I didn’t care even a little bit with how much I fell in love with Wren, Gus, and their romance.

Set in perfect small-town autumn vibes, the story was always going to feel good to me on some level. Wren, having been through a devastating breakup, is desperate to revive her party-planning career with her best friend’s fall-themed 30th birthday party. When someone recommends the Finch family’s Goldleaf Pumpkin farm as her pumpkin supplier, she drives herself out to make a good business impression and runs headfirst into a goat bite and the goat’s grumpy defender.

Gus is doing everything in his power to save his family farm while navigating a community that doesn’t care to understand him or his nuerodivergence. He’s doing it all down an arm and all of his employees. When he finds Wren in his barn, his grumpy demeanor leads, but there’s something about the spitfire woman in front of him he can’t get out of his head.

Back to the problems so no one can say you weren’t warned. Both Wren and Gus probably could have had a little more character development. The side characters really needed more development. Some people really won’t jive with the way Gus and Wren interact and talk to each other. Don’t think too hard about the details of the farm - they don’t quite add up. I had a great time anyway.

I don’t feel qualified to comment on the ASD representation in this book, but I am very open to listening to why this may or may not be good.

Is this a life changing romance? Nope. Was it the exact flavor of a fall good time that I needed? Absolutely. I understand if this isn’t the book for you, but it was the one for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the advance reader copy for review.

Wren and August are both so dear and I absolutely loved the character development and depth in this book. The cozy Fall small town vibes are unmatched and their story really works as a dual-POV romance as they’re both working to better understand themselves through the process of being vulnerable and letting the other in. Yet, even with so much depth, it kept me grinning with glee for Wren and August. Really loved this book and how it also included high-functioning autism. Highly recommend.

Read THERE’S PUMPKIN ABOUT YOU for
✌️ Dual POV
🧡 Immaculate Fall vibes
🥊 Opposites attract
🤓 Grumpy, sexy farmer with glasses
⏳ Slow burn
🧩 Autism rep
🏡 Small town
🤩 The absolute best friend group

😘 Thanks to @OneMoreChapterHC and #NetGalley for the gifted advance reader copy (ARC) of this book. All opinions are my own.

Quick Summary: A neurodivergent romance

My Review: There's Pumpkin About You by Athena Carstairs is a general fiction romance. It is scheduled for release on 8/22/25.

About the Book: "One determined party planner + one grumpy pumpkin farmer = a fall to remember…"

In My Own Words: A misunderstood man meets a planner with a purpose. They engage with each other on different levels and come to share something remarkable.

About the Characters/Conflict: Gus and Wren did not necessarily flow easily in the beginning. They were opposites who fell into the misunderstanding trap. In coming to an agreement of sorts, they eventually were put in a position where they got to see each other differently.

In learning how to deal with each other, much was revealed about the feelings, emotions, experiences, actions, and choices of the leads. I think this was an ongoing process as the relationship evolved.

What I Did Not Like:

- The way that Gus was so quick to label himself when initially interacting with Wren...I did not care for it.

- The way that Gus was ostracized by the community did not sit well with me. For the setting to be a small town, there was a high degree of ignorance and insensitivity. It was unbelievable that he was described in the way that he was. I did not like it.

- I did not care for Wren calling Gus out so negatively. It presented her in a not so good light.

What I Did Like:

- Gus was a good guy beneath his protective layer.

- I did like the fact that Wren and Gus gave each other a chance and moved towards having a mature relationship. It's always nice to read about characters such as Gus finding happiness and a sense of "normalcy."

- The relationship between the brothers was supportive and firm. I'm glad Gus had that in his life, especially considering all that he endured at the hands of others.

My Final Say: I have a lot of thoughts about this novel. It was challenging for me, to be honest, but it still had a draw. At the end of the day, I would recommend it. It was entertaining in its own way.

Other: Readers who enjoy "Autumn vibes" 🍁🍁🍁🍁, "who will fall first" energy 💖, and grumpy versus sunshine relations 🎃🥰 may like this story.

Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶
Note: Slow burn, a dash of heat

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter), and to NetGalley. Thank you so much for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. The words that I have voluntarily shared are my own thoughts and opinions.

This one started off a bit rocky for me but I think that was because the MMC came off so gruff and surly. The fact that he's autistic definitely played a part and I loved how his form of functioning autism was portrayed. I really enjoyed the spicy, slow burn , dual POV, forced proximity, small town romance that gave off the BEST Fall vibes and was good on audio too. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is such a sweet fall read! I love the journey Wren went through and the insight into a different type of character not many people are brave enough to tackle - and it was tackled well! I feel so seen as a person with autism that is high-functioning. The ins and outs, ups and downs were so well done, you will sit and read and read, looking up to discover hours have passed without even noticing. I cannot wait to read more by Athena after this and I highly recommend giving this amazing read a shot if you love Gilmore Girls, disability rep, strong women, and pumpkins!

I really enjoyed reading this book.

I particularly like that this book had a playlist, and I really enjoyed listening to this once I finished the book, and I actually felt it was well ‘scored’ as well.

Admittedly, I did not like Wren to start with. I thought she was very pushy, however her character did develop into someone I really liked in the end.

I thought the autism spectrum representation was done beautifully.

The story flowed well. I would hate to live in the small town that this is set in because everybody sounds like such a busy body! But it did still give all of the cozy vibes you would look for in an autumn-themed small town romance.
The spice was minimal. It did not detract from the story, and I still thought it was done well.

I would recommend this book.

I do not like the book and the direction it was going in. I got very uncomfortable. Other people might like this, but I did not get the cozy vibe I know the author might have been trying to get at. I did not mind autism being present but the way the FMC described him was not my cup of tea.

I want to start off my review saying that I have no business speaking on the autism representation of the book. I don’t know how accurate it was, I just know that the more we (Me and Wren) got to know Gus, the more I loved his character. I think also the dual POV really helped with understanding what was going through his head during their interactions.

The budding romance mixed with a little trauma from both sides really kept me engaged wondering how they would work through it. Their relationship grew into this beautiful understanding of each other. I am always a sucker for a grumpy/sunshine, but I love that the sunshine was a little feisty too!

Overall, this was such a fun autumn read. I hope the author decides to come back and write about the side characters. I would love to know more about this world!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

A woman on a mission to plan the most spectacular party ends up collaborating with the reluctant owner of the local pumpkin farm.

Relationships aren’t on the agenda for Wren – the damage her shitty ex boyfriend left her with is too fresh. August is autistic, and connecting with others has historically caused problems and pain. Wren and August clash, but learning more about each other brings them closer. It also happens to come with the consequence of learning more about themselves, and what they deserve.

We get a lot of clarity in the form of telling instead of showing. I’m hesitant to deem this as a negative, because of how present autism is in the story. Regardless, it isn’t a writing-style that I enjoy, and I struggle to look past it.

Still, watching Wren and August go from dislike to being effortlessly affectionate with one another is equivalent to curling up under a blanket and sipping a steaming cup of tea.


Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC!

What a cute romance to get you in the Fall spirit! At first, Gus and Wren were both kind of unlikable to be honest, but they definitely grew on me and I was invested by the end in their HEA. As a special education teacher, I appreciated the Autism rep in the story, although I could have seen a few aspects done a little differently. Overall, an enjoyable and easy read to get you ready for all things autumn,

There’s Pumpkin About You by Athena Carstairs is a sweet and charming romance that perfectly captures the cozy feeling of autumn. I loved the playful chemistry between Wren and August, and the pumpkin farm setting made the story even more delightful. It is a heartwarming and fun read that left me smiling. I truly enjoyed this book and rated it five stars.

Autumn makes me grab a cozy book, wrap myself in a fluffy blanket and drink some hot chocolate.
Did I choose this book based on the cover? Yes I did. Do I have any regrets? No, I don't.
Wren is full of determination, wanting to find the right venue for a party that would turn things around for her business.
Goldleaf Pumpkin Farm seems to be the perfect choice. All she has to do is convince the handsome brothers who own it to agree. August Finch, with his sharp tone, directness and what appears to be rude behavior, definitely poses a challenge. I love how the author incorporated the autism awareness.
We get banter, slow burn, a cozy small town, adorable cozy coffee shop, delicious pies and lots of pumpkins. Perfect vibes for fall.

“𝐒𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞.“

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 8/22/25

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: Party planner Wren sets out to find the perfect location for her friends birthday celebration, she comes upon Gus’s family’s pumpkin farm and strikes a deal with him that benefits them both.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
🍁 Grumpy x Sunshine
🎃 Fall/Autumn Vibes
🍁 Autism Rep
🎃 Small Town

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
This book had all the right ingredients for a cozy fall romance — pumpkin farm setting, a grumpy/sunshine premise, and even autism representation that the author notes she carefully researched. I was hopeful for a sweet seasonal story that balanced heartwarming romance with meaningful representation. Unfortunately, that is not what I read.

The execution left me feeling more frustrated than invested. Both the Wren and Gus came across as unlikeable, with the romance overshadowed by an overemphasis on textbook-style autism explanations. Gus wasn’t just portrayed as blunt or socially awkward — he was flat-out rude, calling the FMC an “idiot” and making comments about her body size, which killed any potential chemistry for me. The dialogue felt stilted, with “fuck” tossed around so excessively it lost all impact. The local town people were small minded and judgmental- not warm and welcoming. After an obnoxiously grating phone call moment between Gus and their dad, I had to call it quits @ 47%.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴:
1.75/5 ⭐️🌟

*Thank you @NetGalley and @HarperCollinsUK/@OneMoreChapterhc for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

#TheresPumpkinAboutYou

There’s Pumkin About You
⭐️/4
🌶/2
This was a cute book about a party planner and a pumpkin farmer. It made me feel like fall was just around the corner. The representation all around in the book was great. I loved that the book delved into the fact that sometimes you don’t know that someone is on the spectrum. August being on the spectrum and most people in their town not knowing and just think he is rude is one way that autism presents itself. I wanted Wren to understand August and his autism a little quicker. But it was part of showing how others treat those on the spectrum when they don’t understand or know.
I would say this is a very slow burn. There is not very much spice but the scenes that are there are open door. It was for sure insta love, just drawn out and not acted on. The small towns and pumpkin farm are really what drew me to the book. And they didn’t disappoint.

Blurb:
One determined party planner + one grumpy pumpkin farmer = a fall to remember…
Given the chance to plan her bestie’s 30th birthday bash, Wren Southwick is determined to create an experience so big and so bold that the name of her party planning business spreads beyond the confines of her own small town.
The key to her plan? The Finch family’s Goldleaf Pumpkin Farm. It’s not just the perfect venue but also the perfect supply partner for the autumnal-themed bash Wren envisions. But to get what she wants – and needs – she’ll have to get gorgeous grouch August Finch on board.
The table is set, and the battle is about to begin … but who will fall first?

Ok guys…. There’s Pumpkin About You by Athena Carstairs was utterly amazing!
This book simply put was just a lot of fun!
The characters were so much fun, and their chemistry was adorable.
I thought the writing was quick, fun and engaging.
Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this new title.

I just loved this book! I also love August he was such a beautiful man inside and out, my heart really went out to him as he didn’t deserve to be treated like he was by some of the people in town it was just so wrong of them. I particularly had an issue with Sandra who was just down right rude and really needs an attitude adjustment on how to treat people. I loved the way August and Wren got on and just bounced off each other. I loved the majority of the characters in this book there was just the odd one or two that I really didn’t like. I found this book so heartwarming and it was so amazing to have an autism point of view it actually made me like August more if that’s okay to say as it showed that even though some people think of it as an issue the truth is that they are just as vulnerable as we all are and people need to realise that they have feelings just like the rest of us.

I would highly recommend reading this book as it kept me clued from start to finish as it was such a beautiful heartwarming read and it also made me long for Autumn.

I would like to thank One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

Loved reading this book. New author for. But looking forward to more books by her. I love a little romance in a book