There’s pumpkin about you… it’s a slow burn romance that’s perfect for the autumn girlies.

Wren- Party planner
Gus- pumpkin farmer
What was a business arrangement turns into something more cozy for the pair of them.

Autistic rep in this was beautifully written. Although most don’t understand him, Wren did. Not only did she learn to understand him and supported him she done it in a way that encourages him and I love that for him.

This book gave me all the autumnal feels and truly made me feel warm inside!

Thank you Netgallery and publisher for this arc.

This is a really cosy romance. The characters are both enjoyable to read and very likeable, the setting is lovely for those that enjoy the more autumnal aspects. Overall this was a really enjoyable and quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it

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Prima di tutto, un grandissimo grazie a NetGalley per avermi dato l’opportunità di leggere in anteprima questo libro. Devo ammettere che non avevo mai sentito parlare di Athena Carstairs prima d’ora, ma dopo aver divorato “There’s Pumpkin About You” posso dire con certezza che è entrata di diritto nella mia lista di autrici da seguire. Non vedo davvero l’ora di tuffarmi nei suoi prossimi lavori!

Tropes
🧡 Grumpy x Sunshine
🧡 Forced Proximity
🧡 Small Town Charm
🧡 Banter
🧡 Pumpkin Farmer x Events Planner
🧡 Found Family

Dopo aver lasciato il suo lavoro come assistente dentale e seguire il suo sogno di diventare event planner, Wren Southwick si trova di fronte ad un grande problema: i clienti sono pochi e ciò sta diventando pesante dal punto di vista economico.
L’occasione per farsi conoscere arriva con la festa di 30 anni della sua migliore amica, per cui trova la location perfetta: la Goldleaf Farm dei fratelli Finch, nel pittoresco paesino di Eaglewood. Il problema più grande però è convincere il proprietario più giovane, tutt’altro che socievole.
Ma Wren non è tipo da arrendersi facilmente, e mentre lavorano fianco a fianco per rimettere in sesto il posto, il loro rapporto pian piano cambia. Riusciranno questi due opposti a trovare l’equilibrio perfetto, o la loro attrazione finirà per essere solo un fuoco di paglia autunnale?

Wren è il classico raggio di sole con una determinazione che sfiora l’ostinazione. È una sognatrice con i piedi per terra, ambiziosa e piena di energie positive. La sua evoluzione nel corso della storia è genuina: impara a dare priorità a se stessa e a riconsiderare alcune delle sue scelte più impulsive.
Tuttavia, devo ammettere che non sempre l’ho capita, soprattutto a causa del suo approccio iniziale con August e della sua mancanza di pazienza e comprensione ma è proprio questo che rende il suo percorso di crescita così importante.

August Finch è all’apparenza un contadino burbero ma nasconde un cuore tenero. La sua rappresentazione dell’autismo è stata realizzata con una sensibilità e un’autenticità rare, che danno voce a esperienze spesso incomprese o stereotipate. Dietro la sua facciata scontrosa si nasconde un uomo profondamente ferito dalle incomprensioni altrui, che lotta per tenere a galla la fattoria di famiglia dopo che il padre li ha abbandonati. Il suo rapporto protettivo con i fratelli, specialmente con Bash, aggiunge strati di profondità al personaggio. E quando finalmente si apre e mostra la sua vulnerabilità, è impossibile non innamorarsene.

La dinamica tra Wren e August è elettrizzante fin dal primo incontro. I loro battibecchi iniziali nascondono un’attrazione reciproca che cresce pagina dopo pagina. È bello vedere come imparano a conoscersi davvero, andando oltre le prime impressioni e le barriere che si sono costruiti. Grazie al loro rapporto lei impara la pazienza e l’empatia, lui trova il coraggio di aprirsi e fidarsi e finalmente si permettono di essere vulnerabili l’uno con l’altra.

I personaggi secondari sono delineati con così tanta cura e personalità che è impossibile non sperare in un seguito con protagonisti Bash e Raven.

La rappresentazione dell’autismo è il vero gioiello di questo libro perché è autentica e rispettosa. L’atmosfera autunnale è così immersiva che ti viene voglia di prenotare subito una vacanza in una fattoria di zucche. Se devo trovare qualche difetto a volte il ritmo rallenta un po’ troppo durante i preparativi della festa, e la comprensione di Wren verso le necessità di August poteva essere sviluppata meglio in alcune scene.

Detto questo, “There’s Pumpkin About You” è la lettura perfetta per chi cerca un romance autunnale. Nonostante qualche piccolo difetto, è un libro che ti resta nel cuore e ti fa venire voglia di credere nell’amore vero.

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First off, a huge thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for giving me the chance to read this book early. I’ll be honest, I’d never heard of Athena Carstairs before, but after devouring “There’s Pumpkin About You,” I can say she’s definitely made it onto my must-follow authors list. I seriously can’t wait to dive into whatever she writes next!

Tropes
🧡 Grumpy x Sunshine
🧡 Forced Proximity
🧡 Small Town Charm
🧡 Banter
🧡 Pumpkin Farmer x Events Planner
🧡 Found Family

After leaving her job as a dental assistant to chase her dream of becoming an event planner, Wren Southwick finds herself facing a major problem: clients are scarce and it’s starting to hit her wallet hard.
Her big break comes with her best friend’s 30th birthday party, and she finds the perfect venue: the Finch brothers’ Goldleaf Farm in the charming little town of Eaglewood. The biggest hurdle? Convincing the younger owner, who’s anything but friendly.
But Wren’s not the type to give up easily, and as they work side by side to get the place ready, their relationship slowly starts to shift. Can these two opposites find the perfect balance, or will their attraction turn out to be nothing more than autumn’s fleeting spark?

Wren is your classic sunshine fmc with determination that borders on stubbornness. She’s a dreamer with her feet on the ground, ambitious and bursting with positive energy. Her growth throughout the story feels genuine: she learns to put herself first and rethink some of her more impulsive choices.
That said, I’ll admit I didn’t always get her, especially because of how she initially approached August and her lack of patience and understanding, but that’s exactly what makes her character development so meaningful.

August Finch appears to be a gruff farmer on the surface but he’s hiding a tender heart. The portrayal of his autism is handled with such rare sensitivity and authenticity, giving voice to experiences that are often misunderstood or stereotyped. Behind that grumpy facade is a man deeply hurt by others’ misunderstandings, struggling to keep the family farm afloat after their father abandoned them. His protective relationship with his brothers, especially Bash, adds layers of depth to his character. And when he finally opens up and shows his vulnerability, it’s impossible not to fall for him.

The dynamic between Wren and August is electric from their very first meeting. Their initial bickering masks a mutual attraction that builds page by page. It’s beautiful watching them truly get to know each other, moving past first impressions and the walls they’ve built around themselves. Through their relationship, she learns patience and empathy, while he finds the courage to open up and trust and they finally allow themselves to be vulnerable with each other.

The secondary characters are crafted with so much care and personality that you can’t help but hope for a sequel featuring Bash and Raven as the leads.

The autism representation is the real gem of this book, it’s authentic and respectful. The autumn atmosphere is so immersive it makes you want to book a pumpkin farm vacation immediately. If I had to nitpick, sometimes the pacing slows down a bit too much during the party prep scenes, and Wren’s understanding of August’s needs could have been developed better in some moments.

That said, “There’s Pumpkin About You” is the perfect read for anyone looking for an autumn romance. Despite a few minor flaws, it’s a book that stays with you and makes you want to believe in true love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎃 There's Pumpkin About You 🎃
🧡 By Athena Carstairs 🧡

A light and easy read full of Fall vibes.
I love all the tropes:
😠Grumpy/Sunshine🌞
❤️‍🔥Forced Proximity❤️‍🔥
🎃Small Town🎃

Hart Of Dixie vibe, but lacking enough banter.
The 3rd act breakup barely happened, so I didn't feel emotionally invested.
It was good, and I'd read the others in the series, but I need to hurt more 😬

#🄶🄸🄵🅃🄴🄳 #Netgalley #FreeHonestReview #Bookstagram #BookReviewer #ARCreader #TheresPumpkinAboutYou

Autumn vibes year round? Yes please! I love autumn reads so much. This little romance delivered in full swing!

I received a free copy of, There's Pumpkin About You, by Athena Carstairs, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Wren has a partying planning business, her bff is turning 30 and she wants to plan a great birthday party for her. I did not care for Wren or her attitude, or the language in this book. I thought this would be a great fall read, but it was not.

Looking for a warm-hearted, funny and spicy novel that's perfect for any time of the year, but especially for Autumn? Then look no further, than the delightful "There's Pumpkin About You" by Athena Carstairs. "There's Pumpkin About You" is the story of Wren Southwick, a party planner who has recently setup her business and has her heart set on expanding, using her friend's upcoming 30th birthday as a springboard. And new seeking decorations and locations, Wren comes across the Finch family’s Goldleaf Pumpkin Farm. The farm is run by three, exceptionally hunky, hot brothers. And I mean. HOT! Erm, sorry, getting distracted there! Once Wren meets the Gus, the youngest of the brothers, the stage is set for romance and fireworks.
While this is a romance novel, the author deals with several difficult topics, such as autism and I felt that she approaches the area with empathy and understanding. And how Wren and Gus learn to understand each other and how their own experiences shape their behaviours and beliefs.
A wonderfully, warm and fun read - don't miss "There's Pumpkin About You" by Athena Carstairs.

⭐️⭐️ | A Beautiful Setting and Great Autism Representation, but a Disappointing Lead Character

I was really excited for this book—the premise was cozy and charming, and the promise of autumnal vibes and a grumpy-sunshine dynamic had me hooked. I also want to commend the author for the thoughtful and well-executed autism representation. As a woman married to a man on the spectrum, I deeply appreciated how August (Gus) was portrayed—his communication style, preferences, and boundaries felt authentic and respectful.

That said, I really struggled with Wren as a character. While I understand she was meant to be determined and passionate about her business, she consistently came across as inconsiderate and, frankly, quite rude—especially toward Gus. Her pushy behavior and dismissiveness toward his comfort levels felt more selfish than endearing, and it made it hard for me to root for their connection.

What was meant to be a tension-filled, opposites-attract romance often felt more like one-sided friction. It was difficult to watch Wren repeatedly ignore Gus’s clearly stated boundaries, particularly when he was doing his best to meet her halfway. As someone who sees firsthand the challenges—and joys—of navigating relationships with neurodiverse partners, I found Wren’s lack of empathy especially disheartening.

Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for the arc

time of dnf: 24%

I unfortunately had to DNF despite kinda liking the MMC, something about the writing just left a lot to be desired in terms of connecting with the characters for me and it felt like the story was hitting the necessary beats without any real exploration of it (also I really didn’t love Wren’s characterization despite really wanting to…it just felt very flat and I tried to push through for the sake of exploring the autism rep but it wasn’t giving)

thank you to netgalley and harper collins UK for the arc to review nonetheless!

✨3.5 stars✨

This was cozy and cute. The perfect book to inspire some fall festivities! There’s something about books that focus on fall events or themes that feel so warm and inviting (maybe because it’s my favourite season).

August and Wren were sweet, it was really wholesome watching them learn how to understand each other. I am also a sucker for friends rallying to support each other. It’s such a heartwarming trope. Our duo had great chemistry, their banter at first was a little stressful because they kept misunderstanding each other, but it gave a strong contrast for when they worked things out and got on the same page!

I love a small town, I love a farm ( any farm will do) and I love a grumpy curmudgeonly man. If you share my love of any of these things, I think There’s Pumpkin About You will be right up your alley! There’s something about a book that feels like a warm hug, in front of a fireplace, in the middle of winter, with hot cocoa.

First off- I loved the autism representation! This is such a cozy and sweet read that is full of fall/autumn vibes. For best results, read when the leaves are starting to turn and grab a cozy sweater!

Cozy vibes, a pumpkin farm, a small town, and a budding romance. This book ticks all the boxes for a cute, cozy fall romance. It is just perfect to cozy up with on a rainy fall day!

I really enjoyed this read. August, one of the main characters has autiam, and while I can't say much about the autism representation, but I feel like the author has executed this with utmost care. I loved the interaction between him and Wren, and it was so refreshing to see two characters trying so hard to understand each other and communicate. While it is a fun, light hearted book, it had some deeper moments in it. I think the struggle August has with the townpeople who are ignorant about autism and just think he is rude is spot on.

The character development was very well done. Also: the side characters were just as well developed as the two main characters.

If you like a cozy, fall themed romance, you should definitely put it on your TBR for this coming fall!

Thank you very much HarperCollins/One More Chapter and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC!

Cozy meet-cute book. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this one

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

There’s Pumpkin About You by Athena Carstairs is the ultimate comfy fall romance, perfect for fans of small-town charm and grumpy-sunshine pairings. Set in the quaint town of Eaglewood, the story follows August, an autistic, introverted farmer, and Wren, a bubbly party planner determined to throw her best friend the perfect 30th birthday bash on August’s farm. Sparks fly as Wren’s warmth slowly melts August’s guarded exterior, delivering swoony chemistry, a touch of spice, and heartfelt moments. With rich character development, perfect pacing, and peak autumn vibes, this heartwarming romance is a pumpkin-spiced delight you won’t want to miss.

Did I read this during a heat wave yes yes I did ! Did I read it in one sitting yes yes I did
Did I completely love it yes yes I did !!
First the title and the cover were adorable
The playlist was a lovely touch.
This was the most beautiful read I absolutely adored the characters the town everything felt so picture perfect.
The growth in characters from the start to finish was incredible It was a cute story but also so much went into them finding themselves. I was a little mad about how the town treated August but I think that goes to show how amazingly written the characters were that I felt like were real.
I’m really hoping for more books about the town and its residents

💛 Book Tropes I Loved
😠 Grumpy sunshine
👨‍🌾 Grumpy male lead (hi August!)
🎉 Party planner FMC
🏡 Small town charm
🍁 Fall vibes for days
🔥 A sprinkle of spice
🛋️ Cosy, heartwarming romance

My Thoughts 💬
Set in the adorable town of Eaglewood, this book gave me all the small-town, pumpkin-spiced feels 🍂💞.

We meet August — an autistic, grumpy farmer who’s perfectly content being on his own… until he crosses paths with Wren, a bubbly, determined party planner 🎈👩‍🎤. She’s on a mission to throw her bestie the ultimate 30th birthday party — and she needs August’s farm to make it happen 🙏🎊.

Wren stole my heart 💖 — she’s strong, passionate, and brings so much warmth and fun to the story. Her chemistry with August? ✨🔥✨

The pacing was spot on, the characters were beautifully developed, and the setting? Peak fall-in-the-country vibes 🌾🍂☕. A cosy, feel-good romance I couldn’t put down!

Hands up for reading a cozy autumnal read in the middle of a heatwave!!! I love the sunshine, but I get so excited for the ber seasons & this definitely made me even more excited!!
This was a sweet story. The writing I fell right into step with as well as the people & towns. I like it when I get straight into a book rather than having to read multiple chapters before I've grasped who ever yone is & what part they play!
I loved Wren's positive attitude & determination to succeed even when she let the doubts creep in. She still knew what she wanted & wouldn't give up easily.
I loved Gus & how the author wrote about Autism. It was nice to see in a romance novel. Gus was lovely.
The chemistry, the banter, the arguments, the town, the friends, relationships, everything made for a heart-warming easy to pick up read that I would highly recommend!
Kelly

If you’re craving cozy autumn vibes, The Pumpkin Spice Café delivers them in spades, with small-town charm, cinnamon-sweet romance, and a whole lot of heart. Set in the delightfully quaint town of Eaglewood (think Stars Hollow energy), the story follows Wren, a determined event planner, and August, a grumpy, autistic pumpkin farmer, as they’re forced to work together to fix up his barn for an upcoming party. What starts as banter slowly turns into something deeper, as the two bring out the best in each other in ways that feel both tender and earned. The story thoughtfully explores themes of perception, neurodivergence, self-worth, and learning to slow down and embrace the present. Wren’s journey of putting herself first and Gus’s quiet strength amid people’s unfair assumptions are especially moving. It’s the kind of book that wraps around you like a blanket, makes you smile at the funny moments, reflect during the heartfelt ones and immediately wish for a sequel. Add this to your autumn TBR with a pumpkin latte in hand.

This was such a joy to read. The characters were multi dimensional and held real depth. This was the first book I’ve read written by this author but certainly will not be the last. I also enjoyed the side characters. Sometimes, side characters play just as big a part in telling a story as the main characters. This was absolutely fantastic.