I wanted to love this book, but almost the entire book was repeating the same things over and over. The miscommunication trope is always frustrating to read that can be very satisfying to read, but it’s hard for an entire book. Every major event in their lives is gone over at least 3-5 times. There’s a lot of spice, but it all seems the same, especially with the repeated line of “everything else faded away and it was just the two of them”. That’s a lot of not great stuff to say, but it’s still a cute romcom. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job with the characters and the pace of the reading.

Thank you to #netgalley for the advanced copy for an honest review.

A perfect Cozy Fall Read!!!

This book was an absolute delight—like sipping warm cider on a crisp autumn day. I adored everything about it: the charming small-town setting, the nostalgic fall vibes, and the sweet rekindling of a past romance.

The story centers around Madison, our lovable main character, who returns to her family’s struggling inn after receiving a letter calling her home. She has a dream job in NYC but her heart misses home, Maple falls. The Cinnamon Spice Inn has seen better days—it's outdated, guests are dissatisfied, and it’s in desperate need of renovation.

Enter Zack, the town’s reliable, GRUMPY, handyman. The moment he lays eyes on Madison, there's an undeniable spark—and watching their story unfold was such a heartwarming treat. A race of the heart that is tried to be denied. But they say love works in mysterious ways, no?

I can’t wait for this book to officially release so I can add it to my shelf. It’s the kind of feel-good story that makes you want to curl up under a blanket and read it all in one sitting. HUGE thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

If you are looking for a cozy Fall romance, this book will hit all the right notes (or scents!) The characters, especially the secondary cast, add a lot of personality and likeability. The ex's brought back together story for Madi and Zach feels natural and the cozy setting does remind you of a nice fall hallmark movie. An easy breezy read to enjoy with a latte or fall treat!

Let’s face it, this story about a big city girl returning to her small hometown and locking horns with her ex boyfriend is a lot like a Hallmark movie. And to that, I say, good! We’re living in an unprecedented time of chaos and ugliness. A story like is is something we ALL need.

If you like Hallmark plots and cozy settings, "girl returns from big city to save her parents Inn" type romances, but instead of glossing over the good stuff, some open-door sexy times are sprinkled in - then this is an okay read for you. I'm VERY into this Spicy-Cozy Romance genre right now. Who can resist that cute cover?!

The leading lady - Madison, is annoyingly afraid of thunderstorms as an adult. **EYE ROLL** Get a therapist and grow up. I hate characters like this with irrational fears as their biggest personality trait. Oh yeah and she likes coffee. The leading man is your typical Hallmark small town handyman/orchard owner. His personality is only his sexuality - rugged, unachievably hot and pining away for Madison ever since a miscommunication drove them apart years ago. This couple doesn't communicate and that's the source of all their problems.

I've been getting in a fall mood by reading several cozy romances with same plot lately and of the lot, this was the most underwhelming. There's nothing too exciting that happens plot-wise, the dialogue wasn't especially cute or witty, the sexual tension was barely lukewarm, and the spicy scenes were far from smutty. So, it was just ok and distracted me while I listened to the audiobook and did chores this weekend. Narrator did a good job with character voices.

Summary
Love is the sweetest spice of all.
Self-confessed coffee addict and food writer Madison has convinced herself she belongs in NYC. But then she’s called back to the small town of Maple Falls to save her childhood home, The Cinnamon Spice Inn. She’s NOT looking forward to seeing her ex, Zach—now a sexy handyman who knows exactly how to push her buttons. But she won’t let anything distract her from the inn’s relaunch… right?
Sparks fly as they prepare for the big Halloween opening. Will Madison save The Cinnamon Spice Inn and have a second chance at love, or will it all go up in flames?

Review
🧲 Forced Proximity
🏡 Cosy Small Town
🤎 Second Chance Romance
🌶 Spicy

The Cinnamon Spice Inn has so much to offer! It is the cosiest, small town romance with the perfect sprinkle of autumn vibes.

Madison is our FMC, called back to her hometown by a ✨ mysterious letter ✨ from an ✨ anonymous friend✨, claiming that her father needs her help running the family business, The Cinnamon Spice Inn 🍂 .
This inn… this town… this family! They are honestly just pulled from a Hallmark movie and danced right onto the page. Whilst her dad is kind of wilfully incompetent, her grandma is sassy, speaks her mind and keeps everyone honest!

Madison notices the heart and soul of the inn is missing, which she believes got lost over time following her mother’s passing. All of the things she loved about the inn are no longer present (including her mother’s homemade cinnamon rolls). 🥮

BUT these are the only cinnamon rolls that have been missing from her life - enter our cinnamon roll MMC and childhood love Zach. He is the sweetest, most supportive little bean - running around town helping anyone who even looks remotely in need of help. He is super kind and helpful but goodness me the miscommunication between these two almost killed me. To be honest, it was probably quite realistic for some people but usually you’ll see at least some growth and over time people stop or reduce the miscommunication. Not these two! They could win a Guiness World Record for the sheer quantity of times they were unable to have an honest or direct conversation. That being said, I rooted for them and wanted to see them end up together! Despite being marketed as an enemies to lovers, it’s more of a second chance romance, reunited soul mates type vibe. There’s a little conflict/tension but ultimately they’re both pining for each other from the start.

It really felt like this was being set up for a Liam book, which I would love to see! If I was feeling critical, I would say it felt like this book was crammed with tropes (second chance, small town, forced proximity, work romance, Save-The-Inn, miscommunication, mystery letters) and I’d like to see it a little more stripped back for the next instalment.

Throughout The Cinnamon Spice Inn, Harper Graham refers to so many different sweet autumn treats that really got me in that spooky season mood. I know it’s still summer but if you’re looking for someone to get you ready for the autumn season, grab your fave pumpkin spiced treat, a soft blanket, fireplace roaring (or if you’re like me, a fireplace YouTube video on loop with the heating on) and dive into Maple Falls with Madison and Zach.

Summary
Love is the sweetest spice of all.
Self-confessed coffee addict and food writer Madison has convinced herself she belongs in NYC. But then she’s called back to the small town of Maple Falls to save her childhood home, The Cinnamon Spice Inn. She’s NOT looking forward to seeing her ex, Zach—now a sexy handyman who knows exactly how to push her buttons. But she won’t let anything distract her from the inn’s relaunch… right?
Sparks fly as they prepare for the big Halloween opening. Will Madison save The Cinnamon Spice Inn and have a second chance at love, or will it all go up in flames?

Review
🧲 Forced Proximity
🏡 Cosy Small Town
🤎 Second Chance Romance
🌶 Spicy

The Cinnamon Spice Inn has so much to offer! It is the cosiest, small town romance with the perfect sprinkle of autumn vibes.

Madison is our FMC, called back to her hometown by a ✨ mysterious letter ✨ from an ✨ anonymous friend✨, claiming that her father needs her help running the family business, The Cinnamon Spice Inn 🍂 .
This inn… this town… this family! They are honestly just pulled from a Hallmark movie and danced right onto the page. Whilst her dad is kind of wilfully incompetent, her grandma is sassy, speaks her mind and keeps everyone honest!

Madison notices the heart and soul of the inn is missing, which she believes got lost over time following her mother’s passing. All of the things she loved about the inn are no longer present (including her mother’s homemade cinnamon rolls). 🥮

BUT these are the only cinnamon rolls that have been missing from her life - enter our cinnamon roll MMC and childhood love Zach. He is the sweetest, most supportive little bean - running around town helping anyone who even looks remotely in need of help. He is super kind and helpful but goodness me the miscommunication between these two almost killed me. To be honest, it was probably quite realistic for some people but usually you’ll see at least some growth and over time people stop or reduce the miscommunication. Not these two! They could win a Guiness World Record for the sheer quantity of times they were unable to have an honest or direct conversation. That being said, I rooted for them and wanted to see them end up together! Despite being marketed as an enemies to lovers, it’s more of a second chance romance, reunited soul mates type vibe. There’s a little conflict/tension but ultimately they’re both pining for each other from the start.

It really felt like this was being set up for a Liam book, which I would love to see! If I was feeling critical, I would say it felt like this book was crammed with tropes (second chance, small town, forced proximity, work romance, Save-The-Inn, miscommunication, mystery letters) and I’d like to see it a little more stripped back for the next instalment.

🎧 Audiobook
Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis narrated this SO well! I loved the accents and how each character was so clear from the way they were delivered. Their voices were both warm, just like the inn itself. I always listen on x2, but I can image this would’ve been even cuter slowed down a little bit!

Throughout The Cinnamon Spice Inn, Harper Graham refers to so many different sweet autumn treats that really got me in that spooky season mood. I know it’s still summer but if you’re looking for someone to get you ready for the autumn season, grab your fave pumpkin spiced treat, a soft blanket, fireplace roaring (or if you’re like me, a fireplace YouTube video on loop with the heating on) and dive into Maple Falls with Madison and Zach.

I can’t think of anything better than a Fall (Autumn) themed read. It’s not only my favourite season of the year but also, they make for the most cosy, warm hug of a book. But there’s also the sense of ‘copy and paste storyline’ but with a different set of characters and whilst comforting, it made this harder to connect with as it felt like I’d read it before.

Tropes: ❣️Enemies to lovers (he’s her ex, they have history). ❣️Forced proximity (he’s helping to fix the inn, they can never escape each other in a small town). ❣️Small-town vs. city life (Madison Kelly moved to the city six years ago but now she’s back in her small childhood town). ❣️Opposites attract & ❣️Second chance romance (can they get over how they left things in the pas?) ❣️Miscommunication - admittedly, not my favourite trope, in fact, I hate it. Frustrating and blaaaa. I just wanna scream ‘talk to each other for the love of goddd!’ But that’s my own trope preference.

And the spice. Yep it had spice if you’re into that but it kind of came across as teenage level, horny underdeveloped personality with one track mind to jump his bones. I felt like she should have had another thought in her head most of the time.

I really enjoyed the book audio form though. It was entertaining and made for such an easy listen (which was nice when I was in the gym and flagging on energy/ the will to carry on the treadmill).

Butttt saying all of this, it is exactly as it says on the tin. Autumn romance, plenty of vibes and spice so it’s a great read for fall.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn is a cozy, heartwarming read that perfectly blends small-town charm with a gentle romance. Harper Graham crafts vivid seasonal atmosphere and lovable characters that make you feel like you’ve checked into the inn yourself. It’s a perfect autumn read — full of crisp evenings, warm drinks, and comforting moments that capture the spirit of the season. The pacing is light and easy, and while the plot is predictable at times, it delivers exactly the kind of relaxing escape you want from a holiday novel. Sweet, charming, and filled with feel-good moments — a perfect pick for readers looking for a cozy fall read.

The town had that cozy, small-town Hallmark vibe that I love. The characters we met were all fun, and the descriptions of the town were such a treat to listen to. This was a cozy, low-stakes story—perfect for a rainy day after work. I

Madison and Zach were great together. The two of them still clearly have feelings for each other, but kept trying to ignore them, but ignored them due to what happened between them. The miscommunication between them had me wanting to shake em and be that friend in the background saying, “Bro… just speak,” because you know they both needed it!

The narrators, Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis, were wonderful and brought the story to life. I can't wait to see what the next book in this series has!

This was a cozy read, but I just feel like this storyline is so overused. I want something FRESH.
And even if it’s a predictable plot, make the characters unpredictable. Like I didn’t expect to fall in love w/ them, but I did type characters!!

I mean, if you’re just looking for a cozy fall read about a girl who left her small town for a big city, but came back & reunites for a second chance romance w/ her hometown man’s to save her family’s inn.
Love that for you, but I just felt like this was too baseline & nothing was able to really grab me.

Overall, it’s not a terrible read. Just nothing new.
Andi Eloise & Brandon Francis did an amazing job narrating— Brandon is def becoming a new fave!!

This is a fun read for fall! If you want something cozy that will give you all the autumn vibes this is for you! The inn, the town, the community… all of it was perfect for fall!

Madison has just returned home after receiving an anonymous letter saying that her family inn needed help to stay afloat. But Madison hasn’t been home since her mom passed away, and she caught her then boyfriend Zach “cheating.” Now she was home, and forced to come to terms on what was happening with her family’s inn, and what happened with Zach.

I enjoyed this book, but the miscommunication Madison had without about EVERYONE she was close to made me lower my rating… so much could’ve been resolved way faster if she just spoke to her dad, grandma (whom I love!) and most of all her ex boyfriend Zach from the beginning… but I guess this book would’ve been way shorter, lol.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ALC! I enjoyed the narrator, she did an amazing job!

The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham
Pub Date: 08/28/2025
Audiobook Narrator(s): Narrated by Andi Eloise, Brandon Francis
🎃 🍂 🎃 🍂
This is a super cozy, small town romance with all the fall vibes. So grab your favorite pumpkin fall treat and cozy blanket and jump into this quaint little town where you'll find:
🎃 Second chance romance
🍂 Cinnamon "Spice" romance
🎃 Maple Falls - small town charm
🍂 Opposites (bit of grumpy/sunshine)
🎃 Cozy, warm fuzzy read
The female narrator is good - though I wish the POV for the MMC had a male narrator (it's a bit deceiving since it notes two narrators but Brandon Francis isn't until the very end (he's just bonus content - that the ALC didn't include)
3.5⭐(rounding up-for fall vibes and being a gentle, cozy read)
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC!!

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0

The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham
Narrated by Andi Eloise, Brandon Francis
4 star
A fiery, coffee-loving city girl. A laid-back handyman with irresistible hazel eyes. Is this a recipe for disaster? Find out in this totally cozy and unputdownable enemies-to-lovers romance in the small town of your dreams!

fast paced cozy
i enjoyed the narrators they brought the story to life

In this story we star off following a city girl who has fallen in love with her life on New York that recieved a mysterious letter from home letting her know that she needs to return to her small town home to help her father save the family inn. Without question, she returns home within a few days, not knowing who sent the letter, but knowing how important the family inn is. Soon after returning to town, she runs into her ex, who may have been the love of her life. The story then takes a turn of pov and goes back and forth between the love interests. The relationship is not so much as miscommunication as it is no communication. The story takes some comical twist, but when the writer of the mystery letter is finally revealed, I could not stop myself from crying. This is such a beautiful cozy small town romance about family, friendships, love, and figuring out where you are meant to be. I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was perfect for the vibes of this story.

Narration is mostly single with bonus content that is dual - Andi Eloise & Brandon Francis

This is a hallmark movie. Sweet, cozy, and romantic. 3rd person POV. I enjoyed the story very much and narrators did a great job.

This book is basically if Temu “Gilmore Girls” and a cinnamon roll had a toxic situationship. It’s warm, it’s cozy, it’s got pumpkins on the porch and maple leaves falling in slow motion... and then BAM. You remember Madison and Zach don’t know how to communicate unless someone’s roof caves in or they’re within three feet of a baked good.

Let’s set the scene: Madison, our very emotionally stunted heroine, is a food writer who’s living her NYC fantasy until she gets a mysterious letter and suddenly she’s back in Maple Falls, home of her haunted past and even more haunted ex. That ex? Zach, the handyman who apparently moonlights as the town’s only single male... when he’s not too busy living his best hobbit inspired life He’s got hazel eyes and unresolved trauma, and the man fixes roofs like it’s foreplay.

Now listen. I am a documented disaster-romance apologist. Give me second chance angst, fall-themed inn renovations, and two idiots forced to share a kitchen full of unspoken feelings? I will eat it like a hot apple crumble. But Madison and Zach tested me. They BROKE UP YEARS AGO over one dumb miscommunication and then proceeded to... do it again. And again. AND THEN AGAIN. By the time they were avoiding one last "Very Important Conversation" in the third act, I was muttering “just text it” into my cinnamon tea like a witch placing a curse on fictional fools.

The vibes? Immaculate. I wanted to move into Maple Falls immediately and live in a permanent autumn montage. There’s a cozy inn, a meddling grandma, a coffee shop with pastries that read like main characters, cows named Pumpkin and Spice (I mean not really, but basically), and a town full of nosy weirdos who clearly ship Madison and Zach like it’s their full-time job. The setting was doing Olympic-level heavy lifting while these two fumbled around in a pile of sexual tension and emotional denial.

Zach was honestly the better half of this chaos couple. He’s a cinnamon roll in flannel who just wants to be loved but somehow ended up stuck in a never-ending loop of “I won’t say it if you won’t.” Madison, meanwhile, is aggressively in her own way. Every time she caught a whiff of Zach’s cedar-and-sawdust cologne and started spiraling about what could’ve been while STILL refusing to open her mouth and say literally anything of value, I had to pause and deep-breathe into a pumpkin pillow.

Also, can we talk about the “enemies to lovers” tag? Bold of this book to claim that, considering Madison was mentally undressing Zach by chapter three and they were basically kissing via baked goods by Halloween. The only enemy here was functional adult conversation.

BUT. As much as I wanted to throw both of them into a leaf pile and make them TALK IT OUT like therapy Barbie dolls, I still tore through it in one sitting. There’s just something about that small-town autumnal romances. The cinnamon rolls, the cozy porch lights, the found family energy trying to sneak in between moments of emotional sabotage. I was annoyed, but I was hooked.

I'm going with 3.5 stars for the vibes, the scenery, and the emotional support dog named Cocoa. I’m staying at the Cinnamon Spice Inn, but I’m booking a solo room. Madison and Zach can figure their mess out in the honeymoon cabin.

Bookouture Audio and NetGalley, thank you for the audiobook access. Y’all really handed me a cinnamon-scented emotional support blanket and said, “Here, scream into this while these two dummies figure it out.” I accept. With sass. And snacks.

Is this an exact replica of Laurie Gilmore’s The Dream Harbor series, right down to the hideous, old school looking book cover? 100%. Is there room in my cold dead heart for more of the same fall-themed romances? 100%

The Cinnamon Spice Inn is a Hallmark movie in book form, so if you're looking for a cozy, familiar romance story for the Autumn/Fall season, you'll find it here. There's frequent spicy reminiscences and fantasising before the fantasy becomes reality! The audiobook is well narrated by the sole narrator, Andi Eloise. The audiobook listing does say that there are two narrators, but looking it up on Audible suggests that the male narrator is only part of a duet-narration bonus chapter, which seems to be missing from this ALC.

All that being said, I thought that the plot was a bit too familiar, to the point that I could predict the whole plot from the start, and the plot was too reliant on miscommunication, both in the past and in the present. It felt like there wasn't any character development because it was the exact same issues in the present as there had been in the past. Miscommunication is my least favourite trope but I might have overlooked that and the predictability and given it a higher rating if I'd been rooting for the main characters to get together, but unfortunately I didn't like Madison as a person. Zach came across much better, but Madison wasn't very likeable - for example how she dropped all of her best friends from home as soon as she ended things with Zach and didn't even reach out to Zach's sister Emily when their mother was ill. It's one thing to dump your long-distant boyfriend after a miscommunication, but another to intentionally drift off from all of your friends as well.

This one wasn't for me personally, but it could be a hit for readers/listeners who like second-chance, small town cozy romances with spice, and don't mind the miscommunication trope as it is very prominent.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from Bookouture Audio and NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

This book is basically a hallmark movie !
And it’s set in the fall so perfect for the end of summer when you crave to be back in your couch near the fire with a comfy blanket !
If you like those small town romcoms vibes, you’ll like this book !
I loved the relationships with all the town folks it was so fun and wholesome ! However the romance in itself was good but the fights and their problems felt a bit repetitive.

Thank you Netgalley for the ALC !