08 November 2024
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe Review & Book Club Questions
Reviewed by: Melissa Ng
Quick Facts
Book Publication Date: 30 August 2023
How I Read It: Purchased from Kobo
Where You Can Find The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore: Amazon | Kobo | Audible | Dymocks | QBD Books | Apple Books | Spotify Premium
Trope: Grumpy sunshine, instalove, small town romance, secret relationship
Content & Trigger Warnings: Very spicy, fear of abandonment

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe Summary
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe book by Laurie Gilmore follows Jeanie, a city girl seeking a fresh start after discovering her boss’s unexpected death.
Her Aunt Tess, recognising her need for a change, gifts Jeanie ownership of the beloved Pumpkin Spice Cafe in the cosy, close-knit town of Dream Harbor.
Excited for a new beginning, Jeanie dives headfirst into her role as the cafe’s new owner, surrounded by quirky townsfolk and plenty of autumn charm.
Enter Logan, a local farmer who goes out of his way to avoid the town’s never-ending gossip.
Despite his reluctance to get involved with another city girl (his ex-girlfriend was from out of town and famously rejected his public proposal), Logan finds himself inexplicably drawn to Jeanie.
As Jeanie and Logan’s relationship unfolds, Dream Harbor’s small-town quirks come alive, with regular town meetings, the annual fall festival, and a tight-knit community.
But a series of strange incidents at the cafe leave Jeanie unnerved.
She confides in Logan about the odd happenings, but Logan remains wary, especially when he finds clues suggesting that Jeanie might be planning to sell the cafe and leave town. This discovery sparks the typical third-act conflict, with Logan picking a fight over his fear of being abandoned again.
The book’s grumpy sunshine dynamic and autumnal setting evoke cosy feelings, though the romance takes an unexpected turn with a very spicy ending.
While The Pumpkin Spice Cafe is a romance wrapped in a cosy mystery, the combination of genres provides plenty of small-town warmth and the ultimate question: will Jeanie find her place in Dream Harbor and win over Logan’s trust?

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe Review
I’ll start by saying that The Pumpkin Spice Cafe wouldn’t usually be on my radar as I’m not a typical romance reader. However, this was my book club’s October pick, so I dove in without even reading the synopsis.
I was expecting a cosy autumn romance set in a charming small town. I mean, what else do you expect from a book called The Pumpkin Spice Cafe? And in that respect, the book delivered.
Dream Harbor, clearly inspired by Gilmore Girls, is full of quirky characters, local festivals, and that small-town nosiness that makes it feel real.
The book is marketed as a grumpy sunshine romance, though I felt that neither Logan nor Jeanie truly embodied their roles in the trope. Logan didn’t seem particularly grumpy, and Jeanie wasn’t exactly the embodiment of sunshine.
Their dynamic felt very instalove, which is not my preference when it comes to romance. The attraction seemed solely physical and lacked depth.
In contrast, the found family theme was done well, with Jeanie slowly building her own connections within the town.
The cosy elements were spot-on and give the book a seasonal feel.
Logan’s alpaca, humorously named Harry Styles, was a cute highlight for me and brought some warmth to the story.
However, the plot occasionally felt disjointed. For instance, Jeanie mentions strange occurrences at the cafe without the reader having seen them, making these moments feel a bit out of place.
The third-act conflict felt contrived, with Logan overreacting to his fear of abandonment when he suspects Jeanie might sell the cafe. His reaction didn’t feel fully believable and seemed added to create tension.
Not every romance book needs a third-act conflict!
And while I didn’t expect much spice, the sudden shift toward a steamy scene at the end of the book took me by surprise. For a cosy autumn romance, the spicy scenes felt unnecessary and somewhat out of place.
Overall, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe book was enjoyable for its setting and light-hearted vibes, but the romance and plot fell a bit short.
It’s a quick, easy read with fun Gilmore Girls-inspired moments, perfect for readers who love a small-town atmosphere. However, if you’re looking for a deep romance or strong mystery, this might not quite hit the mark.
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe Book Club Questions
- Jeanie moved to Dream Harbor after a traumatic experience at her last job. How do you think her boss’s death influenced her decision to start over?
- Do you think Jeanie did a good job managing The Pumpkin Spice Cafe? Why or why not?
- If Jeanie’s Aunt hadn’t given her the cafe, what other job do you see Jeanie doing in Dream Harbor?
- Logan had a very public proposal that ended in rejection. How do you think this shaped his approach to his relationship with Jeanie?
- Do you think keeping their relationship a secret was a good idea, or do you think it complicated things more?
- Did you enjoy the romance tropes of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe? Which ones worked best for you?
- Did the romance between Jeanie and Logan feel believable, or was it too rushed?
- Were you surprised by the spice in the book? Do you think it added or detracted from the book?
- The book has a typical third-act conflict. Did this feel realistic to you?
- Who was your favourite side character in Dream Harbor, and why?
- Which side character do you want to read about next in the Dream Harbor series?
- Did you enjoy the Dream Harbor / small town setting?
- Dream Harbor is said to be inspired by Gilmore Girls. What similarities and differences did you notice?
- Small towns in books often have a found family theme. Why do you think this is so popular?
- If you lived in Dream Harbor, what job do you think you would have?
- Were you surprised when the mystery of who was behind the cafe incidents was revealed?
- Did you enjoy the cosy mystery element of the book?
- If The Pumpkin Spice Cafe was adapted into a movie, what actors would you cast for each character?
- Have you read any of Laurie Gilmore’s other books? If so, where does The Pumpkin Spice Cafe rank among them?
- Did The Pumpkin Spice Cafe remind you of any other books or movies?
If you like the small town vibes but without the spice, you might like to check out my review of The Storied Life Of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin.