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?

Sometimes I just need a romance to reset my reading brain. They’re my version of a palate cleanser. They don’t usually blow me away, but they offer comfort and familiarity, which has value in itself. This book landed right in that zone for me. Cute, seasonal, light, and easy to predict.

The setup is tailor-made for fall vibes. Wren Southwick is trying to make her best friend’s 30th birthday party unforgettable. She’s also hoping it will be the kind of showcase that launches her small-town event planning business into something bigger. Her dream venue? Goldleaf Pumpkin Farm. The problem? Its owner, August “Gus” Finch, is the human embodiment of someone peeing in your cereal. Naturally, this throws them together in all the classic enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine ways.

Carstairs does a good job leaning into the seasonal setting. You can practically smell the pumpkin spice and hear the crunch of leaves underfoot. It definitely works if you’re hunting for a book that feels like autumn in print.
But here’s where I bumped up against my own limits: the grumpy/sunshine trope. I know a lot of readers adore it, but I’ve realized it might be my least favorite. Wren is relentlessly upbeat and Gus is, well, relentlessly, perpetually and unapologetically pissed off at life. That imbalance can be fun when there’s a little give and take, but Gus was so over-the-top sour that it tested my patience. At some point I wanted to shake him and say, “We get it, life sucks for you, but you can lighten up now.”

That said, the romance unfolds in exactly the way you’d expect. There’s the initial clashing, the reluctant cooperation, the slow burn toward attraction, and of course, some spice along the way. The banter is light and easy, and while nothing in it felt fresh or surprising, there’s a reliability to these beats. If you pick this up, you’re not gambling, you’re guaranteed a tidy story arc that satisfies your romance needs. It’s a story that feels like slipping into a sweater you’ve owned for years. It’s soft, familiar, and it still fits.

My personal rating sits at three stars, but that’s not a knock. That’s my baseline for romances like this. It didn’t break the mold or surprise me in a way that would bump it higher, but it also didn’t stumble in any major way. It did exactly what I thought it would do, and sometimes that’s exactly what I want.

So, if you’re looking for a fall-flavored romance to kick off the season, and you don’t mind a very grumpy hero paired with an endlessly sunny heroine, give this one a try. It checks every standard box, sprinkles in some spice, and makes for a cozy read to curl up with while the leaves start to turn.