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The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore: A Spicy Fall Romance
Last Updated on October 18, 2026 by Sierra Richard
Disclaimer: Commissions may be earned on links in this article marked with “*”.
When Jeanie’s Aunt Dot decides to retire, she leaves her the Pumpkin Spice Café located in the small town of Dream Harbor. After arriving, she meets the grumpy local farmer Logan who is her exact opposite, but in the best way. As Logan attempts to help Jeanie get her footing in the new town, she also finds a way into his heart.
Top Tropes/Themes:
- Contemporary romance
- Small town romance
- Grumpy X sunshine
- Autumn ambiance
- Cozy romance
- Friends-to-lovers
- Found family
- Dual POV
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️(several explicit open door scenes)
Release Date: August 31, 2023
Let’s talk about it…
The Pumpkin Spice Café* is the perfect fall romance. Set in the small town of Dream Harbor, this first book in Laurie Gilmore’s Dream Harbor series will have you wanting to sip a pumpkin spice latte on a farm in New England. I want to be clear that I gave this book five stars because it was exactly what I expected it to be. The writing is very simple and straightforward, which was what I was in the mood for when I picked this book up. It was an easy read that I found to be the perfect palate cleanser after a deeper read.
The Autumn Ambiance
I wanted a book that got me in the mood for fall and this book does just that! Aside from the lattes, you have trips to Logan’s farm, farmer’s markets, and a little “ghost” mystery to add to the autumn atmosphere. Laurie Gilmore actually wrote the book after seeing the cover for the novel and I believe she did an excellent job capturing the fall feels in this story.
The Romance put the “Spice” in Pumpkin Spice
The tension between Logan and Jeanie was well done. The two of them had a great connection from the beginning and that made the romance just that much more believable. The grumpy and sunshine dynamic between the two of them has the perfect Gilmore Girls feel that is comforting to read on page. There are also several spicy scenes throughout this book. Don’t let the cover fool you! I feel like these are well placed throughout the story and move Jeanie and Logan’s relationship forward.
Small Town Vibes are Spot On
One thing that Laurie Gilmore does well in all the Dream Harbor books is make you feel like this really is a small town. From the nosy coffee shop patrons to the town hall meetings, you can bet on gossip running through the rumor mill! The side characters are a major part of each book and many later become main characters in the future books which is a nice touch to get to know them a bit before their story takes center stage. One of my favorite parts of the story is the book club. If you know, you know!
The Final Brew
Overall, I loved reading The Pumpkin Spice Café* and think it is an excellent book if you are looking for an easy to read, cozy romance in the fall. This is the first book in the Dream Harbor series, but can be read as a standalone, or you can continue to enjoy the story across several seasonal reads.
FAQs: The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore
Is The Pumpkin Spice Café spicy?
Yes, this book contains multiple explicit open door romance scenes. I gave it a rating of 3 out of 5 chili peppers. Despite these scenes, the book does have a plot and the romantic scenes are used to move the relationship between the characters forward.
Is The Pumpkin Spice Café part of a series?
Yes, The Pumpkin Spice Café is part of Laurie Gilmore’s Dream Harbor series which currently has six released titles (listed in order): The Pumpkin Spice Café, The Cinnamon Bun Book Store, The Christmas Tree Farm, The Strawberry Patch Pancake House, The Gingerbread Bakery, and The Daisy Chain Flower Shop. There is also a novella called The Apple Pie Ice Cream Parlor.
Can The Pumpkin Spice Café be read as a standalone?
Yes, while part of the Dream Harbor series, The Pumpkin Spice Café has a satisfying conclusion on its own and can easily be read as a standalone novel. Each book in the series follows a new couple, so you can stop here or keep going with new couples through the seasons.
Is the author’s real name actually Laurie Gilmore?
No, Laurie Gilmore is a pen name. The author’s real name is Melissa McTernan and wrote the first book in the Wolf Brothers series, A Curse of Blood and Wolves, which is a little red riding hood retelling, under this name. This book has been re-rewritten and was released in September 2026 under the title Big Bad Wolf as the first book in the Maple Hollow series.
What books are similar to the Dream Harbor series?
If you are looking for small town romance, Harper Graham’s The Cinnamon Spice Inn* is the first book in the Maple Falls series. You can also check out Melanie Harlow’s Hart’s Landing series for some spicy small town vibes.
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