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Book: Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice
Synopsis:
“Fall is a big deal in Briar Glen, a quaint and charming village in New England. That’s when tourists from all over the country descend upon this picturesque town to see the babbling brooks and colorful leaves while sipping hot chocolate or pumpkin spice lattes.
But sixteen-year-old Lucy Kane hates the uber-popular PSL. She finds it overrated — especially when you consider the fact that there isn’t even pumpkin in it! — which is bad because she works at Cup o’ Jo, the local coffee shop her mom owns. Business at Cup o’ Jo hasn’t been great in the off-season, but that’s okay because it always picks up during the fall …
Until Java Junction, a multinational coffee chain, opens across the street and makes things harder for the small shop. And to make matters worse, it turns out Jack Harper, the new kid in school and Lucy’s secret crush, is the son of the owner. Suddenly, fall doesn’t seem like it’ll be all it’s cracked up to be. Will Lucy find a way to save her mom’s coffee shop?”
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Review:
Writing:
The writing was well executed. It was on cue with common words and phrases of today that made it feel current and cozy. The scenes were described with fall perfection and visual clarity. It made me want to visit the town of Briar Glen myself and join in on the infamous pumpkin spice latte controversy.
World building:
The world in this book is about a town called Briar Glen in New England, inspired by Gilmore Girls. This town holds fall festivals and bake contests all while seasonal colored leaves fall and warm pumpkin (and maple) coffee are being sipped by the citizens of Briar Glen. It’s the perfect cute and casual book to curl up with your favorite blanket and read.
Character development:
The main female protagonist is a teenage girl named Lucy Kane, she goes to school, she works at her mom’s locally owned coffee shop named Cup O Jo, and displays wonderful friendship towards her mom much like Rory and Lorelei. That said, she exhibits some pretty immature moments towards Jack Harper, the main male character that causes the story to feel a bit juvenile.
Plot:
The biggest flaw in this book and the reason it got four stars from me is the plot. The autumnal part in the book was brilliant, the scenes, the descriptions and the characters were there to make a truly wonderful classic small town innocent love story. It’s a romance, right? But truthfully it didn’t appear to be a romance novel of any kind. The plot lacks emphasis and enthusiasm, events play out that don’t seem to follow the storyline or plot at all. In the end, the love story was bland and unfinished. Since Jack Harper had just moved to Briar Glen, it was giving Rory and Dean vibes at first, but then quickly disappeared into an attempt at enemies to lovers which ultimately consumed the story and it never really recovered or picked back up.
Unless the love of this book was about falling for Pumpkin Spice Lattes, in which case it is a glowing success. It’s a cozy, cute book.
Final thoughts:
Despite its flaws, I’d still recommend this book. Especially to readers 16 and under, it’s a fantastic novel for young pre-teen audiences that are looking for a fall aesthetic read. It has a warm cozy feel with no uncensored events. Friendship and learning to enjoy being young and that you don’t have to have everything figured out is really the main goal in this book.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: YA
Status: PG
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