Obsessed, that’s the only way I can describe my relationship with this book.
If you’ve been keeping an eye on my reading list, you’ll notice I’ve been in a run of autumn themed romances – all pumpkins and cinnamon spice, and all of which are publishing today – and honestly, this one has been my favourite. Wait a minute, didn’t I just say that about the last one? Okay, You Had Me At Pumpkin Patch by Anita Faulkner ties for first place – they’re very different stories, so it’s okay!
Everything has gone wrong in Rosie’s life – she’s lost her job to AI and her boyfriend to, um, AI (read it to find out!). While fleeing, her car breaks down and she stumbles across a farm hoping to call for help, but through a case of mistaken identity, she finds herself with a new job planning pumpkin retreats with on site accommodation in a cabin on the edge of a wild swimming pond; the only other inhabitant of the site is grumpy and mysterious pumpkin farmer Zain, who is strangely protective of his pumpkins.
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Rather than small town America, this autumnal romance was set in the countryside of the Cotswolds, which made for a nice change – though I do admit that I’m a little bit in love with those anyway! It definitely gave Laurie Gilmore vibes but in the UK.
The grumpy sunshine romance was done very well, and there was a gorgeous found family element to it too which had a group of female wild swimmers across generations coming together to help save the pumpkin farm. I saw another reviewer compare Rosie to Bridget Jones, and that was exactly what it felt like to me too – it was very lovely and funny too!
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The AI elements to the story were very of the times but felt quite well done. I was writing an article about Google’s new AI mode while reading the book, and my job is at times immersed in playing with AI and fighting the battle against AI, so it felt very on the nose. I worried it might stray into being a crusade against AI, but fortunately didn’t go quite that far.
Overall, it was a brilliant autumnal read, perfect for cosy fall days. I’d definitely recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for a review copy of this book.
PS: This is just one of four gorgeous autumnal cosy romances that I read as ARCs that are launching today! Check out the reviews of them all below:
Mystery Romance Book Review: A Cinnamon Falls Mystery by R. L. Killmore
Cosy Romance Book Review: There’s Pumpkin About You by Athena Carstairs
Fall Romance Book Review: The Cinnamon Spice Inn by Harper Graham
