Athena Carstairs

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? 

There’s Pumpkin About You

I was so excited to read this romcom, it was hitting all my hot buttons: inter racial, small town romance, rivals to lovers and one of the main characters was neurodiverse!  Add in the autumn time period and I was hooked.  Unfortunately I was left feeling a wee bit blah by the time I finished it, sadly.

I know writing a neurodiverse character can be hard, no one fits in a perfect box, however as a proud autism auntie (5 kids with differing forms of ND/Autism) I just felt the portrayal of Gus was a bit...two dimensional. Gus's character really felt that he could have been read over by a sensitivity reader/editor - I know the author said that she was trying to make him ND without labelling him any one particular way but he may have actually come across better if she had just picked one and went with it. 

I just couldn't vibe with his relationship with Wren at all.  She could be demanding, laser focused and controlling and sometimes she was downright horrible!  Gus was often portrayed in quite an aggressive light and even with his brothers he could be quite aloof.  I just needed Wren to be a tad softer - not less forthright or independent, just a little bit more accepting that not everyone is like her!

Nicola Sarah Brooks

I was so excited to read this romcom, it was hitting all my hot buttons: inter racial, small town romance, rivals to lovers and one of the main characters was neurodiverse!  Add in the autumn time period and I was hooked.  Unfortunately I was left feeling a wee bit blah by the time I finished it, sadly.

I know writing a neurodiverse character can be hard, no one fits in a perfect box, however as a proud autism auntie (5 kids with differing forms of ND/Autism) I just felt the portrayal of Gus was a bit...two dimensional. Gus's character really felt that he could have been read over by a sensitivity reader/editor - I know the author said that she was trying to make him ND without labelling him any one particular way but he may have actually come across better if she had just picked one and went with it. 

I just couldn't vibe with his relationship with Wren at all.  She could be demanding, laser focused and controlling and sometimes she was downright horrible!  Gus was often portrayed in quite an aggressive light and even with his brothers he could be quite aloof.  I just needed Wren to be a tad softer - not less forthright or independent, just a little bit more accepting that not everyone is like her!

There’s Pumpkin About You

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