The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore is a cozy small-town novel about Jeanie, a city girl who inherits her aunt Dot’s café in the countryside, and Logan, the local grumpy farmer. The story takes place in the charming town of Dream Harbor, filled with fall vibes, coffee, and interesting characters. I really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere of the book and how it felt like the perfect story for autumn. The descriptions of the café, the leaves, and the smell of pumpkin spice made me want to be there. I also liked the contrast between Jeannie’s outgoing personality and Logan’s quiet, reserved one, it made their relationship fun to follow.
“Hello, I’m Jeannie Ellis, Dorothy’s niece. I’m the new owner of The Pumpkin Spice Café. I’ve been having a little issue with nocturnal disturbance…
Nocturnal disturbance? That made her sound even crazier than she had this morning. Jeannie’s knee bounced up and down despite her attempts to stop. She was nervous. She wanted to make a good first impression at this meeting, and she’d gone over her little speech at least a dozen times since she got here. Twenty minutes early, apparently.” (p. 17)
In this quotation, Jeannie is introducing herself as the new owner of The Pumpkin Spice Café and trying to make a good impression at a town meeting. She’s clearly nervous and overthinking how she sounds, which shows how much she cares about fitting in and being accepted in Dream Harbor. I chose this quotation because it captures her personality perfectly, she’s anxious but determined, and it shows how hard she’s trying to start over and prove herself in a new place.