The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore - Book Review

 

I finished this book on a very warm New England day in late September.  Ironically, it was the perfect book to set the tone for the beginning of the fall season. Set in a small town in Massachusetts, this book mirrored many of the qualities of one of my favorite shows, Gilmore Girls, set in a small town in Connecticut – minus the mother/daughter, best friend combination. The quaint setting and interconnectedness of the characters were comforting and familiar. This book felt like a warm hug followed by a piping hot mug of salted caramel tea, and I desperately needed to find out if such a café as the Pumpkin Spice Cafe exists in real life – I do live in New England after all. Stay tuned…

             Centered around a woman named Jeanie, this is a love story of romance but also of identity. Jeanie takes over the Pumpkin Spice Café from her aunt after her retirement. Coming from corporate America in Boston, MA she is determined to find a “New Jeanie”; one that doesn’t suffer from extreme anxiety and prematurely dies at her office desk like her boss had done triggering her to leave. Intertwined in a love story with Logan who was born, raised, and now still lives in the town, Jeanie has her own love story brewing within herself. Should she be the opposite of who she used to be? Or should she incorporate parts of her old self into this new life she is embracing?

             Although somewhat predictable at times, the charm of this book lasted throughout and was exactly what I needed to get into the fall mood! The search for self-identity and the transition of the seasons fit so perfectly together – like cream and sugar in your coffee!