Do you get the appeal of Pumpkin Spice?
This episode’s pick: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore exploded onto BookTok a few years ago (yes, we know we’re a little behind the times) with its cozy cover and title vibes. It’s a “grumpy-sunshine” romance set in a small town that people are saying is very like Stars Hollow, the fictional town where hit TV series, The Gilmore Girls is set.
In this episode, we cover:
Pretty covers, sprayed edges and other special editions.
The TikTok Bookshop Awards
Believable conflict and sex scenes
Ghost and serial killers (spoiler, there are none)
Cat behaviour
What actually is pumpkin spice?
💋 And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry
⏰ Timestamps
00.00 Amazing intro expertly put there by tech genius
1.51 – We marvel at how Rachael has her finger on the pulse. (Anthea keeps her
hands to herself)
4.09 – A brief rundown of The Pumpkin Spice Café..
5.25 – Laurie Gilmore bio. Too many awards we haven’t heard of (but would
probably like!)
8.26 – Who the hell is Melissa and why did she change her name?
12.02 – We Kiss, Kill, Marry… and cosy cups of tea are spat out, around the world
16.18 – Rach and Anthea search for meaning – and TENSION
23.36 – The humble house cat as a literary device
24.18 – Pumpkin spice – just smashed up pumpkin, or something a little bit fancy?
25.56 – The cover is retro - like Anthea - but cozier, and fonder of cats
28.36 – Rachael spills on her new idea for a rom-com in a rage filled diatribe
30.36 – Grumpy/sunshine trope – adorable in a novel, annoying in a husband
34.08 – Rach goes nuclear
37.02 – Chilli rating – Rach calms down – then gets frisky
41.25 – There’s a mystery in the book, but what is it? (That’s the mystery..)
42.30 – Anthea asks about other books in the series, and Rachael realises she owns
most of them.
44.00 – Substack – Reading Between Deadlines is one of the greatest substacks of
all time according to recent research
45.12 What we are reading next – Serial Killers!!
47.20 – Bad reviews – not as good as good reviews, but not that bad…?
📖 Coming up next:
👉Next Ep we’re chatting to Kayte Nunn about My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite.
In March, we’re diving into The Crash by Frieda McFadden and guest author John Purcell will make us read The Friend by Sigrid Nunez.
For what we’re up to after that, click here.
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