REVIEW: Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc

I have received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book through the publisher. This has not affected my rating or review in any way.

Thank you to Scholastic for sending me an Advance Reader’s Copy of Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice!

Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice is the first seasonal book by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc, known for her young adult COVID-19 contemporary romances. Set in the cozy village of Briar Glen, New England, we follow high-school student Lucy Kane as she gears up for the delightfully autumnal season. Working as a barista at her mom's coffee spot Cup o' Jo, she's faced with a new challenge as competitor Java Junction opens shop right across the street. It doesn't help that the new kid and her crush Jack Harper is the owner's son. But Lucy and Jack must team up to create the perfect pumpkin spice latte so that Cup o' Jo doesn't get shut down by their next-door competitor.

One of the main points from this book is that Lucy hates pumpkin spice lattes and does not hesitate to let the reader and every character know that little fact about herself. It gets a bit grating after a while and is one of the reasons I didn't fully enjoy this book. Otherwise, this is a relatively low stakes and cozy novel fit for reading by a campfire. It's leaning towards surface-level, a bit cheesy, and definitely feels like something I would've loved to read on Wattpad when I was fourteen, but this is a great festive book for younger teen readers.

I've also received a copy of the sequel, Mint to Be, for review so keep your eyes peeled for my thoughts to come! But here, I give Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice 3 out of 5 stars.

Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc will be available on August 5th, 2025.

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