3.54 AVERAGE

relaxing fast-paced

 The Cinnamon Spice Inn has all the autumn blends I love in a seasonal read: small-town charm, cosy vibes, plenty of autumnal sweets, a town contest, fall décor—you name it, it’s here. The cover is also spot-on and perfectly matches the cosy atmosphere of the book! 

The story follows a small-town character who left for the big city and is temporarily back home. It’s a second-chance romance with some spicy scenes, and the main characters definitely have their share of communication issues. There’s also a bit of mystery, some small-town meddling, and lots of food-centred moments as they work to save the inn—things I always enjoy in a book. 

I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a second-chance romance with the miscommunication trope, autumn vibes, food, and small-town charm. A quick, cosy read perfect for Autumn! 

Thank you to Bookouture for the ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own. 

This is a hallmark movie in book form. It’s a cute story but the lack of communication was maddening. The side characters and the town were wonderful and I look forward to the rest of the series. Narrator did a fabulous job. 

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

readitwithbee's review

5.0

4.5⭐️ | ARC Review

*Bumped to 5*

The Cinnamon Spice Inn was everything I want in a fall romance—comforting, charming, and emotionally satisfying. From the first page, I felt transported to Maple Falls, a town bursting with fall colour, cinnamon spice, and second chances.

Madison’s return to her hometown to save her family’s inn sets the stage for a heartfelt story about rediscovering your roots, rekindling old love, and finding peace where you least expect it. I really connected with her character—stubborn, driven, and fiercely independent, but also carrying a deep emotional weight. Zach, the gruff handyman and ex-boyfriend, was the perfect contrast—steady, loyal, and full of quiet longing. The tension between them felt real and well-earned, with just the right mix of banter and emotional depth.

The setting? Pure autumn magic. Pumpkin festivals, apple butter, skeleton baristas, cinnamon rolls—every scene was infused with cozy seasonal details that made the town feel alive. I could see it all. Even the animals (Pumpkin and Spice the cows, and Coco the dog) added to the warmth and charm.

I’ll admit, the miscommunication trope popped up a little too often, and I did get frustrated with the characters occasionally—but it didn’t take away from how much I loved their journey. The emotional layers, the found family elements, and the romantic tension made this story easy to devour.

This book gave me the small town home I desire and I didn’t want to leave Maple Falls! I can't wait until the next book The Spiced Cocoa Cafe. Harper Graham has created a world I’ll gladly revisit anytime the leaves start to turn.

If you love the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore, you need a copy of this then!

Tropes you’ll love:
emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix

I loved this book so much.  It had the perfect fall cozy feelings I would expect from the title.  The relationship between Zach and Maddie was so relatable. I loved how it brought in grief and discussed it well even though it was just in the background. The food mentioned in the book also made my mouth water on more than one occasion. I cant wait to read more from Harper Graham. 
emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

The Cinnamon Spice Inn
 ALC review:
 Cozy and fluffy fall vibes with some second chance romance that gives Gilmore Girls vibes, but with some spice sprinkled in like cinnamon and allllll the cozy fall imagery. 
 Thank you to Netgalley for the ALC audio, I had a great time listening to this one, set the mood for fall, for sure. Likeable FMC and MMC
funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The town had that cozy, small-town Hallmark vibe that I love. The characters we met were all fun, and the descriptions of the town were such a treat to listen to. This was a cozy, low-stakes story—perfect for a rainy day after work. I

Madison and Zach were great together. The two of them still clearly have feelings for each other, but kept trying to ignore those feelings, but ignored it due to what happened between them. The miscommunication between them had me wanting to shake em and be that friend in the background saying, “Bro… just speak,” because you know they both needed it!

I received this from NetGalley, and Bookouture Audio as an advanced listener's copy, so thank you so much! The narrators, Andi Eloise and Brandon Francis, were wonderful and brought the story to life. I can't wait to see what the next book in this series has to offer!

Reading this book is like stepping into the world of Gilmore girls. It gives you this small town charm vibe and you really fall in love with the scenery. It is described so well that you want to get yourself some hot chocolate/coffee and start carving pumpkins.
It is a second chance romance of two teenage lovers who had to split up because of A LOT of miscommunication, nevertheless you really root for them and desperatly hope that they make it in the end.

Further there are also some really amazing and lovable side characters that I would love to see in sequels. I am talking Liam and Kit for the most part.

It is an absolute recommendation from me, a five star read definitely. Before you start reading get yourself a hot chocolate/coffee and a cookie and dive in.
emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book is perfect! If I could give it 10⭐ I would. Very cozy. The festivals, community and inn were the perfect setting. I will read this one again. 
🍁🎃🍂

 I don’t know if Cinnamon Spice Inn will be a five-star read for everyone, but for me, it was exactly what I needed in this moment. It’s the kind of story that feels heartfelt, uplifting, emotional, and wonderfully sweet all at once. At its core, it’s a tale about family, second chances, and a long-overdue reconnection built around a miscommunication that happened years ago. The characters, while sometimes frustrating in their inability to be honest with themselves or each other, felt achingly real. Their struggles with communication weren’t just obstacles—they were human flaws that made them relatable and, in a way, endearing.

What really struck me was how much this book made me feel. I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately, picking up stories that everyone else seemed to love but left me feeling “meh.” They weren’t landing the emotional punch I was craving. Cinnamon Spice Inn completely flipped that around for me. It touched on every note I had been searching for—sentiment, vulnerability, and that mix of frustration and tenderness that mirrors real relationships. It was the first book this September that reminded me why I love reading so much: because sometimes, a story meets you exactly where you are and gives you what you didn’t even realize you needed.