Pumpkinheads by Raibow Rowell
Illustrated by: Faith Erin Hicks
Published by: First Second Books
Pub Date: August 27, 2019
Pages: 209
Format: hardcover | Source: library
Genres: young adult, contemporary, romance, graphic novel
Rating:

Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends.

Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.

But this Halloween is different—Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye.

Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if—instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut—they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years . . .

What if their last shift was an adventure?

So unbelievably cute!!! I loved Deja and Josiah’s personalities and friendship, the chaotic last night at the Pumpkin patch was super fun, and the art was amazing!! I love the style. The faces were so expressive and the setting was perfectly fallish. This was such a fun fall read, capturing everything I love about the season with a cute romance to boot.

Kissing Max Holden by Katy Upperman
Published by: Swoon Reads
Pub Date: August 1, 2017
Pages: 304
Format: hardcover | Source: gifted
Genres: young adult, contemporary, romance
Rating:

Kissing Max Holden was a terrible idea…

After his father has a life-altering stroke, Max Holden isn’t himself. As his long-time friend, Jillian Eldridge only wants to help him, but she doesn’t know how. When Max climbs through her window one night, Jill knows that she shouldn’t let him kiss her. But she can’t resist, and when they’re caught in the act by her dad, Jill swears it’ll never happen again. Because kissing Max Holden is a terrible idea.

With a new baby sibling on the way, her parents fighting all the time, and her dream of culinary school up in the air, Jill starts spending more and more time with Max. And even though her father disapproves and Max still has a girlfriend, not kissing Max is easier said than done. Will Jill follow her heart and allow their friendship to blossom into something more, or will she listen to her head and stop kissing Max Holden once and for all?

I loved this, it was so swoony and adorable and also deep in a way I didn’t expect but always love. I really liked Jilly’s relationship with her stepmom and I always love books with large friend groups. I super loved all the baking that Jilly did too and how her first description of Max is that he’s like a lemon meringue pie ❤ Their relationship is too good- it’s not perfect but it’s real and I like that.

10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston
Published by: Disney-Hyperion
Pub Date: October 1, 2019
Pages: 336
Format: e-arc | Source: NetGalley
Genres: young adult, contemporary, romance
Rating:

Sophie wants one thing for Christmas-a little freedom from her overprotective parents. So when they decide to spend Christmas in South Louisiana with her very pregnant older sister, Sophie is looking forward to some much needed private (read: make-out) time with her long-term boyfriend, Griffin. Except it turns out that Griffin wants a little freedom from their relationship. Cue devastation.

Heartbroken, Sophie flees to her grandparents’ house, where the rest of her boisterous extended family is gathered for the holiday. That’s when her nonna devises a (not so) brilliant plan: Over the next ten days, Sophie will be set up on ten different blind dates by different family members. Like her sweet cousin Sara, who sets her up with a hot guy at an exclusive underground party. Or her crazy aunt Patrice, who signs Sophie up for a lead role in a living nativity. With a boy who barely reaches her shoulder. And a screaming baby.

When Griffin turns up unexpectedly and begs for a second chance, Sophie feels more confused than ever. Because maybe, just maybe, she’s started to have feelings for someone else . . . Someone who is definitely not available.

This is going to be the worst Christmas break ever… or is it?

Such a cute Christmas book! It wasn’t a top level swoony book for me but it was really adorable and funny, and I could definitely see it as a Netflix movie. I also loved Sophia’s giant Italian family- it was a little hard keeping track of everyone at first but it was fun. The Fab Four – including her cousins Charlie and Olivia and her friend Wes- were the best. The storyline with her pregnant sister was a little heavy but *spoiler* it all turns out ok which was relieving. I really enjoyed this!

What are some of your favorite recent contemporary romances? Are any of these titles on your upcoming TBR? Let me know! And Happy October 🙂