Laurie Gilmore Recommends 5 Fall Books Full of Millennial Nostalgia

When Laurie Gilmore wrote The Pumpkin Spice Café in 2023, the last thing she expected was for it to go viral. It’s a sweet little rom-com about Jeanie, who inherits the Pumpkin Spice Cafe in Dream Harbor from her aunt and then falls in love with Logan, the town’s resident grump. But to her surprise, the book became a social media sensation and now has five published follow up novels—all set in Dream Harbor.

“It’s so crazy because I was not expecting the book to do what it did. The expectations were very low,” Laurie tells Woman’s World. “It was one of my first books with HarperCollins and I was so excited to have a book contract. I put everything that I like about fall and rom-coms into it. I was just making myself giggle as I wrote and not really thinking it was going to be this huge thing.”

Speaking of fall, Laurie has a variety of other books—that she’s written and read—that are perfect for the colder months of the year. To learn what they are, keep scrolling!

Laurie Gilmore opens about her upcoming projects

In 2026, Laurie has two books coming out, Big Bad Wolf and Wicked Wild Mate—and they’re both werewolf romances that are sure to leave readers swooning.

“I love a good retelling. I think there’s just something so fun about taking a well-known story that we all know and turning it into something new. I like to read retellings as well, and I just think Little Red Riding Hood lends itself to an adult romance if you age up Red Riding Hood and make her a full-grown adult. I thought that was a fun one to do,” the author explains. “Also, these books were rewrites. Big Bad Wolf had already been released under my pen name a couple years ago. We decided to re-release it under Laurie, which required quite a bit of revision because I really wanted it to feel like a Laurie Gilmore book. So it was a lot of rewriting. It was similar with book two. That one hadn’t come out yet, but it was written, so I had to rework that one to match the rework of book one.”

Along with the werewolf books, Laurie is also working on returning to the Dream Harbor world, which she is super excited about.

“We’re having Dream Harbor Book Seven coming out next fall,” she teases. “I always joke that there’s nothing practical in Dream Harbor. I think we need a doctor’s office or a dentist. We don’t have a mechanic—if your car breaks down in Dream Harbor, that’s too bad. So I think maybe we need some more practical things, like a grocery store. You can get a cinnamon bun and a book, but how do you actually live your life in Dream Harbor? So, I am going back to that world at least one more time.”

Laurie Gilmore shares her favorite reads for fall

From Scholastic Book Fair favorites to more werewolf novels, here are Laurie’s favorite books for fall.

‘Lovelight Farms’ by B.K. Borison

The first book in B.K. Borison’s bestselling series follows Stella after she enters a contest with Instagram-famous influencer Evelyn St. James in an effort to save her favorite Christmas tree farm. To do that though, she decides to lie and say she owns the farm with her boyfriend—who doesn’t exist. Thankfully, her best friend Luka Peters agrees to fake date her, which causes unexpected sparks to fly. A delightful romance perfect for the coziest time of year!

What Laurie says: “I read that series before I wrote the Dream Harbor series. Each book has a different season and they are gorgeous if you’re feeling seasonal.”

What other readers are saying: “If you’re looking for a comforting read with lovable characters, witty banter, and all the cozy vibes of the holiday season, Lovelight Farms is an excellent choice. It’s a charming start to a series that will leave you eager to spend more time in this delightful small town.”

‘Fan Service’ by Rosie Danan
Berkley

If you love spice, then don’t miss this wickedly fun novel by Rosie Danan. Alex Lawson spends her days talking with her fans on the online fan forum she created for The Arcane Files, a highly popular werewolf detective show. What her fans don’t know is that she actually cannot stand the show’s lead, Devin Ashwood, whom she met years ago. Elsewhere, Devin’s career is spiking. Except for one small problem: He keeps waking up in the middle of the night naked and alone—with fangs and claws. Desperate for answers, he reaches out to the only werewolf expert he knows of: Alex Lawson. This novel is perfect for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, enemies to lovers and steam.

What Laurie says: “When I was writing werewolves, I had to do some werewolf research and Fan Service by Rosie Danan was one of my top books.”

What other readers are saying: “This book was such a fun tribute to fandom and paranormal romance. The premise was unique enough to be refreshing while still leaning into the tropes that make the genre so great.”

‘Mating the Huntress’ by Talia Hibbert

This novella begins after Luke Anthony walks into Chastity Adofo’s coffee shop. He’s charming and super handsome, but Chastity knows there’s something off about him. And she’s right. Luke is a werewolf, and he’s determined to make her fall in love with him. The only problem is, Chastity is determined to kill him. Can they work through their differences and find a happily ever after?

What Laurie says: “It’s a werewolf novella where she spends the whole time trying to kill him, and he just thinks it’s adorable because he’s a werewolf. Anything like that, I think, is good for fall.”

What other readers are saying: “I loved so many things about this novella, and it’s wickedly funny – I actually laughed out loud at a couple parts. You could easily read this in one sitting, but you might purposely drag it out because you don’t want it to end.”

‘The Boxcar Children’ by Gertrude Chandler Warner

First published in 1924, this beloved children’s classic follows orphans Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny, four siblings. Desperate for a home, they travel all around the country and eventually find a boxcar in the woods and decide to call it home. There are 12 novels total in this series, all of which have mystery, intrigue and family drama.

What Laurie says: “I just loved when they had to set up their little house in the boxcar. That’s very appealing to me. I don’t know why. That’s the first series that I can remember being all in on.”

What other readers are saying: “This is a book that I will be reading to my children when I have them. The characters are wonderful and all have their own little personalities. It was so easy to follow them and fall in love with them as people. I know anyone out there could use this little book to perk you up, there is no way you can read this and not have a smile on your face.”

‘Island of the Blue Dolphins’ by Scott O’Dell

This Newbery Medal-winning children’s classic is perfect for people who love survival novels. In the early 1800s on San Nicolas Island, Karana spends her days alone with no one but the dolphins around her to keep her company. Her brother was killed years ago and now she’s all alone hunting for food and fighting for her life. Based on a true story, this courageous tale is filled with lessons that readers of all ages will appreciate.

What Laurie says: “I just remember curling up in a chair and reading that thing cover to cover. I was like, yes, she is surviving on that island. Good for her. I don’t know why, as a child, I was just always fantasizing about living on my own. My parents were very lovely people. I don’t know why I was like, ‘I’m gonna read all these books about kids that have to survive by themselves.’”

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What other readers are saying: “The book was beautiful. It was amazing how a book with one character and mostly only animals to socialize with could hit so hard. The character was very strong to live by herself for so many years. The things she was able to do and accomplish was impressive.”

You can pick up Big Bad Wolf now and preorder Wicked Wild Mate, which releases on October 20, 2026.

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