Friday, 6 October 2023

Pumpkinheads

For tonight's countdown to Halloween reading suggestion, not a horror book, for a change, but an actual romantic graphic novel.
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks. Not my usual genre, especially not round Halloween, but Amazon algorithms suggested it to me and I've read it in August anyway. It's actually quite sweet and unlike many romcoms this one feels genuine. And in any case, it features autumn and Halloween lovers as leads, so that was enough for me to enjoy. It's about Deja, an outdoing, greedy, bisexual teenage girl and Josiah, a rather aloof and introverted teenage boy. They're friends and colleagues, working at a pumpkin patch that is every Halloween/autumn freak's dream. As they're going to college, this will be their last Halloween at the pumpkin patch. Josiah has a crush on "the Fudge Girl" and Deja has decided to take the initiative and help him talk to her. Which is easier said than done on Halloween night, where everything is frantic and anything can happen. And does. Journeys end in lovers meeting, but as predictable as it sounds it remains a satisfying read and a satisfying conclusion. Maybe because the characters are so sweet and genuine, maybe because this graphic novel is in such a perfectly seasonal setting. I was actually surprised that Wolfie asked me to read it to him. AND he enjoyed it as much as I did. So yeah, that's worth a read, if you want something not spooky.

2 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I betcha the Fudge Girl went for Deja and not Josiah!

Guillaume said...

You bet wrong. Although Josiah does ponder about it once.