The quick verdict
I haven’t laughed so hard reading a book in a while. I went into Hallowpeen expecting ridiculous pumpkin smut, and somehow still wasn’t prepared for how committed Holly Wilde was to the theme.
The pumpkin references. The candy references. The sheer creativity of what these men are made of and what they can do with it. I had to stop reading at times because I was laughing that hard, but I still flew through it.
Four stars, four chillies, and a very good time. It was funny, surprisingly hot and exactly the sort of nonsense I was happy to spend my reading time on.
The rundown
It starts with a Halloween gathering, a campfire and a story about a ritual. Spell I-CUP three times under a full moon and summon a Hallowpeen.
Yes. I-CUP. The primary-school joke has apparently grown up and developed some extremely questionable hobbies.
My immediate thought was that it was like Candyman, but a Hallowpeen. I was laughing at the campfire explanation before anyone had even made it to the porch.
Asha tries the ritual and finds herself in Peentown with Jax, Gordy and Hal. Three enormous pumpkin men. Actual carved pumpkin heads with actual candles inside them, on muscular orange bodies that practically reach the ceiling.
Imagine looking up at your Halloween decorations and realising they’re looking back. And flirting.
Then there’s Kaysie and the legend of ManCandy. The rule in Hollow Springs is simple: don’t leave sweets in a bowl when the clock strikes midnight. You can leave them out on a flat surface, but the bowl needs to be empty. Otherwise, you might get a visitor.
This town has very specific opinions about confectionery storage.
ManCandy is exactly what his name suggests. A handsome man made of sweets, with green eyes, blue spun-sugar hair, rainbow hard-sweet abs and red and black liquorice limbs. The trick-or-treat situation has become considerably more involved than handing out fun-size chocolate.
Real talk
What made this work so well for me was how creative it was. Holly Wilde didn’t stop at giving a man a pumpkin head and calling it a day. The theme carries through everything, including anatomy I had never previously considered in relation to vegetables.
Asha calls them “veggiehoods”. That alone gives you a fairly good idea of what sort of reading experience this is.
Even their bottoms are pumpkins, complete with the line down the middle for the cheeks. I genuinely had to put the book down and laugh. The author had considered the rear view. Of course she had.
And just when I thought the pumpkin references couldn’t possibly have anywhere else to go, they found somewhere else to go. Let’s just say the pumpkin spice latte comparisons are very committed. I will leave you to discover the full extent of the harvest yourself.
Asha’s inner commentary made it even funnier. I enjoyed being in her head while she tried to process three giant pumpkins and the situation she’d summoned herself into. Jax, Gordy and Hal had distinct personalities, too. I could tell them apart, but I didn’t end up choosing a favourite. I was enjoying the whole vegetable patch.
They put together a nest with a fireplace, pumpkins, candles, pillows, wine, berries, chocolates and peach rose petals. It mainly felt like preparation for the spice to me, but they certainly weren’t going to lose marks for failing to set the scene.
Then I reached ManCandy, and we went from pumpkin references to candy references. The author still had a whole sweet aisle left to work with.
Taffy shibari. Liquorice restraints. A giant lollipop with a vibrating function. At this point, reading the ingredients was not going to tell me everything I needed to know.
I enjoyed Kaysie just as much as Asha, and her chemistry with ManCandy was funny and hot. The candy references made me laugh just as much as the pumpkin ones, so neither part felt like the one I was waiting to get through. I enjoyed both for different reasons.
And the spice genuinely worked for me. I started out mostly laughing at the premise, then found myself laughing and thinking, okay, this is surprisingly hot as well. There was enough story to support the fun, the pace suited it, and I kept wanting to know what the author would come up with next.
Tropes & vibes
- Halloween monster romance
- Sentient pumpkin and candy men
- Why choose with Jax, Gordy and Hal
- Summoning ritual and supernatural-world shenanigans
- Small-town legends with very real consequences
- Huge size difference
- Candy-themed bondage
- Ridiculous humour and plenty of spice
The tiny details that did the damage
- “Boo” and “Pumpkin” from the pumpkin men. Excellent seasonal branding.
- “Sugar” and “Cupcake” from ManCandy. Equally committed to his ingredients.
- “Eyes up here.” Apparently Asha was taking a little too long to inspect the produce.
- “Eyes on me.” A different instruction, with rather different energy.
- Real candles inside their heads. I cannot stress enough how literally these men are jack-o’-lanterns.
- Asha looking tiny beside three nearly ceiling-height pumpkins.
- ManCandy’s forked tongue, taffy shibari and liquorice restraints. The sweets are doing considerably more than sitting in a bowl.
- The lollipop. It has additional features.
Read this if…
You want a quick, ridiculous, spicy Halloween read that knows exactly how silly it is. If you enjoy monster romance, creative anatomy, terrible puns and the possibility of laughing in the middle of a spicy scene, this is very much that kind of book.
If pumpkin men and an edible love interest are already a step too far for you, this probably won’t change your mind. The book leans right into its premise. That commitment was a huge part of why I enjoyed it.
EmberSas ratings
- Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5
- Humour: Had to stop reading because I was laughing so hard
- Creativity: The pumpkin patch and sweet aisle both got a workout
- Favourite: Enjoyed both parts equally, no favourite pumpkin
- Public-reading consideration: Explaining why you’re laughing could be awkward
- Final vibe: Ridiculous, inventive and surprisingly hot
Group chat verdict
You need to understand that these men have actual pumpkin heads with candles in them. Then Asha starts talking about veggiehoods, and I am meant to carry on reading like that’s a normal sentence.
By the time I got to the man made of sweets and his taffy shibari, I was just waiting to see what else Holly Wilde could possibly come up with. Apparently quite a lot.
I haven’t laughed this much reading a book in ages. I read it really quickly, loved how creative it was, and the spice was funny and surprisingly hot. Four stars, four chillies. If this sounds like your sort of ridiculous Halloween read, I would absolutely recommend it.
Comfort-level note
This is an adult monster romance with explicit sexual content, multiple partners, unusual anatomy, bondage and restraints. Check the author’s complete content warnings before reading and choose what works for your comfort level.
Final vibe
Three pumpkins, one candy man and an author who absolutely refused to waste an ingredient.
Sip, Snack & Smut: Pumpkin Heads and a Sugar Rush
The pumpkin patch and the sweet aisle both got a workout in this book, so my reading-night menu had to keep up. Pair Hallowpeen with these two recipes from my Halloween double feature:
The sip: My Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini brings the pumpkin spice to the party. The recipe includes a mocktail option too.
The snack: My Halloween Lolly-Loaded Blondies keep the sweets firmly on the plate. After ManCandy, I feel that distinction is necessary.
For the full menu and a second book, join my Halloween Double Feature reading night.
A Little Shelf Space for Questionable Pumpkin Standards
Three pumpkin men and a man made of sweets later, my fictional standards have officially left the supermarket. If Hallowpeen is your kind of nonsense too, here are a few things from my EmberSas shop to carry that spicy reading mood into your Kindle case, bookshelf and car.
For standards that are no longer human: My Monster Romance Reader Kindle Insert feels appropriate after this particular trip to the pumpkin patch. Its green, black and purple monster-romance design is a little warning about the fictional company you keep. This is a printable digital download with PDF and PNG files for decorating a clear Kindle case.
For four-chilli shelf energy: My Spicy Heart Sign gives the bookshelf a little nod to the heat behind all those terrible puns. This physical 3D-printed decoration has raised lettering and customisable colours. Much easier to accommodate than three nearly ceiling-height pumpkin men.
For a reading recipe with extra spice: My Recipe for the Perfect Smutty Book Bookmark is a double-sided laminated bookmark with a red-to-pink design. After a book this committed to its ingredients, a cheeky little recipe for your next paperback feels entirely reasonable.
For taking the reading mood on the road: My Smells Like She's Reading Smut Again Car Air Freshener lets your car announce your reading habits so you don’t have to. It’s a reusable car air freshener that can be refreshed with your own perfume or suitable fragrance oil. The pumpkin men can stay on the Kindle.
For bookish priorities in the cup holder: My Smut on Board Car Coasters bring a cheeky reading confession to your car. These reusable neoprene coasters have a non-slip backing and can be rinsed clean. Because four chillies on the Kindle is plenty; the cup holder can keep things tidy.
For fictional standards beyond human: My Here for the Monster Smut Kindle Insert pairs cream and hot-pink lettering with tentacles, claws, horns, wings and gothic roses. A little paranormal reading confession for your clear Kindle case.
For pumpkins beside the next chapter: My Spooky Season Spicy Chapters Kindle Insert pairs reading ghosts, pumpkins, books and candles with orange and pink lettering. Apparently the Kindle case also needs a Halloween outfit.
The Kindle inserts are printable digital downloads with PDF and PNG files. No physical insert, case or device is included. Shelf signs are physical items. Check the individual product pages for sizing, options and care instructions.
The Kindle insert is a digital file to print yourself; no physical insert or device is included. Check the product pages for sizing, options and care instructions.
