“Pumpkin” by Julie Murphy is a refreshing read brimming with humor, romance and messages about living your life unabashedly as who you are. 

With the novel starring favorite characters from the rest of the “Dumplin’” series while also introducing new interesting characters, what’s not to love? 

Waylon Brewer is overweight and openly gay in a small Texas town. He dreams of escaping to Austin, Texas for college to transform into “Full Waylon,” but when his dreams don’t go as planned and he’s nominated for Prom Queen, he has to learn to live for today and not for the future.

I really enjoyed this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me smile. Through this novel, I was able to see myself in the diverse cast of characters who I rooted for from the very beginning. The plot was entertaining, the world was well built and structured, and the writing was beautiful. I loved the hints of romance throughout without it being the main focus. 

I would absolutely recommend this book for people who want to see themselves in a diverse cast of characters, want to enjoy a well-written novel centered around teenagers, or simply want a satisfying read. I cannot wait to read what Julie Murphy comes out with next.