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When life feels heavy, sometimes you just need a cozy small town, a perfect pumpkin spice latte, and a YA romance that feels like a warm sweater. In this episode, I’m chatting with author Katie Cicatelli-Kuc about the comfort reads that got her through some of the hardest seasons of her life—and how they might help you, too.

Katie and I talk about her YA novels Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice and Mint to Be, how Pumpkin Spice unexpectedly went viral on TikTok, and what it was like to write through chemo and recovery. We also get into cozy, low-gore spooky reads (perfect if you’re squeamish or easily triggered), plus YA and middle grade recommendations that balance heart, hope, and just the right amount of chills. If you’re craving comfort, holiday vibes, and gentle escape, this is the episode for you.

📚 Books Mentioned

Quarantine by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc — Buy on Amazon | Young Adult Contemporary 

It’s Going Viral by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc — Buy on Amazon | Young Adult Contemporary 

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc — Buy on Amazon | Young Adult Romance, Cozy Fall | Audio ✅

Mint to Be by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc — Buy on Amazon | Young Adult Holiday Romance, Small Town | Audio ✅

Murder Road by Simone St. James — Buy on Amazon | Mystery, Supernatural Thriller | Audio ✅

Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest — Buy on Amazon | Young Adult Romance | Audio ✅

Short Story Collection by Leonora Carrington — Buy on Amazon | Surrealism, Magical Realism | Audio ✅

Tales to Keep You Up at Night by Dan Poblocki — Buy on Amazon | Middle Grade Horror, Spooky Stories | Audio ✅

More Tales to Keep You Up at Night by Dan Poblocki — Buy on Amazon | Middle Grade Horror, Spooky Stories | Audio ✅

⏱️ Timestamps

[00:00 ] Meet YA author Katie Cicatelli-Kuc & her book lineup

[00:01 ] The wild story of Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice going viral

[00:02 ] Writing through chemo and finding escape in cozy YA worlds

[00:04 ] Inside Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice and the town of Briar Glen

[00:05 ] Holiday vibes, boarding school, and first love in Mint to Be

[00:07 ] Why we need comfort reads in weird, heavy times

[00:08 ] Spooky-but-not-gory recs: Simone St. James, Agatha Christie audios

[00:09 ] YA romance, therapy-positive characters, and Zyla & Kai

[00:10 ] Leonora Carrington’s surreal short stories & middle grade spooky picks

[00:11 ] More Dan Poblocki recs and where to find Katie online

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