This book had plenty of positive high-rating reviews so I was really surprised I didn’t enjoy it at all. I just felt like a backstory or something was missing the whole time and I was scrambling to keep up. I know the author's series is labeled as this book being #2, but each book is based on different characters, and a different plot, and acts as a standalone.

What I felt was lacking in this book, for instance, is we are rushed into the storyline and characters as if we already know them from the very first page. The scene or characters weren’t being set for us. When the MC Anita and all of her three friends were discussing Anita moving back home in chapter 1 I was like woah slow down…we never even got introduced to who Anita is yet, much less who all of these other three women are. I also didn’t enjoy how un-detailed the book was. It wasn’t until chapters 3-4 that we finally learn as the reader the MC has a pixie haircut. Then chapters later we finally learn she has blonde hair. The book was all over the place and it made it hard as the reader to envision the characters, the town Maple Falls, etc. in your head as you were reading the book because when you think you have an idea of how the characters are supposed to look or act then you get random tidbits like Tanner having gauges in his ears that are white, Anita having a learning disability which was never explained, or Anita being petite.

I wanted to like this book and go on to read the other books in the series cause of how cute and atmospheric the cover of the book seemed for fall and the description of the cute cozy town that reminded me of Gilmore Girls, but this book was a big nope for me and I wouldn’t recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've never read the author before, but every once and a while, you need a cutesy romance.

Tanner, the manager of Sunshine Diner, has big dreams for himself for the future. One of his waitresses, Anita, is someone that he's had feelings for in the past, but is telling himself to keep it professional. As things change hands with Sunshine and Tanner comes to spend more time with Anita, they begin to fall for each other.

Okay, I read through the whole book, even though both of the main characters kind of annoyed me, expecting some tension release. But this book was SO clean. I hated that. Barely any kissing, anything. It was such a tease a few times. I do not do clean romances. And that's what this was.

Very disappointing to build all that tension and do nothing with it.

Thanks for the ARC.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory.

Due to a personal difference in beliefs I will not be finishing or reviewing this book outside of Netgalley.

Where was the coffee war?! Where was the enemies to lovers tension?!

Not gonna lie, I went into this book expecting some book long tension of both our characters competing for business. But instead, we get a typical friends to lovers story with very little tension. In reality, it only lasts like two-three chapters. So if you’re looking for an enemies to lovers romance, this isn’t it.

I also didn’t appreciate them shaming Tanner’s ex-girlfriend for wearing too much makeup and judging her “revealing” outfit. It was just unnecessary too me.

What I did like was despite this being a Christian fiction, it didn’t feel like a Christian book. The only reminder was some “thank the Lords” here and there. Plus this very much reminded me of a Hallmark film, but add in a drunken scene and a hangover.
I loved the small town vibes as well.

I’m not sure if I want to read more books in the series, but I’m not completely dismissing the idea either.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a cute story! I love Maple Falls and the people that live there!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Anita and Tanner, went to school together and now are all grown up. Both have aspirations of owning their own business and making a name for themselves. Will they let completing businesses get in the way of how they feel about each other?
The friendships and small town feel makes Maple Falls the perfect setting for enjoying a latte and this story!

I like this series. I love the faith aspect, and that it's a natural part of the story. I would definitely classify it as inspirational fiction. My criticism of the book (and the first book in the series as well), is that the romance part is very slow. I love a good slow burn, but this is more a delayed burn. Overall, it's a feel-good story.

DNF at 20%

I went into this book expecting a sensible small town romance and instead found a Christian fiction novel that embodies everything that is toxic about the religion. We begin with meeting the two halves of our couple, both of whom are not particularly well developed, and learning about the town of Maple Falls. I did enjoy the descriptions of the town, but I had to give up when we introduced the evil ex-girlfriend into the story. The way that Fuller characterizes her and how the other characters react to her were so unbelievably offensive to me as a woman that I had to stop reading the book. I cannot get behind a book that vilifies a woman for what she wears and her "immodesty". It reeks of patriarchal misogyny and I could not deal with it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Much Ado was a miss for me. I didn’t engage with the characters and the story didn’t move me like I hoped it would.

A waitress and a high school crush - delicious! This is my first time reading a novel by Kathleen Fuller and I will keep her on my radar to read more of her great work!

This novel is a sweet romance about a young couple who fell in love in high school and nothing more came of it. Now working in the same cafe. A sweet, funny light hearted story!

Anita Bedford has hoped for so long that Tanner would see her as more than a friend.
Anita has a dream to open her own cafe, and it seems that dream is about to come true when a spot opens up. The only thing is that it is located next door to the Sunshine Diner which just happens to be owned by Tanner. Competition is a good thing, right? Or, not?
Loved the town of Maple Falls and the characters that returned from previous books in this series. Likeable characters.
Now, for the cons of this story...I didn't enjoy reading about Anita getting drunk, or the things that were implied. Not really a Christian story in my opinion. Going to church doesn't make one a Christian, just as going in a barn doesn't make you a cow.
I was given a complimentary copy by the publisher, Thomas Nelson through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.

This was a slog to get through - I don't remember finishing it, I remember nothing about it other than it being a sappy, preachy Lifetime romance. Nothing about these characters or story stood out.

Anita and Tanner both have dreams of owning and operating their own businesses after working together for years at the Sunshine Diner. Anita has loved Tanner since Middle School, she has always felt pressure from her family to do more with her life than be a waitress. While Tanner grew up poor and has always worked hard to help his family. Will their plans bring them together or pull them further apart?

A enjoyable return to Maple Falls, I loved seeing familiar faces like Irma, Hayden, Riley, and Harper. I liked Anita and Tanner from the start, and finding them both to be very relatable from the start. I loved Tanner's love for his family, and how he wants to help ease his hardworking mom's burdens. Anita is passionate about what she does, but struggles with feeling like she doesn't measure up to her high achieving family she feels like she is constantly trying to prove that she can do things on her own. I liked the relationship between Anita and Tanner, and how it tied back to when they were younger, as well as how they had grown in the present day.

Overall, this was a fun quick read with a lovely setting and enjoyable characters. I loved getting to know more of the townspeople. There is some drinking to excess, but I think that it was handled well and not shown in a positive way. I'll definitely be reading the next book when it comes out!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Unrequited love can be brutal! Anita has it bad for Tanner, and has for a long time, but never pursued a relationship with him. It was awesome to see both Anita and Tanner following their dreams and putting in the hard work to make them happen. Unfortunately, while they are friendly coworkers at the diner, they are not close enough to confide their palms with each other, which creates the conflict when they become unexpected competitors. It was a fun dynamic as Anita fights her attraction to Tanner while Tanner wakes up to the chemistry he finds with her. He can be a bit of an idiot, so he’s lucky that Anita is forgiving ;) A subplot with Tanner’s mother experiencing health problems broke up the momentum when it turned to her point of view. I appreciated that the story was more well rounded with multi-generational perspectives in their cozy community, but I found myself skimming her chapters to get back to Tanner and Anita. The theme of accepting the help of her support group when Anita found herself in over her head was especially touching. I loved the ending and the solution they found for their future together in Maple Falls.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Small town romance that must overcome some obstacles. Very charming!
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Much Ado About A Latte by Kathleen Fuller

A coffee war is brewing in Maple Falls, where Anita and Tanner are serving up plenty of sparks to keep the town buzzing.

This was a light and lovely romance. An enjoyable read. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

Much Ado About a Latte is the second book in Kathleen Fuller’s contemporary romance series, Maple Falls.

This story took me by surprise. I was both excited and hesitant to read it at first. I enjoyed the first book and wanted to see what happened next, but the trope isn’t one that drew me. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about! I was 75% of the way through before I realized where I was in the story, it had me so engaged. Then I had to finish, of course, even if it meant getting an hour less sleep.

I loved everything about this story. The characters and their depth, the struggles, the trials, the ending. The romance was so sweet, too. I highly recommend it!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

I loved the vibes of this book. After a kiss in a wardrobe everything change. But they keep that for them selfes. They are living their life but they croos the paths againand they are so cute in not admiting the attraction. I so miss beeing 25 again. They are fun together and it is clear they are made for eachother. They also pretend to be more than friends and make the story tender too. An easy and funny read

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. My library did purchase this title, and I do have readers who enjoy it, but I did not want the writing in this book.

A Fun Romance

Anita Bedford has had some challenges in life. One of her challenges was that she experienced difficulties during her school days. Another challenge is that she never quite feels like she measures up to her family's expectations which make her feel like she doesn't quite measure up to what they think she should be. And yet another challenge is her "unrequited" love that she has harbored toward Tanner Castillo, her long time friend.

Tanner has his own set of challenges one of which is his concern for his mother. He worries about her and how hard she works. He also has the challenge of dealing with a former love interest. And, he has the challenge of trying to figure out his friend, Anita.

Through it all, these two forge ahead on their friendship that has its ups and downs, but eventually begins to evolve into something more. As this happens, they each take on a new venture that makes for some interesting situations which ultimately impact their relationship.

Much Ado About a Latte is a fun contemporary Christian romance that is sure to be enjoyed by all. While the book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone.

***"I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."**