this is such a lovely, fun, cozy story! I loved the first in this series, and now I feel I can confidently say this is the most cozy, fallmazing, adorable series 🥰

Noah and Hazel are so freaking adorable together, always showing the other how special and amazing they are, even when they don’t see it themselves. I loved the progression of friends to adventure partners to lovers and how they both are able to show the other how worthy they are of the incredible love they give to each other. I loved seeing Hazel see and accept how wonderful she is and loved seeing Noah realize he’s so much more than his perceived mess-ups in the past. they both are worthy of so much love and it was so amazing seeing them realize it.

and the side cast of characters were awesome! they gave this story so much perspective, entertainment, and validation.

just the loveliest, coziest, spiciest story, perfect for fall 🎃🍂❤️

thank you for the arc!

Sigh. This was just so dang cute!

It was nice to be back in Dream Harbor visiting all the Dreamers I loved in The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. I really enjoyed the little mystery aspect of the scavenger hunt books in this one. And it was fun getting to know Hazel and Noah and watching them skirt around the truth as they fell harder and harder for each other. (Seriously guys, one conversation is all it would've taken!) But for real, they were just such a sweet couple and I'm glad we got to see Noah reconcile his feelings about himself- you are good, Noah! You're so sweet and good!

Also glad to see the reappearance of the book club, love them. Also really excited about Jeanie's brother coming for the next book!

This book is a heartwarming tale that perfectly blends the cozy atmosphere of a small-town bookstore with the sweetness of budding romance. Set in a charming, quaint town, the story follows Claire, who inherits a bookstore with a bakery twist. The rich scent of cinnamon buns wafting through the pages is almost tangible, drawing readers into a world where love, friendship, and the joy of reading come together.

Gilmore’s writing is warm and inviting, with a cast of delightful characters who feel like old friends by the end of the book. The plot is engaging without being overly complex, making it a perfect read for a lazy afternoon or a cozy evening by the fire.

While the romance is predictable, it’s also comforting, offering the feeling-good satisfaction often sought in contemporary fiction. The small-town dynamics are well-captured, and the descriptions of the bookstore and bakery make you wish you could step right into the pages.

Overall, this was a delightful read that offers a comforting escape into a world of warmth, love, and cinnamon buns. If you’re a fan of cozy romances with a touch of sweetness, this book is definitely worth your time.

Laurie Gilmore pulls it off again with another small town feel good autumn romance! I absolutely had to read this after reading Pumpkin Spice Cafe, and it did not disappoint. It has everything one is looking for in a small town romance book, from your opposites attract to everybody knows everything. The quirky townsfolk band together to make the loner bookstore managers summer packed full of fun and adventure and the hot fisherman comes along for the ride. This book definitely makes me want to curl up with a hot cup of tea and some bakery and just read it from start to finish. Can't wait to read more Dream Harbor stories!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy of this for my honest review

After reading the Pumpkin Spice Cafe - I couldn't wait for this!

In this story our FMC is the manager of the local bookstore, which right now is called the Cinnamon Bun Book Store. She is two months from turning 30, and scared that she wasted her 20s. She was never the wild child, has been at the same job for 15 years, in the same town, with everything else the same. When she finds a book in the romance section sticking out, she goes to reshelve it but notices that it's dog eared. She looks at it and finds a highlighted quote. She gets caught by our MMC, the local fisherman who offers tours, has the reputation of only causal relationships, and has had a crush on her since he moved to Dream Harbor. He offers to have an adventurous summer with her, following the clues from the books, and giving her a chance to live. They both want to spend the time together, but are under the impression that the other is only looking for casual. Will she feel that she has done enough by the time she is 30? As a transplant, will he find a permanent home here, or need an escape to run from his past?

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is so cute and so perfect for a cozy autumnal(in my best British accent) romance read. This book is just adorable. I was super impressed that there is a Spotify playlist at the beginning of the book too to set the vibe. The banter between the FMC and MMC is perfect. The romance story gives you all the good feels and early love butterflies. The spice level is so well written. Its in 3rd person POV which normally takes me a minute to get into and she uses single apostrophes for dialogue versus quote marks so that was a bit different(I caught on quick, so it wasn't a big deal). A few things I absolutely loved: Age range is late twenties, LGBTQ+ representation, genuine friendship where I could connect with all characters, the plot kept me engaged for the entire book. I ate this book up in less than 2 days. It's a must read for the fall!

This story was absolutely adorable. Hazel is turning thirty and looking to shake up her seemingly stagnate life. It was very relatable. I loved the town of Dream Harbour and all the characters we meet along the way. It was fun to read as an end of summer book. It had the perfect amount of romance. I enjoyed the cozy vibes. Looking forward to the next books in this series

I absolutely adored this book.

I will always love when the 'boy who gets around town' falls for the quiet, bookworm. Being able to see how he pours his heart out for this girl will always get me. The characters (both MMC + FMC) were extremely likeable and relatable, which is a huge reason why I loved this book. It was such a quic, easy, and cute read.

As for the spice, it was a good balance of frequency and graphic. The book wasn't overrun by spice, which I feel a lot of books tend to do nowadays and the graphic of the spice scenes was perfect.

The ending made me smile like a literal fool, I adored it.

I highly recommend this to anyone who needs a quick, fluffy romance to get away from reality.

Did I borderline have a stroke when I got approved for the ARC? YES ABSOLUTELY I DID.

no spoilers … solely because i think everyone needs to go into this semi blind

Hazel and Noah were phenomenal, the love story , the spice , keep up with Logan and Jeanie , getting small bits of details for book 3 and 4(I think) . Perfection executed perfectly.

A lot of authors I’ve notice flop on book two. This is NOT the case.

Everything about this book was amazing.

I struggled at first because I personally relate heavily to hazel and her obstacles.

This makes me so excited for book three … with what I think what’s coming 😉

This is a 4.75 ⭐️ for me.

I absolutely loved this story. What better way to kick off fall season than with a cozy, inspirational, sweet story. The characters were so relatable.

“Hazel had essentially been in her 30s since she was 15”

“Maybe she hadn’t needed to change her life. Maybe she just needed to change how she saw her life”

I was able to sit and read this book in one day!

Definitely worth the read

I really enjoyed this book. The small town aspect was perfect. Definitely pictured Stars Hollow while reading. The plot was well thought out and flowed nicely. The cover is perfection.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Laurie Gilmore for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Cinnamon Bun Book Store coming out September 3, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love cozy bookstore novels. I think I missed the part why they couldn’t fall in love with each other. Besides reasons? I thought there would be a little more about owning and working in the bookstore. I thought that aspect of the book fell off the edge once Hazel and Noah started to get to know each other. There didn’t seem to be much about his job as a fisherman either. I don’t remember any boat scenes. But overall, I really enjoyed the romance. I think it did feel like a spicy Hallmark story. I’m obsessed with Hallmark movies! It also had some cozy vibes, so I enjoyed it. I received another book by this author, so I’m definitely excited to check it out.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance!

Hazel runs a small town bookstore and starts finding random books out of place, with dog eared pages and highlighted passages. The first instance she thought would be a one-off, but when she keeps finding ‘clues’, she takes this as her sign to live a little and go on an adventure before her 30th birthday.

Noah, a local fisherman, has had a crush on Hazel but thought he’d never had a chance with her. When the opportunity arises to accompany Hazel on her pre-30th birthday adventures, he can’t pass it up.

I could relate to Hazel, as someone who likes to play it safe and stick to what I know. But being with Noah helps Hazel realize that life is worth living, and it’s okay to have fun and take chances (and also, make it spicy 🤭🌶️🌶️).

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the ARC of this book.

Who knew that a hidden message in a bookstore could spark both a treasure hunt and a romance?!

That’s exactly what happens to Hazel at the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore. When secret codes start popping up in her bookstore, she’s drawn into a scavenger hunt.

Noah is the charming and adventurous fisherman who’s had a crush on Hazel for months. Together, they do the treasure hunt and try to teach Hazel how to have fun!

This book was the absolute cutest! I flew through it because it was such an easy and enjoyable read.

The "he fell first" trope was done so well, and getting inside Noah's mind made it even sweeter.

Watching Hazel grow in confidence by the end was so satisfying—she really came into her own

If you’re a fan of sweet romance with a little bit of cozy mystery, this book is definitely for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, by Laurie Gilmore, is the perfect end-of-summer, PSL season romance read! A small town bookstore manager finds earmarked passages in romance novels in her store, helping her break her turning-30 blues and make a summer of adventure. Enter Noah and a summertime of fun and casual escape!

What I loved:
🫶🏼 this book can be read as a stand alone or in the spectrum of the series!
🫶🏼 you didn’t have to wait for 80% of the book for things to get 🔥
🫶🏼 the setting and storyline sets the mood! Be sure to read this during the end of summer or early fall!

Would have loved more of:
✨ Cinnamon roll Sunday moments in the bookstore
✨I’m ready for the next— but the characters for the third book could have been woven in a little more to hook me for the next.

All in all, a fun mood setting romance reader with all the ingredients to enjoy on a crisp fall day! I loved reading this book and can’t wait for the next Dream Harbor story at the Christmas Tree Farm!

Thank you to NetGalley and harper360 for the opportunity to read this digital ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinions of this read!

this was PRECIOUS! first, I loved being back in dream harbor with these crazy town folks. it gave me the best gilmore girls vibes & I am grateful for it.

hazel & noah were adorable.

this book follows Hazel coming up on her 30’s, she worried that she hasn’t been living life to the fullest & wants to change things up & experience excitement—enter the mysterious clues via defacing books (GASP, hazel feels this way too), who could be leaving the clues? Noah is a new to town fisherman he’s been around for a while & is usually just an easy going good time kind of guy. however he’s harboring some feelings & his insecurities are continuing to get the best of him.. hazel & noah decide to team up & follow the clues while also helping hazel finally live her life the way she wants to before turning 30. taking them on some fun adventures & helping her get out of her comfort zone. things begin to change for hazel & noah, escalating rather quickly & mutually pining after each other both continuously thinking that neither could possibly love the other more than a “fun time.” boy when they are WRONG.

I loved the coming together of noah & hazel it was so sweet & pure & wholesome. they both just fell into each other so easily & helped each other get over there insecurities while supporting each other so thoroughly. I loved it. the build up & everything was perfect.

my ONLY issues with the book is I felt some of their arguments & disagreements were slightly based on miscommunication & could have been solved rather quickly, but I still really loved the book as a whole it was sweet & fun & noah & hazel were quirky & HOT.

4.5 stars- I read the Pumpkin Spice Café before I started this book & I honestly think this one was a bit better. I loved Noah and Hazel and HANSOF. The whole book clue idea was so cute & I really liked the way it got Hazel to realize she was always fun, she just needed to take some risks. I enjoyed the fact that Hazel always had a book with her wherever she went, This is so relatable and is something I do too. The grand gesture was so cute & worth it. I cannot wait to read the Christmas Tree Farm and to be back in Dream Harbor with all of these amazing characters. Get this book when it comes out 9/3.

𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
4 🌟
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The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is the second book in the Dream Harbor series and can be read as a standalone!
Now, this book gave off cozy, fall, sitting by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate vibes, lol.
I didn't like how often they (Hazel and Noah) brought up, "This is only for two months." And the whole secret messages in the books weren't a mystery to the audience, but to Hazel, they were. We knew who it was; I just wish it had been kept a mystery to us, the audience, as well. But overall, it's a good read, and I finished it in one day. The storyline held my attention. It's a really cute romance read.
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Sept.3
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Harper Books for the eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Sadly didn't love this. I didn't care for the writing. This is my first cozy romance, and I'm not sure they are for me.

I couldn’t resist but to read “The Cinnamon Bun Book Store after reading “ The Pumkin Spice Cafe ” couldn’t wait any longer to see what new adventures this cute small town (Dream Harbor) romance had in store🍂☕️ @lauriegilmore_author did an amazing job I love every bit of it.

Rate: Definitely 5 🌟

Mini Summary

🍂Sexy fisherman
🍂Book Boyfriend
🍂BookClub
🍂Started as a flimsy excuse to see her
🍂Cute Dates
🍂Romance Section
🍂Bookstore
🍂He fell for her first

Quote 💋

“ If you had told him a year ago that he would regularly be tearing through five-hundred-page books, he never would have believed it. But he loved these things. What had started out as a flimsy excuse to see Hazel had turned into something real. “ Too Cute