This book is a cozy, feel-good romance with a sprinkle of mystery, set in the charming small town of Dream Harbor. Hazel and Noah’s sweet and slightly spicy journey—from decoding secret messages to falling for each other—made for a quick, adorable read. If you’re into small-town vibes, he-falls-first tropes, and books about books, this one’s the perfect pick!

I don't really enjoy the 3rd person pov in this book. Therefore I will be dnfing the book. Thank you for giving me an arc!!

This book was not for me. I stopped reading it at 35%.

Primarily, I didn't like the premises of the story. As a 30 some year old, who hasn't accomplished a whole hell of a lot other than reading, eating pastries and going on an occasional trip, it annoyed me that it got into Hazel's head that she is somehow lacking/boring/not cool for not accomplishing or doing too much. I don't think that's a bad thing AT ALL, and it made me feel uncomfortable when she felt pressured "be different" or "do crazy things". Her friends, especially seemed to pressure her or make fun of her for being more of a homebody quiet girl and considering everyone was adults, that seemed weird to me.

Another thing I didn't like was Noah seeing Hazel as "not like the other girls", like Hazel was good for romantic and emotional purposes, and his other girlfriend was to sleep with. I already don't like a cheating trope. But this is 2024. Slut shaming and treating women like that is never okay. Plus, for Hazel "not being like other girls" he sure didn't waste time getting her to sleep with him.

The plot also seemed to be too fluffy and half-formed, and if I have to hear "someone has THE HOTS FOR someone else"...so immature. Come up with a different way to put that.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this.

Out of respect for the author, I will only be putting my review onto Goodreads and not on any major sites.

Cute litle story. I liked it. It is cute and funny and was spicier than the first book. Definately a fall time read.

I was excited about this ARC because of all the hype that was surrounding the first book. I was disappointed as I was with the first in the series. The characters just feel flat to me and the romance doesn't feel "real". I'm just not loving it, I had such high expectations.

This was so cozy and of course spicy and I heavily enjoyed this book. Now I’m 50/50 with insta love books and it mainly depends on the length of the book but honestly I went in with pure vibes and wanting all the spice and some plot.

I even read the Pumpkin Spice Cafe before diving into this book. I had hoped the insta-love, really hot and heavy, big on romance but lacking in the plot was just the first book. I think it's more the writing style of the author. Some people enjoy that, I do not.

3.5/5 ⭐️
The second book set in Dream Harbor focuses on Hazel, a librarian, who starts to find clues in books leading up to her 30th birthday. She isn't sure who is behind them, but they seem to be getting her to go out and have adventures. She enlists the help of fisherman Noah to have the most fun. However, as the two spend time together, they start to develop feelings.

This was an easy, quick read! I hadn't read the first one, but thankfully, you don't need to to be able to follow this plot. I do think that there were parts that felt repetitive - less in terms of events but more in terms of characters thinking. Just like oh we're still doing this? Overall, a fun read with a cute romance.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this one even more than the Pumpkin Spice Cafe! This is for you if you want a sweet and spicy fall read! Laurie Gilmore knows how to create characters that make you feel warm and tingly inside. I cannot wait to read the Christmas Tree farm next Christmas as well as her future releases.

I went straight to Powels and got a copy of this and the pumpkin spice book as soon as I could. It's cute and sweet and romantic and adventurous and I absolutely fell in love with the universe Laurie Gilmore has created.

I was beyond excited to read this. All I saw was ‘Cinnamon Bun’ and ‘Book Store’ and that was all she wrote. Other than that I had no idea what it was about. For anyone who loves romance and spice this is your book. I gave it a four star because it lacked in some areas but generally it was REALLY good! I would HIGHLY recommend it!

I LOVED THE PUMPKIN SPICE CAFÈ! And this one more! I really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put down. It kept me wanting more. The characters are amazing! And I love the title and the story line. Such an amazing book!

Okay, if you’re looking for a quick, sweet, and low-key romantic mystery, this book is the vibe.

Hazel, the bookseller, finds herself uncovering secret messages hidden in the pages of the books in her store. With the help of the charming Noah, a local fisherman who’s been low-key crushing on her for months, they embark on a cute scavenger hunt around Dream Harbor.

Their chemistry? Fire. Honestly, the romance between them is so cute it gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling – kind of like when you bite into a cinnamon bun fresh out of the oven. Plus, the whole mystery aspect keeps things interesting without being too heavy.

It’s a fast, fun read with all the classic romance vibes: chemistry, tension, and some heartwarming moments. The book’s got a little mystery twist, which is a nice bonus. If you're looking for a book that delivers a dose of romance, adventure, and a dash of intrigue, this one’s definitely worth checking out.
3.5⭐

I love this series! So cute and festive! The author has found a real writing niche. I would pick up any of her books! Warm and cozy reads! Read this series! You will not be disappointed! I am hopeful the author will write a new series after this one is finished. I’m not quite ready to let Noah and Hazel go! Maybe a 2.5 is in the future!

NetGalley Review: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore
Rating: 4/5 Stars

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is a delightful, heartwarming read filled with charm. Set in a cozy bookstore-bakery, the story beautifully explores themes of healing, self-discovery, and community. The vivid descriptions made me wish this enchanting place existed in real life.

The characters were relatable and endearing, with their interactions creating a genuine sense of belonging. While the pacing was slightly uneven at times, the overall charm and warmth of the story made it an enjoyable read.

Perfect for fans of books about bookstores, baked goods, and second chances!

This whole series is a joke. I was told Gilmore girls and got horny inappropriate awkward social skills in a small town full of meddling ignorant people. I do not recommend this series

This book promised me cozy Hallmark romance vibes and absolutely failed to deliver on that front. The only thing that caused me to keep pushing through reading was the fact that I’ve heard that the rest of the series improves. Gosh, this whole book was a big letdown. It felt like there wasn’t a concrete plot or character development for Hazel or Noah. There are a lot of chapters with filler that didn’t benefit the story or move it along, and that caused me to grow quite bored. Also, for a cozy romance, there was a high smut ratio. Which I don’t have a problem with; it just wasn’t the vibe I was searching for from this premise. 

For a good portion of the book, I almost forgot Hazel was a nearly thirty-year-old woman until she mentioned her looming birthday over and over again. She was an extremely juvenile character, and that grated on my nerves quite a bit. 

I’m still very confused as to why this was marketed as an autumn book when the book takes place during the summer and fits the summer aesthetic; it just seems like another false promise in the end. 

I really hope that the next books in the series are better because I feel like I’m really missing out on the hype here.

This is such a fun book! Perfect for the fall and winter season!

I loved meeting Hazel and Noah, and watching their relationship evolve.

I am loving the town that Gilmore writes, and know I want to read everything in this series! I also love that Gilmore adds a little bit of mystery to the story, making it all the more engaging.

If you are looking for a light but fun series, I highly suggest this book, and the other books in the Dream Harbor series.

This book is the second in the series but can be read as a stand alone. You learn about Hazel, the small bookshop manager that is questioning her life as she is about to turn 30. Adventure, fun, and some smut involved in her summer of fun!

I originally saw this book on Tiktok and was excited to read this book based off the hype. Overall it was a fine book. I wish there were more adventurous things that actually happened in the book to help the main FMC get out of her confort zone. it seemed like the only adventuous thing she did was step out of her confort zone. The MMC also didnt show much growth through out the book but magically because HIM by the end.