I’ve read all of Susie Dumond’s sapphic books. The first two were 3 stars, and this one would’ve been a 3.5 if Goodreads allowed that - but alas.

My biggest issue with this book is a classic issue in wlw books: the two main characters sounded EXACTLY alike. They had different careers and motivations, but overall their personalities and voices were exactly the same. It was very hard for me to differentiate mentally who was who in each moment. And frankly, I didn’t care to put in more mental effort because both characters were kind of insufferable. Neither of them wanted to admit their wrongdoings - especially Robin which is interesting because she literally cheated…? Like why at 35 years old are you having trouble admitting that cheating was malicious and a mistake?? I just felt like this book was a bit underdeveloped in the character department, and the story felt a bit rushed at the end. Sometimes I feel like authors are afraid to hit 300 pages. Content is a good thing if it benefits and furthers development!

Thanks to NetGalley for inviting me to read this ARC!

Oh my gooooodness! This BOOK!!!!!!
So many things to love:
exquisitely developed characters (main and side), delicious food and plant descriptions, gorgeous stained glass and artsyness, *the bickering* !!!!! the pranks and messing with eachother, the tension, the renovations, the dislike for the grey landlord special. And! You’ll be happy to know that Susie Dumond’s classic expertise in writing friendships strikes again.
I loved learning about Eureka Springs and the Ozarks. The town sounds so lovely.
I really enjoyed this - the ultimate second-chance strong-dislike-to-lovers-again romance.

Oh my god this was such a good book😭 I love Molly and Robin so much and I loved seeing them find their way back to each other! They’re both such strong, independent women and their story was so captivating! My favorite thing about second chance romances is finding out why things originally didn’t work out, working through it, and then seeing how they overcome those obstacles to be happy in the end. This book had all of that and more! I was truly devouring this book and I never wanted it to end!

I just don’t knooooow if I want to rate this 4 or 5 stars. Either way I am rounding, but neither feel quite right.

This was a great book. There writing was awesome, and the characters were wonderful. There was background, and depth, and character arcs galore. Characters felt like real people. There were fun parts and sad parts, and astrological parts too. I was invested in the story and could not stop reading! I would recommend this novel for sure (although I would recommend the authors other novel Looking For A Sign first, because that one was just perfect!)

A few bits were just underwhelming though, and they were major bits. I loved everything that I read on the page, but I felt like the romance was missing some things. In a second-chance romance I want to see a big conflict that ruined things the first time, and an equal sized rational for why they get back together. I’m not saying this book didn’t have that…. but I am saying that some key elements were a bit weak. This was a great novel, with an ok romance; so your experience might depend on what you are looking for.

My Rating: “A-“
Converted Rating: 4-Stars

Highlights:
-A cat named Marmalade.
-The plot immediately hooked me and kept me engaged. No slow-startup here.
-A lot happened in this story plot-wise. There were whole stages to the story and layers, and I appreciate that!
-I loved Molly’s old-southern-grandma sayings (although I feel like the author forgot about them in the later parts of the books. Shame)
-Pranks! Creepy soulless dolls!
-Getting absolutely called the f*ck out as a Pieces multiple times apparently. I’m talking unfortunately accurate and personalized attacks on me as a person from a book.

Downsides:
-Minor plot holes throughout, but nothing too bad.
-I thought their issues, and the later resolution of those issues, was all a little underwhelming. The book was good, but the conflicts were weak and that left me a little disappointed.
-The ending was way too fast and abrupt. Just felt rushed and didn’t give me the payoff I wanted.
-Question, because I couldn’t answer this: SPOILERS AHEAD: Was Robin cheating? The first time they were together! Its hinted at and talked around, but it wasn’t ever explicitly confirmed OR denied…..and that is causing me to be unsure about my feelings on this

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.

This is a really cute novel about Molly who sees her ex-girlfriend, Robin when she returns to The Hummingbird Inn and sees that Molly is renovating their favorite place. And even though they broke up, Robin has such fond memories here that she begins helping Molly as she is now on social media featuring food creations and they both think it could bring more interest to the Inn. It has great snarky humor and is a quirky fun read!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Bed and Breakup is a sweet and slightly chaotic second chance romance that reunites exes Molly and Robin as they attempt to fix up and sell their once-beloved Hummingbird Inn, while very much still tangled in their feelings.

Set in the charming and queer-friendly town of Eureka Springs, their renovation project quickly turns into a slow burn full of old wounds, petty pranks, and surprisingly tender moments. It’s got just the right mix of banter, awkward tension, and small-town chaos to keep things fun.

I liked how real the conflict felt—Molly and Robin both carry their own baggage and ambitions, and their flaws made them feel fully human. The queer rep and themes of chosen family were also a big win.

That said, the chemistry felt a little off in places. The shift from bickering to flirting happened fast, and some emotional moments, especially near the end, needed more room to breathe. They were also occasionally a bit frustrating, and I found myself wishing they’d just talk instead of tossing emotional grenades.

Overall, it’s funny, a bit messy, and emotionally grounded in all the right ways. If you’re into second-chance romances with queer leads, found family, and a dose of small-town drama, this one’s worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed the southern queer small town haven, and the lovely side characters.

This is so tough. I wanted to like this book so much. Unfortunately I just couldn’t stand Robin, one of the FMC’s. In the first half of the book I thought that her redemption and personal growth would be a plot point, but it’s just… not really? That’s who she is. She’s incredibly selfish and treats Molly like a child. My distaste for Robin obviously soured me on the whole romance situation. I think Molly deserves so much better. Alas. I hope to try another Susie Dumond book in the future where I can fully root for the romance.

Thank you to netgalley and Dial Press Trade for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Reading Bed and Breakup felt like having a heart-to-heart with a friend who just gets it. Susie Dumond captures the messy, painful, and oddly empowering moments that come after a breakup—the kind where you're lying on your bed, surrounded by takeout containers and old playlists, wondering how to start over.

But this book isn’t just about the heartbreak. It’s about what happens next. The laughter that sneaks in when you least expect it. The people who show up for you. The slow, steady rebuilding of confidence. And yes—the butterflies that come when love tiptoes back in, even when you’re not sure you’re ready.

It’s funny, honest, and comforting in that “you’re not alone” kind of way. The main character feels real—raw and relatable—and by the end, I found myself cheering for her, not just in love, but in life.

Bed and Breakup is the kind of book that reminds you healing isn’t linear, but it is possible—and sometimes, starting over leads to something even better.

I always enjoy Susie Dumond’s stories and writing style.

This story centers two “exes” Molly and Robin who are back in their small Eureka, AR town, in their now defunct inn at the same time after 7 years apart. They vow to renovate the inn, sell it, and then go their separate ways. This path forces them to recon with their personal and marital issues in order to complete their goal.

I felt like this story painted a very accurate picture of hatred that’s often harbored in failed relationships. This was the epitome of a second chance love story done right where the characters suck it up and communicate their problems and fears rather than just gloss over it. I really liked the growth in each of the characters we see over the course of the book.

Thank you to the writer and Dial Press / Random House for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Molly and Robin used to run the now-closed Hummingbird Inn, a charming bed and breakfast they started as newlyweds thirteen years ago. Once a bustling spot in the picturesque town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the inn has turned into a place of conflict as they unexpectedly find themselves needing a temporary place to stay. Over the years, a lot has happened: they restored the old Victorian house; Molly became a talented stained-glass artist; Robin developed her culinary skills and gained some fame as a C-list chef; and, most notably, they went through a bitter separation without ever getting divorced.

The story dives into their unresolved emotions—anger, pain, sorrow, and love—as they navigate their complicated relationship. It follows a classic arc of lovers turning into enemies and then back to lovers, leading to a predictable yet satisfying conclusion. The way Molly and Robin showcase their artistic and culinary talents adds depth to their characters beyond their tumultuous history.

Don’t miss the author’s note at the end of the book, where she shares her inspiration for the story and its setting. Eureka Springs is a real LGBTQ-friendly community that the author knows well.

I was torn on how to review this one. It was alright, but I had JUST read a similar kind of book by Lauren Blakely. And honestly, I think Lauren did it better. I probably would have loved this more, if I hadn't read that other book, first.
Molly was treated pretty poorly by a character called Key. I hated that they treated her like she was a child. She's an adult woman! I also felt like a few things in this book were pretty immature on both of the main characters' parts.
The second-chance romance was lacking, as well. I felt no chemistry between Molly and Robin. It just felt like they hated each other. And in the end when they come together, it still felt like they hated each other. I just wasn't into it.
2.5 stars, rounded down

Robin and Molly were so fun to get to know! I loved the small town reunited lovers vibes of this book. I love how colorful and eclectic their community is, with so many vibrant characters that I'd love to hear more about! (Maybe a future love story for Key?)

I am not normally a big fan of second chance romances, but I found Molly and Robin’s relationship sweet and believable. Both characters are flawed human beings, and their growth and (eventual) vulnerability with each other made me root for their relationship. This is one of the best second-chance romances I’ve read!

Molly is an artist who works with stained glass and Robin is a chef. I’m glad the book explored both of their passions and what their respective crafts mean to them.

What really made the book stand out for me was the focus on queer community in a small town in the U.S. South. The setting really came to life for me, and I loved all the side characters. This book made me want to stay at a bed and breakfast in a small town.

I also adore books that feature cute pet cats, and Marmalade was no exception!

Bed and Breakup by Susie Dumond
- second chance romance
- queer community
- set in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
- adorable cat
- forced proximity

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!

I likes this book but it was a little too slow for me. I wish they would have either shortened it or gave more details and story lines with the supporting characters. I loved the main character story and kept hoping for more supporting details.

Cute second chance sapphic romance. Very enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun second chance romance in lovely setting! I really appreciated how queer this book was, as it seems Eureka Springs was this queer haven nestled in middle of nowhere Arkansas. I appreciated that these two characters both had big aspirations and that we got to hangout with them (both present time, and through reminiscing years ago) as they fixed up the Hummingbird Inn. I liked how Dumond showed a messy and complicated relationship that tiptoed the line between loathing and love. There was a lot of hurt, passion, and care that fizzed between our two MCs. I think perhaps the pacing could have been stronger as the chapters at times felt a bit too short. I also think that an epilogue would have tied the story together a bit more satisfyingly as it felt like quite an abrupt ending. Though, I think that the characters grew a lot in order to earn the ending they got. I would have loved to see them hash out more of the details that led to their initial breakup years ago (SPOILER: specifically Georgina, I feel like we really rushed over that?! SPOILER END) as that would have given the characters and their relationship a bit more depth. In all though, an easy read with a lot of heart!

Mood/season-wise, this would be a great book to read during Pride as it is chalk-full of queer characters, and at one point June is specifically mentioned. They are enduring the southern heat and as a Canadian reading this in winter, it was fun to read something so summery. This book will also make you hungry for fresh veggies so it could be a great paring for the farmers market or afternoon in the garden.

This is my first read by Dumond, and I am interested in checking out her other work!

I was given an eARC for this book. Honestly, the title and cover got me extremely fast. I was like, lesbians… and a remo?! I was so ready.
The overall premise is still pretty catching and interesting but.. maybe I just have very tight boundaries or something because I found the characters to be a bit immature and not easily likeable.

I Can work around some plot holes or the speed at which things happen but having the main characters rub off the wrong way.. makes it harder to get into.

Bed & Breakup is a sapphic second chance romance that follows exes Molly and Robin as they return to their once thriving bed and breakfast, the Hummingbird Inn. What starts as a simple arrangement to stay at the now closed inn quickly turns into a battleground of pranks, unresolved emotions, and lingering chemistry. While the setup is fun, I found some of their antics more mean spirited than playful, which made it hard to root for them as a couple. That said, the book does a great job of showcasing their individual talents, Molly’s stained glass art and Robin’s culinary skills, which added depth to their characters.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the setting. As someone who grew up in the Ozarks not far from Eureka Springs and has spent a lot of time in Eureka Springs at Pride events and for general weekend getaways, I loved seeing this charming town brought to life on the page. It’s a perfect backdrop for a queer romance, and the small town atmosphere added to the story’s charm and knowing the area well really helped my imagination with visualizing these characters in the town.

While I’m not sure Molly and Robin were meant to be together, I still enjoyed the journey. If you love second chance romances and small town settings, this one might be worth picking up.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for sending this eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

When Molly returns to Eureka Springs, Arkansas to create some stained glass windows for her old friends' businesses, the last thing she expects is to see her ex-wife, Robin, in the old B&B that they still co-own. Robin's restaurants did not survive covid lockdown, so she has returned to the Hummingbird Inn to lick her wounds and decide what is next in her celebrity chef career. After each trying to push the other off their shared property and neither budging, they begrudgingly decide to renovate the inn together so they can sell it and end their marriage and partnership in one fell swoop. In the process, they see that the inn is not the only thing they're repairing.

Bed and Breakup is filled with so much heart - Molly and Robin have both been so hurt by the world around them, by circumstances outside their control, by each other, and by themselves, and yet they each find ways to love themselves and the world around them. I loved watching Molly and Robin figure out their second chance and discover what it was they truly wanted. Among all the heart, there was also a lot of humor - I found myself laughing out loud about haunted dolls and a perfectly placed Ali Krieger/Ashlyn Harris reference.

Susie Dumond has written another stunner, thank you NetGalley and Dial Press for the eARC!

This was a cute second chance romance that was also a quick read. I had mixed feelings about the characters and their fighting, especially early on but I was rooting for them by the end of the book.