Much like I imagine the Hummingbird Inn to be, this story was brimming with charm. I loved both FMCs, but they were (in the best way!) almost outshone by the surrounding characters (Jesse, Keyana, my loves).

A really well done second chance romance full of wit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Marketing for this eARC!

Bed and Breakup in a new second-chance romance about two women, who split up 7 years ago, reuniting accidentally at the B&B that they fixed up and ran while together. Neither Molly nor Robin is thrilled about temporarily living with their ex, but each has reasons that keep them in Eureka Springs and at the Hummingbird Inn.

Molly and Robin are really enjoyable and lovable characters. Both main characters also have friends in the town, which gives us plenty of time to get to know each character outside of their tumultuous interactions with each other. Both women are kind and creative, and their friends are also all likeable and diverse. Molly's best friend, Keyana, is a true highlight of the book, and I would love to see a sequel focused on her! Robin's friend and mentee, Jesse (and his partner Caro), is another high point.

As I've said in other reviews, I like the second-chance romance trope when it's done well. When not done well, one (or both) main characters can easily become unlikable, and the romance can leave you rooting against it. Susie Dumond does a great job here, balancing the humor of the women's pettiness towards each other with their continued attraction and lingering feelings. Add in some great character building, some descriptions of delicious-sounding food, and a small town full of delightful side-characters, and you have the recipe for a terrific addition to the genre!

The first half is so fun that I flew through it quickly. I loved their hijinks and couldn't put the book down at times! The second half is a little more introspective as each woman starts thinking about what they really won't to do with their lives once the renovation of the Hummingbird Inn is finished. There are some great moments in this part of the book, but it felt a little slow and even repetitive at times. That said, all that introspection brings great character development and relationship growth, and the end makes it all worthwhile. 

Bed and Breakup is funny, thoughtful, and full of great characters. The romance is fun, and I had a great time reading it.



My Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘 (4.25/5 stars).

Pages: 349 (Kindle Edition)

Tropes/Tags: Queer, Sapphic, Romantic Comedy, Second-Chance Romance, Lovers to Enemies to Lovers, Found Family, Has A Cat

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5. There are multiple spicy scenes, but they are only mildly descriptive.

Content Warnings: Mentions of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC. Molly and Robin married years ago and restored an inn together but 7 years ago Robin left to open her dream restaurant and Molly decided to leave too. After years apart they both end up back at the inn. After a few pranks they agree to work together to fix up the inn to sell it and finally get a divorce. They both work to find themselves and heal from what pushed them apart. They are welcomed back to town by the delightful town filled with many amazing queer people. As the work together are they getting more than closure and is this maybe where they really belong? A cute romance about exes working through their past with many great side characters.

Such an emotional story but did really enjoy the town this story was based in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Such a peaceful beautiful town.
Molly and Robin were married but split up and had lived apart for seven years. They owned the Hummingbird Inn and Molly came back there to stay for a while but realized Robin had moved back in there earlier. I loved the antics that these two played on one another and you could tell they really still loved one another but both had too much baggage. They were going to sell the Inn split the money and get the divorce but then feelings became involved.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

BED AND BREAKUP is the first book I've read by Susie Dumond. I will be adding her to my "author to read pile".

While there were absolutely things that I did not care for (Looking at you, Molly for "the leak" and you Robin for cooking in the lobby and not telling the truth), I understand why this had to happen to move the story along from exes to lovers. This is a second chance romance set in a queer friendly town in Arkansas. It is one of those small towns that a whole book series could be written about (I should check and see if it actually is).

Watching the two main characters navigate their way back to where they are meant to be was an enjoyable read and I think the story was overall very likeable.

This story fills a couple of different tropes:

Miscommunication - check
Sapphic - check
Second Chance - check
Small Town Romance - check (I thought there would be more conflict with the queerness as you have to drive through the county that is proud to have founded the KKK to get there. I would say the town is actually a fully fleshed out character itself.)
HEA - check

One of my favorite quotes "she's not full of demons, you are full of sh!t"

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC.

A second chance romance where the pair are still spouses. Eureka Springs is a surprisingly gay and color friendly town in a deep red state. Years before Molly and Robin had lovingly restored a cute Victorian house and ran a popular Bed and Breakfast. It became a queer destination. But Robin got opportunities as a celebrity chef that took her across the country. Molly turned management of the inn over to a company and focused on her art where she has growing success. Both return to the Inn. Robin’s restaurant attempts have failed. Molly is there to do some commissioned art. A friend offers to buy the end if they restore it to its former beauty.

The pair have not seen each other in years and of course they can’t work together immediately. There are some pranks. Not quite “War of the Roses” level, but still unkind. Trying to get the other to leave. I loved the Ozark setting and the friends. They were entertaining and charming. Sadly, I thought Molly and Robin were bland in comparison. I never got why they were in love and got married in the first place other than being told it happened. And still late in the story they didn’t seem to be on the same page about where they each wanted their lives to go.

I’m glad to have read the book but I enjoyed the author’s previous books more. (3.5 Stars)

Absolutely adored this book! I love Susie Dumond's romances! In addition to incredible love stories between the characters, they always end up being love letters to the places that shaped her. Those stories always give her stories an extra sparkle and this one set in Eureka Springs, Arkansas is no exception.

I’m sure others will love this book, but it’s not for me. Part of the problem is that it’s not accessible. It’s in dual first-person POV using images at the beginning of the chapter to let the reader know whose POV it’s in. Since the images don’t contain alt text, readers using text-to-speech aren’t alerted when the POV changes. It’s hard to keep track of what’s going on.

Beyond that, Molly is bitter and her ex feels sorry for herself, so I don’t particularly like being in either POV. That’s very much a “me” thing, and I’m sure it will change as the book progresses. I prefer a more light-hearted tone with characters who have a sense of humor about their lives and don’t take everything so seriously.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Bed and Breakup by Susie Dumond delivers a delightful rom-com infused with Sapphic charm, sharp wit, and a surprisingly heartfelt emotional core. At the heart of the novel is a clever twist on the breakup trope—two women navigating the awkward, hilarious, and sometimes tender terrain of splitting up… but not quite yet. The result is a uniquely engaging story that feels fresh and full of heart.

Dumond crafts characters who are not only entertaining but deeply relatable. Their chemistry, even in moments of tension, is undeniable, drawing readers into their messy yet magnetic dynamic. The humor is spot-on, balancing laugh-out-loud moments with sincere emotional beats that give the story real depth.

This is a rom-com with both flair and feeling—equal parts spicy and sweet. Dumond’s voice is confident and engaging, making Bed and Breakup a thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish. Fans of queer romance and sharp storytelling will find much to love here, and it’s clear that Susie Dumond is an author to watch.

I was thrilled when I saw this Sapphic romance set in a small town that I'm familiar with. Add in that it was full of queer owned businesses alongside out main characters' run down Bed and Breakfast and I thought I was going to hooked. Sadly, I wasn't a huge fan of the narration or the chemistry between our leads. There's plenty of forced proximity, second chance and enemies to lover vibes for those who are craving a Sapphic Romance this beloved Pride month. Was Bed and Breakup the perfect summer romance for me? No, but it definitely will be for somebody. It's absolutely worth picking up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC

Thank you to the publisher for the advance review listen.

Bed and Breakup had a strong premise: two exes thrown back together in a charming small town after years apart. Set in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the book delivered a cozy atmosphere.

I enjoyed Susie Dumond’s writing but the central romance didn’t quite click for me. The characters’ emotional immaturity often undercut the story’s second-chance premise, and while their dynamic had the potential for sparks, it leaned too much into cruelty and miscommunication too often. For that I felt that the two characters reconnection was more because it was convenient than out of genuine love for each other.

The side characters were enjoyable but felt more like vehicles to push the leads forward than fully realized personalities. Overall, it’s a solidly written book that just didn’t land emotionally the way I hoped.

There is mild spice, but those scenes imo could have been left out, they felt out of place in context of the scenes they were placed with.

This fixer upper second chance sapphic romance follows Molly and Robin as they both randomly appear back at the place that started their relationship, the Hummingbird Inn. In the small town of Eureka Springs Arkansas where Molly and Robin spent their newlywed days, the two decided to open a bed and breakfast that welcomed people from all parts of life, but especially the queer community. Unfortunately their passions, ambitions, and career dreams drove a wrench in their relationship and caused them to hand over the Hummingbird Inn’s upkeep to a modern management firm and never look back.

That is, 7 years later, until a job requires Molly to come back into town, and Robin’s sinking career causes her to seek sanctuary away from the chef world to the only place that she felt like herself. Since the two technically never got officially divorced and both of them are entitled to half of the Hummingbird Inn, neither refuses to leave. Molly’s best friend Keyana convinced her to come back to town to commission a few creative stained glass pieces so that she could not only help out the town, but so that they could reconnect and hangout like the good ol days. Robin on the other hand, is a celebrity chef whose restaurants have failed and she no longer has the tv appearances like she used to. So when they both refuse to budge, it leads to outrageous pranks, late nights at the bar, numerous home projects, and non-stop bickering. But the one thing they can both agree on, is to fix up the Inn to how it used to be and sell it so that they can both take the money and go their separate ways.

Sounds like a solid plan, right? So why does when it comes time to sign the papers, both Molly and Robin start to second guess themselves? Maybe it has something to do with restoring the vintage charm of the inn, or the friendly townsfolk that treat them like they never left, or the undeniable chemistry that resurfaces and leads to new dreams and ideas better suited for the both of them, if they can just put aside old fights and focus on what they have in front of them.

Okay let’s start with Molly. I was super into Molly at first, with her cool, queer artist vibe, her southern charm (and quirky grandma sayings), and of course, her adorable cat Marmalade. But once Robin came into the picture, Molly became a whole new person, and not in a good way. Her behavior was extremely childish, she made rash decisions, and her assumptions about Robin got in the way of her willing to just hear her out. While I think both were to blame for the separation, I think a majority of it fell on Robin since she was the one who put the pressure on Molly to move and uproot her life for her own dream and ended up cheating. The 7 years apart definitely seemed to help them both grow individually and realize what they wanted, but everything leading up to them getting back together just felt childish and forced, which basically erased all the maturity they had supposedly gained. Overall as main characters, they really didn’t have alot of likeable factors, their romance was super underwhelming and underdeveloped, and the worst part of all is that I don’t even believe they have what it takes to stay together after that rushed ending.

The most frustrating part of the story was definitely the romance. It never once felt genuine, the pinning started out as childish revenge that at times just felt mean and toxic, and the intimate scenes seemed to be just thrown in at random points of the story. All there chemistry seemed to only stem from old memories and the fact that they were slowly able to trust or feel comfortable around each other. There were not current swoon worthy moments or moments of deep connection to back up the underwhelming sex they were having. I would have liked more sexual tension and exploration rather than half details with no real emotion. Instead of rebuilding their connection, it was like in a blink of an eye they went from hating each other to kissing each other which did not make their rekindling all that believable or worth rooting for. They need to have way more genuine conversations and admitting of feelings way before it actually happens. And once they were starting to reconnect, their voices and personalities started to blend and sound the same so it became harder to track who was talking and who was feeling what.

I thought the best parts of the story were the setting and the side characters. The little small town of Eureka Springs seems absolutely adorable and most importantly, super queer friendly. The townspeople felt real and I loved how much they cared and supported each other and the town itself. I loved Keyana and her artist personality and how she never shied away from telling Robin and Molly the truth even when they didn't want to hear it, but desperately needed it. She was a great buffer and a true friend. Jesse was also a great character whom I fell in love with. His passion for cooking was contagious, and I think without him, Robin wouldn’t have been able to rediscover her passion. The end cooking party was really fun and I loved how cooking was incorporated during the story.

As for conflict and resolution, I think they both struggled, which was also why it was hard to truly get behind the romance. There was way too much time spent on Molly and Robin bickering that by the time they seemed to actually “resolve” most of their issues, there was no time for them to actually focus on their relationship. I also wish there had been more details surrounding both of their backstories and a better insight into the details of their previous relationship before they settled on separating. And then after going on that slow and painful journey or reconciliation, the book all of the sudden ends. There was no big grand gesture, or proposal, or anything that felt like a genuine payoff in the end. All the conflict just seemed to float away and we are supposed to believe they have what it takes to have a happily ever after? I don’t think so. Overall, I think the story had a lot of potential, but the direction it took and the lack of build up and genuine connection, made everything else feel extremely underwhelming and unsatisfactory.

This was my first Susie Dumond book and it most certainly will not be my last. Bed and Breakup is a queer romcom set in Eureka Springs, a historic town with lots of character in a southern US state. Molly and Robin were once married and running the Hummingbird Inn. It was a hotspot for queer travellers and just what the town needed, but the couple split up (it was messy) and they haven’t spoken since. 7 years have passed, and Molly and Robin find themselves back at the Hummingbird Inn, each for their own reasons. Both refuse to leave when they find out the other is staying there because they’re both entitled to the space, so they’re stuck with one option: work together to fix it up and sell it. But as old memories resurface and sparks fly, could restoring the inn also revive what they once had?

The author wanted to dig into the messiness of building a life with someone and the beauty that blooms from those challenges, and she delivered. Sometimes you wonder how they could have possibly been together in the first place when you read stuff like “Molly would have sooner punched me in the nose than ask my opinion on anything” but their dynamic just works. The pranks, and the “will they won’t they” moments keep you locked in the story, and when the spice hits…. Ouuuuf, I may be a second chance romance girl after all.

My only real gripe? The ending felt a bit too fast and not quite as fulfilling as I’d hoped. After all that build up, it’s one of the few times I found myself wishing for an epilogue.

Some favourite moments:
✨ A cat named Marmalade
✨ The pranks and pettiness
✨ Robin talking to her drill while doing reno’s is me anytime I’ve tried to build something myself. Like “Hi drill, please be nice and let’s be friends.”
✨ All the food mentioned in this story will make you want to get creative in the kitchen

Thank you Random House Publishing Group | Dial Press Trade Paperback
#BedandBreakup #NetGalley

Bed and Breakup is an absolute MUST-READ for all my rom-com lovers 🤩🤩🤩

So if you know me, you know I am one that always has complaints about rom-coms 🫣 too cheesy, too unrealistic, not enough depth or development in the characters... Bed and Beeakup had NONE OF THIS. This book was fun, engaging, emotional, humorous and real!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC! — Grav your copy on June 24th! 🗓

Second chance romances are amazing, and I had a feeling I would like this one. Molly and Robin have been divorced for 7 years, and they end up in the Inn that they used to run together years back. They are walking on eggshells, and they miss each other, and no one is making a move. Molly is trying to make Robin’s life miserable and the games they play are funny. I love the other characters they were so funny. Even though I felt like at times these two lovebirds were DRAGGING everything, and was I the only one who thought that these two did not need to be together??? Lol.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This book had two things that made me request it immediately - women loving women, and it took place in Eureka Springs, AR. As someone who lived in Fayetteville for years and loved visits to Eureka, there was a level of nostalgia that appealed to me, and also...fixing what's broken is definitely my jam.

Our leads, Molly and Robin, have been broken up for 7 years, and it did not end well. It resulted in both of them ultimately abandoning their successful Bed and Breakfast and pursuing other opportunities - Molly as a stained glass artist, and Robin as a chef and cooking celebrity. They're back in Eureka for a variety of reasons, but it all leads to realizing their attraction still exists and that they need to fix up in the inn again to sell it. They think they're getting closure, but really, they're getting an adorable second chance. And not just with each other - leaving the way they did caused some damage in other relationships, and I loved that the book highlighted how easy it is to move on from some hurts when you're open with each other.

It takes a bit to get into because Molly is just kind of being a weenie at first, even if you understand why later, and Robin is extremely mopey and needs a kick in the pants. Once they get working, the story really gets cooking. So stick it out because by the end you'll have a goofy smile on your face and love that they figured out their mistakes and themselves.

Cooking and home renovation shows are my favorite type of TV for relaxing. When I saw this book combined those two interests, I was interested right away.

The small town vibe and second chance romance tropes were strong in this book. I appreciated how both main characters grew and found a way to mend their relationship. They each found a way to thrive with their art and still support each other.

Thanks to @netgalley and @dialpress for the advanced reader copy.

A second chance sapphic romance set in a small town in Arkansas, Robin and Molly bought a B&B together but then split up and left the Hummingbird to a management company as they pursued their separate career paths. Now, though, seven years on they're both back in town and fighting with one another over the inn. The struggle is real but the pranks are silly (I can't imagine real people doing some of this stuff). You know how this is going to go so focus on the characters and the town. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Trope-y but fun.

Second-chance romance between partners that used to run an inn together. I loved the small town the story was set in (which is apparently based on a real place!) and I loved each character’s personal journey of self-growth. I would have enjoyed more romance between the two characters? I felt like they just fell back together and that part was anticlimactic.

Thank you to Dial Press and NetGalley for an ARC.

Thank you to Dial Press for the eARC.

Did Not Finish.

I fully admit, that the second chance trope is not a favorite. When this one starts with two ex-wives both staying at their co-owned property (after 7 years apart), I wasn’t super excited. And when there was nothing but a ton of animosity between them? I just couldn’t. My brain just can’t deal with this kind of angsty trope right now. Sorry, y’all.