A warm hug of a book. Rosie has moved from London to Amsterdam where she's working at a floating flower shop and living on a house boat. Max is her neighbor and will become her love interest. He's got his own backstory that French teases out. I liked the Amsterdam atmospherics and. wow the flowers. The characters are nicely drawn and you'll enjoy watching them move toward one another. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

The Floating Amsterdam Flower Shop is a lighthearted, easy to read summer romance that delivers exactly what you’d expect from a feel-good holiday read. It’s the kind of book you can breeze through while lying by the pool or relaxing in the su n; predictable, low-stakes, and comforting in that way.

The setting is charming, the tone is warm, and the story unfolds with the kind of gentle ease that makes it perfect for summer reading. While the plot is quite predictable (you’ll see exactly where it’s going), that familiarity is part of the appeal for this kind of book.

That said, a few things pulled the rating down for me. I found Rosie a bit hard to believe as a protagonist. She seemed to fall into every success without much forethought, and while I understand the low stakes nature of the story, it made her feel quite one dimensional at times. Her naivety and impulsiveness came off as immature, though she was still a fun and likeable character overall.

The ending also felt very rushed. I would have loved to see the festival aspect drawn out more; the planning, the teamwork, and more vivid descriptions of the final event. That extra development could have added some much needed depth and payoff.

Still, this is a fun, easy romance with a sweet setting and a laid-back vibe. If you’re looking for something light and cheerful to take on holiday, this book could be just the ticket.

Thanks NetGalley for the early access to this book!

Beautiful, heartwarming, and uplifting, be prepared to be enchanted!

I’m definitely awarding this one flowers rather than stars!
It will have your attention from page one right through until the end, well actually from the cover, because that is gorgeous and you definitely won’t be able to overlook it!!

The description is amazing, you really will be able to visualise everything, from the characters to their accommodation, to all the beautiful places in Amsterdam.

I dare you to read past chapter 3 and not be planning a trip to Amsterdam in your mind, or not to have looked up the floating flower shop. When you do look it up, it will look exactly as described in this book.

Rosie has been going through life in a bit of a haze, not quite sure what she enjoys or where her heart really lays. Then she suddenly makes a decision, to move, not just the building in which she lives, but to another country! Has she finally found just what her hearts been looking for?
When she arrives in Amsterdam she meets her new neighbour, Max, but he’s rather cold towards her, he seems to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, just what is his problem with her??

I really loved all the characters, the way they develop and grow on you. Rosie’s attitude to life is infectious, her positivity and can do mantra inspiring many she meets.
Along the way our main characters may have a few ups and downs but I really appreciated certain situations and misunderstandings not being drawn out. Rosie was able to see past how she may be feeling and understand that Max was dealing with his own emotions and maybe didn’t mean to act the way he did.

The setting for this book is incredible and you will love everyone you meet at the Flower Market, from Emma, her new all round best friend, to Finn, the rather difficult stall owner, who may just thaw as he spends more time with Rosie!

All in all a must read. It will make you smile, laugh and maybe even cause a few tears! I’d love to know what happens with all our new friends next!

I was unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review.. I found the story a bit nonsensical and not well written. Thank you for the opportunity.

3 or 3.5 stars. The story was sweet, set on Amsterdam, and I loved walking the streets with Rosie and seeing her follow her dream.

But as a character, she always said what was on her mind and it felt a bit too unrealistic at times. Especially when she encouraged Emma to do a little stalking of her own love interest.

But otherwise it was a sweet story, a nice little trip to Amsterdam and Rosie’s floating flower shop.

Rose rents a used houseboat to open her own shop at the Amsterdam floating flower market. the man next to her is rather grumpy, can Rose make friends with him?

Rose, weary of her monotonous and unfulfilling jobs in London, yearns for a change. Her mother, who passed away when she was young, nurtured in her a passion for horticulture. Enamored with the Bloemenmarkt (floating flower market) in Amsterdam, she embarks on a journey to open her own stall at the market. Renting a somewhat dilapidated houseboat, she finds herself next to one occupied by an attractive, appealing, yet grumpy artist. Will Rose be able to thrive in the city of canals, and what will transpire with her sullen neighbor?

This heartwarming and uplifting tale, with its enchanting fairy tale quality, offers a refreshing respite in these challenging times. It’s impossible not to root for Rose, whose optimistic outlook and tendency to share her thoughts candidly are endearing. However, my favorite character is Amsterdam, beautifully portrayed by the author.

This marks the beginning of a new “floating shop” series, promising to be a charming and captivating journey.

A gorgeous sweet, simple read surrounding a stunning location described so perfectly. It made me feel I was there and at the gorgeous flower market.

Rosie’s relationship with her family is so beautiful to read and touching. The love and bond they share reminds me of my family and is so lovely to read. Rosie’s and Max’s relationship is lovely too, they both share a piece of themselves with each other previously held back in other relationships they have had. The way Emma took Rosie under her wing and how the community came together made for a heartwarming read.

This book is full of romance, friendship and love romantically and family bonds. I will definitely be looking out for more from this author as everyone needs a cosy comfort read and I feel this is found within her books

sweet, fun, well written story about discovering who you want to be and achieving your dreams. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Grumpy x sunshine, a dog and a great romance. What more could you wish for! I loved Rosie and Maxs story and can’t wait for the rest of this series!

This is a charming and heartwarming story about fresh starts, friendship, and finding your place in the world. When Rosie decides to leave her old life behind and follow her dream of owning a flower shop, she finds herself in the beautiful, quirky city of Amsterdam—living on a rickety old houseboat with a rather grumpy neighbour next door. And so, her new adventure begins.

Rosie is a thoroughly likeable heroine—warm, determined, and easy to root for. From the very beginning, you find yourself willing her to succeed. The friendships she forms, particularly with Emma and Finn, are a highlight of the book. Their connection brings heart and humour, and you can sense there’s more to their stories yet to come.

While romance is part of the plot, it’s not the only focus—and that’s what makes this book special. It’s about growth, taking chances, and building something new after life has thrown you off course.

What a lovely easy book to read, lovely characters and interesting bits learned about Amsterdam. Story of Rosie and her ambitions, her move to Amsterdam to fulfil her dreams of being a florist at the Bloemenmarkt the famous floating flower market and of course a touch of romance. Max her grumpy neighbour on the next houseboat and his friendly four legged friend zoon. Looking forward to the 2nd book in this new series

My thanks as always to NetGalley and publisher Avon Books UK | Avon for the early read

Cozy and easy-to-read for a sweet escape from the summer doldrums.

Rosie Harper seeks a change from her London life and jumpstarts the change by moving to Amsterdam with only an idea and few plans. What could go wrong? Almost everything!

The beautiful canals and quirky characters add to capturing and keeping the reader’s interest.

Annabel French specializes in themed series and The Floating Amsterdam Flower Shop is book one of her new Floating Shop series.

Thank you to Avon Books UK & NetGalley for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

this book blended so much charm and warmth to its plot,pages and characters. i was drawn in to the beauty of the scene setting as well as the characters themselves. it was just such a comforting read.
Rosie is trying to build a life and dream for herself. and she does just that by creating herself a flower shop on the waters of Amsterdam. the descriptions that take us to the waters and the boats had me really feeling like a could hear the sloshing of the water and feel the atmosphere all around me.
on the boats she meets her neighbour Max. hes a grumpy and seemingly broody neighbour. but theres clearly more to him and clearly more to them to come. the unfolding friendship and connection that goes on for the both of them is a wonderful thing to pour over.
there is more to come for our pair. much more especially when livelihoods and dreams might just be threatened. but it never feels too much that it takes you away from the feel of the book. it only adds more depth to the characters and their stories.
i was charmed by the waters of Amsterdam and Rosie brought such courage to the novel. she is a witty, bright and endearing character. her coming together with Max felt right, felt real. felt like it was as important to us readers as it was to them. oh and did i mention the dog. well come on when does the addition of a dog ever not make it all the more perfect.

The Floating Amsterdam Flower Shop is a warm, feel-good story that blends gentle romance with the charm of a fresh start. Annabel French captures the beauty of blooming dreams and second chances with a soft, engaging touch.

Rosie is instantly likeable, a woman brave enough to leave behind the familiar and build something new on the tranquil waters of Amsterdam. Her flower shop is a delightfully whimsical setting, and the descriptions of the market and canals give the book a lovely, transportive quality.

Max, her brooding neighbour, adds just the right amount of emotional depth. Their connection develops gradually, and I appreciated how their individual healing journeys are treated with care. This is not a love story that rushes, but one that unfolds gently, much like the flowers Rosie tends.

There are moments of quiet conflict, particularly when Rosie’s dreams are threatened, but the tone remains hopeful. The message that beautiful things can grow even in uncertain conditions is a lovely one, and it stayed with me.

If you enjoy heartwarming stories about love, resilience and finding beauty in unexpected places, The Floating Amsterdam Flower Shop is a sweet and satisfying escape.

3.5/5.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This was a really cute grumpy x sunshine romance. I think it is a great read when you need something light and summery that is a fast and enjoyable experience. I liked how the characters developed over the story although I had my difficulties to warm up to them in the beginning. I felt the start of the story was a bit bumpy, but especially the latter half won me over and won my heart. A big reason for that were the characters in the end.

Rosie at the beginning was a bit difficult to warm up to, but she developed nicely over the course of the book. I think she is brave to move abroad, on a whim more or less, but also a cute FMC who stands up for her friends and family. She loves the people and the community around her and the flower market and that was just great to read about.
Max was a nice grump and that was contributing to the story. He could have opened up a little earlier, but better late than never I guess. He had his own negative past experiences to deal with and I liked how Rosie and her interacted and Rosie helps him to grow.
And last but not least Emma, who was there for Rosie from day 1 and that was so nice. They meet in one of the very first chapters and become friends more or less right away. I liked her and her supportive and encouraging nature.

In addition, I love the fact that this romance is not set in the UK or the US just like so many others.
All in all I discovered a new author with this book and will possibly read more of Annabel’s work going forward!

I was happy to receive an advance copy of The Floating Amsterdam Flower Shop.This is the first book I have read by Annabel but it won’t be the last. Rosie hates her job but she has been doing a course on floristry which is her passion. She decides to up sticks and rents a boat in Amsterdam and hopes to get a stall at the flower market. When she arrives in Amsterdam her boat isn’t what she expects as it’s been neglected but that doesn’t stop her. She meets her grumpy neighbour,the handsome Max who is an artist and she tries to draw him into conversations. There is a definite attraction but she doesn’t want to push things. She gets her stall at the flower market but things don’t all go to plan in Rosie’s life,it is worth a read to see how things turn out for Rosie and Max,the other characters all add to the story. I couldn’t put the book down and was sad when it ended.

I enjoyed reading this book from page one till the end. It is filled with vivid characters, lovely descriptions, and a very atmospheric storyline. It really raised my spirits.

Another beautiful book set a fabulous country. When Rosie decides to give up her life in London and move to Amsterdam she never expects her life to change so much.
Rosie moves onto a houseboat where she meets Max her new neighbour. Starting her business in the famous floating flower market life is definitely on the up.
Annabelle describes Amsterdam with such enthusiasm that I had to google it. Full of romance, love and new friendships a truly wonderful read.

A fantastic cosy romance easy read book set in beautiful Amsterdam. The characters are wonderful.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.