Anderson in Bloom was EXTREMELY heartfelt. Jennifer Dugan has a way of writing characters who feel so real, and both of their stories were both emotional and relatable in a sense. I loved watching them navigate love, friendship, and figuring out what comes next with a past like theirs, especially in a world that more often than not feels overwhelming. The story carried a sweet balance of humor and vulnerability. I swooned a 100 times.

While I truly enjoyed the book, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a little uneven. Some scenes lingered a bit too long, while others moved quickly when I wanted more depth.

Overall, this was a beautifully written sapphic romance with sincerity at its core. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a book with LOADS of emotional depth from all characters involved. Ugh, I might faint.

Anderson in Bloom releases March 3, 2026. You can go ahead and add it to your TBR on goodreads now!

these characters were MESSY. I wish we would’ve seen more development between andy and nikki. It somehow felt overwhelming long but also rushed? that being said, this book was cute and the ending redeemed itself.
thanks to netgalley for the ARC!

Not gonna lie, I was mainly interested in reading this because I thought the cover was really pretty. But I do love reading about former child stars who seclude themselves away from Hollywood. I just couldn’t get into the romance as much as I wanted to. Them getting back together didn’t feel very earned.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Anderson really found good people their corner. Is it the most healthy or relationship to get back with her probably not. But I liked the character development. It kept ,e engaged!

Anderson in Bloom is a heartfelt second-chance romance that blooms with vulnerability, nostalgia, and a dash of Hollywood drama. After trading the chaos of LA for the quiet life of a New England flower shop, Andy thinks she’s buried her past—until Nikki, her ex and former costar, storms back into her world with a tell-all book and unfinished business. What follows is a tender yet fiery exploration of unresolved love, old wounds, and the fragile hope of rebuilding trust.

The novel beautifully contrasts Andy’s tranquil new life with the messy intensity of her past, highlighting how love can be both a sanctuary and a risk. The chemistry between Andy and Nikki is undeniable, simmering beneath every interaction, but what truly shines is the emotional depth—grappling with betrayal, forgiveness, and the possibility of choosing each other all over again.

For readers who love slow-burn sapphic romance with plenty of emotional stakes, Anderson in Bloom is a moving reminder that sometimes the heart’s wildest dreams can take root in the most unexpected places.

Anderson in Bloom
4.5 star review
This novel was captivating from the start. This story follows a tender, emotional journey that captures the complexities of grief, healing, and personal growth. It reveals the challenges of child acting, addiction and love. This book was a very well written example of how love can be the wrong place/wrong time but if it is meant to be love will find a way. I especially loved how the shifting perspectives showed how easily realities can be misunderstood or twisted, adding depth to both the characters and the plot. Andy and Nikki’s story was tender, raw, and unforgettable, and the way their journey concluded left my heart content and happy. The character development throughout was outstanding—watching them grow felt both real and inspiring.

Anderson in Bloom was such a fun yet heartwarming read. I love a good second chance romance and this really delivered. From the language of flowers to a bit of the interworking of child stardom with a little bit of pining on Nikki's end once they reconnect. Seeing the vulnerability of both FMC's was nice because while it was similar, they also both had their own things to deal with while trying to be with each other again. Can't wait to add it to my shelf when it comes out.

Anderson in Bloom by Jennifer Dugan is a charming, funny, and surprisingly tender second-chance romance that blends Hollywood drama with small-town warmth. Former child star Anderson “Andy” Ducharme has spent the last six years hiding from the chaos of her past, trading red carpets for roses in a quiet New England flower shop. But her peaceful life is thrown into disarray when her ex—and former costar—Nikki Price waltzes back into her world, armed with plans to write a tell-all memoir about their time in the spotlight. What follows is a sharp, witty exploration of old wounds, lingering attraction, and the complicated ways love and resentment can tangle together.

Dugan balances laugh-out-loud banter with moments of genuine vulnerability, making Andy and Nikki’s push-and-pull dynamic both entertaining and deeply relatable. The slow rekindling of their relationship feels earned, fueled by unresolved history and undeniable chemistry, while the small-town setting adds a cozy backdrop to the high-stakes emotional drama.This is a fresh, flirty, and heartfelt rom-com.

It has been quite a while since I've picked up a second-chance romance. What a way to dive back into the genre. "Anderson In Bloom" caught my eye because of the gorgeous cover art. I appreciate a romance novel that doesn't use the usual Canva graphics for the cover. The cover reminded me of "Late Bloomer" by Mazey Eddings. I loved the cover for that novel too.

"Anderson In Bloom" stars reclusive child actor Anderson "Andy" "Annie" Ducharme who is trying her best to live out a normal life as a florist in a small New England beach town. Andy is running from LA where her worst - and only - breakup left her broken. However, her peaceful facade breaks when a late night text to her ex - Oscar Winner Nikki Colletti - is read and answered. The two embark on a rehashing of their past while trying to decide if second-chances are for everyone.

The blurb does a good job selling this book. However, I would hesitate to call "Anderson In Bloom" an enemies-to-lovers. The story was much more focused on a friendship/relationship that fell apart on a grand scale, and whether something new could be built from the debris. Much of the book talked about second-chances and what rebuilding a relationship would look like. There is a lot to say about how well Dugan handles the conversations the characters have about healthy and unhealthy relationships and coping methods.

The love between Andy and Nikki felt real and complicated. I enjoyed the chemistry between the two - which was there from the beginning. My favorite part was the inclusion of Andy's friends. There are many romance novels that focus heavily on the couple and forgo the relationships each character has outside the relationship. Dugan did a great job integrating Andy's friends, Regan and Johnny. Both of whom are supportive and around for the entire book. I loved that! Its details like that which make the characters feel all the more real. Also, Regan and Johnny's relationship made for a nice foil for Andy and Nikki's relationship.

Overally, this was such an awesome read. I highly recommend this book to any romance lovers. Especially if you're looking for something deeper with rich characters. I haven't read any of Dugan's other works, but this convinced me to give some of her other novels a try. 4/5 ⭐️

I dove into this book pretty blindly, but I have been absolutely blown away by Jennifer Dugan’s storytelling. Anderson and Nikki have so much tension and so much history that they work through throughout the story and I found so many parts of myself within each of them. I can relate to Anderson’s trauma-based fear of jumping back into the same spell of all-consuming love, and the downward spiral that Nikki went through and worked through in her life. In the moments where they misunderstood each other, or that Anderson put up walls, I was raging but in the best way. I screamed and cried, laughed out loud and giggled quietly…

Thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book as an ARC, it absolutely exceeded any expectations I could have had and I will be encouraging everyone I know to look out for it once it’s available!

While I have no problem with a spicy book, the spice level in this did take me by surprise! There are many open-door scenes sprinkled throughout, so if you’re not comfortable with that I would take that into consideration before picking it up!

I really loved this second chance sapphic romance. The journey this story took me on had me hating and loving the characters simultaneously and coming back for more. The only reason this didn't get 5 stars from was the parts that I felt it glossed over instead of showing those moments and conversations on page.

I think my favorite part of this book was how relatable the characters really were. The story was unique and funny and emotional at times, but through it all I could see people I know reflected in the characters. Can't wait for this to officially come out!

5 (binge it in one day)⭐!!!

I'll be completely honest and say that I judged a book but it's cover, but can you really blame me? I truly went into it without knowing anything, but I don't think reading the synopsis would have prepared me for the emotional roller coaster I went on while reading this book anyway. This is definitely not a romcom, while it has it's funny and lighthearted moments, it also deals with heavier topics like addiction and its consequences. What Nikki and Andy have is a messy relationship (at least at the beginning). While, I wouldn't say that this is a heavy read, I can see how some people might be turned off by some of the circumstances that led them to break up the first time. There were very valid reasons for them to distrust each other initially and for the emotional back-and-forth they experienced in the story. For me, all that made them feel like real people with very real problems (even if from a celebrity life point of view), and sometimes real people fuck up and hurt each other without meaning too, especially at such a young age. I think Dugan did a wonderful job while writing about them having to go through what happened in the past. It was raw, and I felt their discomfort at times while having to relieve bad parts of their lives. In many second-chance romances, the main couple either broke up for less difficult reasons to work through or they tend to rebuild their relationship without fully having the hard talks on page. Dugan did not shy away from the reality of what it means to having to build trust again after losing it, and the duality of loving someone who hurt you at the same time (unfortunately, I could relate). I'm not saying that all second chance romances should be like this, but it did surprise me, and I liked it more than I would have thought. There were so many things that usually don't work for me but somehow they did this time. The ending really sold it for me, I cared so much about Nikki and Andy at that point I even shed a few tears. Both characters were deeply flawed but also deeply committed to try by the end and, most times, that's the best one can do.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of this book.

The first and last chunk of this book worked for me, I enjoyed it! The middle fell a bit flat, I found myself bored of the same miscommunications repeating and no resolutions coming to terms. Andy as a character was frustrating to read, she kept expecting her perspective to be the only one that was valid in their relationship, despite Nikki trying to explain the contrary. While the issues in their relationship felt real and deep, the resolution did not. Nikki felt like a full, real character with a lot of depth, but Anderson felt more flat to me. It felt hard to root for the characters when the situation surrounding the initial breakup isn't explored in depth.

Overall, I enjoyed my time spent with this book, but the resolution felt unsatisfying and rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

🗓️ Release Date: March 3rd, 2026

✍🏻 Review: I loved the little nods to child actors from that other kids network. When the book started I immediately was team Annie/Andy, but as the story progressed I realized our lead was wonderfully flawed. From the way she had rose colored glasses over her time in Hollywood to the way she only saw the bad in what Nikki was doing, our lead was imperfect. The ending was lacking something for me, but I’m not quite sure what that was. I enjoyed it all the same.

✔️ Exs to Lovers
✔️ Flower Shop AU
✔️ Famous AU
✔️ Second Chance
✔️ Small Town

DNF @ 13%

What drew me in the most was the cover and that it's a sapphic romance set at a flower shop. I just am having a hard time connecting with the main character and if I can't do that, it makes it really hard for me to like a book. I think those that previously liked her books or are interested in this premise might like this and connect better than I did.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for a review.

I enjoyed it. Anderson in Bloom is a fun, fairly light read about two former child stars who dated, were outed too early, and things got too much, too quickly, leading one of them to just leave Hollywood behind and head to Maine. I'm not usually a romcom type of person, but was interested because of the Maine aspect (my home state), and wanting to read a queer story that wasn't just fan fiction. Small cast, but that lets you get to know the characters a bit more. Had a good time reading, was a quick, easy read, and let me go home to Maine for a bit, if only vicariously.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon & Harper Voyager and Jennifer Dugan for this great ARC!

The cover caught my attention the story kept me there. This is a sapphic second chance romance, y'all they are MESSY. At times they can be toxic but it's also hot and sweet. Honestly the whole time I tossed the "should they or shouldn't they" get back together. I'm still not sure but I enjoyed the ride.

Thank you #NetGalley, #HarperVoyager, #Avon, @JenniferDugan for the chance to read and give an honest review of this book.

Solid 4 stars.
I loved it. I didn't think I was going to (I judged the cover, whoops) but I did.

Tropes:
second-chance
celebrity
small town
"FWB"


"Anne Lacey" is hiding; she's been hiding for some years. She ran as far away as she could from her former life. She felt depressed, used up, betrayed, and ultimately heart broken. She built a whole new life, one she actually liked, but she was still all of those things.

One night, she let the booze take control and gave the ex a good ole "F YOU" text. Queue the snowball effect. The past comes knocking on the door, literally.

Nikki "finds" her. Which is no short feat considering Anne has been going by a different name completely. What will come of this famous actress storming back into the life of a "has-been"?

This story is kind of heavy; it touches on child acting (the industry that inevitably chews up and spits out a lot of people), toxic behaviors, therapy, rehab, how to come back from the bottom. Come to think of it, this book could probably use a trigger warning page.

Will these exes mend the tears in the fabric of their lives?

This gave me "Imagine Me & You" meets "Notting Hill" vibes. Both characters are inherently toxic, but both characters grew up in Hollywood. I can't wait for everyone to get their hands on this book

This is a fantastic second-chance romance about two grown-up former teen TV stars navigating their complicated past. Andy is still grappling with the pain of her breakup with Nikki, as well as the lingering feeling that Nikki’s life as a successful actress is moving on without her. Their reunion sparked by Nikki’s plan to write a tell-all memoir forces them both to confront their shared history and the parts of their story they hadn’t fully understood before. The mix of emotional depth and sizzling chemistry makes this a spicy, fun read that perfectly balances heart and heat.