Anderson in Bloom follows a former child star who has run away from LA and the industry to work at a flower store in Maine. She has a wonder found family in her new town and is doing okay but not thriving when her ex (costar and lover) appears in town. Andy goes through a lot of growth throughout the book as she recons with both what her perception of past events were while having to contend with Nikki's as well. It was a pretty quick read, definitely recommend for cozy romance lovers. It was a bit more straightforward than I prefer (hence my lower rating) but kept me interested.

I’m not sure why this book took me so many days to read. I actually enjoyed this book overall and felt the end was done well. I think maybe I saw too much of myself in one of the characters. I’ve been clean for 6y now but reading about spiraling and partying and working multiple jobs to support yourself because you are spending all your money on bar tabs and cocaine and no one around you gives a fuck that you’re clearly self destructing was 𝓌𝑒𝒾𝓇𝒹. Like I remember those days vividly and how it hurt other people. I think the constant berating to the addict for over half the book was personally hard for me because I always knew she had another side of the story. I’m glad eventually that side comes to light and this was really healthy rep for recovery, treatment, aftercare, and therapy. These things saved my life and allowed me my happy ending as well. Specifically for this rep and healing process (that is never linear) I rated this book higher than I maybe would have had this underlying situation not been added. This sapphic romance was overall cute and I’d probably honestly read this book again - I’d be excited to see how the audio comes out later. Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager as well as NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: ★★★½

Anderson in Bloom is a layered, realistic take on second chance romance that quietly tugged at my heart. Andy’s journey—caught between the pain of the past and the fear of what’s next—felt deeply relatable. Her character arc was thoughtful and well-developed, and I appreciated how authentically her emotional struggle was portrayed.

The banter and chemistry between Andy and Nikki were undeniable. Their connection added so much warmth and depth to the story, making it clear that neither had truly let go. The push and pull between them gave the romance a believable emotional tension that really worked for me.

My main critique is that the healing process felt a little too neat. I would have loved to see more of the messy, nonlinear truth of what it means to heal and grow—especially after heartbreak. Still, this was a comforting read that explores the quiet beauty of love lost and found again.

One of Jennifer Dugan’s strongest novels yet! Anderson in Bloom is a heartfelt Enemies-to-Lovers, Second Chance Romance with rich character growth and emotional depth. As a longtime fan, I was excited to read this ARC, and it truly delivered. The story explores fame, addiction, and the challenges of communication, while showing how love and personal growth go hand in hand. Anderson and Nikki’s dynamic is compelling, and Dugan’s narration makes their journey feel real. A fun, emotional, and satisfying read!

I went into this book really interested in the premise. the author’s formatting & writing worked well for me and despite a lot of conflict that took place in the past, the author doesn’t go the route of time jumps every other chapter—which I applaud. the pacing was harder to follow in the second half of the book, with the revelations happening so much further along in an effort to hype up the mystery. this novel also bridges a heavier topic of addiction and the role a partner is supposed to perform; I appreciate andy’s need to get out of the spotlight. there was so much potential and chemistry between andy & nikki that wasn’t explored in favor of a low stakes romance. this book was so contained between the two women, I would have enjoyed some outside conflict instead of the fmc continuously getting in her own way. the miscommunication trope is already not my favorite—if the characters even talk to each other—this was more of an misassumption trope. this follows the contemporary romance formula beat for beat so it’s perfect for anyone looking to escape into someone else’s love story for a bit.

thank you to netgalley & avon for the arc.

Jennifer Dugan’s latest foray into adult romance is such a hit! I love when absolute disasters get their happily ever after, and Anderson and Nikki are as messy as they come. Their arc from bitter pain and betrayal to a healthier relationship was so relatable. Definitely one of my most anticipated releases of 2026!

While I did like aspects of this story, I don't think this was the read for me. It showed a lot of promise, second chance romance which is one of my favorite tropes, but it just sort of just fell flat for me. The writing was good, and story was as well, just not what I expected going into it. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC.

Thank you, NetGalley and Avon, for the ARC.

Anderson in Bloom completely stole my heart and my sleep. I read the entire thing in less than 24 hours, and I have zero regrets.

Andy, a former child star who disappeared from the spotlight after things spiraled, is now trying to quietly rebuild her life. Enter Nikki, her former co star turned ultra famous actress, who’s writing a tell all memoirone that includes the messy, beautiful, complicated truth of the time she fell in love with Andy.

Their reconnection? A total disaster. And yet, it’s impossible to look away. What unfolds is a raw, emotionally charged journey between two deeply flawed but painfully relatable women who are still figuring things out about love, about themselves, and about what it means to be honest when the past still hurts.

The side characters in this book feel like the kind of friends who’ll help you bury a body and tell you you’re being an idiot when you need to hear it. The emotional beats are spot on: I found myself cheering, yelling, sighing, and grinning like a fool. Jennifer Dugan has a real gift for writing imperfect characters you can’t help but root for.

This is, hands down, the best book I’ve read this summer. If you love second chances, emotional chaos, and queer romances full of heart, Anderson in Bloom is a must-read. 100% recommend just maybe don’t start it at night unless you're okay with being sleep-deprived.

This was a cute little second chance romance. I’m glad Andy went back to therapy cause holy cow she needed to heal and let go. The story was cute, a little predictable but that’s okay. This story did get me interested in Johnny and Regan’s story too though!

I love a second chance romance, and this one seemed promising from the summary. The pacing of the story was well done, and the romance in the book was very sweet. I knew that these characters were well written because of how frustrated I felt with each of them at times because of how they were acting. I wanted to reach into this book and shake them. That's how I knew I was invested in this story, because I wanted them to be better, for themselves and for each other. I wanted Nikki and Andy to really hold on to the second chance they had been given and get their happy ending. I wish there had a few more flashbacks of them falling in love on the show, as it would have really solidified why the two of them were meant for each other.

Overall, I really enjoyed getting to read an ARC of Anderson in Bloom. I'll be recommending it to my friends once it's out!

I loved the character development. It offered many looks at the past and how many events can be misinterpreted. Loved it!

First off the cover is adorable and immediately catches my eye which for me personally is always a big thing. I really enjoyed the pace of the story, it didn’t feel dragged out but it also wasn’t so fast paced you couldn’t enjoy the characters struggles and feelings. It’s such a sweet story of a second chance given to two women who had the odds against them due to what the spotlight does to someone. Im looking forward to when I can have it on my shelf!

Anderson in Bloom is second-chance romance at its rawest and most beautiful. The characters go through the wringer emotionally, but the payoff is real growth. The writing is phenomenal (as always with Jennifer Dugan), so vivid it sometimes felt more like a memoir than fiction.
I loved the side characters, and I'm hoping they get their own book (pretty please!). The flower shop setting (one of my favourite tropes after Forget Me Not) and fire chemistry were the icing on this layered, delicious cake.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

Anderson in Bloom is a cozy second chance romance that explored the dynamics of a relationship whose deeply broken foundation might just have the chance to be fixed, now that time has passed between Andy and Nikki. Dugan readers (and sapphic romance readers) will definitely enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC!

3.5/5⭐️

A good idea, but had a few issues. I had a hard time seeing why the main characters kept coming back to each other. I think it would have helped if we saw some flashbacks to their relationship while on the show. It was a lot of showing instead of telling; and because of that, some of the emotions behind their relationship were lost. We didn’t get to see why they loved each other, and the relationship felt a bit rushed. I did really like how they met at the beginning of the book, I thought that set a good tone. I also appreciated how well Andy and Nikki communicated with each other, miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes and it made the book more engaging to follow.

Bonus points for the cover and a cat named Gouda…both are so cute and good.

This gets an extra star because the MC was a florist and also the cover was adorable. Seriously. Give me more books with flowers and plants and hobbies!! Because this was so cutesy. And the romance was so sweet and it was the perfect summer book. And the title reference at the end??? Im swooning. Me when they're in love and living happily <3

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This captivating and beautiful second chance romance is great for all readers. Not only does this book focus on the romance between Nikki and Andy, but their past with its heartbreaking stories and untold truths. From the second we first meet Andy in her flower shop I was hooked by her personality. When we are introduced to Nikki for the first time, she is a character with multiple layers to unpack. However, the deeper you dive into their story the more truths are revealed and the love blossoms between these two. Please check your trigger warnings before diving into this book, because there is some heavy topics discussed throughout this book that allow the reader to learn more about the characters. The author did a wonderful job touching on the difficulty’s one can face when they are put into child acting or even the limelight at a younger age. I found that the element of them being actors so young really helped readers to understand their actions and emotions towards one another. All in all, this romance is so much more than two lovers finding their way back together and a story that is hard to put down.

This story truly took me by surprise. The depth of character development and emotion made it feel like I was reading the diary of a long lost friend. It felt incredibly real in a way many romance novels tend to avoid. This is a story about making mistakes and learning to grow from them, told in such a beautiful and honest way.

As I read an ARC, I did notice it could benefit from some editing, particularly with grammar and wording. The story is told entirely from one perspective, and while that worked well overall, there were moments when I wished I could see more of the other characters’ true feelings.
All in all, this is one of the best romance books I’ve read in a while.

"Anderson in Bloom" by the lovely @jl_dugan

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶

Young stars in Hollywood with money and raging hormones can lead to a plethora of poor choices. Anderson and Nikki had a whirlwind romance that fizzled out. Anderson moves to a small town to start over. Years go by and the two former lovers meet again. This story deals with love lost, grief, alcohol and drug addiction, miscommunication, and so much more. The author does not hold back on making this an emotional rollercoaster. These girls are beautifully flawed and painfully human. I'd say if you enjoyed The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, then this will be up your alley!

Thank you for allowing me to read this lovely arc. This book releases March of 2026!

I absolutely adored this book. It felt, at different times, like different Taylor Swift songs and that really made it hit home.
I was rooting for both Andy and Nikki, although I did catch on to what, more than likely, went down between them, early on. I have seen some reviews say they shouldn't have gotten back together, but I disagree. I think had Nikki not already worked on herself by the time she came back to Andy it wouldn't have worked, but they both found their voices, had some uncomfortable conversations, and found a balance.
Would have been 5 stars, but honestly there were a ton of typos and even one that said "The Nikki and Darcy" show. Could definitely use some line edits for spelling/grammar/tense, but still fantastic.