I went into this not quite knowing that it was going to be as angsty as it turned out to be, and I was pleasantly surprised because I actually do love to read a bit of toxicity every now and then--especially the type that reads like "I wish I knew how to quit you".

Anderson in Bloom centers Anderson "Andy"/"Anne" Ducharme who has decided to leave her child stardom behind to pursue a career in a flower shop in a quaint town full of memories. When she left all that behind she also ghosted her (in)famous ex, and former costar, Nicole "Nikki" Price. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there are two sides to every story and that maybe relationships can be worth a second try.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
ps what a stunning cover

The Book
Imagine you’ve escaped your old life of stardom and moved to a quaint coastal beach town in Maine, where you're working your dream job as a florist. Your life is simple, though you might think about your ex a little too much. You have friends, a routine, and stability.

Then, suddenly, the very person who pushed you to escape your old life shows up and flips your world on its axis. The old feelings you convinced yourself you'd forgotten never really went away.

Anderson “Andy” Ducharme
Andy frustrated me a lot. It was hard to get past the fact that she was the reason their situationship became so toxic the second time around. While she was stuck on being petty and constantly bringing up the past, she also avoided communication and used sex as a distraction. That’s exactly what she kept claiming was the problem in their first go-around, according to her own inner monologue.

I was glad she eventually owned up to her actions, but I was disappointed we didn’t get to see her putting in the effort to change. It was mostly mentioned in passing or saved for the epilogue.

Nicolette “Nikki” Colletti
I absolutely loved Nikki. She's mature, patient, and emotionally intelligent. Not only did she fight for Andy after being repeatedly pushed away, but she also worked on herself consistently after their breakup. She got sober, went to therapy, and returned with healthy communication skills and clear boundaries. She was the main reason I enjoyed this book so much, which says a lot considering we never even got her POV.

Overall
I thought this book was cute, and their relationship felt realistic. I do wish we had at least one chapter from Nikki’s perspective and a bit more description of the characters’ appearances. It was hard to envision them (thankfully, the cover helped a bit).

While the miscommunication and Andy’s constant push-and-pull with Nikki irritated me, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. It was a worthwhile read, and the way their relationship evolved after both characters worked on their issues was encouraging.

Tropes
second-chance, miscommunication, grumpy x sunshine, mental health/addiction rep, friends-with-benefits

It took me a while to get into this book, and if I’m being completely honest, I don’t think I ever did get into it.

I think the romance was done well, but I just did not feel a connection to the characters.

While the concept of this story feels familiar, like it has been done before, the author does well to keep the idea fresh.

This was a warm and emotionally rich love story that explores heartbreak, healing, and second chances, with the added charm of meaningful floral symbolism sprinkled along the way.

I really fell in love with both of the main characters, Anderson and Nikki. While I was rooting for them throughout, I do wish the story had been told in a dual-POV format to allow us to know Nikki more intimately, beyond Anderson’s often clouded perspective. With that said, the “misunderstanding” trope, which I usually struggle with, was executed in such a thoughtfully layered way that it genuinely worked for me. It felt like a true a-ha moment, rather than a frustrating plot device.

Overall it was an engaging and heartfelt love story with the perfect amount of banter, chemistry, and forgiveness.

Yes, yes yes. This book was phenomenal; there is depth and layering that is done sooooo well. The characters are incredibly charming and full of big emotions as well as some amazingly done character growth. The setting was done so well too, with the flower shop adding a massive amount of atmosphere.

This was a good sapphic romance! I enjoyed the chemistry between the two mains, since it felt genuine, but the parallel with the other side characters was not very well fleshed out. Oh well! Nikki was my favorite.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Not going to lie, it was hard to like Nikki. The author definitely did a good job at setting up the whole “hatred towards your ex” thing. Throughout the book, I questioned whether they should even get back together due to how much they had hurt each other.


In the end, k think the author does a good job at explaining things and breaking down what went on throughout their relationship. I can’t help but wonder if there was more than one POV if I would’ve liked Nikki more at the beginning. I also think we needed more of what happened to Nikki at those parties— I’m not talking trauma dumping on us, but I think a little more explanation would’ve been better towards the end of the book.

It was well written but I’m not sure how realistic it was. Andy went to the town she and Nikki would escape to. You’re telling me Nikki never thought to look for her there?

“Anderson in Bloom” is Jennifer Dugan’s enchanting new romantic comedy that skillfully combines the engaging tropes of enemies-to-lovers and second chances. The story follows Anne, a once-celebrated child actor who retreats to the serene landscapes of Maine to escape the chaos of her past. After a tumultuous breakup with her co-star, a betrayal by her manipulative agent, and relentless attention from the paparazzi, Anne—also known as Andy—finds solace in her new role as a florist. Embracing her anonymity, she treasures the quiet, cozy life she has created for herself.

However, her tranquil existence is disrupted when her ex, Nikki, reenters her life with a desire to make amends and to write a book about their shared history. What follows is an emotional coming-of-age tale filled with chemistry and unresolved feelings. True to her previous work, the story blends a range of emotions, romantic tension, and character growth, making it a pleasing read. Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 Stars

I’ll be honest, I requested this ARC primarily because the cover is SO PRETTY, but also because it sounded interesting… and it delivered!! I don’t usually read or like second chance romances, but I really enjoyed this book.

For the most part, it was pretty light and didn’t deal with a lot of heavy topics. It did focus a lot on growth and learning to be independent as well as growing up in Hollywood. However, since it’s fictional, it didn’t get too in detail with all the Hollywood stuff which, in my opinion, didn’t make it as heavy of a topic.

I really loved Anderson’s narration. She was funny and her voice was easy and enjoyable to read. I loved Nikki a lot, too. Both of them annoyed me a few times but I still liked them both and was rooting for them. There were a few times in the middle of the book where I thought maybe it would be best if they didn’t get back together, but by the end I was fully rooting for them haha.

Overall, it’s very well written and I enjoyed all of the characters and their growth throughout the book (including the side characters).

🌷Tropes & CW:
Second chance romance
Enemies to lovers
Sapphic
Discussions about past alcohol/drug abuse

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

Anderson in Bloom follows Andy and Nikki, two former child stars and former best-friends-turned-lovers five years after Andy disappeared out of spotlight and out of Nikki’s life.

This book surprised me in the best possible way. The chemistry between Andy and Nikki flew off the page even before they had their first real interaction. The banter was incredible and even though at first Andy and Nikki together was incredibly toxic, the chemistry was amazing and the history between them was so vibrant that I couldn't look away. I also really loved Andy’s friends and the dynamic between the three of them.

I think the only additional thing I would've wanted from the book was a chapter from Nikki because as much as I loved her character it wasn't easy to get a complete sense of her just through Andy's eyes because of how hurt Andy still was for the majority of the book. I'm also not sure I completely bought Andy forgiving Nikki through the pages of her book (and saying the direct issues she mentioned before didn't quite matter) but liked how Andy's forgiveness was centered around her moving on from the past and not letting it continue to define her.

Overall, this was such an enjoyable story that I had trouble putting down and have no idea how I’m going to wait until March 2026 to read this again.

Thank you again to Avon and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.

This is a really charming, fun, very layered and unexpectedly sexy read. I really appreciated the nuance in Andy/Anne & Nikki’s relationship, and I thought they both did a lot of growing both together and apart. I think my only issue was that I felt like once they finally figured things out, everything was perfect and dandy and rainbows and sunshine - which usually works in a campy romance but in this case it felt unrealistic given how much history these 2 characters had and how much they still needed to work on. They spoke so much about progress and healing not being linear... but then they had linear progress and healing lol. But I still really enjoyed it and I appreciated what a good communicator Nikki was!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

The book cover, the book writing, the book plot, all of it was so good and I had so much fun with the whole thing

Anderson in Bloom by Jennifer Dugan is a charming read with a lot of heart. I especially loved the floral shop setting, which added a fresh, vibrant atmosphere to the story and served as the perfect backdrop for the emotional moments that unfolded.

That said, the second chance romance, while sweet, felt a bit rushed. I was hoping for more time to see the relationship develop naturally, especially given the emotional weight behind their history. It left me wanting a deeper exploration of their reconnection and the complexities that come with it.

Still, I really enjoyed the overall vibe of the book. It’s cozy, heartfelt, and the kind of story that’s easy to get wrapped up in. Even though I wanted more from the romance, I’m glad I read it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories with a lot of charm.

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

Anderson in Bloom is a second-chance romance that delivers its emotional punches with surprising depth and endearing humor. It’s a story about messy people trying their best—fumbling through old wounds, awkward reunions, and the chaos of healing—with a tone that balances levity and sincerity in a way only Jennifer Dugan can pull off.

Andy is guarded, sharp-edged, and carrying a quiet ache she hasn’t quite figured out how to name. Her voice is clear and raw—she’s someone who pretends to have it together while fraying at the seams, and the book lets her be that without judgment. Watching her slowly crack open was one of the most rewarding parts of the story.

Nikki, what could’ve been the stereotypical ex becomes a luminous, multi-layered character in her own right. She’s warm, persistent, and knows when to push and when to let go. Her presence re-centers Andy’s world in ways that feel earned and intentional. Their chemistry never feels forced, but rather like something old and unfinished finding its shape again.

The side characters are just as charming—especially Regan and Johnny, who bring balance and loyalty into the narrative without feeling like background dressing. And Gouda, the cat (and undeniable scene-stealer), is the kind of small joy that makes a story like this even better.

This book thrives in the emotional realism of its characters—their regrets, their softness, their choices—and that’s what makes it hit home. The pacing is brisk, but not rushed, and they didn’t take away from the experience.

For readers who like:
-Sapphic love stories
-Second chance romance
-Exes with unresolved tension

Final Verdict
Anderson in Bloom is the kind of book that earns your attention. A quietly heartfelt, delightfully messy story about growing up, letting go, and reaching out for what you still want.

Grateful to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Jennifer Dugan for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

his book was everything I’ve ever needed and more! I could not put it down. First, let’s start with Nikki. Despite our instant trouble with her, I was a sucker for her character. Her charisma, persistence, and understanding was beautiful to see. Being able to see Andy’s growth throughout the book was so real and so needed.

The author did so well to write so well balanced where we understand both characters have flaws and have made some really bad decisions, but are still so freaking lovable too. Gouda was 10/10. Enough said lol. I loved seeing the developments of Regan and Johnny throughout the story. They were such good side characters and their loyalty was unbeatable.

The only con that I’ve found was some minor spelling or grammar errors, but I did get an early ARC, so hopefully those are fixed prior to publishing.

Otherwise, this book was so good and the best second-chance romance that I’ve read in a long time. I would definitely recommend giving this book a shot and I guarantee all of the characters will take a piece of your heart as you do!

•I received a free ARC from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily•

After walking away from life as a teen TV star, Andy Ducharme is just trying to keep her head down and run her flower shop in peace. But when her ex-girlfriend Nikki shows up—with a book deal and a memoir full of unresolved history—Andy’s carefully rebuilt life starts to tilt.

What I really appreciated about Anderson in Bloom is how much heart it carries without ever feeling saccharine. Dugan’s writing is sharp and funny, but also patient with its characters. Andy’s voice feels natural—guarded, a little chaotic, but deeply vulnerable underneath it all.

And Nikki. I didn’t expect to care about her as much as I did. She’s written with enough depth that I kept wishing we had her side too. Not because the book felt incomplete, but because she felt real. Complex, flawed, and clearly shaped by the same history Andy is trying to outrun.

This is a story that does familiar things, but does them well. The emotional beats land. The romance feels earned. And while it didn’t completely knock me over, it stayed with me longer than I thought it would. The pacing moves fast, and I wouldn’t have minded a little more space to sit in a few moments, but I still felt connected throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC.

2.5 ⭐️

this was sadly a let down. for a second chance, this was all very shallow in that, while the reasons keeping them apart were heavy and the present angst was valid, i feel like we never truly explored it until the last few chapters and it made for such an unsatisfying reunion. i’m not sure i felt their connection rekindle or believe that they should’ve gotten back together…