Laurie does it again!
I was craving mac and Annie's story from the start and OH MY GOD. I couldn't get enough of it!

*Thank you NetGalley for the eARC**

She has done it again! Laurie Gilmore just keeps giving and I keep taking. I have been curious about Annie and Mac’s situationship since the very beginning, and I am extremely excited that this novel delves into the back story of this “love-me, hate-me” relationship.

Without giving anything away, I truly appreciate that we learned what happened, how our character got where they are, and how they will progress through life. This ended exactly how I wanted, and I appreciate that so much.

I cannot wait to see updates on everyone in the next book!

Been waiting forever for Annie & Mac's story and it's finally arrived. These two have been teased throughout the series and their story definitely delivered!

Gilmore provides us with a wonderfully cozy Christmas romance. I really enjoyed Annie and Mac's romance. We get flashbacks and present day which helped better understand the tension and resentments between them. I felt this was needed and provided a lot of understanding and depth to the characters and relationship. These two were the enemies to lovers trope and I really liked how Gilmore wrote it. Sometimes I feel enemies to lovers doesn't work well in contemporary settings but it worked here. There's plenty of bickering, banter and chemistry to keep readers invested. I found the romance very satisfying and worth the wait.

The setting was cozy and holiday themed, which just transported me into the story. I love the small town Gilmore has created. Every time I pick up a book, it's like returning to a favorite place. You will certainly want gingerbread to snack on nearby!

Truly wonderful if you're in the mood for a cozy holiday romance.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

I really enjoy this series and was excited to get Annie and Mac’s story. This is in my top 2 favorites of the series so far. I enjoyed how we get past and present chapters and love a story when the guy pines for the girl.

She’s done it again! Laurie Gilmore keeps delivering, and I keep devouring every word. I’ve been curious about Annie and Mac’s “love-me, hate-me” situationship since the very beginning, and this book finally gives us the backstory we’ve been waiting for.
The Gingerbread Bakery is a cozy, heartwarming Christmas comeback you won’t want to put down. From snow-dusted streets to the scent of fresh gingerbread, Dream Harbor feels like the perfect holiday escape. While Jeanie and Logan’s wedding prep sets a festive backdrop, the real magic lies in Annie and Mac’s story. Told in alternating past and present chapters, we see not only what drove them apart but also how they learn to move forward—and maybe toward each other.
Their banter, vulnerability, and slow rediscovery of love make this an irresistible take on the enemies-to-lovers trope. It ends in exactly the way I’d hoped, leaving me both satisfied and eager for more glimpses into the lives of these beloved characters.
A perfect blend of humor, romance, and festive charm—Laurie Gilmore at her very best.

At last! Annie and Mac’s story! I’ve read the others in this series and have been wondering about them :). Their story is well told, and I found the use of going back in time several times (then and now) really helpful. Excellent world building, believably flawed characters.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Laurie Gilmore for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest review.

I have four words for y’all, Mac and Annie…Dream Harbor!!! I fell in love with the plot and the characters and their love story building-up. I love how Laurie Gilmore integrates the flashbacks with present day.
If y’all love enemies to lovers, a snowy town and the smell of gingerbread all around you…Then this book is most definitely for you. I highly recommend this book.

I love this series. It’s just so cute, and I think the books have gotten better as the series goes on.

Sworn enemies Mac and Annie have history. After a heartbreak a decade ago, Annie swore off having Mac in her life in any capacity. Now, while preparing for Jeanie and Logan’s wedding, they are thrust back together in close proximity. Forced to confront the animosity that has been brewing, their story unfolds through a dual POV in both the present day and flashbacks. This gave real depth to their feelings then and now.

The Dream Harbor backdrop is as lovely as always, and the wacky cast of characters shines again. The whole crew, including the book club, returns ready to celebrate the big town wedding.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for the advanced copy!

I love the characters in this book. That being said I probably need to read the previous books in this series to really grasp this book. The storyline was great, I loved the towns feeling and how well it’s written. I’m definitely going to read more of Laurie Gilmore books. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the opportunity to read this eARC and provide a review. This is the 5th book in the Dream Harbor series and this one is my favorite. When I started the series, with the Pumpkin Spice Cafe I enjoyed it. However, Laurie Gilmore gets me more in love with this town and these characters as each book comes out. This is an enemies to lovers romance has the best banter with some of my favorite book quotes. This follows Annie and Mac but includes all of the characters that we have grown to love in this small town as they prepare to celebrate Christmas and Jeanie and Logan’s Wedding. This was such a fun, sweet, romantic book that is perfect for the holidays to get you in the spirit. I finished it so quickly and I am already excited about The Daisy Chain Flower Shop coming out in 2026 as Book 6 in the Dream Harbor Series!

📖 Title: The Gingerbread Bakery-Bk#5 Dream Harbor

✍🏾 Author: Laurie Gilmore- I read The Strawberry Patch Pancake House & gave it 5⭐

📅Publication date: 9-16-25 | Read: 8-27-25

📃 Format: e-Book 384 pgs.

Genre:
* Contemporary Romance
*Adult Fic

Tropes:
*enemies to lovers
*found family
*forced proximity
*small town
*Christmas
*opposites attract

👆🏾POV: 3rd person single

🌎 Setting: Dream Harbor, MA-2 timelines Then & Now

Summary: In high school Mac was captain of the lacrosse team and Annie was the type-A girl who fell in love w/ him. They had one memorable December when they were nineteen, and later at Annie's 30th birthday when they almost kissed. Now, Mac wants Annie and is willing to do anything to be with her, only Annie is still hurt from him abandoning her.

👩🏾 Heroine: Annabelle "Annie" Andrews-bakery owner, making the wedding cake for Jeanie

👨🏾 Hero: Macaulay "Mac" Sullivan-bar owner, was his father's pub

🎭 Other Characters:

* Jeanie + Logan-getting married
* Kira + Bennett- Kira owns barn for tree farm and wedding planner + Jeanie's brother
*Hazel + Noah- eloped already
*Iris + Archer-Iris is pregnant

🤔 My Thoughts: I loved catching up with the couples, especially for Jeanie and Logan's wedding. Annie and Mac's antagonistic relationship was explained between two timelines-then (high school) and now. Annie felt abandoned waiting for Mac to return from his cross-country trip of self-discovery. I didn't understand Mac's reasons for leaving, only to stay nearby. He needed to find his way but didn't make a profound transformation. Annie took her time protecting her heart for them to get their HEA.

Rating: 5/5 ✨
Spice level: 5/5 🌶️

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Harper 360, and Laurie Gilmore for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

4/5 Stars

Dream Harbor has its hold on me. I'm in love with a fictional town and its fictional residents. It is so cozy, warm, and everything I might have ever wanted from a cozy romance. I was especially excited for Annie and Mac, because their story has been teased throughout the last 4. I read all 4 stories prior to this one in two nights because of how easy and wonderful reads they are. Turn my little anxious brain off, enjoy Dream Harbor and their cuteness just oozing out.

In book 5, Laurie Gilmore absolutely knocks it out of the park yet again. I was so eager to learn about these two, and I think they are probably my favorite pair (though Noah, you have my heart as MMC). I love how imperfect they are, how quick to anger, how prideful, how messy they are- just like real life. Some of us hold onto our baggage like talismans, and Annie and Mac had years of history hanging over them. But the second chance love was just as sweet as promised. I really enjoyed the push and pull, and even if it was sometimes frustrating, it didn't feel immature and stupid. The bickering was well balanced by the heartfelt moments of connection. They were two very relatable people trying to protect themselves from being hurt again, and I really enjoyed the journey. Totally recommend this book (and the entire series). Can't wait for the next one!

4.25 ⭐️

The Gingerbread Bakery is the Dream Harbor book I’ve been most looking forward to because I had to know more about the dynamic between Annie and Mac and it did not disappoint! This book alternated between the past and the present, which can be hard to pull off but it worked for me in this one. The flashbacks are super adorable and a good contrast to Annie and Mac’s current contentious relationship, as they’re filled with naïveté and the wonder of first love. I was always happy to read a flashback chapter and it didn’t break the flow at all for me.

As for Annie and Mac’s present timeline, my only small criticism is that I wish it had taken place over a longer period of time, because I feel like I need more time for the relationship to redevelop when they’ve been apart for so long. I do think though that the flashbacks provided enough evidence of their connection that I believe these two making their way back to each other made sense. Second chance romances can have a hard time convincing me that two characters should be together, as the reason for the break up can really make or break it. In this book though, I think the reasons for them being apart are valid and don’t make me think these two shouldn’t get back together. Annie was definitely stubborn in the present timeline towards Mac, but she didn’t take it too far which I appreciate.

Overall, this book was adorable and Annie and Mac were worth the wait. If you like the small town shenanigans that usually take place in Dream Harbor, there’s definitely some of that in here as well. I’m excited for the next trip back to Dream Harbor with Daisy and Elliot!

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 stars
Thank you Netgalley and Laurie Gilmore for an e-ARC of The Gingerbread Bakery in exchange for my honest review.
I've read all the books in the Dream Harbor series and love them so much! Been *im*patiently waiting for Annie and Mac's book since The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. I love these characters so much!!! I knew all that anger and hatred between Mac and Annie was a cover to hide their real feelings for one another.
I'm not always a fan of second chance romance but I think everything worked out the way it was meant to be. I believe they both had a lot of growing up and finding themselves first before they could be together again.
I will say my main frustration was Annie's stubborness to hear Mac's side of things, however, her feelings were also very understandable and valid to me. I'm glad Mac was a patient king and continued to chase after her knowing she was hiding from him. I love a man that falls first:
"but all he really saw was Annie. Story of his life since he moved back here. Annie was all he ever saw. Annie frowning at him. Annie scowling at him . Annie huffing and sighing and occasionally, if he was lucky, yelling at him. And because he was some kind of masochist, he still wanted to be around her." When he'll take any piece of her he can get!!!! I love that man.
I'm so happy we got to meet Elliot and Daisy (our next Dream Harbor main characters) and can't wait for their story.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! I was so excited to read this - I knew Annie and Mac had a good back story, and it did not disappoint! I loved how frustrated I was sometimes with them as characters but it always felt very real. And the flashback scenes were excellent to explain how their relationship (and fall out) happened.

I also loved that it was primarily focused on Logan and Jeanie’s wedding weekend - loved seeing all the details of the characters from prior books!!

This series just keeps delivering. I think we’ve all been waiting with bated breath for Annie and Mac’s story and this was absolutely everything I hoped for. I’m a sucker for a second chance romance and Mac’s years of yearning was exactly what I wanted from this. The series isn’t that deep, but it reads like a warm hug and never fails to hook me in and keep me turning pages. My only regret is not saving this for Christmastime.

4.5 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Welcome back to Dream Harbor!

Annie and Mac: right person, wrong time. Told in a dual timeline, we read the love story of these two seemingly “enemies” fall for each other first as teenagers and then again as successful business owners.

The universe that author Laurie Gilmore has created with her Dream Harbor series, and expanded on with The Gingerbread Bakery, is a guaranteed comfy and cozy small town romance read perfect for your seasonal TBR.

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore in exchange for my honest review.

Another fantastic story in Dream Harbor. Loved Annie and Mac's story! I loved the way the author went back in time to share the past of the two of them and keep the present story progressing!

I was beyond excited for this book—it’s the 5th book in the Dream Harbor series, and Laurie Gilmore did not disappoint.

The Gingerbread Bakery follows Annie and Mac. While I do recommend reading the first four Dream Harbor books, you could easily jump into this one without feeling lost. Gilmore does a great job making each book stand on its own.

This story has everything:
One-sided enemies-to-lovers
Second chance romance
Forced proximity
Cozy small-town vibes
Comedy & multiple POVs
Golden retriever × black cat dynamic

Annie has sworn to hate Mac forever—but only Mac knows why. When they’re both part of Logan and Jeanie’s wedding party, emotions come bubbling back to the surface in the funniest and sweetest ways.

I absolutely loved this book. I stayed up all night reading, and at one point I was laughing out loud at 4 a.m. The mix of banter and coziness made it such a perfect rom-com read.

Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy, witty, and quick romance read. Dream Harbor continues to be such a comfort series, and The Gingerbread Bakery might just be my favorite so far.

The gingerbread bakery , is a hopeful lost love rediscovered later in life. If the love is meant to be it will work out

This is book five in the Dream Harbor series. Jeanie and Logan, characters from an earlier book, are finally tying the knot. Annie, who owns the town bakery, and Mac, the local bar owner, are thrown back together to help make the wedding a success. But with a fling from over a decade ago that ended on bad terms, tensions run high. Annie can’t stand Mac, while he’s determined to win her back.

It’s a quick, enjoyable read. While you don’t have to read the previous books to follow along, they do add depth and context to the characters. I really enjoyed it!

📖 Book Review 📖 Laurie Gilmore rings in the ‘ber months with a return to Dream Harbor, the coziest small town with arguably the highest concentration of baked goods per square mile. And while Gilmore’s books are standalone novels, and The Gingerbread Bakery is no exception, you might as well grab your favorite sweet treat and drink and indulge in the whole series because the whole town makes an appearance in the long-awaited fifth installment of this beloved cozy collection. The suspense is high as all of Dream Harbor and readers wait to see if Mac and Annie will finally stop fighting their feelings for each other and get their happily ever after…

I enjoy this series, so I was excited to get approved for an ARC on NetGalley.

This one gives us the story of Annie and Mac, who we’ve seen throughout the first four books of the series. We finally get to learn what the backstory is with them and is told through flashbacks. We also have the present day timeline of the wedding weekend for Logan and Jeanie.

This was cute. A fluffy romance. Quick weekend read. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite of the series.

Will still recommend to others who have enjoyed this series.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

For fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery
I fell in love with “The Gingerbread Bakery” when I first read the book description. The story itself is even richer and more nuanced.
“The Gingerbread Bakery” is Book 5 of author Laurie Gilmore’s Dream Harbor series. For me, it’s both the first book of the series and the first book by Gilmore that I’ve read. I’ll definitely be seeking her backlist!
Enemies-to-lovers can be a wonderful trope when done well, and Gilmore knows how to do it. Rather than a quick recap of the past then having the full story unwind in the present, Gilmore chooses to use flashbacks to set the stage and help us get to know both Annie and Mac in their late teens, when their attraction first blooms.
The book juggles three storylines beautifully — Annie and Mac in the past, Annie and Mac today and their involvement as bridesmaid and groomsman in a beautiful Christmas season wedding. Even the wedding backdrop adds drama to their struggle to find their first love again.
Gilmore is a talented writer who wove all of these threads together in a beautiful tapestry of a cozy Christmas story. I adored both Annie and Mac and could understand their disparate viewpoints. Use of the flashback showed me how each had changed during the past decade to become the people they are now.
If you’re looking for a Christmas-themed romance to help you escape your own reality for awhile, “The Gingerbread Bakery” is perfect.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. These opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. While enemies to lovers isn’t my favorite romance trope, this was my favorite of this series. It wasn’t a true enemies to lovers, it was more a second chance romance. And I loved the characters.

Annie and Mac have spent the most of the last 4 books bickering. The hate between the two is mostly one sided (Annie’s hatred is mostly justified, Mac’s is nonexistent) but decide to call a truce for the weekend to celebrate their best friend’s wedding. I have only read the first book but you would completely fine going into this book without any prior knowledge of the series!

I liked this book! It’s very low stakes, high angst and that usually makes for a quick read. Annie and Mac are absolute idiots in love and it was fun to how it all started. There’s also a surprising amount of self reflection between the two. They also adopt kittens! It’s a really cute and funny read and perfect for the holiday season.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This series is what first got me hooked on Hallmark-style romance, and it never disappoints. Every book is heartwarming and guaranteed to lift my mood.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early read! I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to believe in love again and soak up those cozy small-town vibes. This installment ended up being my favorite in the series, since it finally dives into the backstory of my two favorite characters.

Each time Laurie Gilmore announces a new book - we were all hoping for Annie and Mac. With the Gingerbread Bakery we finally get to see why there has always been so much tension and what exactly happened in the past to cause. I really enjoyed the dual time narrative which is new for the Dream Harbor series and without it I don't think the story would have lived up to my expectations. We have to see what happened all those years ago when Annie and Mac first started hanging out.

I loved how much both characters grew and learned from each other, even if at times infuriating. With this book we meet the love interests for the Daisy Chain Flower shop as well which helps build intrigue and interest! Can't wait to hand sell this at Christmas time.

This was my first read by Laurie Gilmore, and even though it’s part of a series, you can absolutely jump in and enjoy it as a standalone. This was also my first visit to Dream Harbor, and wow—what a charming little town! The quirky characters and cozy vibe made the perfect backdrop for Annie and Mac’s story.

I’m usually not a big fan of the hate-to-love trope, but I have to admit this one worked for me. The dual POV really helped me understand how Annie and Mac got to where they are, and it added so much depth to their slow-burn romance.

What I loved most is that, while this is definitely a romance, it isn’t overly saccharine. It’s sweet without being too sweet—balanced with sharp, witty moments from side characters that made me smile.

A huge thank you to Nate Gawley, Laurie Gilmore, and Harper 360 for my ARC copy. 💌

Devoured! That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think about this book. I absolutely devoured Annie and Mac’s second chance romance! I don’t know if it was the small town vibes, the tension between them or both but I loved The Gingerbread Bakery so much that it’s easily my favourite in the series.

It feels like every book Laurie Gilmore writes just keeps getting better and this one was no exception. The enemies to lovers trope paired with forced proximity was written in such a swoony, giggle inducing way. I especially enjoyed the alternating chapters between past and present Annie and Mac, making their story even richer. And that slow burn? Perfectly paced, making the romance all the more satisfying.

If you haven’t picked up the Dream Harbor series yet, I highly recommend diving in especially now that we’re in our cozy Gilmore Girls era!

This is the fifth Dream Harbor book, but it works perfectly as a standalone (though I now want to read the others). I loved the seamless mix of past and present, which gave real depth to Annie and Mac’s story instead of just telling us what happened. Both characters felt developed and compelling, and their romance had me invested from start to finish.
The holiday vibes were perfection.

Arc Review!!

Tropes: enemies to lovers, second chance, small town, slow-burn

Laurie Gilmore has done it yet again everyone! This was such a quick and fun second chance romance for the holidays (even tho it's not even completely fall season yet). The "cake" for their wedding was such a cute idea and I absolutely melted for Mac with the kittens! You follow Annie and Mac's story as they navigate through their complicated past while trying to survive a wedding together...emotions run high and truths get revealed in this cutesy story!

Thank you so much NetGalley + Harper Collins for this e-ARC!

It is always so much fun to return to Dream Harbor and The Gingerbread Bakery was no different! We have seen Annie and Mac in previous books, and you always got the impression that they had a past. This book gives us insight to that past with a dual timeline between the Christmas they fell for each other and the present Christmas when they are both a part of Jeanie and Logan's wedding party. I loved being able to see how their relationship developed and how the mishaps of Jeanie and Logan's wedding weekend brought them together!

Honestly, I just wish we could have gotten more of Annie and Mac together with the rest of the Dream Harbor crew! I also really enjoyed that this allowed us to see Logan and Jeanie's wedding. Highly recommend if you have already been to Dream Harbor and highly recommend if you are someone who enjoys an enemies to lovers, second chance situation.

Thank you Harper360 and NetGalley for the ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Gingerbread Bakery is book five in the Dream Harbor series. Mac & Annie’s story is the one that we’ve been waiting for.
Mac & Annie have history and try their best to avoid each other and annoy each other as much as possible. Jeannie & Logan are getting married and they are forced to spend a lot of time together .
The Christmas vibes and the cute banter between Mac & Annie make this book great. It was worth the wait .
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.

I adore this entire series. From book one to this one. I didn’t really love the character of Annie much tho. Her whole persona was kind of ridiculous. Other than that I felt like I had revisited old friends with this addition to the series and can’t wait for more. Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

I’m calling it: hands down the best book in the series.

I could not wait for Annie and Mac’s story. I always knew there was more there than we thought.

In this novel, we follow Annie and Mac. With a few flashbacks we find out these two had a magical December together when they were 19. Flash forward 11 years later, Annie hates the ground Mac walks on, while he is trying to win her over. As they prepare for their best friend’s wedding, will these two reconnect?

This book was just what I needed. It was so cute and low stakes. I’ve been so stressed out lately, and this book had me smiling and laughing at Annie and Mac’s antics.

You’re going to love Annie’s strong nature. She acknowledges what occurred between her and Mac and doesn’t want to get hurt again. Still, she feels this pull that even the reader feels.

You’re going to love how cute Mac is. He checks on Annie during a snowstorm. He adopts two kittens when they are found abandoned (Holly and Claus are on the cover!), and he lets himself be vulnerable with the girl he loves as he attempts to gain her trust again.

I highly recommend this book!

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore.

I just adore this whole series. This is a second chance romance with Annie and Mac. They spent a few weeks together while all their friends were out of town and plan to see each other in a year. Fast forward 11 years and they “hate each other”. They are both on a wedding for their friends and wind up being together more than they plan.

I’ve read all the Dream Harbor books so far and I really enjoy them! They’re cute, slow burns where you feel like you know everyone in town. I do love that each of these books can be read as a standalone, but I love that you can connect the characters even more! It’s a cute and swoony series that doesn’t disappoint. Yes, it feels formulaic sometimes, but that’s actually what I love about this series. Each one is going to give you the same cozy feeling we all read romance books for! Loved it!

Cute and cozy second-chance romance. Small town where everyone knows everything. Found family where we get to catch up with characters from previous books. Wedding planning, Christmas flashbacks, and some spice to add in too. Great addition to the series.

Thanks to Harper 360 for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for The Ginger Bread Bakery to come out September 16, 2025.

🎄 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠🎄

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘆

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🗓️ September 11th

📄 384

𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 5 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴

ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖:
🎄Enemies to Lovers
❤️Second Chance
🎄Dual Timelines
❤️Forced Proximity
🎄Small Town
❤️Opposites Attract
🎄Found Family
❤️Slow Burn

𝔸𝕝𝕖𝕩𝕒, 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕪 “𝔹𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕥𝕠 𝔻𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣” 𝕓𝕪 𝕋𝕒𝕪𝕝𝕠𝕣 𝕊𝕨𝕚𝕗𝕥

Jeanie and Logan [𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘧é] are finally getting married. Annie, owner of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘆, is busy fulfilling bridesmaid duties and finding it impossible to avoid Mac. When an important attendee goes missing the two much put aside their differences and work together to save the big day.

𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:
My favorite book of the series yet! I adore the Dream Harbor Series - the seasonal vibes, friendships, and found family in this series leaves me with the biggest smile.

Annie and Mac, finally!! 🍪🍺

The dislike and tension between these two were no secret amongst their group. I have waited so long for their story and Laurie Gilmore did not disappoint. 👏🏻👏🏻

For Mac, its always been Annabel Andrews. The past and present timelines captured my heart from the beginning. Following their young love story, through heartbreak, and now as adults made me love them enough more. This one read more like a true romance novel than a cutesy holiday read.
Between the tension, chemistry, and pining, I could not put this book down. Oh, and the spice… This book felt like a Hallmark movie I want to watch again and again. 🎄❤️🥹😍😮‍💨

"𝙃𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚."

The real MVP is Mac’s mom.. She raised this man RIGHT!😉👏🏻

❤️Huge thanks to Laurie Gilmore, NetGalley, and Harper 360 for allowing me to read The Gingerbread Bakery in advance.

4⁄5⭐
“I hate you, but I love you” never looked so sweet


I’ve binge read the whole Dream Harbor series, and The Gingerbread Bakery brings the perfect tension between Annie and Mac. Shoutout to Harper 360, because when this popped up on NetGalley I have never hit the request button faster. The classic enemies-to-lovers spark is back, and yes, I’m still here for it. The snowy, small-town wedding setting? Totally cozy. The accompanying playlist, especially Taylor Swift’s So High School, is chef’s kiss, it nails their vibe perfectly.

That simmering “hate-to-love” dynamic totally carried the story, even if a few tropes felt familiar. If you want cute, cozy, and a dash of heat, with a playlist that slaps, this is your winter romance fix.

One word... FINALLY! 4 whole books with recurring characters and we finally get their story. Annie and Mac are the best slow-burn couple in Dream Harbor.

Known to the residents of Dream Harbor (and the readers) as enemies, Annie and Mac have been prominent characters throughout the series without truly knowing why they resent each other as much as they do. When I saw that the 5th installment of Dream Harbor would be about them, I couldn’t wait for release date (hence immediately applying for the arc).

Turns out, Annie and Mac’s story has a lot more to it than we have previously been made to believe. With Annie remaining tight-lipped even with her closest friends about her issues with Mac, it was a relief to finally understand why.

But, I was expecting some sort of long-ago slight, not a backstory that would break my heart.

“How do you look at someone for thirteen years and not realize they’re actually beautiful?”

The difficulty with this review is that I want to rant and rave about their story, but I can’t without giving away the biggest spoilers and ruining what is a heart-wrenching love story that we’ve all been waiting so long for.

What I will say is, that Annie is not the sweet and innocent character I initially believed her to be. She is definitely more on the feisty side with the way that she holds her grudges against Mac. Who is a swoon-worthy man who knows what he wants and is absolutely not the bad guy.

“If this man was her Christmas miracle, she would like to file a complaint with Santa or the baby Jesus or whoever was in charge, because the only miracle here would be if she didn’t kill or kiss Mac before the wedding was over.”

Without giving too much away, in the words of Mac...

“second-chance romances just hit different.”

And yes, yes they do. Because this is one of those second-chance romances where you can feel the individual perspectives and understand the feelings of both of the characters. It dives into the complexity of young adulthood, not knowing who you are but feeling like you have found the right person before you have even begun to find yourself.

The Gingerbread Bakery is the epitome of ‘right person, wrong time’.

And it’s worth mentioning that there’s still a strong emphasis on the other characters from the previous books with an upcoming wedding that ultimately throws the two together after Estelle goes MIA. The mission to retrieve the runaway results in Mac and Annie reliving their past.

“All he really saw was Annie. Story of his life since he moved back here. Annie was all he ever saw.”

Side note – the nightdress thing freaked me out. Why did nobody mention the fact that generations of women had gotten lucky on their wedding night and continued to pass it down through the family? So gross.

Anyway, The Gingerbread Bakery is a second-chance romance in a small-town, with the best slow burn from enemies-to-lovers.

“I wanted to keep you close even when I knew I didn’t deserve to.”

Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so great! The story of Annie and Mac has been built since book one. It was so interesting to see where their relationship started. Perfect addition to the Dream Harbor series.

All the warm cozy Christmas vibes without feeling like it has to be read at Christmas. I am a lover of Christmas books due to the way they warm my heart, but feeling like I can only read them during the holidays can be stressful. I love that this book gave me all those feelings in August! This book is quite plot heavy. You are really able to get to know the FMC and MMC over quite a long period of time. It is set up for you to experience their journey alternating from them NOW (angry with a side of hopeful for a second-chance romance) and THEN (young immature love). I will say that Laurie Gilmore will make you work for that HEA moment, so you need to be ready to put in all the heartache that comes with that kind of push and pull. I love that their story allows for so much interaction with former beloved characters from Dream Harbor. This felt like a love letter from all of them and if there wasn't a hint to more love on the horizon I would have been blissfully satisfied with how everyone's story was unfolding. The perfectionist in me really related to Annie (FMC), but that girl can really hold quite a grudge (it would be impressive if it wasn't so infuriating.) I felt like Laurie really spent so much time giving us a rich story that the spice level of this book wasn't quite as much as the previous books in her series, but it was definitely there. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to step back into Dream Harbor and am already wanting to return when the audiobook of this story is released. Spice 2/5

I've been waiting for Mac and Annie's story and it did not disappoint! I loved the switch between current day and flashbacks to their brief relationship after high school. We could see their growth over time and I'm glad Mac finally convinces her to give him a second chance! This book was sweet and an easy read. I can't wait to see what's next in this series!

Mac and Annie may just be my favorite couple of the series now. I will say I’ve always been a sucker for a good enemies to lovers and this one did not disappoint. I loved the change in perspective as well as the jumping of timelines. The only negative I have would be the ending was a little too abrupt for me. While I am glad it wasn’t drawn out like so many books I’ve read lately I could have used a little more of that special Mac and Annie love story.

Gingerbread bakery

It was so good to finally read Annie and Mac’s story. I love a good enemies to lovers and it’s honestly so hard to do in a contemporary setting in my opinion.

I loved the flashbacks and getting to see how they both grew from their experiences. I loved the cameos of all the previous couples as well.

Some of my favorite parts in no particular order:
Mac walking around with the kittens in his pockets.
The CAR scene had me sweating.
Nana’s nightgown.
Mac’s favorite movie

Talking about their grandpa’s had me sobbing. It really does suck losing them.

Overall Gingerbread Bakery is my favorite installment so far. I devoured it in one sitting. 5 stars.

Laurie Gilmore delivers another cozy hit with The Gingerbread Bakery, the newest addition to Dream Harbor. This book is as sweet and warm as its title promises, blending holiday charm with the perfect dash of romance.
Annie, the bakery owner who has poured her whole heart into gingerbread and sugar cookies, finds herself constantly clashing with Mac, the annoyingly cheerful bar owner down the street. Their banter keeps the story light and fun, and watching their walls slowly come down as wedding events force them together was the kind of small-town magic I crave this time of year.
This one is packed with all my favorite tropes—
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Found family
✨ Cozy small town
It gave me that perfect BER month vibe: festive, warm, and a little spicy in just the right moments. It left me smiling and in the mood for baked goods and twinkle lights.
If you’re looking for a feel-good, low-angst romance to curl up with as the seasons shift, this one is a delightful pick.

4.5! I love a good second chance romance and honestly the build up for Mac and Annie has been a looooooong time coming! Getting the glimpses into 19 year old Annie and Mac was gold and everything I didn't know I needed. It added so much more depth to all the glares and hurt we've seen between them in the previous books. I think the ending too with Mac saying he did show up but just couldn't go through with it was so real, and both of them having to reconcile with the fact that even at 20 they were still so young and dumb when it came to the love they felt for each other. Chasing after Estelle for half the book was also just a hilarious and quirky way to force them into closer proximity. Ending the epilogue with literally NO ONE being surprised at them getting together was the icing on the cake, just bliss. I love how I can always rely on a dream harbor book to be cozy, and make me feel like there is a sweetness to love outside of the heat and fire and passion that we so often see, it's double sided and complex and DH shows that well.

Here’s a polished version of your review:

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*The Gingerbread Bakery* by Laurie Gilmore completely stole my heart. I absolutely loved the main characters and how their stories wove together in such a beautiful dual timeline. Second chance romance isn’t always my favorite trope, but in this case, I found myself rooting for them the entire time. The writing pulled me in from the first page, and the balance of past and present made their journey even more emotional and satisfying. Out of the whole series, this one has definitely been my favorite so far—it felt cozy, heartfelt, and impossible to put down.