Romina Tempest uses the language of flowers to manifest love for buyers of her flora fortunes. To expand her business, along with her sisters, she needs an investor to expand the shop. Her friend and business partner, Trevor, convinces her that a fake dating scheme to get his father to invest.

But things get complicated when Trevor’s dad announces his engagement to the mother of her high school sweetheart, Alex. Should she keep up the ruse with Trevor OR give Alex a second chance?

Alex and Romina had such great chemistry and Trevor’s antics had me laughing out loud on numerous occasions. The magical element is light enough that even non-fantasy readers will enjoy this one.

My initial feelings about this book are very similar to the last book I read by Hogle (You Deserve Each Other).

Did I enjoy it? Yes.
Was I engaged? Yes.
Would I recommend it to others? Maybe not.

genre: magical realism, romance
format: digital
rating: 3.50 ⭐️
release date: Out Now (April 2, 2024)!

The first half of this book with the hijinx and fake dating was a real hoot! And I really loved seeing (reading) about Romina's floral fortunes and the variety of plants she grew and all of the meanings behind them. (Honestly, it made me want to dig up my yard and just plant a whole bunch of new and exciting things...but I have a feeling my kids and my husband would take issue with that.)

The romance in this story was really well done. I really enjoyed watching Alex and Romina banter and poke at each other - A. because it was ridiculously entertaining and B. because it really showed just how well these two still knew each other even though it had been, like, a decade since they interacted. I also enjoyed that they were able to get together with very little drama (and no third act breakup!)

I would recommend this one if you're looking for an easy read & a fun step into a little magical realism.

Read if you like:
Small towns and Small town romance
Witchy things
Second Chance Romance
Charmed
Romances with no Third Act Breakup

I’m overwhelmed, because this book was so magical and I felt loved the entire time I was reading it. Sarah writes chaotic characters, and these are my absolute favorite characters. I loved everything about this book, from the flower language, to the magic that quite literally oozed off the page. I swear I could smell the flowers while reading. Second chance is my favorite trope, and this books tops all others I’ve read. Alex was such a gentle and caring man, I loved him from the moment he was introduced. I love Romina, she is me, and I am her. Their banter was top tier, the communication was beautiful. The flower puns and overall humor were elite. AND THE SPICE in this book rendered me speechless. I loved the found family, and the sisterly love. This book made me want to do cute fortune flora now. Sarah, I hope we get a book about Luna and Zelda, because I’m not ready to leave this perfect little world that was Moonville.

This was such a cozy and unforgettable story for me. The writing was so beautifully poetic, I felt teary eyed a lot of times. The characters just struck me, with their quirkiness and unconditional love. I will be thinking about Romina and Alex for years to come. 🩷

Having an e-arc, was not enough, I had to immediately buy a physical copy and transfer my annotations. This is now the most annotated book I own.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random / Putnam for an e-arc ✨

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I really enjoyed this book and think it would make a sweet movie. The humor and small town romance have me smiling.

When I heard about this romcom with magic, I couldn’t wait to read it. It’s a second chance, small town romance with angst and longing, but while I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it.

Romina Tempest makes floral fortunes (bouquets with love spells) in her magic shop in the small town of Moonville, OH. She shares her business, The Magick Happens, with her sisters, Luna, who makes magic candles and Zelda, who has a paranormal bookstore. Romina and her sisters are successful witches and their business is doing very well.

Their friend Trevor is an investor in their business and handles their marketing. He is one of my favorite characters in the book. He is like a younger brother to them and is lighthearted, funny and steals every scene he’s in. Romina introduces Trevor as her boyfriend when his friends embarrass and tease him in front of everyone about how quickly he goes through girlfriends to protect him. Trevor goes along with it but soon he wants to tell the truth. This part gets funny because Trevor is not good at fake dating and keeping secrets. They are afraid of what everyone will think, especially his dad, if they tell them that they aren’t really dating. It makes them sound dishonest, which isn't good since they are asking him for a loan.

The sisters recently purchased a lot they want to put a night market on but they need funds to help prepare the lot for vendors. Trevor asks his father, Daniel Yoon, a wealthy businessman, if he would invest in their plan and Daniel makes a trip to Moonville to see them. They are all surprised when he introduces them to his fiancé, Kristen, who is Romina’s old high school boyfriend’s mother. And, surprise surprise, Alex (the old boyfriend) is with them too.

Romina and Alex dated for two years when they were teens and broke up before college. Their storyline interested me and I wanted to know what caused their break up. Even though it’s been eleven years since their break up, they still have strong feelings for each other and Alex is very jealous of Trevor. He doesn’t believe that Romina and Trevor are really dating and behaves badly and is arrogant while trying to get Romina to admit Trevor isn’t her real boyfriend. I didn’t love this part of the story - it felt like they were just trying to antagonize each other every chance they got.

There is a big twist in the middle of the story I didn’t see coming that I won’t reveal because it’s a big spoiler! I did enjoy the second part of the story more because it was more romantic as we see Romina and Alex begin to heal and reconnect. Alex lives in a nearby town where he works as a roofer and he begins to come over to Moonville to visit Romina and does kind things for her to win her back and we see a more playful and loving side of them as they rekindle their old flame. The spice level felt mild although the one sex scene is an open door scene.

Romina had a recent breakup which was pretty sad to read about. There’s also a lot of angst between Romina and Alex in the first half and while I rooted for them to get back together, I didn’t love their characters and then there’s the surprise spoiler that was awkward.

The story really shines in the descriptions of Moonville, especially the Night Market. It sounds so beautiful - it has trees with fairy lights, moonflowers, and vendors with magical trinkets, Tarot, teas, tapestries, crystals, suncatchers, tote bags, love oil, and Rowena’s midnight floral fortunes. I could feel the magic! It was fun to read about the meanings of the different flowers and charms used in the bouquets. I also liked Romina’s sisters who helped each other and I admire how passionate they are about their family and business.

I think readers who like second chance, small town romcoms with a little witchy magic might enjoy giving this a chance. It wasn't my favorite but there's much to enjoy here.

I was gonna DNF this because I STRUGGLED getting through the beginning. I was bored. I felt like there was too much happening and nothing at all.
Really glad I powered through because I adore this book. Alex is 🥵🥵🥵 delicious. Everything about this man is top tier. Romina is such a different character than ones I normally see. She is so dedicated and wants to do what is best for her business. She has such a kind heart.

Old Flames and New Fortunes is a captivating exploration of soulmates and second-chance romance. I found myself drawn deeper with each turn of the page until I was thoroughly enchanted. This delightful tale weaves together various tropes, including second-chance romance, elements of magic, the enduring bond of soulmates, the power of true love, the intrigue of fake dating, and the charm of small-town life.

What truly captivated me was the dynamic interactions between the main characters. Their journeys, filled with ups and downs, resonated with authenticity and heart. By the end, I was reminded that family isn't solely defined by blood ties but also by the connections we forge and the bonds we nurture.

Despite the initial challenge in connecting with the story, its compelling narrative and rich character development left a lasting impression on me. Moreover, it sparked a newfound interest in floriography, inspiring me to delve into the intricate meanings behind the language of flowers.

'Old Flames and New Fortunes' is not just a story; it's an immersive experience that lingers in the heart long after the final chapter is read.

Sarah Hogle writes a whimsical romance story between exes that makes you believe in right person, wrong time exists.

I really liked the unique plot that Sarah starts the book with. The fantasy lore and natural whimsy that the book starts with and the charming town that paints a picturesque imagery to the setting. It follows Romina trying to save her business by fake dating the owner and incomes her ex boyfriend that she clearly isn't over and nor him of her. I loved the angst, mutual longing and pining and jealousy that we see both go through and how maturing as adults they can communicate their past issues and admit that they were young and too immature and now can fix those issues and realize the love between never left. Alex was so brooding, jealous and swoon and he's a single dad? Talk about plot twist but I liked that that wasn't a deal breaker for her and they could accept that they grew up and can form a family now. The banter and history between was so much fun to read. I really enjoyed this book and I loved seeing them get back together after all these years. Sarah Hogle knows how to write angsty romance with such folklore and whimsy and I loved this book a lot.

I had good hopes for this one because I loved the premise of the witchy vibes and a second chance romance, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy this one from the beginning and by the end completely found myself skimming in order to get done.

I enjoyed Romina and her sisters a lot. Each witch had a unique talent and I thought the flora fortunes were really interesting and unique. I loved the town vibes and how much history and folklore the town had along with the story of the sister's shop growing. But the things I liked pretty much ended there.

Alex, the MMC, was insufferable from the first instance he showed up. He was rude, jealous, kind of a gaslighter and kept being mad at Romina for lying about things and then bomb drops the BIGGEST lie of all time and expects her to just be okay with it. Because I really didn't like Alex, it was really hard to cheer for Romina to get back together with him.

I would definitely try others from this author in the future, but this one didn't work for me.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was a bit skeptical when I started reading Old Flames and New Fortunes. So many connecting lives get thrown at you at once. It took a few chapters for me to get everything straightened out.
Once I did, my first impressions were:
Alex is a jerk
Trevor is a human golden retriever

I enjoyed the second chance romance story line of Alex and Romina. Teenage first love is all consuming and their breakup was inevitable. Romina's life after breaking up with Alex was heartbreaking and hard to read at times. Alex totally had a mike drop with his announcement. I did not see that one coming at all!!

I was never onboard with the fake dating story line between Trevor and Romina. Thank goodness not a lot of page time was given to them.
The flowers and magical realism was enjoyable. This is the second book I have read showcasing the love language of flowers, and I enjoyed this one so much more. I think it was due to the underlying witch vibes.

3.5⭐️ Old Flames and New Fortunes is a decent enough love story, full of fake dating antics and second chance romance and miscommunication/ misunderstandings, and a touch of magic. It didn’t feel entirely cohesive and was a bit uneven, but overall it’s an entertaining enough way to pass the time.

Thank you Sarah Hogle, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I thought this one was cute, and I loved how every chapter was named after a flower with its meaning attached. The bits about how Alex picked up on their meanings were so sweet, too.

The banter kept the story light and fun but Romina’s trauma is heartbreaking all the same. I'm not so sure how I felt about Alex’s secret, but I think it was because of how it was delivered that made it shocking. It pretty much dropped out of nowhere. However, I’m glad he was all in and meant what he said. The characters, especially Trevor, were so silly, that it was good! And there was a HEA and hint of a series coming.

I had a lot of fun reading Old Flames and New Fortunes. From fake dating to the magical flower knowledge, Riminas family, and the adorable yet still angsty flirting this was a win from start to finish.

Rimina was such a great main character, I loved her friendship with Trevor and when they started fake dating many moments had me laughing out loud. I loved Rominas family, especially her niece who was a favorite in whatever scene she was in.
Alex, especially in the beginning came off as a bit of a tool to me but the more he and Rimina interacted and I could feel all their chemistry flying all over the place he began to grow on me, and by the end, I was rooting for their relationship wholeheartedly.

The ending was super cute and left me with that warm fuzzy feeling after reading a good romance. I'm not sure if this is going to end up being a series or not but either way I'll be reading whatever Sarah Hogle comes out with next.

I received an early copy of Old Flames and New Fortunes back in October of 2023, but wanted to wait until after the holidays to read it and I’m so glad I did! Sarah Hogle told me in her comments section on Instagram that she had rewritten some of the story and that “the dynamic between two particular characters has been tweaked” since the earlier draft. Since the Netgalley was updated after early reviews started popping up I thought it was worth mentioning for prospective readers who are trying to decide if this book is for them. Old Flames and New Fortunes was truly such a cozy, delightful, and romantic book and it’s a new favorite of mine!

I think the best part of the book for me was the cozy, springtime cottagecore atmosphere. Romina is a witchy florist who tells fortunes with flowers and helps her clients find the magic of romance in their lives. I’m not usually a fan of witchy stories, but the magical touches are so subtle and definitely enriched the story. I love flowers, and I had fun reading about what different flowers mean. I really enjoyed the setting. Moonville is dripping with lovely, small town vibes. Romina’s house sounds like a colorful fairyland, as does her garden and flower shop. There’s quaint shops filled with unique small businesses (no big box stores or chain restaurants here!), lots of trees, and it’s all coated in sunshine. I could hear the birds singing and feel the springtime breeze kissing my cheeks, the warmth of the sun enveloping me in a hug. I didn’t want to leave!

This town is filled with so many wonderful characters. And wow, there are so many of them. lol. I’ll be honest, I had a hard time keeping track of everyone at times and how they’re connected, but they were all so much fun! Romina shares a building with her sisters, Luna and Zelda, who each have their own small shop within. Romina has a flower shop, Luna makes candles, and Zelda has a bookstore filled with magical and paranormal tomes. They’re in the process of expanding, and will have a greenhouse and space for an outdoor night market soon (if all goes according to plan). Trevor, Romina’s close friend and fake-dating partner, is a not-so-silent investor in their business as a whole. I LOVED Trevor. He’s hilarious and might be my favorite character in this book, and I’d like for Sarah to please write about his love story. And then you’ve got Alex, Romina’s childhood sweetheart, and Trevor’s future stepbrother. Yep, you read that right. Romina is fake-dating her best friend to make her ex-boyfriend jealous and oops, these two guys just found out they’re about to become family. And oh, the wedding between their parents is very soon and everyone’s family shows up and there’s fake feelings and real feelings floating all over the place and sooooo many people in such a small town. lol. Phew!

I loved watching Trevor and Romina try to pretend to date because they were so bad at it. lol. It was so silly. Try picturing what it would be like if Joey Tribbiani and Phoebe Buffay from Friends had tried to fake date and convince people of their love. That’s how Trevor and Romina felt for me, and I loved it. Because of Alex’s suspicions surrounding their relationship, he decides to invite himself to sleep on Romina’s couch since he has nowhere else to go… so of course, Trevor has to move in and share Romaina’s bed and oh my gosh, I was giggling at their antics.

Second chance love stories are one of my less favorite romantic tropes, but I enjoyed how Sarah Hogle wrote about Alex and Romina. The flashbacks to their previous relationship were so swoony, and these moments softened my heart to the initial animosity between them in the present. I don’t like it when a book’s love interests don’t like each other (or hate each other) at first, but it was so obvious that it was all for show in this book and because of some deep-seated longing that was very thinly veiled. I love how it was done. The angst felt very real. Watching Romina and Alex fall in love all over again was so sweet. He says some of the most romantic things to her, and the grand gestures were on point. I need an Alex. Unlike Sarah’s other books, Old Fortunes and New Flames has some open door (or just… outdoors in the open lol) steaminess. The spice level is still on the mild side, but enough to leave me fanning myself and needing a glass of water.

Sarah Hogle is such an amazing storyteller. I’ve read and loved all of her books, and you can always count on them to contain unique elements, some quirkiness, characters you fall in love with, magical writing, and extremely romantic conversations and encounters. She can turn me into a puddle of goo just by having the male character kiss the female character’s wrist. It’s such a small gesture, such a tiny moment, but hundreds of these gestures and moments make up what I’ve come to expect from a Sarah Hogle book. They’re unlike anything I’ve ever read, and each are so unique on their own as well. I keep thinking she will never be able to get another 5-star rating from me and she just keeps on doing it. I can’t wait for what she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f paranormal romance
-second chance
-high school sweethearts
-flower magic
-incredible banter
-it's always been you

Sarah Hogle has such a magical to her writing, each book with a different vibe but also a coziness that is just Sarah's hug of writing. This book had such inredible banter and antics and just a great progression of a second chance understnading why they didn't wokr before and seeing them now.

Romina was her own independent person who struggled to trust so understandably with the past she had. But it was always Alex for her. I loved the insights of their past to see how gone Alex was about Romina as well. Seeing them clash and fall for each other as adults. This book had such cozy magic vibes and such a lovely romance at its heart.

3.75 stars

Such a pleasant introduction to Sarah Hogle's work! . Set in the whimsical town of Moonville , Old flames and new fortunes was charming and sweet, topped off with sizzling banter between the main couple that made me me laugh and swoon . I loved the setting , although (and this is most likely my fault ) I was a little thrown off that this story took place in the modern day . For some reason I thought that this book would , for a lack of a better phrase have "old timey vibes" , not that it bothered me , I was just surprised .

The only reason that I rated it 3.75 is because I am in a MAJOR slump and was not as engaged as I wanted to be at parts but this was rather delightful.

This book was so adorable. A little witchy shop in a town making their name off of mystical love. Romina, her sister, their 'boss' and friend, and their 'volunteer' all work to keep the place going, and need help to make their dream of a mystical night market to come true. When Romina and her friend end up having to pretend they're together, only to find out his father is in town to remarry the mother of her ex-boyfriend. The fake dating, second chance romance, small town, witchy love vibes were cute. I loved the flower magic and the sparks of her power spread throughout the novel.

*spoilers*

I did have a few eh moments, one of them being Alex for about the first 75% of the book. He just gave off entitled, I-know-I'm-better, frat boy energy. While their chemistry was undeniable, he gave me the ick quite a few times and I wasn't really as invested. My head also spun when a son just dropped in out of nowhere. No mention, no hint of one, no toy left in his car or anything, and then a kid shows up? That was a little weird as well, even though it definitely brought the opportunity to talk about Romina's trauma and for them to work through it and get to the point they needed to be at.

Overall, a cute witchy second chance romance, but there were parts where I needed to push through. I am also not the biggest fan of small town romances, but this ended up being super cute in that aspect.

However, the most interesting part of story comes when Trevor's father decides to get married. This brings some surprises to Trevor and Romina. The Bride is the mother of Romina's high school boyfriend, Alex. We learn that Alex and Romina had once been incredibly in love, but broke up around college age. Each thought the other left the relationship and they are still deeply hurting. Another life circumstance left Romina devastated and additionally cautious about loving relationships.

Once Alex and Romina begin to thaw, the heat really blasts out. They force themselves to take tentative steps toward a relationship, while craving each other's presence. I really enjoyed reading about their growing new relationship.

There is some explicit sex, so this book may not be for everyone. But I enjoyed it.

🌟: 4.5
I've been a huge fan of Sarah Hogle's books for a long time now, and this one is at once wholly unique with its witchy vibes while also delivering the exact kind of swoon-worthy love story I expect from her.

This book presents a different take on the fake dating trope in that two friends, when faced with their exes who they are both very much not over, stumble into a pretend relationship to make their old flames regret ending things.

Immature? Possibly, but also so much fun, because it created such an entertaining dynamic between Alex and Romina. It's clear that Alex is jealous of Romina's supposed relationship with Trevor (and who doesn't enjoy reading a bit of jealousy), but his skepticism of their relationship was so much fun to read. His smug interrogation, him crashing at Romina's house and therefore forcing Trevor to stay with them as well to maintain the ruse, and the moment his suspicions were confirmed made for a comedic romp that is just too much fun.

Speaking of Alex, I utterly adored him, both in the flashbacks and in the present day. Him and Romina had such wonderful chemistry, and I loved how patient he was in showing Romina that he was committed to their relationship for the long haul. And don't even get me started on that plot twist going into part two!! I'm also obsessed with the way he calls her Romina Romina and the flashback of how that came about was downright adorable.

I also really enjoyed reading about Romina's love for using witchcraft through the language of flowers. Not only did I love her passion for her and her sisters' business, but it was touching seeing just how she fell in love with flowers and gardening. The stark difference between her and Alex's viewpoints on her passion allowed for some really interesting conversations, and I loved how Alex, despite his skepticism, wanted to learn about the things she loves.

Naturally the small town charm of Moonville was downright magical. All the different small shops and restaurants were so cute, and I loved the setting of the Tempest sisters' store, as well as learning the lore of the town as Alex and Romina argued their way through a scavenger hunt together.

Overall, this a witchy second chance romance that is the perfect addition to your springtime tbr!

This book was great, it felt fresh and not like anything else I've read lately. It kept me intrigued all the way through, I didn't want to put it down.