Fake Dating.
Second Chance Romance.
Long Standing crushes.

This was the trope of all tropes and I was here for it. I loved the setting, the characters, the story and the overall vibe of this sweet book. Plus...that cover?! Gorgeous!

Sarah Hogle writes stories that are magical, a bit chaotic and earnestly heartwarming with a bit of shenanigans. Old Flames and New Fortunes (PUB 04.23) is no exception.

This is described as "A Cottagecore Witch Gets a Second Chance" and that is spot on. Romina Tempest is a flora fortunist in the small, magical town of Moonville, OH. She unexpectedly ends up in a fake-dating scenario with a colleague who just happens to be her high school ex's soon-to-be (as in this weekend) stepbrother.

This steamy slow-burn second chance romance was the perfect book to curl up with on a cozy winter afternoon. It's charming, sweet and compulsively readable, with some unexpected layers to both the characters and the story. This was more open-door than Hogle's other works and I was here for it.

2 Stars
Cover 2 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

I loved You Deserve Each Other and requested this eARC. Unfortunately, this just didn't hit for me. I found the FMC insufferable. She's a self-proclaimed flower witch and inventor of fauna magic, but she doesn't adhere to any sort of flower symbology or mythology. She just does what she feels. This gives the author permission to do no research and to me it felt a bit lazy, especially considering how bang you over the head the flower magic is to the book.

The plot is some sort of wedding and fake dating and reconnecting with an old flame. but I didn't see any of these people wanting anything to do with Romina. Then there is the big "secret" that the MMC is keeping from the FMC that when revealed, gave me the icks.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a fun and charming read!!! I was sucked into the story immediately and loved the push & pull of all the characters.

Romina & Alex. YES! That's all there is to say about them. Yes, a thousand times over.

I hope there is at least 1 follow-up book to this one because I didn't get enough of these people, of this town. Give me more!!!

Romina lives in the town of Moonville, Ohio with her magical family. Facing a real need to expand their business Romina goes to a meeting with friend and business partner Trevor attempting to secure a loan. During this meeting they find out that his father is going to be getting married. Romina and Trevor also end up announcing that they are dating. Romina faces further complications when her high school sweetheart, Alex, witnesses her fake relationship with their friend Trevor. Despite initial hostility, the story takes a compelling turn as Alex and Romina are thrown together during wedding festivities.

I love the way the story unraveled the characters' history and addressing past trauma. The book delves into thought-provoking themes like life detours, choices, and hard issues women navigate. The exploration of witchcraft and flower symbolism adds an intriguing layer to this lovely story. I have really been enjoying books that use a light touch with witchcraft. I also really adored the relationship between Romina and Alex's mom. I don't know if we will get any additional stories from this world but I would love it.

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

I will start with saying I am a huge Sarah Hogle fan, her plots are unique and her characters are witty and hilarious. I was so excited to receive the ARC for her new book!

Unfortunately this one was not for me. I wanted to quit in chapter 2 because I was already weirded out. I tried so hard to trudge through it but gave up at 45%. The plot has the female main character being an unironic witch, in the real world, and that was a little too weird for me. I absolutely loved her other magical book, Just Like Magic. But in Just Like Magic, there seemed to be an understanding from the author to the readers that the characters and the writing were intentionally ridiculous and chaotic, but to have fun with it. I didn’t get the light-hearted vibes in this book. This one felt like it was trying to take the magical premise too seriously, and it just felt awkward. Especially as Alex confronts her about her not believing in magic in the past. She doesn't give much of an explanation to what changed, but he still just needles her about it in kind of a mean way.

I usually laugh my way through all Sarah’s books, which is why I love them so much, but the humor and wit wasn’t there for me. The MMC, Alex, was just kind of a self-obsessed jerk. I kept waiting to like him and it’s not coming.

Sarah still remains an auto-buy author for me. Out of the 4 books of hers that I have read, 3 are some of my absolute favorite. I really hope this book lands better for other people!

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I love fake dating troupes! And this one did not disappoint! You will want to read this book over and over. Stepbrothers, magical sweet little towns and old high school boyfriends! Throw in a car chase and what more could you want! I read this on the beach and smiled from ear to ear!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! Will highly recommend this one!

The most compelling aspect of this book for me was Romina's relationship with her sisters and niece. The dynamic between Trevor and the sisters (and just Romina) was also hilarious and had me laughing uncontrollably more than once (they are such good friends!). However, I just did not click with Alex's character, and therefore not with Romina and Alex's relationship either. This is obviously a personal preference but did, of course, impact my enjoyment of the book. I was also a little lost on the market plot, which I know is meant to be secondary to the romance but felt a little vague, piecemeal, and slapdash even when it was mentioned.

Old Flames and New Fortunes tells the story of Romina (Romina!) a flower fortunist who is reunited with her high school boyfriend Alex more than a decade later. There's witchy sisters, magical flowers, fake dating, a car chase, and lots and lots of pining. Hogle packed this story full, maybe a little too full at times, but I can't help love how rich, and vivid it all is!

This book has left me a little frazzled. It took me a little bit to get into it but once I did, I was absolutely locked in. I love the premise of magic revolving around Ro’s floral arrangements and the way magic was explained overall. The magical small town setting was a treasure! There were so many high moments and then a random reveal that felt like it came from left field.

I was so positive this was going to be a five star read for me and then this ONE moment just kind of snatched a star away. But all in all, a solid read with lots of swoony moments.

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC.

I just didn’t love this one. I didn’t connect with either of the main characters. Not a fan. Some of their behavior made me cringe.

This book had so many elements that drew me in, so I was disappointed that I didn’t love it more than I did! It felt like the story took a minute to find its rhythm, but there is sort of a frenetic energy to Romina, the magic shop, etc., so it kind of worked.

My biggest issue was with Alex. It felt like he didn’t know what kind of MMC he was supposed to be — this intellectual, observant, somewhat reserved guy we were told about from her past, or this weirdly arrogant, possessive, alpha male he acted like when trying to expose Romina’s fake dating plan. Let the record show that I am fine with either type of MMC; it just felt like he was a bit unrealistic and a grabbag of all our favorite tropes. Somebody should also note that he spent the middle 30% of the book trying to get Romina to drop her act and tell all her secrets when HE WAS HIDING THE BIGGEST SECRET OF ALL - and was so cavalier about it! I didn’t love that for her.

That said, when the fake dating scheme was thrown out the window, Alex seemed to chill way out, and I could enjoy his and Romina’s connection. I thought the second act of their story was well written, and I loved the flora fortunes, witch elements, and the sister relationships.

2.5 stars, rounding up to 3.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I started out really loving this book, the main character Romina is funny and sweet. I love the banter between the sisters and their friends/colleagues in the store. I even really liked the main male character and ex-Alex UNTIL part two of the book. He reveals a big secret like it's no big deal and is very caviler about it which makes me just plain angry. If this section had been handled differently I would have adored their relationship and the rest of the book but instead, it left me feeling like Romina is labeled as the problem and not Alex when honestly he has just as many issues.

Honestly Sarah Hogle can write anything and I'll read it! I'm talking grocery list, pros and cons list, I would even come back from the dead just to read my obituary if she wrote it. She writes the kind of rom-coms that are so wonderfully effervescent you don't ever want to have to close the book.

Every character and detail in this book has such a rich energy to it and the way she makes seemingly unlikeable qualities so endearing is truly an art only she has mastered. This book is a cozy comedy I will definitely be reaching for again to recommend to all my friends!

I adore Sarah Hogle’s witty dialogue and her characters are so interesting to me. I was extremely excited for this book, but it fell a little short for me. The only reason was —once the love interest showed up, I lost a little interest. Alex didn’t really win me over and I think I would have been so happy if there was a surprise romance within the story. Like a side character that is better for her and she finally realizes he’s the one who is right for her. Second chance romance aren’t my fav but I enjoyed Sarah Hogle’s debut novel You Deserve Each other. I thought this book was going to give me the same feels. It was still very cute, just a little slower than her previous work.

I received this as an ARC, and all opinions are my own.
Rating : 3.5 Stars

I was over the moon when I received this ARC from NetGalley.
I have read 2 books from Sarah Hogle before, and absolutely loved You Deserve Each Other.

Going into this, I had no clue what to expect. I adored the witchy element that was brought in, and how they tied Moonville, OH along to make the small town more mystical. It had some really great tropes and some character development, and I loved the bickering of the sisters and family dynamics.

Tropes:
- Fake Dating
- High School Sweethearts
- Second Chance Romance
- Small Town

Overall I really enjoyed it, however there were moments of the story that felt a bit chaotic on events, and I also think it would have been deeper on character perspective if it were a dual POV.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam & Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for an honest review!

Hoyle has such a distinct voice in the romance genre! Her plot will not only make you genuinely giggle but will be full of heartfelt emotion - this is no different.

One of the most fun and wholesome second chance romance books I've read omg 😭 I was legit laughing out loud at some of the scenes, and the wholesomeness level at the end is >>>

The trope is second chance romance whilst the FMC is dating her love's.. step-brother to be (the stepbrother is also having a second chance romance with someone simultaneously 😭)

++ witchy stuff (this book is about a flower witch!!)

++ SO MUCH CHAOS 😭

TWs - death of parent (past), unpleasant household due to divorcing parents (past), domestic abuse (verbal) in a relationship (past) and the panic/grief following it, separation of a child and a parental figure (in the aforementioned relationship), financial issues in a business

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I received an ARC on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story, but I don't think it will be a book I read again.

I will always read everything this woman writes and it has never let me down!!! I loved all these characters so much. I think this is my favorite after you deserve each other!