I love everything Sarah Hogle writes, and Old Flames and New Fortunes did not disappoint!!

This was fun, magical, witchy, romantic, sweet, heartwarming, and funny all in one! I am so glad I was able to receive an arc for this — thanks to NetGalley for that! This is such a great cozy romance, and not at all what I expected it to be at first glance (in the best way). I thought the book was going to end right where the first part did, and I was delighted that it didn’t and had so much more depth than a typical fake dating romance! I love Sarah’s writing style, and this did not disappoint!

I fell head over heels for this book! It's like that all-time favorite movie you can't get enough of, the one you watch on repeat until you've got every line, gesture, and facial expression memorized. Seriously, this has got to be the author's ultimate masterpiece. I've been itching to get my own copy so I can relive the magic of Moonville whenever I need a dose of enchantment!

Enter Romina Tempest: a flower whisperer who knows the secret language of blooms, using their magic to channel the unique emotions her customers seek. She's got this incredible flower shop, kind of like a fairyland, where lovebirds flock to find their own happily-ever-afters. Yet, despite her knack for crafting love stories, Romina herself remains stuck in the past, nursing a heartbreak inflicted by her first love, Alex King. He shattered her and ruined her chances of giving love a second shot.

Sharing a building with her elder sister Luna's captivating candle business and her eccentric sister Zelda's paranormal bookstore, Romina is surrounded by intriguing ventures. Let's not forget their spirited investor Trevor, who's like a big-hearted kid brother. With the opening of the night market drawing near, they need more funds to cover their expenses, which means they have to turn to Trevor's dad for financial assistance.

Romina and Trevor decide to team up and pitch their ideas to Daniel, Trevor's father, at a pub. However, this outing also leads them to bump into Trevor's ex and her not-so-friendly cousin. Romina's protective instincts kick in, and she blurts out a lie about her and Trevor being in a relationship before they meet Daniel.

Unfortunately, this lie takes an inconvenient turn during their meeting. Daniel has news of his own happily-ever-after: he's getting hitched to Alex's mother. Yes, you heard that right. The guy who broke Romina's heart into a million pieces is going to be Trevor's stepbrother. As if that's not enough, the annoying cousin declares she's dating Trevor! Trevor and Romina are pushed into a fake dating scenario, and they decide to keep up the ruse to make their exes jealous and show how content they are together.

Right from the start, Alex gets suspicious about their so-called relationship. He's determined to uncover the truth, resorting to a wildly inappropriate compatibility quiz and even invading their shared living space, watching their every move like a hawk.

Trevor wants to come clean with his father, especially as Alex's relentless probing becomes more unbearable by the day. But revealing the truth might brand them as untrustworthy and jeopardize their chances of securing the business loan. However, the sizzling chemistry and lingering emotions between Romina and Alex also add fuel to the fire. They're like a ticking bomb, with their intense intimacy capable of setting the whole town ablaze.

What if Romina stands to lose more than just her business by opening her heart to a man who could shatter it all over again? What if moving on is simply not in the cards for her? And what if the secrets they're hiding from each other could alter the course of their lives forever?

Oh boy, I wish I could read this book for an entire month! I never wanted it to end, and I'm secretly hoping that Sarah Hogle treats us to more Moonville magic with Luna and Zelda's love stories, giving us glimpses into Romina and Alex's future. Everything about this town, these characters, their love story, the enchanting flowers — it's pure literary magic! Words hardly suffice to convey just how much I savored this read. It's definitely a five-star contender and then some!

A huge thank you goes out to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM/G. P. Putnam’s Sons for generously sharing this phenomenal book's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Possibly one of my favorite second chance romances ever. This story was so beautifully written, with the perfect blend of whimsy, friendship, and romance. This book broke my heart and then put it back together again.