I LOVED THE PUMPKIN SPICE CAFÈ! And this one more! I really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put down. It kept me wanting more. The characters are amazing! And I love the title and the story line. Such an amazing book!

Okay, if you’re looking for a quick, sweet, and low-key romantic mystery, this book is the vibe.

Hazel, the bookseller, finds herself uncovering secret messages hidden in the pages of the books in her store. With the help of the charming Noah, a local fisherman who’s been low-key crushing on her for months, they embark on a cute scavenger hunt around Dream Harbor.

Their chemistry? Fire. Honestly, the romance between them is so cute it gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling – kind of like when you bite into a cinnamon bun fresh out of the oven. Plus, the whole mystery aspect keeps things interesting without being too heavy.

It’s a fast, fun read with all the classic romance vibes: chemistry, tension, and some heartwarming moments. The book’s got a little mystery twist, which is a nice bonus. If you're looking for a book that delivers a dose of romance, adventure, and a dash of intrigue, this one’s definitely worth checking out.
3.5⭐

I love this series! So cute and festive! The author has found a real writing niche. I would pick up any of her books! Warm and cozy reads! Read this series! You will not be disappointed! I am hopeful the author will write a new series after this one is finished. I’m not quite ready to let Noah and Hazel go! Maybe a 2.5 is in the future!

NetGalley Review: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore
Rating: 4/5 Stars

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is a delightful, heartwarming read filled with charm. Set in a cozy bookstore-bakery, the story beautifully explores themes of healing, self-discovery, and community. The vivid descriptions made me wish this enchanting place existed in real life.

The characters were relatable and endearing, with their interactions creating a genuine sense of belonging. While the pacing was slightly uneven at times, the overall charm and warmth of the story made it an enjoyable read.

Perfect for fans of books about bookstores, baked goods, and second chances!

This whole series is a joke. I was told Gilmore girls and got horny inappropriate awkward social skills in a small town full of meddling ignorant people. I do not recommend this series

This book promised me cozy Hallmark romance vibes and absolutely failed to deliver on that front. The only thing that caused me to keep pushing through reading was the fact that I’ve heard that the rest of the series improves. Gosh, this whole book was a big letdown. It felt like there wasn’t a concrete plot or character development for Hazel or Noah. There are a lot of chapters with filler that didn’t benefit the story or move it along, and that caused me to grow quite bored. Also, for a cozy romance, there was a high smut ratio. Which I don’t have a problem with; it just wasn’t the vibe I was searching for from this premise. 

For a good portion of the book, I almost forgot Hazel was a nearly thirty-year-old woman until she mentioned her looming birthday over and over again. She was an extremely juvenile character, and that grated on my nerves quite a bit. 

I’m still very confused as to why this was marketed as an autumn book when the book takes place during the summer and fits the summer aesthetic; it just seems like another false promise in the end. 

I really hope that the next books in the series are better because I feel like I’m really missing out on the hype here.

This is such a fun book! Perfect for the fall and winter season!

I loved meeting Hazel and Noah, and watching their relationship evolve.

I am loving the town that Gilmore writes, and know I want to read everything in this series! I also love that Gilmore adds a little bit of mystery to the story, making it all the more engaging.

If you are looking for a light but fun series, I highly suggest this book, and the other books in the Dream Harbor series.

This book is the second in the series but can be read as a stand alone. You learn about Hazel, the small bookshop manager that is questioning her life as she is about to turn 30. Adventure, fun, and some smut involved in her summer of fun!

I originally saw this book on Tiktok and was excited to read this book based off the hype. Overall it was a fine book. I wish there were more adventurous things that actually happened in the book to help the main FMC get out of her confort zone. it seemed like the only adventuous thing she did was step out of her confort zone. The MMC also didnt show much growth through out the book but magically because HIM by the end.

The cinnamon bun book store is basically a cinnamon bun in book form. It's sweet, cozy, warm, and you know exactly what you're going to get. But it's still tasty.

Laurie Gilmore continues Dream Harbor series with The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore. I felt this book was much better than The Pumpkin Spice Café which I liked a lot.

3.5🌟

This book was so cute! I loved Hazel and Noah. The scavenger hunt was a great addition to their dates. The only thing that brought this down is the miscommunication trope is not my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Harper360 for the ARC read! This book about Hazel & Noah was a fun and enchanting read which I co-read on Kindle & Audiobook! It was a lovely tide over between Halloween & Christmas. I must admit I liked the characters more in this one than the previous (Pumpkin Spice Cafe) but I think that PSC had slightly more additional plot than the romance. The spice level was anticipated and well done. I think the characters came off as authentic and cute but I was seeking more depth. All along a fun read!

Thank you for the eARC! This was fluffy and cute! The cover is deceiving as this felt incredibly summery and not at all fall like. I did enjoy the characters' banter and the set up was fun. This was a whirlwind romance that was a little shallow but it's not meant to be that deep, in my opinion. I would read more by this author but I think that the characters were not as fleshed out as I expect from a romance for me to feel fully invested. This was a fun read though! Very fast!

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I need 100 more books in this series please. I lovee the characters, I love the town, I love the love!! Running to read the Christmas Tree Farm!!

I loved this book! The storyline was cute and made me not want to put it down. I love that we still get updates from the other people in Dream Harbor. This small town is one I would love to be a part of!

after multiple attempts at reading- I have decided to DNF. I’m hoping to return to it in the future but right now i’m unable to connect with the author’s writing style.

First, a big thank you to NetGalley, Laurie Gilmore, and Harper 360 for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Was this book so sweet and cute? Absolutely! Did I see myself in Hazel? 100%! The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore brought a lot of charm, and Hazel’s character felt wonderfully relatable. She’s a real girl with real insecurities, managing a demanding career and still figuring out her place in the world. Noah, with his fun-loving and sunny personality, was the perfect match for her, nudging Hazel out of her bookish shell in the most heartwarming ways.

Though I’m not usually a fan of the “insta-love” trope, it worked for me here, maybe because Hazel and Noah shared so much time together, allowing their connection to feel authentic despite the short timeline.

One note—while the cover hinted at a cozy fall setting, that wasn’t the case in the story. That aside, The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore was a delightful read, blending sweet romance with relatable characters. Definitely worth picking up for anyone looking for a feel-good escape!

Thank you Net Galley and publishers for letting me read an arc of this book in return for an honest review.

I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. It was better than the first, I feel like I liked this couple more than the first. Is it still bad, make you laugh kind of writing? Yes, but I was expecting it this time unlike the first. Was this still a super over the top cheesy rom-com hallmark movie? Very much so, but it was really cute. It does have more spice than the first, so if you're not into that then you won't like this one. I don't know if I related to the characters more, but I didn't want to roll my eyes at it all. It's definitely more of a summer book than a cozy fall read so the cover throws you off. If you're looking for a super easy to read in one day, cozy, still bad writing but entertaining book then this is for you.

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore

This is book #2 in the dream harbor series! Now this is definitely giving Rory Gilmore vibezzzz!! 🤣 it was soooo funny! I enjoyed the sexual tension and chemistry the two main characters Hazel and Noah had for each other. So far they’re my favorite couple! This is not your typical “hallmark” book because it’s most definitely giving adult content. 🌶️🥵

I loved the little mystery within this book too, it makes it so much more fun and interesting getting to know the townsfolk’s more. The book club group is my favorite side characters, especially the leader Kaorie I believe…🤣‼️ The season this book takes place in is towards the end of summer fyi.

My favorite scene was definitely the boat scene 😩…best scene written in the entire book! Chef kiss 💋!