"The Cinnamon Bun Book Store" is a cozy, feel-good romance that will warm your heart and leave you craving sweets. The story follows Hazel, a charming bookseller who stumbles upon a secret message hidden in one of her bookstore's novels. As more coded messages appear, Hazel teams up with Noah, a handsome and adventurous fisherman, to follow the clues. Their scavenger hunt takes them all around Dream Harbor, sparking undeniable chemistry and a sweet romance that’s as irresistible as the bakery treats.

One of the highlights of this novel is Noah’s “he falls first” dynamic. His genuine affection for Hazel is clear from the beginning, making him the perfect blend of sweet and devoted. Watching him gently encourage Hazel out of her shell and into a world of adventure is endearing and heartwarming. Hazel’s journey of self-discovery is equally compelling, showcasing her growth in confidence as she learns to embrace her own sense of bravery and adventure. It's refreshing to see a heroine who doesn’t need to change who she is to find love, but instead becomes more herself.

While the mystery at the heart of "The Cinnamon Bun Book Store" is low stakes, it’s precisely this simplicity that makes the story so charming. It's an ideal read for anyone looking for a comforting escape and a perfect transition book for those late summer to early fall days. With its sweet romance, lovable characters, and a touch of small-town magic, you won’t want to put this book down. My only disappointment was that it ended too soon!

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store ☾𖤓
by Laurie Gilmore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars!

I absolutely loved this book! After adoring The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, I couldn’t wait for the sequel and preordered it immediately. The mix of mystery and romance in The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is just perfect for a cozy end-of-summer read. Laurie Gilmore’s writing grabbed me from the start, and the balance of dialogue to inner thoughts was spot on. Even though I’m not usually a fan of third-person POV, it worked really well here, letting me connect with the characters.

Hazel and Noah are a charming pair—opposites attract and all that. Their scavenger hunt adventure around Dream Harbor is as sweet as the cinnamon buns at Hazel’s bookstore. With just the right amount of spice and a heartwarming story, this book is a fantastic pick for fall. If you loved the first book or just enjoy a feel-good romance, this one’s a must-read!

Thank you Harper 360 and NetGalley for the ARC!!

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store is about Hazel wanting to takes risk and live a little before she turns 30. She recruits the town play boy, Noah to help her out with a series of clues that are left behind mysteriously at the bookstore she manages.

I thought this was such a cute book! I love Hazel and Noah together, and they are a great example of opposites attract. Hazel is especially relatable, and lovable. While this is a romance Laurie Gilmore does a great job with some deeper themes.

There is a bit of a loll in the middle of the book, but overall I enjoyed the pacing. I would defiantly recommend this books for fans of Tessa Bailey’s Hook, Line and Sinker!

Overall I give The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore 4.25 stars!!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC! So, I haven't checked out the first book in this series, but lucky me, I got to dive into The Cinnamon Bun Book Store. It's like a warm, cozy hug with a hint of spice. This book made me seriously consider Googling the most amazing cinnamon bun recipe and hunkering down in bed with the snuggliest blankets I could find. I mean, hello, perfect fall cuddle material! It's basically a sweet Hallmark movie, but with extra spice. Sure, there were some moments that made me raise an eyebrow - I mean, the constant back-and-forth questions between Hazel and Noah when things heated up? Come on, guys, you're not teenagers anymore! I even caught myself speed-reading through the end because, let's be real, it was starting to sound like a broken record. But hey, overall, it was a cute little read - like a quirky rom-com that you can't help but enjoy. I'd give it three stars and a cinnamon-scented high five.

I devoured this book in only a few hours - especially the beginning! Chapter 1 had me hooked because I was already loving the vibe of Hazel and Noah and then getting dual POVs was great. The premise of the story has Hazel and Noah following clues she has found in books leading them on adventures and it’s adorable! They really brought out the best in each other and their relationship was so sweet. Noah made Hazel feel sexy and fun, and Hazel made Noah feel appreciated and capable. The middle was a little slower for me because the miscommunication was frustrating in them trying to navigate and define their feelings. However the big moment (you will see) was just top notch and one of my favorite ways to express one’s love! Can’t wait to read others in the series.

Overall, I enjoyed this, but there were some things that kept me from loving it.

1. I liked Noah and Hazel; I thought they had good motivations and were well-characterized. While I loved how their relationship allowed each other to grow internally, though, I felt their romance was a bit too rushed. Perhaps I missed something for not reading the first book, but we’re immediately thrown into Noah is a ladies man who’s always had a crush on Hazel, but we see no real evidence to establish either claim? It’s just told to us, which makes their relationship come off as unbalanced (I can’t think of a word to properly explain). I know Hazel always meant for theirs to be a summer fling, but I think it’s because we’re told up front how much Noah likes Hazel, and then it’s constantly brought up that he doesn’t do serious relationships… I don’t know, I think like if we learned his romantic intentions later, maybe it would’ve helped?

2. I understand that all the businesses in town have cutesy names, but calling the store The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore because you SERVE (not even make in house, because the neighboring baker makes them) cinnamon buns ONE DAY A WEEK, is a weak reason to name the store, and therefore the book. The book definitely needed to be named after the store though.

3. A matter of preference, but there was waaaay too much “spice” for me. To the point where I started to skim over any scene when I knew it was headed in that direction. But this is labeled on NetGalley as “erotica” first, and I didn’t notice till now.

4. I really loved the reveal of who was leaving the clues in the books. That scene till basically the end of the book had me kicking my feet.

I’ll most likely the previous book for October and the upcoming sequel after that for the holidays. I only read this first because it’s set in the seasonal transition between summer and fall (aka now). This could be read as a stand-alone, but it definitely helps to read the previous book first, so you better understand the town and character dynamics better.

3.75 ⭐️ super cute continuation in this series. hazel was as good of an FMC has I dreamed she would be & Noah was perfect for her. had to subtract some stars because some 🌶️ parts were sooooo cringy. like so so so cringy

This book was cute. This is not good in terms of a literary viewpoint, but it’s fun. This is more of a “cozy” book in which you can shut your mind off. The writing is not necessarily good, but it’s fun. Sometimes the writing felt amateur, but once you let that part of your mind stop overthinking this book was quite enjoyable. This isn’t a book I’d recommend to everyone, but I would recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet and simple time with a little bit of spice.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper360 for allowing me to read this for an honest review.

This book was super cute and easy to read. Hazel and Noah's story was lots of fun to read. Noah is a very lighthearted character who likes to crack jokes to cover up his vulnerabilities. Hazel is a bookworm who's timid and stuck in a rut. They embark on a summer of fun, and Noah falls fast and hard for Hazel. My only dislike was that these characters would not talk to each other about their feelings. I don't care for the miscommunication trope, and there was a bit of that in this story. Thankfully the author wraps it up pretty quick so we aren't left with lots of angst and drama. Noah was a very swoon worthy character, and I loved watching Hazel break out of her shell and embrace life. Overall a very good summer read!

"Cinnamon Bun Bookstore" by Laurie Gilmore is one of my new favorite reads!!!

This book was an absolute delight from start to finish! I couldn’t put it down and devoured it in just two days!

The story centers around Hazel, a book-loving woman about to turn 30, who decides to step out of her comfort zone and indulge in some carefree fun before hitting the big 3-0. Enter Noah, a charming fisherman with a zest for adventure.

When Hazel discovers a series of mysterious clues, she recruits Noah to help her unravel the mystery. (scavenger hunt style) Hazel is incredibly relatable—passionate about books, cozy fall vibes, and a bit self-conscious unless she’s talking about her favorite reads. Noah, with his adventurous spirit, helps Hazel rediscover her confidence, making for a truly heartwarming story. I also adore how the characters’ love for reading is such a central theme!

The ending was simply perfect! I’ll definitely be rereading this book and recommending it to everyone I know!

Tropes I loved:
*He Falls First
*Small Town Romance
*Forced Proximity
*Friends to Lovers
*Cozy Mystery
*Rom-Com

Thank you NetGalley and Laurie Gilmore and Harper360 for this ARC!

Hazel and Noah were *chefs kiss*

Similar to the Pumpkin Spice Cafe, it all starts with a mystery when Hazel finds books in her store in the wrong place and defaced - finding little pieces highlighted like a clue. She asks Noah for his help completing the tasks and through it, he gets to finally spend time with his dream girl.

I LOVED how much he respects her and provides words of affirmation. Through the story we see her confidence grow and I just freaking love to see it!

Read if you love: reverse age gap, friends to lovers, a summer fling, and a mystery!

I devoured Pumpkin Spice Cafe and knew I needed to get my hands on The Cinnamon Bun Book Store! I was NOT disappointed! I adored this book! A small- town romance, friends to lovers, mystery, some spice - there is truly something for everyone. This is the perfect book to read to transition from summer to fall! Thank you so much for granting me access to my very first ARC!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This was a very solid romance book! I love entering the dream harbor world! It’s always cozy and steamy. 💕

meh it was okay, not a huge fan of insta love and that’s what it felt like and hazel kinda annoyed me

This is exactly what I’m looking for in a cozy, fall, feel good book! I almost want to read it again in a month when the fall leaves start falling and there’s a chill in the air so I can be even more immersed. Laurie Gilmore knows comfy cozy that’s for sure and I will be reading more of her books.

I had high hopes for where this story was going but was disappointed by 83% of the book. I thought the introduction of Jeannie's brother would have led to a nice twist. As fast as he was mentioned was as fast as he was gone. It became a cookie cutter story.

If you love a good small-town romance with friends to lovers, some spice, AND a little bit of mystery… then this is the book for you!

I gave this book 5 ⭐️‘s! It was such a fun read that had me giggling, a little teary-eyed, and most of all having that “happy cozy romance” feeling. This book is a perfect transition book from the summer months, into the fall months as well. I could just picture the quaint little town perfectly from this book and the characters gave a “one big happy family” type of vibe.

I felt the characters were well written, especially in regards to the “friends-to-lovers” trope in this book. I enjoyed the dynamic of their relationship, in regards to how they were brought together as well. Overall, such a fun read and I cannot wait for book 3 to come out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher/author for letting me read this book early!

This was really cute and a fun read once I got into it. Once I hit the 20% mark I couldn’t put it down. I love the concept of the scavenger hunt bringing Hazel and Noah together. It was really cute and unique and I just adored Noah. Laurie also did a great job really reeling you into the story where it felt like you were there with them. I do wish we could’ve seen a little more of Noah with his family at the end, but I can’t wait to continue the series! If you like Lucy Scores Blue Moon series and BK Borisons Lovelight series you’ll like this one.

The perfect summer-to-fall transition book. It's exactly what it looks like- a cute, cozy, small town romance. Hazel works at a bookstore and was such a relatable character and Noah is THE acts of service man. Their relationship and their "summer of fun" was so sweet. I am definitely going to read the rest of the books in this series!

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore
Release date: September 3rd
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
🌶️🌶️/ 5

Blurb:
Hazel, She is approaching 30 who regrets wasting her 20s playing it safe, and she’s also the owner of the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore. Hazel finds a secret message hidden in a book and follows the clues that appear between the pages. Going through this new adventure, She enlists the help of Noah, a handsome fisherman with a past who's always up for an adventure. As the two search for treasure around Dream Harbor, they unexpectedly find themselves falling for each other.

My thoughts 💭
Last year I read The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, I could not wait to read The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore and this book did not disappoint! If you are looking for a super cute/cozy quick read... this is it! It has the perfect amount of spice and I absolutely loved the chemistry Hazel and Noah had! Reading this with a pumpkin spice latte in hand and a cozy fall playlist is seriously the way to go🍁

If you’re looking for
-Small Town Romance
-Forced Proximity
-Friends to Lovers
-Cozy Mystery
-He Falls First

Then this is the book for you!