I am so honored that I was chosen to read this as an arc reader through @netgalley. I'll start this off by saying that I really just want Hazel's life. To manage a bookstore that smells like cinnamon buns and weekly smutty book club meetings sounds like a dream. As a woman also turning 30 in a few months, I really connected with her. Noah seems really sweet, endearing, and carefree, but in reality, he thinks very little of himself, and its unwarranted. This is the second book in the series, and I honestly liked it more than the first! There was more spice, also a little bit of mystery, but there was miscommunication between the FMC and MMC. The only downfall of Laurie Gilmore's books imo. It was a very cozy and fast read, more for late summer than fall.

This is definitely a cozy read!!! I didn’t got fully into it until more of the center of the book. But the plot keeps me interested on it . I did liked Hazel and Noah a lot and they were entertaining characters. I like the scavenger hunt and how it brought them together. Definitely a cute cozy romance.

Hazel’s journey from a shy bookseller who feels lost in her late 20s to a vibrant woman who knows what she wants out of life is fun and engaging, and I appreciate how Gilmore includes Hazel’s battles with her insecurity. Supporting characters, such as the adorable book club ladies and Jeanie from the bakery next door, as well as the leading man, the charming local fisherman, Noah, bring warmth and humor, making the story as much about friendship and belonging as it is about personal transformation.

The dialogue throughout the novel is lively and engaging. Hazel’s banter with Noah, full of fun and occasional tension, brings a delightful spark to their relationship as it evolves from friendly teasing to something deeper. Gilmore's skill in crafting natural dialogue ensures that the characters feel authentic, while moments of self-reflection in Lucy's internal dialogue add a layer of depth to her personal struggles and triumphs. I really loved the added mystery of the book clues!


The setting of “The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore” is one of the novel's standout features. Gilmore paints an inviting picture of the small, ocean-side town, streets filled with quaint shops, cobblestone paths, and the smell of fresh cinnamon buns wafting from Hazel’s bookstore on Saturdays. The cozy setting enhances the themes of growing comfortable with yourself and with rediscovering what is great about your community, making it the perfect backdrop for a heartwarming, feel-good story.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read with a cute idea of following these clues found in books and that really lead to the main characters discovering so much more about themselves. Both FMC and MMC had to deal with their own insecurities in order to move forward in their relationship and they really built one another up. I also love the supporting cast from this town.

Thank you NetGalley and Laurie Gilmorefor the ARC of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store!! This was the absolute best cozy read I needed to get me in the fall mood for October!! I cannot wait to read the next one in the series at Christmas!!

This is the e second book in the Dream Harbor series. It totally stands alone. This book was a cute rom com.

I had such a fun time reading The Pumpkin Spice Cafe so I was so excited to read this one! I also was intrigued by the characters this follows and wanted to read their story.

Unfortunately, this one kinda fell flat for me! There was way too much spice and also I thought this was a fall book but it mostly took place in summer which confused me. Also some things the characters thought bothered me lol

I didn’t enjoy this as much as I hoped but I will continue the series!

This book was so fun!! I loved Hazel and Noah’s summer romance that started as a silly scavenger hunt and turned into a sweet friendship/relationship.

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is the second book in the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore. It is a cute small town romance read with 3+ open door scenes. 
The beginning of the book was a bit slow for me. But once Hazel and Noah started the Summer of Fun and went on adventures the book moved a lot faster. 
I can relate to how Hazel feels the  need to find herself before turning the BIG 30. While finding herself she falls in love with Noah. It is super cute. 

Tropes:
- Opposites attract
 - He falls first 
- Forced Proximity 

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This page turner is so adorable. Between trying to find out the clues she’s getting and he bringing on the help of a cute fisherman it’s almost cute romance story meets mystery. Loved the concept and the vibes.

I really enjoyed this book and with the romance felt the chemistry throughout the entire book which I loved! The setting is a perfect cozy fall read. Highly recommend, especially if you enjoyed the first one or if you just want a cozy romance read. It's not a book I really though about when I wasn't reading it, but when I was in the story, it was a great time.

This book is so sweet, it gave me cavities! As the second installment in the Dream Harbor series, this small-town romance can be enjoyed as a standalone. It features a golden retriever MMC who is all in on helping the FMC live her best life before she turns 30. The tropes? He falls first, fake dating, teach me, and, of course, small town charm with that irresistible golden retriever MMC energy. It’s a quick, fluffy read with a little more spice than Pumpkin Spice Café. While it leans more towards an end-of-summer-to-fall vibe, I devoured every page. If you’re craving a cozy, feel-good story with just the right touch of spice, this is the one!

The is the second book in the Dream Harbor series, and right now probably my favorite! The main characters Hazel who works in a bookshop, who hasn’t really “lived”. She notices strange things happening to some of her books that might lead to a clue? That’s when the MC Noah who works on a small fishing boat comes in to help. She wants adventure, be a little reckless.. and Noah is just the guy!
I fell in love with both these characters, they had great chemistry, some mis-communication. But I tend to enjoy that. It’s told in Dual POV which I enjoy getting into the head of the characters.
The spice was nice! And I didn’t find it cringy. I would read a whole series about Hazel and Noah! If you love sweet, kick your feet kinda small town romance, this book is for you!

All the feels. Hazel follows clues to a scavenger hunt hidden in romance books in her bookstore, clues that lead her to drop some of her inhibitions and lean into just having fun while summer lasts. You get longing, self-discovery, the transit of time and it's ephemeral nature. All of which is perfect for a fall cozy read.

3.5 stars! I was so excited to go back to the cozy little town of Dream Harbor again! I really enjoyed this book as it had a warm, comforting feeling too it. I liked the mystery aspect of the book too and all the activities were so fun. Books set in bookstores always seem a bit magical to me because I love reading and when the cute bookstore also serves cinnamon buns, sounds ideal! Most of the characters are ones we have already met and I enjoy getting to continue their stories. Based off the cover, the setting of the book seems like it would be fall, but it was mostly set in summer. That was slightly disappointing for me, but all the summer activities in the book made it fun. In summary, this is a fun, cozy, easy reading book with some spice!

I read The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie Gilmore right after finishing The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, and I have to say, I enjoyed Hazel and Noah’s story a lot more than Logan and Jeanie’s. Noah is a green flag all the way—he really put in the effort to win Hazel over, and it was sweet. The story centers on Hazel trying to find that adventure before she turns 30 and Noah trying to prove himself. Its also like Hazel changed Noah for the better, from being a rake to a committed guy. Although it did not explain in the 1st book or in this book either how Noah first laid eyes on her, if anybody has an answer, please tell me, I can’t remember.

However, despite the book's title, the plot didn’t focus much on the bookstore itself. Instead, a lot of attention went to the boat scenes, which felt a bit out of place. Still, the ending was adorable, especially with Noah’s book-themed confession. I loved that!

While the story is cute, I wasn’t a huge fan of the third-person perspective, and there was quite a bit of repetitive backstory that I found myself skimming over. Also, like The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, I wouldn’t classify this as a cozy read despite the marketing.

On the spice scale, it lands at about 3 peppers, so if you’re looking for some heat, this book delivers!


Thank you for HarperCollins for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Stars - Lots of spice in this sweet romance. Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is book #2 in Gilmore's Dream Harbor series. Not a lot of depth to the characters, but sometimes a bit of fluffy romance is what we need. Looking forward to reading book #3.

I loved the second book in this series just as much as the first! Hazel’s looking to experience life and the adventures she gets pushed to experience with gorgeous Noah are perfect! Add in a bookstore and this is a hit for me!

I feel so left out. I wanted to enjoy this more. I just didn’t see it for the two main characters, I felt nothing. It was like I blinked and they were making out and feeling things.

The setting was a highlight. I’d like to read the previous book and then return to this one and give it another shot. The potential is definitely there.

I want to start with saying thank you to the publisher for sending me this to read! I really enjoyed reading Noah and Hazels story! The kooky towns people reminded me a lot of the towns people from Gilmore girls. Enjoyed the cozy mystery element of this, and reading about Noah and Hazels adventures in exploring the clues left behind. Over all a very cute, very spicy read!