Cute second chance sapphic romance. Very enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun second chance romance in lovely setting! I really appreciated how queer this book was, as it seems Eureka Springs was this queer haven nestled in middle of nowhere Arkansas. I appreciated that these two characters both had big aspirations and that we got to hangout with them (both present time, and through reminiscing years ago) as they fixed up the Hummingbird Inn. I liked how Dumond showed a messy and complicated relationship that tiptoed the line between loathing and love. There was a lot of hurt, passion, and care that fizzed between our two MCs. I think perhaps the pacing could have been stronger as the chapters at times felt a bit too short. I also think that an epilogue would have tied the story together a bit more satisfyingly as it felt like quite an abrupt ending. Though, I think that the characters grew a lot in order to earn the ending they got. I would have loved to see them hash out more of the details that led to their initial breakup years ago (SPOILER: specifically Georgina, I feel like we really rushed over that?! SPOILER END) as that would have given the characters and their relationship a bit more depth. In all though, an easy read with a lot of heart!

Mood/season-wise, this would be a great book to read during Pride as it is chalk-full of queer characters, and at one point June is specifically mentioned. They are enduring the southern heat and as a Canadian reading this in winter, it was fun to read something so summery. This book will also make you hungry for fresh veggies so it could be a great paring for the farmers market or afternoon in the garden.

This is my first read by Dumond, and I am interested in checking out her other work!

I was given an eARC for this book. Honestly, the title and cover got me extremely fast. I was like, lesbians… and a remo?! I was so ready.
The overall premise is still pretty catching and interesting but.. maybe I just have very tight boundaries or something because I found the characters to be a bit immature and not easily likeable.

I Can work around some plot holes or the speed at which things happen but having the main characters rub off the wrong way.. makes it harder to get into.

Bed & Breakup is a sapphic second chance romance that follows exes Molly and Robin as they return to their once thriving bed and breakfast, the Hummingbird Inn. What starts as a simple arrangement to stay at the now closed inn quickly turns into a battleground of pranks, unresolved emotions, and lingering chemistry. While the setup is fun, I found some of their antics more mean spirited than playful, which made it hard to root for them as a couple. That said, the book does a great job of showcasing their individual talents, Molly’s stained glass art and Robin’s culinary skills, which added depth to their characters.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the setting. As someone who grew up in the Ozarks not far from Eureka Springs and has spent a lot of time in Eureka Springs at Pride events and for general weekend getaways, I loved seeing this charming town brought to life on the page. It’s a perfect backdrop for a queer romance, and the small town atmosphere added to the story’s charm and knowing the area well really helped my imagination with visualizing these characters in the town.

While I’m not sure Molly and Robin were meant to be together, I still enjoyed the journey. If you love second chance romances and small town settings, this one might be worth picking up.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for sending this eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

When Molly returns to Eureka Springs, Arkansas to create some stained glass windows for her old friends' businesses, the last thing she expects is to see her ex-wife, Robin, in the old B&B that they still co-own. Robin's restaurants did not survive covid lockdown, so she has returned to the Hummingbird Inn to lick her wounds and decide what is next in her celebrity chef career. After each trying to push the other off their shared property and neither budging, they begrudgingly decide to renovate the inn together so they can sell it and end their marriage and partnership in one fell swoop. In the process, they see that the inn is not the only thing they're repairing.

Bed and Breakup is filled with so much heart - Molly and Robin have both been so hurt by the world around them, by circumstances outside their control, by each other, and by themselves, and yet they each find ways to love themselves and the world around them. I loved watching Molly and Robin figure out their second chance and discover what it was they truly wanted. Among all the heart, there was also a lot of humor - I found myself laughing out loud about haunted dolls and a perfectly placed Ali Krieger/Ashlyn Harris reference.

Susie Dumond has written another stunner, thank you NetGalley and Dial Press for the eARC!

This was a cute second chance romance that was also a quick read. I had mixed feelings about the characters and their fighting, especially early on but I was rooting for them by the end of the book.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

Bed and Breakup follows Molly and Robin, a former couple who accidentally find themselves back at the inn they owned when they were married.

I love second chance romances so I was very excited to read this and I really liked all of the characters in this book. Keyana and Jesse stood out the most to me and I loved Molly and Robin’s individual interactions with their friends. The premise was also fun and I enjoyed all of the renovation parts of the book as well as learning more about the town of Eureka Springs.

I found it very difficult to root for Molly and Robin stay together as I didn’t see very much chemistry between them and wasn’t sure how they even got together in the first place. The pranks they played on each other were also very mean spirited which made it hard to root for them to end up together. But I enjoyed the characters (especially Keyana!) and the end was very sweet and worth the wait.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley again for the chance to read this early.

I really enjoyed Susie Dumond’s new book, Bed and Breakup. Romcom fans will love this one. It was a fun read.

Before I get into my review of “Bed and Breakup,” I would like to thank NetGalley and The Dial Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
 
Alright, I’m going to be extremely honest and say that this book was not for me. I was trying to keep an open mind while reading this book, especially since it’s a second-chance romance, however it just fell flat in my opinion.
 
I did not appreciate how Molly is treated like a child on behalf of Robin and Key. More so Key, but Robin does as well towards the middle to end of the book. Like she can’t handle adult problems she signed up for. 
 
Another thing I didn’t like was how forced the chemistry felt, and in my opinion, it just felt… awkward? For the first quarter of this book they *hated* each other, then the next page they would be kissing or sharing a bed. They’d talk about their past and then make out or have sex. They’d have a very necessary conversation about their relationship, then out of nowhere have sex. (Which was *very* unwarranted in my opinion.) 
 
I also feel like both characters were equally in the wrong when it came to how this relationship formed again. I felt the ending of this book was really rushed. I wish we as readers could have seen the relationship *truly* start to bloom a few chapters earlier than when it did.
 
Overall, I would give this book a 2.5/5 stars. Thank you again to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the early E-Copy.

Two exes decide to reunite to fix up and sell the bed and breakfast that destroyed their marriage. As they work together, so many memories come up and the chemistry between them makes it harder to say goodbye.

A very charming and heartwarming story. If you love:

Small towns
Enemies to lovers romance
Second changes

Then this book is for you! It was a nice quick read!!

Thank you NetGalley, Susie and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the E-ARC!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: June 24 2025
#NetGalley #BedandBreakup

Sinopsis en español:

Como recién casados, Molly y Robin hicieron del Hummingbird Inn un destino de moda para viajeros queer en la peculiar ciudad de montaña de Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Pero cuando sus ambiciones profesionales los separaron, la joven pareja se separó, entregó el mantenimiento de la propiedad a una empresa de gestión y nunca miró hacia atrás.

Siete años después, Molly y Robin regresan al Hummingbird Inn por razones muy diferentes. Molly es una artista en ascenso que ha sido encargada de crear piezas en Eureka Springs; Robin es una chef famosa cuyos restaurantes se han vuelto los del vientre. Ambos se sienten con derecho a su propiedad compartida, furiosos porque el otro se niega a irse, y cada uno recurre a una serie de bromas crecientes con la esperanza de asustar al otro. Cuando ninguna de las mujeres se mueve, deciden renovar el bed and breakfast juntos, venderlo y, por último, ir por caminos separados. Pero su trabajo para restaurar el encanto vintage de la posada reaviva los recuerdos, y la química, que hacen que sea difícil decir adiós.

Tierno, encantador y conmovedor, Bed and Breakup es un romance de amantes de pueblos pequeños, enemigos y amantes que explora cómo algunos sueños, sin importar cuán polvorientos o rotos sean, merecen una segunda oportunidad.



Reseña:

Fue lo suficientemente entretenido para acabarlo, pero no me encantó. Sobretodo porque queda al aire si Robyn fue infiel o su relación con su colega se dio después de que Molly la dejara.


Gracias NetGalley por el ARC

Dumond’s writing is a breath of fresh air—funny, fast-paced, and effortlessly engaging. She has a knack for crafting dialogue that feels natural and laugh-out-loud funny while still delivering deeply emotional moments. Beneath all the humor and sizzling chemistry, the novel explores themes of vulnerability, self-sabotage, and learning to embrace the messy, unpredictable parts of love and life.

Our heroine is a firecracker—sharp, independent, and hilariously stubborn. Watching her navigate her fears and open herself up to love is as rewarding as it is entertaining. And the love interest? Absolute perfection. Dumond gives us a romantic lead who is equal parts patient, charming, and swoon-worthy, making the slow-burn tension deliciously painful. The supporting cast is just as delightful, bringing warmth, chaos, and so much personality to the story.

Strengths? The humor, the tension, and the emotional depth. Dumond doesn’t just deliver a rom-com—she gives us a story about real people with real fears and hang-ups. The balance between lighthearted fun and emotional sincerity is spot-on.

Weaknesses? If you’re not a fan of stubborn protagonists who take their sweet time figuring things out (cough self-sabotage cough), you might find yourself yelling at the pages. But honestly? That just makes the payoff even better.

If you love The Roommate by Rosie Danan, The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary, or anything that delivers slow-burn torture with a side of hilarity, Bed and Breakup is your next must-read. A huge thank you to NetGalley for the early copy—now excuse me while I go aggressively recommend this to everyone.

helloooo queer romcom surge 2025!!!! 🥳 i absolutely devoured this, was there ever any question?! look at this cover y’all. these two cuties stole my heart and now i would like to read susie dumond’s grocery list. this was steamy, sweet, and at times too painfully relatable shush. i implore EVERYONE pick this one up in june!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I love second chance romances, I find it so beautiful when a couple can rekindle what they once had. However, this book let me down.

As expected, the two main characters don’t have a good relationship in the beginning of the book. But instead of there being silly fights and pranking, I found that what the characters were arguing about had me not wanting them to get together. Especially the pranks, they seemed mean and I think if the characters knew each other they would know that it crosses a line. Obviously they were able to recover by the end of the book, but it made me not rooting for them. However, I did love that there was a side character, Key, who was voicing opinions that matched my own.

Eureka springs sounds like a lovely place to visit and I think the setting of this story was good. Over, I think the story progressed really fast and it left me lagging behind to actually route for the couple.

I have mixed feelings about this novel. The writing is clear and engaging, the characters are interesting (with emphasis on the supporting cast), and the storyline is refreshingly different. My ambivalence stems from the petty, mean-spirited, immature behaviors of the protagonists in the opening chapters.

Molly and Robin are co-owners of the now-defunct Hummingbird Inn, a bed and breakfast they created as newlyweds thirteen years ago. Once a thriving business in the destination town of Eureka Springs Arkansas, it has now become a battleground as they unexpectedly find themselves seeking temporary shelter in the inn. Much ensued in that thirteen-year period: they restored the aging Victorian home; Molly became a successful stained-glass artist; Robin honed her cooking skills and became a c-list celebrity chef; and, most importantly, they had an acrimonious separation but never divorced.

The storyline unfolds as the two wrestle with unresolved feelings of anger, hurt, grief and love, but as mentioned above, they behave in deeply flawed ways. The overall theme could be described as lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers with a predictable but satisfying ending. The descriptions of Molly’s and Robin’s respective talents in art and cooking add dimension their characters beyond their challenging relationship.

It is worth reading the author’s note at the conclusion of the book where she describes her inspiration for the story and its setting. Eureka Springs is an actual LBGTQ-friendly community with which the author is familiar.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

“Bed and Breakup” by Susie Dumond is a sweet, small-town, romance novel about Molly, a stained glass artist, and Robin, a chef, who accidentally see each other (seven years after separating) at the bed and breakfast they own. While attempting to go on their separate lives, being back in the comfort of Eureka Springs and in the place they built together, their romance rekindles.

I enjoyed the slightly slow-burn aspect of the romance and how each character opened up to show their insecurities about what went wrong in the past. I’m not a huge fan of two people promising to keep sleeping together casually when they obviously are not keeping it casual. But in this case, with their history, it made more sense. I enjoyed the experience of them relearning everything about each other and why they love each other. However, I will say the sex scenes fell flat and were basic and fast.

Another aspect I found myself wanting more from was the ending. SPOILER ALERT: They essentially renew their vows together (as they never actually got divorced) and the author doesn’t even show their dialogue for that scene! The book felt like a build-up to this moment and then it was just paraphrased over. So, I ended the book feeling like I was missing out.

Another thing that has nothing to do with the writing is the cover. I love the art on the cover and the references to things in the book, such as the title being in stained glass and the hummingbirds representing the name of the inn, the Hummingbird. My issue is the inn itself. The inn was clearly described as having four floors, or three with a livable attic. To have such specific details and then to miss that was odd to me.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to sapphic romance readers, especially fans of Ashley Herring Blake or Haley Cass.

"Bed and Breakup" by Susie Dumond is a delightful queer romantic comedy set in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where two exes find themselves reunited in their former bed and breakfast.

Years ago, Molly and Robin fell in love, took over the inn, and got married. Fast forward to the present, and they are now separated. Robin, an ex-celebrity chef, and Molly, an artist who creates commissioned works for local businesses, come together to fix up the inn for sale. Amidst numerous pranks and shenanigans, they discover that old sparks are reigniting.

This book is relatable, illustrating that not everything we attempt succeeds or lasts. Life is about trial and error, picking yourself up, learning, and growing. It beautifully captures these themes, all while infusing a healthy dose of humor. I appreciate that the story takes place in the South and highlights a queer-friendly area, showcasing a region in LGBTQ literature that is often overlooked or portrayed negatively.

Thank you to Random House/Dial Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 stars rounded up! Robin and Molly’s banter and friendship was so relatable. You could feel the love and respect that they had for each other, even with all their history.
A beautiful second-chance romance for Robin and Molly. The two operated a B&B before Robin took off for a new experience. Now the two are back for their own reasons and end up deciding to finally fix up and sell the property.
I wish we got a little more backstory of their breakup, like a flashback or two, and I wish the ending didn’t feel so rushed. But overall, I would recommend this one!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book! Unfortunately I had to DNF this. The characters completely blended into each other and had the same exact voice; I was constantly confused about whose POV I was reading. We could have used a lot more history of the couple up front, especially as a second chance romance; we are given crumbs and expected to be invested, I really could not even root for them because I felt nothing. This felt like a poster advertisement for Eureka Springs and the gay culture there more than a queer romance. I could not stick it out. Out of respect for the author I will not be posting a review on public platforms.

Molly y Robyn fueron pareja, pero todo terminó mal. Durante siete años no se han visto ni hablado, hasta que por casualidad ambas regresan a la posada que compraron juntas, el Hummingbird. Ahora tendrán que convivir y hablar sobre lo que las llevó a distanciarse. ¿Será esta la oportunidad de separarse en buenos términos o, por el contrario, reavivarán su relación?



~


Honestamente, no sé cómo sentirme respecto a esta historia, porque siento que hay muchos vacíos y detalles importantes. El más relevante es que queda a la imaginación si Robyn fue infiel con Georgina o no, ya que se confirmó que después de que Molly la dejara, ellas fueron novias. Otra cuestión importante es que no se menciona si realmente terminaron o si simplemente tuvieron una pelea y cada una siguió su camino.




Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.