Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the ARC of The Strawberry Patch Pancake House in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I must confess, this is my first Laurie Gilmore book I’ve ever read (yes-I started with the 4th book in the series). Thankfully, I was not lost on the relationship dynamics at all. I do own books 1-3, I just haven’t been able to read them yet! So when this ARC came up, I took a gamble on starting with book 4 hoping that I would be able to pick up just fine and I can comfortably tell you that I did just that and I will be making time to read books 1-3 very shortly.

This book is as adorable as its title in all possible ways! Oliver is so darn adorable that you couldn’t help but root for Archer and Iris’s relationship! From what I understand of books 1-3, the characters flow in and out of this book effortlessly and apparently there is a book 5 on the way that everyone has been waiting for! Please note, as adorable as this book and series appears, this is not a child friendly series. This book has a fair amount of spice and would not be appropriate for kids. I only say that because I’ve seen several kids see these books out in stores and they are immediately drawn to them (understandably).

I really enjoy the community Laurie has created with Dream Harbor and I cannot wait to go back and piece more of the characters together. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is out March 18th, so please do run and pick up your copy!

I don't usually read single parent tropes, but I was excited to read The Strawberry Patch Pancake House since I've already read all of the previous books in the series. Our FMC is Iris who was a side character in The Christmas Tree Farm. Archer arrives to Dream Harbor to meet his daughter for the first time, Olive, and hired Iris to be the live in nanny.

I loved Olive's interactions with Archer and Iris. It was so sweet and endearing seeing her opening up and blossoming. I honestly enjoyed the first 75% of the book and then the author decides to drop a surprise pregnancy trope that I absolutely loathe. It honestly really upset me and if I had known it was going to be in this book I definitely would not have applied to read this ARC.

Thanks, Netgalley, for giving me the chance to read and review it.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is definitely for people who like kitschy small town romances. This reminds me a lot of Virgin River and books like that that carry a few characters through the different books. It’s definitely a good pallet cleanser after a harder/tougher read.

this is such a good lighthearted romance series. i have not been disappointed with any of the books so far. keep them coming!

I love, love, loved this book! I am not the typical audience for this book and I don't read romance at all, but this book was so cozy and fun to read. I am definitely going back and reading the rest of the series! Chef Archer moves to small town Dream Harbor after learning he's a father. His daughter is named Olive, and I find that so cute because my favorite dot grid notebook company is named Archer & Olive! So being thrust into single fatherhood, he hires a live in nanny named Iris, who is kind of flighty.

From what I understand so far, this is a "slow burn" romance. It was simply delightful. I could imagine this is the perfect book to read while curled up on a porch swing with lemonade.

I got the audiobook of this too, and reread it that way. I honestly enjoyed reading the printed book more. The audiobook was okay, and the narrator was fine, but I could imagine the story better while reading the ebook for some reason.

I am a big fan of the Dream Harbor series and The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is an excellent addition to the world! With our favorite characters relegated to the background, we’re introduced to Iris (we’ve met her before but she hasn’t been a main character), a young woman with no direction in life, Archer, a high class chef, and Olive, Archer’s daughter who he only found out about when her mother died in an accident.

I enjoyed the addition of Olive, a child, to the romantic mix. It took a while but she finally started warming up to Archer, with a little help from the Dream Harbor community, and Iris, of course. I love how the whole neighborhood stepped in to help whenever Archer needed it. It’s just as fantastical as a story with dragons, to me.

I did not like the last quarter of the book. Of course the author had to bring in one of the most classic and hated tropes and it pretty much ruined the book for me and left a bad taste in my mouth. It didn’t feel necessary to add that bit, honestly. Why can’t it just have been Archer, Olive, and Iris? Why add a pregnancy to the mix? A pregnancy that caused a breakup, no less. Why do so many romance novels feel the need to do this, especially with a person who expressed a desire not to have kids in the first place? Having a person who didn’t want kids fall in love with a man who already had a kid was enough.

While I love the world of Dream Harbor, and enjoyed the initial interactions between Archer, Iris, and Olive, this end bit ruined it for me, as did the sex scenes to be honest. For the first full scene to have the classic ‘I’m on the pill’ line, knowing where that would lead, I lost interest. For some people, I’m sure they enjoy this sort of thing. But it was just not for me.

I couldn’t get into this one. I’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series but this one just wasn’t working. Maybe the nanny/ dad dynamic? Maybe I appreciated the seasonal elements of the other books which this one didn’t have? It just had no build up and felt very flat. I do not think I will be continuing with the series, which is a shame because I already read and enjoyed three of them previously. Ah well.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore. I enjoyed reading this book and the other in this series. Great beach read.

Archer moves to Dream Harbor Paris while working from his dream job being a chef. He finds out he has a daughter that he didn’t know about whose mother died tragically and now he needs to take care of her! But how will he take care of Olive while working daily at the diner in town? Enter Iris… a swim instructor at the Y barely able to pay rent. When Archer needs a live-in nanny, Iris jumps in with both feet even though she doesn’t have much experience with children.

All of Laurie Gilmore’s books set in Dream Harbor are so sweet. The town is its own type of character and Archer and Iris’ story was heart-warming.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've really enjoyed all of the previous books in the Dream Harbor series. I don't go in expecting anything other than a cute, cozy little small town and that's exactly what I get.

Unfortunately, this one is probably my least favorite of the series so far. Iris and Archer are our main characters and we have a fun nanny x boss trope at the forefront of this novel. Archer finds out that he has a five year old daughter one day after her mother passes in an accident and he is now her sole parental figure. Iris is down on her luck, but gets a nannying job for Archer and his daughter, Olive.

This one was kind of weird because, remember how earlier I stated this series is just a cozy little good time. Well, this one felt a bit strange because the author took on a severe and serious topic and twisted it to be a lighthearted trope?? I don't know, it just felt a bit odd?

I wasn't super sold on the trope this book ended on because I wasn't entirely sure Iris and Archer had much connection. Their relationship is primarily lust-motivated.

I think I will continue with the series because I do enjoy the cozy vibes the series brings.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars

My favorite book in the series so far! Grumpy single dad softens with the help of the town senior fitness instructor / new nanny. As always, fun to see what the other characters in Dream Harbor are you to, too!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 Publishing Group for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you've read The Pumpkin Spice Cafe or any of the other books in the Dream Harbor series, you are going to love this newest edition to the series. The book follows Iris (the lady who helped Kira if you read The Christmas Tree Farm) and single dad Archer as the navigate Iris being the nanny to his new daughter. It's super cute and hilarious and just the right amount of spicy.

Huge thank you for the advanced copy of this book. I absolutely love this series.

Laurie Gilmore’s The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a heartwarming, cozy novel that blends themes of second chances, community, and the simple joys of comfort food. Set in a charming small-town diner, the story follows a protagonist seeking a fresh start, finding unexpected friendships, and rediscovering a sense of belonging.

Gilmore’s writing shines in her vivid descriptions of the pancake house itself—a warm, inviting setting that feels like a character in its own right. The novel is rich with sensory details, from the smell of fresh coffee and sizzling pancakes to the laughter of regulars who gather each morning. The characters are well-developed and endearing, each bringing their own struggles and triumphs to the table.

What sets The Strawberry Patch Pancake House apart is its ability to evoke nostalgia and comfort, making it the perfect feel-good read. The themes of resilience, kindness, and the power of food to bring people together resonate throughout the novel. Gilmore’s storytelling is engaging and heartfelt, making this book an ideal pick for fans of warm, character-driven narratives with a touch of romance and self-discovery.

Overall, The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a delightful and uplifting read that serves as a reminder of the importance of community and finding joy in life’s simple moments. Perfect for a cozy weekend with a cup of coffee and, of course, a stack of pancakes.

You will like this one if you love the tropes
🍓Single Dad
🥞Forced Proximity
🍓Slow Burn
🥞Found Family

🍓🥞🍓🥞🍓🥞

My Review
This was by far my favorite of the series so far. I was hooked from the beginning. I loved Iris and Archer and their dynamic immediately. I couldn’t put this one down. I found it funny when I read that the author doesn’t like to write kids into her books because kids get in the way of sex. However, I thought she did a phenomenal job and I can’t wait until the next book! This has been the cutest little coziest, Gilmore girls type of romance. I love them.

Thank you @harpercollins360 and @netgalley for the arc !

1.5 Stars

Oh my god where do I start? This book was so... interesting to say the least. Never in my 20 years have I seen such simple tropes be fumbled so atrociously. I know this sound so mean (and I am so sorry for that) but the moment she used "yes chef" in a sexual content, I quite literally could not take this books seriously.

Archer had the depth of a kiddie pool and Iris had the laziest backstory on earth. Archer was brooding and wouldn't use pancake mix, woe is me I guess. Iris had a deadbeat dad and a mom in Florida, so of course she has commitment issues. Who would have thought! The best character was Olive and she was the only reason I finished this book.

I think this was my favorite in the series. It was a really quick read. Single dad and the nanny nice cozy romantic book

This book was cute and I liked the characters but I feel like this one wasn’t quite as cohesive as the others in this series. I honestly believe it’s because of this one having tropes the author doesn’t usually write. Was ok but my least fave of the series.

This book is an absolute heartwarmer that’ll leave you craving comfort food and a good hug. When chef Ben discovers he has a daughter he never knew about, his world flips like one of his signature pancakes. Watching him navigate fatherhood while juggling the chaos of running the town's charming little diner is both hilarious and touching. The writing is effortlessly cozy, filled with mouthwatering descriptions and characters that feel like old friends. It’s a story about unexpected family, second chances, and the sweet, messy beauty of building a life together. You’ll be rooting for Ben and his daughter from the first page to the last.

This was my first Laurie Gilmore book and I am not mad about it. I have the first two books on my TBR and they will move up on that list.

This story was cute, fun and a good slow burn. Archer, Iris and Olive were so heart warming from the start. Reading their journey in becoming a family was a joy. Olive is adorably spunky. Archer and Iris had decent chemistry and the slow burn felt perfectly paced.

Despite a few slow parts, this book was kept me engrossed. Overall, this is a cute quick read that will make you want pancakes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Laurie and the publisher for this ARC.

This one was good, better than the others in the series, but still not the greatest. It was a good palate cleanser to read between heavier books. The plot of this book was good, and I did enjoy the Nanny x Single Father romance, which I don't see too often (maybe I'm just not finding these books at least), but the start of the romance between the characters was just insta-lust (which I'm not a fan of, but I knew to expect from this book). However, the progression of the relationship was good, in my opinion, especially if the start was insta-lust. I also appreciated that this was a quick read and things progressed pretty quickly. I might have gotten bored with this book if it was any longer.

There were also times where I feel like things did move a bit quickly, like with Olive wanting to call Iris mom, only a couple of months after her Olive's mom died? I feel like that would have been way better off as being in an epilogue.

I also really loved the small town, everyone knows and looks after each other, kind of vibes that I got from this book. Having the MMC move to the town, take over as the chef in the diner, and then go through typical small town hazing was just so fun to me.

Thank you to Laurie Gilmore, Harper360, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.