15 November 2024
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store Review & Book Club Questions
Reviewed by: Melissa Ng
Quick Facts
Book Publication Date: 29 August 2024
How I Read It: Purchased from Kobo
Where You Can Find The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore: Amazon | Kobo | Audible | Dymocks | QBD Books | Apple Books | Spotify Premium
Trope: Small town romance, opposites attract, friends with benefits, summer fling
Content & Trigger Warnings: Very spicy
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store Summary
In The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore, we return to Dream Harbor, a small town beloved by readers of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe.
This time, the story follows Hazel, an introverted bookstore manager approaching her 30th birthday and feeling like she’s missed out on excitement in her 20s.
Determined to bring some adventure into her life, Hazel stumbles upon a mysterious note hidden in one of the bookstore’s books. The note leads her to a series of experiences scattered throughout Dream Harbor.
Hazel enlists the help of Noah, a confident, fun-loving fisherman and the town’s most eligible bachelor.
Although five years younger, Noah has harboured a crush on Hazel, and the idea of a scavenger hunt with her seems like the perfect opportunity to spend time together.
As more books containing clues turn up, they follow the scavenger hunt around town. Their chemistry grows, but both are hesitant to define their relationship, given Noah’s casual reputation and Hazel’s cautious nature.
What starts as a fun treasure hunt quickly becomes more than Hazel anticipated.
As she faces new challenges and experiences outside her comfort zone, she finds herself re-evaluating what she wants in life — and in love.
The romance simmers alongside their adventures, resulting in a steamy connection. But as summer in Dream Harbor heats up, the big question remains: is this just a summer fling, or will Hazel and Noah’s chemistry lead to something deeper?
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store Review
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store is book 2 of the Dream Harbor series and builds on characters introduced in The Pumpkin Spice Cafe.
Hazel and Noah, who were briefly mentioned in the previous book, get their moment to shine. Their romance, which was hinted at in the first book, makes their relationship feel more natural and less “instalove” than Jeanie and Logan’s dynamic in The Pumpkin Spice Cafe.
The setup also allows readers to enjoy Dream Harbor’s familiar charm and quirky characters, though you don’t necessarily need to read the first book to enjoy this one (but it does help).
One thing book 2 does better is the character development. Hazel and Noah both have unique personalities that complement each other well.
Hazel is introspective and cautious, worrying that she wasted her 20s by being overly responsible. Noah, on the other hand, is the opposite — a laid-back guy who loves adventure but feels insecure about his future after struggling to live up to his family’s expectations.
Their opposites-attract chemistry gives the story a nice balance, though the book’s setting in summer Dream Harbor lacks the cosy, autumnal vibe readers might expect from the cover.
The scavenger hunt is an interesting addition, though it’s less about finding objects and more about experiences that bring Hazel out of her shell.
While it adds a fun mystery element, the hunt itself sometimes feels overly simplistic and lacks the suspense of a true scavenger hunt. However, it serves as an effective backdrop for Hazel and Noah to spend time together and deepen their relationship.
For those who like spice, the steamy scenes feel more integrated throughout the book. For readers who prefer a cosy romance, the level of explicit content may feel a bit surprising, especially given the book’s charming cover.
Additionally, while Dream Harbor is inspired by Gilmore Girls, the summer setting lessens that small-town, cosy feel present in the first book.
Moments that seemed inserted to set up future books in the Dream Harbor series, such as Kira’s ownership of the old Christmas tree farm, felt somewhat forced and underdeveloped.
Overall, The Cinnamon Bun Book Store is a light, summery romance perfect for fans of small-town settings and opposites-attract relationships.
I found it an easy read, though not ground-breaking, and best suited for readers who enjoy spice with their romance.
To be honest, I only picked this book up because it was on sale. As someone who doesn’t usually read romance, I rated it 3 stars.
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store Book Club Questions
- Hazel worries she’s wasted her 20s by playing it safe. Do you think this is a common feeling for people approaching a milestone age?
- What did you think of the scavenger hunt? Did it add to the story or feel underdeveloped?
- Did you feel that Hazel experienced any character growth throughout the book? In what ways?
- Noah believes he’s not “good enough” because he hasn’t succeeded in the family business. Do you think he gained confidence by the end of the book?
- How did you feel about the romance between Hazel and Noah? Did their age difference impact your view of their relationship?
- Which romance tropes in The Cinnamon Bun Book Store did you enjoy the most?
- Both Hazel and Noah avoid admitting their feelings. Why do you think they struggle with this?
- Did you enjoy the spicy scenes in the book? Do you think they fit well with the story’s tone?
- Were there any other themes that you found particularly present in this book?
- Which side character in Dream Harbor was your favourite, and why?
- Which side character do you want to read about next in the Dream Harbor series?
- How did the summer setting impact the story? Were you expecting more of a cosy, fall atmosphere?
- Dream Harbor is said to be inspired by Gilmore Girls. Did you feel this inspiration in The Cinnamon Bun Book Store?
- If you lived in Dream Harbor, what job do you think you would have?
- Were you surprised when the mystery of who was behind the scavenger hunt clues was revealed? Did you have any theories?
- Did you enjoy the mystery element of the book?
- If The Cinnamon Bun Book Store was adapted into a movie, what actors would you cast for each character?
- Have you read any of Laurie Gilmore’s other books? If so, where does The Cinnamon Bun Book Store rank among them?
- Did The Cinnamon Bun Book Store remind you of any other small-town romance books or movies?
If you haven’t already, check out my review of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore, the first book in the Dream Harbor series, and find discussion questions for your next book club.
If you like the small town vibes and books about books but without the spice, you might like to check out my review of The Storied Life Of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin.
