Book Review: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie Gilmore

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Lauri Gilmore follows the story of Hazel when a secret message turns up hidden inside a book in the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore. As more codes appear in the pages of the book, she decides to follow the clues. She just needs a helping hand. Fisherman, Noah has always loved an adventure, and he loves the sound of a scavenger hunt. Especially when the person who wants his help is the girl he has a crush on for months. Hazel wasn’t searching for romance, but as the hunt leads them around Dream Habor, they realize their tension is as hot as the cinnamon buns she cooks in the bookstore.  

I finished reading this book a few weeks ago and I liked it so much more than I thought I would. I read the Pumpkin Spice Café by the same author, and I was not a huge fan of that novel. But I loved The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore. Reading it felt like the ache you get after something ends, like the last bite of eating a slice of strawberry shortcake. The one thing I loved about this book is how relatable Hazel was. Like me, she loves books and always carries one with her everywhere and I related them a lot to her overthinking about romance and getting older. I also love how quick and easy this book is to finish. Compared to The Pumpkin Spice Café, I finished this book within a few days, and I breezed through the chapters very fast. Another part of this book I absolutely love is the adventure and mystery of the clues It makes for a fun small-town romance.  

There is something so comforting about the world Laurie Gilmore created in this book. The soft rhythm of community, and that no matter how messy life gets, there is still something sweet waiting for us that may be totally unexpected. And I think that is what I love about the story so much. Because not only is it a love story between two people, but it’s about belonging and allowing others to be let into your life.  

The one thing I did not like about this book was how the seasons were presented. Before buying this book, I thought it was set in late fall, around the months of October and November because of the cover and title name. However, the book is set in late summer and goes into early autumn. So, I thought it was a bit falsely advertised in my opinion. Otherwise, I had no complaints about the book, and I would rate 4.5/5 stars.  

I had a lot of fun reading this book. The romance felt realistic, and the characters felt like they could be real people. It reminds me of the Hallmark movies I watch with my mom during the holiday months because romance can be cheesy, but I do find it to be a sweet love story. If you are looking for a fun, autumn read to get yourself in the cozy, I would recommend you read The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore.