The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore {Book Review}

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My Review:

Overall

I just finished The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, and I have to say, it’s easily one of my favorite modern romances of 2024 so far! If you’ve read The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, you’ll already be familiar with the cozy little town where this story takes place.

While the town and some of the characters are the same, you could read it as a stand alone.

I gave The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore 4.5 stars, and I’m already hoping they release a special edition of it, just like they did with The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. If they do, I’m absolutely grabbing a physical copy to go with my ebook.

I’m going to give the spice 3.5 chili’s. There is open door steam in this book and it happens early and often.

Characters & Plot

The main character, Hazel, really resonated with me. She’s bookish, introverted, and feeling like she hasn’t done enough with her life as she approaches her 30th birthday. I could totally relate to her worries and insecurities, which made me feel really connected to her journey.

And then there’s Noah, the charming guy with a reputation for avoiding relationships. He steps in to help Hazel be a bit more adventurous before she turns 30, and of course, sparks fly between them. We, the reader, know that they are both crushing hard on each other.

Enter the books. Hazel finds book with text high lighted giving her ideas of things to do before the big 3-0. The trouble is, neither Hazel nor we know who’s leaving the bucket list type ideas.

Watching Hazel and Noah fulfill the items while slowly falling for each other was so satisfying, and there were plenty of moments that made me smile or even squeal with excitement.

One of my favorite little details was Hazel’s friend, who constantly gives her random middle names, which just added to the book’s charm.

Romance Tropes

The romance tropes in this book hit all the right notes for me. You’ve got the small-town setting, the opposites attract dynamic, and a limited-time relationship – all the classic elements that make for a swoon-worthy romance.

Even though most of the story takes place in the summer, it still has that fall-like coziness that makes it perfect for the season. I can see myself recommending this as a fall read even though it technically isn’t one.

Spoiler Alert: For those that have read it only!

My Favorite Scene

I think the beach scene was my favorite. I liked the steamy moments but I also love that Noah came prepared to take care of her and how amazing that was to Hazel. It’s also one of the first times we see her start to relax and let down her guard a little.

Scene I wish we had gotten

I was bummed that we didn’t get to see Noah take Hazel home to meet his family. His nieces were soooo cute and I wanted to see them all meet Hazel.