The Dream Harbor series in order (and why I read all five)

If you like your romance with a small town, a seasonal storefront, and a lot of baked goods, Laurie Gilmore's Dream Harbor series is the coziest shelf I own. Every book is a standalone love story set in the same little New England town, so you can start anywhere. The townspeople and businesses carry over from book to book, though, so reading in order makes Dream Harbor feel like a place you actually live.

(Fair warning: this series is a big reason there's a bakery at the center of my own book.)

Reading order

• 
  The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore

  Jeanie inherits her aunt's café and moves to Dream Harbor to run it, which is how she meets Logan, the grumpy local farmer who supplies it. Grumpy meets sunshine, small town, fall vibes turned all the way up. Read it in October with a latte and you'll understand why the series took off on BookTok.

• 
  The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie GilmoreLucy rated it 4 stars

  Hazel works at the town bookstore and starts finding mysterious handwritten notes tucked into the books, which pulls her into a scavenger hunt with Noah, the flirty fisherman. Friends to lovers, a treasure hunt, and a heroine learning to say yes to adventure. This one made me want to hide notes in books for strangers.

• 
  The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore

  Kira has moved to town and taken over a struggling Christmas tree farm, and the local handyman who reluctantly agrees to help is Bennett, a single dad. Holiday setting, a fixer-upper, and a slow, cozy build. The most Hallmark of the five, in the best way.

• 
  The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore

  A chef's fresh start at a pancake house in Dream Harbor, with a romance that unfolds over long mornings and a lot of syrup. Emotional, funny, and lighthearted, with the town's regulars showing up in the background like old friends.

• 
  The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie GilmoreLucy rated it 5 stars

  A holiday-season bakery romance and my favorite of the series: the warmest characters, the best banter, and the Dream Harbor cast at full strength. A five-star read for me, and the one that convinced me a bakery is the perfect place to build a love story around.

These are books I've actually read, with the star ratings from my own reading log. No sponsorships, no affiliate links, just my shelf. Ratings are on a five-star scale.

If you want the vibe of Dream Harbor with a wedding planner and one very late guest, that's the book I'm writing now. Newsletter readers get the sneak peeks first.

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