*Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Read my reviews of the other books in the Dream Harbor series – The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, The Cinnamon Bun Book Store, The Christmas Tree Farm, The Strawberry Patch Pancake House, and The Gingerbread Bakery.
Review
Spring is here and so is the latest instalment in the best-selling Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore. The Daisy Chain Flower Shop is the sixth book in the series publishing on 5 May. The story follows cursed-in-love florist Daisy and introverted architect Elliot who strike a plan to save the flower shop, all in a bid to convince the town that Daisy is not cursed, thus not the reasons all the marriages she provided flowers for ended in misery and affairs!
What I love about the Laurie Gilmore books is the small town charm, the steamy romance and the quirky cast of characters. With every book the reader knows exactly what to expect and I eat it up every time! I love that each book expands the world of Dream Harbor while still retraining that small town quirkiness with the return of many fan favourites from previous books – it’s also nice for the reader to see that these characters are still happily in love with their respective partners. Once again the small town charm shines through with the Beltane fair, the nosy gossips of the book club and the guaranteed HEA. A highlight is always the town meetings that descend into utter chaos with their nonsensical arguments and grumblings.
Daisy’s character takes centre stage in this book with her gothic style that is in complete juxtaposition to her sunny disposition in the flower shop. The overarching theme is really about not letting the past define your future or dictate the opinion that others have on you. Daisy has to come to terms with the fact that, just because the town thinks she’s cursed in love doesn’t mean she should let that define her or what she does with her flower arranging. Both Daisy and Elliot have to grapple with heartbreak in the past to understand their worth. I really enjoyed the mystery element where Daisy read old diary’s left by her 1920s relative (also called Daisy) and how this helped her understand her own future and story.
The fake dating element created a lot of tension to their relationship and this is in turn heightened their reluctance to fall into another relationship that might end in heartbreak. Don’t forget this all happens under the public scrutiny of nosy gossips spying their very move around town. I would have liked a little more depth to Elliot and unpack his character and his previous relationship. I did enjoy the introduction of his brother Caleb and the ‘mother hen’ element that it brought to their relationship and how this showcased how Elliot’s failed relationship impacted his mental health and self-worth. It was good to see a MMC who was very shy and reserved instead of bold. This complemented Daisy’s outgoing character, and how he put himself under the full scrutiny of the town for Daisy. This all emphasises for the right people someone will break out from their comfort zone.
I really hope there are more books set in Dream Harbor that continue to expand this quirky world. Ultimately, the books are always fun and easy reads that are prefect for readers wanting some light hearted romance.
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Amy is a writer and reviewer and her action-packed debut novel, CORNELIA FAIRFIELD AND THE DARKENED HEART is set to be published on 19 May 2026! Available in paperback here: WATERSTONES, AMAZON (ebook here), FOYLES,HATCHARDS. For more content read Amy’s book reviews, short stories and updates on Amy’s writing journey posts.
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