The Floral Arrangement

Sapphire Springs #3

by Elizabeth Luly

An enemies-to-lovers fake-dating rom com that’s simply iris-istible!

Roz Kennedy dedicated her life to a high-powered consulting career. That is, until she’s overlooked for a promotion and hears that Red Tractor Farm, a farm that she adored visiting as a child, is on the brink of financial ruin. Fuming and eager for a change, Roz decides to leave her corporate life behind and buy the struggling farm. But in order to keep the farm afloat, she needs to find an investor to help fund some drastic changes.

When Olivia Mitchell discovers the new owner of Red Tractor Farm plans to stop supplying flowers to her beloved flower shop, jeopardizing everything Olivia has worked so hard to achieve, she’s outraged. She’s even more shocked to discover that the new owner is Roz, the stunning but infuriating woman she met in a lesbian bar a few months ago.

When a crucial potential investor mistakes Olivia for Roz’s girlfriend, Olivia and Roz play along, keen to further their own agendas. But as the two clash, they also draw closer together. And before long, they’re both questioning just how fake their blossoming relationship really is.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Contemporary, Fake Dating, LGBT, Queer, Lesbian Fiction

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2025

About the author

Romance author Elizabeth Luly lives with her gardening-obsessed wife, cheeky toddler and highly strung Schnoodle. She loves strong coffee, dogs, traveling and happily ever afters.

Reviews

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING

I have loved all of Elizabeth Luly’s books and this one was just as amazing as the others!! I hold a special spot in my heart for her first one Not Just Gal Pals that I had randomly found, but this newest addition might be a very very close contender for my favorite novels by her!! I highly recommend you read all three books of hers in order for the best plot and story flow but they can all be read as stand-alones!

[Stuffl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so full of love, the cover, the lovely design of the maps on the first page and of course the story. This heartwarming novel has so much detail about the setting, the farm, the small town, this community and main characters. I was hooked after just a few pages and it was really hard to put the book down.

I really liked Olivia in particular - she is so warm, funny and has a huge heart. You just have to like her. Roz also quickly made it into my heart and just the fact how much heart and soul she put into her new farm and trying to save everything really impressed me. The chemistry between Olivia and Roz was amazing and the slow burn.... oh man... it was really hard sometimes. But buckle up; the sex scenes - omg!

I loved everything about this book! Fake dating in a small town with two main characters who not only have sparks but are also incredibly funny and charming. Plus a farm with lots of beautiful flowers and two very symapthic cows. Moo - was my absolute highlight, by the way. When you've finished reading the book, you'll know what I mean. I can highly recommend the book! It's already one of my favorite books this year and definitely in the category: I wish I could read it again for the first time!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC.

[Andrea (looselfeftlesbian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Roz and Olivia. I connected with them both, especially when it came to the whole kids situation. It was actually refreshing when Olivia started to do the math of how many years it would take to date, get to know, trust marry and then have kids with someone. I feel like that’s not talked about enough.

Roz was a little mean towards her mom and I understand the history but it did feel a little much and hurtful.

I didn’t realize that this book is one of a couple in a “universe” this is my first book by Elizabeth Luly, but it won’t be my last!!


Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Samantha Holder-Venter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love fake dating so much! This is by far my favorite book in this series so far. I enjoyed the pacing and the spice was awesome. Roz is amazing and super hot with sharp edges and angles on the outside but a really soft and romantic inside whereas Liv appears to be free-spirited while hiding some real insecurities. They make a stunning couple and complement each other beautifully. I enjoyed their journey immensely

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started this Sapphic fake dating romance as a physical/eARC read and just finished it today on audio. I'm a big Elizabeth Luly fan and it was a lot of fun coming back to Sapphire Springs and the little small town queer found family community she's built there.

This book follows Olivia, a florist whose business is in jeopardy when the Red tractor farm goes up for sale, threatening her source for locally grown flowers.

Enter Roz, a hot older lesbian from the city who quits her job and decides to take on the farm, only to struggle with financing.

What follows is a fake dating, queer awakening, age gap, fish out of water love story that was spicy, heartfelt and funny. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Recommended for fans of authors like Ashley Herring Blake.

[Kie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I get into my review of “The Floral Arrangement”, I’d like to thank NetGalley and West Brunswick Press for the early eARC!

I absolutely loved this book! This book had me giggling and kicking my feet from the beginning to the end. Roz and Olivia are the perfect opposites-attract couple!

Luly is an amazing author with every book she writes, having you immediately falling in love with every character!

My only complaint is (slight spoiler alert?) I wish there would’ve been an epilogue, especially since Olivia wants a family. I wish we could’ve seen her and Roz trying to start a family or Olivia finding out she’s pregnant.

4.5/5⭐️

[Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute but I have to bump it down a bit because why are we still having military characters in books 😭. However an adorable story for sure.

[Emily Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6 ⭐️ Floristry, farms, and fake dating ✨ This was a cute and cozy sapphic romance.

If you’re looking for a slow paced, laid back read with a dash of spice, you might enjoy this. It’s a small town romance with some solid humour and an ice queen farm owner.

I really enjoyed Olivia’s journey as she came to grips with her sexuality. It felt unhurried and very heartwarming to read. It’s a good one to curl up with on a rainy day.

There is an age-gap (31 & 42)

One thing I didn’t like was the repeated use of ‘oh’. Normally I’m fine with exclamations but it was used so frequently that I couldn’t not fixate on it.

Rep// Lesbian Woman MC, Queer (unlabelled) Woman MC. Lesbian SC. Central romance is Sapphic/WLW.


TWs and CW’s listed below, please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.






TW// emotionally abusive relationship (past), alcohol, money struggles.

Spice CW// There is spice (multiple scenes.) It’s on page but fairly tame so I would recommend it to people looking for something with a dash of spice. Temperature play (ice and wax.)

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the sound of the synopsis, one night nearly, to rivals to fake dating. It sounded a fun light book!
The first chapter hooked me in and I read it with a smile on my face.
This is billed as a romantic comedy and the humour appealed to me! The start set up questions, then you could see the cars being lined up for what would be a car crash (rubbish metaphor…. The writer is better than me!)
60% in and I am very much enjoying the book. There is still the misunderstanding from when the mains first met….. and because of that, a barrier but it’s not a real barrier. The misunderstanding is resolved and the relationship pretty quickly moves to intimacy. This has been building under the “we have to make our fake relationship look believable” plot device. I was buying into that but my question why the first time is in a shop…. and potentially public place, when there is a comfortable flat upstairs pulled me out the scene. Unfortunately the second intimate scene didn’t really work for me either.
The plot bump of create tension in the road to happy ever after worked, and I wouldn’t say pacing was an issue for most of the book, but I found the first half stronger, maybe the first 3/5ths. 4 stars for most of the book, 3.5 overall but not rounding up would feel mean…. Rounding up feels a bit soft. It really is a 3.5……

[Kayleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying Elizabeth Luly as a writer and the Sapphire Springs series is cute, relatable and cozy.
This book follows Olivia, a florist whose business is in jeopardy when the Red tractor farm goes up for sale, threatening her source for locally grown flowers. Enter Roz, a hot older lesbian from the city who quits her job and decides to take on the farm, only to struggle with financing. They enter into a queer discovery, age gap, love story with some spice, witty dialogue and great characters.

[Chelles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Floral Arrangement

So many things I loved about this story -

Enemies to Lovers
Fake Dating
Age Gap
Farm life
Small town
Toaster Oven
and not a trope, but two cows named Thelma and Louise

Olivia and Roz were fun to read. They were opposites in a lot of ways, but their interactions were highly entertaining. There were a lot of moments that were endearing too. And when they finally gave into to their attraction ... 💥🔥❤️‍🔥

We got to catch up with the other Sapphire Springs also - which is always nice. I'm excited for the next book!

[Heloise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I see how they ended up in this position and I really enjoyed this book!

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 - sapphic, contemporary, ice queen, small town, farm life, fake dating. Really enjoyable read! Basically everything I want from a fake dating romance (and I’m usually not even a fan of small town settings). The conflict was fairly predictable for a fake dating romance and happened a little late, but I think it was executed well and not overly drawn out, so I’m cool with it. Also, the temperature play spicy scene?!? Unexpected, but so SO appreciated 🌶️

[Marian. · Rating 4 out of 5]

📌 I received an e-arc through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.

Este libro fue hermoso, el slow burn fue bueno, estuvo tan bien escrito que sentías la tensión entre las protagonistas y cabe decir que este es de lo más sexy de esta serie hasta ahora (y no me quejo). Olivia y Roz tuvieron un pequeño encuentro que no dio pase a nada pero que les dejo impresionadas, nos movemos unos meses donde Roz compra la granja del pueblo y el lugar de donde Olivia compra las flores para su floristería, la granja está en bancarrota pero Roz cree poder salvarla y bueno, pasan algunas cosas que hacen que las dos tengan que fingir que salen para poder conseguir los fondos para la granja.

La historia es simple pero me gusto mucho, la leí en una sentada de lo buena que me pareció y obvio, como el anterior libro que es mi favorito, me hizo sentir mucho y eso es algo que siempre busco a la hora de leer. El romance fue hermoso, siento que Olivia evolucionó mucho y me gusto que se abriera a sus amigas y ellas supieron que decirle. Un libro que me encanto, una serie que me está encantando y espero con ansias volver al pequeño pueblo de Sapphire Springs.

---

This book was beautiful, the slow burn was good, it was so well written that you could feel the tension between the main characters and I have to say that this is one of the sexiest in this series so far (and I'm not complaining). Olivia and Roz had a little encounter that didn't lead to anything but left them impressed, we fast forward a few months where Roz buys the farm in town and the place where Olivia buys the flowers for her flower shop, the farm is bankrupt but Roz thinks she can save it and well, some things happen that make the two of them have to pretend to go out in order to get the funds for the farm.

The story is simple but I really liked it, I read it in one sitting because I thought it was so good and obviously, like the previous book which is my favorite, it made me feel a lot and that's something I always look for when I read. The romance was nice, I feel like Olivia grew a lot and I liked that she opened up to her friends and they knew what to say to her. A book that I loved, a series that I am loving and I look forward to going back to the small town of Sapphire Springs.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I requested The Floral Arrangement as an ARC based on the interesting description about a fake-dating and enemies-to-lovers rom-com scenario. Even though this is the third book in the Sapphire Springs series, I can confirm that this book can be read as a standalone book since I have not read the first two books. I was not disappointed in requesting this book as it certainly lived up to its interesting description and more.

Roz Kennedy is a high-powered management consultant based in New York City. She is due for a major promotion, however, she is passed over for that promotion and immediately resigns. When she learns that Red Tractor Farm in Sapphire Springs, New York, is up for sale due to the owner's pending retirement, Roz jumps at the chance to put in an offer. Roz has family located in Sapphire Springs who love Red Tractor Farms, so the place is close to her heart.

Six months earlier Roz met a gorgeous and interesting woman named Olivia Mitchell at lesbian bar, Pryde, which is located a half hour away from Sapphire Springs. Roz and Olivia were on the verge of spending the night together when a misunderstanding occurs that prevents their one night stand. Roz runs into Olivia after she has moved to Sapphire Springs to focus on the purchase of Red Tractor Farms. Olivia learns that Roz plans to stop supplying flowers from Red Tractor Farms to her flower shop, Sapphire Blooms.. Olivia is outraged and spontaneously works to plan to ensure that doesn't happen. What results is hilarious.

I have never read an Elizabeth Luly book, but as I began reading this story I immediately engaged with both of the main characters and later with several of the secondary characters who form the town's residents and business owners. The author has a good writing style that kept the action in the book moving at a nice steady pace. There were many times throughout the story that I was actually laughing out loud about the actions, physical humor, or dialogue taking place. Overall, this was a highly enjoyable book that I'd recommend to others. I have now downloaded books 1 and 2 in the series. 4.5 stars

[Amanda | escapetoerilea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Floral Arrangement by Elizabeth Luly
Sapphire Springs book 3

Thank you to Tantor Audio for entrusting me with a review copy

Narration by Abby Craden
Abby did a FANTASTIC job with this narration! She had such great voices for each of our main characters and it very much felt like two different people doing the story telling. The emotion and the pacing was also wonderful. The quality was also good and still easy to understand at the higher speeds my brain needs for audiobooks.

Contemporary rom com
Dual POV, fake dating, sapphic, small town romance, f*ck it, grumpy x sunshine

Roz has taken a huge turn in careers. After being passed over from a deserved promotion, she quits and ends up buying a farm. Now she must make choices to make the farm profitable. When Olivia finds out that the new owner of the farm that supplies the flowers for her flower shop is going to do away with the flower fields, she takes action. Going to the farm to speak with the new owner she finds Roz, who she had a run in with at a lesbian bar several months ago. Who ran out after they had made plans. But a white lie Roz told her mom balloons when her mother recognizes the name Olivia and thinks this is Roz's girlfriend. Soon the investor who Roz is trying to woo thinks they are a couple as well, and it all goes downhill from there. But soon Olivia and Roz are finding it harder and harder to ignore the attraction that had been between them. Can they make it through this ruse to save both their businesses without risking their hearts?

This was a cute one and I adore Olivia and Roz. Fake dating is one of my favorites and their falling for each other was delicious! I loved Roz and her absolute "nope" when she found out she didn't get the promotion that she deserved. And her determination to figure out the farm life when it didn't come naturally to her. Olivia and Roz both had issues to work through and expectations from family as well. And I really liked how Olivia trying to work out her sexuality was handled and how both Roz and her friends were both encouraging and telling her not to stress about trying to fit a label. Overall, a lighthearted and funny read that I enjoyed!

[zagzig · Rating 3 out of 5]

there are a lot of books about sapphic florists

I had a bit of trouble with this one. my favourite part of the previous books in the series was how supportive Blake and Jenny, and George and Hannah were of each other. and naturally a fake dating enemies to lovers novel was going for a bit of a different tone. Olivia and Roz spend two thirds of the book at odds because of a miscommunication in the prologue, along with a lot of awkward fake dating shenanigans. it felt, for me, like it affected the book's ability to build closeness for them as a couple.

just something about having so much of the book dedicated to 'oh boy won't these crazy kids who can't be next to each other for more than fifteen seconds without some kind of awkward calamity ever learn to get along?'

it also felt like maybe the characters had a few too many things? like, Olivia is trying to figure out how to come out to her friends and family, and is also insecure about her work history. meanwhile Roz has issues with her overbearing parents, isn't comfortable with relationships after an abusive relationship fifteen years ago, has trouble communicating with people because she's chronically a straight shooter (rude to everyone), bitter about her previous place of employment passing her over for a less talented but more straight white male colleague, and there's the thing about her brother and his wife in the military

okay maybe it was just Roz had too many things

griping aside, it was a fun book. we get to meet the prior couples again and spend more time in Sapphire Springs, and if wacky fake dating romcom shenanigans are your thing, then you'll be shocked to learn this fake dating romcom has a lot of those. which I'm recognising maybe the core audience is totally here for and I'm the outlier

[Romantic.Rainbow.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of some of my favorite tropes: small town romance, faking dating, and grumpy/sunshine. It was a fun and sweet read!

Olivia is exploring her queer identity and trying to figure out which label best describes her experiences. Olivia’s relationship with Roz is also her first experience dating a woman. Oliva is in her 30s, which I appreciated. I feel like I’ve read a lot of books about characters in high school or college exploring their identities. Those books are so important, but I’m glad I’m seeing more books that depict people of a variety of ages exploring their queer identities and figuring out who they are. It is never too late!

I also loved Olivia’s commitment to environmental sustainability in her business and her life. Olivia is a florist dedicated to using local flowers grown through eco-friendly practices. I love seeing environmental sustainability celebrated in fiction! Olivia also encourages Roz to be more sustainable in her business and her personal life.

This novel can be read as a stand-alone, but I would recommend reading the two other books in the series first because they give context to the friend group dynamics. I love getting little glimpses of the “happily ever afters” experienced by the characters from the earlier books, too.

Highlights:
- exploring your queer identity in your 30s
- queer friend group
- small town romance
- grumpy/ sunshine

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book!

[Cherie • bookshelvesandtealeaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of this one! All thoughts are my own.

This is easily my favourite romance series ever and Elizabeth Luly has, once again, knocked it out of the park.

I loved every moment of this book. It’s full of so many delightful tropes it should honestly be overwhelming but they work in perfect harmony with each other. We have fake dating as the main one and an age gap that doesn’t come up very often (11 year gap with the youngest in her 30s and no power imbalance). Then there’s the almost one night stand, friends with benefits, and grumpy x sunshine to top it off.

Olivia is such a beautiful ray of sunshine. I love her so much. Her passion for flowers, romcoms and quark was so utterly adorable. To say I was smitten would be an understatement.

Roz is SUCH an upright grump. I absolutely love it. She comes across as so prickly and she’s put up so many personal walls that the people of Sapphire Springs take a while to warm to her, especially her employees at the farm she just bought. But she makes an effort to be more personable and Liv brings out the light in her which I really love.

Reading these two falling for each other had me giggling and kicking my feet like a fool. I definitely laughed out loud multiple times as well.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Floral Arrangement is the third book in Elizabeth Luly's Sapphire Springs series. It isn't a requirement to have read the previous two, but their main characters do appear in this one. Olivia (one of the MCs) is the sister of Blake (one of the MCs in Not Just Gal Pals), and it was amusing to read about her coming out process.

The ice queen trope played heavily in the introduction of the other MC of Roz, and it made some of her farming mishaps even funnier. I liked how her demeanor softened as she had more experiences with learning how to care for the farm with the various employees and animals (Thelma and Louise were especially hilarious cows).

I found joy in the main plot of fake dating plus enemies-to-lovers between Olivia and Roz. They had to establish boundaries as well as plan out behaviors, and then those slowly changed as their relationship did. I definitely found myself rooting for them as the story progressed.

This book made me want to visit a farm, and also wish Red Tractor Farm was a real place. I enjoyed the interactions between the main characters and the side characters, and the book was a very fun read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and the author for the opportunity to read and review the ARC of this book.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

roz is high up in her career there is just one more position she wants in the company she has worked her backside off for and its within easy reach... that her only competition isnt up to it makes her confident of that job being offered to her.....

so when she is overlooked she quit her job and looks around for something to get her teeth into..... after all she has saved virtually all her money so she has a cusion to fall back on

when she hears about red tractor farm is up for sale her interest is peeked as she has many happy memories of her time there as a child..... and with that thought she sets about finding out all she can and visiting it

with a vision in her head she decided to buy it.... but with a more stream lined look...... which might not be popular for those concerned....

what roz didnt account for ...was that olivia was the person she met 6 months ago and left high and dry and that olivia would have a stake in the farm for her business....

ohhh what a burner this one was.... ice queen meets her match with the flower queen.... how those walls came down for them both.... that farm sounds amazing

cant wait to read the next book from this author

[Letty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Floral Arrangement by Elizabeth Luly is a delightful, fun read with likeable protagonists that you can't help but root for. The main characters have a great dynamic, and their relationship felt sweet and natural.

That being said, I did find the number of characters a bit overwhelming. I’m guessing this might be because I haven’t read the other two books in the series, so I wasn’t as familiar with them, but it still felt like a lot to keep track of.

I also appreciated the mention of androgyny early on, but I wish it had been explored a little more deeply. It felt like a nod to a potentially interesting aspect of the character that didn’t get fully developed, which was a bit of a missed opportunity.

The plot itself was engaging and fun. Luly does a great job of keeping the story moving at a good pace while maintaining a light, enjoyable tone. There’s enough drama and intrigue to keep you hooked without it ever feeling too heavy or forced.

Overall, The Floral Arrangement was a lovely read with solid character development and a fun plot, even if there were a few areas that could’ve been fleshed out a little more. I’m definitely interested in checking out more from Elizabeth Luly.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the other two books in the Sapphire Spring series and really enjoyed reading those books. However, this book is by far my favourite in the series so far, it was so much fun to read, and I just sat with a big smile on my face while reading. It is a book that is possible to read as a standalone but extra fun to see a bit of the old favourites from the previous books in the series.

The whole fake dating and enemies to lovers work perfectly in this book. I am normally not a fake dating fan but her it is amazingly executed in the best of ways. I loved how Olivia and Roz interacted and the fact that we get the POV from both MC’s in the book. It is so great to follow Olivia’s sexual awakening with Roz and that Roz slowly melts and show a completely different side than the ice queen executive persona she has in the beginning of the book.

I now look forward to more books in the series or any other book really written by this great author.

I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave a review voluntarily.

[TheLisaD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Luly once again delivers a captivating and heartfelt Sapphic romance in The Floral Arrangement. From the very first page, the story pulls you in with an engaging opening that sets the tone for a beautifully written, emotionally rich narrative. Luly has a gift for crafting characters that feel authentic and relatable, and this novel is no exception.

The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, and their relationship unfolds with a perfect balance of tension, tenderness, and passion. The romantic arc is well-paced and deeply satisfying, drawing the reader into a journey of love, vulnerability, and growth.

What makes The Floral Arrangement stand out is not just the romance, but the way Luly weaves in themes of self-discovery and emotional resilience. It’s a story that lingers long after the final page—heartwarming, empowering, and impossible to put down.

Another triumph for Elizabeth Luly, this novel is a must-read for fans of queer romance and emotionally resonant storytelling.

[Shannon Luchies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Florist Olivia meets Roz at the only LGBTQIA bar in 60 miles of home, and it ends up awkward as heck. Olivia spills a drink on her, they flirted, then Roz seemingly disappears.

Six months later, Olivia finds out the local farm she buys most of her organic flowers from has been sold... to Roslyn 'Roz' Kennedy, her aborted date. Oops. Worse, Roz intends to remove the flowers, as it's more profitable to use the land for grazing.

However, various things happen and Roz needs to fake date Olivia to keep her matchmaking Mom at bay, as well as to impress a investor into enviromentalism.

Olivia, still crushing on Roz a bit, goes along and they begin to fall for each other, even as Roz figures out how to run a farm in a small town. Roz has a very weird vibe with her parents, and her brother urges her to forgive them for SOMETHING.

The investor finds out about the fake dating, pulls out. We also learn what Roz parents did. Third act breakup, Roz realizes she's been a bit of a ass, things get fixed.

3.5 stars...

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the cozy romantic Hallmark vibes of the entire Sapphire Springs series, and this book was no exception. Olivia and Roz had fantastic sunshine-grumpy and small town-city vibes, and they balanced each other out nicely. Though this probably doesn’t qualify as a toaster oven romance, since Olivia suspects she’s into women from the start, I also appreciated her very relatable later in life queer awakening. I liked how her struggle wasn’t about being rejected but rather just wanting to figure out her label or whether she even needs a label. The farm itself was lovely, and I became very fond of the escape artist cows Thelma and Louise. This book also had the most spice of the series, with some very fun temperature play.

I do wish Blake had shown up a little more often, but that’s purely because she’s my book girlfriend and I can’t get enough of her.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ This was SO sweet, romantic, and well-crafted. I feel like this did contemporary romance “enemies to lovers” super well, because they were generally at odds and frustrated with each other at the beginning. And I loved how they slowly warmed up to each other as they were forced to spend time together working toward their common goal. I also loved both of their personality developments/journeys throughout the book; it felt very natural. And obviously it’s a rom-com so it’s not realistic, but in a way their relationship felt very believable, like in many ways it could be realistic. They felt like the perfect grumpy sunshine couple, and while that’s not usually my favorite trope, this book had me getting the hype around it because they complemented one another so well. Overall just adore this sweet sapphic small town series and can’t wait for the next book (this winter I think?!?!?!)!!!

[Lala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't feel the pull of this book being irresistible while I was reading. Nope.

No spoiler tag will be attached, but let me summarize the book.

Olivia and Roz met at a lesbian bar, nice! Have sex on sight, good for y'all!! No contact. . For months. Huh?

Link back up when Roz has been jibbed out of a promotion that she believes she earned. Get this though, Roz becomes the owner of a farm that works with Olivia's flower shop. Okay, okay, interesting. Roz makes the decision that the farm will no longer host flowers on the land, pretty much because of her dislike for them related to an ex of hers but aye whatever. Olivia gets wind of this and takes herself on down to the farm. Go ahead, girl speak your peace.

She didn't do that. Nope. Instead, Olivia has maneuvered her way into being in a relationship with Roz. That was nice too in a way. I did laugh at that NGL!

Now after that 🥴

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

What happens when my favorite trope (fake dating) mixes with my least favorite (age gap)? This cute story about a florist hatching a spur of the moment plot to fake being in a relationship with the high powered consultant turned farmer in order to save the flowers.

While it is true that I don't usually enjoy age gap, this one wasn't insurmountable for me. It's an 11 year difference (31 and 42) but it doesn't come up too often and it isn't a power imbalance so I didn't hate it. I do love the fake dating plot, and I really enjoyed returning to Sapphire Springs. Previous characters make an appearance, which is always nice.

I enjoyed the character arcs and all the family aspects. I saw that the author is planning another in the series, and I'm looking forward to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was well-written and fun. I liked how a lot of the plot tension came from the flower section of the farm, and the things both Roz and Olivia needed from that space. And I liked how both their backgrounds played into the whole situation.

The thing I struggled a bit more with was the fake dating setup? And how it’s all predicated on a miscommunication between Roz and Olivia at the start, followed by a miscommunication between Roz, her mom, and Olivia later. I guess I really just thought they should have been straight-up dating all along, and the flower farm drama could have played into that, and I didn’t totally buy into the fake dating angle.

Other than that, though… if that’s not an issue then everything else was really well done. And it was fun to catch up with other characters in the series. So all in all a pretty good installment. :)