Clean Girl Spring

by Willow Hurst

A spicy small town seasonal romance, the perfect read for Spring!

You never know where love might bloom...

April Jones needs a fresh start. Leaving behind a broken engagement and a dead-end job in New York, she returns to her hometown of Magnolia Springs with a she’ll renovate her late father’s struggling dive bar and turn it into a florist, just like she and her mom always dreamed of.

As spring flowers start to bloom, April throws herself into the project, relishing the slower pace of life and finally beginning to mend her broken heart. But then her childhood rival Luke, now a successful real-estate developer, shows up with plans to tear down half of Main Street, including April’s beloved florist.

April can’t believe that the fate of her business now rests in Luke’s annoyingly attractive hands, but she isn’t ready to give up on her fresh start just yet. If only April could find a way to make Luke set aside is hard hat and follow his heart . . .



Enemies-to-loversOpposites attractSmall town romance

Genres: Contemporary, Romance

333 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2026

Reviews

[Liz | lizzuplans · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Cozy Girl Fall” was such a fun read and I cannot wait for “Clean Girl Spring”!! My preorder cannot get here quickly enough.


Cute and easy romance.

I really enjoyed book one in this series and it was fun to be back in Magnolia Springs, this time with April and Luke.

The flower shop was everything I needed for spring, the rivals-to-lovers vibe was cute, I very much liked the side characters and side quests, and this book was well written and easy to read.
On the other hand, I felt not as connected with the couple, the storyline with the ex dragged on but was surprisingly quickly resolved, and I missed a bit of tension in the story. Things could have been tightened up with less “waffling on” in certain scenes.
Also, minus points for the dog in the bed.

Looking forward to buying my trophy copy with hopefully a cute sprayed edge!

Shoutout to the cute cover and title!

Rounded up to 4 stars.

I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.

[Maria P · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐

An easy, steamy romance!

The cover of Clean Girl Spring immediately drew me in, despite not having read the previous book in the Magnolia Springs series. This is one of the few interconnected standalone series I've read where I didn't feel overwhelmed with backstory for previous/future books in the same collection!

The story begins with April driving away from her boyfriend after finding him with another woman. She's understandably distraught, though for me she's voiced like a teenager rather than an adult. This only continues once she meets (reunites) with her new love interest Luke. All April seems to care about is this old highschool rivalry with him. It's as though the author is trying to force a rivals/enemies to lovers trope but it doesn't really come off very well.

However, I do really enjoy the teasing and confidence that Luke has around April - I think she's in desperate need of not being taken too seriously. She's trying to break free of the mould her ex put her in, and instead of feeling insecure she's fighting with Luke about it instead. I think they're good for each other.

The main tension in their relationship (other than the forced rivalry) is that she's renovating her dad's old bar into a flower shop, and he's a property developer looking to tear down other buildings in the same street as her new store (or buy hers!). Though this never feels like a real possibility. As soon as April commits to taking over the bar, Luke backs off. When his team is due to tear down other buildings for a client, he sneakily gives her the tricks to succeed. Everything just feels a little too easy.

That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the romance however! As mentioned already, their chemistry is strong and that makes their spicy scenes pretty damn hot. There's a few close calls and interruptions that keep things exciting, but they're very aware of a physical attraction which helps their relationship in the long run.

Also, the message behind doing up her dad's bar into a flower shop is a sweet one. There's a lot of community and heart to this book, especially with the family supporting one another - and Aprils ride-or-die friends! Though I would've loved to see more of the renovation process. All we get is a few comments of her and her brother whiteboxing the space, then her friends helping with painting when suddenly the shop is ready for it's first delivery. It's all a bit abrupt.

This is true of most of the book though. As a shorter novel, the pacing is much quicker rather than action-packed - it feels lacking. Not only that, but April doesn't really do a lot. Nor does she have any major flaws. She has the general idea for the store, but it's everyone else who takes the lead. Luke flirts, Noah renovates, her friends sit with her in a coffee shop in silence while they order the same set of drinks. It gets a bit repetitive and flat. There are a few moments towards the end where she sticks up for herself but otherwise April is very passive and occasionally difficult to root for.

Despite this, Clean Girl Spring is an easy read and would be good for anyone looking for a quick spicy romance with heart!

Thank you to Willow Hurst, and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I absolutely loved the first book in this series, but this one was somehow even better.

This story follows Alice Jones as she returns home after leaving a controlling relationship that caused her to lose herself. What stood out most to me was her journey of rediscovery. Watching Alice slowly rebuild her confidence, start trusting her own decisions again, and figure out what she actually wants from her life was incredibly emotional and really well done. It never felt rushed, and you could genuinely feel her growth throughout.

The family dynamic added so much depth to the story. Kathy is still grieving the loss of her husband, and that grief is present in such a raw and realistic way. It’s not something that’s quickly resolved, and I really appreciated how it was handled. Noah, her brother, is protective but clearly loves her deeply, and their relationship felt very real. The way her family was involved in her life, supporting her but also challenging her when needed, made the story feel grounded and meaningful.

Her friendships with Emma and Ivy were another highlight. They weren’t just there for light moments, they genuinely supported Alice through everything and gave her the space to be herself again. It was so nice to see strong, positive female friendships that actually felt important to the story.

The relationship between Alice and Luke was a perfect example of rivals to lovers done right. Their history, the tension between them, and the way their dynamic shifts over time felt natural and believable. What I liked most was that their connection wasn’t just built on attraction, it developed through trust, understanding, and the way they showed up for each other. Luke’s actions, especially, spoke much louder than words, and that made their relationship feel even more genuine.

The storyline around the bar and Alice creating something new for herself added such a hopeful and empowering layer to the book. It wasn’t just about romance, it was about her building something of her own, making choices for herself, and stepping into a version of her life that actually made her happy. That aspect of the story really stayed with me.

Tyler, her ex, was genuinely awful. His behaviour highlighted just how much Alice had been held back and made it even more satisfying to see her stand her ground and refuse to fall back into that version of herself. Every interaction with him reinforced how far she had come, and I found myself fully rooting for her to choose herself every time.

It was also great to see Penny, Ethan and Tasha again, which helped make the world feel more connected and added an extra layer of familiarity to the story.
This book had me completely invested from start to finish. It was emotional, comforting, and genuinely satisfying to read.

An easy five stars. I didn’t want it to end, and I already miss these characters. 😭

I cannot wait for book 3 and 4!! 🥰

[Shelf Help Charms | Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clean Girl Spring was such a cute, light, easy read. It ended up being the perfect palate cleanser between all the intense romantasies and ARCs I’ve been drowning in lately. Most of the books I read tend to be super plot heavy, so it was honestly really refreshing to read something that focused more on the characters and their relationships instead.

There wasn’t any huge third act blow up, crazy drama, or emotional devastation waiting around the corner and honestly? I needed that. Sometimes you just want a book that feels cozy and easy to sink into without stressing about what terrible thing is about to happen next.

The rivalry between April and Luke was so fun. As someone who will always be weak for witty banter, their back and forth was top tier. I love when two characters clearly annoy the hell out of each other but you can also tell they’re having the time of their lives doing it.

I also really appreciated the way the author handled the FMC’s grief and how it affected her family. The complicated stages of grief really resonated with me. After losing my own dad, I learned the hard way that grief isn’t neat, organized, or linear. It just kind of shows up whenever it wants and you learn to live alongside it.

One of my favorite things about the book was the town and the relationships between all the characters. Everyone felt connected and supportive in a way that honestly made me a little jealous. I love stories with that kind of close knit community energy.

The book is pretty short and moves quickly, so don’t go in expecting some deep literary masterpiece. But if you’re looking for something fun, cozy, and very spring coded, this is a great pick.

And now I’m officially adding Cozy Girl Fall to my autumn TBR because apparently I’m invested in this seasonal series now.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring themes all around! This is the perfect book to read this time of year if you’re looking for an easy going, sweet and spicy seasonal read! 🌸

One of the first things that drew me into this book was the cover, it just showcases the whole seasonal vibes of the book, and I love it 💛

I really like the FMC April, and did from the first chapter with her ‘fresh start’ and how she was feeling and some of her actions leading from this! (Because who wouldn’t want to blast out Before He Cheats on repeat before impulsively dying your hair)
Then we meet Luke the MMC, and the chemistry and banter between them both was brilliant, especially having the old high school rivals element ☺️

Willow Hurst also did a fantastic job of showing Aprils other relationships with her best friends and family. The one that stuck out most to me was with April and her brother, there was just the perfect mix of siblings annoying each other and the love and support they also have! 💗

And I can’t forget about Sadie, as soon as we were introduced to her I instantly fell in love! She absolutely stole the show 🐾

While this is the second book in the Magnolia Springs, it can be read as a standalone with some previous characters making cameo appearances! This story is also really good to enter into if you haven’t read the previous one, as it doesn’t feel too overwhelming entering the world.

Overall I really enjoyed this, it was the perfect book to get me in the mood for spring! And great to be back in Magnolia Springs, it’s definitely one of those places you’d want to visit after reading to go and see some of the shops and places mentioned! Can’t wait to see what’s next 🤩

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Willow Hurst for this ARC 💛

4🌟

[Louise Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received via NetGalley. This was a difficult review to write because I was so excited to read Clean Girl Spring because Cozy Girl Fall was a Five Star Read and one of My 10 Favourite Books of 2025 but I just didn’t enjoy Clean Girl Spring as much.
I liked April and I enjoyed reading about her journey to reopen her late Dad’s bar as a flower shop. There are great supporting characters in April’s mom, her best friends and her brother.
I think the issue I have is with Luke. Clean Girl Spring was built up as an enemies-to-lovers story and maybe from April’s perspective that was true because she’d clashed with Luke since high school but I don’t know about Luke. I never really got a sense of Luke as a character. He’s the high school rival who’s now besties with April’s brother and checking in on her mom after her dad’s passing. He’s the ruthless real estate developer who’ll stop at nothing to destroy Magnolia Springs’ main street and yet he gives April the information which leads to the bulldozers being halted and the street being protected.
A perfect example of this whiplash was when Luke asked April to dinner at the beginning of the book. She thinks it might be a date and spurred on by her ex’s social media posts, she accepts but it turns out he’s asked her to meet so they can discuss whether she’d be interested in selling her dad’s bar. Is he all about business or has he always had feelings for April and just competed with her as a way to get her attention?
Overall, it was just OK. I didn’t enjoy it as much as Cozy Girl Fall but I’m still excited to read more from Willow Hurst.

[Lisa M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Cozy Girl Fall last year by the same author, Willow Hurst, and found it such a cheering read that I couldn't resist this spring offering.

Firstly, a moment for the cover! How inviting - it is pure joy and really grabs the attention.

We follow April (yes, that is the lead characters very spring-like name!) who has broken up with her fiancé and moved back to her home town and quickly settles back into life there to set up a florist. I did like this book, it was very short and so quick to read, but I would have preferred a lot more around the flower shop to really embrace the spring vibes. In the autumn book, I couldn't get enough of the orchard. This was a character-based book (as opposed to plot-based) and I enjoyed reading about April's friendship with her gal pals as much as the romance aspect.

The books are linked, being set in Magnolia Springs, and Penny from the first book appeared here too but they can definitely be read as standalones and I'd recommend this as an easy, seasonal read. I think the next planned book is winter, as opposed to summer, and I will absolutely be picking that up too.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the spring theme. I think it was well incorporated in this story. This story is short so the action goes quite fast. In romance, I prefer when it’s a bit slower. April comes back to Magnolia springs after finding out that her fiancé cheated on her. In Magnolia Springs, she’s reunited with her high school «rival/nemesis», Luke. I found that there wasn’t enough time to build the tension necessary to have a good enemies to lovers vibe, so that disappointed me. The story was short but there was a lot of spice and not that much character growth. I did like the friends April had with her 2 best friends. They were really supportive of her dream to open a flower shop. Overall, I enjoyed the seasons theme and the small town vibe. Readers of Cozy girl fall will be happy to see Penny in some of the scenes. However, I do feel like the story could’ve been longer to help deepen the relationship between April and Luke. Some of the conflicts were resolved too easily for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.

[cakecoffeeandbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

After enjoying Cosy girl fall I was looking forward to the next instalment in this series.
Clean girl spring is a quick, seasonal read and I did enjoy the spring time setting. April returns to her home town of Magnolia Springs after catching her finance cheating. She bumps into her high school ‘rival’ Luke who is now a property developer. He wants to buy her late father’s derelict bar, but April decides to renovate it with her brother and open her own flower shop.
Their rivalry seemed quite petty and childish, there wasn’t very much tension, and other than a couple of offers to buy the bar Luke wasn’t particularly set on it so it never felt like they were enemies in any way. I’d have liked a little more build up of their chemistry- the romantic relationship needed a bit more for me, it didn’t quite feel believable enough.
The storyline is fairly slow which is fine and still makes for a nice read, but a lot of elements could certainly benefit from a little more depth.

Overall a quick read with cute spring vibes.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Khushi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me for this ARC because this book was basically the reading equivalent of opening your windows on the first warm day of spring!🌺

This was such a fun, cozy and slightly chaotic romance that completely pulled me in where I loved the small town energy, the tension, the stubborn characters who clearly should just admit their feelings already but obviously refuse to do that because where would the fun be in that? The banter was chef’s kiss and the chemistry had me smiling like an idiot more than once! It also had that really comforting theme of starting over and figuring life out again which made the story feel warm and hopeful!

If you want a light, charming spring romance with sass, tension and cozy vibes this one is such a cute pick!🌸✨

[Leni · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoyed Laurie Gilmore's Dream Harbour series, you’ll absolutely devour this one as well. While I was a bit let down by Cozy Girl Fall, I really enjoyed Clean Girl Spring. It's an easy read, a book to reach for in a moment you need comfort. It's the kind of book you pick up on Sunday morning and find yourself reading in one sitting while your coffee is getting cold or the ice in your drink is melting away.

Yes, it's fast paced. Yes, it could benefit from a bit more built up of the story. But you know what you sign up for when you pick up Clean Girl Spring. With only around 300 pages to read, you get treated to a wholesome romance with some spicy scenes - as a book in this genre should be. It's fun, the characters are likeable and I really enjoyed myself reading.

[Amelieeee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3,5 Sterne
Ich habe etwas gebraucht, um mit April und Luke warm zu werden. Ich mochte besonders April alleine sehr gerne, habe aber am Anfang nicht so eine große Verbindung zwischen den beiden gespürt.
Die Liebesgeschichte entwickelte sich sehr schnell und basierte eher auf körperlicher Anziehung.
Sehr gefallen haben mir die Kleinstadt vibes und die Freundschaft zwischen April, Emma und Izzy!
Es war einfach eine süße, cozy Geschichte für zwischendurch!

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only good thing about this book is its cover. This was so shallow and immature. Everything felt so rushed and unrealistic.

[Maya Hersi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved cosy girl fall but this one didn’t hit as hard. The story seemed a little wattpad-y with not much happening. The characters were quite 2D and didn’t find myself rooting for anyone really.

[Naomi Haugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rivals to lovers
Forced proximity
Small town setting

[Rachel Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

April and Luke were rivals in school, now she is back in town will things have changed? A fun read, an opposites attract romance.