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Foxport #2
Half Baked
It took everything for Poppy Wheeler to finally achieve the dream of opening her very own bakery—but that doesn’t mean it won’t be taken away again. Desperate to fight off the bills piling up, she agrees to a deal with a traveling small town baking show. But there’s a catch, they don’t just want her. They want the man that almost stood in the way of her dream too.
Hayden Thompson would happily turn his back on his inheritance with a tainted past if that’s what it took to spend all day in the sea—on a surfboard or launching his new air-sea rescue team. What he could never turn his back on is the woman that gets under his skin like no one else. Which is why he agrees to star on a baking show, despite his complete lack of baking abilities.
But when the show-runner discovers that he’s Hayden Thompson, of that Thompson family and high profile mystery, and wants to flip the script on them, he and Poppy soon find out what’s worth fighting, and sacrificing, for.
Hayden Thompson would happily turn his back on his inheritance with a tainted past if that’s what it took to spend all day in the sea—on a surfboard or launching his new air-sea rescue team. What he could never turn his back on is the woman that gets under his skin like no one else. Which is why he agrees to star on a baking show, despite his complete lack of baking abilities.
But when the show-runner discovers that he’s Hayden Thompson, of that Thompson family and high profile mystery, and wants to flip the script on them, he and Poppy soon find out what’s worth fighting, and sacrificing, for.
- GenresRomance
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2025
5 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 15, 2025
3.5 rounded to a 4
I wanted to LOVE this. the cover is a vibe and it started off a vibe but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. the writing was very descriptive and I think it took me out of the story a bit.
I didn't feel the romantic pull between these 2 everyone has talked about. maybe it's because it is closed door but honestly when they later talked about her having slept with him I was shocked because the relationship didn't seem to be at that point.
the vibes were very cute summer read but unfortunately this one just wasn't for me
I wanted to LOVE this. the cover is a vibe and it started off a vibe but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. the writing was very descriptive and I think it took me out of the story a bit.
I didn't feel the romantic pull between these 2 everyone has talked about. maybe it's because it is closed door but honestly when they later talked about her having slept with him I was shocked because the relationship didn't seem to be at that point.
the vibes were very cute summer read but unfortunately this one just wasn't for me
June 17, 2025
4.5 rounded to 5!
I've been anxiously waiting to return to Foxport, Massachusetts since reading the first book in the series. And while I thoroughly enjoyed By the Book because of its fall setting, I absolutely LOVED Half Baked. The summer, coastal vibes were immaculate and wish with all my heart that I could be a resident of Foxport!
Seriously, if you're looking for a good summer beach read, look no further! Half Baked was
such a breath of fresh air. It was light and fluffy and wholesome with the cutest little love story. The atmosphere was cozy and felt like a warm, fuzzy summery hug. At times, it gave off Gilmore Girls by the sea because of the perfect small town and its close-knit residents. I loved Hayden and Poppy's chemistry and banter, their supportive friends, and all of the baked goods mentioned (those lemon lavender scones sound divine). It makes me want to find a bakehouse by the ocean stat!
Half Baked is book 2 in the Foxport Series. Although it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the first book, By the Book, to avoid any potential spoilers.
Read if you love:
🌊 Dislike to lovers
🧁 He falls first and harder
🌊 Billionaire surfer MMC
🧁 Baker FMC
🌊 Forced proximity
🧁 Tight knit girl gang
🌊 New England coastal summer
Thank you so much, @authorcasteinhaus, for this arc! I'm so excited for books 3 and 4 in this series. 🥰
I've been anxiously waiting to return to Foxport, Massachusetts since reading the first book in the series. And while I thoroughly enjoyed By the Book because of its fall setting, I absolutely LOVED Half Baked. The summer, coastal vibes were immaculate and wish with all my heart that I could be a resident of Foxport!
Seriously, if you're looking for a good summer beach read, look no further! Half Baked was
such a breath of fresh air. It was light and fluffy and wholesome with the cutest little love story. The atmosphere was cozy and felt like a warm, fuzzy summery hug. At times, it gave off Gilmore Girls by the sea because of the perfect small town and its close-knit residents. I loved Hayden and Poppy's chemistry and banter, their supportive friends, and all of the baked goods mentioned (those lemon lavender scones sound divine). It makes me want to find a bakehouse by the ocean stat!
Half Baked is book 2 in the Foxport Series. Although it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the first book, By the Book, to avoid any potential spoilers.
Read if you love:
🌊 Dislike to lovers
🧁 He falls first and harder
🌊 Billionaire surfer MMC
🧁 Baker FMC
🌊 Forced proximity
🧁 Tight knit girl gang
🌊 New England coastal summer
Thank you so much, @authorcasteinhaus, for this arc! I'm so excited for books 3 and 4 in this series. 🥰
June 24, 2025
This would be a great beach/vacation read! It has all those summer vibes I love. I really enjoyed Hayden and Poppy’s dislike to lovers story. Their banter in the first book got me excited for this one and it didn’t disappoint. Love all of Poppy’s snarky comments and little comebacks.
The coastal setting and bakehouse..all the baked goods mentioned..gives this book such a cozy summer feel!
Favorite Quotes:
Hayden: "Missing me?"
Poppy: "I miss you like people miss a sunburn."
“He clearly has no intention of going anywhere. And despite everything, it feels reassuring. I’ve given him a hundred reasons to write me off over the years, like I’ve done to him. Instead, he’s standing here promising to continue.”
Closed door but higher heat☺️
Some swearing
The coastal setting and bakehouse..all the baked goods mentioned..gives this book such a cozy summer feel!
Favorite Quotes:
Hayden: "Missing me?"
Poppy: "I miss you like people miss a sunburn."
“He clearly has no intention of going anywhere. And despite everything, it feels reassuring. I’ve given him a hundred reasons to write me off over the years, like I’ve done to him. Instead, he’s standing here promising to continue.”
Closed door but higher heat☺️
Some swearing
October 24, 2025
I really enjoyed this story following Poppy and Hayden! These books are so sweet, and I can’t wait to read the third one next month!
December 31, 2025
A quick, closed door, enemies to lovers story. I liked the push/pull between the characters and their banter was cute. I really enjoyed the relationship that Poppy had with her grandmother and how it is told throughout the story and through her baking. Nothing too deep in this one, but it was fun.
July 30, 2025
CUTE! cheesy at times but overall a fun silly summer read
June 24, 2025
Poppy’s bakery dream is on the line—until a baking show offers a lifeline… with one infuriating catch: Hayden Thompson. He’s the man who nearly crushed her dreams, and now they must fake harmony on-screen. But when secrets stir and the cameras start rolling, they’ll discover what’s truly worth risking everything for.
There’s just something cozy about tight-knit friend groups in small towns. All the girly flair and fuzzy emotions are supported really well with flirty writing. If you like B.K. Borison—or have been wanting to try a closed-door version of her—this is it. I just ate up every whisper of sweet nothings Poppy and Hayden would give me. This story is delicious in an overly sweet but simple way. Don’t even get me started on the blushing New England setting. If you enjoy found family in small towns with indecently alluring billionaire men, you’re going to read this in one sitting.
Available now on Kindle Unlimited! #ku #kindleunlimited
Thank you to the author for the eARC
Perfect for you if you like:
Closed-door with physical chemistry
Baking show chaos
Small-town cozy found family
Billionaire surfer boy MMC
Similar to:
Business Casual by B.K. Borison (open door)
Holiday Hostilities by Katie Bailey
In The Weeds by B.K. Borison (open door)
⛔️closed door romance
⚠️explicit language, previous death of parents
There’s just something cozy about tight-knit friend groups in small towns. All the girly flair and fuzzy emotions are supported really well with flirty writing. If you like B.K. Borison—or have been wanting to try a closed-door version of her—this is it. I just ate up every whisper of sweet nothings Poppy and Hayden would give me. This story is delicious in an overly sweet but simple way. Don’t even get me started on the blushing New England setting. If you enjoy found family in small towns with indecently alluring billionaire men, you’re going to read this in one sitting.
Available now on Kindle Unlimited! #ku #kindleunlimited
Thank you to the author for the eARC
Perfect for you if you like:
Closed-door with physical chemistry
Baking show chaos
Small-town cozy found family
Billionaire surfer boy MMC
Similar to:
Business Casual by B.K. Borison (open door)
Holiday Hostilities by Katie Bailey
In The Weeds by B.K. Borison (open door)
⛔️closed door romance
⚠️explicit language, previous death of parents
June 9, 2025
A big thank you to Christine, the author, for sending me an early copy of this book! 💕
I am so stoked to be going back to Foxport!!
If you are looking for a summer romance with a coastal vibe, found family, lots of character growth, this one is for you!
We follow Poppy, who is adamant about her hatred for Hayden- an arrogant man who comes from money. But she begins to realize the picture she has painted of him from the past doesn’t match who he really is! I loved watching Poppy get to know the real Hayden, and I LOVE LOVE LOVED, Hayden’s support for Poppy! Right from the beginning he seems to be looking out for her, even though she outwardly hates him, he perseveres!
Poppy isn’t the type of person to ask for help, but she slowly starts trusting Hayden with her heart, and he returns it with mutual trust!
Poppy and Hayden and thrown together to do a baking show that will help save Poppy’s bake shop. Their on screen chemistry is undeniable, and after a little while they trust each other and communicate really well! Especially for Poppy who isn’t really sure she is ready to jump full in with Hayden. And Hayden respects that for her! Poppy hasn’t been able to open up around anyone the way she can with Hayden. Watching her walls come down was so so wonderful to see!
Honestly everything about Hayden was so sweet. He doesn’t flaunt his money or act too proud, and his passion for rescue swimming was so cool to read about! The crew he puts together is a band of brothers, and such an interesting and important job!
There are things about Hayden that remind me of my husband. The way he lets Poppy set the pace, be herself, protects her interests and mental health, makes her feel beautiful!
I really enjoyed getting to see character from the previous book and the roles each character has to play. It also sets up the next book very well! I am so excited to read Stevie’s and Wrens stories!
I am so stoked to be going back to Foxport!!
If you are looking for a summer romance with a coastal vibe, found family, lots of character growth, this one is for you!
We follow Poppy, who is adamant about her hatred for Hayden- an arrogant man who comes from money. But she begins to realize the picture she has painted of him from the past doesn’t match who he really is! I loved watching Poppy get to know the real Hayden, and I LOVE LOVE LOVED, Hayden’s support for Poppy! Right from the beginning he seems to be looking out for her, even though she outwardly hates him, he perseveres!
Poppy isn’t the type of person to ask for help, but she slowly starts trusting Hayden with her heart, and he returns it with mutual trust!
Poppy and Hayden and thrown together to do a baking show that will help save Poppy’s bake shop. Their on screen chemistry is undeniable, and after a little while they trust each other and communicate really well! Especially for Poppy who isn’t really sure she is ready to jump full in with Hayden. And Hayden respects that for her! Poppy hasn’t been able to open up around anyone the way she can with Hayden. Watching her walls come down was so so wonderful to see!
Honestly everything about Hayden was so sweet. He doesn’t flaunt his money or act too proud, and his passion for rescue swimming was so cool to read about! The crew he puts together is a band of brothers, and such an interesting and important job!
There are things about Hayden that remind me of my husband. The way he lets Poppy set the pace, be herself, protects her interests and mental health, makes her feel beautiful!
I really enjoyed getting to see character from the previous book and the roles each character has to play. It also sets up the next book very well! I am so excited to read Stevie’s and Wrens stories!
June 12, 2025
I’m so excited to be heading back to Foxport! This book is a perfect summer escape, full of coastal charm, swoony romance, and heartfelt character growth. If you love the found family trope with second chances and a hint of baking competition fun then this one’s for you!
We follow Poppy, a fiercely independent baker with a grudge against Hayden, the arrogant rich guy from her past. But as they’re unexpectedly paired on a baking show to save her bakery, she starts to realize the version of Hayden she’s held onto doesn’t quite match the real man standing right in front of her. And wow, did I love Hayden. His quiet, unwavering support for Poppy even when she pushed him away had me melting. He doesn’t push or pressure her, he just shows up, time and again.
Their chemistry is undeniable, but what really got me was the emotional trust that they build. Poppy, who’s always guarded her heart, learns to let someone in, and Hayden meets her with such patience and respect. Plus, Hayden’s background as a rescue swimmer and his tight-knit team added a different aspect to him.
It was also amazing to revise familiar faces from the series. The setup for Stevie’s and Wren’s stories has me counting down the days!
Tropes:
-Dislike to lovers
-He falls first
-Billionaire surfer boy mmc
-Tight knit girl gang
-Baking show
-New England coastal summer
We follow Poppy, a fiercely independent baker with a grudge against Hayden, the arrogant rich guy from her past. But as they’re unexpectedly paired on a baking show to save her bakery, she starts to realize the version of Hayden she’s held onto doesn’t quite match the real man standing right in front of her. And wow, did I love Hayden. His quiet, unwavering support for Poppy even when she pushed him away had me melting. He doesn’t push or pressure her, he just shows up, time and again.
Their chemistry is undeniable, but what really got me was the emotional trust that they build. Poppy, who’s always guarded her heart, learns to let someone in, and Hayden meets her with such patience and respect. Plus, Hayden’s background as a rescue swimmer and his tight-knit team added a different aspect to him.
It was also amazing to revise familiar faces from the series. The setup for Stevie’s and Wren’s stories has me counting down the days!
Tropes:
-Dislike to lovers
-He falls first
-Billionaire surfer boy mmc
-Tight knit girl gang
-Baking show
-New England coastal summer
October 9, 2025
I was so excited to return to the town of Foxport that I didn’t even wait a full 24 hours before starting this book and let me tell you.. it did NOT disappoint.
Hayden and Poppy’s story is SO swoonworthy. Maybe it’s because I love an enemy to lovers troupe, but I was hooked. Hayden is the sweetest and I loved the aspect of tough unafraid firefighter/air-sea rescue team. But he also softened when Poppy protected him and so sweet when he cooked for or baked with her. Poppy was fierce and independent and I loved her personality. It took her a little bit to admit her feelings, but man when she did she loved hard. I thought the tv show aspect was a little far fetched, but hey, it’s kinda like a hallmark movie. Can’t look away even if it’s cheesy. I also thought the epilogue was rushed, which is probably the only reason it lost a star. The rest of the book had me sucked in from page one.
⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 2/5 (definitely more heat/description in this one, but still closed door/fade to black)
Hayden and Poppy’s story is SO swoonworthy. Maybe it’s because I love an enemy to lovers troupe, but I was hooked. Hayden is the sweetest and I loved the aspect of tough unafraid firefighter/air-sea rescue team. But he also softened when Poppy protected him and so sweet when he cooked for or baked with her. Poppy was fierce and independent and I loved her personality. It took her a little bit to admit her feelings, but man when she did she loved hard. I thought the tv show aspect was a little far fetched, but hey, it’s kinda like a hallmark movie. Can’t look away even if it’s cheesy. I also thought the epilogue was rushed, which is probably the only reason it lost a star. The rest of the book had me sucked in from page one.
⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 2/5 (definitely more heat/description in this one, but still closed door/fade to black)
June 13, 2025
Thank you to the author for the ARC!!
By the Book is the first book in this series and when I read it last fall, I fell in love with this town and the people. I was so excited to get the ARC for Half Baked! Thank you to the author for trusting me!
This book was so cute! It’s set in Foxport, Massachusetts, and I just want to live in this small, cozy town!
Poppy is such a spitfire! She had it in her head that Hayden didn’t like her and she just kept him at arms length. Their banter was top tier! I laughed so much throughout the book.
Hayden kept coming back for more of Poppy’s feistiness and banter because he had such strong feelings for her that he took whatever attention she gave him 🥹 he was such a cinnamon roll and his sweetness made my heart melt🥰 The epilogue was the cherry on top! Can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
By the Book is the first book in this series and when I read it last fall, I fell in love with this town and the people. I was so excited to get the ARC for Half Baked! Thank you to the author for trusting me!
This book was so cute! It’s set in Foxport, Massachusetts, and I just want to live in this small, cozy town!
Poppy is such a spitfire! She had it in her head that Hayden didn’t like her and she just kept him at arms length. Their banter was top tier! I laughed so much throughout the book.
Hayden kept coming back for more of Poppy’s feistiness and banter because he had such strong feelings for her that he took whatever attention she gave him 🥹 he was such a cinnamon roll and his sweetness made my heart melt🥰 The epilogue was the cherry on top! Can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
June 9, 2025
Thank you to the author for the arc of Half-Baked!
Back in Foxport, in the summer, and it has just as much magic as the fall. This series is perfect because it’s so realistic: I can smell the bakery and the ocean; I can imagine being surrounded by the tourists; the relationships are authentic and deep. These feel like real people in a real town. The love between Hayden and Poppy is genuine. I know it can technically fit in the dislike to love trope, but this book is so much more than a trope. Their relationship feels like a real relationship of two people I could know in real life. It grows and stumbles and morphs into the beautiful happily ever after that we expect from a Steinhaus novel.
Back in Foxport, in the summer, and it has just as much magic as the fall. This series is perfect because it’s so realistic: I can smell the bakery and the ocean; I can imagine being surrounded by the tourists; the relationships are authentic and deep. These feel like real people in a real town. The love between Hayden and Poppy is genuine. I know it can technically fit in the dislike to love trope, but this book is so much more than a trope. Their relationship feels like a real relationship of two people I could know in real life. It grows and stumbles and morphs into the beautiful happily ever after that we expect from a Steinhaus novel.
June 18, 2025
Steinhaus does it again!!! As it would seem, I cannot put her books down! A summer in foxport, flawlessly written. A lovely fade to black romance. Steinhaus writes chemistry like no one else and oh man strap in because it’s good. AND there’s no third act break up🎉 there’s action and chemistry and love and firefighters and enemies to lovers and he fell first and wowowow. Hayden was a phenomenal MMC. steady. He’ll be in my top MMCs for a long while. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 five stars doesn’t feel like enough. I feel like a need a confetti canon to go along with it. (Plus this book is on kindle unlimited so 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼). While this is book 2, I feel like it stands alone. By the Book is the first one and also a phenomenal read and it takes place in the fall.
June 21, 2025
omg y’alllll I adored this book so much. I especially enjoyed Poppy and Hayden with their comebacks, banter and the sweetest moments between them.
Hayden is down badddd for Poppy !! This whole time she’s thinking there’s this mutual hatred between them but you find out how much Hayden genuinely cares about her and Poppy’s bakery she just opened. I was so proud and happy for Poppy for opening her heart and was able to finally accept the help she needed even though it was really difficult for her to do 🥹
Even with this being closed door, Hayden and Poppy had this explosive chemistry that still got you going 🔥👏
Thank you to CA Steinhaus for this ARC!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hayden is down badddd for Poppy !! This whole time she’s thinking there’s this mutual hatred between them but you find out how much Hayden genuinely cares about her and Poppy’s bakery she just opened. I was so proud and happy for Poppy for opening her heart and was able to finally accept the help she needed even though it was really difficult for her to do 🥹
Even with this being closed door, Hayden and Poppy had this explosive chemistry that still got you going 🔥👏
Thank you to CA Steinhaus for this ARC!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 24, 2025
4.5 rounded up to 5! I enjoyed Ivy and Tripp, but I really loved Poppy and Hayden! I thought the enemies to lovers was done well, and it was just such a cozy summer read. It did feel like the epilogue was a bit rushed for some reason, but I really loved the rest!
June 30, 2025
3.75
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2025
It was so good to be back in the fictional word of foxport with poppy, hayden, & their playful banter, I always loved enjoy reading books by C.A. Steinhaus for their effortless ease & lovable characters. she absolutely delivered that yet again with half baked! the coastal setting was perfect for the start of summer, & I wanted to gobble up all of poppy’s baked goods irl! also, can I just take a second to say I want to be in this friend group… top tier!! I loved that there was no third act breakup, but the conflict/ plot was executed beautifully!!
✨ favorite quotes ✨
“𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥.
𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘵.
“𝘠𝘰𝘶, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭, 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯, 𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺.”
💖 quick takes
•small town/ coastal summer
•dislike to lovers
•completely closed door romance, but the yearning & tension is there 🫶🏻
•billionaire mmc
•baker x rescue diver
•he falls first, & boy is down bad
while this one can technically be read as a standalone, I recommend picking up by the book first so you can get to know & love all of the characters that the series follows 🥰
thank you so incredible much to C.A. Steinhaus for the arc… I’m so happy the world gets to have this lovable book in their hands now! 🩵💙
✨ favorite quotes ✨
“𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥.
𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘵.
“𝘠𝘰𝘶, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭, 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯, 𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺.”
💖 quick takes
•small town/ coastal summer
•dislike to lovers
•completely closed door romance, but the yearning & tension is there 🫶🏻
•billionaire mmc
•baker x rescue diver
•he falls first, & boy is down bad
while this one can technically be read as a standalone, I recommend picking up by the book first so you can get to know & love all of the characters that the series follows 🥰
thank you so incredible much to C.A. Steinhaus for the arc… I’m so happy the world gets to have this lovable book in their hands now! 🩵💙
June 17, 2025
Things I Loved:
Small costal town
Walker Farms
Clambake
He falls first
She sticks up for him
Strong female friendships
No third act breakup
I have been excited for Hayden and Poppy’s story since reading By the Book and it did not disappoint!! I devoured this book in one sitting. Hayden was supportive of Poppy from the beginning always putting her first. Poppy is fiercely independent, it’s hard for her to ask help from anyone. I loved them so much. Their interactions were full of banter, they challenged each other but the connection was undeniable. Hayden loved Poppy’s attention even if it was just her sass, watching them spend time together, and seeing their relationship grow was so fun! If you are looking for a summer read set in a New England costal town with no third act breakup, check this one out!
Small costal town
Walker Farms
Clambake
He falls first
She sticks up for him
Strong female friendships
No third act breakup
I have been excited for Hayden and Poppy’s story since reading By the Book and it did not disappoint!! I devoured this book in one sitting. Hayden was supportive of Poppy from the beginning always putting her first. Poppy is fiercely independent, it’s hard for her to ask help from anyone. I loved them so much. Their interactions were full of banter, they challenged each other but the connection was undeniable. Hayden loved Poppy’s attention even if it was just her sass, watching them spend time together, and seeing their relationship grow was so fun! If you are looking for a summer read set in a New England costal town with no third act breakup, check this one out!
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