Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore

Hope Harbor #2

by Brittanee Nicole

Settle in with a warm glass of cider and FALL in love beside the bonfire on a crisp autumn evening in this friends-to-lovers fake dating romance about a jilted romance bookstore owner and her handsome failed-writer best friend, from the romance superstar author of The Boston Bolts hockey series.

These old flames are ready to catch fire.

After a very public failed engagement, Penny Darling, proud owner of Bonfire and Bliss Books, is done with love. She’d rather cozy up by the fire with a pumpkin spiced-anything and one of her book boyfriends than a real one any day. 

So when her old high school best friend, author Jake “Monty” Montgomery, tells the town busybodies that he’s her new boyfriend and volunteers them to co-host Hope Harbor’s famed Maple Festival, Penny is more than hesitant. 

Until Monty admits the real reason he returned his latest book release failed and if he doesn’t turn in something amazing soon, his career as an author is over. Convinced that Penny’s obsession with romance novels makes her an expert on the subject, Monty begs Penny to teach him how to be the perfect romantic hero so he can finally write one. In return, Penny’s “boyfriend” will put a stop to neighbors’ pitying looks and matchmaking.

But as pretend kisses in the apple orchard turn into searing ones beneath the autumn moon, Penny begins to wonder if Monty could really love her, or if she’s destined for another broken heart.

Genres: Contemporary Romance

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 11, 2026

Reviews

[BookishKB]

🍂📚 Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore by Brittanee Nicole 📚🍂

📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

🍁 What to Expect
• Friends to lovers
• Fake dating
• Small town
• Bookstore owner FMC
• Author MMC
• Second chance feelings
• Cozy fall setting
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
📝 Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[BookishMarineMama03 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when I got the email from NetGalley for this book because I absolutely loved book one and this one. I ADORED this one!! Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore by Brittanée Nicole is book two in the Hope Harbor series. Trying to adult while reading this was impossible. These two pulled me in from page one! If you love a spicy small town romance, with the sexy tattooed, glasses wearing author and the adorable bookstore owner who have been best friends forever, so much funny banter, an adorable cast of characters, did I say so much laughter and SPICE! You need this book AND series!

Penny Darling is just the sweetest. LOVE a curvy fmc! Lover of all things fall and pumpkin. She owns her own bookstore and recently went through a failed engagement. This girl has a vision for her store and her life. She is addicted to reading and book boyfriends, but struggles with insecurity especially towards men. I felt this girl sooo much! Jake, aka Monty, Montgomery, a bestselling author is struggling to write his next story. He decides to go home to Hope Harbor both for inspiration and to see his best friend Penny. These two, they just have that connection and chemistry that clicks. That even in silence you feel the peace with each other's connection. But secretly, these two have always deeply cared for the other. Add in some fake dating to dissuade the town folk from trying to interfere with their love lives and what ensues is the perfect slow burn, angst so thick you can feel it! Monty is the literally the best book boyfriend ever and has a dirty mouth, o my holy hell! PURE FIRE! And the steamy lessons, ummmmm YES PLEASE!

And the town's characters are so adorable! I fell in love with them even more! The Liberty Ladies and the book club will have you rolling in laughter and the Hope Harbor Town Chat, absolutely hysterical! I want this to be a real town I can be a part of!

I just loved the vulnerability of these two. The raw and real way they faced the challenges of falling in love, the fear, the insecurity, all of it. Brittanée has created such a perfect little town and I can’t wait for more! This is going on my favorites list! Now give me Rosie, Billie, Eli and Mayor Fletcher’s stories please! I know exactly who I want together😉

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

🧡 Best friends to lovers
🍁 Fake dating
🍂 Small town
🧡 Fall vibes
🍁 Bookstore owner x author
🍂 Hope Harbor Chat
🧡Tattoos and Glasses

🎀Thank you Brittanée Nicole, Putnam and NetGalley for my arc!

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a spicy book and this one is spiiiiccccyyyyy! I did not realize this was #2 in a series, I will be going back and reading #1 ASAP, anyway- Penny owns a bookstore store in her hometown in New England where she has lived in the tenish years from finishing high school Penny loves her honetown, all things fall, romance books (all tropes and the spicer the better, her bookstore (if she could just get some traction), her family, and the local ladies - if they would stop trying to fix her up especiallysince her broken engagementa few months ago- her best friend from high school Monty (also known as Jake) left town as soon as the ink was dry on his high school diploma- his parents divorce rocked his world and he fled to the big city (NYC) to be a writer amd he did it, making the New York Times best-selling list, but his last few books have been missing something (in addition to missing the NYT list) - Monty is anti love ( the divorce) so when his roommate gets engaged and he loses his place to live he decides to go home to stay with his dad/grandma at the family home on the lake to try to get rid of his writers block, once there his gma is dead set on playing matchmaker with Penny the have a funny meet cute again on Montys first day back in town- they begin to hang out (especially with gmas help) and she inadvertently tells him his writing sucks in the romance department , so she pitcges an idea she can teach him how to be a good book boyfriend so he can write better romance into the story and he will pretend to be her boyfriend so the ladies of town will leave her alone and stop fixing her up-- so they agree and what entails is such a fun story thr secondary characters are so funny (which is know now I'd probably understand more having read #1- but still not necessary) they both are having fun pushing their relationship to the limits Penny teaching Monty about being a good boyfriend and Monty teaching Penny other things-- until the lines starting getting blurred and Monty'd sidtrust of love due to his parents divorce has him questioning everything- I love a fall story, fake dating trope, second chance at live and spice , not to mention having a mini cow as a pet (read it you'll laugh) plus again the secondary cast is so fun definitely will go back amd read #1 and cant wait for the next one that is hopefully coming .

Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[The Millennial Mood Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

🍂 ARC Review 🍂
Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore is Book 2 in the Hope Harbor series featuring Penny Darling, the older sister to Tally.

Penny and her love for books, lattes and fall was such a relatable FMC! I connected instantly to her! Owning her own bookstore was a challenge and I loved that it showed how much work she put into it. She’s also a very dedicated to the town and a great friend!

Monty aka Jake was such a dream MMC. He’s an author who recently was struggling with his latest books. He needed to get back to his roots and experience life again and who better to help him than his best friend and romance connoisseur Penny.

Penny and Monty each harbored crushes since high school but never acted on them. The nickname he gave her…..swoon!!

I love a well done fake dating trope especially between best friends and this was PERFECTION!!

The tension between them… holy smokes! Monty is the literally the best ‘book boyfriend’ and him having a dirty mouth only made it better! Their chemistry was smoking hot! Who doesn’t love a spicy check list!👀🥵

Monty does fumble a little towards the end but redeems himself in the best way! (Older millennials will appreciate his gesture) I love how mature they both are.

Things that made me laugh:
Penny always saying the wrong idioms! It’s funny and endearing!
Vovo- She was a matchmaking menace 🤣 Loved her!
Daisy-Poor Walker 🤣
The town group chat! Brittanée always has the best group chats and banter in her books!

This series just feels like home! I love all the side characters, they add so much to the story! I just want to move to Hope Harbor and join this girl gang and the hilarious town group chat! I have thoroughly loved this series and cannot wait for more!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Small Town
Best Friends to Lovers
Fall Vibes
Romance Bookstore Owner
Struggling Author
Spice & Banter
Hope Harbor Chat
Girl Gang
Tattoos and Glasses


Thank you so much to Putnam Books, Author Brittanée Nicole and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Reanna Abare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a a 6 star read for me!

The gasp I gasped when I got the NetGalley approval for Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore was loud, and after finishing this book I can confidently say it deserved every bit of that excitement.

I had just read and reviewed Darling Daffodils Farm on March 8th and absolutely loved it, so getting approved for the second book in the series felt like the best surprise!

From the very beginning I connected so deeply with Penny. I don’t think I’ve ever resonated with an FMC more. Her love of books, her curves, and even the way her ex-fiancé made her feel about her reading habits hit so close to home for me. I felt so seen while reading her story, and that kind of connection made this book incredibly special.

Monty was also such a fantastic MMC. I absolutely loved that he was an author (book lovers + authors will always be one of my favorite tropes), and the chemistry between him and Penny was so fun to read. I also loved the cozy fall setting. Fall is my favorite season, and the atmosphere in this book made everything feel extra warm and comforting.

One thing I especially appreciated was that when conflict did come up, it didn’t drag on forever. It was handled and resolved quickly, which made the relationship feel more mature and realistic.

And I absolutely have to mention Daisy Darling Tally and Walker’s pet cow . What an adorable and fun addition to the story! I loved every moment involving them and it added so much charm to the book.

I truly cannot rave enough about this book. It was an easy 6-star read for me and one of those stories that just makes you feel happy while reading.

I’m already so excited to continue this series and I’m still hoping we get an Eli & Billie book… and maybe Fletcher and Rosie too!

Thank you so much to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I’m already counting down the days until the next Hope Harbor story!

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

"Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore" is a cozy, spicy small-town romance and book 2 in the Hope Harbor series. It's just as charming as book 1 - Darling Daffodils Farm. This book follows Tally’s sister, bookstore owner Penny Darling and her longtime best friend Monty, an author back in town to get over his writer’s block. Penny is such an easy character to connect with. Her love of books, everything fall and the way she’s rebuilding her life after a bad relationship feels real and relatable. Monty (oh, Monty - swoon!) is the ultimate book boyfriend. Watching Penny “coach” him on how to write (and be) a better romantic lead is hilarious and swoony. The fake dating setup between them is really fun, especially with their undeniable chemistry, lingering high school crushes and a town full of meddling (but lovable) side characters.

The story has humor, heart and spice. There is emotional depth around grief and trust without weighing things down. The fall atmosphere, quirky town dynamics and wonderful side characters (including a matchmaking grandma and a mini cow) add so much charm. I also really like that the 3rd act conflict didn’t drag on and the payoff is absolutely swoony. This book is a feel-good read with humor, tension and spice. I already can't wait to return to Hope Harbor for more town shenanigans and love stories!🧡🍂🍁

🧡 Best friends to lovers
🍁 Fake dating
🍂 Small town
🧡 Fall vibes
🍁 Bookstore owner x author
🍂 First person dual POV

Thank you Brittanee Nicole, Putnam and NetGalley for a copy of "Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore" in exchange for my honest review.

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I want to say thank you to NetGalley and Brittanee Nicole for this amazing opportunity to read this ARC!

Some of my favorite childhood memories are of watching Hallmark movies with my mom—the kind of stories that felt warm, comforting, and like home. This book captured that exact feeling for me.

From the very first chapter to the last, I was completely immersed. The level of detail in each scene made it easy to visualize everything, but more importantly, it made me feel it. The emotions weren’t just described—they were experienced. I found myself connecting deeply with the characters, as if their feelings were my own.

One line from the book perfectly captures this:

“Reader doesn’t want to be told how the character feels; they want to experience it.”

And that’s exactly what this story delivers. It’s rare to find a book that truly pulls you in and makes you feel like you’re living alongside the characters, but this one absolutely nailed it.

There are also moments of intensity and passion that elevate the story even further. One quote that stood out to me:

“…Tell me, what’s your favorite dirty word? For the record, I think the sexiest word a man can murmur is ‘Mine.’”

I mean…. 😍

This is what I look for in a romance—the ability to not only tell a love story, but to make you feel it. I want to fall in love with the characters, to experience their journey, and to be fully immersed in every moment. This book delivered on all of that and more.

I’m already looking forward to the next installment. Billie’s story has so much potential, and I can’t wait to see her get the love story she deserves.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Bonfire and Bliss Bookstore! After how much I adored Darling Daffodil Farms, I was beyond excited for this one and it did not disappoint at all. Brittanee Nicole is such a vivid, talented writer, and this book just pulled me right back into this lovely world.

Fake dating is one of my all time favorite tropes, so I was already sold and Brittanee executed it perfectly. Monty and Penny’s dynamic was everything. I have been WAITING for Penny’s story, and it was so worth it. I loved seeing a curvy woman so confidently loved and Monty being completely down bad for her (like… immediately) was just perfect. The tattoos for her made me unwell in the best way. Brittanee always excels at writing men that are loverboys and I am always here for it.

The small town vibes continue to be one of my favorite parts of this series. The town group chat is absolutely unhinged in the best way, and the side characters really make the story feel alive. Vovo completely stole the show for me; she’s hilarious and easily one of my favorite matchmakers ever. And I cannot forget Daisy the baby highland cow… so cute, so funny, I’m obsessed!

Brittanee always delivers when it comes to banter and spice, and this book seriously blew me away in both areas. It was fun, emotional, sweet, warm, and just so easy to fall into.

I already need the next book ASAP and please let it be Eli’s! And I’m definitely hoping Rosie and Billie get their stories too.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brittanee Nicole, and Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the eARC of this book.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I seem to remember you waxing poetic in one of our texts about this amazing book with fake dating in it. Isn’t that your favorite trope?”

Back to Hope Harbor we go!! Penelope Darling is trying to live out her dreams of owning a successful bookstore in her hometown. She just needs to avoid the Liberty Ladies constantly trying to set her up with some new guy. Jake Montgomery has writer’s block. He is moving back to his hometown to try and find the words but what he finds is so much more, he finds his muse.

Penny and Monty were a PERFECT best friends to lovers. As children they were besties and now as grown ups they are finding they are so much more than that. I loved their relationship because they were so comfortable with each other and trusted the other fully. Penny was prepared to help Monty with his new book and Monty was ready to prove to Penny she can be everything she wants.

“Penelope Darling is the woman of my dreams and I’m about to make a few of her naughtiest ones come true.”

Hope Harbor also continued to prove it would be such a fun place to live especially during the fall ! So many places I would love to visit but I am sincerely hoping Fireflies and Ice Cream Flights is next up !

🔥: “Can we try, baby?”

[Brittany Selken · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I receive an email saying that I got a early copy of this book I was so freaking happy because I literally just finished the first book in this series and I fell in love with the characters that were introduced to me. I love this trope best friend to lovers ugh my heart felt so bad for this couple because one night could of changed how thing where but then something from one of the characters past had made them scared to fall in love with the one person that they see themselves with. I love how these two help each other but also they got to know the adult version of the person that they had fall head over heels for. I love the old ladies group they had me dying of laughter and not let me to me get started on the town group chat.I honestly that these two finally found love with each other. And I’m glad I got to see other characters become a couple again. I honestly can’t wait to read the next book in this series I have two couple in mind for the next book.

[Jessica Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! I havent read a good, cozy, sweet, super spicy small town book that locked me in from the start in a while. I loved the two main characters, Penny and Monty, and their trials with navigating grief and mourning without being too much of a downer. Just a touch of a third act break-up (but it was all fake so was it technically a break-up?). The friends-to-lovers will never fail to pull me in, and this book was such a perfect example of this trope without being too tropey. All in all, I'm SO excited to see where the rest of this series goes- i smell an enemies-to-lovers coming, and all the couples we get out of it (I hope Eli gets himself a grumpy sunshine to match his golden retriever vibes).

[Larareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After finishing Darling Daffodils Farm I was sooo excited for Penny's book and it was sooo good!!! I'm slowly learning that I actually like the friends to lovers trope and this just made me fall in love with it more. I had such an amazing time!!! The friendship, the banter, the tattos he has for her, the nicknames! The spice!!! Absolutely incredible!
I loved the town chat in the first book, but I loved it so much more here!!! The found family is amazing and I could actually read thousands of pages about these characters. Can't wait for the next books!!!

[Miranda Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really cute. I’m always all in for a fake dating but a friends to lovers fake dating? GIVE IT TO ME. And then to add to it, they were BOTH secretly holding a candle for the other? Ugh. So good. The subtle references to popular books during their “chemistry lessons” was actually really fun. I enjoy being able to say “I know this one!” when reading a book.

I really loved the dynamic between Penny and Monty and I LOVE a meddling grandma. If you want something sweet and cozy then this is a great pick. The characters aren’t terrible people hiding being the “morally grey” persona which is refreshing.

**thank you NetGalley and Putnam for an arc of this book**

[Samantha lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun and flirty. I enjoyed the relationship between the main couple but also the rest of the cast of characters. It made me start a conversation with myself that needed to be had while making me kick my feet and giggle. It didn’t hurt that I fell in love with Monty.