The Cozy Nook Bookshop

Heart's Hope Crossing #1

by Jeannie Chin

A small-town bookseller finds that fate has taken to writing romance in this delightfully cozy love story about making your own happy ending—perfect for fans of Laurie Gilmore and grumpy/sunshine love stories! 

Emma Rogers-Li is having her worst chapter yet. She’s lost her friends, her apartment in Manhattan, and a jerk of an ex. When a job opens to run a bookshop in the quirky small town of Heart’s Hope Crossing, Vermont, Emma jumps at the chance to start over. For the first time in years, she feels like she’s finally calling the shots in her own life ... until she runs smack into Hunter Hall.

According to town legend, it’s fate—couples who meet (or collide) at that corner are meant to be. And while Emma doesn’t believe the town gossips now convinced she and Hunter are meant for each other, something about the tall, gruff forest ranger sends her completely off-balance. Falling in love with Heart's Hope Crossing might be the best thing to happen to Emma.

But Hunter has a complicated past of his own when it comes to love. Can they both take one last chance on a perfect happily-ever-after?

Genres: Romance, Autumn, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

398 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2026

Reviews

[Srivalli Rekha]

2.5 Stars

One Liner: Not bad, but the tropes clash

Emma Rogers-Li lost her apartment in Manhattan, her friends, and a jerk of an ex. The opportunity of a job opening in a quirky small town named Heart’s Hope Crossing in Vermont seems like a good shot at sorting her life. Only, she ends up running into Hunter Hall.

According to the town’s legend, people who meet or collide at that corner are meant to be. Emma doesn’t believe it, but something about the town and Hunter makes her hopeful. But Hunter has his own complications with love. Can they find their HEA as the legend predicts?

The story comes in Emma and Hunter’s third-person POVs.

My Thoughts

Well, this is a cute cover (bookshop, books, a dog) with cozy in the title, so it should have been right up my alley.

Grumpy vs. sunshine, guarded MCs, parental death, small town magic, a shop owner who operates on good vibes… this has a lot of good tropes.

The setting is great. It is cozy as suggested; the townsfolk are friendly and nosy, with good intentions. The fall vibes, the national park, the hiking, etc., are also good.

But the plot development, pacing, and characters don’t align. The MCs are not explored enough for their traits to shine. And everything happens so fast despite the book being 400 pages long. There’s barely any breather between the ex-fiancé (a long-term relationship) leaving and the FMC meeting the MMC. It is acknowledged, but I would have preferred some space for her to settle into her new life before love became a priority.

The FMC settles in the small town rather easily, which is good. But it doesn’t fully land because most interactions directly and indirectly refer to the MMC and the fated connection (the colliding at the crossing part).

The MMC is grumpy and sweet, but for someone who didn’t want relationships, he was the one rushing headlong into one soon after meeting the FMC. Despite the inner monologue about fear and such, his actions did not align with his stance. This contradiction was hard to accept. He should have been more resistant and reluctant.

When the third-act drama began, I was annoyed by how contrived it felt. The author tried her best to make it seem genuine and conflicted, but it just didn’t work for me.

Also, why is there a dog on the cover when we meet it only once in the book? The dog has no role as such and maybe 2-3 pages of space in 400 pages. I kept waiting to meet the dog only to be disappointed by a blink-and-miss guest appearance.

There’s an epilogue, which is good. It also gives a lead for the next book. I hope that one has a more sustained pacing and development.

To summarize, The Cozy Nook Bookshop has a good premise and uses the right tropes, but the execution doesn’t fully land. It is a sweet read, but nothing really memorable.

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley #TheCozyNookBookshop

[Elizabeth]

The Cozy Nook Bookshop (Heart's Hope Crossing #1) by Jeannie Chin
Book Blurb: A small-town bookseller finds that fate has taken to writing romance in this delightfully cozy love story about making your own happy ending

Rating: ****
Feels: Adorable, Happy, Invested, Joyful
Style: Romance, Cozy, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance
First published August 25, 2026: 400 pages

Themes & Setting: Small Town healing and accepting others into your life.
FMC: Emma is the sweetest and total embodies that sunshine trope. Loves books which is such a fun part of this story and something her family just does not understand. Its a sweet part of the story as she finds acceptance in her loves.
MMC: Hunter is a total grump and a recluse. He only comes into town it seems to run errands for his dad so his running into Emma is definitely needed.
Conclusion: Sweet, healing and full of growth. I love that this starts with a superstition that Emma and Hunter both try to fight. Definitely full of small town charm and meddling neighbors who just want the best for the new bookseller who has moved into town after having her heart and dreams crushed. I love that she always tries to look on the bright side but then learns that sometimes it’s ok to be more. Hunter is such the tongue tied recluse he definitely needed a town charm to help him out even if he does resist it. His struggle is real and ultimately… well read to find out !!

This book has:
Cozy Vibes
Small Town
Grumpy X Sunshine
Found Family
Town Superstition

[Dozelina 666]

This was a likeable and very bingeable read.

We have a small town setting, a bookshop and a grumpy park ranger MMC… so yes, the vibes are there.

Emma moves from Manhattan after her ex completely ruins her life (steals their savings and disappears… great guy ... NOT) and starts fresh in a small Vermont town managing a bookshop. The town itself is very quirky, super friendly and very much into their little superstition that if two people bump into each other at a certain corner… they’re soulmates.

Of course, Emma and Hunter literally collide at the beginning.

They don’t believe in it… but the town? Oh, the town is READY. The meddling is strong in this one and they do everything they can to push these two together.

I really liked both main characters. Hunter starts off as a proper grump, but slowly opens up, and Emma’s growth was really nice to see. She finds her voice, gains confidence and starts making choices for herself again.

Their chemistry was there, but I do feel like the romance moved a bit fast. The whole relationship develops over a pretty short period of time, so it leaned a bit toward insta-love for me. And when they had the big argument? They fixed everything by the next day....

Also… based on the cover, I was expecting a super cozy bookshop romance. Imagine my surprise when we actually got some spice, (woop, woop) not a lot, but definitely there.

One small disappointment though… there is a dog on the cover, and it does NOT belong to the main characters. I feel slightly betrayed. :(

I also had a tiny issue with the bookshop side of things. The situation with the owner made me wonder how that shop was even functioning before Emma arrived.

Overall, a fun, cozy-ish romance with some unexpected spice and a lot of small-town charm.

⭐ 3.5–3.75, rounded to 4

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC.

https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...

[agus]

2.5*
I mean, it isn't trying to invent the wheel
I don't really know how I feel about this book. The writing wasn't bad, and the plot, although midly entertaining, I just couldn't connect with the story. My main issue here is the insta love. Girl, you were enganged to anither man a month ago, and now you're fantasizing abou moving in with this guy you've only seen like ten times. I just cannot get on board with that.
Also, I felt like the author had a check list with things to do, and one of those was give each protagonists two scenes without the other and one side quest each. Which would be great, but it was too obvious? Like she didn't even care much? I don't know. The protagonista is supposed to have this big confrontation and honest talk with her mom, but we just are told it happened. How am I supposed to care about you "growth journey" when I don't even see it.
I don't know. This just wasn't for me. I would have dnfed it but the audiobook narrator did a great job and managed to keep me hooked enough to get through. If you're maybe interested, definitely go for the audiobook.

The audiobook was provided by NetGalley, and all opinions are my own.

[Amy]

There is just something about a cozy bookstore romance set in a small Vermont town that immediately feels like the perfect autumn read, and The Cozy Nook Bookshop delivered exactly the kind of low angst, feel good romance I was hoping for.

The first book in Jeannie Chin’s new Heart’s Hope Crossing series, this story introduces Emma, who is ready for a fresh start after leaving her old life in Manhattan behind, and Hunter, a true grouch who is absolutely not looking for romance. Naturally, the two collide, and according to the town legend, that collision might mean they’re meant to be.

Emma is incredibly sweet, and I loved the contrast between her warm personality and Hunter’s gruff, guarded nature. Their dynamic gives the story that classic grumpy/sunshine charm without making the angst feel overwhelming. Instead, this is a romance that feels easy, light, breezy, and wonderfully tender.

And then there’s the bookstore setting. As someone who will always fall for a book about books, I adored having that cozy nook at the heart of the story. Add in a quirky small town, Vermont in the autumn, a forest ranger hero, and a romance built around finding your way toward a happier chapter, and this one practically begs to be read with a blanket and something warm to drink.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Katharine Chin, and I really enjoyed her narration. Her voice has such a soothing, melodic quality that fit the gentle tone of the story beautifully. It made this especially easy to sink into and simply enjoy.

What I appreciated most about The Cozy Nook Bookshop was how warm and uncomplicated it felt. There’s romance, of course, but there’s also that lovely sense of starting over, finding your place, and discovering that sometimes a new chapter can lead you somewhere even better than you imagined.

[Emily]

Should be called The Boring Nook Bookshop 🤷🏼‍♀️

I need it to be known that the first chapter is the best chapter in this book. I was HOOKED. You’re telling me her ex fled the country with all her money and then an opening for a bookstore (with incredible pay AND place to live) magicially falls into her lap? I was so ready for this to be a silly, fun romp with silly fun shenanigans. Instead I’m met with Mr. Daddy Issues and Ms. No personality.

God, I’m really peeved about this book. Both of these characters were simply awful, the conflict at the end felt incredibly forced, and if Granny Smith were my boss??? Oh I would have punted her across the state of Vermont.

Listen, I love a cozy as much as the next person. But we need to tread carefully because cozy is quickly becoming synonymous with snoozeville.

Thank you to NetGalley for the the audiobook. The performance itself was well done but not even that was enough to save this book.

[Amy Jo]

Beautifully written and so cozy!

[Hannah]

This was such a fun cozy small town romance! It has diverse cast of lovable characters and it is easy to be invested in all of them. The FMC Emma is so sweet! I really loved everything she did to make the bookstore more cozy! The dynamic between her and the MMC Hunter was cute! I loved the little town superstition that was going on and how that played into the whole story.

Overall, I think this is a super fun fall romance and that it would be perfect to read during spooky season!

Read if you like:
Small town romance
Grumpy X Sunshine
Fall vibes
Cozy bookstore

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Station) for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Angela Y (yangelareads) ♡]

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Hachette Audio.

Emma Rogers-Li is having her worst chapter yet. She has lost her friends, her apartment in Manhattan, and a jerk of an ex. When a job opens to run a bookshop in the quirky small town of Heart’s Hope Crossing, Vermont, Emma jumps at the chance to start over. For the first time in years, she feels like she is finally calling the shots in her own life until she runs smack into Hunter Hall.

According to town legend, it is fate—couples who meet (or collide) at that corner are meant to be. And while Emma does not believe the town gossips now convinced she and Hunter are meant for each other, something about the tall, gruff forest ranger sends her completely off-balance. Falling in love with Heart's Hope Crossing might be the best thing to happen to Emma. But Hunter has a complicated past of his own when it comes to love. Can they both take one last chance on a perfect happily-ever-after?

The Cozy Nook Bookshop is a sweet small-town romance about a bookseller finding love and learning to write her own happy ending. The autumn atmosphere was a highlight for me—Chin makes the town feel warm, inviting, and perfect for a cozy fall escape.

I really enjoyed both main characters. Hunter’s grumpy exterior gradually softens, while Emma learns to speak up, rebuild her confidence, and put her own wishes first. Watching her growth was one of my favorite parts of the story. Although I liked their chemistry, I wished the romance had more time to develop. Everything happens within a short span, so their connection felt a little too much like insta-love for my taste. Their big argument also gets resolved by the following day, which made the conflict feel rushed.

Despite those issues, this was a charming seasonal read that I would recommend picking up when you are craving fall vibes and a little romance.

[Jen 🖤]

This was such a cute 🥰 fall read! I loved the cozy bookshop setting and all the warm, small-town vibes.☕️📖🍁 I wished I lived there!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars!

[Kayla]

3.5 stars.

This book is what I imagine you’d get if you took a Fall Hallmark movie and turned it into a steamy book.

This was a cute and quick read about a meddlesome small town and a superstition that is somewhat central to the plot and also entirely irrelevant. Emma and Hunter meet at a corner where the town legend says anyone who bumps into each other is soulmates. Hunter doesn’t believe in fate, and Emma is newly single after ending things with her ex-fiancé. You can probably guess the plot from there, and you’d be right, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable for me.

There were multiple moments throughout the story where I found myself smiling at how cheesy it was, but it never annoyed me because that’s clearly the point, and I thought it was done well. I enjoyed watching the characters grow as their connection deepened, with Emma learning to ask for what she wants and Hunter struggling with commitment and fear of loss. The romance is pretty much love at first sight, and the dual POV makes it clear how smitten they are with one another. So this is really a story best for people who are fond of that sort of romance.

I will say the third-act conflict felt like nonsense. It came out of nowhere and read like conflict for conflict's sake, which made it a bit frustrating. I personally could’ve done without it, but I suppose I appreciate how it contributed to their growth.

Overall, I'd say this is a story you could summarize entirely by its tropes, which makes it feel a bit shallow at times, even when it touches on deeper topics like family dynamics and trauma. It didn't invent the wheel, but it delivers on being a cute small-town cozy romance, and I think if you're looking for that, this is a good option

There are three explicit scenes with a fair amount of detail, so keep that in mind going in.

I received a digital Copy from NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own

[Liz | lizzuplans]

I also sometimes wish my life would implode spectacularly, so I can move to Vermont and run a bookshop and integrate myself into small-town life.

While some parts of this book where somewhat cliche, the book was easy to read, well written, and just one giant orange-coloured and pumpkin spice-scented hug.
The romance between Emma and Hunter was very believable and the things they had to overcome worked well in the story.

The various secondary characters were great and I can easily see more stories come out of the Heart-Hope crossing.
The dog (even though he is of course the goodest boy ever) had no business being on the front cover of the book: there was only one scene, if that, where he featured.

Other than that, a fun cosy seasonal read and I am definitely going to get the other books in this series as well!

[Eram Hussain]

The Cozy Nook Bookshop is a small town romance set in the Heart's Hope crossing. Emma's life has fallen apart after losing her publishing jobm her home and a disastrous ex-fiance. looking for a fresh start she accepts a position managing the Cozy Nook Bookshop and moves to the little town.
Emma's first encounter is with Hunter, the town's gruff forest ranger.
There is a particular local legend that says couples who meet at the intersection of Heart Street and Hope Road are destined to fall in love.

[Tanis]

Only kept reading because I needed it for a book bingo challenge. Terrible.

[Zainab Alhaitham]

4⭐ Full Review coming soon

A good novel, suitable for readers of the Morisaki Library, and in my opinion, better than it, since both focus on how books and libraries help us discover ourselves and how to get through difficult times.

[Kelsey Hughes]

Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley

This was a very cute fast paced read. After a breakup and big move from the city Emma finds herself in a small town as the new manger of a book store. Hunter, a forest ranger, who rarely comes into town happens to be there as Emma moves. They meet at the Hearts Hope Crossing a place where its rumored soulmates meet. Will they stay friends or will it turn into something more?

I thought this book was very cute. Perfect for book lovers. I would recommend more towards the fall for a cozier vibe.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book.

[Lupe Farkas]

Apparently, the solution to having your entire life implode is to move to a tiny town in Vermont, run a bookshop, live above it, and accidentally collide with a grumpy forest ranger.

Honestly? Where do I apply? 😂📚

The Cozy Nook Bookshop is such a sweet, comforting small-town romance. Emma arrives in Heart’s Hope Crossing after losing almost everything, and I really enjoyed the way the story focuses not only on romance but also on rebuilding your life, finding confidence again, and discovering family in unexpected places.

The bookshop setting was obviously a huge win for me, and the community surrounding Emma gives the story that warm, slightly nosy, everybody-knows-everything-before-you-do small-town feeling that makes this kind of book so much fun.
And then there’s Hunter: grumpy forest ranger, emotionally unavailable, absolutely convinced love is a terrible idea.

So naturally, we know exactly where this is going. 😂

Granny was probably my favourite part of the whole thing. Her mysterious “feelings,” matchmaking tendencies, and complete inability to mind her own business were exactly what this story needed.

I did wish certain relationships and storylines had been given a little more time to breathe. Some developments happen quite quickly, and I would have loved a bit more depth in places.
Still, this was warm, bookish, romantic, and wonderfully comforting, the kind of story that makes you want autumn, a giant cup of hot chocolate, and your own little bookstore in Vermont.

A little spicier than I expected from such a cozy bookshop romance, which was a very pleasant surprise. 👀🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Jeannie Chin and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Ashley]

I bought this book because fall is coming and I'm ready for it and it seemed like the perfect cozy romance to kick-start my autumn...

Unfortunately, I'm not even going to finish it. I don't like DNFing books and really try not to. At this point in my life, there are too many books on my TBR and not years left to read them, so it's okay to be a bit picky. So yeah, I didn't finish this one and here's why:

In this small town, there's an old legend about how if two people run into each other at a certain cross walk, they're fated to be together. So naturally, our two MMC and FMC meet there. The FMC, Emma, is new to town, just got out of a relationship and doesn't know about the legend. The MMC, Hunter, has lived there his whole life and knows about it but refuses to believe it's true. You see, his parents met that way and ended up divorced, so clearly it's not real. So he immediately finds Emma attractive but doesn't want to act on it, to prove a point.

Anywho, the townspeople keep trying to push them together so they keep finding ways to run into each other. They both talk about how into each other they are, but there's like zero chemistry between them. They are supposed to be meant to be together yet you (the reader) barely believe it. Their romance feels forced, even after they decided to say screw it and hook up. I don't feel or see that spark or fire between them, and I'm at the point where I don't care enough to find out if they're really meant to be together.

Well, on to the next cozy read I suppose!

[Jennifer]

This book felt like such a fall Hallmark movie and I really liked it overall. It was cheesy but in a good way. I loved the fall vibes of this book, the small town shenanigans and the overall feel good story of it.

The plot is your typical Hallmark set up. Emma has recently been left by her ex (like he literally took all their money and left), lost her job because of him and also lost friends. She happens to find a job listing to work at a bookstore and tada! Hallmark energy. I loved the first 50% of this book because of it. It really felt like fall (as I sweat in 100 degree weather in Los Angeles) and I enjoyed meeting all the characters. However, I do feel like it lost its steady pacing and the lack of depth for a lot of the characters made this feel like it was dragging. There was a lot of repetition as well which felt like I was stuck in a Groundhog Day situation. I do still feel like so much was left kind of unresolved.

Now onto the romance. Very insta attraction, very insta love. I liked the beginning of their meeting, when you could really feel the tension and grumpy x sunshine vibes. And then they got together and it kind of fizzled out for me. Emma and Hunter were super cute and good for each other. Just wish their development was fleshed out a bit more. Things get mildly spicy and I rate it 3🌶️ out of 5.

Overall, it’s a cute read and I’m looking forward to the next one if this series continues! Thank you so much Forever, NetGalley and Jeannie Chin for the ARC and eGalley!

[Rachel Bires]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

The Cozy Nook Bookshop was such a cute, cozy read. I love a good small town romance, and this had so many of the things I look for in one. A charming town, a tight knit community that genuinely looks out for each other, and plenty of residents who are maybe just a little too invested in everyone else’s business.

Was it anything earth shattering? No. I wasn’t completely blown away by the story, but honestly, sometimes I don’t need to be. This was comforting, sweet, and exactly the kind of romance that’s just really enjoyable to settle into.

But the spice? I read a LOT of romance, and sometimes spicy scenes start to feel a little thrown in or like I’ve read some version of them a hundred times before. There were several moments in this book that actually had me widening my eyes and kicking my feet, which is so rare for me these days!

I did have one small issue with the way race was sometimes described. There were moments where characters were simply described as “white” or “Black,” and I think physical descriptions can be a little more nuanced than that.

Overall, I thought this was a really solid introduction to the series, the characters, and the town. I’m definitely interested in spending more time here, and I’ll absolutely be reading book two!

4 stars!

[Vanessa]

Thank you Netgalley, and Forever Publishing for the ARC!

This was exactly what I expected (complimentary), cozy, fall, bookish, small town romance. It felt like reading a Hallmark movie, and honestly who doesn't love those from time to time?

FMC leaves Manhattan to go work at a bookstore in Vermont due to her ex fiancé, and bam crashes into the MMC right at the crossroads of destiny!

Both characters have emotional baggage that have impacted how they approach life and relationships, and what do you know? Those very issues end up being the catalyst to growth.

Although they're on opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to expressing their feelings, it turns out they actually deal with them the same way. (Awww)

Now, as I stated this was exactly what I expected. I do feel, that there was a bit of insta lust going on. Could it have used more depth? Absolutely however, it wasn't trying to be a deep emotional epic. It was meant to be cute and cozy and it succeeded

[ritα (ig: thrillswithritα)]

I adored this book!

A setting in a cosy bookstore in Vermont feels perfect for a fall read, and it did not disappointed.

We have the perfect grumpy x sunshine in a small town, the romance was amazing and I cannot leave the amazing narration out of my review because I feel like it made it 50x better!
I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for an uncomplicated romance, set in an cosy space.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC of this book in return for a honest review.

[Amanda]

this was a nice palette cleanser. it was an easy, quick, fun, & cozy read. i loved how lighthearted it was & how easy it was to get through.

i received an alc (advanced listener copy), & i thought that the narrator did a great job. i really enjoyed listening. overall, this was just a really cute read that i had fun with.

thank you netgalley, hachette audio & jeannie chin for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞:
♡ small town romance
♡ grumpy x sunshine
♡ starting over
♡ bookshop
♡ cozy fall vibes
♡ hallmark vibes
♡ dual pov

[Anna DiCiurcio]

This book was so cute! This is a perfect fall read, it’s romantic and cozy. Emma finds herself in a position where she needs to start over, so she applies to be the new bookstore manager at an adorable book store in a small town in Vermont where she meets Hunter, the town recluse who just wants to be alone. I highly recommend this book, especially in the fall!

Thank you NetGalley, Forever Publishing, and Jeannie Chin for allowing me to read this book!

[Emmy]

I received this ARC of The Cozy Nook Bookshop by Jeanie Chin through NetGalley and it was such a cute read! This was such a nice cozy book to read when you want to change up your tbr!
*Fav Quotes:
~“For my fellow recovering people pleasers. The world will still love you when you tell it who you really are—and what you really want.”
~“Just, you’ve only been here a month, and look how much you’ve grown.”—“I’m so proud.”

[Kelly's Bookish World]

The Cozy Nook Bookshop is the first book in the Heart's Hope Crossing series. We follow Emma Rogers-Li as she leaves Manhattan after losing her job, her fiance, and her apartment. She gets a job in Heart's Hope Crossing, Vermont running a bookstore with an apartment upstairs. There she runs into a grumpy forest ranger, Hunter Hall, right at the corner. The town legend says that people who collide there are fated to be together. Will the bubbly Emma have a chance with grumpy Hunter who is a recluse with a heartbreaking past?

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy:

🏘️ small town romances
☀️ grumpy x sunshine
🦋 starting over
📚 bookshop
🍁cozy fall vibes
🔮fated meetings

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the advanced digital copy of the book.

[rach⭐️⭐️]

received an arc for this (thank you thank you!) and absolutely loved it. literally felt like watching an episode of gilmore girls on a cozy fall day.

[Christy]

Super cute romance book!! Just what I needed to read after all those heavy historical fictions books I have been reading

[Bella ♡ ✧.*]

the writing style is SO GOOD and the characters are so interesting and unique (i.e. Granny and Emma) but the insta-love/attraction falls flat for me 💔

[Andrea Huffman]

What a GD delight