When the Magnolia Blooms

by Erin Henderson

From childhood friends to first everythings, Corey Fletcher and Jasper Harris were inseparable at her grandparents' farm in Alliston, Ontario. But only ever for the summers. Once the leaves started to turn, it was time for Corey to return home with the promise of next year.



Until the day a single decision shattered everything.



Almost fifteen years later, Corey is back. A thirty-four-year-old single mother with the keys to the farm, fixing it up to sell. And Jasper still there, living in the house down the road.



When Jasper’s overly friendly black lab begins to frequently visit the new resident in the red brick farmhouse up the hill, Jasper and Corey are drawn together once again, as if willed by the laws of nature. With one last summer in the place where it all began, they must discover if their old connection is enough to heal the scars left behind before Corey is gone for good.



Is forgiveness possible for either of them? Or are Corey and Jasper irreparably broken?

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 6, 2026

Reviews

[Deanna Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from the author!

I went into this thinking it will be a quick romance book but wow was I wrong! This author has written a very deep and moving book. There were many difficult relationships in this story and I was afraid it wasn’t going to all come together or be sloppily written due to that, but it was amazing! The characters all felt real and meaningful, and the romance had me sucked in. I love a childhood friend to lovers trope, and although I knew they’d have a happy ending, I really was concerned of how they’d get there, but it all came together beautifully.

Dual timelines sometimes frustrate me, but these were woven in really well and made sense with how they were spaced out.

I highly recommend this author, this book made me have the same feelings as reading a Carley Fortune book! A great summer read, but still with so much depth to the storyline and characters!

[Christine Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book and it did not disappoint! The story covers most of the main characters lives through many challenges, joys and heartache. It’s beautifully written and brings you in so that you really feel for the characters. Love the specific Canadian references and know that you will enjoy meeting these characters and going on their journey.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin continues to just dazzle with the way she writes, this story & its characters are just so good, perfectly imperfect in every way.
If you’re looking for these vibes:
👩‍🌾 small town
❤️‍🔥 slow burn
👩🏼 single mom, teenage son, crappy ex
🫶 second chances
😘 struggle of self forgiveness
😕 & a bit of trauma / drama
This is for you!!
It’s really been a journey with these characters & you just want them to find their way!

Thank you Erin for the ARC of this one & I can’t wait to read what’s next from you!

[Samantha Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small-town romance was an absolutely wonderful read that pulled me in from the very first page and never let go. Set against the comforting backdrop of a close-knit hometown, the story beautifully captures that nostalgic sense of familiarity—where every street holds a memory and every face tells a story.

At its heart, this book is about first love—the kind that begins when you're young and leaves a lasting imprint no matter how much time passes. The author does an incredible job of weaving past and present together, showing how those early emotions evolve into something deeper, more complex, and ultimately more powerful. The second-chance romance felt like a whirlwind in the best way, full of tension, longing, and the kind of emotional intensity that keeps you turning pages late into the night.

What truly stood out was the eloquent, descriptive writing. Every scene was vividly painted, making it easy to feel completely immersed in the setting and the characters' inner worlds. The emotions were raw and authentic—joy, heartbreak, hope—all delivered in a way that genuinely made me feel everything alongside the characters.

This is the kind of book you can’t put down, not just because you want to know what happens next, but because you don’t want to leave the world it creates. A heartfelt, beautifully written story about love, timing, and finding your way back home.

Thank you Erin for bringing our small town to light in this masterpiece.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely pulled me in from the start!! It had the perfect balance of romance and spice, mixed with just enough suspense to keep me constantly wondering what was going to happen next, what choices they were going to make!!

Corey and Jasper felt so real that by the end of the book, it honestly felt like I knew them personally. They became the kind of characters you root for, laugh with, hurt for, and never want to leave behind. I already need more of their story....please!

One of my favourite parts was how involved everything felt. It was one of those books where you are not just reading the story, you are living it alongside the characters. And having it set in my hometown made it even more special and personal for me.

This was the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish the last page, and I already wish I could experience it again for the first time!!

[Jennifer Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful story of first love, self forgiveness and second chances! Erin's writing and attention to detail was well written and I felt like I could picture every scene. The duel timeline was perfectly paced and had me so invested in this story. Corey and Jasper have the kind of connection you dream of. They meet when they are young kids, they grow and learn together and then they fall apart. The angst was so real and their story broke my heart at times. But in the end it was put back together but they had to fight really hard for it. These two had a lot of growing and forgiving to do. For themselves and to each other. In the end it was worth every hard moment.


-Second Chance
-Single Mom
-First Love
-It's always been you
-Self Forgiveness

Thank you Erin for this ARC.

[Ashley Merk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and am so grateful.

This story follows a dual timeline between now and the adolescence of Jasper and Corey. We get to live through their childhood, teen years, love, and heartbreak and their reunion.

I could not put this one down. The characters were relatable, as well as all of the emotions involved. I felt as though I was there every page. The past storyline was perfectly timed along the current and drew me in that much more and I felt very connected with the plot. The local (to me) setting and first person narration enhanced my connection to the story as well.

The secondary characters, while important to the development, did not overshadow the 2 main characters, and the subplots added to the overall story without distraction.

I absolutely loved this story!

[Kam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this ARC this past week and it was a good, lightweight second chance romance kind of story.
The MMC was for me the star of the book, I loved his story from the very beginning and felt so much for him as he has a difficult upbringing and was clearly the character that made the story work. The FMC on the other hand I found was too much, I honestly didn’t want to hear any more of the inner dialogue and just wanted to smack some sense into her.
All in all I thought the book was a fast read, perfect to take for a weekend getaway.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy, full of feelings read. The strong Canadian backbone of the novel had me feeling all kinds of nostalgia from my childhood. The duel timeline, from growing up to current adulthood, flashing back to the pieces of their past that have shaped their future, was so perfectly written. This book had me captured. I had so many different emotions reading this and totally immersed myself in the story. An excellent 2nd book from this author.

[Megan White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend picking up When the Magnolia Blooms for your next read if you enjoy light romance and drama. The author writes beautifully, with vivid, small town Canadian scenery and main characters whose stories pull you in and don't let go. I found the dual timeline was perfectly paced, and kept me turning pages.

[Eleni Vohaitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When the Magnolia Blooms" is a beautiful written romance that explores themes of self-forgiveness and second chances, guiding readers through an emotionally rich journey filled with unexpected twists and turns.

Each chapter immerses the reader more deeply into the characters’ lives, making it nearly impossible not to empathize with their struggles and joys. The novel masterfully balances heartbreak and hope, evoking both sorrow and joy in equal measure.

As a slow-burn romance, it builds tension and connection in a way that feels authentic and deeply satisfying, ultimately securing its place as one of my favourite novels.

If you're looking for a new book to read, you will not regret buying this book to add to your collection 🩵

[Lacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When The Magnolia Blooms

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this wonderful book, and it is easily a one-day, self-indulge read!

I loved the way the story flowed, through the ‘past’ and ‘now’ moments connecting family, friends, love, hurt, and forgiveness. Eventually knowing where Home has always been, and that a Grandmother’s love will be a strong guide.

The scenery was described so beautifully, and the geographical locations made it even more wonderful as one is my hometown as well. One is immersed in the character as if they were standing there with them, experiencing it as they were.

Each character has a story and they all intertwine whole-heartedly, with moments of pure openness, tenderness, and lessons learned and learning, this page-turner will surely be a favourite!

Thank you for a heart-warming story!