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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thank you to Dial Press and Penguin Random House for the EARC in exchange for an honest review.
Bed and Breakup is a second chance romance that forces two exes into close proximity in the place they fell in love. Along the way they drive each other up a wall and can’t seem to stop bickering, until they decide to sell the Inn. Only problem? First they have to bring back the charm it had when they were running it, which means they’ll have to work together.
Bed and Breakup had a fun storyline that celebrated queer joy and a lovable cast of characters. I loved the idea of a DIY home fixer upper/artist and a celebrity chef coming back to the small town where their romance was born. And it felt at times like I was watching a crossover of a HGTV show and a Food Network show. As someone who grew up watching both networks constantly it was like coming home.
I loved watching both character come to a point where they found joy in the things they loved again after making them their careers. It was a reminder that sometimes we loose sight of why we fell in love with something, especially if we make it our career. I loved watching both characters relearn the things they loved and also have their own realizations about what they want from life in general moving forward.
The main issue I had while reading though was the romance fell flat. Molly and Robin’s relationship just didn’t seem to get off the ground the second time around. I first started getting nervous when both of them decided to prank each other with some of their biggest fears. It just felt wrong because they both knew how deep the fears ran and would know the type of reaction it would induce. If they hadn’t been married and together for so long I maybe wouldn’t have felt as strongly with this, but knowing how well they knew each other made me feel weird about it.
Then there was also the fact we don’t really see them fall in love. It’s more the old feelings stir and so they engage in a physical relationship. And while we get moments where you feel a slight tug towards romance, it doesn’t fully develop. Mix that with we don’t really get much detail on how they fell in love in the first place and it just felt hard to place exactly why they loved each other. Especially when there were signs of possible infidelity (it wasn’t very clear) , abandonment, and the fact they never legally got divorced in 7 years. It just made the whole romantic element of this story feel flat.
I will say there were some amazing moments at the end when they did decide to be together, but it felt like we didn’t get to see that type of love play out on page.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Transphobia
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
I really did not like this book. Both characters were insufferable and spent more than half the book bickering over pointless things, playing toxic pranks on each other, that by the time they began to kiss and get together it felt jarring and unbelievable. I especially had a bone to pick with Robin because she CHEATED!!! Their relationship ended because Robin lied about her feelings for a woman and left for her cooking deal or whatever. The cheating was glossed over every single time these two sat down to talk about their past, it was always being discussed in euphemisms and sly comments and it felt like the author was trying to downplay the severity of it all. Molly, although also annoying, was a significantly better character to me. I did prefer the side characters though, Keyana especially!
The resolution just felt so rushed and underwhelming. I honestly do not see them lasting past a year
The resolution just felt so rushed and underwhelming. I honestly do not see them lasting past a year
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thanks @prhaudio for the gifted copy!
The narration of this was absolutely perfect. I love a good small town second chance forced proximity book, and this one hit all those marks. I just wish we would have gotten a lot e more of the resolution, it felt like Molly & Robin we’re just all the sudden back together and there wasn’t really much of the apologizing and talking about the past
The narration of this was absolutely perfect. I love a good small town second chance forced proximity book, and this one hit all those marks. I just wish we would have gotten a lot e more of the resolution, it felt like Molly & Robin we’re just all the sudden back together and there wasn’t really much of the apologizing and talking about the past
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Bed and Breakup is the first book I’ve read by author Susie Dumond, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters, Robin and Molly. They are exes who reunite after seven years apart and are forced to work together to renovate and sell the bed and breakfast that destroyed their marriage. I appreciated how Susie Dumond gave me both characters’ POVs so I could read how both characters were feeling for one another and get both sides story and not just one side. I will admit, though, that I liked Molly over Robin, but that’s due to what Robin did seven years ago to Molly. She ended up leaving Molly, and not only that, she ended up with another woman. I’m not sure if it’s considered cheating since their marriage was rocky before Robin left, but it hurt Molly, which means I sided with Molly when I started reading this book.
This is a second-chance romance story, and I trusted Susie Dumond’s approach to reuniting Molly and Robin. Initially, Molly and Robin decide to prank each other, making each other’s lives difficult while staying at the bed and breakfast. However, they eventually come to realize that the sooner they complete the renovations, the closer they will be to returning to their lives, even though one of them is dealing with what they plan on doing next after their failed restaurant.
I enjoyed reading Molly and Robin’s story, especially when it came to them renovating the bed and breakfast. I loved getting to know them individually, but I didn’t feel these two should be back together. They treated each other horribly, and they needed to work through things. I also was still bothered that Robin had been with another woman in the time Molly and her were separated, but maybe the time apart and coming back together is what they needed. They were more mature and had been through some things, but I wasn’t fully convinced.
I may have had some issues with believing the chemistry between the characters, but other than that, I did enjoy the story and its setting and would still recommend the book, especially to readers who love reading Second Chance Sapphic Romance stories. I give this book 3.5-stars and look forward to reading more from Susie Dumond.
I will say this: this book made me hungry while reading it with all the food that was mentioned whenever Robin cooked or was helping to cook. I need all the recipes for the dishes that were mentioned and not just the cake recipe.
What to Expect:
✔️Sapphic Romance
✔️Small Town Romance
✔️Enemies to Lovers
✔️Second Chance
✔️Forced Proximity
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
✔️Sapphic Romance
✔️Small Town Romance
✔️Enemies to Lovers
✔️Second Chance
✔️Forced Proximity
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this second chance romance. Robin and Molly split up 7 years ago but reunite by chance as they both wind up at their shared B&B in Eureka Springs. While they work on fixing it up to finally sell, they start to revisit old memories and reconnect as their present selves. The town was adorable and I loved the connections between the main characters and their surrounding families and friends. I truly devoured it!
I received a copy of the book from NetGalley, Random House, and Dial Press Trade in exchange for my honest review.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
NetGalley ARC Review ✨
Bed and Breakup
By: Susie Dumond
Pub Date: 06/24/25
If you love small town, second chance, enemies to lovers romance stories then you'll enjoy Bed and Breakup!
When Molly and Robin both need to regroup they both end up back at their abandoned bed and breakfast. Even though they have been separated for years, the hurt and hate are still very present. How will they be able to stay under the same roof?
This story is about discovering new dreams while also exploring old ones, growing and learning about yourself, and not giving up on the people we love. Overall, a really cute read.
Bed and Breakup
By: Susie Dumond
Pub Date: 06/24/25
If you love small town, second chance, enemies to lovers romance stories then you'll enjoy Bed and Breakup!
When Molly and Robin both need to regroup they both end up back at their abandoned bed and breakfast. Even though they have been separated for years, the hurt and hate are still very present. How will they be able to stay under the same roof?
This story is about discovering new dreams while also exploring old ones, growing and learning about yourself, and not giving up on the people we love. Overall, a really cute read.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a sweet second chance sapphic romance and I enjoyed it very much! The fact that it’s a queer romance that takes place in Arkansas?! Yes!! 🙌🏼
Robin and Molly had parted ways but both their life paths have brought them back to the Hummingbird Inn (which they own) and mayhem ensues. I found it so funny when they were playing pranks on each other but I enjoyed seeing them come to an understanding of why they had felt like they had to separate. I think a little more depth could have made this book a 5 star read for me but overall, it really made me cheer for them both. Things get mildly spicy so I give it 2 🌶️ out of 5.
The small town vibes were great, especially seeing how supportive the town is. The author took a lot of her personal experiences and it really shows. It makes me want to visit this place one day.
Thank you NetGalley, Dial Press and Susie Dumond for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Robin and Molly had parted ways but both their life paths have brought them back to the Hummingbird Inn (which they own) and mayhem ensues. I found it so funny when they were playing pranks on each other but I enjoyed seeing them come to an understanding of why they had felt like they had to separate. I think a little more depth could have made this book a 5 star read for me but overall, it really made me cheer for them both. Things get mildly spicy so I give it 2 🌶️ out of 5.
The small town vibes were great, especially seeing how supportive the town is. The author took a lot of her personal experiences and it really shows. It makes me want to visit this place one day.
Thank you NetGalley, Dial Press and Susie Dumond for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.