DISCUSSION GUIDES

Fall in love with Laurie Gilmore's #1 New York Times bestselling cozy seasonal romance set in Dream Harbor! ��

'Never want this series to end!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.

As a world-renowned chef, single dad Archer never planned on moving to a small town, let alone running a pancake restaurant. But Dream Harbor needs a new chef, and Archer needs a community to help raise his daughter, Olive.

Iris has never managed to hold down a job for more than a few months. So when it's suggested that Archer is looking for a live-in nanny, she almost runs in the opposite direction.

Now, Iris finds herself in a whole new world. One where her gorgeous new boss lives right across the hall and likes to cook topless... Keeping everything strictly professional should be easy, right?

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a cozy romantic mystery with a single dad and found family dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes

• Single Dad
• Forced Proximity
• Slow Burn
• Found Family

Readers LOVE Laurie Gilmore...

'Gives off the same level of endorphins as taking a sip of an actual pumpkin spice latte... all the makings of a top tier Hallmark movie that happens to include a nice dash of spice' People

'With a name this cute and a cover this autumnal, how could I not cozy up with my blanket and relax with this adoring book?' New York Post

'Laurie Gilmore has done it again; another solid 5 star read!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'As a devoted lover of the single dad trope, I hereby crown Laurie Gilmore as the undisputed queen!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Wonderful story with tears, laughter, mysteries, uncertainty and happiness' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Compelling, cozy and delightful narrative' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A charming small town romance with sizzling chemistry and plenty of spice' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I LOVED THIS SO BAD. The vibes of the small town were immaculate' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Literally amazing. I can't say enough good things about Laurie Gilmore. I've fallen in love with every single one of her books' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Laurie Gilmore's book 'The Strawberry Patch Pancake House' was a No.1 New York Times bestseller w/c 2025-03-24.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe comes a #1 Sunday Times bestselling grumpy x sunshine Christmas romcom! ❄️

'A charming break from reality' Publishers Weekly

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Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.

Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that's too cute for its own good.

Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor trying to take a break from both his life and his constant desire to fix things.

But somehow fate finds Ben trapped by a blanket of snow at Kira's farm, and, despite her Grinchiest first impressions, with the glow of the fairy lights twinkling in the trees, and the promise of a warming hot chocolate, maybe, just maybe, these two lost souls will have a Christmas they'll remember forever...

The Christmas Tree Farm is a spicy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed, perfect to curl up with this winter!

Tropes:

• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Small Town
• Forced Proximity
• One Bed

Readers have fallen for Laurie Gilmore:

'Wonderful story with tears, laughter, mysteries, uncertainty and happiness' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Compelling, cozy and delightful narrative' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A charming small town romance with sizzling chemistry and plenty of spice' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I LOVED THIS SO BAD. The vibes of the small town were immaculate' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This book makes my heart happy!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The perfect kind of romance for me' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

By #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Café

'Unputdownable, I devoured [it] within days... Dream Harbor is not short of a vibrant and hilarious cast of characters to help breathe life into the already charming town' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.

When a secret message turns up hidden in a book in the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, Hazel can't understand it. As more secret codes appear between the pages, she decides to follow the trail of clues... she just needs someone to help her out.

Gorgeous and outgoing fisherman, Noah, is always up for an adventure. And a scavenger hunt sounds like a lot of fun. Even better that the cute bookseller he's been crushing on for months is the one who wants his help!

Hazel didn't go looking for romance, but as the treasure hunt leads her and Noah around Dream Harbor, their undeniable chemistry might be just as hot as the fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns the bookstore sells...

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store is a Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling cozy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:

• opposites attract
• small town
• forced proximity
• he falls first

Readers have fallen for Laurie Gilmore

'I absolutely loved this small town, cosy romantic and very steamy novel just as much as The Pumpkin Spice Cafe' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Wonderful story with tears, laughter, mysteries, uncertainty and happiness' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Compelling, cozy and delightful narrative' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A charming small town romance with sizzling chemistry and plenty of spice' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I LOVED THIS SO BAD. The vibes of the small town were immaculate' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This book makes my heart happy!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The perfect kind of romance for me' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Perfect for reading in the evening with a little fire going' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I enjoyed this so much! Completely heartwarming and unputdownable, the steamy scenes were a bonus' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'[This] gave me everything I needed from an easy read and was the perfect addition to the Dream Harbor series' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I read it in one sitting because I couldn't bear to put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Just the perfect amount of sugar and spice... a literal dream to read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The highly anticipated new Dream Harbor romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Café!

'All the makings of a top tier Hallmark movie that happens to include a nice dash of spice'--People on the Dream Harbor series

'If you like steamy, small-town romance, then global bestselling author Laurie Gilmore should definitely be your go-to'--Fabulous Magazine

Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.

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As owner of her beloved Gingerbread Bakery, Annie Andrews should have a love life to match her business; sugary and sweet. But instead, she's locked in a game of words with the irritatingly upbeat bar owner down the street.

Mac Sullivan has everything he wants, except the girl he dreams of. It's easier to argue with Annie than get her to talk to him but with Jeanie and Logan's wedding coming up, they're about to spend a lot more time together.

As the snowflakes fall and with romance in the air, will Annie see that the one she loves to hate might just be her perfect match after all?

The Gingerbread Bakery is a cozy romantic novel with an enemies to lovers dynamic, small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:

• Enemies to lovers
• Found family
• Small Town
• Forced Proximity

Readers love Laurie Gilmore

'The atmosphere of the small town of Dream Harbor envelops you from the very first pages: snow-covered streets, the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread, and a sense of community that only exists in a close-knit and friendly community' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A charming break from reality' Publishers Weekly

'Gilmore's take on the 'enemies to lovers' trope is a real treat' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I absolutely loved this small town, cosy romantic and very steamy novel just as much as The Pumpkin Spice Cafe' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Wonderful story with tears, laughter, mysteries, uncertainty and happiness' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Compelling, cozy and delightful narrative' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A charming small town romance with sizzling chemistry and plenty of spice' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I LOVED THIS SO BAD. The vibes of the small town were immaculate' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This book makes my heart happy!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The perfect kind of romance for me' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Perfect for reading in the evening with a little fire going' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I enjoyed this so much! Completely heartwarming and unputdownable, the steamy scenes were a bonus' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'[This] gave me everything I needed from an easy read and was the perfect addition to the Dream Harbor series' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I read it in one sitting because I couldn't bear to put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Just the perfect amount of sugar and spice... a literal dream to read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An anniversary edition of the award-winning memoir and instant New York Times bestseller that goes far beyond its riveting medical mystery, Brain on Fire is the powerful account of one woman’s struggle to recapture her identity—with a new note to readers by the author.

When twenty-four-year-old Susannah Cahalan woke up alone in a hospital room, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak, she had no memory of how she’d gotten there. Days earlier, she had been on the threshold of a new, adult life: at the beginning of her first serious relationship and a promising career at a major New York newspaper. Now she was labeled violent, psychotic, a flight risk. What happened?

In a swift and breathtaking narrative, Susannah tells the astonishing true story of her descent into madness, her family’s inspiring faith in her, and the lifesaving diagnosis that nearly didn’t happen. “A fascinating look at the disease that...could have cost this vibrant, vital young woman her life” (People), Brain on Fire is an unforgettable exploration of memory and identity, faith and love, and a profoundly compelling tale of survival and perseverance that is destined to become a classic.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The first novel in the beloved Big Stone Gap series, now a major motion picture written and directed by Adriana Trigiani, starring Ashley Judd, Patrick Wilson, Whoopi Goldberg, John Benjamin Hickey, Jane Krakowski, Anthony LaPaglia, and Jenna Elfman
 
“Delightfully quirky . . . chock-full of engaging, oddball characters and unexpected plot twists.”—People (Book of the Week)

It's 1978, and Ave Maria Mulligan is the thirty-five-year-old self-proclaimed spinster of Big Stone Gap, a sleepy hamlet in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She’s also the local pharmacist, the co-captain of the Rescue Squad, and the director of The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, the town’s long-running Outdoor Drama. Ave Maria is content with her life—until, one fateful day, her past opens wide with the revelation of a long-buried secret that will alter the course of her life. Before she knows it, Ave Maria is fielding marriage proposals, trying to claim her rightful inheritance, and planning the trip of a lifetime to Italy—one that will change her view of the world and her own place in it forever.

Millions of readers around the world have fallen in love with the small town of Big Stone Gap, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and its self-proclaimed spinster. Full of wit and wonder, hilarity and heart, Big Stone Gap is a gem of a book, and one that you will share with friends and family for years to come.
 
WINNER OF THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA ANNUAL LITERARY AWARD
 
Don’t miss any of Adriana Trigiani’s beloved Big Stone Gap series
BIG STONE GAP • BIG CHERRY HOLLER • MILK GLASS MOON • HOME TO BIG STONE GAP

Instant USA Today bestseller!

“Abbi Waxman is both irreverent and thoughtful.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin

“Meet our bookish millennial heroine—a modern-day Elizabeth Bennet, if you will… Waxman’s wit and wry humor stand out. She is funny and imaginative, and “Bookish” lands a step above run-of-the-mill romantic comedy fare.”—The Washington Post

“Abbi Waxman offers up a quirky, eccentric romance that will charm any bookworm…. For anyone who’s ever wondered if their greatest romance might come between the pages of books they read, Waxman offers a heartwarming tribute to that possibility.”—Entertainment Weekly

The author of Other People’s Houses and The Garden of Small Beginnings delivers a quirky and charming novel chronicling the life of confirmed introvert Nina Hill as she does her best to fly under everyone's radar.

Meet Nina Hill: A young woman supremely confident in her own...shell.

The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.

When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They're all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She'll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It's a disaster! And as if that wasn't enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn't he realize what a terrible idea that is?

Nina considers her options.
1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)

It's time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn't convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It's going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.

“It’s an absolute must-read for every human being. Period.”
—Anna Chlumsky

A book for finding purpose and strength in times of great despair, the international best-seller is still just as relevant today as when it was first published.

“This is a book I reread a lot . . . it gives me hope . . . it gives me a sense of strength.”
—Anderson Cooper, Anderson Cooper 360/CNN

This seminal book, which has been called “one of the outstanding contributions to psychological thought” by Carl Rogers and “one of the great books of our time” by Harold Kushner, has been translated into more than fifty languages and sold over sixteen million copies. “An enduring work of survival literature,” according to the New York Times, Viktor Frankl’s riveting account of his time in the Nazi concentration camps, and his insightful exploration of the human will to find meaning in spite of the worst adversity, has offered solace and guidance to generations of readers since it was first published in 1946. At the heart of Frankl’s theory of logotherapy (from the Greek word for “meaning”) is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but rather the discovery and pursuit of what the individual finds meaningful. Today, as new generations face new challenges and an ever more complex and uncertain world, Frankl’s classic work continues to inspire us all to find significance in the very act of living, in spite of all obstacles.

A must-read companion to this classic work, a new, never-before-published work by Frankl entitled Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything, is now available in English.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The bestselling author of Eligible and Romantic Comedy “blends acerbic wit, shrewd insight and sharp-eyed observation [in this] bravura collection” (The Washington Post), including a story that revisits the main character from her iconic novel Prep

“Each of these witty, intelligent stories is a slice of modern life.”—People

A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice

In her second story collection, Sittenfeld shows why she’s as beloved for her short fiction as she is for her novels. In these dazzling stories, she conjures up characters so real that they seem like old friends, laying bare the moments when their long held beliefs are overturned.

In “The Patron Saints of Middle Age,” a woman visits two friends she hasn’t seen since her divorce. In “A for Alone,” a married artist embarks on a creative project intended to disprove the so-called Mike Pence Rule, which suggests that women and men can’t spend time alone together without lusting after each other. And in “Lost but Not Forgotten,” Sittenfeld gives readers of her novel Prep a window into the world of her beloved character Lee Fiora, decades later, when Lee attends an alumni reunion at her boarding school.

Hilarious, thought-provoking, and full of tenderness for her characters, Sittenfeld’s stories peel back layer after layer of our inner lives, keeping us riveted to the page with her utterly distinctive voice.