Guide to the Dream Harbor Series: Laurie Gilmore Books in Order
Laurie Gilmore shot to the bestseller list with the first book in the Dream Harbor series, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. With so many books in that series, and the start of Laurie’s second series, Maple Hollow, I thought it would be a good time to make a list of all the Laurie Gilmore books in order.
Jackie and I both fell hard for Laurie’s Dream Harbor series, with its small-town charm and happy endings. The books can be read in order or as standalone fiction. Personally, I jump all over as I tend to want to read a story for the season I’m currently in.
Regardless of the order you read Laurie Gilmore’s books in, I promise you will love this small-town romance series. It reminds me of a steamy Stars Hollow in the best possible way!
Laurie Gilmore Books in Order
- The Pumpkin Spice Cafe – Dream Harbor #1 (2023)
- The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore – Dream Harbor #2 (2024)
- The Christmas Tree Farm – Dream Harbor #3 (2024)
- The Strawberry Patch Pancake House – Dream Harbor #4 (2025)
- The Gingerbread Bakery – Dream Harbor #5 (2025)
- The Daisy Chain Flower Shop – Dream Harbor #6 (2026)
- The Apple Pie Ice Cream Parlor – Dream Harbor #6.5 (2027)(Previously published in 2025 as book 4.5)
- Big Bad Wolf – Maple Hollow #1 (2026)
- Wild Wicked Mate – Maple Hollow #2 (2026)
- Untiled – Maple Hollow #3 (2027)
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Dream Harbor Series Reviews
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Year: 2023
Genre: Romance
More info: Dream Harbor #1
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Jeanie needs a change of pace, and it comes when her aunt leaves her a small-town cafe to run. Logan is the local farmer who is grumpy, handsome, and a loner, who is beloved by the town and not looking for love. When someone starts sabotaging Jeanie’s store, Logan can’t sit back and watch her struggle. Instead, he helps acclimate her to the town and catches feelings in the process.
Why Kirsten loves it
I had so many Gilmore Girls flashbacks with this one! I swear I was picturing Luke and Lorelai the entire time I was reading this charming story. I can’t wait to dive into the rest of this series!
Find This Book in: Cozy Fall Books / Coffee Shop Romance Books to Love a Latte / The Best Romance Novels By Genre / Laurie Gilmore Books in Order: Guide to the Dream Harbor Series
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Year: 2024
Genre: Romance
More info: Dream Harbor #2
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
In this sweet between-seasons story, Hazel has discovered a set of clues among the books in the bookstore where she works. She joins forces with her crush, Noah, to help solve the scavenger hunt and go on a few end-of-summer adventures. As she spends more time with Noah, Hazel’s feelings begin to grow, but Noah is set to leave at the end of the season, so their relationship can’t continue to grow. Or is he staying after all?
Why Kirsten likes it
Between the bookstore, the cinnamon buns, the boat adventure, and the scavenger hunt, this story spoke to me on so many levels! It was charming and fun, though not my favorite in the Dream Harbor series.
Find this book in: Books about Bookstores / Laurie Gilmore Books in Order: Guide to the Dream Harbor Series
The Christmas Tree Farm
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Year: 2024
Genre: Romance
More info: Dream Harbor #3
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Despite how much she hates Christmas, Kira has moved to a Christmas Tree Farm. She’s been living away from the townspeople of Dream Harbor for the past few months, but now she needs their business. So she needs to un-grinch herself and participate in town life.
Enter Bennett, here on vacation to visit his sister; he’s never one to turn away someone who needs a helping hand. When he begins to help an overwhelmed Kira on the farm, their attachment to one another grows.
Why Kirsten likes it
I love a reverse grumpy sunshine story, and watching Kira open up and embrace Dream Harbor (and Ben) put such a smile on my face. There was the perfect amount of Christmas cheer and heart to make this a charming romance.
Find this book in: Christmas Romance Books / Grumpy Sunshine Trope Books / New Christmas Books 2024 / Laurie Gilmore Books in Order: Guide to the Dream Harbor Series
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Year: 2025
Genre: Romance
More info: Dream Harbor #4
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Archer is a renowned chef in Paris, determined to get his Michelin Star when he finds out that he has a daughter in Dream Harbor. Olive’s mom died in an accident and now Archer needs everyone in the close-knit community to help him. He finds a job at the town diner that is in need of a new chef.
Iris is the perfect person to be the live-in nanny. Even though she has zero experience with kids and is not sure she even likes them, she is kind, thoughtful, and completely available (especially since she will not be able to pay her rent). As Archer and Olive settle into the new normal, they have to fight the sparks between them.
Trigger Warnings
Death of a parent
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this slow-burn, forced-proximity romance novel. I loved Archer and Iris, who are perfect for each other- flaws and all. Gilmore does such a great job of writing main characters who are flawed, but not mean or cruel.
Find this book in: Single Parent Romance Novels / Forced Proximity Trope Romance Books / Laurie Gilmore Books in Order: Guide to the Dream Harbor Series
The Gingerbread Bakery
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Year: 2025
Genre: Holiday Romance
More info: Dream Harbor #5
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Annie owns Dream Harbor’s Gingerbread Bakery, and she’s made a huge success of it. Now she’s even making a gingerbread cake for her best friend’s wedding. One of the groomsmen is Mac, her ex-boyfriend and owner of the local bar, who has just moved back.
Told in a dual timeline, we get to experience both of their relationships. Can Mac and Annie make it work the second time around?
Why Kirsten loves it
This steamy story is the latest in the Dream Harbor series, but it also acts as a prequel because it’s a dual timeline. It was hard to pick which timeline story I liked more, but the edge might go to the present day because it was fun to check in on the other characters in the series and see a wedding!!
Find this book in: Christmas Books 2025 / Bakery Romance Books / Christmas Romance Books / Giftable Books / Laurie Gilmore Books in Order: Guide to the Dream Harbor Series
Daisy Chain Flower Shop
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Year: 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: Dream Harbor #6
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range:18+
Plot
Daisy has not been having luck with the flower shop ever since the Mayor declared it bad luck. Now, no matter what he does, her luck cannot seem to turn around until a newcomer to town turns up in her shop.
He has had relationship issues of his own. The two of them agreed that their problems would be solved if they began fake dating.
Why Jackie loves it
I love that even though this is technically the 6th book in the series, you do not need to read this series in any particular order. Rather, read whichever book has a romance trope you love to read. This entire series is a delightful, spicy, small-town romance series, and I am all for it!
Find this book in: Beach Reads 2026 / Fake Dating Books / Ultimate List of Romance Books by Trope / Small Town Romance Novels
The Apple Pie Ice Cream Parlor
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Year: 2025
Genre: Romance
More info: Dream Harbor #6.5
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Originally published as a hard-to-find novella in 2025, it’s being completely redone and released in 2027. It’s the Dream Harbor Sundae Funday fundraiser, and best friends Leo and Charlotte are planning to spend the day together, except the unexpected kiss they shared that morning might change everything.
Expert Tip
You don’t need to read the Dream Harbor series in order, but here are some things to consider:
- If you don’t read them in order, you may know who ends up together before you read their stories.
- If you want to read it seasonally, or even with time between stories, I doubt you’ll be sad to have hints to future relationships because we all know these stories are going to have happy endings!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dream Harbor Series About?
Laurie Gilmore’s Dream Harbor series is a collection of small-town romances that all take place in – you guessed it – Dream Harbor! Each one focuses on one main romance in a cast of interconnected characters.
Do I need to read the Laurie Gilmore books in order?
No! You can read these as standalones, in order, or out of order! It’s truly a reader’s choice.
Does Laurie Gilmore write anything besides the Dream Harbor series?
Yes! In the fall of 2026, the first story in her new Maple Hollow series will come out. Unlike Dream Harbor, Maple Hollow will be a fantasy romance series featuring a town filled with witches, ghosts, and other paranormal creatures. The first book in the series is called Big Bad Wolf.
Are Melissa McTernan and Laurie Gilmore the same person?
Yes! Laurie Gilmore’s real name is Melissa McTernan. Here is the scoop. If you have read A Curse of Blood and Wolves by Melissa McTernan, you know what this story is about. Laurie and Melissa are the same person. Everything that was dark in ACOBAW has been replaced with the small-town charm we have all come to love Gilmore for. She took the opportunity to think about this Red Riding Hood retelling and rework the story and characters.
Related Content
Epilogue
Which is your favorite book in the Dream Harbor series? Have you read them all?
