[AD // NETGALLEY ARC]
I was given The Cherry Crush Flower Shop, by Harper Graham, as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion on the book. This is the third instalment in the Maple Falls series, but it can also be read as a stand-alone. I started reading it in February, when it still was cold and snowy in my part of the world. After a bit of thinking I decided to put it away for now, but come May, I was ready to pick it up again.
The heroine and hero of this story are Zoe and Jackson. Zoe has moved back to Maple Falls after a breakup, and has taken over her mum’s flower shop. Jackson has served in the military, and is haunted by trauma from the war. He runs a llama sanctuary, but even that doesn’t seem to heal him. The two have been secretly eyeing each other since they were teens, but never dared to take the step. When they find out Zoe’s mum has put a bet on them as the couple of the year after seeing them hugging through the flower shop’s window, they decide to fake dating. What they think would be an easy and fun thing to do for Zoe’s mum, turns out to be more challenging than they ever thought it could be.
I wanted to read this third book of the Maple Falls series, not only because I wanted to revisit the small town, but also because it contained two of the tropes I tend to enjoy: Fake dating and friends-to-lovers. I loved seeing the two childhood friends Zoe and Jackson fall head over heels for each other, the blooming awakening of spring (probably my favourite season). The hunt for the mystery flower was also a delight.
I must admit I didn’t care much for the competition. Don’t they have anything else to do in this town than to compete? Also, favourite couple? I found that to be cringe, to be honest.
Other than that, I ended up enjoying this book in the end, and I’m glad I paused the read and awaited for the spring season to align with spring in my town in Norway (which is later than spring in Maple Falls). Harper Graham is really good as drawing a picture in your mind of the surroundings. I could almost see all the flowers, and smell their fragrance! This book is definitively better read in spring!