Book Review: The Hot Honey Hideaway by Harper Graham

The Hot Honey Hideaway by Harper Graham is a small town romance that combines small town living, cozy vibes, and a fun premise. I listened to the audiobook recently after I was given a copy to review by Netgalley.

While it’s not the most original story in the world (it does remind me a bit of the Dream Harbor series by Laurie Graham), it’s actually really cute. The main characters Krista and Joe are two that I was definitely rooting for.

In today’s book review, I’ll be sharing my full thoughts on The Hot Honey Hideaway as well as some of my most interesting takeaways. So keep reading to find out more!

And if you’re looking for more romance recommendations and reviews, click here.

What is The Hot Honey Hideaway by Harper Graham About?

Summer never felt so hot…

She runs a cozy lakeside café where everyone knows her name. He chases sunsets with a camera and a backpack. One honey spiced latte later, sparks fly… and a steamy, feel-good summer romance begins! Gilmore Girls + spice = fire.

Krista is the busiest bee in Maple Falls. Her buzzing café ‘The Hot Honey Hideaway’ doesn’t leave her with much time for romance. Until she meets Joe, the mysterious new guy with smoldering eyes… Can she open her heart to a man who’s only staying a few weeks?

Joe’s never felt like he belongs. Until he’s working shifts at Krista’s café—losing battles with steamed milk, distracted by her bright eyes and runaway hair. He’s all easy charm, she’s all caffeine and chaos. Somehow, they just work and soon sparks aren’t just coming from the espresso machine…

But time is running out. He’ll soon be back on the road, and Krista’s dream café is on the brink of having to close its doors forever. Can Krista and Joe save the hideaway? And could a summer fling turn into love for a lifetime?

Grab an iced latte and fall into a small-town romance full of chemistry, quirky charm and a dreamy HEA. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Laurie Gilmore and anyone who loves cozy café vibes and spicy romance. (from Amazon.com)

What are the Maple Falls books in order?

The Hot Honey Hideaway is book #4 in the Maple Falls series by Harper Graham. If you’d prefer to start at the beginining of the series, here is a list of the Maple Falls Books in order

My Initial Thoughts

When I first started listening to the audiobook of The Hot Honey Hideaway, I was curious. The story felt remniscent of other small town romances that I’ve read before. How was the author going to make it different? How was her story going to stand out in a sea of small town romances similar to Laurie Gilmore’s Dream Harbor series?

Well, I think the author did a good job because of all the details. Maple Falls is a really cute town and I absolutely loved all of the detail that went into the menu and events that Krista hosts at the Hot Honey Hideaway. We’ll get more into that later though!

The Main Couple

In The Hot Honey Hideaway, we are introduced to two main characters. There’s a local woman named Krista, who has a lot on her plate. She is the owner of The Hot Honey Hideaway (a lakeside cafe that makes delightful coffee drinks as well as homemade ice cream and cocktails). But she also looks after and helps her aging grandparents with their campground. Her grandmother was recently diagnosed with dementia and so she plans to sell her business in order to spend more time with family.

Meanwhile, Joe is new to town. He’s a travel writer and photographer who is only in Maple Falls for a short time because his latest job is to write a piece on the local flowers. He realizes quickly that the small town of Maple Falls has a lot more than meets the eye. Krista catches his eye and he begins to wonder if small-town charm might be worth staying in one place for.

The Gilmore Girls Vibes are So Good

I don’t know if this is what Harper Graham Author intended, but I got a lot of Luke and Lorelei vibes from Krista and Joe. Krista is very independence and busy, which reminds me a lot of how busy Lorelei is at The Dragonfly. Meanwhile, Joe is the strong silent type. I don’t know why because it’s summer but I always imagined his character wearing flannel! lol

Maple Falls felt very Stars Hollow to me. I like how there are so many interesting small businesses. It seems like each book focuses on a romance that takes place at one of the small businesses, so I definitely want to go back and start reading this cozy romance series from the beginning now.

The Food & Krista’s Grandmother’s Recipes

I loveed all of the food mentions in this book. They just sounded so good. Whether it was the coffee drinks or the hot honey margarita, I immediately wanted to go to the Hideaway and hang out for a while. One of the best scenes was in the beginning when Krista had to show Joe how to harvest the honey.

There’s a Mystery That must Be Solved

At the beginning of the book, Joe agrees to help Krista solve a mystery involving her great grandmother. And Joe is a man of his word. He helps her throughout the story as they investigate by reading old journals and looking up articles at the library. I liked how even though this is a romance book, it had a a cozy small town secret that had to be solved. I loved that Kristan and Joe had to go around and talk with their quirky neighbours in order to find the truth.

In Conclusion

I really enjoyed this book! This is my first time reading a book from this series and since they are available in Kindle Unlimited, I plan to go back and read the first couple of books. Harper Graham has created something special with the residents of her Maple Falls town, and I can’t wait to immerse myself more into this world.