Affiliate Disclosure & Image Credits
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This article may contain affiliate links. If you click one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Book cover images in this article are provided courtesy of Open Library.
You’ll sometimes see this author listed as “Laura Gilmore,” but the official name on the books and publisher listings is Laurie Gilmore. The work people are usually looking for under either spelling is the same: the Dream Harbor small-town romance series.
Dream Harbor is built so each book focuses on a different couple. The stories can be read alone, but reading in release order keeps recurring characters, running jokes, and relationship outcomes from being revealed early.
If you only want one rule
Meet Dream Harbor in order.
That’s the most comfortable way to settle into the town and keep earlier couples’ endings from being mentioned in passing.
Dream Harbor novels in publication order (with a one-line note for each)
- The Pumpkin Spice Café (Book 1, 31 Aug 2023): A city woman takes over a café for a fresh start and finds her toughest obstacle is the local farmer who hates small-town attention.
- The Cinnamon Bun Book Store (Book 2, 29 Aug 2024): A shy bookseller follows a trail of hidden messages, and the adventurous fisherman helping her might be the real prize.
- The Christmas Tree Farm (Book 3, 10 Oct 2024): A woman who can’t stand Christmas buys a tree farm anyway, then gets snowed in with a fixer who won’t stop trying to help.
- The Strawberry Patch Pancake House (Book 4, 13 Mar 2025): A famous chef-turned-single dad needs support in a tiny town, and his new live-in nanny is the last person who expected to stay.
- The Gingerbread Bakery (Book 5, 11 Sep 2025): A wedding pulls the whole town into holiday chaos, and two longtime sparring partners are forced to work together, whether they like it or not.
- The Daisy Chain Flower Shop (Book 6, 19 May 2026): A fake relationship in a familiar town starts as a solution and turns into the kind of problem no one wants to end.
Does “chronological order” change anything here?
Not really. Dream Harbor is one town with a steady forward timeline, so chronological = publication order for practical reading.
A gentle “start here” guide (depending on your mood)
- Autumn comfort, coffee-shop reset: start with The Pumpkin Spice Café.
- Romance with a clue-hunt thread: choose The Cinnamon Bun Book Store (but it lands best after book 1).
- Holiday setting: The Christmas Tree Farm is the most seasonal entry (but it’s still part of the town’s ongoing rhythm).
- Low spoiler tolerance: begin at book 1 and move forward, later books naturally reference earlier couples.
Optional extras and editions (separate from the main novels)
These are not new story installments, so treat them as optional:
- Coloring books tied to Dream Harbor titles (for collectors and fans of the aesthetic).
- Box sets/collections that bundle multiple Dream Harbor books together (handy for binge reading, but not a different order).
FAQs
Do I have to read Dream Harbor in order?
You don’t have to. Each book completes its own romance. But reading in order makes the town feel more coherent and avoids learning earlier couples’ outcomes ahead of time.
Are these books “sweet” or “spicy”?
They’re generally marketed as cozy small-town romances with open-door heat levels. The exact intensity varies by book.
Is “Laura Gilmore” a different author from “Laurie Gilmore”?
In practice, it’s usually a spelling mix-up. If the title is Dream Harbor, you’re in the right place.
The clean recommendation
Start with The Pumpkin Spice Café, then follow the numbered Dream Harbor list straight through. It’s the simplest way to get the full town experience without stepping on any surprises.
Frank is the editor of BookSeries.blog, focusing on publication order, chronological timelines, and spoiler-free reading guides for book series and fictional universes.