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Honey Springs #1
The Perfect Matcha
Not yet published
Expected 21 May 26🌸 🌺 Available to pre-order now, this spicy, enemies-to-lovers, small-town romance is perfect for fans of Laurie Gilmore and Bonnie Woods 🌺 🌸 ***
Will love brew in Honey Springs? Willow Davis has everything she should want. An impressive corporate job, a beautiful Seattle apartment, and an even more beautiful boyfriend to go alongside it. But when a quarter-life crisis hits and everything begins to fall apart, there's only one place she wants to go. Up to the mountains and to the small town of Honey Springs, where she's determined to lean into self-care and bring her love of matcha lattes with her.
Lucas Dawson is from the wrong side of the tracks – or at least, that's what the people of Honey Springs think. The grumpy, gritty and gorgeous diner owner's heart seems impenetrable, even when Willow, his warm-as-sunshine childhood bestfriend, returns to town.
But what is Lucas hiding … and why can Willow feel their bond stirring up more than just old memories?
Will love brew in Honey Springs? Willow Davis has everything she should want. An impressive corporate job, a beautiful Seattle apartment, and an even more beautiful boyfriend to go alongside it. But when a quarter-life crisis hits and everything begins to fall apart, there's only one place she wants to go. Up to the mountains and to the small town of Honey Springs, where she's determined to lean into self-care and bring her love of matcha lattes with her.
Lucas Dawson is from the wrong side of the tracks – or at least, that's what the people of Honey Springs think. The grumpy, gritty and gorgeous diner owner's heart seems impenetrable, even when Willow, his warm-as-sunshine childhood bestfriend, returns to town.
But what is Lucas hiding … and why can Willow feel their bond stirring up more than just old memories?
- GenresRomance
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 21, 2026
1 person is currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Willow left her small town of honey Springs was a high school boyfriend. Jake looking for a better things, can you move from their small town honey springs to the big city of Seattle- bear willow starts work at a at agencyand Jake becomes a first responder, but lately Willow feels disenchanted of the bigger city and longs for her hometown, working on the new ad memphane, she realizes, I bet she's burnt out.The only thing she likes about her job is going out for matcha- and her assistant Toby, when the opportunity arises for her to buy a van that she can sell drinks out of she decides to leave the big city and go home.And start a matcha van and Jake is less than pleased. I love the big city and loves social media. And all that it offers,, running a daily blog of his life as the first responder- unfortunately Willow has seen the destruction that social media can have on influencer so she just wants to go home- so off she goes while Jake stays in the city. They're going to try long distance. Because jake wants nothing to do with her hometown or his alcoholic father, who's still there - when Willow gets home? She finds that her best friend growing up. Lucas is running his mom's diner. Once you start to remember how good a friends, they were lucas is not excited to have willow back.He doesn't want change in the town nor does he want to deal with his feelings for willow- willow has to decide if she wants to stay in honey. Springs for good, i've worked things out Jake- this is a really cute romcom. Let's see it being a Hallmark movie for sure. Unlike the secondary characters as well, I don't want to give out too many spoilers, but the ending is really good. It's definitely a good read
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Willow is tired of dealing with Seattle's coffee scene through her work as a social media marketer. Craving a slow-paced life filled with less coffee and more matcha, Willow moves back to her hometown of Honey Springs to open up a mobile matcha truck. The story takes off from there as Willow starts her new business and is reunited with Lucas, her childhood best friend.
As a self-proclaimed matcha lover, I had high hopes for this matcha centered romance. However, the clever title and colorful cover are unfortunately the strongest examples of the book’s matcha theme. Throughout the story, matcha is only of peripheral focus for any of the characters. The inclusion of matcha felt like a gimmick. It could have been replaced with any other food-based item, and the overall story would have remained unchanged. For example, Greene never once described the process of whisking matcha nor its rich cultural history. I would have been interested in learning more about matcha and other aspects of Willow’s business, such as where she sourced her matcha from and how she came up with new drink recipes.
Instead of the matcha focused plotline I was hoping to read, the plot centers around Willow’s attempt to bring tourism back to Honey Springs and her budding romance with Lucas. One of my favorite romance tropes is “friends to lovers”, and overall I felt like it was handled well. I liked the banter between the two love interests and seeing their romance bloom. My only criticism about the romance is that the “spicy” scenes felt awkwardly placed. Despite my complaints, The Perfect Matcha is a quick and easy read. I read it while I was sick and it was the mindless entertainment I needed at that moment.
Willow is tired of dealing with Seattle's coffee scene through her work as a social media marketer. Craving a slow-paced life filled with less coffee and more matcha, Willow moves back to her hometown of Honey Springs to open up a mobile matcha truck. The story takes off from there as Willow starts her new business and is reunited with Lucas, her childhood best friend.
As a self-proclaimed matcha lover, I had high hopes for this matcha centered romance. However, the clever title and colorful cover are unfortunately the strongest examples of the book’s matcha theme. Throughout the story, matcha is only of peripheral focus for any of the characters. The inclusion of matcha felt like a gimmick. It could have been replaced with any other food-based item, and the overall story would have remained unchanged. For example, Greene never once described the process of whisking matcha nor its rich cultural history. I would have been interested in learning more about matcha and other aspects of Willow’s business, such as where she sourced her matcha from and how she came up with new drink recipes.
Instead of the matcha focused plotline I was hoping to read, the plot centers around Willow’s attempt to bring tourism back to Honey Springs and her budding romance with Lucas. One of my favorite romance tropes is “friends to lovers”, and overall I felt like it was handled well. I liked the banter between the two love interests and seeing their romance bloom. My only criticism about the romance is that the “spicy” scenes felt awkwardly placed. Despite my complaints, The Perfect Matcha is a quick and easy read. I read it while I was sick and it was the mindless entertainment I needed at that moment.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Stevie Greene for an advanced readers copy of this book for an honest review.
3.5 stars
I enjoyed 'The Perfect Matcha' and found it easy to finish in one sitting because of how captivating it was. Willow was a fun character to follow around, although sometimes a little infuriating with how naive she was and I could essily relate to her. I was 100% rooting for her when she decided to move back to her small mountain hometown and open her matcha truck and as soon as her childhood best friend Lukas was in the picture I was sold on Honey Springs.
I wasn't surprised about how the story unfolded but entertaining nonetheless. Especially by all the other characters and budding relationships introduced.
The matcha story felt a little off to me, which had a lot to do with how little Willow actually talked about Matcha other than saying "it's good" or "it's healthy". After making such a big switch for a beverage she had apparently also just discovered I would have wanted more information on matcha from her. What is it good for exactly? Where is it from? Matcha tradition? Not only serving Matcha mixed with something etc. Things I wouldn't necessarily expect from a book about coffee but with the focus on matcha I find necessary. All in all, the book did not need the matcha story to be entertaining though.
3.5 stars
I enjoyed 'The Perfect Matcha' and found it easy to finish in one sitting because of how captivating it was. Willow was a fun character to follow around, although sometimes a little infuriating with how naive she was and I could essily relate to her. I was 100% rooting for her when she decided to move back to her small mountain hometown and open her matcha truck and as soon as her childhood best friend Lukas was in the picture I was sold on Honey Springs.
I wasn't surprised about how the story unfolded but entertaining nonetheless. Especially by all the other characters and budding relationships introduced.
The matcha story felt a little off to me, which had a lot to do with how little Willow actually talked about Matcha other than saying "it's good" or "it's healthy". After making such a big switch for a beverage she had apparently also just discovered I would have wanted more information on matcha from her. What is it good for exactly? Where is it from? Matcha tradition? Not only serving Matcha mixed with something etc. Things I wouldn't necessarily expect from a book about coffee but with the focus on matcha I find necessary. All in all, the book did not need the matcha story to be entertaining though.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really wanted to love this book! The title and cover are both so cute, and I figured a small town, childhood friends to lovers, grumpy x sunshine story couldn't fail me. Unfortunately, I think this book just didn't work for me. The writing was very matter of fact, in a 'telling not showing' kind of way that made the story slog a bit. The story itself had potential, as mentioned earlier, but I think it was just executed all wrong. I think the pacing was off, because Lucas and Willow should have been friendlier with each other by at least the halfway point to properly build up a romance between the two of them, but they were still so back and forth, hot and cold, that by the time they were actually trying to see if there was romance between them, I was confused because it didn't feel like they were on the same page at all. I liked Willow, but I think she needed to cut things off with Jake a lot sooner -- for her own sake and for Lucas'. And I wanted to like Lucas, but his grumpiness never receded, even for Willow, and that just made him a bummer to read at times. He was meaner to her at times than she deserved, and I don't think he really groveled in any way to make up for it.
Cute title, cute cover -- but those were the best parts about the book, sadly.
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Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for the ARC!
Cute title, cute cover -- but those were the best parts about the book, sadly.
----------------
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you are looking for a a cozy small town romance, childhood friends to lovers, second chance story and enjoy some good Matcha this book is for you.
You can tell if a book is going to be good on the first few pages. I knew that this book would not be for me. The writing is good but the third person is not doing it for me in a romance book. I liked the cover and the blurb of the book and was hoping to get into a cozy small town romance.
Sadly I couldn’t get into this book at all. I was hoping to become more invested in the characters and the world by continuing to read, but unfortunately this didn’t happen. The storyline was well thought out and there were some cute romantic scenes between the characters. The childhood best friends and second chance romance was a cute plot and made sense for the characters. They could have had more depth to them, then I would have been more invested and felt with them. The thing were the scenes Happen twice was not doing it for me as well and threw me out of the moment. The POV could have been connected better and the repeating of scenes in the other persons POV made the plot stop flowing and harder to follow.
Overall this is a love story readers who enjoy these tropes might like.
You can tell if a book is going to be good on the first few pages. I knew that this book would not be for me. The writing is good but the third person is not doing it for me in a romance book. I liked the cover and the blurb of the book and was hoping to get into a cozy small town romance.
Sadly I couldn’t get into this book at all. I was hoping to become more invested in the characters and the world by continuing to read, but unfortunately this didn’t happen. The storyline was well thought out and there were some cute romantic scenes between the characters. The childhood best friends and second chance romance was a cute plot and made sense for the characters. They could have had more depth to them, then I would have been more invested and felt with them. The thing were the scenes Happen twice was not doing it for me as well and threw me out of the moment. The POV could have been connected better and the repeating of scenes in the other persons POV made the plot stop flowing and harder to follow.
Overall this is a love story readers who enjoy these tropes might like.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed The Perfect Matcha and found it really easy to finish in one sitting because of how quick and cozy it was. Willow was a fun character to follow, although at times she could be a little frustrating with how naive she was. When she decides to leave Seattle and move back to her small mountain hometown of Honey Springs, I was immediately rooting for her. And once Lucas, her childhood best friend, came back into the picture, I was completely sold.
The friends to lovers romance between Willow and Lucas was definitely one of my favorite parts of the story. Their banter felt natural and it was sweet watching their relationship slowly shift into something more. I really enjoyed seeing their connection grow as they spent more time together again.
The story itself is very cozy and has strong small town rom com vibes. It honestly felt like something that could easily be turned into a Hallmark movie. The pacing did feel a little slow at times, and while the plot was enjoyable, nothing about it really stood out in a big way.
Overall, it’s a quick, light read with a sweet romance at the center.
The friends to lovers romance between Willow and Lucas was definitely one of my favorite parts of the story. Their banter felt natural and it was sweet watching their relationship slowly shift into something more. I really enjoyed seeing their connection grow as they spent more time together again.
The story itself is very cozy and has strong small town rom com vibes. It honestly felt like something that could easily be turned into a Hallmark movie. The pacing did feel a little slow at times, and while the plot was enjoyable, nothing about it really stood out in a big way.
Overall, it’s a quick, light read with a sweet romance at the center.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Publisher.
This story is a bit slow and felt kind of like it dragged on. It is a cozy romance novel but I just felt like it was missing something to captivate my attention.
The plot is good but there isn't anything that makes it stand out. The writing is okay, like I mentioned, there wasn't anything that is captivating to really make this book stand out.
Lucas and Willow used to be friends and both left the hometown but came back. Lucas struggles to handle all his responsibilities and trying to keep the diner afloat. Willow, a city girl losing the spark in her marketing job and feelings for her Jake. Okay, her relationship with Jake is a bit frustrating, he's over here lying about ordering expensive wines in French when he got the cheapest, and Willow just sits there and lets him. She's not even trying to work this relationship. Also, when he drops her off at the train station? C'mon, ugh it was frustrating how things were left and Willow doesn't speak up. Lucas and Willows story is sweet but plot wise its still not captivating.
This story is a bit slow and felt kind of like it dragged on. It is a cozy romance novel but I just felt like it was missing something to captivate my attention.
The plot is good but there isn't anything that makes it stand out. The writing is okay, like I mentioned, there wasn't anything that is captivating to really make this book stand out.
Lucas and Willow used to be friends and both left the hometown but came back. Lucas struggles to handle all his responsibilities and trying to keep the diner afloat. Willow, a city girl losing the spark in her marketing job and feelings for her Jake. Okay, her relationship with Jake is a bit frustrating, he's over here lying about ordering expensive wines in French when he got the cheapest, and Willow just sits there and lets him. She's not even trying to work this relationship. Also, when he drops her off at the train station? C'mon, ugh it was frustrating how things were left and Willow doesn't speak up. Lucas and Willows story is sweet but plot wise its still not captivating.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital Arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating:⭐️⭐️.5
The Plot:
Willow is tired of her fast paced life in Seattle as a social media marketer and decides to move back to her hometown on Honey Springs and open a matcha truck. There, she reunites with her childhood friend Lucas and their friendship slowly kindles into something more
The Review:
I really wanted to like this book but sadly it wasn’t for me. Just within the first couple of pages I was getting a “telling not showing” vibe which just got worse through the book and made it drag on. The writing itself to was very awkward and stilted and it was just impossible for me to stay invested in the story itself.
Lucas and Willow are a cute couple, but their characters could have used a bit more fleshing out in my opinion. I LOVE the friends to lovers second chance romance trope and I think that was actually really well done, but the surrounding narrative really made it not worth it for me.
Rating:⭐️⭐️.5
The Plot:
Willow is tired of her fast paced life in Seattle as a social media marketer and decides to move back to her hometown on Honey Springs and open a matcha truck. There, she reunites with her childhood friend Lucas and their friendship slowly kindles into something more
The Review:
I really wanted to like this book but sadly it wasn’t for me. Just within the first couple of pages I was getting a “telling not showing” vibe which just got worse through the book and made it drag on. The writing itself to was very awkward and stilted and it was just impossible for me to stay invested in the story itself.
Lucas and Willow are a cute couple, but their characters could have used a bit more fleshing out in my opinion. I LOVE the friends to lovers second chance romance trope and I think that was actually really well done, but the surrounding narrative really made it not worth it for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Willow tiene lo que siempre supo lo que quería para el futuro. Vive en Seattle, trabaja en marketing para una marca de café y comparte su vida con Jake, su novio desde hace años. Sin embargo, detrás de la rutina llena de campañas publicitarias, redes sociales y presión laboral, comienza a sentir un vacío que ya no puede ignorar. La muerte de su abuela y el ritmo agotador de su trabajo la obligan a preguntarse si realmente está viviendo la vida que desea.
Cuando surge la oportunidad de comprar una vieja furgoneta para vender bebidas de matcha, Willow toma una decisión impulsiva que cambia todo. Renuncia a su trabajo, deja la ciudad y regresa a Honey Springs, el pequeño pueblo de montaña donde creció. Allí espera encontrar tranquilidad, un nuevo propósito y quizá una versión más auténtica de sí misma.
Cuando surge la oportunidad de comprar una vieja furgoneta para vender bebidas de matcha, Willow toma una decisión impulsiva que cambia todo. Renuncia a su trabajo, deja la ciudad y regresa a Honey Springs, el pequeño pueblo de montaña donde creció. Allí espera encontrar tranquilidad, un nuevo propósito y quizá una versión más auténtica de sí misma.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this book as an arc read from NetGalley. This was a cute little book. In some parts I felt like the FMC was just a push over for her ex boyfriend and the MMC. He would go off on her without so much as really explaining to her what was wrong. It felt like they were constantly having miscommunication issues and then they would let the doubts over take them. I liked how she followed her dream of leaving the corporate world and taking a risk of opening a matcha van. She was very optimistic about things looking up for their hometown. It was very swooning when the FMC goes looking for the MMC since her annoying ex made it look like they were getting back together. When she goes looking for the MMC and then they finally get it together and she says she picked him and isn't going no where. Over all the story was sweet.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 stars! Okay so whilst the cover of The Perfect Matcha pulled me in, I was left wanting a lot more! I’m a matcha girlie, so I really wanted to love this one. I also love a cosy small town romance... and Honey Springs definitely had that comforting vibe.
This was a fun, easy read overall, but I did find myself wanting a bit more from the story. The romance and plot felt quite simple at times...and I would have loved a little more depth with the characters and their journey. That said, it’s still a cute, cosy read and would work well as a palette cleanser if you’re coming off something heavier and just want something light and quick.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
This was a fun, easy read overall, but I did find myself wanting a bit more from the story. The romance and plot felt quite simple at times...and I would have loved a little more depth with the characters and their journey. That said, it’s still a cute, cosy read and would work well as a palette cleanser if you’re coming off something heavier and just want something light and quick.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you HQ Digital and NetGalley for the arc of the book !!
»»——— ᢉ𐭩 ———««
Spoilers ahead !!
This was such a cute and adorable read, the concept of matcha cart and our fmc leaving her job to open a small business where she sells matcha, honestly totally relatable with what I wanna do as well, the mmc was a little complicated character with the things he was struggling with, but I am happy he overcame them decided to tell her how he feel, plus childhood friends turned enemy and then lovers was just the perfect trope in my opinion.
»»——— ᢉ𐭩 ———««
Spoilers ahead !!
This was such a cute and adorable read, the concept of matcha cart and our fmc leaving her job to open a small business where she sells matcha, honestly totally relatable with what I wanna do as well, the mmc was a little complicated character with the things he was struggling with, but I am happy he overcame them decided to tell her how he feel, plus childhood friends turned enemy and then lovers was just the perfect trope in my opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.25/5
This was another one of those cute and cozy little romance novels.
And I sped through it.
This was an opposites attract sort of situation (and I do always love that, that's always fun).
I did want a bit more from these characters though. Maybe more personality? I don't quite know how to explain it, but something about them was flat in a rather unexpected way.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This was another one of those cute and cozy little romance novels.
And I sped through it.
This was an opposites attract sort of situation (and I do always love that, that's always fun).
I did want a bit more from these characters though. Maybe more personality? I don't quite know how to explain it, but something about them was flat in a rather unexpected way.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC of Perfect Matcha. The rating should be rounded up to 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this cosy small town romance story, it was just what was needed. If you like the following tropes -
* enemies to lovers
* friends to lovers
* small town romance
then give this one a go! I liked the main characters, although they did become slightly frustrating how they miscommunicated so badly!! Overall a solid chick lit read.
* enemies to lovers
* friends to lovers
* small town romance
then give this one a go! I liked the main characters, although they did become slightly frustrating how they miscommunicated so badly!! Overall a solid chick lit read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Received this ARC from NetGalley.
This is a small town, second chance romance. Two friends who drifted apart in high school find their way back to each other. It’s a cute story, the main characters hold so much emotion, pain and love. It’s a quick read, heartwarming and a great small town feel.
This is a small town, second chance romance. Two friends who drifted apart in high school find their way back to each other. It’s a cute story, the main characters hold so much emotion, pain and love. It’s a quick read, heartwarming and a great small town feel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was really looking forward to this one because the premise sounded really cute. Small town, childhood best friends/second chance romance with a matcha twist. Unfortunately this book was impossible for me to stay invested in. I don’t feel like the characters were fleshed out enough and the writing was a little awkward and stilted. There are other books out there that do all these tropes better.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Writing not bad but not that good either, polot ok but felt too much like other cosy romances. The Matcha being treated like another trending drink missed the whole like context of it, didn't like the fact that some random white character just didn't develop the context of matcha.
Want to read
March 5, 2026🍵 The Perfect Matcha
Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
📅 Pub Date: May 21, 2026
Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
📅 Pub Date: May 21, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
RTC
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
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