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lovelymisanthrope's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I saw this on Libby, and thought it would be a fun, fluffy holiday romance to read right before Christmas.
"Lovelight Farms" follows Stella, a woman who owns a Christmas tree farm. Stella wants, and needs, desperately to win Evelyn St. James's contest because she has almost driven her business into the ground. But, she will not let her employees down. Unfortunately, when she applied for the contest, she said that she owned the farm with her boyfriend. Now, she has to pretend to date her best friend, Luka, who she is actually in love with.
When I started this book, I was expecting a fluffy romance that felt like a Christmas Hallmark movie, and that is exactly what I got. This book was sweet, slightly comical, and filled with warmth.
Stella and Luka have been best friends for years, and it was really satisfying for them both to realize how much they each care for each other as more than friends. The friends to lovers trope worked really well here because they truly were best friends for years before they started dating, and their relationship just makes sense.
I do not think this book did anything super special, but I think it was enjoyable, and I was definitely rooting for Stella and Luka from page one.
This story was exactly what I wanted to read the week before Christmas.
"Lovelight Farms" follows Stella, a woman who owns a Christmas tree farm. Stella wants, and needs, desperately to win Evelyn St. James's contest because she has almost driven her business into the ground. But, she will not let her employees down. Unfortunately, when she applied for the contest, she said that she owned the farm with her boyfriend. Now, she has to pretend to date her best friend, Luka, who she is actually in love with.
When I started this book, I was expecting a fluffy romance that felt like a Christmas Hallmark movie, and that is exactly what I got. This book was sweet, slightly comical, and filled with warmth.
Stella and Luka have been best friends for years, and it was really satisfying for them both to realize how much they each care for each other as more than friends. The friends to lovers trope worked really well here because they truly were best friends for years before they started dating, and their relationship just makes sense.
I do not think this book did anything super special, but I think it was enjoyable, and I was definitely rooting for Stella and Luka from page one.
This story was exactly what I wanted to read the week before Christmas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Violence and Toxic relationship
wilybooklover's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.0
On paper, this book should’ve been everything that I love, but sadly didn’t really work for me.
Firstly, it didn’t really feel all that Christmassy to me. The book ended in early December! The premise was ridiculous (what sane adult buys a Christmas tree farm when they don’t do any research or have a clue how to run a Christmas tree farm??), the writing was clunky and meandering, the characters frequently behaved goofily — and not in a fun way. Some of their behaviour felt forced and out of character in order to serve the plot. I felt like I needed more from the hero, especially since this is single POV until the very last chapter. And why was everybody huffing and shuffling? These words were used so repetitively that it was annoyingly conspicuous.
Also, writing a cop (who is meant to be a positive, father-like character) threatening the hero with a gun as though it's cute and endearingly protective is... a Choice.
Firstly, it didn’t really feel all that Christmassy to me. The book ended in early December! The premise was ridiculous (what sane adult buys a Christmas tree farm when they don’t do any research or have a clue how to run a Christmas tree farm??), the writing was clunky and meandering, the characters frequently behaved goofily — and not in a fun way. Some of their behaviour felt forced and out of character in order to serve the plot. I felt like I needed more from the hero, especially since this is single POV until the very last chapter. And why was everybody huffing and shuffling? These words were used so repetitively that it was annoyingly conspicuous.
Also, writing a cop (who is meant to be a positive, father-like character) threatening the hero with a gun as though it's cute and endearingly protective is... a Choice.
On the plus side, the vibes were quite cosy (but also quite sad at times?) and the UST was excellently portrayed in the first half. That was my favourite part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment and Death
Minor: Infidelity, Terminal illness, Violence, Cancer, Alcoholism, Classism, Gun violence, and Police brutality
annahamburger's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Stalking, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Infidelity
Minor: Cursing, Violence, and Xenophobia
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