Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Lovelight Farms

I listened to the audiobook and there was nothing wrong with the narration but sometimes the style didn't seem to fit the story. Also, this book may be better in print vs. audio due to there being a lot of times when the main character's thoughts are hard to discern from spoken dialogue.

Something that bothered me while I was reading the book was the fact that the two MCs were supposedly best friends for ten years but there were a lot of things they didn't know about each other that seems like you would discuss with the person you are closest with. They were also secretly in love with each other for ten years but nothing ever happened, even when they have slept in the same bed and intimately snuggled.

The storyline with her dad also seemed out of place once the book was over.

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amateur_bookworm's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

*Audiobook

My summary: After buying the Christmas tree farm of her dreams, Stella finds herself in a nightmare of financial woes and issues at the farm. In a desperate attempt to save it, she enters a contest with a $100,000 cash prize, but the catch is that she lied on the application and said she owns it with her boyfriend. Stella and Luka have been best friends for almost 10 years, and although Stella has always had an attraction to him, their relationship has always been perfectly platonic. That is, until Stella asks Luka to be her fake boyfriend for the contest and their feelings are anything but fake.

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My thoughts (Audiobook review 1/26/24): I loved the book, but I only tolerated the audiobook. At times the narrator sounded like a robot and I found it to generally grate on me after awhile. Although I really enjoyed the actual story, I really didn’t enjoy listening to this one very much. Since Goodreads can’t seem to separate my book review from the audiobook review, I’m not changing my 5 star rating for the book even though I would only rate the audiobook at a 3.

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My thoughts (Book review 12/18/23): This was my first holiday book of the year and it was perfect. Best friends start fake dating in this delightfully cheesy and feel-good romance. This book made me feel like I was wrapped up in a warm and fuzzy blanket and I never wanted it to end. I loved the witty banter and everything I could possibly hope to find in a holiday rom-com is here. I loved every character (except for Mr. Hewett, but I digress) and the setting at the Christmas tree farm in the small town.

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karlymarcy's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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sharu901's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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redbeanm0chi's review against another edition

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lighthearted

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

This book tells the fluffy, sweet story of Christmas tree farm owner Stella and her best friend, Luka. In a bid to save her farm from financial ruin, Stella enters a social media contest and fibs about owning it with her boyfriend. This, of course, leads to a fake relationship with Luka that blurs the line of their friendship.

“And isn’t it silly, to love the way someone’s things look like next to yours? Little bits and pieces of a life lived in parallel.”

It was a great lighthearted holiday read through felt like a hallmark romcom in book format, but spicy. It gets a spice score of 3 for its handful of well written, explicit, vanilla sex scenes. I liked the way Stella and Luka’s relationship was portrayed, the transition between friendship and romance feeling natural and comfortable. The other cast of characters were cozy as well, again very hallmark romance.

Now, I am historically not a fan of miscommunication or jealousy and that applied here as well. Luckily it was kept minimal. The final reveal was predictable, but I wouldn’t recommend anyone read this for the great plot anyways. The final conflict was brainrotingly frustrating, so I’m thankful it didn’t last long at all.

It was over all a good read though and I think the portrayal of difficult family relations and mourning was very well done and real.

“It’s hard to love someone without restraint. To give yourself over to the swell and pull of it without fear of what might happen. I think it’s only natural to hold a part of yourself back and protect what you can.”

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