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azrah786's review
4.25
**I was provided with a digital copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: death of parent, cancer, grief, infidelity, abandonment, alcohol, sexual content
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I’m late to the party but you bet I am now well and truly on the Lovelight bandwagon!!
Lovelight Farms was an absolutely delightful book.
This is a friends to lovers romance where two best friends pretend to be a couple for a competition in order to save a Christmas tree farm. Now friends to lovers is a trope that can be a hit or miss for me but the overall vibe of this book sounded like a fun time and I’m so glad that I gave it a chance because this was definitely a top tier friends to lovers story – I loved Stella and Luka so much!!
Plus the additional fake dating aspect, the small town setting and found family between the main group of friends all came together so well!
“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.”
Not only does Borison’s writing easily draw you into the story and these characters’ lives but also the setting. I would move to Inglewild in a heartbeat, it seems like such a wonderful, cosy and homely place, nosy townsfolk aside. I loved that for such a short story you get to not only experience a heart-warming romance blossom between two people who love each other but for it to also happen in a town that is so lived in. Also I’d honestly say this is one of few books where I’ve felt the pacing and the overall length was perfect. It wasn’t too long as to drag the story out and not too short either as to feel like everything was too sudden.
I loved all of the characters. Stella pretty much has the whole town as a support network but the smaller more tight knit group of Beckett, Layla and of course Luka was so wholesome too. How everything played out had a sense of plausibility to it when taking into account the backstories that we are told over the course of the book and the dynamics between the characters. I really loved how threaded through everything was this message of allowing yourself to rely on those around you who care for you, to allow yourself to lean on the shoulders they put out for you.
“Leaning on other people doesn't make your achievements any less yours, La La."
Stella herself was a great character, somewhat relatable somewhat annoying in how much she second guesses everything but Borison wove her story together beautifully. It’s one packed full of emotion and will surely touch your heart too.
Coming backs to the romance side of things though, Stella and Luka were so perfect together. You can expect great banter alongside beautifully tender moments and a dash of spice but also those classic, messy moments that will have you facepalming. For the most part it’s that frustration that these two idiots are so obviously in love with each other to the point the whole town ships them but they just want to keep playing out their little game.
Anyways everything about this book had me smiling and feeling like that heart face emoji and I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the books in the series!
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Grief, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Minor: Cancer and Terminal illness
samone2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Cancer and Alcohol
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol and Cancer
stupidcat's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol and Cancer
marleywrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Cursing, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol
anastashamarie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
🎄 The relationship between the leads felt believable and warm. The writing was atmospheric and made me really wish Lovelight Farms was real. I loved the supporting characters and I'm glad they all get their own books. I was just giddy throughout the whole thing.
⛸️ This felt like Emily Henry meets Hallmark Channel movie. Lower stakes than Henry's stuff and generally less emotional. But still playful, still focusing on relationships first, and still hard to put down.
🧣 Honestly, the reason I would take half a star is because I wish there was more friendship detailed before the fake dating scheme at the beginning and because I still felt like there were a few threads dangling at the end (maybe they'll be tied up in the other books?). But in total, this tips more toward perfect than not, and I feel like it was what it needed to be for what it was, if that makes sense.
☃️ A+ holiday read. Best enjoyed with hot chocolate and Christmas cookies
Moderate: Grief and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Bullying, and Alcohol
khloereads86's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I also wish we saw more of the stuff with Evelyn because that was what the plot was supposed to be about and that and the whole “who’s screwing with the farm” stuff seemed really underwhelming to me even though I liked her. It also would’ve been great if this was dual pov because Luka was better than Stella.
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol and Death of parent
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, and Death of parent
booksofautumn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Death of parent
maregred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Minor: Abandonment