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antidietleah's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Cute but the 3rd act drama was annoying and I didn't like the narrators attempt at male voices.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Terminal illness and Death of parent
lilavati's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A lovely story about fake dating your best friend. It does have a 3rd act break up, but it's resolved quickly with a happy ending. It's only Stella's POV for the story, but we get Luka's POV for the epilogue.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Car accident
There is some swearing in this book, and the death of the FMC's mother is mentioned regularly as part of her backstory. It's mentioned that the mother died of cancer, but it's not covered in detail. The MMC's father died in a car crash, which is mentioned maybe twice - again, no detail. Both characters mention grief about the loss of their parents, but the point isn't laboured. The FMC's father is a serial cheater, but the story doesn't focus on this.nicolecurlsuptoread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
š§ + š± ā¢ Listened on audio while reading the e-book.
āļøāļøāļøĀ½ ā¢ 3.5/5
š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø ā¢ 4/5
š Youāll dig this if you like
Ā» Fake dating
Ā» Slow burns
Ā» Friends to lovers
Ā» Unrequited crushes (for both!)
Ā» Found family
ā I struggled a bit with this book. Listening to the audio while reading with my eyes is usually a great experience, but there were some significant differences between the audio recording and e-book which were jarring and confusing. I would recommend the written version over the audiobook if itās accessible for you, even just for the epilogues. There are two extra chapters in the written version.
ā I didnāt like Stella very much through the book; she defined obtuse, and I couldnāt connect with her. Luka saved the story for me, as did Beckett and Layla. Even though I didnāt love Lovelight Farms, I will read the following books because I want to see how their stories play out.
ā Stella and Lukaās relationship was what redeemed this story. The little pieces of themselves theyāve shared over time and missed opportunities. Love masquerading as close friendship for a decade, with a now or never opportunity. This was a great way to shape friends to lovers.
š What stood out
Ā» Beckett becomes a cat dad without hesitation and is immediately crowned the chosen one by mama cat and her kittens. Cue swoon!
Ā» The thread of the pine air fresheners š²
Ā» Firefighters and townsfolk volunteer as official North Pole representatives to take wish lists from kids so no child has to sit on a strangerās lap. š
š Moments
Ā» Luka asks Stella to slow dance in the kitchen; itās how his parents argued/ had big discussions ā¤ļøā¤ļø He admits he thinks itās so his dad "could politely restrain his mother". I think it would be tough to stay angry while dancing in a hug.
š« Triggers: debt, parental abandonment, death of parent to cancer. Please check warnings.
āļøāļøāļøĀ½ ā¢ 3.5/5
š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø ā¢ 4/5
š Youāll dig this if you like
Ā» Fake dating
Ā» Slow burns
Ā» Friends to lovers
Ā» Unrequited crushes (for both!)
Ā» Found family
ā I struggled a bit with this book. Listening to the audio while reading with my eyes is usually a great experience, but there were some significant differences between the audio recording and e-book which were jarring and confusing. I would recommend the written version over the audiobook if itās accessible for you, even just for the epilogues. There are two extra chapters in the written version.
ā I didnāt like Stella very much through the book; she defined obtuse, and I couldnāt connect with her. Luka saved the story for me, as did Beckett and Layla. Even though I didnāt love Lovelight Farms, I will read the following books because I want to see how their stories play out.
ā Stella and Lukaās relationship was what redeemed this story. The little pieces of themselves theyāve shared over time and missed opportunities. Love masquerading as close friendship for a decade, with a now or never opportunity. This was a great way to shape friends to lovers.
š What stood out
Ā» Beckett becomes a cat dad without hesitation and is immediately crowned the chosen one by mama cat and her kittens. Cue swoon!
Ā» The thread of the pine air fresheners š²
Ā» Firefighters and townsfolk volunteer as official North Pole representatives to take wish lists from kids so no child has to sit on a strangerās lap. š
š Moments
Ā» Luka asks Stella to slow dance in the kitchen; itās how his parents argued/ had big discussions ā¤ļøā¤ļø He admits he thinks itās so his dad "could politely restrain his mother". I think it would be tough to stay angry while dancing in a hug.
š« Triggers: debt, parental abandonment, death of parent to cancer. Please check warnings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism
meganpbell's review
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I managed to fit in another holiday romance on audio before Christmas! Fake dating, best friends to lovers, all on a mysteriously sabotaged Christmas tree farm, this was a quick, easy, and festive readāthough a little forgettable and I wish it were a little funnier and little more Christmassy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Terminal illness and Death of parent
wilybooklover's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.0
On paper, this book shouldāve been everything that I love, but sadly didnāt really work for me.
Firstly, it didnāt 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 donāt 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 ā 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 didnāt 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 donāt 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 ā 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, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death and Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Gun violence, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, and Classism
3readingcircus's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Infidelity, and Terminal illness
azrah786's review against another edition
4.25
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**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
--
Iām 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 Iām so glad that I gave it a chance because this was definitely a top tier friends to lovers story ā 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!
**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
--
Iām 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 Iām so glad that I gave it a chance because this was definitely a top tier friends to lovers story ā 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!
āAnd isnāt it silly, to love the way someoneās things look like next to yours? Little bits and pieces of a life lived in parallel.ā
Not only does Borisonās writing easily draw you into the story and these charactersā 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 Iād honestly say this is one of few books where Iāve felt the pacing and the overall length was perfect. It wasnāt 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.
āLeaning 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. Itās 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 itās 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 ā 4.25/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer and Terminal illness
itsmeyseniab's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity and Terminal illness
marcelas_'s review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Abandonment
decklededgess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
trigger warnings: sexual content, anxiety, death of parent, grief, theft, harassment, alcohol
Friends to lovers has always and probably will always be my favourite trope and it's because I find books like these. The level of tenderness, care, understated love and affection, and all that ushy gushy nonsense that is infused in every page of this book is what I LIVE for in romances.
Stella and Luka have ten years of history of being friends, supporting each other, and everyone around them knows that they're in love with each other except these two buffoons refuse to see it. Idiots to lovers at it's finest. The catalyst for their romance is Stella lying about having a boyfriend on her application to have her Christmas tree farm featured on a small business influencer's page. So she asks Luka to step in so she doesn't have to come clean about lying.
Now this book is limited to just Stella's POV and you'd think that what we get is Stella pining while Luka is proceeding in business as usual best friends fashion. OH NO. NOOOOOOO. What we get is Stella missing neon light billboard sized signs that Luka is as gone for her as she is for him, maybe more. It's not even frustrating, it's just funny. The slow reveal of their history and significant moments alongside their current timeline of time spent together rife with tension was done so perfectly. All their significant moments layer together so perfectly.
The introduction to the small town in which Lovelight Farms is situated was also so incredibly done. You'd think that spending time on building a small town community worth caring about would take from the time dedicated to the romance but nope. It's all just perfect. You're invested in the town so early that it's easy to tell exactly who is up next for a romance in this series. I know it won't go on forever but my god do I want every single fool in this town to have a love story written. It's just so soft.
Friends to lovers has always and probably will always be my favourite trope and it's because I find books like these. The level of tenderness, care, understated love and affection, and all that ushy gushy nonsense that is infused in every page of this book is what I LIVE for in romances.
Stella and Luka have ten years of history of being friends, supporting each other, and everyone around them knows that they're in love with each other except these two buffoons refuse to see it. Idiots to lovers at it's finest. The catalyst for their romance is Stella lying about having a boyfriend on her application to have her Christmas tree farm featured on a small business influencer's page. So she asks Luka to step in so she doesn't have to come clean about lying.
Now this book is limited to just Stella's POV and you'd think that what we get is Stella pining while Luka is proceeding in business as usual best friends fashion. OH NO. NOOOOOOO. What we get is Stella missing neon light billboard sized signs that Luka is as gone for her as she is for him, maybe more. It's not even frustrating, it's just funny. The slow reveal of their history and significant moments alongside their current timeline of time spent together rife with tension was done so perfectly. All their significant moments layer together so perfectly.
The introduction to the small town in which Lovelight Farms is situated was also so incredibly done. You'd think that spending time on building a small town community worth caring about would take from the time dedicated to the romance but nope. It's all just perfect. You're invested in the town so early that it's easy to tell exactly who is up next for a romance in this series. I know it won't go on forever but my god do I want every single fool in this town to have a love story written. It's just so soft.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol