I wanted to love this but I just couldn't get into the story. I ended up DNFing after about 150 pages. If you like heavier/more serious-toned romances, I think you would love this one, but I just couldn't connect with it. I definitely want to try the author again though!

This book is somewhere between a 2.5 and a 3. Parts of were really good and others were not.

The first few chapters were confusing. I was not sure where the author was going with the story line. Later in the book, those chapters came back into the story line. It was sort of a side story that could have been left out. It did not add to the story.

A sweet romance happened and I was enjoying the book. The tension between Laniah and Issac was written so well. It seemed like a tender friendship turning to a romance.

Then all this sexual fantasy and steamy explicit detailed sex was written that could have just been left out. I was skimming so much of this part.

It felt like two different authors wrote the book - one a sweet romance the other a lot of steamy scenes. This part of kind of ruined it for me.

This book was so well written!
I loved the depth of the characters. I loved the honesty in this book.
I found it to be heartfelt and emotional.

*Friends to Lovers
*Found Family
*Fake Dating
*So much chemistry!

A real recipe for a lovely book!

This book was stunning - I was truly captivated and am so mad at myself for taking so long to pick it up. This is the adult, mature romance we wanted and needed, particularly in the sea of lighthearted romcoms these days. The characters were mature, vulnerable and felt so real; the romance was well-developed and you were just rooting for the characters.

Sometimes friends to lovers is so hard to accomplish in a way that makes sense - and without focusing too much on unrequited yearning, but this book handled it delicately and beautifully. Plus the fake dating is always chef's kiss. Finally, while I am not a person of color, this book felt like it had positive representation, particularly around haircare, and carefully addressed women, particularly women of color, being ignored by their healthcare providers.

The spicy scenes are SPICY, and I think they were so well-written - but can understand how it might be a bit much for some readers (again, not this reader - I loved it).

I just loved it and need more from the author immediately.

This was beautiful 🥹

I don’t even know how to write a review about this because it was that good. I’m also not sure how I’m supposed to read anything else after this perfection.

best friends to lovers x he falls first x fake dating

Issac is the dreamiest of book boyfriends. He's so clearly in love with Laniah from the jump and will do whatever he can to support her including using his influencer clout to help save her store. The plan? Fake dating!!!!!!! I love a good friends to lovers story but especially when there's fake dating involved -- it adds so much tension because obviously their chemistry is off the charts and hiding real feelings will be impossible.

Ni is fighting her feelings because they've always just been best friends and she doesn't want to risk her friendship with Issac, so it's a bit of a slow burn but the heat is definitely there. Issac is such a soft boy, pining for Ni the entire time and I do wish we got his POV but I think his feelings were pretty clearly portrayed throughout the book even without it. This book is such a good example of partners being each other's best friends and the unwavering support you have for the ones you love. Their relationship progressed from friends to lovers slowly but pretty realistically for friends who are worried about shifting their relationship in a new direction. A Love Like the Sun really focuses on taking risks and making changes that may be scary but will ultimately lead to better things.

It's a sweet story but with a lot of depth and real issues. Throughout the book Ni is having health concerns that are not being adequately addressed by her doctor. Her symptoms are largely ignored and this medical gaslighting is pretty relatable for many people, especially women and more so black women. There's also a bit of revenge porn which can be predicted from the way the story starts but if that's a trigger, please be aware. Other content warnings include medical gaslighting, undiagnosed chronic illness, prior death of parent/parents, and some online bullying.

Thank you Berkley & NetGalley for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What to Expect:
☀️childhood friends-to-lovers
☀️opposites attract
☀️flash backs
☀️natural hair love
☀️mixed race identity struggles
☀️chronic illness rep

🫶🏽What I enjoyed
As a fellow curly girl, I was immediately invested in Laniah’s natural hair products business with her mom. Childhood-friends-to-lovers is my kryptonite so I ate up Laniah and Isaac's story, especially as her family took him in when they were teens. Laniah is an introvert while Isaac is an influencer, so we also see the ups and downs of social media impacting their relationship. The grand gesture had me tearing up and the epilogue was ✨perfection✨

🤷🏻‍♀️What I didn't love
The third act break up was rough🙈
Mild/vague spoiler: I just can't stand when one character makes a decision for the other without communicating the situation. That said, the reasoning behind this dreaded choice was later revealed, and it made a lot of sense and tugged at my heart strings.

So if you're a fellow lover of the "friends-to-lovers" trope, I definitely encourage checking this book out and dare you to not swoon over Isaac 🤩

I love this book. friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes so I ate this up. I felt like the author covered some heavy topics really well and I loved the romance aspect.

This was a fantastic read with great personal growth. it had me laughing and crying in the best way. i could wait to recommend this to friends. this is one of those books I'm going to be thinking about for a long while.

This book is a heartfelt story which deals with the complexities of friendship, love, and personal growth.
The story revolves around Laniah Thompson, a private and reserved woman, and Issac Jordan, her internet-famous best friend.
So When Issac returns to their hometown and discovers Laniah’s business is struggling, he proposes a fake relationship to boost her store’s visibility.
But As they navigate this charade, the lines between friendship and romance get a little confusing.
A Love Like the Sun is a touching and beautifully written story and if you enjoy contemporary romance’s you’ll wnjoy reading this .

first off- I loved this book. I laughed, I cried, and cried some more. I stayed up way too late to finish this book and immediately messaged friends demanding they add it to their TBR.

if you’re like me, you might be thinking ‘ew, it’s friends-to-lovers though!!!!’. listen, I hear you!!! I think my issues with the friends-to-loverstrope can be split into two parts:

1) the weirdness of someone secretly pining for years while maintaining a close friendship

2) the wasted time due to not communicating can feel devastating to me

this book handled both of these things really well and I found that I wasn’t thinking about either of these issues while reading! maybe i can get on board with more friends-to-lovers (MAYBE).

I really enjoyed Riss M. Neilson’s writing and really loved the snippets of the past. It was such a nice way to show us the depths of Laniah and Issac’s friendship and their growth. ALSO, I love fake dating every time, and this book does it SO WELL. this book gave me all the feelings I search for in romance books and I loved it all.

Perfectly named! This story just radiates warmth, love, and light. The tension was perfect for friends to lovers/fake dating.

Thank you Berkley Pub for the free book! #BerkleyPartner #Berkley

Oh man, reading the last 30 pages of this in a coffee shop was a MISTAKE. Never have I struggled so hard to hold back my tears before. Though a subplot of the book, I found the message of Laniah’s medical condition really important. I related in that for YEARS I was telling my doctor all that was wrong with me, just to be told “you’re young, you’re fine” when it turns out I was suffering for nearly a decade from GAD and panic disorder to the point of physiological symptoms I couldn’t control. One appointment with a new primary care doctor changed my life, I’m on medication and feel like I’m actually living again. Laniah’s case was different, though anxiety did factor in, but the message of “if you feel like something is wrong, and are being told no, ask someone else” is so important. Listen to your body! You know yourself better than anyone else.
This story was a fake dating story between two childhood friends, and I adored Laniah’s coming to terms that she loves Issac too. He knew all along, but he’s so patient and GOOD that it was all on her terms. He was there for her no matter what. He’s a celebrity of sorts— he has a big social media following and is an artist. So that puts Laniah in the spotlight, which helps her business but also hurts her. Battling that is half the issue. She’s also fighting herself.
I adored this book and all of its messages, and it was a beautiful read! Also the meaning of the title… more tears.

A Love Like the Sun by Riss M Neilson is a wonderfully written life story of Laniah and Issac. Towards the end I felt that there was a little bit too much repetition, but I could not put it down! This is a literary award winning novel. You will journey through love and loss, tender friendship, deep loneliness, soul reaching grief, health and healing with Liniah & Issac. Through their story, dreams will come true and reality crashes down.

Riss M. Neilson’s A Love Like the Sun is a captivating read that shines with emotional depth and lyrical prose. Neilson has a remarkable ability to weave intricate characters into a storyline that feels both intimate and expansive. The book's exploration of love and relationships is profound, often revealing unexpected layers of complexity and tenderness. I adored this book and cannot wait to read more of this author's work.

This is a beautiful childhood-to-lovers story with slow-burn elements and tension that will make you swoon. What I love in a friends-to-lovers story is how the leap is taken to become something more and Neilson does this so well because the yearning, pining, and vulnerability of Issac and Laniah are palpable. There is also a chronic illness rep (chronic kidney disease) that was handled well and discussions of racism in healthcare that were handled tactfully and with intention. This is an emotional read so be prepared to have your heart strings tugged!

This was so beautiful! This was a childhood friends to lovers that I will be thinking about for years to come. The writing was exquisite and I loved the additon of chronic illness representation and racism in healthcare. This was not only touching and pushed boundaries, but it also had fake dating which I LOVE. The communication, hyjinks, and spice was to die for. This is definitely a perfect summer romance book!

Thank you Berkley for the ARC!

“For you, I’d bring down the sun.”

New favorite friends to lovers book🔓

A Love Like the Sun is an angsty yet tender, friends to lovers romance that truly ✨sparkles✨. This story took me apart piece by piece and then put me back together, more complete than before. ❤️‍🩹 Issac and Laniah were perfect. No notes.

It isn’t often that I read a book that transcends the “I love them as a couple” to “100% they are soul mates”. Laniah and Isaac are truly MADE for each other. They have the most special love rooted in years of friendship. They have supported one another through unimaginable loss. Their friendship has stood the test of time through adolescence and early adulthood. There is no world where they don’t end up together. ♾️

A Love Like the Sun is a slow burn. The spice was literally perfect. The friends to lovers aspect of “I have dreamed about this/ I can’t believe I am finally touching you this way/ I respect you so much/ It is a privilege to touch you”. The vulnerability mixed with longtime pining and communication; the intimate scenes were flawless. 10/10 👌

I read this book in June and recently re-read via audio and I can confirm the narration was fantastic. Frankie Corzo brought Laniah to life.

If you couldn’t already tell, I adored this book. I know it will be a favorite I come back to when I’m looking for a comfort read. I hope you give it a try too! I can’t wait to see what Neilson writes next.

THINGS
☀️Childhood best friends to lovers
💕Fake dating
🩺Chronic illness rep- chronic kidney disease
🏥Racism in healthcare
♾️It has always been you

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free physical copy and e-ARC; all thoughts are my own.

"**A Love Like the Sun**" by Riss M. Neilson is a beautifully evocative romance that captures the warmth and complexity of love with lyrical prose. Neilson’s heartfelt storytelling and well-drawn characters make this novel an unforgettable and emotionally resonant read.

Fake relationship and friends to lovers bother occur in this enjoyable romance with a side touch of realism thrown in.