Raw, rich, and heart-warming -- this was such a beautiful friends-to-lovers story and a stunning debut! The characters were complex, the storyline was vulnerable, and the romance was oh-so tender. Some aspects of the story felt a bit slow and I wish we would have had a bit more tension/yearning before feelings were professed, but overall, I can't wait to see what more Riss has up her sleeve!

A Love Like the Sun is an aptly named book that shows what love between two friends can look like once you stop letting the “What if” in the back of your mind make you question if you deserve the happiness in front of you. Ni and Isaac were such an amazing pair, and I loved the fact that the love they had from their childhood friendship made them show up for each other as adults in ways that opened the door for them to become so much more. Riss M. Neilson created a work of beauty with this book and touched on incredibly timely topics (especially the importance of hair in the black community) in a way I found new and refreshing. It’s the first time I’ve seen our struggles be depicted in a romance like this and I loved every minute of it.

Title: A Love Like the Sun
Author: Riss M. Neilson
Publisher: Berkley
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
'A Love Like the Sun

My Perception:

In "A Love Like the Sun" by Riss M. Neilson, we are introduced to the complex and heartwarming story of Laniah and Issac. Childhood best friends, their lives take different paths as they grow up, with Issac achieving internet fame and Laniah running a small business with her mother in their hometown.

The story unfolds as Issac returns home and discovers that Laniah's dream of running their natural hair store, Wildly Green, is in jeopardy due to financial struggles. In a selfless act of friendship, Issac devises a plan to help Laniah by pretending they are dating. This leads to unexpected success for the business but also brings unspoken feelings between the two friends to the surface.

The narrative beautifully explores themes of friendship, self-discovery, and love while shedding light on important issues such as healthcare discrimination faced by black women. The author skillfully weaves together a story that is both relatable and thought-provoking, addressing topics like family dynamics, unconditional love, and overcoming adversity.

Readers should be aware of content warnings, including the death of a parent, medical discrimination, and kidney disease. However, despite the characters' challenges, "A Love Like the Sun" delivers hope and resilience.

Many questions will be answered, like... What will happen to Laniah and Issac's relationship after their summer pretending to be lovers? Will Laniah's dream of running Wildly Green be fulfilled in the end? How will their shared history and undeniable pull affect their friendship and relationship moving forward?

Overall, "A Love Like the Sun" is a compelling and enriching read that offers valuable insights into the complexities of relationships and the strength found in facing life's obstacles.

I really enjoyed this book and normally I'm not a huge fan of second chance romance/friends to lovers. However, I loved Laniah and the MMC together. I could see how they fell in love with each other but also why they preferred to not see their feelings at first. My issue is that the structuring of the sentences were off and I believe this needed to be edited more.

A Love Like the Sun is a gorgeous, best friends to lovers (he falls first) romance. The butterflies in my tummy were flapping away throughout the novel. Rooting for Isaac and Laniah is easy to do and the progression of their relationship felt so very real.

The secondary plot point (re: doctors being dismissive to women, especially women of color) was unexpected and brave on the author's part. I think far too many women will identify with Laniah's journey as an advocate for her own health.

Neilson nailed her debut novel- can't wait to read more of her work.

Wow - this one put me in all my feels, you guys!! I don't know if it's because I have had 4 mediocre books in a row and this one just hit so much better or what, but I'm 100% praising Riss M. Neilso for giving us this incredible love story. It was the breath of fresh air that I needed, for sure. Isaac is new book boyfriend material, ladies!!

Combining the best friends to fake dating to lovers tropes was beyond chef's kiss. Ni and Isaac were made for each other. Their chemistry was so undeniable that even the unnecessary third act break up only made me roll my eyes a little bit but then moved right on.

Loved the author's attachment to the story. Make sure you read her notes at the end of the book.

A very happy 5 stars A Love Like The Sun.

In this case, you should definitely judge the book by its cover as this story is as vibrant and beautiful!

This story opens with probably one of my favorite dedications of all time.

“For anyone who has ever felt hard to love, to the lovers with wide-open hearts and the ones who like to keep theirs close, to anyone who has ever been afraid to ask for what they need, and for myself. It’s not easy being brave, but I believe in us.”

Wow, that really resonated with me! I love finding new authors that feel like they could be my closest friend based on the stories they write and the characters they introduce me to. Riss M. Neilson is officially an auto-buy author for me and I am honestly shocked this was an adult debut! The story was intriguing, I fell in love with the characters, and loved Neilson’s writing style a lot.

You get to meet Laniah and Issac and while you probably know by now that I am not going to give too much away, know that they have been best friends for years and now they are fake dating. Laniah needs a little help with her hair care products shop and Issac is a beloved influencer that can bring her some attention. If you love this troupe you are going to be smiling from ear to ear! I loved their comfortability with one another, their banter, and being a part of their friendship journey. I love the flashbacks to their childhood and thought that really added layers to their characters.

I loved the world that Neilson created and so many of the secondary characters too. There is love support, and some harder topics like grief and chronic illness explored in an approachable way. There is balance in the light and darkness of relationships. The characters struggle with growth, taking chances, and following their dreams and being along on the journey really had me invested. This was another book I binged and one that is the perfect beach read.

If you are a fan of fake dating, flawed but lovable characters, and the perfect balance of tenderness and realness, definitely check this one out!

I’m a sucker for a friends to lovers story, and this one was done so well!

The chemistry and history between Laniah and Issac was so rich and deep that it made their connection shine in these pages. They’re so playful and goofy together, but at the same time have more serious and tender moments, and I love seeing that balance. Sometimes the “famous person and regular person” trope is hard for me to get behind, but it really works and felt realistic here. The focus on Laniah’s passion and business was great to see, and I loved how big a role her close friends played throughout the book as well.

The only reason this wasn’t a 5⭐️ for me was because of the miscommunication (lack of communication?) towards the end; it’s my absolute least favorite trope, but for others might not be a problem. However, even that couldn’t take away how fantastic the rest of the book was.

Laniah and Isaac have been best friends since they were kids, despite their lives taking very different paths. While Laniah is a low key homebody, Issac is a household name. Even though Isaac has offered to help Laniah out multiple times over the years, Laniah’s privacy keeps her from taking him up in his offer.

But as her small business and ultimately her livelihood begin to suffer, Issac hatches a plan, insisting his best friend put her faith in him. That’s when Isaac tells the world they’re dating. Instinctively outraged, Laniah can’t help but to notice a considerable uptick in sales and general interest in her shop, literally overnight. This is how she comes to begrudgingly buy in on the ruse.

Issac being seen as the ultimate bachelor, the internet is instantly abuzz with the news. Who is the mystery woman who has stolen the heartthrob’s heart? But curiosity quickly turns to cruelty as the masses scrutinize every aspect of Laniah’s life. While it might be something Isaac has developed a thick skin for, Laniah wonders if the price of security is too steep to pay, especially when the lines begin to blur where feelings for her best friend are concerned.

A Love Like the Sun is a friends to lovers romance with a lot to swoon over. Issac is the best friend every girl wishes to fall in love with. While from the reader’s perspective their feelings for each other are obvious, it was still engaging to watch the tension unfold. I will say that the shift once it does, however, namely in the bedroom scenes seemed out of character with the rest of the novel.

This aside, A Love Like the Sun still manages to shine brightly amongst the rest in its genre.

Words are not enough to describe the depth of emotions and feelings I experienced while reading A Love Like the Sun. This book is beautiful, humorous, heart-wrenching, and so much more. A stunning and most needed addition to this world.

Riss M. Neilson immediately pulled readers into her book, using a familiar-feeling writing style and specially-placed flashbacks to the main character Laniah's past and memories. There was prose, familiarity. There was some usage of tropes, but not in the sense of annoyance or the causing of an eye-roll. Neilson masterfully portrayed and crafted them within the story in such a way that they evolved and set such high standards.

This story featured characterization I was excited to see. Riss is always strong in developing and maintaining her main characters, and Laniah was everything I was expecting and more. But I paid special attention to the side characters too, and I was pleasantly satisfied with what us readers received. The bond between Ni and her mom; her relationship with her friends Lex, Bridget, Katrina; her past and present development and growth with Issac. It was all put together, all what I had been longing for and seeking. The emotions, decisions, feelings, clarity... it was beautifully made, intricately placed.

With Riss' last two titles including fantastical elements, this one was a new but most welcome addition. I was interested in seeing the differences in plot, setting, and story--and we were delivered to on all fronts. Laniah faces health concerns, among her growing feelings for Issac and their fake-dating scenario, throughout the story. The ways in which it was brought into the plot and finally brought to its outcome is one I feel many will relate heavily too and identify with. I do wish we were given just a bit more time with this instead of facing it within the last 10% of the novel. However, that being said, the pacing of this book required it to come to its head and end the way in which it did--and while I had wished for that, I also acknowledge that that is how life can sometimes come about and shape to be. The decision Riss made in placing the falling action and conclusion where she had was the right decision, and it made the story all the better.

Woven with juicy tension, wants, experiences both unlike and similar to that of others, worry over one's body and health concerns, and more--Neilson kept us readers enraptured and hanging onto every word. This easily takes a top spot on my favorite titles shelf, and this might just be my new favorite book from Riss. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next, and I will be impatiently waiting for new reads to come.

I've been staring at this blinking cursor for way too long but I still don't know where to start. Maybe I used up all my words on my last (way too long and drawn out) review. Oh dear.

On the whole? I did like this. Some parts more than others. And some of those parts that didn't quite measure up (or measured up too high) were, unfortunately, the characters.

I didn't really have a great time with Laniah for the most part. I understood some of her motivations and worries but oblivious characters, who are repeatedly told they are oblivious to their face, are a struggle for me. Particularly when their internal monologue does not align with their actions and they are hypocritically frustrated when those around them go along with said actions as opposed to knowing what lies beneath. Because how can they. Then there was the constant harping over Issac's ex which drove me to do distraction.

But where I really got her, really felt for her, was with the storyline about her health. That frustrated me for her. It hurt to see what she was being told was all in her head and how she struggled to reason and reconcile that with her gut feelings (a terrible bit of irony and one I do not relish and am not being snarky about!) and, worst of all, seeing how this mirrored the author's experience, too. The health care system is really out there consistently letting women down and, unfortunately, that is even more prevalent for women of colour. Make. it. stop.

Shifting gears to Laniah's love interest and bestie Issac.. I mean. Here's another case of someone who is written just a little too perfectly. I have nothing to criticize because he is fantasy in written form. Which makes it hard to swallow. Some flaws to give him layers would've been nice. Too good, too perfect, is just unsettling in some ways. And for all the build-up to shifting gears into something more, all that worry and uncertainty, I wish we had felt some of that when they finally did become something more. But instead, once again, we have sex scenes that felt more for the reader than the characters.

Also maybe I'm just getting tired of the whole influencer celebrity insert trope. Because one other thing that Laniah had going for her? Being a homebody hermit who shied away from social media. Also also I'm getting tired of exes popping out of the woodwork and acting like moustache twirling villains. This isn't a reflection on Laniah of course just commentary in general.

But. But. I didn't mind the writing, even if I didn't like the writing of the characters, as there were some truly beautiful turns of phrase and descriptions woven throughout. And the way the author handled the grief element was really lovely and heartbreaking.

So there are plenty of positives here and I think this will mostly come down to personal preference and, as always, your mileage will forever vary.

rating: 3.5 stars

'a love like the sun' follows laniah (ni) & isaac who have been best friends since childhood. we meet them in their mid-twenties. isaac is a model; laniah is working 2 jobs and trying to get her mother's business off the ground. to help promote ni's mother's haircare products, isaac presents ni to his (huge) social media following as his girlfriend. it's an easy trick — isaac and ni already love each other (as friends, ofc) and this has no chance of hurting their relationship... there's no way they could ever be anything other than friends... right? (we all know how that goes)

this book was beautifully written; perfect for fans of kennedy ryan and carley fortune. isaac and ni are so tender with one another and some of the lines took my breath away. he's really a "i will walk to the ends of the earth to be with you" kind of guy (we love to see it)

what knocks this book down a little for me was this: friends-to-lovers is my favorite trope. childhood friends-to-lovers?? floors me every time. however, we lacked getting a peak into that foundation of their relationship. we get little flashbacks, but i needed *more* to truly understand where their foundational attachment comes from. honestly, i think this could just be a ME preference. the story works as it is, but i felt like i struggled to attach to their story a bit.

overall, i recommend this one. thank you to berkley for my e-arc in exchange for my honest review <3

A Love Like the Sun was such a beautiful novel. Ripe with angst, Laniah and Issac’s friends to lovers story had me DEEP in my feels. The affection Riss M. Neilson put into this novel transcends the typical contemporary romance. Laniah’s relationship with her mother stands firmly at the story’s forefront as does their devotion to their small business. There was a powerful found family community that surrounded Laniah and Issac, and I fell in love with many of the side characters.

The comfortability between Laniah and Issac was endearing as was their gradual shift from childhood confidants to paramours. Issac was clearly down bad for Laniah and I was giggling, kicking my feet waiting for her to realize what was right in front of her. I appreciated the way Neilson allowed these lifelong friends to communicate and protect each other, strengthening my love for them as a couple.

There are many delightful tropes in this book including celebrity romance, slow burn, and fake dating, but A Love Like the Sun shines brightest in its examination of chronic illness and how women of color are often misdiagnosed or mistreated by health professionals. The author’s note in the back of the book touches on Neilson’s personal path to chronic illness diagnosis and there are many parallels that coincide with Laniah’s journey. It is evident that Neilson imbued A Love Like the Sun with the tenderness of someone who has lived through these types of frustrating and confusing situations and the way she portrayed Laniah’s story on the page was thoroughly moving.

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

Absolutely beautiful, had me all in my feels! A truly spectacular contemporary romance, I loved the friends to lovers storyline and how real their relationship and love felt. I could feel the chemistry of the characters coming off the pages. It’s a slow burn but woah, when the spice hits it is worth the wait! Beyond the love story, I adored the mother-daughter relationship, their bond was so genuine and relatable. I honestly can’t believe this is a debut, its so well written and I was completely immersed in the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC!

Laniah and Isaac met as children and bonded over their family heartbreaks. She lost her father at a young age and became introverted. He lost both his parents and was raised in the foster system, yet somehow managed to become a famous model and artist. As Isaac’s success takes his all over the world, Laniah struggles to make ends meet at home between working as a hotel cleaning woman as well as alongside her mother in the natural hair and body product company they started. Isaac comes up with a plan to “pretend” to date Laniah for the summer to give her company exposure and increase sales. Will this scheme go as planned, or will their friendship become something more?

I absolutely loved this book. The characters are so genuine and heartwarming. This book has been recommended to Jasmine Guillory fans, and I wholeheartedly agree with that. The writing was engaging and realistic. Add this book to your summer booklist!


I will post to my Bookstagram, @read.rest.recharge, on June 11, 2024 and edit my review to include this link.

This is so so good. Honestly I wish it had a different more distinctive cover because I need more people to read this book and I'm not sure the current cover fully shows the depth of this story.

I loved that this was childhood friends to lovers where they never had a falling out. I found it so fascinating that he was a celebrity and rising artist while she is in their hometown and they still are so connected. I loved how well he could read her because of that and we could dive right into the story.

This weaves side plots into the primary romance so well. Laniah's business with her mom, the grief that still remains over the death of her father (historic years past), and her health issues particularly as a woman of color being unheard in the medical system.

But the ROMANCE. This has such good angst. When he falls first and harder and as the reader you know but she doesn't fully get it and you're kicking feet screaming. Laniah has to debate if she's going to risk the friendship which with how they never ever had a falling out was very understandable. I don't usually like the fake dating trope but this really utilized it for the plot and the heart and genuine love remained at the center so it was not gimmicky at all, I approve.

This is a slow burn that totally WORKS and the spice is AMAZING. I wasn't sure if it would be open door but it was yay! Thank you to Berkley for the eARC, it was so good.

This book is sweet. Fake romance with childhood besties. The mmc knowing he is in love and doing all he can to get the fmc to see it. The ending was cute.

When I saw that Emily Henry recommended this book, I was instantly intrigued. A Love Like the Sun did not disappoint. I thought Neilson did a great job with the friends to lovers' trope. I liked Laniah and Issac's friendship dynamic. Although Laniah was a little too oblivious at points, I found her relationship arc believable. Issac was a perfect book friend/boyfriend. His support, communication, and honesty were refreshing. The "What I Remember" chapters were a good way for Neilson to develop Laniah and Issac's past. I do wish the writing style stayed the same for the "What I Remember" chapters. I liked that this book focused on women in the healthcare system. Neilson perfectly highlighted the sad reality on how women, especially women of color, are treated in the healthcare system. As someone with a chronic illness, I empathized a lot with Laniah's character. I found her relatable and well-rounded. I liked what Neilson did with the end of the book. The epilogue was super cute and the author's note was informative. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Thank you, Berkley and NetGalley, for my free E-book for review.

Best Friends to Lovers takes a turn in A Love Like The Sun by Riss M. Neilson. The author's words resonate through the pages, beautifully capturing my heart.

I'm shaking my head as I meet the protagonist, Laniah, for the first time. I know her missteps will come back to bite her, but I won't divulge more here. Laniah is a likable small-town girl, epitomizing a hopeful yet realistic attitude as she navigates life. However, I wasn't thrilled when she tried to make decisions for others (you’ll see what I mean).

Then enters her best friend, the swoony Isaac Jordan - a popular influencer and upcoming artist living the dream. What endears him to me is how he remains grounded despite his success, never forgetting those who care for him.

I love the fake dating trope that kicks off the story, though I was surprised by it (having forgotten the synopsis before diving in). This is where the tension and sparks sizzle, making a turn for something more. Yet, Laniah and Isaac's hesitations and misunderstandings feel genuine and quickly resolved to my delight.

Beyond the engaging romance, I admire how Neilson fleshes out the characters' fears, pasts, and dreams. I appreciate seeing Laniah and her mother, small business owners of a haircare line, innovate to stay afloat. Their struggles feel authentic, especially the relatable mentions of healthcare woes and misdiagnosis that hit close to home for me.

I don't mind a friends to lovers trope - it's not my favorite romance trope but I've enjoyed books with that trope before. However, I don't particularly love books that randomly jump to the past. While this book is a single POV from the FMCs perspective, it's no secret to anyone (except to the FMC herself) that the MMC has been in love with her for a long time. Laniah and Issac have been friends for a long time and in an effort to save the business that Laniah is running with her mom, the two embark on a fake relationship as Issac is an artist and also internet famous. I was kind of unsure how or why Issac was so famous on the internet, everyone seems to love him and he has all these opportunities and the book didn't really do a great job of explaining his fame. There's also a side plot with Laniah involving her health that is going to be pretty traumatizing for some people and I want to address that in my review bc it did cause me some anxiety in reading it. Basically her doctor gaslights her and makes her feel like she's a hypochondriac and it turns out at the end that she has kidney disease. Her diagnosis makes her scared and she doesn't feel it's fair to Issac to be in a relationship with someone with such serious health issues so she tells him she just wants to be friends, basically making this very huge and important decision unilaterally without even telling Issac the truth about her health. This is a micro trope that I hate in romance novels, when 1 MC makes an unilateral decision on behalf of the other MC without even informing the other person of all the relevant facts. It's the whole "I know what's best for you," argument and I vehemently dislike it. Both of these people are adults, they've been best friends for much of their lives and it feels really disrespectful and dismissive for Laniah to basically take that decision out of Issac's hands. Sometimes, in an effort to give a book its 3rd act breakup, the parties behave in a way that's really annoying and also detrimental to their own best interests. I don't think the 3rd act breakup was even necessary, I really wish Laniah had turned to Issac bc in behaving the way she did, when they finally do reunite, it's harder to believe in that HEA.

Content Notes: death of parent off page, grief, sickness, medical gaslighting and misdiagnosis, kidney disease, foster parents, parental abandonment