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

Riss Neilson better write more in this genre, because this romance had me swept away, squealing in happiness, crying softly into the pages, and falling in love with love. A Love Like the Sun was a stunning debut into the adult romance category, and I'm so excited for more!

I love a good fake-dating trope, but make it between childhood best friends who genuinely love each other? And then fall IN LOVE with each other?? Oh my god, I was smiling and kicking my feet at every interaction. There is a certain added gravity to this romance that reminds me of Tia Williams' Seven Days in June. While there are plenty of lighthearted, fun scenes of Ni and Isaac there is a grave health scare undertone that addresses the medical malpractice women of color statistically experience at a higher rate. Combined with past traumas, I can see why our obviously-meant-for-eachother couple struggle to find their way past fake-dating. But the journey was worth it!

Thank you @berkleyromance @prhaudio @netgalley for a copy of this book.

Laniah and Issac have been bff since they were kids and Issac is not a famous artiest while Laniah is struggling with her mom on their hair business. I always enjoy a fake dating trope and this hits the spot. Issac was a total cinnamon roll and falls first for Laniah. This was a total slow burn and I wanted them to get together. Laniah's support system added depth to the story. I enjoyed Frankie Corzo's narration but wished it was a dual POV story.

So fake dating is not usually my favorite trope because I spend the whole time yelling at the characters to share their feelings with each other. This one was a little different though. Laniah and Issac have been best friends since childhood. Isaac gets famous and Laniah likes her privacy. Laniah and her mom have a small business and it is not doing well so Issac posts that him and Laniah are dating to get her shop some business and it works. So this one is not a case of not sharing their feelings it is more about does she want to live in the spotlight. They know if they cross a line it will change their friendship forever but Laniah has to decide what she wants. If they do get together her life will change forever. I do love friends to lovers though. Laniah is also dealing with a medical condition so she has a lot to consider. I enjoyed this one and I liked the author's note at the end. Women, you know your body. Get a doctor that will listen to you!

-"What are partners for if not to help?"

A Love Like the Sun by Riss M. Neilson is an exceptional novel that captivates readers with its raw, vulnerable, and breathtaking portrayal of love. The author's writing evokes a sense of warmth and tenderness that is both dazzling and romantic. As you immerse yourself in the pages of this book, you will feel the intensity of the love story unfolding before you.

(4.5) Beautifully raw and well written. Wow. I am so mad this went under my radar for so long. This is exactly the type of books I love. It’s a love story through and through but there is so much added to it. The layers making it a deeply rich, reliable, emotion filled story. From the get go I was really invested in Laniah. I found her to be very relatable and someone I would want to be friends with. Her friendship with Isaac is what friendship dreams are made of. They know each other to their core and love each other through it all while remaining only friends. The story of them is so sweet. What I didn’t expect was the medical aspect, but it’s the part I appreciate the most. What laniah goes through is so incredibly real. Layer that with her grief journey and it’s even more real. I’m so grateful to the author for touching on this very real issue in the medical field for countless women. I have felt exactly how Laniah does at multiple points in this story and it just felt so good to know I’m not alone. And then to read that Riss herself went through essentially the same thing just made it hit that much harder. The writing was great, the feelings were spot on, and the love was moving. I just wish we got more of them together in love, but I loved their journey so much. I will absolutely be grabbing a physical copy for my shelf, I loved it!

All I can say about this book; is that I’m glad that I exist at the same time as it and @rissmneilson 💕.

The characters were so real and relatable. The tension and love between the characters was delectable, AND THE CHRONIC ILLNESS REP IN GENERAL WAS SPOT ON! BUT, THE BEING A BLACK WOMAN WHILE CHRONICALLY WAS ALMOST TOOOOO SPOT ON👏🏾🥹🥹🥹

This book emotionally broke me in all the best ways and I wouldn’t hesitate recommending this to anyone looking for a solid pull on your heartstrings and give you all the feels kind of romance!

⭐️A LOVE LIKE THE SUN, out JUN 11th⭐️

4.5⭐️

Thank you to @berkleypub @berkleyromance for the review copy of this book!

#alovelikethesun #rissmneilson #berkleypub #berkleypublishing #berkleyromance

Childhood friends to fake dating to lovers. This romance offers a sweet but very slow burn narrative. "A Love Like the Sun" has its charming moments, but overall, the story felt a bit lacking and predictable. Although, this one just didn't hit the spot for me, I think it would be a fine read if you are in the mood for something light, with a familiar romantic plot.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and Riss M. Neilson for the opportunity to read and review "A Love Like the Sun" prior to its publication date.

3.5 ~ I wanted to love this one. The premise sounded so good. I just did not feel the chemistry between the main characters - Laniah and Issac. I liked them as friends but felt like they both shared their lives and also didn’t share things. I am not quite sure, but something about them fell flat for me. I did appreciate the storyline about Laniah’s health. It felt honest and raw and frustrating. I think the other that frustrated me about the story was how quickly things were resolved. There wasn’t big drama necessarily, but it just felt like things changed a little too nicely. The pacing was a bit off, and the story felt a bit lacking. I just found the purpose to be missing. It could have used some polishing. Overall good, but won’t be a favorite.

Unfortunately, I was not able to finish this book. The writing style wasn't for me, and I had a hard time connecting with either of the main characters or their connection. It felt like the story was being written around the tropes, rather than the story being at the core of the book.

Read this if you like:
•fake dating
•friends to lovers
•flirting for days

This book was such a delight and the audiobook was great too. A beautiful story about friendship, love, and growth. How do you navigate a long distance friendship turned lovers? Both being afraid of losing their friendship but also in love with each other.

Thank you Berkley Romance for eARC & PRH for ALC