Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan
Publication Date- January 16th
Publisher- Macmillan Audio
Overall Rating- 3.5 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
What worked: This is a very sweet, humble, cozy, wholesome story. If you are looking for a romcom with limited to no conflict and is just a story with the adjectives listed above in the form of a romance, this book is for you. In that way, it reminds me of Lease on Love by Fallon Ballard. This is a low stakes, no conflict, character development story. The tropes are forced proximity, insta love, save the town and whirlwind romance. There is also a very cute kid in the book who added a lot of humor that actually made me laugh out loud at times. These two fall hard and they fall fast. I will also say if you enjoyed Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison you will enjoy this. Love, Naturally can be enjoyed year round and I think this would be a good book to take on a trip or a vacation to the beach. Save this for when you need a pick me up. I think there is a possibility that this could be a series in the future and I would continue to read it.

Mild things that didn’t work: I gave this a 3.5 out of 5 stars for the following reasons. I am personally not a big fan of insta love. This book takes place over the course of a week. I know that as humans we do often fall hard and fast and in a whirlwind fashion. There were just some aspects that I felt had these two spent more time developing their relationship, we would have felt more of the impact of their relationship. Though I do love a love stakes, low conflict romance at times, I was hopeful there would be some conflict between the two otherwise it just felt too easy. I imagined, based on the description, that this would be similar to the TV show Schitt's Creek. So I envisioned scenes of our city girl doing something silly and making a fool of herself. Unfortunately we didn't really get that.

"It's not you...it's me"
That's how I felt about this book. The first chapter had me hooked when Pressley's looser boyfriend nixes her romantic gesture to go on a Nature Trip Get Away. Pressley is the type that considers taking the stairs an olympic event, and wearing everything but mascara "roughing it". '
Upon arrival we have the "meet cute" her AC is blasting and guess who shows up to fix it....the hot mountain man/ part owner of the resort. It was (I cringe using this term--but here it goes) Insta-Love. From that point on (10 painstackingly boring days) ensue where the reader is dragged along as Pressley and Beckett morph into "Pressett" or "Becksley"--so incredibly sappy. But if you are into quirky small town vibes and "perfect" romance, then this is your book. I personally like a little brokenness or conflict, but the only conflict in this book is if they are going to eat pancakes or french toast.
Somehow over the 10 days Pressley (Can I also interject how annoying it was that the characters--including herself--referred to her as Pressley Marie Ayers OVER and OVER again) falls for our man Beckett.
The ending was just too much sapiness for me and how Beckett does his first "live" totally did not do it for me.


To conclude, I am thinking I just don't like the whole inta-love, perfect over the top sweet romances. I love Rom-Coms don't get me wrong, but these characters are not real. this book is geared towards a high school girl who still pines for prince charming. I also do not care for female characters who are so reliant on social media that they are always doing something or checking something on their phone. I don't like how the phone is a character.....This must be a new trend in books.
I am not going to say don't read this. I think it was more of an issue for me? Read it and let me know what you think. For sure read it if you love "checklist" guys. You won't need to go to the neighbor's house for sugar because this book literally will dissolve into the powdery stuff.

Off for an insulin injection.....

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced copy of "Love, Naturally" and to Sophie Sullivan, I appreciate allowing me to review this with my own original thoughts.

This was such a cute and quick listen! I really enjoyed the FMC, how she went out of her comfort zone. The cottage setting, the MMC, his family and that ending were fabulous!

Thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio & St Martin's Press for advance copies in exchange for an honest review

Love Naturally was a sweet romance that brought a small town hero into a city girl’s arms in a unique way. If you love a sweet romance with a hint of spice, a complete cast of lovable characters, or a great setting that makes you reminisce about a favorite childhood vacation spot, this story is for you.

I listened to the audiobook which was done well by a single narrator. I listened at 2x speed (1.75x speed is my normal). Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook copy.

I listened to the audiobook and it was wonderful, the narrator was engaging and has a friendly tone to her voice. The storyline was sweet while still being interesting and just an easy listen. I loved it all the way through and highly recommend it!

Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan is full of the sweetest characters and story line. What Presley Ayers really wants is to be loved, and after breaking up with her undeserving boyfriend, she adventures out of her comfort zone and into my new favorite meet cute with the adorable Beckett. This gives off all the Hallmark vibes. I found it entertaining and interesting from the beginning, and easy to follow along. The scenic small town setting that the author depicts makes it even better. I loved the fake dating, slow burn, opposites attract, cinnamon roll mc, and sweet family dynamics of it all. Thank you to Netgalley, Mamillan Audio, and the author for the ALC, I absolutely loved this audiobook. Julie Rogers does a great job narrating. This review is voluntary and my own.

This was a GREAT story to listen to! AWESOME narration! Great main characters. The plot was easy to find. The story was engaging and easy to follow. Will be purchasing this book. Shout out to Netgalley and publishing for allowing me to listen and review this story.

4 STARS!

I received this ARC of the Audiobook for Love, Naturally from Netgalley. A full review that may contain spoilers will be posted on GoodReads.

This book was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the plot, since I am a small-town gal. The small-town trope is always a favorite of mine for this reason. I found myself wanting to live vicariously through Presley’s adventures. And “Get Lost Lodge” is exactly the type of place that I would love to visit. Family-owned, rustic, and full of adventure OR relaxation, whichever path you prefer!

This opposites attract book is definitely one to pick up. It is a closed-door romance. While I typically read books with more “spice”, the growing love story of this book made the read absolutely worth it. It was so sweet and exactly the heartwarming story I wanted to read.

The only things that I did not care for in the book, but did not make a difference in the rating for me were:

The narrator of this audiobook was great, but I wish there had been more differentiation in the book as far as voices went.
This book could have been a little shorter. The story was dragged out over many days, which was crucial to the premise of the book, but it just felt like it was dragging a little bit towards the middle of the book.

This sweet romance releases in January. Presley planned the perfect getaway with her boyfriend-only when she revealed the surprise to him, he broke up with her instead. She did not want a perfect vacation to go to waste, so she goes alone.

Then she meets Beckett, whose family runs the lodge where she is staying. Instead of resting and relaxing, she quickly finds a place with Beckett and his family as she helps to get the lodge more publicity.

This was the audiobook and I really enjoyed the reader. I am on the fence whether I liked the fact she did not change her voice when reading Beckett perspective.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Presley Ayers is second guessing this entire trip. The big city girl is hiking in a forest with a group from the sports lodge. Presley doesn’t do hiking or any of the other activities the lodge provides. Her feet hurt, but more importantly, her heart hurts after breaking up with her long-term boyfriend. With a series of mishaps along the way, Presley is trying to make the best of this trip, but keeps getting pushed together with the lodge owner’s brother Beckett. She’s not sure she’s really ready for another relationship and he knows she’s leaving in a week. What happens next is Love, Naturally.

Sophie Sullivan, known for the Jasen Bothers series including Ten Rules for Faking It, delivers another delightful romcom novel in her latest release Love, Naturally. For the fans of the small town or getaway romance, this book is a fresh take on the big city girl falling for the small-town guy. With a realistic ending with a bit of a Notting Hill feel, this book is sure to become a quick favorite for readers everywhere!

I give Love, Naturally 4 out of 5 stars. You’ll be rooting for the characters in this story from start to finish. And not just the main couple – the family running the lodge, the other guests, and even the townspeople! While Sullivan could have taken this the route of the typical made-for-Hallmark romance novel, I appreciated the substance and value she built into Presley’s character as a successful businesswoman in her own right. I do wish there had been more of a definition between the early points of Presley and Beckett’s relationship and where it was at the end of her stay – I felt like we were missing a scene that would have supported the quick turn to the physical relationship. With that said, this book is high on my list to recommend to my romance loving friends!

I would recommend this book for romance lovers, but also readers looking for books with strong female leads. Also – if you’re heading out on vacation to a sports lodge, this might be just the book to get you in the mood! With light discussions of sex and physical injury, this book would be best directed to more mature audiences over 13.

I jumped at the chance to read Love, Naturally when I saw it available on NetGalley. I was looking for a lighter read after some thrillers and this fit the bill perfectly! This was an audiobook I never wanted to press pause on – I couldn’t get enough of this cast of characters. Here’s to hoping Sullivan develops this novel into a series as well!

Cute, light hearted, predictable and had me smiling. I enjoyed the story, characters and setting. I felt that both main characters were well developed and relatable.

This was such a sweet romance.

When Presley Ayers presents her gift of a hiking trip in Lake Michigan to her boyfriend of 8 months, she is turned down because he would rather go with someone else… ouch.
Instead of giving him the trip, she goes on it solo and while she is expecting to be miserable the whole time a certain Mountain Man helps to remind her of her worth.
Beckett Keller meets Presley on the boat over to his families “Get Lost Lodge” where he’s been working to help out his family. Upon first meeting her, Presley is his complete opposite. She is not an outdoorsy person, she doesn’t like fishing, and she definitely does not like the water. All of this mixed with the fact that she is a guest and will be leaving in two weeks time has Beckett trying to ignoring the feelings he’s definitely having for her.
They both feel the sparks between them but they know it can only be temporary. As a solution they decide to go all in for the time they have together but will they be able to go their separate ways when Presley’s vacation is over or has this love left a permanent mark?

My review:
I thought this was a very sweet romance. I enjoyed listening to Presley and Beckett try to fight their feelings for one another even though it’s obvious their feelings were too strong to ignore. I also liked the family dynamic. Beckett’s niece was adorable and I thought it was cute how she helped out around the lodge.
I wasn’t a fan of how insta-lovey it was. Presley and Beckett fall in love over the course of two weeks and I find this to be a little too unrealistic for my taste. I’m not going to spoil the end but something happens that makes me roll my eyes. I think the end would have been better if it was a couple years in the future and we find out Presley had been going back to the lodge a couple times a year.
Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable quick listen. I liked the main characters and I think they have great chemistry.

I rated this book 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Presley sells herself short at work, with her parents, and in relationships. After planning a fantastic surprise trip for her boyfriend, Emmett, his reaction is the opposite of what Presley anticipated and hoped for. Instead of the trip bringing them together and taking their relationship to the next step, Emmet is a complete jerk, and they break up. Presley decides to go on the vacation alone and learns so much about the Get Lost Lodge, a “hot mountain man,” and herself.

For fans of Happily Ever Afters, love at first sight, found family, and small-town romances, Love, Naturally is a charming and light rom-com.

When I get into a phase of reading historical fiction or more emotive contemporary fiction, I sometimes need something lighter and happier to break up the intensity. If you feel this way, consider Love, Naturally a good palette cleanser. It was easy and quick to read and a fun change of pace.

I switched between the Kindle version and the audiobook and enjoyed both formats. I love to listen to audiobooks while doing household chores or driving, and I tend to lean towards lighter books that are easy to follow with the audio version. Love, Naturally was great for this purpose.

Thank you, NetGalley and MacMillan Audio, for the ARC and ALC.

3 5 stars rounded up to 4.

This was a sweet, fluffy, low conflict romance. The setting at a nature retreat within a small town provided plenty of opportunities for fun and nosey/meddling townspeople. I enjoyed thenside characters and hope some of them get their own happily ever afters in future books.

This is insta-love, idyllic, romance done well if that is what you are looking for. It is a quick read that will leave you with warm fuzziness and little annoyance throughout.

The narrator had good pacing and I enjoyed that she didn't try to throw her voice for the male character's POV.

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan Audio, and the author for the advanced listen of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This book gives you all the warm and fuzzy feelings. It's a lighthearted romance filled with humor, heart, and a dash of self-discovery. From the captivating storyline to the well-rounded characters, this audiobook had me hooked from start to finish. I have to give a shoutout to Sophie Sullivan for crafting such a heartwarming story of opposites attracting. The way she develops the characters and their connection is simply magical. Now, let's talk about Julie Rogers' narration. Oh boy, did she bring this audiobook to life! Her expressive voice and perfect timing made me feel like I was right there with Presley and Beckett, experiencing their journey firsthand. I couldn't help but get lost in her narration and become fully immersed in the story.

Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan was such a sweet listen. It was a pretty wholesome story about a girl, Presley, who visits a small island town in the Midwest and meets Beckett.

I had not read the entire description of the story beforehand, and when the main character referred to her beverage as "pop" I knew immediately that she must be from the Midwest. Then I heard Mackinaw Island and the University of Michigan, and I was thrilled to learn that they were in Michigan. Yay! Go Blue! ;)

This was a very cute story. I just really enjoyed listening to such a feel-good story about two opposites falling head over heels in love with each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the advanced listen in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book sweet book.

When social media influencer Presley decided to surprise her boyfriend is a 10 day birthday vacation full of fishing and hiking she didn’t know what she was getting herself into. Upon opening the gift he decided he didn’t want to take the trip with her, so what does she do? Go and take it alone. Once arrived and she’s met Beckett her plans for a relaxing 10 day stay are completely turned around and she finds herself stepping out of her comfort zone.

I absolutely LOVED this story and getting to see the growth made in the characters. My only thing I felt weird is that it hopped from 1st person to 3rd person POV. I would’ve loved this story in a dual POV from both Presley and Beckett.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC of Love, Naturally!

Presley Ayers has a plan – she’s a concierge at a local hotel, dating a golden boy and ready to move to the next step with her love life and career.

Her plan goes sideways when she plans a surprise trip for her boyfriend’s birthday, but he breaks up with her instead. She goes on the trip instead by herself and is totally out of her comfort zone at the fishing resort, Get Lost Lodge, which is totally not her thing.

Beckett works at the Lodge, helping his brother get it back up and running. It’s instalove and a cringe meet-cute (but aren’t they the best kind?) but Beckett and Presley are cute together, and I could feel the instant connection.

Self-realization story with a supportive best friend, found family and discovering what (insta) love really is.

Went between e-ARC and audiobook and the narrator was great! Easy to follow and I could hear Presley’s voice coming through.

Dumped by her boyfriend when presenting him with a nature-oriented vacation she got him as a gift, Presley takes the trip solo despite it being completely out of her comfort zone. At the Get Lost Lodge, she meets Beckett, a rugged handsome mountain man who is part of the family who owns the lodge.

Oh, man, this book started off so cringey with poor, pathetic, doormat Presley having a reckoning with her half-baked life choices... and two seconds later she's in love with a fellow people pleaser, neither of whom has stood on their own two feet. I thought this romance lacked depth and was too focused on social media, but I enjoyed the way the characters supported each other. This may be the book for you if you like instalove, small town vibes, and found family.

As for the audiobook, I think it would have been more successful with a male narrator for Beckett's POV.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for gifting me with an ALC to review! All opinions are my own.

I’m glad I got this book in before the end of 2023 because I can now say this was one of my favorite books of the year. In its release year of 2024, I feel like I will be saying the same thing.

Love, Naturally follows both Presley and Beckett. Presley is a hotel concierge and a social media influencer. She books a ten-day trip at the “Get Lost Lodge” for her boyfriend of eight months birthday. This trip will have hiking, fishing, and so much more that is out of Presely's comfort zone. Her boyfriend Emmet loves the gift but he didn’t want to take her. He wanted to take a friend. Presley and Emmet break up and she goes on the trip solo.

This is where she meets Beckett. Beckett's family owns the lodge and due to some circumstances Presley finds herself in a scenario that gets her not only close to Beckett, but close to his family. Beckett's family is the type of family everyone wants. I loved all of them.

Presley and Beckett know whatever they do has an expiration date because Presley needs to go back home. This made their relationship so much more intense and I wanted nothing more than for them to be together.

I love it when people make grand gestures in books. This has a great grand gesture and I love how far out of both of their comfort zones they were willing to go to for each other.

This book should be on everyone’s list and you should definitely heck it out.