Member Reviews
What I love about B.K. Borison, is she gives her characters real characteristics. They have flaws, insecurities, and issues they deal with. This was another great installment of The Lovelight Farms series. This is definitely an opposites attract/found family trope. I loved the male main character, Charlie. He has dealt with ADHD his whole life and seeking validation from everyone. You felt for him. The female main character, Nova, was a powerhouse. She is a tattoo artist and the baby sister of the MMC from book 2. This was definitely the spiciest book in the series! I also love how characters from past books are still entwined in each book. I laughed and I cried!
*I always try to keep my reviews spoiler-free, so I won't make specific plot points for those who have not read this book or the series as a whole.
Charlie is Stella's fun-loving brother. Nova is Bennett's somewhat rebellious sister who has always tried to follow her own dreams for her life. I knew of them from the previous books but did not know much about their personal backstories. I loved their individual development throughout the story. I also loved how they grew together in the story. Their journey to self discovery and live was amazing.
My only complaint is that this is supposed to the last book in this series and that made me so sad. I loved this series and I would love more Lovelght Farms books.
Ok I LOVED this one. Favorite in the series by far. I think the culmination of this adorable series was sweet, spicy, and did not leave me wanting more from the story, the smut, or the plot. I will say, it started out a little silly, but trust me, just keep going. It's worth it.
*Thanks to NetGalley and BK Borison for the opportunity to preview this before it's published!
Loved this, felt perfectly in line with the rest of the series for a fun and heart warming read! I love each of these characters and the romance between Nova and Charlie seemed realistic and was such a fun escape!
Business Casual by BK Borison
Format: ebook
Release Date: 7/16/24
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I take up too much space, I want to tell her. I’m loud and sometimes I don’t know how to stop talking. I’m a lot and I know that. I can’t figure out how to make myself fit, but I’m trying. I promise I’m trying.”
Oh my goodness this book. It is so bittersweet to see our time in Inglewild come to an end, but what a beautiful final installment!
This is one of the few romance books I’ve read where I related to the male main character more than the FMC lead. Our poor, sweet Charlie just wants a place to belong and his journey with Nova (and the community of Inglewild as a whole) is just the best.
As someone who doesn’t want to be who they are 90% of the time and knows how it feels to be positive you’re “too much” or “too loud”….Charlie was written so perfectly and genuinely. This is also a character insecurity I feel like we don’t see on page all that often which made him even more special!
Also I love a strong FMC business owner who is learning to be softer and more vulnerable! Seeing Nova lean on Charlie as the book goes on was so tender.
And, if all of this wasn’t enough to make you pick this book up there is a lot more Beckett content in Business Casual too! Loved getting more of the Porter family dynamic throughout this book!
So sad to be done with Inglewild adventures but can’t wait to see what Borison brings us next!
OH MY GOSH THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!! I have read all of the Lovelight Farms books, and loved all, but this one was my absolute favorite! I loved Charlie and Nova so much!
Charlie Milford arranges for a dream honeymoon to Italy for his sister Stella and her new husband. During the month they are gone, he helps run her farm and works remotely from his high paying/high stress investment job in New York City. It isn't as much of an inconvenience as one might think as Charlie loves the town, the people, his sister and the Porter family.
One member of the Porter family is tattoo artist Nova Porter - a beautiful, independent woman who decides it may be possible to relieve some stress with old friend and hopefully one-night stand, Charlie. Sparks fly and definitely sizzle as Nova and Charlie explore the physical side of stress-relief and surprisingly find a strong emotional bond develop. They have a hard time keeping their 'connection' a secret....especially with a phone tree of this town's level.
The two main characters are well-developed - and easy to like with hopes their romance endures. Since Business Casual is part of a series, the other characters/couples in town (who have bigger roles in the earlier books) have very basic background provided for anyone not starting the series with book one. There is an ample amount of spice for readers who prefer that element in their romance selections.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing, B. K. Borison and NetGalley for this ARC.
BUSINESS CASUAL is a fantastic black cat + golden retriever romance between Nova, a somewhat surly, emotionally guarded tattoo artist, who I loved from page one, and Charlie, the effervescent golden retriever of a man who loves his old small town deeply, despite living a seemingly glamorous life in New York. When Charlie takes over his sister’s farm for a month so that she can go on a honeymoon, he and Nova can’t ignore their chemistry, and agree to see each other, but keep it casual. But when they both catch feelings that run deeper and his time in town is running out, they have to negotiate what it means to be more than just business or casual.
Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley, and B.K. Borison for this eARC. This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was an absolute hug of a read. The characters were very well written and all of the issues addressed were very relatable. Especially with Charlie feeling like he needed to earn his place or that he was a burden. All of these issues were addressed in a very comforting and nice way as well. But I think for me, what I loved most was the balance between the love interests. Overall, such a fun book and I can’t wait to see what the author does next.
This series is my ride or die and carried me through a really tough year of life so the fact that I don’t have it’s comfort any longer is so sad but it also closes alongside that difficult chapter of life so I feel a peaceful kind of closure. B K Borison somehow manages to write original and fully fleshed people that feel like they contain a part of me. Every page and every word filled me to the brim with so much emotion and love for these stories. I am thrilled by how this series has concluded and also deeply sad they’re done. But wow. Just wow.
I LOVED this book. I have read Lovelight Farms, the first in this series, and was so excited when I saw there was a new one. This book follows Charlie, brother to Stella from the first book, and Nova, Beckett's sister. They first agree to a one night stand to 'get it out of their system'. But this quickly turns into friends with benefits, which then evolves into something more.
I had so much fun reading about Nova and Charlie and was rooting for them throughout. I described this book as 'cotton candy for the brain' to my roommate and I stand by that. So fun and fluffy. Pretty quick read. A nice palate cleanser to all the non-fiction I've been reading recently.
Business Casual by B. K. Borison quickly became my favorite Lovelight book in the series. Nova and Charlie’s story is one that kept me on my toes guessing. “Will they won’t they?” was a phrase I kept hearing in my head while reading. The tension explored between Nova and Charlie in earlier books is something that I enjoyed reading and what the author did a great job of setting up.
Charlie’s golden retriever, sunshine energy mixed with Nova’s misunderstood black cat vibes made for the perfect romcom in my opinion. From the shenanigans with trying to hide their relationship to them denying feelings for each other, Business Casual had be giggling at every corner.
I could see myself in both characters, which is usually harder for me in a romance book. The spice also took it up a notch in this final installment, and I was here for it. Finally, the way Borison had her characters communicate toward the end was important. Sometimes authors drag out miscommunication or no communication for far too long, but B. K. Borison knew the timing and planned it out perfectly. It was the right amount of pining on both ends.
Borison knows what her readers love and leans into it. The small town gossip phone tree and funny side character moments had me kicking my feet smiling. Cameos from past couples also gave me such a loving feeling like coming home to your friends.
Although this chapter is closing, I felt it was nicely done and a great way to say goodbye to our friends. This is a series I will reread yearly and Nova and Charlie are two characters I will always remember.
😭😭😭 I need a Charlie, and I'm so sad the Inglewild stories are coming to an end.
Charlie comes to town for a month to run his sister's farm while she's on her honeymoon, and Nova is in the final stretch of getting her tattoo shop up and running. Charlie hasn't ever felt like he totally belonged anywhere and hasn't ever felt 100% wanted, and Nova has things 👏🏼 to 👏🏼 prove👏🏼. So naturally getting their mutual attraction out in one night is the solution to their problems. Except they can't get enough of each other!!!
This was a lil bit grumpy/sunshine, definitely opposites attract. Nicely spicy. Lots of feels and both grand and petite gestures.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts!
A fun and perfect ending to the Lovelight series. Business Casual features Charlie and Nova, who have been secondary characters in the previous books. If you love found family and small town romance, this is the book for you.
I love a good Grumpy vs Sunshine in a romance novel, but I especially love it when the men are the sunshine. That’s exactly how Nova and Charlie are portrayed. Borison’s newest installment for the Lovelight novels did not disappoint. Sometimes with books in a series such as these, the more books published tend to fall below. I thought Business Casual stood tall next to its counterparts. As the reader, Borison helps you fall in love with the characters right alongside them, as if you’re one with the town too.
My favorite book in the Lovelight farm series!! I really loved the pace the relationship played out. I fell in love with Nova and Charlie. I have no idea who BK could write about next, but I need more Lovelight!
Thank you Netgalley and BK Borison for this free ARC copy!
I was so excited to dine back into Inglewood when I got this arc. The whole lovelight series is a favorite. Nova and Charlie’s banter was so fun. I loved their connection and grumpy sunshine is an absolute favorite of mine. This story is one I will read over and over. B.K. Borisons writing is some of my favorite and she quickly has become an auto but author for me!
Going back to Inglewild is always like going home, and not just because I'm very familiar with living in Maryland. Nova and Charlie hold a very special place in my heart, Nova the headstrong perfectionist, and Charlie the loveable goofball. This Grumpy/Sunshine opposite attract works in such a fun way. I kept going back to my Spotify playlist to add different Taylor Swift songs that made me think of Nova/Charlie. Loved how Spicy (yes, with a capital S) Business Casual is. I kept giggling and kicking my feet in the air, thinking OH CHARLIE IS DOWN BAD. I hope we keep getting little peaks into Lovelight Farm and all the charming and wonderful characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for an advanced eCopy! I love the Lovelight Farms series, the town of Inglewild is so cozy and the characters feel real and their love stories suck you right in. Nova and Charlie were fantastic side characters, so I was excited to see them get a love story as well. Their banter and emotional vulnerability (or lack of, to start) felt real and made me that much happier when they finally admitted their feelings! Would highly recommend picking up any part of this series if you need some cozy, happy, romance in your reading.
This was my first book in the LoveLight Farms series and now I want to read them all. From the very beginning, I knew I was going to love this book. The characters are well developed, the town comes to life as you read, and I love the family dynamics.
Somewhere around 3/4 of the way through it was a little less amazing and then it picked back up again at the end. I loved Nova with her hard exterior and Charlie who was all puppy energy. The side characters were fun and I am sure I would have loved them even more had I read the previous books.
My biggest gripe is the constant use of the term "Nova Girl" I don't know why, but that was what got on my nerves. 😆 I know everything has their things and apparently that one bugs me. Ha!
Overall, a well written, easy to get lost in romance with great character building and dialogue. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Thanks to netgalley for an ARC to review.