Member Reviews
I can’t believe this is the last book (and that I kind of plowed through this series like it was candy). Someone shake me.
This last book is extra special—Charlie and Nova are two characters who I really wanted to see more of when I first started reading this series. I loved how they both just exuded sunshine, in their own little ways. Getting an entire book on just the two of them was really something of a treat.
The chemistry in this book was honestly palpable, and dareisay, a lot more quickly-paced than the rest of the other books. Then again, that’s also likely because I inhaled this—but these books always end up feeling so short for me. What can I say? Becs’ writing is just so addictive; the kind you easily slip into and spiral in. Her books are something of a warm, cozy blanket; guaranteed happy endings, small town humor, and a lot of love. This is consistent across the entire series, one I’ve really gotten so invested in since I started reading it—and the fact that Business Casual is the last (IS IT REALLY 😭😭😭 because I read the acknowledgements miss becs!!!!!!! And I saw that last bit!!!!!!) really made me appreciate Charlie and Nova even more.
I absolutely adored this book. Nova and Charlie brought everything full circle in the most beautiful way. I am fairly certain I cried from about 60% to the end! Highly recommend reading this book!
I am sad to see the Lovelight Farms series come to an end but this was the perfect story to end on! Charlie and Nova's story was full of laughter and love and also hit on some more serious topics such as mental health, ADHD, and family relationships. This story was a little slower at the beginning than some of the other ones but I would still give it a solid 4.5 stars!
3.5⭐️
✨️Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Romance for the E-Arc of this book✨️
“I’ll stay as long as you want me to, Nova girl.”
Business Casual was a punch in the gut I wasn't expecting.
I really liked this book even though I think that in the romance aspect it felt very short for me. I was loving it, but in the middle it lost a bit of its magic for me. Other than that, I was able to enjoy it a lot and devoured it in no time.
I loved the dynamic between Nova and Charlie, it was so sweet how it all developed. Nova is such a queen, but the character that literally stole my heart was Charlie. This book was a punch in the gut because of Charlie. Because the way I connected with his insecurities and the way he lives his life was illegal. It nearly brought me to tears seeing how he lives smiling, joking and hiding everything that affects him, trying not to take up too much space or bother people for fear that people will stop loving him.
This quote right here just hurt me too much:
"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"
Charlie? The best thing in this book.
Overall, It was lighthearted and fun read. This is the second book I read by B. K. Borison and I think I could probably read more works from her in the future.
Pure, unadulterated fantasy in the best way- I liked these people and this fantastical town that could only exist in this fictional space. Also, best use of a phone tree in a contemporary romance. 😍
This series really achieved small town romance perfection. I loved every character and every bit of this journey. Charlie and Nova are the perfect foils to one another and their growth throughout this book is so lovely. Inglewild and Lovelight Farms has my heart <3
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC.
Let me start by saying I was so excited to read Charlie and Novas’ story. I loved them both of them to begin with so, I was excited for a deeper dive into them as main characters. Charlie was the definition of golden retriever vibes and Nova the perfect kind of grump. It was such a cute cozy read. I’m so sad for Lovelight to be over. But B. K. Borison delivered with this series.
I will definitely be adding this to my recorded reads display the second we get it in!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.
This is her best one yet, so incredibly lovely, the perfect conclusion for a series I love very much.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!
What can i say about this. It was the best book in the series and I can’t she’s not writing more books in lovelight. There characters were so cute and so perfect for each other and every about this book made me giggle. Until i sobbed at the end. Would recommend this to anyone and everyone.
B.K. Borison jumped to the top of my favorite authors with Lovelight Farms, a delightful romance full of longing and friends first vibes, a cast of kooky but lovable characters, and a relatable FMC to boot. It gave me Gilmore Girls vibes, with a romance long in the making, a small town you want to live in, a woman-run business with all the "I smell snow" warmth and goodness, the main character's best friend baking up a frenzy in the kitchen. There was so much to love; it was smart, well-written, and swoon-worthy.
With each installment of the Lovelight series, I began to wonder if Borison could really keep it up and make it feel fresh with such a small cast of characters but she has managed beautifully to pull new characters into the town as well as develop fringe characters into people we want to follow and fall in love with (and beside). I was excited to see when I started Mixed Feelings that Charlie seemed to be getting the MMC treatment, and considering how deeply I loved Nova in In the Weeds, safe to say that I was thrilled to see they would be our pairing in Business Casual.
In Business Casual, Charlie, out-of-towner half-brother of Stella, and quickly becoming town favorite corporate man, pursues a flirtation with Nova, sister of Beckett, and town entrepreneur/tattoo artist. We saw hints of this matchup in Mixed Feelings, and it kicked off beautifully in Business Casual. With so much tension, this opposites attract pairing, lights up the pages with their steamy attraction, trying to get those feelings out of their system and move on. But with a pair as hooked on each other as this, it can't be that simple.
Charlie and Nova are both fantastic characters in their own rights, lovable, fully fleshed out, and swoonworthy. Combining their storylines only reinforced that. Borison has a knack for finding relatable obstacles to the couples' love stories in her books, they never come off as contrived or unbelievable.
Delightful, steamy, and the balm to soothe any aches you might have, Business Casual might be Borison's best since Lovelight Farms (and that is some high praise)! Sure to please fans of small town romances, contemporary romances, and anyone in need of a little faith in humanity.
B.K. Borison's "Business Casual" is hands down the romance we've all been waiting for in the Lovelight series, and let me tell you, it didn't disappoint one bit! Charlie and Nova's story had me hooked right from the start. I mean, who can resist a small-town romance with a black cat and golden retriever thrown in the mix?
Charlie quickly became my ultimate book boyfriend, and Nova? She's just my kind of girl. Inglewild, the setting of their love story, felt like a place I could happily call home. Seriously, if I could pick a town to live in, it would be Inglewild without a doubt. Reading this book was like riding an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed, I cried, and let's just say there was a fair bit of blushing involved too. Charlie and Nova are officially my new favorite bookish couple. I can't stop thinking about them—seriously, they've taken up permanent residence in my mind since I started reading. Borison nailed every detail of this novel with so much love and care. You can practically feel their heart poured out onto the pages. And that acknowledgment at the end? Cue the waterworks!
I can't wait to see what they come up with next!
In "Business Casual" by B.K. Borison, we're treated to the final chapter of the beloved Lovelight series, and what a sendoff it is. This book intricately weaves the lives of Nova Porter, a fiery and independent tattoo artist, and Charlie Milford, an investment banker with a penchant for tailored suits and genuine kindness. Their story is a testament to the power of opposites attracting, challenging each other, and ultimately finding common ground in their differences.
Nova is fiercely dedicated to her craft and the opening of her new tattoo studio in the small but vibrant town of Inglewild. Charlie, on the other hand, finds himself unexpectedly entrenched in the town's affairs, lending a helping hand wherever he can. Despite their initial reservations, a proposition between them—one night to explore their undeniable attraction—becomes a turning point neither anticipated. It ignites a connection that proves impossible to ignore.
Borison skillfully explores the nuances of Nova and Charlie's personalities, allowing us to see beneath Nova's tough exterior and Charlie's polished facade. Their banter is electric, a delightful dance of wit and warmth that captures the essence of their relationship. As they navigate their burgeoning feelings, they also confront personal demons and societal expectations, highlighting themes of self-worth, vulnerability, and belonging.
The setting of Inglewild, with its quirky residents and cozy charm, is a character in its own right. Borison brings the town to life with vivid descriptions and a sense of community that envelopes the reader, making you wish you could stroll down its streets and partake in the Harvest Festival or grab a coffee at the local café.
"Business Casual" stands as a beacon of contemporary romance, blending humor, heartache, and heat with precision. It's a story about finding love where you least expect it and the courage it takes to embrace it fully. Nova and Charlie's journey is a beautiful reminder that sometimes, letting someone in is the bravest thing you can do.
As the curtain falls on the Lovelight series, "Business Casual" leaves us with full hearts and the satisfying conclusion that dreams do come true, in love and life. Borison has crafted a world so real and relationships so poignant, you can't help but carry a piece of Inglewild with you long after the last page is turned.
This was a very sweet love story about two people who didn't believe they would find their person. I loved the banter between Charlie and Nova. I also loved how Nova saw through Charlie's facade and called it out. It was a beautiful love story and a great book!
I fell in love with Lovelight Farms. Charlie and Nova were the perfect couple to end this series. Stand-offish tattoo artist Nova has forged an unlikely friendship with investment banker Charlie. Things are fine until Charlie’s nonstop flirting seems to be more sincere and Nova can’t stop thinking about him. She doesn’t have time for this. Nova is working hard to open up her new tattoo studio in her hometown of Inglewood and Charlie always seems to be around helping out around town. Nova offers Charlie a proposition so she can focus on her business. They have one night to get everything out of their systems and then continue on as friends like before. Of course, this only ignites their attraction for one another. Can they both face what is right in front of them? Can both accept that they are worthy of love and happiness?
Charlie will have you swooning as he chips away at Nova’s tough walls to expose the sensitive, caring person she really is.
There is something beyond special about BK’s writing. I am in awe of her ability to create this fictional world that feels nothing like fiction.
It’s pure genius and talent to create characters and a small town that the reader can picture as they read and feel like they know the entire cast of characters.
The character development is SO good that you completely know every character inside and out and can predict their reactions.
This entire series is a gift. And even though I’m devastated it’s over - Business Casual is the perfect ending.
Charlie and Nova are everything.
They’re both their own person in every way.
They’re hilarious.
Their chemistry and banter is off the charts. I was swooning nonstop.
I loved the way they reluctantly let each other in.
I loved everything about this one.
There’s a scene at the end that had me sobbing - it was absolute perfection in every way and it made my Inglewild obsessed heart so happy.
An obvious 5⭐️
Thanks to the author for the gift of these characters and this world - they’ll be in my heart forever.
Ohhhh I love you, Inglewild! As an official, card-carrying member of the Inglewild, Maryland PHONE TREE, I adored this love story between golden retriever Charlie and spicy sweet Nova. The banter was top notch and the attraction was sizzling off the page. I love how BK Borison writes her love scenes... so, so good!
I think that while this is billed as being in-a-series-but-you-can-read-it-as-a-standalone, you really should read the others first. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and the beginning of the book only glosses over them. I think it would be tricky to figure out the relationships without first having read the other three. But you wouldn't need to twist my arm to read the other three... they are that good! The series as a whole is just a delight, and Business Casual rounds it out so beautifully.
As far as plot, I think it could be tightened up a bit and also get into some of the subplots a little bit more. The Harvest Festival I think could have used more pages to center it in the story. I also think the Charlie-Dad relationship dynamic could have been woven in a bit more, so that we can really feel Charlie's growth at the end of the book. Same with the Nova-Beckett dynamic... I understood what she was feeling, but couldn't quite connect with her consternation. The tattoo studio was fun to read about, and I think actually including MORE details about tattooing would have been interesting and given Nova's character some added depth (it didn't really get into her artistry much, which is a core element of who she is!).
Thank you so much for this gorgeous, spicy, sweet visit back to Inglewild. I appreciate the advance copy and can't wait to add the real thing to my shelf. But first... to the PHONE TREE to tell everyone to pre-order it!
This was the BEST ending to the Lovelight series, and I can not wait to get my physical copy preorder. I love love LOOOOVED Charlie and Nova. My favorite couple so far! I loved that there was no third act breakup. I love that they brought out the best in each other. I would still love for there to be more in this series but feel content.
The story we’ve been waiting for, I screamed when I was accepted for this ARC. I love Nova and Charlie. Reading about their friendship & care for each other made my heart so happy. The banter👏 the sexual tension👏 the return of the phone tree👏👏👏☎️ Also… more Beckett🫶
This was definitely the spiciest of all the books, so spicy I almost forgot the other ones were open door😂🥵 this book will also leave you wanting new ink, especially from Nova.
“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.”
I have never felt so seen by both main characters in a romance as I did in this book. The way Nova’s migraines are depicted are so visceral, and as I person who struggles with chronic migraines, it felt so good to see it represented her. She’s just an incredible character, who has this beautiful arc and finds the missing pieces of her life. Her relationships with her siblings is also really important to her. She's afraid to show Beckett her new studio because she's worried she'll disappoint him. She is so relatable and real, and her struggles are so well written and developed.
And Charlie. MY GOD. I felt such a connection to him and how he thinks he’s too much for people. I have always felt that way and am always so self-conscious. He has so many moments that show his true personality and how he just wants a place to belong. And I CRIED. I haven’t really cried over a book in a long time, but his arc really resonated with me. Even through to the end, he doesn't understand that everyone in Inglewild wants him to be there. He's cemented his place as one of my favorite book boyfriends.
If you haven’t started this series, take this as your sign to start. It’s incredible. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing a DRC of this title to review.
Business Casual is cozy and romantic, a lovely finale to the mega-popular Lovelight Farms series. New or return visitors to Inglewild, MD will find a lot to like in this one. Really looking forward to what Borison does next!