The easiest five stars ever, I can not express how much I adored this book and how special it is to me now. I will obsess over these characters forever and cherish this couple for the rest of time.

Thank you so much Berkley and Netgally for this arc

I love a small town romance.

This was just super cute and low stakes. Comforting. A light read full of yearning. Feels as realistic as a romance novel could be, very rooted in reality. And I really enjoyed being in the universe of this little story.

The best part no third act break up!!

Now I want to start the series all over...

I have enjoyed all of these books and this one was no different. Such a sweet little love story. Charlie and nova were really fun and as always, the town is the best part

I did not realize this book was part of a series but I will definitely be reading the others. I really enjoyed this book! I gave it a four star and it was a great palette cleanser for me! The FMC and MC are attracted to each other and agree to one night if no strings attached “adult fun” but is one night enough?? I haven’t read anything by this author before but as I said, I will definitely be reading the rest of this series!

Book Review: Business Casual by B.K. Borison

4.5/5 ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the arc in exchange for my review!!

This book comes out July 16, 2024 and is the fourth and final book in the Lovelight series! Charlie and Novas story was a fantastic ending to this series. 👏🏻

I truly enjoyed this book and will miss rhe incredible town of Inglewood! I love the characters, the setting, the depth to the characters and the steam is very well written. Although this wasn’t my favorite of the series, I still really enjoyed it and can’t wait to read whatever B.K. Borison writes next.

The way Charlie cared for Nova made my heart melt and I love hearing about her dreams for the tattoo shop. Of course the meddling from the siblings and town in their relationship was great too!

Read this book is you like:
•friends with benefits
•forced proximity
•small town setting
•tattoo artist FMC
•NYC business job MMC
•chronic illness rep (especially migraines)
•steam 🔥

I DON'T WANT TO SAY GOODBYE TO LOVELIGHT FARMS!!! charlie and nova were so so good!!! so flirty and SO hot their connection was palpable and intense! i can't wait to see what bk does next!

I am a @authorbkborison fan account and this book has just reinforced that. I adore Lovelight Farms and all the characters there and I love a romanticization of the shore that makes me enjoy living here. Nova and Charlie are perfect together and I can’t say enough good things about this book. I need the Inglewild merch so I can pretend it’s real.
Do yourself a favor and read this book when it publishes July 16 (and the whole rest of the series)
@berkleypub lovelightfarms

I love this entire series so this book was no different! I was so excited and thankful to be able to read this as an ARC! Nova and Charlie were cute and I loved that this was a boy falls first trope! There is a conflict that is developing throughout the story and I was worried about the third act conflict but it was done so well!!

There’s something special about Inglewild, Maryland and its perfectly curated existence. Charlie and Nova are the final of four couples that are featured in Borison’s series, and their story truly might be my favorite. The storyline is the most realistic of the four, with an initial friends-with-benefits agreement that might just become more. Charlie is the definition of a golden retriever boy, while Nova is a perfect black cat girl. Together, they have a satisfying balance of bickering banter and sweet moments.
I love how Borison continues to engage the previous main characters, along with the gaggle of townspeople, which make each book feel charming and complete. Despite each being a sibling of another main character, Charlie and Nova are fully developed characters, with realistic issues, palpable chemistry, and the perfect amount of sass between them. They both have opportunities to grow and learn about themselves while in the relationship, which makes their storyline feel healthy and mature.
While this is the fourth book in a series, it could definitely be read as a standalone. But I promise that you’ll want to read the whole series either way!
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

“i’ve taught myself how to be okay with fragments of feeling, but i don’t want that with you. i want more than what you’ve given me”

this book gave me ALL the feels!!! if you’re looking for a perfect representation of the black cat x golden retriever trope- business casual is it. nova and charlie’s story is the perfect finale of the lovelight farms series, and i can’t believe it’s over 🫠

nova is guarded and independent, yet she is missing something. charlie seems to have everything and is put together, but is lonelier than ever. the way they fill each other’s empty spaces and the small things they did to show their feelings for each other (heart shaped grapes anyone?) made me SWOON. their chemistry was palpable, and the tension and banter were EVERYTHING. charlie is our acts of service king and i love him so much for it!

one of my favorite things was seeing how every couple and character we met in the previous books rally together to be there for charlie and nova. the found family made me CRY.

overall, this is my definite favorite of the lovelight series, and i hope it’s yours too because charlie and nova mean so much to me 🥹

thank you netgalley and berkley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinions 🫶🏻

I didn’t think that I could love a couple more than Beckett and Evie, but Charlie and Nova have captured my heart. There are so many moments in this book where I couldn’t keep a smile off my face. When Charlies calls her Nova Girl like a million times, the butterflies, when he wraps her in her blanket like a burrito, helping her through her migraine, the tattoos. Their whole dynamic is so darn cute, and I let out a giggle every time they teased each other.

I am in love with Inglewild, just obsessed with the small town dynamic and everyone’s interactions. The newsletter, the phone tree, how everyone is so supportive and happy to be around each other. And how Charlie is trying to find his way into that. He’s so sure that nobody wants him there, and it breaks my heart how he punishes himself. Charlie just wants to belong to something. He never had the family he always wanted and thinks he doesn’t deserve to be happy. It’s so lovely to see Nova reassuring him of his place in the town, her family and her feelings towards him. She made him realize he is loved and communicates that to him perfectly.

I highly recommend this book not just for the romance, but the personal development that each character goes through. We all struggle with insecurities and none more so than feeling like we want to belong to something and striving to be perfect to not disappoint anyone. Charlie and Nova’s growth individually and together is moving.

In B.K. Borison's delightful romance novel, "Business Casual," Nova Porter, a driven entrepreneur, finds herself torn between her professional ambitions and her unexpected attraction to the charming investment banker, Charlie Milford. Nova is fiercely independent and focused on the success of her new tattoo studio in her hometown of Inglewild, leaving little room for distractions. However, Charlie's persistent attempts to support her business and his undeniable charisma challenge her resolve. In a bold move to dispel the tension between them, Nova proposes a one-night stand, hoping to clear the air and move on. However, their encounter proves to be anything but casual, leaving both of them yearning for more. As Charlie assumes the temporary leadership of Lovelight Farms in town, Nova realizes she cannot escape his presence. Charlie, recognizing Nova's potential and the undeniable spark between them, sets out to prove his worth and win her affection. Borison's writing is witty and engaging, capturing the complexities of Nova and Charlie's relationship. Nova's determination to succeed and her vulnerability as she grapples with her feelings add depth to her character. Charlie's charm and determination to support Nova's dreams make him an irresistible romantic interest. The chemistry between them sizzles, creating a captivating and emotional journey for readers. The novel explores themes of ambition, love, and the pursuit of dreams. Borison deftly weaves these elements together, creating a story that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. "Business Casual" is a highly recommended read for fans of contemporary romance and anyone who enjoys a tale of love, laughter, and personal growth.

I am truly in awe of everything that this woman writes! All along I have been saying that Beckett Porter was my all time fave of all her characters (honorary shout out to Layla because she’s a cutie) and then along comes Nova AND Charlie and just knocks it out of the park! I am so sad this series is over but what a way to end it!
My little lesbian heart did wish Nova ended up with a girl because I am so obsessed with her buuuut Charlie was also amazing. 10/10 for this one and this entire series

My absolute favorite in this series! Charlie and Nova’s story was the perfect choice for the finale of Lovelight Farms. The epilogue was SO sweet!

What a perfect finale at Lovelight Farms. I'm going to miss this sweet little cocoon of a world, where everything is beautiful and nothing hurts. The small town romance genre is age-old, but Borison always manages to find refreshing spins with characters we absolutely adore. Although I went into this book wondering how I was ever going to find Charlie and Nova as endearing as the rest of our crew, especially Caleb and Layla, the entire third act and epilogue was all joy. All all joy. Everything you'd hope for and more. The one critique of this book, especially in regards to the rest of the series, is that I didn't really feel like the *season* was featured nearly enough. I was hoping for more cozy autumnal vibes, and while we do get some, it doesn't seem like its own character in the way it does in the other books in the series. I'm so grateful I got to read this one early! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, and thank you to B.K. Borison for this sweet gem of a saga.

There is no series that can pull me out of a reading slump like the Lovelight series can. Read in one sitting, and I’m already craving a re-read!

I was giggling and tearing up all through this book. BK just knows how to make you feel totally immersed in the small town of Inglewild and Lovelight Farms 🌲

4.9 stars in my book, only because Caleb and Layla have my heart 💕

“I am quiet and thoroughly, wonderfully undone."
•

Business Casual tells the story of what happens if the one night stand with your pal turns into a secret, friends-with-benefits relationship: Inglewild’s version.

I genuinely didn’t think there was any way I could love this book more than Mixed Signals, but Becs proved me wrong, and I couldn’t be happier about that!

honestly, I’d written Charlie off as the fun-loving, goofy brother wrapped in a suit. I saw him exactly how he presented himself and how he wanted me to. I was not prepared for the depth and heart that is Charlie Milford.

then we have Nova Porter — a character we didn’t see a whole lot of in the previous books — and my god, is she a dynamo of a woman. I think I’m in love with her.

this book tells you it’s okay to change your mind, it’s okay to grow, and it’s okay to want. also, it is sexy. I’m talking s e x y sexy. the heat and chemistry between Charlie and Nova is magnetic. paired with their vulnerability and care, and it’s just chef’s kiss!

written so lyrically with an air of whimsicality, Business Casual is the perfect bookend to the Lovelight series.
•

this and that:
♡ a bubble-wrapped heart
♡ a deranged bear
♡ ADHD rep
♡ alleyway trysts
♡ climbing through windows
♡ cupcake analogies
♡ dancing in the moonlight
♡ dual pov
♡ entrepreneurs
♡ finance bro / tattoo artist
♡ flora
♡ forced proximity
♡ Forget-me-not blue
♡ friends-with-benefits
♡ grand gestures
♡ happiness distributed in increments
♡ heart-shaped grapes
♡ he’s a chronic flirt
♡ hurt / comfort
♡ ketchup chips
♡ let’s just get each other out of our systems
♡ one night only
♡ open door
♡ opposites attract
♡ peanut butter pretzels
♡ phone trees
♡ Rolex
♡ secret romance
♡ she doesn’t date
♡ small town
♡ spreadsheets
♡ tattoos
♡ tax forms
♡ the only exception
♡ tiny, aggressive barnacles
♡ town festivals
♡ “You can take it”
•

triggers:
☞ imposter syndrome
☞ overwhelming loneliness
☞ terrible fathers
•

notable quotes:
・his whole face brightens like someone just flicked a Bic lighter behind his eyes.

・I’m greedy for her reactions.

・I am the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of one-night-stand requests.

・My brain feels like it’s full of wool and whatever perfume Nova was wearing.

・I’m about to enter my farmer era. Cowboy Charlie, unlocked.

・I feel untethered, unmoored, slipping and sliding my way over my thoughts.

・“You deserve the whole cake and I’m worried you’re settling for your . . . snacks.”

・Sometimes I think I miss being known.

・Half a second, barely a touch, and my bones feel like they’re buzzing.

・“I wanted him to have the things he loves most with him wherever he goes.”

・I am cracked wide open, want spilling out and filling me to the brim.

・I am quietly devastated once again by how good-looking he is, and then annoyed that I’ve noticed.

・“Maybe we can call it business casual”

・“I would have given you anything you wanted, Nova.”

・“You look so pretty I think I’m having a heart attack”

・I am quiet and thoroughly, wonderfully undone.

・I get the distinct pleasure of watching his smile start at his eyes and slip over his face until his whole body is alive with it.

・Every time I’m with her, it’s like a vacuum of time and space until there’s nothing but her smokey laugh and her dark blond hair.

・I think she likes to remind me of how easy it was for her to bring me to my knees.

・“Wanting something doesn’t make you selfish”

・A different sort of electricity flickers between us. Like plugging in a strand of lights that’s been shoved in a box in the back of the attic only to find every bulb works. Bright and brilliant. Glowing gold.

・I try to find the root of this messy, uncomfortable pressure that sits heavy on my heart.

・"Asking for help doesn’t make you less deserving of anything you’ve already achieved on your own.”

・“I’ll stay as long as you want me to”

・It’s like stepping off the curb without realizing there’s a curb. My heart trips over itself, seeing her face light up because of me.

・The constraints we’ve wrapped around this relationship are starting to chafe.

・Even when I’m the one controlling her pleasure, I’m on my knees for her.

・He said I’m in technicolor, but tonight he’s hiding in shades of gray, none of his usual colors shining through. He’s watering himself down, for whatever reason.

・“I always notice you, Nova girl.”

・I see all of your colors. The bright ones and the dark ones too.

・a methodical undoing of every last hesitation I have.

・“I don’t think my feelings are business casual.”

・I feel like she’s slipping out of my hands. I feel like maybe I never had a grip on her to start with.

・"I want to feel all of it, and I want to feel all of it with you.”

・ It’s nothing special and everything wonderful at exactly the same time.
-

thank you Berkley Romance for sending me an early digital copy to review!

Rating: 4.5/5
Steam: 3.5/5
Warnings: difficult family dynamics with a parent, chronic migraines, ADHD
Tropes: black cat x golden retriever, friends to lovers, it's just a hookup, he falls first, he takes care of her when she's sick., small town

Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I simply had to take a moment to praise this absolute perfection. I stayed up until 2am, utterly captivated by this gem, and I can honestly say I have zero regrets. Becs has truly outdone herself with this writing, and I found myself enamored by the characters Nova and Charlie.

It was a joy to see this little town get their happy. Revisiting past couples and their love was heartwarming. Nova and Charlie were the epitome of a perfect pair, striking the ideal balance between spice, banter, and heart. They found their person and we knew that. Their mutual adoration for each other was palpable, and we love a black cat x golden retriever couple.

Their relationship was characterized by impeccable communication, allowing them to share their thoughts and feelings openly while fostering an environment of safety and honesty. They were so flirty with each other too and I adored that. It also led to some great steam...might be the steamiest in the series.

Moreover, this book served as a masterclass in representation, seamlessly incorporating characters with chronic migraines and ADHD without overshadowing the narrative. Nova and Charlie's journeys towards self-acceptance, grappling with the complexities of people-pleasing versus self-worth, were incredibly poignant. It was a powerful reminder that they didn't need to conform to any standards to be deserving of love and acceptance.

The tender moment when Nova gave Charlie a tattoo was nothing short of perfection, evoking real tears. And the absence of a third-act breakup was a breath of fresh air, providing a beautifully satisfying conclusion that left my heart feeling full!

In essence, this book was lovely, blending romance, authenticity, and representation flawlessly. It's a story that will linger in my heart long after the final page has been turned.

Business Casual is a compelling and entertaining story. I fell in love with the people from this town in book one. It has been a joy to see everyone else getting their happily ever after. Nova and Charlie’s story had the right amount of spice, banter and heart felt moment. Thank god for no 3rd act break up! I’m here for it.

I enjoyed this book, but I didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would. I loved all the other books in the Lovelight series, but I found I couldn’t get into this one as much. The book started out really good, but I just wasn’t a fan of the romance between Charlie and Nova, and I found myself just wanting to fast forward to the end. I know others loved this one, so it definitely just wasn’t for me. It can be read as a stand-alone, but it would be way more enjoyed as part of the series!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.