Lila Callaghan is the daughter of Cal and Grace from The Brightest Light of Sunshine. I was super excited to read her story. Lila is a smart girl who’s working hard in life to get her masters degree. She’s accomplished so much and I loved seeing that for her character.

✨ “I’m not much of a spiritual person, Lila, but I believe you were sent to this world to heal my soul,”✨

I’m always up for a forbidden age gap romance. I’ll read those any day. 🤭 Reed Abner is a researcher and professor at the university Lila attends so when she starts getting close to him, lines start to blur. This was a SLOW burn and I wish there were more scenes of them ✨together✨ but the ending was real sweet and I’m happy with how Lila and Reed are now. 🥹🥹

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a great title. I didn't realize it was part of a series, but I enjoyed it as a stand-alone. My favorite aspect was seeing someone as accomplished and successful as Lila doubt herself. The underlying story of confidence and worth was encouraging and uplifting. It was a great read and I'll be looking into the others in the series!

I really enjoyed this book. I binged the whole trilogy in a week. But, the reason I rated it 4 ⭐️ is because I couldn’t help but feel after the first two books, this one was a little bit repetitive. For the first half of the book, it felt like I was still reading the first two but with different characters. I do have to say though, I enjoyed it more closer to the second half of the book, that’s when I felt like this story had its own storyline.

Thank you netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

3⭐️ - i didnt realize that this was basically a series when i request this book, so now i really am looking forward to going back and reading the first ones. And while this is the 3rd book, the others are all stand-alones, so you dont HAVE to go back. while i didnt exactly relate to the fmc (i think it might be our age differences), i found the writing of this book to be really good. it might not be the best book for me, but its not a bad story at all. i can see why this series is so loved by people i follow on goodreads! i might even try to revisit this in a few months to see if it hits any different :)

Coney's writing is so vivid and emotional, which made it easy to connect with the struggles faced within the story, and maybe you can also see yourself relating to the characters and their relationship struggles. Like i said, im excited to go back and read more from these stories!

This series has my heart & it’s so bittersweet to see it come to an end 🥹 Lisina knows how to write an great age gap romance and Lila & Reed’s story was the perfect conclusion!

I’m a sucker for slow burn & Lisina delivered here! I also love a forbidden romance & what’s more forbidden than a professor & his student being together? 🤭 The Professor x Student trope can be a hit or miss but I thought it was done super well here.

The author also did a great job touching on some heavier topics & some struggles the characters were facing. Lila & Reed’s story was truly ao sweet & beautiful and I absolutely loved their growth in this book 💕

If you haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend doing so! Start with The brightest light of sunshine & fall in love with Cal & Grace (who happen to be Lila’s parents!)

Thank you to NetGalley & Publisher for the ARC! ✨

Tropes:
- Age gap
- Forbidden romance
- Slow burn
- Dual POV
- Mental health rep

Some may call this book a slow burn, but I I call it savory, funny, and sweet. I enjoyed reading Lila and Reed's story while also saying goodbye to all the characters from book one and two.

Similar to book one and two this book is a sweet slowburn romance. Lila is twelve years younger than Reed so we get a bit of age gap and taboo as well as he's a professor supervising her work. However, the way that their connection builds is

This book closes out this series so well. Each book can be read as a standalone, but when you read them in order it just feels that much sweeter. I recommend this series for any romance reader!

4 ⭐️݁𝜗𝜚. ݁₊

Tropes:
𝄞 Age gap (24-36)
𝄞 Professor x student
𝄞 Taboo (family friend + sneaking around, whewwww)
𝄞 Open door romance

"I said you taught me plenty of things, and you didn't believe me," he says. "But you taught me the most important thing of all, Lila. You taught me how to love."

We got Grace, we got Maddie, and now… it's time for Lila.

First off, can we take a quick moment to appreciate the fact that all three books in this trilogy are age-gap romances??? Like, I’m here for itttt! Gimmie twenty more, thank you very much!

I can confidently say that Lila’s book was my favorite, and her story was a perfect way to wrap up the series! The professor x student aspect played a huge part since I’m an absolute sucker for that trope, but beyond the romance, I found myself relating to her on a this-is-getting-a-little-too-specific level.

Lila, in a complete spur-of-the-moment fit of rage, vandalizes her cheating ex-boyfriend’s car, not realizing her professor and family friend, Reed, got a front seat ticket to the whole thing. Talk about embarrassing…

As the story progresses, so does their chemistry. It shifts from Reed being the professor Lila desperately tries to avoid to the man who consumes her every thought, turning her initial resistance into an underlying attraction that she can’t ignore.

“I’m not much of a spiritual person, Lila, but I believe you were sent to this world to heal my soul," he says.

Lila and Reed understood and complemented each other so well, and it was as if they both filled the empty gaps in each other's lives. Their bond was just so…genuine. The growth between the two of them was astonishing; Lila grappled with her insecurities and switched to a confident, more radiant version of herself, while Reed was able to confront his past and finally embrace the love he thought he didn’t deserve.

“You're a gift to this world. You make everyone's life better just by being near them. You love unconditionally, and I admire you so damn much for it. You're an angel walking among mortals, and I'm so damn lucky to call you mine."

I’m so happy this series was able to end on a happy note as well as a beautiful full-circle moment!

Thank you for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own :)

This book was really good! Full of tension and forbidden feelings.

I feel that there was repetitiveness with Lila’s self confidence that I just ended up feeling annoyed with. Yes, Lila, you are worth it and you are great. I know Conley was just trying to show her readers how she overcame that, but… it felt a bit much.

But overall, this was the third book to Coney’s series and I would 100% recommend this and the two before! Coney’s work is really well done, and the smut is pretty good too!

Thanks to NetGalley and Page & Vine publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC! Published September 26, 2024!

Thank you NetGalley, Lisina Coney and Victory Editing for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

This was the ideal conclusion to the series. Lila was determined and loving, with an intriguing personality, and the way she was developed as a character was absolutely amazing. Reed is calm, focused, and compassionate all at the same time. It was a slow burn with an appropriate amount of spice that was not overpowering.

This was so sweet. A nice ending to the series. I did think their feelings were a bit intense at times for having looked at each other 3 times but I swooned regardless. I also thought the 3rd act was really sweet and well done. I'm excited to see what Lisina Coney does next!

3.25/3.5⭐️

I have mixed feelings about this book, absolutely loved Reed, but struggled with Lila a bit.

I feel like the plot and the tropes had so much potential but fell short, there was definitely cute moments and it really felt like it was heading somewhere good maybe just after the half way mark, but honestly the 3rd act was so unnecessary.

I understand struggling with your worth and questioning yourself but do I want to read a book where the FMC is constantly making 1 step forward then immediately taking 4 steps back, nope. I also struggled connecting Lila as the child of Grace and Cal, it didn’t seem to fit for me.

Reed was great, he was VERY understanding and patient with Lila, he deserved better treatment from Grace and Cal tbh.

This review feels a lot rantier than I intended, I really did enjoy moments from this book, but TBLOS is was one of my top reads last year and the following two have really fallen short of that.

4.5 ⭐️

smiling through the pain of finishing this series😭 I first discovered lisina coney in early 2022 when she released the brightest light of sunshine and I quickly became obsessed for obvious reasons. her style of writing and the topics she writes about are so near and dear to my heart. it’s so therapeutic and healing to read her stories and you quickly become attached to the characters for how complex, healthy, and kind they communicate with each other.

Lila and Reed were giving everything I wanted!! the age gap was sooooooo good, the communication and mutual pining made the tension that much better, and the forced proximity/forbidden romance of it all was perfect. no notes for this perfect couple I LOVED THEM

If you’re looking for an age gap romance full of healthy communication, emotionally mature adults, with some tension and forbidden romance sprinkled in there then this is the book for you! I can’t wait to see what lisina does next and be right along for the journey 🥹🤍

This was a perfect end to the series, it was so honest and delicate and passionate. Lila and Reed have my heart, their story is unlike any other and they were handled with such care and genuine love. Lila was determined and loving, she had an interesting personality and the way she was built up as a character was truly admiring. Reed is deliciously caring and gentle yet driven and well composed. Their angst and energy was off the charts, it was a slow burn and had a good amount of spice with out being over bearing. I’m truly saddened to see this series end, each character has engraved themselves into my brain and I can’t wait to see what’s next with this author!

Wow what a beautifully written book! I loved everything about this, I haven't read the first 2 books in 'The Brightest Light' series but I will absolutely be going back to read them.
I love dual POV and the pacing on this was perfect. This follows Lila and Reed's story, both strugglingly to overcome past trauma's.
Lila finds her boyfriend cheating on her, in anger she stabbed his tyre, this is out of character for her and the last thing she needed was an audience, just about the last person she wanted to see her is Reed, a lecturer at her University and family friend.
Lila tries her hardest to keep her distance from Reed, its clear the attraction she is already fighting. As he's her parents friend its difficult, innocent family meals etc. When Reed discovers that Lila doesn't have an Internship which she needs to be able to graduate her Masters degree, he doesn't hesitate to suggest her applies to the Youth Centre he also volunteers for.
The role and Centre are perfect until she discovers that Reed would be her Supervisor, she handles this pretty badly, worrying what her peers will say, this stems from emotions from past childhood friendships traumas. She soon realises the opportunity is too good to pass up thankfully.
I loved reading their connection and chemistry develop as they worked together. The kids at the Youth Centre and Ginny are a wonderful addition.
Lila shone so brightly as she gained confidence, she clearly loved seeing Reed doing what he's so passionate and Reed is blown away by Lila, she has such a bright future and he soon realises he will do anything to make this happen for her.
They both try to keep their relationship on a friendship only basis, respecting each others positions and futures. I won't give any spoilers, its a beautiful story that had me crying and smiling. The personal developments of both of them was so beautiful to read.
Reed was just perfection for me.
Thank you NetGalley, Lisina Coney and Victory Editing for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

Love love love!!! This was the perfect end to the series I feel completely happy. I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy and listen to the audio.

Spicy male female age gap (she's 24 he's 36) workplace contemporary romance. I didn't realize this is the 3rd and final book in The Brightest Light series. The books follow different family members over several decades and all involve age gaps. I found this to be an engaging book with a good pace. I don't usually enjoy age gaps but this was done in a believable way that didn't give me any ick. I'm going to go back and read the first two books now!

☕🔥🔥🔥 A spicy slow burn page-turner that I could not put down with love, loss, secrets, forgiveness, and acceptance.

An internship, a forbidden romance, a family friend, and a desire to love.

Reed is willing to sacrifice himself to ensure that the one woman he can't live without will have a future. Will he finally be able to feel worthy enough to be loved and have a family?

Lila must figure out how to be more assertive and find a way to work through betrayal and trust issues. Will she find someone she can truly be herself with?

While this is part of a series it can be read as a standalone. A heartwarming story of overcoming anxiety, a longing to blend it, how to be brave, and confident. Who will take risks? Who will find love?

A beautiful and emotional way to end a series that completes character arcs and has a very satisfying ending.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: please slide to the right for a note from Lisina Coney regarding triggers.

All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book delivers such a beautiful and empowering message. It left me in tears, but they were the kind that come from feeling deeply moved. If you haven’t started this series yet, please do. The journey was both heartwarming and inspiring, and I highly recommend it.

holy moly this book!!! i think it might be my favourite of the series 🤭

Lila and Reed are so precious - they have such good tension, banter and spice 👀 but more than anything i love their gentle moments, and how much they reassure and uplift one another. it was so bittersweet to read this book because i just wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters and this little world, but it was truly such a wonderful book and a perfect way to end this series 🩷

Title: The Deepest End of Love
Author: Lisina Coney
Rating: 4/5

Review:

In The Deepest End of Love, Lisina Coney delivers a captivating blend of forbidden romance, complex emotions, and personal growth. The novel explores the tension between propriety and desire as the protagonist, Lila Callaghan, navigates the precarious territory of falling for a man who could both change her life and threaten her future.

Lila is a relatable character—smart, ambitious, and a classic rule follower, but one impulsive act of revenge puts her in a compromising situation. When Reed Abner, the charismatic professor she’s been avoiding, witnesses her moment of weakness, the story takes off into a charged, will-they-or-won’t-they dynamic. Reed isn’t just any professor—he’s a family friend, twelve years her senior, and someone who has always carried an air of unattainability in Lila’s eyes.

The plot thickens when Lila accepts an internship at a youth center Reed runs, creating the perfect storm of close proximity and suppressed attraction. As her mentor, Reed is authoritative and supportive, but the sparks between them are undeniable. Coney handles their chemistry with care, balancing the professional and personal boundaries they must grapple with. The slow-burn tension is handled skillfully, drawing the reader into the emotional stakes of their relationship.

What makes The Deepest End of Love particularly engaging is the way it delves into Lila’s internal conflict. The power imbalance, the age gap, and her future career aspirations all weigh heavily on her as she wrestles with her feelings for Reed. The story doesn’t shy away from the ethical complications of their relationship, offering a nuanced take on the challenges of forbidden love.

Reed is also a well-rounded character, not just the stereotypical older love interest. His past experiences and his deep care for Lila are portrayed authentically, making their romance feel earned rather than rushed. The connection between them feels organic, and Coney avoids typical clichés, instead offering genuine moments of vulnerability and personal growth.

While the book is certainly steamy in parts, the heart of the story lies in the emotional development of the characters. Lila and Reed's relationship forces them both to confront their insecurities, desires, and the potential consequences of crossing lines. Their journey is one of self-discovery as much as it is of romance, making the stakes feel high and the resolution satisfying.

In conclusion, The Deepest End of Love is a compelling read for fans of forbidden romance with depth. Lisina Coney weaves together a tale of tension, passion, and the difficult choices that come with following one’s heart. With well-drawn characters and a storyline that explores both love and personal integrity, this novel is sure to leave readers rooting for Lila and Reed to find their way to each other, despite the odds.