Member Reviews
A final trip to Inglewild with a lovely peek into how other characters have evolved whilst also falling in love with a new pairing.
Charlie is a perfect golden retriever and Nova is not one to let her feelings dictate her actions - except when it comes to Charlie.
There was so many great dynamics in this book, filled with everything I love about small towns (I want to be part of a phone tree) and the importance of family.
A perfect ending to a wonderful series.
Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmilan for the ARC.
This was too good 😭 I've been obsessed with the lovelight farms series, and this lives up to the high standard set by the first books. Real, authentic characters, with a raw romance that draws you until - plus, the adorable small town setting that always makes my heart ache. Witty and warm, the ultimate romcom.
Absolutely adored this! Every BK Borison book feels rose-tinted in the absolute best way. Inglewild is truly a place where magic happens! Charlie and Nova were so lovely and their chemistry was off the charts! Two people who really saw each other and whose lives and personalities fit together so seamlessly, there’s no question that they’re meant to be. I especially loved the group scene in the third act. I’m going to miss my Lovelight family so much :(
Business Casual is a beautiful story of love, family and belonging, Charlie and Nova's much-anticipated romance serving as the perfect bookend to the cozy Lovelight series.
I've been a Lovelight series fan since I binge-read the first 3 books in 2022 and have since been anticipating the release of Business Casual. And this book did not disappoint. I was already obsessed with Nova and Charlie from previous books but I absolutely fell in love with them in their book. I related to both of them so much and on different levels, I was rooting for them and their happy ending. Business Casual is a beautifully written book with the best of Inglewild and the Lovelight fam we know and love, a gorgeous romance with incredible chemistry, and all the fall vibes that make me feel like I'm in a Gilmore Girls episode. Plus, with beautiful scenes between the two sibling duos - Charlie and Stella and Nova and Beckett - that made me cry, Business Casual is as much about family as it is about romance. Speaking of family, the found family moments were everything and had me crying at various instances. Actually, I was pretty much sobbing throughout the last few chapters and epilogue. Nova and Charlie's romance was steamy, sweet and swoon worthy, a classic Lovelight series story about two people seeing each other at their best and worst, letting each other in and finding love together. I can't wait for fall in July with Charlie and Nova when Business Casual offers the perfect bookend to this cozy series.
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Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am in love with the Porter Family!
Honestly, I fell in love with Beckett in “In the Weeds” and now I’m 100% convinced I want to be a part of the Porter Family. I want a sister who tattoos beautiful flowers on my body and a brother-in-law who can help me with my taxes. And I’m not going to settle for less…
I felt like a part of the town of Inglewild (can someone add me to the phone tree please?) and I want to stay.
This book is the best one out of the Lovelight Series, it made my smile and laugh throughout the whole book. The perfect ending for the Lovelight Series and I’m excited for what is to come from B.K. Borison!
Charlie as the golden retriever who tries not to be too much is just enough for Nova the perfectionist with the bubble-wrapped heart, and together, they’re beautifully business casual.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the ARC copy. (all opinions are my own)
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3.5/5
Oh how much I enjoyed it, there was a moment when I even thought it would be a five-star read for me, which unfortunately did not happen, but it doesn't change the fact that I had a really good time reading it. I have over a hundred and fifty highlights and over a hundred notes. I think that says enough how much I enjoyed it. And these are not notes in which I complain about something, no no no, these are notes in which I either scream or write how much I love our hero, like here for example: "GOD HE IS PERFECTTTTTTTTT", "God i needd him", "YESSSSSSSSSS". These are the less embarrassing examples obviously, as I'm too scared of the digital footprint to add my not PG13 notes. I'm probably in the minority of people who have never read any book in this series and started with the last one, but surprisingly I had no problem with the side characters, as each of them was introduced in such a way that it was easy for me to remember who was who.
Business Casual is about Nova and Charlie, Charlie - our golden retriever hero who works for a wealthy investment firm in New York, has a penchant for three-piece suits and wristwatches that cost as much as most of the characters' rent here, and who has been shamelessly flirting with his friend Nova for ages, and Nova - our grumpy character who owns the only female-owned and female-operated tattoo shop on the East Coast, and who like Charlie, is not interested in relationships. Or, at least it was like that until they both decided on one night together to get each other out of their systems, which didn't exactly end the way they planned as one night turned into several with an ending they never planned.
Honestly, I loved both of our main characters. I could relate to both of them, which in some situations hit close to home, sometimes even too close, but for this reason this book will definitely be among my favorite stories this year because it will be hard for me to forget about it. They both struggle with different things, and they both healed together, learning that they needed each other more than they thought. One night stand books are not something I usually reach for because I feel like the bond between the main characters is usually built on lust, but here you could just feel that Nova and Charlie truly loved each other and their bond, instead of being based on lust, was based on friendship and trust in each other.
One of my favorite dynamics in books is the hero who is clearly obsessed with the heroine and shamelessly flirts with her at every opportunity, <b>and</b> the grumpy heroine who wants nothing to do with him, although secretly likes it, but in the end she gives up and gives him a chance, which turns out to be one of her better decisions. So it was hard for me not to like this book as Nova and Charlie basically had the same dynamic. Charlie boy had it bad and had not problem showing it.
Charlie was so much my type that I felt like the author went inside my brain, find out all the things I love in men, and decided to create Charlie out of it. Seriously. He was rich, tall, loved his family and did everything for them, he was honest and not afraid to cry, he was obsessed and worshiped his woman, was full of respect and responsibility, and a million million other traits that made me simply love him and put him in my "favorite hero" folder.
I didn't plan to write a long review, but I couldn't stop writing and it turned out the way it did. Anyway, if you want to read a book with golden retriever rich hero and grumpy tattoo artist heroine, opposites attract, flirting as a love language, "just once to get it out of our systems" turns out "oh sh*t, it's not getting out of our systems", run and add it to your tbr!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
Visiting Inglewild one last time felt like going back home. I hadn't realised how much I missed this little town and the people who live there 🥹 This series is so sweet and lovely, and even though I had some issues with the previous books (*cough* miscommunication & third act breakups *cough*), it's a series I love. And this last book did not disappoint. Not only is it my favourite of the series, it's also the best Lovelight book, and the hottest!
Business Casual made me feel so warm and fuzzy. I had a huge smile on my face the whole time I was reading it. I was genuinely giggling and kicking my feet in the air, taking small breaks to scream at how cute Nova and Charlie were, audibly gasping and fanning myself whenever Charlie said something that made my whole body catch fire 😮💨 To put it simply, this is what a perfect romance looks like to me.
Nova and Charlie have known each other for a long time and the chemistry between them is insane. I wanted them to kiss in the first chapter lol, I couldn't handle the tension! This is not a slow burn romance, but I didn't care because it made sense for the plot - they both agreed to have a one night stand (although of course it wasn't just one night 😏).
I saw little pieces of myself in Nova and Charlie. It made me sad to see how they were both constantly trying to fit into a mold, a version of themselves that they thought would make everyone else happy. Nova was so afraid of failing and disappointing the people she loved, especially her brother, so she acted like everything was fine and never asked for help, even when she clearly needed it. Charlie is the epitome of a people pleaser, always making sure everyone around him is happy and cared for. It broke my heart how he felt like he was intruding on other people's lives, like he was too much and they only kept him around because they felt sorry for him 🥺 He was hiding behind a cool, fun guy persona when inside he was falling apart and feeling so lonely. I love how Nova made Charlie realise his worth and that he needed to put himself first, and how Charlie taught Nova that asking for help is not a weakness and that no one expects her to be perfect.
I loved how their relationship developed, it was so beautiful to watch them go from friends to lovers, seeing each other in a different light and noticing things they hadn't noticed before. And even though it was hard for them to admit things at first because of their fears and insecurities, they managed to find a way to communicate openly and be vulnerable with each other. It was amazing because it meant there wasn't a stupid third act conflict 😭 Also, the smut is some of the best I've ever read. It was so freaking hot 🥵 I loved the way they communicated, how Charlie let Nova set the pace, how Nova wasn't afraid to ask for what she needed. The dialogue was so good! And I think I died a little every time Charlie said "Nova girl", I don't know why, but I found it so sexy.
Inglewild is the small town of my dreams, I'd move there in a heartbeat. The community is so tight and the phone tree thing is hilarious and remains one of my favourite parts of the series. I loved that all the couples appeared in this book, it was so lovely to see them all. I love them so much.
Overall this was a huge success and it's always the nicest feeling when the last book in a series is amazing. And it doesn't feel like goodbye at all 💖
.One night stand
.Friends to lovers
.No third act breakup
.Small town
.Dual POV
This was such a gentle read. From the charming community to the refreshing honesty between the characters, this book was sweet and soft, and so rewarding.
This author's writing is just lovely, she has such a way with words, effortlessly pulling you into the story until you forget where you are for a while. The characters feel real, and the lack of unnecessary drama is a breath of fresh air in the romance genre. Sure, there's pinning, but there's no miscommunication, and that's what really makes it a solid romance in my book.
Now, about the one-night stand trope, I'll be honest, it's not usually my thing, and it did take away a bit from the buildup I usually enjoy. But that's just my personal preference. Despite that, this book is still great, even if it doesn't quite top the others in the series, especially the first one.
Overall, it's a winner, and I'm sure it'll be a well deserved hit when it comes out. You can totally dive into each book in the series on its own, but they all deserve to be read. I'm usually guilty of hopping around series and reading whatever strikes my fancy at the moment. I'm a savage, I know. But trust me, you won't be disappointed if you read all four.
Business casual was disgustingly cute, and I loved every minute of it. It’s the last book in the Lovelight Farms series and I was so happy to finally get more of Charlie, especially with his Nova girl. *swoons*
One night between friends to get each other out of their systems sounds like a great plan, especially since Charlie lives and works in New York and Nova’s in Inglewild. Yet with Stella away from the farm for a month, Charlie takes her place, moving to town for the harvest season. But that’s not going to be a problem since what Nova and Charlie wanted was a one and done right? *Insert evil laugh*
I love the tension of opposites attract, especially when added to mutual pining; throw all of that into a small town with a golden retriever and a black cat *chef’s kiss*. Business casual was fun, flirty, and lovely. It was heart-warming to see Charlie finally finding his place and taking it, as well as seeing him and Nova grow around and with each other. A wonderful end to a great series.
Business Casual by B. K. Boris
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
POV: Dual POV
Tropes: Slow burn, golden retriever hero, grump heroine, friends to lovers, small town, found family.
In this fourth and final instalment of the Lovelight series, we find ourselves following Charlie and Nova, a couple that I found was so easy to mesh with, drawing you perfectly into the story.
This was a roller coaster of a ride with tension that was just perfect and the feels were felt. I love how the author brings in the previous couples and we get to see them living out their lives too.
I would definitely recommend this book if you’re cute and cosy read.
Business casual is the last book in the lovelight farm series and might be my favourite one. I loved how we always thought Charlie was a joker and goofy man, but he was SO MUCH MORE. He’s tender and caring and has so many layers like an onion.
I loved how we got to see all our favourite characters from the series, and live through their happiness.
I’d say, READ IN ORDER. This series is lovely and deserves all the love.
I just adore this book. It is so, so good.
I loved evey minut I spent reading it, loved evry chapeter, every page, every word in this book.
The hype about this book is soooo real.
It sis so beautifuly written. I just has a flow
Yey, for not having a 3rd act break up
And don't get me started on a MCs. Just perfection. Love how Charlie is a cinnemon roll inside. Yes, he flirts, but he is a gonner for Nova, from the start.
And Nova is so strong, and brave. Love how she doesn't run from her fears. How she talks everything through.
Just a really great book, about a small town romance!
I can’t put into words HOW much I loved this book. Nova and Charlie are everything.
When I read the Lovelight Farm series first during fall 2022 I was absolutely obsessed with Lovelight Farms but then a little bit disappointed by both In the Weeds and Mixed Signals. Both book just didn’t have the same magic in my opinion as Lovelight Farms did - and Business Casual as well. I didn’t dare to have too high hopes for »Business Casual« and maybe that’s why I loved it so much but I don’t think it is. It just is an excellent romance book and definitely a new favorite.
Nova and Charlie were both such interesting characters and I loved reading about and getting to know them. Both are flawed and very nuanced characters, they felt so real to me. I loved how their relationship was written, how they were friends and then more but didn’t exactly knew what and how to communicate what they wanted and needed and ugh. I just loved them and seeing their character development. They nearly made me tear up because I loved them so much.
It was also so nice to see all of the other couples and secondary characters and the whole town again, I’m seriously going to miss them and crave a reread of Lovelight Farms.
The pacing of the book was really well done in my opinion. I wish more romance books were written like this; most of the back and force was in the middle of the book and not the end which I enjoyed a lot. It gave the characters lots of room to grow and become a couple. Books written like this are my favorite kind of romances.
I’m trying to think of anything else I want to add but everything I can think of is repeating »I love them« ten more times, so. I won’t. But please go read this series if you haven’t already. It’s fantastic and »Business Casual« was the perfect conclusion and is definitely a book I’m going to think about for a while because it made me feel so much.
First I want to thank Pan Macmillan and BK Borison for granting me this ARC.
Nova and Charlie are such a cute pair. I didn’t want to put this book down and could really identify myself with both of them. This is actually the first BK Borison book I’ve read but it will definitely not be the last!! I think Nova and Charlie are now actually my favourite romance book couple.
Tropes: friends with benefits, black cat/golden retriever, small town.
What an incredible end (for now) to the Lovelight Farms series.
As soon as Charlie was introduced in the first book, I wanted his story. I have a soft spot for the city to country boy, and damn did this deliver. Charlie is the best hero in this series and I'm obsessed. I also really loved Nova and their love story - sweet and romantic and sexy and just a pretty perfect romance.
I don't want to say too much but just read it. Read all of them. Read everything B.K. Borison has ever and will ever write.
Thanks to B.K. Borison, Pac Macmillan and NetGalley. All opinions are my own (I just loved it).
I adore this series for its joyous, beautifully written escapism, and Charlie and Nova's story brings it to a perfect conclusion. These are two characters who outwardly have their own set paths and very little in common, but on the inside they're searching for acceptance and unsure of what they really deserve, and what they find in each other is both unexpected (for them, at least) and delightful. As with the other books in the series, there is an excellent balance between humour, emotion and spice, and appearances from previous characters both major and minor. The sibling relationships in particular are so well done. Also, an honourable mention for Inglewild and its phone tree: some of the "busybody" aspects of small-town novels are cringeworthy and over-the-top, but this one is genuinely funny and makes me wish it wasn't fictional. Part of me is sorry that the series is coming to a conclusion, but this and the other books are definitely on my re-read list.
Charlie boy ♥️
My review could only say his name and it would be enough to describe my feelings.
I cried a bit, and then I cried some more, and when I thought I was all cried out, I wasn’t.
I don’t know if I related more to this characters, or if it was because of the story in particular, but it doesn’t really matter. This was PERFECT!
Thank you B. K. Borinson for giving us <i>Lovelight</i> and all of these wonderful characters that truly feel like family.
Thank you, thank you, thank you Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the eARC! All the thoughts are my own!
What an amazing ending to the lovelight farms series! I absolutely adored this book. Nova and Charlie were everything I wanted and more. This had everything. Tension but also tender and sweet moments. These two really saw each other, they made each other better and it was so endearing. My fave of the series, I will be re reading!!
‘Business Casual’ by B.K. Borison is the fourth book in the ‘Lovelight Farms’ series set in the charming small town of Inglewild where love is definitely in the air… Nova and Charlie’s story starts at the wedding of friends-to-finally-lovers Stella and Luka, with the group still annoyed about one-night-stand-to-forever Evie and Beckett’s elopement, with loved-up Layla and Caleb in attendance! If a small town where everyone is connected to each other isn’t your jam, this book probably isn’t for you because Nova is Beckett’s youngest sister, a talented and entrepreneurial tattoo artist who is excited to be opening her very own tattoo parlour and Charlie is Stella’s half-brother who works in New York finance but makes regular trips to the town. I personally ADORE small-town series with loveable characters who keep popping up across the instalments so this book was exactly my cup of tea!
Charlie and Nova are both interesting characters who struggle with admitting - even to themselves - what they really want. As their relationship grew from “business casual” (friends with benefits with a few extra rules thrown in) into something more, I appreciated how they not only learned each others bodies but also shared some of the worries on their minds, becoming each others’ key confidants and supporters even before they voiced their true feelings.
There were some hilarious scenes involving geese and windows, and a lot of cute Inglewild antics including planning for the Harvest Festival. I enjoyed reading about Nova’s journey to launching her business and Charlie’s reflections on whether following his disruptive father’s footsteps into the Finance industry was really what he was made to do. The ending was super sweet and fitted the characters well.
Ultimately, this was a lighthearted, cosy hug in book form that fans of the other books in the series will love! An easy 4.5 stars (rounded down as I always do with 4.5) from me!
I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Pan MacMillan via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I cannot tell you how much I adore B.K. Borison.
Charlie and Nova's story was so worth the wait. I have adored spending my time in Ingewild and this was the perfect end to the series. B.K. Borison is so good at creating the small town vibe and, as funny and silly as the characters often are, the town she created still feels so real to me. If I could live in any romance book, I'd probably choose this one.
The wit and humour in this book was just perfect. Charlie's personality just jumps off the page and Nova is his perfect compliment. This was by far my favourite read of the year (so far!)