4⭐️ we loooove the student/professor trope. Reed was everything!! Unfortunately the third act breakup dropped it down a star

4.5 ⭐️
The first thought after finishing this book was “wow, that’s the perfect conclusion.”
Lisina Coney delivers the end of a series (or, what I think is, the end of an era) with such grace (lol) and sweetness, it’s hard to think I will not read about these three couples for the rest of my life. They became such comforting characters in times of my life I needed them… I remember the first time I read The Brightest Light of Sunshine, I was so curious, with zero expectations, and I just made friends for life: Grace and Cal, Maddie and James and last but not least, Lila and Reed.
Lila is Cal and Grace’s daughter, she’s 23 and in need of an internship so she can graduate on time. Enters Dr. Abner aka Reed aka friend-of-parents; he is 35 yo (yayy age gap) researcher, child therapist, and new supervisor to one Lila Callahan!
TDEOL is a:
- forbidden romance
- age gap
- slow burn
- parents’ best friend
- puppy daddy (you’re going to swoon and say “aww” so many times)
This book was soft, emotional (prepare for tears), sexy with frustrating 3rd act breakup 😂 but still, wonderful. Can't wait for what's in store for this talented author.

(so devastatingly sorry for the lateness)

First of all I would like to say thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit that I didn't realise this was part of a series when I started reading. I did manage to get through the book and now want to go back to read the first two to get a full sense of the characters and story.

I did still manage to enjoy it as is an easy pace and is a really well written love story, however be warned that it is a forbidden romance with an age gap.

Now I will be going to read from book one and fall in love with these characters all over again.

loved loved loved this book with everything in me. ¡ adore this series so much and the fact that it's over.... i'm sobbing. no one could beat grace and cal but lila and reed were very close, i loved them so badly. their journey wasn't easy but seeing them overcome whatever was thrown at them and open up to each other was beautiful 🤍

me and lila, i swear we are the same person. her character is definitely for the anxious overthinkers and i saw a lot of myself in her. i loved watching her become so strong and gain so much confidence in herself. absolutely loved reed too!!!! the best puppy dad ever <3 he was the sweetest man ever and just so in love with lila: (his backstory hurt to read about, but it was so lovely to watch throughout the series as he slowly overcame those demons and insecurities.

loved seeing maddie and james again but especially grace and cal, my babies (a fe this series will be so missed by me (i'm about to go rr tblos) but i can't wait to see what lisina has in store next! thank u so much netgalley for an arc 🩷

To be honest, I wish i would have read the other books in the series prior to reading this one in order to gather more of an understanding for the characters.I loved the stories mental health representation and i do love a good taboo age gap romance. However, I did find the story to be a little slow. Their relationship I feel shouldn’t have caused such a stir. I know that he oversaw her internship, but the relationship was consensual and they knew each other prior.

Thank you to the author and Net Galley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Deepest End of Love by Lisina Coney is a forbidden romance novel about Lila Callaghan, a graduate student, and Reed Abner, a university professor and family friend. After catching Lila vandalizing her cheating ex-boyfriend's car, Reed offers her an unexpected internship at the youth center he runs, becoming her supervisor.

Despite their 12-year age gap and the professional boundaries between them, a mutual attraction develops, leaving Lila to question whether pursuing a relationship with Reed is a mistake—or a chance worth taking.

𐙚 Forbidden Romance
𐙚 Age Gap (23-36)
𐙚 Intern x Supervisor
𐙚 Family's friend
𐙚 Grumpy x Sunshine
𐙚 Workplace Romance
𐙚 Slow Burn

I’ve read every book in this series, and it feels a bit sentimental to know that the loop is now closed. We’ve had Sammy and Grace’s story, James and Maddie’s, and now it was Lila and Reed’s turn. For this final book, I really enjoyed my reading experience. I love Lisina Coney’s writing style, and nothing has changed on that front.

As for the story itself, I also enjoyed it—it was pleasant to read. One of the aspects I particularly love about this book series is the emphasis on consent, which is highlighted multiple times throughout.

Unfortunately, it's not a favorite either. I enjoyed reading this book, but not much more than that. Maybe it’s because I read it during a reading slump, but I just liked it.
I’m writing this review after having read the book a while ago, so it's not very detailed. For example, I don't remember any particular scene that stood out to me more than the others. I can simply say that I enjoyed seeing Lila and Reed get to know each other, work together, and build their relationship.

To share my opinion on the series as a whole, I think it's worth reading. You meet endearing characters and discover beautiful stories. If I were to recommend one book in particular, it would be The Deepest End of Love.

Sadly I dnf this one. I think the timing of when I read it wasn’t good and i couldn’t get into it. I might try again in the future.

I LOVE LISINA. This book is like all the other lisina books, lovely heart wrenching yet masterpiece all over
i don't think i can explain how much this book means to me because it's pure perfection

A very swoony age-gap romance and the third in the Brightest Light series. Lila is a diligent graduate student studying to become a youth counselor. After breaking up with her cheating boyfriend, she is solely focused on finishing her degree and getting her counseling license. For her internship, she ends up working for a colleague of her mother's who happens to be more than a decade her senior. As the two forge a close working relationship at the youth counseling center, it becomes harder to deny the feelings that are developing. But Lila is determined not to compromise her chances of graduating and achieving her career goals.

Told from both main characters' perspectives, we see how both Reed and Lila have to battle their own demons to find clarity. Thoughtful, heartbreaking at times, but also life-affirming in many ways.

I've loved Lisina Coney since The Brightest Light of Sunshine. There's something very special about the series and I can't help but be sad that it's ending. The three books fit together perfectly and now with the third book the story of this wonderful family ❤️ comes full circle. Lila Callaghan is all grown up, and seeing Cal and Grace as parents was really priceless (Cal, you're my favorite. Sorry, Grace).
Lila is ambitious, hardworking, sensitive and a big overthinker. Her goal is to help children, but in order to do so, she must complete an internship. Internship with none other than her idol and close friend and colleague of her mother - Dr. Reed Abner. Speaking of complicated... it doesn't hurt that Reed is hot either.
It was an amazing slow burn story. If I want to read about two characters who find comfort and refuge in each other, slowly and gradually fall in love... Lisina Coney is THE woman.
An extremely beautiful story that shows the power of love and proves that your soul mate will always bring out the best in you. Yes, Reed is 12 years older than her. Yes, he is her mentor... But.. in the face of love, sometimes you are just powerless.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The entire book had the ideal amount of tension. I adored how the book addressed challenging subjects. In the end, I read this book first in the series, but I'm eager to read the other two so I can learn more about those characters.

The storyline was intriguing about forbidden love and temptation between a hot professor and a student (even though she wasn't his direct student except for the whole internship conflict of interest). The build up of their connection was a slow burn and their demise was quick sudden and very unrealistic due to one of her best friends ratting her out and orchestrating the whole thing. Plus, her parents' reaction was too supportive for what she actually did and also unrealistic. I liked the youth center tie-ins and Reed healing from his trauma-filled past by adopting his dog. The ending was a cheese fest and HEA. Not what I expected when I first read the teaser (I figured there would be more trysts and less obsessive love), but it still worked as a whole.

I have really been looking forward to this one and i truly loved the first half of this book! Lila and Reed were amazing and i couldnt put it down but the last 150 pages just hurt, the third act break up hurt and that part of the story just wasn't for me in this book

"The Deepest End of Love" is a compelling age-gap romance that expertly navigates the tension between professional boundaries and undeniable attraction. Lila Callaghan, a rule-abiding graduate student, finds herself drawn to Reed Abner, a charismatic professor and family friend who inadvertently witnessed her moment of revenge against a cheating ex. As they work closely during her internship at his youth center, the chemistry between them intensifies, challenging their attempts to keep things professional. Lisina Coney skillfully blends humor and emotional depth, creating a story that explores the complexities of love, ambition, and the risks of crossing boundaries. A passionate and engaging read!

Give me a forbidden romance every day, and I will always devour it.

The vibes in this book are immaculate, and I truly found myself falling in love with both Lila and Reed.

In the beginning, I truly was afraid I would not vibe with Lila's obsession over school and her grades but in the end, Lisina's writing and her character development made me LOVE HER and understand her in a deep level. I loved the character development and how he started to understand her emotions, her wishes, and who she truly is.

Reed - do not let me start because I've been in love with him since his first appearance.

The chemistry between them was truly palpable, and I was rooting for them SO BAD. They were that love story, and you just want to read more and more about it.

This was my first book from Lisina, and now I really want and need to read the other two, I know Cal and Grace will own my entire heart.

This book is so easy pacing, with a beautiful love story. I really recommend you love forbidden romance and age gap.

“𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈 𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥. 𝐌𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞, 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫—𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞.”

The Deepest End of Love is the third and last book in The Brightest Light series by @lisinaconeyauthor 🩷

This book features the story of Lila and Reed. Lila, Grace and Cal’s daughter (main characters of The Brightest Light of Sunshine), is a rule follower but one day, after discovering that her boyfriend was cheating on her she gets caught during an act of revenge by the person who she’s been trying to avoid for two years, her parents close friend, Reed Abner, who is also a professor at Lila’s university. Avoiding him is easy until he offers her an opportunity for an internship at the youth center he coordinates. Lila is desperate to get an internship as she gets closer to finishing her Master’s degree and turning it down would be foolish. The only issue? Reed’s going to be her supervisor. Working in such close proximity to each other poses an even bigger problem. Reed proves to be an excellent mentor, but he’s awakened feelings in Lila she shouldn’t have. Reed is her superior. He’s twelve years her senior. And as the burning desire between them grows, Lila wonders if falling for him will be her worst mistake yet.

Lila what can I say about you when you are literally me. She overthinks everything before making a decision (especially if it involves other people and they could get hurt in the meantime), she thinks so little of her when instead her achievements are so impressive. Lisina did a brilliant job creating and shaping her character, she felt so real, like a friend I could talk to. I loved reading about her personal growth, I’m so proud of who she had become at the end of the book🥹

Then we have Reed. His story broke my heart into a million pieces, but as he was healing throughout the book, it was mended❤️‍🩹 I loved both his calm side and his emotive side. He had the chance to learn how to love thanks to Lila and that was the sweetest thing ever. Also can we talk about is commitment to the youth center and those magnificent kids? Whenever they were involved I felt my heart explode over and over again(I just can’t, I love kids😭). AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PUPPY? I will never forget how many times I’ve cried during their scenes together. I know I am an emotional wreck, and I’ll always be😂.

I’m completely obsessed with Reed and Lila’s love story. I loved how Lisina made them heal before as two individuals and then as a couple, it’s exactly what the characters needed the most. Given their age gap of course there was some sort of hesitation between them, but I loved how Lisina handled that.

I also cried whenever Grace, Cal, Maddie and James were mentioned, and the epilogue? I was in shambles. I love this characters with my whole heart😭❤️ I wish I could go back in time and read this series from the start again🥹. I hope you follow my advice to start this series as soon as possible cause it deserves all the love in this world!

Tropes:
🩷age gap (36/24)
🩷grad student x internship supervisor
🩷slow burn
🩷dual pov

I received this arc through netgalley in exchange of an honest review

I became aware of Lisina's books when fanart of her previous book went viral on twitter. I immediately read that book (The Darkest Corner of the Heart) and adored it. As soon as I saw the cover for this, I knew I had to read it. I absolutely devoured this. The characters of Lila and Reed are some of my favourites I've read this year. I loved the setting of the youth centre and the little kids being side characters was the cherry on top. I'm a huge fan of slow burns and forbidden romance, and I genuinely could have read 1000 pages of these two falling in love. It was so pure and romantic, and this will be one that sticks with me for a while! I loved it so much

I had seen a number of people recommending books by Lisina Coney so I took a chance and decided to read this even though it’s the third book in the series. Not something I do often.
Wow, people were right. Her writing is beautiful. It flows off the page and evokes all the feelings she was writing about. I could feel the ache of self-doubt that Lily suffered, I could feel the first throes of love as their relationship shifted. Reed fell for her, heart and soul. It was so refreshing to read a romance where it wasn’t all about the physical attraction. They were each so enamoured with the others thoughts and feelings. I was captivated.
My only issue, and it’s entirely my own because of my age, was being able to relate to Lila. She is on the edge of womanhood and learning her boundaries which sometimes grated me a little. However, I would definitely read this author again.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc of this beautiful book. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

5⭐️

ARC Review

The wait for this book was worth it. I am so happy that I once came across Lisina's debut romance and now we have the latest book in the series. This is the best book in the series, in my personal opinion. I love them all, but this book has a special place in my heart.

To be honest, it was strange to read a story in which the characters from the previous books have already aged. On the one hand, it is so touching to watch their sincere love and strong relationships. But on the other hand, my stupid brain makes me think that everything has an end and my favorite heroes are not eternal.

The age difference scares me. But Lisina knows how to create a fiery attraction between the characters, in which all boundaries are erased. I am delighted with the stories of the characters. Despite the age difference, Lila and Reed are wise and smart heroes who needed to find each other in order to gain confidence and peace.

Oh my God, I'm ready to scream with delight and happiness for how wonderful Lila's parents are. I miss them so much that I'm ready to reread The Brightest Light of Sunshine right now.

I was incredibly happy to go through the whole journey with Lisina. Watching her rise in popularity, how she achieved all this, is very valuable. Thank you for this incredible series, for these wonderful characters and for all the emotions that Lisina's books gave me. Thank you for the ARC, it's very valuable to me.

I'm looking forward to new books by Lisina Coney. I'm very interested in what she will come up with, what stories she will write. I so want to immerse myself in new stories and get to know her wonderful characters.

This is book 3 in The Brightest Light Series. While you do not have to read the previous books, it helps in understanding the storyline a bit more. All that to say, I loved this book, it may very well be my favourite of the series. Lila and Reed were perfect in their imperfect ways. Lila is a psychology student studying to be a child therapist and Reed is a professor at her university. He helps her out in a bind and from there, they grow closer and closer.
This is an age gap romance romance with about 12 years between the two of them, and a student x teacher romance. I loved that bit because I’m a sucker for an age gap romance. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who read the first 2 of the series, as it was a wonderful conclusion to it. While the book did start off a little slow, it picked up pretty quickly and was a joy to read. I will continue to read what Lisina Coney writes because I really enjoyed this series and I imagine she has more wonderful books coming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Page & Vine, and Lisina Coney for an ARC of this book.