This was a fun, light romance, perfect for summer days. The characters are likeable, and they are dealing with some intense issues, and I enjoyed getting to know them all - main and supporting characters alike. I think some of the conflict was dealt with very well, while some of it was handled with a very light touch, in keeping with the tone of the novel. Recommended for anyone looking for a light, quick romance. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the advance digital copy!

The Sweetheart List begins as a lighthearted romance about a woman looking to make a fresh start. Harper follows her love of baking and her happy childhood memories to Sunrise Cove, where she opens a bakery. She's quickly drawn into the community, finding a love interest in closed-off Bodie and a purpose in teen runaway Ivy. The story has all the elements of a classic romance novel, and Harper is a relatable protagonist.

In the novel's second half, events take a more serious, sometimes melodramatic turn that feels inconsistent with the title and the upbeat tone of the first several chapters. I would have preferred for the book to have remained light throughout, or else to have better developed its emotional aspects from the beginning.

3.5 stars,, rounded down.

I received an ARC for an honest review. Sometimes you need a book that is going to be sweet-where everyone fits into their role and all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed-perhaps a bit formulaic. That said, I quickly fell in love with all the characters in this novel and am glad it's a stand-alone.

Thank you NetGalley, Jill Shalvis and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of The Sweetheart List. This is my personal review.
The title of the book grabbed my attention, and I knew I wanted to read it.
I have read other books by this author and enjoyed them all. I now want to read the other three books in the series Sunrise Cove.
The characters in the story are written so well I felt like I was right there with them in the story. This book will make a great beach read for many.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Sweetheart List
By:Jill Shalvis
Pub Date: 6/13/2023
Publisher: Avon and Harper Voyager

Another cozy Jill Shalvis romance! Harper trying to escape a life where she hasn’t been happy recently lands at Lake Tahoe to open a bakery to start over. Things don’t go as planned cause nothing is ready when she arrives but not being afraid of hard work it doesn’t bother her.
When she heads to the bar next door to get the keys she meets Brody, one of her 3 landlords. All 3 are brothers and always helping each other out. He warns her nothing is ready, but with nowhere else to go, she intends to sleep in the bakery and get to work first thing tomorrow. Until she hears somebody come in the back door and finds a teenager, Ivy looking for a place to stay.
Has Harper and Ivy get to know one another and start to share their secrets. Harper stumbles upon a truth Ivy hasn’t told her.
While getting to know Ivy, she’s also getting to know Brody, but could this truth change everything?

I really enjoyed how family focus the book was. Not only does Brody have two brothers, but he has a mom who wants to be very involved in her children’s life as well as nephews and sister in laws. You learn just a little bit about each of the brothers relationships too.

This is the 4th book in the Sunrise Cove series but was an amazing stand alone read.

Harper has just gotten out a relationship and decides she needs a change. She packs up and moves to the last place she can ever remember being happy, Lake Tahoe. Harper rents space where she can finally open up her own bakery. On the way to her new home, her car slides off the road and while trying to get unstuck a man, Bodie, approaches the car to help but she refuses his help only to find out later that he is part the family who owns the property she is renting. Settling in for her first night at her new place the door handle begins to move and someone is trying to break in. But to Harper's surprise a teenage girl, Ivy, enters.

I loved this story and how all the characters went so well together. I definitely recommend this book and I am excited to read more from Jill Shalvis!

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author for my ARC!

This is an adorable and funny story. Readers will laugh out loud at the witty banter between the characters. Bodie and his brothers will capture your attention with their text chain and rambunctious fun. Harper will delight you with her obsessive need for independence. The character that will totally capture your heart is Ivy. This is a story about family and love that will make a great summer beach read.

Jill Shalvis is one of my long time favorite authors, and I just found a new favorite. Before I knew any details about Ivy I knew she was going to worm her way into my heart, and I have no regrets about that!

Ivy is a teenage runaway that comes into Lake Tahoe with a mission and a chip on her shoulder. Her home life wasn't great, hence running away on her mission (her mom is very self involved). She ends up coming across Harper, our main character, who has a soft spot for those in need. I love how quickly they bonded and how Harper gave her the same, respect, and time she needed, rather than grilling her or turning her over.

Bodie, Campbell who owns and runs the tavern next door ends up getting involved with Harper and also takes to Ivy, offering her tavern food for free - no strings attached. The Campbell family is also pretty awesome, they're bigger and louder, but have so much love to give.

So many things happen that are hard to address because I don't want to put out any spoilers, but this one really tugged at the heartstrings. I read The Sweetheart List all in one sitting and have no regrets.

This is a quiet light and easy read, for such serious and difficult topics addressed. It's a type of "feel-good" story, with a straightforward romance, a big boisterous family, and a fun side-friend. I enjoyed the setting and overall I breezed through the book. Harper is starting over and taking risks (making it look really easy, all I kept thinking of is wouldn't the rent in Tahoe be astronomical???). Bodie is grumpy but kind and overall quite likable. I probably won't remember reading this months from now, but it hit the spot for an easy vacation read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

This was book was sweet and heartwarming, but nothing memorable. To be honest, I found myself skimming. I recommend it if you like tropey, predictable romance or just need a light read. I can see why Jill Shalvis has a big following, even if it's not my cup of tea. She knows her genre and gives the fans what they want.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the eGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Harper Shaw's life was falling apart so she up and moves to Lake Tahoe to open a bakery. There she befriends a runaway and finds romance. Sweet story.

Along the lines and stories of Debbie Macomber and Susan Mallery, Jill Shalvis always delivers great stories.

The Sweetheart List
by Jill Shalvis
5 stars

This was so cute and enjoyable.
Harper decides to move to Lake Tahoe the last place she felt happy, to open a bakery. Upon arriving she meets Bodie who is her landlord and bar owner and oh so hot. Then Ivy a sixteen-year-old runaway with secrets stumbles into Harper's bakery needing a place to stay. It reminds me of a Hallmark movie and the way it went about. I enjoyed every minute, learning about Harper, Bodie, and Ivy.

Thank you, Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this eARC for an honest review.

A warm hug, Shalvis never fails to deliver a sweet love story. A baker looking for a new start, a runaway looking for a place to belong, & a recovering hero are thrown together & find everything they never knew they needed. Add in baked goods & a quirky family for the perfect recipe! Some of the writing was rough (how many times can a sound be the best one he‘s ever heard?), but this book was a perfect escape. This comes out June 13th and is the perfect vacation read!

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, sweet and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

This was a cute, fluffy summer read. Perfect for reading by the pool. Yes, it was a little cliche and formulaic and there were parts where you had to suspend your belief regarding a timeline, but it was fun, enjoyable read.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Why have I not read a Jill Shalvis book before this?! I've seen them on the library shelves and have never gotten one but now I'm definitely going to check out her back-list! This is a fun summer read...the setting gave me cozy-hometown feels and made me want to walk up the street to go grab something from Harper's Sugar Pine bakery. I loved Bodie's family and how they were really there for each other. The romance between Harper and Bodie was just perfect and am now off to find the previous books in this series!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication Date: June 13, 2023

Love the books by Jill Shalvis! I really get sucked into the stories and the characters are believable people.

We are back in Sunrise Cove book #4 in this series. We have three main characters who we follow:

Harper Shaw: A talented baker, dying in her soul sucking job who decides to get rid of everything that doesn’t spark joy and moves 500 miles away to start over in the charming town of Sunrise Cove,with the cutest furry companion, to fulfill her dream of opening her own bakery.

Bodie Campbell: A tragic accident on the job brought him back home to sunrise cover to run his families tavern. He’s still trying to shake it off when Harper comes barreling into town and possibly his heart.

Ivy ****: Runaway who, Harper catches sneaking in to her bakery her first night into town looking for somewhere to sleep for the night and she quickly takes the 16 year old under wing. But what Harper and Bodie don’t know is the secret Ivy has that will change everything.

The book is funny, charming, heartfelt and a little heartbreaking in a couple chapters, a classic Jill novel! You will fall in love with this set of characters from Harper who’s been knocked down and continues to get back up, to Ivy, to Bodie and his huge loving family who’s dynamic is written so perfectly! This book release June 13th, highly recommend, you will not be disappointed!

As a reader who is just discovering Jill Shalvis, I enjoyed <i>The Sweetheart List</i> even though I had not read the earlier titles in the <i>Sunrise Cove</i> series. The characters and storyline were believable and engaging. Each character was unique in what they brought to the story as individuals as well as a family – even the dog, Ham! In addition to a strong sense of family, romance and a good dose of humor, the story addressed several real-life issues with sensitivity, compassion and honesty. Lake Tahoe itself is a beautiful setting although it didn’t play a significant role and I would have liked more!

At some point, however, the conversations and storyline began to seem repetitive rather than continuing to develop. Although the potential was there for this book to really stand out it needed more depth in order to take it to the next level. As is, it was a fine, light read and I’m adding the first of the series to my summer reading list.


FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.