I've never read anything by Sophie Sullivan before, so I wasn't sure what to expect from this except a fairly clean modern romance. And it was cute! It's pretty cookie cutter: city girl meets rural outdoors guy with instant attraction, but there were some unique elements. The family and friends were great side characters--typical enough to keep the reader comfortable, but different enough that I'd recommend this book over some others. The fact that Presley is actually good at her hobbies and her job and enjoys them provided interesting outside influences to the relationship as well. My only complaint would be that the middle third of the book felt pretty repetitive. After they've decided to have a fling, it doesn't make sense for the two of them to think about when they'll have to part every single time they hang out or kiss. Still, it's a quick read and worth sticking it out for me! All of the sex is mentioned but off page, so I'd recommend this to anyone who likes clean and cute, quick, opposites-attract romances!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an advanced copy of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

Breaking up with her now-ex-boyfriend after booking his dream outdoorsy vacation, newly single Presley decides to continue on to the rural Smile, Michigan, campgrounds, even though she's much more into champagne and caviar than fishing or hiking. After falling for the camp's handsome wilderness guide and helping the owners fix up the rustic lodgings, Presley realizes that she may have been chasing all the wrong things (and the wrong people) in the big city.

I was so charmed by Love, Naturally! After picking it up on a whim, I found myself totally sucked in to the kind, likable leads with palpable chemistry, the found family aspect, and the well-paced, engaging writing. Despite the fact that I'm not normally the biggest fan of Insta-love or closed door romances, I think it all really worked here, and this one might end up on my list of my favorite reads of 2023. I would definitely look forward to recommend this one to our patrons who love sweet romcoms and fish-out-of-water stories. 5 stars.

This book is such a cozy vacation read and I was so happy to hear that this is going to be part of a series! If I could visit the lodge and this town I would in an instant. Beckett and Presley were so perfect and fell in love fast but it felt so right when reading it. I can't wait to see them pop up in the future books.

I loved that Presley dumped Emmett and went on her trip that she had planned for him after he suggested he go with someone else. STONE COLD REVENGE. It just got better as she got to spend time with the Hot Mountain Man Beckett. The small town feel and the world building of the lodge was great. It sounds like a place I'd want to visit and get lost in. I loved all the supporting characters, especially Ollie. They really made the book more exciting. That said, the quick timeline of the story didn't exactly work for me and felt very instalove. I think if it had been more of a slow burn, it would felt more natural and genuine. Overall, it was a cute story and I am always down for forced proximity.

Thank you to netgalley and St. Martins Griffin for this opportunity and eARC.

title: Love,Naturally

author: Sophie Sullivan

publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

publication date: January 16, 2024

pages: 320

peppers: 2 (on this scale)

warnings: none

summary: Trying to convince herboyfriend that she can do the activities he likes,Presley buys a surprise vacation for two to an island nature retreat. When he doesn't want to go with her, she dumps him and goes alone. There, she discovers Becket, who's helping repair the run-down place his brother got in a divorce settlement.

tropes:

fish out of water
don't realize how bad one boyfriend is until trying to move forward with him
family first
cute kid
small town
nature heals our hearts

what I liked: 

the cute kid
the family scenes

what I didn’t like:

the book covered the same ground lots of times and felt repetitive. With the same story and characters, it would have been improved by being 30% shorter.

overall rating: 3 (of 5 stars)

Loved this one! Short fling turns into something more? You’ll just have to wait and see! The will they won’t they trope is a classic for a reason! Sometimes you don’t know what you really need until you stumble upon it!!

I’ll start by saying I TRULY loved, loved, loved this book, but not immediately. In fact, after I finished the first chapter, I was slightly dreading having to read the whole book! In the first chapter, the FMC appears weak, easily taken advantage of, and quite clueless. I am NOT a fan of reading weak females! I mean, how do you date someone for eight months, never talk about the relationship, make assumptions about where it is headed, then get upset when things don’t go the way you thought? But I kept reading, (An ARC would have to be truly awful for me to not finish!!) and what I realized is that the first chapter was very important! Throughout the story, Presley grows and changes so much. That first chapter really highlighted the character development!

After I got a bit of her history, it was understandable why Presley may have had a skewed view of what love was supposed to be, based primarily on emotionally distant parents, who only took care of her physical needs. It was easy to see why she didn’t know how to have a loving relationship with a partner, or how to communicate in that relationship.

This love story wasn’t only about the two main characters. There was a delightful group of found-family, including a clever (albeit written a little old for her age) and funny little girl.

One more thing I loved about this book is that there is no third-act “blow up.” I often find the fights toward the end of books to be ridiculously avoidable, but I know they’re coming! I mean a good story needs conflict, right? There definitely *was* conflict, but it didn’t seem contrived. I was pleasantly surprised!

I guess I didn’t write anything about the male main character… he was a big, fat cinnamon roll. He was always caring for those around him, and was just an incredibly sweet guy. Not without flaws, obviously, but very well-written!

I HIGHLY recommend this book, and will absolutely be rereading it!!

I loved this book! The characters were so enjoyable and I didn’t want the story to end. I hope this becomes a series, maybe with others finding love at the hotel? It was just so well written. The perfect palate cleanser!

LOVE, NATURALLY is a heartwarming romance about adventure, fate and being open to the most unexpected. Just days after being broken up with, falling in love with a handsome, family-loving outdoorsman is the last thing on Presley's mind, but destiny has other plans. I appreciated how grounded Beckett was and the believability and realness of the connection between Presley and Beckett. I loved how much Presley surprised herself and learned about her self going on this camping trip, so yes it's about love - but also self-discovery. And for Beckett, realizing he can find the balance of helping out his family while pursing his dream.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced digital readers copy in exchange my for honest review.

I’m not sure why but the moment I saw this cover and title I HAD to have this book. While this drew me in, the characters are what kept me smiling and turning pages.

I want to start off by saying this is such an adorable story. I loved every single character (except Emmet for obvious reasons). Beck was the ultimate book boyfriend. He didn’t try to hide his feelings about Presley - he mentioned her beauty inside and out when we got his POV chapters. I loved him so much.

Presley was such a relatable character. My heart ached for her the first couple chapters. I know how it feels when you try your hardest to make someone happy and they just take it for granted and stomp on your heart. I’m happy this did not deter Presley, and she was able to go on vacation and enjoy herself.

The side characters make me want more! Ollie was cute as can be, and her mom Jilly deserves her own book. Grayson also deserves a redemption story. Please can we get some more of this world?!?!

This story was just too cute. There were so many elements that made this one I’ve never seen before. There were little to no cliches. For the bulk of the book I was smiling, but there was one chapter that had me in tears. This is definitely one I will be reading again!

*An ARC was provided by NetGalley and the Publishing company in exchange for an honest review. And honestly, please go pick up this book when it comes out in January 2024!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Presley Ayers is a city girl who takes a chance to show her boyfriend she is up for stepping outside of her comfort zone by surprising him with an outdoorsy trip for two to Get Lost Lodge. When he dumps her instead, Presley decides to take the trip herself and settle in for some post break up movies, reading and chocolate.

When Beckett Keller’s Brother acquires a crumbling Lodge, he puts family first and puts his own plans on hold to help wherever he can. He doesn’t expect the inescapable draw to his complete opposite.

This closed-door, opposites attract, dual POV romance had me absolutely hooked from the beginning.

Sophie Sullivan has a way with words that just makes you fall in love with every single one of her characters and this book is no exception. Presley and Beckett, the Keller family and every single one of the Smile residents worm their way directly into your heart.

The only thing that disappoints me about this book is that, because I was fortunate enough to read this early, I have to wait even longer for Sophie’s next story, which I am really hoping will bring me back to Smile, Michigan.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
If you're into the hallmark-esque small town romance, you'll love this. It is closed door, forced proximity, insta-love. Typically, I am not a fan of this trope(s) but I felt like with these characters the chemistry was there, and were genuinely falling in love.

Overall, an enjoyable cutesy story.

Quick hitters:
Expected Publication: January 2024
Rating: 4.25 stars
Genre: Small-town romance
Tropes: city girl / outdoorsy boy, rebound(?), instant attraction
Spice level: Closed-door

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sharing an advanced copy of this book for review. It was my pleasure to read another of Sophie Sullivan’s books!

Summary
Presley Ayers is suddenly alone at a fishing lodge, and she doesn’t even like to be outside. How did this happen? Presley doesn’t do things by chance. She is a detail-oriented people-pleaser who REALLY likes a plan. She’s made a career out of it as both a hotel concierge and a small Instagram influencer who mainly shares vacation deals.

But you see, she booked this trip for her boyfriend as a surprise. When he told her that he couldn’t imagine spending 10 days with her nagging, she broke up with him and went on her own. Reeling from this shocking turn, a beautiful mountain man ends up sleeping on her couch so she doesn’t feel so isolated… and accidentally appears in the background of a picture she posts online.

Beckett Keller (the couch hottie) is devoted to his family (parents, siblings, niece) and helping his brother get his lodge off the ground. He works day in & out to make it happen, but lately, he’s been wanting to pursue his own dreams. When Presley stumbles into his life, they find a marketing strategy to drum up interest in the lodge as well as stoke their interest in each other.

My thoughts:
Another hit from Sophie Sullivan! I enjoyed meeting this whole cast of brilliant characters. Ollie, the niece, was hilarious throughout the book while still seeming believable as a little kid.

The romance was really sweet! Nothing but two people who legitimately want the best for one another making choices to that end. We got a good amount of depth from both Presley and Beckett without devolving into melodrama. I actually teared up just a little at the end of the book. Without spoiling anything, I love a little grand gesture moment.

I have my fingers crossed that Sullivan will bring back the secondary characters in stand-alone novels. Does Grayson heal from his divorce & settle down with someone new? Do the karaoke bar brothers ever resolve things? Does Adam get a car? I would love to stay tuned!!

Presley has planned the perfect trip for her boyfriend. The only thing she didn’t plan on was her boyfriend dumping her. Instead of postponing the trip, Presley decides to get out of her comfort zone and head out to Get Lost Fishing Lodge where she meets sweet and swoony, Beckett.

Love, Naturally is a sweet contemporary romance that features a small town, opposites attract, insta-love story. This book feels exactly like a Hallmark movie - the plot is quite predictable. Even though the reader knows exactly what’s going to happen, it still is a cute story.

I did feel that the pacing in the book was off. The entire story takes place over ten days, yet some of the days just seemed to last so long with very little happening to move the plot forward.

Overall, this was a cute story. I really enjoyed the cast of characters as well as the setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Opposites attract - or do they?? I liked this next book from Sophie Sullivan (loved her last three books) but had a little bit of a hard time getting into the romance of it all. I think it was a me problem (*cue anti-hero by TS*) but I will absolutely still recommend this one! Sullivan ALWAYS delivers a fun, fast-paced read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have enjoyed Sophie Sullivan's work since reading the Jansen brothers' series. She is a sharp writer--dialogue is wonderful and characters you really care about. "Love, Naturally" follows in the same vein--and is the perfect book for a transcontinental flight! My 6+ hour flight went by quickly as I immersed myself in Presley and Beckett's story. There were laugh out loud moments and the occasional grimace--thinking about the hiking boots....And the supporting characters--Gramps, Chef Shane, Ollie, Jilly and Gray--such rich additions to the story. And, never underestimate the power of Instragram!

Rustic lodge near Lake Michigan is the setting of this contemporary dual POV romance. Presley visits Get Lost lodge, meeting Beckett, his family, and their colorful community. As they fall for each other, they are both very aware of Presley's vacation coming to an end.

Both characters are at crucial points in their careers and get to talk through their dreams together. I appreciated the card scene as they got to know each other beyond their (very good) chemistry. That helped me, as it was more of an insta-love story than a slow burn (my preference).

The small town of Smile really shines in this story. I loved how Presley found a supportive community. Hoping to see more of these great characters!

Having read this author's Jansen Brothers series, I'm really enjoying Sophie Sullivan and can't wait for more.

Closed door romance - spicy but fades to black

Rating: 4/5

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, and the only thing preventing it from being a full blown 5 was I wanted an epilogue into the future (if there were additional books on the rest of the Keller siblings, this would get bumped to a 5!). Presley was such a likeable and real character. After a weird breakup, she goes on a vacation she surprised her ex with herself. She meets the siblings who runs the lodge and immediately connects with Beckett. I appreciated it wasn’t an enemy to lovers story, and I feel the way it was written helped to visualize how they fell in love.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Below are my honest thoughts on this book.

Love, Naturally follows Presley, a city girl/ social media influencer, on a solo outdoorsy vacation she was meant to go on with her douche canoe ex boyfriend. At Get Lost resort she meets Beckett, a family oriented mountain man with dreams of opening a bike rental shop. Beckett, along with his brother and sister run the Get Lost Resort. Beckett and Presley have instant chemistry and start up a vacation fling, while Presley helps the siblings restore the resort. Of course a vacation fling never stays a vacation fling, and Presley learns that when it comes to true love, there’s never a reason to settle.

I’m obsessed with this book. It felt like I was watching a rom com. It gave me all the same warm fuzzies, and I felt like I could hear the soundtrack playing.

I could relate so much to Presley. Believing that you deserve so little that you’ll settle for any scraps that are thrown your way( in both her personal and professional life).That is until someone comes along, like Beckett, who shows you why you never should have to settle in the first place.

The plot was uplifting (who doesn’t love a good found family), the characters were relatable and there was just enough detail that I feel like I’ve seen Get Lost before, but not too much that we were bogged down with details.

4.5/5 stars. Would definitely read again. Would definitely recommend

Love, Naturally is a captivating story of charming opposites who find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other. This heartwarming and sweet romance takes place in the quaint town of Smile, where its quirky and close-knit inhabitants add an extra touch of enchantment. Through its pages, Sullivan reminds us of the magic that lies in embracing the unexpected.