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Deliciously cozy and comforting, I think this might be my favorite of the Lovelight series. It's bittersweet to have this chapter "closed", but I'm heartened by Borison's note that the door isn't fully shut at all.

BUSINESS CASUAL follows known and loved characters from the previous Lovelight books - Nova and Charlie, siblings of Beckett and Stella, respectively. Perpetually single, both receive equal amounts of worry from their charmingly-in-love loved ones. And yes, of course there's plenty of romantic tension between them. So when Charlie finds himself in charge of Lovelight Farms while Stella goes on a monthlong honeymoon, the two decide to act on their simmering chemistry - just for a night! Except, of course it's not just for a night.

I absolutely love Charlie! His extroverted nature, his friendliness towards any and all in the town... It's truly a golden retriever, black cat combo between the two and it's soooo fun. My only gripe with the book is how tattoos/ink are constantly talked about. This isn't just a B.K. Borison thing, but I find that authors tend to romanticize tattoos in their books that feel so far from how those with tattoos would actually view and treat their body adornments... Beyond that, I think this is a perfect fall read for those craving the changing season.

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B.K. Borison’s Lovelight series sadly concludes with “Business Casual.” I’m going to miss the charming town of Inglewild, with its meddling neighbors, phone tree and grumpy/sunshine duos that give you all the feels. The story of Charlie and Nova is one of the sweetest and most heartwarming I’ve read this year.

Nova finally responds to Charlie’s flirting, and their chemistry is so palpable that I couldn’t help but smile. They both admit that they are “good” together so for the month that Charlie is in town to help at the Christmas Tree Farm, they agree to have a “business casual” deal with no strings attached.

It wasn’t hard to be convinced that these two are perfect together. Charlie and Nova have been friends forevaaaa; Charlie is practically part of Nova’s family. Seeing Charlie as always putting Nova first put a smile on my face. Nova battles insecurities and feels unworthy of the success she’s experiencing in her tattoo business. Like many of us with imposter syndrome, she doesn’t fully believe in herself, but Charlie sees her as someone who has earned the belief of others.

Charlie has a big heart and is affectionate to all who are important to him. It’s no wonder Nova notices that Charlie deserves to be someone’s favorite. The way she expresses this made me silently scream and yearn for more of these two. In essence, these two have more in common than they think: they both deserve all the attention that comes their way, and they are undeniably good enough. So…very…good..

Thanks to Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

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Charlie is the definition of “mirrorball” and “this is me trying”. 😭 I love him so much. He always feels like he’s not enough, he diminishes himself to make sure other people like him and feel good, he constantly goes out of his way for people. He thinks he’s undeserving of good things.

And Nova… Nova girl, as Charlie calls her, noticed Charlie immediately, made him feel seen, cherished, loved, despite their “business casual” arrangement.

I loved all the cameos from the other characters in the series, especially Beckett and Stella. I loved how we got those heart to heart moments between Beckett and Nova, and Stella and Charlie. It made me so freaking happy!

Charlie got me to tear up many times. His “I’ve never been anyone’s favorite” broke me! 😭 Charlie, you’re my favorite!!! I love you!

- grumpy (her) x sunshine (him)
- brother's best friend
- friends to lovers
- friends with benefits
- secret romance
- small town
- lots of flirting
- golden retriever hero

Rating: 4.25/5

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I am so sad to say goodbye to Lovelight Farms.. but this was a perfect ending to the story.
I love this town. I love these love stories. I will read this series again and again.
Thank you BK Borison for sharing these stories with us. I can't wait to see what you come out with next. I am a loyal fan forever and ever.
And thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨️

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Business Casual is the 4th in the Lovelight series and it was fun hearing from all of our previous friends from books 1-3 again.

This one was cute but still doesn’t reign supreme over the first book— Lovelight Farms. Charlie + Nova were adorable. I enjoyed watching their love unfold. Loved the moments were Nova was vulnerable and allowed Charlie to really be there for her.

I wanted to LOVE it but it was fine for me and not really memorable nor was it a story that always captivated me but that’s ok!

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Yet another adorable book in the Lovelight series.
This one revolves around Nova, one of Beckett's sisters and Charlie, Stella's brother who lives in New York, but is in Inglewild very often. I really liked both of their characters. Charlie bought Stella and Luca a honeymoon in Italy and makes a plan with Beckett and Layla that he will take over Stella's job while she is gone. He obviously loves Inglewild, but feels like he needs to stay in New York to please his jerk father. I mean, he's even on the phone tree and get tres leches cake from Caleb's abuela! Nova is opening up her own tattoo shop and she is trying to do everything herself. At Stella and Luca's wedding, Nova proposes and no strings attached one night stand. While it's not that night, it does happen and then they try to convince themselves that that's all they needed or wanted. They really bring out the best in each other and really are good for one another.
The plot is basically just Nova and Charlie trying to hide whatever happens between them while trying to juggle the tattoo shop (Nova) and Stella's job (Charlie) as well as the upcoming harvest fest. While their relationship was a little unconventional, it was full of humor and really dug into what both of them really needed out of one another as well as themselves.

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ARC Review:
My rating: 4✨
The characters were very likable, and I enjoyed seeing them together! I will definitely check out more books! I love the covers and the plot line was so good! I absolutely loved the tree phone 📞 and the small town vibes. This book had quite a bit of spice.

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Last of a series about several couples, so new readers going in should know that a lot of characters are throwing at you from page one, as Nova attends a wedding of friends and family in a lovely small town. She's got the hots for Charlie, a very buttoned-down- New York money guy, while she is a tattoo artist. I think the author was going for opposites attract, but Nova and Charlie had a lot in common--terrible self-esteem, an anxious desire to please everyone.

Neither of them wants a relationship, but they have a very strong attraction. Good: after initial turnoff through misunderstanding they talk like grownups, and then embark on their "once and done." We know it won't be once. And it isn't. There is a LOT of sex in this book. Lots. Between those pages, I liked the way the two found their way toward communication, and without the dreaded manufactured Dread Moment at the 80% mark--leading to a lovely surprise--but I guess because there really wasn't much actual conflict, the author felt obliged to fill those pages with sex. Okay if that's what you're reading for.

Another aspect that I liked (and would have preferred more of instead of all that banging on the Beautyrest) was the expert way the author evoked the appeal of the ideal small town. I've often thought that the strong appeal of "cozy small town" stories is that they are so akin to "found family" tropes. You get the quirky personalities, and some serious stuff to work out, while everyone knows one another's business, which I thought was well done (sometimes small town books are full of everyone constantly grinning and being adorable in a way that seems like they're drinking the Kooky Kool-Aid).

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Welcome back to Lovelight Farms (one last time). I love this series and Charlie and Nova’s story is everything I could have wanted in an ending. It’s so sweet to see them fall in love amidst their differences. Both have family issues to deal with that add to the character’s growth. But Lovelight farms isn’t Lovelight farms without the town characters and the very active “phone tree”. Lots of hilarious moments mixed with the bittersweet, not to mention it all starts off with Luka and Stella’s wedding. 🩷🩷🩷 Happy pub day!

I’ll miss this series but I’m excited to see what Borrison has in store next!

Thanks to @netgalley and @berkleypub for access to an e Arc for review purposes.

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This was my favorite installment of the Lovelight series and I am sad that it is over. I knew I liked Charlie going into this book, but I came out of it being fully and totally head-over-heels in love with him.

Throughout the series, we got to see glimpses of both Nova and Charlie, so by the time their story concluded, I was a complete mess and I feel like I've been with them for the last three years. Both characters were so animated and "real" to me and I found deep-rooted connections to the characters that I am sure other readers will feel as well. Charlie's struggles with loneliness, depression, and trying to live up to others' expectations of him is a story that I know many readers, as well as myself, will be able to identify with and also shed a few tears over. As well as Nova's struggles with trying not to let those around her down while also carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders without allowing anyone to help.

Finally, I wanted to touch on the migraines described in the book. I have lived with chronic migraines since I was ten years old. and I have never seen a migraine or a character with chronic migraines portrayed correctly in books, or any form of media for that manner, correctly until I read this book. I feel so seen in that migraines are more than just a headache, they are debilitating and you feel utterly helpless in the pain. Thank you for portraying this with care and allowing so many of us to find a character that we can not only relate to, but commiserate with. This is such a huge step for those that suffer with migraines and the incorrect education that has been surrounding migraines for decades. This issue was handled with care and portrayed in the exact way my migraines occur.

All that to say, this was an amazing read and the perfect way to wrap up this beloved series! A new favorite of mine on my shelves!

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A tattoo artist and an investment banker have a steamy night to get each other out of their systems…but we all know how that works! Instead they find themselves unable to stay apart. Nova and Charlie jump off the page and were fun and vulnerable. There’s grumpy sunshine, friends with benefits, annd opposites attract. I really enjoyed this one

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This is the absolute sweetest reverse grumpy/sunshine romance, and I loved every moment of it!

Charlie surprises his sister Stella by taking care of her farm for a month (so she can go on her honeymoon), letting him live in their small town for a little while instead of NYC.

He likes Nova, a local tattoo artist opening her own shop, and while they’re attracted to each other, neither want anything serious.

They call it a business casual arrangement.

As we know in our beloved romances, casual feelings won’t last long. And if Nova can warm to anyone, it’s goofy Charlie.

What I love about this is how neither character is how they seem on the surface. Nova might be prickly, but she’s incredibly thoughtful, and Charlie exhausts himself to make others around him happy.

Their relationship is incredible because together, they can just… be.

I loved the spice, amazing character growth, the description of Nova’s art, and all the small-town relationships.

Phone tree gossip, anyone?

This was utterly adorable, and such a satisfying read! Top marks, go pick this up! I vote that it’s a perfect romance.

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nova & charlie
✒️🏙️🌾🌿💐
3.75/5

“sometimes i think you’re the most beautiful thing i’ve ever seen”
i’m beyond obsessed with how b.k. borison describes scenery and this series has definitely become a comfort series! this book has different tropes which i think adds more to it and i think they are such a sweet couple

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My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This series had been on my TBR list for a while so I was excited to have this book as a motivator to read through them all. The entire series was enjoyable and this book was my favorite, Charlie’s character being very giving and thoughtful and allowing himself to feel vulnerable. I was saddened when I read the acknowledgements and learned this was the final book in the series but the author did a great job of tying up loose ends and stating she may well come back to visit Lovelight farms in the future. Now I want a Christmas tree in July, more tattoos, and a bunch of lattes. Thanks, B.K. Borison…

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I finished this book under 24 hours because it was simply "unputdownable" and addicting. I loved both Nova's and Charlie's characters and their growth, individually and together. They perfectly embody the black cat x golden retriever dynamic. I loved how Nova saw Charlie far deeper than he saw himself. Charlie's attentiveness towards Nova had me giggling and kicking my feet because of how precious and loving he was. This is one of my favorite books of the year by far, I just loved it so freaking much!

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Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and Ms. Borison for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Mixed feelings. Let me try and separate them out.

Negatives:
-I have not read the other Lovelight books. I think it would be helpful if I had. Ms. Borison does a good job of introducing the characters so it wasn't difficult to figure out who's who and who goes with who; however, it's clearly one of those "everyone in town matches up one by one until no one is left and then the series ends" situations which aren't my favorite.
-I STRONGLY DISLIKED Layla and her bossy queen vibe. Seriously, she throws a giant hissy fit because Beckett got eloped and she didn't get to make his cake? To the point where an actual honest-to-God mediation is necessary? Wow. Then, she forces Charlie into her bakery to account for himself because he's interacting with Nova. I don't know. I don't know her character from earlier books so perhaps I'm missing something here but she made me super irritated. Luckily I don't think she features much after the first third or so.
-I did not get the impression that Nova liked Charlie as much as Charlie liked Nova, which... made me feel sad for Charlie. I mean, seriously, the man cut an entire fruit plate into shapes for her. I don't think my husband would do that unless his life depended on it. (10 out of 10 he would just buy the pre-cut fruit at the grocery store.) I'm glad Nova apologized to Charlie for being a jerk to him initially, because I was ready to drop the whole book if she didn't.

Mehs:
-Inglewild is supposed to be this charming small town full of busybodies but I honestly didn't find the gossip phone tree thing cute. Maybe it would be more meaningful if I'd read the other books, or maybe I'm just not a "cute small town"-setting person. Idk. It reminded me of my kid's overactive classroom parents WhatsApp chat. Eh.
-Nova, in general. I didn't DISlike her, I just didn't really connect with her. This a "me" problem.
-The 2:30AM "intervention" in Nova's living room at 91%, WTH?! This couldn't wait until the next morning?

Positives:
-Charlie. When he tells Nova he's lonely, all the time.... ugh, right in the feels. He lets himself be SO vulnerable with her, and he struggles so hard to fit into tiny spaces of of love and attention, it's almost painful to watch. Really, he made the whole book for me.
-Charlie standing up to his dad. Toxicity is hard to handle and it's SO much harder when it's family, and so much harder on top of that when it's a parent: someone who, by all rights, should love you. Someone whose love and support *should* have been fundamental and unquestionable. I was proud of Charlie for being strong and standing firm, all by himself, without anyone standing behind him as support. That takes a lot of guts.
-Basically, Charlie, in any scene, in every scene.

Cute book, I'm definitely in the minority on having mixed feelings considering it enjoys almost a 5 star GR average. I would still highly recommend it (despite my own feelings), especially to readers who've enjoyed the other books.

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The lovelight farms series is one series I always recommend. Every single book is so good!
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In Business Casual, Charlie (Stella’s brother) and Nova (Beckett’s sister) enter into a “business casual” relationship during Charlie’s temporary stay at Lovelight Farms.
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💐small town romance
💐grumpy x sunshine
💐4th in a series
💐friends with benefits
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I adored Charlie, he has golden retriever energy and a heart of gold. I loved that he softened Nova up a bit and their chemistry was 🔥.
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Thank you netgalley and Berkley publishing for the opportunity to read this book!

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4.5/4.75 - I AM HERE TO DECLARE THAT CHARLIE I AM YOUR BIGGEST FAN!!! So I have been binging this series for the past week after receiving an ARC of Business Casual and wanting to finish the series after reading and loving Lovelight Farms a few years ago. The entire series, whenever Charlie would popup I would get so excited and somehow fell in love with him in the background?? His goofy, fun, loving, warm personality, but then getting to know in this book that deep down it is all a front for how he wants to be loved and perceived by others.

I think I related so much to Charlie here, especially his loneliness and wanting to feel like he was a part of a family, a town, a community, and find someone who wants him as much as he wanted them. I LOVED the way he was so down bad for Nova this entire book!! I loved his effortless way that he would flirt with her, HIM TAKING CARE OF HER WHEN SHE'S SICK, the little ways he showed how much he loved her. I feel like we really got to know Charlie in this book as someone who is a family man, who ALWAYS shows up and puts others first, and it made me so happy to see him really tune into the things that made him happy.

And Nova girl!! My sweet yet grouchy, artsy, lovable girl. I loved how she complimented Charlie's softness with her toughness, her want to do everything on her own, her need to be alone and fix things herself. I think they had so many similarities but I loved the way she could be bossy to Charlie, stand up for herself, and was a badass business woman!! Nova also reminded me so much of myself with overdoing it and pushing it, taking on too much, wanting everything to be perfect so as to not let anyone down. I loved her talks with Beckett and Charlie, opening herself up to vulnerability, talking about her insecurities.

The romance was exquisite!! I love it when a book makes me laugh and smile and feel the heat all at once!! I loved the continuous flirtatious relationship Charlie and Nova had the whole time. I LOVED that while we definitely had some conflict/angst at the end, NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!!! WE CHEERED!!! (speaking my truth I hate third act breakups and I can only do it so many books in a row im sorry). Overall I loved this book so so much, I definitely thought it was BK's best writing and romance yet, and I cannot wait to revisit this series in the fall/winter with the perfect vibes!! I will be thinking about Charlie for a longgg time.

Thank you so much for Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review!!

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The last book in the Lovelight series, I was so excited to read about Charlie and Nova and B.K. Borison did not disappoint. With witty banter and a delicious side of push and pull, Business Casual is my favorite book of the series. I loved that Charlie and Nova continued to be true to who they were while trying to figure out what they were, and the hilarity that was added from all the side plots.

Thank you Berkley for the gifted ARC.

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WHEW! CHILE! The steam!

(That's it. That's the review).

(Okay, that's not the review. But it could be!)

Confession: this was my first time reading B.K. Borison. NetGalley recommended this title to me and I liked the description. As someone who didn't realize she was reading book 4 of 4, I can confirm this is a book you can handsell on its own. However, I suspect reading them in order will add to the deliciousness, as you get updates on everyone's love life (natch).

In this title Nova Porter, youngest daughter of the family, is focused on and feels the pressures of finally opening her own tattoo studio. While the person she falls for, Charlie Milford, is "a buttoned-up, three-piece-suit-wearing investment banker," I deeply appreciated that the author didn't fall into the bad girl/upright boy stereotype. Both have complicated relationships with their families, are asking big questions about their careers, and offer complex emotions—plus aforementioned steam—as they navigate figuring out who they each are in their lives and work, and who they could be as a couple—especially a couple in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business, in no small part thanks to the local phone tree.

I'm looking forward to reading books 1-3!

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