This book is about a photographer, Aurora and Gage who is a pilot helping out his family's resort. They meet up and an unexpected cozy romance begins. With 252 pages in this cozy romance, it's a book for someone who is looking for a romance novel with very little spice. It took me a little bit to get into the story, however once I got into it, I was invested in knowing the outcome of Gage and Aurora's chance encounter romance. I am thankful to the author, Lindsey Brookes and publisher, Harpeth Road Press for the opportunity to read this book on NetGalley. I invite anyone reading my review to check out the love story of Gage and Aurora when this book is released on 08/26/2025.

Under the Northern Lights is a sweet and charming romance set against the stunning backdrop of Alaska. Lindsey Brookes blends heart, humor, and breathtaking scenery in a story that feels like a warm escape. Aurora and Gage’s connection is instant yet genuine, and their chemistry shines as they navigate unexpected twists. I loved the emotional depth, the setting, and the hopeful message of second chances. I enjoyed every moment and gave it five stars.

I've always longed to witness the Northern Lights, so this book instantly caught my eye. It follows Aurora, who’s rescued by Gage after a mudslide leaves her stranded—sparking a romance that blooms against the scenic backdrop of Alaska. Their love story felt warm and cozy, it was exactly the kind of comforting read I needed.

★★★☆☆ (3.5 stars - I'm sitting on the fence like Aurora probably sits on a log to get the perfect nature shot)

Disclaimer: I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and honestly? Here we go.

Lindsey Brookes has done it again, folks. And by "it," I mean she's given us another heroine who just happens to be a nature photographer. At this point, I'm starting to wonder if there's some sort of romance novel character generator that only has three settings: "Aurora," "nature photographer," and "inexplicably good at capturing the perfect sunset despite being emotionally damaged."

Don't get me wrong—the characters are undeniably cute. They have that puppy-dog-in-a-Christmas-sweater kind of charm that makes you go "aww" even when they're making questionable life decisions. But I can't help but notice we're working with the same character template here. It's like romance novel Mad Libs: "[Female protagonist] is a talented [nature photographer] who travels to [remote location] and meets [tall, dark, and mysteriously handsome man with probable flannel collection]."

Speaking of our mysterious male lead—because of course he's tall, dark, and handsome—I'm convinced there's a secret romance hero factory somewhere churning out these guys. They all have the same mysterious past, the same brooding stare, and the same inexplicable ability to look devastatingly attractive while chopping wood or fixing something mechanical. Where do they find these men? Are they grown in a lab? Is there a specialized dating app called "Brood-r"?

The Northern Lights setting is gorgeous, though I suspect Aurora will somehow manage to photograph them in a way that's never been done before, because that's what nature photographers do in romance novels—they're not just good, they're revolutionary artists who see the world differently. Meanwhile, the rest of us can barely get our phone cameras to focus on our lunch.
The plot moves along at a pleasant pace, like a scenic train ride where you know exactly where you're going but the view is nice enough that you don't mind the predictability. There are moments of genuine charm and the kind of banter that makes you smile despite yourself. The romantic tension builds appropriately, though I did find myself wondering if these two attractive people have ever considered that maybe, just maybe, they should try actually talking to each other about their feelings instead of having seventeen different misunderstandings that could be resolved with one honest conversation.

But here's the thing—even though I can practically predict every plot point, I still found myself rooting for them. It's comfort food in book form, like a warm blanket that happens to have attractive people on it.

The Verdict: "Under the Northern Lights" is a perfectly serviceable romance that hits all the expected notes. If you're looking for groundbreaking literature, keep looking. If you want a cozy read with cute characters and predictable but satisfying romance, you've found your book. Just don't expect Aurora to suddenly pivot to portrait photography; nature is the only acceptable artistic calling for romance heroines named Aurora.

Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys their romance with a side of beautiful scenery and doesn't mind that they've essentially read this same character before. Also, people who aren't bothered by the fact that only one type of woman exists in the romance universe: the sensitive artist with a camera and commitment issues.

Will I read the next Lindsey Brookes book? Probably.

Under the Northern Lights is a cute and cozy romance set in Alaska, leaning heavily into the lodge-y and nature vibes of the last American frontier. The main characters, Aurora and Gage, are clearly smitten with each other from the outset, but carry their own baggage that keeps them from ever really connecting. Very cute "love at first sight" vibes between the two of them that pair perfectly with the chilly setting.

I loved the family inclusion in this book, focusing on how Gage is clearly a man who adores his family, and they adore him. Similarly, one of Aurora's driving motivations is her love and admiration for her parents and their relationship. This is something a lot of romance books get wrong, so that was very refreshing to see incorporated as not only a character building point but, in some ways, an important plot driver.

That said, I did feel this book lacked any real conflict. While both characters came in with some prior relationship baggage, they also both clearly stated they recognized why those relationships had failed and that it was for the best. The "will they won't they" felt a little forced at times, leading to repetitive statements of motivation (i.e. "but my career!" or "but the lodge!") that never really saw much development. The dramatic escalation of their relationship at the end felt rushed and out of scope for where they seemed to have been prior to the time skip. Yes, they're in love, but for two people who supposedly struggled with committing to the wrong thing, it felt sudden and out of character.

Overall, it's an extremely sweet, feel-good romance and I really enjoyed it. It gets a lot of things right with the main character group, the setting, and their slow-build "butterflies" relationship that gives all the warm and fuzzies. Definitely not one for folks who like conflict or spice, but if you're after a simple Happily Ever After with charming characters set in stunning Alaska, this is the book for you!

Thank you Lindsey and NetGalley for the ARC!

"Under the Northern Lights" by Lindsey Brooks is a wholesome, heartwarming read. The main characters felt refreshingly realistic, and I was especially captivated by the vivid, atmospheric setting. The author’s love for the northern lights shines through —it truly added a touch of magic. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you Netgalley and the author for the advanced reader copy!

A romantic romp through Alaska (perfectly timed to read while I was visiting Yukon that sadly has fewer books set in it)! Through the POV of both a fishing lodge float plane pilot and a wildlife photographer, this wholesome rom com also takes you on an adventure and is at its best when you can almost feel the whales jumping off the page or the bear, Little John, patrolling the woods. Thanks to #Netgalley for the chance to read and review!

If you are looking for a cozy fall romance this book definitely hits all the marks.

Freelance Aurora Daniels is on the trip of a lifetime to Alaska on assignment for the job of her dreams. She runs into Gage Weston, a float plane pilot trying to save his families fishing retreat. The story that ensues is sweet and heartfelt. I loved all of the characters in this book. Each person in Gage's family really made you fall in love with them and the descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness made you want to be there.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

Such a cute read! This book was short and sweet while being easy to read! I managed to get through it in a few hours.

I strongly believe that Aurora and Gage deserve the world and I love that they eventually came to their senses regarding each other. Everyone could see they were meant to be and that they were intially denying their feelings. I did appreciate how neither one tried to convince the other to give up their dream/life to be with the other. They were both very self-aware characters and it was refreshing to read!

I love the setting in Alaska and the remote location, I feel like big cities are the main setting in books nowadays so this was a very nice change. Aurora got to see her moose!

There were times the dialogue felt a bit awkward between characters but I still really enjoyed reading this story!

I definitely hope we see a series continuation that may or may not be between Gage’s brother and Aurora’s friend! I’d love to come back to Alaska for that book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Under the Northern Lights by Lindsey Brookes is a simple, heart-warming love story of nature photographer Aurora and Alaskan pilot Gage. They meet in Alaska, where Aurora is taking river fishing photos and Gage operates a small fishing resort with his family. It has Hallmark Christmas movie vibes, with big-city Aurora coming to help save the dying local family business under the pressure of larger companies.

I loved the cozy family vibes in this book, between Gage's family and Aurora's. And I love the small island fishing resort vibes. With cabins named after animals, like the Lazy Salmon and the Sleepy Moose, family game nights, and personal guest dinners, it's a wonderful summer/fall romance. I also enjoyed being introduced to Alaska, especially the landscaping, animals, and living. Not many books use Alaska as a setting, and I think this book did it very well.

I enjoyed the plot, and wanting to know where it was going kept me interested. But I found the writing and dialogue simple and unengaging. It's supposed to be a slow burn, but I wasn't feeling the tension or the desire that you'd find in other slow burn romances. It also lacked emotion – there was a lot of "she said" and "he replied" with no description of the feelings behind the dialogue. Sometimes the story was also repetitive, like Aurora constantly repeating that she wanted a romance like her parents and that she wanted to see the Northern Lights to feel the all-encompassing awe. The story also seems to always have a positive arc – where is the tension? I wish it had more depth relating to the growing relationship between Gage and Aurora, but it was missing most of the time.

I also wanted to make a note about the cover. While I think it's beautiful, something more personal and related to the story would have been stronger. Aurora has a strong personality, and her camera and that duck poncho seems to appear frequently throughout the story. Integrating those elements into the cover rather than just this person wearing a hat (did Aurora ever even wear a hat?) would make it even more intriguing as a cover.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and Lindsey Brookes for this ARC!

3.25 stars

That cover grabbed me! And the lovely romantic tale between Aurora Daniels, a freelance wildlife photographer named after the Northern Lights, and Gage Weston, a hunky floatplane pilot, captured my heart. When he rescues her during a mudslide that cancels her flight home to Seattle, the magic between them begins. Aaaaaaaaaah!

This was a cute story to read. I loved it. The characters development and the romance in it was wonderful. I enjoyed it. I want to thank Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this wonderful book as an ARC.

missing her flight home and stranded with a handsome stranger? yeh id say im in too! and i was truly welcomed right into this small town cosy romance from the start. this book had all those romance parts mixed with the humour and tender moments you come to a book like this hoping for. and we got that in buckets.
Aurora is a photographer and her next assignment in Alaska when she suddenly finds herself unable to get home Gage is there. and the real adventure starts there.
i was instantly rooting for Aurora. her character was so human and heartfelt. she was someone i ended up caring for. then as we slowly went in, got to know her and then the other characters i ended up caring about them too. which quickly led me caring about the whole book! i was there right until the end and what a beautiful ending it was. wrapped up perfectly.
i enjoyed my time with this book so much.
the cover is an added bonus touch to it.

I was so excited when I saw this book pop up. Alaskan romances are some of my absolute favorites to read, and this one was incredibly good! Aurora is a wildlife photographer on an assignment in Alaska when she meets Gage, a fishing retreat owner. He is immediately intrigued by her, and she follows later. The small town, cozy vibes of this story are amazing and the ending definitely made me tear up. Beautiful story!
Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read this e-arc.

This was a fantastic job in the romance genre, it had that element that I was expecting and enjoyed the overall feel of this. I appreciated the wildlife photographer element and how good Aurora was written in this book. It uses the concept perfectly and was glad everything flowed and had that realism that I was looking for from this type of book. Lindsey Brookes was able to create something beautiful with this and how I cared about the characters.