“There’s plenty to figure out, but I know I don’t want to be anywhere you aren’t. I’m tired of letting myself be happy in increments. I want to feel all of it, and I want to feel all of it with you.”

Nova and Charlie. After constantly flirting, they decide to get it out of their systems and spend one night together. But one night isn’t enough so they secretly keep things casual and continue to see each other since a relationship is something they’re both not looking for.

The perfect ending to this series!!! I fell in love with the way Charlie took care of Nova and the banter between them was just so so good.

🍁READ IF YOU LIKE🍁:
- dual POV
- friends to lovers
- he falls first
- sunshine himbo & grumpy, sarcastic girl
- opposites attract
- black cat x golden retriever
- secret relationship
- found family
- best friend’s sister
- tattoo artist x investment banker
- one night stand
- flirting as a love language
- small town
- adhd & chronic illness rep

cw: migraines, strained relationship with parent

Thank you @berkleyromance for the free book! Business Casual is available on July 16, 2024!

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾☆ 4 not-so-casual stars ☆☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

With all the comfort of a warm cup of cocoa on a rainy day, Business Casual is a read so cozy, you’ll want to nestle between the pages just to get a taste of life at Lovelight.

playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5WCdzcqpaN2ngZOBNlEXyO?si=0e531fd684334376
pinterest board 📌: https://pin.it/6C0ibADk0

In the last installment of the Lovelight series, B.K. Borison wraps readers up in a hug of swoon-worthy sentiments and steamy rendezvous.

”I’m used to being a good time. A fun deviation from normal patterns and behaviors. But with Nova, I want to be a choice. Not a whim. Not a regret.”

Charlie Milford, our flirty male protagonist, is sure to become a fan-favorite. I will say, his overall character was an enigma to me. There weren’t very many distinctive qualities about him outside of being a pathological people pleaser. His personality seemed to float...well, everywhere. He’s perceived as a potential playboy with an overactive state of being, but to his core, this man is loyal, possibly to a fault. There’s a vulnerability about him in these moments that tugged at my heartstrings. Much like I’m sure others will, I resonated so deeply with Charlie and his tendency to avoid confrontation, even if it's at the cost of his own inner turmoil. He over-commits just to see a smile on everyone’s face and despite being loved by the masses, he feels as though there isn’t a home, a feeling of belonging, for him to seek refuge in. He’s just trying on different lives until he finds one that feels right. In an age where we’ve never been more connected, and therefore, disconnected, I’ve got an inkling that Charlie will find that home within the hearts of many readers and dreamers alike.

“I’ve never been anyone’s favorite,” he whispers. “Well,” I say, feeling defensive. “You’re mine.”

Nova Porter, the grump to Charlie’s sunshine, was a perfectly curated balance of broody and assertive. Usually when partaking in this trope, the characters come across as disingenuous; their interactions swinging so close to their respective ends of the spectrum, either grumpy or sunshine, that it loses its authenticity. Needless to say that was not the case with our more-than-casual protagonists.

As a chronic migraine girlie myself, Nova’s debilitating pain was represented with an accuracy that made me say, ‘cut the cameras’. Her anxiety is fueled by the pressure of over looming success, a feeling that is molded into every walk of life, only adding to her relatability.

“I was so determined to not have a relationship with him that I missed the part where we were in one all along.”

Nova and Charlie are an odd pair, but one that works nonetheless.

The aspect I appreciate most in Borison’s novels are her emphasis on quiet acts of love as opposed to grand gestures. It’s down-to-earth and makes all the difference when it adds up over time.

There was more of a focus on intimacy in this particular novel and while I’m always down for passionate moments, both Nova and Charlie could’ve benefitted from more domesticity; especially once they breached business casual territory. Their dynamic seemed lust-driven and while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that in this type of literature, it makes certain elements, such as the epilogue, unbelievable to an extent.

The plot, although stagnant, didn’t emphasize on the expiration date trope, a concept I’m pleased we avoided. Both Charlie and Nova dealt with their distance, among other obstacles, with maturity and an earnest that only those who are truly in love would endure.

“I like losing myself, but sometimes— Sometimes I think I miss being known.”

Similar to the lull of the plot, there were moments that Nova and Charlie became supporting characters in their own novel. I’d like to preface this by declaring that I am an avid supporter of interconnected stand-alones including cameos of characters from previous installments. That being said, when said characters start experiencing conflicts that don’t involve the main characters, there’s a fine line that becomes easily erased.

So even though the author confirmed that this is indeed the last chapter of the Lovelight series, it felt the opposite. There were certain plot lines woven so deep into the conflict of the story that it appeared to me as though the author was preparing the readers for another story featuring Nova’s sister, Vanessa, or Caleb’s brother, Alex. While Borison didn’t close the door to Inglewild completely, it’s clear that it won’t be pursued anytime soon. That poses the question, were this plot points essential to the overall moral of the story?

“All I did was believe in you. You were the one who was brave enough to try.”

Moving onto the actual supporting characters, the relationship I was most gooey over was the one between Beckett and Nova. Nothing can conquer the unbreakable bond between a girl and her older brother. Both with a streak of protectiveness, the pair are stubborn, yet fiercely adamant about their care for one another and it was amplified a tenfold this time around.

While it’s bittersweet to be leaving the town of Inglewild, I will forever hold Chapter 29 near and dear to my very fragile heart. With the promise that the gates to Lovelight will always be open, I’ll be waiting at Layla’s for that cup of coffee to pre-game the perfect tree hunt for the rest of my days.

Thank you to Berkley Romance and B.K. Borison for so kindly providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.

I love this series. Iglewild is such a delightful town, and it was so fun visiting all our favorite residents and couples. Charlie and Nova are adorable and perfect for each other. A fantastic ending to Lovelight Farms. I can’t wait to see what the author shares with us next. All the stars!
Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Wowwww I loved this one so much!! The chemistry between Charlie and nova had me giggling and kicking my feet. They were so cute and lovely. Charlie is pure golden retriever energy and I love to see it. And nova was a little more reserved, “grumpy” and I will ALWAYS eat up that dynamic. I loved seeing the other couples, and thus was such a bitter sweet ending to this series

Being able to get the final book in the Lovelight series was a bittersweet experience. I felt excited (and I am grateful to have received an A.R.C.); and, also, sad cause I would be saying goodbye. The entire series has been dear to my heart.

It was great to be thrown back into the small town via Nova and Charlie. I really enjoyed their banter and chemistry. I appreciate how the grumpy x sunshine trope was gender reversed from what we normally see. The push and pull between Nova and Charlie was fun to watch. The steamy moments were really good. Although, it did grow a little tiresome at the constant emphasis on Charlie putting his hands around Nova’s neck

Sadly, I feel like the book lost some of its magic after their first time. The romance between Nova and Charlie became tertiary. More focus was given to Charlie and Nova separately and on others in the town. (I’d like to suggest B.K. does novellas featuring the Inglewood residents, so they don’t detract focus.) While I really loved Charlie as a character, his character journey felt stilted. I felt Nova’s character journey had a more developed story arc. I really feel like the book could have benefitted from a few additional chapters.

All in all, ‘Business Causal’ was an okay book for me. It had a strong start and had a sweet ending. It just fizzled in the middle. I do hope this isn’t the last time we will spend in Inglewood. If B.K. wanted to write a book centering on Alex and Vanessa, like I think they were being teased, I’d cozy up with my cat and a latte and return to Inglewood happily.

I love a good grumpy/sunshine trope, especially when it's the woman whose the grump. Gives that black cat, golden retriever energy and I am here for it. Nova is a surly tattoo artist and Charlie is the ball of sunshine who just wants a place to belong. I lobe that they fall so naturally in love with eachother, becoming eachothers best friends and braking through eachothers defenses. This was so well written snd while it is the end of the series, i really do hope that eventually we can get even more from this world. The series has been such a treat and I am just not ready to let it go yet. B.K. is such a talented author.
I recieved this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.

I swear that B.K. Borison's work just gets better and better with each book. While this is the last book in the Lovelight series (which actually made me pretty sad to learn, because I have grown to love this weird little town), I look forward to more to come from B.K. Borison! The main characters in Business Casual are side characters that we've met before - tattoo artist Nova Porter (sister of Beckett, one of the owners of Lovelight Farms) and New York finance bro Charlie Milford (half-brother of Stella, another owner and the FMC from the first book in the series). Charlie, staying in town to help run the farm while his sister Stella is on a honeymoon (that he organized and paid for), giving him a chance to figure out who he is outside of his life in New York (which he hates) and to get some distance from his super toxic father. Nova is working hard to open up her own tattoo shop in town and she and Charlie have a long-standing flirtation that they decide to take to the next level for one night, to (you guessed it if you've ever read a romance novel) "get it out of their systems." I loved these two and how their friendship grew along with their romantic entanglement, and I really enjoyed how much the town itself played into their relationship. I also appreciated the representation of neurodiversity (Charlie has ADHD) and chronic pain (Nova gets debilitating migraines). This book, like all the others in the series, just felt so comforting to me. I can't wait to see what B.K. Borison does next.

Can I live in Inglewild?
I was not ready to leave this series yet. Beckett and Evie's story (In the Weeds) is still my favorite of the Lovelight series, but Charlie and Nova in Business Casual nearly dethroned them. I adore every character in these books. BK Borinson knows how to write a romcom that pulls on your heartstrings. I am eternally grateful for her stories, and I cannot wait to see what she writes in the future!

I hope this series keeps going!!! The book had me hooked from the beginning. Nova and Charlie are relationship goals! Their relationship was slow burning then suddenly very passionate.

I don't have enough words to describe how much this series means to me or how much I adored Business Casual being the conclusion to our time in Inglewood. This series has been the bright spot on the gloomiest and hardest of days, and somehow, every time I have picked up any of the books in the Lovelight Farms series, it has been the exact book I have needed at that particular moment in time.
Business Casual was truly stunning, and Charlie and Nova have my heart forever. This book just felt like magic to me, and seeing Charlie's journey in particular, melted my heart and made me shed a few (a lot) of tears. Chapter 23 is forever ingrained in my brain, and I will forever think it is one of the best chapters ever written in the history of romance. I swooned, laughed, squealed in delight, and smiled so hard my cheeks hurt. It was a true joy reading this. Add this to the top of your TBR when it releases on July 16, 2024.
Thank you, B.K. Borison. You have written a family of characters that I know will always be waiting with open arms and a hot cup of coffee and warm croissant from Layla's. I can't wait to visit often.
Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for a free ARC.

As with all of BK Borison’s books I over this story. Another romcom hit. Charlie might be my favorite Inglewood man yet.
There are some typos that need to be fixed and there is a paragraph where Nova talks about opening her shop in her home town and basically repeats herself twice in a paragraph, that was a bit much. Otherwise this book was great!
I will certainly be reading more of BK Borison and anything she writes in the setting of this small enchanting town.

Advanced Reader Copy Review
Business Casual is the perfect ending to the Love Light Series. Nova and Charlie are so captivating as a couple. I loved the representation of imposter syndrome, ADHD, and Migraines. It made the book so much more relatable that the characters not only had "typical" romance novel issues, but these layers made the story so much more relatable for small-town romance that gives Gilmour Girls vibes with its quirky small-town characters and vibes. Business Casual is officially my favorite book of the series, and I'm very sad that Love Light has ended.

Once again, the Lovelight series is a scorching, love filled read for me! Spicy with sexual tension, I love the development of the story and characters as well as the appearances of characters from past books. You know the siblings are going to meddle! Another delightful read in this series!

OMG...... the best Lovelight book yet!!!

5/5 Stars
3/5 Spice

Charlie and Nova's story had me hooked! It was everything I'd been hoping for and more. Becs' writing was on fire, with scorching-hot tension, hilarious banter, and those raw, vulnerable emotions that hit you right in the feels. The small-town vibe was so cozy, and having glimpses of previous couples in the series felt like catching up with old friends. Charlie and Nova felt like real people, imperfect and lovable, and their journey was so beautifully real. I'm dying for everyone else to fall in love with them too!

Nova, the badass running a tattoo shop, and Charlie, our golden retriever hero in finance? Their dynamic was everything! They started as flirty friends with no interest in commitment, but one night changed everything. Their chemistry was off the charts, and I couldn't stop laughing at their banter. But beyond the laughs, their journey was so personal and touching. Charlie's selflessness and Nova's bravery were so relatable, and seeing them find healing together was just beautiful. And let me tell you, that friends-to-lovers trope? Executed to perfection!

This book hit me right in the feels, and I was full-on sobbing at times. Nova and Charlie together? Magic. Pure and simple. I won't spoil anything, but trust me, this book deserves every one of its five stars.

Huge thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

Tropes:
- friends to lovers
- let's get it out of our system
- black cat and golden retreiver

I am not ready to say goodbye to the lovely world of Lovelight. But wow what a way to go out. Nova and Charlie’s story was everything. Charlie is precious and must be protected at all costs. The found family in this series is really beautiful.

I could not possibly love this book more. I have adored the entire series but this might very well be my favorite of them all. The trust and the insecurities and the sense of belonging—it all feels like being wrapped in a warm hug with cocoa and a blanket and a purring cat on my lap. Like home.

Thank you so, so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Business Casual is a sizzling romance that proves opposites attract and sometimes one night just isn't enough!
Nova Porter and Charlie Milford couldn't be more different, but their chemistry is undeniable. From buttoned-up banker to tattooed entrepreneur, they're like fire and ice, yet they can't seem to stay away from each other.
With witty banter and steamy encounters, the author crafts a story that will leave readers swooning and wanting more. Nova's determination to focus on her business clashes with Charlie's persistence, leading to a battle of wills that is as entertaining as it is passionate.
Their one-night proposition quickly spirals into something more, challenging their assumptions and forcing them to confront their feelings. Will they succumb to the heat between them or will they stick to their original plan?
Business Casual is a delightful read that will leave you rooting for Nova and Charlie to find their happily ever after. the author's writing is engaging, the romance is electric, and the characters are charming. So, grab your favorite beverage and get ready for a steamy ride through the world of business and pleasure!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Favorite book of the series!! Love Charlie and Nova. All of these books make you want to live in Lovelight Farms. Favorite author and favorite series… sad to see it end.

ok this book was actually laced with crack. let me tell you— I was in a life altering CRIPPLING slump and this book CURED ME! this book lowkey fixed my life!!! business casual had literally everything I was looking for in a book!!!! being back in the lovelight universe was so lovely and truly felt like a warm hug. from the second I started reading I felt like a warm blanket was being wrapped around me bc seeing all our lovelight peeps and couples was so sweet. and then we get to see the highly anticipated nova and charlie in action. and WOW WOW WOW!!! the tension was pouring off the pages from the START!!!!! I loved seeing charlie in his full throttle charisma and flirty ness✨. that man could charm my pants off and he wouldn’t even have to try!!!! and I absolutely loved seeing nova and her black cat, fierce and sassy self. a woman after my own heart truly!!! their dynamic was to die for bc charlie knows exactly how to push nova’s buttons (but in a good way!!!) and I loved seeing how everything unfolded. I feel like from the start charlie knew nova wanted him deep deep down but he needed to help her realize that. and he did it in the best way bc he was so patient and never pushed her. he let her slowly figure it out on her own and had her going from I don’t need a man and/or relationship to I WANT AND NEED YOU CHARLIE MILFORD!!!

I genuinely loved every single aspect of this book. the setting, the side characters, CHARLIE AND NOVA OBVI, the tension, the spice 🥵🤌🏼❤️‍🔥. seeing more of nova and beckett (my mans) in action and their beautiful and sweet sibling relationship was to did for 🥹. the little antics of the meddling town and the phone tree and all their chaos had me giggling into my kindle it made me SO HAPPY.

but most importantly I loved seeing the growth of both charlie and nova throughout the story. I feel like I related to nova in many ways (except the black cat girly bc i’m a sunshine girly through and through) and seeing her be open to letting someone in made my heart truly so happy. and seeing charlie realize he had his people and support group made me want to cry. two absolutely beautiful characters truly!!!

I can’t believe this series is now over. it’s truly been such a treat from start to finish. this town and the people will always be so special to many of us. I love that throughout the series b.k. consistently gave us cute rom-coms, heavy on the romance, beautiful inticimacy and overall to die for sweet moments between the couples. makes me want to cry fr it’s so beautiful!!!!!

Dare I say this is BK's best book yet? I will always have a special place in my heart for Lovelight Farms, but this one is the best. Right from the beginning I was so invested in this story. Charlie and Nova melted my heart a million times over. They are also HOT! The tension, chemistry and spice.. yes please.