A Love Like the Sun

By: Riss M. Neilson

Narrated by: Frankie Corzo

THE USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

“Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Kennedy Ryan, and Carley Fortune (aka me).”–Emily Henry

“Beautifully blending beloved tropes and smooth, often lyrical prose… Two lovers navigate challenges related to mental health, racial identity, grief, and a chronic illness”–NPR

Lifelong best friends spend a fateful summer discovering what might happen if they were to be something more in this radiant, heart-clenching adult debut.

Laniah Thompson is a homebody who craves privacy. Issac Jordan is internet famous and spends his days followed by paparazzi. She runs a small business with her mom in her hometown. He runs an international brand.

And they’ve been best friends since childhood.

When Issac comes home to Providence for the first time in months and discovers Laniah’s dream is slipping out of reach as she and her mom struggle to pay the bills at Wildly Green, their natural hair store, she refuses to take a dime from him. And so, he does what any self-respecting best friend would do: tells the world they’re dating.

Suddenly business is booming, and Laniah agrees to his ridiculous plan to pretend to be lovers for the course of the summer. Just long enough to catch the eye of an investor and get her dream back on track, like she helped him do so many years ago, he reminds her.

Too soon, though, Laniah knows she’s playing with fire, because for as long as they’ve been friends there’s an undeniable pull they’ve never given in to. And as the lines between art and life—real and pretend—blur, it becomes harder and harder to see where friendship ends and something else begins....

Told over the course of three sizzling summer months, A Love Like the Sun is about shared history, those who make us our bravest selves, and love in its many forms.

"Dazzling, tender, and romantic."—Carley Fortune

©2024 Riss M. Neilson (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Unabashedly swoony, angsty, and pining."—NPR

“A deep and sizzling slow burn.”—Boston Globe

"[T]he pining and sexual tension throughout this slow-burn romance will keep readers hooked.”—Publishers Weekly

The love the main character and her bestfriend had for each other

I truly loved this story no complaints at all and a very great read! Black people that love black romance go read this!

Beautifully Written

Although it was sort of predictable in how things would play out, it was written so beautifully that it kept me engaged ready to see how it will actually play out. The narration of this book was well done. This is an author new to me but I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

Loved it!

I loved the complexity and realness of the characters. Such a great book. I couldn’t stop listening!

Love the narrator! The story is wonderful!

Loved everything about Issac and Nia! Such a sweet true friendship that becomes a true love story

Heartfelt, Breathtaking, Intense Love Energy.

I loved the performance! I have had a difficult time getting back into audiobooks. I had seen this title come across my screen from some of the book reviews that I follow. From the beginning the narrators voice captured me and then drove me head first into this wonderfully intoxicating experience of lifelong friends becoming more. I was annoyed in the beginning by the slow burn build up. However, I realised later that it added to Laniah and Issac’s experiences. I greatly appreciate the author shedding light on the importance of not ignoring symptoms and trusting your instincts when you are in pain and not feeling well. Especially for women of color.

Beautiful journey

I loved this book. Started slow, but picked up quickly. I listened this 1/2025. This was a beautiful distraction and joy.
Thank you

good story

the FMC was irritating. I felt like it took to long for the story. I loved Issac. overall ok story.

Childhood best friends to lovers

I never thought I was a huge fan of friends to lovers but the more books I read like that, it is quickly proving to be a favorite.

In this one you get fake dating that turns these childhood friends into lovers and damn if that aint a recipe for a good time.

Laniah and Isaac, ilysm. For real. This story is so swoony and steamy and just so real. Laniah is just trying to get by and in scoops Issac who is like, ‘yeah babe is nbd, you I can pretend to be your guy and I can make all your dreams come true.’ OH OKAYYYY! Safe to say, Issac really sold the fake relationship.

There's a whole lot more to this story though, with all that swoony romance we also get some pretty heavy shit- past trauma and current health issues. None of it felt glossed over, rather it made this story so much more tangible as so much of it was relatable.

Need a good romance that isn't really a ‘summer read’? Pick this one up, it's wonderful!

Writing was amazing. It had me from the beginning..

It was really good. I have the bad to say the writing was great. The narrative was excellent. I can’t wait to read her other her books.

A Triumphant Love Story

Two words: beautifully done! This was such a beautiful story of love, kindness, and triumph. Understanding that, though we are imperfect humans, we are deserving of love... We simply have to be ready and willing to receive it. I think Isaac’s character is one of my new found favorites. Laniah’s story is both infuriating and healing. If you put them both together you get a love like the sun.