Seeds of Love: Romance universitaria: amici che diventano amanti, passioni e ideali in conflitto (University of Mountain Springs: Versione italiana Vol. 1)

by Lola Lockhart

Lei vuole salvare il mondo. Lui vuole sopravvivere… all’amore.

Alex Ford ha un specializzarsi in Scienze Ambientali alla UMS, conquistare lo stage nei prestigiosi Global Sustainable Resources Institute e dimostrare a tutti quanto una sola persona possa fare la differenza. Nessuno—and soprattutto non Freddie Donovan, il playboy del campus con un sorriso pericolosamente magnetico—dovrà distrarla.

Freddie non fa relazioni. Ma Alex lo sfida. Le sue convinzioni, la sua determinazione e il suo cuore gli fanno rivalutare tutto. Più si avvicinano, più le loro differenze — attivismo vs pragmatismo, idealismo vs sopravvivenza — sembrano incolmabili.

Seeds of Love è un romance universitaro grintoso, sensuale e slow burn, opposites-attract, amici che diventano amanti, con personaggi coraggiosi che scoprono la forza dell’amore e della propria voce.

Perfetto per chi ama storie di crescita, passioni forti e ambientazioni accademiche emozionanti.

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, College, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Enemies To Lovers

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2025

About the author

When she’s not getting lost in vivid daydreams about her next book boyfriend, you can find romance author Lola Lockhart devouring or writing yet another swoon-worthy novel, going for a hike to fuel her imagination, or planning her next cozy café writing session (caffeine is a must).

This passionate Brit loves the UK, but her heart will always remain wherever the sun shines brightest – AKA, she tries to escape the cold weather as much as possible.

Lola has been hooked on sweeping love stories since childhood, when she could often be found secretly reading under the covers long after bedtime, flashlight in hand. Now she gets to share that obsession, serving up steamy new couples destined to melt hearts.

Reviews

[Calypso✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨ Seed of Love by Lola Lockhart is a sweet and unique romance that combines heartfelt emotion with a touch of whimsy. The connection between the main characters is beautifully written, with their growing bond feeling authentic and deeply moving.🥹They definitely went through it together.

🌸Alex is strong-willed and compassionate, incredibly stubborn, and intelligent. And holy crap, her stubbornness was driving me crazy! I think I have yelled at her throughout reading this book. But then again I was yelling at both of the MCs.🤣Freddie brings a perfect balance of vulnerability and strength, with a protective nature that adds depth to his personality. UGHHH I loved him so much😍. He was just so real and relatable and I enjoyed that a lot. While the mutual pining will sometimes drive you crazy, the genuine connection between the characters and the uplifting themes of love and growth more than make up for it❤️‍🩹

🤌🏽Overall, this book was a great read. It was in a nice pace for a slow burn book. I can’t wait for the next book to come out. If you’re looking for a romance that’s both heartfelt and refreshingly different, this book is definitely worth the read! 🙌🏽

[Book obsessed j · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bewertung: 3.25 ⭐️

Eine süße, leichte College-Romantik mit etwas Drama und Witz für Zwischendurch mit Umwelt-Thematik! Das Buch lässt sich schnell und flüssig lesen (wenn man von den teils unlogischen Sätzen und Übersetzungsfehlern hinweg sieht).

Über die Handlung:
Die schüchterne, unerfahrene Alex Ford beginnt ihr Studium „Umweltwissenschaften“ und möchte nichts Geringeres als den Planeten zu retten. Und ihre Bucket-List abzuarbeiten. Der am Campus berühmt-berüchtigte Bad Boy Freddie Donovan will einfach nur überleben und seiner Familie helfen. Doch wie der Zufall es so will treffen deren beiden Welten aufeinander und aus ihrer anfänglichen Lernbuddy-Vereinbarung wird eine romantische und tragische Love Story mit Höhen und Tiefen.

Was mir gefallen hat:
- Sympathische Protagonisten, die ein großes Character Development durchmachen
- Strangers to friends (with benefits) to lovers
- Anziehung zwischen den Protagonisten, doppelte POV und liebenswerte Nebencharaktere mit found family trope

Was mir nicht so gut gefallen hat:
- Die Übersetzung: manche Sätze ergeben leider gar keinen Sinn und es haben sich einige kleinere Fehler eingeschlichen, die den Lesefluss einfach unterbrechen
- Der Schreibstil wirkt oft abgehackt (kann an der Übersetzung liegen)

Danke an Lola Lockhart und Lovelybooks für das Freiexemplar!

[t✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Final Rating: 4.75/5

I absolutely loved this one!! It was written SO beautifully and I literally could not put it down (accidentally read it within a day haha). Alex and Freddie's chemistry was palpable throughout the whole book, even when they were at odds. Alex's fierce determination and dedication to her beliefs was inspiring, even if her stubbornness was slightly irksome at certain points. I loved Freddie's logical approach to everything and his unwavering commitment to considering all sides. He was sweet, charming, funny and just overall a great MMC 🥺 Nothing gets me like a man who knows how to be vulnerable💅🏼 This is officially my favorite book i've read by Lola Lockhart and I am so excited to read the rest of the UMS series!! Would highly recommend if you're in the mood for a very well-written slow burn second chance romance! Also side note - even though it was a slow burn, the pacing was perfect!!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review 📚

I absolutely loved this book and found it really difficult to put down once I started. From the amazing writing to relatable characters, I was hooked by the end of Chapter 1.

The dual POV was clearly written, so easy to follow, and the main characters (Alex and Freddie) have realistic aspirations, personalities, and problems. You could easily imagine them being real college students.

I often find that slow-burn romances can drag, but Seeds Of Love is well-paced, so didn't feel tedious in any way. I also found there was the perfect level of humour, which didn't dominate the plot or make it feel like a cringe-fest!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Seeds Of Love. It's an easy, fun read that's perfect for cosy nights curled up on the sofa.

[Miky Foruria · Rating 1 out of 5]

Look it was free with kindle unlimited.. otherwise don’t bother. Nearly was my 2nd DNF. FMC ‘her way or the highway’ attitude with her beliefs was frustrating. Predictable and repetitive with a lack of character development. Also very slow to build the story.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this! The dynamic between Alex and Freddie is out of this world. I appreciate that the author did not take the typical approach to a romance story and there were some really unexpected moments thought out. The character development is great and the real life struggles they went through. Great read!

[Sammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow this book was so good! Alex and Freddie, two people in different places in their life who keeping finding each other. they both grew so much in the book it was beautiful to see. this books reminded me that even if you grow apart you can always grow back together.

[Karen B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow burn, second chance friends to lovers, college coming of age romance that completely absorbed me from the first sentence to the last with the character arcs and development. Although the MFC, Alex, is driven and devoted to her future in environmental science, she flounders in emotional firsts. Freddie, the MMC, struggles with trying to be the best and support his family, but yet has always been a confident womanizer. When they meet and develop their friendship, wow…the chemistry! The tension and banter! The spice! How both these characters grow in different ways for the duration of the story is outstanding-being told in first person dual PoV was a great choice, and Now-Then-Now format really helped with complexity and relatability. In fact, during many scenes, I kept thinking the author was writing about my own college experience! I am looking forward to the next in this series. Thanks to Inkspire and the author for an advanced copy. 4.5 stars

[Crystal Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books, don’t judge a book by its cover. I was not expecting this funny, cute, and touching story based on JUST the cover. But I loved it and so glad I read it.

Alex…I love her! She stands firm in what she believes in and doesn’t let anyone change it. She is very passionate about the environment and making a difference. She goes off to college and like a lot of new college students, she doesn’t have much experience. She finds herself outside of a party and meets the handsome, Freddie.

Freddie…. Oh how I love and hate you! I would get so dang mad at how he acted towards Alex sometimes. She deserved the world and he kept hurting her, thinking he was helping things. But I also felt for him. He just wanted to do something to help his family and their financial situation. You will find yourself in love with him one moment and wanting to shake him the next.

This book was beautifully written. I loved the characters backgrounds that showed their struggles and tragedy that they have had to endure.

[Sarah Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The banter between Alex and Freddie was so cute. I love a dual perspective, time jumps, and it is true that the longing build up was satisfying. Being someone who cares about the environment, I really enjoyed the ethical plot line too. I do wish there was some more extension of their end agreement with a few summer scenes with university out of session. I also felt that after a time, the other guy friends just fell out of the plot line— which is fine with the focus, but it seemed they were the close college community. I am thankful for this free ARC from BookSirens and this is my honest opinion.

[Manda Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Lola. It was very sweet romance. I received this book an ARC too.

Alex and Freddie are the main characters of this small town romance. I enjoyed the slow burn of these friends to lovers.

-slow burn
-friends to lovers
-opposites attract
-found family

If you want a quick small town romance this is a good one to add to your TBR.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Christina Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I was lucky enough to be a arc for this book and i was so glad to be, this is a slow burn, friends to lovers, and second chances. She is an amazing author I would definitely recommend this book and it’s a lot not to spicy but had some spicy scenes.

[Lauren Fay · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review 🧡

Never judge a book by its cover, but this one's too stinking cute not to.

The conflict in this book is so perfect, and Lola is so talented at presenting both Alex and Freddie's conflicting morals, while also having the tension be piping hot.

Alex is so relatable, with her passion for the environment and life. Her commitment is admirable, and dedication for what she believes in is who I aspire to be.

Freddie was so funny and charming, and I can totally get why Alex fell so hard! I love a mmc who can be vulnerable, so it was a delight to see Freddie start to open up through the book.

As an Ali Hazelwood fan, this book was perfect for me. If you also need more books with women in STEM, this book is for you.

This was my first of Lola's books, but definitely won't be my last! And I need more soon plz, I finished this within one sitting 😬.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

✅Book Sirens Book Tour

Seeds of Love is a cute friends to lovers romance. Even though the cuteness factor was there, the messy factor was present too.
I loved the main characters, Alex and Freddie.
The pacing of the story was perfect. Watching the personal growth and chemistry evolve with Alex and Freddie was endearing in so many ways.
Are you looking for a heartfelt romance? Here it is!

#shortbookthyme
@shortbookthyme

[Emilie May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Lola for the ARC opportunity 🩷

Honestly, one of the most wholesome books I have read. The bonds of friendship and how supportive each character were to each other was inspiring. Literally represents the saying “ Friends are Family”.

Freddie has so much love for his friends and family that he would literally do ANYTHING for them. He has such a golden heart.

Alexandria cares so deeply for the environment and has such a strong drive to make a change. I feel we all could learn something from her and do better for our planet.

Seeds of Love is full of friendship, love, determination and forgiveness. I want to hold this book close to my heart because there were so many moments that were relatable and just remarkable.

ps. Love when Tequila is referenced in any novel.
Me + Tequila = ❤️ 🍋‍🟩

[Emilie Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ This book was cute in that academic friends to lovers way! I loved our two main characters even though they’re both extremely flawed in my opinion (but they’re young and human so why wouldn’t they be) and I connected with them both early on! I loved how we see their relationship develop from the very first day they meet, and I absolutely love the focus on environmental sustainability. I DID think it suddenly focused way more on the intimate parts than anything else, but it was cute!

[Lewis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to strangle both of the main characters.

At first Freddie was pissing me off because of his fuckboy and "I'm not the one for you" attitude, but Alex as annoyed me coz why the fuck would you just ask someone to sleep with you after breaking down about wanting your first to be meaningful.
oh, and don't get me started on how she acted in the end. SHE WOULDN'T LISTENNN. I hate people who can't see two sides of an argument, and she really was pushing it like what the hell. to the point that I'd agree with Freddie. It isn't all black and white.

if I had a physical copy, I'd ask for a refund, but thank god for kindle unlimited.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

The FMC was a bit unlikeable… or maybe it’s just an age thing. Her ‘absolute’ view of the world was annoying.
It’s disappointing the character didn’t evolve or grow through the pages to a more grown up and realistic view of especially the people around her.
Now that I think about it, I think i might be outgrowing the YA genre. Don’t mind me!

[Amanda Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ Okay so I understand Alex went through something super traumatic with Emma but I felt like she came off as a know it all the whole book. Freddie is 😍 Alex made me want to scream.

[Kikiii04 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worum geht es?
Das Schicksal meint es überhaupt nicht gut mit Alex, als sie für das wichtigste Projekt ihres Studiums ausgerechnet Freddie Donovan als Partner zugelost bekommt. Vor einem Jahr war Freddie noch ihr bester Freund, mit dem sie es liebte zu diskutieren und zu lachen. Jetzt kann sie sein charmantes Grinsen nicht mehr ausstehen. Und ausgerechnet von der Zusammenarbeit mit ihm hängt ihre Zukunft, ihr großer Traum von einem Praktikumsplatz in Kalifornien ab. Kann das gutgehen?

Meine Meinung:
Es brauchte leider nur ein paar wenige Seiten um das Hauptproblem der Geschichte zu erkennen: Die Übersetzung. Und damit auch der Schreibstil. Leider wurde das Buch komplett wörtlich aus dem Englischen übersetzt, was an vielen Stellen nicht funktioniert. Manchmal passt die Redewendung im Deutschen einfach nicht, oft stimmt aber auch die Grammatik überhaupt nicht und bildet keinen vollständigen Satz. Ich habe lange versucht, diese Fehler zu ignorieren und die Storyline unabhängig davon zu betrachten. Aber leider lenken die Fehler sehr beim Lesen ab und machen den Schreibstil mit der Zeit sehr anstrengend zu lesen. Der Erzählstil wirkt ohne die typischen Schlenker der deutschen Sprache so platt, dass er ein Gefühl von Oberflächlichkeit versprüht und die Dialoge sehr konstruiert wirken.

Wenn ich mich aber wirklich nur auf die Handlung konzentriere, ist SEEDS OF LOVE kein schlechtes Buch. Die College-Romance zwischen Bad Boy und Good Girl ist bewährt (und etwas klischeehaft) und funktioniert. Die Geschichte wird mit wechselnder Perspektive und auf zwei Zeitebenen erzählt, was uns Leser:innen direkt in Handlung und die Welt der Charaktere mitnimmt. Freddie tritt zunächst als typsicher Frauenheld auf, aber ganz ehrlich, mit seinen witzigen Sprüchen und seiner Fürsorge stiehlt er einem auch einfach das Herz. Bei Alex muss ich gestehen, dass sie mich im Laufe der Geschichte verloren hat. Ich hatte von ihr zunächst den Eindruck einer jungen, modernen, zielstrebigen Frau. Doch im Laufe der Geschichte beweist sie vor allem Naivität und Schwarz-Weiß-Denken und es nervte mich zunehmend, wie wenig Verständnis sie für Menschlichkeit zeigt. In Freddies Position konnte ich mich viel besser hineinversetzen, weshalb ich auch den entscheidenden Konflikt zwischen ihnen zu aufgebauscht und am Ende nicht so toll gelöst fand.

Mein Fazit:
Die deutsche Version von SEEDS OF LOVE kann ich nicht empfehlen zu lesen, das sage ich ganz offen. Die Storyline selbst ist eine nette College-Geschichte mit interessanten Themen rund um den Umweltschutz, tollen Nebenfiguren, einem sehr sympathischen Freddie und Luft nach oben, wenn es um mehr Glaubwürdigkeit statt Drama geht. Wer sich für die Storyidee und Freddies und Lexies Weg von Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers interessiert, sollte den Roman aber definitiv auf Englisch lesen. Für die deutsche Version vergebe ich 2,5 Sterne, wobei ich mir vorstellen kann, dass ich einen guten Stern mehr geben würde, hätte ich das Buch auf Englisch gelesen.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Seeds of Love“ by Lola Lockhart tells the story of Alex Ford, who is determined to secure a spot at a prestigious institute and prove that one person can make a difference in the world. Distractions are the last thing she needs – especially in the form of Freddie Donovan, the infamous campus heartbreaker. But as Alex unexpectedly finds friendship, belonging, and maybe even love, she realizes that taking the risk to open up might be the only way to truly discover who she wants to be.

The story is set in the STEM field, which immediately caught my interest. Fans of Ali Hazelwood will definitely perk up at that premise. Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this book. The humor balances out the more serious moments, and the light, easygoing writing style makes for a smooth and enjoyable reading experience.

I particularly liked the environmental theme. Several key topics are addressed in a way that’s easy to understand, even for readers with little prior knowledge. The college setting is also convincingly portrayed – anyone who’s ever dealt with exams, presentations, or poster sessions will instantly feel transported back to those days.

The plot skillfully weaves together scientific facts, a love story, and protagonists who still have a lot to learn and grow from each other. Alex comes from a more privileged background, while Freddie has to fight for what he wants. Two worlds collide, each bringing its own set of challenges and backstories, leading to some compelling conflicts and touching moments.

At times, Alex comes across as a bit naive, but her character development throughout the book is significant. Her actions are not thoughtless but rather rooted in understandable motivations, making her character relatable and authentic.

The chemistry between Alex and Freddie is palpable from the start. I could immediately feel their connection, and I think they work well together throughout the story. I especially enjoyed the humor between them, which lightens up the heavier themes and makes their bond feel genuine.

The side characters also added a lot to the story. Alex’s friend Tara and Freddie’s friends are instantly likable and bring a warm, welcoming vibe to the book. Since the second installment will focus on Tara, her introduction here was well done and left me curious to learn more about her.

However, the German translation could use some refinement, as there are some noticeable errors that could have been smoothed out.

If you enjoy rom-coms set in the academic world, with protagonists who carry their own baggage and grow from it, and a healthy dose of humor, this book is definitely for you. 😊

[Britney Chavez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover of this book is what got me to be honest. It was just so pretty and bright. Then when I saw the tropes I knew I needed to read this.

Freddie and Alex are your typical opposites attract. But I am calling this one “opposites attract with a twist!”
Freddie is your typical young college guy, not looking for a relationship and just having fun while in college. That kinda changes when he gets back after summer break, he has some family troubles he needs to figure out and help with. So he promises himself he is going to get more serious with school and changes course.

Alex is a girl who wants to change the world. Wants to make it a better place to live in and save all things in the environment. She has her reasons why she is so focused and a die hard environmentalist. She also wants to break out of her shell and try to have a normal college experience. This is when Freddie comes into the picture and sparks an interesting friendship.
This is my “twist” I mentioned earlier.

They have a friendship that on paper looks like it would never work but they make it work somehow. Now both are stubborn and set in their ways/views that it got kinda hard to read for me. They kept having the same fights and Alex would never listen to reason. I get that they are young and learning but I felt like she should have listen to Freddie if he was her best friend like she said he was. She just never gave him the time to explain his reasoning for doing some of the things he did.

Overall I did enjoy the whole story. It was a different read, the whole environmentalism stuff, then I have read before. And these two did work out their problems and finally got that HEA.
.
.
.
3️⃣.7️⃣5️⃣⭐️
🌶️
🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
7/10 recommendation

[Karen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞
𝘣𝘺 𝘓𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘵
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Thank you to @lolalockhartauthor and @inkspireservices for this ARC 💜

Seeds of Love is an adorable, unique, coming of age story about self-discovery, young love, and how two people can work together with their differences to make a change for the greater good. Alex, our FMC, starts out very shy and unsure of herself but is determined to work her hardest in order to get selected for a prestigious environmental studies internship where she could work with other like-minded people to actually make a change. Freddie, our MMC, is that typical college playboy… tall, dark, handsome, and terrified of commitment. Much to both of their dismays, they get paired up on a their final project that could make or break their chances at jump starting a successful carreer and Alex’s chance at the internship.

This was a lovely dual-POV/dual timeline story, which I feel really helped to make the story the best it could be, since our main characters used to be best friends and we were able to be there during their friendship and their downfall. Both of these characters (and the others!) were so easy to fall in love with and I thoroughly enjoyed their growth, both alone and together, throughout the story! Based on this story, I am so looking forward to book 2 and our next couple 👀🤭

No spoilers here, but if you love…

🐝 Friends to lovers
🐝 Second chance romance
🐝 Forced proximity
🐝 Slow burn
🐝Opposites attract
🐝 Found family
🐝 Strong female lead

… then you should definitely read Seeds of Love when it releases on December 2nd! 💜

[Kendal B · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was adorable!!! 🌱🐝🌷🌼🔬🥼🌎🌳

can two former best friends/almost lovers overcome everything that’s happened between them to complete a class project that could dictate both of their futures?!

Alex & Freddie meet at a house party and quickly go from strangers to study buddies to each other’s favorite person 💓

Alexandria (Alex) is stubborn, brilliant, & opinionated, with a passion for the environment. she is determined to save the earth, no matter what it takes.

Freddie is charming, funny, and loyal, with the weight of the world on his shoulders. he is such a sweetheart, but doesn’t think he is 🥹 he’s a boy who doesn’t do relationships with a soft spot for her (which is one of my favorite micro-tropes!) he’s so sweet to her!!

“you made a bee garden?”

Lola did an incredible job creating complex characters with realistic tension and real-world problems. the angst and banter between them had me gasping out loud 😂 sometimes college books are too dramatic for me, but the drama was so well written that it didn’t bother me at all! I honestly ate it up!!

“he’s wearing that damn blue button-down that makes his eyes pop, and I hate that I still notice. I hate that I care.”

one of my favorite themes was that things aren’t always as simple they seem. it’s not always black and white, even if we think it is. I also liked the pacing of the story. and I learned about environmental activism too which was a cool bonus 🌸♻️

not mention, all of the sweet & also imperfect moments between Alex & Freddie. Lola slayed!

“from now on, it’s you and me against the world, okay?”

Tropes:
💜 secret pining
🌻 ex-best friend
💜 second chance
🌻 rivals to lovers
💜 opposites attract
🌻 slow burn
💜 found family

if you’re looking for a college romance with lovable characters, stellar plot, and women in STEM, this is it 😍 this was my first read of hers and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!!!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Seeds of Love by Lola Lockhart is a heartwarming friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance that weaves themes of personal growth and environmental preservation. Alexandra Ford is a hopeless romantic who dreams of having it all—love, purpose, and a happily ever after. A virgin and deeply idealistic, Alex is a determined young woman passionate about making a tangible difference in saving the environment. Freddie, on the other hand, is more pragmatic and focused on securing a well-paying job in environmental science to help his family out of financial struggles. His aversion to commitment stands in stark contrast to Alex's driven idealism.

Though Alex and Freddie were once friends, past complications strained their bond, turning them into mere acquaintances. When a shared project forces them to collaborate, their dynamic begins to shift, rekindling both old tensions and unspoken feelings.

What stood out most was the fresh perspective on environmental preservation, which added depth and uniqueness to the story. The playful banter and undeniable chemistry between Alex and Freddie kept the narrative engaging, with Freddie's charm and witty retorts adding a delightful touch. The book’s structure, alternating between past and present, was handled seamlessly, making the transitions natural and enriching the emotional arc.

However, the ending left me wanting a bit more. A deeper look into their professional journeys or a clearer resolution regarding their futures would have added a satisfying layer of closure.

Thank you to Lola Lockhart for the eARC of the book!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeds of Love was written so beautifully! I wasn't prepared for how emotional it would get me, but I loved being apart of the emotional roller coaster. Alex and Freddie's relationship was paced so well and was so beautiful to watch. Seeing their friendship and feelings grow, the hardships, and then coming back together warmed my heart. Reading about their story felt real and authentic; and I really loved feeling every bit of emotion come off each page.

I admire Alex's character so much. She has strong beliefs and will fight for it until her dying breath. It's admirable and maybe a little annoying, but I can see how it was driven by her passion, which I still appreciate with her. Freddie balanced her out and I loved him too! He truly cares about her and lets Alex live his mind rent free, which was adorable. He's kind, protective, considerate, and ughh he's so good for Alex!! Seeing the two develop their friendship, feelings, and relationship felt so real that it touched my heart. And although there were moments between the two that somewhat annoyed me, I realize what they have is genuine and honestly realistic. Relationships are not easy and not always linear. There's ups and downs as all relationships do. But all of that helps highlight the love, growth, and beauty of Alex and Freddie's relationship.

This is my Lola Lockhart read and I loved it so much! Lola, you really know how to pull some heartstrings and get me really emotional. I personally struggle reading through second chance romances, but you got me out of it. The style of writing is beautiful, romantic, and authentic. I read this to prepare me for my next read and I can't wait for Seeds of Betrayal!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

I finished this book in like 2 days I couldn't put it down! The book is written in Dual POV but also with two timelines, but all that info is mentioned at the beginning of the chapter so it was not a problem for me.

This book is about Alex who goes to college and get an internship at her dream company the GSRI and wants to change the world in terms of climate and decides to study environmental science.

There she meets Freddie who is taking the same classes but his intentions to study environmental science in the first place is so he can get a good job after graduating and help his family out financial wise.

At the beginning of the book we learn that Alex and Freddie are stuck together as partners for a group project and we learn they had a fight and they actually don't want to work together but are forced to. Through flashblacks we learn how they met, become study budies, have undeniable chemistry, but also have fights about their views on the environment. Alex judges Freddie for just being in it for the money and Freddie blames Alex for seeing the world as black and white.

So can they put their differences aside and ace the project? Next to solving their issues and make sacrifices for love?

I just really loved how the characters weren't superficial and had real issues to deal with and it made sense after learning about their backstories. It must have been real love to work through these kind of issues because most people would have given up after their first disagreement!

[Mel (literaturelylost) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌏 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 🌏

"𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆."

⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️

@lolalockhartauthor this was an absolutely gorgeous romance, and I am an absolute sucker for a friend's to lovers and this was so cute, but also messy and I loved it even more for that.

What I appreciated, was that even though our girl Alexandria was a virgin, and the first half of the story circles around her college experience list, that the story was so much more than that, and it wasn't just the friends hook up and it's all lovey from there.

I loved that it got messy, there was a bit of miscommunication. Might I add the miscommunication was not relationship specific, but based on their world views which was a whole other level of complexity.

This was a story about Alex trying to fight the big corporations, and try and get justice for her cousin who was the victim of an environmental crime. Her passion for saving the environment, and saving the planet make her blind to other arguments sometimes.

Freddie who is trying to balance his views as a son of someone who worked in the mines, but as a result his father is so I'll he can't work. Freddie is juggling trying to be realistic, making money for his family and taking opportunities.

This story very much highlighted that not everything is NOT black and white.

It was a great and easy read... And I'm also hoping we potentially might get to see more of the siblings Tara and Troy because I really enjoyed them in this book too.

[Brittni Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC Reader**

Lola did a great job bringing the story to life for Alex and Freddie.

I adored Freddie. He is delicious. Alex is a very determined, strong-willed, focused young lady. Freddie is a "player" and Alex is the introvert who struggles to find relatable ground with most. She is a very passionate person about improving the environment and the world.

Freddie and Alex come from different walks of life with different backgrounds. They do find common ground and Freddie wants to make all of Alex's dreams a reality, not at first. She grows on him after spending so much time together.

Freddie is working to earn a degree that will lead to a high paying career after college. His family was struck with tragedy. His father does put a lot of pressure on him to pick up and be the man of the family on the financial front. Alex's family is a little more well-off.

Alex wants to stop a development. She works to prevent the development. It doesn't appear to go the way she wishes. Freddie doesn't say the right things, of course. He then works his tooshie off to finds ways to ensure the development doesn't have the massive impact on the environment that Alex is worried it will have. Unknowingly, Freddie gives the development a way to continue, but with suggestions to help keep the environment safe as much as possible. They have a huge fight about it. The two do not speak for a long time. A class they share puts them back in each other's lives, against Alex's wishes. The two eventually talk and work through the communication.

Cute story. I finished it in a day. I would recommend the story to anyone who enjoys a good second chance and a friend-to-lovers story.

[Joy Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thoughts 💭

This book did a GREAT job showcasing the struggle of money vs morals. Throughout the book, both characters had an immense amount of character growth! Freddie and Alex’s relationship was definitely rough at times, but despite both of their problems and fears, they were able to overcome together as a team. They were not only able to overcome their personal problems, but together they worked aimlessly to solve much bigger problem in the world.
I liked how the very beginning of the book started off in the present and made you wonder what had happened previously to cause Alex’s hostility towards Freddie. Then it immediately jumps to the past to explain everything, which my impatient self appreciated 😂 When we got back to the present day, I think everything that followed that point was very well done! The amount of confusion and uncertainty that the characters had the whole time made this story an emotional one. It made my heart hurt for them because I don’t even know what I’d do in either of their situations. Especially Freddie’s. Their love wasn’t always great, but it’s definitely always been there. And it was precious, yet nerve wracking watching them try to find their way back to eachother.

Synopsis:

Alex’s one goal in life is to save the environment. A tragic accident in her past fuels her desire to make sure something like that never happens again. When she gets partnered up for the most important project of her life with an old flame, both good and bad feelings come floating back from the past to distract her.

Freddie was a notorious playboy. The one girl he’s ever fallen for “hates” him now. But when they get partnered up together, there might be hope. That is until an opportunity to save his family comes up. The only problem is, this company represents everything he and Alex have been fighting against for years.