Down to Earth

by Julia Turshen

From the beloved cookbook author Julia Turshen, a queer love story set in your new favorite town, Sungold.

Frankie doesn’t quite know what to make of Paige, who’s just moved from Brooklyn to her quiet Upstate New York hometown with all the pressed-clothes polish of a city girl. Paige, with her eight-year-old son in tow, is seeking refuge from a rocky relationship and is equally thrown by Frankie: Why can’t she stop thinking about this eternally single, charming, gay vegetable farmer? And could the attraction she’s feeling grow into something more?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, LGBT, Queer, Lesbian, Adult, Contemporary Romance

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2026

Reviews

[Adi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very cute sapphic romance! I really enjoyed the setting, the cast of characters, the city girl/farmer pairing, the body positivity, and overall I found it to be a very easy read.

There were a couple things that kept my rating at 3 stars. 1) As someone who doesn't love dual POV, I did feel that this one felt a bit insta-lovey. And 2) there was a bit of a grey area with Paige falling in love with someone while on a "trial" separation (maybe not a trial for her, but a trial for her husband?).

Other than that, I thought this was an incredibly sweet read and one a lot of people will enjoy!

Thank you so much to 831 stories for the copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate this up like it was dessert!! I loved it so much! They had me at queer vegetable farmer!!

The setting for this book was absolutely perfect! The author did such a wonderful job at describing everything in such a dreamy voice! I just adored their writing style and will be reading more from them!

I loved loved loved Paige and Frankie! I loved that they both had real world issues that they were working with and that they’re doing their best to deal with them. I loved Frankie’s body positivity and it was refreshing to see that in a book. She was just so unbelievably cool and she cares so much about her workers and the people in the town!

I loved all the background characters too! I hope we get more books based off of the other people in the town! This book had such a fun diverse set of characters and I don’t feel quite ready to leave this cute town!

I definitely recommend reading this sweet book if you love sapphic love stories and Stardew Valley vibes!

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “Down to Earth”, Faith takes a break from New York City and her failing marriage to slow down for the summer and reevaluate what she wants from life. She and her son, Bobby, move to Sungold where Faith quickly befriends the local vegetable farmer, Frankie. Faith and Frankie’s relationship grows as they face life’s obstacles and cultivate the love they deserve in this sapphic summer romance.

I love a main character who is a parent and this book was no exception! I also enjoy a small town romance and the sweet vibes of Sungold shone throughout the book. This was fun and I’d recommend this to anyone interested in a sapphic, hallmark-esque story with mature main characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Marlou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me an 831 sapphic romance! Gimme more pls

[Annie Tate Cockrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet! I've been loving the new 831 books where the protagonist is older and/or a parent - this one, Rooting Interest, and Major Gift. The main characters of this are only in their 40s but it still feels refreshing reading about people finding love, who aren't young young. I felt especially charmed by Frankie, one of our main characters, who runs a farm in upstate ny. I'd read a prequel about her for sure.

Out 6/23!

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet! A delicious summertime treat; of course there are incredible descriptions of food. I also loved her depiction of how picturesque the Hudson Valley is, which is arguably the most beautiful place on earth. And there is also some subtle/not-so-subtle body positivity woven in that was really nice to read. Makes me want a tomato sandwich and a hot farmer who harvested those tomatoes for me!

[Mary Gael · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review - thank you net galley for the ARC!!!

Loved this and it was so deeply felt. The setting was gorgeous, I loved their relationship, and the side characters were just enough sprinkled in to flesh out the world without detracting from the narrative. And though it had a slow start, once things got moving I was flying through it. 831 stories are always a hit with me!!!

[NRC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooooh I liked this a lot! Once again, I wish this were a full-length novel so that we could get more background on the characters and the community, also more drama with Jared. I loved the way Julia wrote about the different female forms. Is it too late to move to upstate New York and be a hot lesbian farmer?

[my scary library]

This was my first 831 stories book and I was pleasantly surprised! It was quite readable and displayed amazing queer representation of butch lesbians, bisexual fems, and nonbinary people. It was also a breath of fresh air reading a romance about characters in their 40s. On the other hand, this book didn’t blow my socks off; I have read romances where I have gotten more attached, and this could be because of the novel’s length. Overall, this was a sweet lesbian romance and if you’re looking for something short but that still packs a punch, this book is for you!

[emily (whatsemilyreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

shoutout 831 stories for the earc <3 i am from upstate new york and i realllllly love reading stories set in upstate! this one was super enjoyable. paige and frankie's chemistry was off the charts. i'm learning as i get older that i adore second chance romance, and i really liked that this was a later-in-life queer awakening of sorts. not a huuuuge fan of kids in books but bobby made himself scarce enough i could stomach it. i miss upstate in the summer and i loved being able to make myself at home in this story for a few days. 831 hasn't missed for me yet!!!!

[Madison Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you 831 Stories & Julia Turshen for this ARC of Down to Earth!

I throughly enjoyed this easy small town summer romance. Quick read with dynamic characters. Wish it was full length so we could learn more about Frankie.

Spoiler: Only one explicit scene about mid-way through the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had me thinking living on a farm wouldn’t be that bad.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever wanted to uproot your life and go fall in love on a farm? Because if so the sapphic romance Down to Earth by Julia Turnsten (also a cookbook writer/chef) is for you!

Paige is separated from her husband for the summer taking some time with her son to decide what to do about her marriage and goes to Sungold, New York. When she meets Frankie, the cute farmer who runs Two Peas Farm, sparks fly and romance ensues.

The perfect mix of steam, comfort, and the most delicious sounding food I’ve ever heard. If you are capable of reading this book and not spending the whole time craving a tomato sandwich —which I’ve never even had (but will make with Frankie’s recipe!), than you have a lot more willpower than me.

I also think the novella does a great job of showing just how much work farming can be! This is such a cute summer book about how it’s never too late to start over and fall in love again! Thank you 831 stories for the ARC and ALC. Also Julia you should write more fiction! you’ve got a new fan!

[kailin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ★
i love how every novella from 831 stories manages to cover a wide ranges of topics while creating a diverse and dynamic cast of characters you genuinely care about.

down to earth was so good — touching on topics like fatphobia, sexuality, local farming, the value in community, a slower pace of life, grief, learning to move through it and most importantly, going after the life you want without hesitation. i loved how frankie and paige were instantly drawn to one another, but the chemistry and relationship still had a natural build. i really enjoyed the dual povs and all the quick recipes frankie pulled out. you can really tell the author is passionate about food and thanks to her, i will be making myself a tomato sandwich asap.

thank you to julia turshen, 831 stories and netgalley for this e-arc 🖤

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

this just really did not do it for me in a multitude of ways.

The best part - the description of the tomato sandwich (made with ingredients fresh from the garden.) Julia Turshen is a fantastic cookbook author and it showed!
The worst part was one character (lovingly and in full seriousness) called their girlfriend "an elegant truck." Girl! What happened to just calling them stunning and hot? Must we involve trucks???

[Blaire Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love butch representation. I do feel like this would’ve benefitted being a full length novel but still fantastic

[Megan Strauss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Funny to go from Yesteryear farm life to Down to Earth farm life without meaning to. This novella was alright, but too surface level. I felt like the author could have gone deeper in Frankie’s family history, Paige’s identity, and Bobby’s challenges with family crisis.

[E Mourot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through this in a day! Such a cute, quick, and endearing read.

[Harrison Choate · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s so hard to see other people living your dream

[Jessica Insogna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to see this trope in a non-Hallmark setting. Amazing food descriptions. Need to go have a tomato sandwich now

[ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

it has everything i want in life: lesbians, single parent, a farm and a small town in new england

[Amber | backinthebookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley, 831 Stories, and Julia Turshen for the opportunity to review an advance copy of “Down to Earth.” 831 Stories is my go-to for a romance fix, and as a queer woman, I love to see a sapphic novella on the roster for this year!

This sweet small town sapphic romance follows Paige, a mom from the big city on a trial separation from her husband, and Frankie, a small town vegetable farmer. They hit it off instantly, and Paige finds herself falling in love with the town and its local farmer. And Frankie finds that falling in love means breaking down walls, something she is not used to.

The book had me hooked right away - great setting, cute banter, and a fun plot line. The writing was strong as well. I was absolutely IN for the first third of the book.

It took a dip for me after that. The only way I can describe the story is a bit shallow. The plot was too predictable, and Paige’s husband being 100% awful with no redeeming qualities felt a bit unrealistic and convenient to move the plot along. I wanted more struggle, more indecision for the characters. But it just felt too easy. There was also way too much tell and not enough show. Time jumped around too much and tried to fill in the holes, which made the pacing feel weird. It also made their falling in love feel too quick and kind of awkward. This probably would have functioned better as a full length novel instead of a novella. I think it had so much potential, but the reasons listed previously made it fall flat for me.

This book could be great for those seeking a comforting sapphic romance, but I personally don’t know if I would recommend this one.

[Shura McCartin · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was a bad book!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute!! Sweet and smart, a fun read

[Jeimy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are plenty of reasons why this novella shouldn't have worked for me. The romance is necessarily rushed by the format, the relationship begins with instalust when my demisexual heart prefers to watch attraction develop over time, and both Paige's son and husband often read more like narrative devices than fully realized characters. Yet, despite all my initial reservations, Julia Turshen slowly wore down my defenses.

I think Frankie was largely responsible for that. Imperfect, stubborn, and set in her luddite ways, she is a queer farmer dedicated to nurturing both her land and her queer community. At the same time, she frustrates me to no end. She refuses to own a cellphone, rejects modern conveniences that would make both her work and her life easier, and stubbornly ignores the advice her right-hand person Mands has been giving her for years. It takes an outsider—and a near catastrophe—for Frankie to finally realize that sometimes embracing change isn't a betrayal of your values, but a way of preserving what matters most.

Paige took me longer to warm to. Turshen does a good job explaining why this polished city woman would be drawn so quickly to Sungold and to the slower rhythm of farm life. Once her husband finally appears on the page, many of her choices become easier to understand. Even so, I often found her selfish, especially in the way she brushed aside her son's wishes while pursuing what she believed was best for herself them. Fortunately, she grew on me enough over the course of the novella that those early frustrations didn't end up define her.

So why did I end up caring about these two women? A stubborn martyr of a farmer and a seemingly self-absorbed city transplant whose attraction gradually deepens into something more? I'm honestly not sure. Maybe it was the idyllic setting. Maybe it was my idealistic, anti-capitalist heart rooting for Frankie's farm to succeed. Maybe it was the wonderful supporting cast that makes Sungold feel like a place you'd want to visit. Or maybe it was the fact that I spent the entire novella bracing myself for a rushed, Hollywood-style ending that never came.

Whatever the reason, I devoured this story in a single sitting. It may not have become a new favorite, but Turshen created a town and a cast of characters that I was genuinely sad to leave behind.

[Aysia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down to Earth by Julia Turshen was another absolute win published by 831 Stories. At this point, I am willing to read whatever they are putting out and it hasn't worked against me up to this point. I want to include a disclaimer here: I am not a queer woman and I do not identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. I am simply an appreciative reader of queer fiction, and this review comes from an outsider perspective.

In this story, we follow Paige Segal, a mother trying to determine if she has the strength to leave her husband and raise her son, Bobby, on her own. She takes 8-year-old Bobby on a summer-long vacation to a small town in New York, where she quickly crosses paths with Frankie Poster. Frankie is a third-generation vegetable farmer whose family farm is a community staple but is currently struggling to stay afloat. As the two women work through their respective challenges, they find themselves growing unexpectedly close.

The way that fatness is portrayed in this novel was so beautiful that it actually brought me to tears. As a bigger-bodied woman, reading about someone being loved because of their body, not in spite of it, was incredibly healing. Turshen celebrates women taking up space, and seeing Frankie through Paige’s eyes was a powerful reminder that our bodies can inspire appreciation exactly as they are.

Even in a shorter format, the author manages to tackle the self-consciousness that comes with living in a skinny-centric society while maintaining a sweet, romantic tone. This was a deeply important read for me, and I really appreciated what Turshen was able to accomplish in so few pages. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a romance that celebrates authenticity and the beauty of existing exactly as you are.

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big-city single mom contemplating a divorce and a queer plus-sized farmer struggling to save her vegetable farm get together in this sweet novella set in a small town in New York. Paige and Frankie have an almost instant connection at the farmers market, but they’ve both got baggage; Paige and her son Bobby are only supposed to be in Sungold for the summer while she goes through a trial separation from Bobby’s father and Frankie doesn’t do relationships. When Paige gets a flat tire and has a breakdown on the side of the road, Frankie comes to her rescue with her sexy forearms and her spare tire. The pair start spending time together on the farm and falling in love. It turns out that Paige with her PR career might be exactly what Frankie needs to turn things around for Two Peas farm. And Frankie and Sungold might be the place that Paige and Bobby can finally be themselves and at home.

This is like a hallmark movie, but make it queer and set it in the summer, saving a beloved vegetable farm instead of a Christmas tree farm. It’s an easy read and the perfect length for a single-sitting read, although it took me a few days. I liked the small town setting in this one. I really felt like I was in Sungold for the summer and that it was a place I needed to visit. I loved that Frankie was a plus-sized FMC, I enjoyed the way she was written and the slow burn desire between her and Paige. Both Paige and Frankie grow over the course of this short novella. There’s an open-door sex scene that’s not super explicit. Sungold is very queer friendly and the cast of side characters are diverse and fun. TW for fat shaming and there’s a brief bullying scene that’s handled well.

Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for the ARC! I can’t wait to read more of these books!

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to 831 stories and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Paige is looking for a change; both her marriage and career haven't turned out as she hoped. A summer in the quiet upstate town with her son away from the excesses of the city, she hopes to get some clarity on what's next for them. She didn't expect to meet the charming Frankie, a farmer who lives "old school" and opens her up to a world of possibilities.

I did not really read the synopsis, so I was so pleasantly surprised when I realised this was a queer romance :) This is the second ARC I've read with 40+ year characters; it's really refreshing, I like to see what's come before informing their choices going forward.

I loved both the main characters. They were both nervous to enter into a new relationship. Paige has been in an unhappy marriage for many years, so opening herself up to romantic feelings and trusting someone else after that is a leap of faith. As for Frankie, committing to long-term at all seems a scary prospect given her history of sticking to what she knows, not risking anything.

Frankie is definitely compantance porn in action in a lot of ways, but Paige complements her with her marketing skills :) I liked that being queer wasn't an issue; Paige didn't need an epiphany. There is also some body talk, particularly as Frankie is a fat character. I thought it was thoughtful and well done.

I think the ending was a little rushed but I think that just may be the result of the book's length. I really would have loved to get to know more about the rest of the farmers :)

I really want a tomato sandwich after this :)

TW: fatphobia (only a couple of brief comments, the rest of the book is very body positive/neutral)

[Ruben Martinez Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.7★

Down to Earth is for anyone who has ever fantasized about stumbling into a Hallmark movie—leaving big city life behind, moving to a farm, and falling into the kind of romance that seems too good to be true. Julia Turshen delivers a sweet, steamy F/F love story that strikes a good balance of cozy escapism with thoughtful explorations of real-life challenges, including dating as a parent, navigating divorce, and finding the courage to start over.

What impressed me most was how much Turshen accomplishes in such a short space. The romance is genuinely swoon-worthy, the chemistry between the leads feels natural and earned, and the story embraces queer representation with warmth and authenticity. I also appreciated the body-positive approach throughout, as well as the butch representation, which remains far too rare in the romance genre. The farm setting is brought to life through deliciously vivid imagery that makes it easy to understand why the main character would choose the small-town life, even while confronting the challenges of running a small business head-on.

Like the other 831 Stories novellas, this is a quick read, but it never feels rushed or incomplete. The pacing is excellent, the emotional beats land, and the novella manages to tell a full, satisfying story while still leaving you wishing you could spend more time with these characters. If you’re looking for a love story in a queer community with heart, heat, and a healthy dose of cottagecore wish fulfillment, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you to 831 Stories for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Haley Sparks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you losing count of how many books I’ve called “cute but forgettable” in the past few months? Me too. But here we are, adding another one to the total! Like all 831 stories, it was short and sweet. It was fun, it was cute, it was nice to read a sapphic HEA and it went down extremely easily—almost too easily?

I think the problem with my reading as of late is that I’m craving books with more “bite,” yet I keep picking up books that are smooth and fluid with no bite at all. So that’s my fault. The book did nothing wrong, it just didn’t challenge me and I’m looking to be challenged. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to turn off their brain, get a break in between heavier reads, or immerse themself in a cute, nice little happy sapphic story set in a very lovely fictional small town. It felt very Hallmark-y.
I will say, one aspect of the plot (that I can remember, it’s been a minute since I finished this) that I actually struggled a bit with was the insta-love. It’s hard to make a novella NOT feel insta love-y, but still, Paige and Frankie’s arc felt very very quick. I found Frankie to be a pretty well-developed character (although her stubbornness bugged me at times,) but Paige’s development was also lacking a bit for me.

Of all the 831 stories I’ve read so far, this is lower on my list, but that’s mainly because of my personal reading slump and preferences and I still want to recommend it because I did enjoy it and we need more sapphic happily ever afters. I think many people will eat this up and love it! (Apparently the author is a professional chef/cook and it shows—the food descriptions were GOOD.)