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 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, LGBT, Queer, New York, Fiction, Contemporary, Adult

Audible Audio

Published June 23, 2026

Reviews

[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!

[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

[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

[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.

[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.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down to Earth is a cozy small town romance set in a fictional NY town. Paige moves out of Brooklyn for the summer with her young son in tow, on a trial separation from her (asshole) husband. She attends the local farm market and meets Frankie, a vegetable farmer. There is the whole “are they flirting with me” feeling from both of them as the story unfolds.

I enjoyed the way Paige and Frankie both work through their own hang-ups that propel forward their relationship. My two favorite things about Frankie was that she was unapologetically plus sized and trying to keep her father’s farm alive, but needing to work through her feelings to realize she doesn’t have to do things exactly how he did.

Make sure to watch for the title being incorporated into a nice quote within the book! I love things like that. Julia Turshen is a great writer, and I loved how she incorporated her cooking/farming experience into the story!

My biggest surprise was never getting any indication how Paige was going to explain to her son that she is divorcing his dad and now with a woman. It was never even a discussion or consideration and when it ended I was like…wait what? I really wanted to have that in the story. Also the soon-to-be ex-husband was the perfect asshole with no redeeming qualities - purposeful for the convenience of the story. It felt a little messy that even though the relationship was clearly over, was there some ambiguity of cheating? Something to think of if that’s a trigger for you.

Thank you to 831 stories and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sapphic romance where a Brooklyn girl spends the summer in a rural area with her young son on a not-so-trial separation from her husband, and she falls for the resident farmer/community builder almost immediately? Honestly, I feel like this one was made for me.

I particularly enjoyed the sense of place developed throughout the novella. In many “city girl in small town” romances, there’s an over-romanticization of the setting that I find challenging to enjoy. DOWN TO EARTH avoids many of these traps — the realities of rural geography affect the story; there’s a very real adjustment period, especially for her son; the community doesn’t just co-exist, they rely on each other.

It did fall into others, especially with Paige’s own adjustment period and comparisons to Brooklyn, but the growth came over time — reflected even further with her husband’s arrival. Similarly, there were a few things that felt a little *too* on the nose (a vegetable farmer in a town literally named Sungold?), but I was having such a lovely time that I was more than happy to overlook those.

While the novella format made for a quick read, I would have loved more time watching our main characters realizing they’re falling for each other, more of the larger cast of characters (the very queer farm crew was especially a highlight!), more backstory on her ending relationship, and so on.

A breezy summer read that will pair well with an heirloom tomato salad and a light drink.

Thanks to 831 Stories for an advanced copy!

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book. When I reached the end, I realized that I actually did know this book was going to be coming out before seeing it on NetGalley. I was researching the author for work and saw, I think on her Instagram profile, that she was going to release a book with 831 Stories—which truly felt like the serendipitous point where two worlds collide.

I love that the stories told by this publishing house are so diverse. None of them have read the same to me. None of them have similar takeaways. All of them are so unique to the author, their life and their imagined worlds. It’s incredible. One of my favorite things about reading has always been the ability to interact with all these personalities & observe lifestyles that you would never come across in your own life.

I am obsessed with Frankie the farmer. She’s so real. This book touches on grief and the ways it manifests that are self sabotaging. I am always down to read a good story about grief. I also adore a small town romance. And will never not appreciate an extremely diverse cast of characters. There’s a dual POV which I prefer in a romance novel. There really is no reason for me to not adore this book.

While reading this story, time flew from me. I think it took a day or less to finish. It describes experiences in a manner that is so real. Having just finished the book, I too feel compelled to be extremely earnest with my feelings. That’s how you know a love story is powerful.

[Jesaka Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

DOWN TO EARTH by Julia Turshen is the first novella from 831 Stories I've read--and what a way to start! Julia's cookbooks are fun to read and she definitely pulled off the story of Frankie and Paige. The Upstate New York setting was vividly rendered as was Frankie's farm. The challenges of the farm were especially interesting because it shed light on a subject that receives very little, if any coverage, in mainstream news today. Of course, the descriptions of the produce and the food Frankie makes were outstanding, which is no surprise given that they were written by a talented chef.

It was surprising how much Paige had absorbed from her husband/ex-husband when it came to came to her beliefs. I wasn't quite sure how to read her: she knows words like masc and femme, which are largely used in-community, while still holding onto some outdated opinions. One thing I did love, however, was Paige's unabashed appreciation of Frankie's body. In general, Frankie came across as sexy and comfortable in her body. Huge kudos to Julie Turshen for writing this novella with body neutrality!

One thing I did stumble on was the pacing. The forward momentum between Frankie and Paige felt too fast. DOWN TO EARTH needed a little more sapphic yearning, a bit *less* clarity on whether something was a date or not, at least at the beginning stages of Frankie and Paige's relationship. Overall, I look forward to reading more novellas from 831 Stories, especially more sapphic novellas!

[Kaylie Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paige and her young son, Bobby, head to the small town for the summer in hopes of reconnecting with herself and of a "trial" separation from her husband. Early on, Paige meets Frankie, the owner of an old school vegetable farm. Sparkes immediately flies between the two in an awkward way. A friendship quickly forms, and with Paige's publicity experience and the farms' need to be brought to the twenty-first century, these two spend a lot of time together.

Soon enough, these two act on their feelings and begin seeing each other. The only problem is that Paige is still married and needs to officially request a divorce. I did not love this part, as it still felt like cheating, since Paige had not officially asked Jared for a divorce. I was very on the line about how I felt at the start of Frankie and Paige's relationship. We do know that Paige and her husband are very unhappy and that Jared has cheated on Paige.

I really loved the connection between Frankie and Bobby. It did not feel like Frankie was trying to parent Bobby, but rather was a calm adult to Bobby who could politely challenge things he had been taught. Frankie also allowed Paige to challenge what she thought were her beliefs, but which were actually her husband's. In return, Paige gave Frankie the grace to let her walls down and show emotion, which I thought was beautiful.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and the 831 Stories for allowing me to read this eARC!

I went into this story completely blind. A woman (Paige) with a child finds herself moving to a small town from Brooklyn to find herself again and let herself get a taste of separation after her marriage has been in the rocks. On her first day, she ventures into the town's farmer's market where she sees the line for the local produce farm spot and she meets Frankie, owner and CEO and HR and everything else of this farm in Sungold.

At first, I did not see how the story could have depth or be interesting as the premise seemed very far from what I usually read. However, I was proven wrong and this story proved to be heartwarming, eye-opening, and interesting all in one. We see Paige fighting for the wellbeing of her child, we see Frankie growing through her pain and letting others in to help, we see Paige getting to know herself all over again and allowing herself to want Frankie, her freedom, and a less lavish lifestyle, apart from her partner.

Reading this was a definite breath of fresh air. As always, I end up wanting more from the story, but that's the beauty of these books.

4 stars!

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige’s marriage is all but over, and she wants to spend the summer apart as a trial separation, to see if she can do life on her own. She decides to take her son Bobby upstate for a taste of a simpler life. In Sungold, they quickly find themselves welcomed into the community, feeling at home before they know it! Helping with that is local vegetable farmer, Frankie, who is as intrigued by the city girl as Paige is with her. Will Paige find more than just community in town? And is she just what Frankie has been waiting for?

I absolutely ate this up! A modern, sapphic take on a Hallmark movie - in the best way! I loved how relatable both Paige and Frankie are, and how naturally both they and the town came together. Paige as a mother was so relatable, and Frankie fit right in with her and Bobby. The subtle focus on body positivity was perfect - not quite in your face, but slipped in at just the right moments. I also loved how each woman had their confidant (Paige’s sister and Frankie’s best friend) to confide in and explore their feelings with. Both grew so much! Such a beautiful and full story in a shorter book, and a perfect summer afternoon read!

Thank you to NetGalley, 831 Stories, and Julia Turshen, for the eARC of Down to Earth!

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige, needing a trial separation from her husband, heads to Sungold, NY with her son Bobby for the summer. In need of some fun, the two head to the local farmer's market where Paige ends up distracted by local produce farmer, Frankie. Paige slowly starts to connect with Frankie, and decides that she is going to help her out at the farm with social media. The two navigate their growing feelings towards each other and what that means for Paige as she is still married.

831 stories ya'll absolutely kill it with the sapphic romances. This book and Rooting Interest are my two favorite books that I've read from your collection. There are so many things to love about this novella. The small town vibes provide a great atmosphere for the two to connect. Frankie's body positivity is a fresh of breath air and the attraction Paige has for Frankie is beautiful. This novella in only a small amount of pages is able to touch so many topics its amazing. I really enjoyed the dual POVs of this book as it was insightful. The side characters were also lovely and wouldn't mind another story about Frankie's best friend the lunch lady! Then to top all of this off the descriptions of food had me really hankering to eat a lot of different things like a tomato mayo sandwich and the ice cream with olive oil. Mmmmmm. Delicious, fantastic read. 4.25 stars.

Thanks netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Why did I read? I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE 831 STORIES. Would I read again? Yes

[Taylor Penn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stardew Valley meets the Hallmark channel in the latest 831 Stories Novella.

Paige moves from Brooklyn to Sungold, a town in upstate New York with her young son. Paige is hoping for a fresh start while on a trial separation from her difficult husband. What she doesn’t expect is to catch feelings for Frankie, the town’s charming, single, queer vegetable farmer.

This was a cozy, easy-to-love read. The farm setting and the small town atmosphere was quaint (complimentary) and full of community that made the small town feel warm and lived-in. Frankie was easily my favorite part of the book. She was caring, funny but still no-nonsense, and fun to root for. I also thoroughly enjoyed watching Paige settle into her could-be life alongside her son and Frankie <3

I had a few tiny hang-ups. Mostly to do with the pacing. And I think a pinch more yearning would have helped the romance fully sweep me off my feet. But other than that, no complaints.

Overall, Down to Earth is a sweet, comforting, sapphic romance with plenty of charm. If you’re looking for cozy small-town vibes and queer vegetable farmers, it’s worth picking up!

Thank you to Netgalley, Julia Turshen and 831 Stories or the arc!

[mane cg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It was fun seeing a reference to Natalie from Rooting Interest. The relationship between Paige and Frankie was complicated. Paige is technically still married, and even though she and her husband are separated, it’s described as a trial separation. That made the situation a little messy for me, because her husband doesn’t actually know she’s not planning to come back. Was she cheating? Part of me kept thinking she probably needed to close that door completely before opening another one. I also appreciated that the book included discussions around fat phobia and fat shaming, and how it touched on sexuality being fluid rather than fixed. Those were important themes to include.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the struggles the characters worked through. I was glad they were able to figure things out and stay together. The only thing I wish the book had included was a moment where they addressed how they would explain everything to the eight year old son, especially the transition from his parents separating to his mom being in a relationship with a woman. It felt like an important conversation that wasn’t really shown.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley and to 831 Stories for the ARC!

Down to Earth is the perfect cozy sapphic small town romance to start off your summer reading! ☀️🌱📙

In this charming debut, Paige and Frankie, (total opposites on paper, we’re talking country mouse and city mouse here) form an unlikely and surprising romantic connection when they both least expect it. What unfolds is sweet and sexy and messy.

This story was so very affirming and healing for me personally: I love when a fat character is the object of desire, and very explicitly BECAUSE of their size and their bodies, not in spite of them, with zero fetishizing in sight.

I’ve enjoyed pretty much everything I’ve read from this imprint—it feels like such a soft place to land for debut authors. But as usual, I wish this could have been a full-blown novel so that these characters and their relationship could be more developed and truly blossom. I’m always left wanting just a little more… more romance, more conflict, more stakes.