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Franklin Notch #1
Just Next Door
Grumps were her specialty. Until she met Len. Millie doesn’t want a corner office. She doesn’t work in a cubicle. She travels the country playing aide to hip surgery recipients and providing temporary relief to burnt-out spouses caring for their ill partners. And while she might dream of a family of her own and real friends, until she finds a place that feels like home, she helps others. And she loves being a caregiver. Winning people over is what she does best. But an assignment that comes with its own house? Millie jumps at the opportunity, especially since she doesn’t even have to change bedpans. All that’s required of her is cooking and companionship for the surly and reclusive neighbor. No problem. Until she finds out the grump next door isn’t some old geezer... He prepared for a winter alone. Then Millie moved in. Locals say Len’s a grump. A hermit. A shut-in. Yeah, maybe that’s true, but alone is just how he likes it. He has a thriving career, a home miles away from gossiping neighbors, and his adopted mom living in the cabin across the driveway to keep him company. Until she decides she’s spent enough winters in New Hampshire. That’s fine. Len can handle a winter alone. But before he can pop open a beer and kick back, there’s a new neighbor. A house sitter. And not some elderly acquaintance like his mom set him up to expect, but a knockout who threatens to upend his quiet winter. Just Next Door is the first full-length stand-alone installment of the Franklin Notch series. If you love small town gossip, flirty banter, and cozy stories you can wrap yourself up in, you’ll lose yourself in this romantic comedy.
266 pages, Paperback
First published April 11, 2023
697 people are currently reading
2505 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
March 3, 2024
i read the four books in this Franklin Notch series over a few days so I’m just gonna put them all in one review. I enjoyed the books & they were really quick reads but ultimately they landed low on my ratings for quite a few reasons. I can’t stand miscommunication tropes & that seemed to be a common theme between the majority of the books in this series. These books could’ve been small novelettes if the characters just literally spoke to each other about their feelings. Also some of the writing just fell flat imo & a lot of the main characters parents/backstories really irked me. All in all, even though there were a lot of parts that had me kicking my feet & super excited for the main characters of each book, when i finished it was just like “ok that was a book” instead of something i would rave about for a while like my other reads
September 2, 2024
This was def a slow burn. I don’t like slow burns. But kindle recommended I read this because I liked a different book by this author at one point.
It was slow as in it literally dragged. I didn’t like the plot line outside of the romance, and the romance was just a bit odd.
In addition to this it’s sold as a romcom and it’s not a com at all lol. They can drop that part. I can’t think of a single time I laughed while reading this.
It was slow as in it literally dragged. I didn’t like the plot line outside of the romance, and the romance was just a bit odd.
In addition to this it’s sold as a romcom and it’s not a com at all lol. They can drop that part. I can’t think of a single time I laughed while reading this.
January 12, 2023
Millie is a misfit, never really having a place to call home.
Len is the pariah of a small town. When Millie comes into Len’s life, she challenges his grumpy demeanor with her bright and persistent personality.
I really loved this book and could not put it down. I loved the romance aspect, but no anxiety or angst.
Feel good novel that has great character development.
I found myself curious about the secondary characters and would love to see Franklin Notch turned into a series.
The author does a great job of creating HEA while not tying up EVERY loose end. I would have liked a little more in the epilogue to see how everything panned out. Hoping we’ll see more of Len and Millie in other Franklin Notch books!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Len is the pariah of a small town. When Millie comes into Len’s life, she challenges his grumpy demeanor with her bright and persistent personality.
I really loved this book and could not put it down. I loved the romance aspect, but no anxiety or angst.
Feel good novel that has great character development.
I found myself curious about the secondary characters and would love to see Franklin Notch turned into a series.
The author does a great job of creating HEA while not tying up EVERY loose end. I would have liked a little more in the epilogue to see how everything panned out. Hoping we’ll see more of Len and Millie in other Franklin Notch books!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 12, 2024
This was such a cute short book! Millie & Len were the most perfect grumpy sunshine pairing! The whole McDonaghue siblings were absolutely adorable and Bunny is the best matchmaker ever!
April 23, 2025
a very cozy and lighthearted read
July 11, 2024
OMG THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY SO CUTE.
It was everything I wished was in Beach Read! I felt like there was more closure with their past. Plus it also had them in the snowy woods which made it that much cuter! I just loved how their love story unfolded and the side characters were absolutely amazing. Such a good story for just being a free book I got on amazon! From the first chapter I was immediately hooked! I didn’t want to put it down!
It was everything I wished was in Beach Read! I felt like there was more closure with their past. Plus it also had them in the snowy woods which made it that much cuter! I just loved how their love story unfolded and the side characters were absolutely amazing. Such a good story for just being a free book I got on amazon! From the first chapter I was immediately hooked! I didn’t want to put it down!
April 29, 2024
I couldn’t put this book down! Len and Millie are the exact opposite which makes for a great grumpy romance story!
March 25, 2025
2.5⭐️, Ok it wasn’t a terrible book but it was very slow and could have been written better.
December 16, 2024
Fun, laugh out loud Grumpy/ Sunshine Romance
4.5 stars/5
I really enjoyed reading this rom-com, which is first in the series of Franklin Notch books.
Millie is a caregiver who will travel across the country to take care of people as a caregiver. Her clients are always elderly. So when she's hired to live on a cabin in a small New Hampshire town, she's shocked that she's supposed to look after a man her own age, 29, who is able bodied and of sound mind. Length is described as a grumpy who prefers to shelter himself from the surrounding world. That includes his siblings, Nora and Cal.
Millie 🌞 sunshine personality and don't take no attitude slowly wins over Lens approval. Can Millie dethaw Lens frozen heart when they get stuck in a snowstorm together without power?
This is a well written story and I recommend 📚 reading it.
This is told in alternating 1st person POV and is around 250 pages
4.5 stars/5
I really enjoyed reading this rom-com, which is first in the series of Franklin Notch books.
Millie is a caregiver who will travel across the country to take care of people as a caregiver. Her clients are always elderly. So when she's hired to live on a cabin in a small New Hampshire town, she's shocked that she's supposed to look after a man her own age, 29, who is able bodied and of sound mind. Length is described as a grumpy who prefers to shelter himself from the surrounding world. That includes his siblings, Nora and Cal.
Millie 🌞 sunshine personality and don't take no attitude slowly wins over Lens approval. Can Millie dethaw Lens frozen heart when they get stuck in a snowstorm together without power?
This is a well written story and I recommend 📚 reading it.
This is told in alternating 1st person POV and is around 250 pages
March 22, 2025
Cute!
September 26, 2024
Wasn’t the best but wasn’t bad. It didn’t take me long to read. I thought it was weird that there was so much buildup for Len’s parents when it wasn’t ever truly explained. Also, Millie was kinda dumb. She experienced snow growing up, and granted it was not the same in the city, but why did she never wear warm clothes? Why did she wait so long to get a coat? I just thought that was silly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2024
oh i loved this🥹 i wasn’t expecting anything major from it but i absolutely loved it!! such an easy read and an easy story to keep up with, wasn’t planning on reading the rest of the books in the series but defo interested in Cal’s book now!
December 31, 2024
The story was cute but it lacked a lot of "filler details" and at one point the two main characters got annoying for a slight minute.
April 25, 2025
This was cute. Nice and easy read. The characters were fun. Hallmark in a book. Nothing too serious and you didn't need to examine too much. The miscommunication really isn't my favorite trope and this one wasn't particularly well done. Sure, Len is a quiet loner taking his queues from Millie. She on the other hand had been steel and didn't back down when others did. Suddenly she's making up weird scenarios and flaking. I know liking someone will make you do weird things, but this just felt far fetched. She kept thinking she was throwing herself at Len but at no point did he push her away and the whole star fishing while he slept used as a reason for him not wanting her was way out there. Sure, play the unprofessional route, the she needs reassurance but he doesn't talk so she can't get that, her parents never gave her enough attention and now he doesn't talk enough to give her that attention angle. But no, we're going to go with the most far fetched options we can find. Millie had her own issues that could have been used but they were largely ignored except for the few times the author decided to put her on a phone call with her parents. My only other big complaint was the ending. It felt rushed and not like the characters. Suddenly they are just word vomiting and Len is a downright conversationalist even through the epilogue. No, that's not true to the characters. Sure, extrovert Millie could have had a bit of a speech, but not Len. That doesn't track. He's still a reserved person overall. You don't suddenly change entire personalities just because you are in love. Sure you lighten up and open up more but you don't go from being an introvert to being an extrovert. It doesn't (or at least shouldn't) change who you are at your core. Other than those two big points, I liked it. I would read more fluff by the author. I like my easy cute reads.
Millie (Millicent) is an at home caregiver for the elderly when the are recovering from a surgery or and illness. She's applies for a posting up in New Hampshire for a sweet little old lady name Bunny. When she gets on a call with Bunny she finds out that she'll actually be caring for Bunny's next door neighbor while Bunny is away for the winter. Millie will have a whole cabin to herself and will just need to provide meals and check in on the shut in from time to time. Sounds easy enough. When Millie shows up in the mountains of New Hampshire it seems perfect. She gets her own space and is staying in a scenic place. The girl who picked her up from the airport, Thea (Theodora) takes her to meet the next door neighbor and the person she will be "taking care of" for the next three months. Thea takes her around to a welding workshop where she finds a grumpy man who can't be more than thirty. Thea introduces Len (Leonard). Len immediately dismisses the two women and disappears back into his shop. Thea take Millie around to meet others from Franklin Notch. Millie meets Len's younger siblings, nervous Nora, and the rascal Cal. Millie finds out that their mother ran off but for a long time the town thought their dad had killed her and rumors spread that Len had helped him. When their mom eventually turned back up the damage was already done. Len who looked like his dad had already been condemned as a bad apple. Their mom took off again and their dad did actually murder somebody else later. Bunny came along and became a surrogate parent to the three siblings. Nora and Cal were able to have a semi normal life but Len became a mean and surly recluse. Millie refuses to be cowed by Len's demeanor and doesn't back down. She still shows up with breakfast and even gets him to agree to Sunday dinners with his siblings and her. All the while she's trying to stay professional. She recognizes she has a growing attraction to her client but she blames it on the fact that she hasn't been people her own age in a long time. Len himself is trying to keep his eyes off Millie's rear and his hands to himself. He slips up every now and again like when he tucks a stray hair behind her ear or tries to be helpful. In an attempt to put distance between them Millie agrees to go on a date with a local guy. All of a sudden Len agrees to go to Wednesdays social meetups. When the pull into the place they end up kissing briefly before they are interrupted. Mille has her date but doesn't see the guy again. Then Millie and Len get snowed in and the generator to Millie's house doesn't work. So she has to bunk up in Len's house since he has a wood stove. He takes her sledding for the day since she's never had a real snow day because her parents were more focused on their careers than paying attention to her. At the end of the day the end up messing around. The next morning Millie pretends like nothing happens and Len takes her lead and backs off. He pays attention and recognizes that she needs money. He doesn't know that she is drowning in student loan debt from an ivy league education. So he pays off the rest of the contract he took over from Bunny to set her free. Millie takes this as she is being fired and immediately moves out of the house and looks for a new posting. When she's moving out of the house Len finally lets her into his workshop to give her a gift which just confuses her. She sees the piece he has been working on and it's two people meeting and turning away from each other. She starts spilling her guts and then he tells her he doesn't want her to go. They end up sleeping together and talking through the issues. We jump to the epilogue. Millie is coming back to New Hampshire from a two month long posting. Everyone is at the airport to meet her. She and Len go to his truck while everyone else piles into Thea's to go to the restaurant. They say I love you and he finally gives her the gift he meant to give her when she was moving out. A mini replica of the cabin with the sled and the cat Nico. They drive off and live happily ever after.
Millie (Millicent) is an at home caregiver for the elderly when the are recovering from a surgery or and illness. She's applies for a posting up in New Hampshire for a sweet little old lady name Bunny. When she gets on a call with Bunny she finds out that she'll actually be caring for Bunny's next door neighbor while Bunny is away for the winter. Millie will have a whole cabin to herself and will just need to provide meals and check in on the shut in from time to time. Sounds easy enough. When Millie shows up in the mountains of New Hampshire it seems perfect. She gets her own space and is staying in a scenic place. The girl who picked her up from the airport, Thea (Theodora) takes her to meet the next door neighbor and the person she will be "taking care of" for the next three months. Thea takes her around to a welding workshop where she finds a grumpy man who can't be more than thirty. Thea introduces Len (Leonard). Len immediately dismisses the two women and disappears back into his shop. Thea take Millie around to meet others from Franklin Notch. Millie meets Len's younger siblings, nervous Nora, and the rascal Cal. Millie finds out that their mother ran off but for a long time the town thought their dad had killed her and rumors spread that Len had helped him. When their mom eventually turned back up the damage was already done. Len who looked like his dad had already been condemned as a bad apple. Their mom took off again and their dad did actually murder somebody else later. Bunny came along and became a surrogate parent to the three siblings. Nora and Cal were able to have a semi normal life but Len became a mean and surly recluse. Millie refuses to be cowed by Len's demeanor and doesn't back down. She still shows up with breakfast and even gets him to agree to Sunday dinners with his siblings and her. All the while she's trying to stay professional. She recognizes she has a growing attraction to her client but she blames it on the fact that she hasn't been people her own age in a long time. Len himself is trying to keep his eyes off Millie's rear and his hands to himself. He slips up every now and again like when he tucks a stray hair behind her ear or tries to be helpful. In an attempt to put distance between them Millie agrees to go on a date with a local guy. All of a sudden Len agrees to go to Wednesdays social meetups. When the pull into the place they end up kissing briefly before they are interrupted. Mille has her date but doesn't see the guy again. Then Millie and Len get snowed in and the generator to Millie's house doesn't work. So she has to bunk up in Len's house since he has a wood stove. He takes her sledding for the day since she's never had a real snow day because her parents were more focused on their careers than paying attention to her. At the end of the day the end up messing around. The next morning Millie pretends like nothing happens and Len takes her lead and backs off. He pays attention and recognizes that she needs money. He doesn't know that she is drowning in student loan debt from an ivy league education. So he pays off the rest of the contract he took over from Bunny to set her free. Millie takes this as she is being fired and immediately moves out of the house and looks for a new posting. When she's moving out of the house Len finally lets her into his workshop to give her a gift which just confuses her. She sees the piece he has been working on and it's two people meeting and turning away from each other. She starts spilling her guts and then he tells her he doesn't want her to go. They end up sleeping together and talking through the issues. We jump to the epilogue. Millie is coming back to New Hampshire from a two month long posting. Everyone is at the airport to meet her. She and Len go to his truck while everyone else piles into Thea's to go to the restaurant. They say I love you and he finally gives her the gift he meant to give her when she was moving out. A mini replica of the cabin with the sled and the cat Nico. They drive off and live happily ever after.
May 28, 2024
I really loved the story, it's great for a cozy slow burn. It was set in a cute, little cozy town with lovable and relatable characters. The main characters are very lovable. There were some very minor grammer mistakes, no serious errors. I feel like the story was lacking in the background details department for the main characters. There were hints at a difficult past with both main characters, but no serious details about it. I feel that the story would have been heaps better if the backgrounds were more established. But overall it was a fantastic read, very cozy.
January 14, 2025
Tropes :
* grumpy/sunshine
* small town
* slow burn
* forced proximity
Bonne lecture. J'ai aimé le côté petite ville où tout le monde se connaît et le côté hivernal. J'ai aimé la romance également même si la situation aurait pu évoluer/se résoudre si les personnages se disaient les choses. Mais j'ai trouvé aussi que ça allait avec leurs personnalités/historiques familiaux.
* grumpy/sunshine
* small town
* slow burn
* forced proximity
Bonne lecture. J'ai aimé le côté petite ville où tout le monde se connaît et le côté hivernal. J'ai aimé la romance également même si la situation aurait pu évoluer/se résoudre si les personnages se disaient les choses. Mais j'ai trouvé aussi que ça allait avec leurs personnalités/historiques familiaux.
February 3, 2025
Great romance, Len is the perfect mix of dreamy and grumpy. This book got me out of my reading slump and I’m so grateful for it. Easy to read and follow, lovely small town characters, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine. Loved it.
October 16, 2025
Love story
Have to admit I was sat palm to face for most of this book! Enjoyed this one, I'm glad it ended the way it did.
I was kinda sad to read about the past but I'm glad they met.
Have to admit I was sat palm to face for most of this book! Enjoyed this one, I'm glad it ended the way it did.
I was kinda sad to read about the past but I'm glad they met.
April 30, 2024
Slow.
I love a good slow burn, but there was no fire at all. I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I connected more to the town. Very cute and cozy.
I love a good slow burn, but there was no fire at all. I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I connected more to the town. Very cute and cozy.
May 2, 2024
This was a really cute read, grumpy sunshine and miscommunication which isn’t normally my favorite. It was a good pallet cleanser romance!
August 5, 2024
A sweet, light and quick read.
February 1, 2025
A grumpy sunshine romance in the mountains including a day snowed in and sledding. Yes please! 🙋🏼♀️
February 11, 2025
You know I love a good small town romance but sadly this felt very rushed although it’s considered a slow burn
July 31, 2025
2.5/ 5 ⭐️
1.5/5 🌶️
I could not get attached to these characters at all.
1.5/5 🌶️
I could not get attached to these characters at all.
May 14, 2024
3.5⭐️ a quick, easy, predictable love story. we love a hot broody neighbor who is actually just a big softy!!
December 10, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Slow burn, grumpy x sunshine book. The plot was different than other stories I’ve read, I liked it. Millie is a bubbly, live in caregiver and Len is a kinda jaded, prefers no company metal worker/artist. It was a quick, easy read.
Slow burn, grumpy x sunshine book. The plot was different than other stories I’ve read, I liked it. Millie is a bubbly, live in caregiver and Len is a kinda jaded, prefers no company metal worker/artist. It was a quick, easy read.
March 27, 2024
3.25 stars
July 4, 2024
It was corny. There were no surprises. It was cute. I liked it.
December 15, 2024
4.5
The story was really good. I liked how at first she didn't even knew him. Also the "mother" setting them up. Len is such a cute guy. Not really talkative until you get to know him. Mil is so sweet taking her time with him.
The story was really good. I liked how at first she didn't even knew him. Also the "mother" setting them up. Len is such a cute guy. Not really talkative until you get to know him. Mil is so sweet taking her time with him.
January 27, 2023
Don't get me wrong; the book is not bad; it is just not as described.
"A steamy small-town romantic comedy!"
Steamy? No. It is so not steamy; it is practically a clean Christian young adult book. And comedy? No. Are there funny moments? Yes, but I was not laughing the entire book.
It is a small town, grumpy/sunshine, very, very, very slow-burn.
"A steamy small-town romantic comedy!"
Steamy? No. It is so not steamy; it is practically a clean Christian young adult book. And comedy? No. Are there funny moments? Yes, but I was not laughing the entire book.
It is a small town, grumpy/sunshine, very, very, very slow-burn.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews