Inconveniently Bayou

by Erin Nicholas

Becca has been the annoying girl next door since they were ten. She’d gotten pretty at about aged fifteen. She’d gotten beautiful around sixteen-and-a-half—not that he’d been keeping track. Thank God, she hadn't gotten gorgeous until she was eighteen. But she's always been annoying.
Especially when she's calling him out on his B.S.
And punching him in the nose. Yeah, annoyance... that's what he's feeling when she comes down in one costume after another, showing off curves and all that skin, determined to attract some other guy's attention at the Halloween party. But he's not so sure that's what he's feeling when he finally gives in and kisses this girl he’s always thought of as a neighbor, maybe a friend, and his sometimes-conscience. And who he’s now thinking of as mine. This is the happy-for-now prequel to the full-length novel Always Bayou.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Novella, Holiday, Friends To Lovers, Short Stories, Fiction

45 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2023

About the author

Erin Nicholas is the New York Times bestselling author of over sixty sexy contemporary romances. Her stories have been described as toe-curling, enchanting, steamy and fun.

She lives in the Midwest with her husband who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books, her kids who will never read the sex scenes in her books, and family and friends who say they’re shocked by the sex scenes in her books (yeah, right!).


You can find Erin on the web at www.ErinNicholas.com, on Instagram at ErinNicholasBooks, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ErinNicholas... and on BookBub at https://www.bookbub.com/profile/erin-...

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only 45 pages.
Becca lived next door to Beau. As children they really didn't get on very well, but as they got older Beau realised Becca was 'hot' and what would her lips taste like. This is a very cute (sort of) friend's to lovers short story.
I like reading this, but it was very short. 4☆

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars.

The possessiveness and jealousness (after realizing he had the hots for her 2 minutes earlier) didn’t work for me

Ends with a kiss. Short story prequel

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute College Age Friends to More Story

I received this novella for free on Kindle, and I thought, ok, a cute rom-com that's short and sweet. I didn't mind the length as I am used to reading fanfiction, which in general offers a lot of shorter stories, and 45 pages holds my attention.

This is a moment in time story, which means it is covering one or two days, but the MMC does reflect on their past. It's told from Beau's POV in 3rd person.

Beau and Becca grew up as neighbors and were friends. Becca comes back from college around Halloween, and Beau realizes he is attracted to her. He is also very jealous of her dating other guys. When she consults him about a costume to wear on her date with another guy, he doesn't want her to wear anything too revealing. He flirts and tries to charm Becca into seeing him as more than a friend.

I'm giving this book 4 stars because there were some issues with it, such as the pov, randomly switching to Beccas POV for some paragraphs. I also felt like the story was more tell than show. I didn't really connect with Beau's emotions, and sometimes he seemed shallow in his remarks.

Overall, I think for such a short read, it packed a lot of punch and was a cute read.

[K. ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending ruined it for me because why did you waste all those years and all that time?! And then want to do some tom foolery like "let's practice kissing?!" Throw the whole thing away!

[Chelsea Hazendonk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little taken aback at how short this book was, unaware of said length until I flipped over the last page. I found myself connecting to the characters and thoroughly enjoying the storyline, and then all of a sudden it was finished.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adorable short story about two childhood friends finally admitting their feelings for one another. I can’t wait to read more about these characters.

[jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

chemistry is alright but the writing itself is pretty meh

[Hollie Deroche · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 star read. Very short and quick but was confusing at times. Author kept going back and forth between current (New years) and past (Halloween)

[Dear Reader (Taylor's Version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

cutie little story not much substance but a fun little short read

[Erica Gabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an adorable novella and very much makes me want to read the full length sequel. Well done stuff your kindle day, you succeeded.

[Margarida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melhor short story que já li

Adorei este grumpy-sunshine romance. Eles são mega fofos e o Beau é boyfriend material. Quero mais deste casal 😍😍😍 Em poucas páginas, Erin conseguiu fazer com que se criasse uma ligação de afeto para com as personagens e até agora isso nunca me tinha acontecido numa short story 🌸🎀💕

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cute but not a literary wonder

Some serious repetitive grammar and a lot of lead up for nothing, this has about as much spice as milk. It lead up and looked for a bit like it was going to get somewhere and all we got was a tepid slobbery kiss.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, even for a novella. Cute. Apparently there is a full book with this couple that I might have to check out because this was a tease!

[Caz Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars.


This was a cute ish short story that I read while in the line for seven dwarfs mine train at Disney 😂

[Vanelis Diaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Estoy todavía dudando de haberle dado 2 estrellas, por que cae en el posible 1 y media estrellas. Con eso dicho … Me sorprende que al final de este libro no hayan hecho cosas y que solo terminarán en un beso y no cómo los otros personajes de Erin Nicholas. Pero tampoco puedo esperar mucho de un libro que conseguí gratis en Amazon kindle. En verdad que estos dos no están juntos por qué no quieren o por lo menos el que no se da cuenta que ella básicamente muere por el. Y esos celos cómo si fueras novio de ella cuando claramente sabes que no son nada y tú mismo la ves cómo una “amiga” ( si entre comillas por qué en este libro te dicen que el noto el glow up de ella a los 16 🤦🏻‍♀️)…. Verdaderamente decepcionante, se nota que está autora (por ahora en lo que he leído de ella) es buena escribiendo escenas 🌶️.

[anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this was a prequel novela and maybe that’s why I didn’t connect with it at all? It seemed like such a good premise and while I don’t mind reading short romance novels this one is Very Short and felt rushed.

And again, maybe if I had read the novel it’s based on I’d have more of a complete picture of these characters and how they interact with one another but I honestly felt lost. I also didn’t enjoy Beau’s character from what little was available to read about him.

Take this review with a grain of salt if you have read the original story and it’s better than this short story. But alone this book wasn’t for me. And it doesn’t make me want to read the original story either.

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swoony and fun prequel

I really enjoyed this beginning of Beau and Becca’s friends to lovers romance. This prequel does not get us to their HEA, it is just the start of the sizzling chemistry and attraction between them and the set up for their HEA. As long as you understand that, you’ll enjoy this prequel. Since this is a prequel to Always Bayou, we get some background on Beau and Becca and their relationship up to this point and just the tease of what’s next. Despite being short, the prequel was well written and included witty dialogue, three dimensional characters, and an engaging storyline. Clearly I am going to read the rest of their story in Always Bayou because I am hooked in now. Bring on the laughs, the steam, and the swoons.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 90-minute Romance Short Read is astonishing. Becca has been Beau's annoying next-door girl since she was ten when she called him out on a lie. Years later, when she asks his opinion on Halloween costumes to attract some other guy, he finally recognizes how gorgeous she has become. When her ploy fails, she asks Beau to teach her to kiss.

This is a delightful introduction to the budding romance between Becca and Beau. As usual, the characters are dense about the feelings of each other. At least one is. Overall, the story is enjoyable.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Romantic. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.

[Donna Rutledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about Becca and Beau. They lived next door to each other but were never attracted to each other until he came over to fix something for her and he noticed her, like really noticed her. He was asked about Halloween costumes that she was wanting to wear to attract her lab partner. But he didn't want her to wear anything skimpy or sexy.

When he came to her New Year's Eve party, he found that she was wearing something sexy again. But this time he didn't mind because she was attracting him.

[Alycia Carosella · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet short read

I loved the chemistry between these characters!!! The friendship between them was so unique when it comes to a friends to lovers. He was definitely the grumpy to her sunshine and it made their friendship that much better.
I was constantly looking at what page I was at because I didn’t want it to end. I knew I was nearing them realizing their feelings for each other. Then it was over way to fast!
This is the first story I’ve read from this author and it won’t be my last ❤️

[lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This book was good but nothing wow. I liked Beau’s pov and how we get a depth of his feelings for her - ranging from when they were younger to the present which was cute. Becca’s sudden shift going from being headover heals liking another guy then 2 months after no contact with Beau, calling him over to practise kissing said guy was weird. I wish we’d gotten more of a perspective of Bec’s side of the situation during that missing time. Also the ending of this book was really abrupt and left so many unanswered questions.

[JJ Cornette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully sweet prequel to Becca and Beau's story (Always Bayou). They've been friends forever but we get to see them as 20 year olds when they realize they're attracted to each other. Definite friends-to-lovers vibe. This prequel is told from his POV and was so sweet. I was a huge fan of her "wanting to practice kissing" lure. This was the perfect taste to get you started to then immediately pick up Always Bayou so you can read their HEA.

[Susanne M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in Always Bayou

This short story is the prelude to Always Bayou. Fun, flirty, and some frustration for Beau 😜. DEFINITELY get the full story in Always Bayou. You won't be disappointed. When you know, you know! This and the full story are both wonderful, no cheating or cliffhanger and here you get a happy for now and the next is the beginning of a happy ever after. Enjoy 🤓

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

It's three stars for me because well. Ik 't was a very short story. It kind of felt like a single chapter that went on too long.
But it liked reading it. It was easy to read and follow along the story. But the plot felt a little hurried. It felt like going from one thing to the other without anything else happening. I do this. The story has a lot of potential, so I am going to look into the following books and their full story.

[Staycha Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin Nicholas, this was my first book of yours. I knew going into it, it was a short read. But ma’am, You did me dirty (and I mean that in the best possible way) I was getting into this book and then bam it’s done. I fall inlove quick with characters but the way you made me fall immediately into the MC’s ughhh.
I’m definitely going to read more of your books.🖤

[Laci Rambo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good little book to read. It was short and sweet. There’s something about this book I don’t enjoy though. I can’t quite put my finger on it. 0 spice, just a kissing scene. I do understand this is a prequel to the first book and I didn’t expect anything crazy. It would be a good palette refresher.

[Brooke Clanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet!

Love this sweet little story! You got to love it when two people are constantly dancing around each other and not coming out and telling the other their feelings! Lol! I swear you are writing my teenage age self on this page! Lol!

[Annissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Wow!

This was so cute!!! So many novellas seem forced and too short, but not this one. I feel like I know the characters enough, and I DEFINITELY want to keep reading their story!!

[Julie (Harry's Version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this prequel on Kindle because it was free and it would help me add an extra book to my reading goal - since I’m a little behind, but I actually ended up enjoying it! I’ll definitely add Becca and Beau’s novel to my tbr.