Unlikely Neighbours

by Renee Daniel Flagler

Strictly off-limits…

Holland Davenport is ready to leave her small-town existence behind. So when she inherits a run-down townhouse in Brooklyn from a distant relative, she meets the challenge head-on and moves to New York. Amidst her renovation efforts, she meets her gorgeous next-door neighbour who turns out to be a board member at her new job, and she’s definitely out of her depth.

Noble Washington is the successful CEO of a company he spent a decade building. But his carefully ordered life begins to unravel the second he meets fiery social worker Holland – and spends one unforgettable night with a woman who should be off-limits.

There’s a wall and a world of differences lying between them. But the sheltered small-town girl and the ambitious New York CEO feel a pull that just won’t be denied…

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, African American Romance, Friends To Lovers

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2025

About the author

Renee Daniel Flagler, MFA is an award-winning writer and adjunct professor of creative writing. AKA Nicki Night. With a deep passion for nurturing literacy and inspiring young minds, she established the Renee Daniel Flagler Scholarship to support high school seniors pursuing majors in writing and English, ensuring the next generation of writers and thinkers has the resources to thrive.

Reviews

[Kezia Duah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a solid read and super quick to get through! There wasn’t anything I necessarily disliked about the book. It’s a cute romance and I enjoyed following the main characters as they navigated forgiveness and what they’re passionate about.

[Ashton Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neighbors is one of my favorite tropes, so I loved that part. But overall this was just alright for me. I think there were a few too many heavy topics so it felt like there wasn’t enough time spent on each one, as well as not enough time on the romance, for me to fully connect with them.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, 3 stars. The story was interesting, but it didn't trigger an emotional response, I read the words instead of feeling the words. Holly and Noble were at a turning point in their lives and I enjoyed how the author guided me through their journeys of self-discovery. The plot twist with Holly's family was very shocking and life altering, I know this was secondary to the relationship between Holly and Noble, but I wanted more from this turn of events.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the advanced audiobook!

Format: audiobook

[Symone · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️*ARC REVIEW* Ummm...I wasnt a fan of this one. I didn't connect with the characters and honestly I couldn't feel the connection between the 2 main characters. Idk if it's because I didn't like the audio as much but I just couldn't get into it.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holland goes to NY to renovate/sell her estranged biological great aunts home after being notified of her passing. She meets her handsome neighbor Nobel who is looking for a new start. Instant chemistry and sparks….but they both have so many issues they need to resolve within themselves.

Hollands story was crazy!! Without any spoilers I’ll say this…she is a better person than me because there would be no forgiveness! It drove me nuts that it took her so long to get straight answers from her mother. Can we say narcissist?

Nobel!! That man is perfection. Patient, understanding and loving.

I ate this story up. I pushed it off for a few weeks because I had read a review saying it has “cutesy hallmark vibes”. That was incorrect. Although the love story has cute moments, this story dives deeper into family trauma, heartache and forgiveness.


Thank you Harlequin Romance for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review

[amarachireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was a cute and quick read. The main characters are brownstone neighbors that meet while the fmc is grieving and trying to find out more about her birth parents. The fmc is adopted and found letters by her grandmother and is trying to piece together more about them after a cancer scare. The mmc is her neighbor and he is a smart CEO that is just ousted by the board which leads him to trying to figure out his next move. There is instant attraction between the main characters thought they don’t get together immediately. As they get to know each other they later get together and it’s steamy 🔥. I really liked the romance and the other plots regarding grief, career change, reconciliation and family. Definitely recommend, thanks to harlequin for this arc for an honest review.

Read for:
- Black Romance
- Opposites attracts
- Steamy scenes
-Family and belonging themes
- CEO mmc

[Carissa G · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC Review** Thank you to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for the opportunity to review Unlikely Neighbors by @reneedanielflagler

I really enjoyed this book! Unlikely Neighbors is described as A Spicy Opposites Attract Romance set in Brooklyn!

Publication Date: April 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

NYC is one of my favorite cities, and I love when a romantic story takes place there…specifically in Brooklyn! Holland Davenport was ready to live life and break away from the small town she grew up in after a health scare. And Noble Washington is a successful CEO, who is going through some major life transitions!

I loved the chemistry of the main characters, and I wasn’t expecting so much drama…but ohhh weeeeee there was drama and it catches you off guard!

I wasn’t a huge fan of the 3rd act miscommunication but it wasn’t a prolonged ordeal…Thank God!

But I definitely recommend this book when it comes out in April!

[Jayne Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Romance with some steam as well as some heavier-hitting issues that impact the main characters. Holland finds out she’s inherited a house from someone she doesn’t know. Noble gets fired from the company that he founded. Turns out, he lives next door to and was well acquainted with the woman who left Holland the house and now unexpectedly has time on his hands to help her clean it out. Proximity works it magic and sparks fly. However, as Holland is cleaning out the house, she finds some unsettling information about her family, and that journey provides good substance to the plot. Some things that didn’t suit me -I listened on audio and didn’t love the male narrator-the female narrator was much better. I wasn’t a fan of the insta-lusty start to the romance between Holland and Noble, and I thought a few moments that should have had a lot of heft weren’t given their due in the writing. Overall, though, this was an entertaining story. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for an early digital copy of this book to review.

[Teneisha (Teesbookjourney) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlikely Neighbors by Renee Daniel Flagler strikes the perfect balance between emotional depth and irresistible chemistry. Holland Davenport’s journey from her quiet Southern roots to the chaos and charm of Brooklyn captivated me from the start. The premise—a surprise inheritance that brings her to a dilapidated brownstone and an intriguing next-door neighbour—sets the stage for a heartfelt and spicy romance.
Holland is the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for. Her determination to renovate her new home and her understanding of her family’s history is inspiring. She’s fiery, vulnerable, and refreshingly honest. And then there’s Noble Washington—polished, driven, and impossibly magnetic. Their chemistry is undeniable, sparking from their first meeting and building to passionate and deeply emotional moments.
The backdrop of Brooklyn adds so much character to the story, almost like another cast member. The community vibe, the challenges of city life, and Holland’s navigation of this new environment are beautifully woven into the narrative. Noble’s struggle to maintain boundaries while his life intertwines with Holland’s feels authentic and relatable, and their dynamic is equal parts tension and tenderness.
What stood out most was how the book balances romance with self-discovery. Holland and Noble are on personal journeys that make their connection more meaningful. The obstacles they face—both external and internal—are written with such nuance that I found myself fully invested in their growth, individually and as a couple.
This is one of those romances that lingers long after the last page, leaving you with a smile and a whole heart. Flagler delivers a story that’s as sizzling as it is soulful, making it impossible to put down.

[Breeee Ranae⚜️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pub Date April 1st
Format Audio 🎧

This was very wholesome & cuuuteee. I was never bored at any point in this book. Interesting plot, engaging, & funny.

Holland is a small town girl looking for a new start & ends up in New York after inheriting her biological Aunts house. The next door neighbor is Nolble fine self who is also on a new journey in his career. That mannnn did not play about Holland from the beginning. He adored her & it was the cutest thing.

The “plot twist” about the mom I wasn’t expecting but also feel like it was just off & not needed. I really didn’t care for that. Other than that I recommend reading this one. i truly enjoyed.

Thank you to Netgalley & Harlequin Audio for the ARC.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim and sadly didn't love it. There was a lot of insta love, some heavy family drama (a dying father, adopted family vs biological parent mystery), grief, loss and starting over. It was steamy and emotional but yet still felt a bit too surface level for me? I don't know what it was exactly but it was a quick listen, the narrators did a good job too but this one just didn't grab me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review! Recommended for fans of books like Playing house by Farah Heron.

CW: BRCA gene carrier

[Beatriz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 21 of 2025 - ☑️! Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin, and Renee Daniel Flagler for an ARC & ALC of Unlikely Neighbors by Renee Daniel Flagler, and narrated by Keisa Parrish & Jamal West.

Unlikely Neighbors caught my eye because of its beautiful cover. In this dual-POV rom-com, Holland Davenport is used to a small-town life and ready to move into an apartment in Charleston, SC, when she’s notified that a distant relative has left her a brownstone in Brooklyn, NY. When she goes to NYC to clean out and renovate the home, she meets Noble Washington, her successful and attractive neighbor. Noble ends up losing his job in the midst of the Holland’s cleaning and renovation project, so the two continually spend time together. Though they seemingly come from different worlds, they find they have a lot in common, and in the process, fall for each other.

This was a quick and fun read, and I thought it was great to have adoption representation in the book. However, I was a bit thrown off by one of the twists - information the reader finds out about 2/3s of the way into the book regarding Holland; it felt like an interesting choice to make, as I felt like I was taken out of the story after that. Narrators Kesia Parrish and Jamal West did a lovely job of bringing the book to life. The steamier scenes start about 1/2 way through the book, and while they occasionally felt repetitive, I thought they were generally well-written.

3/5 ⭐️ s overall & 2.5/5 🌶️ . #NetGalley #UnlikelyNeighbors 🏢🍎🍕

[Markita_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ａｕｄｉｏｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟
I gave this story 4 stars because it sometimes felt like a young adult (YA) story, even though it isn't. It's definitely a quick and easy read, something you could easily read in one or two days. This was an enjoyable read.

The audiobook was good, easy to listen to and understand. Its dual narration is a huge plus. I listened at 2x speed.

Holland Davenport is ready to go beyond her small-town existence. Her plan involves moving into an apartment in Charleston, not inheriting a run-down brownstone in Brooklyn from a relative she never knew. Yet, in a burst of daring, Holland meets the challenge head-on, moving to New York to learn more about her family and renovate the place. Noble Washington is the successful CEO of a company he spent a decade building.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
•Found Family
•Small Town Romance
•Black Romance
•Black CEO

Thank you, Netgalley, and Harlequin Audio, for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlikely Neighbors was a sweet and quick romance read. I was so interested by Noble's storyline in which he was ousted from the company he created. I always wondered how that could happen and what it is like for someone to create and start a company from the bottom up only to be asked to step down from that company. Holland also had a deep backstory which is grief stricken. I liked Holland and Noble's relationship, but I thought it moved a little too fast for me. The audiobook narrators, Jamal West and Kesia Parrish, did a good job. I loved that it was dual narration. I have no complaints there. Overall, this was an okay book, but it didn't blow me away.

Thank you Netgalley, Harlequin Audio, and Renee Daniel Flagler for the advanced audiobook copy. 

Unlikely Neighbors is out now!

[Shauntelle (shauntellereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute story! Two neighbors meet each other while at very different points in their lives. Holland find out that her great aunt has passed and she heads to NY to renovate and sell her great aunt's brownstone. Holland was adopted, so she's hoping to learn more about her birth family while she's in NY.

Nobel is at a pivotal point in his life as he is ousted as CEO of his company and trying to decide what's next. What a book boyfriend! He was so patient and caring.

There are so many deep topic explored in this love story. We see Holland work through some very hard issues surrounding grief, deceit, and family belonging. The delicate balance between romance and personal self discovery had me invested in the main characters and how their story would play out. While I loved the characters and the romance, I didn't love the narrators. They weren't the right people to bring these characters to life.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Juliana Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9 ⭐️ this was SOOOO close to a 4 but I didn’t really connect with the characters for some reason. The story was actually so so good and I have no complaints. It was very entertaining and I loved the twists of Holland finding out about her family. Noble was a cutie and lowkey perfect. I’d recommend if you want something quick, entertaining & cute to read!

[Katie Honey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐️

I always feel bad when I don’t like a book but I’m honest to a fault and this was just not it for me.

I did DNF this and that is so rare for me, I hardly ever DNF a book but I just couldn’t keep going with this.

It's a forced proximity, workplace romance where they meet and spend one night together then they’re separated but then they’re thrown back together again and honestly it’s not bad- I feel like some people might love this book but it’s just not for me at all.

I felt this really had a Wattpad kind of style of writing, it was just too descriptive and I found myself cringing so many time- I feel so bad saying this, I hate giving a bad review but this was just not it for me at all.

[RL Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought I could fall in love with a rich, CEO MMC, but I stand corrected! I fell in love with Holland and Noble, the small town southern belle and city boy had perfect chemistry. Their story felt so grounded and organic. The family tea was piping hot, and the self discovery journey was so realistic. Every word had me falling in love with them more and more and now I need to plan a trip to NYC.

[KaylasBookishVibes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holland moves to New York after inheriting a home from a late relative. She quickly meets the cute neighbor next door (Noble) and sparks fly.

Noble has recently been released from his position as CEO. He feels lost without his title and realizes outside of his career he lacked a social life. Enter Holland who shakes things up for him.

This story started off cute enough for me. However I found myself wondering when we would get to a certain part of the book that was mentioned in the synopsis . It happens 80% into the book. At that point I knew we are entering 3rd act breakup territory and nothing is more annoying for me in a romance.

Both characters were dealing with their own drama. Holland was trying to find herself while discovering her biological family. Noble was trying to find out who he was outside of his career. They were both dealing with parental drama. There was also a cancer scare that could have been better addressed or more fleshed out.

I feel like we spent a lot of time repeating Nobles insecurities in his pov chapters and then crammed a lot of information into the last 20% of the book. I did enjoy the writing style but wasn’t a huge fan of the pace. 🥴

[Rachel Nahabedian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it (rounded up)

I feel like this is much more than just a neighbors to lovers romance. It's a journey of self-discovery, of family bonds, grief and grieving, forgiveness, finding out who you are, family secrets, discovering happiness and passions. There's a lot more going on in this story than a cute romance between neighbors.

Holland goes to NYC to sell a family brownstone she inherited and thus sparks a domino effect of her journey to discover her past. I don't want to give too much away, but it's a crazy story. Honestly, it was the part of the story I was most invested in. I do think it was resolved quick cleanly and would've appreciated a bit more drama, but it was compelling nonetheless. With everything going on in Holland's life, she finds a sense of found family (and blood family) and community in NYC. She finds a rock in Noble and a true partner.

Noble is exactly that. He's a noble, strong, patient, caring man who's on his own journey of self-discovery. Figuring out who he is outside of his CEO status. Holland is able to show him what he's been missing out on in life. Help him discover what it is he actually wants out of life. That's he's more than just his job.

It was a sweet romance between the two of them (a few spicy scenes, but they're quite tame compared to what I normally read) and while there is *kind of* a third-act break-up, it's not really a break-up (you'll understand if you read it).

Jamal West and Keisa Parrish really did a great job with the narration and elevated the story for me. I rounded up my star rating because of the work they did. They conveyed the emotions and the tragedy and the uncertainty both Noble and Holland had gone through.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the book. The romance was sweet, their journeys were fine, and the family saga was interesting.

Thank you, NetGalley and Renee for this ARC.

[Megan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much more than a typical romance. I wasn't expecting it to deal with so many heavy and emotional topics. At it's heart it was a love story, but the romance almost took a backseat to all of the other events that happened.

I loved that the book was told from dual POV. I always enjoy getting both perspectives, and it worked especially well for this book since both Noble and Holland had so much going on in their personal and professional lives.

Holland had to deal with so much upheaval. First, moving away from her adoptive family, discovering secrets about her biological family, inheriting a beautiful old brownstone, and falling for her new neighbor. I felt like the author did a wonderful job letting us see how challenging it was for Holland to grapple with all of those things happening at once.

Noble, who was a prominent CEO for the company he started from scratch, all of a sudden was dealing with unemployment and feeling lost. When Holland showed up, she was the perfect distraction for him. But he still struggled to figure out who he was and his place in the world without his company. On top of that, his estranged father was dealing with significant health issues and Noble had to decide whether or not to let him back in his life.

With all of the things that were thrown their way, it seemed that building a relationship wasn't necessarily top priority for Holland and Noble. But I liked seeing how the author weaved their lives together as they worked separately to deal with all of the other aspects of their life.

At times it almost felt like there was too much going on in the book, but it was never confusing and the writing style flowed well. While I wouldn't consider it a grand romance that made me swoon and kick my feet, it was definitely realistic and I recommend it for anyone who likes more depth with their love stories.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin-Romance for the e-arc of this book!

[Kenya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Final rating: 3.75

Cute romance centering 2 people going through big life transformations and trying to figure everything out.

I love how supportive Noble was to Holland and, frankly, how down bad he was over her. He didn't pretend to be too cool to pursue her.

My only issue here is that the whole storyline with Holland's birth mom/family brought a lot of extra stuff into the story overall and overshadowed the romance and it all wrapped up a bit too neatly & too quickly in my opinion.

I think just focusing on two adults trying to navigate career changes and balance life would have been enough.

[Hannah D Sharpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlikely Neighbors is a romance that is lighthearted while dealing with tough subjects such as loss and abandonment. Told in alternating POVs, the reader gets to know the depths of both the male and female POV.

I liked how the book offered exploration of moving forward past things that could be setbacks, and finding forgiveness rather than anger.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story which was performed by two narrators. I listened at 1.75x speed (my normal listening speed is 1.75x). The narrators are not well known, so if you’re looking for new voices in audiobooks, this is it.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this advanced listening copy.

[Nicole B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for a reviw

In a word, adorable. This was a super sweet neighbour-to-lovers romance where we watched both MCs come to terms with some pretty life-changing moments. I'll admit I was more invested in Noble's story, but once it was clear Ty hadn't backstabbed him, I relaxed into the love story, and it was fun watching them fall in love. There were some super cute moments, and I enjoyed the dynamic between the pair.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a whim and assumed it would be about the romance plot line more than anything, but there are some pretty intense scenes and revelations about certain family dynamics in the book. Was still an enjoyable read, but I do think they laid on the love interests' attraction to each other way too thick. I can only hear about how muscular the guy is and how curvy the woman is so many times. It's getting a 3 out of 5 from me.

[Jess Reads2Much · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute and surprisingly steamy once the romance kicks off. I assumed it would be closed door since there were several mentions for God and religion. The family drama and mystery were a bit frustrating since Holland forgave far too easily for me, but I enjoyed it overall.

[Cheyenne Hinds · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars :) I really enjoyed this read, it was quick to get through. I loved the storyline, and how Holland goes on to find out about who she is and where she’s come from. I like how the heavy subjects were approached, but I feel that there were so many things revealed that they weren’t focused on the best that they could’ve been. I realllyy liked the connection between Holland and Nobel, and I will miss them.

[Harlequin Books]

Contemporary Romance, African American & Black Romance

[Aisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I almost gave up on this book, but I don't like DNFs, so I finished it. Didn't connected with the main characters even though the premise was fantastic.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute book. Easy read. Fell in love with the characters.