Love Next Door

by Rachael Sommers, Abby Craden (Narrator)

A sweet toaster-oven lesbian romance that asks whether the one we’re meant to be with might be right under our nose.

Reserved tattoo artist Riley Foster has just moved apartments and can’t take her eyes off the single mom who lives next door. Riley is trying very hard not to succumb to the cliché of falling for the straight girl as she gets to know Kim Jackson, an outgoing baker with an adorable nine-year-old son.

A friendship forms and Riley even finds herself roped into playing Kim’s fake girlfriend to get her meddling family off her back.

What could go wrong…except for Kim suddenly questioning whether she’s not as straight as she thought! As the sexual tension slowly builds, it’s hard not to wonder whether they’d be good together for real. But is it worth risking a great friendship if Riley doesn’t feel the same way?

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Audiobook, LGBT, Friends To Lovers, Fake Dating, Lesbian Fiction

7 pages, Audiobook

Published October 15, 2024

About the author

Rachael Sommers was born and raised in the North-West of England, where she began writing at the age of thirteen, and has been unable to stop since. A biology graduate, she currently works in education and constantly dreams of travelling the world. In her spare time, she enjoys horse riding, board games, escape rooms and, of, course, reading.

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

Very sweet sapphic romance.
I loved Kim and Riley’s relationship, how they went from lovely friends to a loving couple.
I just wish it wasn’t as much of a slow burn, they only get together at like 80%.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

Tropes and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Sapphic (FF)
- Single mom
- Baker vs tattoo artist
- Neighbors
- MC w/ tattoos & nipple piercings
- Slow burn
- Mild homophobia
- Fake dating
- Dog owner MC
- Queer awakening

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4. Riley, a tattoo artist, moves next door a single mother, Kim. “Love Next Door”, is a superrrrr sweet friends to lovers romance with little to no drama. Slow burn with a cute dog, sweet kid and characters that learn they have a lot in common. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Simone11 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance. Fantastic MCs with a lot of chemistry and lovely second characters who were a great addition to the story. Cute kid and dog were also a plus.
Highly recommended.

[Guerunche · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

This is a very sweet toaster oven romance between Kim, a 30 year old divorced mom with a 9 year old son, and a slightly younger tattoo artist, Riley, who moves into the apartment next door.

I really appreciated the time taken for them to get to know each other and for Kim to develop feelings for Riley. Much of that, I think, was due to the genuine relationship that developed between Kim’s son Tyler and Riley.

This audiobook was well done and enjoyable. Abby Craden did a great job with the narration, but it seemed whoever did the post production work failed to insert pauses at times between scenes and it could be a bit jarring. That had nothing to do with the writing or narration, however.

If you’re looking for something lovely and low angst, this is a nice option!

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a new apartment next door to Kim and her son Tyler. Kim is a co-owner of a bakery and a single mom. She’s an easy going person looking for a relationship with a man. She’s been dating a bunch of guys who are all weird and not to her liking. Riley is quiet and a hard worker who dropped out of college to raise her younger sister. Riley and Tyler become friends over her dog and their love of soccer.

Over time both women start to develop feelings for each other and this upsets them both. Riley doesn’t want to be hurt by having a crush on a straight woman. Kim is in denial over her feelings and doesn’t want to loose Riley as friend. These feeling bring the small amount of angst to the story.

I’m a fan of Rachael Sommers books and this one was a quick and easy read. She does a good job of developing her characters and their dialogue. I look forward to reading more of her books.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity read and enjoy this arc.

[currentlyreadingbynat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Next Door was exactly the kind of novel I needed this week. It's a beautifully slow burn that perfectly develops its characters both individually and together. Their chemistry build-up is sweet and hot at the same time, making it worth the wait. The main characters, a hot tattoo artist and a baker, are sweet and well-matched, with Tyler adding an extra layer of sweetness to the story.

Rachael Sommers has crafted a delightful read with well-developed dialogue and characters. If you're in the mood for a slow burn romance, this will perfectly fit the bill.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Ylva Publishing for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Lesbereading · Rating 4 out of 5]

The burn was so slow but oh so worth it in the end. All that built up tension being released was written to perfection. I absolutely loved both of the MCs and Tyler and Cari made the story that much sweeter. If you’re in the mood for a sloooow burn, toaster oven story with a hot tattoo artist and a baker that’ll leave you drooling for some pastries, pick this one up immediately.

Thank you to the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Next Door by Rachael Sommers is such a cute friends-to-fake dating-to-lovers romance between a tattoo artist and her new neighbor. Recently moved Riley meets her new neighbor, Kim a single mother and co-owner/baker of a nearby shop, on her move-in day when the neighbor's 9-year-old son immediately takes to Riley's dog, Cari. They all become fast friends. This is a well-written story with a clean, easy-to-read style and though there isn't much unexpected, it is absolutely entertaining, and I was never bored. Both mains are fun and friendly, and very easy to like. They spend a lot of time together as friends and get to know one another so the relationship develops organically and never feels forced. There are mature conversations and clear consent, which I appreciate. The supporting cast is diverse and interesting. The well-meaning team interferes just enough to help the story along but not so much that it is overbearing. I find that sometimes the friend/family groups can be overly intrusive and pushy. Not the case here. I happily recommend this sweet book and will be reading more by the author.
#singleparent #soccer #transrep #dog #disapprovingfamily #foundfamily #kid #tattooartist #baker #toasteroven #gayforyou #fakedating #HEA #midtolowangst #mildspice #consentissexy
I received this ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

[Rachel’s Sapphfic Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reviewed this for The Lesbian review.

It’s a sweet, feel good romance that I really enjoyed. The characters are very likeable, there’s a cute kid and an even cuter dog. It has a lovely message of love and support throughout. A great book to read if you’re feeling down because it will be sure to lighten your mood.

[ReadingwithCaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

New neighbors form an instant friendship and develop a delicious slow burn romance.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Kim and her son Tyler come home one day only to stumble across moving boxes in front of their appartement. Apparently the empty apartment next door has a new tenant. When the cutest dog ever runs out of the new neighbor’s house, Tyler is instantly smitten. Cari’s owner Riley is a striking woman covered in tattoos and Kim instantly likes her. I mean, who wouldn’t if someone lets your kid play with their dog anytime they want. Divorced for five years, Kim has been busy building her own bakery business. She has been on a few disastrous dates but soon she finds out she wants to spent her time with Riley and Tyler anyway. Then the kid comes home with the most ludicrous idea: Kim should take Riley to a family party as her fake girlfriend. It would be nice to see the shock on her awful mother’s face, but why does pretending to date Riley feel so good?

Riley can’t believe her luck. She just moved into her new apartment, the first one she’s ever lived in alone. Meeting her gorgeous new neighbor Kim and her charming son Tyler on the first day must have been fate. They get along like a house on fire. If only Riley could ignore her growing feelings for Kim. Straight Kim. So maybe it wasn’t the best idea to agree to be her pretend girlfriend. Apparently, Riley is a glutton for punishment. She just has to remind herself that it’s fake. It is fake, right?

If you like a nice slow burn, straight-to-gay story, this is a good one. It might have moved a little too slow for my taste, but otherwise it was very enjoyable. The connection that is building between Kim and Riley, helped along by adorable Tyler, is so clear, it’s jumping off the page! I might have wanted to nudge oblivious Kim into Riley’s arms a time or two. But! When they finally do figure it out, it’s as sweet as can be.

It was truly lovely to see Riley bond with Tyler over soccer and videogames. It was like she fell in love with him and family life at the same time she fell hard for Kim. And Kim couldn’t dream of anyone better to complete her family. The two women both have family issues but it’s great to see they never let those painful experiences come between them. There is space to process it all and it’s always heartwarming to see a couple that can properly communicate.

A very big part of the story is Riley’s struggle with her unrequited feelings. Kim does take her sweet time to figure out that everything she has ever dreamed of in a partner is something she has already built with Riley. When she does realize her feelings for Riley are not platonic, things happen fairly quickly. It’s great to see Kim not making a very big deal out of dating a woman while she assumed she was straight her whole life.

Another thing I liked is that Riley won over Kim’s dad instantly and even her toxic mother came around pretty fast. I love reading about women finding their own way in life despite not getting the support they deserve from their families and Kim and Riley are both good examples for that.

All in all this is a very sweet, toaster oven story!

[John Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely, feel good romance. It's no wonder Jae has it on her all time top ten favourites. Tatoo artist Riley and her adorable puppy Carie move into their new Seattle flat. Next door happens to be Kim, a divorced mum of eight year old Tyler, who also owns a bakery with her best friend. Kim also happens to be straight, but hasn't had much luck in dating, while Riley also happens to be single. It's really Tyler who gets them all together, as well as fake dating, just to get up Kim's uptight mum.

Really enjoyed this one, 4+ stars for me.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

another fun book by this author who i am fast becoming a fan of

Riley foster is moving in to her new apartment when she meets her new neighbours kim and her 9 year old son... well her dog cari did and not wanting to start off on in a bad light she had to go grab her quick..

kim son has always wanted a dog and it wasnt long before her son was finding excuses to hang around with riley and cari and a great bond of friendship started between them....

kims dating life hasnt gone well at all and with her mother hell bent on finding her a man no matter how bad they are kim is seriously sworn off men though her dating tales are just as bad as riley when they confide in each other....

but when kim is summoned again to her parents home for another family meal kim and riley decide to act as a couple what they hadnt realised was how much their own feelings would come into play .....lmao

have to say this was an enjoyable sunday or sunny day feel good factor read and am looking forward to reading more from this author

[Paulina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story, I could barely put it down.

Riley is a tattoo artist who, while moving into her new apartment, meets her neighbours, Tayler and his gorgeous mom Kim. As it's a sapphic romance I'm sure it's easy to guess where the story goes next.

I loved Riley and Kim as characters, they were very easy to like immediately. And so was the whole cast of characters in this story. But I have to say Tayler had a special soft spot in my heart.

This book had almost all my favourite tropes: single mom, fake dating, pining and slow burn. Honestly I couldn't wish for a better fit, and I practically sped through this book. It was such an enjoyable read it was exactly what I needed. If you're looking for a sweet romance this is the book for you. My only complaint is it was too short, I could spend way more time with these characters. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Ylva Publishing for providing me with the arc.

[Dani (Daniiireads)]

DNF 20%

I really like Riley and Kim, and their story had a lot of potential, but the pacing is abysmally glacial and killed me

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up, this was a sweet low angst strangers to friends to lovers slow-burn romance with great main and side characters and a cute dog too!

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super cute and I really enjoyed my time reading this! Kim and Riley are both great people and I love the way their friendship builds into something romantic, especially since Kim started this book out straight.

I also liked the healthy relationships both had with side characters, Kim has a good relationship with her ex and his new wife and Riley has her amazing sister and her girlfriend.

Just an all-round good feels romance book!

Thank you to Netgally and Ylva Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great love story!

Kim meets Riley when she moves in next door, and because Kim’s son Tyler is instantly taken with Riley’s dog, Cari, there’s no avoiding each other. Forming a friendship, Riley soon finds herself playing Kim’s fake girlfriend until it’s all getting a bit too real for Kim and she has to address her feelings.

This is one of those love stories that steals your heart and leaves a lasting impression. I adored the friendship that developed between Kim and Riley, and just how great Riley was with Tyler while being reserved about the attraction and feelings she quickly developed for Kim, and in turn Tyler. She was absolutely great with them both, creating so many cute moments that had me grinning away as I read this story and fell completely in love with it.

The push and pull of emotions between Kim and Riley was great, Riley was holding back to be respectful because she made assumptions Kim would never be interested in her because she was straight. However for Kim this was an experience that left her questioning a lot of what she thought she knew about herself. She had a lot at stake losing their friendship if her feelings lead her into a situation that then went wrong, and at the forefront of her decisions was the affect it would have on Tyler, which Riley also shared, and I admired them both for this.

Lots of great moments were packed into this truly amazing story! There was a lot of fun, light-heartedness, and some deeper more emotional moments, that made it really special. There was a great amount of representation for different family models and not judging a person by their looks and appearance or situation that really added something more to the story. Looking forward to reading this again in the future, and it is definitely a must read for any romance lover.

[Jonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a new next door neighbor change your life? Kim is a divorced, straight, single mom to 9 year old Tyler. She co-owns a bakery and is starting to try dating again. When Riley, a tattoo artist, moves in next door with her adorable pup Cari, they strike up a friendship. Over time, their friendship blooms and Riley finds herself in over her head, crushing on Kim. Kim, meanwhile, leans hard into the friendship, but does not see anything more for a long time. This is definitely a sloooooow burn toaster oven romance, with a side of fake dating.

The characters had a lot of chemistry and the relationship that develops between Tyler (Kim’s son) and Riley is lovely to watch unfold. I also really appreciated that both MCs figured out how to make their own way in their lives, after overcoming their own adversity and expectations put on them. The other side characters were also well-developed - Riley’s sister Bea and her girlfriend Ash were great (and I appreciated the trans rep), as was Kim’s bestie, Tina. Cari the dog was also an important character, especially as a Tyler-magnet which helped keep Kim and Riley close in the early phases of their friendship. Finally, the relationship that Kim has with her ex and his new partner is drama-free, which is refreshing - additionally they seem to see what is brewing between Riley and Kim even before Kim is aware of it and don’t make a big deal of it at all.

Thank you to Netgally and Ylva Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good novel, in a pure comfort food kind of way, which sometimes is exactly what you need. It was a simple and straightforward, low-angst, slow-burn, fake-dating, toaster oven, good time. There was a cute kid, a bakery owner and a tattoo artist, some family drama, and many inspiring or heartwarming moments. The writing was excellent, the characters were delightful and fun, and I had a good time reading it from start to finish. There were zero tropes or scenes that I disliked.

This was one of those novels that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and I would recommend to anyone and everyone. Its also one of those novels that I likely wont think back on too much, and that’s fine. There is a need for novels like this, which are very enjoyable and a lot of fun even if they aren’t groundbreaking or life changing. Its comfort food in a book. Sometimes you want to finish a novel and walk away with a warm and fuzzy, calm happiness, and this book delivered.

I liked the two main characters. They were well developed and had satisfying backstories. I was absolutely rooting for both of them, on their own and together. Their dynamic was great, and they were sweet together. Solid chemistry, even before they realized it. I loved all of the scenes where they were interacting with the one characters son, as it gave ample opportunity for everyone to be adorable, fun, and have heartwarming moments. The timeline wasn’t rushed, and the relationship was allowed to develop organically in a way that was believable. There was also a great cast of side characters that added a lot to the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Clara Addicted to sapphic books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beware, this was a slow burn with S. If you are not into it, you might be frustrated. Personally, I love them. Sommers took the time to develop both characters and their relationship. It made it realistic. They slowly settle into each other's lives, interacting with respective friends and family until they realize they are what each other was looking for. The self-doubt about liking a woman for the first time was well-dosed, and I was invested. The side characters are mostly supportive, and it really makes you feel like you are slowly being taken into their world, adding sweetness to the story.
Overall, if you are looking for an extra steamy and passionate book, this is not what you are looking for. But if you like a really sweet slow burn with endearing characters and no unnecessary drama, it's the perfect read.

[Robin Clairvaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming and Cute

When tattoo artist Riley and her lovable dog move in next door to beautiful single mom Kim and her cute son Tyler, no one expects their friendship to evolve into a fake romance that feels a little too real sometimes.

Love Next Door is cute and charming right from Riley and Kim’s first meeting. Their easy friendship develops naturally, thanks in part to Kim’s precocious son and Riley’s friendly pooch. Even though Kim is supposedly straight and cursed with a terrible dating record, the chemistry between her and Riley is so real that a romance seems inevitable…to everyone but them. Riley, Kim, Tyler, and all the side characters are endearing and fun, and there is only a small amount of angst, making this a truly enjoyable and relaxing read.

If you like slow burn toaster oven sapphic romances with a bit of fauxmance thrown in for good measure, you’ll adore Love Next Door.

[Kate Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: 5 Stars
Format: Digital
Series: Stand Alone
Steam Level: Steamy

I stayed up waaaaaay too late on a work night to finish this. Worth. It.

Quick Thoughts:
- Single Mom AND Fake Dating? Talk about a double dose of Kryptonite
- The interactions between Riley, Kim, and Tyler were so cute.
- Speaking of interactions, I also liked the friendship between Kim’s Ex and his fiancée. It reminds me of my mom and her first husband’s friendship
- Okay, I really liked all the side characters
- This book walks that fine line between moving the timeline forward by skipping some scenes and including them
- There was a bit at the end when they’re telling Tyler about them that his dialogue feels a bit old for him
- I liked how Riley and Kim had different likes and strengths but the same core values and sense of fun
- Consent is sexy

Overall I had high expectations for this book and it delivered. Rachael Sommers is quickly becoming an auto-buy for me. This is the third book I have read of hers and I loved all three.

[Hanne Puype · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The two main characters Kim and Riley are loveable and they have interesting, non-common professions: a baker and a tattoo artist. Riley moves in next to Kim and they develop a cute friendship that turns into something more (hence the title). They are into each other from the beginning but need some (read: a lot) time to realize it. I enjoyed the different kinds of representation of the characters and of course the dog heightened this book to the next level!

Please make a movie out of this book.

Thank you Ylva Publishing for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Teddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This burn was wayyyyy too slow for me. If that’s your thing, this is a great choice, but the chemistry wasn’t there for me which made it a tough read. Until the last 25% and then I breezed through and enjoyed watching their love story bloom. Both characters are sweet and well-developed. They match each other well, and Tyler was a highlight.

Short summary: When Kim’s new neighbor moves in, Kim is mildly annoyed when her son is swept away by the woman’s dog. Soon they’re seeing more of each other and Kim begins to wonder if maybe she’d like to be swept away too…

Thanks to Netgalley and Ylva. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Rebee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gustó! Insisto, como dije mientras lo estaba leyendo, siento que algo le faltó, aunque no sabría señalar bien qué, solo que algo que tiene que ver con la escritura. O tal vez me hubiera gustado leer un poco más de ciertos vínculos, como el de Kim con Tyler, su hijo, o de Riley con Bea, su hermana.

Pero sacando eso, me encantó la relación de Kim y Riley! Me gustó que primero fueran amigas y que poco a poco se fueran dando cuenta de sus sentimientos. No se sintió apurado en ningún momento, aunque tal vez me hubiera gustado verlas juntas (como pareja, me refiero) más tiempo

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS, ROUNDED UP!
This was the first Rachael Sommers book I have read and it was SO cute! These two women had a very slow burn, natural progression to their relationship and I loved reading about it. Kim's son, Tyler, was great and a super fun addition. Audio was done really well! It was nothing ground breaking, but still an enjoyable read.

Tropes;
SLOW BURN
Bi-awakening
friends to lovers
forced proximity
neighbors to lovers
tattoo artist x baker
single mom

[t 🍓 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️
honestly no complaints, the slow burn was excellently paced with the family dynamic keeping me interested the entire time. the relationship between the two lead characters was so natural and sweet that i was really rooting for them. i love when im reading lesfic that i can tell it was written by a sapphic author, it makes all the difference! i would’ve loved a bigger time jump for the epilogue but that’s my singular complaint !

[Amanda Frazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

A sweet sapphic romance. I love how Kim and Riley went from neighbors to friends to lovers. Really sweet story with such likable characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for the chance to read and review Love Next Door.

[Ashley Hana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sapphic romcom with a tattoo artist and a cute baker? Sign me UPPPP.
This went way above my expectations, and I enjoyed it so much. I deeply connected with the characters, and even loved Tyler, the kid. Honestly, he was such a great addition to their dynamic. This was the absolute cutest read.

[Larami Crawford Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story. I enjoyed the simple story and you could really feel the tension between the characters. Not a lot of smut/sexy scenes but what’s there is lesbian.