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Juniper Creek Romances #1

And They Were Neighbors

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She thought she knew what she wanted—until the girl next door wanted her.

By thirty, Mina Hasanza thought she’d have her life figured out. But with her long-term boyfriend gone and her career goals still out of reach, her way forward has never been hazier… nor her parents more disappointed. Desperate to keep her house, she works up the nerve to ask her sweet and spirited neighbor for help with her resume and lands a job at the local flower shop instead.

Zoey Bell is certain love is a gamble that never pays off. Which is why she’s kept her distance from the willowy beauty next door, despite her hard-core secret crush. Now that they’re working together, Zoey sees a golden opportunity to get closer to Mina—without any risky labels.

After a work trip turns into an unforgettable steamy night, they wonder if happiness has been right next door all along. But when old fears resurface, will Mina and Zoey choose the safe lives they always thought they wanted—or the one person who truly loves them as they are?

And They Were Neighbors is the first standalone novel in the queer contemporary Juniper Creek Romances series. Set in a charming, close-knit town you’ll want to live in, this slow-burn sapphic romance brims with found family, sweet moments, and the kind of love that feels like home.

298 pages, Paperback

Published July 17, 2025

3 people are currently reading
184 people want to read

About the author

Brenna Bailey

7 books52 followers
Brenna Bailey writes queer contemporary romance and runs an editing business called Bookmarten Editorial. If her nose isn't buried in a book, you can probably find her out in the woods somewhere admiring plants or attempting to identify birds. She is a starry-eyed traveler and a home baker, and she lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her game-loving spouse and their cuddly fur-baby.

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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for OceaneZw.
109 reviews24 followers
February 17, 2025
⭐ 3.75 stars

I wanted to love this book, but it just didn’t fully click for me.

Going into the book, I was excited by the premise, even though small-town romance isn’t typically my favorite trope. The summary promised an engaging story, but by the end, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the book fell short of its full potential.

One of my main issues with the story is how long it takes for Mina and Zoey’s romance to truly start. There are descriptions of their attraction to each other, yet I struggled to feel it. Just when it seemed like their relationship might develop into something deeper, the plot introduced yet another obstacle. It left me wishing for more moments where they could actually be together rather than constantly being pulled apart.

The best thing about the book is the writing, it’s solid, no issues there. But the pacing and relationship development didn’t quite work for me.

Overall, I’d still recommend this book if you’re looking for a slow-burn romance in a small town, with plenty of modern references.

Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Profile Image for Emmaby Barton Grace.
786 reviews20 followers
February 25, 2025
so excited to be returning to the juniper creek world! like brenna’s other books - this sounds so perfect on paper, but for some reason just falls a little bit short? still really enjoyed it but can’t see myself returning to it/didn’t absolutely love it idk

things i loved - small town vibes, complex family dynamics, anxiety/depression rep, poc and religion rep, falling in love w ur neighbour, getting little glimpses into other juniper creek characters (mostly just eleanor), the constant schitts creek, singer , and author references (chappell, boygenius, ashley herring blake, alice oseman, cmq etc)

but felt the ending was a bit rushed/fell a bit flat - though i basically always feel that way about endings haha - i think my problem with romances is that so often they don’t properly get together until the end whereas i want more story where they’re together?

tldr: didn’t change my life but a sweet sapphic romance 💗

thank you to brenna for providing me with an arc of this book :)

“Loving another person is the best feeling in the world. Knowing them on the deepest level, and giving them the privilege of knowing you. We need people in our lives to lean on. And it doesn’t have to be romantic love.”

“Zoey was fresh mountain air in the uphill trek of Mina’s life, and Mina couldn’t breathe enough of her.”
2 reviews
January 14, 2025

Book Review: Advanced Reader Copy

I had the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this novel, and I must say it was a refreshing departure from my usual genre. The author’s writing is engaging and well-crafted, which made the experience enjoyable from start to finish.

The story follows two characters navigating their way through life, each dealing with personal struggles and growth. Their journey towards self-discovery and finding their place in the world felt authentic and relatable. The author does an excellent job of capturing the nuances of their emotions, making them feel like real people with real dilemmas.

Though the genre was different from what I typically gravitate toward, I found myself quickly absorbed in the characters' stories. Their development over the course of the book was both heartwarming and thought-provoking. The pacing kept me hooked, and the writing was full of subtle depth.

In conclusion, this book was an enjoyable read that I was honoured to read and review as my first ARC. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written story about personal growth and the complexities of finding one's way in life.
Profile Image for Juniper L.H..
916 reviews33 followers
February 10, 2025
This novel was an easy, cute, and fun read. It was relatively straightforward and went exactly as I predicted it would (which isn’t good or bad, just a comment), with low-angst and a simple storyline. I enjoyed reading it, although I won’t be reading it again, and I would absolutely pick up another novel by this author.

I liked the characters, I liked the setting, and the storyline too. The whole thing moved a little slow for me, but there were a lot of great moments throughout. I disliked how the protagonists seemed incapable of communicating at times and the story stagnated in places, but I loved all the cute little moments when things went well and a lot of the details the author included about their lives and the town where they lived.

This novel also seemed to be filled with a million references specifically targeted at me, like my FBI guy wrote it based on their work spying on everything that I do and say. Maybe its just because I’m Canadian. Regardless of the reason, it was kind of neat.

My Rating: “B-”
Converted Rating: 4-Stars
Profile Image for Morrigan Coady.
136 reviews9 followers
February 17, 2025
I'm always grateful to be given the chance to review ARCs!

It was lovely to return to Juniper Creek, and to see a different side of the town. This definitely ticks all the boxes of a small town romance, and I appreciate the distinctly Canadian feel.

I liked both Mina and Zoey as characters and feel like they really show their character growth as they work through some of their personal challenges.

Overall, a very enjoyable read 😊
Profile Image for Brooke.
337 reviews
December 25, 2024
This is a truly charming start to an amazing series. I love the little town of Juniper Creek and this slow burn gave me butterflies. I was so grateful to read this ARC after flying through the other books in the series. The chemistry is so good between these neighbors and there’s such real and relatable conflict.
Profile Image for Ragne.
10 reviews
December 23, 2024
I got the chance to be an ARC reader and I feel honored to have had read it so early.
I loved the story, it was my first book from this author and I definetly need to read Her other works!
The flow of the story was good, I found it hard to put it down, I love how the author has managed to make you root for the characters!
By the end I was actually sad it ended, I hope to hear more about Juniper Creek and it’s residents!
Profile Image for Lauren.
5 reviews
April 7, 2025
I’m so glad I got to read yet another fantastically written book by Brenna. I knew I would be easily pulled into the world of Juniper Creek again, and I was right. Brenna has a way with writing that really paints a picture. I felt myself falling in love with Mina and Zoe and how they navigate wanting to find love and acceptance despite their struggles. With Zoe’s Dad leaving, she’s left to take care of her mom, and left to grow up faster than she should have to. Mina struggles with the unattainable expectations of her parents, especially her mother. It’s beautiful to observe the differences and similarities between these two characters and witness their growth through the story.

Mina moves in next door to Zoe. Their windows face each other which allows for glimpses of each other. This ignites a spark and big crush for Zoe. Mina’s world changes when her boyfriend leaves her. Now she has to figure out how to find a job. Zoe comes to the aid of Mina helping her with her resume one night and through conversation Mina learns that Zoe is also in need of help getting her candle business off the ground. Mina offers up her expertise on business and so starts the beginning of many flirty nights that ultimately lead to one unforgettable night together.

I enjoyed that Brenna had included these awesome pop culture references. My favorite, Zoe’s love of Schitt’s Creek. It made the characters relevant and relatable. The slow burn romance was so sweet and tender. I was drawn into the coziness of how the characters are with each other, recognizing what the other needs to feel valued and validated. I also loved that Brenna brought back other characters from her previous Juniper Creek novels. It made me feel like I’d come back to a place that is warm and filled with love, and these characters root for Zoe and Mina’s love which helps them both along the way. The book has so much heart and depth. The descriptions make you feel like you are right there with everyone in Juniper Creek. I love feeling like I’m taken to a small and beautiful town full of wonderful people that are ready to help one another. Enjoying their slower paced lives while experiencing real issues that life throws our way. I can’t wait to see what other wonderful characters Brenna will create and bring to life in the next wonderful world of Juniper Creek.

Thank you for the ARC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Loki Wylde.
209 reviews3 followers
August 20, 2025
Okay - spoiler free to the best of my ability as always.

I had this on my watch list on kickstarter literally forever waiting for it to launch. I was excited for it and was a bit disappointed if I’m honest. There were a couple of times I had to pick it up when I wasn’t feeling it ( I don’t DNF ). This could have just been a me thing but .. *shrug*

I feel like there are a lot of good elements here. It doesn’t feel like THAT much of a slow burn - if anything this feels like a REAL love story. I have a thing for stories that feel like it could really happen and not the crazy happenstances or coincidences of life. So props for that for sure. The characters themselves and the actions also feel real as far as the plot, character choices and responses to things.. Mina and Zoey could be literally any one of my people and I dig that.

What I struggled most with was POV. There wasn’t much of a shift between povs and if it wasn’t for the information being given it would FEEL like you were reading about the same character. Maybe because they aren’t THAT different? It’s not like a grouch v sunny pov so they just don’t feel like different people’s pov’s. Not for me anyway. At times I was actually confusing who was who and would have to remind myself which one was which.

Probably my biggest issue with this book is actually the LAST line of the book. The final sentence of the epilogue… just … too much. Overkill. Should have ended one sentence earlier cause it would be been cute solid way to end it and instead it took a sweet ending and ruined it. Like.. imagine a nice cut of cake - that was the ending before the last sentence … and then you add that last sentence … and to me it’s like taking that cake slice, dunking it in honey like it’s a egg bath and then rolling it thru cane sugar and then plunging that into chocolate from top to bottom. Too much. That’s too much. And that’s what the last line felt like and it felt off putting.

Anyway rant done . It’s certainly not the worst thing I’ve read. Probably about a 6/10. There were some sweet moments. And their banter is cute but still a 6. That said - I did get add ons of the authors other works and I’m still gonna read them lol.
Profile Image for -ˋˏ ༻ Persie ༺ ˎˊ- (TheSapphicStorybook).
24 reviews1 follower
February 19, 2025
This is a really cute, really sweet, small town romance set in the idyllic and picturesque town of Juniper Creek!

One super strong point of this book is it is very well written and everything flows nicely. I would definitely consider it a slow burn, but I appreciate getting to see how Zoey and Mina form a friendship first. Minimal spice, but very well written and not awkward or cringy at all!

One thing I absolutely LOVED about this book is Mina and her Persian culture. My family is Persian and I feel like it is a beautiful culture that is often underrepresented and Bailey included so many little details like Nowruz, which is the Persian new year that occurs in the spring, down to the tiniest detail of clear tea glasses and Mina's Samovar and her favorite foods (If you haven't had tahdig, it will change your life). These details may fly over some heads, but for me, it was special reading about things that have been close to me and my family.

I think Zoey is a very likable and sweet character who has a lot of trauma from her younger years but with that being said, her fear of commitment and labels was very excessive considering how clearly Mina adores her. I understand the trauma, but sometimes it felt like she could have worded things differently to avoid hurting Mina. By the end of the story, I do feel like she turned it around, and I was happy for that because I do like Zoey as a character.

This was a really cute read and I recommend it to any fans of small town romances and friends to lovers tropes! I give this ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars!

I received an arc and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review
Profile Image for Meaghan Steeves.
980 reviews5 followers
April 9, 2025
Unsurprisingly, the latest novel from Brenna Bailey is just as charming and wonderful as her other stories set in the world of Juniper Creek.

This book introduces new main characters Mina, a Schitt’s Creek-loving aspiring video game artist and Zoe, a true crime devotee and budding candle entrepreneur. These two are neighbours and with Mina newly single, their acquaintanceship blossoms into a close friendship, with a barely guarded desire for more simmering below the surface.

I was thoroughly impressed—and more than a little pleased 00—with the decision to up the spice factor; that is to say, if this story were an oven, turn it up a couple hundred degrees (a cheesy metaphor, perhaps, but still accurate). It was definitely apropos for the age demographic, and I loved seeing how the writing differed from previous books as a result.

I also really appreciated that the cozy vibes of Brenna’s other books were sprinkled all across this book too, from descriptions of Mina’s meals to the scents of Zoe’s candles to the calming atmosphere of a night spent crafting.

If you’re looking for a lovely contemporary romance, I highly recommend this delightful read!
Profile Image for Morgan.
35 reviews3 followers
January 27, 2025
If you have followed me for a bit, you know that Brenna Bailey is an auto-read author for me! So being on her ARC team is truly a dream. And although I was sad to see the Juniper Creek Golden Years come to end, I am beyond excited for the new chapter- Juniper Creek Romances.

Brenna’s books have always felt like a warm hug date a long day, and this one did all of that and more. I related so much to Mina & Zoey and loved watching their story unfold in the sweet town I have come to know and love. Through all of their ups and downs, they showed resilience, growth and love which is truly beautiful to witness.

If you haven’t read one of Brenna’s books, get on it!! Everyone needs some Juniper Creek in their life.

The official release date is July 22nd, but Brenna will be releasing And They Were Neighbors early through kickstarter in March! Follow her @brennabaileybooks to keep an eye out on that, and you should just follow anyway because her book + cat content is wonderful!
Profile Image for Marissa Lawton.
315 reviews8 followers
August 15, 2025
Brenna Bailey never disappoints. I loved the characters in this one because they feel so real and I love the diversity she always includes. This town feels like it actually exists and I could visit the people there (and you know they would be super gracious about it too).I feel like the book hits on so many important points and for me, a strained relationship with a mother, really stood out. That sense of needing to live up to some imaginary line is real and learning to set boundaries even when it feels impossible. Brenna Bailey’s books are the warmest hugs and just give me all the warm fuzzies when I need to escape this world, I’m glad I have Juniper Creek to fall into
Profile Image for Bree Layne.
42 reviews3 followers
January 13, 2025
ARC Review

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️

This book was is such a cute and cozy slow burn, with just the right amount of angst! Mina and Zoey are both in their 30s and trying to figure out their careers, while both dealing with their own personal baggage. I could relate to both of the MCs familial issues, which made me feel seen! The pop culture references throughout the book are chefs kiss! If you’re looking for a cozy, sapphic romance, I highly recommend giving this one a try!

Read if you like:
💕 Sapphic Romance
🕯️Slow Burn
🫶🏻Found Family
🏡Small Town
Profile Image for Kaylynn O'Neill.
2 reviews
January 12, 2025
This was such a wonderful way to start the year.
And They Were Neighbours depicts a story that is both comforting and realistic in all of the best ways. The perfect book for a cozy read.
The characters in this book had real shortcomings and I loved that they were both still finding their way in the world. It goes to show that joy, love, and success come in so many different fonts that are exciting and nonetheless heart warming to experience as a reader.
Highly recommend
Profile Image for Shannon bagnall.
155 reviews2 followers
January 21, 2025
LOVED this book, it was the perfect amount of cosy and wholesome mixed with a little heartbreak and spice.

The plot was great but the characters were lovable and I loved reading about juniper creek, this is the first one I’ve read which is a standalone but does speak about other the authors other juniper creek stories inside the book.

Overall a great book and can’t wait to read more.

*full disclosure I was given this book by the author Brenna Bailey in return for an honest review*
Profile Image for Danielle.
366 reviews2 followers
February 18, 2025

And They Were Neighbours is set in the charming fictional town of Juniper Creek, Canada.

Mina and Zoey are a perfect balance: Mina, trying to find her way after life hasn’t gone quite as planned, and Zoey, protecting her heart despite her longtime crush on the girl next door. Their chemistry is undeniable, and watching them navigate their feelings, fears, and the possibility of something real, a love that feels both inevitable and hard won, was a rewarding journey. The writing is immersive, the setting sounds quaint like a place I’d love to visit!

I love to support local authors and I can’t wait to read more from Brenna Bailey and this new Juniper Creek series.

4.5⭐️
Profile Image for Molly.
237 reviews8 followers
March 3, 2025
I loved Brenna Bailey's Juniper Creek Golden Years series, and it was such a delight to get to read this new book—a full-length novel about younger protagonists. Mina and Zoey were so lovely together, and it was wonderful to see their relationship evolve and grow in strength. This is a perfect book for anyone who wants a gentle, compassionate small-town romance to soothe your soul.
Profile Image for Faith.
18 reviews
April 2, 2025
First, thank you so much Brenna Bailey for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I absolutely adored everything about this book. This was so beautifully written. From the charming little town of Junipers Creek to Mina and Zoey’s slow burn romance, this was such a perfect read💞. Can’t wait to read more by this author🤎🤎
821 reviews19 followers
December 19, 2024
Wow this one had me hooked line and sinker it was beautifully crafted , the main characters were exceptional their connection was embedded beautifully throughout their journey had you screaming at them and cheering them on its an epic read a must-read congratulations
Profile Image for Rowan.
310 reviews3 followers
February 4, 2025
Another lovely book from Ms Bailey. Mina & Zoey are neighbours; Zoey has a crush on Mina, but when Mina splits from her boyfriend, she needs Zoey’s help. Perhaps Mina isn’t as straight as Zoey thought. Loved this book, good interesting characters, minimal aghast and well written.
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