What do you think?
Not Good Neighbors
Penny Huff and Jack Craig are neighbors by floor plan…and enemies by choice.
Thanks to a tragically thin wall in their NYC apartment building, Penny knows far too much about Jack—like his taste in too-loud music, the noxious fumes from his kitchen, and his habit of suspiciously aggressive vacuuming. And she knows all about the tearful brunette fleeing his apartment the day he moved in—the one crying about her cheating ex. Not even Jack’s piratical charm can undo what Penny the man is bad news.
When her attempt to get the wall soundproofed literally blows a hole in it, the two are forced into a DIY disaster that traps them in each other’s lives...and spaces. With eviction looming, prank wars escalating, and unexpected sparks flying, Penny starts to suspect her insufferable neighbor might just be the plot twist her love life needs.
Packed with witty banter, laugh-out-loud moments, and sizzling tension, this fast-paced romantic comedy proves that love can bloom where drywall—and patience—have crumbled.
Thanks to a tragically thin wall in their NYC apartment building, Penny knows far too much about Jack—like his taste in too-loud music, the noxious fumes from his kitchen, and his habit of suspiciously aggressive vacuuming. And she knows all about the tearful brunette fleeing his apartment the day he moved in—the one crying about her cheating ex. Not even Jack’s piratical charm can undo what Penny the man is bad news.
When her attempt to get the wall soundproofed literally blows a hole in it, the two are forced into a DIY disaster that traps them in each other’s lives...and spaces. With eviction looming, prank wars escalating, and unexpected sparks flying, Penny starts to suspect her insufferable neighbor might just be the plot twist her love life needs.
Packed with witty banter, laugh-out-loud moments, and sizzling tension, this fast-paced romantic comedy proves that love can bloom where drywall—and patience—have crumbled.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Violet Lumani
3 books246 followersViolet Lumani is an American author. She lives in Connecticut with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 413 reviews
October 5, 2025
Look, someone had to give this book five stars & I happened to be available. ;)
Writing NOT GOOD NEIGHBORS was the most fun I’ve ever had. It’s chaotic, funny, romantic, and full of people who are trying their best to be better people (characters I legitimately love so flipping much). I can NOT wait to see what you all think when it’s finally out in the wild -- pre-order now wherever books are sold! Out June 2, 2026!
Writing NOT GOOD NEIGHBORS was the most fun I’ve ever had. It’s chaotic, funny, romantic, and full of people who are trying their best to be better people (characters I legitimately love so flipping much). I can NOT wait to see what you all think when it’s finally out in the wild -- pre-order now wherever books are sold! Out June 2, 2026!
August 2, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this one. Penny was really funny, and Jack was fully an icon. I loved every second of his presence. I liked that they felt like real people. Her going to therapy and actually making progress was really refreshing to read. I enjoyed watching her learn to stand up for herself, set boundaries, and take a chance on things that she was always afraid of.
The “third-act breakup” was really dumb on Penny’s part. Jack was so right and it was very obvious. I feel like both Jack and I afforded her a lot of grace and patience, and that was not her greatest moment. The ending resolved things a bit too swiftly for my liking—I would have liked to see more there—but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Overall, this was a great, fun, and quick read. I had a wonderful time.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
This better be good because I already bought the book. Those sprayed edges were too pretty to resist.
I really enjoyed this one. Penny was really funny, and Jack was fully an icon. I loved every second of his presence. I liked that they felt like real people. Her going to therapy and actually making progress was really refreshing to read. I enjoyed watching her learn to stand up for herself, set boundaries, and take a chance on things that she was always afraid of.
The “third-act breakup” was really dumb on Penny’s part. Jack was so right and it was very obvious. I feel like both Jack and I afforded her a lot of grace and patience, and that was not her greatest moment. The ending resolved things a bit too swiftly for my liking—I would have liked to see more there—but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Overall, this was a great, fun, and quick read. I had a wonderful time.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
This better be good because I already bought the book. Those sprayed edges were too pretty to resist.
Did Not Finish
August 4, 2026boring from the beginning but I refused to dnf at least than 20% so I kept reading to try it out and see if somehow it became "likeable" but yeah unfortunelly it was a definitely not finish
June 3, 2026
I enjoyed the heart of this story. It kept me engaged throughout, and even when some of the side plots dragged a bit, I was invested enough in the characters and their journey to keep turning the pages.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Entangled Publishing, which gave me the opportunity to read this book early and share my thoughts.
Admittedly, it took me a little longer than usual to fully settle into the story. Not excessively so, but it’s worth mentioning in case other readers have a similar experience. Once everything falls into place, the pace picks up and the story moves along nicely.
If you’re someone who enjoys multiple subplots woven throughout a romance, this book definitely checks that box. I appreciated how they helped create a fuller world for the characters, though a few could have been trimmed slightly. In the end, however, they didn’t impact my overall enjoyment.
If you’re looking for a quick, fun, and flirty rom-com, this may be right up your alley—especially as a summer beach read.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Entangled Publishing, which gave me the opportunity to read this book early and share my thoughts.
Admittedly, it took me a little longer than usual to fully settle into the story. Not excessively so, but it’s worth mentioning in case other readers have a similar experience. Once everything falls into place, the pace picks up and the story moves along nicely.
If you’re someone who enjoys multiple subplots woven throughout a romance, this book definitely checks that box. I appreciated how they helped create a fuller world for the characters, though a few could have been trimmed slightly. In the end, however, they didn’t impact my overall enjoyment.
If you’re looking for a quick, fun, and flirty rom-com, this may be right up your alley—especially as a summer beach read.
June 26, 2026
First of all I want to say that the writing and pace of this book and the way this characters were built are good, and that is not the reason I gave it only two starts. I genuenly liked everything except the personality of the female lead, I just couldn’t stand her, which is why I didn’t end up enjoying the book. This doesn’t mean that the author didn’t do a good job or that you won’t enjoy, it’s just my personal preference! (Pls bare this in mind when reading the rest cause I get really invested in the hate of this character (female lead) and really go at it)
The beginning was so good. Enemies to lovers with actual funny banter and stupid pranks. The writing is good as well and the plot idea is exactly what a silly rom-com should be. I thought I would really like it but then I got to know the main character and she is fucking INSUFFERABLE.
She’s the most childish person I have ever met. First of all, the only reason they don’t get along in the beginning is because of a misunderstanding SHE created on her own thinking he’s a cheater, and when she discovers that he’s actually not, instead of apologizing for the awful way she treated him at first (granted that he retaliated after but like come on she was going at it), she just keeps blaming it all on him.
Not only that but she actually doesn’t put any effort into their relationship, whilst he’s always taking her verbal lashes and her completely unwarranted attacks. She always makes the problem about herself, and uses the flimsiest excuses to treat him horribly, just because she has unresolved mommy issues (girl, you are almost 30 and dealing with problems like a 12 year old child).
Not only that but when he opens up even a little bit about his past (so much worse than what she’s been through (divorced parents, wow)) she completely ignores him.
I was so sick of her by the end, he deserves someone better and she deserves to get a reality check. What tipped me over the edge is the end. He was trying to stop the eloping of his sister and Avery (main characters best friend) because he knew that his sister was doing it out of spite and that she was rebounding from an ex. The main character, instead of being like “you know what, you are right! she broke up with her ex fiancé of years a week ago, and you’ve known your sister for over 30 years, whereas I know her for a few weeks, maybe we should stop the wedding” her reaction was to go ballistic, say that people can change (spoiler alert the sister ended doing exactly what he said and dumped poor Avery not even a day later) and said that if he thinks that people can’t change (again, NOT what he said) then they can’t be together.
Almost threw the book across the room. And she has the audacity to act like the mártir and demand an apology from him when he lashes out at her for the first time (he literally only said a couple truths to her face). Hate her with all my guts, if she’s gonna behave like a self absorbed child, she can go be single and miserable by herself, and leave Jack (who has proved throughout the book that he’s a reliable caring person that wants the best for the people he loves, will fight for what he wants, admit and apologize for what he does wrong (she never did even though all the misunderstandings were her fault) and will take every childish tantrum and dramatic exists she throws and try to handle them with maturity) to someone who actually has functioning brain cells.
The beginning was so good. Enemies to lovers with actual funny banter and stupid pranks. The writing is good as well and the plot idea is exactly what a silly rom-com should be. I thought I would really like it but then I got to know the main character and she is fucking INSUFFERABLE.
She’s the most childish person I have ever met. First of all, the only reason they don’t get along in the beginning is because of a misunderstanding SHE created on her own thinking he’s a cheater, and when she discovers that he’s actually not, instead of apologizing for the awful way she treated him at first (granted that he retaliated after but like come on she was going at it), she just keeps blaming it all on him.
Not only that but she actually doesn’t put any effort into their relationship, whilst he’s always taking her verbal lashes and her completely unwarranted attacks. She always makes the problem about herself, and uses the flimsiest excuses to treat him horribly, just because she has unresolved mommy issues (girl, you are almost 30 and dealing with problems like a 12 year old child).
Not only that but when he opens up even a little bit about his past (so much worse than what she’s been through (divorced parents, wow)) she completely ignores him.
I was so sick of her by the end, he deserves someone better and she deserves to get a reality check. What tipped me over the edge is the end. He was trying to stop the eloping of his sister and Avery (main characters best friend) because he knew that his sister was doing it out of spite and that she was rebounding from an ex. The main character, instead of being like “you know what, you are right! she broke up with her ex fiancé of years a week ago, and you’ve known your sister for over 30 years, whereas I know her for a few weeks, maybe we should stop the wedding” her reaction was to go ballistic, say that people can change (spoiler alert the sister ended doing exactly what he said and dumped poor Avery not even a day later) and said that if he thinks that people can’t change (again, NOT what he said) then they can’t be together.
Almost threw the book across the room. And she has the audacity to act like the mártir and demand an apology from him when he lashes out at her for the first time (he literally only said a couple truths to her face). Hate her with all my guts, if she’s gonna behave like a self absorbed child, she can go be single and miserable by herself, and leave Jack (who has proved throughout the book that he’s a reliable caring person that wants the best for the people he loves, will fight for what he wants, admit and apologize for what he does wrong (she never did even though all the misunderstandings were her fault) and will take every childish tantrum and dramatic exists she throws and try to handle them with maturity) to someone who actually has functioning brain cells.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2026
Not Good Neighbors was exactly the kind of romantic comedy I love to pick up when I need something fun, fast-paced, and guaranteed to make me smile (and hopefully laugh out loud). Between the hilarious neighbor rivalry, the escalating prank wars, and the banter, this book kept me entertained from beginning to end.
Penny and Jack get off to a terrible start, and thanks to a paper-thin apartment wall, they’re forced to know far more about each other’s lives than either would prefer. What starts as annoyance quickly turns into a full-blown battle of wills, and watching them constantly try to outsmart each other was one of the most enjoyable parts of the story. Their interactions were sharp, funny, and packed with the kind of tension that makes an enemies-to-lovers romance so much fun to read!
What surprised me most was the emotional depth woven beneath all the humor. While the story delivers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, it also explores people-pleasing tendencies, complicated family relationships, personal growth, and the importance of communication. I appreciated that both characters had flaws they actively worked to address rather than simply having everything magically resolved by romance.
The forced proximity element was done especially well, with the hole in the wall creating countless opportunities for chaos, vulnerability, and some genuinely sweet moments. As Penny and Jack slowly lowered their defenses, their relationship felt earned, making the romantic payoff all the more rewarding.
The supporting cast added another layer of warmth to the story, and I loved how friendships and family dynamics were given room to shine alongside the romance. While some of the antics occasionally pushed the limits of believability, the charm, humor, and heart more than made up for it. If you’re looking for a rom-com filled with banter, tension, forced proximity, and meaningful character growth, Not Good Neighbors is a delightfully entertaining read! I’m so grateful I was able to win a copy of this in a giveaway!
The biggest thank you to Entangled Publishing for this eARC!
Penny and Jack get off to a terrible start, and thanks to a paper-thin apartment wall, they’re forced to know far more about each other’s lives than either would prefer. What starts as annoyance quickly turns into a full-blown battle of wills, and watching them constantly try to outsmart each other was one of the most enjoyable parts of the story. Their interactions were sharp, funny, and packed with the kind of tension that makes an enemies-to-lovers romance so much fun to read!
What surprised me most was the emotional depth woven beneath all the humor. While the story delivers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, it also explores people-pleasing tendencies, complicated family relationships, personal growth, and the importance of communication. I appreciated that both characters had flaws they actively worked to address rather than simply having everything magically resolved by romance.
The forced proximity element was done especially well, with the hole in the wall creating countless opportunities for chaos, vulnerability, and some genuinely sweet moments. As Penny and Jack slowly lowered their defenses, their relationship felt earned, making the romantic payoff all the more rewarding.
The supporting cast added another layer of warmth to the story, and I loved how friendships and family dynamics were given room to shine alongside the romance. While some of the antics occasionally pushed the limits of believability, the charm, humor, and heart more than made up for it. If you’re looking for a rom-com filled with banter, tension, forced proximity, and meaningful character growth, Not Good Neighbors is a delightfully entertaining read! I’m so grateful I was able to win a copy of this in a giveaway!
The biggest thank you to Entangled Publishing for this eARC!
August 25, 2026
Some books where the MCs play dirty pranks on each other are fun. They're HILARIOUS. The key to writing such a successful story is to make the reason these two people began their prank war something that doesn't make one or the other into an insufferable asshole.
Unfortunately for this book - that reason wasn't at all sufficient because it hinges ENTIRELY on Penny's immaturity, judgmental hatred of a man based on a fragment of misunderstood conversation, and massive mommy/daddy issues.
I had to actively try not to hate Penny throughout this entire story. She's a doormat to her boss, a willing participant in her mom's bitterness and narcissism, and completely judgmental in the extreme when it comes to Jack, who she thinks cheated once on a woman and has literally, without getting the whole story, deemed him the scum of the earth. She's been a ROYAL bitch to him for almost a YEAR. Because she got a drop of a story from some random woman leaving his apartment the day he moved in.
She doesn't ask for clarification. Doesn't bother trying to find out who the woman was or what she was talking about - just takes her word as gospel that Jack is disloyal. And she lets her past experience with her lying, cheating father completely blind her to any other alternative.
I get that you can dislike a person's actions - that's totally fair. But to then TORMENT them through a wall for 10 months? To put yourself in the position where you now either have to fix said wall or leave your apartment because you were attempting to sabotage HIS chances of staying there????
Penny is the problem.
Even after she finds out that he's NOT a cheater - the ENTIRE reason she hated him in the first place, and the ENTIRE reason this prank war began - She's STILL diabolical to him.
Every little thing he does is some cardinal, criminal offense to her. He can't open his mouth and JOKE with her without her playing the victim, getting upset and then pulling ANOTHER prank on him. He's forced to listen to her berate him, call him names, assume the worst about him, but if he fires back? She goes nuclear.
And to listen to her tell the story? Jack is a MONSTER constantly pulling godawful pranks on her, while she's this innocent little lamb who's been FORCED to retaliate against this tyrant. 30% of the way through the story, for instance, she vents to a bunch of randos in a ride share about what's going on with her and Jack. Does she give them the whole truth? No, of course not. She paints him as the bad guy, the one who started the war, the one who's just sabotaging her life and making her miserable for no reason. They flat out ask what she's done to get back at him and she actively leaves out things that could make her look bad and "lose her support".
Penny. Is. The. Problem.
Look at this - this is from that scene:
It occurs to me that the two high schoolers keep plotting vengeance, while the adults propose diplomacy. Do I have the emotional IQ of a teenager?
YES!
And when she actually takes the teens' advice and puts glitter in his bath stuff?
The idea that I may be part of this problem tickles the back of my mind, whisper-soft but niggling.
You are the whole problem girl. THE WHOLE PROBLEM. If you'd quit acting like a 7 year old child, he'd quit getting back at you because there'd be NOTHING to get back at you for.
She's not a good person. She doesn't recognize that her prejudice in the very beginning is what started this feud. That is LITERALLY never acknowledged. It's also never acknowledged that SHE'S been the aggressor this WHOLE time. She goes out of her way to spin her story, to herself, to her friends, to strangers she meets in a ride share... She's always making herself the victim.
And her friends - they're enablers. Helping her pull pranks, and even pulling pranks FOR her - that negatively impact his career.
I was goddamned done with ALL of them 30% of the way through this story.
The middle of this book was marginally better (I'll get to why in a second) but then the 'break up' happens and I was right back to hating Penny again.
See, Jack has a sister who's a bit of a hot mess. She's with this fiancée who's a cheater - and their relationship is the definition of toxic. Whenever they break up she comes and whines about it to Jack, and about halfway through the story, when she's moaning, she encounters Avery - Penny's BFF. For Avery, it's love at first sight. They begin spending a lot of time together, as friends at first. There's a lot of heavy drinking and trips to clubs involved. You know - definitely things stable almost 30 year olds should be doing. 80% of the way through the story, when Penny and Jack are at the best place they've been so far, Penny learns that Avery and Jack's sister (who's name I've forgotten) are going to elope.
Reasonably, Jack's not happy about this news. He's determined to go stop it. And Penny loses her mind because she emotionally identifies with Jack's sister. And she views Jack's attempting to stop this random ass marriage as him judging HER, some how, for being terrible at relationships.
Jack spells it out for her - that it's not about Avery, that he genuinely thinks he's a good dude, but that he knows his sister. She's done stupid shit like this before but that it never works out, she's always going to go back to the cheating asshole. He's actively trying to prevent Penny's BFF from an expensive, complicated heartbreak, and Penny's just hearing how she's unstable and can't do relationships because his lack of unwavering support for his fuckass sister's impulsive shenanigans means he thinks she (Penny) is just like her. Or something.
He's right, by the way. Not 24 hours after the elopement, said fuckass leaves Avery. And does Jack ever get an apology from Penny? Does she grovel and plead and tell him she's sorry for blowing up their newly blissful relationship because she's a self-absorbed, vindictive, insecure idiot? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Course not. These women never fucking do.
Am I the only normal human female left on this planet? Is this type of person just... standard in 2026? Is that why all these FMCs act this way in modern reads? Because I read book after book after BOOK of these woman...clearly these authors think this unhinged behavior is NORMAL??????? Am I supposed to RELATE to Penny and her psychopathy??????
My kingdom for an FMC with a healthy family life who doesn't DESPERATELY need therapy and perhaps medication to fix whatever is debilitatingly wrong with her!
Okay, rant over.
Now, listen. I know you're asking yourself, "Aleesha, why the hell did you finish this book if the first half was so godawful for you?" (Good question!)
It wasn't easy. I'll admit that. I thought the first half of this book was going to give me an aneurysm.
I held out HOPING that there'd be an "Oh shit, I was wrong" moment for Penny. I sadistically hoped there'd be a scene where she's forced to eat crow for being a runny shitstain of a human being. (As you already know, I didn't get this moment.)
But then, something kind of extraordinary happens. The sociopath with mommy/daddy issues GETS THERAPY. And we actually get to SEE her go to said therapy.
Color me surprised! Halfway through this story, I was ready to throw my Kindle into the Mariana Trench but this turn gave me a LITTLE bit of hope.
And for what it's worth, the sessions we do sit in on with Penny are productive and feel accurate. I think her therapist is a GOOD therapist, forcing her to confront her issues with her controlling mother and her insecurities about dating that stem from her cheating dad. I also think it's good that we get to see Penny actively begin applying the things she learns in therapy to her real life. She finally stands up to her mom and sets boundaries. She learns her worth and stands up to her boss to request a raise. These are GOOD things. They were genuinely good to see.
Grudgingly, I'll also admit that Penny's portrayal of therapy and the time it takes to actually re-train one's brain away from negative thoughts and actions was probably accurate. She still makes mistakes. She uses the tools she's gathered and the lingo she's learned incorrectly sometimes. She even uses being in therapy as an excuse to not be with Jack for a while.
Just. Eh. Once again, an interesting story concept obliterated by an insufferable FMC. I wish more authors actually LIKED women. I'm tired of reading about the absolute WORST of us. This is more like 1.5 stars, but I won't have anybody thinking I gave this 2 stars on GR, so -
Unfortunately for this book - that reason wasn't at all sufficient because it hinges ENTIRELY on Penny's immaturity, judgmental hatred of a man based on a fragment of misunderstood conversation, and massive mommy/daddy issues.
I had to actively try not to hate Penny throughout this entire story. She's a doormat to her boss, a willing participant in her mom's bitterness and narcissism, and completely judgmental in the extreme when it comes to Jack, who she thinks cheated once on a woman and has literally, without getting the whole story, deemed him the scum of the earth. She's been a ROYAL bitch to him for almost a YEAR. Because she got a drop of a story from some random woman leaving his apartment the day he moved in.
She doesn't ask for clarification. Doesn't bother trying to find out who the woman was or what she was talking about - just takes her word as gospel that Jack is disloyal. And she lets her past experience with her lying, cheating father completely blind her to any other alternative.
I get that you can dislike a person's actions - that's totally fair. But to then TORMENT them through a wall for 10 months? To put yourself in the position where you now either have to fix said wall or leave your apartment because you were attempting to sabotage HIS chances of staying there????
Penny is the problem.
Even after she finds out that he's NOT a cheater - the ENTIRE reason she hated him in the first place, and the ENTIRE reason this prank war began - She's STILL diabolical to him.
Every little thing he does is some cardinal, criminal offense to her. He can't open his mouth and JOKE with her without her playing the victim, getting upset and then pulling ANOTHER prank on him. He's forced to listen to her berate him, call him names, assume the worst about him, but if he fires back? She goes nuclear.
And to listen to her tell the story? Jack is a MONSTER constantly pulling godawful pranks on her, while she's this innocent little lamb who's been FORCED to retaliate against this tyrant. 30% of the way through the story, for instance, she vents to a bunch of randos in a ride share about what's going on with her and Jack. Does she give them the whole truth? No, of course not. She paints him as the bad guy, the one who started the war, the one who's just sabotaging her life and making her miserable for no reason. They flat out ask what she's done to get back at him and she actively leaves out things that could make her look bad and "lose her support".
Penny. Is. The. Problem.
Look at this - this is from that scene:
It occurs to me that the two high schoolers keep plotting vengeance, while the adults propose diplomacy. Do I have the emotional IQ of a teenager?
YES!
And when she actually takes the teens' advice and puts glitter in his bath stuff?
The idea that I may be part of this problem tickles the back of my mind, whisper-soft but niggling.
You are the whole problem girl. THE WHOLE PROBLEM. If you'd quit acting like a 7 year old child, he'd quit getting back at you because there'd be NOTHING to get back at you for.
She's not a good person. She doesn't recognize that her prejudice in the very beginning is what started this feud. That is LITERALLY never acknowledged. It's also never acknowledged that SHE'S been the aggressor this WHOLE time. She goes out of her way to spin her story, to herself, to her friends, to strangers she meets in a ride share... She's always making herself the victim.
And her friends - they're enablers. Helping her pull pranks, and even pulling pranks FOR her - that negatively impact his career.
I was goddamned done with ALL of them 30% of the way through this story.
The middle of this book was marginally better (I'll get to why in a second) but then the 'break up' happens and I was right back to hating Penny again.
See, Jack has a sister who's a bit of a hot mess. She's with this fiancée who's a cheater - and their relationship is the definition of toxic. Whenever they break up she comes and whines about it to Jack, and about halfway through the story, when she's moaning, she encounters Avery - Penny's BFF. For Avery, it's love at first sight. They begin spending a lot of time together, as friends at first. There's a lot of heavy drinking and trips to clubs involved. You know - definitely things stable almost 30 year olds should be doing. 80% of the way through the story, when Penny and Jack are at the best place they've been so far, Penny learns that Avery and Jack's sister (who's name I've forgotten) are going to elope.
Reasonably, Jack's not happy about this news. He's determined to go stop it. And Penny loses her mind because she emotionally identifies with Jack's sister. And she views Jack's attempting to stop this random ass marriage as him judging HER, some how, for being terrible at relationships.
Jack spells it out for her - that it's not about Avery, that he genuinely thinks he's a good dude, but that he knows his sister. She's done stupid shit like this before but that it never works out, she's always going to go back to the cheating asshole. He's actively trying to prevent Penny's BFF from an expensive, complicated heartbreak, and Penny's just hearing how she's unstable and can't do relationships because his lack of unwavering support for his fuckass sister's impulsive shenanigans means he thinks she (Penny) is just like her. Or something.
He's right, by the way. Not 24 hours after the elopement, said fuckass leaves Avery. And does Jack ever get an apology from Penny? Does she grovel and plead and tell him she's sorry for blowing up their newly blissful relationship because she's a self-absorbed, vindictive, insecure idiot? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Course not. These women never fucking do.
Am I the only normal human female left on this planet? Is this type of person just... standard in 2026? Is that why all these FMCs act this way in modern reads? Because I read book after book after BOOK of these woman...clearly these authors think this unhinged behavior is NORMAL??????? Am I supposed to RELATE to Penny and her psychopathy??????
My kingdom for an FMC with a healthy family life who doesn't DESPERATELY need therapy and perhaps medication to fix whatever is debilitatingly wrong with her!
Okay, rant over.
Now, listen. I know you're asking yourself, "Aleesha, why the hell did you finish this book if the first half was so godawful for you?" (Good question!)
It wasn't easy. I'll admit that. I thought the first half of this book was going to give me an aneurysm.
I held out HOPING that there'd be an "Oh shit, I was wrong" moment for Penny. I sadistically hoped there'd be a scene where she's forced to eat crow for being a runny shitstain of a human being. (As you already know, I didn't get this moment.)
But then, something kind of extraordinary happens. The sociopath with mommy/daddy issues GETS THERAPY. And we actually get to SEE her go to said therapy.
Color me surprised! Halfway through this story, I was ready to throw my Kindle into the Mariana Trench but this turn gave me a LITTLE bit of hope.
And for what it's worth, the sessions we do sit in on with Penny are productive and feel accurate. I think her therapist is a GOOD therapist, forcing her to confront her issues with her controlling mother and her insecurities about dating that stem from her cheating dad. I also think it's good that we get to see Penny actively begin applying the things she learns in therapy to her real life. She finally stands up to her mom and sets boundaries. She learns her worth and stands up to her boss to request a raise. These are GOOD things. They were genuinely good to see.
Grudgingly, I'll also admit that Penny's portrayal of therapy and the time it takes to actually re-train one's brain away from negative thoughts and actions was probably accurate. She still makes mistakes. She uses the tools she's gathered and the lingo she's learned incorrectly sometimes. She even uses being in therapy as an excuse to not be with Jack for a while.
Just. Eh. Once again, an interesting story concept obliterated by an insufferable FMC. I wish more authors actually LIKED women. I'm tired of reading about the absolute WORST of us. This is more like 1.5 stars, but I won't have anybody thinking I gave this 2 stars on GR, so -
June 12, 2026
This was so funny - I loved the banter and the things that came out of Jack and Pennys mouths had me both cringing and laughing! The slow burn was tortuous but I loved them together. So sad that Avery got shafted - he was my favorite side character. But I loved how Penny finally stood up to her mom and how Jack really fell hard for her. Love!
July 24, 2026
3.5/5
Cute overall!!!
I think rom-coms are hard for me when the antics are so outlandish or trivial...
FMC's mom is triggering, and honestly so is our people pleasing FMC... Girl, how have you made it so far with out a backbone?? You live in NYC!?
Alas, I did enjoy her therapy journey. It was nice to see the revelations she had not only in her personal life, but also in her career as she started standing up for herself at work.(her boss sucked)
Now, was this technically a 3rd act breakup if they were just getting started? IDK. Logistics, I guess. But still. ANNOYED.
Cute overall!!!
I think rom-coms are hard for me when the antics are so outlandish or trivial...
FMC's mom is triggering, and honestly so is our people pleasing FMC... Girl, how have you made it so far with out a backbone?? You live in NYC!?
Alas, I did enjoy her therapy journey. It was nice to see the revelations she had not only in her personal life, but also in her career as she started standing up for herself at work.(her boss sucked)
Now, was this technically a 3rd act breakup if they were just getting started? IDK. Logistics, I guess. But still. ANNOYED.
June 13, 2026
Rating: 4.5/5
If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud romance that has the banter that Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant had, then Not Good Neighbors is the book for you. I actually hurt my nose because I snort-laughed so hard at one point.
Penny has disliked Jack since he moved in. They are the epitome of grumpy x sunshine and go tit for tat with everything. Even their WiFi password conveys that. “Penny For Your Thoughts” x “Dollar to go away”. When Penny accidentally makes a large hole in their shared wall, the result gives them a peek into each other’s lives. But not without a ton of havoc, humor, and sneaking around.
Not Good Neighbors was so much fun to read. There was so much more to Penny because of her relationship with her mother. I liked how that evolved as well. Penny and Jack were great together.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Author Violet Lumani for the gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud romance that has the banter that Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant had, then Not Good Neighbors is the book for you. I actually hurt my nose because I snort-laughed so hard at one point.
Penny has disliked Jack since he moved in. They are the epitome of grumpy x sunshine and go tit for tat with everything. Even their WiFi password conveys that. “Penny For Your Thoughts” x “Dollar to go away”. When Penny accidentally makes a large hole in their shared wall, the result gives them a peek into each other’s lives. But not without a ton of havoc, humor, and sneaking around.
Not Good Neighbors was so much fun to read. There was so much more to Penny because of her relationship with her mother. I liked how that evolved as well. Penny and Jack were great together.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Author Violet Lumani for the gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 27, 2026
Laugh out loud good time. The banter between Penny and Jack was perfect. Of course a serious misinterpreted moment thrusted them into this back and forth game of who can piss of the next best. This played out like the very best romcom movie. I do have to say I truly liked the fact that Violet made a point to emphasize that getting therapy isnt a bad thing, that recognizing that generational "trauma" is a thing, but its ok to work on yourself. Loved it.
June 11, 2026
I have had an absolute blast reading this rom com. I've laughed so much I especially loved the references the author made to twilight, Big Bang, and the Hunger Games lol and the glitter in the shampoo absolutely hilarious 😂 the fmc internal dialog is soo funny, I highly, highly, highly recommend this book if you wanna have a good time reading oh, and banter is off the charts, and Lucas verses the hole, amazing and hilarious
June 27, 2026
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I’m disappointed they didn’t elaborate more on Jack’s trauma. I wish we’d gotten more scenes of him opening up to Penny they really missed an opportunity to deepen their connection. By the end of the book, it became very clear that Penny wasn’t in the right state to be in a relationship, so I think a time skip would’ve worked much better. Anyways, it was still a fun read .
I’m disappointed they didn’t elaborate more on Jack’s trauma. I wish we’d gotten more scenes of him opening up to Penny they really missed an opportunity to deepen their connection. By the end of the book, it became very clear that Penny wasn’t in the right state to be in a relationship, so I think a time skip would’ve worked much better. Anyways, it was still a fun read .
May 22, 2026
This book gave me all the feels!!
Penny lives in a. NYC apartment and works in Marketing. Her neighbor Jack in a lawyer. 5A an 5B do not get along and that is putting it lightly. They are constantly at odds throughout with what i would say is childish pranks or ways to one up the other. But everyone can see what they are so blind to from the very beginning.
I honestly wasn’t sure how i would feel about this book. It is my first rom-com and now every one after has something to live up to. I enjoyed the wit and the painter between the whole bunch of characters. Margies inability to let her inner thoughts settle. Avery and his boyish charm and so many others that i feel helped to push the plot forward. I also greatly loved the use of mental health and the character digging deep to find out the cause of why is the way she is. I loved that the author her actually dealing with her issues and not “curing” Penny automatically. Keeping it a realistic with the growing pains of therapy. The familial aspect between Penny and her mom, Jack and his sister and Averys family was interesting as well. It shows how your environment has such a huge impact on how you turn out. There was also the nuance presented that just because it looks golden on the outside doesnt mean there was a lack of struggle before, during and after. I had such big feels reading this. And I enjoyed every bit of it.
Thank you entangled publishing for the chance to read this ARC. #NotGoodNeighbors #NetGalley.
Penny lives in a. NYC apartment and works in Marketing. Her neighbor Jack in a lawyer. 5A an 5B do not get along and that is putting it lightly. They are constantly at odds throughout with what i would say is childish pranks or ways to one up the other. But everyone can see what they are so blind to from the very beginning.
I honestly wasn’t sure how i would feel about this book. It is my first rom-com and now every one after has something to live up to. I enjoyed the wit and the painter between the whole bunch of characters. Margies inability to let her inner thoughts settle. Avery and his boyish charm and so many others that i feel helped to push the plot forward. I also greatly loved the use of mental health and the character digging deep to find out the cause of why is the way she is. I loved that the author her actually dealing with her issues and not “curing” Penny automatically. Keeping it a realistic with the growing pains of therapy. The familial aspect between Penny and her mom, Jack and his sister and Averys family was interesting as well. It shows how your environment has such a huge impact on how you turn out. There was also the nuance presented that just because it looks golden on the outside doesnt mean there was a lack of struggle before, during and after. I had such big feels reading this. And I enjoyed every bit of it.
Thank you entangled publishing for the chance to read this ARC. #NotGoodNeighbors #NetGalley.
May 21, 2026
This was absolutely hilarious and entertaining from start to finish! It had me laughing so many times throughout. The characters were chaotic in the best way possible and completely kept me turning the pages. The banter was witty, the tension was so good, and the character dynamics made this story incredibly fun and addictive. I can’t wait for the audio to release, I’m definitely going to give it a listen! If you love funny romances with entertaining characters, nonstop chemistry, and laugh-out-loud moments, this one is definitely worth picking up!
Thank you so much to the author Violet Lumani, Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early before release.
Thank you so much to the author Violet Lumani, Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early before release.
June 24, 2026
DNF. I really need to remember that pretty covers and sprayed edges do not necessarily equal a good book. Penny is annoying from the first page: I seriously questioned if she was a teenager someone gave an apartment to. The getting hammered on a work night was the last straw for me. I couldn’t handle an entire book of ONLY Penny’s POV.
May 21, 2026
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for this ARC!
This was such a laugh out loud but also emotionally rewarding? I was so very impressed with how these characters bantered back and forth but also saw their flaws and chose to work on them by going to therapy and actually talking to each other. We meet Penny who finds out she could lose her apartment in NYC if she doesn’t buy it. Of course the craziness ensues and she is left with scrambling to get a raise at her marketing job and also hope her hot rival neighbor doesn’t try to buy her apartment out from under her. Jack is the man who only seems to want to make Penny’s life more difficult when a trues is called after a giant hole ends up in the wall between their apartments. The witty banter had me cackling out loud. Jack and penny really knew how to get to each other and it was hilarious. Penny struggled with overcoming her need to people please with therapy had me so proud! If you need a funny and endearing romcom then this one is it. You’ll find witty banter, forced proximity, rivals to lovers, and therapy rep, which I definitely recommend!
This was such a laugh out loud but also emotionally rewarding? I was so very impressed with how these characters bantered back and forth but also saw their flaws and chose to work on them by going to therapy and actually talking to each other. We meet Penny who finds out she could lose her apartment in NYC if she doesn’t buy it. Of course the craziness ensues and she is left with scrambling to get a raise at her marketing job and also hope her hot rival neighbor doesn’t try to buy her apartment out from under her. Jack is the man who only seems to want to make Penny’s life more difficult when a trues is called after a giant hole ends up in the wall between their apartments. The witty banter had me cackling out loud. Jack and penny really knew how to get to each other and it was hilarious. Penny struggled with overcoming her need to people please with therapy had me so proud! If you need a funny and endearing romcom then this one is it. You’ll find witty banter, forced proximity, rivals to lovers, and therapy rep, which I definitely recommend!
July 15, 2026
Not Good Neighbors gave me the enemies-to-lovers NYC romcom I wanted as a summer read. Penny wants to read her romance books in peace, while her neighbor Jack is determined to drive her crazy. Their neighbor war, banter, and Jack’s sexy dimples made this a fun read.
I also love romcoms set in NYC because I can picture the city as I’m reading. Bonus points when I find places I want to explore on the days I’m in the office.
What I enjoyed unfolding was Penny’s growth outside of the romance. She starts recognizing her relationship patterns and learning to set boundaries before jumping into something new. I identified with her struggle to set boundaries with her mom. When you know how much a parent sacrificed to give you a good childhood, saying no sometimes feels like you’re being ungrateful.
Penny’s story explores something I think a lot of us struggle with: how do you love people without making yourself smaller to keep them happy?
I loved that Jack supported Penny working through her issues and was willing to take things slow. Underneath the neighbor wars and witty banter, this is a story about choosing love while learning to choose yourself too.
Also, the Kool-Aid Man scene made me laugh out loud. 😂
Read this if you love:
- Enemies to lovers
- Neighbors to lovers
- Slow burn
- Banter
- NYC romcoms
💕 Secretly supportive MMC
- Complicated mother-daughter relationships
I also love romcoms set in NYC because I can picture the city as I’m reading. Bonus points when I find places I want to explore on the days I’m in the office.
What I enjoyed unfolding was Penny’s growth outside of the romance. She starts recognizing her relationship patterns and learning to set boundaries before jumping into something new. I identified with her struggle to set boundaries with her mom. When you know how much a parent sacrificed to give you a good childhood, saying no sometimes feels like you’re being ungrateful.
Penny’s story explores something I think a lot of us struggle with: how do you love people without making yourself smaller to keep them happy?
I loved that Jack supported Penny working through her issues and was willing to take things slow. Underneath the neighbor wars and witty banter, this is a story about choosing love while learning to choose yourself too.
Also, the Kool-Aid Man scene made me laugh out loud. 😂
Read this if you love:
- Enemies to lovers
- Neighbors to lovers
- Slow burn
- Banter
- NYC romcoms
💕 Secretly supportive MMC
- Complicated mother-daughter relationships
May 25, 2026
This was such a fun, feel good book! It had me laughing and just loving the banter between these characters! I loved the emotional aspects thrown into this story as well!
This is definitely enemies to lovers vibes with all the witty comebacks, pranks, tension, and just total chaos between Jack & Penny. These two are both so lovable and I love the character growth that comes with their story!!
This book also has some amazing family & friend dynamics, that just pulled me in and kept me loving so many of these characters! If you’re looking for a fun, easy read, with humor and emotional depth, this is the perfect one! I was cackling, swooning, and just loving it all the way through!
Thank you entangled & NetGalley for this early copy!!
This is definitely enemies to lovers vibes with all the witty comebacks, pranks, tension, and just total chaos between Jack & Penny. These two are both so lovable and I love the character growth that comes with their story!!
This book also has some amazing family & friend dynamics, that just pulled me in and kept me loving so many of these characters! If you’re looking for a fun, easy read, with humor and emotional depth, this is the perfect one! I was cackling, swooning, and just loving it all the way through!
Thank you entangled & NetGalley for this early copy!!
June 22, 2026
A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy set in NYC! A fast-paced and fun read to get you out of any reading slump! Not Good Neighbors has a lot of heart. It's a story between two neighbors, Penny and Jack, who share a wall and who both hate each other. Their banter is very funny and all the hijinks they do to get back at each other are ridiculous! An apartment mishap causes a hole in their shared wall, forcing them to be in each other's presence and forcing them to work together to fix the hole or face possible eviction. With their constant interactions, they get a better understanding of each other and realize the other is not really so bad. Sparks fly and their love connection is unavoidable. Be prepared to laugh a lot when you read this! There's also a very good supporting cast of characters that add to the laughs as well. Enjoyed this read and would recommend to anyone who wants a good laugh and light read! Thank you so much Entangled publishing, Amara, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
July 11, 2026
This was a solid debut, I think it just didn’t connect with me as strongly as I wanted. Neighbors is one of my favorite tropes so I did enjoy the set up. However, Penny was a hot mess and while she did have some good character growth, it took too long to get there. The entire first half I was struggling to connect with or care about her, but things did get better in the second half after she started going to therapy. And while I usually prefer single POV romance, I actually would’ve liked a couple chapters from Jack’s POV just so that we could better understand him (and also why he had any interest in Penny after some of her kinda cruel pranks).
I did like this much more by the end compared to the beginning, and also a big thank you to Entangled for sending me a finished copy for review.
I did like this much more by the end compared to the beginning, and also a big thank you to Entangled for sending me a finished copy for review.
June 14, 2026
I LOVE a book where you just fall in love with the characters and smile at their dialogue. This is THAT book. I read it so quickly that I am saddened for it to be over. This author is definitely one to remember. Violet Lumani's character development and amusing banter completely won me over. I cannot wait to read more of her books.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this ARC.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this ARC.
June 15, 2026
Thank you to the author and Entangled for the gifted copy. I loved the book club!
“Although I’m not sure if I know how to be normal around you. Antagonizing you is like muscle memory at this point.”
I read this one as a book club choice and thought it was pretty entertaining. The pranks between these two neighbors were absolutely insane and the thought of someone rubbing their cat all over (the neighbor has an allergy) probably will live rent free in my head for years.
Vibes: HGTV DIY meets Bravo
Tropes:
Neighbors
Forced Proximity
Miscommunication
Prank War
Enemies to Lovers
“Although I’m not sure if I know how to be normal around you. Antagonizing you is like muscle memory at this point.”
I read this one as a book club choice and thought it was pretty entertaining. The pranks between these two neighbors were absolutely insane and the thought of someone rubbing their cat all over (the neighbor has an allergy) probably will live rent free in my head for years.
Vibes: HGTV DIY meets Bravo
Tropes:
Neighbors
Forced Proximity
Miscommunication
Prank War
Enemies to Lovers
May 30, 2026
First off thanks to Entangled for the early copy of this book. This romcom was lol funny at times. The banter and shenanigans between Jack and Penny was entertaining and left you wondering what they were going to do each other next. The hate was full of heat that eventually gave way to love.
June 12, 2026
After reading this book, I would like to tear down a wall to see what sort of sexy, protective man is on the other side. I hope it's Jack. I hope he helps me rebuild the hole and then nails me against the newly sturdy surface...
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tension: ⚡️⚡️⚡️
Prose: 🖋️🖋️🖋️🖋️
This RomCom by Violet Lumani hooked me from the first page with witty banter, hot chemistry, and a journey from childish pranks to emotional healing.
Penny and Jack don't have much in common except their shared, poorly soundproofed wall in NYC. And mutual disdain. And awareness of how physically attractive their neighbor is... These elements build the perfect foundation for lingering glances, banter that builds chemistry, and thick, slowburn tension.
When Penny knocks a hole into the wall, she has to fix it or lose the NYC apartment she's turned into her home. The Hole leads to tricks (glitter, bird poop, unscrewed cabinet doors), reluctant collaboration (after all, The Hole will be fixed much more quickly if they work together), and a feeling Penny suddenly can't escape, that maybe she's growing fond of that glimpse into Jack's apartment and his heart.
No matter how much Penny acknowledges her attraction to Jack at the same time she resists him, he's right there fighting for her, protecting her, and challenging her.
This book has emotional depth, humor, and well-written tension. I can't wait to read this author's next books!
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tension: ⚡️⚡️⚡️
Prose: 🖋️🖋️🖋️🖋️
This RomCom by Violet Lumani hooked me from the first page with witty banter, hot chemistry, and a journey from childish pranks to emotional healing.
Penny and Jack don't have much in common except their shared, poorly soundproofed wall in NYC. And mutual disdain. And awareness of how physically attractive their neighbor is... These elements build the perfect foundation for lingering glances, banter that builds chemistry, and thick, slowburn tension.
When Penny knocks a hole into the wall, she has to fix it or lose the NYC apartment she's turned into her home. The Hole leads to tricks (glitter, bird poop, unscrewed cabinet doors), reluctant collaboration (after all, The Hole will be fixed much more quickly if they work together), and a feeling Penny suddenly can't escape, that maybe she's growing fond of that glimpse into Jack's apartment and his heart.
No matter how much Penny acknowledges her attraction to Jack at the same time she resists him, he's right there fighting for her, protecting her, and challenging her.
This book has emotional depth, humor, and well-written tension. I can't wait to read this author's next books!
June 14, 2026
This was just a lighthearted good time! Lots of laughs and banter with tension and slow burn added in.
June 19, 2026
I really enjoyed this!!! Fun quick cute read
June 14, 2026
I would like to thank Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I am giving this book five stars because of the relationship between Penny and her mom. I love a character with a complicated parental relationship. Lumani does a really good job capturing the ability to love a parent but really need them to change their behavior.
This story overall is a really cute enemies/dislikers to lovers. With the bickering between the two main characters and the internal bickering that we get to see. This book is filled with hilarious quotes that had me devouring this book. I was supposed to buddy read this and I 100% read ahead because i just couldn't put this book down.
Not good neighbors was also another book that the ending had be screaming at the pages that I needed them to make different decisions at the sake of me the reader.
The only thing I wished from this book was to get some more depth for the side characters but it doesn't disrupt from the story.
I am giving this book five stars because of the relationship between Penny and her mom. I love a character with a complicated parental relationship. Lumani does a really good job capturing the ability to love a parent but really need them to change their behavior.
This story overall is a really cute enemies/dislikers to lovers. With the bickering between the two main characters and the internal bickering that we get to see. This book is filled with hilarious quotes that had me devouring this book. I was supposed to buddy read this and I 100% read ahead because i just couldn't put this book down.
Not good neighbors was also another book that the ending had be screaming at the pages that I needed them to make different decisions at the sake of me the reader.
The only thing I wished from this book was to get some more depth for the side characters but it doesn't disrupt from the story.
July 21, 2026
I like this one. Easy read! Kept me interested. No big twists but def a rom- com book!
July 27, 2026
“If you don’t love, you can’t get betrayed. You never have to experience things getting difficult and watching someone choose to leave instead of working through things with you.”
oh my goodness!! i loved this book so much it was actually amazing. it’s only four stars because it was lowkey really freaky and i don’t really like that stuff but other than that it was super good i 10000% recommend 💞
oh my goodness!! i loved this book so much it was actually amazing. it’s only four stars because it was lowkey really freaky and i don’t really like that stuff but other than that it was super good i 10000% recommend 💞
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