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The Girl Next Door
Everyone deserves a happily ever after, that's why Jenna Murphy is fiercely proud of her romance-only bookstore, BookLove. With her pets by her side, she’s content in her neat life, convinced that one day she'll find her person. Jenna helps Grandma with her groceries, runs the library’s used book sale, and hands out water to the runners in the local 5K race. What's not to love?
Sawyer Hall, a sharp-witted book blogger, has gained a reputation for her brutally honest takes. Fresh from a messy breakup, her posts have grown...snarkier than usual, and when she stumbles into Jenna's charming bookstore filled with “sappy fluff,” she doesn’t exactly hold back.
Sawyer's suggestion that romance novels peddle unattainable dreams to the sad and lonely makes Jenna absolutely livid. But fate has a twisted sense of humor because a new neighbor is moving into the other half of Jenna’s duplex and it's Sawyer Hall, because, of course it is. And Sawyer is gorgeous. And funny. And sort of makes Jenna swoon. So annoying.
A witty, heartwarming enemies to lovers romance about falling for the girl next door that proves the best stories are the ones with endings we never see coming.
Sawyer Hall, a sharp-witted book blogger, has gained a reputation for her brutally honest takes. Fresh from a messy breakup, her posts have grown...snarkier than usual, and when she stumbles into Jenna's charming bookstore filled with “sappy fluff,” she doesn’t exactly hold back.
Sawyer's suggestion that romance novels peddle unattainable dreams to the sad and lonely makes Jenna absolutely livid. But fate has a twisted sense of humor because a new neighbor is moving into the other half of Jenna’s duplex and it's Sawyer Hall, because, of course it is. And Sawyer is gorgeous. And funny. And sort of makes Jenna swoon. So annoying.
A witty, heartwarming enemies to lovers romance about falling for the girl next door that proves the best stories are the ones with endings we never see coming.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2026
About the author
Georgia Beers
192 books1,545 followersLambda and Golden Crown Literary Award-winning author Georgia Beers lives in Rochester, New York. She has been writing for as long as she can remember, and published her first lesbian novel in 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
March 30, 2026
3.5⭐️ Rounded Up
This is your very typical “girl meets girl next door” trope (hence the name) but I expected just a biiiit more originality.
The main characters were easy to love. It’s always so relieving when one of the MCs isn’t lowkey a jerk at some point in the book. They both had flaws (while pretty minimal), but they were both good people with good morals. It’s kind of surprising when you get that, it seems more rare.
Sawyer and Jenna’s feelings for each other read so well, it FELT real (and the explicit scenes? a fun bonus). You can easily feel the connection between the two.
Where I think it lacked a bit was in the build up itself, since there wasn’t really one. It in turn seemed slow at times because there wasn’t really anything going on. Even the whole reason they “didn’t like each other” was so short lived it ended up being a forgetful detail. It seemed like that should’ve gone on longer and the rivalry trope should’ve been bigger, in my opinion.
It’s overall a classic, cute, romance book. It just turned out to be a bit of a typical one. A solid read nonetheless!
Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes for an ARC!
This is your very typical “girl meets girl next door” trope (hence the name) but I expected just a biiiit more originality.
The main characters were easy to love. It’s always so relieving when one of the MCs isn’t lowkey a jerk at some point in the book. They both had flaws (while pretty minimal), but they were both good people with good morals. It’s kind of surprising when you get that, it seems more rare.
Sawyer and Jenna’s feelings for each other read so well, it FELT real (and the explicit scenes? a fun bonus). You can easily feel the connection between the two.
Where I think it lacked a bit was in the build up itself, since there wasn’t really one. It in turn seemed slow at times because there wasn’t really anything going on. Even the whole reason they “didn’t like each other” was so short lived it ended up being a forgetful detail. It seemed like that should’ve gone on longer and the rivalry trope should’ve been bigger, in my opinion.
It’s overall a classic, cute, romance book. It just turned out to be a bit of a typical one. A solid read nonetheless!
Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes for an ARC!
April 30, 2026
🏡💛 The Girl Next Door 💛🏡
One of my favorites from this author! Georgia Beers really knows how to write sapphic romance. Every time I pick up one of her books, the writing style just feels instantly comforting. She’s a forever auto buy author for me.
This one leans low angst and sweet. I really enjoyed both FMCs, even if Sawyer had me side-eyeing her a bit at the start with her takes on romance books 🤣
📖 What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Enemies to lovers
• Bookstore setting
• Book blogger FMC
• Bookstore owner FMC
• Forced proximity
• Post-breakup healing
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: April 14, 2026
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
One of my favorites from this author! Georgia Beers really knows how to write sapphic romance. Every time I pick up one of her books, the writing style just feels instantly comforting. She’s a forever auto buy author for me.
This one leans low angst and sweet. I really enjoyed both FMCs, even if Sawyer had me side-eyeing her a bit at the start with her takes on romance books 🤣
📖 What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Enemies to lovers
• Bookstore setting
• Book blogger FMC
• Bookstore owner FMC
• Forced proximity
• Post-breakup healing
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: April 14, 2026
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
March 25, 2026
This was a good read, predictable and enjoyable. Which according to Mc- Jenna, this is what romantic books are vs supposed to be about. Jenna, owns a small book store just sells romance books Sawyer is a technical writer and has a book review blog with 30000 followers. She writes a negative review on Jenna’s book store which starts them off as enemies.
Jenna was the traditional girl next door with a really cute dog. She’s a happy person despite a non supportive family. Sawyer is totally down on romance since her ex was a total user. But ……. They eventually get over their bad start and the rest is pure romance.
Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Jenna was the traditional girl next door with a really cute dog. She’s a happy person despite a non supportive family. Sawyer is totally down on romance since her ex was a total user. But ……. They eventually get over their bad start and the rest is pure romance.
Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read and review this ARC.
April 15, 2026
I like Georgia Beers novels……some I even love. This one felt immediately like a good one! Both characters introduced….. wee bit of back story. Bit of conflict, bit of attraction…… whole lot of popcorn reading incoming!
Half way through and I am loving this easy read. The banter is amusing but not exhausting, the pace is good and I am enjoying this escapism to a world that seems populated with real people.....real but good! There is a tiny bit of me wondering how with no real drama or tension pace is maintained. I thought there needed to be tension but I am actually just enjoying seeing the relationship develop. Really enjoying it! I continued enjoying the whole book. There is minimal angst and a lot of humour. 4.5 rounded up because this was a light but satisfying read.
Half way through and I am loving this easy read. The banter is amusing but not exhausting, the pace is good and I am enjoying this escapism to a world that seems populated with real people.....real but good! There is a tiny bit of me wondering how with no real drama or tension pace is maintained. I thought there needed to be tension but I am actually just enjoying seeing the relationship develop. Really enjoying it! I continued enjoying the whole book. There is minimal angst and a lot of humour. 4.5 rounded up because this was a light but satisfying read.
April 3, 2026
Jenna Murphy is the owner of Booklove, a romance-only bookstore. Sawyer Hall, a book blogger, moved in next door. They start off on the wrong foot when Sawyer wrote a negative blog post about Jenna’s bookstore. However, the book didn’t focus too much about that and the two got along very well quite soon after the misunderstanding was cleared up.
This was a lovely low angst, feel good romance. I loved both main characters, especially Sawyer. She seems to have been hurt in the past and was a little cautious about finding love again. The side characters in this book truly added to it. I particularly liked Saywer’s family and Jenna’s friends, employees and pets.
A sweet romance that I thoroughly enjoyed!
I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This was a lovely low angst, feel good romance. I loved both main characters, especially Sawyer. She seems to have been hurt in the past and was a little cautious about finding love again. The side characters in this book truly added to it. I particularly liked Saywer’s family and Jenna’s friends, employees and pets.
A sweet romance that I thoroughly enjoyed!
I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
August 1, 2026
This was really cute! 3.5 rounded up. I feel like Georgia Beers is a solidly reliable romance author for me. Generally, her books don’t blow me away or become my new favorites, but I can almost always count on her to like both MCs, root for them, and have fleshed out secondary characters and have a good time while I’m reading. This goes into that category for me. A very fun and sweet time narrated by my fav, Lori Prince, who did a stellar performance. Pretty low angst and fun. Def rec!
June 2, 2026
A beautiful neighbors falling in love, love story! (You could almost say an enemies to lovers love story, but, that part is short lived.) Jenna Murphy owns a romance only bookstore in upstate NY. When Sawyer Hall stops in asking for anything other than romance. She leaves and gives a scathing review of the store on her blog. She's moved into a new duplex only to learn her new neighbor is the owner of the bookstore.
They both think the other is beautiful.
This is a sweet story! I really LOVE THIS BOOK! 5 stars!
They both think the other is beautiful.
This is a sweet story! I really LOVE THIS BOOK! 5 stars!
May 1, 2026
Jenna owns a tiny bookstore in upstate New York, one that only sells romance books. She lives a cosy and contented life in one side of a duplex house about ten minutes away, with her lovely little dog Arnold and two cats Wallace and Gromit.
Sawyer has just finished a long relationship with manipulative Amanda, and so is happy when she finds one half of a duplex to move into, close enough to her work as a technical writer, but as far from Amanda as possible. She also has no intention of telling Amanda where she is now living, because of her controlling and gaslighting ways. However, Amanda goes out of her way to find her.
One of Sawyer’s interests is reviewing books, which she does on her blog, followed by thirty thousand people. On a bad day when everything is getting to her, Sawyer visits the bookstore, only realising after entering that the only genre it sells is romance. Later, in a bad mood she writes negatively in the blog about the romance genre, and specifically about the small shop.
Another excellent story from Georgia Beers. I like almost everything written by her; every one of her stories is almost guaranteed to be sweet and cute, and this is no exception.
In the book, Jenna’s view on the Romance genre is exactly how I feel about it. Reading is an escape from real life, a way to get away from our imperfect lives into somebody else’s imperfect life, but into one that we know will have a happy ending - or at least a tolerable one. For me that is what makes a good romance. And Georgia Beers is an expert at that.
Sawyer has just finished a long relationship with manipulative Amanda, and so is happy when she finds one half of a duplex to move into, close enough to her work as a technical writer, but as far from Amanda as possible. She also has no intention of telling Amanda where she is now living, because of her controlling and gaslighting ways. However, Amanda goes out of her way to find her.
One of Sawyer’s interests is reviewing books, which she does on her blog, followed by thirty thousand people. On a bad day when everything is getting to her, Sawyer visits the bookstore, only realising after entering that the only genre it sells is romance. Later, in a bad mood she writes negatively in the blog about the romance genre, and specifically about the small shop.
Another excellent story from Georgia Beers. I like almost everything written by her; every one of her stories is almost guaranteed to be sweet and cute, and this is no exception.
In the book, Jenna’s view on the Romance genre is exactly how I feel about it. Reading is an escape from real life, a way to get away from our imperfect lives into somebody else’s imperfect life, but into one that we know will have a happy ending - or at least a tolerable one. For me that is what makes a good romance. And Georgia Beers is an expert at that.
April 4, 2026
A cute read to curl up and enjoy in Autumn.
A romance only book shop owner and a bookish blogger who does not believe in romance books.
The splash of enemies to lovers woven in with the insta love/forced proximity gave it a new little twist.
Also a bit of a slow burn as they navigate complex adult lives.
Both characters have baggage and complex lives, I think I personally related more to Jenna. Her navigating trying to learn work life balance boundaries when it comes to her work and having hobbies and a life that doesn’t change much once the romance starts made her a more relatable character. I went in thinking it would be Sawyer but the blog was something that was not centre stage for her and her story focused more on her relationships with those around her.
Would read again when the audiobook comes out.
A romance only book shop owner and a bookish blogger who does not believe in romance books.
The splash of enemies to lovers woven in with the insta love/forced proximity gave it a new little twist.
Also a bit of a slow burn as they navigate complex adult lives.
Both characters have baggage and complex lives, I think I personally related more to Jenna. Her navigating trying to learn work life balance boundaries when it comes to her work and having hobbies and a life that doesn’t change much once the romance starts made her a more relatable character. I went in thinking it would be Sawyer but the blog was something that was not centre stage for her and her story focused more on her relationships with those around her.
Would read again when the audiobook comes out.
April 24, 2026
When Sawyer moves to the other side of town—for reasons that remain somewhat unclear at first—she quite literally and figuratively clashes with Jenna. Their first meeting gets off to a rocky start, and to make matters worse, they end up as neighbors.
The story leans heavily into a slow-burn romance, but after their first time together, a vague miscommunication immediately cools things down between Jenna and Sawyer. From there, the awkwardness and slow-burn dynamic seem to reset all over again. I found this a bit hard to follow, as it didn’t feel like there was a real issue to justify the distance. Although some explanation is given later in the book, it still felt somewhat weak.
There are a few likable side characters, such as Sawyer’s enthusiastic mother. Jenna’s friends, Dakota and Veronica, make occasional appearances as well. However, they lack depth and mostly seem to show up only when Jenna needs someone to talk to. What struck me as odd is that they discuss Sawyer quite a bit without ever really getting to know her.
There’s also a minor subplot involving Sawyer’s ex that feels somewhat underdeveloped, and the same goes for the brief storyline surrounding Jenna’s parents.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, but far from Georgia Beers’ best work. It felt a bit too mellow overall, and I missed a sense of tension or emotional depth.
3.5 ⭐️
The story leans heavily into a slow-burn romance, but after their first time together, a vague miscommunication immediately cools things down between Jenna and Sawyer. From there, the awkwardness and slow-burn dynamic seem to reset all over again. I found this a bit hard to follow, as it didn’t feel like there was a real issue to justify the distance. Although some explanation is given later in the book, it still felt somewhat weak.
There are a few likable side characters, such as Sawyer’s enthusiastic mother. Jenna’s friends, Dakota and Veronica, make occasional appearances as well. However, they lack depth and mostly seem to show up only when Jenna needs someone to talk to. What struck me as odd is that they discuss Sawyer quite a bit without ever really getting to know her.
There’s also a minor subplot involving Sawyer’s ex that feels somewhat underdeveloped, and the same goes for the brief storyline surrounding Jenna’s parents.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, but far from Georgia Beers’ best work. It felt a bit too mellow overall, and I missed a sense of tension or emotional depth.
3.5 ⭐️
May 20, 2026
Cute.
Low stakes. Almost cozy.
Deffos not enemies to lovers...
Full review to come
Low stakes. Almost cozy.
Deffos not enemies to lovers...
Full review to come
April 20, 2026
୨୧ book title: the girl next door
୨୧ author: georgia beers
୨୧ publisher: bold strokes books
୨୧ my rating: ☆☆☆☆ (3.75 rounded up)
୨୧ my review:
the girl next door follows jenna, the proud owner of a romance-only bookstore, and sawyer, a brutally honest (and slightly jaded) book blogger who definitely does not believe in happily ever afters. when sawyer openly criticizes romance novels—and jenna’s entire livelihood—it immediately sparks tension between them. which would already be messy enough… except then sawyer moves in next door. like, literally next door (close proximity hallelujah)
i truly loved the warm, cozy vibes. felt like i was watching an episode of gilmore girls but with sapphics. the banter is sharp and there’s this underlying layer of “you fundamentally disagree with everything i believe in… so why am i so drawn to you?”
i will say though that the book is pretty slow to start, but if you love slow burns, then this shouldn't be an issue. slow burns are not often my favorite pick (which is why my rating is a little lower), but i still enjoyed the book nonetheless and the coziness of it.
jenna was such an easy character to root for. her love for romance novels and belief in happy endings felt really genuine, which made sawyer’s cynicism hit even harder. and sawyer… whew. she’s definitely rough around the edges at first but grows on you as you read on.
overall: if you love slow burn enemies-to-lovers romances with strong banter and small town settings, this one’s definitely worth picking up.
thank you to netgalley, georgia beers, and bold strokes books for providing me with an advanced reader copy of the girl next door in exchange for my honest review.
୨୧ core tropes/character dynamics:
* enemies to lovers
* neighbors to lovers
* forced proximity
* slow burn
* grumpy x sunshine
* bookish romance
* sapphic
୨୧ hashtags: #thegirlnextdoor #georgiabeers #boldstrokesbooks
୨୧ my rating: ☆☆☆☆ (3.75 rounded up)
୨୧ my review:
the girl next door follows jenna, the proud owner of a romance-only bookstore, and sawyer, a brutally honest (and slightly jaded) book blogger who definitely does not believe in happily ever afters. when sawyer openly criticizes romance novels—and jenna’s entire livelihood—it immediately sparks tension between them. which would already be messy enough… except then sawyer moves in next door. like, literally next door (close proximity hallelujah)
i truly loved the warm, cozy vibes. felt like i was watching an episode of gilmore girls but with sapphics. the banter is sharp and there’s this underlying layer of “you fundamentally disagree with everything i believe in… so why am i so drawn to you?”
i will say though that the book is pretty slow to start, but if you love slow burns, then this shouldn't be an issue. slow burns are not often my favorite pick (which is why my rating is a little lower), but i still enjoyed the book nonetheless and the coziness of it.
jenna was such an easy character to root for. her love for romance novels and belief in happy endings felt really genuine, which made sawyer’s cynicism hit even harder. and sawyer… whew. she’s definitely rough around the edges at first but grows on you as you read on.
overall: if you love slow burn enemies-to-lovers romances with strong banter and small town settings, this one’s definitely worth picking up.
thank you to netgalley, georgia beers, and bold strokes books for providing me with an advanced reader copy of the girl next door in exchange for my honest review.
୨୧ core tropes/character dynamics:
* enemies to lovers
* neighbors to lovers
* forced proximity
* slow burn
* grumpy x sunshine
* bookish romance
* sapphic
୨୧ hashtags: #thegirlnextdoor #georgiabeers #boldstrokesbooks
April 21, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The Girl Next Door” is, a sapphic romance based (unsurprisingly) on the “girl next door” trope.
I loved both of the MC’s, Sawyer & Jenna. Neither were perfect, but they were kind and good, what more can you ask for!
I was expecting more of the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope, but the ‘enemies’ part didn’t really last long. I’m a big enemies to lovers fan so I thought that was a shame.
I’ve spoken a lot about how much I HATE the miscommunication trope, so I was very pleased with how this book really championed good communication in relationships. More of that pls.
This was very very cute and one I would definitely recommend! 🤍
May 28, 2026
Boy, do I have feelings about this book!
No one is more surprised than me to see a decent 4 stars go to an almost 1 star by 60% because of writing decisions that are dangerous to perpetuate and we should not see in the god damn 2026!
The Girl Next Door brings you 2 characters that are perfect for each other. But are a bit too stubborn to admit it.
Jenna is the proud owner of a romance bookshop, while Sawyer has a side gig as a book blogger and might have strong negative feelings about Jenna’s bookshop.
When Sawyer moves next door and has to interact more with the cute neighbor, she starts to think that maybe not all romances end up in heartbreak, maybe this romance genre has some truth to it. It really helps when even your mother likes your neighbor.
While enjoyable, I do have to admit that the book felt at times a bit superficial and I didn’t feel the push and pull it wanted to give.
But this is not what almost made me DNF it. The next issues might be considered spoilers but I feel they are important motives in considering reading this book.
I really wish more care was put into this story.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review!
No one is more surprised than me to see a decent 4 stars go to an almost 1 star by 60% because of writing decisions that are dangerous to perpetuate and we should not see in the god damn 2026!
The Girl Next Door brings you 2 characters that are perfect for each other. But are a bit too stubborn to admit it.
Jenna is the proud owner of a romance bookshop, while Sawyer has a side gig as a book blogger and might have strong negative feelings about Jenna’s bookshop.
When Sawyer moves next door and has to interact more with the cute neighbor, she starts to think that maybe not all romances end up in heartbreak, maybe this romance genre has some truth to it. It really helps when even your mother likes your neighbor.
While enjoyable, I do have to admit that the book felt at times a bit superficial and I didn’t feel the push and pull it wanted to give.
But this is not what almost made me DNF it. The next issues might be considered spoilers but I feel they are important motives in considering reading this book.
I really wish more care was put into this story.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review!
April 14, 2026
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Jenna a is content with life she owns a bookstore called Booklove she loves romance and knows she’ll find it one day herself. Swayer is book blogger who known for being blunt but honest is dealing with a messy breakup when she stumbles into Jenna bookstore and is annoyed that it’s all about love and romance and decides to give the store a nasty review. Jenna is piss but life is funny when Swayer becomes her new neighbor in the duplex she living at. Jenna and Swayer start to get know each other beyond their assumptions of the other the tensions between them was good that turn into something beautiful I like that their relationship grew through small interactions like sitting on porch having conversations enjoy the side characters that help the story along overall a good romance.
Jenna a is content with life she owns a bookstore called Booklove she loves romance and knows she’ll find it one day herself. Swayer is book blogger who known for being blunt but honest is dealing with a messy breakup when she stumbles into Jenna bookstore and is annoyed that it’s all about love and romance and decides to give the store a nasty review. Jenna is piss but life is funny when Swayer becomes her new neighbor in the duplex she living at. Jenna and Swayer start to get know each other beyond their assumptions of the other the tensions between them was good that turn into something beautiful I like that their relationship grew through small interactions like sitting on porch having conversations enjoy the side characters that help the story along overall a good romance.
April 16, 2026
I picked this book up on a whim on release day cause I had seen a few posts about it on instagram. And I am so glad I did.
Jenna is the proud owner of Booklove, a romance only book store, and the pet parent to 2 cats and an adorable old dog who adores people. Her life is pretty great all things considered. She's got a great found family, and she loves being a bookstore owner. But when Sawyer moves into the other half of her cozy duplex they get off on the wrong foot. Sawyer is a technical writer by day and a book reviewer/ blogger by night, who is a little jaded to love due to a recent breakup. She writes a negative blog post about Booklove which, understandably, upsets Jenna more than a little. How dare Sawyer reduce her passion for romance novels to peddling fluff to the sad and lonely! Romance novels are so much more than that.
Jenna and Sawyer both had their baggage that they had to work through but it wasn't dramatically so. I found myself relating a lot to Sawyer as she healed from her toxic ex and was just trying to figure out what she wanted. But also to Jenna in her love of books, knowing her trade and authentic care for others and her pets. I got invested into this book and it's characters very quickly and read this book almost entirely in one sitting.
All of the characters felt very realistic to me and I feel like I've known some version of all of them. I also loved all of the side characters and the parts they played. They weren't just there to be there they all served a purpose and I would have loved to see even more of them. Jenna's friends and coworkers and Sawyer's mom and sister all make appearances in meaningful ways.
This is a girl next door but make it sapphic, enemies to lovers romance with a splash of forced proximity, angst and slow burn just from them both being adults with realistically full lives. It is as Jenna and Sawyer would say "formulaic" but with the purpose of creating a little world the reader can escape to, and it meets that purpose well. I could very easily picture every one of the scenes and their settings as well as the characters.
This book is a cozy little sapphic romance and I just loved it. A book about books with a couple of furry sidekicks will almost always get me and this one was a pleasant surprise as I went into it knowing very little. I really like the author's voice and writing style and I will be seeking out others from her.
Thank you to Netgalley, Bold Strokes and the author for the ARC.
Jenna is the proud owner of Booklove, a romance only book store, and the pet parent to 2 cats and an adorable old dog who adores people. Her life is pretty great all things considered. She's got a great found family, and she loves being a bookstore owner. But when Sawyer moves into the other half of her cozy duplex they get off on the wrong foot. Sawyer is a technical writer by day and a book reviewer/ blogger by night, who is a little jaded to love due to a recent breakup. She writes a negative blog post about Booklove which, understandably, upsets Jenna more than a little. How dare Sawyer reduce her passion for romance novels to peddling fluff to the sad and lonely! Romance novels are so much more than that.
Jenna and Sawyer both had their baggage that they had to work through but it wasn't dramatically so. I found myself relating a lot to Sawyer as she healed from her toxic ex and was just trying to figure out what she wanted. But also to Jenna in her love of books, knowing her trade and authentic care for others and her pets. I got invested into this book and it's characters very quickly and read this book almost entirely in one sitting.
All of the characters felt very realistic to me and I feel like I've known some version of all of them. I also loved all of the side characters and the parts they played. They weren't just there to be there they all served a purpose and I would have loved to see even more of them. Jenna's friends and coworkers and Sawyer's mom and sister all make appearances in meaningful ways.
This is a girl next door but make it sapphic, enemies to lovers romance with a splash of forced proximity, angst and slow burn just from them both being adults with realistically full lives. It is as Jenna and Sawyer would say "formulaic" but with the purpose of creating a little world the reader can escape to, and it meets that purpose well. I could very easily picture every one of the scenes and their settings as well as the characters.
This book is a cozy little sapphic romance and I just loved it. A book about books with a couple of furry sidekicks will almost always get me and this one was a pleasant surprise as I went into it knowing very little. I really like the author's voice and writing style and I will be seeking out others from her.
Thank you to Netgalley, Bold Strokes and the author for the ARC.
March 24, 2026
Review of advance reader copy received form Netgalley
I have read many sapphic romance novels, but none have made me as excited as this one.
It was really refreshing to read a book about two lesbians, without men involved or the storyline being about them coming out, just their love story. I found myself smiling at the screen more often than not, and the author did an amazing job at making you connect to the characters and wanting to know more about them. I found the story to be very cute, and easy to read and follow, enjoying both Jenna and Sawyers perspectives.
Definitely a must read for all the people that enjoy a good sapphic book with the perfect amount of spice!
I have read many sapphic romance novels, but none have made me as excited as this one.
It was really refreshing to read a book about two lesbians, without men involved or the storyline being about them coming out, just their love story. I found myself smiling at the screen more often than not, and the author did an amazing job at making you connect to the characters and wanting to know more about them. I found the story to be very cute, and easy to read and follow, enjoying both Jenna and Sawyers perspectives.
Definitely a must read for all the people that enjoy a good sapphic book with the perfect amount of spice!
July 30, 2026
3.5 Straightforward, alright couple, good enough chemistry but not my favorite by Beers.
June 25, 2026
A special thank you to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books and author Georgia Beers for this ARC. I am happy to share my honest review.
I was very excited to get my hands on an early copy of Georgia Beers’ latest book! The cute and inviting cover art captured my attention immediately. I am a sucker for an enemies to lovers story with a forced proximity kicker! The Girl Nextdoor was such a fun and entertaining read. I swear, my cheeks hurt every time I had to put the book down from smiling so much. This book is so charming and simply adorable.
Jenna runs an adorable romance bookstore and firmly believes in love and especially in happily ever after. She has dedicated her life to BookLove, her sweet bookstore which celebrates romance and embraces real love. Jenna is kind, generous and such a wonderful woman. With Jenna, what you see is what you get. Her entire life is built around the genuine belief that love is real, meaningful and worth the wait. Enter Sawyer, a book blogger who is very critical of the idea of true love. She is snarky, cold and pretty harsh in her critiques. Of course, Sawyer moves in right next door to Jenna…let the fireworks commence!
Jenna and Sawyer don't exactly get off on the right foot with Sawyer writing a pretty negative review of BookLove and basically undermining Jenna's life's work. There was definitely an enemies to lovers vibe early on but I didn't really feel the “enemies” tone so much as having very different views on love. But we can't forget that Sawyer is still feeling the remnants of a painful breakup and there's nothing to delusion someone more than a broken heart. I liked that the conflict in this book really means something. Sawyer doesn't just hate romance for the sake of it. She's hurt and can't believe in true love anymore. Jenna genuinely believes in lobe but Sawyer rattles her and challenges her core beliefs about romance. What begins is a very sweet love story that keeps me happily entertained. Their dynamic is feisty and cute. Their arguments about romance novels are really flirtation in disguise. THe forced proximity aspect is fabulous! It's a fun take on forced proximity with a believable twist because they really could become neighbors. Living next door leads to casual interactions that most definitely begin to blur the boundaries. The way they gradually fall for each other is great and done to perfection. Their relationship develops organically and believably. I preferred the gradual intimacy over rushed attraction and it made me root for Sawyer and Jenna whole heartedly. There are most certainly bumps and things fall apart but it's about how they pick up the pieces and rebuild that leads to a happy ending I could get behind.
The writing is light and accessible with humor and heart. Georgia Beers is fantastic and always delivers her unique voice which I enjoy a great deal. The characters are well developed and have so much depth. They are people that I would befriend and in the case of Jenna, develop a pretty hefty crush on. THe dialogue and emotion between Jenna and Sawyer is just fun to read. Beer's tone is soft and warm but doesn't shy away from the feisty interactions between our leading ladies. I just enjoyed their banter and the dynamic they developed. I felt like there was a ton of chemistry between Jenna and Sawyer and despite that they were written with such optimism and care. I loved them together.
The Girl Next Door was a great read with a delectable sapphic romance. This was witty, funny and simply sweet. We get a touch of e-nomics to lovers along with a healthy dose of forced proximity which all leads up to falling for the girl next door. If you are in the mood for a warm, optimistic sapphic romance that truly celebrities romance, this is for you!
I was very excited to get my hands on an early copy of Georgia Beers’ latest book! The cute and inviting cover art captured my attention immediately. I am a sucker for an enemies to lovers story with a forced proximity kicker! The Girl Nextdoor was such a fun and entertaining read. I swear, my cheeks hurt every time I had to put the book down from smiling so much. This book is so charming and simply adorable.
Jenna runs an adorable romance bookstore and firmly believes in love and especially in happily ever after. She has dedicated her life to BookLove, her sweet bookstore which celebrates romance and embraces real love. Jenna is kind, generous and such a wonderful woman. With Jenna, what you see is what you get. Her entire life is built around the genuine belief that love is real, meaningful and worth the wait. Enter Sawyer, a book blogger who is very critical of the idea of true love. She is snarky, cold and pretty harsh in her critiques. Of course, Sawyer moves in right next door to Jenna…let the fireworks commence!
Jenna and Sawyer don't exactly get off on the right foot with Sawyer writing a pretty negative review of BookLove and basically undermining Jenna's life's work. There was definitely an enemies to lovers vibe early on but I didn't really feel the “enemies” tone so much as having very different views on love. But we can't forget that Sawyer is still feeling the remnants of a painful breakup and there's nothing to delusion someone more than a broken heart. I liked that the conflict in this book really means something. Sawyer doesn't just hate romance for the sake of it. She's hurt and can't believe in true love anymore. Jenna genuinely believes in lobe but Sawyer rattles her and challenges her core beliefs about romance. What begins is a very sweet love story that keeps me happily entertained. Their dynamic is feisty and cute. Their arguments about romance novels are really flirtation in disguise. THe forced proximity aspect is fabulous! It's a fun take on forced proximity with a believable twist because they really could become neighbors. Living next door leads to casual interactions that most definitely begin to blur the boundaries. The way they gradually fall for each other is great and done to perfection. Their relationship develops organically and believably. I preferred the gradual intimacy over rushed attraction and it made me root for Sawyer and Jenna whole heartedly. There are most certainly bumps and things fall apart but it's about how they pick up the pieces and rebuild that leads to a happy ending I could get behind.
The writing is light and accessible with humor and heart. Georgia Beers is fantastic and always delivers her unique voice which I enjoy a great deal. The characters are well developed and have so much depth. They are people that I would befriend and in the case of Jenna, develop a pretty hefty crush on. THe dialogue and emotion between Jenna and Sawyer is just fun to read. Beer's tone is soft and warm but doesn't shy away from the feisty interactions between our leading ladies. I just enjoyed their banter and the dynamic they developed. I felt like there was a ton of chemistry between Jenna and Sawyer and despite that they were written with such optimism and care. I loved them together.
The Girl Next Door was a great read with a delectable sapphic romance. This was witty, funny and simply sweet. We get a touch of e-nomics to lovers along with a healthy dose of forced proximity which all leads up to falling for the girl next door. If you are in the mood for a warm, optimistic sapphic romance that truly celebrities romance, this is for you!
July 11, 2026
2.75?
Yawns and eye rolls. I'm going to sound exactly like Sawyer, but is there a literary equivalent to small talk? Because that's what this book is.
There's no depth here, no layers. Like other Georgia Beers books, it's the equivalent of following someone through their boring daily routine — and for all the talk about escapism through unrealistic romance, the first third of this one is critically realistic. Nothing is at stake. Nothing happens. Jenna says "let's not move too fast," so instead of having sex they finish watching a movie — then fall asleep in each other's arms and have sex when they wake up. Things happen almost out of principle, just to move the story along.
The filler is relentless. We get scenes of the characters retelling events to friends that add zero new information. Every chapter opens with an update on how the weather's evolved since the last one. Every chapter ends with some version of a question — "what the hell is happening?", "what the hell was that?", "what are the odds of this?" — as if the protagonist wondering about her very obvious feelings is suspense.
It's also incredibly repetitive. How many times do I need to read that Jenna loves fall, or how someone's day has been? The big "romance is formulaic" debate happens no less than three times in the beginning, in different settings, like the characters have amnesia.
The characters themselves aren't distinct. I'd have expected at least Sawyer to read as a bit of an ice queen going in, but no — she's just hurt, gets ten minutes of raging on a blog, and that's it. They even talk the same: both say "yes, ma'am," both say "hundred percent" (please, book characters, stop saying "hundred percent" when you mean "yes"), same types of jokes.
And there's zero angst. Really, nothing — a shaky beginning and a sticky note after their first night together, and that's the extent of it. The sticky-note fallout is the worst offender: Jenna decides they're "broken up" because she wakes up to a note, then shuts Sawyer out instead of just texting her. It's an overreaction dressed up as a triggering moment, and it makes them both look immature.
Even the sex is vanilla and boring — I counted three separate versions of "she had kissed many women before but this was different." The first I-love-you is similarly flat: "I am so in love with you. I've suspected so for a while, but Amanda visiting today solidified it for me." I'll never understand women who have to think their way into knowing they're in love — it's the most obvious feeling there is. Then nine months in, they're already talking marriage and kids. I don't mind unrealistic pacing in a romance, but it needs to happen inside an actually interesting story.
You're going to say I'm the grinch of romance, but honestly — as Jenna herself says in the book, romance being formulaic and predictable is fine. Totally fine. But there has to be a story. There isn't one here. Other authors pull off the formula brilliantly, so I genuinely don't understand why Georgia Beers gets the acclaim she does.
Yawns and eye rolls. I'm going to sound exactly like Sawyer, but is there a literary equivalent to small talk? Because that's what this book is.
There's no depth here, no layers. Like other Georgia Beers books, it's the equivalent of following someone through their boring daily routine — and for all the talk about escapism through unrealistic romance, the first third of this one is critically realistic. Nothing is at stake. Nothing happens. Jenna says "let's not move too fast," so instead of having sex they finish watching a movie — then fall asleep in each other's arms and have sex when they wake up. Things happen almost out of principle, just to move the story along.
The filler is relentless. We get scenes of the characters retelling events to friends that add zero new information. Every chapter opens with an update on how the weather's evolved since the last one. Every chapter ends with some version of a question — "what the hell is happening?", "what the hell was that?", "what are the odds of this?" — as if the protagonist wondering about her very obvious feelings is suspense.
It's also incredibly repetitive. How many times do I need to read that Jenna loves fall, or how someone's day has been? The big "romance is formulaic" debate happens no less than three times in the beginning, in different settings, like the characters have amnesia.
The characters themselves aren't distinct. I'd have expected at least Sawyer to read as a bit of an ice queen going in, but no — she's just hurt, gets ten minutes of raging on a blog, and that's it. They even talk the same: both say "yes, ma'am," both say "hundred percent" (please, book characters, stop saying "hundred percent" when you mean "yes"), same types of jokes.
And there's zero angst. Really, nothing — a shaky beginning and a sticky note after their first night together, and that's the extent of it. The sticky-note fallout is the worst offender: Jenna decides they're "broken up" because she wakes up to a note, then shuts Sawyer out instead of just texting her. It's an overreaction dressed up as a triggering moment, and it makes them both look immature.
Even the sex is vanilla and boring — I counted three separate versions of "she had kissed many women before but this was different." The first I-love-you is similarly flat: "I am so in love with you. I've suspected so for a while, but Amanda visiting today solidified it for me." I'll never understand women who have to think their way into knowing they're in love — it's the most obvious feeling there is. Then nine months in, they're already talking marriage and kids. I don't mind unrealistic pacing in a romance, but it needs to happen inside an actually interesting story.
You're going to say I'm the grinch of romance, but honestly — as Jenna herself says in the book, romance being formulaic and predictable is fine. Totally fine. But there has to be a story. There isn't one here. Other authors pull off the formula brilliantly, so I genuinely don't understand why Georgia Beers gets the acclaim she does.
April 21, 2026
🏳️🌈Rep: Sapphic, Lesbian FMCs
📝Tropes/Themes: Forced Proximity, Femme/Femme, Small Town, All the Bookish Vibes, Adorable Pets, Enemies to Lovers, Healing & Growth, Family Relationships
I have yet to read a Georgia Beers book that I have not adored, and The Girl Next Door was no exception to that! First of all, I am so here for all the bookish vibes! A romance bookstore owner and a book blogger who hates romance…I mean, what could go wrong? And did I mention they are now neighbors, too? 😜 Seriously though, these two start off on the absolute wrong foot, but the chemistry between them is undeniable from the beginning. The sparks are sparking and the attraction is undeniable.
I was glad Beers didn’t let it drag on with Jenna knowing Sawyer wrote the blog about her store but Sawyer not knowing Jenna owned it. It was good to have that all out there in the open early on because it gave them more time to build and grow from that. They weren’t really ‘enemies’ per say, just people on two different sides of a debate. It was the fact that Sawyer also kind of trashed Jenna’s livelihood that put them more in the enemies category in the beginning. And there was some definite hesitancy on both their parts for different reasons but I loved watching them navigate all the nuances.
Jenna and Sawyer are both such lovable characters and their banter was truly excellent at times. I also appreciated all the little moments that were actually kind of big moments. Showing up, making an effort, just being there, listening. All of it.
Sawyer’s story really got to me the most, especially the gaslighting and toxic relationship with her ex. I’ve been there, and it’s so hard to overcome all that. We don’t get to see a whole lot of Sawyer’s healing journey, and I kind of wish we got a little bit more of that. I also wish the story had ended with more of an “I’m still healing and working through things” kind of vibe, because it felt a little too resolved at the end with how little time had passed.
I absolutely loved Sawyer’s mom!! She was honestly one of my favorites and I adored how close Sawyer was to her family. I always love to see that, especially in queer stories! And Jenna’s friends and bookstore fam. These two women have such incredible circles of people surrounding them with love and support. And Jenna’s fur babies!! OMG! The cats, Wallace and Gromit, and the real show stealer, Arnold - her mostly deaf dog/wingman. I loved him so much.
If you are looking for a low angst, cozy romantic story with witty banter and characters that are easy to love, you should definitely check this one out. It’s a pretty quick read, too!
I received an ARC from Novel Tours and this is my honest review.
⚠️TW/CW: sexual content, former toxic relationship, light stalking (by an ex), mentions of gaslighting/emotional abuse, mentions of infidelity
📝Tropes/Themes: Forced Proximity, Femme/Femme, Small Town, All the Bookish Vibes, Adorable Pets, Enemies to Lovers, Healing & Growth, Family Relationships
I have yet to read a Georgia Beers book that I have not adored, and The Girl Next Door was no exception to that! First of all, I am so here for all the bookish vibes! A romance bookstore owner and a book blogger who hates romance…I mean, what could go wrong? And did I mention they are now neighbors, too? 😜 Seriously though, these two start off on the absolute wrong foot, but the chemistry between them is undeniable from the beginning. The sparks are sparking and the attraction is undeniable.
I was glad Beers didn’t let it drag on with Jenna knowing Sawyer wrote the blog about her store but Sawyer not knowing Jenna owned it. It was good to have that all out there in the open early on because it gave them more time to build and grow from that. They weren’t really ‘enemies’ per say, just people on two different sides of a debate. It was the fact that Sawyer also kind of trashed Jenna’s livelihood that put them more in the enemies category in the beginning. And there was some definite hesitancy on both their parts for different reasons but I loved watching them navigate all the nuances.
Jenna and Sawyer are both such lovable characters and their banter was truly excellent at times. I also appreciated all the little moments that were actually kind of big moments. Showing up, making an effort, just being there, listening. All of it.
Sawyer’s story really got to me the most, especially the gaslighting and toxic relationship with her ex. I’ve been there, and it’s so hard to overcome all that. We don’t get to see a whole lot of Sawyer’s healing journey, and I kind of wish we got a little bit more of that. I also wish the story had ended with more of an “I’m still healing and working through things” kind of vibe, because it felt a little too resolved at the end with how little time had passed.
I absolutely loved Sawyer’s mom!! She was honestly one of my favorites and I adored how close Sawyer was to her family. I always love to see that, especially in queer stories! And Jenna’s friends and bookstore fam. These two women have such incredible circles of people surrounding them with love and support. And Jenna’s fur babies!! OMG! The cats, Wallace and Gromit, and the real show stealer, Arnold - her mostly deaf dog/wingman. I loved him so much.
If you are looking for a low angst, cozy romantic story with witty banter and characters that are easy to love, you should definitely check this one out. It’s a pretty quick read, too!
I received an ARC from Novel Tours and this is my honest review.
⚠️TW/CW: sexual content, former toxic relationship, light stalking (by an ex), mentions of gaslighting/emotional abuse, mentions of infidelity
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sawyer, a book blogger with a bit of a damaged heart, stumbles across a bookstore, and much to her dismay, they only carry romance novels. She thinks romance novels are fluff and for sad and lonely people, which she says on her popular blog, where she trashes the bookstore and those who like romance novels. Jenna, the owner of the bookstore, is hurt and angry by this review, and unfortunately for her, she quickly learns the writer of the blog is her new next door neighbor. Cue a little bit of drama since Sawyer doesn't exactly know why her neighbor is being prickly.
This book was fine; it was a quick and cute read. I love a good enemies to lovers, but I wouldn't exactly classify this as one. More like a brief one sided dislike to lovers.
I liked the characters, including the side characters, though I do feel like some were underutilized. Like Colton, one of Sawyer's best friends, who is in minimal scenes and never interacts with Jenna or even Sawyer outside of a few workplace scenes. I really liked Sawyer's family, though, and Jenna's friends were fairly entertaining.
While the characters and writing were both good, I just didn't feel the chemistry between Sawyer and Jenna, which was my biggest problem with the book. They're pretty instantly attracted to each other, but other than it saying there’s an attraction, I just didn't really feel it in their banter or their interactions. Don't get me wrong, I liked them together and it improved a bit throughout the book, but it just felt a little flat, especially compared to many of the other books I've read by this author. It just felt more superficial than usual; they thought the other was hot, but I felt like it was lacking in much beyond that for a lot of the beginning of the book.
And since I have read about fifteen books by the author, I know they tend to be formulaic (as Jenna argues in the book, this isn't necessarily a bad thing), but I did appreciate that this book deviated from that formula a little bit.
I waffled on whether to give this three or four stars, but I landed on three in the end. Chemistry is pretty important for a romance book, and this one just didn’t hit me in the feels like I expect from this type of book.
Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This book was fine; it was a quick and cute read. I love a good enemies to lovers, but I wouldn't exactly classify this as one. More like a brief one sided dislike to lovers.
I liked the characters, including the side characters, though I do feel like some were underutilized. Like Colton, one of Sawyer's best friends, who is in minimal scenes and never interacts with Jenna or even Sawyer outside of a few workplace scenes. I really liked Sawyer's family, though, and Jenna's friends were fairly entertaining.
While the characters and writing were both good, I just didn't feel the chemistry between Sawyer and Jenna, which was my biggest problem with the book. They're pretty instantly attracted to each other, but other than it saying there’s an attraction, I just didn't really feel it in their banter or their interactions. Don't get me wrong, I liked them together and it improved a bit throughout the book, but it just felt a little flat, especially compared to many of the other books I've read by this author. It just felt more superficial than usual; they thought the other was hot, but I felt like it was lacking in much beyond that for a lot of the beginning of the book.
And since I have read about fifteen books by the author, I know they tend to be formulaic (as Jenna argues in the book, this isn't necessarily a bad thing), but I did appreciate that this book deviated from that formula a little bit.
I waffled on whether to give this three or four stars, but I landed on three in the end. Chemistry is pretty important for a romance book, and this one just didn’t hit me in the feels like I expect from this type of book.
Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 220 pages
⏱ Duration: 4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
📅 To be published on April 14, 2026
📚 ARC provided by NetGalley
Genre: Queer Romance
I'll be honest, I walked into this book skeptical. I requested an ARC without clocking that it was a romance novel, got approved, and decided I was going to read it with maximum skepticism. I was Sawyer. Fully, completely, embarrassingly Sawyer. And then, Jenna happened, and now I'm sitting here writing a five-star review of a sapphic romance novel like it's just a normal Tuesday, so.
Heavily pregnant Charlotte and Sawyer's mom (whose name escapes me, but whose energy I adored) bring real texture to the story without hogging the spotlight. There's a refreshing restraint in how little page time gets wasted on characters who are unnecessary drama (Amanda, you know what you did. Moving on.) The banter between Jenna and Sawyer is sharp, genuine, and flirty enough to make even the most cynical reader blush, but not too sticky to make you give up on romance.
What really hit me, though, were Jenna's impassioned defenses of romance genre. Her logic, that romance keeps the fiction world alive, is both funny and true. Through her, the book reads as both a love story, and a love letter to love stories. Jenna doesn't apologize for what she loves, and Beers clearly doesn't either. The writing has this lovely, confident energy, like someone who knows exactly the story they are telling and why it matters. As someone who picked this book up with a grudge, and put it down converted, I think the argument lands harder than any narrative ever could.
Would I recommend it?
I came in skeptic and left a believer, which is honestly the most on-brand way to review a book that's literally about changing someone's mind about romance. This is a feel-good queer romance that earns its warmth, has just enough tension to keep things interesting, and features one of the most quietly compelling defenses of the romance genre I've read in fiction. Even if you think romance isn't your thing, The Girl Next Door might just prove you wrong.
📃 220 pages
⏱ Duration: 4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
📅 To be published on April 14, 2026
📚 ARC provided by NetGalley
Genre: Queer Romance
I'll be honest, I walked into this book skeptical. I requested an ARC without clocking that it was a romance novel, got approved, and decided I was going to read it with maximum skepticism. I was Sawyer. Fully, completely, embarrassingly Sawyer. And then, Jenna happened, and now I'm sitting here writing a five-star review of a sapphic romance novel like it's just a normal Tuesday, so.
Heavily pregnant Charlotte and Sawyer's mom (whose name escapes me, but whose energy I adored) bring real texture to the story without hogging the spotlight. There's a refreshing restraint in how little page time gets wasted on characters who are unnecessary drama (Amanda, you know what you did. Moving on.) The banter between Jenna and Sawyer is sharp, genuine, and flirty enough to make even the most cynical reader blush, but not too sticky to make you give up on romance.
What really hit me, though, were Jenna's impassioned defenses of romance genre. Her logic, that romance keeps the fiction world alive, is both funny and true. Through her, the book reads as both a love story, and a love letter to love stories. Jenna doesn't apologize for what she loves, and Beers clearly doesn't either. The writing has this lovely, confident energy, like someone who knows exactly the story they are telling and why it matters. As someone who picked this book up with a grudge, and put it down converted, I think the argument lands harder than any narrative ever could.
Would I recommend it?
I came in skeptic and left a believer, which is honestly the most on-brand way to review a book that's literally about changing someone's mind about romance. This is a feel-good queer romance that earns its warmth, has just enough tension to keep things interesting, and features one of the most quietly compelling defenses of the romance genre I've read in fiction. Even if you think romance isn't your thing, The Girl Next Door might just prove you wrong.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Girl Next Door by Georgia Beers follows Jenna, a devoted bookstore owner who runs a romance-only shop called BookLove and truly believes in happily ever afters. Her life is steady and fulfilling until Sawyer, a sharp and brutally honest book blogger, enters the picture. After a rough first impression involving a harsh review, fate throws them together again as neighbors. What starts as tension slowly shifts into something softer as they get to know each other beyond their assumptions.
I loved how this story fully embraced the girl next door trope in such a warm and comforting way. It was great to see Jenna and Sawyer’s relationship grow into something genuine and sweet. Their first few interactions had just the right amount of tension without feeling over the top, and I especially liked how their relationship built through small everyday moments like porch conversations, greeting Arnie, and shared outings.
Jenna was one of my favorite characters of the book. Her passion for her bookstore and for the romance genre as a whole felt so authentic and heartfelt. You could tell how much BookLove meant to her, and it made every scene set there feel cozy and personal. I also appreciated how her love for romance shaped the way she approached relationships, even when things felt uncertain or messy. It made her character feel grounded while still holding onto that hopeful energy.
Overall this was such an enjoyable and feel good read. The pacing worked well and the emotional moments never felt forced. I liked how the story balanced lighthearted scenes such as book signings at BookLove with more vulnerable conversations, especially when it came to Sawyer’s past and Jenna’s family dynamics. By the end I was fully invested in their relationship and rooting for them, and the ending felt like a perfect payoff for everything they had built together.
Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this early copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved how this story fully embraced the girl next door trope in such a warm and comforting way. It was great to see Jenna and Sawyer’s relationship grow into something genuine and sweet. Their first few interactions had just the right amount of tension without feeling over the top, and I especially liked how their relationship built through small everyday moments like porch conversations, greeting Arnie, and shared outings.
Jenna was one of my favorite characters of the book. Her passion for her bookstore and for the romance genre as a whole felt so authentic and heartfelt. You could tell how much BookLove meant to her, and it made every scene set there feel cozy and personal. I also appreciated how her love for romance shaped the way she approached relationships, even when things felt uncertain or messy. It made her character feel grounded while still holding onto that hopeful energy.
Overall this was such an enjoyable and feel good read. The pacing worked well and the emotional moments never felt forced. I liked how the story balanced lighthearted scenes such as book signings at BookLove with more vulnerable conversations, especially when it came to Sawyer’s past and Jenna’s family dynamics. By the end I was fully invested in their relationship and rooting for them, and the ending felt like a perfect payoff for everything they had built together.
Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If anyone can write a cozy sapphic romance that’ll make me believe in true love, it’s Beers. As a lover of all things sapphic romance, I couldn’t wait to read The Girl Next Door and I devoured it like the avid reader that I am. You’ll find no crumbs here.
Both characters were, in some way or another, relatable to me and absolutely lovable. Jenna being a bookworm and a romance genre lover made me feel so seen, and she was my favorite. The romance formula is a real thing, but like Jenna, I don’t read romances for realism but for the HEA and an escape from reality, if only for a little while. Jenna and Sawyer had great chemistry and I loved that they got to know each other better before slamming the bedroom door. Though I did appreciate the times when they did because…just because. Some spicy stuff. Anyway. The two just connected and clicked so well that I rooted for them to be a forever couple.
The side characters were lovable and there were some fun and interesting personalities in the mix. Jenna had her close-knit friends to fall back on and was cared for and loved. Sawyer had her fun and loving family that kept the satire going but weren’t afraid of a good heart-to-heart. Personally, I don't consider this to be a rivals-to-lovers trope because it didn’t read like one. Sure, they got off on the really wrong foot because a scathing review would piss anyone off, but it was more dislike than anything and short-lived. I was really looking forward to a rivalry, but this was still an enjoyable read. I really liked the characters and didn’t expect the laugh-out-loud moments, so that was a definite bonus!
Lastly, I absolutely melted at the forehead kisses, the heated eye contact, and the moments when being close wasn’t close enough. Be still my heart. If you’re looking for a romance that’s cozy, funny, and low-angst, then I’d recommend giving this a read.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
Both characters were, in some way or another, relatable to me and absolutely lovable. Jenna being a bookworm and a romance genre lover made me feel so seen, and she was my favorite. The romance formula is a real thing, but like Jenna, I don’t read romances for realism but for the HEA and an escape from reality, if only for a little while. Jenna and Sawyer had great chemistry and I loved that they got to know each other better before slamming the bedroom door. Though I did appreciate the times when they did because…just because. Some spicy stuff. Anyway. The two just connected and clicked so well that I rooted for them to be a forever couple.
The side characters were lovable and there were some fun and interesting personalities in the mix. Jenna had her close-knit friends to fall back on and was cared for and loved. Sawyer had her fun and loving family that kept the satire going but weren’t afraid of a good heart-to-heart. Personally, I don't consider this to be a rivals-to-lovers trope because it didn’t read like one. Sure, they got off on the really wrong foot because a scathing review would piss anyone off, but it was more dislike than anything and short-lived. I was really looking forward to a rivalry, but this was still an enjoyable read. I really liked the characters and didn’t expect the laugh-out-loud moments, so that was a definite bonus!
Lastly, I absolutely melted at the forehead kisses, the heated eye contact, and the moments when being close wasn’t close enough. Be still my heart. If you’re looking for a romance that’s cozy, funny, and low-angst, then I’d recommend giving this a read.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Georgia Beers always writes such cute and cozy romances. The Girl Next Door is no exception! I adored this story. Anytime there are books or bookish things involved in a book I’m reading (say book one more time), I get excited. There’s something about reading a story that has people who truly understand and depict what reading means to them.
Sawyer and Jenna were adorable together. Even when they were “enemies”, which I would classify as more “dislike to lovers” than “enemies to lovers”, they had so much chemistry. I liked them as individual characters and as a couple. I love when characters are emotionally mature. The author did a good job at depicting how Sawyer’s previous relationship affected her while not allowing it to take over Sawyer’s personality and make it mess everything up for her.
The side characters, especially Sawyer’s family was so lovely. I laughed out loud a couple of times at the reactions of her mom and sister. You could tell how much they loved Sawyer and how amazing human beings there were. The found family that Jenna had with her friends was lovely too. Even seeing her relationship with Lily Chambers, a famous author that does signings at BookLove, was heartwarming. We only got to see a glimpse of it, but it really stood out to me.
The Girl Next Door was a cozy romance that wrapped up nicely. The ending and epilogue had everything that I want in it. Gosh, this book was so adorable. It is definitely one I will read again and I can see it becoming a comfort read! 4.5 stars!
Georgia Beers always writes such cute and cozy romances. The Girl Next Door is no exception! I adored this story. Anytime there are books or bookish things involved in a book I’m reading (say book one more time), I get excited. There’s something about reading a story that has people who truly understand and depict what reading means to them.
Sawyer and Jenna were adorable together. Even when they were “enemies”, which I would classify as more “dislike to lovers” than “enemies to lovers”, they had so much chemistry. I liked them as individual characters and as a couple. I love when characters are emotionally mature. The author did a good job at depicting how Sawyer’s previous relationship affected her while not allowing it to take over Sawyer’s personality and make it mess everything up for her.
The side characters, especially Sawyer’s family was so lovely. I laughed out loud a couple of times at the reactions of her mom and sister. You could tell how much they loved Sawyer and how amazing human beings there were. The found family that Jenna had with her friends was lovely too. Even seeing her relationship with Lily Chambers, a famous author that does signings at BookLove, was heartwarming. We only got to see a glimpse of it, but it really stood out to me.
The Girl Next Door was a cozy romance that wrapped up nicely. The ending and epilogue had everything that I want in it. Gosh, this book was so adorable. It is definitely one I will read again and I can see it becoming a comfort read! 4.5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Girl Next Door – Georgia Beers
My Rating - 4.5/5
A cozy, enemies to lovers, slow burn sapphic romance that celebrates books, independent bookstores, and the romance genre!
“The Girl Next Door” is much like the bookstore that was one of the main settings; sweet, cozy, and filled with romance.
The initial dispute between the two main characters about loving the romance genre (Jenna) versus hating the romance genre (Sawyer) is resolved quickly, mainly because they were adult enough to talk it through. The two lead characters are both friendly and likeable; I couldn’t see either of them being able to stay angry at anyone for long or wanting to anyone to be upset with them.
Through Jenna, the author puts up a passionate defence for romance books, calling out and refuting assumptions made about the books and their readers. This resonated with me as an avid reader of romance novels, because I too see them not as reality, but as a way to leave real life behind for a little while.
The descriptions of the spaces that the characters inhabit was atmospheric, I could see myself in the book store, browsing through the shelves, while sipping on hot apple cider. And let me tell you, I would buy all the books, well at least the sapphic books.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes a low angst, slow burn, enemies to lovers (and I use the term enemies loosely), with characters who are mature enough to talk out their issues.
This book provided me with the words to help me express why I love reading romance. It also made me want to run my own romance only bookstore, because doesn’t that sound like a great place to spend time in!
My Rating - 4.5/5
A cozy, enemies to lovers, slow burn sapphic romance that celebrates books, independent bookstores, and the romance genre!
“The Girl Next Door” is much like the bookstore that was one of the main settings; sweet, cozy, and filled with romance.
The initial dispute between the two main characters about loving the romance genre (Jenna) versus hating the romance genre (Sawyer) is resolved quickly, mainly because they were adult enough to talk it through. The two lead characters are both friendly and likeable; I couldn’t see either of them being able to stay angry at anyone for long or wanting to anyone to be upset with them.
Through Jenna, the author puts up a passionate defence for romance books, calling out and refuting assumptions made about the books and their readers. This resonated with me as an avid reader of romance novels, because I too see them not as reality, but as a way to leave real life behind for a little while.
The descriptions of the spaces that the characters inhabit was atmospheric, I could see myself in the book store, browsing through the shelves, while sipping on hot apple cider. And let me tell you, I would buy all the books, well at least the sapphic books.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes a low angst, slow burn, enemies to lovers (and I use the term enemies loosely), with characters who are mature enough to talk out their issues.
This book provided me with the words to help me express why I love reading romance. It also made me want to run my own romance only bookstore, because doesn’t that sound like a great place to spend time in!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Y'all, the day job has been keeping me beyond busy, but nothing will pull me away from motion writing and case law research faster than a new Beers book.
The Girl Next Door is everything we love about a Georgia read, great characters, realistic personalities, adorable supporting cast in both the human and pet variety, and something to cheer for.
Jenna is a romance only bookstore owner loving the likes of Nora Roberts and familiar Beers character author Lily Chambers. Sawyer is a technical writer by day and book blogger by passion with a less than impressed take on Jenna's store when she publishes a blog taking aim at the romance genre in general and Jenna's store specifically. Jenna's defense is elevated when she learns that the bashing blogger is not only local but just moved in across her own front porch when Sawyer takes up residence on the other side of Jenna's duplex.
This enemies to lovers romance is what I call a comfort read. It's the exact kind of book this book refers to when describing romance books being the safe, although predicable, escape from the everyday. I can't wait to revisit Jenna and Sawyer's story though the lovely voice of @loriprince212 when the audiobook makes its debut.
Purchase directly from Bold Stroke Books at: https://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/book...
📖Author: @georgiabeers
🎧Narrator: @loriprince212 (coming soon)
🕑Length: 240 pages
📚Publisher: @boldstrokesbooks
#sapphicbookstagrammer #sapphic #sapphicromance #wlwbooks #queer #queerbooks #booklover #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #LGBTQreads #les #lesbianbooks #supportaudiobooks #audiobooknarration
The Girl Next Door is everything we love about a Georgia read, great characters, realistic personalities, adorable supporting cast in both the human and pet variety, and something to cheer for.
Jenna is a romance only bookstore owner loving the likes of Nora Roberts and familiar Beers character author Lily Chambers. Sawyer is a technical writer by day and book blogger by passion with a less than impressed take on Jenna's store when she publishes a blog taking aim at the romance genre in general and Jenna's store specifically. Jenna's defense is elevated when she learns that the bashing blogger is not only local but just moved in across her own front porch when Sawyer takes up residence on the other side of Jenna's duplex.
This enemies to lovers romance is what I call a comfort read. It's the exact kind of book this book refers to when describing romance books being the safe, although predicable, escape from the everyday. I can't wait to revisit Jenna and Sawyer's story though the lovely voice of @loriprince212 when the audiobook makes its debut.
Purchase directly from Bold Stroke Books at: https://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/book...
📖Author: @georgiabeers
🎧Narrator: @loriprince212 (coming soon)
🕑Length: 240 pages
📚Publisher: @boldstrokesbooks
#sapphicbookstagrammer #sapphic #sapphicromance #wlwbooks #queer #queerbooks #booklover #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #LGBTQreads #les #lesbianbooks #supportaudiobooks #audiobooknarration
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
'The Girl Next Door' by Georgia Beers.
I absolutely loved this book, I devoured it in 1 day. It's a beautifully written cozy sapphic romance book. Love Arnold the dog and Wallace and Gromit the cats. Love all the side characters, particularly Sawyer's sister Courtney and her mum Ally. If you're a fan of a classic enemies to lovers story then give then give this book a read. It will make you laugh and swoon in equal measures.
Everyone deserves a happily ever after, that's why Jenna Murphy is fiercely proud of her romance-only bookstore, BookLove. With her pets by her side, she’s content in her neat life, convinced that one day she'll find her person. Jenna helps Grandma with her groceries, runs the library’s used book sale, and hands out water to the runners in the local 5K race. What's not to love?
Sawyer Hall, a sharp-witted book blogger, has gained a reputation for her brutally honest takes. Fresh from a messy breakup, her posts have grown...snarkier than usual, and when she stumbles into Jenna's charming bookstore filled with “sappy fluff,” she doesn’t exactly hold back.
Sawyer's suggestion that romance novels peddle unattainable dreams to the sad and lonely makes Jenna absolutely livid. But fate has a twisted sense of humor because a new neighbor is moving into the other half of Jenna’s duplex and it's Sawyer Hall, because, of course it is. And Sawyer is gorgeous. And funny. And sort of makes Jenna swoon. So annoying.
Thanks to Netgallery UK, the publishers and the author for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book, I devoured it in 1 day. It's a beautifully written cozy sapphic romance book. Love Arnold the dog and Wallace and Gromit the cats. Love all the side characters, particularly Sawyer's sister Courtney and her mum Ally. If you're a fan of a classic enemies to lovers story then give then give this book a read. It will make you laugh and swoon in equal measures.
Everyone deserves a happily ever after, that's why Jenna Murphy is fiercely proud of her romance-only bookstore, BookLove. With her pets by her side, she’s content in her neat life, convinced that one day she'll find her person. Jenna helps Grandma with her groceries, runs the library’s used book sale, and hands out water to the runners in the local 5K race. What's not to love?
Sawyer Hall, a sharp-witted book blogger, has gained a reputation for her brutally honest takes. Fresh from a messy breakup, her posts have grown...snarkier than usual, and when she stumbles into Jenna's charming bookstore filled with “sappy fluff,” she doesn’t exactly hold back.
Sawyer's suggestion that romance novels peddle unattainable dreams to the sad and lonely makes Jenna absolutely livid. But fate has a twisted sense of humor because a new neighbor is moving into the other half of Jenna’s duplex and it's Sawyer Hall, because, of course it is. And Sawyer is gorgeous. And funny. And sort of makes Jenna swoon. So annoying.
Thanks to Netgallery UK, the publishers and the author for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
any book by this author is going to be good and this one is no exception
jenna owns her own bookstore and its theme is love.... she sells just romances books of all kinds and she knows her genre.....
sawyer doesnt do love.... shes just coming out of a relationship and the last thing she needs it be reminded of all things love....so why she walked into this bookshop called booklove she has no idea and then when she realises its contains nothing but books about love she cant get out of the shop quick enough
but sawyer has a blog that has quite a few followers and she trashes booklove..... and jenna sees it....
but worst of all jenna recognises the sawyer as the woman that she had bumped into that day
but what neither woman know.... is that they are about to become next door neighbours
ohhh the fun and games that are about to happen.... cos first off sawyer doesnt know jenna runs the booklove and cant understand why jenna isnt as friendly as she is with sawyers mother and sister until one day jenna says ask me what i do for a living...omg i laughed at loud at that point
what a fun read this one was.... that question to sawyer ask me what i do for a living is going to live with me for a while that whole scene was so funny and i could feel sawyers embarrassement it was great.....
looking forward to the next book by this fabulous author
any book by this author is going to be good and this one is no exception
jenna owns her own bookstore and its theme is love.... she sells just romances books of all kinds and she knows her genre.....
sawyer doesnt do love.... shes just coming out of a relationship and the last thing she needs it be reminded of all things love....so why she walked into this bookshop called booklove she has no idea and then when she realises its contains nothing but books about love she cant get out of the shop quick enough
but sawyer has a blog that has quite a few followers and she trashes booklove..... and jenna sees it....
but worst of all jenna recognises the sawyer as the woman that she had bumped into that day
but what neither woman know.... is that they are about to become next door neighbours
ohhh the fun and games that are about to happen.... cos first off sawyer doesnt know jenna runs the booklove and cant understand why jenna isnt as friendly as she is with sawyers mother and sister until one day jenna says ask me what i do for a living...omg i laughed at loud at that point
what a fun read this one was.... that question to sawyer ask me what i do for a living is going to live with me for a while that whole scene was so funny and i could feel sawyers embarrassement it was great.....
looking forward to the next book by this fabulous author
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