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Love on Rosewood Avenue #1
The Shop Next Door
All she wants is to open up her dream bookshop.
All he wants is her.
Jessa Alden never imagined that the grand opening of her dream bookshop, The Prologue, would be ruined by a neighboring shop hosting its own grand opening on the very same day. Even worse? The owner of that obnoxiously loud gamer cafe turns out to be none other than Liam Ashford. Her former best friend. Her former rival. The only man who could ever make her heart race.
Liam Ashford is everything that Jessa can’t handle—effortlessly charming, annoyingly attractive, and entirely too good at getting under her skin. And now he’s back in town, setting up shop right beside her like the past never happened.
Jessa wants him gone. Liam is surprisingly agreeable with that request—but only on one condition. A year-long reignition of their rivalry. If she wins, he’s as good as gone. If he wins… That’s not an option.
The harder Jessa fights to beat him, the harder it becomes to ignore the sparks that still simmer beneath every argument, the lingering looks, and the way he can still make her pulse race. Somewhere along the way, Jessa realizes that maybe the real risk isn’t losing to Liam. It’s admitting why losing him feels so much worse.
All he wants is her.
Jessa Alden never imagined that the grand opening of her dream bookshop, The Prologue, would be ruined by a neighboring shop hosting its own grand opening on the very same day. Even worse? The owner of that obnoxiously loud gamer cafe turns out to be none other than Liam Ashford. Her former best friend. Her former rival. The only man who could ever make her heart race.
Liam Ashford is everything that Jessa can’t handle—effortlessly charming, annoyingly attractive, and entirely too good at getting under her skin. And now he’s back in town, setting up shop right beside her like the past never happened.
Jessa wants him gone. Liam is surprisingly agreeable with that request—but only on one condition. A year-long reignition of their rivalry. If she wins, he’s as good as gone. If he wins… That’s not an option.
The harder Jessa fights to beat him, the harder it becomes to ignore the sparks that still simmer beneath every argument, the lingering looks, and the way he can still make her pulse race. Somewhere along the way, Jessa realizes that maybe the real risk isn’t losing to Liam. It’s admitting why losing him feels so much worse.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2026
About the author
June Hawthorn
3 books7 followersJune Hawthorn is a lover of all things cheesy and romantic. When she isn't reading or writing, she can be found spending time with her husband and two children. Currently living in Indiana, they love to frequent the Indianapolis Children's Museum and the Indy Zoo. Her debut novel, The Shop Next Door, is scheduled for release on September 4, 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
August 23, 2026
This was so freaking good omg!!!
It was the perfect cozy romantic rivalry for fall, I enjoyed it so much!
It was the perfect cozy romantic rivalry for fall, I enjoyed it so much!
September 1, 2026
Thank you to the author for the Advanced Readers Copy
I love a bookstore book with a rival neighbor . The gaming store / cafe vs bookstore is a great idea for a book and childhood friends to rivals to lovers is great to except …. Jessie , Jess or Jessa ( which ever name you want to call her ) is a rival to everyone around her . The FMC has zero self esteem and has spent her life trying to compete with her best friend who has only ever given her care, comfort and friendship . She made me enraged and it took away from the book. This is a very short book. She is a nasty person by natural and a poor sport who I never want to meet again. Liam…. You deserve better !
I love a bookstore book with a rival neighbor . The gaming store / cafe vs bookstore is a great idea for a book and childhood friends to rivals to lovers is great to except …. Jessie , Jess or Jessa ( which ever name you want to call her ) is a rival to everyone around her . The FMC has zero self esteem and has spent her life trying to compete with her best friend who has only ever given her care, comfort and friendship . She made me enraged and it took away from the book. This is a very short book. She is a nasty person by natural and a poor sport who I never want to meet again. Liam…. You deserve better !
September 4, 2026
When I saw the book cover and then the title, I already knew that this book will be a cozy one. One that is perfect when you are reading under the blankets in your home.
The setup is so fun. Jessa/Jessie has been working toward opening her dream bookshop, The Prologue, and the moment it's supposed to be her big day, she finds out the shop next door is also having a grand opening. She didnt know how this went under her nose when beside her is A loud, chaotic gamer cafe. It’s already annoying enough on its own,then she finds out that owner turns out to be someone from her past she definitely was not prepared to see again. That collision of excitement and absolute disaster energy at the start sets the tone for everything that follows.
Liam is the kind of romantic lead who is easy to understand the appeal of even when he's being infuriating. He's charming in a way that feels natural, and the history between him and Jessie gives every interaction a weight that keeps things from feeling too surface level. You get the sense that these two have unfinished business that goes much deeper than whatever competition they've agreed to, and the slow unraveling of that is genuinely satisfying to watch.
The rivals to lovers structure is one that lives or dies on how well the tension is written, and June Hawthorn handles it well. Jessa and Liam's back and forth never tips into frustrating territory where you're just waiting for one of them to get out of their own way. I loved how they bantered and to be honest, it’s very obvious even from the beginning that he was gone for her. You can feel it as early as the first time they saw each other again. I had this feeling that the rivalry was just one sided. There's something quietly delightful about watching a man who is fully aware of his own feelings while the other person is still trying to pretend she isn't catching feelings too. The pacing is comfortable for me, it’s not too slow nor was it too fast for my liking. It was just a perfect match for what I usually wanted in stories like this.
If you're someone who likes romance books that you can read while you’re on a couch or under the blankets… a book with banter, tension and lots of heart, this one is worth your time. A strong start to what sounds like a very promising series.
A huge thank you to by June Hawthorn for trusting me with an ARC of The Shop Next Door. It genuinely means so much to me! Every opinion here is, as always, entirely my own and completely honest.
The setup is so fun. Jessa/Jessie has been working toward opening her dream bookshop, The Prologue, and the moment it's supposed to be her big day, she finds out the shop next door is also having a grand opening. She didnt know how this went under her nose when beside her is A loud, chaotic gamer cafe. It’s already annoying enough on its own,then she finds out that owner turns out to be someone from her past she definitely was not prepared to see again. That collision of excitement and absolute disaster energy at the start sets the tone for everything that follows.
Liam is the kind of romantic lead who is easy to understand the appeal of even when he's being infuriating. He's charming in a way that feels natural, and the history between him and Jessie gives every interaction a weight that keeps things from feeling too surface level. You get the sense that these two have unfinished business that goes much deeper than whatever competition they've agreed to, and the slow unraveling of that is genuinely satisfying to watch.
The rivals to lovers structure is one that lives or dies on how well the tension is written, and June Hawthorn handles it well. Jessa and Liam's back and forth never tips into frustrating territory where you're just waiting for one of them to get out of their own way. I loved how they bantered and to be honest, it’s very obvious even from the beginning that he was gone for her. You can feel it as early as the first time they saw each other again. I had this feeling that the rivalry was just one sided. There's something quietly delightful about watching a man who is fully aware of his own feelings while the other person is still trying to pretend she isn't catching feelings too. The pacing is comfortable for me, it’s not too slow nor was it too fast for my liking. It was just a perfect match for what I usually wanted in stories like this.
If you're someone who likes romance books that you can read while you’re on a couch or under the blankets… a book with banter, tension and lots of heart, this one is worth your time. A strong start to what sounds like a very promising series.
A huge thank you to by June Hawthorn for trusting me with an ARC of The Shop Next Door. It genuinely means so much to me! Every opinion here is, as always, entirely my own and completely honest.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I DID NOT EXPECT THIS BOOK TO HIT ME IN THE FEELINGS LIKE THAT. 😭
I flew through this. Ended up finishing the whole thing in two hours!
I picked this up expecting a cute small-town romance, and I ended up getting a cute bookstore, an adorable gaming café, ridiculous business competition, best-friends-to-rivals-to-lovers, and a romance that had me grinning the entire time.
The banter between Jesse and Liam was SO good. I loved watching these two compete over everything while slowly finding their way back to being friends again. The sparks were there from the beginning, and the whole time I was just sitting there like... you two are SO obviously in love. 😭
But Jesse ended up being the part of this book that really got me.
She's a perfectionist who constantly feels like she has something to prove, and the way she measures herself against the people around her hit a little too close to home. I wasn't expecting to see so much of myself in her, but some of her insecurities and the pressure she puts on herself felt painfully familiar.
I loved watching her slowly realise that she doesn't always have to be competing, achieving, or proving herself to be worthy. Sometimes you can just... let yourself be loved. 🥹
And Liam??? The way these two constantly challenge each other while clearly caring so much underneath all that competition had me smiling like an idiot. Their chemistry was SO good.
This was such a sweet, easy, comforting read, but it ended up meaning a lot more to me than I expected. Sometimes you pick up a book just looking for something cute and accidentally find a character who makes you feel a little understood.
If you're looking for a cosy contemporary with great banter, a cute setting, competitive idiots, and a romance with a surprising amount of heart, definitely give this one a try.
I flew through this. Ended up finishing the whole thing in two hours!
I picked this up expecting a cute small-town romance, and I ended up getting a cute bookstore, an adorable gaming café, ridiculous business competition, best-friends-to-rivals-to-lovers, and a romance that had me grinning the entire time.
The banter between Jesse and Liam was SO good. I loved watching these two compete over everything while slowly finding their way back to being friends again. The sparks were there from the beginning, and the whole time I was just sitting there like... you two are SO obviously in love. 😭
But Jesse ended up being the part of this book that really got me.
She's a perfectionist who constantly feels like she has something to prove, and the way she measures herself against the people around her hit a little too close to home. I wasn't expecting to see so much of myself in her, but some of her insecurities and the pressure she puts on herself felt painfully familiar.
I loved watching her slowly realise that she doesn't always have to be competing, achieving, or proving herself to be worthy. Sometimes you can just... let yourself be loved. 🥹
And Liam??? The way these two constantly challenge each other while clearly caring so much underneath all that competition had me smiling like an idiot. Their chemistry was SO good.
This was such a sweet, easy, comforting read, but it ended up meaning a lot more to me than I expected. Sometimes you pick up a book just looking for something cute and accidentally find a character who makes you feel a little understood.
If you're looking for a cosy contemporary with great banter, a cute setting, competitive idiots, and a romance with a surprising amount of heart, definitely give this one a try.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25🌟
To those who are still learning to love their imperfections. May you one day see the beauty in every flaw.
This is such a cute, fun and feel good romance that it had me giggling and kicking my feet (specially the first 50%). It’s a very quick read too, since it's under 250 page, it just took me two sittings to finish it.
The writing and the story reminded me a lottttt of Lynn Painter's and Sarah Adams' books.
If you like:
○Friends-to-rivals-lovera
○Its always been you
○Single pov
○Bookstore/cafe setting
○Forced proximity
○Fun challenges
Then you'll love this.
I am very intrigued with the setting and the town because it low-key reminds me of Gilmore girls, so I hope to see more of that in her next books.
And I'm definitely going to read more by her.
“But things change. You’re more than just Jessie. Sometimes it feels like everything has stayed exactly the same for me, but you’ve gone out and changed everything for you.” I could relate to his words more than I would ever dare to admit out loud. “I want to get to know you as you are. And someday, if I’m lucky, I’d like to be close enough to be able to call you Jess.”
Liam Ashford became my first and greatest friend. I do not have a single memory of my life before him. He was always there, from the very beginning. We grew up together. We would play together, eat together, and eventually, we would walk to and from school together. In every sense of the word, he and I were inseparable. We would spend every waking moment together. I would cry when 6: 15 rolled around, and my father would come to pick me up and drag me back to our apartment. Home became synonymous with Liam. I grew more accustomed to hearing, “Liam and Jessie,” than I did just, “Jessie.”
To those who are still learning to love their imperfections. May you one day see the beauty in every flaw.
This is such a cute, fun and feel good romance that it had me giggling and kicking my feet (specially the first 50%). It’s a very quick read too, since it's under 250 page, it just took me two sittings to finish it.
The writing and the story reminded me a lottttt of Lynn Painter's and Sarah Adams' books.
If you like:
○Friends-to-rivals-lovera
○Its always been you
○Single pov
○Bookstore/cafe setting
○Forced proximity
○Fun challenges
Then you'll love this.
I am very intrigued with the setting and the town because it low-key reminds me of Gilmore girls, so I hope to see more of that in her next books.
And I'm definitely going to read more by her.
“But things change. You’re more than just Jessie. Sometimes it feels like everything has stayed exactly the same for me, but you’ve gone out and changed everything for you.” I could relate to his words more than I would ever dare to admit out loud. “I want to get to know you as you are. And someday, if I’m lucky, I’d like to be close enough to be able to call you Jess.”
Liam Ashford became my first and greatest friend. I do not have a single memory of my life before him. He was always there, from the very beginning. We grew up together. We would play together, eat together, and eventually, we would walk to and from school together. In every sense of the word, he and I were inseparable. We would spend every waking moment together. I would cry when 6: 15 rolled around, and my father would come to pick me up and drag me back to our apartment. Home became synonymous with Liam. I grew more accustomed to hearing, “Liam and Jessie,” than I did just, “Jessie.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for an ARC copy of this book in return for a honest review.
I absolutely loved this book and ran to June's DMs as I was reading. I'm pretty sure I read this book in less than 12 hours. The way she wrote the Jessa and Liam, they felt older than early 20's.
From the first few pages I loved Jesse and felt like she was so relatable. She never felt like she was good enough and felt like she had to constantly prove herself. While I felt bad for her, I felt even worse for Liam. That man was DOWN BAD for her, for probably over a decade and she had zero clue. To me it was so obvious that even when they were in MS/HS all he wanted was her attention and competing with her, is how he got it. I loved him so much.
They were two people who had no clue what the other person was feeling or interpreting things. To him, the competitions weren't a big deal and just fun. To her, they were everything and fed into all of her insecurities.
He was so patient with her and so kind that I had heart eyes reading him whenever he was on page. He really had her back and WANTED her to win. I do think that they made each other better and push themselves which helped their success.
This was a delicious slow burn. I loved watching them build their friendship back to what it was and THEN it turned into something more. I'm such a sucker for "it's always been you". Honestly, I love that they were each other's firsts and the way that June wrote this, it didn't come off as cheesy, it made sense.
Highly recommend this book if you like childhood friends to rivals to lovers, slow burn, green flag/cinnamon roll MMC, banter, bookstore owner x game store owner, he falls first and harder.
June is now an auto read author for me <3
I absolutely loved this book and ran to June's DMs as I was reading. I'm pretty sure I read this book in less than 12 hours. The way she wrote the Jessa and Liam, they felt older than early 20's.
From the first few pages I loved Jesse and felt like she was so relatable. She never felt like she was good enough and felt like she had to constantly prove herself. While I felt bad for her, I felt even worse for Liam. That man was DOWN BAD for her, for probably over a decade and she had zero clue. To me it was so obvious that even when they were in MS/HS all he wanted was her attention and competing with her, is how he got it. I loved him so much.
They were two people who had no clue what the other person was feeling or interpreting things. To him, the competitions weren't a big deal and just fun. To her, they were everything and fed into all of her insecurities.
He was so patient with her and so kind that I had heart eyes reading him whenever he was on page. He really had her back and WANTED her to win. I do think that they made each other better and push themselves which helped their success.
This was a delicious slow burn. I loved watching them build their friendship back to what it was and THEN it turned into something more. I'm such a sucker for "it's always been you". Honestly, I love that they were each other's firsts and the way that June wrote this, it didn't come off as cheesy, it made sense.
Highly recommend this book if you like childhood friends to rivals to lovers, slow burn, green flag/cinnamon roll MMC, banter, bookstore owner x game store owner, he falls first and harder.
June is now an auto read author for me <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to June Hawthorne for the opportunity to read and review her debut novel, The Shop Next Door.
The Shop Next Door was a fun and cute read! I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day.
Jessa has always excelled at everything she does. She graduates from university, lands a great job, and then decides to leave it behind to follow her dream of opening her own bookstore, a decision her parents don’t exactly support. On the day of her grand opening, she hears music coming from next door and discovers that Liam, her former best friend turned nemesis, is having the grand opening of his new gaming store and café on the very same day.
I loved Jessa and Liam together. They had great banter, lots of romantic tension, and that will-they-won’t-they energy that kept me invested in their story. The slow burn was really well done and gave their relationship time to develop without ever feeling like the story was dragging. I also really enjoyed the competition between them and the fun challenges that came along with it. I kept finding myself smiling throughout!
The supporting characters were easy to love as well, and I quickly got invested in the whole friend group.
I couldn’t believe this was June Hawthorne’s first novel. The writing was beautiful, the characters were thoughtfully developed, and the pacing was perfect. Nothing felt rushed, and the story flowed naturally from beginning to end. This was an impressive start, and I have no doubt June has many more great books ahead of her. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series to see what’s in store for Clara!
The Shop Next Door was a fun and cute read! I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day.
Jessa has always excelled at everything she does. She graduates from university, lands a great job, and then decides to leave it behind to follow her dream of opening her own bookstore, a decision her parents don’t exactly support. On the day of her grand opening, she hears music coming from next door and discovers that Liam, her former best friend turned nemesis, is having the grand opening of his new gaming store and café on the very same day.
I loved Jessa and Liam together. They had great banter, lots of romantic tension, and that will-they-won’t-they energy that kept me invested in their story. The slow burn was really well done and gave their relationship time to develop without ever feeling like the story was dragging. I also really enjoyed the competition between them and the fun challenges that came along with it. I kept finding myself smiling throughout!
The supporting characters were easy to love as well, and I quickly got invested in the whole friend group.
I couldn’t believe this was June Hawthorne’s first novel. The writing was beautiful, the characters were thoughtfully developed, and the pacing was perfect. Nothing felt rushed, and the story flowed naturally from beginning to end. This was an impressive start, and I have no doubt June has many more great books ahead of her. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series to see what’s in store for Clara!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Actual rating = 4.5 stars. I wanted to read this book because it seemed like a cozy comfort read. It had all of the elements: small town, Main Street storefronts, childhood friends to enemies, everything needed for a sweet read. I was not prepared for the angst it would produce. As children, Liam and Jessa were inseparable but as they got older, Jessa’s family began to ignore her and heaping praise and admiration on Liam. Thus began Jessa and Liam’s lifelong competition to be the best. The only problem with that was that in reality, Jessa was the only one competing. Liam never saw Jessa as an adversary but as someone who made him better, who brought color into his life. Jessa’s anger and frustration with Liam stemmed directly from how unworthy she felt because her family always treated her like she wasn’t good enough. After she confronted them and got them to see she deserved their love and support, she was able to understand that her “hatred” of Liam was never really hatred at all but love. A love she was worthy of. It was a very good read and the reason I gave it 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because the entire book is in Jessa’s POV. I would’ve loved to have seen Liam’s POV , even just once. So many times you could tell how he was feeling by the looks he was giving Jessa but I am the type of person who wants, no needs to hear that inner monologue.
Tropes:
📚Small town
🎮 Childhood friends
📚 Enemies to lovers
🎮 Dueling store owners
📚 Family drama
🎮 Dual virgins
Tropes:
📚Small town
🎮 Childhood friends
📚 Enemies to lovers
🎮 Dueling store owners
📚 Family drama
🎮 Dual virgins
Review of advance copy received from Author
4/5
“Keep talking to me like that, and I might have to buy you dinner next time.”
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book.
This is a small town romance (MCs are in their early 20s). Friends to enemies to lovers. Book store versus a Game shop.
What I liked about this book was that it gives you that chick-flick early 2000s movie setting with an open door scene where they MCs are friends from when they were kids, and competed against each other in highschool, and then did not talk for x years, and then to Jessa’s surprise (FMC), Liam comes back into her life as her next door shop neighboor.
Growing up, I played a lot of video games. My friends and I would go to a computer rental shop and play RPG games with the owner, or other computer rental shop and just play together. The setting of Liam’s store being a game store (granted that it was different - with tablet top games, Pokemon cards) gave me that nostalgia of when I was in my teens.
I enjoyed Liam and Jessa annoying each other. Boy teasing girl, girl accepting challenge.
My favorite character would be Lily - because she makes awesome coffee and I hope she finds a significant other who she would dedicate a coffee to :)
If a small town, cozy, feel good contemporary love story that has feel good moments, cute banter is what you are looking for, you should give this book a shot.
“Keep talking to me like that, and I might have to buy you dinner next time.”
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book.
This is a small town romance (MCs are in their early 20s). Friends to enemies to lovers. Book store versus a Game shop.
What I liked about this book was that it gives you that chick-flick early 2000s movie setting with an open door scene where they MCs are friends from when they were kids, and competed against each other in highschool, and then did not talk for x years, and then to Jessa’s surprise (FMC), Liam comes back into her life as her next door shop neighboor.
Growing up, I played a lot of video games. My friends and I would go to a computer rental shop and play RPG games with the owner, or other computer rental shop and just play together. The setting of Liam’s store being a game store (granted that it was different - with tablet top games, Pokemon cards) gave me that nostalgia of when I was in my teens.
I enjoyed Liam and Jessa annoying each other. Boy teasing girl, girl accepting challenge.
My favorite character would be Lily - because she makes awesome coffee and I hope she finds a significant other who she would dedicate a coffee to :)
If a small town, cozy, feel good contemporary love story that has feel good moments, cute banter is what you are looking for, you should give this book a shot.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jessa Alden never imagined that the grand opening of her dream bookshop, The Prologue, would be ruined by a neighboring shop hosting its own grand opening on the very same day. Even worse? The owner of that obnoxiously loud gamer cafe turns out to be none other than Liam Ashford. Her former best friend. Her former rival. The only man who could ever make her heart race.
It's probably a good sign that I read this in less than a day, right? This was really fun! It has rivals to lovers written all over it and the banter between Jessa and Liam was just delicious.
Jessa opens a bookshop, I mean that is probably every bookgirlies dream, so I instantly loved her. She is battling some serious perfectionism issues, and you can't blame her with a family like hers. I need some words with Grandma! And when she finally embraces her imperfections and stands up for herself, you go girl!
It's kinda obvious from the start that Liam totally loves Jessa. The little things he teases her with relentlessly, adorable. I loved how he kept pushing her buttons and when you find out why he does it, it's cute and kinda painful at the same time. And I loved how patient he was with her, gave her all the time in the world to connect the dots. Massive green flag there.
This is the perfect book of you want an easy to read rom-com, think Hallmark, with some clueless but adorable young people eventually finding love. And if you are a perfectionist like Jessa, this might be a very healing story to read.
It's probably a good sign that I read this in less than a day, right? This was really fun! It has rivals to lovers written all over it and the banter between Jessa and Liam was just delicious.
Jessa opens a bookshop, I mean that is probably every bookgirlies dream, so I instantly loved her. She is battling some serious perfectionism issues, and you can't blame her with a family like hers. I need some words with Grandma! And when she finally embraces her imperfections and stands up for herself, you go girl!
It's kinda obvious from the start that Liam totally loves Jessa. The little things he teases her with relentlessly, adorable. I loved how he kept pushing her buttons and when you find out why he does it, it's cute and kinda painful at the same time. And I loved how patient he was with her, gave her all the time in the world to connect the dots. Massive green flag there.
This is the perfect book of you want an easy to read rom-com, think Hallmark, with some clueless but adorable young people eventually finding love. And if you are a perfectionist like Jessa, this might be a very healing story to read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you June for this advanced reader copy 🫶🏻
This book is a cute cozy romance between best friends to rivals to friends to lovers. I loved the banter between Jessa and Liam, and how much their lives intertwine. I was drawn to this because of the romance + rivalry aspects of this story. What I didn’t realize what I’d get was a ton of giggling and feelings of similarity to my life. I love Jessa’s character development in this book; as always, I love it when the FMCs build their confidence and they stand up for themselves. That is a theme that I will never tire of.
The entire time I was reading this, I kept thinking back to the cute, cozy hallmark romance movies I’d watch with my mom. This could definitely be made into a short netflix series with 30 minute episodes. Each episode could be a challenge, and the seasons could be each of the couples June has written/ will write about. It’s cute! Honestly, I think a lot of books are worthy of becoming a series on any platform because the way that I read books is that I imagine them like a show/ movie.
The Shop Next Door is a small read (227 pages) that will make you giggle and feel calm. It’s a simple love story with bits of Jessa’s character development. I definitely will recommend this for my cozy romance lovers. Spice level wise, it has a 🌶️🌶️
This book is a cute cozy romance between best friends to rivals to friends to lovers. I loved the banter between Jessa and Liam, and how much their lives intertwine. I was drawn to this because of the romance + rivalry aspects of this story. What I didn’t realize what I’d get was a ton of giggling and feelings of similarity to my life. I love Jessa’s character development in this book; as always, I love it when the FMCs build their confidence and they stand up for themselves. That is a theme that I will never tire of.
The entire time I was reading this, I kept thinking back to the cute, cozy hallmark romance movies I’d watch with my mom. This could definitely be made into a short netflix series with 30 minute episodes. Each episode could be a challenge, and the seasons could be each of the couples June has written/ will write about. It’s cute! Honestly, I think a lot of books are worthy of becoming a series on any platform because the way that I read books is that I imagine them like a show/ movie.
The Shop Next Door is a small read (227 pages) that will make you giggle and feel calm. It’s a simple love story with bits of Jessa’s character development. I definitely will recommend this for my cozy romance lovers. Spice level wise, it has a 🌶️🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the book.
This book is a little around 180 pages, but I found myself struggling to finish it. The pacing was good up until maybe the last 4 chapters. At that point, they went from not talking to making up, saying their first "I love you's" and having sex. Mind you, on one page, Jessa's "I love you" slips out and two pages later she's on her knees giving Liam a blowjob. Because the sex scenes felt rushed, I think the story would have actually worked better without them. The author could have left it as a heavy make out session with a fade to black.
I was also rolling my eyes by page 3 when Jessa discovers her childhood best friend turn rival opened up a gaming cafe right next door to her bookstore. Jessa was under the impression that the store next door was vacant. You’re right next door and you didn’t hear or see ANY construction the whole time? I had new condos go up across the street and you definitely see and hear them building.
This is a minor critique, but I got a bit annoyed with the author's writing style because she liked to start her sentences with “that”. For example, “That was how it had always been.” “That fact never stopped me from reaching, though.”“That fact didn’t seem to bother Liam in the slightest.”
Overall, I would skip this book.
This book is a little around 180 pages, but I found myself struggling to finish it. The pacing was good up until maybe the last 4 chapters. At that point, they went from not talking to making up, saying their first "I love you's" and having sex. Mind you, on one page, Jessa's "I love you" slips out and two pages later she's on her knees giving Liam a blowjob. Because the sex scenes felt rushed, I think the story would have actually worked better without them. The author could have left it as a heavy make out session with a fade to black.
I was also rolling my eyes by page 3 when Jessa discovers her childhood best friend turn rival opened up a gaming cafe right next door to her bookstore. Jessa was under the impression that the store next door was vacant. You’re right next door and you didn’t hear or see ANY construction the whole time? I had new condos go up across the street and you definitely see and hear them building.
This is a minor critique, but I got a bit annoyed with the author's writing style because she liked to start her sentences with “that”. For example, “That was how it had always been.” “That fact never stopped me from reaching, though.”“That fact didn’t seem to bother Liam in the slightest.”
Overall, I would skip this book.
September 7, 2026
Title: The Shop Next Door
Author: June Hawthorn
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 🌶️🌶️
Thank you to the author for the gifted eARC! My review and thoughts are my own.
I flew through this sweet and funny small town rivals-to-lovers story! I was expecting a light, sweet rom-com story, and while that was certainly part of it I was not prepared to tear up with Jessa when she is in her grandma's garden.
Jessa has felt like she has to prove her worth to get acceptance in her family, school, sports, etc - and she tried to accomplish that by being the best at whatever she did. This led to a rivalry with her childhood best friend that involved a lot of achievement competition, but also Jessa feeling no matter how much she did she still fell short of a line only she could see. The scene where all of these feelings of inadequacy and insecurity overwhelm her hit me so hard. But I also loved how Liam responded. His perception of their history of competitiveness was much healthy and secure than Jessa's - but that scene is where he realizes just how differently they felt about it.
I enjoyed the banter, the shift in how Jessa feels about Liam, and the ways they start to be a team as opposed to rivals. Overall, this was a quick and fun read that I recommend to anyone looking for a cosy romance that may get you in the feels!
Author: June Hawthorn
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 🌶️🌶️
Thank you to the author for the gifted eARC! My review and thoughts are my own.
I flew through this sweet and funny small town rivals-to-lovers story! I was expecting a light, sweet rom-com story, and while that was certainly part of it I was not prepared to tear up with Jessa when she is in her grandma's garden.
Jessa has felt like she has to prove her worth to get acceptance in her family, school, sports, etc - and she tried to accomplish that by being the best at whatever she did. This led to a rivalry with her childhood best friend that involved a lot of achievement competition, but also Jessa feeling no matter how much she did she still fell short of a line only she could see. The scene where all of these feelings of inadequacy and insecurity overwhelm her hit me so hard. But I also loved how Liam responded. His perception of their history of competitiveness was much healthy and secure than Jessa's - but that scene is where he realizes just how differently they felt about it.
I enjoyed the banter, the shift in how Jessa feels about Liam, and the ways they start to be a team as opposed to rivals. Overall, this was a quick and fun read that I recommend to anyone looking for a cosy romance that may get you in the feels!
October 10, 2026
The Shop Next Door by June Hawthorn is such a gorgeous story, and honestly, what a journey it took me on! ❤️
Going through life alongside Jessa had me experiencing every emotion imaginable. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and at times I felt like I was right there beside her, feeling everything as she felt it. I love it when an author can make you connect so deeply with a character that their happiness becomes your happiness and their heartbreak genuinely hurts.
Jessa's family, including her grandmother, made me so sad at times. There was something heartbreaking about those relationships, and I found myself feeling so much for Jessa and everything she had to navigate.
And then there's Liam! Honestly, the relationship between Jessa and Liam is one of the most amazing ones I've read in a while. Their connection was so special, and I absolutely loved the competition throughout the book. It added such a wonderful element to the story and had me completely invested in seeing how everything would unfold.
This book gave me everything I love in a story: beautiful characters, emotional depth, relationships that make your heart ache and moments that make you smile. I finished it feeling like I'd been on a journey with Jessa, and I genuinely didn't want it to end.
A gorgeous, heartfelt read that has well and truly stolen a little piece of my heart.
Going through life alongside Jessa had me experiencing every emotion imaginable. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and at times I felt like I was right there beside her, feeling everything as she felt it. I love it when an author can make you connect so deeply with a character that their happiness becomes your happiness and their heartbreak genuinely hurts.
Jessa's family, including her grandmother, made me so sad at times. There was something heartbreaking about those relationships, and I found myself feeling so much for Jessa and everything she had to navigate.
And then there's Liam! Honestly, the relationship between Jessa and Liam is one of the most amazing ones I've read in a while. Their connection was so special, and I absolutely loved the competition throughout the book. It added such a wonderful element to the story and had me completely invested in seeing how everything would unfold.
This book gave me everything I love in a story: beautiful characters, emotional depth, relationships that make your heart ache and moments that make you smile. I finished it feeling like I'd been on a journey with Jessa, and I genuinely didn't want it to end.
A gorgeous, heartfelt read that has well and truly stolen a little piece of my heart.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely love a book that can bring me to tears and The Shop Next Door brought me to tears in the best kind of way. It was definitely one of those cries you didn't know you needed to cry, but heals something inside of you and makes you feel so much better at the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Jessa and Liam through their journey, in fact I was hooked from their very first interaction they had in the Galaxy Gamers Cafe. They had such great chemistry between their banter and competitiveness throughout the book. It really put into prospective several times just how much they truly knew each other and gave us a very good look into their past. I loved seeing the growth and development for each of them.
This book also had a ton of other characters that I enjoyed getting to know. Lily had an amazing attitude and a ton of energy. It was always fun hearing what her next drink creation was. Clara seemed really sweet, friendly, and creative. Especially when it came to her baking. Val was very inclusive and welcoming. They really helped bring Rosewood Avenue to life.
So if you like cozy small town love stories, developing community, finding friendship, rivalry that pushes everyone involved to grow and be their best, then I would definitely recommend this book to you.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Jessa and Liam through their journey, in fact I was hooked from their very first interaction they had in the Galaxy Gamers Cafe. They had such great chemistry between their banter and competitiveness throughout the book. It really put into prospective several times just how much they truly knew each other and gave us a very good look into their past. I loved seeing the growth and development for each of them.
This book also had a ton of other characters that I enjoyed getting to know. Lily had an amazing attitude and a ton of energy. It was always fun hearing what her next drink creation was. Clara seemed really sweet, friendly, and creative. Especially when it came to her baking. Val was very inclusive and welcoming. They really helped bring Rosewood Avenue to life.
So if you like cozy small town love stories, developing community, finding friendship, rivalry that pushes everyone involved to grow and be their best, then I would definitely recommend this book to you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The PERFECT cozy rivals to lovers crack you need in your life.
MUST READ if you like cozy, light stories with witty banter and yearning to the max. Also great as a palette cleanser or casual read. (Except you’ll be addicted so there will be nothing casual about it lolol)
Need more convincing? 👇
I seriously can’t get enough of Jessa + Liam. The Shop Next Door has such a good blend of humor, pining/yearning to the max, cozy, AND romcom vibes. Like my cheeks were hurting because of how hard I was grinning for the majority of the book.
Don’t get me wrong, there is obviously some low stakes drama and conflict but it’s tastefully done to progress the story meaningfully and I enjoyed every single moment of the bittersweet torture.
Jessa’s character arc was super gratifying and the motifs woven throughout the story added the perfect depth to keep me engaged and rooting for the lovebirds. Liam was top tier golden retriever MMC. I love the HEA and how funny The Prologue's staff are. Many of the side characters were super sweet and apparently have their own stories so I’m excited to read more in this world. I will also 1000% be reading anything June puts out. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this early.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
MUST READ if you like cozy, light stories with witty banter and yearning to the max. Also great as a palette cleanser or casual read. (Except you’ll be addicted so there will be nothing casual about it lolol)
Need more convincing? 👇
I seriously can’t get enough of Jessa + Liam. The Shop Next Door has such a good blend of humor, pining/yearning to the max, cozy, AND romcom vibes. Like my cheeks were hurting because of how hard I was grinning for the majority of the book.
Don’t get me wrong, there is obviously some low stakes drama and conflict but it’s tastefully done to progress the story meaningfully and I enjoyed every single moment of the bittersweet torture.
Jessa’s character arc was super gratifying and the motifs woven throughout the story added the perfect depth to keep me engaged and rooting for the lovebirds. Liam was top tier golden retriever MMC. I love the HEA and how funny The Prologue's staff are. Many of the side characters were super sweet and apparently have their own stories so I’m excited to read more in this world. I will also 1000% be reading anything June puts out. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this early.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
August 23, 2026
If you want a romance that has:
🩷A completely oblivious Bookshop Owner
🩷A man who YEARNS and is oh so patient
🩷Rivals-to-Lovers
🩷Slow Burn
🩷Perfect Amount of Spice
Then The Shop Next Door is for you.
It follows Jessa, the owner of the newly opened bookshop “The Prologue” (honestly wish I’d though of that cute name already for the dream bookshop I wish I could own 😉) and her former Best Friend turned rival Liam who opens a gaming cafe on the EXACT SAME DAY as her bookshop. And of course, they are rivals so what do they do? Compete to see who will stay open because Jessa wants Liam GONE.
Well of course best laid plans and all that turn these rivals to lovers and in the sweetest ways. It’s hard to not write spoilers but the romance of this was perfect. It’s sweet, and fluffy and warms the heart.
It also sometimes makes you want to pull Jessa out of the pages and shake her because GIRL OPEN YOUR EYES YOU STUBBORN WOMAN!!! I think this was something I thoroughly enjoyed about this book was being so frustrated with the FMC. There was even a place where I noted that she was a little mean…something I can sometimes have a hard time getting over. But once you see why she is the way she is, it makes a little more sense and then as the reader you just want to go hug her.
Liam is just the most patient man ever. You can tell almost immediately that this man loves Jessa and he would literally do anything for her. It’s a beautiful thing to watch from the sidelines. And when he finally stopped taking her crap…🤩!!! Amazing!
I am so glad I was gifted this free arc so I could happily give this review. I will definitely be getting a copy for my shelves because this will be a comfort reread for years to come.
🩷A completely oblivious Bookshop Owner
🩷A man who YEARNS and is oh so patient
🩷Rivals-to-Lovers
🩷Slow Burn
🩷Perfect Amount of Spice
Then The Shop Next Door is for you.
It follows Jessa, the owner of the newly opened bookshop “The Prologue” (honestly wish I’d though of that cute name already for the dream bookshop I wish I could own 😉) and her former Best Friend turned rival Liam who opens a gaming cafe on the EXACT SAME DAY as her bookshop. And of course, they are rivals so what do they do? Compete to see who will stay open because Jessa wants Liam GONE.
Well of course best laid plans and all that turn these rivals to lovers and in the sweetest ways. It’s hard to not write spoilers but the romance of this was perfect. It’s sweet, and fluffy and warms the heart.
It also sometimes makes you want to pull Jessa out of the pages and shake her because GIRL OPEN YOUR EYES YOU STUBBORN WOMAN!!! I think this was something I thoroughly enjoyed about this book was being so frustrated with the FMC. There was even a place where I noted that she was a little mean…something I can sometimes have a hard time getting over. But once you see why she is the way she is, it makes a little more sense and then as the reader you just want to go hug her.
Liam is just the most patient man ever. You can tell almost immediately that this man loves Jessa and he would literally do anything for her. It’s a beautiful thing to watch from the sidelines. And when he finally stopped taking her crap…🤩!!! Amazing!
I am so glad I was gifted this free arc so I could happily give this review. I will definitely be getting a copy for my shelves because this will be a comfort reread for years to come.
August 28, 2026
I flew through this book, ended up reading it in about 6 hours.
It's a cute small town romance with a bookstore and gaming cafe (which is a new concept to me) and had the funniest banter between Jessa and Liam, who were sorta enemies turned business neighbors. Jessa is a perfectionist who wants everything to go her way and has to prove that she can do it all on her own which really hit home. As a perfectionist, and a competitive person, reading about their bets really let me lean into the idea of picturing myself in this book.
The quality of writing, especially for a debut novel, was phenomenal. I had the chance to beta read this book as well as an advanced copy and both versions were close to perfect right off the bat. June really knew how to write a slow-burn that had me questioning if they were even going to get together in this book or if I'd have to wait for her next book to come out to finish their love story. The characters all had depth and their own personalities, you could tell they weren't written just to have another character. Each person was important to the story.
It's a cute small town romance with a bookstore and gaming cafe (which is a new concept to me) and had the funniest banter between Jessa and Liam, who were sorta enemies turned business neighbors. Jessa is a perfectionist who wants everything to go her way and has to prove that she can do it all on her own which really hit home. As a perfectionist, and a competitive person, reading about their bets really let me lean into the idea of picturing myself in this book.
The quality of writing, especially for a debut novel, was phenomenal. I had the chance to beta read this book as well as an advanced copy and both versions were close to perfect right off the bat. June really knew how to write a slow-burn that had me questioning if they were even going to get together in this book or if I'd have to wait for her next book to come out to finish their love story. The characters all had depth and their own personalities, you could tell they weren't written just to have another character. Each person was important to the story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks to the author for an advance copy of this book.
The Shop Next Door is a cute, cozy romance that I blew right through. It follows Jessa and Liam, childhood friends-turned-rivals. Jessa follows her dreams and opens a bookshop, only to discover that Liam has opened a gaming cafe right next door. Will Jessa ever stop feeling like she’s one step behind?
I wanted to sit Jessa down and be like, GIRL. Why are you so mad at him? Both of the MCs were extremely frustrating — those walls couldn’t have been any higher, and instead of having an adult conversation, they continued to annoy one another. On purpose. It did make me laugh that everyone in town saw their relationship coming before they did. Because of course when your relationship has been a certain way for so many years, you have a really hard time seeing any alternative.
💕 Small town
📚 Childhood friends to rivals to lovers
💕 The slowest burn
📚 It’s always been you
💕 Black cat x golden retriever
Overall, this was a cute, short palate cleanser with low stakes and rivals-to-lovers angst. Happy reading!
The Shop Next Door is a cute, cozy romance that I blew right through. It follows Jessa and Liam, childhood friends-turned-rivals. Jessa follows her dreams and opens a bookshop, only to discover that Liam has opened a gaming cafe right next door. Will Jessa ever stop feeling like she’s one step behind?
I wanted to sit Jessa down and be like, GIRL. Why are you so mad at him? Both of the MCs were extremely frustrating — those walls couldn’t have been any higher, and instead of having an adult conversation, they continued to annoy one another. On purpose. It did make me laugh that everyone in town saw their relationship coming before they did. Because of course when your relationship has been a certain way for so many years, you have a really hard time seeing any alternative.
💕 Small town
📚 Childhood friends to rivals to lovers
💕 The slowest burn
📚 It’s always been you
💕 Black cat x golden retriever
Overall, this was a cute, short palate cleanser with low stakes and rivals-to-lovers angst. Happy reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2026
4.25
📚 ARC Review 🎮
"In all the books that I had ever read, love was meant to be magical. It was meant to be warm and freeing. But love, for me, felt terrifying."
This book is SO cute! I love a competition. And with a bookstore vs a video game store? Adding on that one has much better coffee? Oh yeah! I'm there!
This was such a fun, banter filled book. It has a slow burn and I loved how the tension just kept building.
Their history of being really competitive in school really hit home and I felt a kinship with both of them. Could they both please win!?!? 🤣
I was SO excited to see that this little town is going to be revisited in an upcoming book! It's kind of like a central road Gilmore-Girl style with neighbor-businesses who know each other and support the local community. I can't wait to read more about this neighborhood! 🤓
If you like competition with surreptitious motives, romantic tension, or want a cute book to sit by the fire reading this fall, you may like this book.
It was a bit spicy at times. 🌶️
📚 ARC Review 🎮
"In all the books that I had ever read, love was meant to be magical. It was meant to be warm and freeing. But love, for me, felt terrifying."
This book is SO cute! I love a competition. And with a bookstore vs a video game store? Adding on that one has much better coffee? Oh yeah! I'm there!
This was such a fun, banter filled book. It has a slow burn and I loved how the tension just kept building.
Their history of being really competitive in school really hit home and I felt a kinship with both of them. Could they both please win!?!? 🤣
I was SO excited to see that this little town is going to be revisited in an upcoming book! It's kind of like a central road Gilmore-Girl style with neighbor-businesses who know each other and support the local community. I can't wait to read more about this neighborhood! 🤓
If you like competition with surreptitious motives, romantic tension, or want a cute book to sit by the fire reading this fall, you may like this book.
It was a bit spicy at times. 🌶️
Read
August 29, 2026Thank you to June for allowing me an early read for this amazing book.
Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I picked up this book thinking it would just be a nice small town enemies to lovers romance. I didn't expect to absolutely fall in love with these characters and feel so attached. I would read this book over and over. The banter between these two was so perfect and it's cute and just refreshing, it was a cozy quick read that really draws you in and keeps your attention.
Jessa the perfectionist really pulls you in with her just wanting everything to go right and for her family to approve of her dreams. She felt so real and while reading you could really feel her anxieties and stress. She was so relatable and it was nice to see this kind of character written so well.
And Liam, I loved Liam, you could really tell he just liked being around Jessa and their "rivalry" was so playful and fun but also emotional. Liam was so patient with Jessa and understanding which was just really nice to read.
Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I picked up this book thinking it would just be a nice small town enemies to lovers romance. I didn't expect to absolutely fall in love with these characters and feel so attached. I would read this book over and over. The banter between these two was so perfect and it's cute and just refreshing, it was a cozy quick read that really draws you in and keeps your attention.
Jessa the perfectionist really pulls you in with her just wanting everything to go right and for her family to approve of her dreams. She felt so real and while reading you could really feel her anxieties and stress. She was so relatable and it was nice to see this kind of character written so well.
And Liam, I loved Liam, you could really tell he just liked being around Jessa and their "rivalry" was so playful and fun but also emotional. Liam was so patient with Jessa and understanding which was just really nice to read.
September 5, 2026
June is a new author to me, but she’s definitely gained a new fan. I love a nice slow burn, the kind where you can feel the tension simmering under every interaction, and this book had all of that. Jessa and Liam’s history gives every moment that will they/won't they vibe that I love. The challenges and their rivalry history, and now adding in the bookstore and the gamer café, made the whole book even more fun.
My only true complaint of the book was that I'm not sure why Jessa couldn't pick up on the vibes from Liam that he was ready for more, and then when she finally figured it out, she ran, and that theme got a little dragged out. I did like bringing in the drama with her family and, by the end, making her be more vocal and sticking up for what she wanted.
Overall, this is a nice fun quick read, makes you want to visit the two stores and wander around Rosewood Avenue.
Thank you to June Hawthorn for the ARC
My only true complaint of the book was that I'm not sure why Jessa couldn't pick up on the vibes from Liam that he was ready for more, and then when she finally figured it out, she ran, and that theme got a little dragged out. I did like bringing in the drama with her family and, by the end, making her be more vocal and sticking up for what she wanted.
Overall, this is a nice fun quick read, makes you want to visit the two stores and wander around Rosewood Avenue.
Thank you to June Hawthorn for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am very grateful to have received an ARC copy of this book.
I overall did enjoy this book. It was a cutesy friends to rivals to lovers story. There were a couple deeper conversations in there that made me a bit emotional that I wasn't quite expecting. They were not of place and the main backstory is established very early on with pieces here and there without.
I personally wish it was a bit longer and that each of their competitions that they held had a bit more depth to them and maybe caused a bit more conflict. I won't say that the relationship was rushed because it wasn't but I wish it was just a bit more of a slow burn. Again, that is all a personal wish.
June wrote a beautifully written romance novel that does contain some spice. I would read it again and I will most likely read more of her work as well.
I overall did enjoy this book. It was a cutesy friends to rivals to lovers story. There were a couple deeper conversations in there that made me a bit emotional that I wasn't quite expecting. They were not of place and the main backstory is established very early on with pieces here and there without.
I personally wish it was a bit longer and that each of their competitions that they held had a bit more depth to them and maybe caused a bit more conflict. I won't say that the relationship was rushed because it wasn't but I wish it was just a bit more of a slow burn. Again, that is all a personal wish.
June wrote a beautifully written romance novel that does contain some spice. I would read it again and I will most likely read more of her work as well.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A small town, competing shops, a rivalry, and a childhood history- say. less. June Hawthorn does it again with The Shop Next Door. I really enjoyed Sweet On You but a book about a woman following her dreams by owning her own bookstore, reconnecting with her childhood friend and rival, AND discovering what it means to love and be loved… I swoon! I am fully invested in Rosewood Avenue and can not wait to return.
Liam and Jess are two soul who live for the competition. Will top of their class translates into top of their businesses or will they let the competition ruin a lifelong relationship.
If you love a story of friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, a woman learning her worth, and a singel POV, with a smattering (the perfect amount for this yearning) of spice, this is a great addition to your list of books to read.
Liam and Jess are two soul who live for the competition. Will top of their class translates into top of their businesses or will they let the competition ruin a lifelong relationship.
If you love a story of friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, a woman learning her worth, and a singel POV, with a smattering (the perfect amount for this yearning) of spice, this is a great addition to your list of books to read.
September 3, 2026
This was a really cute dislike to like rom com story.
Jessa and Liam have known each other their whole life and have been rivals for most of that time, always competing against each other for awards, recognition, attention.
They end up each opening a business just next door to the other, Jessa opens a bookstore, Liam opens a game cafe and now cue the tension! They agree to a competition to allow the best business to stay while the other one relocates once the year lease is up and this is achieved through a variety of competition tasks.
This was a cute story with lots of banter and tension between the MC’s and made for an enjoyable read. The backstory with Jessa’s family provides some emotional depth and clarity in how she feels the way she does.
I received an advanced copy from the author and I am leaving a review voluntarily.
Jessa and Liam have known each other their whole life and have been rivals for most of that time, always competing against each other for awards, recognition, attention.
They end up each opening a business just next door to the other, Jessa opens a bookstore, Liam opens a game cafe and now cue the tension! They agree to a competition to allow the best business to stay while the other one relocates once the year lease is up and this is achieved through a variety of competition tasks.
This was a cute story with lots of banter and tension between the MC’s and made for an enjoyable read. The backstory with Jessa’s family provides some emotional depth and clarity in how she feels the way she does.
I received an advanced copy from the author and I am leaving a review voluntarily.
September 4, 2026
Review of an Advanced Reader Copy from the Author
I’m so thankful that I was on the ARC Review Team for this!
I felt like I went into this book not knowing exactly where it would end up. However, as I was reading, I felt like it was getting a little harder to get through, and then it was over! Things happened very quickly towards the end. I wish that it had been maybe spread out a bit more throughout the book. However, I did enjoy the different challenges that each of them had to go through, so that was super fun to read throughout. I understand not having self-esteem, but I think that Jesse’s lack of self-esteem took away from the book sometimes. I also don’t think that a man needs to intervene all the time in things, especially with family, but that’s just me! It was a cute and cozy read, but I’m not sure if it is one that I would pick up again. Enjoy your reading!
I’m so thankful that I was on the ARC Review Team for this!
I felt like I went into this book not knowing exactly where it would end up. However, as I was reading, I felt like it was getting a little harder to get through, and then it was over! Things happened very quickly towards the end. I wish that it had been maybe spread out a bit more throughout the book. However, I did enjoy the different challenges that each of them had to go through, so that was super fun to read throughout. I understand not having self-esteem, but I think that Jesse’s lack of self-esteem took away from the book sometimes. I also don’t think that a man needs to intervene all the time in things, especially with family, but that’s just me! It was a cute and cozy read, but I’m not sure if it is one that I would pick up again. Enjoy your reading!
September 15, 2026
A strong debut
A bookshop, a small town, and an old rival - that’s the setup for The Shop Next Door.
This was a lovely debut contemporary romance. It focuses on the relationship between Jessa and Liam, former best friends turned rivals, who wind up opening shops next to each other on the same day. The rivalry is about so much more than beating Liam for Jessa - it’s about the love of her family and validating herself.
This is a slow burn romance with elements of childhood friends to lovers - seeing someone familiar as a potential love interest for the first time. There’s plenty of cute moments between the two and the spice does heat up to open door.
The story does deal with expectations of family and self, and there’s some emotional baggage to work through.
All up, this was a fun debut that will make for an easy read for fans of contemporary romance.
A bookshop, a small town, and an old rival - that’s the setup for The Shop Next Door.
This was a lovely debut contemporary romance. It focuses on the relationship between Jessa and Liam, former best friends turned rivals, who wind up opening shops next to each other on the same day. The rivalry is about so much more than beating Liam for Jessa - it’s about the love of her family and validating herself.
This is a slow burn romance with elements of childhood friends to lovers - seeing someone familiar as a potential love interest for the first time. There’s plenty of cute moments between the two and the spice does heat up to open door.
The story does deal with expectations of family and self, and there’s some emotional baggage to work through.
All up, this was a fun debut that will make for an easy read for fans of contemporary romance.
September 20, 2026
I absolutely loved The Shop Next Door! For a debut novel, June Hawthorn has created such a beautifully written, heartfelt story with characters that completely pulled me in.
I especially loved Jessa and Liam. Their story had all the right emotions—sweet, complicated, funny, and touching—and I found myself genuinely invested in them and rooting for them along the way. The characters felt so real and easy to connect with, which made it that much harder to put the book down.
There’s just something special about a book that makes you care about its characters long after you’ve finished the last page, and The Shop Next Door definitely did that for me.
What an incredible debut! I can’t wait to see what June Hawthorn writes next. 💕📚
I especially loved Jessa and Liam. Their story had all the right emotions—sweet, complicated, funny, and touching—and I found myself genuinely invested in them and rooting for them along the way. The characters felt so real and easy to connect with, which made it that much harder to put the book down.
There’s just something special about a book that makes you care about its characters long after you’ve finished the last page, and The Shop Next Door definitely did that for me.
What an incredible debut! I can’t wait to see what June Hawthorn writes next. 💕📚
Review of advance copy received from Author
My first ARC review!
The Shop Next Door was such a cute, cozy, and easy romance to get through. It completely pulled me in, and I ended up reading it all in one day.
The chemistry was sweet, the story flowed well, and it was the perfect light read when you’re looking for something that doesn’t feel too heavy.
My biggest wish is that we had gotten Liam’s POV. I kept wanting to know what he was thinking, and I honestly think having his perspective would have made me even more invested in the romance and their relationship.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, heartwarming romance that I’d definitely recommend if you’re in the mood for a quick, feel-good read
The Shop Next Door was such a cute, cozy, and easy romance to get through. It completely pulled me in, and I ended up reading it all in one day.
The chemistry was sweet, the story flowed well, and it was the perfect light read when you’re looking for something that doesn’t feel too heavy.
My biggest wish is that we had gotten Liam’s POV. I kept wanting to know what he was thinking, and I honestly think having his perspective would have made me even more invested in the romance and their relationship.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, heartwarming romance that I’d definitely recommend if you’re in the mood for a quick, feel-good read
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was drawn to this book because it seemed like a cute, charming rom-com (à la Hallmark channel) and I was right. There is a lot to appreciate in this book. The Prologue feels like a place where I would love to spend whole days.
It runs the gamut of friends to rivals to lovers, which I think is always fun. I found some of Jessa’s character development a tad slow, but it didn’t really deter from my overall enjoyment.
This is a quick and easy read (I finished it in less than 24 hours) for anyone looking for a feel-good romance.
Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.
It runs the gamut of friends to rivals to lovers, which I think is always fun. I found some of Jessa’s character development a tad slow, but it didn’t really deter from my overall enjoyment.
This is a quick and easy read (I finished it in less than 24 hours) for anyone looking for a feel-good romance.
Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.
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