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Still the Boy Next Door
After fleeing her abusive partner, Adrienne steals away in the night with her daughter, returning to the home and religion that cast her out—only to face a new threat when her ex reveals just how possessive he can be.
Turns out some things never change. Her mother is still a bitch who wields her cross like a weapon. With nowhere else to turn, she must rely on the childhood best friend, Simon, who once broke her heart—and the only man she’s never let go. Now he’s offering help she didn’t ask for and stirring feelings she never truly buried. But her ex is relentless, cutting off her escape and endangering their child’s life.
As the past collides with the present, Adrienne must decide whether love is a risk she can afford—or one she can no longer avoid before her ex comes to make the decision for her.
Turns out some things never change. Her mother is still a bitch who wields her cross like a weapon. With nowhere else to turn, she must rely on the childhood best friend, Simon, who once broke her heart—and the only man she’s never let go. Now he’s offering help she didn’t ask for and stirring feelings she never truly buried. But her ex is relentless, cutting off her escape and endangering their child’s life.
As the past collides with the present, Adrienne must decide whether love is a risk she can afford—or one she can no longer avoid before her ex comes to make the decision for her.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 31, 2026
“You’re too good for me, Simon.”
“No. I’m just good for you. And you’re good for me.”
Thank you to Nook & Fable and S.R. Hawkins for the e-ARC and physical copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am in tears right now. The last 20% of this book just hit different. The lasting impact is a hard pill to swallow right now, especially as someone with mommy issues and religious trauma. When I tell you that this story captured those feelings so well, I mean it.
Which brings me to say—S.R. Hawkins, you are such a strong woman, and I hope you are so proud of your work. Thank you for bringing in so much representation and awareness, even though it meant having to be vulnerable. As hard as it is to share your story and put yourself out there, I hope writing this helped you, because it sure did help me feel less alone.
That being said, I am so grateful that this story gave us many chapters of aftercare. I feel like a lot of people forget that healing is such an important process that needs to happen, even if it hurts. My heart goes out to all the domestic violence survivors. Even though I myself haven't been through that, I can't imagine how horrible it feels to be hurt and told that you are not enough. You are more than enough.
On a softer note, I think the connection between Simon and Adrienne was beautiful. Although, I do wish we had felt the yearning and chemistry a bit more at the start of the book, I still think the way their relationship developed toward the end was great. The writing style was pretty straightforward, which I find a bit harder to read since I enjoy a more lyrical type of writing style, but this wasn't bad by any means. I still enjoyed it and was able to picture the entire story in my head.
I am very grateful to have been able to ARC read this story, and I mean my first message wholeheartedly.
(Please check the trigger warnings before reading this book.)
“No. I’m just good for you. And you’re good for me.”
Thank you to Nook & Fable and S.R. Hawkins for the e-ARC and physical copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am in tears right now. The last 20% of this book just hit different. The lasting impact is a hard pill to swallow right now, especially as someone with mommy issues and religious trauma. When I tell you that this story captured those feelings so well, I mean it.
Which brings me to say—S.R. Hawkins, you are such a strong woman, and I hope you are so proud of your work. Thank you for bringing in so much representation and awareness, even though it meant having to be vulnerable. As hard as it is to share your story and put yourself out there, I hope writing this helped you, because it sure did help me feel less alone.
That being said, I am so grateful that this story gave us many chapters of aftercare. I feel like a lot of people forget that healing is such an important process that needs to happen, even if it hurts. My heart goes out to all the domestic violence survivors. Even though I myself haven't been through that, I can't imagine how horrible it feels to be hurt and told that you are not enough. You are more than enough.
On a softer note, I think the connection between Simon and Adrienne was beautiful. Although, I do wish we had felt the yearning and chemistry a bit more at the start of the book, I still think the way their relationship developed toward the end was great. The writing style was pretty straightforward, which I find a bit harder to read since I enjoy a more lyrical type of writing style, but this wasn't bad by any means. I still enjoyed it and was able to picture the entire story in my head.
I am very grateful to have been able to ARC read this story, and I mean my first message wholeheartedly.
(Please check the trigger warnings before reading this book.)
August 31, 2026
Still the Boy Next Door completely pulled at my heart. Adrienne’s journey from surviving to finally rebuilding a life for herself and her daughter was emotional, heartbreaking, and so beautifully handled. I loved watching her rediscover her strength while navigating complicated family relationships, her faith, and the danger that still followed her.
Adrienne and Simon’s second-chance romance had me rooting for them from the beginning, but sweet little Lila absolutely stole the show. The missed letters, years of buried feelings, and tender moments made their story impossible to put down. This was a powerful story about healing, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the love—and life—you always deserved.
Adrienne and Simon’s second-chance romance had me rooting for them from the beginning, but sweet little Lila absolutely stole the show. The missed letters, years of buried feelings, and tender moments made their story impossible to put down. This was a powerful story about healing, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the love—and life—you always deserved.
September 2, 2026
I almost didn’t read Still the Boy Next Door. Contemporary romance is already outside of my usual reading comfort zone, and after reading the synopsis, I was worried this story might hit a little too close to home. I was afraid it would leave me feeling more uncomfortable than anything else.
I am so incredibly glad I read it anyway. This ended up being one of my very few six-star reads of the year.
While I enjoyed the romance, Adrienne was the real heart of this book for me. Her story is ultimately one of survival. She found the courage to leave Gabriel, did what she needed to do to get herself and her daughter out, and, just as importantly, found the strength to stay gone. I appreciated that the book didn’t make leaving feel simple just because Adrienne managed to do it. Her support system was small and imperfect, but it existed, and she was able to reach for it when she needed it.
There was something unexpectedly healing for me in reading Adrienne’s story. Some of us don’t have the circumstances, resources, or support that make escape possible, and some will never get to leave our own Gabriel. So even knowing Adrienne is fictional, getting to watch a woman in that position make it out and build a life beyond what was done to her affected me far more deeply than I expected. Her story may be fictional, but there are countless women whose lives mirror pieces of it.
Adrienne’s relationship with her mother hit painfully close to home too. I thought S.R. Hawkins portrayed that kind of complicated parent-child relationship incredibly well, especially the conflict that comes with becoming a parent yourself. There’s this tension between knowing how deeply someone has hurt you and still wanting your child to have the normal, loving family relationships you wish you could give them. The guilt, obligation, hope, disappointment, and difficulty of deciding where those boundaries belong all felt painfully authentic.
The religious elements were handled just as thoughtfully. The judgment Adrienne faces, the way religion can become tangled with family and community expectations, and the pressure placed on someone already trying to survive were portrayed with a realism that genuinely made me stop at times. None of these parts of her life exist neatly on their own. They overlap and compound one another, which is part of what made her situation feel so real.
And that is ultimately why the happily ever after meant so much to me. It wasn’t simply about Adrienne ending up with Simon. It was about seeing someone with so many things working against her still get to have an after. A life beyond Gabriel. A life beyond her mother’s judgment. A life beyond what her community expected from her. A life where she could be safe, loved, and choose what came next for herself.
Sometimes a happily ever after is more than a romance. Sometimes it’s getting out. Sometimes it’s staying gone. Sometimes it’s discovering that what happened to you does not have to be the end of your story.
Six stars. Without question.
Thank you so much to S.R. Hawkins and Nook and Fable Media for gifting me this copy to read. I’m crying all over again writing this. lol
I am so incredibly glad I read it anyway. This ended up being one of my very few six-star reads of the year.
While I enjoyed the romance, Adrienne was the real heart of this book for me. Her story is ultimately one of survival. She found the courage to leave Gabriel, did what she needed to do to get herself and her daughter out, and, just as importantly, found the strength to stay gone. I appreciated that the book didn’t make leaving feel simple just because Adrienne managed to do it. Her support system was small and imperfect, but it existed, and she was able to reach for it when she needed it.
There was something unexpectedly healing for me in reading Adrienne’s story. Some of us don’t have the circumstances, resources, or support that make escape possible, and some will never get to leave our own Gabriel. So even knowing Adrienne is fictional, getting to watch a woman in that position make it out and build a life beyond what was done to her affected me far more deeply than I expected. Her story may be fictional, but there are countless women whose lives mirror pieces of it.
Adrienne’s relationship with her mother hit painfully close to home too. I thought S.R. Hawkins portrayed that kind of complicated parent-child relationship incredibly well, especially the conflict that comes with becoming a parent yourself. There’s this tension between knowing how deeply someone has hurt you and still wanting your child to have the normal, loving family relationships you wish you could give them. The guilt, obligation, hope, disappointment, and difficulty of deciding where those boundaries belong all felt painfully authentic.
The religious elements were handled just as thoughtfully. The judgment Adrienne faces, the way religion can become tangled with family and community expectations, and the pressure placed on someone already trying to survive were portrayed with a realism that genuinely made me stop at times. None of these parts of her life exist neatly on their own. They overlap and compound one another, which is part of what made her situation feel so real.
And that is ultimately why the happily ever after meant so much to me. It wasn’t simply about Adrienne ending up with Simon. It was about seeing someone with so many things working against her still get to have an after. A life beyond Gabriel. A life beyond her mother’s judgment. A life beyond what her community expected from her. A life where she could be safe, loved, and choose what came next for herself.
Sometimes a happily ever after is more than a romance. Sometimes it’s getting out. Sometimes it’s staying gone. Sometimes it’s discovering that what happened to you does not have to be the end of your story.
Six stars. Without question.
Thank you so much to S.R. Hawkins and Nook and Fable Media for gifting me this copy to read. I’m crying all over again writing this. lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2026
I went into Still the Boy Next Door expecting an emotional second-chance romance, but there was so much more happening in this story than I expected.
Adrienne leaves her abusive husband with her little girl and goes back to the place she once called home. Except going home doesn’t automatically mean feeling safe. There is so much waiting for her there: her relationship with her mother, the religious expectations she grew up with, everything she has been through in her marriage, and Simon, the boy who was once such a huge part of her life.
Adrienne was really the heart of this book for me.
I loved her relationship with Lila and how much being her mother drives everything she does. She is terrified, exhausted, hurt, and trying to put herself back together, but there is never a question that she will do whatever she has to do for that little girl. And I loved that she wasn’t written as suddenly fearless just because she finally left. There were moments where she questioned herself, struggled with decisions, and had to figure out what she actually wanted after spending so long living around what everyone else expected from her.
Then Simon walks back into her life and... yeah. I loved him. 😭
There is something about a man who knows a woman is perfectly capable of standing on her own and still says, essentially, I know you can do this, but you don’t have to do all of it alone.
THAT.
Simon never became the answer to Adrienne’s problems. He was just there. Patient, protective without being controlling, and very clearly still carrying feelings for the girl next door all these years later.
And finding out what actually happened between them when they were younger? THE LETTERS. The missed opportunities. All those years thinking one thing when something completely different had happened behind the scenes. That got me.
I also really appreciated that the book gave Adrienne time after she left. Getting out of an abusive situation doesn’t suddenly erase what happened to you, and this story allowed her to still be affected by it while trying to move forward. Her family relationships are messy. Her relationship with religion is complicated. Her feelings for Simon are complicated. Even going back home is complicated. Nothing gets wrapped up just because she finally made the decision to leave.
And that’s probably what surprised me most about this book. I came for the boy next door and the second-chance romance, and obviously I was rooting HARD for Simon and Adrienne, but I ended up caring just as much about Adrienne figuring out what she wanted her life to look like now.
For herself.
For Lila.
And finally on her own terms.
This one was emotional, romantic, heartbreaking at times, and ultimately really hopeful. Definitely check the trigger warnings because there are some very heavy subjects throughout the story.
And Simon? Green flags. So many green flags. 💚
5 stars.
Thank you so much to Nook & Fable Media and S.R. Hawkins for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Adrienne leaves her abusive husband with her little girl and goes back to the place she once called home. Except going home doesn’t automatically mean feeling safe. There is so much waiting for her there: her relationship with her mother, the religious expectations she grew up with, everything she has been through in her marriage, and Simon, the boy who was once such a huge part of her life.
Adrienne was really the heart of this book for me.
I loved her relationship with Lila and how much being her mother drives everything she does. She is terrified, exhausted, hurt, and trying to put herself back together, but there is never a question that she will do whatever she has to do for that little girl. And I loved that she wasn’t written as suddenly fearless just because she finally left. There were moments where she questioned herself, struggled with decisions, and had to figure out what she actually wanted after spending so long living around what everyone else expected from her.
Then Simon walks back into her life and... yeah. I loved him. 😭
There is something about a man who knows a woman is perfectly capable of standing on her own and still says, essentially, I know you can do this, but you don’t have to do all of it alone.
THAT.
Simon never became the answer to Adrienne’s problems. He was just there. Patient, protective without being controlling, and very clearly still carrying feelings for the girl next door all these years later.
And finding out what actually happened between them when they were younger? THE LETTERS. The missed opportunities. All those years thinking one thing when something completely different had happened behind the scenes. That got me.
I also really appreciated that the book gave Adrienne time after she left. Getting out of an abusive situation doesn’t suddenly erase what happened to you, and this story allowed her to still be affected by it while trying to move forward. Her family relationships are messy. Her relationship with religion is complicated. Her feelings for Simon are complicated. Even going back home is complicated. Nothing gets wrapped up just because she finally made the decision to leave.
And that’s probably what surprised me most about this book. I came for the boy next door and the second-chance romance, and obviously I was rooting HARD for Simon and Adrienne, but I ended up caring just as much about Adrienne figuring out what she wanted her life to look like now.
For herself.
For Lila.
And finally on her own terms.
This one was emotional, romantic, heartbreaking at times, and ultimately really hopeful. Definitely check the trigger warnings because there are some very heavy subjects throughout the story.
And Simon? Green flags. So many green flags. 💚
5 stars.
Thank you so much to Nook & Fable Media and S.R. Hawkins for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 17, 2026
When Adrienne and her young daughter dash out the door and speed away from her abusive husband, she has only one place to go: home. But home hasn't been a safe harbor for Adrienne in quite some time, so she's not sure if she'll be accepted by her callous mother. While her welcome is less-than-welcoming, her sweet five year-old is readily accepted and she's able to start building a life again -- until she runs into her former best friend. Simon is everything she remembered and more, but can they put their rift aside and reveal their long-harbored feelings? Or will the danger that still awaits Adrienne put an end to any happily-ever-afters?
As cliche as it might sound, this book spoke to me. From the spiritual questioning to the heart-breaking violence and strained relationships. The emotional depth and surprising heaviness were well balanced with moments of sweet tenderness and undercurrent of a classic romance. The writing was eloquent, well-paced, and page-turning.
Color me impressed! Huge thank you to the author and BookFunnel for letting me in on the advanced treat!
Still the Boy Next Door: ★★★★★
https://bookchicklit.blogspot.com/202...
As cliche as it might sound, this book spoke to me. From the spiritual questioning to the heart-breaking violence and strained relationships. The emotional depth and surprising heaviness were well balanced with moments of sweet tenderness and undercurrent of a classic romance. The writing was eloquent, well-paced, and page-turning.
Color me impressed! Huge thank you to the author and BookFunnel for letting me in on the advanced treat!
Still the Boy Next Door: ★★★★★
https://bookchicklit.blogspot.com/202...
September 16, 2026
I enjoyed this book and thought it was a solid second-chance small-town romance. The story follows Adrienne, a single mom who escapes her abusive partner in the middle of the night and runs back to her hometown with her daughter. She ends up having to face a toxic religious environment and her own mother, who is a complete nightmare. With nowhere else to go, she has to rely on Simon, her childhood best friend who broke her heart years ago but is now offering a safe place to land.
The chemistry between them was strong, and the friends-to-lovers dynamic made for a good, angsty slow burn as all those old feelings came rushing back. Simon is a great protective hero who is ready to step up, and watching Adrienne fight to reclaim her life and protect her daughter kept me hooked. The plot gets pretty intense and suspenseful because her ex is relentless and refuses to let her go, which adds some high-stakes danger to the small-town setting. It handles some heavy, dark themes regarding abuse and family trauma, but it balances them with a lot of emotional depth. If you like a gritty contemporary romantic suspense with a solid protective hero and a strong single mom, I'd suggest checking this one out.
The chemistry between them was strong, and the friends-to-lovers dynamic made for a good, angsty slow burn as all those old feelings came rushing back. Simon is a great protective hero who is ready to step up, and watching Adrienne fight to reclaim her life and protect her daughter kept me hooked. The plot gets pretty intense and suspenseful because her ex is relentless and refuses to let her go, which adds some high-stakes danger to the small-town setting. It handles some heavy, dark themes regarding abuse and family trauma, but it balances them with a lot of emotional depth. If you like a gritty contemporary romantic suspense with a solid protective hero and a strong single mom, I'd suggest checking this one out.
July 13, 2026
✨ ARC Review ✨
I absolutely loved every minute of reading Still the Boy Next Door 🩷
I’ll be honest—I’m not a particularly religious person myself, but I went into this book with an open mind, and I’m so glad I did. I found it genuinely fascinating to read about characters whose faith and beliefs play such a significant role in their everyday lives. It added a unique depth to the story that I really appreciated.
S. R. Hawkins has written such a beautiful, heartfelt romance. The characters felt authentic, their emotions were so well portrayed, and everything came together in a way that kept me invested from beginning to end.
Lila absolutely had my heart throughout the entire story. 🥹 I found myself rooting for everyone to find their happiness, but I definitely still need to have a few words with Cheryl and Simon’s mother for keeping Adrienne and Simon’s letters apart for all those years! 😭 My frustration was real.
Thankfully, after everything they went through, they got the happy ending they truly deserved.
A beautifully written, emotional read that I’m so grateful I got to experience as an ARC reader. 💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars
I absolutely loved every minute of reading Still the Boy Next Door 🩷
I’ll be honest—I’m not a particularly religious person myself, but I went into this book with an open mind, and I’m so glad I did. I found it genuinely fascinating to read about characters whose faith and beliefs play such a significant role in their everyday lives. It added a unique depth to the story that I really appreciated.
S. R. Hawkins has written such a beautiful, heartfelt romance. The characters felt authentic, their emotions were so well portrayed, and everything came together in a way that kept me invested from beginning to end.
Lila absolutely had my heart throughout the entire story. 🥹 I found myself rooting for everyone to find their happiness, but I definitely still need to have a few words with Cheryl and Simon’s mother for keeping Adrienne and Simon’s letters apart for all those years! 😭 My frustration was real.
Thankfully, after everything they went through, they got the happy ending they truly deserved.
A beautifully written, emotional read that I’m so grateful I got to experience as an ARC reader. 💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars
October 1, 2026
4.5 stars. Adrienne and her daughter flee their abusive household in the middle of the night, turning up at her parents' door after seven years. With no one else to turn to, they have no choice but to stay in the strict Mormon household Adrienne couldn't wait to leave as a teenager. Constantly bumping into Simon, her childhood best friend who broke her heart, does nothing to help her nerves. When trouble arrives on her doorstep, she realises that she really does need his help to keep Delilah safe.
I loved this book. There was heartbreak, healing, suspense and a tiny bit of spice. You could feel Adrienne's determination and bravery with each chapter. The suspense was brilliant; it had me on tenterhooks at multiple points. The sensitive subjects were handled beautifully, and the ending was satisfying and believable. This really was a great book to read.
Please read the trigger warnings before starting this book.
I loved this book. There was heartbreak, healing, suspense and a tiny bit of spice. You could feel Adrienne's determination and bravery with each chapter. The suspense was brilliant; it had me on tenterhooks at multiple points. The sensitive subjects were handled beautifully, and the ending was satisfying and believable. This really was a great book to read.
Please read the trigger warnings before starting this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Still the Boy Next Door by S.R. Hawkins is so beautifully written it gave me all the senses to be right there and I felt it all. You never forget how something made you feel and this reigns true here.
Our main character Adrienne is navigating escaping her abusive ex, protecting her daughter, facing the complicated relationship with her family and rediscovering an old friendship. Finding hope and strength.
The character development and divergent relationships had me hooked. From the very beginning there is a clear insight to Adriennes inner turmoil and vulnerabilities. The raw emotions and portrayal of the complexities of life make this book so powerful.
I absolutely love every second of reading this book and am so grateful to have had the opportunity for an advanced reader copy.
Still the Boy Next Door by S.R. Hawkins is so beautifully written it gave me all the senses to be right there and I felt it all. You never forget how something made you feel and this reigns true here.
Our main character Adrienne is navigating escaping her abusive ex, protecting her daughter, facing the complicated relationship with her family and rediscovering an old friendship. Finding hope and strength.
The character development and divergent relationships had me hooked. From the very beginning there is a clear insight to Adriennes inner turmoil and vulnerabilities. The raw emotions and portrayal of the complexities of life make this book so powerful.
I absolutely love every second of reading this book and am so grateful to have had the opportunity for an advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ARC Review✨
"I shouldn’t have even gotten out of bed this morning. Hit me with a car, drive me over and reverse. I don’t want to do this anymore."
Same Wren, same. 😂 This book was equal parts witty, emotional, and swoooony. Simon is such a golden retriever with all the green flags and a perfect amount of spiceee.
It's also so refreshing to read a romance where the FMC is the one who puts herself back together and isn't waiting in a tower for a man to save her. Wren is STRONG for all she's been through.
S.R Hawkins just has such an eloquent way with words and really knows how to make emotions bleed out of the pages. The tears were flowing at some points.
Overall a great read and needs to be added to your TBR if you enjoy small town, friends to lovers, and being pinned to a wall with nothing but a towel in-between.
"I shouldn’t have even gotten out of bed this morning. Hit me with a car, drive me over and reverse. I don’t want to do this anymore."
Same Wren, same. 😂 This book was equal parts witty, emotional, and swoooony. Simon is such a golden retriever with all the green flags and a perfect amount of spiceee.
It's also so refreshing to read a romance where the FMC is the one who puts herself back together and isn't waiting in a tower for a man to save her. Wren is STRONG for all she's been through.
S.R Hawkins just has such an eloquent way with words and really knows how to make emotions bleed out of the pages. The tears were flowing at some points.
Overall a great read and needs to be added to your TBR if you enjoy small town, friends to lovers, and being pinned to a wall with nothing but a towel in-between.
July 26, 2026
Thank you to S.R. Hawkins for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Girl knows how to write tension. Hot. Hot. Hot. Hot damn. But this is a story about way more than just that. You have a FMC navigating strained family dynamics, lost friendships, religious trauma, an abusive relationship, and being a mom. This perfectly captures what it feels like coming back home, but it not quite feeling like your home anymore. The strength it takes to let certain things go even when it affects you.
You also have an MMC who is trying to mend the past. Even though he doesn’t fully understand the depths of what went wrong at first. He’s quietly there for her along the way, respects her space, and knows she can take care of herself but wants to do it for her.
Men are so hot I wish they were real.
Girl knows how to write tension. Hot. Hot. Hot. Hot damn. But this is a story about way more than just that. You have a FMC navigating strained family dynamics, lost friendships, religious trauma, an abusive relationship, and being a mom. This perfectly captures what it feels like coming back home, but it not quite feeling like your home anymore. The strength it takes to let certain things go even when it affects you.
You also have an MMC who is trying to mend the past. Even though he doesn’t fully understand the depths of what went wrong at first. He’s quietly there for her along the way, respects her space, and knows she can take care of herself but wants to do it for her.
Men are so hot I wish they were real.
Review of advance copy received from Author
arc review!
I was lucky to be one of the first eyes on Still the Boy Next Door and adored it!
Adrienne is on the run, with her daughter in tow, from an ex-husband with a belligerent hand and attitude. Forced back into an oppressive community, our heroine must face her past, her mother, and a man she thought she’d never see again.
Simon, swoon-worthiest of book boyfriends, sweeps the reader off their feet enough that you forget the stakes just until they come crashing back in with life-altering consequences.
Fans of tender romance with darker adult themes will find a new favorite in S.R. Hawkins newest work.
I was lucky to be one of the first eyes on Still the Boy Next Door and adored it!
Adrienne is on the run, with her daughter in tow, from an ex-husband with a belligerent hand and attitude. Forced back into an oppressive community, our heroine must face her past, her mother, and a man she thought she’d never see again.
Simon, swoon-worthiest of book boyfriends, sweeps the reader off their feet enough that you forget the stakes just until they come crashing back in with life-altering consequences.
Fans of tender romance with darker adult themes will find a new favorite in S.R. Hawkins newest work.
August 29, 2026
This book pulled on my heart strings so much, I was crying throughout the whole book. This book was addictive! Adrienne runs away from her abusive partner in the middle of the night, and decides to return home. I read this book in less than 24 hours cause I just needed to know what was gonna happen, Adrienne just wants a better life. Will she let her past ruin her future? I quickly fell in love with Simon! He rushes in and just wants to help her put her life back together. I loved the authors writing in this book and I can’t wait to check out her fantasy series!
Thank you so much to Nook and Fable Media for my free copy in exchange for an honest review
Thank you so much to Nook and Fable Media for my free copy in exchange for an honest review
September 3, 2026
I received an advanced copy of Still the Boy Next Door from Nook & Fable and the author. Still the Boy Next Door by S.R. Hawkins is an emotional second chance romance. Adrienne’s journey back home with her daughter after escaping an abusive relationship was both heartbreaking and inspiring. I loved Simon, the childhood best friend who never truly stopped caring for her, and the way he quietly showed up when she needed him most. The romance was sweet, but what stood out most was Adrienne finding her strength while dealing with family wounds and a dangerous ex. Overall, this was a touching story, hopeful story!
August 5, 2026
This book was everything I was hoping it to be! The Lucky One is one of my favorite movies and every emotion I felt while watching that movie I felt while reading this book. This new story with trauma, healing, and a second chance romance, which I honestly just go feral for, is amazing!! I love second chance romance! There were letters in this book which was such a fun way for us to kind of time travel and see the past as we are experiencing Wren's present. Very well written! I can't wait to dive into S.R. Hawkins fantasy series now!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was beautifully written and tells the story of Adrienne (Wren) and Simon. It also depicts struggles with religion and past abuse.
As someone who was raised in a VERY religious household, a lot of this was very relatable for me, and I really felt for Wren. I liked that she worked to heal on her own and strived to do whatever was best for her daughter, even if it wasn’t what she wanted (also relatable).
I loved Simon and his patience with her and how he was NOT willing to give up his chance. I don’t totally understand their mom’s motivation for what they did, I would’ve expected Wrens mom to want Simon more than the other guy since he was raised in the same religion.
Very good read, hard hitting topics but her daughter and some of her moments with Simon helped keep things light.
“I am a creature of shame and anguish whose only talent is being able to wear a mask that makes me palatable to others.”
As someone who was raised in a VERY religious household, a lot of this was very relatable for me, and I really felt for Wren. I liked that she worked to heal on her own and strived to do whatever was best for her daughter, even if it wasn’t what she wanted (also relatable).
I loved Simon and his patience with her and how he was NOT willing to give up his chance. I don’t totally understand their mom’s motivation for what they did, I would’ve expected Wrens mom to want Simon more than the other guy since he was raised in the same religion.
Very good read, hard hitting topics but her daughter and some of her moments with Simon helped keep things light.
“I am a creature of shame and anguish whose only talent is being able to wear a mask that makes me palatable to others.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Love love love!!!! Simon is the PERFECT MMC and our FMC’s relationship with her daughter is the most adorable thing I’ve ever read in my life. Cannot recommend this book and this author enough!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This story completely stole my heart. From the very first page until the last, Simon and Adrienne's journey had me completely captivated. I couldn't put this book down and ended up finishing it in less than two days.
The author does an incredible job of weaving together an emotional and unforgettable story while not shying away from difficult topics like abuse and isolation. These themes are handled with care and add so much depth and realism to the characters and their journey.
The author does an incredible job of weaving together an emotional and unforgettable story while not shying away from difficult topics like abuse and isolation. These themes are handled with care and add so much depth and realism to the characters and their journey.
Review of advance copy
I read this as an ARC. Thought it was a good, emotional story. There was more to it than just a romance, which I liked
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