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The Girl Next Door
“Cameron's cleverly conceived and brilliantly executed contemporary romance is elevated by her superb character development and flair for delivering exquisite sexual tension.” —Booklist
New York Times bestselling author Chelsea M. Cameron delivers the opposites-attract, sweet-and-sexy small-town romance you’ve been waiting for.
Iris Turner hightailed it out of Salty Cove, Maine, without so much as a backward glance. Which is why finding herself back in her hometown—in her childhood bedroom, no less—has the normally upbeat Iris feeling a bit down and out. Her spirits get a much-needed lift, though, at the sight of the sexy girl next door.
No one knows why Jude Wicks is back in Salty Cove, and that’s just how she likes it. Jude never imagined she’d be once again living in her parents’ house, never mind hauling lobster like a local. But the solitude is just what she needs—until Iris tempts her to open up.
A no-strings summer fling seems like the perfect distraction for both women. Jude rides a motorcycle, kisses hard and gives Iris the perfect distraction from her tangled mess of a life. But come September, Iris is still determined to get out of this zero-stoplight town.
That is, unless Jude can give her a reason to stay…
Carina Adores is home to romantic love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.
New York Times bestselling author Chelsea M. Cameron delivers the opposites-attract, sweet-and-sexy small-town romance you’ve been waiting for.
Iris Turner hightailed it out of Salty Cove, Maine, without so much as a backward glance. Which is why finding herself back in her hometown—in her childhood bedroom, no less—has the normally upbeat Iris feeling a bit down and out. Her spirits get a much-needed lift, though, at the sight of the sexy girl next door.
No one knows why Jude Wicks is back in Salty Cove, and that’s just how she likes it. Jude never imagined she’d be once again living in her parents’ house, never mind hauling lobster like a local. But the solitude is just what she needs—until Iris tempts her to open up.
A no-strings summer fling seems like the perfect distraction for both women. Jude rides a motorcycle, kisses hard and gives Iris the perfect distraction from her tangled mess of a life. But come September, Iris is still determined to get out of this zero-stoplight town.
That is, unless Jude can give her a reason to stay…
Carina Adores is home to romantic love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2020
37 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea M. Cameron
114 books4,881 followersChelsea M. Cameron is a New York Times/USA Today/Internationally Best Selling author from Maine who now lives and works in Boston. She's a red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, former cheerleader, and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, eating brunch in bed, tweeting, and playing fetch with her cat, Sassenach. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
May 21, 2020
This was a cute romance. It is sweet with no major angst. While this didn’t blow me away, I did like it. I was surprised that I think this is actually my first read by Cameron. I liked this story enough that I still want to read Style and Marriage of Unconvenience.
This is a story about two different women who ended back in the small Maine town they grew up in. Both women never wanted to come back, but life had other plans. (I must admit I didn’t feel sorry for them living in a small beach town like Cabot Cove.) Will these two women bond due to their predicaments or is their pasts too much to overcome?
If you can, I would suggest not reading the trigger warning that is in the beginning of the book. I’m all for trigger warnings for subjects that could really negatively affect a reader, but I think this one is being overkill. It ended up being a reasonable big spoiler so I hope Carina might take out the warning before this book is published.
This book is a quick read. It is a novel, but it is about as short as you can get and not be a novella. The page number of 320 on the Goodreads books page is way off. Because this is a quick read, the romance happens pretty fast. It not insta love, but it is quick. There is no real angst, only a little “we can be together, no we can’t” conflict but that was it. While it took me a bit to warm up to the characters, once the book got moving I liked both of them and was hoping for a HEA.
This was a perfectly nice read. I wasn’t overly excited about it but my interest was piqued enough to read more from Cameron. I think people looking for sweet, low-angst reads will be happy with this.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
This is a story about two different women who ended back in the small Maine town they grew up in. Both women never wanted to come back, but life had other plans. (I must admit I didn’t feel sorry for them living in a small beach town like Cabot Cove.) Will these two women bond due to their predicaments or is their pasts too much to overcome?
If you can, I would suggest not reading the trigger warning that is in the beginning of the book. I’m all for trigger warnings for subjects that could really negatively affect a reader, but I think this one is being overkill. It ended up being a reasonable big spoiler so I hope Carina might take out the warning before this book is published.
This book is a quick read. It is a novel, but it is about as short as you can get and not be a novella. The page number of 320 on the Goodreads books page is way off. Because this is a quick read, the romance happens pretty fast. It not insta love, but it is quick. There is no real angst, only a little “we can be together, no we can’t” conflict but that was it. While it took me a bit to warm up to the characters, once the book got moving I liked both of them and was hoping for a HEA.
This was a perfectly nice read. I wasn’t overly excited about it but my interest was piqued enough to read more from Cameron. I think people looking for sweet, low-angst reads will be happy with this.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
May 14, 2020
2.5 "overly sweet, rather dull but pleasant nonetheless" stars !!
Two young women return to Salty Cove, Maine. Iris comes home to lick her wounded ego after a series of financial and career failures. Jude has been back for a couple of years after having her heart broken. Guess what ? They fall in love !!
The romance is a bit too sweet, the sex is almost too vanilla and the writing is middling.
A pleasant diversion at best !
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Carina Press for an e-book in exchange for an honest review. The book is to be released May 2020.
Two young women return to Salty Cove, Maine. Iris comes home to lick her wounded ego after a series of financial and career failures. Jude has been back for a couple of years after having her heart broken. Guess what ? They fall in love !!
The romance is a bit too sweet, the sex is almost too vanilla and the writing is middling.
A pleasant diversion at best !
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Carina Press for an e-book in exchange for an honest review. The book is to be released May 2020.
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April 19, 20203.5* – At twenty-two, Iris is reluctantly coming back to live with her parents in Salty Cove, Maine, the small town she couldn’t wait to escape when she finished high school. While she loves her parents and is very grateful for their support, she feels like a failure for not having been able to find a job that would have allowed her to stay in Boston. The good news is, her next-door neighbour is uber hot and seems open to some sort of friendship.
Jude was a few years ahead of Iris at school so they never had any kind of relationship at the time. She’s the last person Iris expected to see in Salty Cove, especially as she now works as a lobsterman, or rather a lobsterwoman. The attraction is instant and mutual, but both fight it, if only because Iris makes it clear from the start that she’s only back temporarily and will run to Boston as soon as she can. Jude is also hiding a dark secret, the reason why she’s lived a very lonely and isolated life for the past two years.
The problem with trigger warnings is that they are also spoilers. In this case, what Jude went through didn’t come out as such a surprise because of it. The author did a good job of bringing it up gradually, which makes it all the more unfortunate.
I often wonder why book people think you can stop yourself from falling in love, like that’s something you have any power over. I’m also glad they do, since if they didn’t, there would be a whole lot fewer romance novels around.
I found Jude interesting from the start, not only for her name (duh). I had a little more trouble figuring Iris out, so I decided to trust Jude, who very quickly seems to think she’s bright and shiny and wonderful. Also, her dog is called Dolly Parton, so that helped. I liked the way the relationship evolves, a little too fast but not in an artificial way. There were a few issues with the timeline, as if some paragraphs had been moved around, which added to the feeling of things moving a tad too quickly.
This was my third book by Chelsea M. Cameron and, while I didn’t like it as much as Style or Chord (which I both listened to, and loved how they were narrated by Sophie Daniels), I enjoyed it well enough.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jude was a few years ahead of Iris at school so they never had any kind of relationship at the time. She’s the last person Iris expected to see in Salty Cove, especially as she now works as a lobsterman, or rather a lobsterwoman. The attraction is instant and mutual, but both fight it, if only because Iris makes it clear from the start that she’s only back temporarily and will run to Boston as soon as she can. Jude is also hiding a dark secret, the reason why she’s lived a very lonely and isolated life for the past two years.
The problem with trigger warnings is that they are also spoilers. In this case, what Jude went through didn’t come out as such a surprise because of it. The author did a good job of bringing it up gradually, which makes it all the more unfortunate.
I often wonder why book people think you can stop yourself from falling in love, like that’s something you have any power over. I’m also glad they do, since if they didn’t, there would be a whole lot fewer romance novels around.
I found Jude interesting from the start, not only for her name (duh). I had a little more trouble figuring Iris out, so I decided to trust Jude, who very quickly seems to think she’s bright and shiny and wonderful. Also, her dog is called Dolly Parton, so that helped. I liked the way the relationship evolves, a little too fast but not in an artificial way. There were a few issues with the timeline, as if some paragraphs had been moved around, which added to the feeling of things moving a tad too quickly.
This was my third book by Chelsea M. Cameron and, while I didn’t like it as much as Style or Chord (which I both listened to, and loved how they were narrated by Sophie Daniels), I enjoyed it well enough.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 18, 2022
This was so cute! Fluffy small town romance between two twenty-something women who are back home unexpectedly, living next door to each other. A very low-angst, feel good romance set in small-town Maine where it turns out there have been more queer people than the characters ever realized. I don't have a lot more to say but this was just what I wanted. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Note that there is a content warning for grief and loss of a loved one (past).
Note that there is a content warning for grief and loss of a loved one (past).
October 19, 2020
“The Girl Next Door” is a small town, opposites attract romance about neighbors falling in love. I’ve seen some label this as friends with benefits. But that doesn’t even start until after 70%, and they had both admitted their feelings to themselves. So I didn’t really feel the label fit.
Iris, 22, has moved back home with her parents after burning out at her job and isn’t able to pay her bills. When she gets home she sees her neighbor, Jude, has also moved back home. Jude is strong silent type so the more high strung, excitable Iris is automatically drawn to her.
I have to admit, I didn’t find Iris to be very likable for the majority of the book. She seemed to whine a lot and was annoying to me. And I thought it was a little ridiculous that you could be burnt out of a job if you’ve only been out of school a year or two?? I also know a lot of people over that age that have moved back home and most of them don’t think it’s the absolute end of the world.
I did like Jude, but I felt she took the silent type thing a bit too far at times. And her back and forth attitude about Iris got a little redundant after a while.
One complaint is that Cameron is a bit inconsistent throughout the story. One of the minor characters family’s business is one thing early in the book and changes later. Iris talks about them having sex for a few weeks and then the next paragraph she’s talking about not knowing how it instigate sex? It’s just little things like that that I picked up on.
There was a bit of humor that I enjoyed. Iris was very awkward at times and I had secondhand embarrassment for her. Once the two admit their feelings this turns into an sappy romance so be prepared for a toothache with all the sweetness.
My favorite character was the dog, Dolly Parton. She was adorable.
Iris, 22, has moved back home with her parents after burning out at her job and isn’t able to pay her bills. When she gets home she sees her neighbor, Jude, has also moved back home. Jude is strong silent type so the more high strung, excitable Iris is automatically drawn to her.
I have to admit, I didn’t find Iris to be very likable for the majority of the book. She seemed to whine a lot and was annoying to me. And I thought it was a little ridiculous that you could be burnt out of a job if you’ve only been out of school a year or two?? I also know a lot of people over that age that have moved back home and most of them don’t think it’s the absolute end of the world.
I did like Jude, but I felt she took the silent type thing a bit too far at times. And her back and forth attitude about Iris got a little redundant after a while.
One complaint is that Cameron is a bit inconsistent throughout the story. One of the minor characters family’s business is one thing early in the book and changes later. Iris talks about them having sex for a few weeks and then the next paragraph she’s talking about not knowing how it instigate sex? It’s just little things like that that I picked up on.
There was a bit of humor that I enjoyed. Iris was very awkward at times and I had secondhand embarrassment for her. Once the two admit their feelings this turns into an sappy romance so be prepared for a toothache with all the sweetness.
My favorite character was the dog, Dolly Parton. She was adorable.
April 15, 2020
This was really good!
At this point, I've read so many of Chelsea M. Cameron's books: the traditionally published f/m, the indie published f/f and now traditionally published f/f. I've always enjoyed her books and this was no different. Though I have to say that there is something about this f/f book that I enjoyed more than her indie f/f. I feel like her writing came across more polished, things felt more cohesive and tidier, it definitely shows that her editor was working hard to make sure this author's writing shined through.
I typically don't like romances that deal with death of a loved one and I didn't know this had that when I requested it so I was pretty apprehensive when I figured out that Jude had lost her girlfriend and was not over her. I do think that my dislike of that trope played a small part in taking away my enjoyment but honestly, this book was so good that I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. I really loved Iris and Jude as individuals and together and I loved getting to know their small town. I thought they both did a lot of growing in this book and I love the slow burn of their relationship.
I'm so glad I picked this book up, it was exactly what I needed to escape this messy world for a few hours and fall in love with a sweet romance. I definitely recommend this book to everyone but especially if you want to find a book to escape in!
arc given in exchange for an honest review
At this point, I've read so many of Chelsea M. Cameron's books: the traditionally published f/m, the indie published f/f and now traditionally published f/f. I've always enjoyed her books and this was no different. Though I have to say that there is something about this f/f book that I enjoyed more than her indie f/f. I feel like her writing came across more polished, things felt more cohesive and tidier, it definitely shows that her editor was working hard to make sure this author's writing shined through.
I typically don't like romances that deal with death of a loved one and I didn't know this had that when I requested it so I was pretty apprehensive when I figured out that Jude had lost her girlfriend and was not over her. I do think that my dislike of that trope played a small part in taking away my enjoyment but honestly, this book was so good that I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. I really loved Iris and Jude as individuals and together and I loved getting to know their small town. I thought they both did a lot of growing in this book and I love the slow burn of their relationship.
I'm so glad I picked this book up, it was exactly what I needed to escape this messy world for a few hours and fall in love with a sweet romance. I definitely recommend this book to everyone but especially if you want to find a book to escape in!
arc given in exchange for an honest review
April 29, 2020
So sweet, so good!
This book was a page-turner and everything I needed. I picked up this book thinking I would just read a couple of chapters before falling asleep but the next thing I knew I was already 75% in and loving it. I loved how quickly I got into this beautiful story. This romance was emotional & sweet and I enjoyed every second of it. I only wish the sex scenes would have been more developed as I felt like the author was writing them in a non-explicit kind of way and they were finished very quickly. The chemistry was there so it's a little disappointing. I feel like we have so many F/M explicit scenes in romance but when it comes to F/F, it's a bit more... tame, I guess? I haven't read that many so far but I'm always interested in reading more.
Overall, this was a solid romance and I really recommend it if you want to escape for a bit. Just know that if the lost of a partner is something that triggers you, this might not be the book for you. It was emotional but comforting as well, knowing Jude ended up loving two women without having to love one less than the other. They're both important and part of her. Iris' reaction was perfect and I loved them both so much.
If Chelsea M Cameron decides to write another F/F book, I would love to read it!
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
This book was a page-turner and everything I needed. I picked up this book thinking I would just read a couple of chapters before falling asleep but the next thing I knew I was already 75% in and loving it. I loved how quickly I got into this beautiful story. This romance was emotional & sweet and I enjoyed every second of it. I only wish the sex scenes would have been more developed as I felt like the author was writing them in a non-explicit kind of way and they were finished very quickly. The chemistry was there so it's a little disappointing. I feel like we have so many F/M explicit scenes in romance but when it comes to F/F, it's a bit more... tame, I guess? I haven't read that many so far but I'm always interested in reading more.
Overall, this was a solid romance and I really recommend it if you want to escape for a bit. Just know that if the lost of a partner is something that triggers you, this might not be the book for you. It was emotional but comforting as well, knowing Jude ended up loving two women without having to love one less than the other. They're both important and part of her. Iris' reaction was perfect and I loved them both so much.
If Chelsea M Cameron decides to write another F/F book, I would love to read it!
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
May 27, 2020
On my blog.
Rep: lesbian mcs
Galley provided by publisher
What I would not give for a sapphic romance that actually made me feel something aside from complete and utter boredom. I just want some intensity from them, some kind of personality, instead of feeling like the whole thing is completely dry.
Instead, I get lumped with this.
I have written blog posts about sapphic romances and emotions. I know not to expect anything much along those lines (as harsh as that may sound. The only sapphic romance that has ever really made me feel anything was This is How You Lose the Time War). And yet, I go in again and again, vainly hoping that this is the one that won’t bore me to death.
I think the problem is, in sapphic romances, there’s a lot of day-to-day activities. Like, life goes on as before, except there’s someone else along for the ride. But there’s no change. So what you get, like here, is trips to go mattress shopping where all they talk about is mattresses and bedframes.
In contrast, romances that are actually good generally involve a change in day-to-day life. There are several I can think of, where the introduction of a love interest prompts life to shoot off in a different direction, to which the protagonist must adapt.
What the focus on day-to-day life tends to do for me is make the romance incredibly dry. Heck, it makes the story dry. And because of that, it reads more like people making friends, not people falling in love. There is zero tension to the story, zero intensity. And above all, zero feeling.
In this one, I was told a whole lot that Jude was heartbroken, but I never felt that heartbreak for myself. Ditto when it came to the romance. I was told they were in love, there was a hunger for each other, and so on. I felt none of it.
It probably didn’t help that all I really wanted from the writing here was a complex sentence. Please, I am begging, I cannot read three or more simple sentences in a row. It just sounds like a pre-schooler wrote it. (Same with saying something then, mere paragraphs later, repeating it. I haven’t forgotten what you just said, I promise.)
And above all, there was never any tension that might have formed a potential roadblock to their relationship. Like, there was never even a hint that they might have to overcome something to be together (barring Jude’s heartbreak which, as I mentioned before, seemed somewhat wooden).
Which means that, in the end, the overwhelming feeling I have about this book is one of mind-numbing boredom.
Rep: lesbian mcs
Galley provided by publisher
What I would not give for a sapphic romance that actually made me feel something aside from complete and utter boredom. I just want some intensity from them, some kind of personality, instead of feeling like the whole thing is completely dry.
Instead, I get lumped with this.
I have written blog posts about sapphic romances and emotions. I know not to expect anything much along those lines (as harsh as that may sound. The only sapphic romance that has ever really made me feel anything was This is How You Lose the Time War). And yet, I go in again and again, vainly hoping that this is the one that won’t bore me to death.
I think the problem is, in sapphic romances, there’s a lot of day-to-day activities. Like, life goes on as before, except there’s someone else along for the ride. But there’s no change. So what you get, like here, is trips to go mattress shopping where all they talk about is mattresses and bedframes.
In contrast, romances that are actually good generally involve a change in day-to-day life. There are several I can think of, where the introduction of a love interest prompts life to shoot off in a different direction, to which the protagonist must adapt.
What the focus on day-to-day life tends to do for me is make the romance incredibly dry. Heck, it makes the story dry. And because of that, it reads more like people making friends, not people falling in love. There is zero tension to the story, zero intensity. And above all, zero feeling.
In this one, I was told a whole lot that Jude was heartbroken, but I never felt that heartbreak for myself. Ditto when it came to the romance. I was told they were in love, there was a hunger for each other, and so on. I felt none of it.
It probably didn’t help that all I really wanted from the writing here was a complex sentence. Please, I am begging, I cannot read three or more simple sentences in a row. It just sounds like a pre-schooler wrote it. (Same with saying something then, mere paragraphs later, repeating it. I haven’t forgotten what you just said, I promise.)
And above all, there was never any tension that might have formed a potential roadblock to their relationship. Like, there was never even a hint that they might have to overcome something to be together (barring Jude’s heartbreak which, as I mentioned before, seemed somewhat wooden).
Which means that, in the end, the overwhelming feeling I have about this book is one of mind-numbing boredom.
May 24, 2020
arc provided by publisher through netgalley
3.5/5
I think the best way to describe Cameron's The Girl Next Door is as a quiet summer romance. Not a lot really happens, the focus being on the characters more than anything. The story focusses on Iris returning to her hometown after being unable to afford living in Boston, and she reconnects with her next door neighbour, Jude. They strike up a newfound friendship and later a romance, partially finding solace in the other being the only other queer person they know in the tiny beach town they grew up in.
The best way to describe the Girl Next Door is as something simple. There isn't much conflict at all in the book. Other than Iris being desperate to move back to the city and Jude rejecting her own feelings for Iris due to personal tragedy.
I would say overall I enjoyed this book. It's an easy to read romance. There were a few things that didn't work for me. I personally don't think the chemistry wasn't developed enough for there to be satisfaction when they finally kiss. The conflict they are both experiencing also almost takes a backseat where I don't think it could've impacted the plot as much as it could've.
I also felt that when we found out about Jude's tragedy, it was an emotional whiplash. I think it would've worked better if we the audience had found out about it sooner than we had. That's more of a personal gripe as I don't like it when tragedy from the past is just thrown on me as a reader. I think knowing about it sooner would've made Jude's intentions make more sense rather than it being treated as a footnote when she has come to terms with the tragedy. I think that took away from the book and the wider potential to Jude's character.
I'm happy to see Chelsea M. Cameron get a traditionally published sapphic book as I've read and enjoy all of her f/f books. I will continue to read her books, but I don't think this is exactly a standout in her catalogue. I would still recommend it as I see people enjoying this more than I did. If you're a fan of quiet romances, I would recommend it. If you're a fan of Cameron, I would also recommend it.
...
Sapphicathon: A book you got for free
3.5/5
I think the best way to describe Cameron's The Girl Next Door is as a quiet summer romance. Not a lot really happens, the focus being on the characters more than anything. The story focusses on Iris returning to her hometown after being unable to afford living in Boston, and she reconnects with her next door neighbour, Jude. They strike up a newfound friendship and later a romance, partially finding solace in the other being the only other queer person they know in the tiny beach town they grew up in.
The best way to describe the Girl Next Door is as something simple. There isn't much conflict at all in the book. Other than Iris being desperate to move back to the city and Jude rejecting her own feelings for Iris due to personal tragedy.
I would say overall I enjoyed this book. It's an easy to read romance. There were a few things that didn't work for me. I personally don't think the chemistry wasn't developed enough for there to be satisfaction when they finally kiss. The conflict they are both experiencing also almost takes a backseat where I don't think it could've impacted the plot as much as it could've.
I also felt that when we found out about Jude's tragedy, it was an emotional whiplash. I think it would've worked better if we the audience had found out about it sooner than we had. That's more of a personal gripe as I don't like it when tragedy from the past is just thrown on me as a reader. I think knowing about it sooner would've made Jude's intentions make more sense rather than it being treated as a footnote when she has come to terms with the tragedy. I think that took away from the book and the wider potential to Jude's character.
I'm happy to see Chelsea M. Cameron get a traditionally published sapphic book as I've read and enjoy all of her f/f books. I will continue to read her books, but I don't think this is exactly a standout in her catalogue. I would still recommend it as I see people enjoying this more than I did. If you're a fan of quiet romances, I would recommend it. If you're a fan of Cameron, I would also recommend it.
...
Sapphicathon: A book you got for free
January 4, 2024
Loved this, once I got over the eye watering amount this cost! £10 on kindle for just over 200 pages. I hope Chelsea gets enough of that. (Paperback at £7!) Not impressed.
June 25, 2021
3.5 stars. I liked this book - it was nice and sweet, even though I thought Iris was a bit too much at times. The narrators did a fab job, so that’s why it got the extra half star.
October 12, 2021
2.5 stars
This came VERY close to a DNF for me. But I was three hours into a six hour long audiobook so I adjusted the speed so it moved faster and got through it. I think I just wanted something - ANYTHING to happen. Iris is a 20-something woman that has to move back to her small town home with her parents from Boston when she can't find a job and living situation that will sustain her. She is determined this will only be temporary because she knows Boston is the place for her. When she gets there, she finds the woman next door, Jude, is someone that was just a few years ahead of her in school. She is living alone - in the home that also once belonged to her parents - and is extremely attractive. But she Jude is a loner and getting to know her is like pulling teeth. Jude has a painful past that she spends the whole book saying she is not ready to share with Iris, yet while they SLOWLY get to know one another, they cannot deny their attraction.
Other reviews I've seen said that the book was an okay read. Not bad. Sweet. So I wonder if part of the problem was the narration. There were two narrators for this book and the one that voiced Iris was quite good. No issues there. But the one that voiced Jude was bad. Her voice was completely ill suited to her and after every single line she would take a breath in. After a while it became very distracting. Then when the resolution came, it was extremely fast, when the whole book dragged up to that point. I can't recommend this on audio, folks. I think even if I'd read the book it wouldn't have been for me.
This came VERY close to a DNF for me. But I was three hours into a six hour long audiobook so I adjusted the speed so it moved faster and got through it. I think I just wanted something - ANYTHING to happen. Iris is a 20-something woman that has to move back to her small town home with her parents from Boston when she can't find a job and living situation that will sustain her. She is determined this will only be temporary because she knows Boston is the place for her. When she gets there, she finds the woman next door, Jude, is someone that was just a few years ahead of her in school. She is living alone - in the home that also once belonged to her parents - and is extremely attractive. But she Jude is a loner and getting to know her is like pulling teeth. Jude has a painful past that she spends the whole book saying she is not ready to share with Iris, yet while they SLOWLY get to know one another, they cannot deny their attraction.
Other reviews I've seen said that the book was an okay read. Not bad. Sweet. So I wonder if part of the problem was the narration. There were two narrators for this book and the one that voiced Iris was quite good. No issues there. But the one that voiced Jude was bad. Her voice was completely ill suited to her and after every single line she would take a breath in. After a while it became very distracting. Then when the resolution came, it was extremely fast, when the whole book dragged up to that point. I can't recommend this on audio, folks. I think even if I'd read the book it wouldn't have been for me.
May 30, 2020
I enjoyed this quick romance read that was sweet and heartwarming. The story dealt with loss and grief, and opposite attract trope that was very well written of a slow burn romance. The two women, Iris and Jude were lovable characters who find themselves coming home to a lovely beach town in Maine. No angst, not much drama, just likable characters falling in love in a beautiful setting. This was a sweet read.
July 5, 2021
I wish there had been a little bit more relationship development in this? I just didn't feel like I knew why they were a couple besides proximity. Iris was also the kind of disillusioned idealist character that I sometimes struggle with, particularly coupled with a failure return to a small town arc. I did like how small towny it actually felt though, particularly the balance between the good and bad pieces of them.
May 22, 2020
I contributed this review to Really Into This
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Special thanks to Harlequin for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
I am so pumped for the Carina ADores line of stories focusing on LGBTQ titles. This is an open door F/F romance & it is so sweet & heartwarming.
I really like the way Cameron places both women back in their respective hometowns. From here, we have an over the fence type of attraction that is a bit slower & more natural. I read this one in one sitting & would even read it again.
This is a well-written love story that makes me smile. The steam and open door romance hits a bit later on in the story, but it's there!
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Special thanks to Harlequin for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
I am so pumped for the Carina ADores line of stories focusing on LGBTQ titles. This is an open door F/F romance & it is so sweet & heartwarming.
I really like the way Cameron places both women back in their respective hometowns. From here, we have an over the fence type of attraction that is a bit slower & more natural. I read this one in one sitting & would even read it again.
This is a well-written love story that makes me smile. The steam and open door romance hits a bit later on in the story, but it's there!
May 3, 2020
The Girl Next Door is a beautifully written romance, in which the two women are more than a little hesitant at first.
FRC
FRC
August 3, 2020
The Girl Next Door is told in the first person, shifting back and forth between Jude and Iris’s perspectives. It was nice to get to know both characters so well, since I’m often left wondering what the other lead is thinking and experiencing when romances are told in the first person from only one perspective. They’re total opposites, since Jude is quiet and steady, and Iris is bubbly and high strung, and you can see that as it shifts back and forth. Jude’s chapters are lower key like she is, and Iris’s have a little more tension to them, which reflects her excitement or anxiety depending on what she’s feeling.
Full review: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/r...
Full review: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/r...
May 17, 2020
This is a sweet, small-town romance. Both MC's had spent their youth vowing to leave their hometown behind, but are forced to move back. Iris is back home with her parents after needing to leave Boston because of money problems. Jude is back in her childhood home for a more personal reason, which this book spent a long time before informing us. Anyways, they're next-door neighbours and there's instant attraction. However, majority of the story is "I like her, but I can't act on it". When they decided to get together, though, things kind of moved rapidly. The story is told in alternating POVs. We see Iris's first in one chapter, then Jude's in the next. It's interesting, as we see how Iris thinks of herself vs. how Jude sees her, for example. Overall, a decent short romance.
*Thank you to Carina Press and NetGalley for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.*
*Thank you to Carina Press and NetGalley for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.*
May 9, 2020
Sarah contributed this review to Really Into This
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Special thanks to Harlequin for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
I am so pumped for the Carina ADores line of stories focusing on LGBTQ titles. This is an open door F/F romance & it is so sweet & heartwarming.
I really like the way Cameron places both women back in their respective hometowns. From here, we have an over the fence type of attraction that is a bit slower & more natural. I read this one in one sitting & would even read it again.
This is a well-written love story that makes me smile. The steam and open door romance hits a bit later on in the story, but it's there!
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Special thanks to Harlequin for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
I am so pumped for the Carina ADores line of stories focusing on LGBTQ titles. This is an open door F/F romance & it is so sweet & heartwarming.
I really like the way Cameron places both women back in their respective hometowns. From here, we have an over the fence type of attraction that is a bit slower & more natural. I read this one in one sitting & would even read it again.
This is a well-written love story that makes me smile. The steam and open door romance hits a bit later on in the story, but it's there!
October 9, 2024
THE GIRL NEXT DOOR is the second book by Chelsea M. Cameron I've read and I think her writing style is just not for me. I do think other readers will really enjoy it but it didn't really work for me, so take my review as you will. The majority of the story is told through inner thoughts and large blocks of descriptive text and I wanted more dialogue and emotion. I needed something more to feel present in the story and engage with the characters. This slowed the pace down for me and made it hard to understand why the characters enjoyed spending time together when they hardly talked, at least through the first half.
I did like both Iris and Jude as characters but I was never completely sold on their love. Jude is dealing with a lot of heartache and she's afraid to open up to anyone to the point that she barely shares anything personal with Iris until the 80% mark. While I don't mind a stoic and grumpy character and Jude's pain is completely justified, I was struggling to figure out why Iris liked Jude so much when it seems like Iris was giving everything and Jude was barely giving anything back. This was a very slow burn for Iris and Jude and they remain completely platonic for a large part of the book. They go from first kiss, to agreeing to no-strings sex, to saying I love you all in the last 35% and it felt like whiplash. Throw in Jude spilling all her secrets and everything about their romance felt so rushed. I understand they had a foundation of friendship and I appreciated that but overall, the actual romance and love was so sudden. One positive note I will say is that I liked the way Iris handled Jude's heartache and I do feel like that part really showed how compassionate and loving Iris is.
Again, I do think other readers who enjoy slow burn, hurt/comfort reads will probably enjoy this one but it wasn't for me.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Content Warning: References to the death of a loved one
I did like both Iris and Jude as characters but I was never completely sold on their love. Jude is dealing with a lot of heartache and she's afraid to open up to anyone to the point that she barely shares anything personal with Iris until the 80% mark. While I don't mind a stoic and grumpy character and Jude's pain is completely justified, I was struggling to figure out why Iris liked Jude so much when it seems like Iris was giving everything and Jude was barely giving anything back. This was a very slow burn for Iris and Jude and they remain completely platonic for a large part of the book. They go from first kiss, to agreeing to no-strings sex, to saying I love you all in the last 35% and it felt like whiplash. Throw in Jude spilling all her secrets and everything about their romance felt so rushed. I understand they had a foundation of friendship and I appreciated that but overall, the actual romance and love was so sudden. One positive note I will say is that I liked the way Iris handled Jude's heartache and I do feel like that part really showed how compassionate and loving Iris is.
Again, I do think other readers who enjoy slow burn, hurt/comfort reads will probably enjoy this one but it wasn't for me.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Content Warning: References to the death of a loved one
May 22, 2020
Content warnings:
I was excited when I saw the announcement for the new Carina Adores line and even more so when I saw that one of the first books was an f/f romance. Like the title suggests, it’s a cute small town romance, slowly-paced and with a very slow burn romance.
Iris may be back in her hometown of Salty Cove, Maine, but it’s only temporary. As soon as she’s able to save up enough money working over the summer at the local seafood restaurant, she’s heading back to Boston. At least she has some nice eye candy living next door to her parents’ house. Jude’s been back in town, living at her parents’ old house, and working a lobster boat by herself for two years. By herself being the key part, as she’s isolated herself from everyone, and that’s the way she likes it. That is, until Iris moves in next door and Jude can’t see to keep away from her. As the summer continues, it’s obvious there’s something between them, but can both Jude and Iris let go of the past long enough to see what’s right in front of them?
Iris is frustrated and embarrassed that she couldn’t cut it in the big city, and knows it’s just a matter of time before her reasons for being home are blasted all over the small town. She misses her friends, the food, and the anonymity of city life, especially when it comes to her dating life. She’s also just so sweet and awkward, and her instant attraction to Jude just makes both traits worse. While Iris basically embarrassment-flails her way into explaining why she’s back home, Jude refuses to tell her story and is initially quite rude. But Jude starts reaching out to Iris almost against her will, from inviting her to have a beer on her porch to cooking her lobsters she caught herself. Jude’s very reserved and has very good reasons for her isolation (which are ever so slowly revealed to both the reader and Iris), but she’s a marshmallow on the inside. I mean, Jude may be the type to wear a leather jacket and ride a motorcycle, but she also hangs Winnie the Pooh quotes on her bedroom walls. She can’t resist Iris’s sunny, giving nature, and slowly, ever so slowly, Jude’s shell begins to crack.
Iris and Jude’s relationship is very slow burn. There’s a lot of mutual pining, complete with “oh no we can’t,” “she’s too perfect/beautiful for me,” etc. While they may have started out with nothing more than instant physical attraction, they also build a good friendship based on sharing food together and redecorating Jude’s house. A lot of the tension comes from the fact that Iris doesn’t plan to stay in Salty Cove, and also that Jude seems extremely emotionally closed off. It’s over half the book before they even kiss, and even then the parameters are set at a physical-only relationship.
Despite the content warnings, this is a pretty comforting book. It’s slow and sweet, full of Iris’s dog’s antics, her supportive family, and small town goodness. I really liked Iris’s parents and her interactions with them. Rather than hold it over her head, they’re understanding about her being back home and mostly just want to help her out. She responds by cooking dinner for them (and even trying to get them to eat kale). I especially loved her dad who’s obsessed with reading YA books and who the local librarian jokingly calls her best customer. Even Salty Cove is different than she remembered, as there’s now a queer group that meets at that local library.
There were a few things that didn’t work for me. The story is told from the first-person POVs of both Iris and Jude. I usually like this POV, but I don’t think it works so well when you have a secret, like Jude’s, that you’re trying to slowly reveal. Also, after all that buildup to their relationship, I was disappointed in the sex scenes. They seemed a bit rote to me and lacking in emotional intensity.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but didn’t love it – it’s somewhere around a 3 to 3.5 star read for me. I do think this would make a good beach read, especially if you can get your hands on a lobster roll to go with it!
I received this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I was excited when I saw the announcement for the new Carina Adores line and even more so when I saw that one of the first books was an f/f romance. Like the title suggests, it’s a cute small town romance, slowly-paced and with a very slow burn romance.
“I thought I was going to kick the dust of this town off my feet and never come back. I didn’t care where I went, as long as it was anywhere but here.”
Our eyes locked and I had one of those moments when you connect with another person and they can feel it too, and you don’t know anything else in this world but how that person understands what you’d been through. They got it. Jude got it.”
Iris may be back in her hometown of Salty Cove, Maine, but it’s only temporary. As soon as she’s able to save up enough money working over the summer at the local seafood restaurant, she’s heading back to Boston. At least she has some nice eye candy living next door to her parents’ house. Jude’s been back in town, living at her parents’ old house, and working a lobster boat by herself for two years. By herself being the key part, as she’s isolated herself from everyone, and that’s the way she likes it. That is, until Iris moves in next door and Jude can’t see to keep away from her. As the summer continues, it’s obvious there’s something between them, but can both Jude and Iris let go of the past long enough to see what’s right in front of them?
“Jude wasn’t like an oyster. You couldn’t just shuck the truth out in one motion, getting right to the good stuff. Jude was a lobster: a hard outer shell that was difficult to crack that covered squishy insides. No doubt she’d built up that shell for a reason, and it was going to take a damn good reason for her to let someone in.”
Iris is frustrated and embarrassed that she couldn’t cut it in the big city, and knows it’s just a matter of time before her reasons for being home are blasted all over the small town. She misses her friends, the food, and the anonymity of city life, especially when it comes to her dating life. She’s also just so sweet and awkward, and her instant attraction to Jude just makes both traits worse. While Iris basically embarrassment-flails her way into explaining why she’s back home, Jude refuses to tell her story and is initially quite rude. But Jude starts reaching out to Iris almost against her will, from inviting her to have a beer on her porch to cooking her lobsters she caught herself. Jude’s very reserved and has very good reasons for her isolation (which are ever so slowly revealed to both the reader and Iris), but she’s a marshmallow on the inside. I mean, Jude may be the type to wear a leather jacket and ride a motorcycle, but she also hangs Winnie the Pooh quotes on her bedroom walls. She can’t resist Iris’s sunny, giving nature, and slowly, ever so slowly, Jude’s shell begins to crack.
“She was too sweet and vibrant to be stuck in this dull town forever. She could never be happy here. I wasn’t happy here, but I wouldn’t be happy anywhere so it didn’t matter.”
Iris and Jude’s relationship is very slow burn. There’s a lot of mutual pining, complete with “oh no we can’t,” “she’s too perfect/beautiful for me,” etc. While they may have started out with nothing more than instant physical attraction, they also build a good friendship based on sharing food together and redecorating Jude’s house. A lot of the tension comes from the fact that Iris doesn’t plan to stay in Salty Cove, and also that Jude seems extremely emotionally closed off. It’s over half the book before they even kiss, and even then the parameters are set at a physical-only relationship.
Despite the content warnings, this is a pretty comforting book. It’s slow and sweet, full of Iris’s dog’s antics, her supportive family, and small town goodness. I really liked Iris’s parents and her interactions with them. Rather than hold it over her head, they’re understanding about her being back home and mostly just want to help her out. She responds by cooking dinner for them (and even trying to get them to eat kale). I especially loved her dad who’s obsessed with reading YA books and who the local librarian jokingly calls her best customer. Even Salty Cove is different than she remembered, as there’s now a queer group that meets at that local library.
There were a few things that didn’t work for me. The story is told from the first-person POVs of both Iris and Jude. I usually like this POV, but I don’t think it works so well when you have a secret, like Jude’s, that you’re trying to slowly reveal. Also, after all that buildup to their relationship, I was disappointed in the sex scenes. They seemed a bit rote to me and lacking in emotional intensity.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but didn’t love it – it’s somewhere around a 3 to 3.5 star read for me. I do think this would make a good beach read, especially if you can get your hands on a lobster roll to go with it!
I received this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
July 26, 2020
It’s a 3.5 because while there was nothing wrong with it, there is also nothing outstanding or memorable, it just is, and that doesn’t make a great book. I like a no angst romance, I prefer them, but I got nothing but longing glances and admiration in this one.
April 30, 2020
3.75 stars rounded up
I love "small town/going back to one's own town" trope in romance... so when I saw this being offered at Netgalley, with promise of small-town romance, I jumped at the chance to read the advanced copy.
This is quite a slow-burn romance too, it turns out.
Jude, one of the heroines, suffers from a great deal of heartbreak (I'm not telling you the reason, you just have to read yourself, though there's a reader's content advisor related to it in the beginning of this book), so she wants to keep her solitude. Jude doesn't want to open up to possibility of getting heartbroken again. She is sort of trying to only tentatively befriends Iris back.
Plus Iris keeps saying that her move to Salty Cove is temporary. She wants to get out from the small town. She wants to get back to the big city, where she can be 'anonymous'. Living at her parents house is not her dream at all.
So yes, sweet, rather slow burn romance between two opposite attracts. I think it was lovely. The story is being told from both women's perspectives. So we know how they both feel. I enjoy their progress towards relationship. Iris is definitely the more determined one; she even tells Jude it's okay to be "friends for sex only" 😆. Yeah, not very easy to avoid feeling, isn't it Iris?
There are some sexy moments for you to savor near the end... so the slow burn does has its reward. Having said that, I feel like I missed the moment when Jude personally decides that she's ready to fall in love again. That "AHA" moment seems to be missing from Jude's perspective. I get it from Iris but not Jude. That's one that making me rather unsatisfied... because clearly, despite Iris saying that she doesn't want to live at Salty Cove, Jude is the one holding back.
Anyway, the supporting casts, mainly Iris' parents, are nice addition too. Though the MVP is probably Iris' dog, Dolly Parton. She's a hoot!
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
I love "small town/going back to one's own town" trope in romance... so when I saw this being offered at Netgalley, with promise of small-town romance, I jumped at the chance to read the advanced copy.
This is quite a slow-burn romance too, it turns out.
Jude, one of the heroines, suffers from a great deal of heartbreak (I'm not telling you the reason, you just have to read yourself, though there's a reader's content advisor related to it in the beginning of this book), so she wants to keep her solitude. Jude doesn't want to open up to possibility of getting heartbroken again. She is sort of trying to only tentatively befriends Iris back.
Plus Iris keeps saying that her move to Salty Cove is temporary. She wants to get out from the small town. She wants to get back to the big city, where she can be 'anonymous'. Living at her parents house is not her dream at all.
So yes, sweet, rather slow burn romance between two opposite attracts. I think it was lovely. The story is being told from both women's perspectives. So we know how they both feel. I enjoy their progress towards relationship. Iris is definitely the more determined one; she even tells Jude it's okay to be "friends for sex only" 😆. Yeah, not very easy to avoid feeling, isn't it Iris?
There are some sexy moments for you to savor near the end... so the slow burn does has its reward. Having said that, I feel like I missed the moment when Jude personally decides that she's ready to fall in love again. That "AHA" moment seems to be missing from Jude's perspective. I get it from Iris but not Jude. That's one that making me rather unsatisfied... because clearly, despite Iris saying that she doesn't want to live at Salty Cove, Jude is the one holding back.
Anyway, the supporting casts, mainly Iris' parents, are nice addition too. Though the MVP is probably Iris' dog, Dolly Parton. She's a hoot!
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
May 26, 2020
Meh
Iris is forced to go back to her home town after not being able to find a good job after college. When she sees the girl next door, her interest is piqued. Jude came back to Salty Cove two years ago. She has such pain in her heart that she just wants to be alone. When Iris moves back with her dog, Dolly Parton, she finds herself unwillingly opening up…
I wasn’t overly fond of this book but it was ok. I felt like it lacked any sort of true feelings and there was little excitement (action) or real emotions in the story. I did like Jude’s part of the story, finding herself coming out of her shell and wanting to live again but I couldn’t stop thinking of Iris being just out of high school…. She was barely out of college but seemed so immature for some reason. The sexy bits were good and the story wasn’t awful but I had expected more.
Iris is forced to go back to her home town after not being able to find a good job after college. When she sees the girl next door, her interest is piqued. Jude came back to Salty Cove two years ago. She has such pain in her heart that she just wants to be alone. When Iris moves back with her dog, Dolly Parton, she finds herself unwillingly opening up…
I wasn’t overly fond of this book but it was ok. I felt like it lacked any sort of true feelings and there was little excitement (action) or real emotions in the story. I did like Jude’s part of the story, finding herself coming out of her shell and wanting to live again but I couldn’t stop thinking of Iris being just out of high school…. She was barely out of college but seemed so immature for some reason. The sexy bits were good and the story wasn’t awful but I had expected more.
June 12, 2020
Ripped Bodice Bingo 2020: I'm On A Boat (Jude has a lobster boat!).
This was fine? There's no real angst, and there's nothing really to complain about. At the same time there's also... not much to love? There were times reading this that I was straight up bored. I think the author was going for "small sleepy town" but that turned into sleepy writing. It is a very sweet f/f romance though, and maybe other people will like it more than me!
This was fine? There's no real angst, and there's nothing really to complain about. At the same time there's also... not much to love? There were times reading this that I was straight up bored. I think the author was going for "small sleepy town" but that turned into sleepy writing. It is a very sweet f/f romance though, and maybe other people will like it more than me!
June 1, 2020
This was such an amazing heartfelt book. I truly fell in love with Iris and Jude’s story. Through the lost Jude went through to all the things life throws your way there’s always a brighter tomorrow. I adored Iris so much she was kind, loving, and patient. She was exactly what Jude needed and the missing piece to the puzzle. One of my fav quotes stated in this book was when piglet asked Pooh how to you spell love? Pooh responded you don’t spell it, you feel it! Chelsea thanks for this gem of a book!💕#NetGalley
April 21, 2020
Overall this is a cute romance. More in the slow burn category for me. Iris has no choice but to move back home to Salty Cove, Maine after she failed at making it in Boston. In the very beginning we see why Iris needed to move home. Once she returns to her welcoming parents she finds out that Jude is living in her parents house next door. Where Iris is like 22 or 23, Jude is 4 years her senior. Jude is quiet and keeps to herself. She is troubled by something that happened in her past, but we don't really know what it is until much later in the romance.
So this was cute enough. As you move through the romance, I found I had a harder time liking Jude because she was so distant and rude at times. In many ways I could not understand why she was so secretive about what happened between her and her former g/f. Iris on the other hand is a very likeable character. Sure she is young and still has some growing up to do, but overall I find her to be the more mature than most 22/23 yo's. By the end of the story, I found myself hoping that Iris and Jude would have a happily ever after. Knowing Jude's character, I would tend to believe that she is very capable of committing to just one person.
This is just a cute cheesy romance that is easy to read and for the most part enjoyable. 3.75 stars
So this was cute enough. As you move through the romance, I found I had a harder time liking Jude because she was so distant and rude at times. In many ways I could not understand why she was so secretive about what happened between her and her former g/f. Iris on the other hand is a very likeable character. Sure she is young and still has some growing up to do, but overall I find her to be the more mature than most 22/23 yo's. By the end of the story, I found myself hoping that Iris and Jude would have a happily ever after. Knowing Jude's character, I would tend to believe that she is very capable of committing to just one person.
This is just a cute cheesy romance that is easy to read and for the most part enjoyable. 3.75 stars
December 14, 2021
Iris and Jude return to their home towns for very different reasons. Iris wants to return to the city and she also wants to learn more about Jude. Jude has a hard shell and you find out why through the story. The two become friends and possibly more. Iris might stay put if she can just get Jude to open up to her. A very emotional journey for Jude and well written.
April 12, 2020
During weird times this is a lovely book to read. It’s easy, the characters are likeable and a the story slows easily and happily.
Iris returns to her small hometown after being in Boston for a while, but she couldn’t make it work any longer. She moves back in with her parents. Her neighbour is the aloof Jude, her parents left her the house and she has been living in it for almost years. Iris is determined to get out of Salty Cove again, the sooner the better, and Jude never saw herself back in this small town. But here they are. Iris tries to pull Jude out of her shell, it’s clear she experienced some soort of heartbreak but isn’t ready to share and let it go. They strike up a nice and easy going friendship that might turn into more if they let themselves.
Easy book to read and pretty enjoyable.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Iris returns to her small hometown after being in Boston for a while, but she couldn’t make it work any longer. She moves back in with her parents. Her neighbour is the aloof Jude, her parents left her the house and she has been living in it for almost years. Iris is determined to get out of Salty Cove again, the sooner the better, and Jude never saw herself back in this small town. But here they are. Iris tries to pull Jude out of her shell, it’s clear she experienced some soort of heartbreak but isn’t ready to share and let it go. They strike up a nice and easy going friendship that might turn into more if they let themselves.
Easy book to read and pretty enjoyable.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
September 22, 2020
3.5
This is a delightful slow and soft romance. I really enjoyed my time with it.
I found this to be the perfect kind of romance for right now. It's not overly angsty but instead delivers some slow burn pacing. So crockpot romance lovers this is for you!
The setting of Maine was also a total blast as well. Nice change of pace and small town setting perfection.
My dislike mostly came from how slow it was. It dragged for a little bit, and I had some communication issues with both characters. I just wanted them to talk.
This is a delightful slow and soft romance. I really enjoyed my time with it.
I found this to be the perfect kind of romance for right now. It's not overly angsty but instead delivers some slow burn pacing. So crockpot romance lovers this is for you!
The setting of Maine was also a total blast as well. Nice change of pace and small town setting perfection.
My dislike mostly came from how slow it was. It dragged for a little bit, and I had some communication issues with both characters. I just wanted them to talk.
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