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Mr Right Across The Street
Mia Abbott’s move to Manchester was supposed to give her time and space from all the disastrous romantic choices she’s made in her past. But then the hot guy who lives opposite – the one who works out every day at exactly 10 a.m., not that Mia has noticed thank-you-very-much – starts leaving notes in his window…for her.
Bar owner Luke Doyle has his own issues to deal with but as he shows Mia the sites of her new city he also shows her what real romance looks like for the first time. And when he cooks up a signature cocktail in her honour, she realises that the man behind the bar is even more enticing than any of his creations. And once she’s had a taste she knows it will never be enough!
Bar owner Luke Doyle has his own issues to deal with but as he shows Mia the sites of her new city he also shows her what real romance looks like for the first time. And when he cooks up a signature cocktail in her honour, she realises that the man behind the bar is even more enticing than any of his creations. And once she’s had a taste she knows it will never be enough!
428 pages, Paperback
First published January 22, 2021
219 people are currently reading
5296 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Freeman
28 books446 followersI was born in Wallingford, England and have spent most of my life living in a village outside Windsor. A former pharmacist, former pharmaceutical industry employee I’m now a self-employed medical writer who also loves to write romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero…
I’ve two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to bother buying a card again this year (yes, he does) so the romance in my life is all in my head. Then again, my husband’s unstinting support of my career change goes to prove that love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes can come in many disguises
I’ve two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to bother buying a card again this year (yes, he does) so the romance in my life is all in my head. Then again, my husband’s unstinting support of my career change goes to prove that love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes can come in many disguises
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 363 reviews
October 31, 2023
If I could give this negative stars, I would.
You know the T-Swift lyric, She wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts? If that song lyric was a book, it is this book. Our main character, Mia, is simply NOT like the other girls. She wears T-SHIRTS!!! NOT dresses, which are slutty and ew and so highbrow, ugh. Aren't we all just disgusted when women wear what they want? Yeah, same.
Mia also wears converse and leggings, which no other girl does. Trust me, I'm a girl, I know these things. She also does NOT wear makeup because she "can't be bothered" to, and girl SAME. Makeup is trash and anyone who wears it is also trash, obviously.
Basically, any woman who puts any effort whatsoever into her appearance is trying too hard, worthy of an eye-roll, and they are beneath Mia.
Thankfully, though, Mia's beliefs toward self-care are a one way street cause she absolutely loves watching the hot guy across the way workout in his spare room through his window.
His name is Luke and he is literally the hottest guy on the planet. Absolutely every woman he meets throws themselves at him. He owns a bar and every single woman in there wants to sleep with him. All the women get gussied up and put on skin tight dresses and the highest heels hoping to catch his interest, and some of them do, but it allllll changes when Mia walks in the bar.
Luke realizes something is just so different about Mia. Guess what's different. C'mon. Take a guess!! You probably got it. She's wearing a t-shirt! Which is just so amazingly unique and different that he can't help but be pulled into her captivating aura. There are no women that walk into his bar wearing a t-shirt. Ever. In fact, I would think that the way Luke responds to seeing Mia, he has likely never seen a woman wearing a t-shirt.
Onward and upward. The plot is this. Mia is a website designer, works from home, moved recently because of a scary stalker ex-boyfriend. Luke is an unbelievably hot guy who recently bought the bar he's been working at for a long time. They meet at the bar, and since they live across the way from one another, and she doesn't give her phone number to anyone, they write each other notes in their windows to talk to each other. I mentioned a T-Swift song earlier, and I swear this is in the You Belong With Me music video (I could be remembering that wrong, but it IS in one of her videos).
The hot, cool guy falls in love with the nerdy, non-try-hard girl. I want to be very clear that the book states exactly that MULTIPLE times. "Cool guy and nerdy girl" is literally SAID by the main characters on several occasions. These characters are in their THIRTIES. At one point, after Luke is telling Mia how much he likes her for the zillionth time, she says, "The nerd and the cool kid, really?" YOU ARE NOT KIDS. YOU ARE 30+ YEARS OLD.
I digress. Since Mia hates all the other girls who are so typical and slutty, she doesn't trust Luke. I mean, how could such a hot, cool guy be interested in such a nerdy girl like Mia? The ENTIRE book is them arguing back in forth over whether or not Luke could possibly truly like her. That's it. That's the book. Luke just trying to convince Mia that her nerdiness doesn't scare him, but it actually turns him on. Since she isn't just a woman looking for a good time, he actually feels a deep connection to her.
As if this book couldn't be bad enough with all the strange childish stereotypes and enormous amount of slut shaming and double standards, this book also has a LOT of body shaming. Fat characters are faaaaat and you will be told about it repeatedly because we can't have the readers forgetting that there are fat people around to compare to Luke's super fit bod. Mia befriends her neighbor Stan, who is literally her only friend for a long portion of this book, and the first description we get of him is having "a body shape that screamed type 2 diabetes." Yeah.
I can't decide what my favorite horrible scene is. A top contender is the one where they play a video game together (don't you dare forget that she's a nerd and NOT like other women!! she plays video games!!) and Luke tells her what a turn on it is that she plays CoD. I want to puke just thinking about that. CoD?! Really, Luke? You're supposed to be cool.
Another amazingly awful scene is in the epilogue where Luke proposes to Mia (which is awful all on its own of course) and after she says yes to him, he LIFTS UP HIS SHIRT AND SHOWS HER HIS NEW TATTOO WHERE HE GOT HER NAME PUT ON HIS BODY RIGHT UNDER THE NAME OF HIS DAUGHTER AND MIA STARTS CRYING BECAUSE AT ONE POINT HE SAID "The only names I'll ever have tattooed on my skin are those of people I want to keep in my life permanently." I AM SCREAMING JUST THINKING ABOUT READING THAT SHIT OMG IT WAS SO CRINGE AND BAD AHHHHHH
If this review seems long and repetitive, that's simply a reflection of this book. Anytime Luke and Mia interact, they individually go over every detail of the conversation in their heads and THEN they talk to their family/friends about it. We basically have to endure EVERY interaction between Luke and Mia SIX (6!!!!) whole times anytime they have a conversation, no matter how small. BOTH characters get POVs, and BOTH of them reflect and discuss each interaction. About 90% of the "reflection" and "discussing what happened with friends" scenes need to be cut. It's pure torture.
There is so much more to say, but I'm sure you no longer want to listen. I sure as shit don't want to waste anymore time on this book than I already have. If you've made it this far in the review, thank you for letting me vent. I needed to expunge this book from my body. This is my means of catharsis.
I hope that this is the worst book I read all year because I can't handle something like this again.
If you're into romances that are entirely too long and have really dumb plots with awful characters, pick this one up!
Happy reading!
You know the T-Swift lyric, She wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts? If that song lyric was a book, it is this book. Our main character, Mia, is simply NOT like the other girls. She wears T-SHIRTS!!! NOT dresses, which are slutty and ew and so highbrow, ugh. Aren't we all just disgusted when women wear what they want? Yeah, same.
Mia also wears converse and leggings, which no other girl does. Trust me, I'm a girl, I know these things. She also does NOT wear makeup because she "can't be bothered" to, and girl SAME. Makeup is trash and anyone who wears it is also trash, obviously.
Basically, any woman who puts any effort whatsoever into her appearance is trying too hard, worthy of an eye-roll, and they are beneath Mia.
Thankfully, though, Mia's beliefs toward self-care are a one way street cause she absolutely loves watching the hot guy across the way workout in his spare room through his window.
His name is Luke and he is literally the hottest guy on the planet. Absolutely every woman he meets throws themselves at him. He owns a bar and every single woman in there wants to sleep with him. All the women get gussied up and put on skin tight dresses and the highest heels hoping to catch his interest, and some of them do, but it allllll changes when Mia walks in the bar.
Luke realizes something is just so different about Mia. Guess what's different. C'mon. Take a guess!! You probably got it. She's wearing a t-shirt! Which is just so amazingly unique and different that he can't help but be pulled into her captivating aura. There are no women that walk into his bar wearing a t-shirt. Ever. In fact, I would think that the way Luke responds to seeing Mia, he has likely never seen a woman wearing a t-shirt.
Onward and upward. The plot is this. Mia is a website designer, works from home, moved recently because of a scary stalker ex-boyfriend. Luke is an unbelievably hot guy who recently bought the bar he's been working at for a long time. They meet at the bar, and since they live across the way from one another, and she doesn't give her phone number to anyone, they write each other notes in their windows to talk to each other. I mentioned a T-Swift song earlier, and I swear this is in the You Belong With Me music video (I could be remembering that wrong, but it IS in one of her videos).
The hot, cool guy falls in love with the nerdy, non-try-hard girl. I want to be very clear that the book states exactly that MULTIPLE times. "Cool guy and nerdy girl" is literally SAID by the main characters on several occasions. These characters are in their THIRTIES. At one point, after Luke is telling Mia how much he likes her for the zillionth time, she says, "The nerd and the cool kid, really?" YOU ARE NOT KIDS. YOU ARE 30+ YEARS OLD.
I digress. Since Mia hates all the other girls who are so typical and slutty, she doesn't trust Luke. I mean, how could such a hot, cool guy be interested in such a nerdy girl like Mia? The ENTIRE book is them arguing back in forth over whether or not Luke could possibly truly like her. That's it. That's the book. Luke just trying to convince Mia that her nerdiness doesn't scare him, but it actually turns him on. Since she isn't just a woman looking for a good time, he actually feels a deep connection to her.
As if this book couldn't be bad enough with all the strange childish stereotypes and enormous amount of slut shaming and double standards, this book also has a LOT of body shaming. Fat characters are faaaaat and you will be told about it repeatedly because we can't have the readers forgetting that there are fat people around to compare to Luke's super fit bod. Mia befriends her neighbor Stan, who is literally her only friend for a long portion of this book, and the first description we get of him is having "a body shape that screamed type 2 diabetes." Yeah.
I can't decide what my favorite horrible scene is. A top contender is the one where they play a video game together (don't you dare forget that she's a nerd and NOT like other women!! she plays video games!!) and Luke tells her what a turn on it is that she plays CoD. I want to puke just thinking about that. CoD?! Really, Luke? You're supposed to be cool.
Another amazingly awful scene is in the epilogue where Luke proposes to Mia (which is awful all on its own of course) and after she says yes to him, he LIFTS UP HIS SHIRT AND SHOWS HER HIS NEW TATTOO WHERE HE GOT HER NAME PUT ON HIS BODY RIGHT UNDER THE NAME OF HIS DAUGHTER AND MIA STARTS CRYING BECAUSE AT ONE POINT HE SAID "The only names I'll ever have tattooed on my skin are those of people I want to keep in my life permanently." I AM SCREAMING JUST THINKING ABOUT READING THAT SHIT OMG IT WAS SO CRINGE AND BAD AHHHHHH
If this review seems long and repetitive, that's simply a reflection of this book. Anytime Luke and Mia interact, they individually go over every detail of the conversation in their heads and THEN they talk to their family/friends about it. We basically have to endure EVERY interaction between Luke and Mia SIX (6!!!!) whole times anytime they have a conversation, no matter how small. BOTH characters get POVs, and BOTH of them reflect and discuss each interaction. About 90% of the "reflection" and "discussing what happened with friends" scenes need to be cut. It's pure torture.
There is so much more to say, but I'm sure you no longer want to listen. I sure as shit don't want to waste anymore time on this book than I already have. If you've made it this far in the review, thank you for letting me vent. I needed to expunge this book from my body. This is my means of catharsis.
I hope that this is the worst book I read all year because I can't handle something like this again.
If you're into romances that are entirely too long and have really dumb plots with awful characters, pick this one up!
Happy reading!
November 23, 2024
╰┈➤ 1 star!
another mediocre book, but i'm leaning towards not liking it more rather than just being in the middle of liking and not liking it.
first of all, there is nothing wrong with women putting any effort into looking physically good, as well as the girls who don't do much. i think it's screams internalized misogyny. you're a woman but it sounded like you're hating like a man...? not only that, there were a lot of moments where it was similar to the women-putting-an-effort-to-look-good-are-trying-hard and it just gave me the ick.
overall, this isn't the really by book by kathryn freeman that i'd recommend, there are a lot of options that are waaaay better!!
another mediocre book, but i'm leaning towards not liking it more rather than just being in the middle of liking and not liking it.
first of all, there is nothing wrong with women putting any effort into looking physically good, as well as the girls who don't do much. i think it's screams internalized misogyny. you're a woman but it sounded like you're hating like a man...? not only that, there were a lot of moments where it was similar to the women-putting-an-effort-to-look-good-are-trying-hard and it just gave me the ick.
overall, this isn't the really by book by kathryn freeman that i'd recommend, there are a lot of options that are waaaay better!!
March 5, 2021
A delightfully sweet story. Kathryn Freeman never fails to put a smile on my face. I had a lot of fun reading this book some parts were a little cheesy, a little cliché, but I was all in. Mia moves to Manchester to escape a stalker ex and prove to her family that she can make it on her own. When Mia meets Luke she is convinced that he would never like a “girl like her“. Unwilling to give out her phone number, when Luke realizes Mia lives right across from him he starts posting messages in the window. What follows is a very cute, will they, won’t they.
I really liked Mia and Luke and I thought they were perfect together. Mia did however frustrate me throughout a lot of this book. Poor Luke kept trying over and over and over again to prove how much he liked her and she was not convinced. Now this could be because Luke was this gorgeous perfect sweet guy that every girl was throwing themselves at (that part was a bit OTT). Despite an occasional eye roll over Lukes‘s hotness and my desire to shake Mia I really really liked this book. And that ending was so ooey gooey good!
This book in emojis 🍹 🏋🏼♂️ 🪟 📝 🐰 💻
*** Big thank you to One More Chapter for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
I really liked Mia and Luke and I thought they were perfect together. Mia did however frustrate me throughout a lot of this book. Poor Luke kept trying over and over and over again to prove how much he liked her and she was not convinced. Now this could be because Luke was this gorgeous perfect sweet guy that every girl was throwing themselves at (that part was a bit OTT). Despite an occasional eye roll over Lukes‘s hotness and my desire to shake Mia I really really liked this book. And that ending was so ooey gooey good!
This book in emojis 🍹 🏋🏼♂️ 🪟 📝 🐰 💻
*** Big thank you to One More Chapter for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
March 5, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
Men like Luke, cocky and good looking, didn’t go for geek girls, she reminded herself. She attracted the shier, solid guys, who then turned out to be flakier than a Danish pastry.
The Luke Doyle I grew up with had the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met… He still has, but over the years he’s tried so hard to protect it, he’s forgotten how to use it.
Is this the part where I pretend I’m not interested and change the subject? … I hate to disappoint you but I’m nosey, so that’s not going to happen.
My Review:
This was a fun and light read filled with amusing and wry humor, family drama, and a fledgling romance between two people in transition. Mia was a small nerdy woman with technicolored hair, and Luke was her sexy, rabbit-loving, bar owner, neighbor who had a way with women, lots and lots of women. The pair had instant chemistry and gave clever and witty banter, but his reputation as a ladies man put her off, and truthfully, it was putting him off as well. Although that didn’t keep her from perving and lusting after him every day while she watched him exercise from her window. The storylines were easy to follow, engaging, and converged slowly with the plot being more character-driven than action-packed, which was fine by me. I enjoyed these surprisingly endearing characters as they struggled with their inner musings and worked through their issues to find their way to each other.
And I picked up a new entry for my ever-expanding Brit Words and Phrases List with, threw his toys out of the pram – which Mr. Google informs me means to react with ill-temper. I really like the visual on that one.
Men like Luke, cocky and good looking, didn’t go for geek girls, she reminded herself. She attracted the shier, solid guys, who then turned out to be flakier than a Danish pastry.
The Luke Doyle I grew up with had the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met… He still has, but over the years he’s tried so hard to protect it, he’s forgotten how to use it.
Is this the part where I pretend I’m not interested and change the subject? … I hate to disappoint you but I’m nosey, so that’s not going to happen.
My Review:
This was a fun and light read filled with amusing and wry humor, family drama, and a fledgling romance between two people in transition. Mia was a small nerdy woman with technicolored hair, and Luke was her sexy, rabbit-loving, bar owner, neighbor who had a way with women, lots and lots of women. The pair had instant chemistry and gave clever and witty banter, but his reputation as a ladies man put her off, and truthfully, it was putting him off as well. Although that didn’t keep her from perving and lusting after him every day while she watched him exercise from her window. The storylines were easy to follow, engaging, and converged slowly with the plot being more character-driven than action-packed, which was fine by me. I enjoyed these surprisingly endearing characters as they struggled with their inner musings and worked through their issues to find their way to each other.
And I picked up a new entry for my ever-expanding Brit Words and Phrases List with, threw his toys out of the pram – which Mr. Google informs me means to react with ill-temper. I really like the visual on that one.
March 9, 2021
3.5☆ An Enjoyable Rom Com
Mr Right Across The Street is an Enjoyable, will they won't they romance.
When Mia moves to Manchester to escape her ex, she never expects to find someone she likes. She feels she has alot to prove and she definitely has her guard up. She comes across as having alot of insecurities that hinders her relationships.
But then Mia meets the charming Luke and never expects him to like someone like her. After all he certainly has the playboy persona. Or is there more to him than meets the eye.
What follows is some flirting, a budding friendship and most definitely a sprinkle of chemistry! If only Mia can see how much Luke cares!
Mia for me wasn't particularly likeable, her character at times Grated on me.
Luke however was a star, how he kept trying to prove himself to Mia was impressive many would have given up.
Overall Mr Right Across The Street was an entertaining and enjoyable read. I love Freeman's books, but unfortunately this one is not one of my favourites.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
Mr Right Across The Street is an Enjoyable, will they won't they romance.
When Mia moves to Manchester to escape her ex, she never expects to find someone she likes. She feels she has alot to prove and she definitely has her guard up. She comes across as having alot of insecurities that hinders her relationships.
But then Mia meets the charming Luke and never expects him to like someone like her. After all he certainly has the playboy persona. Or is there more to him than meets the eye.
What follows is some flirting, a budding friendship and most definitely a sprinkle of chemistry! If only Mia can see how much Luke cares!
Mia for me wasn't particularly likeable, her character at times Grated on me.
Luke however was a star, how he kept trying to prove himself to Mia was impressive many would have given up.
Overall Mr Right Across The Street was an entertaining and enjoyable read. I love Freeman's books, but unfortunately this one is not one of my favourites.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
June 17, 2021
Mr Right Across the Street was entertaining romance that revolved around Mia and Luke living across the street. It was about settling in new place, finding friends, getting over insecurities, not giving past or anyone power over you, trust, faith, and love.
Plot was interesting flowed naturally with lovely characters, some drama some banter and lots of romance.
What I loved most was the setting of Luke’s green themed bar ‘The Bar Beneath’ that was literally beneath his flat, cocktails he created and Luke and Mia’s non-dates that described amazing places of Manchester.
Chemistry was crackling like soda in cocktail. What I loved most was Luke giving Mia nickname based on different colours she used to dye streak of her hair and their conversation through window, not the idea, but the symbols Luke used.
It was a bit long. Mia was frustrating sometimes and I didn't like some comments on looks and dressing. Overall, Mr Right Across was refreshing, entertaining, and fun romance.
Full review - https://booksteacupreviews.com/2021/0...
Plot was interesting flowed naturally with lovely characters, some drama some banter and lots of romance.
What I loved most was the setting of Luke’s green themed bar ‘The Bar Beneath’ that was literally beneath his flat, cocktails he created and Luke and Mia’s non-dates that described amazing places of Manchester.
Chemistry was crackling like soda in cocktail. What I loved most was Luke giving Mia nickname based on different colours she used to dye streak of her hair and their conversation through window, not the idea, but the symbols Luke used.
It was a bit long. Mia was frustrating sometimes and I didn't like some comments on looks and dressing. Overall, Mr Right Across was refreshing, entertaining, and fun romance.
Full review - https://booksteacupreviews.com/2021/0...
December 28, 2020
Whilst reading this book I got toothache as it’s so sweet!!!! I found the characters too good to be true at times so I didn’t enjoy this story as much as I thought I might. The idea was good it’s just that I found it very sickly. The idea of some guy writing notes and sticking them into a window for a girl across the street too creepy for me. Maybe I’m just a little wary especially these days. If I’d read this in happier times I might have enjoyed it more and appreciated it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
May 7, 2022
This was such a cute, fluffy read!
Exactly what I wanted and expected!
The characters were likeable, funny and completely realistic, and this book could definitely have been based on a true story.
It had strong themes of promiscuity, which I think a lot of new partners struggle with when starting out a new relationship.
Very enjoyable, I definitely recommend it.
Exactly what I wanted and expected!
The characters were likeable, funny and completely realistic, and this book could definitely have been based on a true story.
It had strong themes of promiscuity, which I think a lot of new partners struggle with when starting out a new relationship.
Very enjoyable, I definitely recommend it.
May 31, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mr Right Across the Street definitely had it's cute moments but I honestly couldn't overlook all the unnecessary drama and secrets. It was starting to get a bit frustrating dealing with half-truths and then the drama that unfolded right after it. I just don't understand why communication is so hard for people. Whether it's friendship or dating - please talk to one another!
Other than that, I will admit that I did like the idea of Luke being with Mia. Especially once all the secrets came out to play. It was pretty obvious that he kept things in and lived a personal life. As for Mia, she was okay and somewhat likable. I just feel like they both had a list of pros and cons with me. At times, I liked them and other times I just wanted to strangle them for being idiots.
In the end, I am glad that I got the chance to dive into this and finally found the time to do so. It was definitely cute.
Mr Right Across the Street definitely had it's cute moments but I honestly couldn't overlook all the unnecessary drama and secrets. It was starting to get a bit frustrating dealing with half-truths and then the drama that unfolded right after it. I just don't understand why communication is so hard for people. Whether it's friendship or dating - please talk to one another!
Other than that, I will admit that I did like the idea of Luke being with Mia. Especially once all the secrets came out to play. It was pretty obvious that he kept things in and lived a personal life. As for Mia, she was okay and somewhat likable. I just feel like they both had a list of pros and cons with me. At times, I liked them and other times I just wanted to strangle them for being idiots.
In the end, I am glad that I got the chance to dive into this and finally found the time to do so. It was definitely cute.
March 10, 2021
This is a sweet, romantic read. It’s a classic “girl meets boy” story but I did get a little frustrated by the length of the novel and frequent set backs that the couple experienced.
As we all know, the true path of love never runs smooth and this is exactly what the writer portrays in this story. On the one hand we have Mia who has been burned by past relationships, leaving her with serious trust issues. Luke, the love interest, seems to be the local Romeo who has bedded more women than Mia can keep up with. This just leads to her complete mistrust of Luke, intending for nothing more than a friendship with the handsome bartender.
Naturally, feelings develop beyond friendship, despite both Mia and Luke trying to avoid it. Along the way, there’s many hiccups that prove to be setbacks to their growing relationship. Some were too obvious and I wish the writer had omitted some of these because it did feel like the story was never going to reach a conclusion! I think because it was so clear that the two characters were going to end up together, I was anticipating a punchier closing.
Mia’s vulnerability and lack of trust was equally believable yet frustrating. I love the romantic concept of messaging on paper signs in windows. It’s like old-fashioned texting! Mia is extremely reluctant to pass out her mobile number, hence this unorthodox way of communicating with Luke. This theme added a light-hearted atmosphere which was emphasised further by the fun, non-dates that Luke takes Mia on around Manchester. However, I did want Mia to grow up a little bit and appreciate what she had with Luke; thank goodness for cranky Stan who gives her a talking to!
The supporting characters are all lovely and add to the feel-good feeling of this story. It was lovely to watch Mia and Luke’s relationship develop, even if it was inevitably a bit steamy in places! Banter between characters made me chuckle and I did feel right at home in Luke’s vibrant cocktail bar.
If you need convincing that true love is out there, then I think this book does just that! The two characters are meant to be together – they just need to get over themselves and learn from their past errors in the first place.
With thanks to One More Chapter, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As we all know, the true path of love never runs smooth and this is exactly what the writer portrays in this story. On the one hand we have Mia who has been burned by past relationships, leaving her with serious trust issues. Luke, the love interest, seems to be the local Romeo who has bedded more women than Mia can keep up with. This just leads to her complete mistrust of Luke, intending for nothing more than a friendship with the handsome bartender.
Naturally, feelings develop beyond friendship, despite both Mia and Luke trying to avoid it. Along the way, there’s many hiccups that prove to be setbacks to their growing relationship. Some were too obvious and I wish the writer had omitted some of these because it did feel like the story was never going to reach a conclusion! I think because it was so clear that the two characters were going to end up together, I was anticipating a punchier closing.
Mia’s vulnerability and lack of trust was equally believable yet frustrating. I love the romantic concept of messaging on paper signs in windows. It’s like old-fashioned texting! Mia is extremely reluctant to pass out her mobile number, hence this unorthodox way of communicating with Luke. This theme added a light-hearted atmosphere which was emphasised further by the fun, non-dates that Luke takes Mia on around Manchester. However, I did want Mia to grow up a little bit and appreciate what she had with Luke; thank goodness for cranky Stan who gives her a talking to!
The supporting characters are all lovely and add to the feel-good feeling of this story. It was lovely to watch Mia and Luke’s relationship develop, even if it was inevitably a bit steamy in places! Banter between characters made me chuckle and I did feel right at home in Luke’s vibrant cocktail bar.
If you need convincing that true love is out there, then I think this book does just that! The two characters are meant to be together – they just need to get over themselves and learn from their past errors in the first place.
With thanks to One More Chapter, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2021
➳ two stars
When the most boring thing about a contemporary romance is the romance itself, you know you're in for a treat. Where do I even start?
This novel was a mix of slut-shaming, stereotypes, superiority complexes, and so much more. Honestly, it was a pain to get through. I don't know how I managed to finish it.
The plot revolves around Mia, our main character who just moved to Manchester, and how her life changes once she meets Luke, the bartender who lives in front of her apartment. Luke falls for Mia right after their first meeting because, in his words, she is so different and unlike anyone he has met. You may ask yourselves, how's that? Well, Mia doesn't like to dress up and she doesn't even wear make-up! That alone makes her special, unique, and ultimately different from everyone else. The worst thing is that Mia is not the only one who believes this. Luke does as well. It wasn't enough to make Mia's characters slut-shame every single woman that was mentioned in the book; we also needed the love interest to agree with her.
I don't get Mia's superiority complex and, in all honesty, I didn't care about her character. She's a human being like all others, therefore she should treat others with respect, instead of shaming everyone she meets. I didn't see any character growth and, at the end of the book, she was still fat-shaming her neighbor and shaming Luke about his past. I didn't feel any type of connection towards her or Luke, and that made the reading experience a bit frustrating.
The writing was repetitive and dull. How many times do I need to read the same sentence in a book?
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless you're into inflicting pain on yourself. If that's the case, this is just the perfect book for you!
Arc kindly provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: alcohol use (main character works in a bar), emotional abuse (off page, ex-boyfriend), fat-shaming, sexual content, slut-shaming.
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rtc soon!!
When the most boring thing about a contemporary romance is the romance itself, you know you're in for a treat. Where do I even start?
This novel was a mix of slut-shaming, stereotypes, superiority complexes, and so much more. Honestly, it was a pain to get through. I don't know how I managed to finish it.
The plot revolves around Mia, our main character who just moved to Manchester, and how her life changes once she meets Luke, the bartender who lives in front of her apartment. Luke falls for Mia right after their first meeting because, in his words, she is so different and unlike anyone he has met. You may ask yourselves, how's that? Well, Mia doesn't like to dress up and she doesn't even wear make-up! That alone makes her special, unique, and ultimately different from everyone else. The worst thing is that Mia is not the only one who believes this. Luke does as well. It wasn't enough to make Mia's characters slut-shame every single woman that was mentioned in the book; we also needed the love interest to agree with her.
I don't get Mia's superiority complex and, in all honesty, I didn't care about her character. She's a human being like all others, therefore she should treat others with respect, instead of shaming everyone she meets. I didn't see any character growth and, at the end of the book, she was still fat-shaming her neighbor and shaming Luke about his past. I didn't feel any type of connection towards her or Luke, and that made the reading experience a bit frustrating.
The writing was repetitive and dull. How many times do I need to read the same sentence in a book?
I wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless you're into inflicting pain on yourself. If that's the case, this is just the perfect book for you!
Arc kindly provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: alcohol use (main character works in a bar), emotional abuse (off page, ex-boyfriend), fat-shaming, sexual content, slut-shaming.
——————————————————
rtc soon!!
December 26, 2020
[Thanks Netgalley for the ebook. This review is my honest opinion but just another opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself]
3-3'5 estrellitas.
Un nadismo bastante entretenido que en la parte final decae con ciertos giros bastante previsibles que le hacen perder frescura y gracia.
La protagonista cae bien pero acaba siendo un pelín cansina con sus inseguridades hacia el maromo. Pero él... Ay, él!!!! Todo lo que quieres en un prota de romántica en un magnífico musculamen. Simpático, de esos que te encandilan con el saludo, con un corazón más grande que la cola y la susodicha always ready for the trocotró. Él resulta un personaje mucho más completo, complejo e interesante. La historia en sí no tiene nada pero te mantiene entretenida. Kathryn Freeman suele conectar conmigo y sus libros me suelen despejar, y este, aunque haya sido algo irregular, me ha entretenido, divertido y despejado.
(Eso sí, un poco más de guarrerismo y con más detalle habría sido más que bien recibido)
3-3'5 estrellitas.
Un nadismo bastante entretenido que en la parte final decae con ciertos giros bastante previsibles que le hacen perder frescura y gracia.
La protagonista cae bien pero acaba siendo un pelín cansina con sus inseguridades hacia el maromo. Pero él... Ay, él!!!! Todo lo que quieres en un prota de romántica en un magnífico musculamen. Simpático, de esos que te encandilan con el saludo, con un corazón más grande que la cola y la susodicha always ready for the trocotró. Él resulta un personaje mucho más completo, complejo e interesante. La historia en sí no tiene nada pero te mantiene entretenida. Kathryn Freeman suele conectar conmigo y sus libros me suelen despejar, y este, aunque haya sido algo irregular, me ha entretenido, divertido y despejado.
(Eso sí, un poco más de guarrerismo y con más detalle habría sido más que bien recibido)
November 30, 2022
A piece of paper will burn faster than this slow burn.
May 9, 2021
This is what I'm imagining right now.
______________________________
Alright, I cannot continue. This book was so infuriatingly annoying that I physically cannot make my brain pay attention to it any longer. This is trying to be a slow burn but it's just a rash that no ointment can heal. This is another DNF from me.
My god, what an ANNOYING MAIN CHARACTER. Mia is unbearable right out of the gate and throughout the book (well, up to where I left off I guess) there is no growth. She is mean, opinionated, with no sign of growth at all, despite other characters giving her reason and opportunity to. She's just stubborn and rude and it makes me SO MAD. Luke writes little messages to her via paper-on-window and Luke is literally just being nice and saying hi and she's being judgemental because he's slept around before he even knew she existed. THEN she's worried that they're not on friendly terms and is relieved when they talk in the coffee shop one morning? GIRL, YOU ARE THE REASON YOU WOULD NOT BE ON FRIENDLY TERMS LOL? WHY ARE YOU WORRIED? I am proper bothered bruv. She then spends all 210 pages that I read DOUBTING HIM. He has not cheated, his attention has not strayed from her, and yet? She gives him no chance to start fresh. He's slept with maybe 4 women at the bar? And given the fact that they're in their 30s (shocking, I know. Mia acts like she's 16) I'd say four is pretty good.
I have no patience for her.
Let's not forget the writing here. Luke refers to his dick as Moby......................... I'm not saying anything else. He also said how much he loved "the translucence of Mia's skin" which had immediately followed him referring to her as a smurf because of her blue streaks. But no, the tipping point for me was when she pet Pickles (the pet rabbit) and her "stroking its ears" had turned him on. This was just.... not it for me. At all. I was hoping Mia would be better at some point but I don't have time for her to make a life-changing personality shift in the eleventh hour. You're 30. Grow up.
She hates anyone who looks put together basically. She also trusts literally no one, which we learn early on because no one has her phone number due to her lack of trust and previous experience with an ex who wouldn't leave her alone. Which... fair. However, she does not discuss this once with the reader or anyone around her..... so YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED? Also, the few people who have her number don't even use it so like... time to make more friends girlie. Luke has been nice and very clearly can be trusted, but this girl is hell-bent on making an enemy out of everyone until they aren't anymore. In her eyes, everyone is guilty until proven innocent. This hang-up with her just served no purpose and honestly kind of stunted the plot a little. The fact that Luke was taking time to leave her messages IN HIS WINDOW... AND SHE WOULDN'T ANSWER? BUT HE'D STILL DO IT ANYWAY?????? GIRL? my god. She doesn't trust that he actually likes her because who could love nerdy Mia while they're hot, cool guy Luke? There's no WAY he'd like a quirky, different girl!!!
This book invoked deep rage within me. I am so disappointed. Please, if you are new to romance.... do not make this your starting point. Just avoid it.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for the ARC in exchange for the honest review...... I'm very sorry.
January 17, 2021
3.5 Stars
Mia is a website developer that moves into an apartment complex in Manchester in the hopes of starting over and thriving on her own. Away from her family, she believes this is the perfect opportunity to be more independent. She wants to make new friends and create a new support bubble away from her stalker ex-boyfriend.
Quickly, she realizes two things: the guy in the apartment right across from her that she ''can't help but watch'' working out in the morning, is also the owner of the trendy bar that services the buildings around her.
Luke is going through some major changes of his own. He is no longer a mere bartender and is now a business owner. After closing the deal on the bar he worked on for years, he realizes that managing books is a lot more complicated than creating trendy cocktails and being friendly with the clientele. He doesn't have a lot of room in his life for relationships and is pretty casual about his hook-ups - until Mia walks in.
Sure, Mr. Right Accross the Street suffers a bit from the ''I'M NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS'' trope, and that can be quite annoying. But, overall, if you're able to overlook this, their story is actually very cute.
Both Luke and Mia have reservations about becoming involved and they develop a friendship first, which creates lovely tension and mutual pinning. I thought the main conflict was obvious, and therefore I didn't need the suspense leading to it, but, if you can overlook a few clichés Mr. Right Accross the Street can be a perfectly fine and sweet read.
Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for approving me for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mia is a website developer that moves into an apartment complex in Manchester in the hopes of starting over and thriving on her own. Away from her family, she believes this is the perfect opportunity to be more independent. She wants to make new friends and create a new support bubble away from her stalker ex-boyfriend.
Quickly, she realizes two things: the guy in the apartment right across from her that she ''can't help but watch'' working out in the morning, is also the owner of the trendy bar that services the buildings around her.
Luke is going through some major changes of his own. He is no longer a mere bartender and is now a business owner. After closing the deal on the bar he worked on for years, he realizes that managing books is a lot more complicated than creating trendy cocktails and being friendly with the clientele. He doesn't have a lot of room in his life for relationships and is pretty casual about his hook-ups - until Mia walks in.
Sure, Mr. Right Accross the Street suffers a bit from the ''I'M NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS'' trope, and that can be quite annoying. But, overall, if you're able to overlook this, their story is actually very cute.
Both Luke and Mia have reservations about becoming involved and they develop a friendship first, which creates lovely tension and mutual pinning. I thought the main conflict was obvious, and therefore I didn't need the suspense leading to it, but, if you can overlook a few clichés Mr. Right Accross the Street can be a perfectly fine and sweet read.
Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for approving me for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2021
3.5 stars.
Mr. Right Across the Street was a cute premise that didn’t totally deliver.
Mia is new to Manchester and hasn’t met many people yet. But what she has discovered while working from home is there is a very attractive man who works out on a strict schedule. Every day. Across the street. Where she can see him from her desk and window.
She eventually meets him when she leaves her hibernation and ventures to the local bar, where Mr. Right is the owner and bartender, Luke. Luke is immediately smitten but Mia is gun shy after hearing about Luke’s rakish ways (look, I’ve been watching the Bridgertons, ok!?). He realizes she lives across from him the next morning and thus begins their communication using notes left on their windows.
Isn’t that adorable?
But here’s where it kind of falls apart.
Mia has had some bad relationships and is reluctant to try something with a manwhore like Luke. So they try friendship instead, although Luke is terrible about hiding his feelings for Mia.
Mia…is what’s wrong with this book. She is so insecure. I have a hard time believing she is an adult when so many of her actions are immature and reminiscent of a teenager. She was so hard on Luke, never once looking at anything from his point of view, nor giving him a chance to talk to her. Mia was constantly running away. And the whole “you’re a cool kid, I’m a nerd and the two shall never be together” schtick was so judgmental. And this when she claimed she didn’t like to stereotype…she constantly did.
Luke deserved better. He was romantic, vulnerable, and loyal.
Side characters were a worthwhile addition, and overall I enjoyed myself. I just felt it could have been just that bit more.
Mr. Right Across the Street was a cute premise that didn’t totally deliver.
Mia is new to Manchester and hasn’t met many people yet. But what she has discovered while working from home is there is a very attractive man who works out on a strict schedule. Every day. Across the street. Where she can see him from her desk and window.
She eventually meets him when she leaves her hibernation and ventures to the local bar, where Mr. Right is the owner and bartender, Luke. Luke is immediately smitten but Mia is gun shy after hearing about Luke’s rakish ways (look, I’ve been watching the Bridgertons, ok!?). He realizes she lives across from him the next morning and thus begins their communication using notes left on their windows.
Isn’t that adorable?
But here’s where it kind of falls apart.
Mia has had some bad relationships and is reluctant to try something with a manwhore like Luke. So they try friendship instead, although Luke is terrible about hiding his feelings for Mia.
Mia…is what’s wrong with this book. She is so insecure. I have a hard time believing she is an adult when so many of her actions are immature and reminiscent of a teenager. She was so hard on Luke, never once looking at anything from his point of view, nor giving him a chance to talk to her. Mia was constantly running away. And the whole “you’re a cool kid, I’m a nerd and the two shall never be together” schtick was so judgmental. And this when she claimed she didn’t like to stereotype…she constantly did.
Luke deserved better. He was romantic, vulnerable, and loyal.
Side characters were a worthwhile addition, and overall I enjoyed myself. I just felt it could have been just that bit more.
December 28, 2020
Absolutely loved the initial meeting between Mia and Luke, it is clear they have chemistry from the off, and just as clear that Kathryn Freeman is up to her normal fabulous levels of banter between our leads.
Every conversation had me smiling and they had a unique way of communicating too which made a difference and added a different dimension to the book.
And we slowly discover that despite first appearances that Luke may not be the sex obsessed ladies man that he comes across as, and that there is a real vulnerability to him and that he has hidden depths.
And then there is Mia, who is a bit of a nerd, and who I could relate to in many ways, especially the take me as you see me approach and not continually bothering with what she is wearing or make up etc.. I also like her would have struggled to believe it if a "cool guy" was interested in me!
I also loved the different colours Mia was dying her streaks and the various nicknames that Luke was coming up with for her.
And the non dates that Luke and Mia go on as friends are really imaginative and give the reader as well as Mia a look at some of the hidden gems of places to go to in Manchester, as he is a part tour guide, since Mia has only just moved to Manchester from Somerset.
It's just a really enjoyable romance where when we finally get a sex scene, well it was enough to make me hot under the collar, It had me smiling throughout and it was just a pleasure to read.
Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Every conversation had me smiling and they had a unique way of communicating too which made a difference and added a different dimension to the book.
And we slowly discover that despite first appearances that Luke may not be the sex obsessed ladies man that he comes across as, and that there is a real vulnerability to him and that he has hidden depths.
And then there is Mia, who is a bit of a nerd, and who I could relate to in many ways, especially the take me as you see me approach and not continually bothering with what she is wearing or make up etc.. I also like her would have struggled to believe it if a "cool guy" was interested in me!
I also loved the different colours Mia was dying her streaks and the various nicknames that Luke was coming up with for her.
And the non dates that Luke and Mia go on as friends are really imaginative and give the reader as well as Mia a look at some of the hidden gems of places to go to in Manchester, as he is a part tour guide, since Mia has only just moved to Manchester from Somerset.
It's just a really enjoyable romance where when we finally get a sex scene, well it was enough to make me hot under the collar, It had me smiling throughout and it was just a pleasure to read.
Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 27, 2021
I was totally sold on the synopsis of Mr. Right Across the Street: woman moves to new city to leave a rocky romantic history in the past and finds herself living across the street from someone she can't help but be drawn to. Oh, and he just happens to own the bar underneath his apartment building, meets her there, and begins living friendly notes for her in his window.
Sadly this book seemed to focus more on the "not like other girls" trope than anything else. Mia isn't like other women because she has the gall to enter his bar alone, wearing a t-shirt. There's also some slut shaming and mean girl behavior, which served to bring down what might have otherwise been an enjoyable romance for me.
What I did really enjoy: The cast of characters is great (even the ones Mia has issues with, I found to be people I'd like to be around). So is the setting - a little apartment complex/bar/cafe area. And I appreciated Luke's desire to talk things out.
If the "cool girl" trope doesn't bother you, you may very well love this one! Though do note it's a bit of a slow burn.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for a free e-arc of this title for review.
Sadly this book seemed to focus more on the "not like other girls" trope than anything else. Mia isn't like other women because she has the gall to enter his bar alone, wearing a t-shirt. There's also some slut shaming and mean girl behavior, which served to bring down what might have otherwise been an enjoyable romance for me.
What I did really enjoy: The cast of characters is great (even the ones Mia has issues with, I found to be people I'd like to be around). So is the setting - a little apartment complex/bar/cafe area. And I appreciated Luke's desire to talk things out.
If the "cool girl" trope doesn't bother you, you may very well love this one! Though do note it's a bit of a slow burn.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for a free e-arc of this title for review.
April 30, 2021
I needed a easy breezy book in my life, I thought this would fill it and in a way it did but it was also so uncomfortably cliche, it was stereotypical yet somehow tried so hard to be quirky and different in a way that was like listening to your mom using slag words and it was beyond cringey, the majority of the book was just repeating the same sentences in different ways for chapters on end and then the other characters repeating it to ensure you were truly spoon fed the story. It was painful to read in some parts and it was riddled with grammar errors, infact at one point the author got one of the chacters names wrong towards the end, I had to read the sentence 5 times cause I couldn't believe I was really reading an author getting her character names the wrong way round but I guess there's a first for everything and it really was a first for me this one 😂😂
February 13, 2021
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book, but in the end, I think I enjoyed it.
Luke was not super charming to me, but I did like his notes on his window. He was persistent in reaching out to her and was great in reminding her how interested he was. He never faltered in his trust and whatnot in Mia which was very admirable. My heart would also break for him each time Mia pulled away. Like, he was so committed and it just made me ache for him and his little broken heart.
I wasn't really physically attracted to him either? I think that might be why I didn't find him *that* charming. Possibly it was the constant reminder that he was ripped and I'm not really into the guys with giant muscles. Just a personal preference.
Also, it was annoying how Mia liked Luke, but then she was like, i can't do this with him. But then she would say, but I like him so much! but i can't date him. Pick a side, woman! Dadgum. Also, she always doubted, like the whole book, whether he liked her or not. Like, he proved over and over how much he liked her and she was still like, oh. i don't know. maybe I'm just *another girl* to him. Ugh.
I was intrigued enough to read the whole book though so that's a plus. I think it was my lack of interest in the characters that led to my lack of investment in their relationship which led to my less than stellar rating. But, I didn't hate the book.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Luke was not super charming to me, but I did like his notes on his window. He was persistent in reaching out to her and was great in reminding her how interested he was. He never faltered in his trust and whatnot in Mia which was very admirable. My heart would also break for him each time Mia pulled away. Like, he was so committed and it just made me ache for him and his little broken heart.
I wasn't really physically attracted to him either? I think that might be why I didn't find him *that* charming. Possibly it was the constant reminder that he was ripped and I'm not really into the guys with giant muscles. Just a personal preference.
Also, it was annoying how Mia liked Luke, but then she was like, i can't do this with him. But then she would say, but I like him so much! but i can't date him. Pick a side, woman! Dadgum. Also, she always doubted, like the whole book, whether he liked her or not. Like, he proved over and over how much he liked her and she was still like, oh. i don't know. maybe I'm just *another girl* to him. Ugh.
I was intrigued enough to read the whole book though so that's a plus. I think it was my lack of interest in the characters that led to my lack of investment in their relationship which led to my less than stellar rating. But, I didn't hate the book.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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February 4, 2021
It's 2021 no more "I'm not like other girls".
March 13, 2021
Mr. Right Across the Street is a quick and fun rom-com with great characters and a chemistry-laden friends-to-lovers romance. The story follows Mia and Luke, an unlikely pair that proves love conquers all. Mia is new to town and looking to make friends, not become entangled with the sexy bar owner who lives across the street. Luke is quite comfortable with his single life but can’t resist his deep feelings for Mia. Can he convince Mia that he is the one for her?
I love Mia’s character! A tech-savvy coder, Mia is smart, independent, and kind. Though comfortable in her own skin, Mia has lost trust in men and in herself. New to the area, Mia moved to Manchester to escape a toxic relationship, and she is still dealing with the ramifications of ending it. She’s not looking for romance, but she finds it in the hunky bachelor that lives across the street and owns the local bar. Though she immediately connects with Luke, Mia does not want to repeat mistakes she’s made in the past and is reluctant to enter into a relationship with a known womanizer. Mia has a lot of reservations when it comes to romance, and her past relationships have really damaged her ability to trust and her desire to find love. It’s interesting to see how she works through her internal obstacles and tries to focus on a happier future for herself.
Luke seems like a consummate bachelor with an easy smile and charismatic charm, but he is so much more than that. I love how his story slowly unfolds to show how loyal, hard-working, and honorable he is. Like Mia, his past defines his present, and because of this, he keeps love interests at an emotional distance, never getting too attached. That is, until Mia.
I love how Luke, a man who is used to women throwing themselves at him, works to win Mia over. He knows upon meeting her that Mia is different from the other women he knows. He is drawn to her and admires her quick wit, sharp mind, and beauty, but he also recognizes her reluctance to become involved. Writing notes and leaving them in his window for Mia to see is a super cute way of communicating, especially in today’s technology-dependent world. Luke is patient and sensitive to Mia’s fears and insecurities, and his actions show how much he cares for and respects her. They have wonderful (and sometimes steamy) chemistry, and their love story is fantastic.
The story also has a fantastic cast of secondary characters. Mia’s sister and mother are hilarious and charming and genuine, and the strength of their bond is evident throughout the novel. Luke’s friends are also pretty comical, and the way they tease and support each other is relatable and realistic. Mia’s curmudgeonly neighbor is an unusual and perfect sidekick and much more intuitive than he originally seems. All of these characters enrich the story and offer tremendous insight into Mia and Luke’s lives.
I enjoyed this cute and fun contemporary romance and think it will appeal to readers who enjoy rom-coms with well-developed and interesting characters, witty banter, and a fabulous love story. Thanks so much to Rachel’s Random Resources and Kathryn Freeman for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
I love Mia’s character! A tech-savvy coder, Mia is smart, independent, and kind. Though comfortable in her own skin, Mia has lost trust in men and in herself. New to the area, Mia moved to Manchester to escape a toxic relationship, and she is still dealing with the ramifications of ending it. She’s not looking for romance, but she finds it in the hunky bachelor that lives across the street and owns the local bar. Though she immediately connects with Luke, Mia does not want to repeat mistakes she’s made in the past and is reluctant to enter into a relationship with a known womanizer. Mia has a lot of reservations when it comes to romance, and her past relationships have really damaged her ability to trust and her desire to find love. It’s interesting to see how she works through her internal obstacles and tries to focus on a happier future for herself.
Luke seems like a consummate bachelor with an easy smile and charismatic charm, but he is so much more than that. I love how his story slowly unfolds to show how loyal, hard-working, and honorable he is. Like Mia, his past defines his present, and because of this, he keeps love interests at an emotional distance, never getting too attached. That is, until Mia.
I love how Luke, a man who is used to women throwing themselves at him, works to win Mia over. He knows upon meeting her that Mia is different from the other women he knows. He is drawn to her and admires her quick wit, sharp mind, and beauty, but he also recognizes her reluctance to become involved. Writing notes and leaving them in his window for Mia to see is a super cute way of communicating, especially in today’s technology-dependent world. Luke is patient and sensitive to Mia’s fears and insecurities, and his actions show how much he cares for and respects her. They have wonderful (and sometimes steamy) chemistry, and their love story is fantastic.
The story also has a fantastic cast of secondary characters. Mia’s sister and mother are hilarious and charming and genuine, and the strength of their bond is evident throughout the novel. Luke’s friends are also pretty comical, and the way they tease and support each other is relatable and realistic. Mia’s curmudgeonly neighbor is an unusual and perfect sidekick and much more intuitive than he originally seems. All of these characters enrich the story and offer tremendous insight into Mia and Luke’s lives.
I enjoyed this cute and fun contemporary romance and think it will appeal to readers who enjoy rom-coms with well-developed and interesting characters, witty banter, and a fabulous love story. Thanks so much to Rachel’s Random Resources and Kathryn Freeman for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
January 22, 2021
This was a super sweet (and steamy) romance!
Mia moves to Manchester to get away from an ex who won't leave her be. She is going to spend time on her own and finally work on the novel she's been meaning to write. The sexy bar owner who lives in the flat across from hers is a temptation she wasn't planning on.
This book was a slow burn romance with pacing that is consistent with Brit Lit, much slower than American-written romances with an emphasis on daily life and friendships with others as well as the main romance.
I loved the main characters, Mia and Luke. They were both complex and real with faults and mistakes as well as cute quirks and lots of heart. Their friendships with others in this book were a bright spot as was Mia's fair treatment of Luke's ex (who features in the story).
The teen in this story was very well written! A great blend of sweet and sometimes moody. And very embarrassed of her hot dad.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: teen pregnancy, parent abandonment, controlling ex, sometimes difficult shared child custody
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mia moves to Manchester to get away from an ex who won't leave her be. She is going to spend time on her own and finally work on the novel she's been meaning to write. The sexy bar owner who lives in the flat across from hers is a temptation she wasn't planning on.
This book was a slow burn romance with pacing that is consistent with Brit Lit, much slower than American-written romances with an emphasis on daily life and friendships with others as well as the main romance.
I loved the main characters, Mia and Luke. They were both complex and real with faults and mistakes as well as cute quirks and lots of heart. Their friendships with others in this book were a bright spot as was Mia's fair treatment of Luke's ex (who features in the story).
The teen in this story was very well written! A great blend of sweet and sometimes moody. And very embarrassed of her hot dad.
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: teen pregnancy, parent abandonment, controlling ex, sometimes difficult shared child custody
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2021
This is a cute romcom but I did have some issues with it. I really liked that we had the POV of both the male and female characters. This definitely gave me more insight into the characters. I did struggle a bit with Mia though. She really was so unsure of herself and was always running off on Luke. Both characters definitely had their flaws that they were trying to overcome which made them relatable. The secondary characters were quirky and fun. Overall I didn’t mind the writing but I think Mia misunderstood or thought the worst of Luke a couple of times too many.
January 23, 2021
*3.5 stars
I got this book as an arc a while back. I enjoyed how the relationship between Mia and Luke developed over time. The story was a little too slow paced for me but it was still cute.
I got this book as an arc a while back. I enjoyed how the relationship between Mia and Luke developed over time. The story was a little too slow paced for me but it was still cute.
Read
January 17, 2021DNF @ 60%
February 28, 2021
A refreshingly fun and humorous novel!
Mia Abbott moves to Manchester to put some space between herself and her ex. A fresh start in a new city is what she needs to focus on her career. However, she's distracted daily at 10 a.m. by a shirtless Mr Hot Guy Opposite when she's supposed to be working. Only, it reminds her that she doesn't know anyone in the city, an aspect of her life she needs to change.
Luke Doyle is now the proud owner of The Bar Beneath after taking over the reins of the place he had called work for the last ten years. With his new role as an employer, his focus is all work and no play, meaning there's less time to socialise. That's until a woman walks into his bar, like a breath of fresh air…
There's lots of banter and moments to make you smile as Mia and Luke get to know each other. With numerous obstacles to navigate, their dates are original and imaginative.
I've read a couple of Ms Freeman's other novels and this one is my favourite so far. The plot-line is adorable yet, Mia and Luke's journey to a happy ending is more than just a meet-cute story. Both have emotional baggage; Luke more than Mia. So, when they finally get-together, it's a satisfying finale for two people made for each other.
If you enjoy romances with protagonists with sizzling chemistry, sit back and prepare to be entertained.
Mia Abbott moves to Manchester to put some space between herself and her ex. A fresh start in a new city is what she needs to focus on her career. However, she's distracted daily at 10 a.m. by a shirtless Mr Hot Guy Opposite when she's supposed to be working. Only, it reminds her that she doesn't know anyone in the city, an aspect of her life she needs to change.
Luke Doyle is now the proud owner of The Bar Beneath after taking over the reins of the place he had called work for the last ten years. With his new role as an employer, his focus is all work and no play, meaning there's less time to socialise. That's until a woman walks into his bar, like a breath of fresh air…
There's lots of banter and moments to make you smile as Mia and Luke get to know each other. With numerous obstacles to navigate, their dates are original and imaginative.
I've read a couple of Ms Freeman's other novels and this one is my favourite so far. The plot-line is adorable yet, Mia and Luke's journey to a happy ending is more than just a meet-cute story. Both have emotional baggage; Luke more than Mia. So, when they finally get-together, it's a satisfying finale for two people made for each other.
If you enjoy romances with protagonists with sizzling chemistry, sit back and prepare to be entertained.
December 18, 2020
**Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.**
Mr Right Across the Street is a cute contemporary romance about two people who live across the way from one another. Mia, someone who is trying to start a new life, stumbles into her hot new neighbors bar and they finally meet.
Luke is completely smitten by Mia and feels an instant connection with her, but Mia is a little more hesitant considering her past relationships, and the fact that she is trying to make a new life for herself that doesn't include men. Soon Luke and Mia become friends, until feelings become stronger.
I thought this was a cute book. This would be a good starter book for those that want to try to get into romance that doesn't focus on steamy scenes.
Mr Right Across the Street is a cute contemporary romance about two people who live across the way from one another. Mia, someone who is trying to start a new life, stumbles into her hot new neighbors bar and they finally meet.
Luke is completely smitten by Mia and feels an instant connection with her, but Mia is a little more hesitant considering her past relationships, and the fact that she is trying to make a new life for herself that doesn't include men. Soon Luke and Mia become friends, until feelings become stronger.
I thought this was a cute book. This would be a good starter book for those that want to try to get into romance that doesn't focus on steamy scenes.
March 3, 2021
It's always disappointing when a book sounds so promising but just doesn't deliver.
This had all the makings of a cute rom-com: Mia moves to Manchester to prove to herself that she can live alone and doesn't need a man or her family to rescue her. She's coming out of an emotionally abusive relationship and is basically hiding when *gasp* she meets a neighbor (Luke) who owns the bar downstairs. They begin to leave notes for each other in the window since she will not give anyone her phone number. Sounds good...right? It would have been except...
Mia is written as a very unlikable character. Very. Unlikable. I think the "not like other girls" trope was what the author was aiming for, but instead it came out to be offputting. I would have believed this book more if you told me Mia was 18, but instead she was supposed to be in her 30's. She was jealous and harsh about all the women Luke slept with in the past (ahem - some slut shaming here, because those women should be ASHAMED of themselves for casually sleeping around with such an attractive man!), and instead of talking things out like an adult, she would run away and cry at home. This happened no less than 500 times, and it got old fast. So did the mentions of how amazing Mia was because she didn't wear makeup (she can't be bothered!) or wore a tshirt and jeans to a bar (ummm...she's the first?) She dyes her hair weird colors (so does my 5 year old - she'll be glad to know that makes her better than everyone else). She's the nerd and Luke is the cool kid! Again - was she 18 or in her 30's?
Mia befriends her neighbor, who is fat. How do I know this? Because it is mentioned every time he appears. Did you know fat people don't deserve love? Because when he was nervous to ask out a local cafe owner, instead of being supportive, Mia begins to tell him how he should start to lose weight. What an amazing friend!
The weirdest part of the book for me was when Mia said Luke had no self worth because he didn't want to take a customer home from the bar. He had explained that he knew the customer only wanted to do that because she was trying to spite her ex-boyfriend. Sounds pretty self aware! Nope. Awww so sad that he had no self-worth. WHAT?!?!
I just can't get behind the "I am only strong if I do not have a man by my side" rhetoric this book gave off.
One last thing: at the end of my review copy were pictures of the other books she has written. In looking at them, the same person gave a blurb for each one. And each blurb said the same thing: "Amazing chemistry!" Ummm...why is the same blurb on each book?
I received a free digital copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This had all the makings of a cute rom-com: Mia moves to Manchester to prove to herself that she can live alone and doesn't need a man or her family to rescue her. She's coming out of an emotionally abusive relationship and is basically hiding when *gasp* she meets a neighbor (Luke) who owns the bar downstairs. They begin to leave notes for each other in the window since she will not give anyone her phone number. Sounds good...right? It would have been except...
Mia is written as a very unlikable character. Very. Unlikable. I think the "not like other girls" trope was what the author was aiming for, but instead it came out to be offputting. I would have believed this book more if you told me Mia was 18, but instead she was supposed to be in her 30's. She was jealous and harsh about all the women Luke slept with in the past (ahem - some slut shaming here, because those women should be ASHAMED of themselves for casually sleeping around with such an attractive man!), and instead of talking things out like an adult, she would run away and cry at home. This happened no less than 500 times, and it got old fast. So did the mentions of how amazing Mia was because she didn't wear makeup (she can't be bothered!) or wore a tshirt and jeans to a bar (ummm...she's the first?) She dyes her hair weird colors (so does my 5 year old - she'll be glad to know that makes her better than everyone else). She's the nerd and Luke is the cool kid! Again - was she 18 or in her 30's?
Mia befriends her neighbor, who is fat. How do I know this? Because it is mentioned every time he appears. Did you know fat people don't deserve love? Because when he was nervous to ask out a local cafe owner, instead of being supportive, Mia begins to tell him how he should start to lose weight. What an amazing friend!
The weirdest part of the book for me was when Mia said Luke had no self worth because he didn't want to take a customer home from the bar. He had explained that he knew the customer only wanted to do that because she was trying to spite her ex-boyfriend. Sounds pretty self aware! Nope. Awww so sad that he had no self-worth. WHAT?!?!
I just can't get behind the "I am only strong if I do not have a man by my side" rhetoric this book gave off.
One last thing: at the end of my review copy were pictures of the other books she has written. In looking at them, the same person gave a blurb for each one. And each blurb said the same thing: "Amazing chemistry!" Ummm...why is the same blurb on each book?
I received a free digital copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2021
Mr Right Across the Street
By Kathryn Freeman
This was such a fun read I enjoyed for a great hot and sexy romance read. The characters were fun to read about especially with the two point of views between Mia and the ever so handsome across the street neighbor Luke whose daily exercise routine makes for a lovely view across the street. I did enjoy the secondary characters as well which rounded out this fun and quirky enjoyable quick read.
By Kathryn Freeman
This was such a fun read I enjoyed for a great hot and sexy romance read. The characters were fun to read about especially with the two point of views between Mia and the ever so handsome across the street neighbor Luke whose daily exercise routine makes for a lovely view across the street. I did enjoy the secondary characters as well which rounded out this fun and quirky enjoyable quick read.
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