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Cider Bar Sisters #3
The Professor Next Door
Friendly neighbors can have their benefits…
Nicole Louie-Edwards enjoys the nightlife and bringing men back to her apartment, although lately, she’s gotten tired of the chase. Her quiet new neighbor, David Cho, isn’t her type, but after they get trapped in an elevator together on her birthday, she develops a friendship with the kind geology professor.
Then, blushing, he tells her that he can hear her having sex but tries not to listen. Except it’s clear he’d like to, and she’s surprisingly turned on. They embark on a friends-with-benefits arrangement hotter than any she’s had before. She didn’t expect him to be so naughty between the sheets.
David becomes a bigger part of her life outside of the bedroom, too, bringing her desserts and going viral on TikTok with her grandmother, but she can’t imagine he wants to be her boyfriend, and it’s not like she wants that, either. She’s convinced she’d lose her identity in a relationship, like she did ten years ago.
Yet she can’t help getting more and more attached to the professor next door…
Nicole Louie-Edwards enjoys the nightlife and bringing men back to her apartment, although lately, she’s gotten tired of the chase. Her quiet new neighbor, David Cho, isn’t her type, but after they get trapped in an elevator together on her birthday, she develops a friendship with the kind geology professor.
Then, blushing, he tells her that he can hear her having sex but tries not to listen. Except it’s clear he’d like to, and she’s surprisingly turned on. They embark on a friends-with-benefits arrangement hotter than any she’s had before. She didn’t expect him to be so naughty between the sheets.
David becomes a bigger part of her life outside of the bedroom, too, bringing her desserts and going viral on TikTok with her grandmother, but she can’t imagine he wants to be her boyfriend, and it’s not like she wants that, either. She’s convinced she’d lose her identity in a relationship, like she did ten years ago.
Yet she can’t help getting more and more attached to the professor next door…
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2021
About the author
Jackie Lau
46 books920 followersJackie Lau decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in grade two, sometime between writing “The Heart That Got Lost” and “The Land of Shapes.” She later studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
December 17, 2021
I must be on a "hot librarians/academics with secret kinky sides" kick
Anyhow this was adorable and really 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (and I adored Nicole's PoPo)
Anyhow this was adorable and really 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (and I adored Nicole's PoPo)
June 22, 2023
2.5 rounded up. This was ok-ish but it lacked depth to be honest. Both MCs remained shallow to me, they liked food, she liked sex and they both had previous bad relationships. That's about it. We have very detailed description of the food they get on their weekly "not dates". The sex was weird to me. . Nicole's grandmother was funny for sure but a bit much after a while and very noisy. I liked Nicole's group of friends and David well enough but something was missing for me. The connection was there but we don't see them discussing much, we don't get the get to know you dialogues so we don't get to really know them either. It was still fun.
May 14, 2021
At 2:15 this afternoon I posted in a discord chat: “I was surprised to get an arc of Jackie Lau’s newest, The Professor Next Door, this morning and now 3 1/2 hours later I have finished it, have a sore neck from reading without moving, and I wish I could gorge on cheese. I really liked the book.” The response was: “Welcome to the Jackie Lau experience.” Accurate. The Jackie Lau experience is a reliably enjoyable read, with excellent food and good sex. Anyway, I’m moving to Toronto and getting a new digestive system because I need all of this cheesy food.
In the decade since ending her first and only major relationship, Nicole has been very happy being single and having a variety of men she sleeps with. She wants the convenience of a regular lover without the complication of a relationship. David can hear his neighbor (Nicole) when she has sex, and while it bothers him, it also turns him on. He’s determined to not make it weird though. After they get stuck in an elevator together on Nicole’s birthday, he brings her a cake from a bakery around the corner and they start a friendship. Eventually, he does confess he can hear her having sex, and after she checks to make sure he isn’t a creep, their friendship adds benefits.
Nicole is at a point where she has become so invested in a certain idea of herself that she is having trouble making the changes she wants in her life. David isn’t what she thought she wanted. David loves making Nicole happy, whether with good food, playing with her sex toys, or making tiktoks with her grandmother. David has a little stern professor daddy energy, but he is fundamentally kind, thoughtful, and respects Nicole’s boundaries.
There are no incidents of slut-shaming, racism, or homophobia in the book, but both Nicole and David have removed people from their lives for being racist. There’s also no pandemic, which is nice.
If you happen to be in Toronto, please go get a cheese tart or some cheesy udon noodles and tell me all about it.
I received this as an advance reader copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
In the decade since ending her first and only major relationship, Nicole has been very happy being single and having a variety of men she sleeps with. She wants the convenience of a regular lover without the complication of a relationship. David can hear his neighbor (Nicole) when she has sex, and while it bothers him, it also turns him on. He’s determined to not make it weird though. After they get stuck in an elevator together on Nicole’s birthday, he brings her a cake from a bakery around the corner and they start a friendship. Eventually, he does confess he can hear her having sex, and after she checks to make sure he isn’t a creep, their friendship adds benefits.
Nicole is at a point where she has become so invested in a certain idea of herself that she is having trouble making the changes she wants in her life. David isn’t what she thought she wanted. David loves making Nicole happy, whether with good food, playing with her sex toys, or making tiktoks with her grandmother. David has a little stern professor daddy energy, but he is fundamentally kind, thoughtful, and respects Nicole’s boundaries.
There are no incidents of slut-shaming, racism, or homophobia in the book, but both Nicole and David have removed people from their lives for being racist. There’s also no pandemic, which is nice.
If you happen to be in Toronto, please go get a cheese tart or some cheesy udon noodles and tell me all about it.
I received this as an advance reader copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2021
CBR13 Bingo: Pandemic
This book was granted to me as an ARC from the author in return for an honest review. I had already pre-ordered the book, as Jackie Lau is now an auto-buy for me.
While this is technically the third entry in the Cider Bar Sisters series, each of the books in the series works perfectly well as a stand-alone. The first book in the series, Her Big City Neighbor is currently available free, however (as of me writing this), so if you're curious to try the series, that's probably the best place to start.
Nicole Louie-Edwards is very happy to be single and having casual sex with a number of eligible men. She has absolutely no wish to be saddled with a relationship and the one romantic relationship in her past (to a much older man) did not end well. She's getting a bit sick of her hook-ups letting her down gently once they've found someone they'd like to commit to, though, although she tells herself that's because it means she has to find a new bed partner.
On her birthday, she gets trapped in the lift with her new neighbour, who she discovers is a geology professor. While the quiet, nerdy-looking man isn't Nicole's type at all, she's touched when he shows up on her doorstep with birthday cake, and they gradually develop a friendship while meeting up for weekly dinner, either at his or hers.
David Cho used to be married but divorced his wife once it became clear she was never going to tak his side against her racist family. He didn't realise how thin some of the walls in the apartment building he recently moved into were until he started hearing his neighbour have sex through them, something she seems to do frequently, and with enthusiasm. While it embarrasses him, David can't deny getting turned on by the sounds and he starts fantasizing about his neighbour and what he'd do if he got to be the one to produce her passionate responses. When they get trapped in the elevator together and later develop a friendship he does his very best to hide this dirty secret, but eventually he feels he has to tell the truth. Rather than be shocked or put off, Nicole seems amused by the revelation. She correctly surmises that David would actually like to listen in while she has sex, and gives him explicit permission not just to do so, but to take matters into his own hands while doing so, so to speak.
It doesn't take long before Nicole's curiosity makes her invite David into her bedroom and is delighted to discover that while he's rather shy, respectful and nerdy during their friendly dinners together, he's quite dominant and very creative in the bedroom. The sex is much hotter than anything either of them have had for ages, and their one-time hook-up soon becomes a regular thing.
As most of Nicole's friends seem to be finding someone to settle down with, she becomes more restless about her own single status. She can't imagine that David would ever want an actual relationship with someone like her (despite all evidence to the contrary, with him plying her with amazing take-out and dessert every chance he gets and putting up with her meddling family without complaint). He even takes part in Tik-Tok videos with her eccentric grandmother. It's not until she cooks him home-cooked food when he's ill that she begins to wonder if her pants feelings for him have turned into something more all-encompassing.
A common denominator in Jackie Lau's romances tends to be strong friendships and familial ties, even if some of those families are more of the found than the biological variety. There will be amazing descriptions of all manner of delicious food (thanks to her books, I now really want to go to Toronto and just EAT. ALL. THE. THINGS!) and desserts. Her books are very sex-positive, and in this book, there are quite a lot more of the smexy times than in some of her others. There is, refreshingly, absolutely no slut-shaming of Nicole, from any of her partners, friends, or family members, although her family seems to be very eager for her to get a steady boyfriend.
I'm really enjoying the continued exploration of the friend group who meets up at the Cider Bar and share their lives with one another. There is clearly something being set up with Nicole's friend Sierra and her super-rich boyfriend, but I assume that is set-up for a future book. This is another book that managed to hold my attention and get me out of my ongoing reading slump for a little while. I finished it in less than 24 hours, a rarity for me these days. I highly recommend it.
Judging a book by its cover: I'm always fond of a nerdy romance hero, especially one who proves to be a force to be reckoned with in the bedroom. Who doesn't love a bespectacled man reading a book? It's not exactly something you see too often on a romance novel, however, so well done, Jackie Lau.
This book was granted to me as an ARC from the author in return for an honest review. I had already pre-ordered the book, as Jackie Lau is now an auto-buy for me.
While this is technically the third entry in the Cider Bar Sisters series, each of the books in the series works perfectly well as a stand-alone. The first book in the series, Her Big City Neighbor is currently available free, however (as of me writing this), so if you're curious to try the series, that's probably the best place to start.
Nicole Louie-Edwards is very happy to be single and having casual sex with a number of eligible men. She has absolutely no wish to be saddled with a relationship and the one romantic relationship in her past (to a much older man) did not end well. She's getting a bit sick of her hook-ups letting her down gently once they've found someone they'd like to commit to, though, although she tells herself that's because it means she has to find a new bed partner.
On her birthday, she gets trapped in the lift with her new neighbour, who she discovers is a geology professor. While the quiet, nerdy-looking man isn't Nicole's type at all, she's touched when he shows up on her doorstep with birthday cake, and they gradually develop a friendship while meeting up for weekly dinner, either at his or hers.
David Cho used to be married but divorced his wife once it became clear she was never going to tak his side against her racist family. He didn't realise how thin some of the walls in the apartment building he recently moved into were until he started hearing his neighbour have sex through them, something she seems to do frequently, and with enthusiasm. While it embarrasses him, David can't deny getting turned on by the sounds and he starts fantasizing about his neighbour and what he'd do if he got to be the one to produce her passionate responses. When they get trapped in the elevator together and later develop a friendship he does his very best to hide this dirty secret, but eventually he feels he has to tell the truth. Rather than be shocked or put off, Nicole seems amused by the revelation. She correctly surmises that David would actually like to listen in while she has sex, and gives him explicit permission not just to do so, but to take matters into his own hands while doing so, so to speak.
It doesn't take long before Nicole's curiosity makes her invite David into her bedroom and is delighted to discover that while he's rather shy, respectful and nerdy during their friendly dinners together, he's quite dominant and very creative in the bedroom. The sex is much hotter than anything either of them have had for ages, and their one-time hook-up soon becomes a regular thing.
As most of Nicole's friends seem to be finding someone to settle down with, she becomes more restless about her own single status. She can't imagine that David would ever want an actual relationship with someone like her (despite all evidence to the contrary, with him plying her with amazing take-out and dessert every chance he gets and putting up with her meddling family without complaint). He even takes part in Tik-Tok videos with her eccentric grandmother. It's not until she cooks him home-cooked food when he's ill that she begins to wonder if her pants feelings for him have turned into something more all-encompassing.
A common denominator in Jackie Lau's romances tends to be strong friendships and familial ties, even if some of those families are more of the found than the biological variety. There will be amazing descriptions of all manner of delicious food (thanks to her books, I now really want to go to Toronto and just EAT. ALL. THE. THINGS!) and desserts. Her books are very sex-positive, and in this book, there are quite a lot more of the smexy times than in some of her others. There is, refreshingly, absolutely no slut-shaming of Nicole, from any of her partners, friends, or family members, although her family seems to be very eager for her to get a steady boyfriend.
I'm really enjoying the continued exploration of the friend group who meets up at the Cider Bar and share their lives with one another. There is clearly something being set up with Nicole's friend Sierra and her super-rich boyfriend, but I assume that is set-up for a future book. This is another book that managed to hold my attention and get me out of my ongoing reading slump for a little while. I finished it in less than 24 hours, a rarity for me these days. I highly recommend it.
Judging a book by its cover: I'm always fond of a nerdy romance hero, especially one who proves to be a force to be reckoned with in the bedroom. Who doesn't love a bespectacled man reading a book? It's not exactly something you see too often on a romance novel, however, so well done, Jackie Lau.
September 24, 2021
Easy angst, great humor and in-depth characters. I'll save my further comments for book club.
May 30, 2021
My favorite part about this book is that it gets high marks for sex positivity. It’s also sexier, or at least more adventurous, than I’m used to from this author. For someone in David’s *ahem* position it would be easy to become jealous or possessive of Nicole but I never got that vibe from him. He supports and accepts her as she is and just wants her to live her best life.
I received an ARC from the author. Thank you!
I received an ARC from the author. Thank you!
November 16, 2023
I just finished "Her Big City Neighbor" and decided to skip around and read this book as it appealed to me the most!
Nicole has been burned before in a long term relationship and now craves nothing but her independence. However, years of surface level hook-ups who constantly move on to greener pastures has left her feeling lonely. Soon, she meets her neighbor David and the two become quick friends and then something more.
The Good
Nicole and David had amazing chemistry. I loved watching their relationship grow. I'm a real friends to lovers enjoyer and I liked seeing them fall in love with different parts of each other and become so vulnerable when they had such hard walls before. I found the Grandma to be really cute and a hilarious. I also love how Lau incorporates so much culture into the books through the inclusion of so much food. They way she describes it makes me want to take a bite!
Tropes:
— Friends with Benefits
— Neighbors
— Asian FMC and MMC
Horn Level: 4/5🌶️
Format: Audiobook
The Rating
I give this book a 3/5🌟 rating. This book was cute! I need to keep reading this series.
Check out my socials here for more reviews!
Nicole has been burned before in a long term relationship and now craves nothing but her independence. However, years of surface level hook-ups who constantly move on to greener pastures has left her feeling lonely. Soon, she meets her neighbor David and the two become quick friends and then something more.
The Good
Nicole and David had amazing chemistry. I loved watching their relationship grow. I'm a real friends to lovers enjoyer and I liked seeing them fall in love with different parts of each other and become so vulnerable when they had such hard walls before. I found the Grandma to be really cute and a hilarious. I also love how Lau incorporates so much culture into the books through the inclusion of so much food. They way she describes it makes me want to take a bite!
Tropes:
— Friends with Benefits
— Neighbors
— Asian FMC and MMC
Horn Level: 4/5🌶️
Format: Audiobook
The Rating
I give this book a 3/5🌟 rating. This book was cute! I need to keep reading this series.
Check out my socials here for more reviews!
June 2, 2022
This one was fun. I liked how open Nicole was with sex and her attitude about it. I also liked the Professor, how he was smitten with Nicole and knew more about her than he should without really meeting her. He came off as a bit of a prude, but once he let go with Nicole, he really let go. The two of them were great together when Nicole didn't think things through too much. When she did things went south fast and both of them were miserable. I was glad when Nicole finally woke up and realized with her Professor she could have it all!
On a side note, I loved Nicole's grandma, she was so funny!!
On a side note, I loved Nicole's grandma, she was so funny!!
January 6, 2022
4 stars.
I love Jackie Lau and yet I still forgot to buy snacks before I start reading.
Contains: both Asian, older MCs (40m, 34f), food porn, Toronto, sex toys (dildo, vibe, butt plug/vibe, handcuffs), FWB to lovers, divorced hero, neighbors, hero hears heroine having sex through the wall (don’t see sex w non-hero from her POV), meddling family esp grandma, NB sibling, close friend group, hurt comfort (drunk heroine; hero w cold)
4/5🔥
I love Jackie Lau and yet I still forgot to buy snacks before I start reading.
Contains: both Asian, older MCs (40m, 34f), food porn, Toronto, sex toys (dildo, vibe, butt plug/vibe, handcuffs), FWB to lovers, divorced hero, neighbors, hero hears heroine having sex through the wall (don’t see sex w non-hero from her POV), meddling family esp grandma, NB sibling, close friend group, hurt comfort (drunk heroine; hero w cold)
4/5🔥
June 7, 2022
This was definitely spicier than the other Lau books I’ve read, and I wasn’t mad about that! 🔥
May 1, 2022
Representation: Biracial Chinese Canadian Heroine, Korean Canadian Hero, Asian supporting characters, Trans Chinese Canadian side character
Overall: 3.75-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exception*
Possible Triggers: Yes
Ending:
Overall: 3.75-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exception*
Possible Triggers: Yes
Ending:
February 13, 2022
okay, let's start by saying this: this book was an easy read. it can be done in one sitting. the first part of the book is enjoyable and i wanted to keep on reading, but past the half of the novel, it was more a 'i-started-this-book-and-need-to-finish-it' struggle to get through it.
and there is a reason for that. the first part of the book is filled with fluffy, sometimes naughty, chats/encounters/thoughts of nicole and david. they have an awesome chemistry and their banters couldn't be more wholesome. the author really created some realistic dialogue and witty comebacks. the couple shares tons of wholesome and tender moments and it really melts one's heart. nicole's family is also a reason why i loved the first part of the book. they embody the chaotic, nosy but still caring, loving family that has solid ties and sticks together trough thick and thin. especially Po Po won my heart over...
there's one thing i'd like to say to finish the positive aspects of this review. the sex scenes in this book hadn't the anticipated spice i'd expected. sure, they were hot and diverse but these scenes had intimacy and i really liked it like that because it fitted the characters.
now coming to the reasons which made me give this book a 2 star review.
there was decent writing, no question to it. the dialogue was also realistic. what was more problematic, was how the plot carried the characters and vice-versa.
first of all, the outcome of the story is predictable, it's a friends-with-benefits to lovers story, nothing new here. but, and here's the BUT, the author could've executed the trope better than this.
starting off with the characters, they had depth but it was poorly executed. the back story the author gave them? it barely affects them in the present. at least for david. so little is said about his past in the book. he would've had much more potential than just being the cake-buying-friends-with-benefits guy from next door. his character is not as fleshed out as it could be
nicole is honestly an interesting character with her own struggles as well. what bugged me about her, was how the story always stated how she doesn't want to slip back into the old relationship patterns from the past. as a reader i wondered whether it affected her in her day-to-day life but the author simply repeats nicole's fear through flashbacks and bad memories and never explores the emotional aspects of her past and how it could affect her in the present.
overall, this scene and couple others are poorly executed regarding their intention to build suspense and tension since the conflict is all to easy to resolve so the characters don't have to sacrifice anything important to them nor have personal problems of their own to solve.
all in all, i would not recommend that book to someone else because it's a meh-read. still, i enjoyed it but don't expect an interesting love story with realistic characters because they were shallow. this book coul've become much more if the author had put more emphasis on developing the characters more because i think it would've made the book more intriguing.
and there is a reason for that. the first part of the book is filled with fluffy, sometimes naughty, chats/encounters/thoughts of nicole and david. they have an awesome chemistry and their banters couldn't be more wholesome. the author really created some realistic dialogue and witty comebacks. the couple shares tons of wholesome and tender moments and it really melts one's heart. nicole's family is also a reason why i loved the first part of the book. they embody the chaotic, nosy but still caring, loving family that has solid ties and sticks together trough thick and thin. especially Po Po won my heart over...
there's one thing i'd like to say to finish the positive aspects of this review. the sex scenes in this book hadn't the anticipated spice i'd expected. sure, they were hot and diverse but these scenes had intimacy and i really liked it like that because it fitted the characters.
now coming to the reasons which made me give this book a 2 star review.
there was decent writing, no question to it. the dialogue was also realistic. what was more problematic, was how the plot carried the characters and vice-versa.
first of all, the outcome of the story is predictable, it's a friends-with-benefits to lovers story, nothing new here. but, and here's the BUT, the author could've executed the trope better than this.
starting off with the characters, they had depth but it was poorly executed. the back story the author gave them? it barely affects them in the present. at least for david. so little is said about his past in the book. he would've had much more potential than just being the cake-buying-friends-with-benefits guy from next door. his character is not as fleshed out as it could be
nicole is honestly an interesting character with her own struggles as well. what bugged me about her, was how the story always stated how she doesn't want to slip back into the old relationship patterns from the past. as a reader i wondered whether it affected her in her day-to-day life but the author simply repeats nicole's fear through flashbacks and bad memories and never explores the emotional aspects of her past and how it could affect her in the present.
overall, this scene and couple others are poorly executed regarding their intention to build suspense and tension since the conflict is all to easy to resolve so the characters don't have to sacrifice anything important to them nor have personal problems of their own to solve.
all in all, i would not recommend that book to someone else because it's a meh-read. still, i enjoyed it but don't expect an interesting love story with realistic characters because they were shallow. this book coul've become much more if the author had put more emphasis on developing the characters more because i think it would've made the book more intriguing.
June 6, 2021
Let’s begin by talking about the stuff I did like in this book.
First of all, the food. That’s pretty much Jackie Lau’s brand and she never disappoints. If you don’t finish one of her books craving a certain food, did you even read the book? Likewise, for me, I finished the book with a hankering for Portuguese style egg tarts.
Secondly, I did like the characters, the FMC, Nicole was a sex positive character and I really enjoyed that there was no slut shaming or anything like that. She enjoyed sex and had a lot of it and it was done in a way that was really positive. Likewise, the MMC, David, a buttoned up, seemingly straight laced professor who was a straight arrow on the streets but a wildcat in the sheets, seemed like the perfect match for her. I liked the romance, the fact that they’d both been hurt before and carried some baggage from that (she more than him). And I’m a sucker for a book where the MMC woos the FMC with baked goods.
However. I always find Jackie Lau’s sex scenes to be awkward and I don’t even have a good explanation for why. This book is definitely steamier than her early works and it felt like Jackie was somehow trying to one up herself with the sex scenes. The first sex scene between the two MCs results in the FMC orgasming 13 times. THIRTEEN times. Is that even physically possible?!?!? IDK. I know romance is sometimes a fantasy but still, 13 orgasms in the course of one night seems a bit much? Maybe I’ve just led a really sheltered life, IDK.
I think sometimes it’s important to note that the number of sex scenes in a book doesn’t necessarily make the book hotter. There was a lot in this book, as far as sex: inclusion of toys, a mildly dirty talking hero, etc. But it didn’t feel....authentic and felt forced and awkward. I think the book actually could have been stronger without so many drawn out sex scenes which is not a sentence I would normally type.
Anyway, now I have to go see about sourcing some Portuguese egg tarts. This book was fine, not great and we’ll just leave it at that.
First of all, the food. That’s pretty much Jackie Lau’s brand and she never disappoints. If you don’t finish one of her books craving a certain food, did you even read the book? Likewise, for me, I finished the book with a hankering for Portuguese style egg tarts.
Secondly, I did like the characters, the FMC, Nicole was a sex positive character and I really enjoyed that there was no slut shaming or anything like that. She enjoyed sex and had a lot of it and it was done in a way that was really positive. Likewise, the MMC, David, a buttoned up, seemingly straight laced professor who was a straight arrow on the streets but a wildcat in the sheets, seemed like the perfect match for her. I liked the romance, the fact that they’d both been hurt before and carried some baggage from that (she more than him). And I’m a sucker for a book where the MMC woos the FMC with baked goods.
However. I always find Jackie Lau’s sex scenes to be awkward and I don’t even have a good explanation for why. This book is definitely steamier than her early works and it felt like Jackie was somehow trying to one up herself with the sex scenes. The first sex scene between the two MCs results in the FMC orgasming 13 times. THIRTEEN times. Is that even physically possible?!?!? IDK. I know romance is sometimes a fantasy but still, 13 orgasms in the course of one night seems a bit much? Maybe I’ve just led a really sheltered life, IDK.
I think sometimes it’s important to note that the number of sex scenes in a book doesn’t necessarily make the book hotter. There was a lot in this book, as far as sex: inclusion of toys, a mildly dirty talking hero, etc. But it didn’t feel....authentic and felt forced and awkward. I think the book actually could have been stronger without so many drawn out sex scenes which is not a sentence I would normally type.
Anyway, now I have to go see about sourcing some Portuguese egg tarts. This book was fine, not great and we’ll just leave it at that.
June 4, 2021
I received an ARC from the author as part of her review crew and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Professor Next Door has all the ingredients of a book I love: a hero who looks super sexy in glasses, a heroine who has closed her heart to more permanent romantic relationships, and a perfect ratio of sweetness and sexiness. The steam factor is higher than the previous Lau books I’ve read, but given the relationship dynamic, it works.
Nicole and David are both beautifully layered, nuanced characters. Both have had relationships in their pasts that ended badly, but Nicole is the one who took it to heart, determined to not be hurt again. I loved the sex positivity in her portrayal, while also opening the question of whether she could be open to more again if it was right. And David looks fairly strait-laced, but is the perfect partner for Nicole’s bedroom activities, while also being an open-hearted person who does these small gestures for her under the pretext that they’re “friends.” Even as they get closer and he confesses his feelings, he’s always respectful of her boundaries.
And it’s not a Lau book without some mouth-watering descriptions of food, from cheese tarts or curry udon. On top of everything else, it’s just the icing on the cake.
I did wish it was a bit longer, but even with it being on the shorter side, as is common with Lau’s work, it manages to pack an emotional punch and kept me emotionally invested in the relationship as it unfolded.
This is another gem from Jackie Lau, and a fun one both for her established reader base and for those new to her work.
The Professor Next Door has all the ingredients of a book I love: a hero who looks super sexy in glasses, a heroine who has closed her heart to more permanent romantic relationships, and a perfect ratio of sweetness and sexiness. The steam factor is higher than the previous Lau books I’ve read, but given the relationship dynamic, it works.
Nicole and David are both beautifully layered, nuanced characters. Both have had relationships in their pasts that ended badly, but Nicole is the one who took it to heart, determined to not be hurt again. I loved the sex positivity in her portrayal, while also opening the question of whether she could be open to more again if it was right. And David looks fairly strait-laced, but is the perfect partner for Nicole’s bedroom activities, while also being an open-hearted person who does these small gestures for her under the pretext that they’re “friends.” Even as they get closer and he confesses his feelings, he’s always respectful of her boundaries.
And it’s not a Lau book without some mouth-watering descriptions of food, from cheese tarts or curry udon. On top of everything else, it’s just the icing on the cake.
I did wish it was a bit longer, but even with it being on the shorter side, as is common with Lau’s work, it manages to pack an emotional punch and kept me emotionally invested in the relationship as it unfolded.
This is another gem from Jackie Lau, and a fun one both for her established reader base and for those new to her work.
August 15, 2022
A friends to lovers romance... between neighbors!
The main characters are apartment-mates and meet for the first time when they get trapped together in the elevator. Nicole and David quickly become friends, but the only thing is that when she brings guys home for sex, he can hear all the noises, which he loved and hates. Nicole has a very vibrant sex life, but lately she’s been getting tired and bored of it all. So when David tells her that he’s been hearing all of her sexcapades, they start up a friends with benefits situation.
This book is a lot hotter than Jackie Lau’s typical books! David might be quiet and shy, but he’s definitely not in the bedroom. He’s also a slightly older hero with some gray in his hair AND wears glasses... so obviously I loved him. Outside of the bedroom, David and Nicole are so cute together, and I loved all their conversations with her TikTok famous grandmother. Overall, the book was great - it’s got a sweet romance, a sex positive heroine, and a hero who totally adores her.
The main characters are apartment-mates and meet for the first time when they get trapped together in the elevator. Nicole and David quickly become friends, but the only thing is that when she brings guys home for sex, he can hear all the noises, which he loved and hates. Nicole has a very vibrant sex life, but lately she’s been getting tired and bored of it all. So when David tells her that he’s been hearing all of her sexcapades, they start up a friends with benefits situation.
This book is a lot hotter than Jackie Lau’s typical books! David might be quiet and shy, but he’s definitely not in the bedroom. He’s also a slightly older hero with some gray in his hair AND wears glasses... so obviously I loved him. Outside of the bedroom, David and Nicole are so cute together, and I loved all their conversations with her TikTok famous grandmother. Overall, the book was great - it’s got a sweet romance, a sex positive heroine, and a hero who totally adores her.
June 19, 2021
I really enjoyed this one. It has a sexually liberated heroine who prefers hookups to relationships, and 40-something professor who is looking for a relationship, and two people who are 100% dating while lying to themselves about said dating. Also, it was much hornier than Lau’s usual. There’s “thin wall neighbor voyeurism” and lots of toy usage. Also features: cute takeout dates with desert for two, cute tiktok grandma, a nonbinary sibling who gets to just exist on page as themselves, and the always excellent cider sisters friend group.
CW: racist, homophobic, and/or transphobic family members and ex-family members (no slurs or toxic behavior on page, just mentions of having cut them off because of past behavior without describing said behavior); bi-racial marriage with a partner who did not curb their racist parents
CW: racist, homophobic, and/or transphobic family members and ex-family members (no slurs or toxic behavior on page, just mentions of having cut them off because of past behavior without describing said behavior); bi-racial marriage with a partner who did not curb their racist parents
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May 20, 2021He couldn't believe it. The sex life of his next-door neighbor was threatening the safety of his rock and fossil collection.
This book is absolutely charming. Its playfulness and good humor, as well as its sincere heart, made this such an enjoyable read.
I think I've gone on before about how one of Lau's strengths as a writer is in fulfilling tropes AND subverting them in satisfying ways, and this story is no exception. I loved Nicole, and the depth brought to her relationship to her sex life, to her relationship to her stage in life, to herself. I loved her character growth in this so much. This was the strongest rendition of friends turned casual lovers turned SOME FEELINGS WERE CAUGHT I've read in a while (I recently read a particularly tedious one, so I went into this braced): the blinders that Nicole wore were believable to me, and the way she inched toward wanting a relationship felt natural and open-hearted. I also loved David, who was not some uptight or awkward professor stereotype. HE JUST LOOKS GOOD IN GLASSES, OKAY? Lau's really good at character-specific sex scenes, and the ones here were so playful and so good with communication and trust.
FTC Disclosure: I received an advance review copy from the author.
This book is absolutely charming. Its playfulness and good humor, as well as its sincere heart, made this such an enjoyable read.
I think I've gone on before about how one of Lau's strengths as a writer is in fulfilling tropes AND subverting them in satisfying ways, and this story is no exception. I loved Nicole, and the depth brought to her relationship to her sex life, to her relationship to her stage in life, to herself. I loved her character growth in this so much. This was the strongest rendition of friends turned casual lovers turned SOME FEELINGS WERE CAUGHT I've read in a while (I recently read a particularly tedious one, so I went into this braced): the blinders that Nicole wore were believable to me, and the way she inched toward wanting a relationship felt natural and open-hearted. I also loved David, who was not some uptight or awkward professor stereotype. HE JUST LOOKS GOOD IN GLASSES, OKAY? Lau's really good at character-specific sex scenes, and the ones here were so playful and so good with communication and trust.
FTC Disclosure: I received an advance review copy from the author.
May 7, 2023
I have loved this entire series, but I think this book is my favorite (so far). Maybe? I’ve loved them all!
Like the other three books in this series, this book was funny and featured a ton of amazing food. Nicole and David buy each other desserts throughout this book and I’m ready to go visit Toronto haha!
I loved how sex-positive this book is! Nicole is a woman who loves sex and there is no shaming of that throughout the book.
The TikTok grandmother was also hilarious.
Notes: takes place in Toronto, Canada. Nicole and David are both Canadians of East Asian decent.
Like the other three books in this series, this book was funny and featured a ton of amazing food. Nicole and David buy each other desserts throughout this book and I’m ready to go visit Toronto haha!
I loved how sex-positive this book is! Nicole is a woman who loves sex and there is no shaming of that throughout the book.
The TikTok grandmother was also hilarious.
Notes: takes place in Toronto, Canada. Nicole and David are both Canadians of East Asian decent.
August 15, 2022
This is a fascinating romance for the way it plays with kink and swaps gender roles by making the heroine the sexually promiscuous one. I liked how sex-positive this story was, although the steaminess was a little closer to erotica than I generally prefer! Even so, such a sweet hero and such funny family dynamics (the grandma is great!).
Content Warnings:
graphic sex scenes, kink (voyeurism/exhibitionism), toxic relationships
Content Warnings:
graphic sex scenes, kink (voyeurism/exhibitionism), toxic relationships
June 16, 2021
Yummy story, yummy food!
I’m loving this series, especially this latest installment. The food consistently makes my mouth water. I’ve also enjoyed the mentions of race, complexities of family, and modern life with social media. Although I loved the premise of the sex god professor next door, the writing wasn’t quite sexy or sensual enough for me. Still, it’s a fun read.
I’m loving this series, especially this latest installment. The food consistently makes my mouth water. I’ve also enjoyed the mentions of race, complexities of family, and modern life with social media. Although I loved the premise of the sex god professor next door, the writing wasn’t quite sexy or sensual enough for me. Still, it’s a fun read.
June 12, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
nicole and david are one of the sweetest couples i’ve read all year. only issue for me was the third act break up but thankfully that didn’t take too long to resolve. excited to read the rest of the series loved nicole’s grandmother such a scene stealer
nicole and david are one of the sweetest couples i’ve read all year. only issue for me was the third act break up but thankfully that didn’t take too long to resolve. excited to read the rest of the series loved nicole’s grandmother such a scene stealer
June 17, 2021
3 Stars
There was something about the writing that felt awkward and stilted at times, the dialogue especially felt pretty choppy. I did like the characters, both were a lot of fun but there wasn't much to them they were both very surface level. I did like it, but something about this story kept me from loving it.
There was something about the writing that felt awkward and stilted at times, the dialogue especially felt pretty choppy. I did like the characters, both were a lot of fun but there wasn't much to them they were both very surface level. I did like it, but something about this story kept me from loving it.
June 21, 2023
4.5 and 🔥
February 14, 2024
A fast, light read.
The Good:
- [ ] the food mentioned(!!!!) the pastries the author described really got me
- [ ] silly pushy grandma character and her TikTok collaborating w MMC was fun!
- [ ] Sex positive FMC
- [ ] Snatches of lines describing how both MMC and FMC craved specific domestic moments (reading together etc) felt real and sweet
The Oofs:
- [ ] Difficult to get past the initial corniness in the narration, and inner thinking of characters (ex: “stop lusting after her!”) — aside from it feeling really corny, just made the writing for a good chunk of the book feel shallow, simplified, and boring
- [ ] Similar to above but good one to two thirds of the book had dialogue that didn’t feel very natural
- [ ] The general flow/pacing felt choppy, and at the end the resolution felt too quick and simplified but maybe that was inline with how this book is short and meant to be a fast read
- [ ] There’s a scene where the FMC gets drunk scene and confesses some feelings about her personal life to the MMC — wish the author would find a different way to allow her to be vulnerable and admit / communicate being lonely to MMC, or show it without telling it etc. just felt like a really simple cop out way of writing through it.
for what it was as a short / fast read it was OK and some parts were fun and cute but would be interested to see author flesh out more plot / conflict / development
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2021
I'm here for the glasses.
June 26, 2021
So many good things for me in this book. Professor with glasses is my kink. Reserved in the streets, hot in the sheets is my thing. Our hero and Po Po were the best things in this book. I find it hard to believe any man would not be judgmental towards a woman with a lot of different sexual partners, but okay. The coward that is terrified of “feelings” and the I was hurt once and will never love again trope is not my thing at all. It’s so far out of what I can relate to. It’s not just reasonable or logical to me. Five stars for the sexy hero and the hilarious grandmother.
July 30, 2022
Not funny at all, so not really a rom-com. I was bored. It felt as if I were stuck on an elevator with someone telling me far more than I wanted to know about a fairly typical beginning to a relationship. The blurb promised interestingly kinky sex, but it was just a sex toy or two. I bailed at 75%.
Also, the two main characters are sugar addicts. They'll be on dialysis by age 50 with this level of consumption of the drug.
Also, the two main characters are sugar addicts. They'll be on dialysis by age 50 with this level of consumption of the drug.
January 23, 2024
i think about this book A LOT. neighbors to lovers. they communicate really really well. their sex is amazing but they’re sexually in tune with themselves and super secure in that which makes their sex together amazing. also i learned about asian culture and cuisines in this book which was a plus! highly recommend for solid spice, good communication + neighbors to lovers. they don’t waste time in the book connecting so this won’t be a waste of your time!!
June 17, 2021
1.5 stars.
June 8, 2022
This book wasn't bad, per se, but it didn't really do much for me. It felt a little simplistic or gimmicky at times. The MMC is sweet, though, and the cover makes me laugh after reading the book.
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