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When In Waverly #1
The Nice Guy Next Door
Sometimes love comes knocking when you least expect it.
Millie Parker just moved to a new town with her teen sister in tow. The only romance on her agenda is what she's writing in her secret novel, but sometimes romance can't be avoided.
Especially when your new neighbor is the insanely handsome and all around nice guy, Jameson Lane. He's everything a woman could want in a man, but Millie doesn't want a man. Not now; not ever. Too bad her heart didn't get the memo.
Millie Parker just moved to a new town with her teen sister in tow. The only romance on her agenda is what she's writing in her secret novel, but sometimes romance can't be avoided.
Especially when your new neighbor is the insanely handsome and all around nice guy, Jameson Lane. He's everything a woman could want in a man, but Millie doesn't want a man. Not now; not ever. Too bad her heart didn't get the memo.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
May 16, 2023
Simple and cute in places but I wasn't feeling the romance.
August 23, 2023
I don’t have much to say about this book, either positive or negative. It was a fast and cute read, but not that memorable. Actually this is an okay book.
The characters were all right. Millie and her sister move to Waverly and have to navigate their new life in a small town. Jameson is the hot state trooper, that’s not only Millie’s new neighbor but also the grandson of Millie’s landlords. They both could have saved each other a lot of trouble if they would just communicate like normal people, but as it so often is, miscommunication is a big part of the story.
There’s a whole subplot about Jameson and a stalker. There was absolutely no point in including this. It didn’t have any impact on the story, it didn’t feel threatening to our characters and it’s resolved in minutes.
The characters were all right. Millie and her sister move to Waverly and have to navigate their new life in a small town. Jameson is the hot state trooper, that’s not only Millie’s new neighbor but also the grandson of Millie’s landlords. They both could have saved each other a lot of trouble if they would just communicate like normal people, but as it so often is, miscommunication is a big part of the story.
There’s a whole subplot about Jameson and a stalker. There was absolutely no point in including this. It didn’t have any impact on the story, it didn’t feel threatening to our characters and it’s resolved in minutes.
February 13, 2023
Sometime you just need a romance book where the storyline and characters are so sweet. Well this is definitely that book and I'm definitely excited to continue the series.
April 5, 2022
2.5 Stars
Confession. I am not a fan of slow burn romance. Y'all. How in the world does it keep finding me?! 😂
I'm definitely in the minority on this one. For me, it started out super cute and I was really enjoying it. But then it started going downhill. The whole "I refuse to ever allow love into my life" was driving me batty. I was right there with Jameson, Millie was giving me whiplash with all her hot and cold vibes. I really wish she would've admitted and accepted her feelings way before 87%. By that time, I was beyond irritated with Millie and kind of lost interest in their HEA.
I'll probably give the next book in the series a try because I really did enjoy the first part of the book. Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll enjoy it!
Confession. I am not a fan of slow burn romance. Y'all. How in the world does it keep finding me?! 😂
I'm definitely in the minority on this one. For me, it started out super cute and I was really enjoying it. But then it started going downhill. The whole "I refuse to ever allow love into my life" was driving me batty. I was right there with Jameson, Millie was giving me whiplash with all her hot and cold vibes. I really wish she would've admitted and accepted her feelings way before 87%. By that time, I was beyond irritated with Millie and kind of lost interest in their HEA.
I'll probably give the next book in the series a try because I really did enjoy the first part of the book. Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll enjoy it!
August 26, 2021
muy cute
August 30, 2021
This was really, really cute! Accepting a librarian position, Millie is new to the town of Waverly, Texas. With custody of her teenage sister, Millie is adamant she doesn’t want a romantic relationship in her life. But with the extremely handsome and kind state trooper living next-door, everything begins to change.
Filled with blanket forts, chaotic teenage emotions, and meddling locals, this story satisfied my craving for a lighthearted, sweet romance. It even had a touch of suspense and mystery, which was an unexpected surprise for a romantic comedy.
I loved the relationship between Millie and her sister as she navigates a parental role rather than a sibling role. I would have liked a little deeper conflict within the romance with Jameson, but overall this was lovely.
Filled with blanket forts, chaotic teenage emotions, and meddling locals, this story satisfied my craving for a lighthearted, sweet romance. It even had a touch of suspense and mystery, which was an unexpected surprise for a romantic comedy.
I loved the relationship between Millie and her sister as she navigates a parental role rather than a sibling role. I would have liked a little deeper conflict within the romance with Jameson, but overall this was lovely.
November 11, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. I loved the twist at the end. The way she grows in this book is fabulous!
July 2, 2022
4⭐️
This was such a fun read. It took a turn at the end but I honestly love those kinds of mystery twists. Jameson was everything and Millie was so lovable. Can’t wait to read book 2!
This was such a fun read. It took a turn at the end but I honestly love those kinds of mystery twists. Jameson was everything and Millie was so lovable. Can’t wait to read book 2!
March 16, 2022
This book was so sweet! It just made made you smile and feel happy!
I can’t wait to read the next book about Hannah!
Millie and Jameson were so effortless together! I believed in their friendship and couldn’t wait for Millie to finally crack and let Jameson in!
Jameson was just so patient and kind with Millie. He was a sweetheart and really proved that nice guys DON’T finish last!
I loved the family dynamic with Jameson and his mom and grandparents as well as Millie and her sister, Lo! (Love that nickname btw)
I’m so ready to see Seth fall for Hannah and how that all will work out on on a super small town like Waverley! 😂
Parts I Loved:
The baby delivery
Blanket fort
Name Guessing
The Skunk 🦨 disaster
Wisdom teeth 😂🤣
Laffy Taffy jokes 😂
I can’t wait to read the next book about Hannah!
Millie and Jameson were so effortless together! I believed in their friendship and couldn’t wait for Millie to finally crack and let Jameson in!
Jameson was just so patient and kind with Millie. He was a sweetheart and really proved that nice guys DON’T finish last!
I loved the family dynamic with Jameson and his mom and grandparents as well as Millie and her sister, Lo! (Love that nickname btw)
I’m so ready to see Seth fall for Hannah and how that all will work out on on a super small town like Waverley! 😂
Parts I Loved:
The baby delivery
Blanket fort
Name Guessing
The Skunk 🦨 disaster
Wisdom teeth 😂🤣
Laffy Taffy jokes 😂
December 26, 2022
I really liked this book. I felt bad for Jameson in more than one occasion because you could see how much he liked her (and later loved her) and wanted to be with her and she strung him along sometimes, she didn't do intentionally but she did it nonethless. Millie was so cute sometimes too, and she had to grow up fast to take care of her sister, I admire that. Jameson was an angel, that man was perfection emcarnated, loved him
November 20, 2022
3 stars
Eh, not my favorite, but I will def keep reading the series!
Eh, not my favorite, but I will def keep reading the series!
June 8, 2022
This was such a fun story!
Millie moves to Waverly, Texas to be the new children's library. After the death of her father, and the abandonment by her mother years ago, she has guardianship of her teenage sister, Lo. After struggling for the past year, they're looking forward to getting back on track and creating a new life for themselves. They're reliant on one another, but Millie is also very, almost stubbornly, independent.
That is until she meets her new neighbor, Jameson, a distractingly attractive state trooper. He also happens to be the grandson of Millie's landlords.
The small town aspect played a large role in the story, which was fun to experience and assumingly sets the stage for future books in the series. Millie, however, was annoying with her extreme hesitancy to even admit her attraction to Jameson and read almost emotionally immature, despite having undertaken so much responsibility in her mid-twenties. I also wasn't a fan of the mystery of Millie's real name, which added to her coming off as childish. That being said, I look forward to continuing the series and reading more from Zaragoza, as her writing shows so much promise!
Millie moves to Waverly, Texas to be the new children's library. After the death of her father, and the abandonment by her mother years ago, she has guardianship of her teenage sister, Lo. After struggling for the past year, they're looking forward to getting back on track and creating a new life for themselves. They're reliant on one another, but Millie is also very, almost stubbornly, independent.
That is until she meets her new neighbor, Jameson, a distractingly attractive state trooper. He also happens to be the grandson of Millie's landlords.
The small town aspect played a large role in the story, which was fun to experience and assumingly sets the stage for future books in the series. Millie, however, was annoying with her extreme hesitancy to even admit her attraction to Jameson and read almost emotionally immature, despite having undertaken so much responsibility in her mid-twenties. I also wasn't a fan of the mystery of Millie's real name, which added to her coming off as childish. That being said, I look forward to continuing the series and reading more from Zaragoza, as her writing shows so much promise!
August 4, 2023
Millie has been looking after her younger sister since their dad passed. Things are tough, but they’re getting there. At the start of our story the girls are about start a new chapter. Millie has a job as a librarian and they are renting their own home. What they hadn’t banked on was the very good looking next door neighbour!
From the outset the sparks fly between Millie and Jameson. They obviously like one another but are reluctant to take the step beyond friendship.
The book follows them as they settle into life next door, deal with the day-to-day events each has come up and wait for them to admit their feelings. It’s cute, although far too much time is spent with them avoiding one another. It was like watching kids rather than adults, but it was an entertaining enough way to pass a couple of hours.
From the outset the sparks fly between Millie and Jameson. They obviously like one another but are reluctant to take the step beyond friendship.
The book follows them as they settle into life next door, deal with the day-to-day events each has come up and wait for them to admit their feelings. It’s cute, although far too much time is spent with them avoiding one another. It was like watching kids rather than adults, but it was an entertaining enough way to pass a couple of hours.
July 4, 2026
Yet another small town romance offering irritatingly unrealistic economic opportunities
For the past 10 months, 26-year-old Millie has been the legal guardian of her 16-year-old sister Lo after their beloved father died of cancer. Their family didn't have a lot of money or possessions, and they downsized into a tiny apartment to save money. Both sisters worked part-time, and Millie finished her Master's in Library Science (MLS) in one year instead of three. Immediately afterwards, Millie managed to get a job as a children's librarian. They were previously living in an unnamed small town in Texas. As the story begins, they have moved to another small town, the fictional Waverly, Texas. Millie and Lo are delighted that in Waverly they can afford to rent a comparatively roomy house from the grandparents of the man who lives next door.
Jameson is a 31-year-old state trooper who has spent almost his entire life living in Waverly. He has worked for the Texas Highway Patrol since he was 24. He has the external appearance of a classic alpha, tall, ripped and heart-stoppingly handsome, but he has the personality of what is currently referred to on BookTok as a "Golden Retriever." He is all in for Millie, whom he considers absolutely beautiful, from the first moment he meets her.
Ideally the central romantic conflict of every romance novel is a compelling journey from distrust to trust. In this rather tepid contemporary romance, there is no meaningful reason for either MC to distrust the other. For Jameson, there is nothing to distrust because Millie is the epitome of chaste respectability. She doesn't flirt and doesn't date. She is a children's librarian, and she is sacrificially raising her younger sister.
As for Millie, she has no reason to distrust Jameson either. He is the adored grandson of her upright landlords, and he is a well respected, compassionate, responsible man who is a state trooper. Millie would have known immediately from small town gossip if Jameson were a womanizer, and he absolutely is not.
The main romantic conflict is Millie's negative motivation of resisting getting involved romantically with any man because she doesn't want to be tied down any more than she already is with her sister. Millie's favorite fantasy is that, in two years, when Lo leaves for college at 18, Millie can be footloose and fancy free, presumably able to wander where she chooses. The problem with manifesting this improbable daydream in the real world, of course, is that Millie is broke, and she needs to make payments on her student loans and afford basic living expenses. It's highly unlikely as well that she won't try to help her sister get a college degree.
Near the end of the novel the author swaps out another motivation for Millie's fear of commitment: the person she loves might die as her father did. (Good luck finding someone who is immortal as a mate in a book that isn't paranormal romance.)
As a result of Millie's hangup, she tries to slot Jameson into the friend zone. This is so unrealistic for any red-blooded woman who is attracted to such a wonderful guy (which Millie definitely is), it was extremely difficult for me to suspend disbelief.
This story is set in a Hallmark-cliche small town with suburban amenities that are irritatingly unrealistic. Number one on the list is the library where Millie is employed. The estimated total number of children's librarian jobs in Texas are as much as 2,000 at any given time, but none of them are in small towns. They are all in urban/suburban library systems. Small-town Texas libraries serving populations under 5,000 are typically tiny facilities ranging from 800-5,000 square feet. They operate on bare-minimum staffing levels: 39% have zero full-time staff; many are essentially volunteer-run with part-time front desk employees working only 1–2 days per week. Texas doesn't require professional librarians for towns under 25,000 population, and the average wage of $28,700/year (when anyone is actually receiving a wage) combined with zero health insurance benefits means that no one with an MLS like Millie would work at a small town library.
I was glad to hear that Jameson earned his fantastic physique by working out, but it is not realistic that a tiny town would have a large, commercial gym.
Millie goes out to eat on multiple occasions at a fancy local diner, which would be hard to sustain in a tiny town. Furthermore, it would be unaffordable for someone who's flat broke and making a wage below poverty level.
Speaking of poverty, with Jameson's encouragement, Millie gets a loan, on top of the loan for her own car and her student loans, to purchase a used car for Lo. Monthly payments would have to be made on that loan as well as the prohibitively high cost of car insurance for a teenager.
Having said all that, this book does not address a huge financial area that could greatly mitigate the poverty that Millie and Lo are living in:
Lo was 15 when and Millie was 25 when their father died. Because their mother had died years before, they were completely orphaned. Millie would have had to petition the court to be appointed as Lo's guardian, which in Texas anyone over 21 can do. CPS takes conservatorship automatically when both parents are dead, and the court determines placement based on the child's best interests, with Texas prioritizing kinship care. Millie could have qualified for monthly foster care payments by completing the foster parent licensing process in three months. Once licensed, she would receive approximately $675 per month. CPS would retain conservatorship rather than Millie having full guardianship. This benefit would last until Lo is 18, or 19 if she is still in high school.
As an orphan, Lo would also be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits which would range between approximately $2,100-$2,500/month because both her parents are dead. This would amount to more money than Millie could make at a small town library. This benefit would also last until Lo graduates from high school. Any money that Millie received as a foster parent would not affect the SSA benefit. In addition, as a minor, there is no earnings cap. Over the last 10 months in the part-time job Lo held, she could have earned any amount without a reduction in her SSA survivor benefits.
These are some other areas of the story that I found jarring:
Millie is trying to write a romance novel. I personally dislike it when the FMC of a romance novel is a romance writer. It is aggravatingly self-referential and pulls me out of the fictive dream.
Somebody is stalking Jameson, which is a tone-violating inclusion of suspense on top of the rest of the book, which is entirely made up of cutesy small-town vibes. It also causes them to not spend time onstage together, because Jameson thinks it's dangerous for Millie to be near him. In the inevitable confrontation with the armed stalker near the end of the novel, it is employed as a clunky plot device to push Millie to cease her negative motivation of avoiding commitment and admit to herself and Jameson that she loves him.
Overall, as a person who is not a fan of small town romance, this book did not do anything to change my mind. Jameson and Millie are decent human beings, but the story overall was rather boring.
I obtained access to the audiobook version of this novel for free through my Audible membership. The narrator does a fairly good job.
For the past 10 months, 26-year-old Millie has been the legal guardian of her 16-year-old sister Lo after their beloved father died of cancer. Their family didn't have a lot of money or possessions, and they downsized into a tiny apartment to save money. Both sisters worked part-time, and Millie finished her Master's in Library Science (MLS) in one year instead of three. Immediately afterwards, Millie managed to get a job as a children's librarian. They were previously living in an unnamed small town in Texas. As the story begins, they have moved to another small town, the fictional Waverly, Texas. Millie and Lo are delighted that in Waverly they can afford to rent a comparatively roomy house from the grandparents of the man who lives next door.
Jameson is a 31-year-old state trooper who has spent almost his entire life living in Waverly. He has worked for the Texas Highway Patrol since he was 24. He has the external appearance of a classic alpha, tall, ripped and heart-stoppingly handsome, but he has the personality of what is currently referred to on BookTok as a "Golden Retriever." He is all in for Millie, whom he considers absolutely beautiful, from the first moment he meets her.
Ideally the central romantic conflict of every romance novel is a compelling journey from distrust to trust. In this rather tepid contemporary romance, there is no meaningful reason for either MC to distrust the other. For Jameson, there is nothing to distrust because Millie is the epitome of chaste respectability. She doesn't flirt and doesn't date. She is a children's librarian, and she is sacrificially raising her younger sister.
As for Millie, she has no reason to distrust Jameson either. He is the adored grandson of her upright landlords, and he is a well respected, compassionate, responsible man who is a state trooper. Millie would have known immediately from small town gossip if Jameson were a womanizer, and he absolutely is not.
The main romantic conflict is Millie's negative motivation of resisting getting involved romantically with any man because she doesn't want to be tied down any more than she already is with her sister. Millie's favorite fantasy is that, in two years, when Lo leaves for college at 18, Millie can be footloose and fancy free, presumably able to wander where she chooses. The problem with manifesting this improbable daydream in the real world, of course, is that Millie is broke, and she needs to make payments on her student loans and afford basic living expenses. It's highly unlikely as well that she won't try to help her sister get a college degree.
Near the end of the novel the author swaps out another motivation for Millie's fear of commitment: the person she loves might die as her father did. (Good luck finding someone who is immortal as a mate in a book that isn't paranormal romance.)
As a result of Millie's hangup, she tries to slot Jameson into the friend zone. This is so unrealistic for any red-blooded woman who is attracted to such a wonderful guy (which Millie definitely is), it was extremely difficult for me to suspend disbelief.
This story is set in a Hallmark-cliche small town with suburban amenities that are irritatingly unrealistic. Number one on the list is the library where Millie is employed. The estimated total number of children's librarian jobs in Texas are as much as 2,000 at any given time, but none of them are in small towns. They are all in urban/suburban library systems. Small-town Texas libraries serving populations under 5,000 are typically tiny facilities ranging from 800-5,000 square feet. They operate on bare-minimum staffing levels: 39% have zero full-time staff; many are essentially volunteer-run with part-time front desk employees working only 1–2 days per week. Texas doesn't require professional librarians for towns under 25,000 population, and the average wage of $28,700/year (when anyone is actually receiving a wage) combined with zero health insurance benefits means that no one with an MLS like Millie would work at a small town library.
I was glad to hear that Jameson earned his fantastic physique by working out, but it is not realistic that a tiny town would have a large, commercial gym.
Millie goes out to eat on multiple occasions at a fancy local diner, which would be hard to sustain in a tiny town. Furthermore, it would be unaffordable for someone who's flat broke and making a wage below poverty level.
Speaking of poverty, with Jameson's encouragement, Millie gets a loan, on top of the loan for her own car and her student loans, to purchase a used car for Lo. Monthly payments would have to be made on that loan as well as the prohibitively high cost of car insurance for a teenager.
Having said all that, this book does not address a huge financial area that could greatly mitigate the poverty that Millie and Lo are living in:
Lo was 15 when and Millie was 25 when their father died. Because their mother had died years before, they were completely orphaned. Millie would have had to petition the court to be appointed as Lo's guardian, which in Texas anyone over 21 can do. CPS takes conservatorship automatically when both parents are dead, and the court determines placement based on the child's best interests, with Texas prioritizing kinship care. Millie could have qualified for monthly foster care payments by completing the foster parent licensing process in three months. Once licensed, she would receive approximately $675 per month. CPS would retain conservatorship rather than Millie having full guardianship. This benefit would last until Lo is 18, or 19 if she is still in high school.
As an orphan, Lo would also be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits which would range between approximately $2,100-$2,500/month because both her parents are dead. This would amount to more money than Millie could make at a small town library. This benefit would also last until Lo graduates from high school. Any money that Millie received as a foster parent would not affect the SSA benefit. In addition, as a minor, there is no earnings cap. Over the last 10 months in the part-time job Lo held, she could have earned any amount without a reduction in her SSA survivor benefits.
These are some other areas of the story that I found jarring:
Millie is trying to write a romance novel. I personally dislike it when the FMC of a romance novel is a romance writer. It is aggravatingly self-referential and pulls me out of the fictive dream.
Somebody is stalking Jameson, which is a tone-violating inclusion of suspense on top of the rest of the book, which is entirely made up of cutesy small-town vibes. It also causes them to not spend time onstage together, because Jameson thinks it's dangerous for Millie to be near him. In the inevitable confrontation with the armed stalker near the end of the novel, it is employed as a clunky plot device to push Millie to cease her negative motivation of avoiding commitment and admit to herself and Jameson that she loves him.
Overall, as a person who is not a fan of small town romance, this book did not do anything to change my mind. Jameson and Millie are decent human beings, but the story overall was rather boring.
I obtained access to the audiobook version of this novel for free through my Audible membership. The narrator does a fairly good job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2021
This book was really fun! The nice guy next door was cute and sparkled with humor. This book was thoroughly enjoyable! Millie was spunky and full of wit and Jameson was kind and full of playful mischief. These two had great chemistry! I enjoyed the humor and found it to be genuine and relatable. I’m super picky about rom-com’s and this one was a great balance of fun and humor while keeping things in the still believable realm. I enjoyed this sweet rom-com! I will definitely be reading more from this author!
February 1, 2023
Not my cup of tea.. it had too many random scenes, too little plot and I couldn't find it as funny as it tried to be.. I'm all in for instalove and slow burn romances, and this book could have both, but the "reason" that kept the couple apart was nonsense..
The audiobook version had a huge handicap, since the female narrator had a trembling, suffering voice, which made the protagonist seem angst all the time, when I know she wasn't supposed to be.
I almost DNF this one, but I'm really trying to finish all my pick ups these days, so there you have it
The audiobook version had a huge handicap, since the female narrator had a trembling, suffering voice, which made the protagonist seem angst all the time, when I know she wasn't supposed to be.
I almost DNF this one, but I'm really trying to finish all my pick ups these days, so there you have it
March 21, 2025
The Nice Guy Next Door by Haley Zaragoza (2021)
When In Waverly #1
234-page Kindle Ebook [Location only]
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance
Featuring: Small-Town Texas, Orphans, Loss of Parent, Cancer - mentioned, New Start, New Town, Newly Graduated, Librarians, Teen, Sisters, Parental Abandonment, State Trooper, Neighbors, Shy & Sweet MC, Raising Sibling Trope, Dual POVs, Aspiring Author, Pregnancy, Library Setting, Vicenarian MC, Tricenarian LI, Stalking, Harassment, Gossip, Secret Crush Trope, Fear of Relationships Trope, Halloween, Advertisement for Never Graham Spencer by Haley Zaragoza - Cover and Blurb
Rating as a movie: PG-13
Songs for the soundtrack: "Till You Love Me" by Reba McEntire, "It's Gonna Be Me" by *NSYNC, "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears, "Oops!…I Did It Again" by Britney Spears, "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion, "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey
Books and Authors mentioned: Mean Girls by Tina Fey [based on] Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman, Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle, Ever After by Susannah Grant, Andy Tennant, and Rick Parks [inspired by] Cinderella by Charles Perrault, Jane Austen
Memorable Quotes: Country music is playing from an old jukebox, but not the horrible new stuff. It’s old country from the nineties and before.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¾📚🏘👮
My thoughts: 🔖33% Location 922 of 2771 Chapter Eight Jameson - Now, this is how you do a sweet romance. I love it, and I'm already adding the rest of the series to my TBR.
This story was a bit too sweet as we got closer to the end, and while the stalking was a nice storyline, it never gave me romantic suspense vibes. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
Recommend to others: Yes, this is the type of story that will refill your bucket after a crazy thriller or sad story.
When In Waverly
1. The Nice Guy Next Door (2021)
2. The Heartbreaker I Adore (2022)
3. The Grump I Despise (2022)
When In Waverly #1
234-page Kindle Ebook [Location only]
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance
Featuring: Small-Town Texas, Orphans, Loss of Parent, Cancer - mentioned, New Start, New Town, Newly Graduated, Librarians, Teen, Sisters, Parental Abandonment, State Trooper, Neighbors, Shy & Sweet MC, Raising Sibling Trope, Dual POVs, Aspiring Author, Pregnancy, Library Setting, Vicenarian MC, Tricenarian LI, Stalking, Harassment, Gossip, Secret Crush Trope, Fear of Relationships Trope, Halloween, Advertisement for Never Graham Spencer by Haley Zaragoza - Cover and Blurb
Rating as a movie: PG-13
Songs for the soundtrack: "Till You Love Me" by Reba McEntire, "It's Gonna Be Me" by *NSYNC, "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears, "Oops!…I Did It Again" by Britney Spears, "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion, "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey
Books and Authors mentioned: Mean Girls by Tina Fey [based on] Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman, Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle, Ever After by Susannah Grant, Andy Tennant, and Rick Parks [inspired by] Cinderella by Charles Perrault, Jane Austen
Memorable Quotes: Country music is playing from an old jukebox, but not the horrible new stuff. It’s old country from the nineties and before.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¾📚🏘👮
My thoughts: 🔖33% Location 922 of 2771 Chapter Eight Jameson - Now, this is how you do a sweet romance. I love it, and I'm already adding the rest of the series to my TBR.
This story was a bit too sweet as we got closer to the end, and while the stalking was a nice storyline, it never gave me romantic suspense vibes. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
Recommend to others: Yes, this is the type of story that will refill your bucket after a crazy thriller or sad story.
When In Waverly
1. The Nice Guy Next Door (2021)
2. The Heartbreaker I Adore (2022)
3. The Grump I Despise (2022)
April 9, 2022
5 stars.
“Millie knows how to make a good cup of coffee—yet another thing she has going for her. If I wasn’t already crazy about her, this might just tip me over the edge.”
💕 Highlights:
- state trooper and librarian 🚓 🖤📚
- book club with hilarious old ladies
- moving to a small town
- Dual POV
- Slow burn
- the blanket fort scene
💕 Summary:
When Millie is given sole custody of her 16 year old sister, their lives are turned upside down. Millie and her sister move to a small town where she meets Jameson, the nice guy who lives next door. Jameson is instantly into Millie, but when he pursues her, she quickly puts him in the friend zone because she wants to get settled into her new home and job. She doesn’t want to rock the boat with her little sister either by adding just another change to her life and bringing a man into the picture.
💕 My thoughts:
Jameson and Millie were so precious.
Jameson fell for Millie first, and he got friend-zoned hard by Millie. Her ignorance on his intentions were hard to witness at moments. I love a guy who knows what he wants and doesn’t give up. Poor Jameson had it bad for Millie.
There were some cheesy parts. Like dancing at a sleepover at 26 years old or singing with kitchen utensils as a microphone. However- I’ll allow it since it’s major hallmark vibes.
This is 100% an adorable romcom but guys! There’s a bit of mystery/suspense thrown in. And I was surprised by that and I loved it. It was a light, fluffy read overall- low stakes and cotton candy romance which I’m here for. If you love Sarah Adams- I think you’ll love this one.
I am so invested in Hannah and Seth and was thrilled to see the next book (The Heartbreaker I Adore) is about them. Ahhhhh. Running to read that one ASAP. A firefighter and a librarian. Sign me up.
⚠️ TW: loss of parent to illness; stalking
“Millie knows how to make a good cup of coffee—yet another thing she has going for her. If I wasn’t already crazy about her, this might just tip me over the edge.”
💕 Highlights:
- state trooper and librarian 🚓 🖤📚
- book club with hilarious old ladies
- moving to a small town
- Dual POV
- Slow burn
- the blanket fort scene
💕 Summary:
When Millie is given sole custody of her 16 year old sister, their lives are turned upside down. Millie and her sister move to a small town where she meets Jameson, the nice guy who lives next door. Jameson is instantly into Millie, but when he pursues her, she quickly puts him in the friend zone because she wants to get settled into her new home and job. She doesn’t want to rock the boat with her little sister either by adding just another change to her life and bringing a man into the picture.
💕 My thoughts:
Jameson and Millie were so precious.
Jameson fell for Millie first, and he got friend-zoned hard by Millie. Her ignorance on his intentions were hard to witness at moments. I love a guy who knows what he wants and doesn’t give up. Poor Jameson had it bad for Millie.
There were some cheesy parts. Like dancing at a sleepover at 26 years old or singing with kitchen utensils as a microphone. However- I’ll allow it since it’s major hallmark vibes.
This is 100% an adorable romcom but guys! There’s a bit of mystery/suspense thrown in. And I was surprised by that and I loved it. It was a light, fluffy read overall- low stakes and cotton candy romance which I’m here for. If you love Sarah Adams- I think you’ll love this one.
I am so invested in Hannah and Seth and was thrilled to see the next book (The Heartbreaker I Adore) is about them. Ahhhhh. Running to read that one ASAP. A firefighter and a librarian. Sign me up.
⚠️ TW: loss of parent to illness; stalking
September 13, 2023
1 ⭐️
Have you ever forgotten about a book as you were reading it? This felt more like someone's writing exercise than an actual published book.
Have you ever forgotten about a book as you were reading it? This felt more like someone's writing exercise than an actual published book.
March 24, 2025
3.5 stars
This book was okay. Cheesy, predictable, normal short romcom characteristics. I’ll continue the series if I find myself needing an easy background audiobook.
This book was okay. Cheesy, predictable, normal short romcom characteristics. I’ll continue the series if I find myself needing an easy background audiobook.
April 25, 2023
This was definitely a book. A squeaky clean, cliche, poorly paced, not-very-good book. Maybe skip this one.
August 28, 2021
The Nice Guy Next Door by Haley Zaragoza was such a sweet and fun read. I loved the small town Texas setting, the humor, and the characters, especially Millie and Jameson, and the secondary characters, who all really added to the story.
Jameson and Millie were perfect for each other! I loved their first meet, I could see the whole thing playing out in my mind! Millie was such a fun character. I loved her personality. Jameson was so kind and patient and just an all around great guy! I also really liked that there was a touch or two of a more serious thread because sometimes, in my opinion, romcom’s can get a little too silly. I’m glad to say this one was not.
I definitely recommend this story and I will for sure be looking out for more from Haley Zaragoza!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This is a clean read.
Jameson and Millie were perfect for each other! I loved their first meet, I could see the whole thing playing out in my mind! Millie was such a fun character. I loved her personality. Jameson was so kind and patient and just an all around great guy! I also really liked that there was a touch or two of a more serious thread because sometimes, in my opinion, romcom’s can get a little too silly. I’m glad to say this one was not.
I definitely recommend this story and I will for sure be looking out for more from Haley Zaragoza!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This is a clean read.
April 7, 2023
both these characters have the personality of a peanut (and that's an insult to peanuts!)
September 2, 2021
This book was super cute! It had so much going for it: a strong sister relationship; a flawed but utterly lovable female protagonist (who also is a librarian!); an amazing, good-looking and open male protagonist who has a good relationship with his mom AND grandmparents; believable backstories; great character development; fun side characters; witty dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and great one-liners; and a bit of mystery to keep completely intrigued.
Millie and Jameson are really fun protagonists and make a cute couple (even before they’re a “couple”). Millie made me a crazy a few times with how quickly she would get angry, but ultimately I think she’s cute. I liked her relationship with her sister and how hard she tried to do the right thing for her.I loved Jameson’s close relationship with his mom and grandparents and also thought it was cute how quickly he fell for Millie.
The cast of side characters is really stellar in this one. Jameson’s grandma is a hoot and I love his mom. Millie’s new friends from the library are so so fun and I liked Jameson’s relationship with his friends.
The mystery was a little keep-me-on-my-toes intense but I ultimately loved how it rounded out the story. It gave the whole thing more depth and substance.
My only complaint is I could have taken more. More scenes with Millie and Jameson together and with their friends, more of Jameson’s family and Millie writing her book. But ultimately this is an adorable clean romance I’d recommend to anyone looking for a good read in this genre.
Note: parent death (cancer); absent father; mentions of drinking and driving, abusive partner, vengeful arrestee; attempted murder
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Millie and Jameson are really fun protagonists and make a cute couple (even before they’re a “couple”). Millie made me a crazy a few times with how quickly she would get angry, but ultimately I think she’s cute. I liked her relationship with her sister and how hard she tried to do the right thing for her.I loved Jameson’s close relationship with his mom and grandparents and also thought it was cute how quickly he fell for Millie.
The cast of side characters is really stellar in this one. Jameson’s grandma is a hoot and I love his mom. Millie’s new friends from the library are so so fun and I liked Jameson’s relationship with his friends.
The mystery was a little keep-me-on-my-toes intense but I ultimately loved how it rounded out the story. It gave the whole thing more depth and substance.
My only complaint is I could have taken more. More scenes with Millie and Jameson together and with their friends, more of Jameson’s family and Millie writing her book. But ultimately this is an adorable clean romance I’d recommend to anyone looking for a good read in this genre.
Note: parent death (cancer); absent father; mentions of drinking and driving, abusive partner, vengeful arrestee; attempted murder
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
January 7, 2026
The Nice Guy Next Door by Haley Zaragoza is a sweet, slow-burn contemporary romance about Millie Parker, a newly settled librarian in the small town of Waverly who has vowed she does not want love after caring for her teenage sister on her own following their dad’s death, and her irresistibly kind neighbor Jameson Lane, a state trooper whose patience, warmth, and genuine kindness make Millie’s carefully guarded heart wobble in the most delightful ways. Sometimes love shows up right next door, even when you insist you are too focused on your own life to notice it coming.
When I read about Millie’s journey, I was struck by how vividly her sense of responsibility for her sister, Lo, shaped every choice she made, and how that reluctant vulnerability slowly softens in Jameson’s presence, a man who feels unwavering in his gentleness and support.
Their chemistry is playful and earnest, made all the more charming by Jameson’s patience and Millie’s witty inner monologue, even if her hesitancy to admit her feelings sometimes made me want to cheer and sigh at the same time. The small-town Texas backdrop, the quirky supporting cast, and the touch of light mystery lend warmth and atmosphere.
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This story gave me that comforting, smile-inducing feeling that draws me into a cozy rom-com world while still holding space for real emotion and growth.
When I read about Millie’s journey, I was struck by how vividly her sense of responsibility for her sister, Lo, shaped every choice she made, and how that reluctant vulnerability slowly softens in Jameson’s presence, a man who feels unwavering in his gentleness and support.
Their chemistry is playful and earnest, made all the more charming by Jameson’s patience and Millie’s witty inner monologue, even if her hesitancy to admit her feelings sometimes made me want to cheer and sigh at the same time. The small-town Texas backdrop, the quirky supporting cast, and the touch of light mystery lend warmth and atmosphere.
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This story gave me that comforting, smile-inducing feeling that draws me into a cozy rom-com world while still holding space for real emotion and growth.
August 22, 2021
This is my first book from Haley and it did NOT disappoint! There were so many laugh out loud moments in this book that I might as well have read it out loud so everyone around me could have enjoyed it in it’s entirety instead of snippets. There are so many options for teaser Tuesday’s in this book that I think I’m going to need to find more Tuesday’s in the week.
I want Millie as a best friend. Her overthinking, awkward ways would brighten anyone’s day. Jameson is the perfect “guy next door” that every parent wants their daughter to date lol. I loved the tension, the tiny bit of suspense, EVERYTHING! Two thumbs way up, 5 stars, re-readable and I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
Thanks to the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
I want Millie as a best friend. Her overthinking, awkward ways would brighten anyone’s day. Jameson is the perfect “guy next door” that every parent wants their daughter to date lol. I loved the tension, the tiny bit of suspense, EVERYTHING! Two thumbs way up, 5 stars, re-readable and I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
Thanks to the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
March 1, 2022
Very cute 🥰
March 3, 2022
It was really sweet and funny at the same time. There was some hints of a mystery but it was not focused much.
August 22, 2021
My full review can be read here: bit.ly/3sgyaCj
But things cannot continue on like this. She’s my next-door neighbor. She’s the girl I’m crazy about. Things have to get back to normal, and I don’t know how to make that happen.
So, the book had lots of Hallmark-y vibes for me, but without the over-the-top cringe and completely cliché antics which was veryyyyy refreshing!!
I loved the dynamic between Millie and her sister Lo (I feel like it was very realistic, and Lo was such a trip lolllll).
I loved seeing Millie’s process as a writer (it was so cute how she made changes to her story as her relationship with Jameson kept changing).
I loved both of the main characters' their inner-thoughts, but Millie’s just really cracked me up lol (PURE GOLD).
And Jameson? SIGHSSSSSS. Jameson was literally the sweetest and definitely an amazing neighbor/friend, he was everything that Millie needed. 😍😍
The flirting was adorable. So many of the descriptions/scenarios left me smiling. Anddddd I would really love to see more books about the side-characters that were mentioned in this story...I feel like one couple might get their own book for sure, soooooo hopefully I’m right. 👀👀
As far as content goes: No language! And there wasn't really any suggestive material/innuendos, so no worries there. I do want to point out that Jameson was a state trooper, so he obviously saw a lot of different things (people being drunk was mentioned, and so was a domestic abuse situation). I don’t feel like this is spoilery (because it’s mentioned pretty early on) but Jameson did deal with a stalker; I didn't feel like there was nothing too graphic about this though (except for one part more toward the end), and I know it was to help move along other aspects of the plot. Some harder topics like death, grief, and parents leaving (or parents who were never in the picture to begin with) were also addressed in the book.
I loved how the conflict of the plot was honestly just Millie’s uncertainty about Jameson and her mixed feelings when it came to him. She was so scared, and I think it was super realistic that she kept trying to keep him at a distance even after they both realized they liked each other. It can be so hard to let someone in...especially when that someone seems too good to be true.
It was definitely an enjoyable, mostly fluffy, cute, quirky story! 💗💗
~I received an e-copy of this story from the author, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.~
But things cannot continue on like this. She’s my next-door neighbor. She’s the girl I’m crazy about. Things have to get back to normal, and I don’t know how to make that happen.
So, the book had lots of Hallmark-y vibes for me, but without the over-the-top cringe and completely cliché antics which was veryyyyy refreshing!!
I loved the dynamic between Millie and her sister Lo (I feel like it was very realistic, and Lo was such a trip lolllll).
I loved seeing Millie’s process as a writer (it was so cute how she made changes to her story as her relationship with Jameson kept changing).
I loved both of the main characters' their inner-thoughts, but Millie’s just really cracked me up lol (PURE GOLD).
And Jameson? SIGHSSSSSS. Jameson was literally the sweetest and definitely an amazing neighbor/friend, he was everything that Millie needed. 😍😍
The flirting was adorable. So many of the descriptions/scenarios left me smiling. Anddddd I would really love to see more books about the side-characters that were mentioned in this story...I feel like one couple might get their own book for sure, soooooo hopefully I’m right. 👀👀
As far as content goes: No language! And there wasn't really any suggestive material/innuendos, so no worries there. I do want to point out that Jameson was a state trooper, so he obviously saw a lot of different things (people being drunk was mentioned, and so was a domestic abuse situation). I don’t feel like this is spoilery (because it’s mentioned pretty early on) but Jameson did deal with a stalker; I didn't feel like there was nothing too graphic about this though (except for one part more toward the end), and I know it was to help move along other aspects of the plot. Some harder topics like death, grief, and parents leaving (or parents who were never in the picture to begin with) were also addressed in the book.
I loved how the conflict of the plot was honestly just Millie’s uncertainty about Jameson and her mixed feelings when it came to him. She was so scared, and I think it was super realistic that she kept trying to keep him at a distance even after they both realized they liked each other. It can be so hard to let someone in...especially when that someone seems too good to be true.
It was definitely an enjoyable, mostly fluffy, cute, quirky story! 💗💗
~I received an e-copy of this story from the author, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.~
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