Reviews with content warning for Death - The Neighbor Favor

I loved the emails, the family and found family relationships, all of the book talk, and the personal growth in this book. It felt similar to Talia Hibbert's Brown sister books but with a bit less steam. I'll definitely read more from this author and series.

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jaz_gets_literary's review

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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wilybooklover's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

This was cute, but ultimately the secret identity plot did not work for me. I think You’ve Got Mail retellings can work for me if both characters find out the truth around the same time, but when one character knows and lies about it, I just can’t. I don’t care how sad your backstory is, don’t wait months to tell people who you really are, especially if you’re going to go around kissing them!! The main characters were quite lovely and sweet outside of that plot though. I loved that they connected over books.

My main bugbear: I am so tired of side characters trying to push the main character(s) into dating and setting them up when they don’t want to be. STOP FORCING PEOPLE YOU SUPPOSEDLY LOVE INTO DOING STUFF THEY DON’T WANT TO AND LISTEN WHEN THEY TELL YOU TO STOP IT. It really pisses me off and puts me off ever wanting to read books about those characters (in this case, Lily’s sisters) when it makes the protagonist so miserable and reduced to desperate measures to get them to stop. She does stand up to them in the end, and I get that it's a plot device, but that doesn’t prevent the rage building every time I encounter it on page.

It did amuse me that Nick’s fake English accent was written more accurately and convincingly than most American authors write supposedly real ones lol.

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kitwhelan's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This is cute, but it is hard to do a You’ve Got Mail plot and not make it creepy. It’s hard to root for a couple when one is lying, but he does come with enough trauma that you understand why. Thank goodness he’s going to therapy by the end!!!

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lowkeymarie's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is a tricky one to rate because there were aspects that I really liked but it just somehow didn't all come together in a way that totally worked for me. It also didn't help that I had hyped it up to myself because I love the cover and the You've Got Mail of it all.

What worked: Both of the main characters were so lovely and relatable and I was rooting for them not only to get together but to prosper in their careers and other relationships. I also think they both showed emotional maturity and growth in a way that I don't always see reflected in romance.

The MMC, Nick, has a lot of avoidant tendencies due to his traumatic upbringing and his whole deal is she deserves better, I'm not good enough for her, etc., etc.. But he actually recognizes (with the help of his found family 🥹) that this is unhealthy, and not only uses his words to express this to the FMC, Lily, but shows with his actions that he's committed to trying to be the kind of partner she needs. And Lily is smart and aware enough to recognize that, while she's in love with this man, it's not fair for her to put herself out there for someone that can't or won't risk being emotionally vulnerable enough to make a true commitment. Part of her journey is also about learning to stand up for herself in her personal and professional relationships, which I loved for her!

I also really loved the friendship between Nick and his old college roommate and now literary agent, Marcus. The unconditional love and support between those two was absolutely beautiful and almost made me cry.

What didn't work (for me): Lily's overbearing family constantly being in her business honestly stressed me the fuck out. Which was obviously the point, but like, it worked a little too well, I guess? 😅 The sex scenes also felt very rushed and vague; not quite fade-to-black, but still comparatively chaste, to the point that I think it would have worked better for them to just be left out. I know some readers won't care much about that, but there it is.

I doubt I'll read the next book in this series about Lily's sister, but I would otherwise consider reading more adult romance from this author in the future.

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