Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - The Neighbor Favor

Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

44 reviews

shinsreading's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.25

The book is very different from the books that I’ve been reading recently, so that was definitely a breath of fresh air. And though I did enjoy the book, I think I’m definitely no longer their target audience. Which is fine. It’s just interesting to see a genre that I had previously inhaled become slightly redundant. I enjoyed the book, but I don’t see it being a re-read.

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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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sdupont's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.0

Secret identity is one of my least favorite tropes. I hate when the foundation of a relationship is tainted by lies and secrecy. Despite this I still did enjoy reading this book. This book is a cute romance. I liked Lily and her sisters, those scenes were my favorite. I had a hard time connecting with Lily and Nick’s relationship but at the same time I couldn’t put the book down. That’s a testament to Kristina Forest’s great writing. I’d still recommend giving The Neighbor Favor a chance. I’m definitely looking forward to Violet’s book!

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d0505's review against another edition

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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

3.75

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notsobinaryart's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.75

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beckyyreadss's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted slow-paced

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

4.0

Thank you, Michael Joseph Penguin Publishing, for sending this book to rate on the spice-o-meter and to write an honest review.

This book has two points of view. The first is shy, bookish and admittedly awkward, Lily Greene. She has always felt inadequate compared to the rest of her family, who strive for Black excellence. She dreams of becoming an editor of children’s books but has been frustratingly stuck in the nonfiction division for years without a promotion in sight. Lily finds escapism in her correspondences with her favourite fantasy author, and what begins as two lonely people connecting over email turns into a friendship and possibly something else Lily won't let herself entertain until he ghosts her. The second point of view is Nick Brown. He has his reasons for using a pen name and for pushing people away, he is in New York to write the second book of his series. He thinks the woman down the hall is beautiful and he soon realizes it’s the same woman who he fell in love with over email months ago. He isn’t wanting to complicate things even more between them, he agrees to set her up with someone else., though this simple favour between two neighbours is anything but, not when he can’t stop thinking about her. Lily is determined to take charge of her life, and she needs a date for her sister’s wedding. And the perfect person is right down the hall, he is charming and attractive, and she is drawn to him for unexplainable reasons. Little does she know that Nick is an author – her favourite author.

I enjoyed this storyline, and I thought it was adorable. I really felt for Lily and wanted her to stand up for herself with her family and her boss. Also, I liked the different family dynamics that were shown in this book, like Lily and her sisters and the big family parties. And then you’ve got Nick who is constantly running to avoid his toxic dad. I liked the book publishing aspect of this story, but I would have loved for it to be tone down a bit and the romance with the big gestures to be toned up. I felt like the storyline at times was a bit predictable for the secret identity trope and then it got wrapped up in a nice little bow a bit too quickly for me. I would have loved to have seen Nick grovel some more to Lily.

In terms of Spice-O-Meter, I thought it wasn’t spicy, you don’t get the spice until chapter 20. With this being a slow burn, I expect that, but once we finally got some spice it was very closed door and discreet. It went with the storyline, but I was just wanting more especially considering how much they both talk about how attractive they are and then we get kissing and then bed and then asleep. The little spice that we do get I would say is a 2/10.

This is the first novel by Kristina Forest I've read, and I enjoyed it though it took me a while to get into. I cannot wait to read about the other sisters as I loved Violet and Iris’s cameo in this book so far.

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discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.75

This was fine. It was cute. There’s nothing about it that I necessarily disliked, it’s just there wasn’t much about it that I really liked either. Just sort of mid. I kept waiting for a moment when I would begin to get excited about the direction of the story, and that moment just never came. It’s not that I don’t think it was written well, I just think I was expecting a spark that wasn’t there. Probably just wasn’t for me. And that’s fine!

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cady_sass's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

I love the idea of this more than the actuality of it. There’s a lot of really good stuff here, and there’s a lot of stuff that’s ALMOST good. The characters are lovable but one dimensional, we don’t get enough time with their back stories nor do we find any real resolution on some of the very real problems we gloss over. I think it would’ve been more successful if the author just embraced a lighthearted, happy-ending story instead of trying to build in the complex family trauma and side plots. BUT I’m so happy to have a romance novel featuring people of color in a sea of whiteness and I did have a good time

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katrinaward's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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theespressoedition's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

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