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miloblue's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
00leah00's review against another edition
3.0
“The Girl Next Door” is a small town, opposites attract romance about neighbors falling in love. I’ve seen some label this as friends with benefits. But that doesn’t even start until after 70%, and they had both admitted their feelings to themselves. So I didn’t really feel the label fit.
Iris, 22, has moved back home with her parents after burning out at her job and isn’t able to pay her bills. When she gets home she sees her neighbor, Jude, has also moved back home. Jude is strong silent type so the more high strung, excitable Iris is automatically drawn to her.
I have to admit, I didn’t find Iris to be very likable for the majority of the book. She seemed to whine a lot and was annoying to me. And I thought it was a little ridiculous that you could be burnt out of a job if you’ve only been out of school a year or two?? I also know a lot of people over that age that have moved back home and most of them don’t think it’s the absolute end of the world.
I did like Jude, but I felt she took the silent type thing a bit too far at times. And her back and forth attitude about Iris got a little redundant after a while.
One complaint is that Cameron is a bit inconsistent throughout the story. One of the minor characters family’s business is one thing early in the book and changes later. Iris talks about them having sex for a few weeks and then the next paragraph she’s talking about not knowing how it instigate sex? It’s just little things like that that I picked up on.
There was a bit of humor that I enjoyed. Iris was very awkward at times and I had secondhand embarrassment for her. Once the two admit their feelings this turns into an sappy romance so be prepared for a toothache with all the sweetness.
My favorite character was the dog, Dolly Parton. She was adorable.
Iris, 22, has moved back home with her parents after burning out at her job and isn’t able to pay her bills. When she gets home she sees her neighbor, Jude, has also moved back home. Jude is strong silent type so the more high strung, excitable Iris is automatically drawn to her.
I have to admit, I didn’t find Iris to be very likable for the majority of the book. She seemed to whine a lot and was annoying to me. And I thought it was a little ridiculous that you could be burnt out of a job if you’ve only been out of school a year or two?? I also know a lot of people over that age that have moved back home and most of them don’t think it’s the absolute end of the world.
I did like Jude, but I felt she took the silent type thing a bit too far at times. And her back and forth attitude about Iris got a little redundant after a while.
One complaint is that Cameron is a bit inconsistent throughout the story. One of the minor characters family’s business is one thing early in the book and changes later. Iris talks about them having sex for a few weeks and then the next paragraph she’s talking about not knowing how it instigate sex? It’s just little things like that that I picked up on.
There was a bit of humor that I enjoyed. Iris was very awkward at times and I had secondhand embarrassment for her. Once the two admit their feelings this turns into an sappy romance so be prepared for a toothache with all the sweetness.
My favorite character was the dog, Dolly Parton. She was adorable.
isabelisalright's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
This is a delightful slow and soft romance. I really enjoyed my time with it.
I found this to be the perfect kind of romance for right now. It's not overly angsty but instead delivers some slow burn pacing. So crockpot romance lovers this is for you!
The setting of Maine was also a total blast as well. Nice change of pace and small town setting perfection.
My dislike mostly came from how slow it was. It dragged for a little bit, and I had some communication issues with both characters. I just wanted them to talk.
This is a delightful slow and soft romance. I really enjoyed my time with it.
I found this to be the perfect kind of romance for right now. It's not overly angsty but instead delivers some slow burn pacing. So crockpot romance lovers this is for you!
The setting of Maine was also a total blast as well. Nice change of pace and small town setting perfection.
My dislike mostly came from how slow it was. It dragged for a little bit, and I had some communication issues with both characters. I just wanted them to talk.
yourklng's review against another edition
2.0
2.5? really average/basic plot but it’s a sapphic romance so I’ll allow it just this once
book_banshee's review against another edition
3.0
Actual Rating: 3.25 stars
Welp, I devoured this book in a single evening. This sapphic summer romance was a cute, entertaining, and quick read. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, and I had some problems with the pacing and writing, but if you’re looking for a light, easy f/f romance, this is definitely one to consider!
The Girl Next Door follows 22 year-old Iris and 26 year-old Jude, who—as you would expect by the title—live next door to each other. Iris has just moved back in with her parents after being unable to get a decent job after college. Jude moved back into her parents’ house two years before, wrecked to her core by a traumatic event she refuses to talk about. The women are quickly attracted to one other, and together they must decide who they want to be, and what they’re willing to risk with each other.
One of my favorite parts about this book was how cute all the characters were. Iris’s dad literally spends the entire story reading YA books and even recommends queer YA books to Iris and Jude! Literally my new favorite parent character. Jude is your classic mysterious “bad girl” who rides a motorcycle and is super toned. Iris is a cute and bubbly young woman (who has a dog named Dolly Parton!) and is stressed about her future, which as a recent college grad myself, was totally relatable. I also adored how the characters showcased the importance of communication and consent in their relationship—I feel as though romance books often skip over these moments to make a scene more ‘sexy’.
But while I liked the idea of the story and the characters, I struggled a bit with the execution of the story. I was immediately annoyed with the writing style, which was awkwardly blunt and had a lot of over-telling and exposition. Additionally, the plot felt very unbalanced. The summary stated Iris and Jude decide to engage in a “no-strings summer fling” yet the story instead gave a weird insta-attraction and slow-burn tension that in the last quarter immediately rushed into instalove. The women didn’t even decide to engage in a summer fling until the 70% mark of the eARC. I feel like this decision should have come in the first half of the book??
Overall, I found this to be a decent romance, but it wasn’t a new favorite. I will say that I will definitely be keeping an eye on Carina Adores (a new trope-driven LGBTQ+ contemporary romance line!!) to see what they release in the future!
Trigger Warnings: grief, reflecting on the death and loss of a lover
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can see this review, my other reviews & additional bookish posts at my blog: Are You My Book?
Welp, I devoured this book in a single evening. This sapphic summer romance was a cute, entertaining, and quick read. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, and I had some problems with the pacing and writing, but if you’re looking for a light, easy f/f romance, this is definitely one to consider!
The Girl Next Door follows 22 year-old Iris and 26 year-old Jude, who—as you would expect by the title—live next door to each other. Iris has just moved back in with her parents after being unable to get a decent job after college. Jude moved back into her parents’ house two years before, wrecked to her core by a traumatic event she refuses to talk about. The women are quickly attracted to one other, and together they must decide who they want to be, and what they’re willing to risk with each other.
One of my favorite parts about this book was how cute all the characters were. Iris’s dad literally spends the entire story reading YA books and even recommends queer YA books to Iris and Jude! Literally my new favorite parent character. Jude is your classic mysterious “bad girl” who rides a motorcycle and is super toned. Iris is a cute and bubbly young woman (who has a dog named Dolly Parton!) and is stressed about her future, which as a recent college grad myself, was totally relatable. I also adored how the characters showcased the importance of communication and consent in their relationship—I feel as though romance books often skip over these moments to make a scene more ‘sexy’.
But while I liked the idea of the story and the characters, I struggled a bit with the execution of the story. I was immediately annoyed with the writing style, which was awkwardly blunt and had a lot of over-telling and exposition. Additionally, the plot felt very unbalanced. The summary stated Iris and Jude decide to engage in a “no-strings summer fling” yet the story instead gave a weird insta-attraction and slow-burn tension that in the last quarter immediately rushed into instalove. The women didn’t even decide to engage in a summer fling until the 70% mark of the eARC. I feel like this decision should have come in the first half of the book??
Overall, I found this to be a decent romance, but it wasn’t a new favorite. I will say that I will definitely be keeping an eye on Carina Adores (a new trope-driven LGBTQ+ contemporary romance line!!) to see what they release in the future!
Trigger Warnings: grief, reflecting on the death and loss of a lover
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can see this review, my other reviews & additional bookish posts at my blog: Are You My Book?
araleith's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this. Jude and Iris were wonderful and I liked how it was about figuring out who you wanted to be when your original plans didn't turn out the way you thought.
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
A little bit slight, but it’s easy to read and I quite enjoyed it. It’s a return to a small town and find love type romance - for both parties really - and it’s fun, just don’t think too hard about the practicalities or anyone’s finances!
sapphicsolace's review against another edition
4.0
arc provided by publisher through netgalley
3.5/5
I think the best way to describe Cameron's The Girl Next Door is as a quiet summer romance. Not a lot really happens, the focus being on the characters more than anything. The story focusses on Iris returning to her hometown after being unable to afford living in Boston, and she reconnects with her next door neighbour, Jude. They strike up a newfound friendship and later a romance, partially finding solace in the other being the only other queer person they know in the tiny beach town they grew up in.
The best way to describe the Girl Next Door is as something simple. There isn't much conflict at all in the book. Other than Iris being desperate to move back to the city and Jude rejecting her own feelings for Iris due to personal tragedy.
I would say overall I enjoyed this book. It's an easy to read romance. There were a few things that didn't work for me. I personally don't think the chemistry wasn't developed enough for there to be satisfaction when they finally kiss. The conflict they are both experiencing also almost takes a backseat where I don't think it could've impacted the plot as much as it could've.
I also felt that when we found out about Jude's tragedy, it was an emotional whiplash. I think it would've worked better if we the audience had found out about it sooner than we had. That's more of a personal gripe as I don't like it when tragedy from the past is just thrown on me as a reader. I think knowing about it sooner would've made Jude's intentions make more sense rather than it being treated as a footnote when she has come to terms with the tragedy. I think that took away from the book and the wider potential to Jude's character.
I'm happy to see Chelsea M. Cameron get a traditionally published sapphic book as I've read and enjoy all of her f/f books. I will continue to read her books, but I don't think this is exactly a standout in her catalogue. I would still recommend it as I see people enjoying this more than I did. If you're a fan of quiet romances, I would recommend it. If you're a fan of Cameron, I would also recommend it.
...
Sapphicathon: A book you got for free
3.5/5
I think the best way to describe Cameron's The Girl Next Door is as a quiet summer romance. Not a lot really happens, the focus being on the characters more than anything. The story focusses on Iris returning to her hometown after being unable to afford living in Boston, and she reconnects with her next door neighbour, Jude. They strike up a newfound friendship and later a romance, partially finding solace in the other being the only other queer person they know in the tiny beach town they grew up in.
The best way to describe the Girl Next Door is as something simple. There isn't much conflict at all in the book. Other than Iris being desperate to move back to the city and Jude rejecting her own feelings for Iris due to personal tragedy.
I would say overall I enjoyed this book. It's an easy to read romance. There were a few things that didn't work for me. I personally don't think the chemistry wasn't developed enough for there to be satisfaction when they finally kiss. The conflict they are both experiencing also almost takes a backseat where I don't think it could've impacted the plot as much as it could've.
I also felt that when we found out about Jude's tragedy, it was an emotional whiplash. I think it would've worked better if we the audience had found out about it sooner than we had. That's more of a personal gripe as I don't like it when tragedy from the past is just thrown on me as a reader. I think knowing about it sooner would've made Jude's intentions make more sense rather than it being treated as a footnote when she has come to terms with the tragedy. I think that took away from the book and the wider potential to Jude's character.
I'm happy to see Chelsea M. Cameron get a traditionally published sapphic book as I've read and enjoy all of her f/f books. I will continue to read her books, but I don't think this is exactly a standout in her catalogue. I would still recommend it as I see people enjoying this more than I did. If you're a fan of quiet romances, I would recommend it. If you're a fan of Cameron, I would also recommend it.
...
Sapphicathon: A book you got for free
readswithsel's review against another edition
3.0
The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron (2021/01/23) (opposite attracts)
Rating 3/5 Stars
This story follows Iris Turner as she returns to Salty Cove, her hometown. A place she fled after graduating from high school. However, when she was unable to find work in Boston, she was forced to return home. She meets Jude Wick, her next-door neighbour, there.
They went to the same school, but Jude was a few years older than Iris, thus they never had any type of connection at the time. She's the last person Iris expected to meet at Salty Cove, especially since she's now a lobster woman. As the two start to spend time together their chemistry is undeniable, but both fight it, because they both know that Iris’s stay in Salty Cover is temporary. Jude also has her guard up and is hiding a secret as to why she has been spending all her free time alone. A no-strings-attached summer romance appears to be the ideal distraction for both girls. But when Iris stays to fall for Jude is not sure whether she should leave or stay.
I really enjoyed this romance. I love a good friends-to-lovers small town romance. I loved the progression of how the characters started to slowly do things for each other and fall in love. What hindered my enjoyment of the novel was the fact that Iris emphasised her dissatisfaction with the small town so frequently that it became repetitive for me. I also noticed that certain scenes felt choppy, and I wished they were more developed.
Overall, this was such a sweet F/F small -town romance and I look forward to reading more from this author.
TW: Death Of Loved One, Car Crash, Homophobia.
haileybartolomeu's review against another edition
4.0
This story is so sweet and it made me want a lobster roll. It's a little cheesy and the characters are a little dramatic, but in a way that made me laugh.