A review by readswithsel
The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron

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.