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A review by _onemorechapter_
Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
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? No
4.5
๐ญ HEARTWARMING as well as HEARTBREAKING read with lovable, eccentric characters!
Freya Sampson is a new author for me and this is my first novel by her and I'm so glad I found her!! She became my auto-read author after reading this book!
I thought I'd love this one from the first second I heard about it just because of the synopsis, cover, vibes, etc. I'm glad I was right because I LOVED THIS ONE! It's very Fredrik Backman-y(one of my fav authors) โ complete with a crotchety old person โ and revolves more around the interpersonal relationships between the characters. So, of course, I loved this book!
Built-in 1891, Shelley House in the village of Chalcot is one of the few historic buildings in the neighborhood that is still standing(over 130 years) and is facing demolition!
The building houses several tenants like:
Flat #2 is the home of the cantankerous seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling -Shelley Houseโs longest resident(over three decades). Always armed with a cup of tea, and her diary, she notes all of the comings and goings of the residence in her trusty notebook. (And, by the way, that is MS. Darling to you!)
Pink-haired Kat Bennett has recently moved into Flat #1 as Joseph Chambers(Dorothyโs long-time neighbor with whom she has not spoken to in decades) illegal subtenant, and she and Dorothy were not always accomplices-having gotten off on the wrong foot. Also in flat #1 is Reggie-an adorable Jack Russell terrier and scene stealer! (Or Reginald, according to Ms. Darling)
Rounding out the building are:
Flat #3 Recently widowed Omar Siddiq and his daughter, Ayesha
Flat #4 The anti-social tenant who frequently disturbs their peace
Flat#5 Tomasโs Wojcik and his pit bull, Princess and
Flat#6 Gloria Brown and her โlatest no goodโ boyfriend.
Dorothy is a loner who spends much time keeping an eye on the goings on in the building, diligently noting down her observations, forwarding complaints to the landlord, and calling out her neighbors when she sees them breaking community rules. Needless to say, she isnโt too popular among the residents who consider her a โnosyโ old lady who just can't seem to mind her own business.
When Joseph illegally sublets one room in his apartment to a young woman with dyed pink hair, Dorothy takes an instant dislike to Kat, a feeling that is reciprocated. Twenty-five-year-old Kat is also wary of her new neighbors and prefers to be left alone. She has her own reasons for being back in Chalcot โ painful memories and secrets that have followed her into her adulthood. However, unforeseen events result in Kat being drawn into the ongoing drama in Shelley House after the tenants are served eviction notices. The narrative follows these characters as they are forced to set their differences aside and band together to save Shelley House from the clutches of a greedy real estate developer who could resort to any means to get what he wants.
Nosy Neighbors is a light crime novel with lots of secrets, questions, and heart. It is a beautifully written novel that revolves around themes of home and community, found family and forgiveness with an element of mystery woven into the narrative. Sampson has written a story of secrets hidden from the world for years, of multi-generational friendships, of love, loss and guilt, of 30-year estrangements, and of finding a home. She gently but clearly shows the power secrets can have over us by focusing on individuals becoming a community.
First of all, I adored the characters in this book. Sampsonโs main characters are complicated, distrustful, as different as can be from each other-and ultimately funny and charming. The narrative is presented from the perspectives of Dorothy and Kat. Both characters have a distinct role to play in this story and I appreciated how the author weaves the backstories of the main characters and several sub-plots revolving around the supporting characters into the primary narrative.
Dorothy and Kat are both stuck in the mistakes of their pasts, holding themselves responsible for things that were not what they seemed, and itโs only by finally letting down their guard and letting others know the truth about them that they can find forgiveness that they both have desperately needed. Sampson has crafted this world of Shelley House and brought together these characters who need to find each other in order to find their way home and beautifully captures the essence of these vibrant individuals, and you'll find yourself wishing to be a part of this charming but quirky neighborhood, despite its flaws.
The author shines in depicting the interpersonal relationships between the characters and there is never a dull moment in the story. The story emphasizes the need for communication, kindness and empathy for those who might be struggling and how it is often easy to judge people without understanding the reasons why people might behave in a certain way. Both Katโs and Dorothyโs backstories are heartbreaking, but I am glad that the author chose to end the story on a hopeful and positive note. The novel explores several sensitive topics such as grief, addiction, loneliness and ageing, childhood trauma, abusive relationships and neglect, among others, and does so with much compassion and emotional depth.
Overall, it has consistent pacing, realistic and relatable themes, endearing characters and a satisfying ending making for an engaging read. Despite some heavy themes, this is a heartwarming story that will strike a chord in your heart.
Donโt let the cover mislead you, this is not a laugh-out-loud mystery. Itโs a nuanced story of people starting over that has cozy bits of humor and mystery in it. Itโs 4.5 stars from me๐ต๐๐๐ผโโ๏ธ
๐.๐ Read this if you love:
๐Fredrik Backman(A Man Called Ove), Gabrielle Zevin, T.J. Klune, & Emily Henry
๐found family tropes
๐unlikely characters uniting
๐feel good stories with curmudgeon characters
๐.๐.๐ It was full of:
๐ซUnlikely friendships
๐ต๐ผโโ๏ธAmateur slueths
๐A cute dog
โญFull circle moments
๐ฅนHeartfelt conversations
๐ธ๐ด๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐: โญโญโญโญ.5
๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐: 4.02 (557)
๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐: Cozy Mystery, Fiction, and Chick Lit
๐ธ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: YES, YES, AND YES
Delightful and heart-warming read. If you're a fan of feel-good stories, definitely give this one a go.
All the right elements are in place for a 'tug at your heartstrings' read. Love lost, love found, loneliness, friendship, purpose, meaning and connections. What we all need - people, not things.
Freya Sampson is a new author for me and this is my first novel by her and I'm so glad I found her!! She became my auto-read author after reading this book!
I thought I'd love this one from the first second I heard about it just because of the synopsis, cover, vibes, etc. I'm glad I was right because I LOVED THIS ONE! It's very Fredrik Backman-y(one of my fav authors) โ complete with a crotchety old person โ and revolves more around the interpersonal relationships between the characters. So, of course, I loved this book!
Built-in 1891, Shelley House in the village of Chalcot is one of the few historic buildings in the neighborhood that is still standing(over 130 years) and is facing demolition!
The building houses several tenants like:
Flat #2 is the home of the cantankerous seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling -Shelley Houseโs longest resident(over three decades). Always armed with a cup of tea, and her diary, she notes all of the comings and goings of the residence in her trusty notebook. (And, by the way, that is MS. Darling to you!)
Pink-haired Kat Bennett has recently moved into Flat #1 as Joseph Chambers(Dorothyโs long-time neighbor with whom she has not spoken to in decades) illegal subtenant, and she and Dorothy were not always accomplices-having gotten off on the wrong foot. Also in flat #1 is Reggie-an adorable Jack Russell terrier and scene stealer! (Or Reginald, according to Ms. Darling)
Rounding out the building are:
Flat #3 Recently widowed Omar Siddiq and his daughter, Ayesha
Flat #4 The anti-social tenant who frequently disturbs their peace
Flat#5 Tomasโs Wojcik and his pit bull, Princess and
Flat#6 Gloria Brown and her โlatest no goodโ boyfriend.
Dorothy is a loner who spends much time keeping an eye on the goings on in the building, diligently noting down her observations, forwarding complaints to the landlord, and calling out her neighbors when she sees them breaking community rules. Needless to say, she isnโt too popular among the residents who consider her a โnosyโ old lady who just can't seem to mind her own business.
When Joseph illegally sublets one room in his apartment to a young woman with dyed pink hair, Dorothy takes an instant dislike to Kat, a feeling that is reciprocated. Twenty-five-year-old Kat is also wary of her new neighbors and prefers to be left alone. She has her own reasons for being back in Chalcot โ painful memories and secrets that have followed her into her adulthood. However, unforeseen events result in Kat being drawn into the ongoing drama in Shelley House after the tenants are served eviction notices. The narrative follows these characters as they are forced to set their differences aside and band together to save Shelley House from the clutches of a greedy real estate developer who could resort to any means to get what he wants.
Nosy Neighbors is a light crime novel with lots of secrets, questions, and heart. It is a beautifully written novel that revolves around themes of home and community, found family and forgiveness with an element of mystery woven into the narrative. Sampson has written a story of secrets hidden from the world for years, of multi-generational friendships, of love, loss and guilt, of 30-year estrangements, and of finding a home. She gently but clearly shows the power secrets can have over us by focusing on individuals becoming a community.
First of all, I adored the characters in this book. Sampsonโs main characters are complicated, distrustful, as different as can be from each other-and ultimately funny and charming. The narrative is presented from the perspectives of Dorothy and Kat. Both characters have a distinct role to play in this story and I appreciated how the author weaves the backstories of the main characters and several sub-plots revolving around the supporting characters into the primary narrative.
Dorothy and Kat are both stuck in the mistakes of their pasts, holding themselves responsible for things that were not what they seemed, and itโs only by finally letting down their guard and letting others know the truth about them that they can find forgiveness that they both have desperately needed. Sampson has crafted this world of Shelley House and brought together these characters who need to find each other in order to find their way home and beautifully captures the essence of these vibrant individuals, and you'll find yourself wishing to be a part of this charming but quirky neighborhood, despite its flaws.
The author shines in depicting the interpersonal relationships between the characters and there is never a dull moment in the story. The story emphasizes the need for communication, kindness and empathy for those who might be struggling and how it is often easy to judge people without understanding the reasons why people might behave in a certain way. Both Katโs and Dorothyโs backstories are heartbreaking, but I am glad that the author chose to end the story on a hopeful and positive note. The novel explores several sensitive topics such as grief, addiction, loneliness and ageing, childhood trauma, abusive relationships and neglect, among others, and does so with much compassion and emotional depth.
Overall, it has consistent pacing, realistic and relatable themes, endearing characters and a satisfying ending making for an engaging read. Despite some heavy themes, this is a heartwarming story that will strike a chord in your heart.
Donโt let the cover mislead you, this is not a laugh-out-loud mystery. Itโs a nuanced story of people starting over that has cozy bits of humor and mystery in it. Itโs 4.5 stars from me๐ต๐๐๐ผโโ๏ธ
๐.๐ Read this if you love:
๐Fredrik Backman(A Man Called Ove), Gabrielle Zevin, T.J. Klune, & Emily Henry
๐found family tropes
๐unlikely characters uniting
๐feel good stories with curmudgeon characters
๐.๐.๐ It was full of:
๐ซUnlikely friendships
๐ต๐ผโโ๏ธAmateur slueths
๐A cute dog
โญFull circle moments
๐ฅนHeartfelt conversations
๐ธ๐ด๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐: โญโญโญโญ.5
๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐: 4.02 (557)
๐ธ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐: Cozy Mystery, Fiction, and Chick Lit
๐ธ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: YES, YES, AND YES
Delightful and heart-warming read. If you're a fan of feel-good stories, definitely give this one a go.
All the right elements are in place for a 'tug at your heartstrings' read. Love lost, love found, loneliness, friendship, purpose, meaning and connections. What we all need - people, not things.