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A review by si0bhan
The Boy Next Door by Sierra Hill
3.0
The Boy Next Door was one of those stories where I can honestly say it’s me, not the book. It had the potential to be a story that hooked me, one with plenty of enjoyable moments, but it contains something that I’m not a fan of. At all.
You see, I’m so done with the stories where the guy is cruel to the girl throughout their younger years because he ‘secretly loves’ her. The idea that you’ll treat someone you love that way – and the fact there are so many stories out there that suggest it is okay – is something I’m tired of seeing. I’m fine with enemies to lovers, I’m fine with crushing from afar, and I’m fine with dark romance – none of those things are a problem for me. I’m just done with stories where a declaration of love makes up for years of belittling someone and doing lasting harm to their self-worth. In my mind, that sends the wrong message. Obviously, though, the fact there are so many books like this show I’m in the minority.
All in all, I’m sure many will love this, but the fact it contained one of my pet peeves meant I was not sucked into it the way I could have been. There were enough enjoyable moments to ensure I was happy to devour in it a single sitting, but there was not enough to overcome the aforementioned element.
You see, I’m so done with the stories where the guy is cruel to the girl throughout their younger years because he ‘secretly loves’ her. The idea that you’ll treat someone you love that way – and the fact there are so many stories out there that suggest it is okay – is something I’m tired of seeing. I’m fine with enemies to lovers, I’m fine with crushing from afar, and I’m fine with dark romance – none of those things are a problem for me. I’m just done with stories where a declaration of love makes up for years of belittling someone and doing lasting harm to their self-worth. In my mind, that sends the wrong message. Obviously, though, the fact there are so many books like this show I’m in the minority.
All in all, I’m sure many will love this, but the fact it contained one of my pet peeves meant I was not sucked into it the way I could have been. There were enough enjoyable moments to ensure I was happy to devour in it a single sitting, but there was not enough to overcome the aforementioned element.