A review by lezreadalot
That Woman Next Door by Harper Bliss

4.0

A runner is exactly what I did. And then I ran straight back.

3.5 stars. For a long time during my reading of this book, I could have fallen on either side of the fence. It's as competently written as most of Bliss' romances are, but I couldn't really get on board with the romance/chemistry/attraction between the leads. But when it got me... whew. I fell hard.

Marie, an arrogant, hotshot Belgian brain surgeon, moves to the countryside in Brittany after a fatal mistake in the operating room shakes her. Olivia is her neighbour, a cranky, reclusive translator who values alone time and routines. I was familiar with Marie from my time with the French Kissing series, though I'm not caught up, and if I ever had any hard feelings towards her for her part as the villain of that series, I've forgotten them. This seemed like just the kind of opposites attract romance that I could really like, what with Marie's arrogance and womanising ways, juxtaposed with Liv's quiet but stubborn personality. I was a little disappointed at first by the pace, and how soon Olivia seems to thaw, but my disappointments in that regard were somewhat assuaged. It definitely wasn't an easy road to them understanding each other. Something about it did feel a little off-kilter; I feel like we weren't always shown the important moments, and I didn't like how some scenes would end semi-abruptly and then we'd get a time skip. The process of falling in love is something that I really love to see on page, and I didn't feel like we got that.

BUT some parts of this book in the latter half are just so swoony and romantic and gut-wrenching, and it made me really really fall in love with the characters and their romance. Some of the dialogue just completely pulled at my heartstrings, and there's a subtle kind of angst that I just really enjoy. They melded so well together. I really like reading about older women! (And by the by, I love the fact that Marie's botox injections are treated so casually, rather than as a point of shame.) I also really enjoyed the fact that this didn't slip into any tired romance conventions for the sake of conflict. The fact that they're mature women really helped. The portrayal of Olivia's anxiety/neuroses/need for order and quiet really resonated with me, and I feel like Marie ended up being her perfect counterpoint.

Also, the cat moments? SO CUTE. I love bonding through pets.

Listened to the audiobook as read by Abby Craden, who brought tears to my eyes at some of the emotional parts. So, a winner as always! Good to know I can still count on Bliss for a solid read, even though not everything about this was perfect.