Photo credits: Fotor graphics Edited by Vaishali Title: Neighbours Like That Series: A Love Like This #1 Author: Carina Taylor Publisher: Self published ISBN: 9781692529697 Year of Publication: 2019 Format: E-book (kindle) Genre/Themes: Rom-com, clean contemporary romance, Adult fiction, clean romance Review... I lead into my review for Neighbours Like That with a morsel of open candour: I'm a bastion for romance that undelicately damns censorship behind bedroom doors with sultry eyes, a smirk, a wink and utterly unafraid of the risqué factor. Had I known that this was a spotlessly clean (completely non-smutty) read I most likely would have aborted this particular pick before I gave it immediate priority. That's not to say that this was a bad read. It's also not to say that it's lack of smut was a non-negotiable strike against it but clean romance escapism is just not my genteel style of choice. I've burgeoned into a romance reader that feels inherently incomplete without the spoils of a fictional sexual connection. The platitude that resolves a leopard can’t change its spots? I fully believe that a creature should embrace its stripes: mine are pro-smut and open doors without inhibition. Since Sarah J. Maas corrupted by untested sensibilities with fae fascination and smut-bait, anti-steam quickly became an alien entity to my lexicon. I'm now a woman of the (fictional) world! The story establishes Kylie Boone as the people-pleasing go between who refuses to rock the boat. Socially inactive with a partiality for household projects, she has the traditionalist mindset of a girl who knows what she wants, and that's a dream man who'll give her a dream family on the heels of a dreamy meet-cute made of nothing short of the stuff of dreams. To march down a wedding isle with her future other is a dream set in stone. But all good-natured decorum flies out of the window in the same breathe that Kylie wears in the roguish Boone family genes after the neighbourhood newcomer commits not one but two neighbourly faux pas. There's only one thing for it, she declares war. Hagen moved to the suburbs to begin anew but quickly realises his error in judgement when he gets off on the wrong foot with his too-cheerful neighbour. Instead of righting his wrong, he decides to indulge this little prank war by becoming the human-sized irritant Kylie thinks he is. While it's not unusual for a hero's flaws to assume the obstacle between him and his heroine, the author does play it a bit differently (which I liked) even though it's Hagen himself who sports a dearth in self-belief. Some his actions can be a tad female-oblivious (I.e. chasing Kylie in the dark - with faux anger - and bemused/amused by her fearful reaction to run) and even though I didn't feel convinced over the need for a split up when he and Kylie aren’t in an actual relationship throughout the entire book bar the epilogue, the issue of his self worth based on a bad experience with his ex-girlfriend did consistently support that conflict. The obstacle isn't really Hagen's lack of wanting to be in a relationship but believing in his lack potential to be in one. He was harmless though, protective when he needed to be and silly when he wanted to be. A really comical fit for Kylie who destroyed her dream of the idyllic partner and built it anew. The enemies to lovers feeling is more true of Kylie than Hagen - Hagen was more amused by the diversion and entertained (though admittedly scared) by the retaliatory domestic warfare. I loved how committed Kylie was to retaliating, and some really funny moments come from a situation that spirals into playful obsession. While she's usually accused of holding her tongue in place of sparing people's feelings, her lack of mercy for Hagen presented a different (and more nature-centric) side of her that pulls apart the perfection she seems to strive for. The great thing about relationships that start that way is the a lack of pretence that frees the couple from pleasant trappings; it's not a case picking your fights but having them with full satisfaction (and that was a joy). The Boone's are a boisterous bunch and I love the calamitous gene that seems to run through all of them. Everything light, breezy, comical and rom-com-esque about this I enjoyed without having to try to. PG-appropriate it may be but Neighbours Like That comes with a light-hearted rom com calling card. With a fun plot, barmy cousins and an active back and forth in the form of a neighbour feud, it was carefree and enjoyable for the most part. I love a lopsided meet-cute gone wrong and I was delighted to see how the author would bring it back, or in this case, to err on the feel good side of payback. The characters did come across as realistic but I can't say the same for some of the plot-ish situations. Despite Involving a stalker side storyline, the author preserves the even-tempered tone, but In the same vein, that particular storyline might have been an unnecessary (and an unneeded) diversion that takes the story astray. In places the writing is vague and fails to vindicate and/or explain some of the more central points, especially in instances where I learn in retrospect what I didn't in an actual scene. Admittedly, the story was loose and inconsistent in places. The ending was also too rushed for my liking and I did have a preference for the first half of the book to the second. Kylie was clearly the most zealous of the two and I enjoyed her level of quirk. Pre-prank war, It was a very debatable decision to discreetly use the garbage can of a neighbour you're clearly on bad footing with, funny though it was to watch Hagen look both ways before he performs the deed). Our hero on the other hand, does it anyway. But you know what? In romantic fiction where heroes seem to take stock of and know the names of almost every piece of female apparel, kudos to him for actually being stumped over what a jumpsuit is. I can respect that. As a man who struggles with a lack of self-esteem from a previous relationship, I understood Hagen’s reasons for withdrawing (even if the ‘separation’ felt like an unneeded disruption). Throughout the read, he gradually becomes engrossed in the idea of a life with Kylie anyway and so it seemed really abrupt to me that after only one date together in entire book, he needs space. The romance is more on the side of a slow burn. It’s moderately developed relationship-wise, more light of heart than romance-heavy and it's almost as if the devoted act of pranking moonlights as the first stage of a relationship for our quarrelsome couple (or the no-illusions ice breaker), so I warn readers to expect the expected because this is most definitely an angst-free, surprise-free piece of adult fiction. Fictional romance enthusiast that I am, I did hope for more romantic chemistry and relationship development, but despite following a simplistic form, Neighbours Like That is a charming story with charming characters. Apparently a woman who could pull off a series of low-level (but effective) pranks could be the only one to pull a recent bachelor out of his misery while she soon appreciates the message that all good things don’t always come in courteous packages. They sometimes come in the form of a moody neighbour with trickery on the mind. I gave this book 3 stars - Content Warning: Mentions a past controlling relationship. An on-page stalker storyline and an ensuing kidnapping. As a clean read there are no bedroom scenes. --------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read --------------------------------------- I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers, bloggers and writers. Hearing about reader opinion is the fuel to my reader appetite, so get in touch and comment below! SHARE ON FACEBOOK L E A V E A C O M M E N T A N D L E T' S T A L K A B O U T |
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