How To Love Your Neighbour by Sophie Sullivan Review

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Title: How To Love Your Neighbour

Series: N/A

Author: Sophie Sullivan

Publisher: Headline Eternal (UK), St. Martin’s Press (US)

Pages: 352

Release Date: 18 January 2022 (UK & US)

Hello fellow booklovers,

I’m back today with my review for Sophie Sullivan’s newest book, How To Love Your Neighbour which is an enemies to lovers, sunshine meets grump rom-com, with a plot focused on interior design. The interior design aspect was what initially drew my attention and I very much enjoyed the lighthearted plot—It’s such an interesting and refreshing concept and works perfectly with the genre.

I also wanted to say a huge thank you to Headline Eternal and Netgalley for a copy of the e-arc.

Summary

Interior Design School? Check. Cute little house to fix up? Also check. Grumpy sexy neighbor who is going to get in the way of all of your plans? Check. Unfortunately.

Grace Travis definitely has it all figured out. Sorta. Kinda.

Okay, not really. But in between finishing interior design school and working approximately nine million odd jobs, she’ll get her degree. She’ll have her dream job. And most importantly, she’ll be able to have a place to belong, something her distant, manipulative mother could never make for her. When an opportunity to fix up—and live in—a sweet little house on the beach as her final design project comes along, Grace is all in. Until her biggest roadblock moves in next door.

Noah Jansen knows how to make a deal. A real estate developer with a knack for betting big and striking rich, he’s not one to let a good opportunity slip away. So when a beachside house with great bones is ripe for a remodel and flip, Noah doesn’t hesitate. Except in order to spruce it up properly, he’ll need to take over the house next door, too. The house with the wilful, combative and way-too-intriguing woman who lives next door.

With the rules for being neighbourly going out the window, Grace and Noah are in an all-out feud. But sometimes your nemesis can turn out to be something more, and show you where your home has been all along.

Review

This phenomenally addictive enemies to lovers romance was the perfect read for January—it’s humorously heartwarming with a cast of absolutely loveable characters and one of my favourite tropes: the grumpy/sunshine pairing.

This was soo good, I genuinely couldn’t put it down. The home decorating/ interior design aspect of the plot was really enjoyable and I felt really helps to set the lighthearted tone of the entire novel. I also loved how well it worked with the warm and fuzzy, found family vibes that we see from many of the supporting characters (particularly Morty,Tilly, Rosie and Josh but also from Noah’s brother Chris and Chris’ girlfriend Everly.)

Grace, (our protagonist) was amazing , I liked how compassionate she was but her helpful nature and ability speak the truth, not to mention her backstory really made me love her. Noah was also a pretty great character and watching his fairly grumpy exterior melt as his friendship with (and feelings for) Grace deepens, was really enjoyable.

I also really liked how much both Grace and Noah evolve throughout the novel, both dealing with dysfunctional relationships which I feel makes their friendship and blossoming romance all the more significant.

They also—mostly importantly—felt real. They had flaws and insecurities (both generally family related) but that level of detail really endeared me to them both.

Their chemistry together was seriously swoon-worthy (we’re talking off the charts levels,here)and though it did have some up and down moments, their enemies to lovers/challenge each other to be better dynamic was utterly captivating.

I do have to say that the only downside is that it is a closed door romance, so there’s no steamy scenes (if you prefer some steam or spice with your romance then it might be best to skip this one.)

Overall, a really enjoyable and lighthearted romance that I feel is the perfect read to start the year off on a happy and lighthearted note. I’d definitely recommend to Rom-com and Hallmark movie lovers looking for a fairly light and upbeat romance.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

About The Author

Sophie Sullivan is a Canadian Author as well as a cookie eating, Diet Pepsi drinking, Disney enthusiast who loves reading and writing romance in almost equal measure. She writes around her day job as a teacher and spends her spare time with her sweet family watching reruns of friends. How To Love Your Neighbor is her second romcom novel, but she’s had plenty of practice writing happily ever after as her alter ego, Jody Holford.

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