I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Not the story I was expecting. It lay very flat, took a long time to build up, and just wasn't very engaging especially at the beginning, when a reader's attention needs to be caught and hooked. I also had an issue with the characters' ages - I wasn't expecting a tale of an older couple, for starters, but what did me in was the portrayal of George. He's said to be 58, but he sounds more like someone closer to 80 - making me wonder whether the author really knows men in their late fifties nowadays, when most of them are fit and able and not at all curmudgeons like George is portrayed here. Overall, not what I was sold based on the blurb

This was a digital arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've read a few books by this author now and always love them. This one felt different to her other ones - a little slower paced - but a lovely story nonetheless. You really feel compassion for George's situation and Nessa really is the perfect neighbour to live beside him. Will be reading more by this author.

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book

I have come to the conclusion that Lilac Mills is one of my favorite feel good,happy read authors.
Nessa Millbrook is a new resident in the quaint little village of rural Applewell.
She's the friendly type taking homemade cakes to her neighbors on both sides of her.
Her lovely older lady embraces a warm friendship but on the other hand her other side neighbor George is eccentric and doesn't want a new neighbor. Being left alone is just fine with him.
One thing I liked about the book is the main characters are middle aged which you don't see a lot of in romance books.
Nessa has her sights set on George to become her friend and then more. George is shy after being made fun of while growing up but had to return to the village to take care of his ailing father years ago and he just stayed. As she starts to break down his walls George is doing things again he hasn't done in years, such as going to the pub and socializing.
A not so secret secret George has is he's a hoarder. He thought he was able to hide it from the villagers but now that his secret is out will it hold him back from discovering love and the human interaction he so desperately needs.
Warm,well developed story that just draws you right into its characters with it's feel good plot.

Pub Date 06 May 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Lilac Mills always makes me smile. This book is no different, yet there are some difficult issues here with George being a bit delicate when it comes to his privacy and the things he stacks in his house. But the interaction between him and the new neighbor he really didn't want to come live next door... very well written and makes you think we're all a bit embarrassed about things one way or the other, aren't we?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

A lovely heartwarming story with great characters in Nessa and George. I loved how Nessa persevered with George and Applewell was such a charming village that you could imagine living there. Great that it's the start of a series

What a great start to a new series from Lilac Mills, this time set in Wales in the village of Applewell.

And tackling issues such as hoarding and loneliness as you grow older this is definitely a book with a message.

It is also a really enjoyable story featuring George who is rather set in his ways, likes his routines and is rather disturbed by the fact he has a new neighbour.

And Netta who is the new neighbour, a now retired nurse, who just wants to make friends and fit in in her new community.

They are complete opposites and its heartwarming to see how Netta attempts to befriend George, and also how George responds to the various approaches,

I am loving the small community vibe in Applewell and starting to get to know some of the villagers. I can't wait to see who the next book will feature.

Thank you to Canelo and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I didn’t realise until now I hadn’t left a review for this, my bad , especially since I completely and totally adored it so much, I don’t know how I didn’t remember! This is one of my favourite reads of Lilac Mills, it’s so beautifully done, she sensitively handles the mental health issues involved , it’s not your usual young person romance, but I loved the fact it was a more maturer couple we focus on, it’s not just a light easy summer read, this has far more substance, anyone who can’t understand these characters because they are older or sooo different from them , has a lot to learn about life and definitely should read this for their education, age is literally just a number in terms of relationships, romance, community and life, hell humanity as age only affects us physically ultimately (you know what I mean no pedantry needed here) it’s so nice to read about someone else, but realise there are no differences, I hope this is done a lot more.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

One of the best books I’ve read in a while. A cosy, heartwarming read that unfolds gradually and manages a difficult subject sensitively. I cannot recall a better illustration of the inner turmoil that can be experienced by people. I’m hoping Applewell will feature in future stories so I can catch up with George and Nessa as well as the rest of the village. The telling of the story is easy to follow and gives perspective from each of the main characters.

Thank you Netgalley

This was a really good read. Easy story to follow, charming setting and great characters. Really enjoyed it.

It's decided, Lilac Mills is now my favorite author of all times! I am giving this book a 5 stars out of 5 and if I could have I would have given even more! I already knew that I liked Lilac Mills books but this one was just so so so good, excellent even! So well written, so beautiful, so heart warming. What a lovely neighbourhood story this one is!!! It's just a very unique one too! I absolutely LOVED my time reading this book and I cannot wait to read another book by Lilac Mills!!!!

Sorry I didn't get to read it before the time ran out. I didnt know you couldnt renew once archived. I was looking forward to reading it aswell. I slso didn't know books archieved then.

Fantastic book can’t wait for more adventures in Applewell. Well written and a great insight to people’s lives and habits .
Highly recommended

Applewell is a beautiful place to live and that is precisely appeals to Nessa who can;t wait to settle in, which includes meeting her neighbours. George is a hoarder with a lot to hide and has no wish to let Nessa in, in more ways than one. A beautiful story.

I LOVED this book. Lilac Mills crafted a story that respectfully and sensitively tackled the mental health issues around hoarding tendencies. The characters were full and the rich narrative had me hooked from the beginning. I read this in one sitting and would highly recommend it!

This was a very cute and refreshing idea for a romance. Loved that the leads were in their 50s instead of lost millennials like every other romance lately. Hope to read more about Applewell and it’s villagers!

Lilac always gives us great books to read and this one doesn't disappoint either. If only we could go back a few decades to the time when neighbours really did help neighbours giving a really sense to village community life. This newcomer moves into the village and bakes cakes for the people that she hopes will become her friends. She falls for the man next door, he is a hoarder and a loner. The lady on the other side is elderly and suddenly really needs help and she gets it. It turns out that neighbours really can help each other, if only life could be like that again. Great read, very well written and well worth 5 stars. I recommend this.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC.

As with all of Lilac Mills' books it is very easy to like the characters in this book and you are safe in the knowledge that that you're going to get a charming and heart-warming read.

The topic of hoarding may not seem to be a likely storyline but it is handled with care and the reactions of those in a small village aren't what may be expected. This book is well worth a read - you won't regret it!

Like in the author's previous work that I reviewed on my blog, here too, we have slightly older protagonists than your average book of this ilk. This age change provides a different set of issues and plotlines to work into the story.
We have the silent struggle between an established person in the community (George), who has not made any inroads into being part of the community and a new entrant (Nessa) trying to integrate herself into the town's life the first day. This latter part means that Nessa wants to befriend George as well, given that he is one of her closest neighbours. This is where George's careful set routine is shaken since he literally does not allow anyone in.
The time window for the bulk of the story is within a short window, but it has some drastic life moments for many people within the pages. I almost read it in one sitting!
Given a chance, I think I would pick up another of the author's works because the two that I have tried were both easy to read and had very different protagonists with various baggage- before they reach their happily ever after!

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley, the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this book.