Mr Right Next Door by Rachel Dove

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

On her deathbed, Rory Gallant's mother begs him to be a good man, and to not behave like his caddish father, Doug.

Now all grown up, Rory is a good man, but loves seems to elude him. Maybe he does need to be a bit more of a cad after all?

Deciding to follow the cad dating rules, and with a bit of help from lothario Doug, Rory decides to become the complete opposite of the man he really is….

Rory’s best friend and neighbour Sarah doesn’t understand why Rory thinks he needs to change to find love – he’s perfect just the way he is. She’s determined to show him that he doesn’t need to change in order to find love.

That maybe it’s standing right under his nose…maybe even right next door?

My Opinion

Mr Right Next Door was a quick and easy read. An enjoyable plot with some relatable characters. A light-hearted novel.

Rating 4/5

This is a charming, easy-to-read romantic comedy centered on Rory, who—urged by his late mother’s dying wish—decides to reinvent himself by taking advice from his rakish father. His neighbor and longtime friend, Sarah, tries to show him that love might be closer than he thinks. The banter is light, and the small-town setting feels cozy. However, the plot unfolds in predictable ways, and the “reforming for love” trope doesn’t offer many surprises. A fun, lighthearted read when you want something sweet and low-pressure, but it doesn’t linger.

The writing style for this book just wasn't for me. I really liked the concept, but sometimes it's just not a right fit.

To be totally honest, I really struggled with getting into this book. I just couldn't finish it - and that's not because it's bad; I'm sure it was a lot of fun - but because the writing style just really didn't gel with me. If the writing doesn't feel like it flows, I can find it really hard to keep reading a book, and this one just didn't.
To less picky readers, I'm sure this would be a really fun read! It looks like a cute rom-com, and I wish I could've gotten into it a bit more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing` me with an advance copy of Mr, Right Next Door by Rachel Dove in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I was at a point where I had read enough psychological thrillers and needed a break from suspense so was excited to dive into this cute rom/com. Loved the cover which set a theme for the entire book. Super cute, fun read that will keep you smiling until the end. Do yourself a favor and read this fun book ASAP!

Funny, cute and such a great book to read for a cozy romance, by the fire with a warm hot drink and some chocolates.

This was a cute and funny romance book. I liked the depth of characters and the way they had real flaws. It was exciting to see them realize love was right in front of them.

This probably would check all the boxes for another reader but it was hard to get into for myself and I felt like I had to push through to then end despite it being an easy read.

Best friends to lovers
Multi POV

This was a pleasant, inoffensive read. The storyline was a bit basic and predictable, but it was still enjoyable.

I enjoyed the book even though at times, it could have been a bit more exciting.

A great storyline, easy to pick up and put down.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

An easy and fun rom com read, perfect for the beach or whilst relaxing in the garden on a sunny Sunday. I loved it and look forward to reading more from Rachel Dove in the future. This was my first by her but certainly won’t be my last. I love that this book is set close to where I live and has veery relatable characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
This was a great book and I'll be purchasing it for the library.
This was a really wonderful romcom!

“Human adults, they had to be the dumbest species when it came to finding a mate.” Does that mean nice guys have to finish last? Looking for a win in love, Rory decided that maybe it did, and maybe he needed to change. “‘Treat them mean to keep them keen.’” Not so keen on his plan was his best friend, single mom Sarah. The romance was great. There was plenty of emotion, fun, and self-discovery on the way. “She had been there under his nose the whole time, and he hadn’t even realised. She wasn’t his dream girl; she was the very real girl next door. Better than any dream.” There was also a cute secondary later-in-life romance in the book. The characters were fun and engaging. There were so many entertaining interactions. Operation Notebook was so cute. The comeuppance was hilarious. I have become accustomed to novels, even in the third person or omniscient author style, focusing perspective on only a few main characters. This book shares the perspectives of several characters. That’s not a bad thing, as the reader gets to experience many different layers to the story and it helps engage with different subplots and romances. I do wish there had been a more clear delineation when the perspective switched between characters. I personally find it a bit jolting to be in one character’s perspective in one paragraph and then switch to another perspective in the next paragraph with no break or pause. This is a fade-to-black story with frequent strong innuendo and a moderate amount of strong harsh language throughout.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Mr. Right Next Door" by Rachel Dove is a heart-warming romance that reminds us that love might be closer than we think.

Rory Gallant is determined to honour his mother's dying wish by being a good man, but his quest for love seems to be an elusive one. With the advice of his father, Doug, a notorious ladies' man, Rory decides to embrace his inner cad in the hopes of finding romance. However, his neighbour and best friend Sarah sees him differently and believes he's perfect just the way he is.

Dove's storytelling shines as she explores themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the search for love. Rory's journey from trying to fit into society's expectations to embracing his true self is both relatable and endearing. The dynamic between Rory and Sarah is filled with warmth and chemistry, making their evolving relationship a joy to witness.

"Mr. Right Next Door" is a delightful romance that proves sometimes love is right under our noses. Dove's charming narrative and engaging characters make this book a heart-warming read that will leave readers with a smile on their faces.

This was a friends-to-lovers story about best friends Rory and Sarah, who decide to take their friendship to the next level. I wanted to love the book, but unfortunately I just never connected to the characters, and found them unlikeable at times.

*many thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

Unfortunately it took me a couple of months to finish this book. The pros? It was a straight forward read. But for some reason I was struggling with the characters. At times the story was predictable but in a good way. The relationship between Rory & Sarah felt surface level. I did enjoy the scenes and conversation. However, I feel like there could’ve been more developments with the romance. Overall, I did enjoy the book and it was an average read to me.

a fun and exciting read that is full of laughter and sweet moments. I really did enjoy this book. I really enjoy Rachel Dove's writing style.

Such an adorable romance. I truly enjoyed these characters and their story. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

A good storyline. Lots if different characters with some difficult ways of life. You never realise what is in front of you until you analyse feelings. A good read

I liked this book. Is a funny rom-com with a hint of emotional roller-coaster 🤣
It's really nice could read something light and have a good time.