⭐️ 3.5 ⭐️
Rounded up to 4 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I really enjoyed Nosy Neighbours; I did think it was quite slow to start with, but it picked up a steady pace after the first few chapters. It’s well written, with excellent characterisation — a great motley crew of characters.

Not my favourite book by Freya Sampson, but still an entertaining read.

Shelley House is the only mansion left of the original houses built on Poets Road, in the village of Chalcot, more than a century ago. Once a beautiful mansion, now it’s in constant need of repairs that the landlord keeps ignoring. The residents are a group of people with not much in common who barely acknowledge each other, but when they face eviction, they come together to save the building they call home, especially two women.

Dorothy Darling is the oldest resident of Shelley House, having been living there for more than thirty years, and every day she checks that everything is in order, recording the comings and goings of the other residents in her diary. She has her routine which includes making sure that the post is sorted, that the trash is in the correct bin, and, above all, that she doesn’t have any kind of relationship with the other residents.

Kat Bennet is the newest resident. Chalcot is the only place where Kat Bennet had ever felt at home, until she was ten years old. Since then, she’s been moving around, never finding a permanent place to stay. Back after fifteen years, she is renting a room from Joseph Chambers and his adorable dog Reggie, in the flat right in front of Dorothy’s, but she has no intention to stay long, just a few weeks until she figures out what to do next.

Dorothy and Kat couldn’t be more different and yet so similar. Dorothy has lived in Shelley House for more than thirty years and has no intention of ever leaving, even if the building collapses around her. For Kat her stay at Shelley House is only temporary, just a few weeks, and she is ready to leave without a notice. Both are haunted by a past that it’s slowly revealed and that keeps them from forming any kind of relationship with anyone, but the demolition of the building and a cute Jack Russel may change that.

I really enjoyed Nosy Neighbours. While stopping the eviction from Shelley House is at the centre of the story, there is so much more to keep you engrossed. The personal lives of the residents, the sense of community, the friendships and the love stories, and a cast of wonderful and relatable characters that keep you entertained from beginning to end. Beautifully-written, heartwarming, and humorous, I can’t recommend this book enough!

DNF at 28%.

I really expected to like this story of two neighbours coming together as unlikely allies to find out what happened to one of their own and saving their building at the same time but sadly, so far, it has been very slow and I've come to realize this is not a mystery at all. I don't like any of the characters or the storyline so far, unfortunately.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for the e-copy.

A great read, I liked all the main characters and wanted everything to work out for them. The story keeps you interested as you get further in to the book. An enjoyable read.

My first Freya Sampson book, but I suspect not my last.

This enjoyable read concerns the no fault eviction of a group of residents who are as disparate as they come! As the story unfolds they come to realise that they may have more in common than they first thought.

In addition to the topical storyline, the characters are well-drawn, complete with an adorable dog, and the backstories cover a wide array of topics.

This is a great read if you want something heart-warming.

This one was so lovely, another one that I went into blind, so I’m not really sure what I was expecting. But oh my was it heartwarming 😍

We’re following Kat, who is looking for somewhere new to live, she goes to a block of flats knowing that flat 1 had a room to rent, but when she gets to the intercom she accidentally presses flat 2 and gets a delightful introduction to Dorothy Darling 😂

What we don’t know at the time is that Kat is keeping a big secret, one that threatens to be revealed so she can’t stay too long, can she?

What she doesn’t expect is to get attached to Joseph, Reggie and the other neighbours.. the question is can she help them keep their home?

This story really is the epitome of what can happen when a community pulls together and that things aren’t always what they seem.

I really really enjoyed it and will be looking out for more from Freya in the future, I know I’ve been vague in this review but I have done it on purpose, if you trust my judgement when it comes to books at all, just go and pick it up!

Nosy Neighbours by Freya Sampson

Do you have nosy neighbours? If you have, do you ever wonder why they are like they are? Perhaps they are missing something in their lives.

Dorothy Darling is the oldest resident of Shelley House and she runs a tight ship. Her neighbours can’t get away with anything without it being reported. Until Shelley House is put up for demolition and all the neighbours have to move out. Dorothy is not going without a fight.

Dorothy may sound like a character you would love to hate, but you soon warm to her. She has good reason to be the way she is and as her story unfolds, you can’t help but want to give her a hug. She forms an unlikely friendship with Kat, the pink haired, rough looking illegal resident and it is heartwarming to watch as they find in each other, the thing they both desperately want. All the characters are diverse and very real.

This had a mystery element to it as the story unfolds and you find yourself rooting for all the residents to discover the truth of what is really going on in Shelley House. At times the story is funny and others heartbreaking as each resident shows the secrets they keep hidden. One of the stars of the book is Reggie, the adorable Jack Russell, who brings the residents together.

This book is such a feel good read reflecting on family and loss, yet revealing that with a little community spirit, you can find your own family. I shall miss spending time with the residents of Shelley House. This book is perfect for fans of Clare Pooley.

Kat is a mysterious character. She doesn’t really feel like she belongs anywhere and is someone who’s an intriguing slow-burn to warm to. Dorothy on the other-hand isn’t the nicest of people and also harbours a deep secret.
As you delve deeper into their lives and those of other residents of Shelley House, you soon learn why they are how they are. There are moments of great emotion and others that are rather funny.

Cantankerous Dorothy is the longest serving tenant of Shelley House and likes to keep a good, keen eye on everything and everyone. She’s quite possibly the nosiest woman, but it turns out not to be a bad thing. Apart from sorting the mail, taking the rubbish out, she knows everyone, which turns out to be good for trying to work has the motive and opportunity to attack Joseph, the landlord.
This and the horrifying news that their home is going to be demolished, has the residents rallying around and unexpected alliances being forged. This, in-turn gives it the feel-good factor.

It’s an involving book that’s easy to get caught up in.

I do love books with older characters, especially awkward ones, and not having read anything by Freya Sampson before, this immediately appealed.

The story is set around an imposing Victorian building known as Shelley House. It was once a much desired property in the area but now in its later years has fallen into a rather dilapidated condition and there are plans for its demolition and redevelopment. However it is still home to several people, one of which is 77 year old Dorothy Darling. Dorothy has lived there for several decades and has no intention of moving out – despite the eviction notices that come through the door.

Dorothy could be regarded by some as the neighbour from hell. She keeps a notebook and records the comings and goings of everyone in and out of Shelley House and the immediate area – a one woman neighbourhood watch. Her inspections and complaints are a regular part of life at Shelley House and mostly the other tenants try to keep out of her way.

When 25 year old Kat with her pink hair arrives at Shelley House enquiring about a room advert, she is rudely sent on her way by Dorothy. Luckily for Kat, elderly neighbour Joseph comes to the rescue so begins Kat’s relationship with Shelley House, Joseph and his dog Reggie.

I do love a cantankerous character and Dorothy is one of the best. However with so many of these residents here there is more to their story than you might think with more than one person having their own secrets and regrets. I was keen to know what Kat was hiding as she seemed determined to stay off the radar but when danger comes to Shelley House it is time to come together and fight.

This may have been my first Freya Sampson book but certainly not my last and I can’t wait to read more. With the feel of a cosy mystery, it was a joy to read with an eclectic mix of characters, each with their own backstory and troubles, including long held festering resentments.

I also learnt my favourite new word from Nosy Neighbours. ‘Rapscallion‘ (disreputable person; rascal or rogue, or to put it into context here, a scoundrel!).

Nosy Neighbours is a fantastic read with superbly drawn characters and a sense of community spirit. Definitely one to recommend.

Nosy Neighbours is about the inhabitants of Shelley House , a historic house that is home to 6 flats. There are some fantastic occupants in these flats including Dorothy Darling is the resident who has lived there the longest and is a little cantankerous she knows everything that is going on and reports every misdemeanour that she comes across - Kat Bennett has just moved in as a sublet to Josephs house and this is when Dorothy feels that everything starts to go wrong! I loved all of the characters and getting to know their back stories and why they were really there . I shed tears, laughed and enjoyed how everything happened and changed them all. A lovely uplifting read.

I absolutely adored this feel good story of a community coming together to save their home from being torn down - it is reflective of how people from different backgrounds come together to unite over a common goal, and it was beautifully done. There's quite a lot of characters, but it never feels overwhelming or confusing, and they are all quite well-rounded/easy to empathise with. I love the little side stories, the deep moments, the beauty of community. Love!!!

Freya Sampson is an author whose talent lies in creating characters that are realistic and three-dimensional. In particular, her portrayal of the residents of Shelley House has left a lasting impression on me. These characters have all been shaped by the hardships of life in their unique ways, making the storyline much more than just a simple tale of a community banding together to save their homes.

What stands out about Sampson's writing is her use of multiple points of view, which allows the reader to see the story from different perspectives. This, coupled with the complexity of all the characters, made it easy for me to become deeply absorbed in the book. However, I did notice that the pace became somewhat sporadic halfway through the story.

Overall, I found this book engaging and thought-provoking. Sampson's ability to create complex and relatable characters is truly impressive, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

This is the first book I have read by this author and won't be the last - I thoroughly enjoyed it. It tackles Issues that are difficult and relatable to.most.people at some point in their life and does.it well.

Would highly recommend

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this heartwarming story about the residents of Shelley House. The characters are all very unique and relatable in many ways. I enjoyed getting to know them all, and finding out what secrets they hold and why this made them the way they are. A lot of moments brought a tear to my eye and I loved the ending. I really enjoyed Freya Sampson’s writing and cannot wait to read more.

On the surface this is the story of a group of residents come together to prevent their eviction and the redevelopment of the beautiful old Shelly House that they call home. Of course the beauty of this book is the character back stories which unfold alongside the main theme. The diversity of people makes for an interesting mix with issues including drug use, an affair, death of a child, displacement, death of a parent, teenage problems along with the more positives; redemption, forgiveness and love.
Freya Sampson writes characters beautifully and the audio narration complimented them beautifully.

An easy to read standalone cosy mystery which involves various residents of Shelley House but in particular Kat & Dorothy.

Ms Dorothy Darling, a sprightly septuagenarian, has lived in Flat Two for decades. Filling her days sitting at her net-clad window with tea & biscuits annotating her diary with the goings on inside & outside her home. She has also taken it upon herself to do a regular safety/snag check for the whole property, firing off missives to the landlord virtually on a daily basis. Kat is a mysterious, & illegal, twenty-something subtenant of Flat One. Dorothy takes an immediate dislike to this newcomer & it appears that the feeling is mutual but Kat keeps herself to herself & reveals little of her background. That is until the letters come; hand delivered & to each tenant which leads to a resident getting hurt & Dorothy reluctantly joining forces with Kat.

Alternating between Kat & Dorothy’s stories, the pace begins to pick up with the added bonus of Reggie having a starring role. All the characters develop in a gradual, unforced way & learning their backstories was enlightening. Plenty of humour but also realism & the way the book ended was heartwarming. A recommended read.

I really enjoyed meeting all the characters in this story. I loved how we found out more about the main characters as we went through the story and there were different layers to each character.

I absolutely loved Freya Sampson’s previous two novels and Nosy Neighbours did not disappoint.
It’s set in Shelley House, a dilapidated Victorian house and the new home of Kat who is subletting a room from Joseph one of the tenants. Her neighbour is Dorothy who is in her seventies, bad tempered and critical of the behaviour of her fellow tenants at Shelley House. When they hear that the landlord is planning to evict them and demolish their home Kat and Dorothy come together to protest.
This is another gorgeous and heartwarming novel from the author. It starts out as a bit of a cozy crime mystery but soon develops into a more serious novel about grief, loss and belonging. I love how the author acknowledges the importance of friendship and community in her novels and here focuses on the serious aspect of housing evictions. I enjoyed getting to know Kat and Dorothy as the author reveals their histories with empathy and sensitivity.
Another warm and moving novel from the author that I’d recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

A feel good read, that has a touch of a cosy crime.
We meet a wonderful set of characters living in Shelley House, a 130 year old mansion, set in the countryside.
Told from two points of views
Kat, a mysterious pink haired newcomer, who becomes an unexpected hero when she goes to the rescue of live in landlord, Joseph and suspects foul play could have had something to do with it.
Another resident of Shelley House is elderly Dorothy, who watches and keeps notes of all the comings and goings, like remake of Miss Havisham.
Most of the characters have hidden secrets and loved learning their back stories, showing us you never know what people might have gone through to make them the way they are.
It has a bit of every thing - community, kindness and compassion, but also mystery and suspense
I enjoyed my time spent with the residents of Shelley House, very reminiscence of the 80s movie “Batteries Not Included”, where a set of neighbours are trying to save their building.
Thanks @freyasampsonauthor @zaffrebooks & @netgalley for the feel good read

4.5

This book was just what I needed. I loved it. I'm a little bit sad to be leaving Kat, Dorothy and the other tenants of Shelley House behind (not forgetting Reggie). Nosy Neighbours ran so much deeper than I expected it too. With so much humour as well as heartache it reminds you of the overall goodness of people, the importance of human connection and never to judge somebody too quickly. I feel like I'll have space in my heart for Kat and Dorothy for a long time yet.