For me, Trouble Next Door was just ok. I liked both McKenna and Beckett and especially liked them together, but I wanted more. More about Beckett's ex. More about what her father is doing/not doing. More about McKenna's family and how they basically see her as a failure. I felt like these story lines were dangled at the beginning and it was just a tease.

I adored Beckett's sister and loved that McKenna was able to use that as a starting point for her business and go from there. While I think that McKenna and Beckett both still have some unresolved issues I know that they are strong enough to work through them together.

This book has both on-screen sex and cursing (including f-bombs). If those things will cause you to leave a bad review, you might want to skip this one.

I confess to not at all understanding the whole makeup world (which would horrify McKenna I'm sure), so I went into this story a little unsure of whether I would enjoy it or not, but I should never have doubted Stefanie London. This story was everything I enjoy from her and more. This book had a tremendous amount of chemistry between the hero and heroine from the get-go, and it had the kind of subtle humor that I've come to expect from Ms. London. So many times I found myself highlighting things that made me smile while reading and I LOVE that.

The characters in this book were fabulous. I loved that Beckett wasn't the usual swaggering, obnoxious pig (that the genre now calls an 'alpha' as if that term magically makes jerkish behavior sexy?) hero, he was a seriously good guy who loves his family and his job, and who is struggling to balance everything. Even though he made a short-sighted and boneheaded move out of desperation, I understood his reasons and had faith that he'd get his 'stuff' together. The biggest surprise for me was how much I liked McKenna - I connected with her in a way that I honestly didn't expect. Her fear of putting it all out there and failing was something that I could relate to in a big way, so I enjoyed watching her blossom and shine as the book went on. She was absolutely fabulous.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a romantic comedy about opposites attracting, and finding your place in this big, bad world. If you've never read a Stefanie London book, this is a great place to start. If you're a fan of her other books, you're going to love McKenna and Beckett.

I requested and was granted an ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. I was under no obligation to write this review, I did so because this book is great.

After being dumped by her boyfriend, McKenna has sworn off men and ordered some self love toys. Only they get delivered to her neighbor Beckett’s apartment by mistake.
Beckett, an app designer is also single but looking to win his ex fiancé back and along with her, her fathers funding in his project. I know that comes across as cold but he has solid reasons for it.
McKenna offers to help him win his ex fiancé back and in exchange she wants an introduction to his sister, as a possibility to do her makeup at her wedding. The plan is good except for the attraction between them making things difficult.
Trouble Next Door was a quirky, funny, romantic read. McKenna as a chatty and free spirited heroine was a perfect match for Beckett’ nerdy, man of few words hero.
Perfect for those looking for a light and fun read.

After aspiring makeup artist McKenna is dumped by her latest boyfriend, she drunkenly orders a box of adult toys and decides she is quitting men. Unfortunately her package is delivered mistakenly to her neighbor. When she goes to retrieve it, she discovers it is the hottie she's been side-eyeing in the elevator.

Beckett, an aspiring app developer, is also recently single. When sparkly McKenna ends up on his doorstep he is alarmed at his instant attraction to her, especially since he needs to win back his ex-fiancee so her father will go through with a promised $2 million investment for his app.

Both want to focus on launching their careers and neither need the distraction, but their attraction is real. Is passion and excitement worth risking it all for?

A cute read and I enjoyed the characters careers, as they are a bit different than the ones you normally see in romance novels. Beckett wasn't my favorite hero, as I found his desire to win back his fiancee for money to be a bit yucky.

All in all, a fun workout read.

Stefanie London has done it again with a must read that will leave you laughing and lusting for her new hero. I will never look at a box from Amazon the same way again.

A book that proves geeks are sexy and achieving your dreams is easy if you believe in yourself.

Great chemistry, funny one-liners and a story that moves fast! Happy Reading

MY RATING: 4/5

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

According to my Goodreads, this is only my second book from Stefanie London and this is a shock to me simply because I know I’ve seen her name around and thought I must have read a lot from her but I guess I was just delusional. Ha! But I will say that Trouble Next Door, Stefanie’s latest release, was an enjoyable and comedic read.

If you’re looking for a romantic comedy, Trouble Next Door is definitely the book for you. I can’t stress the amount of smart and witty humor that was included in this book. There were so many moments between our hero and heroine, Beckett and Mckenna, that my mouth would twitch and I would smirk. These characters definitely worked well with each other and had the chemistry romance readers look for.


Let’s talk more about our resident makeup guru, McKenna. She recently was dumped and have sworn off men for a period of time only to have her package containing her new battery operated boyfriend to be delivered to the wrong house and to the man that could basically be her inspiration for her fantasies. I liked McKenna simply because she was free-spirited and different. She comes from the classic case that her parents are well educated and her siblings are all doctors and she’s deemed as the “creative” one. I saw the struggle she went through to find acceptance from her parents for her career choice and ultimately deciding to accept the fact that maybe she doesn’t need her parents to approve of her. There was a line that Beckett said to McKenna that really resonated with me and that was “some people aren’t meant to fit in boxes.” And that’s exactly what Beckett and McKenna are.

Finally, we’re moving onto our broody hero, Beckett. He doesn’t really talk much so he can be seen as a cold man but in honesty, I don’t think he’s cold. I think he’s just not that into talking. He seems to think before he speaks which is different from McKenna because she rambles and goes on a tangent. Anyways, Beckett is different from a lot of heroes I read because well, of one reason. He’s not rich. He needs funding asap for his wealth management app he created with his company or else he would be really struggling to help his mother out financially. And because things went sour with Beckett and his investor’s daughter whom he was dating for a long period of time, all the funding has been pulled and now he’s left with no choice but to try to win his ex back. I know. Readers, we can already tell Beckett is not in the right mindset. He’s thinking realistically and rationally but definitely, not thinking with his heart.

Okay, so the reason why this book isn’t a perfect 5/5 is because you know how sometimes you’re driving down the road and you see a speed bump? You’re anticipating the bump, knowing the inclination and then the dramatic fall of your car? That’s basically how the climax works. We see McKenna and Beckett finally getting it together and you just know there’s going to be conflict that will pull them apart. The thing with Trouble Next Door was that yes, I went up on the speed bump but the fall was just a small one. A blip. And I was back on the ground.

And it’s not bad. No. I really liked how Stefanie handled Beckett in terms of this situation. She didn’t follow the generic root of characters and having them lie to heroines about why they can’t be together just so that there could be more angst or heightened emotions. Stefanie made Beckett honest and rational when it came to breaking things off with McKenna. I appreciated it. The only thing would be that from him breaking it off and realizing he made a huge mistake, it was kind of rushed. There was a slight time delay and then he went, nope. I made a mistake. Bye. I’m going back to McKenna. At least, that’s what it felt like to me.

MY RECOMMENDATION:

If you’re looking for a light and fun and funny read, pick this one up!

4 stars

When neighbors McKenna and Beckett start this book, it is under hilarious and crazy settings. He gets her "personal" package delivered and opened it. McKenna literally wants to die, when she goes over to ask for it back. Then she realizes he has opened her delivery and knows what it is inside. Their relationship only gets better from that point on!

Beckett is a no nonsense workaholic who is kind of like Sheldon Cooper, with an Austrian accent! When MeKenna barges into his life, his word is turned upside down by a women who he badly knows, but can't seem to get out of his mind,

McKenna is a make up artist who is looking to mark her mark on the industry. She is tired of no one taking her seriously. When she meets Beckett, things change for her. Spending time with him is making her realize, she is starting to develop feelings for the guy who she is supposed to be helping,

This was a fun read. I love contemporary romance. Something light and fun always out a smile on my face!

This was a cute book. I loved the heroine-she was so adorable and was someone you'd want as a friend. I didn't think the subplot of her disapproving family was necessary since it didn't realize go anywhere. I thought the relationship was a little slow to develop.

I would have enjoyed a few more scenes with McKenna’s family and for her to find some resolution with all of them, not just Miranda. But I really enjoyed this cute little read!

I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review and according to the blurb it really seemed like this was going to be exactly the book I was in the mood for. Somehow though it just wasn't. The start was promising and all of the components seemed to be there but it all just fell flat and a bit cliche. It was not a bad read but it is not one I will revisit.

The beginning started out a little slower, but the chemistry that they have made up for it. McKenna is so funny, and she truly wants to help Beckett to make up with his ex. I really like her character. But hey, she tries so the fact that in the end she gets the guy just makes it all the more sweeter.

This is a fun, quick read that I absolutely loved. It starts with McKenna ordering a "self love" kit that gets delivered to her neighbor, Beckett, by mistake. You know a book is off to a good start when you begin by laughing at that.

I enjoyed reading about both McKenna and Beckett and loved their interactions. If you enjoy fun contemporary romance, you will love this book. Put this one at the top of your TBR list, you'll be glad you did. The author is on my must read authors' list.