This was a difficult read for me. It provoked a range of emotions and not many of them were my favourite, ‘warm and fuzzy’ feelings. Well-written, I found the subject matter at times rather uncomfortable and sometimes struggled to fully engage with the plot.

Undoubtedly, the cover of this novel completely juxtaposes the subject matter. I was anticipating a “chick flick” sort of story with comedy and romance. However, instead Gill presents loneliness, old-age, depression and social pressures. There wasn’t much comedy and although I chuckled over Ginny’s private thoughts, this did little to relieve the overwhelming sadness in this story.

Ginny is a character whom I believe (sadly) many women can relate to. After losing her job, she faces pressures on how to make ends meet with zero income and mounting bills. Interview after interview, Gill describes the difficulties of trying to find a new job in a crowded market. On top of this, when Ginny walks in on her boyfriend cheating on her, she suddenly feels extremely alone. Her new housemate is forever with her own boyfriend, emphasising how Ginny does not have this relationship. Nearing her mid-thirties, Ginny feels the pressure of her “biological clock”. She is desperate to have children and is extremely conscious that being single will not help! All around her she feels everyone has a family and is settled down. Instead, Ginny believes that “time is running out” and fears she will not achieve her dream. It is a sombre set of topics because the expectation to have a family is so prevalent in society and I think the writer carefully captures Ginny’s private torment, whilst also, eventually, proving that such dilemmas can be overcome.

Ginny’s neighbour, Cassie, did not feature as much as I expected. Whilst Ginny learns many things from her cantankerous elder, I thought that Cassie would have an more obvious position in Ginny’s “learning”. When things take a turn for the worse, this plot strand adds a further sombre element to the story. Indeed, with recent news stories and the re-focus on ‘Be Kind’, I felt a little uncomfortable reading some of the chapters. This is at no fault to the writer, just a coincidence of bad timing.

Despite the low self-esteem from both female protagonists, it has to be acknowledged that this is a story of hope. Both Ginny and Cassie do turn things around and whilst the path is challenging, it is intended to prove to readers the importance of being in control of your own destiny. It is this thoughtful tone that helps lighten the gravitas of the overall plot.

This was a well-written and thought-provoking story. My criticisms are based on my own expectations of the novel. I was hoping for something light-hearted and fun – this is not the case with Gill’s offering. The characters are certainly types that many readers will relate to; I believe this book is best enjoyed sandwiched between more upbeat stories and bearing in mind the topics acknowledged, it should be remembered that this does finish on a happy note.

With thanks to Avon books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thirty-four-year-old Ginny has had the worst week of luck. First, her best friend moves out of the flat they shared for a swanky new job in America. Then she comes home to find her boyfriend in her flat and he’s not alone, he’s caught in the act with her boss of all people, and now she has lost her PR job too.

Fifty-five-year-old Cassie was once a loved actress, now after a stint on I’m a celebrity in which she came across as rude, obnoxious and completely horrible the public has turned on her.

The two women live in the same block of flats and with Cassie now needing a PR specialist and Ginny being out of work, can they help one another out? How will these two, very different women cope with one another and can Ginny make the public see another side to Cassie? – That’s if she has one!

The Neighbours was an enjoyable read though it did take me quite a few chapters to get into it and warm to the characters. The plot is amusing in parts and it was fun to watch these two women who are like chalk and cheese work together. There were also some poignant moments and sections that focused on mental health that was written exceptionally well.

There were parts within the book that I felt were there to pad it out, such as Ginny’s new flat-mate and her boyfriend. I didn’t feel they added much to the story or that I particularly found them likeable, they were just there if you get where I’m coming from.

I did find that the more I read the more I could emphasis with both women and that it was wonderful to see them both grow as individuals as well as form a lovely friendship. You also get to see under the wooden exterior of Cassie. It is lovely to read about two women who though very different were both plausible and realistic.

This is a book about how friendship can be formed even in the most unlikely situations and with people who seem the polar opposites of one another. Sometimes you need someone different to you to make you understand more about yourself and to show you another side to life.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a good mix of laugh out loud humour along with some very serious topics that are very current at the moment.

The short chapters were easy to read and made me want to keep going.

I thought the mental health aspect of this story was handled sensitively and in a knowledgeable manner, although I feel it should have maybe come with a trigger warning as there was no mention of the subject matter in the synopsis.

The book kept good pace and I loved the characters. I felt towards the end of the book there were a few too many different storylines added that weren't really necessary to the story. It already had enough to hold its own with the main plot. Had it not been for that I would have given this 5 stars.

A really enjoyable read.

Ginny, 34, has got it all. She’s got a good job in PR, a best friend who is also her flatmate and a boyfriend. But at the start of The Neighbours her best mate is moving out to accept her dream job in New York and she finds her boyfriend Jack cheating on her with her boss. Suddenly, her life is turned upside down.

Cassie, 55, was once a beloved actress but now she desperately needs a publicist to improve her image after a disastrous appearance on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

The two women are neighbours and with Ginny desperately needing some paid work after swiftly leaving her job, Cassie manages to convince her to become her publicist. It leads to an unlikely friendship between two very different women, but one that I really grew to love.

The Neighbours is engaging, pacy and very timely. It looks at depression and what it means to be a good friend to someone who is really struggling with their mental health. It also tackles the challenging topics of celebrity and the impact of tabloid news when the world seems to have turned against you.

I loved that the book was packed with references to recognisable London locations and I really fell for the romance in the book, while appreciating that it wasn’t the only thing that mattered in Ginny’s life. There were a lot of unexpected twists and turns – when I thought I knew where the story was going it often took me by surprise – but it still delivered on the ending I really wanted!

All in all, an enjoyable read!

An excellent multi-generational look at friendship, romance, career, self-esteem, self-realisation, seen from 30 something, Ginny's point of view. The writing style is contemporary, referencing current events and issues. It's easy to read and focuses on the lives of Ginny and Cassie, who is in her fifties and experiencing the sharper end of being a media star.

It takes a while for us to meet Cassie, and to begin I wondered where the title 'The Neighbours', related to the story. When the two do meet, both women are experiencing all-time lows in their lives, and consequently are lashing out. Any kind of friendship seems unlikely, but Cassie needs someone to promote her positively and Ginny needs a job, so they start there, and out of a professional need, a worthwhile. mutually beneficial friendship grows.

Ginny is lovely but flawed, and meeting Cassie forces her to look at herself, and see how she can achieve her life goals. The relentless, unforgiving nature of modern life is explored, with its consistent toll on mental health, and self-worth. Like many good friendships, the two women are different in many ways, and this draws them together because they both have something positive to offer the other.

Humorous and poignant, this is a relevant story about life in the twenty-first century and the importance of friends, who care about you, and not your career or financial status.

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK in return for an honest review.

Ginny's relationship with her boyfriend may not be perfect but she's holding out hope that it will eventually be everything she's always dreamed of. Everything she's ever wanted. Waiting for him to change was her first mistake and he lets her down in the worst possible way. Ginny finds herself needing a new job as a result after finding her boyfriend and boss in a rather compromising position.

Cassie is Ginny's neighbour and once a bit of a celebrity. Appearing on a popular television show further contributes to her downfall and makes her a celebrity for all the wrong reasons and Cassie feels a little sorry for her. Never did either woman imagine that out of their shared misery would come friendship.

The first thing I want to say about this book is that its such an easy book to read and I found myself really immersed in the story and feeling a strong attachment to the characters. Nicola Gill has such a wonderful writing style that instantly draws the reader into the story, sweeping them along and making them a part of the characters lives.

I really love exploring the idea of how friendships can develop between the most unlikely of people. We all have people in our lives who we never imagined we could have a relationship of any sort with. And then they surprise us in one way or another and friendships are born. This book really explores the dynamics of such friendships. I have met some pretty amazing people, all from different walks of life and and been lucky enough myself to have some wonderful friendships as a result.

While the characters are going through some fairly serious things in their lives the book never felt like it was too serious. In fact, I found it rather uplifting and at times really funny. Its a pretty amazing writer that can get this sort of balance and Nicola Gill has achieved this. This book is a little friend in itself. A recommended read.

I really enjoyed this book. Nicola Gill has brought to the forefront what it means to be there for someone when they hit rock bottom and how to be a friend.
The book follows Ginny, she thinks she has it all, a partner, a good job and a best friend of a flatware. However things start to go wrong for Ginny. She’s caught her partner Jack cheating, she had a bit of a meltdown at work and has been told to leave and her flat mate has got the job of her life in New York.
I mean what could possibly more could go wrong?
I love a book like this, the main character has hit rock bottom BUT she finds the strength to go on. Add in an unlikely friendship with her downstairs neighbour who is a washed up old actress and you have a book that brings a little laughter, a few tears and a lot of hope. There might also be a little love along the way.
Ginny’s character is to me likeable. You can really see where she is coming from and you can’t help but feel sorry for her. She also scored brownie points when she helped Cassie.
The book also takes a serious note and touches on mental health. I think this was dealt with superbly and really looked at what someone felt like with depression.
I have found myself on a more of a contemporary kick so far and this book did disappoint. It was fun and quick to read and I didn’t feel like I was lost at all.
If you want a book that gives you some feels and will make you smile then this book is for you.

Ohhhh I liked this book a lot. It was interesting to read about their lives and how they connected yes. It wasn’t to be believed!

Brilliant read. Old fashioned neighbours when people notice what's going on in other people's lives and try and help them.
This is a brilliant book to go along side with the #bekind campaign.
I loved this book cant wait till I can buy it.
The story had twists and turns which is always good for me and a happy ending is a must.
Love the fact everyone got their happy ending.

Ginny has just caught her boyfriend with his pants down and her boss on her knees in front of him. In her own flat! Could life get any worse?!

Cassie used to be the it girl of the film and tv industry. But after an incident on tv she needs an image overhaul.

Lucky for Cassie her neighbour Ginny works in PR and finds herself out of work. Can the two very different women become friends?

A quick and lovely read, touching on issues of mental health and how celebrity isn’t all we are lead to believe.

The book began with a great deal of promise but near the halfway point it began to seem unsettled.

Plots were begun and never shored up. Tons of characters are introduced but most of them end up being useless and forgettable. Ginny, the main character, is so annoyingly juvenile you find her hard to root for—seriously, the central plot of this book could’ve been resolved with communication.

Ginny is a pre-teen mess masquerading as an adult professional.

Cassie, her neighbor, is an unlikely break from Ginny’s madness, but I’m unsure how the plot between the two devolved from her being a publicist to her damn bear being a caretaker.

It simply didn’t make sense.

By the end, the book felt dreadfully overwritten and far too long: it was as if Gill was trying out several plot ideas, at one time, but forgot to remove one at time of publication.

Overall, a decent read, but not one I’d be in any hurry to recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Opinion is my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was good, but it didn't really connect with me. I didn't find the characters unlikeable but I also didn't find anything redeeming about them. I would absolutely try another book by the author though, because I did enjoy the writing style (just not the characters).

I did enjoy this book but I think I was spoilt because I had read so many grrat reviews I'd expected it to be wonderful. It is a nice, easy read about friendship and neighbours. A good holiday read.

A big thank you to Sanjana Cunniah and the publisher for issuing me with my review copy of the book and for inviting me to take part on the blog tour!

The Neighbours is the debut novel by Nicola Gill and is a well written and accomplished book that I enjoyed.

We follow Ginny, who works in PR and is going through a rough patch and that is putting it mildly! Her roommate has recently moved out after becoming engaged and she finds her boyfriend and boss in a compromising position…. As she struggles to get back on her feet and get her life back together, she becomes better acquainted with her downstairs neighbour, Cassie. Cassie used to be a big star but is now probably classed as a big disaster. She has recently appeared on 'I’m a Celebrity...' which did not go well, followed by an even more disastrous appearance on 'This Morning' and she needs help from someone to also get herself back on her feet.

As they become unlikely friends, we start to learn more about them and Nicola Gill explores some deeper messages such as depression and the pressure that people feel from social media and also other people in their lives to have everything done at a certain time in their life.

Despite Cassie being a larger than life character, we also explore her more vulnerable side which develops into a more serious tone which I wasn’t expecting but I found that it fitted in beautifully in the story about modern day to day life.

I’m looking forward to reading more from the author.

This story is essentially about two totally different characters, personally, one likable, one not quite so much! And how their lives are formed into a friendship. It was an easy to read book, but I did feel like it jumped a little from one scene to another, when you were just getting into it. I would say it was a perfect escapism read, not too taxing!

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

This book wasn’t for me. Not trying to insult the author because I do believe they did a good job it’s just not my style. I appreciate having the opportunity to review. I look forward to more titles form this author.

This was a complete surprise, from the blurb and the cover I was expecting a frothy chick lit book. Don’t get me wrong this is not an insult as I love the odd chick lit (more than the term I must say).

But what I found inside this book was a wit that rivalled my own sarcasm, brilliant characters which I will come to in a bit and a really good story.

So the characters, Ginny is very much an unlucky in love and not much better in the work department woman. Big Bridget Jones vibe but less cigarettes and booze. I found her utterly charming even though she was a bit hapless. You are completely sucked in to her life and I personally found it a bit like reading her diary. Then there is her neighbour Cassie, who according to herself is not very nice. I happen to think the complete opposite and found her sassy say it as it is attitude an absolute hoot.

The pairing of these two very different people and the forming of their friendship as PR Ginny tries to rescue Cassie’s reputation had me smiling and chuckling away to myself but also feeling my heart strings pulled at the author’s unfortunately very timely portrayal of how depression can hit anyone. Money and fame can bring many perks but also downsides and showing how we are all still human beings at heart with feelings that can be hurt.

All in all this is a charming story of friendship with real warmth and depth and amazingly a debut. Another author to put on my booky radar.

This appears to be Nicola Gill's first book and it is a story of two 30+ women who develop a "friendship" because they need each other. Cassie needs help getting her reputation back so she can work on TV again and Ginny needs a job since she found her boss and boyfriend in bed together. As they navigate their way back to their normal lives they learn from each other. They discover that friends can be more important than money and fame. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I love a good women’s fiction book. This book follows neighbours Ginny and Cassie. Two very different people who find a very special friendship. I love how the author made me feel for both characters and the character develop of both of them. This book follows many relatable topics for women’s and I think that’s what made me so drawn to it. I loved the writing style of this book. I would highly suggest it and I can’t wait to read more books by this author.

This is such a cute, feel-good story, that everyone who likes strong and funny characters will enjoy. Warning – spoilers in the review below

This is such an amusing, and in some ways lighthearted book, that everyone would enjoy. The two characters, Ginny and Cassie, are such an excellent pairing and they compliment each other perfectly. I found them really funny at times but other times it was very touching. The way that the two women come together at the beginning is really sweet – neither one is totally happy, and they’re both going through what could be called a rough patch. This is what bonds them and some of the things they get up to together are really hilarious and relatable. I loved seeing them progress and change together, but it was also heartbreaking at times to watch them go through difficult times.

This book really helps the reader connect with the characters, I felt really bonded them and this meant that the story held a lot more emotion than normal. I was with Ginny and Cassie through all the good and bad bits and so I was hooked throughout. This book is special because it takes issues or experiences that the reader can relate to and manages to express those emotions really well, while also injecting a little bit of comedy to lift the tone when needed. I thought it was done very tastefully and really would recommend this to anyone who wants to read something that tackles topics like mental health, love and friendship in a way that’s very easy to read and follow.

The way that Ginny dealt with Cassie’s depression later on in the book was very human and real – it wasn’t perfect by any means, but that’s what made it realistic. There were times when Ginny handled things badly, but the effort was made to point out why it was unhelpful and how she could do better. I thought this aspect of the book was great and made it really emotional at times. There are events that are difficult to read, and so perhaps for this reason I would say there’s a content warning for mental health, but I really thought it was done well, considering the genre of this book. Despite the comedic moments, there are times when this book has elements of such piercing honesty and seriousness, that it almost took me by surprise. Cassie’s good and bad days are written in such an honest and straightforward way that it definitely has an element of real-ness to it that makes it very readable.

The actual story is also excellent, it has the right amount of ups and downs, with a dash of comedy and a bit of heartbreak, but that’s why it works so well. The ending was wonderful, I finished the book feeling very satisfied and happy, which is exactly how I wanted to feel. After a rocky journey, I was left feeling genuinely delighted for both women and was really sad to finish this. This is a definite must-read for me as I loved every second.