Mia Abbott moved to Manchester to escape a controlling ex. After many failed relationships she decides she's over men for awhile. The closest she comes is ogling "hot guy across" while he lifts weights every morning. After her family encourages her to get out and meet people, she visits the bar across the street and discovers the bartender is hot guy. She finds out his reputation as a player and decides to avoid him. Luke is attracted to the new girl and when he see her in the window across the street, he starts leaving her messages in the window. They start to spend more time together but Mia keeps him firmly in the friend zone. Is there anything he can do to earn her trust?
The setting of this book reminded me so much of the show Cheers. I loved the fun non -dates that Luke took Mia on. I like how the chapters change point of view of each character. This was a sweet rom-com full of laughs.
Thank you to Kathryn Freeman and HarperCollins One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this fun book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Thanks to #partner @onemorechapterhc for the digital ARC of Kathryn Freeman's Mr Right Across the Street in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on Tuesday, January 22.

Kathryn Freeman's Mr Right Across the Street is a compelling romance told from alternating points of view. The story follows Mia Abbott who has just moved to Manchester to escape harassment from her ex-boyfriend. She's determined to make it on her own, to prove her independence, and so she's moved away from her family and friends, keeping her new address and everything else (including her phone number) a secret except from those she knows best.

She moves into a flat across from Luke Doyle whom she watches daily at 10:00 am as he's doing his weightlifting. She doesn't realize, at first, that he also owns the pub at the base of their buildings until she wanders in one evening, determined to make some new friends.

Luke is a player whose interested in a lot of women, but only if nothing is serious. He's immediately drawn to Mia who has a sort of confidence he's never seen before. When he's bartending and starts a conversation with her, he's drawn to her wittiness and her unwillingness to be intimidated.

Mia is drawn to Luke, too, but she's invested in not entering another relationship, not trusting her own judgment, which has proven to be so flawed in the past. She is, however, willing to be Luke's friend, and so they start having regular "non-dates."

This sweet novel is one that's so kind to its characters, presenting them as nuanced people whose pasts have made them wary of trusting someone else. Mia and Luke gradually each become willing to be vulnerable and to share what really matters, but they both make mistakes along the way. I really loved this book, with its lovely sense of humanity and of forgiveness.

I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In this book we find many points that make it a high-quality rom-com: the strong and intelligent main character, funny moments and please, don't forget the cover!I
I loved the way the relationship between Mia and Luke grew. 2020 has made me read a lot of rom-coms, but this I really enjoy it.

I really liked this book. The chemistry between Mia and Luke is undeniable, but at the same time I feel like it was almost too easy for them. Yes the author tried to throw in some curve balls, like Mia not giving out her phone number to anyone and few others I can't mention as to not spoil the book. But I feel Kathryn could have gone further in detail about Mia's ex boyfriend, I believe that could have gone such a long way with the dynamic between not only Luke and Mia but also just Mia herself. She didn't want to fall for someone or to rely on someone after moving to a new city by herself, but a third of the way through the book it was all about Luke. I just wanted to see Mia grow more as a character and more sure of herself before their relationship really took off. Even with all that mentioned above I feel like this was still a good book and did make me laugh throughout, mainly the bits that involved Stan!

You know it’s a good book when you can feel the emotions with the characters. In Mr. Right Across the Street by Kathryn Freeman, Mia has moved to a new city to escape a bad situation. When she admires Luke from her window and subsequently runs into him in the local bar, her world is turned upside down. I love that the author was able to capture both sides and how the emotions for both are almost tangible. This book definitely shows how communication is so important in any relationship. I truly enjoyed this book and would totally recommend it to others!

I absolutely loved everything about this book! I loved the complexity of Luke’s character and that lots of things were kept secret until near the end. My own negative would be that it ended too soon! I could have kept reading more!

This was cute, I liked the storyline and the romance was fun and steamy!The main characters had great chemistry and there were plenty of hilarious moments between them!They are likable and easy to follow.
Luke is instantly drawn to Mia, and tries to get her to go out with him, Mia is a bit hesitant though due to his reputation with bad relationships. I find it very good and it was fast paced.

Thank you to @netgalley for a copy of Mr Right Across The Street by Kathryn Freeman, which debuts in a few days on January 22!

Synopsis: Mia Abbott has made a very deliberate move to Manchester — away from her family, friends and creepy ex-boyfriend (TW: emotional abuse and stalking). As a website designer who works from home, she’s struggling to meet people. That is, until she ventures into the bar below her flat and has an instant connection with the bartender, Luke Doyle, who also just happens to live in the apartment across from hers. Only issue: he’s definitely a player and she’s had enough of bad boyfriends that she’s determined to avoid this mistake. But what are you going to do when raw attraction demands otherwise?

Okay I thought I wasn’t going to like this one because at first it seemed really cliche, like “nerd girl and hot guy actually are attracted to each other” cliche. BUT there was a twist I did not expect and should’ve seen coming, and it meant that I enjoyed the last 60% of the book so much more than the first few set-up chapters.

Mia & Luke’s relationship is funny, flirty and eventually, flaming hot! Like whew, some of these scenes — it’s not 100% explicit but it’s well on its way. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and while I did find the back-and-forth of “Do they trust each other?” a little tedious at points, it made sense based on both of their previous rocky relationships.

Overall, Mr Right Across The Street was a great, fun read! I finished it in less than 24 hours and could not put it down. I’m excited to see what Freeman writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC! The first quarter of this book had me a bit 'meh' in all honesty. There were a couple of occasions where I felt the introduction of characters - mainly the protagonist's 2 best friends - could have been done a bit more smoothly, however apart from this I have no complaints! This ended up being a really sweet romance, I would say perfect if you are new to the genre, and perfect if you are a veteran of romance books and want something cute to read.

This is a cute contemporary romance. It was a little slow to start, but the sweet characters and the unique communication style of the characters kept me engaged. I enjoyed the humor in the book as well.

This was such a heartwarming, cutesy but not over the top, romantic comedy. I loved the themes of someone's past overshadowing first impressions, and shaping how someone perceives themselves. I also really enjoyed the presence of what a true relationship means, staying and working through the tough times. "I can't promise I won't get pissed, but I can promise I won't turn and run." I laughed, I gushed, I plotted against the women who made me angry, and most importantly I LOVED this book. Definitely recommend for fans of Christina Lauren.

What a sweet read! If you love a slow burn and really fun witty banter, this book is right up your alley.

I love Mia and how unapologetic herself she is. She was dealing with the consequences of bad relationships. I felt for her & understood the excuses she was making because they rooted in insecurity and fear. These are REAL feelings and I appreciate the authenticity of it, no matter if I found it to be a tad hypocritical. I did think that the third act dragged on and felt unnecessary to the whole plot. I love Luke & his “non-dates” with Mia. I loved learning about him and watching him grow and mature. I loved how much Luke loved Mia for exactly who she was and never tried to change her.

*Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Mia needs a fresh start. New city, new phone, new friends. But all she has after a few weeks is ogling her hottie neighbor across the street while he lifts weights each morning - she can see him through their respective windows.
When she realizes he’s the local bar owner and quite the ladies man- she has her reservations. She’s been burned badly before. Then, suddenly, adorable notes go up in his windows. Picture 1st Gen Texting with handwritten emojis and lettering....it’s heartmelting.
Can Mia trust herself to fall for the cool guy?

This was a super sweet (and steamy) romance!

Mia moves to Manchester to get away from an ex who won't leave her be. She is going to spend time on her own and finally work on the novel she's been meaning to write. The sexy bar owner who lives in the flat across from hers is a temptation she wasn't planning on.

This book was a slow burn romance with pacing that is consistent with Brit Lit, much slower than American-written romances with an emphasis on daily life and friendships with others as well as the main romance.

I loved the main characters, Mia and Luke. They were both complex and real with faults and mistakes as well as cute quirks and lots of heart. Their friendships with others in this book were a bright spot as was Mia's fair treatment of Luke's ex (who features in the story).

The teen in this story was very well written! A great blend of sweet and sometimes moody. And very embarrassed of her hot dad.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: teen pregnancy, parent abandonment, controlling ex, sometimes difficult shared child custody

😍Cute story of transformed lives: heady, romantic vibes😊

I loved this quirky romance! I can't think of a single element I did not enjoy; the pages just sped by. It's told alternating from the female lead to the male lead's perspective (which I think worked really well with this story).

I was totally with Mia as she hesitantly dips her toe into socializing in Manchester, her new home. Throughout the story, Mia transforms from an anxious loner with major trust issues as opens up to the locals and finds new friends as well as Luke, the ripped guy she watches from her window as he goes through his daily exercise routine. She's a bit of a conundrum, though. She dresses for her own comfort, eschews makeup, yet she is constantly comparing herself to other women's looks and finds herself lacking. Which makes her a hard sell when sought-after Luke tries to convince her that it's Mia, not the legions of flirty women that hit on him at his bar, he wants.

Luke also transforms as he woos Mia out of her shell. He's got secrets and a history of commitment-free hookups that make Mia wary of his advances. But I loved his earnest efforts to get to know her and prove he deserves her trust.

Their slow-build relationship is sweet and romantic but with a punch of passion. The miscommunication and snags they face provide that bit of angst that makes the good times that much better. And the secondary characters, such as Mia's neighbor Stan, her sister Elle and Luke's friend/employee Sandy, provide helpings of humor.

I will definitely be looking for more works by Kathryn Freeman.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC publication for a honest review.
Publication Date - January 22, 2021
HarperCollins UK
Women’s Fiction, Romance, Humor

Mia moves to Manchester to start over after a messy break-up. The windows in her new apartment overlook a courtyard where she can also see into apartments across the way. She slowly begins to notice, through her home office window, Hot Guy Luke’s workout room. Everyday at 10:00 a.m., Mia becomes wildly distracted watching Luke’s daily weightlifting regiment.

Unbeknownst to Mia, she wanders into the bar just below her apartment and discovers Luke is the bartender/owner. Luke and Mia have instant chemistry, but she learns Luke has had multiple romantic liaisons with his women clientele. Mia’s insecurity leaves her wondering if Luke feelings are genuine as she is not the leggy, blonde type who constantly throw themselves at him at the bar. Eventually Luke realizes Mia has been watching him and begins leaving notes in his window to create a conversation between the two. Reluctant at first, Mia takes the bait, writing back placing her replies in her window. The reader finds themselves intrigued by their unique communications. Together, Luke and Mia proceed to travel throughout Manchester on fun-filled, hilarious non-dates.

What slowly begins as a slow-burn attraction between the “cool kid” and the “nerd,” Mr. Right Across the Street becomes an incredibly adorable read. This book also has a wonderful cast of characters from Mia’s family, Luke’s staff at the bar to other tenants in the apartment complex. The relationship that blossoms in this book is cute, and the book is truly a quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Uk (One More Chapter) for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Mia moves to Manchester running away from her crazy ex-boyfriend, but what she did not expect is that in the flat in front Luke, aka the hottest boy ever, would have the wonderful routine to work-out in front of the window that is exactly in front of Mia's. So, and I firmly believe I am doing no spoiler (this is a rom-com guys, if you expected otherwise it is not my fault) Mia and Luke start a strange communication by messages on the windows.

It was a long time since I read a rom-com (I think the last one I read was The Hating Game by Sally Thorne) and this book was one of the best things that could have happened to me. The reading is so easy, the thinks happen fast and, although there is some drama, the characters act like real adults, which is much appreciated.

Mia works with computers and is a real gamer, which makes her a different type of protagonist from what we usually see, she doesn't use makeup and does not look twice her clothes before going out. I loved her being fresh and authentic although having her sometimes repeating that the cool guy and the nerd would never work several times over the book was kind of annoying, I can get that with her past relationships she will fall for this kind of prejudices. Also, having her being an amateur writer was a cherry on the top, because I think many of us could feel represented by her passion.

On the other side, we have Luke. I have to admit that, although I loved Mia, my favorite character was probably Luke, overall because of her past (I went through the book just wanting to hug him and love him with all my heart). I feel like this character is a great way of showing that maybe you can think you know it all about someone with just what you see but the reality could be far from what you imagine. Everyone deserves a chance to show their true self before being judged even if they are a Don Juan.

The relationship between these two is lovely since the messages on the windows until the constant jokes they have going on. I think they were pretty fluent, although Luke can be too innocent sometimes with the people surrounding him, you can see he is always trying to do his best. The final argument, which can be too long or extend in other books, ends up nicely without making too much drama, which I personally was thankful for.

To sum up, I think this is an amazing book and, although I didn't know the author before you can be sure she is on my list and I will make sure to read more from her. If you are looking for a light and funny rom-com this is the book you are looking for 100%.

Mr. Right Across the Street is a sweet meet-cute story. I enjoyed the characters and how well the story flowed. I know I received this ARC for an honest review, but I do hope it goes through some major editing before being published.

3 stars

Kathryn Freeman's Mr. Right Across the Street is a sweet story about finding love after you've decided to stop looking.

We've seen the writing notes to each other from across the way in music videos and in movies, but I had never read a book with that idea as the central concept. I think it worked really well as a way for Mia and Luke to develop a strong connection while they try to hold each other at arm's length. I also loved the Manchester setting - I will buy any book if it says that it is set somewhere in England!

The romance aspect did tend to drag and get repetitive at points, especially in the middle of the book when it felt like every other page was Mia wondering if Luke really had feelings for her or not because he was the "cool guy" and she was the "nerd". I like my romances to have a little more bite, but I can totally see someone looking for a contemporary romance that's more on the lighter side really enjoying this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I really went back and forth with how to rate this, mainly because the first half of the book feels like a completely different book than the second half!

If I had to summarize my feelings on this book into a single thought it would be this: It's 2021, aren't we sick of pitting women against other women? Because when you boil down the main conflicts in this story, it starts with slut-shaming and ends with "the evil ex" trope.

While the start of the story has some problematic elements, the relationship between Mia and Luke is absolutely adorable and makes up for it! I loved the notes on the windows, the bar, the friendship-dates; I devoured the first third of the book in one sitting and was already texting friends that they needed to stay tuned and potentially pre-order it! I had such high hopes!

[I don't know if it counts as the "surprise baby" trope if the baby in question is actually a teenager, but heads up, this is a single-dad romance! Sadly, the author took the path of "evil ex" with the mother, and it was so unsatisfying how it wasn't resolved. Also, Mia just isn't like any other woman and of course, cures him of his player-like ways.

This book starts off strong, so if you want to start it to catch all of the adorable-ness, I fully support that! Then just ask someone who's read it so you can get the summary of how it ends. I think this either needed to be two separate books telling two separate stories or dramatically edited down. There were so many repetitive stereotypes, and for two people in their 30's they definitely didn't act like it. I wish I could love the whole book as much as I loved the beginning!