How to Love Your Neighbor is about Grace, an interior design student who is about to graduate and has just inherited her grandparents' home and Noah, a real estate developer who moved to California to get out of his father's shadow in New York. Grace doesn't have a lot of money and is working several jobs to get by. She never knew her grandparents because her mother had cut all ties with them so she is happy to be given their home and feel like she has a connection with her family. Noah really wants to buy Grace's house so he can have a bigger backyard and recreate the pool parties he remembers with his deceased grandfather. They have serious chemistry and the journalist who meets with Noah to do a spread on his home (which he REALLY wanted to prove he's serious about laying down roots and not a minion for his father) takes advantage of that when Grace storms into Noah's home to argue about one of their neighborly conflicts. She learns that Grace is an interior designer and tells Noah that Grace will have to design his home for her to feature his house.

I enjoyed the story and liked that the chapters were pretty quick. It isn't a gripping book, but it's definitely a good beach/pool read and I liked that I could pick it up whenever I had a chance but it wasn't taking over my life. I enjoyed the characters and the plot, but would have liked to have seen a bit more neighborly feuding. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sophie Sullivan for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Grace Travis is a twenty-something woman finishing up her degree as an interior designer while working on jobs on the side to support herself. She inherits a fixer-upper from grandparents she never had the opportunity to know, and she sets off on a path of building a life for herself in this house, turning it into a home.
Noah Jansen is a powerhouse real estate developer who is not used to being told no. When he sets his sights on purchasing the fixer-upper next door to his beach house, he is surprised to find a woman of many talents who has no problem telling him no many times when it comes to selling her house.

How to Love Your Neighbor is an enemies to friends to lovers story featuring Noah and Grace as warring neighbors turned lovers.
The two face off head to head as neighbors both doing their best to turn their beachfront fixer uppers into their dream homes. The tension between Noah and Grace is great and I loved their banter so much.

How to Love Your Neighbor is a fun romance that does exactly what it's supposed to do: provide an entertaining, escapist story with cute characters who start out as enemies. If you enjoy HGTV style books and fun banter, you’ll enjoy this fun easy summer read.

Overall, I thought this story was okay. There was nothing fundamentally wrong with the writing or the characters, but as I was reading it, it didn't feel like the plot was fully developed despite the fact that it felt the story was much longer than it was. The pacing wasn't great and there was almost too much focus on some of the side characters/plots throughout the story - making it seem like less of a romance because of the lack of chemistry between the two leads.

What I did like though, was the enemies to lovers vibe Grace and Noah had going on. I thought the idea of having two characters in the design/real estate realm living next to one another and then coming together was very HGTV-esque and that was what drew me into reading this story in the first place.

It just couldn't keep me hooked.

Raised by a single mother who didn’t care much about being a mom, Gracie Travis has learned to be independent - taking countless odd jobs to support herself through interior design school. Inheriting her grandparents’ beachside home gives her the perfect opportunity to put her skills to use.

Noah Jansen, a young entrepreneur, is looking to make a name for himself by getting into the real estate business. Buying the empty house next door will allow him to expand on his property and build the perfect beach home.

Except the house isn’t empty. Gracie has just moved in and is adamant about not selling. The two neighbors go toe-to-toe constantly, but when Gracie is given a huge opportunity to jumpstart her career, she can’t refuse. Even if it means she has to work alongside Noah.

I absolutely loved the immediate chemistry between Gracie and Noah and the home renovation premise was refreshingly different. If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers or HGTV, you will love this book!

Cute and predictable enemies to lovers story. I enjoyed the first half but felt like the second half dragged.

Grace Travis is finishing up her degree in interior design, and she's about to get a lot of hands-on experience fixing up a house she inherited. That is, unless her neighbor Noah Jansen can convince her to sell. Will they flip for each other, or is their relationship doomed to be a flop?

You should read this book if:
You love home improvement/design shows.
You want a cute and sweet rather than a steamy romcom - this one is strictly closed door!
You're trying to figure out your next step in life.

This is a enjoyable story if you fit any of the criteria above. I really liked Grace as a protagonist - her design/carpentry skills and determination were inspiring. Noah grew on me over the course of the book as he opened up to Grace about his issues with his father. I could definitely see this being a Netflix movie.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review posted to Goodreads 7/23/21. Will be posted to Instagram closer to pub date 1/18/22.

Meet Grace Travis, a twenty-something woman who has never had anyone to count on. She was raised by a single mother who always made her feel as though she was a nuisance. Grace works hard at all of her random part-time jobs, while finishing up her degree in interior design. She is hardworking, stubborn, and loyal. Meet Noah Jansen, a real estate developer in his early thirties who has no intention of settling down, ever, but he does want to get out from his wealthy, narcissistic father’s thumb. Trying to strike out on his own and make a name for himself, Noah moves from New York to sunny California to begin anew. It turns out that the cute beach house that Grace moves into and she desperately wants to make a home, is right next door to adonis god and surfer boy, Noah. But Noah has other ideas for Grace’s beach house. He wants to put down some roots and wants to purchase her house so he can expand his property. They are mutually attracted to one another, but Noah’s arrogant attitude turns off Grace and she’s not willing to go down without a fight. The majority of the story revolves around Noah trying to push Grace into selling her house. It’s like a battle of the sexes. There is a lot of bickering and back and forth between the two. As they slowly get to know one another, one misstep places them back in enemy camps. While in California, Noah is connected with a journalist who wants to write a magazine spread documenting his remodel. The magazine focuses on celebrities and the rich and famous. The journalist is almost convinced to use Noah as her subject, but gives him an ultimatum. She wants Grace to be the designer on the project after she witnesses the chemistry between the two. Noah offers Grace the job, which is a huge deal considering she’s still a few months away from graduating. They call a truce and she accepts the offer. There are a lot of fun design references and even a fun “trading spaces” contest between the two.

I loved this story! It is adorable. It’s a fun meet cute, enemies to lovers trope. I really enjoyed how the POV jumps between Grace and Noah so the reader is really able to understand each character's feelings and motivations.The side characters are also pretty great. I love how they all mesh and how they help to drive home the “family is what you make it” theme. I really appreciated the family theme and it being more about the family you choose for yourself. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sophie Sullivan for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Enemies to friends to lovers trope? If you enjoy a book with clean romance, no explicit scenes- just fade to black, you’ll enjoy How to Love Your Neighbor. Sophie Sullivan writes a clear and sweet story about neighbors who fall in love. Grace grew up constantly moving, without the affection of her mother, and is an aspiring interior designer wanting to put down roots in her grandparents old home. Noah is a wealthy man starting over in California, getting out from under thumb of his constantly dissatisfied father. This story reads light and easy, and goes down smooth. Perfect for a slow Sunday morning with a cup a coffee.

This was my first Sophie Sullivan book but it won't be my last!

How to Love Your Neighbor is an enemies to friends to lovers story featuring Noah and Grace as warring neighbors turned lovers. Noah is a real estate developer eager to break free from his father's shadow and Grace is a student looking for her big break in the interior design world.

The two face off head to head as neighbors both doing their best to turn their beachfront fixer uppers into their dream homes. The tension between Noah and Grace is amazing and I loved their banter so much. This is a closed door romance but it's very well done.

2.5 stars. I felt very "meh" about this one, unfortunately. I didn't really connect to the characters or feel chemistry between them, and their relationship felt a bit contrived and rushed.

How to Love Your Neighbor is a fun romance that does exactly what it's supposed to do: provide an entertaining, escapist story with cute characters who start out as enemies and wind up falling in love. There's not really any twists here, and author Sophie Sullivan isn't reinventing the genre, but it's a solid entry, and she knows her audience. I really liked the DIY/HGTV angle here. I haven't read a romance set in the world of home renovations or design, so that was enough of a fresh bent to keep it from feeling overdone. As I often find with these books, the breaking up and getting back together thing felt contrived, but that's to be expected-- otherwise, these books would be novellas. I'm looking forward to reading another feel good book by Sullivan in the future.

This was a fun enemies to lovers book (neighbors to lovers really). It's in the series, but you really don't need to have read the first one to get everything in this one.

Grace is a complete pushover when it comes to helping people she loves. She finally gets the courage to move into the beach house willed to her by her grandparents, only to have her real estate developer neighbor try to buy her out.

It was really cute, and highly recommended for a fun summer read.

Grace is a barista, a dog walker and a student about the graduate. She is also a caretaker and can’t say no to anyone who asks a favor. Her mother is a mooch, a real financial and emotional drain on Grace. Rich-guy Noah owns the house next to the bungalow Grace just inherited and he really wants to buy it from her. But it is her only link to her grandparents, her family, so she is not willing to sell it. Then an opportunity of a lifetime comes for Grace: she is hired on as the interior designer for his house project. A prestigious magazine will cover the transformation. As Grace turns his house into a home they become more and more attracted to on another. Insecurities, gaffes and Grace’s mother all try to get in the way. But it looks like this might be the One for both of them.
This was an adorable but real read. The banter and sizzle between the two was well written.I would recommend this book to my patrons

How To Love Your Neighbor is a fantastic contemporary romance by Sophie Sullivan. Ms. Sullivan has created a well-written book and brought it to life with a warm and lovable cast of characters. Kudos to Ms. Sullivan for the snappy dialog that kept a grin on my face while reading this delightful tale. Grace is finishing her final classes at design school and is ready to move into the home her grandparents had willed to her. Noah had just moved into his new home and has decided he wants to buy the empty house next door to enlarge his property. Noah and Grace's story is packed with conflict, drama, humor, sizzle and a touch of suspense. I enjoyed reading How To Love Your Neighbor and look forward to reading more from Sophie Sullivan in the future. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this sequel! It could easily be read as a stand alone but it is nice to see familiar characters pop up throughout this book. I enjoyed the aspect of home design in this story as well as the large cast of characters. I feel like we need a book about the third brother now!

wow where do I begin!

I am such a fan of the hate to lovers troupe and I though this was done so well. The plot kept me so engaged and enamored in the story. I thought the writing was so fun and fit the story well. I love a good rom com book and this book came through! I loved the chemistry between the two main characters and I can't get them out of my head! Overall such a good fluffy lighthearted read.

Thank you net galley and the publishers for letting me have the e arc!!

HOW TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR - Sophie Sullivan
Perfect 10
St. Martin's Griffin
ASIN: B092T8RY5R
ISBN-10: ‎1-25062-418-5
ISBN-13: 978-1-25062-418-5
January 18, 2022
Contemporary Romance

Harlow Beach, California - The Present

Grace Traverse has lived on the beach for several years as a caregiver to Morty, an older man. Now, things are going to change. He lives just a short distance from the house her grandparents left her, not to her mother, their daughter, who never even told her she had grandparents. Now she plans to move into it and update and repair it.

Her attractive and rich next-door neighbor, Noah Jensen, has plans to renovate and enlarge the beach house he recently bought. That includes buying the small house next to his that has sat empty for years. Now a new owner moves in. Her intransigence irks him, but he continues with his plans.

Most women are attracted by Noah's wealth, but not Grace. She is stubborn but friendly and helpful. Despite their bumpy acquaintanceship, an attraction grows between them. They share some background as both his father and her mother are unloving, demanding parents. More unforeseen difficulties face them. HOW TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR is an entertaining and emotional story well worth reading.

This was a good read. While I wouldn’t recommend this for a curriculum, this would be a great option for independent reading in the older grades as the main character is finishing up college. Overall, this was a great read on finding oneself, for yourself, especially when trying to leave the shadow of your parents. Good messages overall and while not curriculum friendly, would work for young adults.

This was a book that I just had to finish as soon as I started it! Grace just pulled me in from the very start.

Grace and Noah end up as neighbors even though Noah really just wants to expand his house onto grace’s property. Through Noah’s renovation of his house grace ends up as his interior designer and sparks begin to fly.

Would highly recommend.

A great story! Grace has had to work hard all her life, born to a mother that was not the nurturing kind, she's moved past it doing something with her life. Almost finished with design school and working multiple jobs Grace can't believe her windfall when her grandparents leave their house near the beach, she has a house she can decorate and she's hoping for the family connection she missed because the selfishness of her mother She's focused on her future no room for a man.
Noah has moved to California to out from under his father's thumb, wanting to make his own mark. He's found the perfect house to start, but he wants a little more room and the rundown property would be prefect, well if the new owner would sale...In comes banter, competitions, lessons for both of them and of course chemistry. Very entertaining read.