It’s kind of sad to be writing this, cause i really had high hopes for this book. But, I couldn’t finish it.
I got through halfway the book and it was because I was skipping a few parts of it.

I started this book thinking it would be a rom-com but I didn’t find any rom nor com.

I felt the characters a little off, never connected with them, nor liked them. They were 29 years old, but it was like they were kids, childish is the word.

I want to get back to it eventually, but for now it is a DNF for me.

This was so good 4.5 stars for me the enjoyment I had reading this book is crazy but I loved it. I loved both main characters, Nate, and Collins I loved their drama. I loved their chemistry. It was amazing and it was hilarious all at once. Honestly, this book was just pure entertainment And Alexa knows how to write a book. I will say I would love a book on because I also loved all the side characters in this book the side characters were so good and so amazing. The HOA storyline is hilarious it was just I don’t even know how to explain it. I was smiling the whole time, laughing the whole time it was so good.

There was also depth to the main characters with the history that they had and I am also happy that they never had miscommunication like they talked things through. They fixed their shit and talk things through and that was also one of my favorite parts because most of the time when it comes to essentially second chance, they have a miscommunication part, but these two didn’t they communicated how they were supposed to after they got together they never lied to each other they were there for each other, he fell 1st and I think he fell harder that they have for each other even even before they said I love you was so good and so perfect. I hope that there’s a book to this series. I would also love to read more about the two of them.

I love that in the end, Collins didn’t have to give up the stuff that she loved when it came to everything because she was so betrayed by one person that she thought she would love forever that she was so upset when she had to move back to Ohio. But then she realized that she had this love for Ohio that she didn’t even know that she had because since she was young, she wanted to move out and leave and go to Los Angeles. Then in the end it turned out best for her to stay in Ohio, and she ended up being the happiest she had ever been anywhere else. She got to have her dream job and the man that she has always loved

Collins Carter is over the top, dramatic, and the person you want on your side in a fight. I think Nate figures this out pretty quickly when she challenges him over everything. As they argued (and argued, and argued) their past was revealed and you could tell how hurt Collins was over her ex-best friend ghosting her when they were kids. Despite that, I was watching the page numbers wondering how long it would take before her witchy friendliness turned them from frenemies back to friends. It took a touch too long but when it did happen I finally settled into the plot. I love sassy heroines but Collins was next level!

Nate couldn’t have been any more the opposite of Collins. He was a khaki wearing, straight laced, steady, calm man. Actually, very similar to her own father now that I think of it. They complimented each other well and once they got over their hurt with each other they suited each other. I kind of wished he was a little more heroic maybe, but there wasn’t anything wrong with a normal guy as a hero. She carried all the attitude in that pairing that’s for sure.

I thought this was a fun, quick read, pretty similar to other novels by this author. I can think of a few that touched my heart a little bit more but this was an entertaining weekend read!

4.5 stars
2 Spice

I never imagined I could care so much about a campaign for HOA presidency, but here I am.
Collins returns home after her life in LA gets uprooted. Watching her journey to accept a home that you once couldn’t wait to leave was really impactful to me. I LOVED her parents and friends. They were so fun and supportive! I loved the banter and the hijinks of running very different campaigns while trying to undermine each other.

I struggled a little with how fast the enemies switched to lovers. It felt a bit sudden to me and I wasn’t sure how I felt about Collins forgiving Nate so quickly, but like he said, he was a teenager when it all happened. That being said, I really liked their communication and how their dynamic changed throughout the story.
Some people might argue that there was a third act break up (I know, stick with me here), but it’s not your typical third act break up. It didn’t feel so much like a break-up to me and it was over so quick.
I will definitely be checking out her other books!

Tropes: Small Town, Close Proximity, Childhood Friends to Enemies to Lovers

New book alert!!
4 ⭐️ and 1🔥

Alexa Martin wrote a fantastic rom com here with a hilarious plot plucked right out of Hollywood, because only on TV do people campaign to become HOA president (as opposed to real life where someone reluctantly gets drug into it).

Collins is a screenwriter who has been betrayed by her scummy boyfriend and finds herself back in her hometown with her former best friend who ghosted her in high school.

After a few run-ins with Nate, she finds herself running against him in the race for HOA President. Will she get to the bottom of why he abandoned her or will they fight all the way to the polls?

Throughout this, there is some scathing commentary on MLMs, the patriarchy that is Hollywood, and the realities of growing but now outgrowing your roots.

I would have loved some additional character development for Nate, as parts of the story felt like the drug on and parts felt like we brushed straight over some important plot.

However, read this for a good time and a quick read if you like romcoms, Rivals to Lovers, and small town gossip.

Thank you to @good.girls.pr and @berkleyromance for the chance to ARC read this. All opinions are my own.

After her career imploded and her breakup became a viral tiktok, Collins has left life in LA behind and come back home, to her parents’ house in Ohio. As an extra blow to kick her when she's down, her former best friend and now nemesis is on the HOA board and has just issued her a citation and a fine. Nate has been living a content and quiet life until Collins showed up again and suddenly the two are running against each other for HOA president.

I love Alexa Martin’s writing and her rom coms have it all - the banter, the steam, the laugh out loud moments. Next-Door Nemesis was a fun read from the first line on. I thought the HOA storyline was a fun one and made for some great moments. But it was all balanced with some really sweet and tender moments, especially as we learned what really happened in both Collins’ and Nate’s pasts. I also loved the side characters - from the neighbors, to Collins’ parents, and most importantly her friends Ruby and Ashleigh, each side character really added to the story.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Collins returns to her Ohio home after going viral for losing her temper on her horrible ex. And she learns that the former childhood best friend, Nate, who ghosted her when they started high school lives just down the street.

They clash from the beginning, and he issues her a warning from the HOA. So she decides to run against him for HOA president. There are all sorts of comedic antics with everything from googly eyes to patriotic flamingos. But they also both know where and how to hurt each other with insults given their close pasts.

At times, it felt like their fights (especially her side) went a bit too far. I would have preferred this as a dual perspective where we were able to understand his viewpoint as well. I always think dual perspectives are especially helpful in any form of enemies-to-lovers trope. But I loved the way her town, her friends, and her family were depicted.

Jade Wheeler did a great job narrating the complete audiobook. It was a quick read at just over 10 hours long.

I absolutely adored this book! This is everything I love about rom-coms, with such a unique storyline. I love that the conflict escalated to running for HOA president - as part of my own HOA the drama was so on point, as ridiculous as it seems. This book had me laughing out loud over and over between the FMCs internal snarky dialogue, and her tendency to escalate things quickly. The cast of characters was excellent - with the LA friend meeting the Ohio suburbian friend and both providing the best support system. The MMC was a great mix of snark and passion. Their relationship had a great arc throughout the storyline.

This was just the escape I needed and I really enjoyed the chance to get to meet all of these characters in such a unique and funny way. Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

4.25 stars

What happens when your lowest moment goes viral and you have to tuck your tail and run back to your hometown? Next-Door Nemesis provides a fresh take on this trope, whilst throwing in some rivals-to-lovers vibes for good measure.

Collins Carter thought she’d finally gotten her big break until the ultimate betrayal sends her back to the hometown she swore she’d forever leave in her rearview mirror. What’s worse is the fact that her former friend turned nemesis, Nate Adams, is her parents’ new neighbor. What happens when an attempt at one-upmanship turns into a campaign for HOA president? Sparks are going to fly. And old wounds just might be reopened and then healed.

One of the elements I enjoyed most about this story is how author Alexa Martin sketched out the backstory between Collins and Nate. However, I will say that Nate’s explanation for why he did the things he did back then didn’t quite resonate with me. But I liked the fact that Collins knew Nate well enough to understand where he was coming from. (I just love me a good grovel.)

This novel is refreshing because the characters are so human. Mature in a lot of ways and immature in others. The fact that these two were old friends also gives some second-chance romance energy, which I always love in a romance.

It’s a story I enjoyed and could see be adapted for the screen.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for generously providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was sent to me as an E-Arc

I did finished reading but I have mixed feelings.
First off the Friends to Enemies to Loves sounded fun and i was excited to read it.
But the more I read the book the more i was disappointed ... I did not like the idea of gown people (both are in their late twenties early thirties) acting like children ... I get this is a fiction but jeopardizing someone's job because the person hurt you in HS is just silly. And the reason for Nate to ghost Collins was not even something to get mad over ... I just did not liked it and push myself to finish.
what i did like was the side characters, especially Ruby and Ash. Both so different and both likeable. Plus Collins parents were awesome.

Overall not a good read to me, but I do want to check other books by the author. 2.5 stars but rounded to 3

**Two rival candidates for a homeowner’s association presidency are about to find out how dirty suburbanites fight in this steamy new romantic comedy from Alexa Martin. **

Alexa Martin can do no wrong. I am so glad I was able to receive this ARC from goodgirls.pr and Alexa before the release date. I have loved expanding my romance shelf, and this story will be a staple.

A suburban setting, and HOA presidential battle, a female main character with her new found friends and reconnection with her family made the reading experience so good. I ate it up right away, and was instantly hooked into the story.

Collin Carter is such a strong FMC and catches the readers attention and heart. I felt connected and invested throughout the whole entire story. Her and Nate's story is such a great example of friends to enemies to lovers, and close proximity romance. It made me smile and giggle and thats exactly what I want from a romance story. I cannot wait to pick up more of Alexa's work.

Thanks again to goodgirls.pr and Alexa Martin for the ARC, and get Next-Door Nemesis when it releases on 11/14/23!

I have loved all of Alexa Martin's books and this one might be my favorite! I was laughing out loud the whole time, and yet, the heart of this book hit so true. The characters and their conflict were so realistic and relatable. I found their whole love story to be the perfect mix of steam, sweetness, and humor! I can't wait to read this one again!

Title: Next-Door Nemesis
Author: Alexa Martin (@alexambooks)
Release Date: November 14, 2023
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️

"Next-Door Nemesis" is a delightful contemporary rom-com that explores the journey from childhood friends to rivals to lovers. Set in a small town, it features angsty banter, close proximity, and the 'it's always been you' trope.

The story revolves around Collins Carter and Nathaniel Adams, two rival candidates for the homeowner's association presidency. Alexa Martin tells a story that's funny, has great banter, and surprises you with romance. It's like she gets exactly what you enjoy in a book! From secret board meetings to smear campaigns, the characters sink to unprecedented levels, making the suburban setting come alive.

The story sucks you in, and Alexa Martin's writing is clever and effortlessly pulls you along. It's the kind of book that's smart and just easy to dive into. I couldn't stop laughing while reading, and it was the perfect antidote for my reading slump. I breezed through it in one sitting—it's that captivating. With a rating of five out of five stars and a spice level of two out of five, "Next-Door Nemesis" is a lighthearted must-read that promises a good time.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Good Girls PR for providing the eARC, and I look forward to more from Alexa Martin. If you're in need of a feel-good read, this one comes highly recommended! <3

Get the book here --> https://tr.ee/zhezV8KGUt
And don't forget to add it to your TBR! --> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122932139

This is a really funny rom-com and I really enjoyed it. I wasn’t expecting to like this one quite as much as I did and I rounded up from 4.5 stars because it was so funny. Collins left for LA as soon as she could from her small Ohio town, but after her sleezy boyfriend stole her script and her neighbor filmed her freaking out on him she returned home without any other choices. While this is far less than ideal she is prepared until she bumps into her former friend and high school nemesis Nate Adams. Clearly unsettled by her presence he uses his position on the HOA board to blackmail her into her leaving, but Collins isn’t one to back down so of course it becomes an election for HOA president and full of sexual tension and hilarity.

This book was SO so good like Nate said about Collin’s script; “It’s so good, I don’t even feel worthy enough to read it. Ya so good that I don’t even know how to put into words” yup. You and me brother

This is my most annotated ARC. I’d like to get the paperback one day! I added all her books to my TBR only halfway through chapter 1. Then when I got to chapter 2 I just knew it was going to be a 5 star read so I immediately started recommending it to my besties

It was hilarious. Idk who’s funnier than who! Literally all the characters have a different kind of charm and they’re all just so funny and sarcastic and they got wit! Don’t get me started on Collin’s parents. They may or may not be my favorites

It literally has most of the tropes I love. I genuinely don’t know what else to say other than it was great. By far one of the best books I’ve read this year.. or ever

Live love and read all of Martin’s books 💜

This is just more proof that Alexa Martin can do no wrong. And it just proves I will continue to keep reading all of Alexa’s books forever and ever!! I loved this book so much. It was the perfect combination of all the best things - childhood friends to enemies to lovers, so much banter, going back to the place you ran from just find home all over again.

I loved Collins’ story. While a lot of it was about her career journey and her trying and succeeding to find her stride there again. It was also about her finally feeling settled, feeling at home, feeling good enough. And I loved that she was able to find all of that in the one place she never thought to look.

And freaking Nate Adams!!!! I LOVED HIM SO MUCH. He was just a sad boy who also didn’t feel like he was ever going to be enough. And I loved how easily he was thrown when Collins came back into town. I didn’t really notice that he was stressing until a little bit later, because we were obviously supposed to think they actually did hate each other!! It was just written so well and flowed so easily! AND he was the sweetest most supportive man 😭 he was the perfect guy for Collins.

Thank you so so much to Good Girls PR and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope, so I knew I was going to enjoy this. Add in it being a second chance between ex-best friends and it was even better!

Collins Carter is a screenwriter who left Los Angeles after an incident with her went viral on video. She's back living with her parents in small town Ohio. She spends her days helping her father with the yard work when she's not trying to write and figure out her next move. She literally runs into her ex-best friend, Nate Adams, at the coffee shop, and the bantering begins.

When she is given an HOA violation from Nate, who is on the board, for a tree just planted in her parents' front yard, she decides to run against him for the now vacant HOA president position. At first, it is just to spite him, but then she finds the idea more appealing.

There is a history between Nate and Collins that hasn't been resolved. There is also amazing chemistry. I was not expecting this to be an open-door romance but was pleasantly surprised when it was. That first scene between them was definitely steamy and intense.

Another added bonus...the secondary characters were all so wonderful. Collins parents and her two friends, Ashleigh and Ruby. Each had their own quirks and personalities.

Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Definitely the enemies to lovers, she comes back home, bickering shenanigans rom com I was hoping for!

Collins and Nathaniel make just as cute of a couple as they do opponents in a heating election for HOA president. After Nathaniel tries to use his position on the HOA board to make Collins move away again, he’s surprise to hear her announce her candidacy against him for the position of president. Then all gloves are off as the two of them use anything to one up the other - flamingos and Benjamin Franklin not excluded.

Collins is such an interesting character. Having come back home after things didn’t work out the way she hoped in LA, she has a lot of inner work to do to figure out what she wants in life. While the wrap up and resolution was a little too convenient for her to get what she ultimately wanted, one can’t deny that she deserved her HEA.

Nathaniel is the type of guy who has made mistakes and knows it. He’s also the type that wants the settling down and the white picket fence, something that’s often teased about, but not here. No one says anything disparaging about his aspirations of settling down in the town he calls home and he’s just a really cute husband material type guy.

Overall, this book was a quick and easy read that hit just the right spot. If you like rom com level banter, tension from being pushed together, and friends to enemies to lovers, Next Door Nemesis is for you.

Thoughts on Next-Door Nemesis
Not gonna lie, it took me two or three chapters to get into the plot, because I’ve read a lot of books lately where an MC ends up living back at home with their parents for some reason. But the connection I off the bat felt with the characters had me still invested - and once the plot started to develop more, I was sold.

There were SO many times I connected with the characters. I’m in an interracial relationship and so I instantly connected to Collins mom and dad - “While my mom has been married to a Black man for thirty-six years, it has not deterred her from adding raisins to her potato salad,” this had me dying 🤣 I am the white woman, however, I know better. There was also so much more I connected with Collins over but I don’t want to give too much away.

I also felt Collins emotions - Alexa did a fantastic job of writing the real emotions in the words she used. I felt Collins’ hurt, confusion, embarrassment, anger, sadness, and love. I even was able to feel Nate’s emotions as well and this isn’t a dual POV book - the two times I teared up while reading came from mostly feeling Nate’s emotions 🥺

But! I laughed, I cried, I sighed, I giggled, I blushed a bit, and I put my hand on my chest at times because I truly felt the pain - this was a good book ✨

What to expect when it releases November 14th:
🎡 small town
🦩 friends to enemies to lovers
🎡 second chance
🦩 HOA rivals
🎡 interracial/multicultural

What a very fun read. Collins and Nate were childhood besties, then life got in the way. Sometimes the line between love and hate is slim, and the chemistry sizzled from the beginning. It took awhile but Collins and Nate found their way to a super fabulous HEA with an adorable grand gesture.