What I think Freya Sampson did very well in this book was deeply dive into how trauma and isolation can alter and warp a person’s interactions with their inner and outer worlds and how this response has commonalities regardless of age or background. In this case the broken souls are Kat, an aloof tattooed pink-haired 20 something, who keeps everyone at a distance and is constantly on the move, and Dorothy, a nosy septuagenarian who keeps an eye on everyone and everything in her building, yet allows no one to get close to her. Both women have near impenetrable exteriors and both are irritable and judgmental. Of course they immediately and immensely dislike each other when they find themselves both living in Shelley House, a century+ old formerly beautiful building, which has fallen on neglect and very hard times and is slated to be torn down for another new, soulless development. Kat has temporarily rented a room from the too good to be true elderly Joseph, who is carrying on a one-man campaign to prevent the demolition of his home and his fellow tenants’ evictions. But shortly before the resolution to prevent this comes before the city permits department, Joseph is severely injured by an unknown assailant, which causes Kat and Dorothy to become grudging allies in trying to investigate Joseph’s attack and perhaps even save their decaying beauty of a building. In the process they uncover old secrets, old griefs, new acquaintances, and a possible campaign of systemic intimidation instigated by their seemingly indifferent landlord. The characters are believable, especially in the actions that express their vulnerabilities which can be cruel and at times, heartbreaking. But everything gets resolved, almost a bit too tidily. The epilogue wrapped up everything so tightly that it felt like the story had no room to breathe. There was nothing to question or think over and for some this may be fine. Still, I was left wanting something.

Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson is a fun little book. I adored all the lovable characters who resided at Shelley House! There were so many good side plotlines as we got to know more than just Dorothy but all the residents of this old (but delightful) apartment building. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship grow between Dorothy and Kat, two women who could not have less in common, as they worked together to try to solve the mystery of what is happening at Shelley House and how they can save it from destruction. There was good emotion and engagement throughout this book--you could laugh and cry on the same page!

But what made me rate this book a little lower came down to three things. 1) Too many side plots. I felt there were too many tangents at a time, and it could be hard to keep track of everything. 2) I didn't exactly buy the story of how Kat and Dorothy became enemies. It's in the description but didn't seem like a solid inclusion in the book. 3) The book dragged on a bit too long. It was slow to start and then the ending just seemed to go on longer than necessary.

Regardless of my personal gripes with portions of this book, this was an enjoyable read!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This quiet mystery, told in two voices, was as much about coming to terms with the past as it was a mystery to be solved.

Dorothy Darling is seventy-seven and has lived in Shelly House for more than thirty-four years. She prides herself, and irritates her neighbors, by her constant watching and noting of infractions to all the various rules of the place. She is also something of a recluse preferring own company.

Kat Bennett is a twenty-five-year-old complete with pink hair and tattoos - and secrets. She has come to Shelley House renting a room in Joseph Chamber's apartment. She just wants a look around the town where she has some happy memories of time spent with her grandfather until things all blew up and her mother took her away. She has been feeling guilty about those events ever since.

When Shelley House, which has been neglected for years, becomes the site of a new development, Dorothy, Joseph and Kat are all determined to stop the new development planned by a shady builder who is most known for the dirty tricks he uses to get others to sell him their property.

Told alternately by Kat and Dorothy, the story gradually unfolds, and we learn more about each main character's past.

If you are looking for fast-paced excitement and danger, look elsewhere. However, if you are looking for characters who are coming to terms with their past and a slow-growing friendship, you have come to the right place.

This was something different for me, and wow! What a fun twist on a cozy mystery! For fans of Only Murders in the Building, here’s a tender and funny story featuring and elderly woman named Dorothy teaming up with twenty-something, pink-haired Kat to solve a crime in their community! Can’t wait to recommend this to patrons when it releases.

I’ll be honest, the cover and description of a cozy mystery led me to expect something completely different from what the actual story was.

Despite a very wonderful pet and the character development - I found the story slow moving and with the sadness and grief that I personally felt overwhelmed and detracted from the positive parts of the story, I wasn’t the right reader for this one.



Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the DRC

Shelley House has lasted for many years. But the owner has slowly let it fall into disrepair. When each of the tenants gets a letter that they are going to be evicted, and he plans to tear it down, it winds up changing many lives.
Dorothy Darling has lived here for many years, and is not willing to accept this horrible reality. Kat Bennett is renting a room from another tenant, and doesn’t plan to live there for long. But when her landlord Joseph is injured, possibly by an intruder, Dorothy and Kat might have something that bonds them together. Their concern for Joseph and their shared belief that the landlord is a very bad man.
There are other tenants in this building, none of them, particularly close with their neighbors. Little by little their back stories are revealed, and they wind up forging a bond. But will it be enough to save Shelly House, or all their efforts doomed to fail.
It’s a very character driven story. How too many years can be wasted by misunderstandings and misinformation. The story made me feel sad at times and happy at other moments. Did I wish it ended differently? Yes and no, but I won’t say more and fall into spoiler territory.

I loved this book so much. I loved Dorothy and her nosey nature, Katt and her spunkyness, just every character in this book sings in all the right ways. This is a beautiful story about forgiveness, moving on, and realizing never to judge someone just by first impressions. It is fast paced, and the mystery is beautifully written. Getting the story from both Katt’s perspective and Dorothy's just allows both characters to truly shine. Readers are going to fall in love with the story, the characters, and the lesson. I am so excited to recommend this book really soon. It would be great for a summer read or even for a book club.
Thank you so very much to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read this stunning book.

It took me a little bit to get into this book, but once I did I was hooked. I am a fan of Freya Sampson for sure! I will highly recommend this to my patrons!

This was such a fun mystery! Kat and Dorothy were such opposites. It made them having to work together so much fun to read about. This book had tons of laugh out loud moments. There were also some emotional ones that gave a lot more insight into who the tenants were. While Dorothy starts out as unlikeable, I found myself rooting for her in the end.

A fun cozy mystery, my first by Freya Sampson. The residents of Shelley House are a rag-tag bunch. The cantankerous elderly Dorothy keeps an eye on all comings and goings and scolds those who don't follow the rules. When a mysterious attack happens on a fellow resident, Dorothy thinks her trusty. diary will lead her to the culprit. She suspects all the other residents and as the mystery unfolds we learn a lot about this endearing cast of characters. Filled with clues and questions this book takes the reader on a journey filled with heart. Thank you to Berkley for the opportunity to read an early copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Even though it took me a long time to finish this book, this had nothing to do with how interesting the story.
Dorothy is a 70-something woman who has lived at Shelley House for over 30 years. Nobody truly likes her because she's always bothering the rest of the neighbours with things they don't really care about, specially because everyone just wants to mind their own business.
Kat is a young woman with a secret, who has just starting renting a room in the apartment of Joseph, a nice old man who also happens to be Dorothy's nemesis.
Then, the tenants find out they're all being evicted. Then, Joseph is attacked and is hospitalized. Then, there are a few suspicious visitors.
Who is responsible for the attack? Does it have something to do with the eviction or with the new girl that just arrived?

I loved this story, I loved the characters and I loved the alternating POVs between Kat and Dorothy. This was a great example of how important is to keep in mind everybody has their story, and we never know what is happening in people's hearts and minds.

Satisfying and heart-warming ending.
I would absolutely read more books by this author!

Nosy Neighbors is a fun romp through the secrets and scandals of Shelley House. This ragtag duo of snoops, led by the cantankerous yet lovable Dorothy Darling and the prickly Kat Bennett, is on a mission to save their historic building – and solve a crime in the process. Packed with humor, heart, and a mischievous Jack Russell terrier, this cozy mystery proves that when the walls have ears, it's best to have nosy neighbors! Four stars for the amazing blend of wit, camaraderie, and unexpected twists.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Kat and Dorothy are unlikely allies. They can't stand each other, but when there's a murder in the building and the building is facing demolition, they find they have common goals: solve the murder and save the building.

Can this unlikely duo save the day? The Nosy neighbors are on the case!

Oh Dorothy - you and your notebook.

Do you really think one of your neighbors attacked Charles and do you think your tabulation of things wrong with Shelley House and neighbor violations will keep them from tearing down the historic building?

You will LOVE both Dorothy and Kat and will laugh at what Dorothy records in her notebook and her thoughts about who the attacker was. She truly felt she was doing a good deed.

Dorothy has lived in Shelley House all of her life, and Kat is the newcomer who rented a room from Charles.

Kat is also a neighbor Dorothy wasn’t fond of UNTIL they worked on saving Shelley House together, and it still was a bit on the rough side.

Will they be able to save Shelley House?

Find out in this delightful, sweet, heartwarming, as well as heartbreaking read with lovable, eccentric characters that will make you laugh and make you cry.

If you are a fan of Freya’s books, you won’t want to miss NOSY NEIGHBORS. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Nosy Neighbors
by Freya Sampson
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Nothing brings neighbors together like someone else’s secrets… At Shelley House, the walls have ears, and they’re attached to a ragtag duo of
busybodies ready to pry, snoop, and generally annoy their neighbors into solving a crime.
This unlikely assortment of neighbors will have to band together if they have any hope of saving the historic Shelley House from demolition from an unscrupulous developer, Ferguson Alexander.

As eviction day nears, and things become dangerous, Dorothy and Kat must do something that neither one is comfortable doing-trust another person-each other-if they are to outwit and outlast Ferguson.

Once again, Freya Sampson has penned a delightful, COZY story of a community coming together, and written characters who will feel like friends by the end of the book!

4 stars

If you’re looking for a feel good book with characters who grow and learn, then pick up this book. Dorothy Darling is in her 70s and has lived in the crumbling, past its glory Shelley House for 34 years. She is that neighbor who tries to know everybody’s business. Then 25 year old Kat comes to (illegally) rent a room from Joseph right across the hall. When Shelley House faces demolition, Joseph tries to bring the tenants together to save their homes, but Dorothy and joseph have a secret, tragic past… Part cozy mystery and a little romance, this book has well drawn characters who are reckoning with their pasts and moving into the future. I will definitely be recommending this to my many friends who are looking for feel good books. This fits the bill.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Elderly resident Dorothy, knows all about her Shelley House neighbors and keeps track of their comings and goings. She is especially frustrated when her neighbors violate the rules and have no common sense compared to Dorothy's impeccable common sense. New occupant, the young Kat is particularly vexing to Dorothy but both love Shelley House and find themselves working together to protect their home from an "evil" landlord.

First of all, this cover is ADORABLE and second of all, I absolutely loved The Lost Ticket by this author. As a result, I did a little happy dance when I found out I was approved to read an early copy of Nosy Neighbors! Thank you Berkeley!!

Let’s meet the (sort of) merry group of neighbors living at Shelley House, shall we?

First up, we have 77-year-old Dorothy Darling who was giving me Ove vibes from the very start. She’s curmudgeonly and a total stickler for the rules, but you just know there’s something sweet buried way, way, way down beneath her tough exterior.

Next, there’s Joseph, an absolute doll, and his dog Reggie. Jospeh (illegally!!!) sublets his spare room to Kat, a young lady with pink hair.

Finally, there are a few other residents but you’ll meet them when you pick this one up!

Shortly after Kat moves in, the building is set to be demolished and the neighbors form unlikely bonds as they attempt to work together to save their historic home. Secrets are revealed, friendships are formed, and your heartstrings will receive a few swift tugs.

I sadly didn’t enjoy this nearly as much as The Lost Ticket. Both books were charming with added depth and emotion, but Nosy Neighbors got a little too depressing at times for what I’d hoped would be more of a feel good story. There were a few reveals that kind of gutted me and a few times the characters took things a little too far in my opinion. It also takes quite a while for some of these revelations to occur and I lost a bit of steam at times.

There’s a little mystery and a little romance but at its core this book is about community and connection. It’s well written and laugh out loud funny at times but I had quite a few near tear experiences, as well. Overall, I recommend this one but wish I had waited for the audiobook.

Quick warning about the 🐶 chapter 25: Princess is okay, but something very sad about another dog is mentioned.

"Nothing brings neighbors together like someone else's secrets... At Shelley House, the walls have ears, and they're attached to a ragtag duo of busybodies ready to pry, snoop, and generally annoy their neighbors into solving a crime.

Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling has lived in Shelley House longer than any of the other residents, and if you take their word for it, she's as cantankerous as they come. But Dorothy has her reasons for spying. And none of them require justifying herself to Kat Bennett.

Twenty-five-year-old Kat has never known a place where she felt truly at home, and crumbling Shelley House is no different. Her neighbors find her prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat's plagued by a guilty secret from her past.

When their apartments face demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy agree on just one thing: they must save their historic building. But when someone plays dirty - and one of the residents is viciously taken down - Dorothy and Kat seek justice. The police close the investigation too soon, leaving it up to the unlikely amateur sleuths - with a playful Jack Russell terrier at their side - to restore peace in their community."

Batteries Not Included meets Only Murders in the Building.

An unlikely group of six tenants will have to work together to save the historic Shelley House. A beautiful old apartment building from being destroyed by the owner.
The odd get will will also need to come together to figure out who seriously hurt another tenant.
Secrets to uncover, family drama, humor, mystery, kindness, heartwarming story of different people coming together.
So come take a ride with this eclectic group as they solve the puzzle pieces to get answers.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.