I enjoyed the a curmudgeonly snoop in flat #2, the quirky pets and the cozy mystery in this heartwarming story of found family in a London apartment building. 3.5 stars

Thanks to Berkley Publishing for the copy to review.

A narrative that is not what I was expecting. From the cover art and description, I was thinking banter and whimsey and that’s not what the story is about.

Dorothy Darling evokes memories of Britt-Marie from Fredrik Backman’s novels. She’s the woman in the window flicking her curtain, making notes in her journal, and sending endless letters to the management company.

Then there is Kat, a twenty-something with secrets. She returned to the area after a teenage incident forced her to flee. Now, as a tenant renting a room, she befriends Dorothy and gets into the middle of the snooping escapades.
But here’s the twist: Nosy Neighbors isn’t the slapstick comedy its cover suggests. Instead, it’s a tale of sadness and depression.

As Dorothy and Kat team up, the story unfolds into a blend of mystery, camaraderie, and unexpected connections. The apartment house becomes a microcosm of life, where secrets simmer and unlikely friendships blossom.

So, don’t judge this book by its cover. Beneath the projected quirkiness lies something darker.

Thank you to Berkley for my review copy.

I wouldn't label this as a mystery, but it does have some mystery elements to it in solving what happened to one of the residents. This one is definitely more of a cozy found family with a side mystery. This one was also relatively heartbreaking, and I honestly didn't think I was going to feel so attached at a couple points.

The characters were aggravatingly human, and their flaws made them both funny and irritating. Dorothy was so stubborn, so I was happy to see her get the chance to really come alive in this and get drawn out of her self-imposed isolation.

Each resident at Shelley house was so different and it was particularly fun when they all really started interacting together, I found myself becoming much more invested.

I shouldn't have requested this book on NetGalley - cozy mystery books aren't for me, but I was going to give this one a try anyway after hearing good things about it. After reading about 5% I am just not engaged at all and am going to DNF. Thank you so much for the ARC, hopefully others who enjoy this genre will really enjoy this book!

Thank you so much @BerkleyPub for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 02 April 2024)

SYNOPSIS | Shelley House is a historic building under threat of demolition. The tenants don't always see eye-to-eye, but they agree that they don't want to be displaced from their home.
Dorothy (a seventy-seven-year-old cantankerous lady who is also the longest resident) + Kat (a prickly illegal subtenant) band together to try and save the property.

WHAT I LIKED:
- the teamwork between Kat + Dorothy (despite their interactions often being somewhat awkward)
- all the cozy vibes, but with complex characters and an emotionally charged plot
- the interpersonal relationships between all of the characters really shone through
- slowly discovering more about Kat + Dorothy's backstories as the story progressed
- the epilogue was lovely

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- how Joseph's attacker storyline ended
- Fergus was basically a caricature of an evil villain

Hm, I haven't read this author before, so I was kind of blind when I read it. And I have some mixed feelings regarding it. First, I don't hate the book, but it took me awhile to get into it. Second, I don't know why, but the beginning took forever. I couldn't get it at all. I kept getting bored until the middle, and that's with pausing multiple times. Third, I found the older main character annoying. I could not stand her. The redeeming wasn't that redeeming.

Kat is guarded and constantly on the move when she sublets a room at the crumbling Shelley House, in the town where her grandfather's farm was and where her life changed when she was 10. Kat keeps to herself but her neighbors are trying to fight their eviction, since Shelley House is due to be demolished. Dorothy has lived in Shelley House for decades and designated herself the protector of the house and when one of the neighbors is attacked, Dorothy tries to find out what happened and drags Kat along with her. Overall, a story about a group of people trying to keep their home and the relationships that help support them. Both Dorothy and Kat have something in their past that is still causing them to feel guilt and although it was eventually explained, it did make for some aggravating introspection at times.

NOSY NEIGHBORS by Freya Sampson (The Lost Ticket) is another heartwarming adventure about forming a community. The story is set in London, most often taking place in Shelley House on Poet's Road – an aged Victorian converted to flats where seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling has lived for over thirty years. Across the landing lives Joseph Chambers who (accompanied by his dog Reggie) forms a one-man campaign against plans to tear down the house and replace it with a new development. Joseph is older, too, and takes in a boarder, pink-haired twenty-something Kat Bennett. There are a total of six flats and each of the other residents – Gloria, Tomasz, an unnamed anti-social young man, and a father and daughter – is preoccupied with his or her own issues. Gradually they come to know and care for each other. A special bond forms between Dorothy and Kat, but that is sorely tested by some tragic circumstances from the past. Overall, this is an uplifting read where initially lonely and confused characters grow and learn to support each other. Along the way, they solve a mystery or two while working hard at redeeming Shelley House. Book groups take note: discussion questions are included.

Heartwarming story of a community coming together to save one of their own or a house, both ?
Two neighbors-at-war band together to stop a dangerous criminal in their midst in this enthralling new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Ticket. Twenty-five-year-old Kat Bennett has never felt at home anywhere, and especially not in crumbling Shelley House. According to her neighbors, she's prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat is plagued by guilt from her past. Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling is Shelley House's longest resident, and if you believe the other tenants, she's as cantankerous and vindictive as they come. Except there's a good reason Dorothy spends her days spying on her neighbors—a closely guarded secret that no else knows and the reason Dorothy barely leaves her beloved home. When their building faces demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy become unlikely allies in their quest to save their historic home. But when someone starts to play dirty and viciously targets one of the residents, Dorothy and Kat suspect foul play in their community. After the police close the investigation, it's up to this improbable pair to bring a criminal to justice..
Dorothy and Kat are wildly different, the other residents are spectacular side characters, A book that had me gripped and just rooting for everybody. I love these people and the community they are slowly building. Now I need an epilogue five years out …

Nosy Neighbors tells the story of a group of people who inhabit apartments within the same building. Both the inhabitants and the building have seen better days. Throughout the course of the story, the inhabitants are being forced from their homes by a selfish landlord, who wants to destroy the building and build a more lucrative building; but the story is much more than that. It’s a study of misunderstandings and misguided grief. The characters are very well fleshed-out, although there are moments when their actions, or inactions, stumble. I thoroughly enjoyed the story as an example of ‘you never know what’s going on behind closed doors’.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 3.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: mystery 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
This one was okay, I enjoyed it was it was a little slow for me

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Only Murders in the Building vibes
Cozy mysteries
Found family
Quirky characters
British reads
Slow burn
Dual POV
Heartwarming with a side of humor
Side of romance

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
I loved all the characters

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Slow throughout
Predictable

77 year old Dorthy has been living at Shelley House for decades. She keeps track of everything that goes on inside and outside of the building. When the land lord decides to demo the building to make new apartments, the tenets get together to fight back. However the main person rallying everyone together has been found unconscious in his flat…who did it?

I loved this book from start to finish! This is a great cozy mystery that had multiple plot points going on. I really enjoyed the pace and the writing of this book. The author does a fantastic job portraying each character and their personalities. This book goes between two characters points of view and it flows well. I thought the plot was interesting and so were the twists and turns along the way. It was a fun read!

I began reading expecting the labelled Mystery and Suspense genre, but to me it didn’t seem even close to that. The dual classification is Women’s Fiction. If you enjoy comical British cozy- (cosy) style novels, this may be your cup of tea. The camaraderie of two women, elderly Dorothy and younger Kat, to protect their historic building was charming. I appreciate receiving an Advance Readers Copy from the publisher, through NetGalley.

I have read other books from Sampson in the past and enjoyed them, so I was excited to read her latest. She did not disappoint. I absolutely adored the diverse cast of characters, including Reggie. There is depth and growth to the characters, particularly Dorothy and Kat. I appreciated that the backstory for the characters was woven throughout instead of just one big info dump. The story is well written, and I was thoroughly engaged and hated to have to put the book aside. Themes of community and forgiveness are key, and there is a small mystery to keep the readers guessing, as well. Alternating POV's (Dorothy and Kat) give the reader a well-rounded picture. There are numerous subplots involving the other characters, but it is not overwhelming. They all serve a purpose. The storyline may leave the reader pondering whether or not they make snap judgments on people without really knowing the person or the reasons behind their actions. Sensitive subjects (such as grief, addiction, abuse, and loneliness) are handled with compassion. This heartwarming book makes me look forward to future books from Sampson.

I initially wanted to read this book because of the fun and inviting cover! In this book, you meet a lot of interesting characters with lots of secrets. It’s a charming book that features the found family trope, with residents of the building coming together during a hard time where they potentially face eviction. It’s definitely not the “mystery” mystery book, but it is enjoyable and entertaining.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A cute, cozy British novel about a group of dissimilar neighbors coming together to save their building from demolition. It has a bit of everything- inter-generational friendships, a little romance, a dash of mystery, and a dog. A great choice to read when you just need a gentle "hug" of a book.

What started out as a cozy mystery soon became a delightful story of unlikely heroes and unlikely friendships. The Shelley House is facing demolition, and its inhabitants go from distant neighbors banding together to try to fight the developer trying to take it down. As the residents learn more about each along the way, they find they have more in common with each other and they each learn a life lesson about forgiveness either for themselves or each other along the way. The main character Dorothy is charming in that grumpy kind of way and also a bit humorous. This book will have you cheering for them all the way to the end. It was charming, entertaining, and just heartwarming.

I am a long time fan of Up Lit and Freya Sampson has added another gem to this genre with Nosy Neighbors! The whole building of curmudgeonly tenants coming together for a common goal, and person, was heartwarming and life affirming. This novel resulted in my Google search history littered with results for "dilapidated mansion flat rentals in the English countryside."

⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars! Freya Sampson's books always have a motley crew of characters who eventually become close friends as they finally put aside their differences. This book reads like a cozy mystery. I had a hard time getting into the eBook but had a better time with the audio version.

As a nosy gal who wants all the tea, this book looked like it was going to be a fun read! Unfortunately, it was a DNFFN (DNF for now).

Dorothy is an old gal who is stuck in her ways. She wants everything to go her way and catalogs all the happenings at Shelley house.

Kat has never found her footing in the world. She has never found the place to call home and spends only a few weeks at each location.

The pair have teamed up to solve a mystery in their building since the cops have closed the case.

This book has so much potential but was a bit slow for me as you are slowly finding out every tenants secrets. I will absolutely be picking this up in the future and giving it another chance. If you're a cozy mystery person then I think this would be right up your alley!