Unlikely Neighbor was just okay for me. I’m not big on romance novels, and this one reminded me why. The chemistry was there, but the forced drama felt unnecessary and didn’t add much to the story. Some deeper issues were mentioned but not explored. It wasn’t terrible, just not very memorable.

I received a complimentary copy all opinions expressed are mine.

This book was totally unexpected it follows two opposites that fall for each other . It follows Holland who moves to a brownstone she inherited from a relative for a new start and ends up moving next door to Noble who is a successful ceo and a board member at her new job. Spreadsheets are not the only things flying between the two but also sparks. Its a perfect summer read.

Book 21 of 2025 - ☑️! Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin - Romance | Afterglow Books by Harlequin, and Renee Daniel Flagler for an ARC & ALC of Unlikely Neighbors by Renee Daniel Flagler, and narrated by Keisa Parrish & Jamal West.

Unlikely Neighbors caught my eye because of its beautiful cover. In this dual-POV rom-com, Holland Davenport is used to a small-town life and ready to move into an apartment in Charleston, SC, when she’s notified that a distant relative has left her a brownstone in Brooklyn, NY. When she goes to NYC to clean out and renovate the home, she meets Noble Washington, her successful and attractive neighbor. Noble ends up losing his job in the midst of the Holland’s cleaning and renovation project, so the two continually spend time together. Though they seemingly come from different worlds, they find they have a lot in common, and in the process, fall for each other.

This was a quick and fun read, and I thought it was great to have adoption representation in the book. However, I was a bit thrown off by one of the twists - information the reader finds out about 2/3s of the way into the book regarding Holland; it felt like an interesting choice to make, as I felt like I was taken out of the story after that. Narrators Kesia Parrish and Jamal West did a lovely job of bringing the book to life. The steamier scenes start about 1/2 way through the book, and while they occasionally felt repetitive, I thought they were generally well-written.

3/5 ⭐️ s overall & 2.5/5 🌶️ . #NetGalley #UnlikelyNeighbors 🏢🍎🍕

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful book. The further into I got, the more invested I felt. I also really loved the side characters!

This wasn’t my favorite read, but I give it 3 stars because of the characters and their developments separate and apart. I wish the dialogue didn’t feel so choppy in places, and I wanted more chemistry between the MMC and FMC. I liked the setting and the tone of the story.

I thought this book had a good plot line from all the different twist that happened! However, some parts felt rushed and I felt as if the relationship was more physical at times than emotional. I do think this is a quick read for someone that loves neighborhood tropes!

On the cusp of turning 30, Holland has a medical scare that leads her to step out of her comfort zone and move away from her small town.
Noble's trajectory on life has unexpectedly been altered.
New neighbors Holland and Noble can't seem to fight their attraction. Noble is the handsome boy next door and Holland is the girl next door trying to figure out who she is.
I enjoyed this read. I would recommend to anyone who likes reading about family secrets and opposites that attract.

THis book was a fun cute beach read! I really enjoyed the characters as they were very relatable. It hooked me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of love and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a great quick read that dealt with some serious things like grief, heritage in the scope of adoption, career changes and two people who are rerally attracted to each other. Holland and Noble were great characters and I did enjoy readign them navigate the big changes happenign in their lives. I love a forced proximity romance and with the two now being neighbors, the story definitely delivered that. I will say that it was a little inst-lovey and if that's not you're thing, it may not stick but overall this was a great read. Definitely somegthing I would have picked for a beach day or just hanging outside.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

The characters become neighbors, which leads to romance. There is some substance in the storyline beyond the romance, but the pacing is off. In the last quarter of the book, the author throws in a lot of additional storylines or issues for the characters.

The MMC storyline was interesting and modern. The FMC storyline and backstory are cut straight from a Lifetime movie, so we've seen it before.

The spice is OK, not too spicy.

This is a basic romance, if you want an easy read with some substance, and a little spice, this is a good option.

Thank you to NetGalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.


This book was cute and was a great and simple romance. It was a really quick read, and the characters enjoyable together. I didn't have any all out connection with any character, and read more than felt but overall it was a good read!

This is a cute read. We meet Holly and Noble when both are in flux with their lives. Holly is moving away from the only small town she has ever known. Noble was just ousted as the CEO of the company he created. When Holly receives a mysterious envelope with an inheritance that includes a home in NYC she runs there to find out more about the family she never knew.


I loved the premise of this book. I found the family dynamic that Hally has with her mom and sister super believable. The only thing I wish is that I felt more for the characters. I didn’t really buy into Holly’s emotions or Noble’s struggles as much as I should have. I also didn’t really love how Holly was just over such a large betrayal by her mother. I think if there was a bit more connection to Holly maybe I could have understood that better.

If you thought you were signing up for a cutesy, Hallmark-style neighbor romance—surprise! Renee Daniel Flagler said, “Actually, let’s unpack generations of secrets, emotional trauma, and a man who could write a textbook on how to handle a soft-hearted woman with a spine of steel.” I devoured it.

Read If You Like:

🔑 Inheritance Surprise🧳 Small Town Girl in the Big City💼 Black CEO with a Bruised Ego🪞 Healing from Family Trauma🪴 Found Family Vibes🔥 Slow Burn to Steam

Blush Meter: 🔥🔥🔥 / 5

Oh, it gets steamy. But it’s the kind of steam that simmers beneath layers of vulnerability, honesty, and trust. When do they finally go there? Let’s just say it’s earned and it delivers.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25 / 5

This one hit me in the chest and in the feels. If you love introspective, layered romances that dig into the messiness of being human while also giving you a hero you want to marry and a heroine you’d protect at all costs—this one’s for you.

Unlikely Neighbor had no right to come in this quietly, look like a laid-back city romance, and then rip open my emotional floodgates with that level of depth. I picked it up thinking I’d get some cute bickering over property lines and a little brownstone banter. Instead, Renee Daniel Flagler served up generational secrets, emotional landmines, a heroine on the cusp of reinvention, and a Black man who finally lets himself break.

I ate it all the way up.

Holland Davenport is one of those protagonists you feel in your bones. She’s not flashy or overly polished—she’s real. She's a woman who’s just had a major health scare, a fractured relationship with her adoptive mother, and a mysterious inheritance dropped into her lap like an unmarked bombshell. Instead of hiding, she packs her bags, trades in Charleston charm for New York, and decides to renovate the dilapidated brownstone left behind by the great-aunt no one ever mentioned. (Suspicious? Oh, absolutely.)

From the minute Holland steps foot in that house, you know she’s in for more than some HGTV drama. There’s grief in those walls. Silence, secrets, and the sharp kind of sadness that comes from not knowing your roots. But there’s also Noble Washington—her next-door neighbor, literal CEO in crisis, and walking reminder that not all men crumble under pressure.

He’s smart, successful, slightly broody in that “I don’t know who I am without my job” kind of way, and the man has range. He shows up for Holland. Gently. Respectfully. But not passively. He challenges her and lets himself be challenged. We love a king who knows when to listen and when to speak.

Their chemistry? It’s not insta-lust fireworks—it’s more like a smoldering burn that starts in the bones and works its way outward. At first, they circle each other, guarded but curious. Holland doesn’t know who to trust. Noble’s still reeling from corporate betrayal. But somehow, through quiet breakfasts, hallway glances, and heart-heavy confessions, they find each other in the middle of their respective storms. This is not your typical neighbor romance.

It’s about grief. About complicated mothers who withhold the truth to protect themselves. About adoption and identity and the messy work of piecing yourself together when everything you thought you knew comes undone. Holland’s storyline with her mother? Whew. Triggering in all the right ways. If you've ever dealt with a narcissist or someone who emotionally weaponizes silence—prepare to feel seen. And then angry. And then vindicated.

Because Holland doesn’t just endure—she evolves. Slowly. Painfully. But beautifully.

What I appreciated most was how Flagler balances the romance with the emotional journey. It’s not all plot twists and parentage drama. There are sweet, flirty moments too. There’s banter, mutual respect, actual conversations about feelings (imagine!), and yes—spicy scenes that are both earned and HOT.

New York, too, plays a starring role here. It’s gritty and charming, with neighbors who low-key mind their business but also kind of look out for each other. The community is vivid and lived-in, like the kind of place where even the corner deli guy knows your name and your drink order.

Final Thoughts:

Unlikely Neighbor is for the reader who wants romance with depth. For the girlies who want their happily-ever-after to come with a little heartbreak, a lot of healing, and a man who shows up with emotional intelligence and a deep voice.

This story is about choosing the harder path because it leads to freedom. It’s about learning to forgive without forgetting. About honoring your own pain, even when the world tells you to smile through it. And ultimately, it’s about building something—whether that’s a brownstone or a brand new life—with someone who sees all your cracks and still chooses to stay.

Would I recommend it? Yes.

Would I forgive my mom if she pulled what Holland’s mom did? Hmm… jury’s still out.

Do I now want to move to New York and fall in love with my emotionally mature neighbor? Obviously.

Renee Daniel Flagler gave us a grown woman’s romance—raw, healing, and heartfelt.Keep your Hallmark. I’ll take the busted brownstone and a man named Noble any day 🫣🤪.

Until the next swoon-worthy story… happy reading and happy romancing! 💕

Dust, Drama, and a Dash of Desire!

Can’t believe I’ve fallen so far behind on picking up these adorable spring and summer reads—but wow, this one completely revived my reading spirit. It was exactly what I needed. Over the past two weeks, I’ve genuinely remembered how much I love getting lost in a good book, and this one absolutely added to that joy. It was such a satisfying, heartwarming read from start to finish.

One of the things I appreciated most was how the author brought Holland and Noble together—not through flashy drama, but as two emotionally mature adults who happened to be at pivotal crossroads in their lives. Watching them navigate job changes, complicated family dynamics, and growing emotional vulnerability while figuring out their feelings for each other was both engaging and deeply touching.

The chemistry between them was palpable, and I loved how their intimate moments were written—sensual and evocative without tipping into the overly explicit, which felt just right for the tone of the story. It gave their connection an authenticity that made their romance feel truly earned.

I also really enjoyed the secondary mystery thread involving Holland’s family, especially as it played out through the cleaning and renovation of her inherited home. It added a layer of depth and intrigue that balanced nicely with the romance. The cast of side characters brought so much warmth and charm to the story—well, except for that mom figure (not the biological one), who made my blood pressure rise a bit. Still, the rest of the supporting characters added richness and community to Holland and Noble’s world in a way that made it all feel real and lived-in.

What I loved most, though, was the emotional growth each character experienced. Holland and Noble both took meaningful steps toward self-discovery and improved communication, showing that it’s never too late to learn, change, and open your heart. Their happily ever after felt well-deserved, and watching them arrive at it was incredibly satisfying.

This was my first time reading anything by this author, and it definitely won’t be my last. I’m excited to dive into more of her work soon!

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a quick, cute, sweet read. It gave me whatbi needed in a romance. Some steamy parts, a lil plot, and black love. I cant say I connected with the characters that much. I felt there were times that it felt like I was being told they were into each other as opposed to being shown, that they were feeling each other. Suffered from a little insta love. But over all a a good romance book. I would try more by this author. Thank you netgalley and harlequin for the gifted copy.

I wanted to love this one but I had a hard time engaging with the story. It was slower than I was expecting and took a long time to get to what I was expecting from the summary.

I liked that this book wasn't one dimensional!

Both Holland and Noble had individual stories that were intriguing.

I wasn't fond of the pace of the book. It felt like the couple's personal stories were "dragged" out while their developing romance felt rushed.

In some parts of the book their time together seemed rushed which made the relationship feel inorganic.

I thought the ending was well done and wouldn't mind seeing this story being a part of a series.

Special thanks to the publisher, author, and netgalley.com for providing the ARC copy this book!

I'm giving Unlikely Neighbors 3.5 stars. It's an easy & quick romance read. I liked the premise of the romance blossoming between neighbors. Some of the plot points were very perdictible but the author still had a few plot twists to reveal. I felt all the story lines weren't wrapped up in the end, somethings seemed to need a little more detail to wrap up. It seemed to end a little abruptly. The steamy scenes pulled me in but some of the word choices were a bit off putting. Overall I enjoyed the characters & the story.

Holland Davenport leaves her small-town life behind after unexpectedly inheriting a dilapidated Brooklyn brownstone from a mysterious relative, determined to uncover her family’s past and start fresh. Her plans get complicated when she meets her swoon-worthy next-door neighbor, Noble Washington—who also happens to be a powerful board member at her new job. As sparks fly and boundaries blur, Holland and Noble must navigate their undeniable connection despite the walls between their worlds.