Neighbors is one of my favorite tropes, so I loved that part. But overall this was just alright for me. I think there were a few too many heavy topics so it felt like there wasn’t enough time spent on each one, as well as not enough time on the romance, for me to fully connect with them.

I did quite enjoy both narrators and will definitely listen to other audiobooks by them!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unlikely Neighbors is a beautifully crafted romance that completely captured my heart. From the start, I was drawn into the lives of these characters and the unexpected bond that forms between them. The romance is tender yet passionate, with emotional depth that adds a genuine sense of realism to their relationship.

What makes this novel stand out is the subtle thread of mystery woven throughout the story, along with a series of well-executed twists that kept me turning pages. The conflict isn’t just surface-level drama—it’s rooted in the characters’ emotional journeys, making their growth and resolution all the more satisfying.

There’s a lot happening in this book, but it never feels overwhelming. Every layer adds to the richness of the story. I truly enjoyed this read and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a romance with depth, heart, and just the right amount of intrigue.

This book had a little bit of everything. Death of an unknown family member, finding out family secrets, found families, finding your own inner strengths, and of course because it is a romance book, the awesome neighbor.
There were some parts of this book that felt a little long, but everything fit and it was generally a cool story with characters that were fun to spend time with.

In Unlikely Neighbors, Renee Daniel Flagler delivers a heartfelt, thought-provoking story that explores the surprising bonds that can form when lives unexpectedly collide. Set against the backdrop of complex social dynamics and personal struggles, this audiobook brings warmth, resilience, and a powerful message about community, understanding, and the ties that transcend circumstance.

Flagler’s storytelling shines through compelling characters whose worlds couldn’t seem further apart—until fate places them side by side. What unfolds is a rich narrative of empathy, transformation, and the realization that sometimes the people we least expect can make the biggest difference in our lives.

The audiobook format adds an extra layer of intimacy, with vivid narration that brings each character’s voice to life, immersing listeners in every emotional beat and quiet revelation.

Unlikely Neighbors is a moving listen—timely, sincere, and full of heart. Perfect for fans of contemporary fiction that inspires while it entertains.
5/5 stars!!! Excellent, and fast read.

This was such a cute story! Two neighbors meet each other while at very different points in their lives. Holland find out that her great aunt has passed and she heads to NY to renovate and sell her great aunt's brownstone. Holland was adopted, so she's hoping to learn more about her birth family while she's in NY.

Nobel is at a pivotal point in his life as he is ousted as CEO of his company and trying to decide what's next. What a book boyfriend! He was so patient and caring.

There are so many deep topic explored in this love story. We see Holland work through some very hard issues surrounding grief, deceit, and family belonging. The delicate balance between romance and personal self discovery had me invested in the main characters and how their story would play out. While I loved the characters and the romance, I didn't love the narrators. They weren't the right people to bring these characters to life.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Two women. One fence. A thousand unspoken stories.

Unlikely Neighbors is a beautifully woven tale of friendship, forgiveness, and finding common ground in the most unexpected places. Renee Daniel Flagler crafts characters that feel real—flawed, fierce, and full of heart. What begins as tension between neighbors unfolds into a touching journey of healing, growth, and shared humanity.

It’s tender without being saccharine, powerful without preaching, and timely in all the ways that matter. A quiet but compelling reminder that sometimes, opening your door is the first step to opening your heart

Cute love story following to neighbors Holland who is an adopted country girl who in inherits a house from her deceased biological aunt & Noble Washington an entrepreneur from Brooklyn,NY.

When Holland cleans out her aunts house she discovers there is more than she bargains for buried there. She meets Noble and they hit it off. Noble also has to deal with strained familial relationships.

I wish Holly wasn’t as stubborn but the author provides sufficient reasoning as to why the character behaves the way she does. I think the FMC was relatable with not wanting to lose themselves in a relationship while trying to figure out her life. I’m happy both characters were able to reestablish relationships with their respective families.

Overall enjoyed the listening experience. Do wish the MMC narrator was a tad bit more emotive w his voice. Would read & recommend this author & book.

Such a great read with an unexpected twist!

Holland was looking for a much needed fresh start in Charleston when an inherited brownstone in Brooklyn falls into her lap. Already having things in motion for Charleston, she heads to Brooklyn to fix up the brownstone with the intention to sell it. But then she meets Noble Washington, her next door neighbor and thinks maybe she doesn't have to sell the house after all! While cleaning out the brownstone, she finds clues to her past that she never would've thought possible. Confronted with new truths has her questioning everything she thought she ever knew. Is selling the house and moving on the better option? Or should she stay and settle with the new truths?

Noble Washington is the CEO of a company he created. Until he isn't. Why has this happened? How? Left reeling after losing his job, he gets lost in getting to know his next door neighbor. What better distraction than a beautiful & smart woman? Dealing with his own family issues, he takes solace in being able to talk to Holland. He has never felt this kind of connection before, so he decides to just go with it. Looking into new jobs him & Holland happen to land in the same place but company rules dictate no fraternization between employees/board members.

Will this be the thing that completely keeps them apart? Holland is already on the fence about <i>everything</i> since her truth finding mission. Where will they stand now? Will they be able to move forward despite their challenges?

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC.

This was very cute!! I loved the MCs and the fact that they knew what they wanted and didn’t play any games. The spice was a pleasant surprise that I wasn’t expecting based on the cover. I’d love to read more from this author.

Unlikely Neighbors
By: Renee Daniel Flagler

The vibes:
- both main characters on a journey to find themselves in different ways
- social worker / counselor + CEO in the process of finding his next career path
- instant connection
- protective & helpful MMC

I enjoyed this book! Holland is looking for answers about her biological family and meets Noble who was just let go from his own company and is looking for answers of his own in where to go with his career next. They met on the streets of New York and it was an instant connection! There were some parts of the story that were extremely significant but it felt as though they were brushed by a tad, especially involving Holland’s family dynamics (biological family vs. adoptive mother), Noble’s career situation, and the situation with his dad. Those aspects affected the score I gave but overall it was a sweet story of self discovery and falling in love!

Thank you to NetGalley & the author for access to this ARC in return for my honest review!

This was an enjoyable read. I will say the bit of loss in the book touched slightly too close to home but I loved this book. I loved the characters and the progression of their love story. There were parts that shocked and and a few parts that made me legit laugh out loud. Tha narration was so so so good!

I gave it 4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a change to listen to this book in advance for my honest opinion

"Unlikely Neighbors" by Renee Daniel Flagler is a story about self-discovery and family dynamics. The chemistry between Holland and Noble was dreamy. I did like that the characters’ personal journeys were the main focus of the story. The pacing for the first 75% of the book was great but the ending felt rushed. The audiobook was a delightful listen and I highly recommend. Overall, this was a delightful quick read that had more depth than I expected.
Thank you to NetGallery and Harlequin Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

"Unlikely Neighbors" by Renee Daniel Flagler is such a great read! The characters feel real, and the story pulls you in from the start. It’s the kind of book that keeps you turning pages because you just want to see how everything unfolds. The writing is smooth, and there’s a perfect mix of emotion, romance, and personal growth. It’s one of those books that leaves you feeling satisfied but also wishing you could spend more time with the characters. Definitely worth picking up if you love a heartfelt romance!

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! The narration in this one was so good and engaging! Definitely worth the read!

4⭐️ If you like found family, family healing, big city romance, and opposites attract; you’ll want to give this one a read. Holland wants to make it in a bigger city. She’s got a plan, but it doesn’t include handling the estate of a family member she never knew. As she decides what to do with the money pit brownstone, she meets Noble. The attraction is instant. He’s a strong and confident man on the outside, but he too has his struggles. The company he built is laying him off. Now he needs to figure out next steps.

4⭐️s to the narration by Keisa Parrish and Jamal West. I really enjoyed them as a team telling Holland’s and Noble’s story.

Thank you to @netgalley @harlequinbooks @harlequin_audio and @reneedanielflagler for the opportunity to read and review.

🎧 Audiobook +📗 eBook: Unlikely Neighbors-a standalone

Cover: love POC rep!

✍🏾 Author: Renee Daniel Flagler-new to me author

📃Page Count: 288

📅Publication date: 4/1/25 | Read: 3/27/25

🏃🏾‍➡️Run Time: 7:13

🌎 Setting: Florence, SC to Brooklyn, NY

👆🏾POV: 1st person dual

Genre: AA Interests, Contemporary Romance

Tropes: small town/city, opposites attract, inheritance, next door neighbor

⚠️TW: kidnapping, adoption, foster kids, breast cancer, alcoholism, death of family members, parental abandonment

🗣️Narrator: Keisa Parrish and Jamal West voice all the characters with standouts from Noble and Holland. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrators worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrators paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.


Summary: Holland has inherited a brownstone in Brooklyn from her great aunt-whom she never met. Ms. Elsie and Noble are both her neighbors and knew her Aunt Goldie. While renovating the place to sell it, Holland and Noble become friends and lovers. Holland is faced with the decision - follow her heart in the big city or return to the slow Southern life she knows?


👩🏾 Heroine: Holland Davenport-29, social worker, adopted
👨🏾 Hero: Noble Washington-30, CEO of Push beverage company

🎭 Side Characters:
*Tim Billin-Noble's father figure/mentor
*Aunt Goldie Mar Williamson-gifts Holly her brownstone
*Patience-Holly's adopted sister
*Amy-Holly's BFF
* Tyler Keen-Noble's BFF
*Yona Reeves-Holly's birth mother
*Patricia-Holly's adoptive mother
*Miss Elsie-neighbor who knew Holly's family

🤔 My Thoughts: This story brings up the desperation to be a mother with Patricia. Adoption and foster children were represented by Holland and Patience. Noble had father issues that hit home for me. Not having a relationship with him left a void in Noble's life, and I loved their reconciliation.

Range of Emotions 😊😭🤣😔
*Spice: 4/5 🌶️
*Emotion: 5/5 🥲
*Couple: 4/5 🧑‍🤝‍🧑
*Rating: 4/5 ⭐

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin-Romance |Afterglow Books by Harlequin, Harlequin Audio, and Renee Daniel Flagler for this ARC & ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

I really liked this audiobook, the narrators were great and it held my attention. I didn’t overly connect with any of the characters. Overall 3/5. Thanks for the listen!

There was a lot about this book that I liked.

Holland was adopted when she was young and has always had questions about who she is. While she’s preparing to uproot her small town life to move to Charleston, SC, she receives a letter from a law office in New York City. Her biological great aunt has passed away and left her with a house in Brooklyn.

Noble was the CEO of a successful energy drink company until the board pushed him out in hopes of bringing in seasoned talent with new ideas. Upset after everything that happened, the only thing that’s brought a little light to his life is the beautiful, curvy southern belle who has temporarily moved into the house next door to prepare it for market.

There were a few shocking revelations that kept me entertained while reading, but I also spent a lot of time rolling my eyes. The way Noble talked about Holland sometimes just made me uncomfortable. That might just be a me thing, I don’t know. Would I read it again, probably not, but I do think the book was good and there’s definitely a market for it.

📚 3/5
🌶️ 2.5/5

DNF'ed - not loving the CEO boy-boss energy of the MMC happening and really not in the right headspace to listen to him talk about the billionaires I hate in the US currently. Also not loving either narration and calling it quits.

Great for newbies to the romance genre

Both characters in here were very relatable and cute. I love the premise of living in the same building too.
Great meet cute and great side characters.

I just needed more longing more emotional investment.