A cute romance that made the perfect light read with everything going on in the real world right now.
I flew through it in one sitting and I was invested in the characters quickly enough to care about them and the outcome.'


Thank you Netgalley!

I was in the mood for a bit of feel-good fiction and as Kathryn Freeman is always guaranteed to put a smile on my face I picked up her new book, Mr Right Across the Street. What an absolute delight to read! I devoured this gorgeous novel over a weekend, laughing, growling (at Freya) and even crying along the way.

Mia must be the most honest and true to herself character I have ever come across; she is a self-confessed geek and what you see is what you get. I absolutely loved her! She may be running away from a failed relationship but she is so brave to move 200 miles away from her home in Somerset to Manchester, where she doesn't know a single person.

Rather like the Diet Coke break advert, Mia is treated to a free hunky man show every day at 10am when the guy across the street works out in his spare room. Mia gets a much closer look than she expected when she goes out one evening and finds the same guy behind the bar of her local. Luke is quite the charmer with his patrons but Mia is very guarded and takes his flirting with a pinch of salt until he starts sticking sheets of paper up in his window with messages for her. How cute!

With a handful of insecurities and a bucket-load of misunderstandings, I watched Mia and Luke's relationship transform from friendship to love. As I was reading I felt like I was sitting in The Bar Beneath sipping cocktails and making friends with the regulars. They are such a lovely, friendly crowd even though a good proportion of them have some kind of history with Luke. It made me think how a lot of women these days tend to look the same with their tight black dresses, blonde curls and pink pouts so no wonder Mia stood out from the crowd with her geeky t-shirt, Converse and green stripes in her hair. As least Luke can get a good idea of what she looks like on a morning and she won't leave orange streaks of foundation on his pillow.

Mr Right Across the Street is fabulous feel-good fiction from the Queen of Smiles, Kathryn Freeman. I can't help but read her books with a smile on my face and joy in my heart. Humourous, heart-warming and just plain cute, Mr Right Across the Street is perfect escapism and just what we all need right now. A virtual hug in a book; thank you Kathryn!

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

After escaping a bad relationship, Mia Abbott is determined to make a fresh start in Manchester however, making new friends doesn't come easily especially when you live alone. Mustering all her courage, Mia goes to the local bar, aptly named The Bar Beneath and is embarrassed to see that the bloke who lives in the apartment opposite her, the one she's been ogling every morning as he does his morning exercise routine, works in the bar and is perhaps the most attractive man she's seen in a long time. Luke Doyle's attraction to Mia is immediate but with his track record of loving, and leaving, a trail of women, Mia is, quite naturally, reluctant to be anything other than friends with this hunky barman.

I raced through Mr Right Across the Street over the space of a grey afternoon and immediately felt at ease with all the lovely characters who flit into and out of the story. I especially enjoyed observing how Luke and Mia's relationship gradually progressed and the lovely way they began to open up and trust each other. It was great to have a story set in Manchester, a city I know well, so I could easily follow as Luke introduces Mia, on a series of 'non-dates', to what what this splendid northern city has to offer.

One thing is guaranteed, Kathryn Freeman always writes a really good story. She captures the light hearted romantic mood with consummate ease and leads you into a story which not only sizzles with passion, but which also highlights the trepidation of starting over, and the uncertainty of learning to trust again. Mr Right Across the Street is an entertaining 'will they, won't they' romance between two really likeable characters who charm their way into your heart right from the start.

This is a sweet, romantic read. It’s a classic “girl meets boy” story but I did get a little frustrated by the length of the novel and frequent set backs that the couple experienced.

As we all know, the true path of love never runs smooth and this is exactly what the writer portrays in this story. On the one hand we have Mia who has been burned by past relationships, leaving her with serious trust issues. Luke, the love interest, seems to be the local Romeo who has bedded more women than Mia can keep up with. This just leads to her complete mistrust of Luke, intending for nothing more than a friendship with the handsome bartender.

Naturally, feelings develop beyond friendship, despite both Mia and Luke trying to avoid it. Along the way, there’s many hiccups that prove to be setbacks to their growing relationship. Some were too obvious and I wish the writer had omitted some of these because it did feel like the story was never going to reach a conclusion! I think because it was so clear that the two characters were going to end up together, I was anticipating a punchier closing.

Mia’s vulnerability and lack of trust was equally believable yet frustrating. I love the romantic concept of messaging on paper signs in windows. It’s like old-fashioned texting! Mia is extremely reluctant to pass out her mobile number, hence this unorthodox way of communicating with Luke. This theme added a light-hearted atmosphere which was emphasised further by the fun, non-dates that Luke takes Mia on around Manchester. However, I did want Mia to grow up a little bit and appreciate what she had with Luke; thank goodness for cranky Stan who gives her a talking to!

The supporting characters are all lovely and add to the feel-good feeling of this story. It was lovely to watch Mia and Luke’s relationship develop, even if it was inevitably a bit steamy in places! Banter between characters made me chuckle and I did feel right at home in Luke’s vibrant cocktail bar.

If you need convincing that true love is out there, then I think this book does just that! The two characters are meant to be together – they just need to get over themselves and learn from their past errors in the first place.

With thanks to One More Chapter, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mr Right Across The Street was a fun, entertaining read. I love books set in the UK, since the stories have a little bit of everything in them - friendship, love and humor. This book was just that. It was sweet, and hella cheesy too!!! 😍 Even though I liked a lot of things about Mia and Luke's story, I ended up having mixed feelings about the book as a whole. Keep reading to know more my thoughts!

I  think the concept of a love story between two people who live across the street from one another is the cutest thing ever.  The author executed this plotline in the best way possible. We get to see Mia and Luke gradually fall in love after their meet-cute in Luke's bar one day. Their chemistry was undeniable from their first meet, and it kept growing as the story went on. I lived for their witty banter and humor-filled conversations. :') 🧡 The side characters added their own charms to the storyline too, and I loved reading about them! Luke and Mia's relationship wasn't all about rainbows and butterflies though. Mia's insecurities and trust issues were two of the main features of Mr Right Across The Street. It was interesting to see how Luke and Mia navigated their issues and solved them as a couple. 

What I didn't like about the book : I'm not a fan of "I'm not like other girls" trope at all. Frankly, it kind of feels insulting that people of the same gender would feel superior/inferior since they're not interested in things like fashion and beauty like "other girls". 🤦‍♀️Mr Right Across the Street over-emphasized on this trope, and that's where I got disappointed. Mia's insecurities for being a "nerd" and always assuming that Luke might not feel the same way about her just because of that, got on my nerves multiple times throughout the story. 

Overall, I loved the romance and plot of Mr Right Across the Street - but I really wished it focused on a different theme other than a very clichéd one. 3.45/5 ⭐

Who would think that texting the old-fashioned way would be so romantic? Notes in the window to the girl in the flat opposite his seems to be working, but what does he do once she accepts his offer?

Mia has been burned one too many times by guys she trusted and then broke her heart. Her self-confidence is crap, her trust is non-existent, and she's lonely as hell in a new place with few friends. But as she gets comfortable in Manchester her new friends list grows including her 67-year-old neighbor and wingman, Stan, the cafe owner, Naomi, who has the hots for her grumpy neighbor, Sandy the outspoken waitress, and of course the gorgeous hot bar owner, Luke. As Luke charms Mia, she lets down her defenses only to be stunned by a big secret that could make or break their relationship.

At first, Luke's cocky and womanizing ways turned me off and disappointed me, but as his sad story unfolds and he reveals the truly good man he is, I couldn't wait to see how he wins Mia over. The notes in the window are genius and fun and I like how Mia turns him down and sticks to her guns to be friends only even though the chemistry is off the charts. The non-dates were fun and a good way for them to get to know each other as well.

As Mia and Luke deal with their personal insecurities and real-life issues such as professional choices and family dynamics, one takes pleasure in watching how they grow by tackling things together and falling in love. The story seemed slow at first, but for me, it picked up when Luke's story started to unfold, and then I couldn't wait for the HEA.

I was pleasantly charmed by the lovely storyline and the quirky characters, not to mention the hilarious dialogue.

Thank you to Ms. Freeman for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Mr Right Across the Street is a sweet story of Mia, a computer geek, and Luke, Mia's sexy, cool neighbour. The story is set in Manchester, so if you, like me, think that British rom-coms are the best, get the book and enjoy this slow-slow-burn romance.

Mia has recently moved to Manchester. She is missing her parents, her sister and her girlfriends, but she really needs to put some space between her and her mean, possessive ex who just won't stay away. What Mia needs now is friends and some time to reassess why she keeps going for Mr Wrongs. Luckily, Mia is a website designer, a job that can be done anywhere, including her living room, which also has a huge advantage of a very cute view.

Mia has been enjoying watching her hot neighbour across the street work out at 10am every day, until she decides to go to the nearest bar and here he is... Luke, the bartender / the bar owner. They chat and there's that special connection, also known as the spark. Only Mia doesn't trust herself to read the signals right, not when Luke seems to be very popular with local ladies. Does Mia need a player in her life? No, thank you! Is she willing to give her phone number and risk being stalked again- the answer is another NO. And then a handwritten poster-sized message appears in the window across the street, and another one, and Mia can't help herself responding...

The slow build-up of Luke and Mia's friendship-non-relationship-relationship was a bit frustrating. Yes, I know I said I love it when protagonists take things slowly and I am taking it back. At times Mia just drove me mad with her 'cool guys never fall for nerds in t-shirts and leggins' insecurites. On the plus side, we get to check out lots of cool places in Manchester, which is a fabulous setting for a rom-com.

Although not described as such by the blurb, this is an opposites-attract story. Mia is reserved, while Luke is a mix of charm, ready lines and hidden vulnerability. Mia is supposed to be thirty, but it felt as if she was younger and there was enough of 'I'm not like other girls' to make me feel uncomfortable. She looks beyond appearances in some cases and doesn't in others, but don't we all?
Her sister Elle was a real hoot and so was her neighbour Stan (the topic of loneliness in elderly people deserves a separate discussion). There were other interesting side characters I wish we'd seen more- Sandy, Phil, Mateo, Stan, Naomi, Grace- they made the story much more vivid and more enjoyable. An honourable mention for Pickles who melted my heart.

Great setting, interesting (although not perfect) characters and a lovely writing style, all of these make Mr Right Across the Street an entertaining read. Fans of Kathryn Freeman will be delighted with her 17th book!

Thank you so much to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources and Kathryn Freeman for providing me with a free eBook in exchange for an honest review!

Similar to Up Close and Personal, Mr Right Across the Street has a lot of feminist undertones that I can definitely get behind. The protagonist Mia Abbott has had her share of bad relationships and has moved to a new town in order to start her life anew. This time around she will focus on herself and protecting her privacy. Even if it means ignoring the attractive and charming bartender who lives across the street that has been trying desperately to get her attention.

The premise of sharing notes across windows (much like the Taylor Swift music video for You Belong With Me) is super freaking cute and I. Am. Here. For. It! On top of that, the two main characters, Mia and Luke, have excellent chemistry with their shared sense of humor and similar mindsets. At its heart, this book is about two adults who are only now coming to terms with who they are and what they want their lives to look like. And thankfully (since this is often too rare in books that I read) they have the endless support of friends and family to help them along the way.

They've both been burned by love.
They've both accepted that it's just not in the cards for them.
They're both finding a way to be happy with their lot in life.
They've both...been...wrong.

She had a hella crazy ex, along with a string of other bad choice exes, that have turned her heart from love. He had a chance at forever, but had his heart handed to him, and is still trying to staunch the wounds that simply won't heal. She buried herself in her work, ran away to a new town for a new start, and is trying to protect herself from any of love's mess ever again. He's the fun time guy that'll boost your ego, but dreams of the long-term variety best be forgotten. Lucky for both of them love can find you when you least expect it because boy oh boy does cupid strike gold with these two!

I admit it, you're left forever guessing in the will they won't they game, but it's oh-so-worth-it in the end! Her reluctance to let anyone really in is understandable, as is her lack of ability to be contacted, but it just makes the route that their conversations take that more feasible, appealing, and down right SWEET! Seriously, messages in windows...that's all I'm gonna say, but really, just......aww!

It made my little heart melt, and then beat oh so much faster as things picked up, but really, the journey for them was filled with second guessing, and attempted sabotage, that lead to the best sort of ending you could hope for. What was it? Nope. Not telling. You've got to read it to get the full scoop, but if you're a fan of Contemporary Romance, and love the supposed underdog have their day, this one is TOTALLY for you!

Well I’m glad I read this.. put me out of my slump. Even if it’s not perfect.. few typos to be fixed before publishing.

It was adorable, fun and entertaining!
I like the other characters, especially Sandy,Elle and Stan. Even Matteo.. Naomi and Phil! Most of them are loveable and Freya is perfect lol

The author used a lot of stereotypes in this. Can be bad or on right on some levels but she manage to make it work. I liked she didn’t turn Tanya into a bitch too
Luke is surprisingly adorable fun for the cool guy .. Mia is you’re typical “I been fucked up before so I don’t trust anyone” geek girl . And he .. had his own issues but somehow they went thru and make it work. It’s not a story to over analyze and all. Just a nice romcom to read on a Sunday ! Which I did and I read it in one sit.
I recommend it if you need to lay down and enjoy a cute and fun romcom

This is the story of Mia and Luke, which is told over 38 Chapters as well as an Epilogue. This story is brilliant and really makes the reader wish that they had their very own Luke, to view just outside their own window.
From the very moment the story starts, it grips the reader making them want to know more. It is full of twists that some the reader will see coming and some will take them by surprise. Though make no mistake this is not your average love story, it is completely delightful but the twists add a new level.
Throughout the book, readers get to view the situation from both Mia and Luke's point of view as it does a very clear switch. These switches are brilliant when a one of the twists happen. In true RomCom style this book will also leave the reader giggling with one of the many giggle inducing moments.
Overall this is a brilliant book and a fantastic addition to this series. Kathryn has a way of writing romantic comedies that draw the reader in to the point that they don't want to put the book down until they have finished it. Every book in this series is absolutely brilliant and this one is no different. This is one Author you guys need to check out.

About the book:
Mia Abbott has made the move to Manchester, hoping to be away from her smothering (but loving) family and a pesky ex, and get a bit of a fresh start. She's nervous about making friends and settling in but one thing she's definitely got down is making sure to sit at her window every morning at 10am to watch the hot guy across the street work out. When she finds out he runs the bar downstairs from her, and actually might have a thing for her, she doesn't know what to do. Her intuition says he's a player, and she's in Manchester to escape the consequences of her bad romantic decisions, so it's probably not a good idea to get involved. Except. He is really friendly, and she could use a new friend. So what if something more comes of it?

TL;DR:
- 3 stars
- Content warnings: a lot of not-like-other-girl-isms (not sure this is really worth content warning but.)
- This one was okay - just okay. The writing was pretty good but there were SO many tropes in this book and it also read as a bit cliche. That being said it was still a love story and I love a love story. Would recommend this one for anyone going after a starter romance okay with cliches.

Loved:
- The characters were really sweet and kind. They were a little one dimensional but they were kind and that is definitely worth something. They were both interesting enough that it was disappointing how two dimensional they were
- The love story is really very cute.

Less into:
- There was a really weird and confusing dichotomy between Mia's attitudes. Some days she'd be like "I don't care what people think" and yet also "I care that I don't act like other girls and therefore expect no male attention and therefore this guy should NOT like me." There was also a smidge of "I'm not like other girls!" in the way she acted, which like. It's 2021 and I think we've moved past the need for this trope. And it wasn't even necessary! She was cool, she should've just owned it!
- The main conflict was both shocking (because the author didn't drop any info about it until like 50% through) and not shocking, in that it was so cliche (woman vs. woman). Not the end of the world, but also the pacing should have been improved so it didn't come up and feel slightly random. The stereotypes we can't help.

Overall it was alright. Try it! It's cute, and it's well written. Be okay with overdone cliches.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

If there’s one word that sums up Kathryn Freeman’s wonderful books for me, it has to be “chemistry” (and I see from the cover that Julie Caplin agrees with me!). Bizarrely, when I start reading, I always wonder if this might be the one book that I’m really not going to like – but it only ever lasts for a few pages until I’m totally caught up and invested in whatever love affair is at the story’s centre. In this book, the main characters – and the way they’re developed – are just superb.

Mia’s not great with relationships – her last boyfriend turned out to be a bit of a stalker, so much so that she moved to another city (Manchester) to lick her wounds in private, a bit of a computer nerd but also working on her novel. Her family are concerned, want her to get out and make friends – so far she’s only really connected with pensioner Stan next door (what a great character). But there’s a guy in the flat opposite who gets her heart racing when he works out at his window at 10am every morning – he’s Luke, who owns “The Bar Beneath” below the flat complex. His reputation rather goes before him, and even if he glanced in her direction there’s no way he’d be right for her. But when they meet, there’s an unexpected spark. Although Mia – with her eclectic taste in t-shirts and ever-changing hair colours -is very different from his usual type of high maintenance, immaculately groomed woman, a friendship begins, as he takes her on a sequence of increasingly hair-raising non-dates to show her what Manchester has to offer.

There’s a lot in the book about trust – Luke might become a friend, but he doesn’t have her phone number, and they communicate through notes in their windows (really nicely done…) – and opening up and letting people in, taking a chance, finding support where you don’t expect to find it. The whole supporting cast is so excellent (I was particularly fond of Naomi at the cafe – and Mia’s “no filter” sister)… but I’m now coming close to telling you the whole story, and I really mustn’t.

But Luke proves to be a lot more than a pair of sparkling eyes and a set of rippling muscles – nicely complex and misunderstood, with a strong back story, and quite unexpectedly one of the loveliest leading men the author’s created – and the initial friendship begins to develop into something more. There are hurdles and complications and real obstacles along the way, but the slow-burn romance was everything I hoped for and wanted it to be – wonderful to watch, feeling real and authentic, with a lovely increasing sizzle (and, in time, some heat that I really enjoyed too).

The writing is excellent – both main characters’ viewpoints, that great cast, the trademark sparky dialogue, a little more depth than you might expect and a few surprises, that perfect balance of humour and poignancy. But the romance itself really was exceptional, and both characters grabbed me by the heart, and never let go – the book’s light and it’s fun in so many ways, with the impossibility of any real relationship between the nerd and the cool kid, but it was also a book that surprised me by how deeply it me feel. I read it from cover to cover in one glorious sitting, and loved every single moment – I’ve enjoyed everything the author’s written, but I really think this is her best book yet.

So typically RomComs aren’t my thing but sometimes you need something light to read. I really wanted to love this book with the “not your typical girl” character because I can really relate. And it was cute even with the cliches because that’s what you want in a romance, BUT, I was bothered by the fat shaming and “slut shaming” that went on. Being a tomboyish kind of girl who wears tshirts, converse and no makeup doesn’t excuse thinking down on those who do. Overall I’d give this a 3 of 5 because it is cute but I would rank it higher without the shaming that went on.

2⭐️

Mr Right Across the Street is a tragic case of a book with a cute premise, but in reality is unbearably cringe.

Mia after moving away from home to escape her stalker of an ex, she is new to Manchester and feeling lonely. In an attempt to meet new people, she braves going to the local pub where she meets the cute dimpled bar owner, Luke. Who just so happens to be the hot guy who lives across the street.

I gave this book a good effort, but by 40% in I couldn’t be bothered anymore and skimmed the rest.

The crux of it all is that Mia is <b>nOt LiKe OtHeR gIrLs</b>. He literally falls for her because she wears t-shirts and leggings. She’s so <b>rEaL</b> and <b>aUtHeNtIc</b> because she can’t be bothered to dress up or wear make up like <i>other girls</i>, even though she has time to change up the color of her highlights from green to blue to pink. But that just makes her endearingly quirky, right?! Everything she does is a revelations from judo, to playing video games, to web designing, to writing a book. It was just too much.

As for Luke, he really didn’t bring much to the table. At one point, Mia calls him “insanely funny” because he calls her a smurf because she is short with blue hair, and apparently that’s where the bar is set. On the ground.

The “cool guy and nerdy girl” formula just doesn’t work anymore when the characters are in their 30s.

There were also weird undercurrents of fatphobia through out that didn’t sit well with me, for example a character having “a body shape that screamed type 2 diabetes”. I’m not here for that.

I couldn’t figure out why I felt like this book wasn’t going anywhere and it’s because every time Mia and Luke interact they they repeat the conversation to their friends and the ruminated on it in their internal monologue. And it just dragged on.

Unfortunately, this book missed the mark. With lackluster characters and an uninspired plot it became too tedious to read.

<i> I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This is a lovely, light, fun, easy contemporary romance.

Mia Abbott has moved to Manchester to give herself a fresh start, taking up residence in a flat where she lives and works. From her window, across the street, she can see a handsome man working out at ten o'clock every morning - perfect time for a break from work, isn't it? She discovers that man is Luke Doyle, the owner of the bar below the flats when she goes in there one evening. There's chemistry between them but her escape plan definitely did not include jumping into another relationship and certainly not with a player, which other locals describe him as. However, maybe it will be okay for her to use her website building skills to help his business whilst he helps her get to know Manchester and the locals? A fair trade - or will the mixture prove more potent than either anticipate?

This is such a sweet, heartwarming story - from the messages in windows, the non-dates, the families and friends, there's even a budding romance that Mia is matchmaker for. There are plenty of surprises, Mia is a proud nerd, feisty and stubborn and Luke is outwardly a player but he has some unexpected secrets and their developing relationship just adds up to a thoroughly enjoyable read. A cocktail has to have just the right mix of ingredients to make it a delicious drink and this book is the romcom equivalent of a truly memorable cocktail! It has believable mix of well developed characters, whose interactions are skilfully blended to keep you turning the pages. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an adorable romcom to put a huge smile on their face.

Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

This is the first time I'm DNF'ing a Kathryn Freeman novel, and I'm kinda sad about it. I usually enjoy her romance stories, and her female characters are always so enjoyable. But Mia just rubs me the wrong way, and it is constantly implied or mentioned how she's not like other women. I really thought we were past that in the year of our Lord 2021, but apparently not. Add to that a love interest who has to go through life with women constantly throwing themselves at his feet, and I was just done with this after 70 pages.

Favorite Quotes:

Men like Luke, cocky and good looking, didn’t go for geek girls, she reminded herself. She attracted the shier, solid guys, who then turned out to be flakier than a Danish pastry.

The Luke Doyle I grew up with had the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met… He still has, but over the years he’s tried so hard to protect it, he’s forgotten how to use it.

Is this the part where I pretend I’m not interested and change the subject? … I hate to disappoint you but I’m nosey, so that’s not going to happen.


My Review:

This was a fun and light read filled with amusing and wry humor, family drama, and a fledgling romance between two people in transition. Mia was a small nerdy woman with technicolored hair, and Luke was her sexy, rabbit-loving, bar owner, neighbor who had a way with women, lots and lots of women. The pair had instant chemistry and gave clever and witty banter, but his reputation as a ladies man put her off, and truthfully, it was putting him off as well. Although that didn’t keep her from perving and lusting after him every day while she watched him exercise from her window. The storylines were easy to follow, engaging, and converged slowly with the plot being more character-driven than action-packed, which was fine by me. I enjoyed these surprisingly endearing characters as they struggled with their inner musings and worked through their issues to find their way to each other.

And I picked up a new entry for my ever-expanding Brit Words and Phrases List with, threw his toys out of the pram – which Mr. Google informs me means to react with ill-temper. I really like the visual on that one.

A romantic novel that straddles the modern, with old fashioned romance.


Mia has moved to a new area where she knows no one, after a relationship that ended badly. She starts watching the guy in the flat opposite working out, while she’s working and then discovers that he owns and works in the bar below the flats. He seems to like her and keeps sending her flirty messages via signs in his window, and she likes him – but she suspects he’s a bit of a player, so can she trust him? She doesn’t want to get into another bad relationship.

Luke starts to show Mia the sights of Manchester ‘as friends’, but it’s clear that he is in fact very taken with her. The thing is, can he manage to woo her using old fashioned romance? You will have to read to find out.

How romance should be! Luke and Mia are the pinnacle of the wooing someone off their feet and changing their minds about love.

A feel-good romance that is sure to make your weekend.