If you have read any of Helena Huntings other books that you know you are probably going to get another great summer read! This one was so cute and fun. I did find it at times a little slow and was often frustrated with the characters. The story is following Dillion who reluctantly returns home after her brother is in an accident to help her family with their renovation business. Dillion couldn't wait to leave town after graduation and was hoping to only ever come back for visits. Along the way she realizes maybe it wasn't the town she was trying to escape but her circumstances. Van is in town to finally put his grandmother's property into probate and hopefully start clearing out the home. His first day at the cabin Van learns he has been accused of stealing 3 million dollars from the family's non-profit that was set up in honor of his mother. He also then looses his job as well. Dillion and Van seem to butt heads a lot at first but then realize that their first impressions may not have been correct. At times while reading it felt a little more YA than Adult with the conversations and interactions between Dillion and Van, this really only seemed to be an issue in the beginning and by the end it was flowing a lot better for me.

Overall I enjoyed this one as I do almost all of her books. I believe this is also the first in a new series and I am excited to read more about the characters that were introduced in this book. I am especially interested in Dillion's brother Billy who was going through a tough time in this book. I also liked Dillion and Billy's childhood friend Aaron, it was briefly mentioned that he disappeared for awhile and then came back to town and no one knows where he was and that really has me intrigued. Thank you Montlake and Social Butterfly PR for gifting me a copy for review.

This was a delightful, slow-burn romance.

"I feel like you see me. Like it doesn't matter what I say or do. I'm transparent, and you're already under my skin.”

Dillon and Van get off to an inauspicious start! LOL. Things seem to go from bad to worse, until they find even footing and all the snarkiness between them smoulders into something more.

This was a fabulous, sweet, sexy romance. Dillon and Van had great depth as characters, as we follow their interactions with each other and their friends and families. They had a great connection as they found more common ground between them and I just adored how their romance developed. This was an ideal feel-good summer read with fun characters, a fab small-town setting, a little bit of angst, and a little bit of mystery.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
Characters: Dillion and Van are the main characters of this romance. Dillion grew up in Pearl Lake and when she had the opportunity to move to the big city she was up and off. Now post-breakup and out of a job she is back to help her family out and to have a place to land for a bit. I really loved Dillion’s character as she is that fun mix of strong-willed and stubborn. She was a great heroine and Van was a great hero. Van ends up being Dillion’s neighbour as he inherits the house next door from his late grandmother and returns to pack it up. Van spent some summers there as a kid, but by no means is he a true local. Van matches Dillion in hardheadedness, but also an immense sense of determination. All around two A+ characters. There were so many interesting side characters so I am excited to see whom the next Lakeside story would be about.
Setting: The story is set in Pearl Lake. Helena has discussed how the setting is directly inspired by Cottage Country, Ontario, Canada. I have never been because I am a bad Canadian who has never been to Ontario. Cottage Country is very special to my boyfriend and if the pandemic had not happened. We did have plans to go to one of his friend’s place but naturally, it was not safe to go. The setting was great for this story, as it was two older people returning home to a place they both loved in their youth. I loved the dichotomy of the tourist side and the locals' side. I cannot wait to read more about the town’s dynamics in future installments.
Pacing: I really enjoyed the pace that this story took. Nothing felt too rushed, either learning about each character and the romance itself. I read this book pretty fast, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a vacation read for this summer.
Romance: This romance was great. Dillion and Van have a major roadblock in front of them, whether or not they will both stay in Pearl Lake. It is a classic burden put in front of many romance characters. I loved how much they struggled to stay away from each other. There were so many great scenes, that I for sure do not want to spoil. So I beg you pick up Dillion and Van’s romance and get whisked away to Pearl Lake.

Dillion and Donnovon (Van) have known “of” each for most of their lives. Their connection is Dillion’s neighbor and Donnovon’s Grandmother, Bee. And when Bee passes, it brings them together. Their meet cute is hard to forget and will have you laughing like only Helena Hunting make you. To say these two do not hit it off is an understatement, but their paths continue to pass in the small town of Pearl Lake. I adored how Hunting described this little town. It reminds me so much of the small town where our family cabin is.
Both Dillion and Van are struggling with personal setbacks that are really making them take a step back and evaluate what is really important to them. This is probably the aspect that I appreciated most in this book. This pair was successful on the outside, seemingly having everything that they had worked for. This really spoke to me as a reader. I could feel them each debating about the choices they made and decisions they were working on to create the life that will fulfill them.
I would be remiss if we did not talk about the side characters in this book, they are fabulous. While Bee might have passed, she was there. And as a reader you could feel the impact that she had on both Dillion and Van. The way they reminisced about her, funny little tidbits they each shared, and they knew her so well. It was beautiful the way she was honored and recognized as a guiding force for these two. And of course there are few of our old favorites that happen to make an appearance or two! And it wouldn’t be a Helena book if she didn’t introduce us to characters we need more of…..hello, Teagan and Aaron….I definatiley feel like they each need their own happily ever after!
Throughout this book Hunting tackles some difficult topics that many families are facing, and she does it with grace and care. She recognizes not only the struggle that someone facing mental health struggles is dealing with but those around them that love and care for them do. Find yourself a quiet space to curl up with this book because it is the perfect summer read to enjoy at the beach, the lake, the boat or the pool. I promise Dillion and Van’s story will not disappoint!

I don’t think there’s anything I wouldn’t read by Helena Hunting. I’d gladly even read her grocery or to-do lists, so it should come as no surprise that I’ve had this preordered since Feb. I was thrilled to have received an e-ARC to read.

Love Next Door is a perfect small-town summer read set in Pearl Lake where the locals all know one another. Dillon gets quite an eyeful when she first meets her new neighbor Van in their meet cute.

I loved their transition from neighbors to enemies to friends to lovers. They have such an easy going connection at times and at others it was enemies to lovers banter. This was sweet and a slower burn than most of HH books and less romcom and more family dynamics and relationships. Pearl Lake felt like a real town complete with the locations, long time friends and quirky residents. The pacing of the book matched the setting with a slightly slower laid back pace. I loved the overall message of finding yourself and putting down roots.

For readers of HH’s hockey romances, you’ll delight in a few of the names mentioned throughout the book. What a fantastic start to this new series.

This is out now and for you Kindle Unlimited fans, you can read AND listen to it for free on KU!

Oh my goodness! Love Next Door is a perfect small-town romance with all the Hallmark feels! I think this book had a different vibe than other Helena Hunting books, and I was all in for it!

The snark that flies between Dillion and Van from the get-go was hysterical, and I couldn't wait for their interactions to see what they would snipe about next! And because there's a fine line between love and hate, each one of their interactions were supercharged with sizzling chemistry!

In between the romance that blossomed between the main characters, there was a mystery surrounding an embezzlement scandal with Van's family foundation, as well as some issues with Dillion's brother, Billy, that had me very intrigued.

I thought that this story was a fantastic start to a new series and I can't wait to see what comes next in Pearl Lake! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

A charming, fun, and funny read!

Dillion has complicated feelings about her hometown and now she's facing spending at least a few months there. She's recently jobless and boyfriend-less, so she heads back to Pearl Lake to help her family run their business.

Van is in town to spend time at his Grandmother's cottage. Growing up he spent summers there and she left it to him when she passed away.

Dillion and Van have a memorable first meeting and find themselves arguing. However, it isn't long before their bickering turns into something more. Their banter and chemistry were excellent and it was entertaining watching their relationship develop.

I loved the small town setting and Pearl Lake and its residents were a big part of the story. I am looking forward to reading more from this series!

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

I sometimes think that Helena Hunting is several different people (NO! I’m not accusing her of ghostwriters). She has this incredible way of finding different places to write from for different works. There is a general thread of humor that runs through her books, but given the different personalities of her stories, she mutes or heightens that thread. And what you find is a deep abiding adoration for her storytelling. Whether she’s writing the stories of horny hockey players or enemies to lovers in competing businesses or a hate-to-love story between neighbors, Helena Hunting shows her ability to take you along for her romance ride no matter the story.

So let’s talk about Love Next Door, her newest story. Let’s name all the tropes you’ll find in this story: hate-to-love/enemies-to-lovers, small-town romance, on some level, and forced proximity (that one’s a stretch). Without my tropes cheatsheet in front of me, these are the ones that find immediate purchase in this book. With those key tropes as a guide, it’s interesting to note that this story is a sweet one. Even when her heroine and hero, Dillion/Darlin/Dee and Donovan/Van, are fighting, their burgeoning/evolving romance has an underpinning of sweetness to it. There is clear chemistry from the start; Hunting isn’t doing anything different with this story. In fact, I think Love Next Door exists as an ode to Hunting’s own lakeside cabin experiences and a story for her fans. Coming through the Montlake Publishing line, you’ll find this one to be the least steamy of anything she’s written as of late. There is no kink here, no overwhelming number of bedroom scenes.

What you find with Love Next Door is a treatment on a few distinct messages: don’t live life to spite your past, work a job that you love and loves you back, and family is incredibly important. Tangential to that is Hunting’s focus on mental health as well. There is some suspense in this story which is a bit predictable, but it adds some spice to the story because, from the start, it’s clear that Dillion and Van are fated. From the beginning to the end, Hunting writes all the signs in her story, even with an ending that compels you to put a smile on your face as you realize their relationship was set in the stars.

The revelation of the villain of this story aside, I adore Dillion and Van’s story in Helena Hunting’s Love Next Door. It’s the type of book that you read on the beach or in a lounge on the back patio or in bed during a lazy afternoon and evening. Will it make you laugh out loud like some of the stories of her Pucked or All In series? Not really. There is a simplicity and sweetness to this story that makes you fall in love with it. If you’re looking for the perfect read for the coming weekend, then this is your book.

Love Next Door brings all the feels and charm in this small-town romance. I loved the witty banter and family aspect of this story. There is an element of suspense that adds a little bit of angst to the storyline. It is a bit of a slow burn between the H and h. The initial meeting between Donovan aka Van and Dillon was hilarious and slightly awkward. The witty banter and obvious sexual tension were entertaining. Overall, it is an enjoyable laid-back summer read that I really enjoyed. The epilogue is the sweet cherry on top to finish the story.

Love Next Door is the first book in a new series from Helena Hunting. I’d say this is a little different than some of her other books. It’s more serious than previous ones. It’s an enemies to lovers set in a small town. Dillion has just moved back from Chicago to her small hometown to help out with her family’s company after her brother has an accident. Van is in town to help clear his late grandmother’s cottage out. Unfortunately, as soon as he arrives, he finds out he will need to stay for awhile after some allegations come out about fraud from his late mother’s nonprofit foundation. This is absolutely untrue but he is forced to hide out here until they find out exactly who did it.

Dillion really has a chip on her shoulder about small towns and her upbringing. She’s had some bad past experiences with people from her hometown (nothing serious). Van is honestly a good guy yet he and Dillion get off on the wrong foot and things escalate from there. I have to say the enemies portion of this was over quickly. Dillion and Van were together for most of the book. They were dealing with a ton of family drama from both sides as well as issues with townspeople throughout.

I did have a few issues with the story. There were so many characters throughout including townspeople, family members, friends. It was hard to keep track of who’s who. I didn’t love or hate the main characters. They were just kind of there. Unfortunately, I just didn’t feel the romance or even the hate towards each other. There was also so much drama throughout but then it just kind of disappeared. We did get some resolution to some of these problems though, just not all.

I did really enjoy everything with Bee. While she wasn’t alive in the book, everything related to her, her home and her life was so beautiful and interesting. I did enjoy Teagan and Aaron and hope they get a book too. I’m in the minority but this was just okay for me. I do still plan to read the next books in the series though.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

~4.5⭐Rating~

The first chance she got Dillon Stitch escaped her small town life and headed for the big city, but life seems to have other plans for Dillion when she loses her job and no place to stay, heading home back to the small lake town is her only option. With her brother having broken his leg and her father needing help with their family construction business it seems like a win, win. However Dillon definitely did not factor in her new very hot neighbor, Van Firestone.

••

Van has been working non stop since the passing of his gran but finally he has managed to calve out a bit of time to head to Pearl Lake and take care of the cottage that she had left to him. The last thing Van was expecting to find in his cottage was his feisty neighbor. Soon the two find themselves butting heads at every turn but when something shifts the Van and Dillon find themselves trying to navigate these new steamy waters.

••

I absolutely love me a good Helena Hunting book and Love Next Door was just the angsty small town romance that I was looking for! It was so easy to instantly get immersed in Dillion and Van's story. Both main characters were brilliant in their own right but together they were electric! I absolutely loved the chemistry between these two, with their steamy back and forth.

••

It took me a little while to warm up to Dillon but once I did it was impossible not to love her. But it was Van that really stole my heart. I loved the guy and that he was genuinely a good guy. I absolutely loved that this was not just a romance but there was a good dose of mystery involved with who was trying to frame Van and what was the story with Billy.

••

Love Next Door is the perfect slow burn small town romance that will have you itching to know what happens next with Dillion and Van and all the drama that seems to fall them!

Love Next Door is the first book in Helena Hunting’s new Lakeside Series. It is a cute small-town romance a perfect summer read. Dillion Stitch and Donovan “Van” Firestone are the main characters in this enemies, then turned friends to lovers.

This story opens with Dillion just losing her job and breaking up with her boyfriend. Then getting a call from her father asking if she can return home to help with family business after her brother had an accident. Except for holidays she has not been home much since she left after high school. At the same time Van arrived in town to check on his Grammy Bee’s property which he inherited. This property just happens to be next door to Dillion’s family home. Dillion was very close to Grammy Bee, when she notices that someone is at Grammy Bee’s house, she goes to check on it. What she finds is a very naked just out of the shower Van!! And the fun begins the chemistry sizzle and the banter flies!! There is some deep in this story the growth of both of the characters was evident. Dillion working so hard for her family business was great!!

There are also several side stories and some very interesting secondary characters. Did I see a hint of something between Teagan Van's sister and Aaron?? Maybe they will be next?? Hope you’ll pick this up and enjoy!!

Dillion left home after high school, and with the exception of family visits she had hoped never to return. However, she suddenly finds herself between jobs and her most recent relationship just ended along with it. Her family is suddenly needing her help in the family business, so she packs up and heads back home to help out. There she runs into Donovan, her neighbor's grandson and the two of them have a first meeting that doesn't go well and the sparks fly. With each meeting they rub each other the wrong way until things take a turn where the chemistry they have takes a turn.

I loved being immersed in this small town romance and getting to know Van and Dillion as they get to know each other and have to deal with each other, their family's dramas and the good and bad of living in a small town. This was a nice change of pace for me from all of the darker and heavier books I've been reading, although this does touch on and delve into some heavy topics. I also loved how complex characters were. This was such a great small town, heartfelt romance!

A wonderfully written book about learning who you really are, where you are supposed to be and finding love when you least expect it. Van is a man who is finally going to his grandma's house to settle her estate, even though he doesn't really want to because he still misses her. Just when he gets there, he receives a phone call that is the beginning of a tumultuous few months. Dillion is a woman who couldn't wait to get out of her home town and live her life. Now, she is back without her boyfriend or her job, because her family needs her help.
These two definitely get off on the wrong foot and don't seem to know how to interact civilly with each other. Although, part of it is on purpose because he loves to push her buttons and see her reactions. The chemistry between the two is great and I love how they first start to see each other differently. Every interaction they have is important and meaningful, even when they are fighting.
I loved seeing his sister and her brother, which I hope they get their HEA's as well. I am on the fence about his brother, Ms. Hunting would really have to redeem and change him in a lot of ways. Just when Van and Dillion think they are happy and nothing can break them, someone insinuates themselves into their relationship and it might be too much to overcome.
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

I really enjoyed Love Next Door by Helena Hunting. This story is definitely for all people, who needs hope, that love can find us everywhere, even just around the corner or... next door.

Dillon, Van and Helena have taken me for an amazing journey. From the first pages I felt like I'm living with these characters in the book. The story line was refreshing and also very heart warming.

My heart was captivated by all the emotions that was boiling between Van and Dillon, the chemistry was very intense, that I couldn't put the book down. Besides few things that made my feel little sad for Van and Dillon, I could tell that banter between this two, all the funny situations around made me smile so many times.

Van and Dillon couldn't be more perfect but also, I really adored how author put the rest family in this history. It made me feel like I 'm visiting old friends, where I can feel safe and loved.

If You're looking for a story that have not too much drama, but brings lot of smile and steam ... Love Next Door is definitely for You.

It’s been a few months since I’ve read a book by Helena Hunting and I forgot how much I enjoy her writing. You can always expect sweet with heat in her books. This is the first in a series and you should read it if you like:
Small Town Romance
Antagonistic antics to lovers
A dash of suspense

Two big city (aka THE city) dwellers find themselves back in the small town to help out/hide out with/from their respective family problems.

I LOVED Dillon, she is feisty af and I love a feisty MC who can take care of herself and doesn’t take shit from anyone.
The chemistry between the two MCs was good but there was a teeny tiny something missing for me. I think maybe their transition from annoyed to enamoured happened a bit early and quick for me but take that with a grain of salt. This is a very personal opinion from a slow burn, build up the tension lover.

I’m hoping in future books we get more of the small town life/gossip mill. I enjoyed the side characters and I wanted to know more about all the goings-on there.

All opinions are my own and I am sharing them voluntarily.

Say hello to my new favorite HH read. I absolutely adored this one from start to finish and cannot even tell you how excited I am that it’s the start of a brand new series. I’m a sucker for a small town romance and combine that with the authors trademark humor and sexiness and this was an awesome summer read.

I felt like this was slight departure from some of the authors other books, this had a more mature feel to it that I really appreciated. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed all of her past books that I’ve read but this one seemed more sweet and tender and I am here for it. Dillion and Van had an amazing connection, both physically and emotionally and there’s just something about a romance with feelings that just gets me right in my feels. I loved the quaint little lakeside town and could see so many options for additional books, I see the breadcrumbs HH was laying out and I’m following them for sure. There were a couple of side plots that were interesting as well and they only added to my enjoyment instead of distracting from the main plot. All the stars for this one, romance fans shouldn’t miss this!

„You’re my summer love that turned into forever.”


Well, this one was definitely surprising! I've read almost every book from Helena Hunting and loved both her hilarious rom-coms and angst-filled stories, but this tender and filled with fuzzy feels small-town romance is definitely something I haven't seen from this author yet. Slow-burn, family drama, soul-searching and enemies to lovers trope- that’s just the taste of what can you expect from this refreshing book from Hunting.

I really liked the relantionship’s development between Van and Dillion. From their banter, to the charming romance, this couple brought entertainment and lots of emotions. The side characters were also great, but I think that sometimes they were overshadowing the main couple.


Overall, Love Next Door is an emotional, charming and heartfelt story. Helena definitely rocked the small-town trope and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

3.5 stars

This small town romance set at Pearl Lake was the perfect setting for a summer read. Dillion and Van are neighbors and don't get along at first. I'm a huge enemies to lovers fan so this was right up my alley. Their banter made me laugh for sure! I loved watching Dillion get all riled up. Her and Van pushed each other's buttons and it made for some of the best scenes.

In the first about 40% of the book, there weren't enough scenes between Dillion and Van. I loved these two together and wanted more from them. Also, sometimes I got bored and found myself skimming through paragraphs that weren't adding anything to the storyline.

I received an advanced copy in exchange fir an honest review.

Helena Hunting stuns again with the first book of her new Lakeside series. Love Next Door tells the tale of Dillion, a small town girl returning back home to help out the family business. Dillion has her heart set on helping the family, avoiding staying in Pearl Lake and making time count. However; when she meets her new next door neighbor Donovan "Van" Firestone, things quickly change. Van is in town to avoid scandal and fix up his grandmother's cottage. When the two collide, both realize: is home where the heart is? Or is home where everything is not meant to be?

Love Next Door was a quick, eventful read. Helena Hunting's words spoke highly of home town life and the nature of returning back. The characters were likable and are sure to show up in the next book of the series. This book is the perfect beach read or outdoor, sitting on the patio experience. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading romance novels and small town tales. This book reminded me of the Virgin River series.