Down on her luck Dillion moves back home to help her family. Back home is a small town where everyone is in everyone’s business and to Dillion going home means she’s a failure.

Van use to spend summers with his Grandmom and goes back to his Grandmom’s small town, to clean up her house after she passed away. Dillion ends up being his neighbor.

Dillion has a spark that Van can’t seem to stop himself from want to good ignite.

There’s a little suspense and some sabotage afoot.

The connection between Dillion and Van is amazing, and I could not put this book down.

The epilogue had me feeling all the emotions!

The tension, the heat, Helena really has a way of bringing her characters to life. She has become a one-click author for me and I love her more and more with each book!

I cannot wait for the next book in this new series!!

Love Next Door comes out July 27th, 2021

Helena Hunting NEVER disappoints me!! I’m sure I’ve said it before, but her writing is so comforting and flows so well for me - her latest book is no exception! This is such a great steamy summer binge!!

Some highlights:
•Small town romance
•Enemies to lovers
•Forced proximity
•A bit of a mystery thrown in
•Openness about mental health
•A dreamy book boyfriend and a strong willed heroine
•Classic HH steam 🔥🔥🔥

I will say that there was a definite sense that the small town residents were uneducated and spoke in a southern accent even though the location wasn’t in the south… I do realize she did this as a juxtaposition to the rich vacationers, but being from a small town not too far from Chicago myself, I felt a touch offended. I would have preferred for the small town residents to shine in a brighter light. That said, I was able push it away and really enjoyed Dillion and Van’s love story.

This was a cute small-town, enemies-to-lovers, neighbors romance. I enjoyed that this was the beginning of a new series, and that the hockey players from the All In Series make cameos (in mention only, they're not part of the story). It took me awhile to read, which is out of the norm, so while it was an easy read, it didn't draw me in immediately.

[thank you to the tagged publisher for the free book]
Oh my goodness, this was such a sweet novel. The writing had great pacing, character development and the banter I always want in my romance novel! Their relationship has a little enemies to lovers to it, but slowly starts to unfold about halfway in. The inevitable conflict near the end felt more like a real argument rather than the typical silly miscommunication issue. I usually prefer a big city setting over a small town, but I will read a small town series from Helena Hunting any day!

🤟Small town romance, hint of mystery, lots of heart

📚The Player Next Door

🎶Butterfly by Kacey Musgraves

Aren't small town romances the best?

Dillion is reluctant to return to her hometown but her brother had an acciden that keeps him from the family business, since she is between jobs and apartments she decides to go help her family for a few months before she returns to her life in the city.

Donovan has inherited his grandmother cottage and decided it was time to go and fix the place up a bit. Not long after he arrives he is informed that the foundation he created in his mother memory is missing money, a lot of money and the are a lot of pointing fingers in his way. He has now more free time to stay in town.

Dillion and Donovan are neighbors and even though they lived close by they have for years they never met until now. I loved their first time meeting, it was funny and unexpected.

The neighbors trope is always so fun to read especially in a small town setting.

The romance was strong with a good build up and wonderful tension. The plot involved a good amount of family drama but thankfully the romance wasn't terrible affected by it.

The small town life is present and it gives a lovely tone to the book. The people in the town are very interesting and I would definitely read more books in Lakeside.

*I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

I just love everything this author writes. This story was an amazing 5 star story that had me reading into the late hours of the night. It was hard to put it down for very long.

Dillion goes back the place she couldn’t wait to leave, her hometown. Her family needs her. What was supposed to be temporary might end up longer. Van needs to take care of his late aunts affairs. He doesn’t expect to see a blast from his past, Dillion. Sparks will fly.

I loved this home town story. There was never a dull moment. Secondary characters made the storyline amazing. I usually don’t do well with a lot of side stories but they blended very well together. I was hooked from the first page to the last one. It was highly entertaining and addicting. Bottomline this is a must read.

Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.

This book has small-town summer read written all over it! There’s just something about that everyone-knows-your-name (and your business) feeling of a small town and Pearl Lake has it! ❤️⁣
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Dillion and Van may start with an enemies-to-lovers vibe, but after a bit of a slow burn, they start to acknowledge their undeniable chemistry and things really take off! I loved how seamlessly these two worked together. I also loved their communication! While there was an argument in there, there wasn’t that miscommunication aspect that we sometimes expect to see. ⁣
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Hunting gives us her normal excellent banter and steam, but she also gives us this enveloping theme of family. On both Dillion’s and Van’s side we see the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of family and that made this book incredibly relatable for me. I felt like I knew Grammy Bee, even though we never meet her on the page. Her little hidden treasures reminded me so much of my dad and how he would do the same thing. She really tugged on my heartstrings with that detail. ❤️⁣
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In short, read this one if you love small towns, families, and LOVE. 💕 I smiled just about the whole time I was reading it and I think you will too!⁣
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P.S. Helena, I hope the next book is about who I think it is!! 🤞🏻 And thanks for those Pucked/All In Easter eggs! 😊⁣

Thank you to @amazonpublishing for a #gifted copy of this book for our feature! Pub day is July 27!! ⁣

4.5/5 stars rounded to 5

4.5 stars
What a perfect summer read! This was the small town romance that I didn't know I needed. I loved that Dillion and Van started out as adversaries but that did not last long before they gave into their chemistry and fell in love. I really appreciated that the couple were together for most of the story and we were able to see them fight for each other and support one another and they each dealt with some very heavy family issues. Their mutual love for Bee was so endearing, I love how she felt like a big supporting character even though the was not alive during the story. I highly recommend if you are looking for an easy, fun, yet lightly emotional read with a great love story.

Again I am blown away by the writing talent of Ms. Hunting! This newest stand-alone is fun, heartwarming and swoony.

This is the story of Van and Dillion, this is also about finding your true home, becoming a better family and sometimes coming home again is the best thing you can do.

I admired the strength of Dillion, she wasn’t afraid to stand her ground and her loyalty is above reproach. She is fierce when she needs to be and she is a soft place to fall for Van.

Van is the perfect fit for Dillion, he knows when he needs to be a shoulder to lean on and when to let Dillion fly. He is dealing with issues that can make or break you, but with Dillion by his side, he knows he can face anything.

I loved the little hints and “Easter eggs” that Ms. Hunting left throughout the story for her loyal readers without taking away from the newness of this story for her new readers.

I would love to live in the world she has created with Pearl Lake and all it’s inhabitants. You too will fall in love with this story, I know you will!

This was not your typical Helena Hunting story but at the same time it wasn't that much different. It was more a light and fluffy story with humor and sexiness. Very little against and a whole lot of story.

I fell for Van and Dillion. They were this perfectly cute couple that just fit together. I loved the back story from when they were kids and hearing about Bee. The banter was spot on Helena humor. Tge chemistry and sexiness was steamy. The romance was heartwarming.

This was a fun and flirty read and the perfect story to grab a chair on the beach and read.

There’s something about reading a small-town cottage romance on a summer day ☀️

Love Next Door features Helena’s typical feisty heroine, and swoon-worthy hero while also providing us with a light summer romance.

With that said, this book had a different feel than other books I’ve read by Helena. It was everything you’d expect from a small town romance - gossip, beach parties, stolen kisses in the woods, and forced proximity. I’d say that this book doesn’t have as much steam as Helena typically writes, but we did get to hear about some characters from her other hockey series.

If you’re looking for an “I love getting under your skin” kind of enemies-to-lovers that also gives you a little escape, then you might enjoy this one!

Thank you to Montlake publishing for the finished copies for our #UnitedByRomComsFeature this month!

If Helena writes it, I will almost always be obsessed with it. Love Next Door was no different.

What I Loved?
☀️ This was a small town enemies to lovers romance. Why wouldn’t I absolutely love it?
☀️ Dillion was independent woman but knew that she needed to head back home to help her family out when they needed her.
☀️ Van was 🔥. He was the typical oldest sibling who was always making sure everyone was taken care of.
☀️ The steam was just right.
☀️ The mentions of all our favorite Pucked/All In favorites.

I just hope that there is a second book and that it is based around Donavan’s sister, Teegan.

Thank you @amazonpublishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is an enemies to lovers romance that I believe people will love. Dillion and Van start off on the wrong foot instantly and it takes them quite awhile to turn that around. There is something very real about the feelings they had about returning to the small town of Pearl Lake and all the things that meant to them. That being said, it felt like they went from zero to sixty with one another as far as the verbal attacks go. I did appreciate the ways in which they began to communicate later in the book and grew in that way, but the dialogue just felt a bit juvenile at times for people their ages. This went for their peer group as well. I just had a hard time loving most of the characters. I didn't feel the chemistry for these two but did like the relationship they began to form with one another. Overall, I liked this book but it wasn't my favorite book of Hunting's. I am interested in reading future reads in this series. as I enjoyed the setting and am interested to read more about the characters and where they go in the future.

First I'm moving to a trailer behind a cottage, so I can find someone like Van because #lesigh

Miss Hunting delivers the perfect summer romance story that will give you all the feels! I couldn't put it down, I read it in one sitting! I love a small town romance and this one was incredible! I can't wait to revisit Lakeside when the next book comes out!

I mean... Helena can do no wrong in my eyes.

This was a sweet, cute summer read that has an incredible homey feel to it. It might sound weird to call a book “gentle” but that’s what it felt like when reading it. It wasn’t all humor or all insane angst. It just a sweet, gentle romance. And it was such a pleasure to read!

Witnessing Dillion and Van’s interactions from the get-go was great. Because yes, there is a soft hate-to-love situation going on with a lot of back and forth banter. One of the many reasons I loved this book was the family situations on each side. You’re able to witness two extremely different family dynamics and can see how it’s shaped the characters to be. Not only the traits they possess, but the ones they never wish to based off of what they experienced growing up.

Despite a family/friend death being the cause of these two characters coming together, it was so sweet to see their relationship blossom and how they grew to care deeply for one another and be there for each other. I adored this sweet little romance and absolutely can’t wait for future books in this series!

*Thank you to Social Butterfly PR and Helena Hunting for allowing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.*

3.5 ⭐️

After an awful break-up and her brother getting a DUI, Dillion flees Chicago and heads back to Pearl Lake to temporarily help her family business. Her next door neighbor turns out to be a hunk who she despises because of his intentions to sell his late grandmother’s land. However, the longer Dillion stays, the more she learns about the town she once wanted so badly to get away from. And the hunk next door? Turns out to be more than meets the eye.

Hunting never disappoints. While this wasn’t a top favorite, I enjoyed the small town romance that culminated from a hate-to-love relationship. The family dynamics thrown into the mix and the charm behind seeing the town you grew up in in different lenses, the banter, the chemistry, the personalities—I liked getting know these Pearl Lake dwellers.

Love Next Door was a sweet and fun read. I love Helena Hunting and wanted to come into the book blind so I didn't try to read the book description and decided to trust one of my favorite writers.

Dillon returns home to her small town of Pearl Lake after losing her job, her apartment and her boyfriend in one swoop. She was going to come for a short visit but now that her family needs her and without any prospects of a new job or home in Chicago, it might be a more extended stay.

Donovan has spent all his childhood summers in Pearl Lake with his Grammy Bee. It has been his getaway from his high end lifestyle in Chicago. A place filled with love, memories and a more grounded way of life. Now that Grammy Bee has passed, he needs to get her home and land in order since he's the new owner of it all. It helps that some controversy has landed in his lap and he's now jobless and a little aimless. He comes to Pearl Lake for a needed getaway.

These two are great characters on their own but together they have that great spark. While they knew of each other, they never got to know each other when they were younger (being that Grammy Bee lived next door to Dillon and was like family to her). They start off in an antagonistic way, which is fun, even if a little predictable. But there is no denying that there's an attraction and chemistry between them. It takes some time for them to finally realize that they have more in common than they know and that they work great together.

There is a lot of drama that swirls around the two, mostly because of their families. Some of the drama is a little predictable but nothing that really distracts you from the story. There are a few misunderstandings and some grovel but most of the time we just really get to enjoy these two interact and have some great bantering and fun together.

While it's not your typical Helena Hunting book I think this is a great time. If you're looking for a good summer read, something that will give you a few laughs and generally just warm your heart, pick up this book!

I thought this book was just okay. It's written in first person present tense, which I generally don't like. I kept forgetting whose pov I was reading from and a lot of the dialogue just sounded unnatural. It's also an enemies-to-lovers trope, which I LOVE, but Dillion was annoying and the "enemies" part was resolved fairly quickly. Just a lot of immature bickering, flipping off, and eye rolling and then straight into the sack. There was also a lot of unnecessary drama crammed into this romance. I think others will like it more than me. 2.5 stars.

What starts as an enemies to lovers story turns into a tender romance set in a small lakeside town. Two people who crossed paths in their youth are brought back together after a death leaves them beneficiaries of the estate.

Love Next Door is not an original script, as I've read it many times over the past few months. Women loses boyfriend and job which her forces her to return to one place she said she'd never return. Women meets man who will be love interest, then happily every after. Van and Dillion's romance was drowned out by the many subplots in the book - wanted more!

This is a good start to the Lakeside series, and I am intrigued to see where it goes. I'm taking a leap to guess Book #2 will be about a certain construction worker and a city girl.

Love Next Door is my first Helena Hunting novel and I think it is safe to say it won’t be my last! This small-town romance between two next door neighbors who get off on the wrong foot kicks off her new Lakeside series. Bad circumstances and a family accident force Dillon back to her small town just as Donovan arrives to fix up his grandmother’s house. Preconceived notions and past ghosts prevent these two from getting along, but they may have more in common than they think! This book is laugh out loud funny and makes me want to go away on a lake vacation! The perfect beach read that will keep you engaged and smiling the whole time. I am really looking forward to reading more of Helena Hunting’s works!