A cute romcom especially for book lovers. Friends-to-lovers fans and readers who like secret pen pal “you got mail” type tropes. The characters were charming and it made for a fun read.

I had a hard time figuring out how to rate this. For the most part I really liked this book! I enjoyed the writing, I liked the characters, the premise is fun! But Nick knew who Lily was for waaay too long before he said something. And it made me uncomfy. Like, not a week or two but months?? Come on my dude.

So anyway, three stars. Would’ve given it more if he’d told her sooner. I’m excited to read the next one though!

I'm really enjoy black cozy romance novels, and this one hit all the right notes for me! Nick and Lilly's story is just adorable to me. Lily, an introverted editor stuck in nonfiction (yuk 😝), would like to work on children's books. She finds solace in emailing her favorite fantasy author until he disappears. Fast forward to Lily needing a date for her sister's wedding – she turns to her sweet new neighbor, Nick. Surprise, surprise – Nick is the mystery email author! The book has some classic miscommunication drama, but it's balanced with strong family themes. Kudos to Kristina Forest; this one gets an A+ from me. Thanks to Kristina Forest and NetGalley!

I saw a lot of chatter about this book and I’m so glad I was able to snag an ARC! This will be a great Valentine’s Day-ish release. The email format in the beginning had me hooked immediately and even more-so when the story took a turn. There were a few times that I felt as though there were too many side storylines/plots forming, but it wasn’t to the point where it was difficult to keep them straight - more the fact that I just wanted to get back to Nick and Lily and the key supporting characters in their stories. Though Nick’s past and excuses were frustrating, it added complexity and a layer of unpredictability to his character that I appreciated. Overall, I loved this bookish book!

I finished this book back and February, so late on this review! I was excited to read Kristina Forest's adult romance debut, "The Neighbor Favor" but unfortunately, it was just okay to me. I didn't really vibe with the writing style. The main character, Lily, felt like a YA protagonist to me and I couldn't believe she was a working professional. Nick was a perfectly fine love interest but I didn't really buy the secret identity bit of the story. Maybe that's not a premise that works well for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This book was so cute! I really enjoyed the characters and I thought the story was original and adorable. I love reading the parts about Lily's family, and I felt like Nick's family drama felt real and believable (which sometimes isn't the case in romances). I really loved seeing Nick and Lily interact with their family and friends, it's nice when characters are dynamic outside of the main romance. I definitely recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC!

Such a cute story! I was rooting for this couples happy ending from their first interaction.

Lily and Nick struggle to get past their weaknesses but find strength in each other to grow. It’s a story about different upbringings, setting boundaries with family and finding love.

Thank you so much to both Berkley Publishing Group and Kristina Forest for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review ☺️

3⭐️
Although I read the arc of The Partner Plot before reading this one, it did not negatively effect my experience with reading this novel at all, and I am happy that I read them in the order that I did. I have to say that my favorite part about this book was the fact that both characters love books and everything surrounding the bookish community. Second chance romances are not my favorite trope, but I think this one was done well and Kristina Forest's writing is impeccable.

However, similar to The Partner Plot, I couldn't find myself becoming obsessed or gripped with the characters. I found that they were relatable and I was rooting for them, but it did not give me the feeling of never wanting to put the book down, which is why I would rate the book 3 stars. Regardless, this did not hinder my enjoyment of the novel and I will be reading more of Forest's books in the future!

This was one of my top romances of the year! I loved the way the story flowed, I was immersed in their perspectives and who doesn't love a modern epistolary love story! This one represented anxiety so well and I CANNOT wait to read what Forest does next!

The Neighbor Favor is your average romance novel and I enjoyed it! Nothing wowed me, but not every book needs to wow me!

This was cute and I loved the emails shared between both main characters because they don't know each other yet. I liked the plot and the fact that it's about book lovers!?!

I would definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a fast paced romance book that will have you cheesing!

The Neighbor Favor: A Sweet, Steamy Romance with Bookish Charm (4 out of 5 stars)

"The Neighbor Favor" by Kristina Forest is a delightful rom-com that transports you to a world of cozy bookstores, quirky characters, and undeniable chemistry. The story unfolds like a modern-day "You've Got Mail," with a charming bookworm and a reclusive fantasy author unknowingly connecting through anonymous letters. Their back-and-forth banter is witty and engaging, quickly creating a spark that leaves you wanting more.

The author's skill in building tension and anticipation is undeniable. Each exchanged letter and stolen glance adds fuel to the fire, culminating in several swoon-worthy moments that will melt your heart. The slow burn romance is perfectly paced, allowing the reader to truly invest in the characters and their budding relationship.

The steamy scenes, though not excessive, are well-written and emotionally charged, adding a layer of depth and desire to the connection between our protagonists. I especially loved the way their intellectual and emotional intimacy intertwined, creating a truly captivating romance.

However, there were a few minor moments where the narrative felt slightly predictable, and the conflict, while believable, could have been explored with a bit more depth. Nevertheless, these are minor quibbles that do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Overall, "The Neighbor Favor" is a heartwarming and fun read that will leave you feeling satisfied and eager for more. It's a perfect escape for anyone looking for a sweet, steamy romance with a touch of bookish charm. I highly recommend it not only to fans of the "enemies-to-lovers" trope, but also to anyone who enjoys a well-written love story.

One thing's for sure, Kristina Forest has earned a new fan in me. I can't wait to explore her other works and discover what other magical romances she has in store!

Lily is a shy editor stuck in the nonfiction division but dreams of working with children's books. Her escape is connecting with her favorite fantasy author via email. Then he ghosts her! Months later, Lily is seeking a date to her sister's wedding and enlists the help of her attractive new neighbor, Nick. He soon realizes that Lily is the same woman he fell in love with over email a few months ago. Little do they know, they're on each other's minds.

I should have left The Neighbor Favor on the digital shelf. But the cover is just too cute! I knew immediately that this novel featured characters of color. Then I read the synopsis and thought it would be a good charming story. Well...it was just okay and I fought the urge to not finish or skim through. And like most romances, the ending is predictable. The Neighbor Favor would've perhaps been better as a novella.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING!! I will read anything that Kristina Forest writes from now on. This was such an amazing book and the fact that there was this big secret just made things even more great. Loved loved this one!

Freaking PERFECTION. 10/10. This was just so so good. I couldn’t get enough of it and wanted a thousand more pages of this. This was written just for me! The banter was hilarious, the characters were so relatable and it flowed perfectly.

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First, I want to say how cute and wholesome this novel was. Nick and
Lilly have captured my heart. It was my first time reading a book by
this author, but I can already tell it won't be my last.

My favorite part of this book was how we see Nick living a simple and
minimalist life due to his childhood fear of not having enough.
However, the minute Lily was in trouble, he was so quick to help.
Although I can't fit the entire quote here, a small quote “ And that was true. He would do anything for her. She meant so much to him. It was why he was determined not to fuck up her life”.
quote”. There are many things I loved about this book, and you might
be wondering why it was not a five-star read if I loved it so much.
Well, I'm not a big fan of miscommunication, and I feel that it was
kind of unnecessary how the lie kept going. I just wish it had been
discovered way earlier, but maybe that would have affected the way the
book turned out. Secondly, I'm not happy with the ending Nick got with
his parents. Although I can see how the mom is trying, I just feel
like Nick deserves so much more, and he deserves more from his
parents. Lastly, everybody has their own opinion and view when it
comes to reading a story, so you might read this and give it a
five-star rating and completely disagree with me.

I loved this bookish unwitting correspondence love story! From start to finish, this book was fantastic.

Epistolary elements are one of my favorite things to see in a book, and it starts off strong as Lily begins exchanging flirty emails with her favorite author. I loved watching them meet, and it was fun as the reader to know who Nick was long before Lily figured it out. I also enjoyed the insight into the publishing world, both from the POV of Lily as an editor stuck in a position she doesn't enjoy, and from that of Nick, an author who writes fantasy books with Black main characters. They bond over their love of BIPOC fantasy, and while I'm not a fantasy reader myself, I enjoyed reading how much the genre meant to both characters.

There's obviously some miscommunication/deception in the storyline, but both characters have such strong arcs that the trope is enjoyable rather than frustrating.

Lily's relationship with her sisters was another highlight of the book, and I can't wait to read more about them. I'm looking forward to The Partner Plot, which features Lily's sister Violet, coming next year!

*I received this copy from NetGalley for my unbiased review* I absolutely loved this book! It was a sweet bookish romance with a few tropes, but I actually loved the way they were handled! I normally don’t really like when one side of the romance has a secret they are hiding from the other side, but the author did a great job at making sure it didn’t feel manipulative, and maintained the character integrity. I will definitely be recommending this to friends, and can’t wait to read more of this author!!

The start of this book was so much fun! I love when books have emails or texts included between the characters. after the initial introduction to the characters thorough the emails in the beginning then it went a little flat for me after that. I just might not like the trope of hidden identity/miscommunication. The romance was fun and the dialogue was sweet, but I couldn't stop myself from wanting to just yell at them to use their adult words and speak to each other! One simple honest conversation between the main characters would have fixed all their issues. Lily also needs to tell her family to kick rocks at some point. I'm glad she tried to finally set some boundaries in the end. This was a 3.5 for me, not my favorite but it was cute. Overall this was a quick, fun, and easy read.

I loved this book so much. I enjoyed reading about the character growth. This book gave me all the right amount of feels I wanted. would definitely recommend.

This book took me awhile to get through. I only had a few chapters left, but didn't care about the characters enough to finish for several months.