Love a good romance and Alexa Martin is good at writing them. Though, I think that this one deserved a better cover, it didn't disappoint, as long as you accepted it for what it is. A romance that really doesn't have a great third act. Look, I know that not all relationships end in a big fight or whatever, but at least give me something climatic.

Because up until the 3rd act, I loved this book. Then you get to the 3rd act and I was completely underwhelmed.

I liked this! The premise was really cute - it's basically a childhood friends to enemies to lovers story centered around a suburban HOA war lol. I did like the main characters, but I do think the reasoning for Nate dropping Collins as a friend back in high school felt a little bit weak to me. Obviously his feelings are valid but it just felt like Collins literally did nothing to deserve that?? and I think maybe he should have been more apologetic at like 30 lol. I also think the progression to lovers was a little bit too fast for my taste? Maybe I just wanted more drama LOL. I will say though, I LOVED the side characters (especially Ashleigh and Ruby) and I feel like they should get books!!

Overall though, this was a quick and fun read and would def recommend if you're looking for a pretty low-angst romance :)

Overall I enjoyed this rom com but didn’t feel as connected to the main characters or their romance. I’m usually all for enemies to lovers but I didn’t love this one as much as I was hoping to. Definitely quite a bit of open door spice and a few swoon worthy moments

I love everything this author writes and this was no exception. Such a great enemies to lovers story.

Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin is a contemporary romantic comedy novel. The story in Next-Door Nemesis is one that uses the old enemies to lovers trope with the characters having an past together in high school.

After high school Collins Carter fled her small town and headed off to L.A. to try to make it on her own. Now Collins unfortunately has made it all the way back to her parents house finding herself unemployed. The last person Collins wanted to run into was Nathaniel Adams, her old high school nemesis, after returning.

Nathaniel is now a member of the H.O.A. in Collins parent’s neighborhood and also becoming a huge thorn in her side. Spouting out H.O.A. rules left and right Nathaniel keeps up the old feud leading Collins to decide the only way to defeat him is to take his spot on the H.O.A.

Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin is one of those books that kept the pages turning just to see what silly thing would happen next, forget the romance! Kidding, the romance does come along in it’s time and I was rooting for the couple between the laughs too. My only niggle on this one is it’s kind of an odd scenario to run for an spot in a homeowner’s association without being the actual homeowner but I was willing to forgive that one and just enjoy the ride for four stars!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Let me start by saying this book had me laughing absolutely out loud!

FMC Collins Carter has thoughts that I swear came from my own head as she navigates her return to her small Midwest hometown. When she bumps into her former best friend turned rival, her rock bottom only gets rockier. From the first page, I thought, 'These characters are hilarious!' And I didn't meet a neighbour I didn't like.

While the comedy was peak performance, the romance left much to be desired. I never believed the dynamic between Collins and Nathaniel. They had zero chemistry until they wound up in bed suddenly with no words exchanged. I felt they missed the simmering sexual tension I enjoy from an
enemies to lovers or a really good slow burn.

The twist of the HOA presidency was unique and fun and I really enjoyed Collins' girl gang but I'd have loved to see the romantic relationship further developed.

3.5 Stars

Next-Door Nemesis is literal perfection. I don’t often tab books but there were just so many amazing one-liners and fantastic bits of inner dialogue that I just had to mark them to go back to again later. I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and snappy dialogue and boy did this book deliver.

Collins Carter has run back to her hometown and is staying in her childhood room at her parent’s house after a public break-up with her boyfriend in LA went viral. She’s looking for a distraction, and irritating her former best friend (now nemesis) is just the ticket. Impulsively, she decides to run for HOA president, just to spite Nate Adams. Has she bitten off more than she can chew? Possibly, but she’s too stubborn to back down now.

I’ve been in a bit of a romance book slump but this book pulled me right out. It’s full of hilarity, fantastic female friendships, nosy neighbors, MLMs, stick-on googly eyes, steamy kitchen antics, wonderful parents, and so much more.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This is my first book by Alexa Martin and it definitely won’t be my last! NEXT DOOR NEMESIS is a best friends to enemies to lovers story that is equal parts entertaining and heartfelt. I thought Collins and Nate’s chemistry was excellent and I thought their animosity and relationship was so believable and I was rooting for them so hard. This book is a really fun and steamy read to get you out of a reading slump!

This was one of my favorite books I read in 2023. I adore the way Alexa has the ability to make the characters fun and relatable but also have tons of layers - just like real people. I was literally laughing out loud during this one and I think it might be my new favorite from her. If you are looking for a fun but also meaningful novel, this one is for you!

Alexa Martin is an author you can read anywhere. The beach, rainy day, commuting, lazy weekends, busy weekdays. Her writing is so accessible and the stories are always filed with comedy and romantic flair. I love a good enemies to lovers and Nextdoor Nemesis was wild! I recommend.

I needed a good enemies to lovers and this was it. It got me out of a slump, and I am forever grateful for that. Such a fun and quick read!

Really loved the plotting of this story + solid backstory for the mcs. Solid enemies to lovers with a hint of second chance romance. Good balance of miscommunication and mature adult relationships with healthy conversations. Definitely looking forward to more characters from the neighborhood.

Rating 4.5⭐
💋 Enemies to lovers
💋 Neighbors from hell vibes
💋 So much LOL humor with great banter
💋 Heroine returns to her small town
💋 Childhood friendship gone wrong

Absolutely loved this! I'm a huge fan of this author's writing and it did not disappoint. Fun, mild angst and steam make this rom com a great read!

1/2 ⭐ off for miscommunication that could have easily been fixed by a simple conversation

I read this during finals week last semester, I got the ARC through Good Girls PR! This was a fun rivalry romance set in a small town I loved the rivalry over the homeowners association, I thought it was a hilarious aspect! The town meetings reminded me of Gilmore Girls. I liked the dynamic between the FMC and the MMC , I did want to know more about their childhood friendship. I thought a little more in depth about that would have heen interesting to see.

Next-Door Nemesis by Alexa Martin

In Alexa Martin's romantic comedy, two rival candidates for a homeowner's association presidency face off against each other in a suburban town. Collins Carter returns to her parents' house after years of hustling, but her suburban life is thrown into chaos when she announces she's running against Nathaniel Adams for HOA president. The two enemies face secret board meetings and smear campaigns, sinking to levels their suburban town has never seen before. As hate turns into lust, they must confront their feelings and the consequences of their actions.

This book was captivating, addicting, and thrilling, with your nosy and irritating neighbors turning enemies into lovers, which gives a romance to enjoy and entertains to the fullest.

The banter and dialogue between Collins and Nathaniel were fun and witty, giving us an irritatingly delightful pair. It was wild, plus there was the scene where they said they hated each other and couldn't talk more because finally they lit the fire between them.

It was simple, sweet, and cozy, but at the same time something different made you want to turn pages quickly. The writing was easy, smooth, and great.

I recommend this to all rom-com lovers.

Midwestern Charm ? Enemies To Lovers ? Second Chance Romance ? Wonderful Banter ? This book has it all. I caught myself laughing out loud multiple times during the book. This was so much fun to read !

Next Door Nemesis is an enemies to lovers romance about 2 ex-friends fighting for the role of HOA President. The book is really funny and witty. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the plot to be too exciting. I just didn’t connect with the characters or feel invested in their relationship. Honestly, Collins’ immaturity annoyed me. I loved Alexa’s Playbook series, but didn’t quite feel the love for these characters in Next Door Nemesis.

Two rival candidates for a homeowner’s association presidency are about to find out how dirty suburbanites fight in this steamy new romantic comedy from Alexa Martin.



I admit, I did not expect too much going into Next Door Nemesis. The tag almost sums up the occurrences of the story. And I was not wrong. Collins and Nathaniel, former childhood besties that turned when Nathaniel was deemed a cool kid in high school and Collins was not. But alas, it is the future, and it is the whole enemies to lovers/ second chance romance read. It was an okay read for me, but I feel like this trope is sooo popular and I am just not that into it anymore.

As someone that lives in an HOA run neighborhood, I could completely get into the hi-jinks, backstabbing and overall pettiness that you find in those organizations. This is a fun read that shares the angst of living among sometimes absurd rules and dealing with others who don't want to follow your ideas. But...........throw a little sizzling chemistry into the mix and you can find yourself rather starting to enjoy those pesky HOA meetings and confrontations. :)