Nosy Neighbors
by Freya Sampson
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Nothing brings neighbors together like someone else’s secrets… At Shelley House, the walls have ears, and they’re attached to a ragtag duo of
busybodies ready to pry, snoop, and generally annoy their neighbors into solving a crime.
This unlikely assortment of neighbors will have to band together if they have any hope of saving the historic Shelley House from demolition from an unscrupulous developer, Ferguson Alexander.

As eviction day nears, and things become dangerous, Dorothy and Kat must do something that neither one is comfortable doing-trust another person-each other-if they are to outwit and outlast Ferguson.

Once again, Freya Sampson has penned a delightful, COZY story of a community coming together, and written characters who will feel like friends by the end of the book!

4 stars

If you’re looking for a feel good book with characters who grow and learn, then pick up this book. Dorothy Darling is in her 70s and has lived in the crumbling, past its glory Shelley House for 34 years. She is that neighbor who tries to know everybody’s business. Then 25 year old Kat comes to (illegally) rent a room from Joseph right across the hall. When Shelley House faces demolition, Joseph tries to bring the tenants together to save their homes, but Dorothy and joseph have a secret, tragic past… Part cozy mystery and a little romance, this book has well drawn characters who are reckoning with their pasts and moving into the future. I will definitely be recommending this to my many friends who are looking for feel good books. This fits the bill.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Elderly resident Dorothy, knows all about her Shelley House neighbors and keeps track of their comings and goings. She is especially frustrated when her neighbors violate the rules and have no common sense compared to Dorothy's impeccable common sense. New occupant, the young Kat is particularly vexing to Dorothy but both love Shelley House and find themselves working together to protect their home from an "evil" landlord.

First of all, this cover is ADORABLE and second of all, I absolutely loved The Lost Ticket by this author. As a result, I did a little happy dance when I found out I was approved to read an early copy of Nosy Neighbors! Thank you Berkeley!!

Let’s meet the (sort of) merry group of neighbors living at Shelley House, shall we?

First up, we have 77-year-old Dorothy Darling who was giving me Ove vibes from the very start. She’s curmudgeonly and a total stickler for the rules, but you just know there’s something sweet buried way, way, way down beneath her tough exterior.

Next, there’s Joseph, an absolute doll, and his dog Reggie. Jospeh (illegally!!!) sublets his spare room to Kat, a young lady with pink hair.

Finally, there are a few other residents but you’ll meet them when you pick this one up!

Shortly after Kat moves in, the building is set to be demolished and the neighbors form unlikely bonds as they attempt to work together to save their historic home. Secrets are revealed, friendships are formed, and your heartstrings will receive a few swift tugs.

I sadly didn’t enjoy this nearly as much as The Lost Ticket. Both books were charming with added depth and emotion, but Nosy Neighbors got a little too depressing at times for what I’d hoped would be more of a feel good story. There were a few reveals that kind of gutted me and a few times the characters took things a little too far in my opinion. It also takes quite a while for some of these revelations to occur and I lost a bit of steam at times.

There’s a little mystery and a little romance but at its core this book is about community and connection. It’s well written and laugh out loud funny at times but I had quite a few near tear experiences, as well. Overall, I recommend this one but wish I had waited for the audiobook.

Quick warning about the 🐶 chapter 25: Princess is okay, but something very sad about another dog is mentioned.

"Nothing brings neighbors together like someone else's secrets... At Shelley House, the walls have ears, and they're attached to a ragtag duo of busybodies ready to pry, snoop, and generally annoy their neighbors into solving a crime.

Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling has lived in Shelley House longer than any of the other residents, and if you take their word for it, she's as cantankerous as they come. But Dorothy has her reasons for spying. And none of them require justifying herself to Kat Bennett.

Twenty-five-year-old Kat has never known a place where she felt truly at home, and crumbling Shelley House is no different. Her neighbors find her prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat's plagued by a guilty secret from her past.

When their apartments face demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy agree on just one thing: they must save their historic building. But when someone plays dirty - and one of the residents is viciously taken down - Dorothy and Kat seek justice. The police close the investigation too soon, leaving it up to the unlikely amateur sleuths - with a playful Jack Russell terrier at their side - to restore peace in their community."

Batteries Not Included meets Only Murders in the Building.

An unlikely group of six tenants will have to work together to save the historic Shelley House. A beautiful old apartment building from being destroyed by the owner.
The odd get will will also need to come together to figure out who seriously hurt another tenant.
Secrets to uncover, family drama, humor, mystery, kindness, heartwarming story of different people coming together.
So come take a ride with this eclectic group as they solve the puzzle pieces to get answers.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

When Kat Bennett becomes a subtenant at Shelley House, she joins the historic apartment buildings' disconnected community. While every tenant is a part of the story, Dorothy Darling, the 77 year old resident in Apartment 2, is by far the most interesting. Each day she keeps track of the comings and goings in the building, as well as any safety issues or violations. None of which makes her especially liked and, in fact, is thought to be cantankerous and possibly a bit batty. There is so much that goes on in this story and each thread adds to the complexity. After Joseph is attacked in his apartment, the story takes off. Kat and Dorothy reach a fragile understanding as they work together to figure out who and why Joseph was attacked. But both women have deep secrets and hurts. I am very impressed by Freya Sampson's writing and how she brought this story and the people together in a remarkably endearing way. The setting and characters were beautifully developed, and I could envision this community easily.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the review copy to read. This is my honest review.

Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson is an awesome cozy, murder/mystery that is right up my alley.

This isn’t just an amateur sleuth, opposites attract/join forces, murder mystery…well it is that, but it is also so much more.
So creative to place this eclectic cast of characters into the same apartment complex…and teaming up two of the outsiders…(who actually have more in common than they realize) Dorothy and Kat (can’t forget Reggie either).

They may be different, but through joining force and adding the wonderful balance of serious threads woven with humor, we get to go along for the ride as they solve the puzzle.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Berkley Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/9/24.

helley House is a beautiful Victorian apartment building that has seen better days. The owner, who routinely ignores tenants' requests for repairs, has decided to tear down the building and put up modern apartments and has sent out eviction notices to the current residents.

Irascible Dorothy Darling, 77, has lived in Shelley House for more than 30 years and has her own private reasons for refusing to leave. She shies away from any social interaction with the others in the building, although she has unilaterally taken on responsibility for enforcing safety measures, sorting the mail, and calling out residents who aren't following the rules. Dorothy doesn't approve of the noisy punk upstairs, the woman who keeps picking the wrong partner, and the elderly man next door with the annoying, yappy dog. And she doesn't understand the uneasy dynamic between a father and his teenage daughter after the matriarch of the family passes away. But she can't help getting involved with Kat,25, the pink-haired, tattooed woman who is renting a room from her neighbor when the elderly man is found unconscious after an attack in his home.

After a somewhat slow start, the story becomes much more engaging and immersive, and the universal themes emerge. Ultimately, Nosy Neighbors is about conquering long-standing guilt, coming together with "found family" to vanquish the opposition, and finding oneself before it's too late. There is a romantic element as well, but it is not a major plot element. And while some aspects of the story are predictable, there are enough surprises to keep it uplifting and satisfying.

My thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson

Seventy seven year old Dorothy Darling has been living at the historic Shelley House for more than thirty three years. Her slightly younger neighbor, Joseph, has been living there for almost that long. Then there is the father and his daughter who live above Joseph. Those two have been very sad since the wife/mother of that household died. Above Dorothy is some cretin who parties and plays loud music all hours of the day and night. Then there is Gloria, with the revolving door of boyfriends, and her next door neighbor, the big guy with the mean dog, Princess. Oh, and there is Reggie, the cute little terrier who runs Joseph's life.

Dorothy can't stand any of these people and hates a few. Actually, she feels a little sorry for some of them, if she'll admit it to herself. She misses the kind wife/mother who died, even if she ignored her friendly gestures. But Dorothy has no time to worry about other people, she has her own problems and she certainly doesn't want to allow anyone to get to know her and her losses in life. She wants no one to feel sorry for her, to start pitying her.

Everyday Dorothy does her rounds, book and pen in hand, notating all the offences of the neighbors, logging all the ways the building is crumbling and decaying. And, old Joseph has another boarder, it seems. Well, that can't be allowed to persist! She'll be letting the building owner know about that transgression. Too bad the owner seems to ignore all her helpful and important missives about the failings of her neighbors and the building.

Then they all get the brown envelopes telling them they must vacate their apartments. Dorothy will never move from her apartment, never live anywhere else. Joseph and some of the others make plans to protest but things start happening, criminal activities that seem targeted at the apartment dwellers. Joseph's boarder, the elusive, secretive Kat, finds several of the neighbors need her help, even Joseph needs her help. She was only going to stay with him a short time and now she's having to stay longer to take care of his dog. More things happen and the neighbors start interacting and getting to know more about each other.

I felt so sad for some of them and even the most cantankerous and grumpy of the bunch (such as Dorothy and Kat) have pasts that are heartbreaking. If a tragic past doesn't crush some people, it seems it can turn them into beings that have hearts of stone. But, working together, can these people save their home? Is it better to always stay in a place full of loss and heartache when it seems impossible to move on? Can one move on, even if the building around one is going to be razed to the ground? This story is about communication, grief, forgiving others and forgiving oneself and it does a good job of showing why we need to allow others to help us move forward. I got to enjoy reading this story with DeAnn and Jayme and it made for some really good discussion.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC

4 stars - a great story with some serious themes

We know them, the neighbors who are always watching and seem to know all about everyone in the neighborhood. Sometimes it can be downright creepy. Don’t they have better things to do?

In this case, we have Ms. Dorothy Darling (she’s particular about the Ms.), a longtime resident at Shelley House. She’s got a notebook and spends most of her day tracking the comings and goings of her fellow neighbors, calling them out when they break the rules, and sending complaints to the landlord.

One day, she meets Kat, a young woman with pink hair who sublets a room (against the rules, by the way) from her neighbor. If you take a look at the cover, these are the two peering out at you.

As the book progresses, we learn more about why Dorothy is so nosy and why Kat’s life is so transient. The two become odd friends and work together to fight the eviction notices that have been served to all six residents of the building.

Shelley House might not look like much now, but in its heyday, it was a beautiful mansion on Poet’s Row. Now, a ruthless developer wants to tear it down and replace it with 24 units!

Filled with a host of characters, including a grieving spouse, a bachelor with a strained relationship with Dorothy, and a woman who always seems to pick the wrong men. And I can’t forget one of the more adorable characters, Reggie, a dog who works his way into everyone’s heart!

This one had a great story and had some darker themes of grief, guilt, pain, loneliness, and ultimately, forgiveness, friendship, and the power of community.

I did enjoy “The Lost Ticket” more from this author, but I will definitely read all of her future books!

I think it would make a great book club choice.

Let me introduce you to the “Nosy Neighbors” seen peeking through the mail slot of this ADORABLE book cover!!

Flat #2 is the home of the cantankerous seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling -Shelley House’s longest resident. Always armed with a cup of tea, and her diary, she notes all of the coming and goings of the residence in her trusty notebook. She is seen on the left. (And, by the way that is MS. Darling to you!)

Beside her in that mail slot, on the right, is pink haired Kat Bennett. She has recently moved into Flat #1 as Joseph Chambers illegal subtenant, and she and Dorothy were not always accomplices-having gotten off on the wrong foot. Also in flat #1 is Reggie-an adorable Jack Russell terrier and scene stealer! (Or Reginald, according to Ms. Darling)

Rounding out the building is :
Flat #3 Omar Siddiq and his daughter, Ayesha
Flat #4 The anti-social tenant who frequently disturbs their peace
Flat#5 Tomas’s Wojcik and his pit bull, Princess and
Flat#6 Gloria Brown and her “latest” no good boyfriend.

This unlikely assortment of neighbors will have to band together if they have any hope of saving the historic Shelley House from demolition from an unscrupulous developer, Ferguson Alexander.

As eviction day nears, and things become dangerous, Dorothy and Kat must do something that neither one is comfortable doing-trust another person-each other-if they are to outwit and outlast Ferguson.

Once again, Freya Sampson has penned a delightful, COZY story of a community coming together, and written characters who will feel like friends by the end of the story!

There are reasons that Dorothy and Kat are both so closed off-and those secrets aren’t the only surprise revelations!

A new book from Freya Sampson is now something I am always watching for-she is three for three for me!!
If you haven’t read “The Lost Ticket” yet, it made my 2023 FAVORITES list.

And, Nosy Neighbors will be available on April 2, 2024.

Thank you to Berkley for the gifted copy provided through NeGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

mystery, thriller, cozy-fiction, chick-lit, contemporary, romantic, situational-humor, verbal-humor, eviction-notice, local-law-enforcement, local-politics, pet-dog, family-drama, sublet****

Shelley House is the main character in this collection of quirky characters who is each so engrossed in themselves and the others in the building. Delightful!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley via NetGalley. Thank you!
Pub Date 02 Apr 2024

This book had considerably heavier themes than I was expecting. I expected a bit of fun mystery in the suburbs of London but underneath that there was darker themes (child loss, abusive parents etc). I enjoyed it still but it wasn't quite as I expected from the jaunty cover.

3.75 stars

This offbeat novel features great characterizations and old secrets. The star of the show is Shelley House, a once beautiful older building that has suffered from neglect and lack of maintenance, The owner, an unscrupulous developer, wants to tear it down and build apartments.

But the residents, particularly 77 year old Dorothy Darling, are outraged. They believe the building owner has passively and actively tried to get rid of them to speed up the demolition process. Dorothy is a bitter, acerbic, secretive character. There has been a great tragedy in her past connected to the building that she will not speak of.

Enter the other pivotal character, Kat, as far removed from Dorothy as possible. Kat is in her twenties, pink-haired and tattooed. She has history with this village and there is one trait she and Dorothy have in common: Kat also has a hidden past that she wants to keep private. She had a wretched childhood with an addict mother. Her only solace was her grandfather, who lived in the village, but she hasn't seen him since she was 10.

There are other tenants in the building who are part of the plot. They are each nicely drawn and fleshed out. Mysterious incidents begin to happen: several break ins, some assaults on older occupants, and so on. Kat and Dorothy form an abrasive team when Kat's landlord is attacked.

The meat of this story is the slow destruction of all the emotional armor these two women have erected and their slow decision to re-engage with the world after all they have suffered. If this sounds sad and maudlin, it isn't. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Nosy Neighbors starts as a fun cozy mystery with an odd couple of tenants banding together to find the culprit who seriously hurt another tenant. They are also facing eviction as the owner of the property has decided to tear it down and build more units on the land.
Dorothy has been at Shelley House for decades. She is what one would call a busybody - she records everyone’s movements, writes letters to the council and religiously tells everyone what they’re doing wrong. Kat is a recent sub tenant. Young, she still has a history with the area and obviously is trying to hide something from her past. When Joseph, Dorothy’s nemesis and Kat’s direct landlord, is hurt, they surprisingly find common ground. And one by one, they slowly bring in others. But as the story goes on, it becomes much deeper.
The story alternates between the two POVs. Dorothy is an easy character to initially dislike. But I loved watching her thaw out, even becoming a dog lover. Likewise, Kat is afraid to connect with anyone and we get to see her lower her guard. Both have serious trust issues. They also are both consumed by guilt. I was surprised how engaged I became with both of these characters. Kudos to Sampson for such wonderful character development.
Sampson has written a heartwarming story with a strong dose of humor. But she also makes some very important points about parenting, guilt, regret and moving forward. I needed this feel good story after too many dark ones in a row. I’ve not read either of Sampson’s prior books but after this, I plan to seek them out.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy of this book.

I have loved both of Freya Sampson’s previous books, and this one is no exception. While the synopsis didn’t quite excite me, I’m happy to report that this is another sweet, funny, and emotional read. I laughed, I cried, and I loved. I can’t wait for her next book!

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Freya Sampson's new book is probably my favorite of hers. Nosy Neighbors is more than its cracked up to be. Tough and emotionally challenging threads are woven through the book. The characters live in the same place, Shelly House, and when it's targeted for demolition, the individual storylines mesh into a group of understanding neighbors.
Well done!

Seemed kind of a rip off of A Man Called Ove with a nosy tenant in England trying to enforce the rules of the building -- though with added twists of an evil housing developer trying to take over.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is about our characters coming together and learning each other’s secrets and lives and trying to save their homes at the same time. It was so easy to read, i flew through it in couple hours but know that i’m an extra fast reader. I really liked this one.
I also love the cover, look at this!