This was such a great book and I really enjoy Freya's style of writing and including an eclectic cast. this one really tugged at the heartstrings.

I was so excited to read this book when I saw Freya Sampson had a new one out. Unfortunately I did not love this book as much as I hoped it would. I felt like the beginning of the book was so slow, and it took so long to get into it. I almost didn’t want to finish it.

Once you get further into it, it gets alot better. I did enjoy that the chapters switched to different perspectives from other tenets in the building. That helped get to know more of what could be happening in the story. This is a feel good story with a heartwarming ending. Overall, I thought it was good, but I just didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dorthy Darling is Shelly House, and has lived there for most of her 77 years, while 25 year old Kat is definitely just passing through. But when a mysterious break in, an attempted murder and a secret from the past tie force them together the two very different women realize that working together might be the only way they can both survive and find a place to call home.

Dorothy has lived in Shelly House longer than any other resident. She’s quite cantankerous, but she has her reasons, and none of them include justifying herself to Kat.

Kat has never felt truly at home, but she’s drawn to Dorothy despite her being utterly unapproachable.

Now with their apartments facing demolition, Kat and Dorothy agree on one thing, they must save their historic building. But when someone plays dirty, and other residents get hurt, they seek justice.

I really enjoyed The Lost Ticket last year so was excited to see Freya Sampson had a new novel out this year. I was thrilled when Berkley approved my netgalley request for the e-arc and I couldn’t wait to get started.

I really enjoyed The Lost Ticket last year so was excited to see Freya Sampson had a new novel out this year. I was thrilled when Berkley approved my netgalley request for the e-arc and I couldn’t wait to get started.

This was a really cute cozy mystery, and it was really well done. Cozy mystery can be hit or miss for me because I find that I get bored, but there was a lot going on here and there was so much intrigue that I stayed interested. Not only was there suspense surrounding the demolition of Shelley house, but there were shenanigans regarding the demolition, some mild romance, and more! It was a lot, and it was so fun.

I loved all the quirky characters, there was plenty to go around. All the characters, even the side characters, were well developed and played well into the story. There were a lot of characters, but I found it easy to keep track of who was who and I enjoyed getting the story from both Dorothy and Kat’s perspectives as they were so different. I had so much fun with Dorothy’s character because she reminded me of my grandma who has passed, so it brought back a lot of fun memories.

The writing was well done and on par with what I came to expect after reading her last book. Freya knows how to weave an intricate tale and keep the reader engaged and interested in what is going to happen while painting a vivid picture.

I can’t wait to see what Freya Sampson comes up with next!

This review will be posted on my blog around publication date.

An aging apartment building, a cast of characters and a fading way of life end up uniting neighbors to come together.

Dorothy Darling has lived at Shelly house for most of her adult life. Now in her seventies, that way of life is being challenged by a property developer. Young Kat has never really belonged anywhere and has just moved into the apartment next door. Dorothy keeps tabs on everyone but is close to no one. One by one, Kat helps Dorothy get to know the other residents. Events happen that end up making them all rely on each other.

A somewhat typical novel of strangers coming together to get something done, it has marevelous characters and a storyline that is charming, funny and hopeful.

There have been a number of books featuring a cranky old lady who turns out to have an interesting backstory. Nosy Neighbors is another one to add to the to-be-read list. Sampson explores guilt that several of the characters feel, their desire for home, and love found in unexpected places. It is easy to care for the characters — even when they make the worse choices. And there are moments of suspense, when in your mind you think that the character’s choice may be a final one. Suggested for readers of How the Penguins Saved Veronica.

Freya Sampson’s latest is as dazzling and lovely of a read as her previous works. Weaving together mystery, romance, humor, and a hell of a lot of heart, NOSY NEIGHBORS is everything I hoped it would be.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC.

I LOVED this book. It was the perfect book to open the new year with. There is mystery and suspense, romance, and personal growth a self-forgiveness, all woven together in a cast of characters that you quickly come to care about. I found myself turning the pages desperate to find out what happened next to the residents of Shelley House in their fight to save their home and come to terms with the ghosts of their pasts. I have not read any other book by Freya Sampson, but this book has me moving her other books towards the top of my TBR pile.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Nosy Neighbors.

I liked this book. It is the story of the inhabitants of apartments in the once grand Shelley House. The building has fallen into disrepair and relations among the tenants are less than friendly. Circumstances and an "evil: developer drive the residents to let go of old animosities or at least set them aside. Two of the main catalysts for this detente are a snoopy old woman and an illegal tenant, both of whom live by the rule to never get too close to people.
This is a review of an advanced reader eGalley.

Prim and proper Dorothy Darling has lived at Shelley House, a 130-year old former mansion in the English countryside town of Chalcot, for over three decades. She sees it as her duty to report every rubbish violation and every tenant infraction to the landlord. Twenty-something Kat, with something of a checkered past, sublets a room from Joseph, another longtime Shelley House resident. They’re all presented with an eviction notice from the loathsome Fergus Alexander, who plans to raze the building in favor of a swanky housing development. After Joseph’s attacked in his home, Kat and Dorothy team up to figure out the culprit, and in the process, save their home from the developer.

The plot and premise are heartwarming. There’s a quest to resist the destruction of their home, and I really enjoyed seeing the residents come together. Dorothy’s speech at the developer’s office is timely and nicely surprising: her precise speech and mannerisms fit in perfectly with that moment. It was explained well and acted out by the characters in a way that made sense. The resolution was satisfying, well-planned, and fun. Everything moved fast and stayed relevant and interesting, such that 384 pages felt like nothing of the sort. It’s relatable and easy to read.

Character development is the hallmark of this novel, with two main characters getting top billing and novel-long attention. Dorothy and Kat are seemingly different people, from very different age groups and generations, so their friendship is a nice surprise. They have secrets that unravel throughout the novel. But like the plot it comes together well at the end, and both get their due sympathy. In fact, there’s an appropriate depth and care into each of the side characters, with just enough story to make it good. Their relationship to Dorothy, and how she helps each, despite her prickliness, was one of the things that makes this story so enjoyable.

I thought it was interesting how even the third-person chapters told from Dorothy’s perspective took on that “Queen’s English” style. It took some getting used to, but once I understood that’s how she talked, I went with the flow.

It’s a nice little story about everyday people, at one time just fellow tenants, joining together to save their home. It’s got heart, kindness, understanding, and a fast-moving storyline. One of the best ARCs I’ve read this year!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for a free, advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Nosy Neighbors is expected to be released April 2, 2024.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. I can't say enough about this book. I loved it from the beginning and the great cover art to the end of the book. It shows a lot of modern day society and how angry and judgmental we are about the people around us if we never take the time to get to know them on a deeper level. Off to find the author's other books.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Nosy Neighbors.

I do love the author's book The Last Chance Library. I struggled getting through this book and The Lost Ticket. It just wasn't an easy flowing book. There are secrets that you have to uncover but it takes quite awhile for things to work itself out. I didn't care for the Epilogue, we already know that Dorthy is nosy....why do we need to read more about it?

Most of Freya Sampson's "Nosy Neighbors" takes place within the walls of Shelley House, an apartment building which was once a mansion, but was subdivided into 6 units and is now rather worse for wear. Some tenants have lived there for decades, like Joseph Chambers in flat 1 and Dorothy Darling in flat 2; others are newcomers, like 25-year-old Kat, who is subletting a room in Joseph's apartment. Dorothy keeps tabs on all of them, logging their comings and goings (as well as any minor infractions, like "erroneous rubbish disposal" when a tenant's can doesn't make it into the recycling bin), but never interacting with them.

After a local developer sends eviction notices to all the tenants and announces plans to raze Shelley House, Dorothy takes some tentative steps out of the lonely life she leads in her flat, and she and Kat form an unlikely alliance in an attempt to save the building. When Joseph is injured in what appears to have been an attack and goes to the hospital, Dorothy even winds up dog-sitting his Jack Russell terrier. But both Kat and Dorothy have a lot of pain and trauma in their respective pasts, and every time it appears that one of them seems to be moving forward, something emerges to bring their old feelings and habits to the forefront.

Despite the 50-plus-year difference in their ages, Dorothy and Kat are both stuck in the past in myriad ways. At its core, the book is about their healing, more than the mysteries of what happened to Joseph and whether or not Shelley House will be saved. At points, I found Dorothy almost too dislikable, but Sampson does provide some plausible backstory to explain her behavior.

In the end, lessons are learned and lives are changed; this is a heartwarming story of friendship and forgiveness, featuring an absolutely delightful canine character as a bonus.

Thanks to Berkley Books for the review copy, via NetGalley!

A well written, interesting story. A quick read. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Nosy Neighbors didn't just tug at my heartstrings - this perfectly crafted mystery/buddy caper/wf tore my heartstrings out of my chest, tied them in knots, bandaged them lovingly before surgically tucking them into place, and offered a soothing cup of hot tea afterwards. What a lovely tangled joy this is - a mystery with genuine heart, written with pure talent.

"Nosy Neighbors" by Freya Sampson is a delightful and witty exploration of community dynamics and unexpected connections. The novel follows the residents of a charming cul-de-sac as they navigate a humorous web of secrets and relationships. Sampson's sharp observational humor shines, creating a vivid tapestry of quirky characters and their intertwined lives. The narrative is lighthearted yet insightful, blending comedy with genuine moments of human connection. With a perfect balance of charm and intrigue, "Nosy Neighbors" is an entertaining read that captures the essence of community, reminding us that sometimes the most extraordinary stories unfold in the most ordinary places.

I absolutely adored this book. Freya Sampson has become an auto buy author for me and this one exceeded all expectations. I loved the eclectic cast of characters, from Dorothy to Kat and all their colorful neighbors. A story of an unlikely cast of characters coming together to save their home, it will leave you feeling good and as if you too lived in Shelley House. Highly recommend.

3.5 stars. The author returns to Charcot, from her first novel The Last Chance Library. I did not enjoy this book quite as much as that one, or her second one. This was about trying to save an old building instead of a library, and the plot didn’t feel fresh. The characters weren’t as engaging for me. But it was an easy read, and did pick up in the second half. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

What a treat! Somehow this is my first Freya Sampson book, but it won’t be my last. I loved meeting the residents of Shelley House—they were charming, imperfect, and perfectly real.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

The author did an excellent job of leading us to care about the characters and of delineating the different apartment residents as well as giving us a real feel for the majestic yet dilapidated building. Bonus that though there are villains, no one dies in the space of time the book covers. The alternating viewpoints from two prickly women who feel betrayed by life, one young and one old, are effective as are the revelations that caused them to become so cynical about life. Definitely a feel-good cozy mystery for the season.