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.

Such a fun read! I love the characters, I loved the mystery and I loved the book. I couldn't put the book down. I think this would be a good book for a book club. So much to unpack and talk about!

Curmudgeonly Dorothy Darling spends her time chronicling her neighbors comings and goings. Dorothy has lived in Shelley House for decades and takes other residents' infractions very seriously. When 20-something, pink-haired Kat moves in, Dorothy immediately dislikes her.

As time goes on, Dorothy and the other residents are threatened with eviction, a threat that will necessitate them working together for the first time.

Much like A Man Called Ove, Nosy Neighbors centers around a grumpy, isolated retiree and their young, vibrant neighbors. This is schmaltzier, with romance, some contrived conflicts and too-easy resolutions. But it's a nice feel-good community story that I would recommend for those who enjoy a cozy mystery, women's fiction, or "clean" reads.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson.

Seventy-seven year old Dorothy Darling is as crotchety as they come, her neighbors think she's a nosy old bat. Twenty-five year old Kat Bennett never stays anywhere more than a few months and is illegally renting a room from the gentleman who lives in flat one. When their historic building is scheduled for demolition to make way for new condos, the residents try to unite to save their home. But long-held grudges and deeply buried secrets stand in the way.

It looks like it's a lost cause until one of the residents is brutally attacked and Dorothy and Kat reluctantly join forces to find the culprit.

A quirky cast of misfits who all have secrets try to save their historic home without getting too close to each other or revealing their secrets, this book was entertaining from the first sentence. 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Wooh! This book is heart wrenching heartwarming, while making me cry for the last quarter of the book. The author created a lovely mix of characters and crafted their backstories to bring their past to the present in an impactful way time and time again.

If you liked A Man Called Ove, Britt Marie was Here, or All the Lonely People, you will enjoy this character driven novel about connection and grief. How can we move on and forgive ourselves and others for past hurts? Should we? What do we stand to gain by letting go? What do we stand to lose?

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced review copy of the book..

A fantastic read! It has been described as a "Murders in the Building" readalike, and I can agree with that. Six apartments and their dwellers are scheduled for eviction and the building will be demolished. BUT, after a break-in and a violent attack, the residents ban together to figure out what's really going on. The complex relationships the characters have with each other and the house are what makes this story so good. This is my first book by Freya Simpson, and it won't be my last.

Freya Sampson is one of my favorite authors now. Her characters in all of her books stick with you. They are each developed fully and you care about the fate of each one. The neighbors in the Shelley House all come together in the end and it is a wild adventure of getting to know each one as they try to save the house.

Everyone in this book has some hard won wisdom to share but getting anyone else to listen is a bit like hugging a prickly porcupine... quietly funny, sweet, and warm...

Slight trigger warning for suicidal ideation

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with an e-book copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story has a lot of heart. While entertaining, the book also carefully approaches difficult subjects, such as: illness, infidelity, abuse, addiction, aging, death, and grief. I found myself caring about the residents of the historic Shelley House. I shed tears, both happy and sad, as I learned their backstories and followed them along their journeys of adventure and personal growth. Without being spoilery, I have to say that I love the sense of community that is central in this book.

If you enjoy a cozy mystery told through a cast of colorful characters, Nosy Neighbors is a good book to check out. It is set for an early April 2024 publication.