⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

After reading The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson, I knew I immediately wanted to read more from this author. You can only imagine how excited I was to receive an arc via NetGalley from Berkley for her new book. So here’s my honest review. 🫶🏻

This story follows Dorothy Darling, a 77-year-old woman who has lived in the Shelley House for over 30 years and Kat Bennett, a 25-year-old nomad who sublets an apartment in Shelley House. Both women are reserved, battling grief and guilt, and seem to be at odds. But when the tenants of Shelley House are threatened with eviction, Dorothy and Kat may realize they’re more similar than different. There’s power in numbers, after all…

I absolutely ADORED this book. From start to finish. It was nothing like I was expecting in the best way possible and it kept me on my toes. From the synopsis, you’d think this book would be a light-hearted cozy mystery with some humor. And while there was humor and it was definitely cozy, it was so much more than light-hearted. I should’ve KNOWNNNNN after reading The Lost Ticket that Ms. Sampson doesn’t play around!!!! Sampson is amazing at weaving together subplots with underlying themes and complex relationships to form heart warming stories. This book dives deep into the guilt and grief we can hold onto from our past and how we can learn to forgive ourselves to move forward.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, the storyline, the themes, how everything came together in the end. Everything. I loved this book. Freya Sampson has officially made it onto my auto-buy authors list.

Nosy Neighbors was not a book I would usually pick up, but I'm glad I did. There's a bit of a cozy mystery feel to it that hooked me, but the characters are why I kept reading.

Shelley House is a rundown apartment building and Dorothy has been tracking the comings and goings of the residents for years. Kat is subletting a room and only plans to be in the building for a short time. Their lives become unexpectedly intertwined as they both face difficult pasts and uncertain futures.

The story did feel a bit long, but Kat and Dorothy were interesting characters and I liked their stories. Neither was perfect, but you definitely get to understand what made them the way they are. This was a nice read and I do want to try more from this author.

“A home is not made by bricks and mortar, but by the people in it.”

Dorothy is an ornery older woman that lives in Shelley House where the residents are being evicted. Dorothy’s fave pastime is acting like the neighborhood watch, keeping track of all the building’s visitors in her notebook. Kat is a young girl that moves into the building. When a neighbor ends up injured, Dorothy has a list of suspects that may be responsible.

I first had the pleasure of reading Freya Sampson when I picked up another book by her, The Last Chance Library. This book, like that one, has a likable cast of characters. There is also a strong sense of community in both books. I enjoyed that this one has lighthearted cozy mystery vibe of this one, while also managing to hit some deeper topics along the way.

Pick this up for a cozy mystery with really enjoyable characters.

Kat Bennett is 25 years old, with pink hair, tattoos, and she is constantly on the move. Dorothy Darling is 77 years old and virtually reclusive, except for her time spying on neighbors and monitoring her apartment building. Kat and Dorothy have one thing in common: they live in Shelley House, an old apartment building in the suburbs of London. Then several things happen at once. The building's owner plans to shut it down, displacing all the residents. Kat's landlord, Joseph, is injured, and Kat and Dorothy end up taking care of Joseph's lively Jack Russell Terrier and working to solve the mystery of what happened to Joseph - as more mysteries arise.

I wanted to read this book because I love mysteries. I read a review that said this book was a great read for fans of Only Murders in the Building, and that intrigued me too.

This is a charming and unique mystery. As you read, you will get to know all the residents in this small apartment building and learn about their place in the mysteries and also their life in this eccentric little community. This book has some unexpected depth - and was quite moving - as it also deals with how different people handle grief, and life decisions that can help one move on (or not). There is a strong message of found family in this community.

The book is well told, with short chapters, well developed characters (especially Kat and Dorothy), and several compelling storylines happening simultaneously.

I recommend Nosy Neighbors for fans of mysteries, especially with a British setting, and yes, for fans of Only Murders in the Building too.

When Kat Bennett reluctantly returns to her old stomping grounds, all she wants to do is keep her head down and lay low. Still, she answers an ad where there’s a room for at Shelley House, an ailing apartment building that’s seen better days.

Suddenly, Kat finds herself the roommate of an elderly man who despite her protests, makes her dinners, and his way into Kat’s heart. But when his efforts to save the building result in a suspicious attack, Kat slowly find she anonymity going out the window.

Forced to work alongside the building’s colorful residents including the prickly Dorothy Darling, Kat becomes embroiled in not only solving the mystery, but saving the building. But the more Kat and Dorothy are forced to work together, the more they come to an unexpected understanding, and an even more unexpected friendship.

Nosy Neighbors is a fun whodunnit in the vein of Only Murders In the Building or A Man Called Ove. The eclectic group of residents, each with their own stories to tell, gave this mystery depth. Not unlike its prime time comparisons, I could also see this being turned into a series or movie. So if the opportunity to read this comes knocking, don’t hesitate to give it a warm welcome.

I enjoyed the a curmudgeonly snoop in flat #2, the quirky pets and the cozy mystery in this heartwarming story of found family in a London apartment building. 3.5 stars

Thanks to Berkley Publishing for the copy to review.

A narrative that is not what I was expecting. From the cover art and description, I was thinking banter and whimsey and that’s not what the story is about.

Dorothy Darling evokes memories of Britt-Marie from Fredrik Backman’s novels. She’s the woman in the window flicking her curtain, making notes in her journal, and sending endless letters to the management company.

Then there is Kat, a twenty-something with secrets. She returned to the area after a teenage incident forced her to flee. Now, as a tenant renting a room, she befriends Dorothy and gets into the middle of the snooping escapades.
But here’s the twist: Nosy Neighbors isn’t the slapstick comedy its cover suggests. Instead, it’s a tale of sadness and depression.

As Dorothy and Kat team up, the story unfolds into a blend of mystery, camaraderie, and unexpected connections. The apartment house becomes a microcosm of life, where secrets simmer and unlikely friendships blossom.

So, don’t judge this book by its cover. Beneath the projected quirkiness lies something darker.

Thank you to Berkley for my review copy.

I wouldn't label this as a mystery, but it does have some mystery elements to it in solving what happened to one of the residents. This one is definitely more of a cozy found family with a side mystery. This one was also relatively heartbreaking, and I honestly didn't think I was going to feel so attached at a couple points.

The characters were aggravatingly human, and their flaws made them both funny and irritating. Dorothy was so stubborn, so I was happy to see her get the chance to really come alive in this and get drawn out of her self-imposed isolation.

Each resident at Shelley house was so different and it was particularly fun when they all really started interacting together, I found myself becoming much more invested.

As a fan of “Only Murders In The Building” and “Thursday Murder Club”, I enjoyed the premise of this book. I just wish it had actually lived up to its premise. It wasn’t bad with the characters and the mystery, I just felt like some of the big surprise things were not quite as surprising as she expected them to be (I literally thought Kat murdered someone, that was so blown up. What she actually did wasn’t quite so huge). I also found Dorothy insufferable for most of the book. I think I would recommend it, though for people who like the two things I mentioned.

I shouldn't have requested this book on NetGalley - cozy mystery books aren't for me, but I was going to give this one a try anyway after hearing good things about it. After reading about 5% I am just not engaged at all and am going to DNF. Thank you so much for the ARC, hopefully others who enjoy this genre will really enjoy this book!

Thank you so much @BerkleyPub for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 02 April 2024)

SYNOPSIS | Shelley House is a historic building under threat of demolition. The tenants don't always see eye-to-eye, but they agree that they don't want to be displaced from their home.
Dorothy (a seventy-seven-year-old cantankerous lady who is also the longest resident) + Kat (a prickly illegal subtenant) band together to try and save the property.

WHAT I LIKED:
- the teamwork between Kat + Dorothy (despite their interactions often being somewhat awkward)
- all the cozy vibes, but with complex characters and an emotionally charged plot
- the interpersonal relationships between all of the characters really shone through
- slowly discovering more about Kat + Dorothy's backstories as the story progressed
- the epilogue was lovely

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- how Joseph's attacker storyline ended
- Fergus was basically a caricature of an evil villain

Hm, I haven't read this author before, so I was kind of blind when I read it. And I have some mixed feelings regarding it. First, I don't hate the book, but it took me awhile to get into it. Second, I don't know why, but the beginning took forever. I couldn't get it at all. I kept getting bored until the middle, and that's with pausing multiple times. Third, I found the older main character annoying. I could not stand her. The redeeming wasn't that redeeming.

Kat is guarded and constantly on the move when she sublets a room at the crumbling Shelley House, in the town where her grandfather's farm was and where her life changed when she was 10. Kat keeps to herself but her neighbors are trying to fight their eviction, since Shelley House is due to be demolished. Dorothy has lived in Shelley House for decades and designated herself the protector of the house and when one of the neighbors is attacked, Dorothy tries to find out what happened and drags Kat along with her. Overall, a story about a group of people trying to keep their home and the relationships that help support them. Both Dorothy and Kat have something in their past that is still causing them to feel guilt and although it was eventually explained, it did make for some aggravating introspection at times.

NOSY NEIGHBORS by Freya Sampson (The Lost Ticket) is another heartwarming adventure about forming a community. The story is set in London, most often taking place in Shelley House on Poet's Road – an aged Victorian converted to flats where seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling has lived for over thirty years. Across the landing lives Joseph Chambers who (accompanied by his dog Reggie) forms a one-man campaign against plans to tear down the house and replace it with a new development. Joseph is older, too, and takes in a boarder, pink-haired twenty-something Kat Bennett. There are a total of six flats and each of the other residents – Gloria, Tomasz, an unnamed anti-social young man, and a father and daughter – is preoccupied with his or her own issues. Gradually they come to know and care for each other. A special bond forms between Dorothy and Kat, but that is sorely tested by some tragic circumstances from the past. Overall, this is an uplifting read where initially lonely and confused characters grow and learn to support each other. Along the way, they solve a mystery or two while working hard at redeeming Shelley House. Book groups take note: discussion questions are included.

Heartwarming story of a community coming together to save one of their own or a house, both ?
Two neighbors-at-war band together to stop a dangerous criminal in their midst in this enthralling new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Ticket. Twenty-five-year-old Kat Bennett has never felt at home anywhere, and especially not in crumbling Shelley House. According to her neighbors, she's prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat is plagued by guilt from her past. Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling is Shelley House's longest resident, and if you believe the other tenants, she's as cantankerous and vindictive as they come. Except there's a good reason Dorothy spends her days spying on her neighbors—a closely guarded secret that no else knows and the reason Dorothy barely leaves her beloved home. When their building faces demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy become unlikely allies in their quest to save their historic home. But when someone starts to play dirty and viciously targets one of the residents, Dorothy and Kat suspect foul play in their community. After the police close the investigation, it's up to this improbable pair to bring a criminal to justice..
Dorothy and Kat are wildly different, the other residents are spectacular side characters, A book that had me gripped and just rooting for everybody. I love these people and the community they are slowly building. Now I need an epilogue five years out …

Nosy Neighbors tells the story of a group of people who inhabit apartments within the same building. Both the inhabitants and the building have seen better days. Throughout the course of the story, the inhabitants are being forced from their homes by a selfish landlord, who wants to destroy the building and build a more lucrative building; but the story is much more than that. It’s a study of misunderstandings and misguided grief. The characters are very well fleshed-out, although there are moments when their actions, or inactions, stumble. I thoroughly enjoyed the story as an example of ‘you never know what’s going on behind closed doors’.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 3.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: mystery 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
This one was okay, I enjoyed it was it was a little slow for me

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Only Murders in the Building vibes
Cozy mysteries
Found family
Quirky characters
British reads
Slow burn
Dual POV
Heartwarming with a side of humor
Side of romance

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
I loved all the characters

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Slow throughout
Predictable

77 year old Dorthy has been living at Shelley House for decades. She keeps track of everything that goes on inside and outside of the building. When the land lord decides to demo the building to make new apartments, the tenets get together to fight back. However the main person rallying everyone together has been found unconscious in his flat…who did it?

I loved this book from start to finish! This is a great cozy mystery that had multiple plot points going on. I really enjoyed the pace and the writing of this book. The author does a fantastic job portraying each character and their personalities. This book goes between two characters points of view and it flows well. I thought the plot was interesting and so were the twists and turns along the way. It was a fun read!

I began reading expecting the labelled Mystery and Suspense genre, but to me it didn’t seem even close to that. The dual classification is Women’s Fiction. If you enjoy comical British cozy- (cosy) style novels, this may be your cup of tea. The camaraderie of two women, elderly Dorothy and younger Kat, to protect their historic building was charming. I appreciate receiving an Advance Readers Copy from the publisher, through NetGalley.

I have read other books from Sampson in the past and enjoyed them, so I was excited to read her latest. She did not disappoint. I absolutely adored the diverse cast of characters, including Reggie. There is depth and growth to the characters, particularly Dorothy and Kat. I appreciated that the backstory for the characters was woven throughout instead of just one big info dump. The story is well written, and I was thoroughly engaged and hated to have to put the book aside. Themes of community and forgiveness are key, and there is a small mystery to keep the readers guessing, as well. Alternating POV's (Dorothy and Kat) give the reader a well-rounded picture. There are numerous subplots involving the other characters, but it is not overwhelming. They all serve a purpose. The storyline may leave the reader pondering whether or not they make snap judgments on people without really knowing the person or the reasons behind their actions. Sensitive subjects (such as grief, addiction, abuse, and loneliness) are handled with compassion. This heartwarming book makes me look forward to future books from Sampson.