This was a sweet story. I liked the mystery and underlined the story that was truly about family both the kind you’re born into and the kind you find. Kat hasn’t ever felt like she had a home and despite her history with the town she moves temporarily into Shelley house. Terrified she’ll run into her past mistakes she gets a job and tries to stay out of the lives of her neighbors. Dorothy has lived in Shelley house for a lifetime and she has a strict routine of walking the property and documenting everyone who comes in or out of the building. She sees it as her duty to protect the residents of Shelley house, who consider her a nosy neighbor. When all of the residents get letters informing them of their upcoming eviction the man Kat’s renting a room from, Joseph, is determined to fight the evictions and save the building. When he ends up with a head injury and a brief stint at the hospital Kat finds herself becoming more and more entangled with the people at Shelley house and their fight to save their home. I will say there were no major twists or turns int his one. It’s almost like a cozy mystery even if it’s not quite transitional. But this is the kind of book that will leave your heart warmed. A nice, light, entertaining read.

Neighbors are a mixed blessing. On the positive side, they're close by - they are right there in an emergency. On the down side, they're close by - they know what you're doing, all the time. Shelley House is a down-at-heel former mansion that has been converted to six flats. The tenants are the usual mix: the nosy older woman who keeps tabs on all the comings and goings, the retiree who takes in lodgers to help make ends meet, the single woman with perpetually bad taste in men, the financially strapped widower and his teenaged daughter, a menacing man with an equally menacing pit bull, and a party boy who smokes weed, has frequent parties, plays his music way too loud, and leaves his trash in the hallway. (I had upstairs neighbors that I swore clomped around on wooden clogs on bare floors, 24/7.) This reminded me a lot of Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove. Good characters, awkward relationships, a somewhat predictable plot. My favorite character was Reggie the terrier. Heartwarming, feel-good, with themes of forgiveness, letting go of the past, finding love in unexpected places.

Rating - 4.5 stars rounded off to 5

A trademark Sampson novel!

Thanks NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

Synopsis –

Kat Bennet, 25, leads a nomadic life and is now a new resident of the once grand Shelley house. An introvert with a steely exterior, she is standoffish and avoids people. When Dorothy Darling, a cantankerous septuagenarian, meets her, she quickly senses that the girl is trouble. With the impending demolition of their building and one of their residents Joseph Chambers getting violently attacked by a miscreant, they have no choice but to work together.

Review -

Sampson blends several genres so smoothly and elegantly here. This could be a cozy mystery that's read curled up on the couch or a contemporary fiction with notes of romance and unlikely friendships.

We have the alternating narratives of Kat and Dorothy as we get introduced to the history behind Shelley house, built in the late 19th century, its lost grandeur and current crumbling state of disrepair. We also get to know all the residents of the flats and each one have their eccentricities, troubled pasts, guilt and their share of unspoken truths.

Although Dorothy comes across as a nosy neighbor, what with her daily apartment inspection, her eyes 👀and ears 👂 peeled out for the on-goings of everyone - the more I got to know her, the more I warmed to her and admired her conviction and wisdom.

Kat’s inability to trust anyone and the tough shell she’s built around her slowly disintegrate when she suddenly becomes a caretaker of Joseph’s lovely dog Reggie. Oh he was a great character in his own right!

The looming eviction and remodeling of Shelley house is just the right kindle, that results in the residents rising to the situation and expressing solidarity, while Dorothy and Kat unearth the mystery behind the attacker and the linked foul play/conspiracy.

I loved that the author gave deeper insights into Dorothy and Kat’s pasts, exposing the hidden truths of what really makes them tick the way they do.

Overall, this is an uplifting, heart-warming read, that is sure to bring tears of joy, as we witness the power of human resilience and the strength in unity.


Definitely recommend if this is your jam!

REVIEW

Thank you #partner @berkleypub for my #gifted paperback and eARC copies. 📖 🎧 #berkleyig #berkleypartner #penguinrandomhousepartner

Nosy Neighbors
Freya Sampson

📖 Two neighbors must set aside their differences to oust a dangerous criminal and save their homes.

💭 What do you get when you mix a seventy-seven-year old curmudgeonly busybody with a pink haired twenty-five year old with a chip on her shoulder? The most entertaining cozy mystery I've read to date!

There's so much to love about Freya Sampson's newest release. For starters, I adore an age gap friendship SO MUCH! And watching the unlikely allyship of Dorothy and Kat was as humorous as it was heartwarming. Unlike some other cozies I've read - which, while wholly entertaining, sometimes feel a bit too low stakes for me to become fully invested - Nosy Neighbors is high stakes with oodles and oodles of depth. Both MCs have secrets and complicated pasts, and their character growth is as rewarding as the mystery itself. This one feels like a blend of contemporary fiction and cozy mystery, and I am so here for it! 🙌🏼

**Review posted to IG on 4/10**

Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson
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Kat has returned to Chalcot, despite knowing her grandfather never wants to see her again. Now she is renting a room from a tenant in Shelley House. Dorothy also lives in Shelley house and is very nosy. When a tenant is injured and a threat of eviction comes in, Kat and Dorothy will need to join forces to try to save Shelley House.
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What I liked:
-I loved the teamwork we get from Kat and Dorothy and the beginnings of a friendship. They both had some scars but have such good hearts.
-Gotta love Reggie the dog.
-All the tenants coming together a few times.
-The unraveling of the mystery at the end.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This story was quite entertaining and then really hit me with the emotional parts of the story. I teared up a couple times. Very solid drama/mystery.

If you’re looking for a cozy mystery about an unlikely assortment of characters that must work together to solve a crime and save their building before time runs out, this is for you.

Shelley House has become a dilapidated shell of the regal building it once was. Among the questionable tenants that have come and gone, Dorothy Darling is the longest resident and self-appointed watcher of the building. Always armed with a cup of tea and her trustworthy diary, she notes every single movement in and out of the building from her window. When an unexpected eviction notice lands at everyone’s doorstep, the tenants must work together to save Shelley House from being torn down. But as their fight strengthens, a tenant is attacked within their apartment, spurring a deeper dive into their shady landlord, and a mission to uncover the truth.

I love a good cozy mystery, especially ones that give major “Only Murders in the Building” vibes (Joseph Chambers is TOTALLY Martin Short). This was a heartwarming and cute read that captures you until the very end! I enjoyed the trajectory that the characters go on – from strangers (live in the same building but we got different views) with assumptions about each other, to working together rooted under the same cause – and becoming a community in the end. I loved learning more about each of the tenants that make up Shelley House and there’s some twists and turns I didn’t see coming to keep me on my toes.

Shout out to Berkley Publishing for the gifted copies! I needed some fun and light-hearted reading and this book gave just that.

Thank you Berkley Publishing #berkleypartner #berkley for the gifted finished copy of this book. Also a big thank-you to Penguin Random House Audio #prhainfluencer for access to the audiobook version of this novel. I really enjoyed Sarah Lambie’s narration!

Nosy Neighbors was such an enjoyable read! There were so many interesting characters living in Shelley House and their interactions brought some interesting situations to the book! Dorothy reminded me of another Bookstagram beloved character with her sense of duty to Shelley House, strong convictions, and place in her community of people. Kat was such a fun character as well and I loved how her arrival eventually connected all the tenants to one another in a really special way. The author handled conversations about grief, trauma, and the act of forgiveness really well in this one.

The mystery aspects were great and I was pleased with the result. I also enjoyed the way that Freya unveiled aspects of the characters’ backstories throughout and I felt as though I was one of them by the end!

If you are a fan of Backman’s A Man Called Ove, with the sweet aspects of community and found family, and don’t mind a bit of mystery thrown in the mix, this is a book for you!

3.75 stars

Nosy Neighbors offers readers a bit of Only Murders in the Building vibes combined with a hint of the reluctant allies trope. Author Freya Sampson creates a story about a historic apartment building that is under threat of demolition and the lengths that some of its residents will go to ensure that doesn’t happen.

Some plot elements felt a bit predictable, and the ending was a little rushed, but overall, I thought the story was entertaining and surprisingly poignant. The relationship between Dorothy and Kat was compelling, almost familial in some ways. Found family is a strong theme throughout. And I enjoyed the fact that the ending does tie things up in a little bow. Because we all need that sometimes. Sampson is skilled enough to make said ending not feel trite but earned.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book about a group of neighbors trying to save the house (which was converted into several apartments) from being torn down and them being evicted. When several of the neighbors end up in the hospital, it's the newest tenant that steps in and together with a local journalist tries to get to the bottom of the issue.
All the characters in the book are very quirky and have secrets of their own, but most seem very likeable and the reader connects with everyone. There are many funny scenes and the chapters are the perfect length, with a few cliffhangers to keep you reading. A very enjoyable feel good book that I didn't want to end.

4/5 stars

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the advanced reading copy!

SYNOPSIS -- At 77 years old, Dorothy Darling has spent the majority of her life in Shelley House, making her the longest tenant. She's gotten very comfortable taking care of the property, best done by *ahem* spying on other residents. Kat Bennett is new on to Shelley House: at 25 years old, she's used to couch surfing and short-term stays. Both of these women are generally viewed as unapproachable, though in different ways. When Shelley House suddenly facing demolition by a well-known and generally unliked developer, Kat and Dorothy, along with some of the other residents, team up and work to save their building, against all-odds. With guilty secrets, unexpected ulterior motives and the nosiest of neighbors, this group is sure to stir up some trouble.

What a fun and unexpectedly delightful book! I was expecting this to be "just okay," and I loved it! Tons of drama (my fav) and a joy to read. There was a great mystery interwoven into this story and let me tell you -- I GASPED when all was revealed. Jaw dropped, fully gasped out loud. The characters were dynamic, chaotic and full of life, all so loveable. Though Dorothy, at times, was INFURIATING, she was so easy to love and I had so much empathy for her. The ending was really unexpected in a great way. I was so attached to the characters that I was feeling anxious about how things would turn out, and I was not disappointed. This book had it all -- secrets, drama, gossip, mystery, love -- and I even shed a little tear!

Thank you to @berkleypub for my gifted ARC of Nosy Neighbors by @freyasampsonauthor
This published on April 2 so it’s out now!

Dorothy has lived in Shelley House for decades and comes across as a controlling and grumpy neighbor but her motives are deeper. When free spirited Kat moves in, things in Shelley House get really exciting for Dorothy and she must decide if she wants to keep herself closed off or open herself up to new experiences and people.

I loved “The Last Chance Library” by the author and this story also takes place in Chalcot. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and power of this story and the subtle messages that we all need each other, despite our differences.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Dorothy Darling is the notorious neighborhood spy at Shelley House. She even keeps a daily diary of her neighbors. Kat Bennett is 25 years old and is illegally renting a room from tenant, Joseph Chambers. Kat has really never felt at home anywhere. She gets off on the wrong foot with Dorothy, but the two quickly become allies when the developer plans to evict all the tenants and demolish Shelley House.
This was such a great cozy mystery! I enjoyed meeting all of the quirky neighbors and Dorothy had me cracking up with her antics. It was heartwarming to see how the neighbors came together and put their differences aside. I was so immersed in this book and couldn't wait to find out the secrets Dorothy and Kat were keeping.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries, this book is definitely for you!

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

I really enjoyed this contemporary cozy mystery that focuses on 25 year old Kat who had a terrible childhood, never stays in one place long, and doesn't let anyone into her life, and 77 year old Dorothy, who has lived in Shelley House over 30 years and has appointed herself caretaker and watchman of the building and her neighbors. Neither woman is liked much, but underneath the crankiness and contempt, is a world of hurt, grief, and pain.

Kat is subletting a room in Shelley House and has no plans to stay in town long, but when her flatmate Joseph is injured and winds up in the hospital, there is no one to watch his dog. It's a mystery whether he tripped and injured his head, or was attacked. Kat and Dorothy think the latter, and coupled with a notice of eviction for the entire building, they are betting their slumlord is the culprit. The unlikely duo band together to fight the landlord and get justice for the tenants.

Although it's understandable how Kat came to be so closed off, it was still hard to connect with her until she started caring for Joseph's dog and reluctantly teams up with Dorothy to discover how Joseph was injured. This forces her to work with Dorothy, communicate with strangers and the other neighbors, and more importantly, reporter Will, who helps dig into the mystery. Slowly she starts to trust others, which allows us to see more of her. Her character arc was a bit up and down throughout the book, but that's how life is, isn't it? Life is messy and rarely goes smoothly.

Dorothy was my favorite character. She reminded me of every prickly busybody "Karen" that self-appoints herself the person in charge. I loved her character growth as she is forced to work with pink-haired, tatooed Kat, and accept responsibility to watch Joseph's dog. I cracked up every time Dorothy gave the dog a treat, patted his head, or let him kiss her face. She thought she was being so slick and secretive, but dogs have a way of worming their way into your heart, and Dorothy was no exception. As the story progresses, we come to understand why she monitors the building so closely and keeps her daily journal of everyone's activity, and it was hard to read the extent of her guilt and grief. Luckily, even Dorothy learns that it's never too late to live your best life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. All opinions are my own.

Nosy Neighbors is the charming story of an apartment building in London that is being torn down for a shiny new project and the residents are up in arms. Another winner for me. I loved this delightful book. The characters were all quirky and lovable. I loved their shenanigans, I loved the dry wit, I loved the camaraderie among them despite all of their differences. It was just a heartwarming, huggable book that had me giggling and smiling.

I have never, to my knowledge, read anything by this author, but as I read the sample, the writing voice won me over immediately. As I made the avid reader mistake of starting the book late on a Friday night, reading all 380+ pages in one long session, until the wee hours of Saturday morning, I can say that this will not be the only one of Ms Sampson’s books I’ll read.

The novel is narrated in third person, past tense, from the points of view of two very different women, who dislike and distrust each other from the moment they meet–until circumstances force them to face, and come to terms with, their own pasts as they work together towards a common goal, discovering how much more they have in common along the way.

However, it would be a disservice to the novel to say that it’s just a mystery, or just about these two women, or about an old house slated for demolition, or a few weeks one summer; this is a story about love and guilt, bitterness and forgiveness, endings and the beginnings that can grow from them.

Beware: death of a child; addiction; parental neglect; mental health issues; grief; suicide; have tissues at the ready.

From the first page, the reader is immersed in the world the characters inhabit: an old and poorly maintained Victorian house in a small, quaint and quiet English town, a couple of hours from London by train. (I learned later that this setting is shared with the author’s debut novel, The Last Library)

Language nerdery aside: am I salty about the changed spelling of “neighbours” in the title for the U.S. edition; this is a very British book about British people in an intrinsically British setting, and there are a number of plot points that hinge on UK legalities around housing, after all.

At first, the author develops her characters through their actions; Dorothy is very lonely, set in her ways, and unhappy–but she doesn’t spend any time thinking about these things. The kind of bitter old spinster who wears pearls to clean her flat and sit by the window to watch her neighbors coming and going about their lives outside Shelley House; seemingly devoting her life entirely to annoying the other tenants and the local officials alike, by constantly noting and calling attention to any and all infractions of both social norms and public order, Dorothy exists in a world firmly constrained by rigid routine and determined self isolation.

Into this orderly world crashes Kat; over half a century younger, but just as bitter as Dorothy, far angrier, and just as unwilling to consider why or modify her behavior. Always ready to move on at a moment’s notice, Kat knows that it’s best to make no connections and nurture no ties. The room she’s subletting–illegaly, Dorothy is quick to point out–is simply a place to sleep for a while, and the other tenants at Shelley’s House will remain indifferent strangers to her, until the time comes to move on once more.

At least, that was the plan, but both Joseph Chambers, her temporary landlord, and Reggie, his dog, go out of their way to make her feel welcome and appreciated, so when Joseph is attacked at his home, Kat stays. At first, just to take care of Reggie until Joseph is well enough to come home, but soon Kat finds herself drawn into Dorothy’s determined investigation of the incident: who hurt Joseph, and is the attack connected to the imminent eviction of all of Shelley’s House residents?

This is the ostensible mystery in the blurb, of course, but not by far the most important aspect of the novel–though I hasten to say that, despite a last minute revelation to finish tying all the loose ends, I consider this a fair play mystery, as all the clues but one are presented one by one over the course of the narrative.

The main storyline is, of course, the connection that grows between these two women over the course of their investigations, and how it changes them. Little by little, through false starts and setbacks, Dorothy and Kat learn to work together, then to trust and finally care for each other.

And as they do, they manage to create a small community of people out of most of the other residents at Shelley’s House: Joseph, the kind tenant who’s determined to save their home; Omar, recently widowed, grieving and struggling to raise teenaged Ayeesha, who’s also grieving; Gloria, the serially-monogamous single woman whose relationships always end badly, and Thomasz, the rough and gruff biker-slash-mountain man lookalike with the ferocious (and often malodorous dog) that often terrorizes poor Reggie.

All these characters and more are seen through the lens of Dorothy’s or Kat’s personal experiences, but the author manages to infuse most of them with lives, backstories, motivations and personalities of their own, all of which makes their coming together for a common goal all the most enjoyable. There is, of course, a touch of *batteries not included in this setup, what with six out of seven tenants fighting to keep their home safe from the nefarious landlord, who wants to tear it down in order to build cheap and crowded flats.

Here I must note the change in narrative voice between the chapters, depending on whose point of view we are in, as it makes each of their personalities so tangible and real.

Regular readers know I am not much of a women’s fiction reader (for many a reason, starting with the word “women’s” in there); novels like this one make it worth venturing forth into the genre.

This is a book about relationships and personal growth, and as such, it has the same beats as a genre romance, including a third act bleak moment and separation, a triumphant resolution, and a satisfying epilogue. (There are also romantic relationships growing between several pairings, all with their own version of the traditional “happy ever after”, but these aren’t the raison d’être of the book.)

The heart of the story is its examination of love and grief and guilt and regret, and how they can shape a life, as much as kindness and a moment of generosity can alter its course. (Heed thee the warnings above.) There is terrible heartbreak behind Dorothy’s often bizarre behavior, and painfully learned lessons behind Kat’s determined detachment, and I’ll confess that I sobbed–ugly cried, in fact–over several passages.

Which of course made the resolution and reconciliations to follow all the sweeter.

Nosy Neighbors gets 9.25 out o 10

Short synopsis: Old Shelley House is crumbling to pieces, but it’s home when young Kat moves in to a room in elderly Joseph’s apartment. The Nosy neighbor Dorothy keeps tabs on everything and everyone, and when Joseph us attacked at home Dorothy is determined to find the culprit.

My thoughts: This book was just what it sounded like, neighbors putting their noses in everyone’s business. But it was also so much more. The development of friendships, forgiveness, and acceptance to name a few. Also, there’s a romantic sub-plot that is tender and sweet.

I always love a book with grumpy elderly, and Dorothy Darling was just that! I loved watching her heart soften as she warmed up to others (especially Kat) And learned to forgive herself for her past mistakes.

This more of a character driven plot line, and somewhat slow paced, with great characters I couldn’t help but love.

Read if you love:
- Unlikely friendships
- Old homes
- Great dog side kicks
- Mystery elements
- Multiple POV

Nosy Neighbors is the first book I've read by Freya Sampson, though The Last Chance Library is on my to-read list.

I love character-driven novels and this book is all about the characters. Sure there is a bit of a mystery but I felt that was secondary to the characters learning about themselves.

The story is told from the points of view of Kat Bennett and Dorothy Darling. At first glance, these characters seem as different as can be. Kat is 25 years old, with pink hair and piercings, and has never really called any place home. On the other hand, Dorothy Darling is 77 years old, a very much by-the-book kind of woman, and can't imagine ever leaving her home at Shelley House. There are other residents in the building that we see through the interactions with these two main characters. But they aren't just taking up space, they have their own growth.

But when the tenants of Shelley House are given notice that the building is being torn down, they come together to try to stop it. When one tenant is attacked, unlikely friendships are forged and Kat and Dorothy find out they aren't so different.

I loved the characters. I was curious about Kat as it is hinted at early on that she might have a checkered past. I felt bad for Dorothy as she doesn't seem to have much in her life - she watches from her window the going ons near Shelley House and records her observations in a notebook. It is easy to see that she is the Nosy Neighbor to whom the title refers. The other tenants appear less often but are still interesting and feel like real people and I'm happy Sampson allowed them to grow as well. I particularly liked Joseph.

There is a bit of a mystery - Kat's past and Joseph's accident. Kat and Dorothy's investigation is entertaining but it was really the interactions with the characters that I thoroughly enjoyed.

If you are looking for a good read with entertaining characters, then you should get this book.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/04/nosy-neighbors-by-freya-sampson-review.html

I completely adored this sweet, funny and poignant story. It was a bit cozy mystery with just a touch of romance to make me happy.
The residents of historic but rundown Shelley House try to save their building all while attempting to solve who is causing havoc for the tenants and even beat up one neighbor and left him for dead.
-5 Stars-

What fun this was!
Nosy Neighbors is such a cozy, feel-good read full of charming characters, humor and a bit of suspense.

It alternates between the POVs of Dorothy and Kat and I enjoyed the slow reveal of their backstories as the story progressed. They are both so different and while they didn’t have the best start, their friendship that develops by the end of the book is heartwarming.

I adored all of the characters but Dorothy was definitely my favorite!
It’s primarily through Dorothy’s POV that you learn about the other residents of Shelley House and let me tell you, she definitely deserves the title of nosiest neighbor. I loved her little notebook though and how suspicious she was of literally everyone 😂

The story incorporates themes of guilt, grief, forgiveness and friendship as well as found family. I loved the sense of community that develops as these residents who, for the most part, have always kept to themselves start working together to save their beloved home.

If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, you should definitely pick this up!

Lovely found family book-strong characters, fun plot.with just enough of a mystery to keep things moving. I really appreciated the fact that the struggles two of the characters face show the backward/forward trajectory that a lot of growth entails-people in real life don't just have an epiphany and never make the same mistake twice, and it doesn't mean they don't learn and eventually figure it out!