River was always the boy next door that was in love with Lexi. Now, years later, River has a chance to be with Lexi, but her sister Deanna is suddenly catching his eye.

This was an interesting one. I really liked the concept and wanted to love this but some things held me up. The strength of this book is in the dialogue. You really get a sense of the character's voices and most of the scenes read like movie scenes. There was also a good humor to so much of this. I loved River's grandmother. She always had me laughing. The spice was also very well done.

All in all, this was a interesting spicy romcom!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Overall I enjoyed this book and the story, however, I did have some hesitations with the character development, I think it was weird to start the story with how rich the girls next door were, while not being explicit about the main male character’s socioeconomic background. While it starts off with a bet meant to deter the main MC from getting with her sister for a good reason, I still think it’s weird that this man had a crush on someone for over 10 years and then just suddenly decides he’s into the sister more. That was a big ick for me. However for the purposes of the book and the development of the characters I understood, I will say too, the grandma subplot felt like a dangling plot line that was only used when we needed the female main character to be relatable or to explain “why now” and it wasn’t really seen through, I thought it was a weird way to anchor the story in some other plot that didn’t really need to be there. Overall, it was a good story, I would’ve made some different plot choices personally.

Ehhh I was kinda on the fence about this book since it is outside eof my usual, but I'd seen some good reviews so I requested it. Unfortunately it was not the right book for me. I found all of the characters annoying and very up their own ass about stuff. Unfortunately a pass for me.

'The Neighbor Wager' by Crystal Kaswell is an opposites attract romance. No new ground is trod. If you like the genre it will be a fun read.

Honestly I devoured this book! Such a fun and easy read. Witty banter, fun characters!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

The Neighbor Wager by Crystal Kaswell is a wonderfully written romance story.
A really fun, refreshing contemporary romance! Loved the chemistry and banter between the leads.
I enjoyed Crystal Kaswell’s writing and look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Thank You NetGalley and Entangled: Amara for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

In this take on the Sabrina story, River lives next door to the well to do Harrington family. He’s a teenage artist with an over the top obsession with the younger daughter Lexi. Older daughter Deanna tries to let him down on her behalf - as her younger sister is totally blind to his interest - giving him the push to go to NYC and advance his art.

Years pass and the sisters have a dating app startup, MeetCute, looking for investors.
And, of course, River comes back, hotter than ever. Still obsessed but this time he’s actually caught Lexi’s attention (if not recognition)
Except Deanna can not let them date, because the fate of their financial future rests on Lexi’s current relationship thriving to prove the app works.

-

I liked the 1954 movie version of Sabrina
I thought the 1995 version of the movie was decent too
And this book was fine
There’s not anything wrong with it, but I had higher expectations of a gender flipped modern update than a basic rehash of the same story. And for the first third of the book that’s what it felt like, and even after that I didn’t feel the chemistry.
I think I would have liked it more if I *hadn’t* watched the movies an inadvisable number of times over the years, to be honest, so a reader without that hanging over their expectations might enjoy it more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled for the ARC

River has always had a huge crush on the girl next door. Now that he's back in California visiting his family he wants to see if he can connect with her. Deanna is totally focused on her business so having to spend time with River to try to save her business just makes sense. But what happens when they realize that they are a good match? She's not looking for a relationship and he wants to connect with her sister! Will they find a last love or heartbreak?

Deanna is kind of a cliche. She is the strong boss woman type character who can't form a relationship with a man because the man always makes false assumptions about who she is and what she wants. To add insult to injury they all want her sister instead of her. This isn't me complaining about the character just stating the facts. I was worried that Deanna was going to be one dimensional, but the author gives Deanna some depth and really shows that there are hidden elements to Deanna's personality that fit well with River. River starts out as the geek next door but returns years later as a complex man who is confident and smart and caring. His confusion over being attracted to both sisters could have had a creep factor but the author managed to avoid it by showing how River worked his way through those feeling to figure out what he wanted. I enjoyed how their relationship developed and how they were so honest with one another. There are side characters, but they don't play much of a role beyond being there. I really liked how the author chose to end the story.

My one issue was with the side characters. I felt like they kept getting mentioned or included in a scene but I never learned anything about them or from them. It meant that the story focused tightly on the main characters which was nice but how do the side characters affect the actions of the main characters? The only exception is Deanna's sister because she's the object of River's affections but other than that I felt like the other characters were hollow.

This is a contemporary romance that takes place in California. Both characters are adults with busy careers and complex histories. I will read more from this author in the future.

This book wasn’t for me.
The concept of the dating app was kind of interesting but this really didn’t seem to make sense for the character Deanna to be leading it because she didn’t know much about relationships or really believe in it.
Lexi’s entire character was just cringy to me and I didn’t really like anything about her, especially when she dumps her boyfriend to date someone she finds attractive.
The way they talk about relationships in this book I feel is so shallow and lacks any depth. I prefer a slow burn book with real conflict that’s realistic for the characters to have, and a relationship that builds slowly based on a genuine and pure connection.
I wish the author all the best on their book release!

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A DNF unfortunately. I am constantly dreading picking it back up. Nothing makes me want to read further.

Thank you Entangled for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

I was surprised by this book because I thought the couple was going to be River and Lexi, the whole opposites attract/next-door neighbor vibe, but I was wrong. It was still next door neighbors falling for each other, but it was actually Deanna, Lexi's sister that ends up being the female lead. The concept of the wager was interesting because when it was made, it was for all the wrong reasons. She wanted him to stay away from Lexi because Lexi was about to destroy their company and he wanted what he waited so patiently for, a chance with Lexi.

Even though they grew up next door to each other, River and Deanna come from very different backgrounds. Her family is extremely wealthy and his grandma (who raised him) isn't. She isn't poor, but they don't have the wealth that Deanna's family does. When he came home, it was to help take care of his grandma who is sick. She doesn't want him hovering, so she makes him go out and have a good time. He has always had a crush on Lexi, almost an obsession. Lexi doesn't recognize him the first time she sees him and she is worried about her boyfriend and their situation, so she "takes a break" and comes on to River. He is happy because he has always wanted a chance with Lexi.

Deanna can't have Lexi sabotaging their company because she is scared. Lexi is supposed to be the poster couple (along with her boyfriend) for their dating app, but she doesn't do commitment. In order to keep Lexi with her boyfriend she has to keep her away from River. I really enjoyed seeing River and Deanna get to know each other better. Even though they grew up next to each other, they never really talked. As they spend time together, trying to win the wager, they dig deep and bare their souls. In the process some truths are revealed and feelings start to change.

River made me swoon. He was quick with some realizations about himself, Lexi and Deanna. When he went in, he went all in. They agreed to end things if feelings changed, but he knew that what Deanna told him wasn't exactly the truth. It was nice having his grandma and his "sisters" help him realize that he needed to fight harder for what he wanted, and boy did he ever go big.

Deanna is too practical and by the book, so when her dating app says that she isn't compatible with River she ends things between them. She lies and breaks both of their hearts in the process. Will his grand gesture be enough to open her eyes? Will she let science ruin what could be the best relationship she has ever had?

I would love to read more about these characters and maybe his "sisters" will get books of their own so we can see all of these wonderful characters again. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for allowing me an early read of this book. All thoughts are my own, I do not accept money for reviews.

I genuinely cannot tell you what it was, but this book never quite grabbed my attention. It was an easy book to put down for me, which I do want to stress doesn’t make it a bad book. I mostly enjoyed the book, but because I kept getting distracted by whatever was going on around me it took a lot longer for me to get through it then it normally would for a book this size.

River and Deanna were so fun to read. Maybe more on the insalust side in terms of timeline, a majority of this book takes place over three days while the complete timeline is like two weeks. They were interesting characters, flipping the stereotypical roles of the hopeless romantic and cynic. I also like the acknowledgement that while algorithms and dating apps work for most people, you can also find your match outside those bubbles and that just because you may or may not be compatible on paper doesn’t mean you aren’t right for each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance e-copy of The Neighbor Wager by Crystal Kaswell in exchange of an honest review.

"The Neighbor Wager" by Crystal Caswell is a fast-paced and captivating story that follows two sisters, Deanna and Lexi, as they navigate the world of love and relationships. With a unique twist of a dating app they created, the book explores the complexities of finding true love amidst the pressures of societal expectations. The author's skillful storytelling creates a movie-like experience, with vivid descriptions and engaging character interactions. The book beautifully portrays the bond between the sisters and presents both female and male characters as supportive and relatable. Some parts of the book felt a bit slow but overall this was a quick, easy read. 3.5 Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for the eARC! I was intrigued by this book based on the premise and found it to be something different than I’m used to reading.

I liked the idea of the app and that being a way for the characters to get together, and I’m a sucker for a friends to lovers, boy next door trope, but I was not expecting a love triangle of sorts.

Some of the character decisions felt icky and I couldn’t really connect with their motives or actions. There was a lot of spice and I did appreciate the openness with which sex and sexuality was discussed. However, this ultimately wasn’t for me.

"The Neighbor Wager" by Crystal Kawell is a slow burn that turns the heat up QUICKLY once you get about 60-70% of the way through. The last 30-40% of the book is mostly spice so, if that’s something you’re not interested in reading, be aware of that going into this book. That aside, I had a difficult time relating to the main characters in this novel and, as a character-oriented reader, that did take away some of the enjoyment while reading this book.

We have Deanna Huntington who, in River’s mind, is akin to the embodiment of the moon – a theme he constantly reiterates throughout the book, and which her very name plays into. Deanna was the character I liked the most in this book, but even her character felt two-dimensional at times. While she was supposed to be seen by readers, and other characters, as a high-powered, successful, confident businesswoman, we didn’t get to really see this side of her in the book. It was told to us repeatedly, but seemed to be a case where the author could have shown this side of her more and told us about it less. River, the main male character, spends most of the first 25% of the book absolutely obsessed with Deanna’s sister which, I’ll be honest, was hard for me, personally, to get through. I didn’t feel like, based on the strength of his obsessions with her sister, it would be believable when he finally fell for Deanna. However, the author surprised me in the latter half of the book with River’s shift in his thought process surrounding old crushes, emotional attachments, and the changing nature of feelings and relationships and I did end up convinced by the end of the book that he truly cared about Deanna and no longer held any sort of romantic notions for her sister.

The world-building felt surface level which, in a rom-com, can be okay, but sometimes came across poorly. I often felt like these rich characters, who were able to fully admit to their wealth, were really out of touch with what it actually is to be poor. There were a few references in this book to things that “poor” people seemed like they were supposed to be able to relate to, but seemed more like TV and movie stereotypes of what it actually means and looks like to be poor, or to come from a low-income background.

The sub-plot, besides the romance, was interesting – Deanna and her sister, Lexi, have created a new dating app designed by Deanna using her own code for matchmaking, and it’s seeing success, but they need more funding to take it to the next level. The app and its implications drive the relationships in this story along in various ways and felt a bit similar to Christina Lauren’s, "The Soulmate Equation" (with more spice). Overall, I liked this book more than I thought I would based on the first 20%, and I’m glad I continued reading until the end because the character growth really does make the book better. I would recommend this title to those looking for a fast-paced, low-stakes, contemporary rom-com with a slow-burn and plenty of spice.

The Neighbor Wager
by Crystal Kaswell
2.5 stars
Feb, 7th to Feb, 8th
352 pages

I have never watched Sabrina, so I went in blind. I was so hopeful for a bit with this read. I loved Deanne at first, she is my girl, but then it just fizzled out big time. River just seems so creepy to me throughout the whole book. Lexi is just a stuck-up girl which I like and she takes what she wants and does what she wants but I also don't like how she is. This was just not the book for me.
Thank you, Net Galley and Entangled Publishing for this eARC for an honest review.

***BOOK REVIEW***
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Y’all, this book is horny AF. Lolol.

A gender-bent take on Sabrina, this book is full of fun, logic and 🌶️. There were a few things that seemed repetitive that got a little annoying, and at one part it felt like the FMC wasn’t behaving like her character should have based on who she had been the whole book. But all in all, this was a really fun read. Also my husband approves of this book 👌🏻🔥

It comes out 2.20.24, so make sure to get your hands on it soon!! Thank you @entangled_publishing and @netgalley for letting me read it early!!

3.75 🌟
2🌶🌶

I didn't begin to like this book until after the halfway mark. I was close to just calling it a DNF several times.
I was so turned off by what Lexi did to Jake right from the start. It was also hard to believe that after literal years of being obsessed with Lexi, River is just suddenly into her sister after one night. 
Once the sole focus was on River & Deanna, I fell into the story a little more. I like them together. 
Then insert a ridiculous 3rd act breakup that is resolved too quickly. 
It's just a miss for me.

*I received an advanced copy of this book for review, this is my own opinion.*

The Neighbor Wager is a modern, genderbent Sabrina retelling set in California. River has been obsessed with the rich neighbor's daughter since he was a teen, and when he returns home to help his ailing grandmother, he finally has the chance to be with her. Deanna, her more logical, responsible sister, needs to keep him away from Lexi for the success of their dating app, for which Lexi and her boyfriend Jake are supposed to be the success story.

I really appreciate the frank discussions of sex and kink in this book. Discussing kinks (actual kinks and not someone making jokes) isn't something we see often outside of erotica spaces. I also really appreciate the way that Lexi is portrayed as being a stereotypical California girl and that not being made fun of or made out to be a bad thing. It's totally okay to be both a business woman, <i> and </i> like pink, feminine things. I love that Kaswell took the time to make Lexi this way and to point out the internalized misogyny of that negative stereotype.

What I didn't love was the amount of discussion of kink, with a huge amount of focus on Dommes and subs without any kink whatsoever actually being present in the book? River wants to "take control", which, I guess he <i> kind of </i> does, but it's definitely not kinky, which seems at odds with the sheer amount of focus placed on that sexual aspect. I guess my issue is that despite the amount of time spent talking (and thinking) about kinky sex, what we get is pretty vanilla. (Not a bad thing--just doesn't match up.)

I love Sabrina, both the Aubrey Hepburn version and the Harrison Ford one, so I was really excited to read this book when I came across it! I will say that while it sticks to the same basic plot lines, it doesn't have quite the...timeless? (I'm not sure if this is the correct word choice here, but I'm just gonna go with it) romance of Sabrina. Not in a bad way, this is just REALLY modern, with the dating app as the driving force. Which makes a lot of sense, so like I said, not a bad thing.

Thanks to Netgalley, Entangled Publishing, and Crystal Kaswell for the arc!

River has been in love with Deanna's sister Lexi since he was a teenager, crushing on the girl next door, and is hoping to finally get his shot with her when he comes home to spend time with his grandma.
Deanna and Lexi are trying to find an investor for their dating app Meet Cute but the investor wants a poster couple and picks Lexi and her boyfriend as ideal, which freaks her out and sends her out hunting for new man meat because she is a hit it and quit it kind of girl, it doesn't matter how much she really likes her boyfriend. Lexi picks River and Deanna does her best to get in the way for River's sake(he's a romantic) and her companies.
The banter is fun and the way the characters bargain or bet with each other is a good time, I did feel the story lingered a little to long on his infatuation with Lexi but once River is with Deanna he is all in and the duel between romance and logic is on.