Reviews: HOW TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, FOURTH DOWN, and BUNS

A collection of mini-reviews, quick thoughts, and books worth mentioning. 

Check them out!

HOW TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR by Sophie Sullivan

Publication Date: January 18, 2022

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher | Netgalley

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis (link to Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

I want to read more books that make me laugh, and I'm happy to add HOW TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR to that growing list.

I was hooked by the cover alone - the crossed out Hate is that one simple thing that made me want to read this book. I just knew that it was going to be a lot of fun. HOW TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR is described as an enemies to lovers romantic comedy, but I think it's more like strangers to friends to lovers to friends to so much more. I loved Grace and Noah's game of getting to know each other.

HOW TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR was a fun take on Trading Spaces and House Swapping. It was a fun, feel good book about figuring out who is important to us in our lives and making time and space for those people.

"We need to stop trying to prove ourselves to people that aren't even paying attention."

From the acknowledgments:

"To all of the people whp are afraid to jump because the landing is uncertain; I hope you find the courage to take the leap. Even when the landing hurts a bit, it is so incredibly worth it."

I love this so much and it's why I always read the acknowledgments.

FOURTH DOWN by Heidi McLaughlin

(The Portland Pioneers, #1)

Publication Date: August 10, 2021

Pages: 336

Source: Buoni Amici Press | Library

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis (link to Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

I was excited when I saw that my library had an audiobook copy of FOURTH DOWN by Heidi McLaughlin and I downloaded it right away. I'm so glad that I listened to the audiobook as my second reading was more enjoyable than the first. To have the story presented in a voice other than my own changed the tone of the book, it added to the humor and flirtatiousness that I didn't necessarily pick up on, and that's what I needed.

FOURTH DOWN is the first book of the new Portland Pioneers series and an enemies-to-lovers sports romance.

What I liked:

• Autumn - she's compassionate and self-assured and she has an ease about her
• Autumn's developing friendship with Peyton, I love reading about women supporting women
• The Beaumont Series connection - it was funny to read the men of 4225 West as the older dudes
• Julius's children - Reggie and Roxy - they are adorable and their presence helped shape the story

Julius wasn't my favorite person. He had a lot of misdirected anger and Autumn definitely has a more forgiving heart than I do. It took me longer to warm up to Julius and understand the pain he was dealing with. I'm just glad that they were able to figure it out and find the love that they both deserve.

I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.

BUNS by Alice Clayton

Publication Date: May 23, 2017

Pages: 320

Source: Purchased

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis (link to Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

My book club knows that we can turn to Alice Clayton when we need a good laugh. The first two books, Nuts and Cream of the Crop, had us rolling so of course we had to read the third book in the Hudson Valley series, Buns.

I loved the idyllic setting and the Dirty Dancing comparison. Luckily we live close to one of the Mountain lodges where the movie was filmed and I'm tempted to take a day trip to relive the story all over again.

I loved reading Archie and Clara working together and falling for each other and the silly situations they got themselves into. And it was fun to fall for Archie who seemed aloof, but was anything but.  

I'm sad to say goodbye to the people of Hudson Valley with the end of this series - but I would love to catch up with them at a wedding or weekend getaway. A bonus story is all I would ask for.