The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

Summary:

Lily Greene is shy bookworm who dreams of becoming a children’s book editor. Unfortunately, she is stuck as a nonfiction editor and her lack of career accomplishments leave her feeling inadequate when compared to the career and life successes of her family members. Lily’s one escape is fantasy and she decided to reach out to her favorite fantasy author. The two seem to form a wonderful friendship and maybe more over email until he ghosts her. Crushed but determined to get her life together, Lily sets out on a goal to find a date for her sister wedding and her neighbor, Nick, seems like the perfect pick. Little does she know, Nick is her favorite author and the guy that ghosted her online. Nick has his reasons for keeping people at a distance and instead offers to help Lily find a more suitable date. What started out as a favor turns into something more.

My Thoughts:

I can’t believe I waited so long to read this book! It was the perfect romance book for me.

Both the male and female characters are so relatable and very likable! Lily is a socially awkward, curvy, and goal oriented woman. Nick is the very attractive but damaged neighbor. 

This was so well written and well developed. The pacing was spot on and didn’t feel like love bloomed out of thin air. There was real character and plot development there. 

I also love that some much of the story was more realistic than most. This is a romance so of course there are things written to drive that. But Lily doesn’t make excuses for Nick and Nick understands the reality of his feeling with Nora. It had the perfect balance of reality, emotion, and fantasy (in the sense of wanting/finding the perfect partner). 

An added bonus is that the characters are book nerds! 

There are also some family/friend dynamics at play that the author managed to expertly weave in. 

All in all this was an amazing book and one you need to drop everything for if you love romance!