The Ex Next Door: An utterly charming and funny romance

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At first, I wasn't loving this book. Though the writing style immediately gripped me, the romance was slowly losing my interest. There was barely any interaction with the "ex," whom I thought was the love interest for a good chunk of the book. As the story progressed, I began to hate the "ex" more and more, finding him to be the most insufferable, flattest love interest of all time. Turns out, I was looking in the wrong place because he was NOT the story's major love interest. When I say I gasped!!!! Platt played me successfully, and I totally should've seen it coming. I had theories, but I second-guessed myself for most of the book. Turns out, my favorite male character of the book is the love interest! Platt wrote the romance in such an interesting way, that I thought for sure Megan and David would end up together. However, when the MC began to realize her feelings for David, I squealed with joy. The seeds had been there all along and it made perfect sense. I absolutely LOVED the last 25% of the book--including the resolution. It was a such a fantastic "switcheroo," and turned the story into a beautiful "friends to lover" romance, rather than a "second chance" romance like I immediately thought. (I went in blind!). The Ex Next Door, is described exactly as it is, an 'utterly charming and funny romance'. At first I thought the plot was predictably going where many romcoms have gone before but alas, I was pleasantly surprised when a few twists and turns derailed these thoughts early on, meaning I couldn't put it down until the end.

One look at April, and Steff’s bear has found his fated mate. But he’s bound and determined to get her to hate him and, hopefully, break their bond. There is an emotional cheating trope which is not my cup of tea. I will give Jo Platt credit that her writing was so good that I did want to find out what happens next. This trope was unexpected when reading the blurb and first chapter of the book. As Esme breaks up with Elliott because she thought he was cheating on her but then engages in an emotional affair with him when he has a new girlfriend? It felt very hypocritical and did not seem in character for Esme. The Ex Next Door is a contemporary romance ... with a twist. This book was not what I was expecting. I expected a second-chance romance from the title, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that was not the route the author chose to take!Speaking of neighbors, a new couple moves in next door. A couple, Lee and his girlfriend Geena, move into Chester’s house. They are surprised Elise lives next door and try to apologize. Lee is Elise’s former fiance, and Geena was her best friend.

Until Elliot - an ex whom she hasn’t seen or spoken to for years - moves in next door, along with his perfect new girlfriend, Morgan. Suddenly, Esme’s past is right on her doorstep, or at least just over the fence. When Esme and Elliot’s relationship has gone a bit to far and David witness the whole thing! I believe that is part of what helps Esme see Elliot for who he truly is. And Wow! I just am so happy on how Esme trusts herself and how she ends up managing her situation with Elliot! About the Conclusion: At the end of the day, this story was about life, love, relationships, growth, and finding personal truths. Esme learned who she really was and discovered what she really wanted. Elliot showed his true colors. David became brave. And still, there was more.

I thought the characters were extremely dull. Other than a description that both Elliot and David were attractive, I didn't read anything else about their character that wasn't spoken. I felt the same way about Esme at some points, but her banter with other characters saved that narrative. The pointless friend, turns out the be the pointless sister, gets in a car accident while driving Katie’s car. The police think a hit was taken out on Katie and someone is trying to kill her. (The find traces of poison in her dishes.) Katie demands to see her husband. He tells Katie that Louisa is obsessed with Dan. (Just like her.) Katie promises to figure it out, some way/somehow. and then her sudden realisation one day confused me further. like HOW can you tell me that she’s had feelings all these while? like there was no indication whatsoever except for that they were terrifyingly in tune—which i found it super adorable. Branded as "an utterly charming and funny romance," The Ex Next Door is a fun contemporary fiction that is great for fans of Sophie Kinsella or Mhairi McFarlane. Kellan didn't respect her decision to have an abortion and then blamed her when she did not feel bonded to the baby that he basically paid her to carry to term, like a surrogate. He should have been grateful that she was willing to be his human incubator because he caught baby fever and just had to have this baby, now, with this woman. (Despite them being incompatible life partners)

Turns out, I was wrong for assuming he was the main love interest! I was appreciative of the fact that Esme and Elliot were not endgame, and I liked who the love interest ended up being. However, I think in her attempt to create a twist, I didn't really feel like there was a progressive build-up of chemistry between Esme and David, and so their romance fell a little flat. I think I would have appreciated a more progressive shift in their dynamic.When art gallery co-owner Esme relocates to a quaint cottage on the edge of town after a nasty situation of burst pipes at her flat, all seems well. Until her ex, Elliot - who she hasn't seen for four years - moves in next door with his new girlfriend, Morgan. As she navigates through this awkward situation, while also keeping her former relationship a secret from virtually everyone (especially Morgan), Esme is forced to figure out what this new dynamic with Elliot looks like while also evaluating her friendship with her gallery's other owner, David. I enjoyed reading this. I found that I was eager for the book to end - not because I wasn't enjoying it but because I needed to know how it all ended. A great read that I'd recommend for fans of Jo Platt. stars - I didn’t connect to any of the characters and i had to force myself to continue reading if I’m honest. Definitely not a book to read if you’re trying to get out of a reading slump… throughout this book, esme's attitude flips like a freaking pancake and her actions with elliot appalled me. because she was doing what she didn’t want happen to her 4 years ago. to morgan. The male protagonist in this book is Steffen James, a bear shifter who had played professional baseball until a devastating injury finished his career. Although as such he healed within a matter of weeks, all the doctors he had seen immediately after the injury pronounced that he would never recover enough to play again. To protect his shifter identity, he was forced to walk away from his career, but he coached a little league team which included Aiden as one of the players. He and April had dated throughout high school, but he broke it off with her when he left for college, which had broken her heart. Since he coached her nephew’s team, they were bound to run into each other.