Review: "Needing the Next-Door Neighbor" by Kristin Canary

Needing the Next-Door Neighbor by Kristin Canary
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A few months ago, Kennedy Matkin moved to San Diego to live with her older sister Alexis. She'd just broken up with her boyfriend of two years, who took revenge by spreading rumors about her online to sabotage her career as a social media influencer. Her wealthy grandmother refuses to give her access to her trust fund unless she moves back to San Francisco to work for the family company, where her ex is already employed. Unwilling to live under her grandmother's thumb or deal with her ex, Kennedy instead gets a job as a barista and starts saving to go back to college.

Meanwhile, Alexis's next door neighbor, ER doctor Ryan Rosche, recently took temporary custody of his nieces while his sister serves jail time for a DUI. Finding childcare for 11-year-old Ava and 4-year-old Mila has been a challenge, and both girls are struggling with feelings of abandonment. When Kennedy walks Ava home one day after finding her hiding out in Alexis's house, she sees their struggles and impulsively offers to help. A couple days of babysitting quickly turns into a full-time job as Ava and Mila's nanny, complete with room and board. The only problem is the sizzling attraction between Kennedy and Ryan, which they agree can't go anywhere. Even so, living under the same roof, they can't help growing closer. Will they be able to resist acting on their feelings?

I loved Ryan and Kennedy's story so much! The chemistry and banter were fantastic, but I also loved that they had real conversations. Even early in their acquaintance, they didn't shy away from the deeper topics. They were each dealing with more than their fair share of baggage from the past, but the common experience of losing parents when they were young seemed to help them connect. It also made them more sympathetic to what Ava and Mila were going through in their mother's absence and increased their determination to be there for them in every way possible. That said, I really enjoyed the lighter moments in their courtship as well, particularly Kennedy getting Ryan hooked on reality TV.

I highly recommend this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story for all sweet/closed-door contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. In fact, I think it's one of my favorite books of the year so far! I can't wait to find out what the author comes up with next.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

CW: Cancer; Death of Parent; Addiction/Alcoholism

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