Next-Door Nemesis
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4.1 • 24 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES' BEST ROMANCES OF THE YEAR!
"Martin’s prose is a live wire: There are little shocks of pleasure on every page."—New York Times
Two rival candidates for a homeowner’s association presidency are about to find out how dirty suburbanites fight in this steamy new romantic comedy from Alexa Martin.
After years of hustling, Collins Carter has finally made it...back to her parents’ house. Between tending to the compost with her newly retired dad and running into her high school nemesis at the only decent coffee shop in town, Collins realizes this subdivision from hell she swore she’d never return to is her rock bottom.
Then the homeowner’s association complaint arrived.
Nathaniel Adams always dreamed of a nice, quiet life in his suburban hometown. Or at least that’s what he thought until Collins moved back and sent his quaint, organized life into a tailspin. He thought Collins was infuriating ten years ago, but when she announces she’s running against him for HOA president, all bets are off.
From secret board meetings to vicious smear campaigns whispered over backyard fences, Collins and Nate sink to levels their sleepy suburb has never seen before. But as hate turns into lust, these two enemies are forced to reckon with the feelings they’ve ignored for years. If only there were bylaws for real life.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Childhood frenemies become lovers in this hilarious romance. After an embarrassing breakup video goes viral, writer Collins Carter flees L.A. and moves back home to Ohio. When she bumps into her old neighbor Nathaniel—who now happens to be the hottest realtor in town— Collins’ competitive spirit (and overwhelming boredom) pushes her into a dirty race to become president of their neighborhood homeowner’s association. We laughed out loud as Collins and Nathaniel went head-to-head, stopping at nothing to get the other’s blood boiling (in more ways than one). Best-selling author Alexa Martin does a great job exploring the thin line between anger and passion, but we particularly enjoyed seeing the pair switch from witty, steamy banter to deep, vulnerable conversations about their fears and aspirations. Next-Door Nemesis is an exceptionally fun read.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Unresolved baggage between ex–best friends leads to a battle of wits in this steamy but inconsistent rom-com from Martin (Better Than Fiction). Scriptwriter Collins Carter's ex-boyfriend, Peter, betrayed her by stealing her idea for his own gain—and now a video of Collins acting out in the aftermath of their breakup has gone viral. Humiliated, she flees L.A. and moves back in with her parents in Ohio. The move puts her back in the orbit of her "archenemy," Nathaniel Adams, a childhood friend turned bitter teen rival who is now the vice president of the neighborhood home owners' association. After Nathaniel attempts to coerce Collins into leaving town with the threat of HOA fines, Collins decides to retaliate by running against him for the newly vacant position of HOA president. Their competitive campaigning leads to some snappy one-line roasts that belie their lingering chemistry, and readers will be eager to learn what soured this duo's once happy relationship. Martin builds anticipation for this reveal through memories of their past friendship, but the lackluster explanation of how it fell apart is a letdown. Many climactic moments feel similarly unearned, including the first sex scene, which, while hot, is oddly abrupt. This doesn't quite sell its enemies-to-lovers premise.
