This one took awhile to read. It was just kind of slow at first and to be honest, Dillion wasn’t the best character. I didn’t really like her. Dillion escaped her small town as soon as she graduated and ended up in Chicago. She worked there for awhile before her company shut down and her boyfriend decides to move away to get a new job. She doesn’t go with him. So she’s left without a job, boyfriend, or home. So she moves back to her small home town to help her family’s business. Meanwhile, an older neighbor that she had been very close to has died and the neighbor’s grandson comes to town. Dillion and Van (the grandson) don’t have the best of first meetings. Or second. Or even third. Things are pretty tense and hostile between them for awhile. But Dillion can’t help but be attracted to him. And Van can’t help the same, realizing he likes pushing her buttons.

But Van has problems of his own. The charity foundation honoring his mother is missing millions of dollars and Van is blamed for the theft. He has lost his reputation and his job and is hiding out in this small town more than anything. Van and Dillion eventually come together … and that’s about it. The story is still kind of slow and low stress. Which is good if that’s what you’re looking for. There is some drama around the time we find out what actually happened to the millions. But it doesn’t last long.

Overall, this book had a slow start. But I stuck with it because I was curious what happened with that money and who was setting up Van. But I’m glad I did. Van and Dillion were cute enough and I enjoyed reading a sweet story that didn’t have too much angst. ( )

When Dillion Stitch loses her job, her boyfriend, and her apartment in Chicago, she decides that going home to Pearl Lake to help her family after her brother is injured in a car accident is a good idea. Her arrival proves to be easier than she imagines except for her neighbor, Donovan Firestone, who is in hiding at his grandmother's cottage while the chaos over a missing three million dollars from his mother's foundation settles down. However, what Dillion and Van find is more than just a temporary respite from city problems, as issues with their families test their newfound happiness.

Love Next Door is a well crafted story, but even though it is written in a dual first person POV style, the characters seem a little flat in a story that is underwhelming. One strength of the book is the representation of an individual dealing with a growing mental illness. Unfortunately, the romance lacks spark and the mystery is too easily solved. Also the third act conflict that shows a lack of trust between the characters comes to an underdeveloped resolution. Overall, Love Next Door is a disappointment from an author whose work I've often enjoyed. ( )

Everything Helena Hunting writes is magic. This was no exception. I fell in love with her characters and the world she built. I love that they had flaws and drama and that this book had an air of mystery to it. There were shady characters and people I loved to hate.

I loved the underlying theme of "the grass isn't always greener on the other side" as Dylan always wanted to get away from the small town life and head for the big city - and yet coming home showed her exactly how much she truly loved it!

Thank you for allowing me to read it and give my honest opinion. ( )

I FOUND LOVE NEXT DOOR AWESOME AND FUNNY! I loved that Dillion returned home to help her family when her younger broke his leg while driving drunk. It was the last straw as her boyfriend broke up with her and her job folded and now she couldn't afford her rent, so she returned home where she said she would never return to live. I laughed so hard when Donovan Firestone, her neighbor continued to get under her skin when he did things just to irritate her. Van was charged that he stole millions of dollars from his deceased mom's foundation and he as fired so he couldn't return to Chicago until his name was cleared and the culprit caught, This is a feel good book and I can't wait to read more from the author! ( )

Sexy, sassy small-town romance
5 stars

I’ve enjoyed Helena Hunting’s writing before and this book sounded like a winner - small town, enemies to lovers, second chancey goodness. I was all in from page one.

Dillion is reluctant to return to her home town and all the demons that come with it. Sadly for her, she doesn’t have much of a choice and soon she’s back. From the first, she comes across as a strong and confident woman who is sarcy, sassy and just a bit grumpy. She was hilarious! Not once did I think she was too moany, and I really related to her, especially as she berated herself for how she was acting round Van.

Van himself was like two perfect heroes smooshed together to make one ultimate perfect hero. He was a hot suit from the city but, much like Dillion, had little choice but to come back to the small town he’d spent his summers as a boy. He managed to embrace small-town life really quickly and soon he was wearing ripped jeans, ratty t-shirts and hanging out in the local hotspots. So a hot bodied city suit meets hard bodied local guy bit of perfection. And that’s even before he and Dillion get to bickering.

I love, love, love an enemies to lovers story but it’s even better when the banter between our couple shows just how much chemistry they have. These two are on fire. And absolutely hilarious. Each gives as good as they get and I couldn’t get enough of them. Happily, when their relationship evolves, they still keep both the spark and the banter making me adore them as a couple.

I also loved the fact that the conflict - when it came - was realistic and believable. It was well-resolved, too. And Van fell just as hard and fast as Dillion did. In fact, he was adorably smitten which made me fall in love with him - and him and Dillion together - even more.

There is some family drama involved in the story although it never overshadows the romance and is never overly heavy or changes the tone of the story as a whole. I wasn’t sure who I thought was “the baddie” until it was revealed. Not that it was supposed to be a mystery, but I always like to pretend I guessed correctly regardless. The mental health aspect was surprising and handled so well. I applauded Ms Hunting in my head as I read, for treating it so believably but also for including it in a story without it being overwhelming.

As I read, especially towards the end, I was hoping so hard that this was the first book in a series… and it is! Van’s sister and Dillion’s friend, Aaron, only had a 30 second scene together and I’m already crushing on them so hard. And based on absolutely nothing, I’m hoping Dillion’s brother and one of her best friends are destined for their own romance. Gah - I can’t wait for the series to continue!

I have absolutely no clue how Dillion’s name was supposed to be pronounced. It’s that pesky extra ‘i’ that munched my brain! She also went by Darlin’, Lynnie and Dee - but I’m pretty sure it was meant to be said like the name Dillon, rather than Dill-ee-on. This has nothing to do with my review - I just wanted to put it out there!

Don’t be fooled by the cover (which is cute, don’t get me wrong) - you still get a sexy, sassy and laugh out loud romance with enough chemistry to burn this small town to the ground! Ms Hunting’s writing is, as always, exemplary and this story is a delight and one I couldn’t put down. Easily a 5 star read and one I would very much recommend. ( )