Neighbor Dearest by Penelope Ward Published by Self-Published on August 15th 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC
Source: ARC
Purchase @ AMAZON or BN
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After getting dumped, the last thing I needed was to move next door to someone who reminded me of my ex-boyfriend, Elec.
Damien was a hotter version of my ex.
The neighbor I’d dubbed “Angry Artist” also had two massive dogs that kept me up with their barking.
He wanted nothing to do with me. Or so I thought until one night I heard laughter coming through an apparent hole in my bedroom wall.
Damien had been listening to all of my phone sessions with my therapist.
The sexy artist next door now knew all of my deepest secrets and insecurities.
We got to talking.
He set me straight with tips to get over my breakup.
He became a good friend, but Damien made it clear that he couldn’t be anything more.
Problem was, I was falling hard for him anyway. And as much as he pushed me away, I knew he felt the same…because his heartbeat didn’t lie.
I thought my heart had been broken by Elec, but it was alive and beating harder than ever for Damien.
I just hoped he wouldn’t shatter it for good.
Q&A Review by Liezel & Angie:
What made you want to read this book?
Liezel: Just from reading the synopsis I knew that this was going to be light, fun and entertaining read. And while it is all those things, I found that it was so much more than that.
Angie: I needed something different from what I’ve been reading. I try to go in blind on books and not read the blurb but the cover did me in. Plus I’ve never read a book by Penelope Ward and I’ve heard amazing things about her writing.
What did you think about Chelsea? Damien?
Liezel: I absolutely loved everything about Chelsea’s character. She was sweet and quirky. She‘s one of those characters where if she were real – you would want to be BFFAE with. She had a heart of gold!
Damien on the other hand? Oh Gawd, I was extremely aggravated with this man. I couldn’t grasp his hesitation. There were multiple times where I wanted to give him a swift kick in the nads and tell him how an idiot he was being. As his story unfolded, however, I thought the opposite. I understood him completely and admired him for his noble efforts.
Angie: I completely agree with Liezel. Chelsea is every one of us that has been done wrong by our ex. She’s you, me, our BFF or even our sisters and mothers. I loved her. Not because I could relate to her but because I could see her being my BFF and because she was genuine. There’s no bs with her. Also, her relationship with her sister reminds me of mine with my sis and my co-bloggers.
Damien was more complicated. He was an ass. I really thought at first, oh no! It’s going to be one of those books where the girl falls for the asshole. But Penelope proved me wrong. Chelsea was strong and didn’t put up with Damien and his crap. When he didn’t know what he wanted she distanced herself. She made him come to her. She didn’t chase him. Now this is the kind of book we need our daughters to read. Now saying that Damien is a complicated puzzle piece that needs to be solved piece by piece. As you piece each puzzle piece together your heart falls more and more in love with him.
Did they make a good couple? Do you foresee them being together in the future?
Liezel: The one positive thing about Damien’s reluctance was that they had plenty of time to form a lasting friendship which I think is the most important thing in any given relationship. Just from this alone, I know that they would last forever.
Angie: I think a great friendship is key to a happy, long relationship. This isn’t true for everyone but I think it was important to Chelsea and Damien. It taught them they could trust each other first before jumping in feet first. So that alone will help their relationship last and communication and love.
Do you have a favorite quote?
Liezel: Yes!..
“You were a fantasy that I never thought would come true. That’s what you have always been to me. I didn’t get it then. But you’re my unicorn. You’re my fucking unicorn…”
Out of context you wouldn’t comprehend the significant but I tell you…read this book and you will understand just how monumental Damien’s statement is.
Angie: Oh my gosh Liezel! Great one! Mine isn’t so swoony but so fitting to how their relationship starts out.
“Are you scared as shitless as I am?”
Grabbing onto the back of his neck, I nodded. “Yes. You scare me so fucking much, Damien.”
He kissed me then chuckled.” You scare me more than The Omen, Chelsea Johnson.”
You really need to read the book to understand that. But I love the references all throughout the book and I think stuff like this helped form their relationship.
Without giving much away….what was your favorite part of the book?
Liezel: There were so many! A few that I want to mention are…
- When Jade met Tyler. There was definitely something there. This goes without saying that I found even the supporting characters remarkable. And I know that this a standalone BUT I’m hoping Penelope decided to expand their story.
- When the above quote was said.
- During the last two hospital incidents. I was an absolute wreck reading both situations.
Angie: YES LIEZEL!! YES!
- Jade and Tyler!!! Uhhmmmm!!! We need a book ASAP!! Thank you and please!
- When Damien got his head out of his head ass
- The ending. I love the ending. Can’t say much more but to me, that’s priceless b
Would you recommend this book?
Liezel: Because of personal experiences I was able to connect on a deeper level with these characters and their beautiful story but this is just one of the reasons why I rated it a 5/5.
Another thing I found remarkable was the emotions that Penelope poured into this book. I also appreciated how the funny moments balanced out the serious moments. Even with my frustrations with Damien in the beginning, I loved everything about this book! It is definitely my favorite book written by Penelope Ward.
Angie: Like I said above, Chelsea is every one of us. She is the most relatable character I have ever read except for one other. But that’s not a bad thing. I really think every woman that reads Neighbor Dearest will have a strong connection to her and eventually fall in love with Damien.
I have read any other book of Penelope’s to compare this too but I can say that if the writing in her other Books is just this fantastic it won’t be my last. Neighbor Dearest isn’t your typical love story. There isn’t an insta love and I love that about it. We have a man who is too selfish to admit what he wants and a woman who will walk away to keep him from her dragging down.
The Verdict:
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Excerpt
Copyright © 2016 by
Penelope Ward
Looking tense, he placed his hands slowly into his pockets as he looked at me. “What exactly happened last night?”
“What are you talking about?”
Nice try dodging the question.
He moved in closer to me. “What am I talking about? You leaving me with a giant fucking basket of muffins and running off before I could even say anything? Ring a bell?”
“I thought you’d be alone. It caught me off guard.”
His eyes softened. “You were upset…”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Chelsea. Fucking horrible at it. You don’t hide your feelings very well.”
“You think you know just about everything there is to know about me, don’t you?”
“Not everything. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to read you. It’s one of the things I like about you, though. You’re one of the least fake people I’ve ever met.”
“Then, tell me. Why do you think I was upset?”
“Honestly? I think you’re confused about me.”
“Confused…”
“Yes. I think you’re wondering why I opted not to have dinner with you and instead ended up with a woman I’d literally just met, someone who isn’t as sweet as you and sure as fuck isn’t as pretty as you. So, you’re wondering what the hell I was thinking. Am I right?”
That’s exactly what I was thinking.
He continued, “I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but I do feel a connection with you, okay? If you’ve sensed something, you’re not imagining it.”
“Well, if I wasn’t confused before…now I definitely am.”
“I feel like I need to say this now, because I can’t stand the thought of you thinking that I somehow find you undesirable when it’s exactly the opposite.”
I crossed my arms. “Again. Not following you.”
He closed his eyes as if to try to find the right words. “It’s just that I know for sure that I can’t ever be what someone like you needs in a boyfriend, in a partner. It’s not that we wouldn’t have fun or be great together at first. I’m just not good for you in the long-term—not marriage material. And the reasons are too complex to get into, except to say that it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me. I can’t, in good conscience, start something with a girl like you.”
“A girl like me…”
“Yes. You’re not the kind of girl a guy takes home for a quick fuck. You’re the girl he keeps.”
Right. Just like Elec did.
About Penelope Ward
Penelope Ward is a USA Today Bestselling author.
She grew up in Boston with five older brothers. She spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family friendly career.
Penelope lives for reading books in the new adult genre, coffee and hanging out with her friends and family on weekends.
She is the proud mother of a beautiful 9-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 7-year-old boy, both of whom are the lights of her life.
Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island.
She is currently working on her third novel and loves friend requests from readers!
