The Neighbor Favor (The Greene Sisters #1) by Kristina Forest – slow burn second chance romance

The Neighbor Favor is a heartwarming, slow burn second chance romance with amazing characters and their personal growth and family dynamics.

Synopsis

In this heart-fluttering romance by Kristina Forest, a shy bookworm enlists her charming neighbor to help her score a date, not knowing he’s the obscure author she’s been corresponding with.

Shy, bookish, and admittedly awkward, Lily Greene has always felt inadequate compared to the rest of her accomplished family, who strive for Black excellence. She dreams of becoming an editor of children’s books but has been frustratingly stuck in the nonfiction division for years without a promotion in sight. Lily finds escapism in her correspondences with her favorite fantasy author, and what begins as two lonely people connecting over e-mail turns into a tentative friendship and possibly something else Lily won’t let herself entertain–until he ghosts her.

Months later, still crushed but determined to take charge of her life, Lily seeks a date to her sister’s wedding. And the perfect person to help her is Nick Brown, her charming, attractive new neighbor, whom she feels drawn to for unexplainable reasons. Little does she know that Nick is an author–her favorite fantasy author.

Nick, who has his reasons for using a pen name and for pushing people away, soon realizes that the beautiful, quiet woman from down the hall is the same Lily he fell in love with over e-mail months ago. Unwilling to complicate things even more between them, he agrees to set her up with someone else, though this simple favor between two neighbors is anything but–not when he can’t get her off his mind.

Review

The Neighbor Favor is a slow-burn, heartwarming romance that blends hidden identities and second chances. The story follows Lily and Nick, who first connect through email when Lily writes to her favorite fantasy author, N. R. Strickland. She falls for him, only for him to ghost her.

Months later, they meet again as neighbors, unaware of each other’s past connection. Nick soon realizes that Lily is the same woman he had corresponded with and when Lily asks Nick to be her date for her sister’s wedding, he declines due to his personal issues and commitment fears. Instead, he offers to help her find a date. As they spend more time together, their feelings for each other become harder to ignore.

It was interesting to see when Lily will uncover Nick’s true identity and Nick find the courage to confront his fears and embrace the possibility of happiness.

The beginning of The Neighbor Favor is captivating, particularly their unique meet-cute as neighbors, but the pace does slow down a bit as the story progresses. The writing is engaging, particularly with the exploration of the characters’ pasts and their complex family dynamics.

Both Lily and Nick carry emotional baggage, struggle with self-esteem, and face life’s challenges, which adds depth to the story. I appreciated the themes of sisterhood, boundary-setting, and taking control of one’s happiness that unfold throughout the book.

Lily is a shy, awkward book lover who has always felt overshadowed by her successful sisters. She’s worked as an assistant, unable to land her dream job as a children’s book editor, which has significantly impacted her confidence. I enjoyed seeing Lily grow, particularly when she found the strength to stand up to her family and assert control over her career and dating life.

However, I felt this moment of self-realization came a bit late in the story and was somewhat overshadowed by Nick’s larger family issues. While Nick’s struggles were a focal point, I wished Lily’s personal growth had received a bit more attention.

Nick, an introvert like Lily, shares her love for books, but his low self-esteem and troubled past make him hesitant to believe anything good can last in his life. His childhood was rough, and ever since graduation, he’s avoided his family and any chance at happiness. His journey toward healing is touching, and his evolving relationship with Lily provides him with much-needed hope.

I appreciated how Lily supported him, knowing when to offer comfort and when to give him space. While Nick’s ultimate confrontation with his parents and his realization of his love for Lily didn’t feel as magical as I’d hoped, his declaration of love at the end was deeply moving and showed how much he had grown.

The romance is slow-burn, with plenty of sweet, intimate moments between Lily and Nick. I especially loved their email exchanges, their bookstore date, and the scene with taking sick cat to ER. But the highlight of the book for me was the time spent with Lily’s family. I adored her sisters and can’t wait to read their stories in future books in the series.

Overall, The Neighbor Favor is a heartwarming, slow burn second chance romance with amazing characters and their personal growth and family dynamics.

What to expect in The Neighbor Favor–

Slow burn romance
Email correspondence
Second chance
Hidden Identity
Family dynamics and sisterhood
Emotional past baggage

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Have you read this or wish to read?
What is your favorite second chance romance?

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• The Neighbor Favor (The Greene Sisters #1) by Kristina Forest – slow burn second chance romance
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