The Ex Next Door: An utterly charming and funny romance

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I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Canelo and I am leaving this review voluntarily. April found success as a super model. Now she’s returned home to hide out and let the bad press die down after her ex released horrible stories and pictures of her. It is sooo sweet when David realise something different in Esme. Without Esme realise she little bit teritory to David and David very jealous man lol, but he put boundry and think Esme off limit only partner business. At first, I wasn't loving this book. Though the writing style immediately gripped me, the romance was slowly losing my interest. There was barely any interaction with the "ex," whom I thought was the love interest for a good chunk of the book. As the story progressed, I began to hate the "ex" more and more, finding him to be the most insufferable, flattest love interest of all time. Turns out, I was looking in the wrong place because he was NOT the story's major love interest. When I say I gasped!!!! Platt played me successfully, and I totally should've seen it coming. I had theories, but I second-guessed myself for most of the book. Turns out, my favorite male character of the book is the love interest! Platt wrote the romance in such an interesting way, that I thought for sure Megan and David would end up together. However, when the MC began to realize her feelings for David, I squealed with joy. The seeds had been there all along and it made perfect sense. I absolutely LOVED the last 25% of the book--including the resolution. It was a such a fantastic "switcheroo," and turned the story into a beautiful "friends to lover" romance, rather than a "second chance" romance like I immediately thought. (I went in blind!). I was so confused about Esme's crush on David. I did not see it coming and honestly thought that I missed reading a few chapters about their relationship. I don't think there were enough scenes to show that David was even an option for a crush, or to see their dynamic. The first half of the book was really Elliot heavy, and I thought the author wanted that to happen.

Author Elise and her artist husband Allan live in a house by the lake. Their elderly neighbor Chester loves to fish and thinks his neighbors are hippies. They want him to sell so they can start an artist retreat. Geena and Lee meet with Allan to talk about buying the house. They plan to move to the Caribbean. It is all a ploy to get him over to the house and drug him. As he struggles to leave, Geena tells Allan that they are just pawns and Elise and Lee are going to divorce them. He is holding a bloody hammer when he comes to, and Geena is bloody and beaten in Lee’s arms. Geena dies, and Allan is charged with murder. My Review: The Ex Next Door by Jo Platt was a subtle nod to a topsy turvy romance. This Women's Fiction book was so different than I expected. The love story that was really happening didn't become evident until it was right in my face. Don’t forget to listen to the Lifetime Uncorked Podcast available on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! The read was immersive in how infuriating it was, but I don’t think that is what the author intended. I spent so much of the book completely peeved at the main characters, whilst also being so bored that there was literally nothing happening in the story. I loved the small-town vibes I got from the charm of the secondary characters, but that was about the only thing I loved about the atmosphere.The pointless friend, turns out the be the pointless sister, gets in a car accident while driving Katie’s car. The police think a hit was taken out on Katie and someone is trying to kill her. (The find traces of poison in her dishes.) Katie demands to see her husband. He tells Katie that Louisa is obsessed with Dan. (Just like her.) Katie promises to figure it out, some way/somehow.

It's not quite the hot guy next door but it's the ex next door trying to still think he's somehow relevant. Second chances, near misses, or bulls-eyes is up for debate in this newly crafted piece made out of love. I loved the description on NetGalley, the lovely cover, the promise of something light and funny. It started good, the first chapter and then I waited for the promised laugh - out - loud. Unfortunately, it never came. despite all these, i have to say that the writing style gripped me—all narrative, no POVs, easy for me to read in one setting without being tired or restless or needing a break. Speaking of neighbors, a new couple moves in next door. A couple, Lee and his girlfriend Geena, move into Chester’s house. They are surprised Elise lives next door and try to apologize. Lee is Elise’s former fiance, and Geena was her best friend.A turning point in the film occurs when the artist of children's books named Katie Greenwood learns that her new neighbor, Louisa Share, is not only interested in renewing the romantic relationship with her husband, Dan Greenwood, but that Louisa has adopted Katie's last name, which appears on items Katie discovers in Louisa's mailbox. It begins with Esme and a broken pipe which leads to an entirley new situation that's all encompassing. David is her biz partner but also a possible 'motivator' personally and professionally.What seems innocently enough in terms of a 2nd location to expand upon their already lively biz turns into a possible test of their relationship status as professionals as well as friends. Since that man is dead, a sexy lady moves in next door. Katie brings over a fruit basket to welcome the new neighbor, but she isn’t home. Katie is an illustrator and children’s book writer and Dan just got a promotion at work. Katie goes golfing with her hot husband, Dan and they ponder who the new neighbor could be! Katie Gatewood’s love for her husband Dan is put to the test when Dan’s obsessed ex-girlfriend Louisa moves into the house next door, intending to drive the happy couple apart by any means necessary. The escort finds out about Katies scheme with the carpet cleaner, so she suffocates him with a plastic bag. She stages it to look like Dan killed her “boyfriend”. She tells the cops and they are like… WTF is this movie and why are we in it. They arrest Dan and it is all set up to look like Dan and Louisa were having an affair.

After Katie falls off her bike, Dan and Louisa finally meet. It is pretty uneventful except that Katie is rushed to the hospital from her bike fall. Katie scolds Dan for not being more friendly to Louisa. Until Elliot - an ex whom she hasn’t seen or spoken to for years - moves in next door, along with his perfect new girlfriend, Morgan. Suddenly, Esme’s past is right on her doorstep, or at least just over the fence. The FMC and MMC character voices were nearly indistinguishable from each other. For the majority of the book it very much reads like the author's musings instead of unique internal dialogue. I didn't hate the plot and the last act intrigued me enough that I will be reading the next book. Katie keeps trying to introduce Louisa to Dan, but things keep coming up. Also, Louise won’t let Katie into her house. There are two things I want to write about that brought my rating from a 4 to a 3. But first, I want to talk about the things I loved.and then her sudden realisation one day confused me further. like HOW can you tell me that she’s had feelings all these while? like there was no indication whatsoever except for that they were terrifyingly in tune—which i found it super adorable. Katie has a dinner party while Louisa makes some more carpet cleaner smoothie and then arrives fashionably late. While Dan is doing the dishes Louisa caresses him from behind. Katie catches them and assumes her husband is cheating. Katie leaves and goes to stay with her friend. (who is pointless in this movie.) Dan is left by himself with Louisa, he slams the door in her face. it was also confusing because until the 80% mark, i had no idea who esme's HEA was, until it was vaguely spelt out for us. The ending I liked but it was rushed and we should have seen more instances that led up to that ending rather than just in the last 30% of the book.