A STANDALONE NOVEL that does NOT need to be read in conjunction with any other book.
From New York Times bestselling author, Penelope Ward, comes a friends-to-lovers story with sexy new characters.
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” … 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.
Author’s note – Neighbor Dearest is a full-length standalone novel. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
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I loved this book even more than STEPBROTHER DEAREST! I wouldn’t mind a neighbor like Damien *wink* This book had a lot more emotion than I anticipated, but I adored that aspect and reveled at the realness of their relationship. They weren’t another couple fighting against the world, they were fighting against REAL LIFE issues and because of that, my heartstrings were pulled in many directions. Additional to the more series parts of the story, there were scenes that had me giggling (example: Damien’s dogs: Drewfus and Dudley, they provided a lot of comic relief). And then there were MANY parts where I was swooning over Damien. He was the perfect man to help put Chelsea’s broken heart back together. These two were adorable together!
NEIGHBOR DEAREST was packed full of enough angst, humor, and push and pull to keep me glued to the page. I would recommend this book to any romance lover!
5 “double D” stars!
Authors Note: A STANDALONE NOVEL that does NOT need to be read in conjunction with any other book. Neighbor Dearest is a full-length standalone novel.
Great BBF!
Such a wonderful story! Loved reading it! It felt like I could never get enough of Chelsea and Damien.
Anyone who I talk books with knows I am hanging on to the new-adult genre by a tiny thread. It’s just becoming too full of unnecessary relationship drama and surprise pregnancies that promise to make dysfunctional relationships all better. Oh boy…if these kids only knew.
Neighbor Dearest may start out with rudeness, agnst, and sexual interest towards the “bad boy”, but it finishes up with Penelope Ward’s attention to detail when it comes to complicated human emotions and the unfortunate bombs that life throws at us. Fans of the new-adult genre won’t be disappointed though. You’ve got the classic cover art, age-appropriate characters for the genre, major life choices that would be difficult for any age to make, and incredibly sexy and intimate moments. Neighbor Dearest is a winner in my opinion, even though it ends with a typical new-adult eyeroll (for me anyway), but it’s all good. As long as Penelope Ward is writing these characters, they’ll be OK. Check it out!
Oh My God i absolutely loved this book ,i literally had to force myself to put it down ,i wish this book was way longer then it was , i could have used another 200 pages ,i loved the characters ,i loved the story ,i just freaking loved everything !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the book i didn’t know i needed. .
I don’t even know how to express how much i loved this book , i couldn’t read this book in public because i was smiling like a deranged lunatic and crying and fanning myself when i was reading it ,this book gave me all the feels.
I loved Chelsea’s story ,seeing her pain after her break up with Elec and her moving next door to a super hot but anti-social artist who is the one who actually helps her move on and start living again ,she falls for Damien fast but he refuses to get involved with her and she doesn’t get it because he likes her and had said as much ,he tells her one thing but then he does another but she finally learns the truth and while it hurts that he kept something so big from her ,it just makes it all the more worth it when they finally get together .
What can i say about Damien other then omg he is the Epitome of everything ,i mean he’s hot ,funny,sweet,caring,protective and so freaking SWOON WORTHY like i can not stress enough about how much i wish he was real and my boyfriend (totally not kidding) everything he says ,everything he did i mean he is pretty fu*king perfect ,the way he takes care of Chelsea and his dogs ,i loved his speeches and how everything he does is huge and omg he is the UNICORN (the mythical Creature) That i think we all want to exist in real life ! loved his whole story .
Damien and Chelsea were meant for each other and the best thing to happen was Elec falling in love with his step-sister so Chelsea could find Damien and they could live happy ever after!
I love Penelope Ward and we must bow down because this book is Fu*king Perfect !!!!!!!
Also loved Tyler & Jade and i can’t wait to read their story.
ENCHANTING! HILARIOUS! BEAUTIFUL!
A NEW FAVORITE OF MINE!
I LOVE AND ADORE DAMIEN & CHELSEA!
Look…I went into this book because the heroine of this story was one of the jilted girlfriends from another of Penelope’s books. I liked her (not for the hero of THAT book obviously, lol) but she just seemed like an amazing person.
I HAD NO IDEA!!!
I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THE STUNNING LOVE STORY within these pages!
I love Penelope’s books but I never expected this story to hit me the way it did.
So of course I read this because I wanted to know how this woman moved on from who she assumed was the love of her life!
LITTLE DID SHE KNOW!!!!
She had YET to meet the REAL love of her life!
Chelsea moves into her new apartment building broken and confused about where she went wrong. Situations that cause her to confront her landlord also leads her to the man who ultimately changes her entire life in every single way possible!
I can’t even sit here and go into everything about this book because I will ramble and spill so many great little surprises!
Damien is EVERYTHING!!! This couple is now one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE book couples EVER!
I love them! I love their journey! I adore every single little moment they have! Their banter is captivating and hilarious!
ALLLLL THE EMOTIONS!!!
Be prepared for your heartstrings to get yanked a few times! Keep some tissue close by because this one will work it’s way into your soul as you read!
I mentioned above about the heroine being in another book but understand she has a very MINOR appearance in that book and it is absolutely NOT needed to read that one in order to read this one!
This is a definite emotional roller coaster. The first half of the book my heart ached for Chelsea. I almost didn’t finish the book because so much time had passed that I couldn’t fathom the HEA. Damien is so adamant against a relationship. But, of course I continued on and when it is revealed why Damien is not committing to Chelsea my heart cracked. I did not see that coming.
The rest of the book continues on the roller coaster as Damien and Chelsea work through their ups and downs. I held my breath for several chapters until the HEA.
Absolutely OUTSTANDING !!
Neighbor Dearest left me an emotional mess,I was crying for an hour after I finished reading it.
Damien and Chelsea’s romance was a rocky road,and my heart was theirs all the way through this book from beginning until the end.
It is a Beautiful and Perfect story of a Love so strong it can overcome anything and no matter how much you try to push it away Fate has other plans.
Penelope Ward is magic.
Superb in every way.
5 Stars of excellence.
I highly recommend it.
review on my blog
https://www.emilythebooknerd.com/2020/05/neighbor-dearest.html#more
* A review copy was provided by the author for the Blog Tour *
I know I say this with every release….but Penelope Ward has done it again!!
I have never read a book by her that was a disappointment. Her writing just sucks me in and lets me live in a fantasy world for awhile. Her books are fairly quick reads for me because once I pick them up, I never want to put them down. Her stories flow effortlessly and her characters sink into my heart that I can’t help but feel like I am a part of their world.
Neighbor Dearest was no different. This is a standalone novel told exclusively from Chelsea’s POV. Now this book is based off a character we meet in Stepbrother Dearest (Chelsea) but you don’t need to read Stepbrother Dearest to understand this book. They are completely separate stories, with the exception of the overlapping character.
As with any Penelope Ward book, be prepared to have your emotions tossed around. This is an emotional rollercoaster just like her other books have been. But truly I wouldn’t have it any other way. Penelope has the amazing talent to create a story that will have you laughing, swooning, yelling and crying all within the same chapter. But that is what keeps the reader on the edge of their seat while reading her books. She also is great for creating drama and angst without it being to over the top. I never find myself rolling my eyes are getting aggravated when I read her books..
As many know I am a HUGE Penelope Ward fan and I can’t seem to rave enough about her books. But you will also know that when it comes to reviewing her books I don’t talk about the storyline very much. Penelope’s books I feel people should go into blind and just experience the emotions as they are revealed to the reader.
I will tell you this, Neighbor Dearest is a friends to lovers type story. As I said earlier, this book is about Chelsea and Damien. Chelsea is trying to move on with her life after being dumped by who she thought was the love of her life (Elec from Stepbrother Dearest). She has currently moved into a new home and determined to move forward. This is where Damien comes into the picture. He is the Angry Neighbor with the two loud dogs. When these two meet the sparks start to fly!!! I loved their chemistry and I loved watching their story unfold. And can I just say Damien really knows how to melt some panties 😉
So if you are a fan of Penelope’s you don’t want to miss this book. And if she is a new author to you…Neighbor Dearest is a GREAT place to start your love for her books. Because once you read one of her books you will be hooked!!!!
How to review a book like this and do it justice, I really hope I do it with this review! I absolutely loved this book from beginning until end, I could not put it down. And that’s how you just know it is an amazing read! This is one of the main reasons why Penelope Ward has become a one-click author for me. The story was not only sweet, hot and heartbreaking but so heartfelt. I loved the chemistry between Damien and Chelsea, and I won’t give any spoilers but you are in for a ride!
Some things in life you can’t take for granted; live your life like each moment can be your last. Every happy moment is worth it and a love that is meant to be in your heart, is worth fighting for…
Definitely 5 stars for me and a must read!
Fresh off the high from Stepbrother Dearest, I dove into Neighbor Dearest with a need for more. (Which is normal with any of Ms. Ward’s books.)
I say she nailed it! It was up and down with plenty of sideways action. This rollercoaster would not let you rethink you decision to get on. Once you committed to opening the book, you have absolutely no choice but to keep going.
Tension, lust, and rejection all run high in this book. Chelsea is trying to recover from Elec’s choice. But it looks like she will have her hands full.
I finished this book giggling. The humor and inappropriate awesomeness will have you very entertained. References to movies that I enjoyed as a kid left me smirking until the very end!
“You know why it didn’t work out with him?”
Why?
“Because God made you for me.”
I didn’t think I could love Damien Hennessy more then I did until he spoke these words. Loved this slow burn friends to lovers book. The chemistry between Damien and Chelsea was palpable throughout. All the feels with this one.
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK!
Neighbor Dearest was seriously by far one of my favorite books this year, and I couldn’t have asked for a better storyline or characters. The story was perfect, Damien and Chelsea were perfect, and Penelope Ward did a phenomenal job with every single aspect of their story. I was addicted from the very beginning and honestly couldn’t get enough of Damien and Chelsea. They were quite the pair and there was never a dull moment between them. They were extremely entertaining and I loved their banter and relationship with one another. There were plenty of surprises, both good and bad, throughout that made everything just that much more interesting to read. I enjoyed the secondary characters as well, especially Damien’s brother, Tyler, and Chelsea’s sister, Jade. I have a sneaky suspicion (and I hope I’m right!) that maybe Penelope will write a story about them. I don’t know if she will, but we’ll see. Fingers crossed!
I was so beyond thrilled when I discovered that Penelope Ward had written Neighbor Dearest. Stepbrother Dearest was the first novel I had read by Ms. Ward, and I had really enjoyed it, but believe it or not, I loved Neighbor Dearest a thousand times more. Heck, I would give it a million stars if Goodreads allowed it. 😉
Neighbor Dearest was a true winner in my opinion, and I absolutely loved everything about it. There were truly no flaws in this book, and that is incredibly hard to come by. I honestly couldn’t have been happier with the outcome of Damien and Chelsea’s story, and will continue to hold it near and dear to my heart for a very long time to come. Highly recommended!
Anyone who knows me, knows I love practically everything by Penelope Ward. She always seems to know how to enthrall you from when you open the first page, all the way up to the end! Neighbor Dearest was no different.
When I first read the blurb, and it mentioned a break up with Elec, I gasped thinking it was Greta (from Stepbrother Dearest), and wondering what was going on. Then I remembered Elec’s other girlfriend, Chelsea, and calmed down.
The characters in Neighbor Dearest are endearing, and I may have seen reference to previous characters from Penelope’s books, but I’ll leave you to find those little Easter Eggs. Neighbor Dearest is a stand-alone, so if you haven’t read a story by Penelope Ward, the Easter Eggs will be all that you won’t catch.
The story line is amazing, intriguing and involved. The surprises and revelations aren’t expected, but show real strength between both Chelsea and Damien.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any Penelope fans (especially if you’ve read all her others), or anyone looking for an endearing romance to fall in love with!!
Penelope Dearest…”As long as my heart is beating, it will only beat for you.”
You have done it again. I always get sucked in to your stories and I never want to let go.
It had a bit of everything:
Enemies to Friends
Friends to Lovers
Lovers that are hot, on fire even. Speaking of fire. You made a Firestarter and The Omen come together and make beautiful art together.
I loved every second of this book. I cannot think of a better outcome when “changing a story”.
Fabulous.
This book was AMAZING!!! Penelope Ward has done it again!! All her books just keep getting better and better. When I was selected to review an arc it was like hitting the lotto!!!
The story focused on Chelsea, who we met in Stepbrother Dearest. I’m happy Ward wrote about her because I did wonder what ever happened with her. A lot of times we read books about the gf or bf getting dumped and we never see how they make out. Chelsea is trying to move on after being dumped by Elec. At her new place she has an annoying neighbor Damien. At first they don’t get along but eventually they hit it off. Damien tells her they can only be friends. Throughout these moments you could feel the sexual tension and connection with these two! I loved,loved, loved the character build up and connection. This is very important in a book for me and if it’s not done right I have a hard time with the book.
We had several laugh out loud moments in this book. I was only on Chapter 3 and couldn’t stop laughing. We had some sexy moments and my personal favorite angst filled moments. This book made me cry (happy tears) and had me all in my feels. I really don’t want to give anything away but when you read you will understand the tears.
Penelope Ward writes the types of books that just suck you in and never let you go. She has definitely become one of my favorite authors and I always look forward to reading her books. If you are looking for a well written book that will leave you reeling and give you all the feels, Neighbor Dearest is the book for you.