A good neighbour is better than a far boyfriend…

Synopsis

Finding a man is like buying a house: sometimes you have to look beyond the exterior to see the potential underneath.

As an estate agent, Alex’s job is to create happy-ever-afters. It’s just a shame she can’t work the same magic on her own life. Her long-term boyfriend Thomas still lives with his mother, and her hopes of them taking the next step are dashed when he announces he’s spending all his savings (savings she’d quite hoped he’d want to put towards their future home) on an ‘artist retreat’ in San Francisco.

With Thomas thousands of miles away, getting a little too friendly with his fellow artistes, Alex strikes up a friendship with her new neighbour, Callum. Taciturn, grumpy and nerdy, Callum couldn’t be more different to Alex’s bubbly personality…. So why is he the one she wakes up wanting to talk to?

As they get to know each other, Alex starts to wonder if the answer to all her problems might be closer to home than she thinks…

My review

Being an estate agent, Alexa is used to show people the houses of their dreams. And she hopes that with her boyfriend Thomas, she will be able to find the perfect place too, as they have been together now for a long time. But Alexa is shocked to learn that Thomas has other plans, as he believes to have found his true calling, that of being an artist. And in order to achieve his new big dream, he wants to use all his spendings, which were planned to be used on their own home, to go on an artist retreat in San Francisco.
That doesn’t take away Alexa from sharing a bigger flat with her best friend Emma. But the two friends aren’t the only ones moving, as they learn that their new neighbours also just moved. Just like Alexa and Emma, Mark and Callum are best friends sharing a flat. And when things move quickly between Emma and Mark, Alexa learns that Callum has more in him that he shows. With understanding each other better, where does that leave Alexa with Thomas, as Alexa starts to feel more at ease with her neighbour than with her actual boyfriend?

When I read the blurb of this book, I knew I would like it, even if the short summary did spark that great curiosity immediately. But you know that there are authors that you just read, no matter what the blurb is saying. And as Phoebe MacLeod is one of those authors that don’t disappoint, I just started to read, ignoring the blurb. Because the story for sure would be an amazing one!

I think you have to be a special kind of person to be a good estate agent. Because you have to be able to see more in a building than you can actual see, but you also have to understand your clients in a way to find the house of their dreams, even if they haven’t have a clue what that may be.
And Alexa for sure has a talent for it, not driven by the advantages she may gain, but because she wants to find the right house for the right people. Even if finding the right match may take some patience.

And it’s clear that Alexa has a lot of patience, not only towards her clients, but also towards her boyfriend Thomas…. Because Thomas is for sure not the best example for a boyfriend. He isn’t satisfied with his life, and each time he discovers a new passion, only give that passion up rather easily. Yet Alexa stands by his side with every new great idea he has. Because even if he frustrates her at times, showing her support is what a good girlfriend does. And with being so long together, she has big dreams for a future to spend together.

But not only with Thomas Alexa shows her gentle character, also with her best friend Emma. Because all is well with your best friend when living on your own, but it’s when you live together that you get to know all those little irritating behaviour. Alexa for sure gets frustrated with Emma, and I for sure could understand her, but Alexa also understands that Emma discovering new territory and has still so much to learn.

Yet the most important treat Alexa has, is her non – judgemental attitude. She doesn’t judge Callum’s odd and introvert behaviour, she doesn’t judge perhaps the weirdest clients she may ever have. And that only shows us what an amazing person Alexa is.

She couldn’t be more opposite than Callum, yet also in his case, she sees more than he allows anyone else to see. Being an introvert can make it difficult for interaction, yet it was lovely to see how Alexa was able to break down his walls, and see her understanding him, as we also got a better understanding of him. And only to realize that Callum for sure is one amazing man, with his own insecurities, but also with his willingness to protect those he cares about, and even doing things outside his comfort zone.

I had the best of time seeing how a breakfast Alexa crashes becomes a tradition between the pair, how their “neighbour relationship” evolves to friendship and keeps on evolving.
It was in a way even funny to see things are getting awkward but also sweet in a way… And of course as I was supporting for Alexa and Callum getting more than friends, I just loved it see how Alexa realizes what Thomas’ real character was, and understands that perhaps her future lays elsewhere, and not by Thomas’ side…

This was a lovely, funny, even hilarious story, a slow – burn. The author delivered not only what I expected, but more. We see how differences between people can make each other stronger, how it can open you up. It shows us that getting to know someone and understand them takes time and patience, but that for the right person, it can end in a very rewarding way.
I devoured this book, only having one regret, as I reached the end far too quickly!