REVIEW: Mr. Right Next Door by Naima Simone

Mr. Right Next Door by Naima Simone: Recently divorced, Isaac Hunter retired as a championship wrestler and moved back to Rose Bend to be near his family. He wanted a fresh start so he took the position as an assistant coach for Rose Bend’s high school wrestling team. His focus should have been on deciding his future and not the troublesome female next door who is leaving town soon.

“You said you can’t blame people in this town for not taking a look. For not seeing you. Okay, you might not blame them. But I will. I do. I know the cold and prickly persona you give off. And that tongue can slice fast and deep. But I’ve been in Rose Bend for a matter of weeks. Weeks, Jenna. And I see there’s more to you than ice, thorns, and sharpness. All I had to do was take the time to look. To want to look.”

Jenna Landon, the daughter of Rose Bend’s ex-mayor, has spent her life trying to be perfect for her parents but never reaching their standards. She hides behind the mean girl persona that she has perfected over the years but she is ready to leave Rose Bend and the reputation she has made over the years. She just has to survive the town’s fundraiser and her father’s campaign to be reelected then she is moving and restarting her life.

Jenna protected her heart by hiding behind a mask of indifference and no one took the time to understand her until Isaac. He had his own personal struggles but he took the time to see the real Jenna and stood up for her. I loved how realistic Jenna and Isaac were. Their struggles were real life and heartbreaking. This was an emotional book but still had plenty of humor. The first meeting of Jenna and Isaac was cute, and I loved their banter and nicknames for each other.

I read this as a stand-alone, but I had no trouble with it. It was another delightful book by Ms. Simone with all the small-town feel-goods and I really enjoyed reading it.
 

Book Info:

Publication: January 10, 2023 | HQN Books | Rose Bend #4

As the ex-mayor’s daughter, Jenna Landon has spent her life aiming for perfection—and missing. The pressure and disappointment turned her into a bit of a mean girl, but now she’s tired of protecting her soft heart, of hiding her losses—she’s ready to leave Rose Bend and start over. But before she can leave, she has to endure the town’s carnival fundraiser, her father’s reelection campaign…and the pain-in-the-tail giant who just moved in next door.

Wrestling coach Isaac Hunter didn’t mean to disturb his neighbor with his music while fixing his car. But if anyone could use “messing with,” it’s prissy, perfect, sexy Jenna Landon. Soon their clashes turn into something hotter. Recently divorced, his focus should be rebuilding his life, not an… entanglement with a woman who spells nothing but trouble. Because Jenna is leaving Rose Bend. And they both know he can’t go with her, and he can’t ask her to stay…