I'm sorry, but this book was just not right for me. Too much body shaming, slut shaming, double standards. Way too long and repetitive. I did finish it, I just wish it had ended quite a bit earlier.

I appreciate the opportunity for an ARC. Thank you.

This was a tale of two halves for me; I found a few big issues in the beginning chapters, but the rest of the book generally picked up and I enjoyed.

I feel for the majority of the book, the focus was too much on Luke being a player and their pasts rather than the current developing relationship between Luke and Mia, though I did love their 'non-dates' exploring Manchester. A really sweet element was the window-note writing (after both characters confirmed they didn't find it creepy of course!), a cute way to communicate in a world of people constantly on their phones. Moreover, their friendship seemed genuine and natural, though I have to admit it was glaringly obvious they were falling for each other, and so Mia's constant stressing that they're 'just friends' became annoying quite quickly.

I really appreciated the presence of communication and talking through any insecurities or feelings before jumping in (Chapter Twenty-Six in particular), and a strength of the writing was this prioritization, even though a lot of talk (especially in the first half) was about looks, bodies and sex... Which brings me on to some of the key issues. I felt, in the beginning in particular, there was so much attention on the body, in an objectifying and sex-oriented way that made me almost uncomfortable. The way Mia referred to Luke's workouts as 'a show' and the constant appreciation of his body was getting almost childish and shallow.

My biggest gripe with this book however was that, considering the main characters are supposed to be 30 and 34, it seriously gave off a high-school atmosphere. With the gossiping-style conversations, and the 'cool player guy', the 'nerdy girl who isn't like the others and doesn't realise she's beautiful', and the 'group of pretty popular girls interested in their looks and getting with guys'... It plays so heavily on stereotypes it's honestly quite cringey! For example, something Mia refers to constantly is that "history has taught her cool guys didn't go for nerds", which is quite immature for a 30 year old and made me roll my eyes A LOT. And the constant attention to Mia's dress style and appearance whilst comparing it to other girls was so unnecessary and felt like a dig to people who do like to dress up, as if Mia was so special and unique for wearing leggings and t-shirts...

Another trope of the book was the "jaw-droppingly gorgeous player and unconsciously beautiful woman who isn't like the others", with the whole "she's like no other girl I've met" being constantly reinforced, that really weakened any strong connection I could have had to the main characters as it felt so unrealistic and over the top

The second half did pick up for me personally though, with the big revelation and continuation of that thread. I enjoyed the addition of Grace's character, and the unraveling of that storyline rounded out the book for me as it provided more depth and explanation that enabled the reader to understand the situation and certain characterisation much better. From this, the developing relationship between Luke and Mia felt a bit more like an adult relationship than two teenagers trying to get into each other's pants, though again some of the main conflicts (especially in relation to Freya) lacked mature discussion and resolve.

So the 3/5 star for me is because I found the book average; a fun flirty romance with some deeper background exploration, yet I couldn't neglect the persistent issues of high-school vibes and intense stereotyping.

Mr. Right Across the Street is a quick and fun rom-com with great characters and a chemistry-laden friends-to-lovers romance. The story follows Mia and Luke, an unlikely pair that proves love conquers all. Mia is new to town and looking to make friends, not become entangled with the sexy bar owner who lives across the street. Luke is quite comfortable with his single life but can’t resist his deep feelings for Mia. Can he convince Mia that he is the one for her?

I love Mia’s character! A tech-savvy coder, Mia is smart, independent, and kind. Though comfortable in her own skin, Mia has lost trust in men and in herself. New to the area, Mia moved to Manchester to escape a toxic relationship, and she is still dealing with the ramifications of ending it. She’s not looking for romance, but she finds it in the hunky bachelor that lives across the street and owns the local bar. Though she immediately connects with Luke, Mia does not want to repeat mistakes she’s made in the past and is reluctant to enter into a relationship with a known womanizer. Mia has a lot of reservations when it comes to romance, and her past relationships have really damaged her ability to trust and her desire to find love. It’s interesting to see how she works through her internal obstacles and tries to focus on a happier future for herself.

Luke seems like a consummate bachelor with an easy smile and charismatic charm, but he is so much more than that. I love how his story slowly unfolds to show how loyal, hard-working, and honorable he is. Like Mia, his past defined his present, and because of this, he keeps love interests at an emotional distance, never getting too attached. That is, until Mia.

I love how Luke, a man who is used to women throwing themselves at him, works to win Mia over. He knows upon meeting her that Mia is different from the other women he knows. He is drawn to her and admires her quick wit, sharp mind, and beauty, but he also recognizes her reluctance to become involved. Writing notes and leaving them in his window for Mia to see is a super cute way of communicating, especially in today’s technology-dependent world. Luke is patient and sensitive to Mia’s fears and insecurities, and his actions show how much he cares for and respects her. They have wonderful (and sometimes steamy) chemistry, and their love story is fantastic.

The story also has a fantastic cast of secondary characters. Mia’s sister and mother are hilarious and charming and genuine, and the strength of their bond is evident throughout the novel. Luke’s friends are also pretty comical, and the way they tease and support each other is relatable and realistic. Mia’s curmudgeonly neighbor is an unusual and perfect sidekick and much more intuitive than he originally seems. All of these characters enrich the story and offer tremendous insight into Mia and Luke’s lives.

I enjoyed this cute and fun contemporary romance and think it will appeal to readers who enjoy rom-coms with well-developed and interesting characters, witty banter, and a fabulous love story. Thanks so much to Rachel’s Random Resources and Kathryn Freeman for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to like this book so much because it seemed really cute, but 54% of the way in all I could do was roll my eyes and want to scream get together already. I was so annoyed with the way Mia and Luke pussyfooted around each other. Like they clearly liked each other and wanted to be together but they kept playing the same game of Mia: He is a player, he sleeps with many women, Luke: Mia doesn't want to get with someone like me, I have a past.

I was just annoyed with them both at that point, and they kept making sure you knew that they were going on Non-dates. Overall the book just annoyed me I couldn't even finish it.

Still thankful for the ARC of this book.

Overall, I thought this book was pretty adorable. There was things here and there that bothered me (ike not giving out her pone number), but all the quirky little things made this book adorable!

Mia and Luke were opposites in every sense, but it worked. I had a smile on my face reading this book and it was just what I needed!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book; I very much appreciate it as I really enjoyed it!

This book was so much fun --- I absolutely loved the banter back and forth between Mia and Luke! The messages in the windows were priceless and very creative. Lots of moments in the story made me laugh and I had trouble putting it down. There were a few things that bothered me --- for example, Mia was drooling over Luke when he was lifting weights, yet she was very critical of his previous sex life which seemed inconsistent. However, this was easily overlooked since the rest of the book was so good. I'm anxious to discover other books by this author.

I have read all of Kathryn Freeman's books with One More Chapter and this one might be my favorite of all so far. I will also request her books because they are always adorable, relatable, and utterly charming.

First off, the characters in this book were so well rounded, fleshed out, and had very interesting back stories. The fun quirk to this book was that they communicated via signs written in the window a la the Taylor Swift music video for You Belong With Me. The side characters seriously add to the story and keep it going. Mia's friendship her older neighbor Stan was my favorite relationship of the book, hands down. I don't know if young person-old person friendships are a trope but if they are, it's one of my favorites!

I don't really have anything that I found to critique with this one! I loved it from start to finish and feel like Kathryn is great at creating chemistry between two people and making it super charming and adorable. The pacing made sense, the flow worked, and I read it all in one day. Definitely check this out if you're a fan of contemporary romances, friends to lovers, and a quirky form of communication - all set in a bar!

**Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Mr. Right across the Street is a rom com done well which is why I enjoyed reading especially the messages in the window.

This is a very sweet romcom with a main female character that isn't forcing herself to fit in with the norm for eligible women, which I liked
I also really like it when the city setting isn't in London. I found this book a bit long for its plot line though.

I don't give out 1 stars lightly, I find most books have at least a little merit but this one...did not

My review for this book could just be: yikes! But I'll try to elaborate a little more. We all know the "not like other girls trope." Look at those other girls with their make-up and their tight dresses and heels, well our main character Mia is not like those other girls. She wears baggy clothes and NO make-up, and though the main male protagonist usually loves those "easy, uncomplicated, undemanding" woman who throw themselves at him in his bar he can't help but notice that Mia is...different. And therefore....intriguing

This book has another thing I can't over look: slut shaming. Luke has had relations with a number of women and flirts with customers at his bar and Mia judges him heavily based on this. And not just internally, but to his face when they first meet for coffee. This is after, I might add, she oggles and objectifies him through his window from the comfort of her flat. We see no issues here?!

The double standards in this book are astounding. According to the book if women wear tight dresses and make-up to feel confident, that's a bad thing, but if a guy works out and gets piercings and tattoos to pull women and feel confident...he's sexy and alluring???

The characters had zero depth/personality, as well as zero chemistry with each other. The dialogue was really awkward and not written how people really speak. Mia's sister calls Luke's ex (who he has a CHILD with) a "bitch-face" (I wish I was making this up) with no context or reason

It's safe to say I would not recommend this book to anyone. I have previously dnfd another of this author's books and if I'd realised it was the same author I wouldn't have bothered requesting this one

TW: fat shaming, slut shaming, sex work/porn star shaming

Thank you to Harper Collin and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

I’m definitely going to need a “Mr Right Across the Street” movie please because this book was super adorable. With so many romance books relying on tinder and other online platforms for their “meet cutes” I found their communication style really refreshing.

The characters in the book are fairly likable. Sometimes Mia’s low self esteem/up & down feelings grew a little tiresome to read BUT not enough to put the book down.

This was a cute and fun read. Solid 3 stars.

I would say this book deserves 2.5 stars however that isn't an option so I'm having to go with 2 stars. It wasn't that this book was bad, overall it was an enjoyable read and it was quick and easy, which was perfect as I needed to move past a book hangover. The story was sweet if not a little predictable, I guess the title literally gives away the premise of the novel in at least some way, despite the obvious direction of the book it was a nice read, the characters were well developed and it was easy to envision them as real people. Unfortunately, I would argue that both Mia and Luke played into overdone stereotypes and that Mia's characterisation felt as though the author was pushing her to be 'not like other girls'. Despite this, I enjoyed the dynamics between the two characters and it was easy to believe the chemistry between the two as their relationship develops throughout the novel. I felt as though in some places the language was somewhat immature perhaps, in particular when Luke is talking about Mia's body, I felt as though this could have been written better or at least in less of a cringe worthy way, as I was physically cringing at times. I appreciated the setting for the novel as the city is one of my local cities and it was in fact one of the reasons I was drawn to the novel in the first place, I enjoyed the authenticity that came with following the characters around hotspots and at times places I had visited myself. I feel as though this book was an easy read and would recommended it to anyone who needs a quick fix of a cheesy romance novel and although it plays into stereotypes it doesn't take away the fact that the novel itself and the story is cute and at times easy to relate to and the characters are likeable to the extent that you find yourself invested in their story. A fan of romance novels would perhaps have a different view however overall I did enjoy the book and found it a nice edition to small collection of romance readings.

There is A LOT to love in this book, sadly there’s also a bit I was frustrated by. While I completely understood why Mia was apprehensive at first, once they got together, it was too much back and forth for me. Not enough using of words, not enough trust of self or others, and I get that fits with some of their individual baggage… but it made it not as much fun of a read for me.

Things to love, however, were the friends/family around them, the chemistry between the two of them, and the adorable dates Luke plans. Even though he is a supporter of a truly terrible football club (#YWNA thank you very much), he’s a guy I’d love to have as the owner of my local. I truly do wish he and Mia all the happiness in the world.

I love that this book features a woman who codes. I am all for that! Mia is awesome with her streaked hair and funny coding t-shirts. I loved the cheesy jokes. She is working to find herself as an independent woman, and I strongly identified with her character. And Luke is the greatest. He seems like the hot player bartender but is so much deeper and more vulnerable.

The heart of this story is communication: the methods they use to communicate and the things they say or leave unsaid. I think that's true of most relationships. This felt so real to me.

I often love romance novels for the escape they offer. I loved this one for the possibility of an optimistic reality.

Thank you to Harper Collins, One More Chapter and @Netgalley for this ARC.

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Release Date: Expected 22nd January 2021



Mia has just started a new life in Manchester, miles away from her loving family but more importantly miles away from Pete - the ex who seemed so nice, until he wasn't. You know the one.

Alone and trying to figure things out, her main source of entertainment is people watching. Through her window, there's the immaculate woman who always looked lke she'd just stepped out of a salon even at 9 in the morning, and the extremely hot guy right across who's a fan of exercising with the curtains wide open.

Enter Luke, who feels like he's very old for 34. Keeping himself busy trying to save his Bar from becoming obselete, there isn't much time for love. Not as though he'd want it after what happened last time. But when a Green-Haired woman in a tracksuit enters the bar one night, she catches his attention. She wasn't vying for his attention like the other reguars, she definitely appreciated classic BritRock and could hold a damn good conversation. And she's also the girl who was quite obviously staring at him through his window in the mornings.

It started with just a few notes left in a window and a plan to try and bring the Bar into the 21st century. But are Mia and Luke really right for each other? Or are they just right next door?

The wonderful Universe of Kathyrn Freeman is back and better than ever; with familiar faces and places that we've grown to love (you don't need to have read the series before to follow this book but it'll definitely help!) With the eclectic cast of loveable characters that all play their parts - one of my favourites being Stan, Mias new neighbour and self-proclaimed 'Grumpy, overweight old man' who slowly becomes her partner in crime.

With a fresh take on a 'will-they-won't-they' - full of engaging dramas and pitfalls that sound like they could be coming from your best friend during a gossip session. Mr Right Next Door was hilarious funny, steamy and so sweet you might get a cavity.

Freeman once again has led us back into her world and it was simply, magically adorable and such a pleasure to read. I devoured this in one sitting and if you're looking for a romance fix, I think you will too.



RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐



Thank you to NetGalley and Kathryn Freeman for an ARC.

I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for providing me with an ARC in exchange fro an honest review.
What drew me in was the title and the plot because it reminded me of one of my favorite movies Rear Window. Mia moves to Manchester to get away from a controlling ex and meets Luke a who leaves a note in the window for her. From there their relationship begins to blossom. The chemistry between Mia and Luke was great and I found myself smiling in some parts of the book. My day was filled with me reading because I couldn't put this book down.
I am definitely going to read more books my Kathryn Freeman.

Oh ladies and gents this is a modern day love story for all the hopeless romantics out there.

Mia’s move to Manchester was supposed to be time to find herself, to become comfortable living on her own and to escape the mistakes of her past. She spends her days at her computer followed by her nights writing her first novel, barely leaving the house for anything other than coffee.

Mr across the road is the handsome bar owner Luke who like clockwork at 10 am everyday works out in his spare room which Mia had a direct line of site into. Luke’s life is another level of complicated however the day Mia walks into his bar and backchats him he knows it’s al over.

They start spending time together and the chemistry is undeniable. Everyone but Luke and Mia can see what’s happening. Mia’s guard slowly comes down and the pair know they can no longer just be friends. Holy moly, I regret starting this in the evening because once I started I couldn’t put it down.

Computer geek meets hot bar tender add in life’s complications and you have perfection with a couple of steamy AF scenes. I enjoyed this book so much and definitely need to check out more of Kathryn’s novels.

This book is a rom/com about Mia who moves to Manchester to start a new life and get away from a bad relationship (from someone who I believe was verbally abusive and stalker-like but it doesn’t really going into it much). Mia watches a man (Luke) working out every day at 10am from her window and ends up meeting him in his bar that he owns (and lives above).

I found this book an easy read but I did feel that there was a few pieces that were spoken about and then not really talked about again. It made the book a bit disjointed and not flow very well.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and thought it was super cute. The premise - two people meeting and communicating through notes in their windows was very unique. It was a very entertaining and sweet story about Mia and Luke who meet and end up falling in love. I found myself smiling the entire time I was reading this. I needed the levity at this crazy time in the world right now, so this book was a perfect escape. Highly recommend for anyone who loves rom-coms. I think this would even make a great movie!

I loved this romance. It spoke numbers to me. I loved especially how the romance developed slowly but was ultimately worth reading! An amazingly beautiful novel to read, especially for romance lovers!