Kathryn Freeman

The perfect pick me up romcom for fans of Beth O’Leary, Sophie Kinsella and Sophie Ranald!

Mr Right Across the Street (The Kathryn Freeman Romcom Collection, Book 4)

5 ✨ 

Mia has just moved to Manchester for a fresh start. She hopes to settle into her new home, make some new friends, and learn how to just be by herself. Then enters Luke, a hot bartender that attracts a lot of female attention. 

 Hands down the best book I have read this year. I was literally giggling and screaming at all of the cute situations throughout the book. There are so many individual things that I liked in this book. The two main characters were so well developed and emotionally mature. Both were so forthcoming with the majority of their feelings it was so refreshing. Luke was so attentive and astute, he could tell when Mia was holding back and if he should ask her what's wrong or if he should give her some time. Mia was self-aware and apologized when she felt she went to far, which is not common enough in romance. Not to mention the side characters that all had their own developed personalities and were also some of the cutest people ever. 

I would say that if you enjoyed Get a Life, Chloe Brown and the song You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift, then you would most likely enjoy this book.

Read the full spoiler-filled review: https://vinylsandstars.wixsite.com/hi...

Leelynn Brady

Full review on my blog Sometimes Leelynn Reads. Review will be live on my blog on 5/28/21 @ 12pm EST.

To sum up my thoughts, I really enjoyed how the relationship evolved throughout the novel. It may not have been ideal, and I understand that Mia was going through some past trauma from her ex-boyfriend, but from what Luke had to work with, it worked out really well.

Kourtney

It's always disappointing when a book sounds so promising but just doesn't deliver.

This had all the makings of a cute rom-com: Mia moves to Manchester to prove to herself that she can live alone and doesn't need a man or her family to rescue her. She's coming out of an emotionally abusive relationship and is basically hiding when *gasp* she meets a neighbor (Luke) who owns the bar downstairs. They begin to leave notes for each other in the window since she will not give anyone her phone number. Sounds good...right? It would have been except...

Mia is written as a very unlikable character. Very. Unlikable. I think the "not like other girls" trope was what the author was aiming for, but instead it came out to be offputting. I would have believed this book more if you told me Mia was 18, but instead she was supposed to be in her 30's. She was jealous and harsh about all the women Luke slept with in the past (ahem - some slut shaming here, because those women should be ASHAMED of themselves for casually sleeping around with such an attractive man!), and instead of talking things out like an adult, she would run away and cry at home. This happened no less than 500 times, and it got old fast. So did the mentions of how amazing Mia was because she didn't wear makeup (she can't be bothered!) or wore a tshirt and jeans to a bar (ummm...she's the first?) She dyes her hair weird colors (so does my 5 year old - she'll be glad to know that makes her better than everyone else). She's the nerd and Luke is the cool kid! Again - was she 18 or in her 30's? 

Mia befriends her neighbor, who is fat. How do I know this? Because it is mentioned every time he appears. Did you know fat people don't deserve love? Because when he was nervous to ask out a local cafe owner, instead of being supportive, Mia begins to tell him how he should start to lose weight. What an amazing friend!

The weirdest part of the book for me was when Mia said Luke had no self worth because he didn't want to take a customer home from the bar. He had explained that he knew the customer only wanted to do that because she was trying to spite her ex-boyfriend. Sounds pretty self aware! Nope. Awww so sad that he had no self-worth. WHAT?!?! 

I just can't get behind the "I am only strong if I do not have a man by my side" rhetoric this book gave off. 

One last thing: at the end of my review copy were pictures of the other books she has written. In looking at them, the same person gave a blurb for each one. And each blurb said the same thing: "Amazing chemistry!" Ummm...why is the same blurb on each book? 

 I received a free digital copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mr Right Across the Street (The Kathryn Freeman Romcom Collection, Book 4)

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