Review
Sheila Roberts delivers a humorous Rear Window retelling with The Man Next Door. Louise is a ham with a big heart and nosy personality. Zona is just trying to get her life together after her ex-husband drains everything they have. And young Bree has lost all interest of serious long-term relationships due to her mother’s history. And they can’t seem to get on the right track with their hot new neighbor, Alec.
While Zona has no intention of starting a new relationship, her mother Louise is a hopeless romantic – for herself and others. At first, Louise encourages Zona to pursue the neighbor. But once they overhear arguments and see a woman coming in and out of the house, they’re not sure if he is a great match after all. And hilarity ensues as they try to figure out what kind of man they’re living next to.
While The Man Next Door had potential to be a hilarious romcom, unfortunately it fell a bit short for me. The pace is pretty slow and some of the dialogue is redundant. Louise’s neighbor is in love with her but she is unimpressed with him. Zona kept going back and forth about Alec. And Bree was so jaded and disrespectful that she became unbearable at times. The mystery aspect worked well, and the final moments toward the end were pretty hilarious. At least it was an easy read. Some readers will love this style but those who aren’t into women’s fiction can pass on this one.
Sheila Roberts joins the Cantina Book Club Podcast to talk about family life and character relationships. Keep an ear out for the interview and check out The Man Next Door, available October 14.
Book
Zona never thought her life was headed this way, but here she is, newly divorced and moving back in with her mom, Louise. After her gambling addicted ex-husband lost all of their savings, including their daughter’s college fund, she doesn’t really have a choice. She’s cutting every coupon she can and she’s going to help put her daughter through nursing school, even if it kills her.
This wasn’t Louise’s plan, either, laid up at home with a broken leg after one unfortunate tumble on the senior singles cruise she’d been looking forward to for months. But if she’s going to spend all her time at home, at least she’s got her daughter there with her. And there’s some hot new eye candy next door to distract them both from their troubles. He appears to be single and just around Zona’s age. Could his arrival be the universe making amends for everything it’s put her through?
Maybe the universe isn’t feeling as generous as Louise hoped. There’s something lurking under that mans surface charm, something…dangerous? And who’s the woman they can hear him in all-out shouting matches with on the other side of the fence? When the woman seems to disappear without a trace, imaginations run wild. Or at least, Zona hopes it’s just her mother’s imagination…
