The Neighbor Favor

Starred review from October 3, 2022
Fan mail sparks romance in Forest’s adorable adult debut (after YA Zyla & Kai). Nick Brown, pen name NR Strickland, published The Elves of Ceradon right after college, fancying himself “the Black George R. R. Martin.” His dreams didn’t pan out, however, and he’s abandoned the series to become a travel journalist, capitalizing on the job’s anonymity and rootlessness to avoid his estranged parents’ attempts to shake him down for money. When editorial assistant and Strickland superfan Lily Greene reaches out to Nick via email, she’s not expecting her favorite author to actually write back. But Lily doesn’t realize that hers is the first piece of fan mail Nick’s ever received. So respond he does, and the pair form a tentative friendship—until their correspondence grows too intimate, and Nick ghosts Lily for fear of disappointing her. Months later, Nick coincidentally moves in next door to Lily’s apartment and they grow close once more—until Nick realizes Lily’s identity. His fear of commitment keeps him from saying anything, which comes back to bite him when Lily enlists his help finding a date for her sister’s wedding. Forest expertly balances this perfectly matched duo’s emotional connection with their physical chemistry, making them easy to cheer on. This is a winner. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties.

January 1, 2023
In this bookish romance, two people who fell for each other through email unknowingly become neighbors. Lily Greene's dream job is to edit children's books, specifically fantasy books with Black characters reminiscent of The Elves of Ceradon by the pseudonymous N.R. Strickland, her favorite little-known book, which is out of print. On a whim, Lily emails the author and is shocked when he responds. They strike up a correspondence that grows increasingly personal...until he ghosts her. Months later, needing a date to her sister's wedding, she decides to ask her new "fine as hell" neighbor, not knowing he's the man who just broke her heart. Nick Brown thought he'd put N.R. Strickland behind him, but when his literary agent strikes a major deal to republish The Elves of Ceradon and write two sequels, he moves to New York City, where he knows Lily lives. He stopped emailing her so he could continue to protect his closely held anonymity, but he misses her. When he discovers that the cute neighbor who asked him on a date is in fact Lily, he has to figure out if he'll disclose the truth or keep his distance. Although the story relies on formulaic plotting, this romance has thoughtful portrayals of characters working on their self-esteem and learning to speak up for themselves, giving both leads room to grow. Realistic and interesting relationships between the leads and their families and friends add richness. Book-loving romantics will be charmed.

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Starred review from January 1, 2023

DEBUT Months ago, Lily Greene was ghosted by N.B. "Strick" Strickland, an author she'd been getting to know online. At the time, she was heartbroken. Not only had he written her favorite book (the one that inspired her career goals), but she also felt they'd had a real connection. Strick (whose real name is Nick Brown) was half in love with Lily before he ghosted her, but his life was--and is--a mess, and she deserved better. Imagine his surprise when the cute neighbor in his building turns out to be the woman he had been emailing. His life hasn't gotten any less messy, but he can't stay away from the girl of his dreams. But will she still like him when she discovers his secrets? This swoony, contemporary romance with fully realized characters will have readers hooked from the first page, and the protagonists, who are Black, have deep, relatable backstories. VERDICT This is the adult romance debut for YA author Forest (Zyla and Kai), and readers will clamor for more. Recommend this one to fans of Alisha Rai and Abby Jimenez.--Heather Miller Cover

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