The Girl Next Door

by Chelsea M. Cameron, Carly Robbins (Read by), Avery Reid (Read by)

Overview

New York Times bestselling author Chelsea M. Cameron is back with the opposites-attract, sweet-and-sexy small-town romance you’ve been waiting for.

Iris Turner hightailed it out of Salty Cove, Maine, without so much as a backward glance. Which is why finding herself back in her hometown—in her childhood bedroom, no less—has the normally upbeat Iris feeling a bit down and out. Her spirits get a much-needed lift, though, at the sight of the sexy girl next door.

No one knows why Jude Wicks is back in Salty Cove, and that’s just how she likes it. Jude never imagined she’d be once again living in her parents’ house, never mind hauling lobster like a local. But the solitude is just what she needs—until Iris tempts her to open up.

A no-strings summer fling seems like the perfect distraction for both women. Jude rides a motorcycle, kisses hard and gives Iris the perfect distraction from her tangled mess of a life. But come September, Iris is still determined to get out of this zero-stoplight town.

That is, unless Jude can give her a reason to stay…

Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories featuring beloved romance tropes, where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.

This book is approximately 60,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

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Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781094190228
Publisher:	Harlequin Audio
Publication date:	06/01/2020
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x (d)

About the Author

CHELSEA M. CAMERON is a contemporary romance/New Adult author from Maine. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono, that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is. For the latest updates and more about Chelsea, visit her website at www.chelseamcameron.com, find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @chel_c_cam.

Editorial Reviews

06/15/2020

Cameron (My Favorite Mistake) conjures an idyllic coastal Maine setting for this pleasant tale about second chances between two perfectly mismatched heroines. Iris Turner always harbored dreams of leaving her small hometown of Salty Cove, so it’s particularly galling to be back after college with hardly a penny to her name and few plans for the future. But when her sexy neighbor, Jude Wicks, catches her eye, Iris begins to wonder if her summer at home might be more worthwhile than she first assumed. Jude works on a lobster boat while grieving her first love, who recently died of cancer. Though she tries to resist her feelings for Iris, it proves impossible given their close proximity. Iris and Jude savor a summer fling, but Iris is still determined to prove to herself and her parents that she can make it in Boston come fall—unless Jude can find the courage to ask her to stay. The plot is straightforward and allows the characters the chance to take center stage, and though Iris’s immaturity grows frustrating, deeply empathetic Jude provides an excellent foil that makes their pairing work. This simple, emotional story may not have much depth, but it has plenty of charm. (June)

Publishers Weekly

Cameron's cleverly conceived and brilliantly executed contemporary romance is elevated by her superb character development and flair for delivering exquisite sexual tension.” —Booklist

“Cameron conjures an idyllic coastal Maine setting for this pleasant tale about second chances between two perfectly mismatched heroines” — Publishers Weekly

“This felt like the ultimate millennial romance.” –Smart Bitches, Trashy Books


“So sweet & heartwarming.”—Really Into This


"The Girl Next Door is a beautiful romance, and if you enjoy stories that make your heart happy, where the characters truly make you want to meet them – pick this one up!" —(Un)Conventional Bookworms


"This book was sweet and tender and made me laugh so many times." —You Have Your Hands Full

From the Publisher

07/24/2020

With no job and no way to pay rent, 22-year-old Iris Turner returns to her parents' home in Salty Cove, ME, to rebuild her savings. Iris barely knew their next-door neighbor, Jude Wicks, when they were teens. Jude, four years older, was out as a lesbian at their homophobic high school, while Iris took longer to acknowledge her sexuality. Now, Jude has moved back to manage her absent parents' house and work on her own lobster boat. (Lobster is ubiquitous: Iris works at the Lobster Pot, Jude's house gets a lobster-themed makeover, and Iris even mentions her "lobster-red face" when blushing.) Iris quickly develops a crush on Jude, whose "bad girl" mystique seems limited to her motorcycle and the emotional reserve resulting from an unspoken trauma. Conflicts are easily resolved: while Jude obfuscates even in her narration, she moves past her previous girlfriend's death as soon as she speaks about it with Iris. Meanwhile, Iris's strong desire to return to Boston fades with almost no resistance. While most side characters are minimally developed, Cameron uses a queer meet-up to show Iris how Salty Cove has changed. VERDICT Chatty, casual narration and minimal tension make for a light summer read.—Katelyn Browne, Rod Lib., Univ. of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls

Library Journal