Book Review | The Pucker Next Door – Sara Ney

The Pucker Next Door
By: Sara Ney

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Opposites Attract, Hockey, Virgin Hero
Publisher: Indie
Publication Date: April 28th, 2024
My Rating: ✮✮✮
My Reading Format: kindleunlimited

Synopsis:

From USA Today Bestseller Sara Ney, author of the How to Date a Douchebag college wrestling romance series comes The Pucker Next Door, a laugh out loud, toe-curling slow burn…

When a squirrel chews its way through my bedroom wall, I do the first thing any single girl like me would do: run frantically out of the house to the neighbors, begging for help.

I should mention that the house next door is full of hockey players. And when I lock eyes on rough and rugged Brodie Stockhausen—who happens to be outside brooding on the porch—I’m not exactly impressed.

But I’m desperate, in a bathrobe, and need a bit of rescuing.

Soon I’m begging for his help with more than just squirrel duty and DIY projects. I want his attention and his touch—not just his friendship! I want what every girl wants: him lying in his bed at night, so desperate for me that he’s willing to scale two stories to sneak into my window. Hey, a girl can dream…

But Brodie has a secret; one that leaves me wanting more every time we’re together but has him pulling away…

honey-script.light

The Pucker Next Door by Sara Ney is a standalone hockey romance revolving around Lizzy who is a social butterfly and Brodie who tends to hide himself away in his room. Sounds like a match made in… paradise.

Brodie made it his mission, when he stepped foot on the college campus, he would do what he came here to do. Get an education and a degree as a fall back plan, but he would put most of his focus, effort, and strength into hockey. And for the most part, he’s accomplished his mission. That is until his neighbor, Lizzy, comes running into his life with a story of a squirrel being loose in her bedroom…

Lizzy was living her best life, minding her own business, lounging on her bed. When out of nowhere, her eyes met those of a different kind. And she discovers there is a squirrel in her closet. What’s a girl to do, but run to her neighbors house in a panic wearing nothing but her robe and a towel wrapped around her head… Little does she know, that squirrel is fate working a mission of its own.

My Thoughts:

I’ve been sitting here thinking about this novel for the past couple days. Sara Ney has been a reliable author in the past. Some novels had me laughing while others had me shedding a few tears. But, as I’ve learned in my eight years of reviewing books, I’m not going to love every single book I pick up. Even if the author is considered a favorite of mine. And The Pucker Next Door proved that point. Don’t get me wrong, I did like this novel, but the selfish reader in me wanted my like to morph into a love. And that wasn’t the case. So let’s dive into things I enjoyed with this novel and the things I needed more from.

First of all, let’s talk about Brodie. Brodie is an introvert. If this man isn’t in a classroom or on the ice, you can find him tucked away in his room reading or watching his television. I kind of enjoyed Brodie’s shy and awkward approach when it came to Lizzy. I really liked his internal monologue, especially with situations pertaining to Lizzy. It’s not often when reader’s are graced by a shy Hero.

And then we have Lizzy, who is the complete opposite of Brodie. She’s a social butterfly who isn’t afraid to stop on the street and spark up a conversation with a stranger. I liked Lizzy’s in your face approach to life.

You’d think because I loved Lizzy’s personality and Brodie’s Personality that I’d love the two characters together…. I gave The Pucker Next Door a three star rating, due to the fact that there were moments when the chemistry between Lizzy and Brodie felt off. I felt like these two would make better friends than they would in a romantic relationship. I did like Brodie’s secret, but what came after Brodie’s secret was unveiled and… not really a secret anymore… kind of annoyed me. It felt like he was after Lizzy for one thing and one thing only, if you get what I’m saying.

I’m going to end this review by reiterating, I wanted to love this one so damn much!!! I’m bummed that my heart just wasn’t in it this time around. Hopefully, your opinion differs from mine and you end up loving this one, if you decide to give it a read.

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