The Girl Next Door

By: Chelsea M. Cameron

Narrated by: Carly Robins, Avery Reid

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

New York Times best-selling author Chelsea M. Cameron delivers 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 modern, romantic love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters. Discover a new Carina Adores book every month!

©2020 Chelsea M. Cameron (P)2020 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Easy to follow, good story, laugh out loud moments

Easy story to get into, especially if you have the experience of having to return to live with your parents like Iris. The next door neighbor is a motorcycle riding, loner with a wall up around her heart. The chemistry is immediate, but....... You're heart will break for a love lost and it'll beat a little harder for a growing lust between the characters. Some memorable lines: "there she was like a lesbian James Dean". Also, " like shopping for towels, in love." Iris's internal dialogue had me laughing out loud several times. Enjoyable. Will listen to again and again.

I wish it was longer 👍

The best thing you can say about any love story is wishing it was longer. You know it’s true because when the narrator(s) read the last words, you find yourself yearning to learn what the future holds for the characters that have endeared themselves to you, while also feeling confident that their lives will be full of good things simply because they would be shared.
I look forward to more work from Ms. Cameron and I hope she keeps the same narrators too.

Cute and Quirky

Enjoyably quirky and cute. Well narrated. Recommend to anyone who needs a cute little love story in their lives

Love is possible !!

Loved the characters and story how in there own time and way they found each other and allowed for love to bring the together for ever.

Ignore “Trauma and a child”

I almost didn’t listen because of that review. After listening the author of the review was way off. I really enjoyed it.

Cute Story

It was an interesting story. Totally believable for a smallish town. We do seem to find each other.

Trauma and a child

This story is about a traumatized person and an extremely privileged, self-centered, childish, manipulative person coming together. I was able to tolerate the immaturity and whininess of Iris until Jude drew a boundary about their relationship and Iris not only blew right through that boundary she also lied and manipulated Jude while doing so. In fact, her inner narrative was about lying to Jude about her own feelings and intentions. I almost stopped reading at Chapter 11. And then again in chapter 13 where Iris is thinking about being sad that Jude had actually set boundaries (without acknowledging that she was not respecting them) while also being concerned about her mom’s opinion about casual sex. Iris is such a child that she thought her mother would protest when she offered to cook diner once a week. Once a week and she was living there for free. Such a child. I feel incredibly sad for Jude because she is going to be heartbroken when this child decides that being with an adult with trauma is too hard. Iris should have been a fling. So disappointing.

Too rushed at the end, after long angsty start

Nice narration and sweet storyline with lovely setting, other characters and background for each. it was just under developed and rushed.
Given all the time and detail in the beginning, I was left with whiplash in the last hour. Way too rushed with overarching comments that summed up struggles that took pages and chapters before.
ugh.
This could have been so much more epic if the author had given us more. I hope a word count target didn't rule the outcome. We should have been given more.