Next-Door Nemesis

September 11, 2023
Unresolved baggage between ex–best friends leads to a battle of wits in this steamy but inconsistent rom-com from Martin (Better Than Fiction). Scriptwriter Collins Carter’s ex-boyfriend, Peter, betrayed her by stealing her idea for his own gain—and now a video of Collins acting out in the aftermath of their breakup has gone viral. Humiliated, she flees L.A. and moves back in with her parents in Ohio. The move puts her back in the orbit of her “archenemy,” Nathaniel Adams, a childhood friend turned bitter teen rival who is now the vice president of the neighborhood home owners’ association. After Nathaniel attempts to coerce Collins into leaving town with the threat of HOA fines, Collins decides to retaliate by running against him for the newly vacant position of HOA president. Their competitive campaigning leads to some snappy one-line roasts that belie their lingering chemistry, and readers will be eager to learn what soured this duo’s once happy relationship. Martin builds anticipation for this reveal through memories of their past friendship, but the lackluster explanation of how it fell apart is a letdown. Many climactic moments feel similarly unearned, including the first sex scene, which, while hot, is oddly abrupt. This doesn’t quite sell its enemies-to-lovers premise. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijkstra Literary.