Book Review: Unlikely Neighbor by Renee Daniel Flagler
🧱 Brownstones, Baggage & Black Love That Hits Deep
If you thought you were signing up for a cutesy, Hallmark-style neighbor romance—surprise! Renee Daniel Flagler said, “Actually, let’s unpack generations of secrets, emotional trauma, and a man who could write a textbook on how to handle a soft-hearted woman with a spine of steel.” I devoured it.
Read If You Like:
🔑 Inheritance Surprise
🧳 Small Town Girl in the Big City
💼 Black CEO with a Bruised Ego
🪞 Healing from Family Trauma
🪴 Found Family Vibes
🔥 Slow Burn to Steam
Blush Meter: 🔥🔥🔥 / 5
Oh, it gets steamy. But it’s the kind of steam that simmers beneath layers of vulnerability, honesty, and trust. When do they finally go there? Let’s just say it’s earned and it delivers.
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25 / 5
This one hit me in the chest and in the feels. If you love introspective, layered romances that dig into the messiness of being human while also giving you a hero you want to marry and a heroine you’d protect at all costs—this one’s for you.
Unlikely Neighbor had no right to come in this quietly, look like a laid-back city romance, and then rip open my emotional floodgates with that level of depth. I picked it up thinking I’d get some cute bickering over property lines and a little brownstone banter. Instead, Renee Daniel Flagler served up generational secrets, emotional landmines, a heroine on the cusp of reinvention, and a Black man who finally lets himself break.
I ate it all the way up.
Holland Davenport is one of those protagonists you feel in your bones. She’s not flashy or overly polished—she’s real. She's a woman who’s just had a major health scare, a fractured relationship with her adoptive mother, and a mysterious inheritance dropped into her lap like an unmarked bombshell. Instead of hiding, she packs her bags, trades in Charleston charm for New York, and decides to renovate the dilapidated brownstone left behind by the great-aunt no one ever mentioned. (Suspicious? Oh, absolutely.)
From the minute Holland steps foot in that house, you know she’s in for more than some HGTV drama. There’s grief in those walls. Silence, secrets, and the sharp kind of sadness that comes from not knowing your roots. But there’s also Noble Washington—her next-door neighbor, literal CEO in crisis, and walking reminder that not all men crumble under pressure.
He’s smart, successful, slightly broody in that “I don’t know who I am without my job” kind of way, and the man has range. He shows up for Holland. Gently. Respectfully. But not passively. He challenges her and lets himself be challenged. We love a king who knows when to listen and when to speak.
Their chemistry? It’s not insta-lust fireworks—it’s more like a smoldering burn that starts in the bones and works its way outward. At first, they circle each other, guarded but curious. Holland doesn’t know who to trust. Noble’s still reeling from corporate betrayal. But somehow, through quiet breakfasts, hallway glances, and heart-heavy confessions, they find each other in the middle of their respective storms. This is not your typical neighbor romance.
It’s about grief. About complicated mothers who withhold the truth to protect themselves. About adoption and identity and the messy work of piecing yourself together when everything you thought you knew comes undone. Holland’s storyline with her mother? Whew. Triggering in all the right ways. If you've ever dealt with a narcissist or someone who emotionally weaponizes silence—prepare to feel seen. And then angry. And then vindicated.
Because Holland doesn’t just endure—she evolves. Slowly. Painfully. But beautifully.
What I appreciated most was how Flagler balances the romance with the emotional journey. It’s not all plot twists and parentage drama. There are sweet, flirty moments too. There’s banter, mutual respect, actual conversations about feelings (imagine!), and yes—spicy scenes that are both earned and HOT.
New York, too, plays a starring role here. It’s gritty and charming, with neighbors who low-key mind their business but also kind of look out for each other. The community is vivid and lived-in, like the kind of place where even the corner deli guy knows your name and your drink order.
Final Thoughts:
Unlikely Neighbor is for the reader who wants romance with depth. For the girlies who want their happily-ever-after to come with a little heartbreak, a lot of healing, and a man who shows up with emotional intelligence and a deep voice.
This story is about choosing the harder path because it leads to freedom. It’s about learning to forgive without forgetting. About honoring your own pain, even when the world tells you to smile through it. And ultimately, it’s about building something—whether that’s a brownstone or a brand new life—with someone who sees all your cracks and still chooses to stay.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
Would I forgive my mom if she pulled what Holland’s mom did? Hmm… jury’s still out.
Do I now want to move to New York and fall in love with my emotionally mature neighbor? Obviously.
Renee Daniel Flagler gave us a grown woman’s romance—raw, healing, and heartfelt.
Keep your Hallmark. I’ll take the busted brownstone and a man named Noble any day 🫣🤪.
Until the next swoon-worthy story… happy reading and happy romancing! 💕
This is on my TBR cart staring me down. Can’t wait to read it!